Label:Life

Colossal (Sorry, couldn’t help it!) Pick Of The Week for the last one of 2004.

‘Colossal Insight’ is the lead single from Roots Manuva’s new album ‘Awfully Deep’. I’ve been lucky enough to hear the album and can honestly say that it’s the best British Hip Hop/Urban/Whatever you want to call it album I’ve heard for a long time, possibly ever.

Genre tags just don’t do it justice. The album seamlessly weaves together Hip Hop, Reggae, Techno, Electronica and even Pop and still manages to sound coherent. Lyrically, Rodney Smith has come of age. He touches on some deep shit, as the title suggests and manages to be philosophical and political without sounding contrived and bloody funny to boot.

After only a couple of listens, there are lyrics that have become little mantras for me. Mr. Smith has managed to make an album that speaks of the personal trials and tribulations of a thirty year old man growing up in urban britain in such an honest and eloquent manner that I couldn’t believe my ears. I don’t want to overdo it but I believe this is a really important record; musically and socially. Absolutely brilliant.

This week’s pick is the next single from Slam to be taken from their ‘Year Zero’ album, ‘This World’ featuring the vocal talents of Chicago’s Tyrone ‘Visionary’ Palmer, out now on Soma records.

‘This World’ is lush, moody and, dare I say it, ‘uplifting’ techno with prescient social commentary channelled through Tyrone’s soulful voice. “We’d been listening to Prince’s ‘Sign O’ The Times’,” Stuart admits, “and wanted to write something similar but relevant to now, though it’s not just about the war in Iraq.” Orde reflects that after “too many evenings in foreign hotel rooms watching News 24”, it was a song they felt had to be written.

The twelve inch comes with mixes from Phil Kieran, the Wighnomy Brothers and Hugg & Pepp (Jasper and John Dahlback).

There is a strangely amusing video to accompany ‘This World’ that I feel doesn’t quite sit right with the serious message of the track. Maybe they just wanted to soften the blow a little. You can check out the video Here and listen to audio Here. [www.somarecords.com], [www.slammusic.co.uk].

Cracking Pick Of The Week this week. ‘Bangzilla’ is the first single from Beastie Boys’ Dj Mixmaster Mike, out now on Immortal/Scratch Records, from the album of the same name to be released in March ‘05.

‘Bangzilla’ is comprised of really heavy analogue kicks, neck breaking beats, all cut up with killer Sci-Fi samples and Mixmaster Mike’s trademark wah-wah scratching. There have been many ‘cut and paste’ breaks albums of late but I’ve heard none as fine as this for a while. A future classic. File under ‘Dope’. Check it,check it out HERE.

This week’s pick is ‘An Answer’ by 3 Feet Short, from their new 7 song EP ‘Apocalypse New’, out January 4th ‘05 on Tyrebyter Music.

Hailing from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 3 Feet Short combine elements of Punk, Ska, Classic Rock and funk and do it very well indeed. ‘An Answer’ is a great, tight sounding single, with shades of early Police, the good Boomtown Rats stuff and even Elvis Costello.

Check it out HERE.

This week’s pick is a great series of 7”s from Earsugar, released through October and November. An innovative set of releases, all very original and different from each other.

I’ve chosen ‘Goodnight, Thank You’, the debut 45 from Schneider TM and Barbara Morgenstern collaborator Mek Obaam.

This track is a great indie-pop song that starts with a distinctly Californian feel to it and ends with loads of noisy guitars and feedback. Great stuff.

Also worth a listen is ‘Psychedelic Queen’ by The Schneider TM Experience, a tribute to Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ which is dedicated to Martin Rev and Alan Vega from Suicide, the infamous electronic duo who first appeared on the CBGB’s scene in New York during the 1970’s. Audacious!

Check it out HERE and visit www.earsugar.com.

This week’s pick is ‘Lie To Me’ by Slam, taken from the Soma Compilation 2004, released 11/22/04 on Glasgow’s finest Soma Recordings.

‘Lie To Me’ is a beautiful, stark, techno track featuring the vocals of Anne Saunderson, wife of Detroit techno luminary Kevin Saunderson (Inner City). It has all the elements to make it a techno classic: crisp electro drums, dark foreboding strings and showers of analogue sequences cunjure up images of far flung galaxies contrasting with the very human and heartfelt lyrics and vocal. Think ‘I believe’ by Octave One and you’re in the right ball park. Classic and could even cross over to radio.

The Album also features tracks from the likes of Funk D’Void, Envoy (with a Craig Armstrong string arrangement), Adam Beyer & Jesper Dahlback, Master H ( A Mylo Dub Remix) and more, all of the same high quality.

Check it out HERE and visit www.somarecords.com.

Pick Of The Week comes in the form of ‘Fabric 19 – Andrew Weatherall’ released next week (11/15/04) on Fabric Recordings.

Andy Weatherall has always been on the cutting edge of dance music. Regardless of genres or trends, he has always played and made fresh, interesting and bold music, be it Punk, Funk, Acid or whatever, as a cursory glance at his discography shows, with releases and remixes for the likes of Creation, Heavenly, Factory, Rough Trade, One Little Indian, Warner, Talkin’ Loud, Island, Boy’s Own, Deconstruction, Warp, Rotters’ Golf Club Etc.

‘Fabric 19’ is Andrew’s second or third official mix CD (it’s a little hard to tell for certain). Inspired by a recent DJ set at Fabric, he began to stick any deep and sleazy house tracks he found in a separate pile at home. For the mix, he’s blended them with a few deep and druggy records, and some sleek and poppy ones. It features electro, acid, house, techno, schaffel, synths, and electric guitars. Proper. Check it out HERE.

I’m sure many of you will have seen this already but as the US election is upon us and I’ve so far restrained myself from any political digs, I had to make it pick of the week!

Apart from the fact that the animation and concept of the video is superb, the message is fierce and worthy in my humble opinion. Eminem spits out his lyrics with real venom, even for him, and it’s great to see a major artist have the balls to take a political stance on an issue that affects all of us, wherever we’re from. Check it out HERE.

Blinding ‘Pick Of The Week’ for you this week. Bristolian Drum and Bass maestro and soul legend Jocelyn Brown come together for this track ‘Sing’ from the new album ‘Return To V’, released this Monday on V Recordings/Full Cycle.

‘Sing’ sees Roni in a bouyant mood, moving away from the darker styles he’s been producing of late. A real up-beat and uplifting tune (a term I don’t use lightly) with a positive message delivered by a true soul great, this is sure to be a smash.

You can catch Jocelyn Brown performing live with Roni on ‘Later with Jools Holland’ on Friday 5th November on BBC 2 and listen to ‘Sing’ HERE.

This week’s pick is a track called ‘The Groove (Souled Out)’ from the album ‘Shadows’ by Wagon Christ (Aka Luke Vibert), out now on Ninja Tune.

This track does exactly what it says on the label; a real summery groove, laid back beats, warm bass and fluttering flutes to brighten up your day a little (it’s miserable and wet where we are!)

Check it out HERE, where you can also preview some more tracks of quality, quirky electronica from the album, including a great video for ‘Shadows’. www.ninjatune.net.