POAO!
Posted by Rex in Fresh stock, Recent releases, Record of the Month on March 11th, 2010
THE PUBLIC OPINION AFRO ORCHESTRA
“Do Anything Go Anywhere”
I’m a little slow getting to the new releases lately. Here’s one that dropped a couple of weeks ago. It’s the hip new thing after they amazed everyone at WOMADELAIDE.
CHRIS HAD THIS TO SAY:
An incredible debut album from this perfect Melbourne afrobeat collective. Hot on the heels of their impeccable vinyl-only release Two Sides of the Truth/Do Anything Go Anywhere, (picttured right) The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra have made an album to command the attention of world music fans, hip hop aficionados, jazz cats, funk and soul freaks and indie hipsters alike. There are strong echoes of the Afrobeat movement from the 1960s-70s, as well as the influences of the African diaspora in Australia over the past decade, yet this is boundary free, totally modern music that sounds as fresh in the clubs as on the streets of Melbourne where it was born.
Do Anything Go Anywhere delivers seven irresistibly loose-limbed, exotic jams which resonate with ferocious grooves, positive messages, conscious hip hop and gutsy soul. Lyrical odes to the power of resistance and the spirit of the African and Australian people hit home with smoking hot sing song vocals, heavy duty horns, gritty guitar grooves, jazzy solos, all snaking out on top of the infectious polyrhythms of the percussion section. EXTREME LOCAL PRIDE
REX HAD THIS TO SAY:
12″ Cover artwork is crazy. Props to Suzie Bates. I haven’t seen the CD cover yet, but I’ll insert it into the blog once I get my hands on it.
Limited Edition 12″ still available in strictly limited quantities. Includes instrumental versions… nice.
Congo Tardis #1
Posted by Rex in DJ Mix (Downloads), Gigs, News on February 23rd, 2010
Congo Tardis #1,
Northside Records and Ay Caramba present:
Edits #1
Launch Party:
Friday 26th February
The Mercat Cross Basement
The debut compilation from the Congo Tardis #1 crew, proud presenters of tropical club music. Edits #1 digs into the CT#1 record collections and produces some clean, healthy and uplifting jams to finish off the Melbourne summer.
A favorite dancehall riddem from CT#1 gets a big refix from Ms Butt, and in the process claiming it as an Aussie anthem. Lewis CanCut explores a congo disco great from the crates, and whips up a dubby disco jam of niceness. The Pharoah adds a little cut, duplicate and paste to an Ivory Coast / French jammer, aptly named Paris Tropical.
The big bonus comes from long time Congo Tardis friend Harmon, who drops a unique world edit (but is actually an original composition). Somewhere between afro beat and disco, inspired by a session at Revolver DJ’ing between Ms Butt and Paz.
Northside Records is ‘THE’ affliate for the hardcopy CD version. Ask us for a promo copy.
Ay Caramba is helping us launch our product on Friday 26th of February. Free versions of the CD are available to the first 20 people of the Congo Tardis conga line. Participation is a must. For those who are happy with a 320 MP3 check out the links via the CT#1 soundcloud page or the Ay Caramba blog.
CONGO TARDIS #1:
DOWNLOADS
ANTIBALAS AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA Melbourne
FRI 5TH MARCH
With Dead Dog and Chris Gill
SPECIAL OFFER
Tickets NOW ONLY $33.00 + inc. booking fee
Available from Northside Records.
ANTIBALAS AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA
Direct from Brooklyn, New York, for the first time in Australia … the ANTIBALAS AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA. Celebrating the sound founded by Nigerian legend Fela Kuti, the group has captured the fat, wall-of-brass horn passages, grounded by that ever-present baritone, and layered, polyrhythmic grooves that raise 70’s funk to a spiritual plane.
Although their music is primarily Afrobeat, it incorporates elements of jazz, funk, dub, improvised music, and traditional drumming from Cuba and West Africa. The Antibalas sound is so varied, the likes of Amy Winehouse, TV On The Radio and Public Enemy have reached out to work with the group. Most recently, the Antibalas horn section joined The Roots in backing Paul Sion the Jimmy Fallon show.
