Foreign Exchange

One of the albums of the year for me has been Foreign Exchanges "Leave it All Behind". Here is a video clip celebrating their successful year


Happy Holidays from The Foreign Exchange from The Foreign Exchange on Vimeo.

James Brown Youtube Tribute

It's been two years since the passing of the Godfatha. The single biggest influence on my musical taste.
Here, as a tribute, are a few of my favourite Soul Brother No1 Youtube clips

True Ohio Players - Can You See The Playerz

Loving this jazzy hip hop collaboration between Count Bass D and J Rawls. Not loving the price of the 7" though due to the Pound being so week against the Yen.

Available on Jazzy Sport Morioka





Listen to samples here

http://jazzysport.tistory.com/entry/True-Ohio-Players-Can-You-See-The-Playaz-7inch-New-Release

Count Bass D - Neon Soul Video

Found this ace video on the Jazzy Sport website

Directed By Distrakt: Count Bass D - Neon Soul from Distrakt on Vimeo.

Dam Funk

LA based Dam Funk has, along with Stones Throw label mate James Pants, been instrumental in helping revive boogie and electro funk sounds through his DJ'ing and productions.
Dam Funk - Burgundy City


Dam Funk remix of Baron Zen's Burn Rubber

Burn Rubber (Dam Funk Remix) - Baron Zen

Purchase Dam Funk products here
http://www.stonesthrow.com/damfunk

Barbara Mitchell – Never had a love like this before

Omar - Outside

From Omar's third and my favourite album "For Pleasure"

Kaidi Tatham - In Search Of Hope

Kaidi is a Birmingham born, London based jazz keyboard wiz who has been an integral part of the "broken beat" scene. He is a member of Bugz In The Attic, Silhouette Brown, DKD and has appeared as a producer and remixer of many quality tunes over the last decade. He released his own LP, Feed The Kat, under the Agent L moniker and 5 years later he follows it up with the release of "In Search of Hope"

Only on Japanese import at the moment and with the Yen being very strong against the Pound it's very pricey.

http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/334912-01.htm

Hopefully a UK release will be forthcoming

Myspace

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=23239919

Recloose feat Rachel Fraser Catch A Leaf (Marc De Clive Lowe remix)

Sound of Southport Weekender 43 Beat Bar for me.

Originally only available on the Japanese CD version of Recloose's album Perfect Timing now available on a digital download.

The remix is by the globetrotting Marc de Clive Lowe (now based in the USA I believe) and he fuses jazz, house and broken beat into this amazing remix

Available from Juno

http://www.junodownload.com/ppps/products/1374346-02.htm

Recloose myspace

http://www.myspace.com/mattchicoine

Soul's Back EP

EP featuring tracks from the French Soulab record label which gave us the excellent Allen Hoist "Retrofuturistic Soul Experience"

I'm really enjoying the track Just Come By from Les Nubians & Eric Pierre. A slice of 21st Century soulful boogie sung in English and French.
Listen to the track and make a digital purchase here
http://www.soulab.com/
Get a vinyl copy here
http://www.fatcity.co.uk/sales/pages/MusicPageRichMedia.aspx?pageid=16958

Joy Jones - The Joy / This Too Shall Pass

I've been waiting a while until this track got an official release. In part because I wanted to feature the excellent cover art work from London's Mitchy Bwoy.

Joy Jones is an American who is connected to the London brokenbeat/nu jazz community. Indeed her album ,GODCHILD, is due out early 2009 and is produced by Bugz in The Attic.

This 12", released RecordBreakin contains a host of remixes from the likes of Daz I Kue and San Fransico's Spinnerty.
http://www.recordbreakin.com/index.html

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=15188023

Cesar Commanche - Hands High

New video from original Justus League member Ceser Commanche




Hands High is 9th Wonder produced, always been a big fan of his work as he always uses samples from the best 70's soul. In this case You Can't Hide by Creative Source is being used

Cesar Commanche is on A.B.B records

http://www.abbrecords.com/

Far Out's Best Of 2008 - Special Promotion

Far Out records are having a pre Christmas sale. You can pick up the four albums above for £5.99
http://www.faroutrecordings.com/dept/~best-of-2008-sal/

Y2K - Mix

I was asked to do a mix for a friends blog, sadly he's having some technical problems so he hasn't posted it up so I've decided to stick it up here. The idea behind is to put together some of my favourite tunes of the noughties so far.



