Track of the Week

4 11 2006

What can I say about this past week? Well between long days and long train journeys, this blog took the back-seat. But, in the words of Yazz; the only way is up! Just needed to get into the swing of this new routine - I have a track of the week for you though. One track I have been listening to loads recently is Peach, Plum, Pear, from Joanna Newsom’s 2004 album The Milk-Eyed Mender (it’s better than the version found on Walnut Whales) - I just love the track. I think it is the self-confessed harper’s skills at their best. If you aren’t familiar with Joanna Newsom’s work, then I guess you could call it alternative folk with a heavy emphasis on the harp - give this a listen…

Joanna Newsom - Peach, Plum, Pear
>> download track (YouSendIt)
>> buy album @ Amazon US / Amazon UK
This download link will expire on 17th November.

However, Joanna’s new album (Ys) is to drop shortly and I have a track to share with you also. The new album (out on 14th November) contains just five tracks, but the running time is just short of an hour. This new album has seen Joanna work with Van Dyke Parks for the orchestral arrangement, and I have to say it really does sound beautiful. To look back now in hindsight it does seem like a natural progression to take her harp-folk onto a more cinematic level. It may take a few listens to get into Ys, but the time invested pays huge dividends - I think so anyway. Give Cosmia a go…

Joanna Newsom - Cosmia
>> download track (YouSendIt)
>> buy album @ Amazon US / Amazon UK
This download link will expire on 17th November.

I’m thinking that maybe for now I’ll aim to post blog entries on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday - see how I go with that workload. Enjoy the Joanna Newsom tracks and have a great weekend!

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Categories : Info, Links, New Release, Preview, Track of the Week

Track of the Week

27 10 2006

Friday already?! Sorry for the total lack of posts this week, including the heinous crime of missing Sunday’s Unearthing MySpace Gems - promise I wont do it again. Anyway, how about TM Juke’s new album Forward?! Heard it yet? It’s really good, although it took me two listens to arrive at that blunt conclusion. It’s different from Maps From The Wilderness but maintains the Juke funky style. Alice Russell features on one track again, but this new album also sees guest appearances from a few other artists, including; Kinny, Sophie Faricy, Naim, and Elmore Judd. It’s hard to totally put my finger on this album except to say it’s pretty lounge like, but more in a Mr Scruff approach to lounge - then add some vocalists and typical Juke sounds. It’s definitely one you need to listen to a few times though, then suddenly the penny will drop and you’ll really start to enjoy it. Here’s a taster…

TM Juke - Skin feat. Naim
>> download track
>> buy album @ EtchShop.co.uk
This download link will expire on 10th November.

Something so nostalgic about that track - it seems simple, yet it is so catchy and addictive. One of the shorter tracks on the album, but a right little gem. This album dropped on Tru Thoughts on 16th October, so is ready for you to go cop right now sucka! Have a great weekend.

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Categories : Info, Links, Track of the Week

Track of the Week

20 10 2006

The weekend is upon us all once more and I have for you my track of the week. Being in Australia can often mean we get certain things a little later than the rest of the western world, one such thing being the new Doctor Who series - and I mean the one with Christopher Eccleston! Anyway I think it is class, but one thing I think they should have done is use Orbital’s version of the Doctor Who theme tune - missed opportunity! Check it…

Orbital - Doctor Who
>> download track
>> buy album @ Amazon US / Amazon UK
This download link will expire on 3rd November.

That track is taken from their 2001 album The Altogether, seems like only yesterday that I purchased that album, but turns out it’s something closer to five years ago! Still, class album from a class electronica act - regardless of age, I’d recommend fans of electronica definitely purchase The Altogether, and at least take a peak at Orbital’s other releases from the past however many years.

Have a good weekend, and oh… I finally got a job. :-)

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Categories : Info, Links, Track of the Week

Track of the Week

13 10 2006

Today’s track of the week (or tracks of the week) comes from an album I got just a week ago, and it is easily a nomination for album of the year, as far as I am concerned. Some have described it as romantic electronica, and don’t be fooled, it is far from being as cheesy as it already sounds! I’m talking about Daedelus and his latest album Denies The Day’s Demise. Released this year on Ninja Tune, it really is 15 tracks of pure dynamite. It was tough choosing what to feature, but give this a go…

Daedelus - Sundown
>> download track
>> buy album @ Amazon US / Amazon UK
This download link will expire on 28th October.

