Alright. So why exactly are you listening to music? I mean, why do you listen to this hip music that you act to enjoy? I do hope it's more because you enjoy the sound of it instead of because its new and esoteric and you come off as the cool kid. So today I'm gonna plant this song on you because it moves me. It's not cool, it's kinda old -- but it moves me like nothing else. Moons Burger is a name that

Ever since the world fell in love with Pitbull's "Culo" we've noticed a shift in what club DJs are spinning to make the booty go bounce. And I'll tell you what this new reggaeton (pronounced reggae-tone) music has got that we can't get enough of: DUM Ka-dum KA, DUM Ka-dum KA. It's this beat! It's infectious, it's danceable, and it's absolutely monotonous, predictable, and completely irritating! Sure, Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina" is catchy and fun to listen to, but the production becomes awfully familiar by the third reggaeton song you've listened to. The Luny Tunes production team (essentially the Neptunes of the reggaeton scene) is the unimaginative force behind nearly every single to break through. The problem is: they know the recipie for a single and don't deviate one bit. So while this fad is making its way through, here's a hot track that's not produced by the LT duds.
Less dancehall, more hip hop, and a beat that doesn't suck.

You'd think it was a perfect match. The exotic musical exports of Brazil. The electronica wizardry of a globe of musicians. Oddly enough, I hated the Latin Project's own artist a

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And while I don't like to post three tracks, Gecko's dusty boots blues number "Daugtherbitchin' And Motherfuckin' Style" came awfully close to making its mp3 blog debut, too.

The past few months I've been a little light on the posts₂I'll tell you why: I've been way too distracted by dance music. Now I'm starting to fall out of my lovetrance with it, so it'd be best to share the b

I'm a tuba man (played for 9 years), so whenever I heard that low brass bass get the lead I smile with glee. Interestingly, the tuba is shining through here in Boom Pam's surf rock. They're based in Israel which the oh-so-clever reader may point out is not near surfers. So?
This music is too good to have its novelty factor wear thin. Your friends will immmediately ask you about it, but also realize it's something they want for themselves......

Hailing from Norway, Kaizers Orchestra stay true to their music and their language. Paired with pounding percussion and horns, these self-dubbed gypsy punks take most of their influences from Eastern Europe. Taking a listen to a song is like accepting an invitation to a chaotic and exciting pomp-without-circumstance gypsy ball in the middle of the woods. They don't know when they'll have to pack up and take flight again, but they're going to play their best and loudest now, while they can. So in that case, Mr. Kaizer, won't you play just one more song?

Delicate guitar work. Soft gentle voice.
Sufjan Stevens used to be part of the folk-rock group Marzuki in Michigan. But then he moved to NYC and went solo. The sound he creates is substantial but softly soothing. He's the indie rock response to alt-country's Iron and Wine.
His name isn't like his sound. His sound reads like a pane of clear, beautiful glass. Take some in.

Hailing from the Big Dada imprint of Ninja Tune, Ty is a new and powerful force in hip-hop. His beats meld together some of England's best musical export (Downtempo) with the upbeat feeling of east-coast hip-hop. A very accomplished rapper and beat constructor. My favorite MC from across the lake, Roots Manuva, lends his lyrics to this "refix".
You can't listen to this track and not shake your ass.

Fresh rhythm. Pounding slow dropped-out grooves. His sound has a good amount of reggae influence. This is hip-hop everyone can love, if they do love real hip-hop. Perfect to get yo' crip walk on to. Dabrye toured with Prefuse 73 a bit ago, and the two share a similar sound.
Get yo' glad rags on and join me, thug.

Cheery. Poppy. Light 'n fluffy. This track bounces off of the Paris Lounge 4 compliation. There bassline is full and deep, but yet it makes you want to act like a playboy.
Perfect for your next cocktail party when your girl starts swiveling her hips with drinks in her dainty hands.

Driving electro bassline. Enough synth action to fulfill your inner moog. My cohort Molly turned me onto these electro-boys from the States. Their lead, Keith Ruggiero, helped produce a couple songs for Erlend Øye (Kings of Convenience). He also wants to completely dispell the idea that Soviet is "electroclash". This song will make you glee-ful, guaranteed.
Latch your ears onto the chorus at 1:02. It'll make you makeOUT.