When Jay Z decided to take on Broadway, he invited Antibalas to join him in producing Fela, his debut stage show about the life of one of music’s true heroes. If your talking Afrobeat in 2010 you have to be talking about ANTIBALAS. In the words of Pitchfork “they lead the pack”.
ANTIBALAS is Spanish for “bulletproof” and that word just about sums up the ANTIBALAS live experience. The 11 piece group have moved crowds from Rikers Island Prison to Carnegie Hall, from Tokyo to Turkey and now Australia for the very first time.
Gil Scott-Heron: I’m New Here
Posted by Rex in Fresh stock, News, Recent releases on February 4th, 2010
Here’s a man who needs no introduction. If you’re on your game, you’ve probably already bagged this release and checked out the amazing sounds on the record.
If you’re a little slow off the mark – or a relative newcomer to the funk/soul/hiphop world, you better listen up…
Along with ‘The Last Poets’, GIL SCOTT-HERON is the most important proto-rapper of the last five decades. ‘I’m New Here’ is his first album in thirteen years…
Produced by XL label owner Richard Russell, “I’m New Here” sees Gil reflecting on his life with his trademark vocal power and insight, sharing his visions among Russell’s flickering, electronic soundscapes; which at various times conjure up thoughts of BURIAL and THE XX, (+DJ Shadow, Portishead, Tricky) as well as a host of hip-hop influenced sounds. The album is brave, contemporary and quintessentially Gil Scott-Heron.
Check it out ya damn self! It’s in stock now – but tomorrow is a brand new day.
The Raah Project
RRR, TRUE LIVE and MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE Presents…
Join Melbourne’s Raah Project, for a one night only event at the new Recital Center with their 17 Piece Ensemble playing selections from the Debut Album SCORE. Described by Gilles Peterson as “Up there and Beyond” and Italian Vogue as “one of the most innovative projects afloat” Raah perform for one night only before an extensive European Tour. Support from Paris Wells.
www.myspace.com/raahproject | Tickets: www.melbournerecital.com.au
Breakestra in your area!
Get Funked …
I’m not sure if anyone ever reads our highly opinionated and often misleading blog….? However, if by chance you have stumbled upon it you might have read the part where I was talking up the upcoming Breakestra / J-Rocc / Space Invadas show at Sydney’s Becks Bar – well the good news is that the Breakestra show is coming to Melbourne, and will also be stopping at Byron Bay and Brisbane. Hot Damn! Big shout out to Flow Poetry who will be supporting in Byron Bay and props to all our other Northside peeps who will be supporting other Australian shows – GSAN, Deep Street Soul and Space Invadas (Katalyst + Steve Spacek). NOT TO BE MISSED!
The big question is…. will Mix Master Wolf be coming on this tour – or do the US and Australian Governments still think he is a terrorist threat???? One thing is for sure – J-Rocc will be dropping bombs everywhere he graces the wheels of steel. “Best DJ in the known universe” as voted by me. BOOM!
Space Invadas: “Follow the Signs”
Posted by Rex in DJ Mix (Downloads), News on December 16th, 2009
Free Mixtape Download:
SPACE INVADAS
Follow The Signs
Steve Spacek and Katalyst droppin’ some mad summer heat right here! A dope-arse teaser for y’all. It’s a little taste of what’s to come from Space Invadas in 2010. Their debut album Soul:Fi will be out in March, but just so you dont have to wait till then Space Invadas have cooked up a fresh mix tape to keep you going over summer.
Featuring unreleased + exclusive material from the Space Invadas duo, including snippets and remixes of album tracks, bonus tracks that won’t be on the album, new tunes from Katalyst and Steve’s other projects and lots more good stuff. Catch Space Invadas live over summer – Days Like This, Becks Bar, Melbourne Zoo. Look to the sky and listen… Space Invadas are coming!!
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DOWNLOAD
HOT TIP:
One of this summer’s hottest line-up plays the Becks Bar in Sydney. BREAKESTRA, SPACE INVADAS and J-ROCC. Damn!!! Remember who told you… A few of the early demos of the SOUL:FI album are already circulating and getting some radio love in London, NYC and LA (+ Melbourne no doubt).
