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
Tame Impala* – Feels like we only go backwards (NAT)
Tame Impala are band hailing from Western Australia. They make Lo-fi, washed out pop that reminds me a little of blog favourites Best Coast. The somewhat trippy video here is rather fitting too I thought.
I also found out that an impala is a medium size antelope. You learn something new every day…
/RjK
*Artist #531
LOL Boys* – Changes featuring Heart streets (NAT)
This is probably the track I have listened to most since I moved back to Ireland a couple of weeks ago. There is just something hypnotic and engaging about the vocal. I can’t quite put my finger on it but I have very much enjoyed it.
LOL Boys are a duo based in Los Angles by way go Montreal. They have quite an interesting name. It is very modern, right? An interesting statement on the mobile phone/internet fuelled rise of abbreviations.
RjK
*Artist #499
Vatican Shadow* – Bin Laden’s corpse
The first thing that struck me about this song was it’s name – Bin Laden’s corpse (taken from the album Washington Buries Al Qaeda Leader At Sea) might be the strangest title (and album name) I have encountered. Despite this, the more I listened to it the more I enjoyed it.
It’s sparse and hypnotic and soothed me through Monday morning. I don’t know too much about this artist beyond: “Minimal synth industrial project of Dominick Fernow concerning the Muslim Middle East and America’s involvement therein.” from Last FM.
RjK
*Artist #480
Chet Faker* – Terms and conditions (NAT)
These guys used to go by the name Hype Williams. Which is a good name for a smashmouth MC, not so sure about this. It is dark and a little unsettling but there is also something beautiful lurking beneath the surface if you look hard enough. It is taken from the album Black is beautiful, which is pretty darn fresh.
I am back in Ireland for the weekend, it is nice to be home and to escape the madness of Jubilee weekend London. I had forgotten what open space feels like.
RjK
*Artist #457
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
Japandroids – Younger Us
As promised on Thursday I have slowly begun to sift through reviews of the SXSW festival in Austin to find some gems for you. Look out for some in the coming days.
These guys were favourites from last year and I read a glowing review of one of their festival shows. They are slightly noisier and more angular than the music that normally moves me but I find the youthful energy and vigour here just irresistible.
Also, Japandroids might be my favourite band name ever…
RjK
Shabazz Palaces* – Swerve
Hip Hop has undergone a big renaissance in my affections recently after I had just about given up hope on it. Artists such as Oddisee, DTMD, Roc Marciano and Jay Electronica have both excited me and restored some of my faith in the current scene.
This track is super fresh and I love the sound, it’s funky and slightly eccentric. It reminds me a little of Bay Area rappers such as Blackaliscious, Lyrics Born or The Coup. Additionally, I happen to think that Shabazz Palaces is an excellent name.
RjK
*Artist #399
TLC* – No Scrubs (GPF)
I am not too proud of my affection for this song but I guess that’s the name of the game on Fridays. In my defence when I first heard it I wasn’t old enough to know better. In fairness it has stood the test of time pretty well. Apart perhaps for the ridiculous, OTT video!
Also, TLC must be an all-time great name for a modern R’n’B group.
RIP Left-Eye
RjK
*Artist #396