Label:Life

Whilst idly smoking, umm, err, fags at a recent dark and smoky club in central Bristol, Label:Life stumbled upon a 5 piece band banging out some heavy (and surpirsingly) interesting drum ‘n’ bass. Not since Breakbeat Era, Roni Size’s break out D&B band, have we heard a combination of almost folk like vocals with heavy heavy basslines and crashing breaks, unified as a tight live band.

The band “Dr Meaker” took the crowd from a standing start to a rocking throng over the course of their 3/4 hour set, even the drum ‘n’ bass loathers were nodding their heads in agreement. We’re not sure if they’re ready for prime time yet, but definitley worth checking out.

Listen Here

Label:Life hasn’t had a pick of the week for a while now, but after “discovering” Lilly Allen we couldn’t help but tell you about her. Her lyrics are a subdued mix of issues affecting your average “yoot” in the UK, mixed in with a lovely somtimes dark comical slant, with her musical influences ranging from SKA, Shaggy, Blondie, 808 State to Bjork and Prince.

LabelLife thinks she sounds like a cross between The Streets and Amy Whitehouse with a touch of Madness. This girl is going to be huge, check her out at lillymusic although Label:Life’s favourite track has been pulled from the site, “Alfie” an ode to her little brother staying in bed and smoking spliffs all day, catchiest off the wall little tune we’ve heard in ages.

This weeks pick is ‘Breakdance: Breakin’ Classics From The Grandmasters Of Hip Hop And Electro’, released 07/25/05 on Sanctuary Tv, a Sanctuary Records Group label.

Two labels that define ‘Old Skool’Hip Hop, Tommy Boy and Sugarhill have combined to present this double CD set. The 40 track compilation is absolutely choc full of bona fide Hip Hop classics; ‘White Lines’, ‘Planet Rock’, ‘Rock The Bells’ and Sugar Bear’s ‘Don’t Scandalize Mine’, they’re all on there, along with tracks from Mantronix (King Of The Beats), KRS One and The Furious Five.

Although there are a couple of fillers, in my opinion (House Of Pain’s Jump around is a great tune but ‘Breakin’ classic’ it aint!), this is a killer compilation. Half way through CD1 the whole office was nodding heads to comments of ‘what a choon!’ and ‘bugger me, I haven’t heard this in ages!’. Although there are no real rarities on this comp, to have so many classic tracks in one place makes for great listening. The track I’ve picked is Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force’s ‘Searchin For The Perfect Beat’ because to me, the sound of that record encapsulates the true breakin’ era perfectly. I can only imagine the looks on peoples faces in the studio as that drum track came together. F-R-E-S-H!

Have a listen here and get your Gazelles on and go out and get one! -Ed.

For the ful press release click Here.

This week’s pick is a compilation of Italian disco classics from the 80’s in the form of ‘Italo Disco Souvenirs Volume 1’, released today on Mart Mix Music.
This is the start of a new series of releases featuring “fantastic Italo Disco songs from the 80’s. Not just usual tunes on this cd but only hard to find, freaky songs in their original extended 12” versions.

Now, don’t get me wrong, some of this is utter shite and some of it is just so bad that it’s good. A few tracks however, are gems!

This, believe it or not, is what Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Carl Craig used to listen to, alongside Kraftwerk and P-Funk, in their black polo necks and slacks in Belleville, Detroit, back in the day. So, with that in mind, have a listen HERE and visit www.martmix.nl.

This week’s pick is ‘We Are The Klubb’, the 200th release on Slip ‘n’ Slide Records, West London’s longest reigning independent dance label.

‘We Are The Klubb’ is a collection of the finest moments both new & old from the Slip‘N’Slide and Kickin catalogues, including classics from the likes of De’lacy, Deep Dish, Peace Division, Blaze, Firefly, Jonah and Sybil alongside newer releases from Skylab 9 featuring Christabel Cossins, Phunk Nouveaux, Kid Massive and Harry ‘Choo Choo’ Romero.