Warm harmonies. Beautiful melodic lines. Everyone one else is blogging it, why can't I? The Kings of Convenience have received a boat-load of press lately, and its fully-deserved. Erlend Øye, one of the members, has bounced off onto a solo career, releasing a DJ Kicks album and his own, Unrest. There isn't a shortage of comparisons to Simon and Garfunkel, but that's because the two duo's sound incredibly similar vocally. Dare I say that the harmonious of the KoC are even better than their 1960's counterpart.
Feel like you're snuggled close to your sweetheart in swathes of curduroy in the cool summer breeze. Grab this.

Here's a name I've sure you've heard. Groove Armada blew up in 1999 with the release of "I See You Baby" (Shakin dat' ass), but have been exporting quality tracks all the while. Their earlier release of Vertigo produced a chill-out sound good enough to transport your soul to the salty beach. Their more recent albums, Love Box and Doin it After Dark haven't garnered much attention, but it's deserved.
"Superstylin" is a dubbed-out reggae dance hit that my butt can't not dance to. Serve up some "Description of a Fool" afterwards to see exquisite chill-out in action.
Groove Armada consistently puts out a sound that gets right to the heart of the soul-filled Northern electronic sound.

Complex aural acrobatics. Hard-hitting rhythm. Diplo popped up on my radar screen on a random FTP site, his name was enough to catch my attention. I listened to the bootleg album, Sound and Fury, and the most original, odd, and beautiful sound came out of my speakers. One could describe his sound as Timbaland meets Amon Tobin. The man drops a serious beat, plus he uses soulseek!
Summer's Gonna Hurt You has been my late summer anthem. Feel the craziest beat creations you've known.

Gentle voice. Calm melodies. You should know him already: Nick Drake had a short, yet prolific musical career; one that saw its biggest response after his apparent suicide in 1974. He was signed at the age of 21, and only produced three complete albums -- but each is full of aural beauty. I was first turned on to him by this incredible complilation aptly named Acoustic. (You'll love it)
Drake's somber songs have a chillingly beautiful sound that will completely clear your mind. Listen and release.

Unexpected sounds. Melodic distortion. TV on the Radio is at its root, two black men making what some describe "black rock and roll." I'll call it an amalgamation of a number of musical genres: punk, electronica, soul, African, indie rock.
TV on the Radio constructs a weighty sound reminiscent of the gravity and sincerity of mainstream acts like U2 and Radiohead as well as the intelligent, experimental playfulness of artists like Prince and Andre 3000.

Full-bodied soul. Warm drowning grooves. This woman should be a household name; daps if you're already on the tip. She is the epitome of the neo-soul generation - a music movement that includes Erykah Badu, Angie Stone, Musiq Soulchild, and Floetry, all quality groove crafters. Jill has just released her newest album, Beautifully Human. It's a solid record, but it doesn't come close to the soul-shattering performance on her first, Who Is Jill Scott?
These songs are what love feels like. Warm, delicious, heavy, fulfilling, and leaving you wanting more...

Ass grabbin' bassline. Catchy catchy rhythm. First, a vocal sample jumps out at you; it's caught and carried by a fresh little xylophone loop. The vocals come in and the sizzlin' groove gets your feet movin across the floor. Just after the minute mark, the bass slides in and supports this hot track. Wait up for the hip hop interlude with Redman and Method, because it'll set you alight.
It's a modest little tune that gets an indelible hold on your dancin' body. This track has got flava'. Drink it up.

Funky sample heaven. C-Mon and Kypski is a German Dutch (thanks, guys!) group that throw together incredible constructions of samples and breakbeats into some very accessible and groovalicious tunes. From their website: "Their energy - containing musical ancestors such as jazz, hip hop, soul, funk and more - is definitely exploring new territories while staying continuously dynamic." I like that. And damn it, I like this song: "Shittybum" (featured earlier on Waxy) would blow me away by itself, but it's completely overshadowed by the coolest music video ever. Wait up for the Space Invaders sequence. It's badassss.

Icy spicy quiet sizzlin'. You know this song. At least, you've heard it sampled before. Bahamadia, the philly princess, emerged as the protege of Gang Starr's Guru, and dropped this single on the hip hop world. I picked up this remix from Jazzanova's new Mixing record. (hot shit) This sexy little track has appeared in some quality hip hop grooves before. I'd love to tell you what, but I seriously have no idea. I need you all to help me out on this one.
What was this moist 'n drippy soul-filled hip hop song sampled in?

