Sly and The Family Stone* – Can’t strain my brain
I have been on the listen out for some Soul music as it probably has been under represented on my personal playlist of late. It will always be my fist musical love by my inner magpie has been drawn to things shinier of late.
This is taken from Sly and The Family Stone’s 1974 album Small Talk. It’s just a perfect later soul/funk track. Super smooth vocal and just a hint of horns. Doesn’t get much better than that.
/RjK
*Artist #558
Mark Farina* – Dream Machine
This is Monday morning listening. I need something quiet and chilled out to ease me into the working week, especially after a busy few days. This does the trick.
Mark Farina is a Chicago House DJ who I listened to a lot in university, I haven’t heard much of him recently but this still sounds great.
/RjK
*Artist #557
Mott the Hoople* – All the young dudes
This is classic 1970’s. I can think of few tracks that capture what I think to be the sound of that decade (maybe Disco apart) any better than this. Glam rock’s finest hour?
It was written by David Bowie, on reflection I am surprised he didn’t just record it himself too.
All the young dudes carry the news…
/RjK
*Artist #556
Yeah Yeah Yeahs* – Maps (Helen Chandler guest post)
Nelly Furtado – Do it (GPF)
I am going for a trip down memory lane this evening catching up with some people I met during my year in Berkeley. I thought it apt to post something that I listened to (guiltily!) when I was there. I like it for more than just the video, seriously.
Have a great weekend.
/RjK
Homeboy Sandman* – Whatchu want from me? (NAT)
Sometimes the universe is trying to tell me something. There are several sources I rely on for music which are broadly broken up into four (sometimes overlapping) parts: friends, the radio, cyberspace and things that catch my ear on a day to day basis.
When I encounter an artist via a few different sources which are independent of each other it tells me that it’s time to investigate them some more. As it happens two of my friends (and sometime guest bloggers) Rory and Matt both recommend this guy in the last few weeks. And I have to give it up, he is pretty fresh.
I enjoy the energy in this song and it’s old school sound, making me think of Jurassic 5 or Arrested Development. I particularly like the simple piano hook underpinning it; it’s nothing flashy but still very effective.
/RjK
*Artist #554
This is off Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti’s recently released Mature Themes album. APHG were a blog favourite last year and their track Round and Round made it to number 12 in my Top 30 of 2011. Pretty special video too – John Travolta doing aerobics!
This track is a cover of a 70’s track by Donnie and Joe Emerson. Strangely I have already posted another cover version of exactly the same song earlier in the year, this time by Dean Blunt and Inga Copeland AKA Hype Williams. I love each of the versions, they are all really mellow and languid, which is exactly what I need this week!
/RjK
This is another hip hop track that has an interesting sample, in this case using The Eraser by Thom Yorke. It isn’t exactly Move On Up (in fairness, what is?) but I think it works really well and reminds me a little of favourites from earlier in the year Jay Electronica and Shabazz Palaces.
Child Rebel Soldier are a hip hop “supergroup” featuring Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and Pharrell Willams which is a pretty solid trio.
/RjK
*Artist #553
Todd Terje* – Inspector Norse (Helen Chandler guest post)
This is my favourite song at the moment. I’ve been listening to it intensely for about a month now, and when I say ‘intensely’, I mean at least twice a day.
I moved to London 3 weeks ago. It’s been exciting and frustrating and tiring and challenging. On the tube in the mornings, when my hair is stuck to my face with sweat and I’m trying to avoid eye contact with the person I’m almost nose to nose with, Inspector Norse’s tireless disco-esque beat still makes me smile. Properly smile. Like a crazy person on the tube.
Kate Bush – Running up that hill
No special reason for posting this today other than it has been far too long since I posted any Kate Bush. What a hero!
The game was a bit of a let down yesterday, I’ll leave it at that. I still managed to have a very enjoyable day though.
/RjK