The track I’ve chosen is ‘My Beat’ (Ambassador Remix) by Ol’ school Chicago luminaries Blaze. I heard this track at a small warehouse party a month or so ago and it took the roof off. People actually lost it. More minimal and stripped than the original, this mix keeps the ‘Can you really dance to my beat?’ vocal, laid over a jacking, kick-drum-tastic house beat. Pumping. Truly. Check it out HERE and visit www.kickinmusic.com.

We delve into the world of Dub for this week’s Pick Of The Week.

‘Roots Of Dub Funk 4 : Rise Of The Eclectic Dread’, released last week on Tanty Records, is a collection of 14 new excursions “embracing the very ethics of dub” by a selection of producers from across the globe.

Yes, dub has dirty, bowel shifting basslines but comes directly from Roots and should complement the original version, its essence and melody, rather than splashing a load of echo over a rhythm track.

The track I have selected does just that. ‘Dub Games’ is a Dub of ‘Rasta Nuh Play Games’ by Mystic Vibrations from JA via the US. The rolling rhythm of the track is overlaid with the brass and outstanding vocal melodies of the original. The album is worth having for the vocal drop on this track alone, trust me! If you want to learn more about what’s developing in the ever forward looking, historically important genre that is Dub, this album is well worth a listen. Check out ‘Dub Games’ Here and visit www.tantyrecord.com.

This week’s pick comes in the form of ‘Sword Of Fire’ from Airhammer, released 6/13/2005 on Riot Club Music.

‘Sword of Fire’ is a quintessentially British cacophony following a hereditary line that includes the likes of XTC, Squeeze, The Specials, Costello and Blur. From the album’s title track ‘Sword of Fire’ which pays homage to 70’s Prog Rock (Arthur Brown – The God of Hellfire providing the intro) to the 1930’s style croonings of ‘My Sweetheart’ thru the punk musing on first love “Pissed Off”, It is fair to say that AirHammer have their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks, whilst being a really tight band. Daft as f**k but I like.

Quaff a few flagons of ale and check out a sampler of the album Here and visit www.riotclub.co.uk.

This week’s pick is the newest mix from Swedish Techno don Adam Beyer : Fabric 22, released on Fabric this week.

‘Fabric 22’ blends the best in Swedish techno talent – Joel Mull, Cari Lekebusch and Adam himself – with internationally acclaimed artists like Steve Rachmad, Reinhard Voigt and Josh Wink. The opening track – Wighnomy Brothers’ remix of Slam and Tyrone Palmer – captures the spirit of the mix perfectly: established names meeting the new and less known.

Using subtle mixer effects, quick cuts and long blends, Adam brings us a stunning selection of the very best in European techno. Check it out Here and visit www.fabriclondon.com.

This week’s pick is ‘All I Know Is Tonight’ by Jaga (formerly Jaga Jazzist) taken from the new album ‘What We Must’ released last week on Ninja Tunes.

Jaga are a ten piece collective from Norway who’ve been releasing records since 1994, when their youngest members were only 14 and it shows. Even without having seen them live, you can hear this lot have been playing together for years.

The word ‘epic’ is bounded about a lot when trying to describe a sound but in this case it fits; ‘All I Know Is Tonight’ is a huge sounding track. Stratospheric rock melodies and pounding rhythms combine with touches of jazz and electronica to take the listener up, up and away. Superb, adventurous, forward looking music.

Take a look at the great video for ‘All I Know Is Tonight’ Here (Windows Media) or Here (Real Media) and visit www.ninjatune.net.

This week’s pick is ‘Thinking Of Names For J’ the new single from UK punk rockers Have A Go Hero, to be released next month on Lockjaw Records.

Have A Go Hero come straight out of Middle England and draw influence from bands such as Jimmy Eat World and Brand New! Having said that, this isn’t your standard UK copy of the latest US trend, they claim to draw influence from British greats such as The Cure as much as they do to the US legends. Infectious melodies and raucous guitars combine to make a very catchy, dare I say it, ‘Pop punk’ record that could do really well with the right push. Have A Go Hero have an impressive touring schedule so go and check them out if you get a chance. Have a listen HERE and visit www.lockjawrecords.co.uk