Tracklist
Tiffany Villareal – You, yourself and you (Blackbeard rework)
Alison Crockett – UR (Yam Who mix)
N’Dambi – Call me
Sarah Devine – Take me home
Jill Scott – Gimme
Sunburst Band – You make me so hot (Yam Who mix)
Common ft Erykah Badu – The Light (J Dilla mix)
Yvette Michelle – Midnight Feeling
Jazzy Jeff ft Eric Roberson – Rock wit u
Pete Rock ft Leela James – No tears
Foreign Exchange – Come around
Rapheal Saddiq – Sky can you feel me

Foreign Exchange ft Muhsinah - Daykeeper Video

Nish Nash Nosh this Saturday (13th December) Mint Lounge Manchester

Myself and Mike O'Mara will be holding down the backroom of Nish Nash Nosh this Saturday @ The Mint Lounge, Oldham Street, Manchester.
Check out some of Mike's mixes here
http://mikeomara.podomatic.com/entry/2008-07-24T01_48_06-07_00

Expect to hear music featured on this blog. Contact me for £2 guestlist (normal price is £6)

Facebook details
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=37063084489&ref=nf

Wynd Chymes - Baby Your The One

Ace boogie tune that's been getting plenty of plays on Benji B's Deviation show on 1 xtra.

Wynd Chymes where a group from Jackson, Mississippi. They had a couple of major label releases on RCA in the 80's but also a rare 7" released on Shakin Records.

It's been re-issued on Lotus Land records
http://www.lotuslandrecords.net/

Anthony Valadez - Go

New 7" on the RecordBreakin' label

Anthony Valadez is a dj/artist/grass root pundit and musician based in Los Angeles. Having toured with former Interscope Recording RES, alongside Talib Kweli and Jean Grae, Valadez quickly developed an appreciation for the production side of things.


In 2004, Valadez was handpicked by Carlos Nino (Spaceways Radio//Build An Ark) to remix selections of Ammon Contact's previous work. The finished product featured Lil Sci (John Robinson) and Stacy Epps on vocals. The project was released by Plug Research. This led to his dj/scratch contributions to various projects such as Dwight Trible and The Life Force Trio album released on Nina Tune and featured Madlib, Daedelus, Dilla and other beat heavyweights.

This classy piece of soul music has Wendisue on vocals, rhymes by John Robinson and ,if you look at the credits, drums from groundbreaking electronic producer Flying Lotus

http://www.myspace.com/antvalabeats

Listen and purchase from here
http://www.recordbreakin.com/rmb006.html

Steve Marshall & Touch - Do What You Will

Re-issue on DopeBrother records of a rare as rocking horse shit album from Steve Marshall.

Contains the mixes on the 12" of Do What What You Will and Maintain

If you love disco but with intricate jazz instrumentation then this is for you.

Available from CD Baby
http://cdbaby.com/cd/marshallsteve

Youtube clip of Maintain & Do What You Will

Bukola - Hypnotised (Marc Mac remix)

New 12" on Slipped Disc records from the beautiful Bukola. The 12" includes the album mix, a mix from Domu but my choice being the bass heavy bounce privided by my favourite producer / remixer Marc Mac

http://www.myspace.com/bukolabiz

Listen a clip of the Marc Mac mix and purchase from here

https://www.fatcity.co.uk/sales/pages/MusicPageRichMedia.aspx?pageid=16818

Video of the album mix

Midnight Express - Danger Zone

Ace piece of 80's boogie recently revived by Dam Funk. It has been re-issued so you should be able to get yourself a copy without falling out with the missus.
Video is so bad it's good

Grooveman Spot ft Muhsinah - Down To You

Brand new 12" from one of my favourite current producers, Japan's Grooveman Spot. Featured on the track Down To You is the rising star of left field soul, Muhsinah.
Also on the 12" is John Robinson flowing over Spot's head nod beats on the track 2 Things

