Thursday 28 December 2017

Xidus Pain & Blacc Sky - Bliss & Desert Islands

Xidus Pain & Blacc Sky - Bliss & Desert Islands
Rap Music From The Soul


The new album from UK rapper Xidus Pain and American counterpart Blacc Sky provides the same kind of chills that Hip-Hop used to when Def Jux were at their peak in the early noughties. Passionate, razor-sharp raps full of coherent, complex metaphors, concepts and messages, avoiding the usual cliches and underpinned by some serious beats... this is everything Hip-Hop should be as far as I'm concerned.

I could list the albums, tracks and rappers I'm reminded of when listening to this, but that would be unfair - the fact is this album and these artists deserve  appreciation based on their own merits.

Having said that, fans of Phi-Life Cipher, Mr Lif, Aesop Rock, Anti-Pop Consortium, Wildchild and Stones Throw/Def Jux styles really should get on this one!

Wednesday 27 December 2017

December Podcast - Best of 2017!

CMFCP December Podcast
Best of 2017!



The CMFCP December Podcast is an extended 90 minute episode in which we rattle through our favourite tracks of 2017! 

Tracks: 
The Black Madonna - His is The Voice I Hear (We Still Believe) 
Piero Umiliani - Discomania (Liuto) 
Zru Vogue - Do The Zru (Eskimo) 
Bonobo - Kerala (Ninja Tune) 
Lindstrom - Drift (Feedelity) 
Apostles - Banko Woman (Cultures of Soul) 
Elbertina 'Twinkie' Clark - Awake O Zion (Mr Bongo) 
Sampha - What Shouldn't I Be? (Young Turks) 
Jackson - Keep Swimming (Self-Release) 
Thundercat - Show Me The Way feat Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins (Brainfeeder) 
Addison Groove - Changa (Self-Release) 
Alessandro Alessandroni - Afro Discoteca (Four Flies) 
Edith Peters - This Is The Moment (Rework by Gerard Frisina) (Schema) 
Com Truise - Idle Withdrawal (Ghostly International) 
Bicep - Glue (Ninja Tune) 
Todd Terje - Jungelknugen (Four Tet Remix) (Olsen Norway) 
Jamie 326 feat Masalo - Testify (Local Talk) 
*End of 'Best of 2017'* 
 New Releases spotlight: 
Ewan Hoozazmi feat Audible One - Freedom (Mr Bird Remix) (Particle Zoo) 
Tundra - The River (Particle Zoo) 

Africa Airways Four (Disco Funk Touchdown - 1976 - 1983)



Africa Airways Four (Disco Funk Touchdown - 1976 - 1983)

Africa 7



The ever-impressive Africa 7 are regulars to this blog for good reason. The very finest sounds from Africa reissued, licensed and collected in exciting, relevant compilations is always likely to score big points over here.
The fourth installment of their Africa Airways series amps up the Disco-Funk at the expense of the Psych nuggest in episode 3, and hosts luminous figures like Tala AM, Manu Dibango and Charly Kingson alongside names less internationally known but no less exceptional if this comp is anything to go by!



Available at all good stockists - Juno here or Bandcamp here

Saturday 16 December 2017

Barclay Crenshaw & Mad Zach - Hiroglifix (Video)

Barclay Crenshaw & Mad Zach - Hiroglifix
Dirtybird

If Andrew Weatherall, J Dilla and Parliament met up with Sbtrkt and made a soundtrack for a bar scene in an intergalactic adventure movie, this would probably be what it sounded like. Chuck in some Zeitgeist/psy-trance style animation and you've got something rather delectable.

Lovely.

Stay in touch with Barclay Crenshaw by signing up to his mailer here  


Wednesday 13 December 2017

The Mind-Reading Space Lasers - Xmas in Space

The Mind-Reading Space Lasers - Xmas in Space
Self-released



Any DJs or party organisers out there will know the bittersweet prospect of the busiest time of year, replete with part-time party-goers and their horrendous opinions, low alcohol tolerance and slowly manifesting childhood traumas. Lots of people out and about, lots of people having fun, and lots more having a little too much fun.
Well, neutralise those pesky requesters by giving them just what they... they asked for Christmas music, right? And what's more Christmassy than Band Aid and The Snowman?

Exactly. You can thank me later.


Everyone needs to see the ridiculous videos too



Sunday 10 December 2017

Guy One - Everything You Do, You Do For Yourself

Guy One - Everything You Do, You Do For Yourself
Philophon




Guy One is Guy One because he's number one! That's what Philophon say and who are we to argue. The 'number 1 Frafra artist in the world' duly delivers a record that fulfils the hyperbole and then some. It's melodic, exquisitely composed and features some truly amazing percussion sounds. Highlife music never sounded so good!

Here's what Philophon have to say:




With the single "Everything You Do, You Do For Yourself" North-Ghanaian Kologo master Guy One opens the door to his first international release #1, which will be available end of January 2018. Guy One promises what his name is saying: he is the number one artist of Frafra music, named after his people: the Frafra. 

"Everything You Do, You Do For Yourself" is his only song having a phrase in English. Here he is following the example of his collegue and friend King Ayisoba, who introduced the use of English into Frafra music a few years ago. The beat is a driving Highlife rhythm. That's the kind of groove we all love Ghana for! 

On "Estre" we have special guest Florence Adooni, one of the leading voices of Frafra-Gospel. She is interweaving perfectly with the horn arrangements by Max Weissenfeldt, as well the drummer of the song, and gives after her part the lead to Mr. Guy One - yeah, the number one!



Bit of a wait on this - vinyl ships late January 2018, but get your pre-orders in now as I doubt it will stick around!

Boca 45 / Mohawkestra - Bear Pit

Boca 45/Mohawkestra - Bear Pit
Bomb Strikes



Bristolian beat King Boca 45 is a man who knows a thing or two about dusty breaks and 7" records. The 45 Live lynchpin has been integral to the recent revival of 45 culture, and here teams up with fellow Bristolians Mohawkestra to deliver another killer record. The A-Side, Bear Pit, references one of Bristol's infamous institutions, the Bear Pit - a place where artists, anarchists, tramps, pissheads, punks, crusties, rastas and drug dealers intersect with shoppers and office workers in the centre of Broadmead. 


Fittingly, Bear Pit oozes punch-drunk swagger, gritty funk and psychedelic swirls. Utilising the exceptional musicianship of enormously popular local live act Mohawkestra, Bear Pit delivers on many levels.
Featuring Kelvin Swaby, B-Side Round & Round feels like a blend of The Meters, The Rolling Stones and The White Stripes. Rousing, idiosyncratic and just brilliant.

Straight in at No.1 on the Funk chart, get it below



Friday 1 December 2017

November Podcast!

CMFCP Podcast
November 2017

A collection of tracks featured on the blog (and a couple of about-to-be-featured ones)

Tracklist

  • 1Slipping Underby Sumsuch
  • 2Ratto Neroby MNP
  • 3Maskindansby Todd Terje feat Det Gylne Triaangel
  • 4In Another Timeby Courtney Pine feat Omar Lyfouk
  • 5Driftby Bicep
  • 6After Omegaby Long Distance Dan feat Sam Crick
  • 7Sensual Timesby Junko Ohashi
  • 8Sunrise Boulevardby Gemini Rising
  • 9Phantasmagoriaby Frenic feat Hugo Kant
  • 10Keep Swimmingby Jackson