Label:Life

Pick Of The Week this week is ‘C’Mere’ by Interpol, the third single from their gold-selling album Antics on Matador Records.

‘C’mere’ is a piece of almost perfect pop music; a tale of unrequited love told with beautifully simple melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Singer Paul Banks has a touch of Michael Stipe or even Ian Curtis about him on this song with the emotion he manages to convey and the subtle mix and well crafted arrangement complement his vocal brilliantly. Classy.

Not content with merely being a great band, Interpol enter the world of remixing on this release with each band member re-working a track off the album for the b-sides.

‘C’Mere’ was released yesterday [04/11/2005]. Check it out Here.

This week’s Pick Of The Week is the astounding new album from Detroit’s Jeremy Ellis entitled ‘Lotus Blooms’ which was released last month on California’s ever brilliant Ubiquity Records.

Now, Jeremy Ellis has been described as ‘Detroit’s broken beat Stevie Wonder’. Comparisons to Stevie Wonder are not to be bandied about willy nilly but I’d say it’s fair in this case. Jeremy Ellis can sing. I mean, he can really sing and he plays keys like a demon, even dropping a little Mozart (I think!) piano interlude on this album just to make the point.

‘Lotus Blooms’ is a class album from start to finish and labeling it ‘broken beat’ simply doesn’t do it justice. It encompasses deep latin rhythms (Jeremy moved to Puerto Rico to study up for this album), jazz, funk and Detroit soul and techno with consumate ease, creating a really natural sounding fusion that nods to the past and sounds fresh at the same time.

Do yourself a favour and go and buy this album if you are into forward looking ‘black’ music of any description, you won’t be disappointed. Check out some samples from the album HERE.

This week’s pick is ‘Too Cold’, the new single from Roots Manuva’s mighty new album ‘Awfully Deep’, released 21st march on Big Dada Recordings.

This track was not one of my favourites from the album at first listen but it grows and it grows and it grows [he he!]. With it’s loping piano and swaying strings the groove gets under your skin after a while and Roots’ smooth and distinctive delivery never fails to impress.

Not an obvious choice of single with it’s self deprecating ‘sometimes I hate myself…’ refrain but obvious is not always good. And this is. Check out the video, in a Merchant Ivory stylee replete with busty maidens and pistols at dawn, [here (Windows media)] or [here (Real media)].

This Week’s pick comes from the latest compilation in the ‘Choice – A Collection Of Classics’ series, presented by John Digweed, released 21st March on Azuli Records.

The choice collections are fast becoming a who’s who of influential figures and as you would expect from some of the worlds finest DJs these compilations are filled with classics and rarities, huge anthems and wild obscurities all presented with the Midas touch that made their owner famous. It is almost like a musical interview that is conducted with some of the best hindsight in the business.

John Digweed’s mix takes in a range of eras and styles from the proto-house street soul of The Peech Boys’ “Don’t Make Me Wait” to the arty techno of Underworld’s “Mmmm Skyscraper, I Love You” to Smith And Mighty’s ‘Dark House’, a track so underground I’ve never heard of it and I come from Bristol!

I’ve chosen ‘A Forest’ by The Cure as my pick because it shows the diversity of the selection and it’s a great track, where they delve into rhythm and electronics more than you would expect. Have a listen HERE and check out www.azuli.com for more info.

This week’s pick of the week comes from NYC’s The Roughstars in the form of a video for their new Single ‘Letter In Blue’, out now on Home Style Cooking Records.

The Roughstars throw many styles into the melting pot to create their sound and manage to do it naturally. Elements of Hip Hop, Punk, Funk and even Folk are present on their album. Decidedly underground but with a catchy singalong chorus, this bluesy Hip Hop song deserves some attention. Check it out HERE and visit www.homestylecooking.net for more info.

This week’s pick is ‘Fabriclive 20 : Joe Ransom’, released 02/21/05, the latest in the series of mixes on Fabric Records by guests who’ve rocked the London club of the same name.

On this release, Joe Ransom hotfoots through some of British urban music’s most exciting talent. Using quick mixes and fast cuts, he brings dub-drenched rhythms and cinematic hip hop. Current heroes like M.I.A., Ty, Dizzee Rascal, Roots Manuva, and Rodney P rub up to London’s nightime movers Ali B, Zinc, Tayo, Stanton Warriors, and Plus One. A good introduction to UK ‘Urban’ (Ugh!) music for those who ain’t heard it, and a classy wee reminder for those who have. Check it out HERE.

No Pick Of The Week this week due to some technical shennanigans. Apologies.

Please continue to send us your music: signed, unsigned, new releases or videos, preferably with a working link to the content. Not withstanding today’s glitch, we can normally host files for you if you don’t have that facility.

This week’s Pick Of The Week is Amon Tobin’s dark, foreboding ‘Chaos Theory’ – the soundtrack to Tom Clancy’s ‘Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory’, released 7th February on Ninja Tune.

As soon as games giants, Ubisoft decided it was time to seriously raise the bar on computer game soundtracks they got on the case and set their sights on Amon Tobin. Possibly the first ‘proper’ videogame soundtrack to be released as an album in its own right, this is also a blinding record, another worthy addition to Tobin’s ever-developing catalogue.

Made almost entirely of acoustic instruments that have been warped, twisted and chopped up, the result is reminiscent of some of the best ‘spy’ soundtracks of the past, a la Lalo Schiffrin with Amon Tobin’s instantly recognisable, gritty and detailed production. Excellent stuff.

You can check out the track ‘The Lighthouse’ and the video for ‘El Cargo’ from the album HERE, and visit www.ninjatune.net.

Pick of The Week comes in the shape of John Digweed’s latest mix on London’s Fabric Records, Fabric 20 : John Digweed, released this week.

John Digweed’s name is synonymous with lush, deep, engulfing frequencies that move through a mix in waves. ‘Fabric 20’ is bookended by two records containing them; 16b’s kick-free re-work of Pete Moss, and Goldtrix’ blissed-out version of Matrix & Danny J. In between, John builds and blends a stunning set, featuring tracks that challenge the preconception of his tastes.

Filled with deep, bouncy, tech-funk and acidic house grooves, this is a class mix, not just a compilation of the latest lame house tracks to fill up a CD. Click HERE to listen to an official radio mix to promote the fabric album ‘Fabric 20’ and visit www.fabriclondon.com for more info.

Absolute corker of a cover for this weeks’ Pick Of The Week ; ‘Seven Nation Army’, The White Stripes classic covered by The Flaming Lips, recorded especially for their forthcoming compilation CD ‘LateNightTales’.

Playfully dubbed ‘Harry Potter’s and George W. Bush’s Severed Head Army Mix’, while this rendition isn’t faithful to the lyrics of the original it is on par as far as raucousness is concerned with filthy guitars and wailing sirens all over the show. Play loud. Obviously.

Check it out Here (Windows Media) or Here (Real Media).