Planet Groove myspace

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=1000371800

21st Century Soul Vol 3

3rd and final installment of this series for 2008. Here's hoping 2009 is as blessed with as many contemporary soul tunes so the series can continue



Tracklist
Katalyst & Steve Spacek - How About Us
Art Bleek - Into Knowledge
J Boogie's Dubtronic Science ft Rebirth - Leave it All Behind
Liquid Souls - Say it Isn't So
Kidkanevil ft Kissey Asplund - When I Dig
Guynamite ft Krystal Hardwick - The Who
2000 Black - So Right
Reel People ft Omar - Outta Love (4 Hero Mix)
Madlid ft Frezna - Yo Yo Affair
Reggie B - It Gets Better
Morgan Zarate ft Eska & Ghostface - Sticks and Stones
Erik Rico - So High
Foreign Exchange - If She Breaks Your Heart

Also available as a podcast
http://passthefeelingon.podomatic.com/entry/2008-12-03T13_22_02-08_00

Northern Disco Edits

To celebrate Northern Disco returning to Manchester this Friday (28th November)with special guest Simon Lee (Faze Action) we have two exclusive Northern Disco Edits available

Unforgettable

Wear It Out



To download left click on the Divshare logo and go to "download original"



For more information checkout the facebook group
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=5709776618&ref=ts

Mayer Hawthorne-Just Ain't Gonna Work Out

Out on Stonesthrow records

THE BEST IDEA FOR VINYL PRESSING EVER!!

88 Keys ft Bilal - M.I.L.F

Song title of the year surely?

Taken from producer 88 Keys new album "The Death of Adam" featuring the distinctive vocals of Bilal

Eddie Russ- See The Light / Take a Look At Yourself

Timely re-issue on Soul Brother records (it's going to save me some money) of two albums from 70's Jazz funk musician Eddie Russ.

See The Light contains Zaius which is a big fave with the old school jazz-funkers. My personal choice is the title track of Take a Look At Yourself


This album also contains the rare groove classic I Heard That

http://www.fatcity.co.uk/Sales/pages/MusicPageRichMedia.aspx?pageid=16677
More info about Eddie Russ here:
http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Eddie%20Russ.html

N'Dambi - Insecurity

Erykah Badu's former backing singer with a new track. Her 3rd album is expected in 2009 on the legendary Stax record label.

http://www.myspace.com/ndambi

I Found My Smile Again (Remake)

Remake of 1996 soundtrack tune, the new single from the long, long, long awaited 3rd album from D'Angelo. Slated for release this spring 2009 through the RCA Music Group and J Records.

Hip Hop Got Soul

Tracklist

Strange Fruit Project - Special
Saukretes - Play Dis
Iomos Marad - Straight Out Chicago
Asheru - Mood Swings
Lone Catalysts - Once Again
M.O.A.R & Rashaan Ahmad - Seasons Change
Grooveman Spot - Benzaiten love
Jazz Liberatorz - Indonesia
Kev Brown - Always
P.H.E.A.R - I love her again
Tanya Morgan - We Doin' Our...
The Roots - Proceed II
Souls of Mischief - 93 till Infinity

Tettorybad feat. Randolph

Sleep Walker - Brotherhood (Remixes)

Sleepwalker are high quality Japanese combo who produce jazz in a traditional style, maybe a little too traditional for me.

It is therefore exciting to get my hands on this remixes 12" on Jazzmin records.

Side A features two remixes of the track "Brotherhood" from a couple of my favourite producers, Marc Mac and DJ Mitsu.

Side B features "Resurrection" remixed by Burnley's number one nu jazz musician Diesler assisted by Dutch group the Jazz Invaders. This is at breakneck speed and the best jazz dancers will enjoy flinging some foot to this one.

The final remix is the Steven J remix of Brotherhood

Listen to samples here:

http://www.fatcity.co.uk/sales/pages/MusicPageRichMedia.aspx?pageid=16404

J-Boogie's Dubtronic Science

Justin "J Boogie" Boland is a San Francisco based producer. He releases music with a good groove ranging from soul, funk, hip hop and boogie all coming through the Om record label.