Not to blow my own trumpet, but usually if I make a real fuss over a record, there is good reason. I honestly cannot stress enough just how good this album is. Easily one of the best albums of 2006. Each time I listen to it I fall deeper in love with it. I’ve considered reviewing it, but I worry that I simply wont be able to put into words how I feel, or that it will end up spanning 5000 words! Anyway, enough of me creaming myself, check out another track…

Daedelus - Sunrise
>> download track
>> buy album @ Amazon US / Amazon UK
This download link will expire on 28th October.

Make sure you listen to those tracks on at least half-decent headphones - if I find out you listened via shitty laptop speakers… I’ll shoot you. Albeit 15 tracks long, really the album needs to be listened to in one long go - it’s one of those “immerse yourself” type albums. Daedelus has this really bizarre, yet unique, style of being able to create such deep atmospheric electronica, from what would ordinarily be quite standard sounds from such a genre. It’s hard to put my finger on it, but it is like he has created these beautiful compositions, layered them so perfectly, that the blunt outer shell is dissolved somewhere along the way of the listening experience and the intricate innards are released for our aural pleasure. If you like the two tracks above, even just a little bit, you have to buy this album!

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Categories : Info, Links, Track of the Week

Track of the Week

6 10 2006

Today’s track of the week is from a UK hip-hop album that dropped in 2002. The fella that produced the album has now actually moved to America, but more on that in a bit. UK hip-hop is a funny old thing, lots of different sounds and interests, but sadly it quite often goes unnoticed by the masses - which is fine for all those “keep it underground” kinda folks, but sometimes it would be nicer for the deserving artists to get a bit more attention. Lewis Parker’s Its All Happening Now was, as I said previously, released quite some time ago, but it will go down in my books as one of the better UK hip-hop albums of the last four years.

The track I have for you today actually features another UK talent by the name of Jehst. Sadly Lewis Parker and Jehst are no longer on speaking terms, infact Lewis Parker was quoted in an interview to have said “If I see Jehst, he’s getting physically hurt.” - the details are hazy, but supposedly it is to do with a lack of communication with regards to the release of a mixtape. And, ironically, the name of this track is Communications…

Lewis Parker - Communications (Ft. Jehst)
>> download >> buy album @ Amazon UK
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 20th October.

I mentioned near the start of this blog entry that Lewis Parker had now moved to America. He seems to be doing ok for himself as he actually produced one of the tracks off the latest Ghostface album Fishscale. Good to see him making his mark stateside, although I’m sure a lot of people wont know him by name - but you’ll know him via production on Fishscale with his track Shakey Dog…

Ghostface Killah - Shakey Dog
>> download >> buy album @ Amazon US / Amazon UK
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 20th October.

I’m not sure what’s next for Lewis Parker, but if he can make a name for the actual decent hip-hop coming out of the UK over in the states, then his rep will just grow and grow. Remember kids, the quality is always there for the taking if you are willing to dig deep enough!

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Categories : Info, Links, Track of the Week

Track of the Week

29 09 2006

Today I thought I’d share an indie pop/folk track from the latest Regina Spektor album Begin To Hope. I actually heard the track Samson absolutely ages ago, and I love it, but… I only recently checked out this album. It’s like falling in love all over again. First Samson and now Fidelity - although it is worth mentioning that the whole album is strong and another fav of mine is On The Radio - but for you today…

Regina Spektor - Fidelity
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 13th October.

Check out the video too…

Tomorrow I am off to the Parklife festival in Brisbane. I will see Cut Chemist, Mixmaster Mike, and Coldcut, to name a few, and… I’m really excited! Expect a thorough write-up either tomorrow or Monday, personal condition depending, but actually it might be early next week as I’ll need to get photos developed - no digital love here! Be great to hear from any readers that are going to the festival, please don’t stalk and/or stab me though, it’s just not nice… but you can buy me things, that would be good. Ta-ra for now!

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Categories : Info, Links, Track of the Week

Track of the Week

22 09 2006

Been another quiet week, and for that I am sorry, so I’ll try and give you plenty of value for your money(!) today. Just really want to start by reiterating an urgent plea from the mother of a very poorly little fella in the UK…

7 year old Keiton Knight was initially diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, but very recently that has sadly turned into Acute Myeloidblastic Leukaemia and now he must have a Bone marrow Transplant. Time is running out for Keiton and the only way to save his life is to go give blood directly to one of the clinics in London. As Keiton is mixed race (one black and one white parent), his tissue type is very unusual, and as such the donor must also be of mixed race. Specifically the donor must have one black and one white parent, and be between the ages of 18 and 40.