This free download made available courtesy of Invada Records
Amp Fiddler + Mayer Hawthorne + Quantic (DJ Set)
Amp Fiddler + Mayer Hawthorne
+ Quantic (DJ Set)
Saturday 9 Jan. The Corner Hotel
Niche Productions is proud to announce a night not to be missed in a massive triple bill – Amp Fiddler, Mayer Hawthorne and Quantic, playing at the Corner Hotel on Saturday January 9.
Amp Fiddler, back with his full band, is one of the hottest soul acts on the scene today, having played with everyone from Prince and George Clinton to Primal Scream and underground Detroit producer Moodyman. To date he’s released three full albums – the latest being ‘Afro Strut’ in 2006 and ‘Inspiration Information’ with legends Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare in 2008.
Recording in Kingston, Jamaica ‘Inspiration Information’ was recorded over just three days with overdubs done a week later in Detroit. The result, is a very fine album reminiscent of 70s and 80s Sly & Robbie with a fresh approach. Amp Fiddler made his last trip to Australia at the beginning of 2008 and has since been touring the globe with his band including a tour of East Africa and playing at festivals all over the world.
Mayer Hawthorne – a new comer on the scene has one of the freshest retro soul sounds around today. Having recently released his debut album ‘A Strange Arrangement’ in September through Stonesthrow Records, Mayer Hawthorne has already captured the attention of the likes of Mark Ronson and Gilles Peterson with his timeless sound.
Raised in Michigan, Mayer Hawthorne is the alter ego of hip hop aficionado Andrew Cohen, which was created to help him let him let loose as a soul crooner. His debut single ‘Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out’ has gained global recognition and has becoming a cult break-up anthem. Hawthorne brings with him his full live band for his debut tour of Australia.
A name synonymous with Funk and Soul around the world, Quantic, returns to Australia to treat audiences to a DJ set. Releasing a plethora of albums to date, Quantic moved to Columbia in 2007 to pursue his next musical vision, the result being his latest release ‘Quantic and his Combo Barbaro – Tradition in Transition’.
Quantic has released albums in various formats, most famously as the Quantic Soul Orchestra, and more recently as Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno. Signed to UK institution Tru Thoughts, Quantic is a name everybody who calls themselves a funk and soul fan should know.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see some of the hottest funk and soul acts around today as Melbourne welcomes these three phenomenal acts to the Corner Hotel.
Tickets on sale on at Northside.
Did you hear that?
Posted by Rex in Fresh stock, Funk 45 of the Month on December 8th, 2009
FUNK 45 OF THE MONTH (November 2009)
BROWNOUT: c130 bw NAWLINS
Brownout is an 8 piece funk band from Texas. Featuring former Ocote Soul Sounds member, Adrian Quesada on guitars, this release blends sax, trombone, flute, trumpet, keyboards, strings and hard percussion. Both sides are instrumental.
“Nawlins” is an uptempo funky disco joint with dangerous amounts of saxophone*. If you’re looking for a bit of a party starter (at the risk of losing all credibility as a funk DJ) this will be a solid addition to any collection.
“C130″ is a bit more laid back, with some tasteful breaks and heavy strings thrown into the mix. There’s a big breakdown in the middle of this tune, reminiscent of “Ashley’s Roachclip /Paid in Full”. Had this tune dropped 35 years ago, it would stand proud with such names as the Skull Snaps and The Soul Searchers. Heavy.
* warning: may induce white man’s overbite.
Is it because I’m Syl?
Posted by Rex in News, Recent releases on December 8th, 2009
Syl Johnson outside Northside Records earlier this year.
It was the infamous Johnny Topper who once referred to Northside Records as “the centre of the known funk universe”. This is perhaps stretching the truth a little – however, the funkiest people still drop by Northside on a regular basis just to say “Yo” and make sure we’ve still got an eye on the funk.
Pictured here is real live living legend – Syl Johnson, showing his steez outside Northside. Respect.
This pic is from a little while back – but we still got the funk. In fact we’ve got exclusive Syl Johsnon funk. There are a limited amount of the Syl Johnson’s “Lovin on the Run” 7 inch monster still available. Don’t sleep.