His latest project is an album called Soul Vibrations featuring the above styles of music with contributions from Rich Medina, Ohmega Watts and the Rebirth (featured on my favourite track "Leave it all behind")

Check out the latest video, Inferno

Myspace
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=3332448

Q-Tip - Move

J Dilla production

Kissey Asplund @ Hoya:Hoya Saturday 25th October, Manchester

Looking forward to this on Saturday. The first appearance in Manchester for Swedish singer Kissey Asplund who features heavily on this blog.

She will be appearing at the night Hoya:Hoya, a great monthly night in Manchester that features the best in cutting edge hip hop, broken beats, dub step, soul, disco, afro-beat etc etc. The night is at the Roadhouse on Newton Street in Manchester. A top unpretentious venue with a great soundsystem and drinks at nice prices



Facebook details
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=41899297128&ref=ts

Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/hoyahoyamcr

Four Tops Baby I Need Your Lovin'

Rest in Peace Levi Stubbs

Side Effect - S.O.S

From the 1976 album "What You Need" which also contains Always There

Foreign Exchange- Leave It All Behind

Four years ago the album Connected was released. It was a collaboration between Little Brother emcee Phonte and Dutch producer Nicolay. This album came about through the exchange of music over instant messenger. Not the case on the follow up as Nicolay has relocated from Holland and now resides in North Carolina, close to his Little Brother associates


Mine and many peoples favourite track on Connected was the soulful number "Come Around". Leave It All Behind continues in this direction with mainly soulful vocals provided by Darien Brockington, vocalist on Come Around as well as Muhsinah, Yahzarah and the biggest surprise of all Phonte, who proves himself to be an accomplished singer as well as an emcee.
Favourite track for me is the cover of a 1991 Stevie Wonder track which I'll admit to not knowing. "If She Breaks Your Heart" features the vocals of Yahzarah as well as additional production from Marc Mac


http://www.theforeignexchangemusic.com/

Erik Rico - Too High/Make it Funky

New 12" by Erik Rico on the Jazzy Sport label. When I first saw this I was a little unsure if these cover versions of Stevie Wonder and James Brown classics would work. Now it's rotating on my turntable I'm absolutely loving it. They keep the funk and soul essence of the originals but are firmly placed in 2008 production wise. You don't even notice they are cover versions.

Listen to samples here

http://www.jazzysport.com/news/nr/erik_rico/index.html

Available from Fat City

http://www.fatcity.co.uk/sales/pages/MusicPageRichMedia.aspx?pageid=16212

Kindred the Family Soul - The Arrival

New album from husband and wife team, Kindred the Family Soul

Listen to samples here:

http://shop.hiddenbeach.com/index.php?target=products&product_id=30477

Here's Far Away from their debut album

Opaz - When we're making love

One of the best tunes of the early 90's UK street soul era. Opaz is Ray Hayden, the man who brought us Martine Girault's revival

Check out http://badboy-soul.blogspot.com/ . The best resource on the internet for the UK street soul sound

Kidkanevil - Back Off Man I'm a Scientist

New album due out soon from Leeds based producer Kidkanevil.
The first single "When I Dig" featuring passthefeelingon favourite Kissey Asplund (playing in Manchester soon) is getting heavy rotation at the moment.


To celebrate the release of his second album he has made his first album, Problems & Solutions. available for a free download here
http://rapidshare.com/files/150111812/Problems_Solutions.zip

Worth downloading just to listen to "Good Morning, What's New" with Andreya Triana.
Only available for 2 weeks

http://www.kidkanevil.com/

Q-Tip - Getting Up

Natural High - I Think I'm Falling in Love With You

Classic 2 step rare groove from 1979. Came out on the Chimneyville records label. The original album is very rare but you can get a copy on the Volume 1 of the excellent "Wants List" series on SoulBrother records