If you believe you can help, please phone the National Blood Service on 0845 7711711. The next drive/clinics, working with the Anthony Nolan Trust, will be held in London during the first two weeks of October - please see the Keiton Knight website for more details. Don’t be scared to put yourself forward as a donor through fear of a painful procedure, for one you could be saving the life of a small child, so the pain should be irrelevant in my book, but actually, one of the procedures for removing the bone marrow stem cells is very simple and near on painless. A small needle will be placed in each arm and the blood is removed from your left arm and is passed through a machine which removes the Stem Cells and the blood is then passed back into your right arm. The procedure takes a few hours tops, and this little boy is desperate for your help - so if you can help, at least by spreading the word of this cause, please do so.

So, still on the job hunt, hence the quiet week on Just Like Music, but I’ve got two tracks for you today. Often I like to share stuff that I’ve had for quite some time, but is still quite obscure - just because something isn’t overly popular, doesn’t mean it isn’t amazing. So first up is a track by Backini, from his/their 2005 album Re:Creation…

Backini - Little Big Horn
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 6th October.

Fantastic downtempo electronica with a totally experimental sound, and that analysis is based more on the listening experience gained from hearing the full album. So many different sounds involved, and at some points during the album it is almost like a more laid back version of Aphex Twin. If you even remotely like the track above, then you should definitely check out the album Re:Creation. Backini is signed to Lumenessence Recordings in Brighton, England.

The other track I have for you is by Finnish jazz duo SlowHill. These fellas combine the talents of a DJ/Producer and a jazz musician to make funky fresh jazz-hop style creations. The track I have for you today is from their 2003 album Finndisc, that was put out on legendary jazz label BlueNote…

SlowHill - Valo
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 6th October.

Two tracks right there that you’ll never be likely to hear on the Billboard top 100 - I hope you enjoy them, and if you do, make sure you follow up that interest by visiting some links I’ll put below, and go buy this stuff!

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Categories : Info, Links, Track of the Week

Track of the Week

15 09 2006

The end of a long week… the start of a great weekend? Every cloud, my friends, every cloud! Today’s track of the week is a combination of two very talented British fellas. One is signed to Tru Thoughts, and the other is signed to the Tru Thoughts sister label Zebra Traffic. TM Juke’s 2003 album Maps From The Wilderness had a totally fresh blend of hip-hop, downtempo, and trip-hop. One of the tracks on the aforementioned album, Wilderness Kids, featured the emcee Rup - or Rup The Cunt, as he is affectionately known. The track paired the chilled out beats from TM Juke and the silky smooth flow of Rup, check it out for yourself…

TM Juke - Wilderness Kids
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 29th September.

Now, I’ve also been listening to Khoiba’s 2004 album Nice Traps a lot this past week, and one of my favourite tracks off that album is That Reason - I did post a link to it the other day, and it will still be active now, so definitely make sure you check that out too…

Khoiba - That Reason
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 19th September.

Some chilled out hip-hop and then some Czech indie electro rock to welcome in your weekend. Have a good one.

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Categories : Info, Links, Track of the Week

Track of the Week

8 09 2006

What to do, what to do? My conundrum is your bonus this week. I couldn’t decide between two tracks by the same artist… so I chose both, yup, two tracks for you this week. They’re by the artist known as Mr. Lif. He’s an emcee from Boston and is currently signed to Def Jux, he is infact one of very few emcees that I actually pay close attention to lyrically. His lyrical content is often deep and controversial, but it is the method of delivery that really captivates me - definitely a unique style going on.

This first track is Return Of The B-Boy - produced by El-P, this is immense, such raw beats and energy, and Lif’s rhymes! This track is clearly a reference to old hip-hop tracks and Mr. Lif’s thoughts with regards to them. Anyway, get it listened to…

Mr. Lif - Return Of The B-Boy
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 22nd September.

The next track is Phantom from 2002’s Emergency Rations EP. Like Return Of The B-Boy, this track has an immense energy about it, like high octane chaos with utmost aural precision. Pay attention to the lyrics, this is a story many of us can relate to in one way or another…

Mr. Lif - Phantom
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 22nd September.

I dare you to check new territory
American dream? Time for another story
One where I don’t choke to keep afloat
I’m sick of livin’ on false visions of hope
With a knife to my own throat
Stick of dynamite inside my overcoat
Because I know the ropes
Reality in this world is bought and sold
A very limited scope of life is shown
And I’m just one of the mold, fully controlled
Left to erode in my humble abode
You won’t hear me because I got no loot
You don’t hear me because you won’t compute
I’m docile, psycho, have you heard of such?
I’m invisible and impossible to touch

You might notice my download links are now from File Den and not YouSendIt, well… smell you later YouSendIt, smell you later forever.