Luscious full sound. The Cinematic Orchestra creates music that is unmistakably jazz; it assuages the listener into a feeling of utter contentment. British multi-instrumentalist and composter Jason Swinscoe created the group and has led it to repeated successes. After the release of their first album, Motion, they were asked to perform at the Directors' Guild Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony for Stanley Kubrick. Just last year, they were asked to compose a score for the 1927 ground-breaking silent film, Man With a Movie Camera. Below, "All That You Give" features Fontella Bass of "Rescue Me" fame, but now in a entirely different context.
Take up a seat on your sofa, and chill to this mellow motion with soul.

Bright musical texture. Screen door sundae. Who ever knew this sound could come out of Nashville? But that's where the scorching voice of vocalist Annette Strean found its musical soapbox. It's Strean's vocality that drives the dubby bassline and synth-rich harmonies; first she sounds like Allison (of) Goldfrapp, then Lady Miss Kier of Deee-lite, then Yaz, and then you swear it's Björk in disguise.
Hear this voice belt out like it's summer on Mercury.

Uptempo jazz action that you're not quite sure whether to strip to or dance to, this music leaves you with a smile. The production is so clean, many suggest they're the next St. Germain, but I think Llorca has a bit more sex in their vibe -- similar to the sounds of Aquanote and the Naked Music label.
It's hot and sunny. You're naked and on the beach of Key Largo. You hear some music in the distance... (This is the good naked, don't worry.)

The music from Motown was the only stuff that could speak your soul and to your dancing feet. We all know Edwin from his classic protest song "War", so much that Jackie Chan quotes it. Great song; this one's even better. He recorded it a year earlier in 1969. The driving percussion feels like bullets shot at your toes (dance, sucka!) and the hard baritone sax and horns grab your shoulders into a solid groove. It's a classic inescapable tune that got a little too forgotten. Revive it.
Throw down for a hot funky soul-filled number. Grab the big beat remix if ya feelin' it.

Cute playful bounce. For all the people I've shared Mathieu with, "cute" is the most used descriptor upon first listen. It was definitely his fragrant and clean sound that first attracted me to him. His American fans affectionately call him "Booger" and he's collaborated with Yann Tiersen (composer of Amelie). That's reason enough.
Boogaerts wields a unique pallete of sounds to create these simple and likable tunes. Listen in.

Bailar bailar! You'll find yourself whistling along with this track soon enough. It's the piano chops that get your hips moving. No wait, its the string bass underscoring the piano rhythms that put some fire in your feet. No, it's absolutely the intense xylophone solo. Hmm, maybe it's the energetic yelling and screaming. I just can't place my finger on what drives this song, but..
"El Pito" has stolen my hips 'n feet and has got me doin the salsa. Aye yai yai!

Mind-stimulating dance music. ILS, aka Ilian Walker, was picked up by breakbeat godfather Adam Freeland after the promo Idiots Behind The Wheel hit Adam's ears. The sound that he heard was something new: instead of an targeting the hard body-moving breaks and drum machine sounds of standard breakbeat, "ILS succeeded in bringing a deeper, jazzier, more intelligent flavour to the genre without losing its trademark punch."[BBC Collective] The following tracks are off his latest release, Soul Trader.
This breakbeat's got an organic, natural feel that gets your body and mind into the groove.

If you like The Cinematic Orchestra, you'll definitely like Skalpel. This pair of Polish DJs make a very similar sound: a deep, dark and jazzy solid groove. "Their aim is to resurrect the dusty & smoky spirit of 60s and 70s Polish jazz and then reimagine it for 21st century audiophiles."[officialsite]
This music sets you back into a jazz bar in a back alley of Rotterdam. Inhale it.

Delicate guitar work. Satisfying quiet. Despite his appearance, Gustavo creates some music that is gentle and warm. His recent CD, Ron Roco, could have been recorded in 1875 in the hills of Argentina and you'd hear nothing different. All he gives us is intricate but simple guitar work; beauteous complexity, masked as a consumable and melody.
This is music you'd play to quiet your darling newborn baby girl.

Sex. Video. Ya-boos. F i A S C O, aptly named to reflect its absurd overexcessiveness, crafted together this delicious quasi-porno-video morsel. It's bringing the ultra-sex of Mount Sims, adding in a handful of porno actors, the voice of David Bowie (or maybe Oingo Boingo) and spinning it in a superbly edited video showcasing the most hilarious sex strips and peeks I've seen. They apparently have no other songs, and their first show ever is this Saturday, but the video is making a loud splash. WARNING: NUDITY(!!!)
Give me a good excuse why you don't want to see 80's hair-dos and breasts. k. Thought so.