http://www.soulbrother.co.uk/wants.htm

Opio-Some Superfly Sh!t" Remix Feat. Del the Funky Homosapien and Guilty Simpson

As a teen, Opio hooked up with local rappers Tajai and A-Plus, whom he met through Casual, another emcee who was Opio's classmate and neighbor. The three instantly clicked and began recording together, soon adding fourth emcee Phesto Dee, to form the group Souls of Mischief. Together with Del the Funky Homosapien, Casual, Domino, and Pep Love, the legendary crew Hieroglyphics was born. Opio has always done double duty for Hiero as both an emcee and producer. Opio's recent production credits include the track "Naked Fonk" from Del's recent 11th Hour. Opio's first solo effort, 2005's Triangulation Station, moved over 20,000 units. Vulture's Wisdom, Volume 1 is the first chapter of a forthcoming trilogy from Opio. All three albums are produced by Oakland-based The Architect and will be released on Hiero Imperium records.
http://media.audibletreats.com/Opio-Some_Superfly_Shit.mp3

Opio myspace
http://www.myspace.com/opiolindsey

Jazzanova ft Paul Randolf - Let Me Show Ya

After the success of Amy Winehouse's Back to Black album everybody seems to have jumped upon a sixties soul bandwagon. When I first heard this track from Germany's most stylish music producers, Jazzanova, I thought here we go again.

How foolish of me, this is a soul classic in any era with no expense spaired on the production to give it genuine classic sound

Have a listen on their myspace page.

http://www.myspace.com/jazzanovask

Dr Lonnie Smith @ Sela Bar, Leeds October 28/29/30

I shall be popping over the M62 to the fair city of Leeds to see Hammond funk legend Dr Lonnie Smith perform at the Sela Bar in Leeds. He'll be on for three nights from Tuesday 28th October until Thursday 30th of October.

I'll profess to not knowing that much about Dr Lonnie Smith. What I do know is making me look forward to the show





For more information on Dr Lonnie Smith
http://www.drlonniesmith.com/

Information on the venue and booking tickets
http://www.myspace.com/selabar

Peabo Bryson - I've been down

Classic, classic two step rare groove. One of my favourites. I have this on a Capital records complilation. Really need to track down an original copy.

Patricia Marx - Burning Luv

Found this clip on youtube of Brazilian singer Patricia Marx. It's from her self titled album that came out a few years ago on Ether records.

Art Bleek - Urban Watcher EP

Art Bleek, known by his mother as Arthur Pochon, is a Paris based producer with a classically-trained jazz background who makes music that can fall into a variety of genres but all containing a touch of jazz. The Urban Watcher EP sees Art producing frantic broken beats on the title track, nu soul on the track Into Knowledge through to the mellow hip hop of Plat du Jour
Listen to samples here
http://www.myspace.com/artbleek

Available from Piccadilly Records
http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/

Illa J ft Guilty Simpson - RU Listening

Illa J is the kid brother of the late great James Yancey. Michael Ross,the founder of Delicious Vinyl, felt that he should the rightful heir to a CD of unused J Dilla beats that were in the vaults from when he was Delicious Vinyl go to producer in the 90's, responsible for albums such as Pharcydes Labcabincalifornia.

The result of Illa J rhyming over big brothers beats is an album Yancey Boys available in November

RU Listening
http://media.audibletreats.com/Illa_J-R_U_Listenin_feat_Guilty_Simpson.mp3

We're Here
http://media.audibletreats.com/Illa_J-We_Here.mp3

http://www.myspace.com/illajmusic

Reel People ft Omar - Outta Love (4 Hero Mix)

Due out soon on the Japanese label Especial is a 12" of remixes from the Reel Peoples 7 Ways to Wonder album

Highlight for me by a long way is the remix of Outta Love featuring the vocals of UK soul legend Omar. A great slice of 21st Century soul with a tough Bossa Nova beat under it. Knowing Especial it wont be cheap but it will be the best quality vinyl pressing

Listen to a sample here


http://www.myspace.com/reelpeople

J Rawls presents The Liquid Crystal Project 2

Part 2 of J Rawls Liquid Project where, much like Marc Mac's Visioneers project, the samples made famous on classic hip hop records are replayed by a live band.

Highlights for me are the Tribute to The Beatminerz (where the saxaphone sample from Smif-N-Wessun's Bucktown get used) Lorens Dance Redux (an interpretation of Grover Washington JR's Laurens Dance as used by ATCQ on Push It Along) and Digital Funky featured below.



http://www.myspace.com/theliquidcrystalproject