Have a great weekend and be sure to purchase some Mr. Lif whilst you’re out on your travels.

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Categories : Info, Links, Track of the Week

Track of the Week

31 08 2006

Tomáš Dvořák is a Czech composer dedicating his talents towards the electronica and nu-jazz sounds.  He’s better known as Floex.  His album Pocustone was released in 2001, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s an amazing 13 tracks and one hour’s worth of diverse electronic music.  So this week I have chosen the following track as track of the week…

Floex - Phi_log
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 7th September.

Pocustone has been Floex’s only released album to date (soundtracks and remix projects aside), last.fm statistics state that just 500 people have listened to the Floex material, but you crazy cats need to recognise.  If you like your electronica with a hint of jazz, perhaps in a slightly similar vein to fellow Czechs Khoiba or Alvik (but instrumental), then Floex is all systems go.  But… chances are, if you’ve heard of Khoiba or Alvik, then you already know of Floex.  Basically, just listen to the bloody song, then go buy the album… or else.

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Categories : Track of the Week

Track of the Week

25 08 2006

Today’s track comes from Jon Kennedy’s 2005 album Useless Wooden Toys. It was Jon’s third album and this electronic master piece was released on Grand Central Records. Essentially Jon Kennedy’s sound is downtempo electronica, but he approaches that genre from a slightly more raw angle - the sounds produced are very organic and come across in more of a jazz/orchestral manner than your standard downtempo music. Anyway, give this track a listen and judge for yourself…

Jon Kennedy - Never Wed An Old Man
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 1st September.

It was really tough picking one of those tracks as the track of the week. I’ve been listening to the album Useless Wooden Toys a lot recently and there really isn’t a bad song on there - they are all fantastic. Make sure you check out Jon’s stuff, you wont regret it in the least. Plus Jon is a really nice and sociable guy, so if you find yourself adding him to your friends via his MySpace page, expect some sort of conversation to ensue.

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Categories : Track of the Week

Track of the Week

18 08 2006

Kick push kick push kick push kick push… coast.  I feel a little bit like I shouldn’t be feeling Lupe Fiasco, perhaps cos of his Kanye connections and how I’m not so hot anymore on Kanye - but… this track Kick Push is so damn addictive!  If you haven’t heard of Lupe Fiasco, either you live under a rock, or you really just don’t like hip-hop, in which case I am sorry, and also sorry that the last three blog entries have been hip-hop related!  I’m not really sorry, but still.

Lupe Fiasco - Kick Push
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 25th August.

But wait, it gets better.  Check out this remix by Ghost - as I’ve said umpteen times on this blog, Ghost is easily one of my fav UK hip-hop producers, so check out his stuff!

Lupe Fiasco - Kick Push (Ghost Re-edit)
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 25th August.

Right then, kick push out of here and have a great weekend y’all.

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Categories : Track of the Week

Track of the Week

11 08 2006

The new Outkast album is out very shortly, and from what I’ve heard, it’s sounding pretty good. I keep catching the video to Morris Brown on the tv, and it just grows and grows on me. So, here is the track in all its glory…

Outkast - Morris Brown
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 18th August.

The new Outkast album, Idlewild, is due out 22nd August, and the Idlewild movie is due out 25th August. Enjoy.

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Categories : New Release, Track of the Week

Track of the Week

4 08 2006

I’m not particularly into this artist, although I am well aware that he is extremely popular. But I first heard this track when I saw the film Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind (brilliant film, by the way). I’ve heard the track under several guises and incarnations over the years - but this version, as I then instantly realised, is by far the best I have ever heard…

Beck - Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime
>> download <<
This download is a sample of the music only and must be deleted from your computer within 24 hours of downloading. This download link will expire on 11th August.

Beck’s version of this track holds so much more emotion and power, in comparison to any other version I’ve heard. The intro is recognisable in all versions, but when Beck’s first vocal drops… it just sends chills down my spine. The build up is perfect, minimal, yet blended beautifully. I’m a sucker for strings too, so that to me was the icing on the cake.

Change your heart
Look around you
Change your heart
It will astound you
I need your lovin’
Like the sunshine

Everybody’s gotta learn sometime
Everybody’s gotta learn sometime
Everybody’s gotta learn sometime

The track was originally written by James Warren and performed by The Korgis in 1980. Beck’s cover, as previously mentioned, was featured in the film, and on the soundtrack to, Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind in 2004. I’d have to rate it as one of my favourite songs of all time.

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