Soothing diversity. 1 Giant Leap was a project formed to "capture and weave together a unique fusion of sound, image and spoken word from some of the world's most happening musicians, authors, scientists and thinkers."[site] The album showcases music from Senegal and Ghana and features incredible collaborations. (Baaba Mall, Speech, & Revetti Sakalar).
The Cinematic Orchestra reworked this global feel into a tasty groove that ranges from calm and serene to aurally engaging and complex.

Playful giddyness. Spek is a Canadian-born Hindi guy that throws together some upbeat hip hop pop. Yet, I've always pictured him as a white guy from cali that yo-yo's at a funeral. His music is totally accessible (even girls will like it) yet particularly unique. This track hit my hard drive thanks to the long-forgotten audiogalaxy and still rocks my bedroom.
Put on the sunglasses, sip your lemonade, look at the cute girlies, and drop this ditty.

I just gotta throw some love on my Boston boys. 1918! See, my parents used to be in a rock 'n roll band, and as a rambunctious music-loving six year old I always boogied down at their jam sessions. My mom tells me I requested 'Dirty Water' at every single practice and I totally can now understand why. It's got a gritty feel, very Stones-ish, and the guitar line snags ya.
'Cuz I LOVE that dirty water.... Ooooh Boston, you're my home!

The ocean waves roll in. Birds twitter in the distance. The warm Brazilian breeze brushes past your body, your cotton cropped pants comfortable and airy. Some soft bass hits your body, a gentle keyboard line floats in your eardrums. A luscious Portuguese voice serenades your soul. And then, the sound of drumsticks dropped by that gorgeous dark-skinned girl.
Put yourself on this Brazilian beach right now.

Big shout out to all the other blogs participating in Music Bloggers for Democracy: alternate tuning : bars and guitars : the big ticket : bradley's almanac : close your eyes : fat planet : kingblind : last sound of summer : largehearted boy : lost bands of the new wave era : moebius rex : mystery and misery : the napkin : radio babylon : republic of replicants : rummage through the crevices : scissorkick : something i learned today : songs:illinois : ttiktda : telephone thing : tuwa's shanty : the witness exchange : and all the rest!

Solemn sobriety. A boy of definite talent. At age 16, Matt Hales was awarded a scholarship at Winchester to study composition; by 17 he'd had his first symphony “Life Cycle” performed by a 60-piece orchestra, with Matt himself conducting. With "Strange & Beautiful", Matt creates a mood -- like a desolate and wet field with an overcast sky. You see her a quarter kilometer away, she looks warm, though you're shivering. Take a couple steps towards her...
Pick one or the other: the original for an incredible song; the rework to delve deeper.

Scanty, AKA Richard Marshall, is signed to the record label of mister Norman Cook, AKA Fatboy Slim -- which should give you an indication of his musical style. In fact, for two years people actually thought Scanty Sandwich was just another of Cook's pseudonyms; their sounds are near identical: hard-hitting bass, danceable funky music action. And naturally, I can't serve you this butt-stomping groove without the original sampled track. "Shoo Be Doo Be Doo Da Day" was written by Stevie Wonder, but MJ covered it in sizzlin' motown soul fashion.

Akufen's unique sound arises out of a dedication to keep his listeners' ears on their toes. For his acclaimed 2002 album, My Way, Akufen used a technique he calls micro-sampling; he would record hours of AM/FM radio and splice together half-second samples of different songs and voices to make a pattern-work quilt of fierce house sound. And now, just last month, The Rip Off Artist, Freeform, and Akufen collaborated on Blu Tribunal, a record to explore the convergence of blues and electronica. The music that came out is something you've never quite heard.
We've got two differently similar sounds here. Pick door number one for fractured house, two for the blues on mescaline.

This man is a legend. This song is a Sunday morning hummingbird, vibing into your ear and causing you to wriggle. Gilberto's voice is nudging your body to get delicious and join the groove. A playful flute weaves through the tree branches while Gil's guitar strums a tune you swear you've heard.
Grab a maraca and get in to it.

I don't know what can convey how simple and lovely this song is better than the lyrics, so: My, my you’re just like pie, when I call you on the phone. You say hello and that’s the crust, the filling is yet to come. My, my you’re just like eggs. You’re all slimy on the outside and yolky in the middle. Wait a second… that’s not right; what I really meant is that I love you in the morning. Oh, I love you in the morning.
No joke you’re an artichoke. You have to peel away the outside which is good ya know but the inside is better...

