Weekly Wrap: Fire & Smoke.

Short and sweet (unlike the actual week)… new photos added to various galleries, available for viewing here. ¶ Long live vinyl! Record store day took place on April 17th; see the official site. ¶ The world’s first street art disaster movie: Banksy’s movie starts screening over the next few weeks in a small number of theatres in the USA, hopefully a wider (worldwide?) release soon. ¶ Is anyone else worried about the increased number of natural disasters lately? Numerous earthquakes, Iceland’s volcanic eruptions cripple air travel across the UK (currently in it’s 4th consecutive day), and massive fireballs in the sky. Is the end near?

Musically: re-visiting Sven Weisemann’s Xine project.  Xine Rising is modern classical / ambient / house music to zone out to. ¶ Hollie Smith at Sale Street on Wednesday was an interesting event; read more here ¶ Looking forward to The Black Dog album “Music For Real Airports”.  Interactive artist Human have created the following teaser: (more…)

Weekly Wrap: Brought to you by the letter B.

What a musical month March was… The Miami Winter Music Conference once again saw DJ’s & Producers from around the world come together to party and showcase, well, something.  So far, lots of interviews – including Seth Troxler on drugs and umm, bats (“bats! fucking bats!”) - but as of yet it has failed to deliver “this year’s hottest track” – unless I’ve completely missed the announcements, which is possible considering I’ve been swept away with a fantastic Massive Attack concert [review] plus new albums from Hollie Smith [my review @ Amplifier] and Erykah Badu [review] … My hits, misses and other moments from the past week or so: (more…)

Return of the Ankh.

The second in a 3-part series (all originally slated for release in 2008, but artists can’t be rushed!), “New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh” is the “right side of the brain” – emotional and based around love…told with Erykah Badu’s unique twist.

The artwork for “Part One: 4th World War” summed up the album perfectly: dark, political, worldly and heavy.  It delivered complex and jagged soundscapes, smokey atmospheres with Badu’s voice often the only light shining through the fog.  Meanwhile, “Part Two” instantly appears lighter: the artwork is brighter, flourishing and has a garden growing from the mind Erykah’s “robot-girl” form.  Opening with a sonic frequency sweep which rushes through like a summer breeze, it’s instantly warmer.
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I just want a ticket outta town.

“Window Seat” is the first single from Erykah Badu’s upcoming album “New Amerykah Part 2: Return Of The Ankh”. Produced by Erykah with James Poyser, it’s the closest thing to her 13-year old debut album “Baduizm” – a laid back, summer groove with Questlove on drums, ThunderCat on bass and Poyser on keys.

The new album is due for release on March 30, 2010 and is the second in a 3-part project. Details are slowly being released by Erykah at 3:33 am/pm via her Twitter account – where she released a link to download “Window Seat” on February 6.  Lyrics to the song available here.

2006 Music Review

2006 was a great year for music, especially in my preferred genre of House. There was (and will be for a long time to come) the usual cheesy shite that appeared, but that’s true of any musical style. So here’s what did it for me this year… (more…)