Monthly Archives: April 2012

Aside

Brandy and Monica* – The boy is mine (GPF)

Sometimes you can’t escape your past. As much as I wish it weren’t true I am a total sucker for 90’s R’nB. In my defence I fell for it before I knew any better. It is the Kryptonite to my musical Clark Kent.

This is so slickly produced, just listen to the strings! To think that Brandy and Monica were once so famous they could both go by their first names only. I suspect that it may no longer be the case…

You can say what you wanna say, what we have you can’t take. From the truth you can’t escape, I can tell the real from the fake…

RjK

*Artist #425 
 

Me and My Drummer* – Runner (Reprise)


I don’t know much about these guys beyond the fact that they are German and I hadn’t heard them before the past couple weeks.

This is very enjoyable even if it flirts with being overly maudlin. It has a somber power that I find quite striking and the ambiance fitted in well with my downbeat mood caused by the wretched weather in London this week. 

/RjK

*Artist #424

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Napoleon – I love my baby (but if anyone touches her I’ll kill them)

Swedish band Napoleon were one of the very first that I posted at the start of last year. This was because they were favourites from 2009 and 10 when the blog was just an idea fermenting in my head.

I really like their energy and sense of fun. It is difficult to listen to them and not smile. This is taken from the wonderfully named Bohemians won the series and the little guy joined the band. The album title alone is enough to like them! 

RjK

17th April 2012

Tommy James and The Sondells* – Crystal Blue Persuasion

I have to admit I am still pretty enthralled by the song I posted yesterday, it is an early contender for my favourite record of the year. This made it challenging to think of something else to post today.

Anyway, I put my MP3 player on random as I walked home and decided to post whatever grabbed me and the fates decided it was going to be this.

It has a classic 60’s sound, with a pretty good video to match here. I first heard it on the soundtrack to the movie Zodiac (well worth a watch if you don’t know it). Soundtracks can be rich pickings for new music if you as music of an anorak as I am!

RjK

*Artist #423

16th April 2012

Sun Araw, M. Geddes Gengras & The Congos* – Happy Song

This was ideal listening earlier for a jarring Monday morning. It is mellow, languid and hypnotic and soothed the day away.

This is taken from an interesting upcoming collaboration between roots reggae pioneers The Congos and hip LA band Sun Araw. I intend to investigate it some more as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

RjK

*Artist #422

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Pete Rock and CL Smooth* – They reminsce over you (T.R.O.Y)

A friend sent me a few tracks last week that had been sampled to pleasing effect. It got me thinking about this, which contains probably my favourite sample of all time.

What imagination Pete Rock must have! To take a 60’s psycadelic track and turn it into this is an extraordinary feat. Also, CL Smooth’s (what a great name for an MC) rhymes are so vivid and powerful here. Together they combine to make this one of the best hip hop tracks in history.

RjK

*Artist #421

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Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes – The love I lost

This is a Gamble and Huff Philadelphia International classic. It is one of the very earliest disco records and a Saturday night anthem. I hope if you’re out tonight you hear something as good as this.

We loved each other, we just couldn’t get along. Take a good look at me; I’m in misery, can’t you see…

RjK

13th April 2012

Wham! – I’m your man (GPF)

Sorry for late post, I’ve been MIA at a family reunion for the past 36 hours.

The event culminated in a big, wedding style shindig. There was a wedding band that was trashy and glorious in just about equal parts. They played this at one point and I was unable to fight my inexplicable weakness for Wham! and George Michael.

This track and video (hello black leather gloves!) couldn’t be more perfectly 80’s.

But where we’re going baby, there ain’t no such word as no…

RjK

Aside

Max Cooper* – Raw (Marc Romboy’s Sub Attack Remix) (NAT)


This is most definitely not the kind of thing that normally speaks to me. However, I have been unable to get enough of it over recent days. There is something compelling about it’s nagging, insistent sound. 
If his Wikipedia page is to be believed Max Cooper is from Belfast and completed a PhD in computational biology before focusing on music full time. It makes me wonder where it all went wrong for me?
RjK
*Artist #420

Aside

Vampire Weekend* – Oxford Comma

This jaunty, cerebral little number popped into my head last night for some unknown reason.

Vampire Weekend are so 2008! However, listening to this now I am filled with nostalgia for my university days. It’s actually a pretty catchy little tune, it hasn’t aged too badly. Interesting video here directed by Richard Ayoade.

Why would you speak to me that way?… All your diction dripping with disdain…
 
RjK

*Artist #419