It ain't just an exquisite dish; it's some Orlando-town funkin'. "Threes" warms you up with a fit bassline, the dubbed-down tempo is propelled by the lyrics from the arsenal of MC Swamburger and Melissa Mye, but it don't stop till a tabla enters in and mirrors the vocals rhythms.
"Slightly Elevated" is heavier on the funk. It brings in some definite acid jazz riffing which gets slightly tiring, but the harmonies at 4:45 bookend the song sweetly.
Git funked, git crunked, now git on down, son.

How many dazzling songs do you know that feature a harpsichord? "Golden Brown" throws one right at you and carries it in a waltzing 3/4 time signature. Well known from the Snatch soundtrack, it's a psychedelic carnival loop of a rock song. The Better Daze cover comes off the delicious Ubiquity Rewind album and delivers a jazz rendition of the classic. A loose doublebass partners with a strummin' guitar and cooks up a tasty pot of golden brown sonic sound.
The first for the uninitiated. The second for the jazz guitar twist.

Layers upon layers of sound that whooshing by you in a sonic fury. Norway's Xploding Plastix erupted in their country's impressive music scene with their debut, Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents and earned themselves a Grammy for best electronica record. Their music is like James Bond lounge-jazz meets Amon Tobin; Henry Mancini vs. Squarepusher. Their blow-you-away website has all their music available, in high fidelity audio.
A triplage of gorgeous music, today, for you to indulge in.

You've undoubtably heard the classic song "Take Five" performed by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Though Brubeck's name gets the glory, it's musical genius Paul Desmond that crafted the exquisite tune. Desmond wrote the delicious "Take Ten" in the same 5/4 (or 10/8) meter, hence the curious song titles. It features his refined and poignant alto saxophone again, along with the guitar stylings of Jim Hall and the lush bassline of Eugene Wright.
Let Desmond's delicate phrasing and butterfly tone enliven your desire for love.

We all have our favorite untitled track from Sigur Rós's epic 2002 record ( ). We have no idea what those words are, but they're so entirely soothing; the emotion wrought out by that voice matches the soft, glowing and powerful ethereal sounds of the band. "Ba Ba" was part of an experiment called Split Sides; a collaboration between Sigur Ros, Radiohead, and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company to explore the interaction between avant-garde music and dance. The music and art that emerged is something I'd call breathtaking.
Lay down with this music. It'll carry you on fingertips of contentment into a restful sleep.

N'Dambi got started as vocalist with the big afro, backing up the soul siren Erykah Badu. Her solo albums sound like what you'd expect from Sunshine Anderson, India.Arie, The Princesses Nubiens, or Erykah -- laid back grooves with an upright bass, a scatting vocal line, and a head-nodding chorus. "Call Me" snuck itself in my head after listening to my man Maze's radioshow. It's a standard song structure, but it's got definite head-nod appeal. Her gentle voice injects subtle but solid emotion that gets right down to the soul of it.
It's a red-light drizzly night outside, but you're in where the vibe is swingin'.

Imagine all the hottest tracks of Motown, all mashed up in a megamix of soulful body-movin' music. DJ Z-Trip delivers exactly that in this 9-minute long non-stop funk-fest. He drops into it with some Jackson 5 loads you up with the finest grooves of The Temptations, and even forcefeeds you some hard-hitting Edwin Starr. DJ Z-Trip is widely regarded as one of the finest sampling and mashup professionals, alongside 2 Many DJ's, Double D and Steinski, Coldcut, and The Avalances. Peep the excellent interview over at Downhill Battle, and also check out the great things they're doing to protect our right to listen to music.
The very best of Motown's finest groove-filled gems.

There's some times in life where you need the happiest song possible to sing along with and dance. And that's exactly where Carlos Vives delivers with 'Pa' Mayté'. In it, the traditional vallenato accordion and guacharaca are joined by chirping Andean flutes and a full-on Latin rock rhythm section creating a rich pan-Colombian fusion. It'll get ya dancey.
When you find yourself wanting to sing along with this catchy tropical tune, I've got you covered.

I'm nearly sure this hasn't made its rounds as the next internet meme, but it surely deserves it. Gay performer Jonny McGovern crafted this catchy, sexy, and hilarious tune about doing manly things. The music video for this deliciously dirty song is even wilder; after Molly shared it around, she came back to me with, "a bunch of lmao are being sent to me." Oh yeah. 'I like to do manly things, but I like to do them with you. I was thinking we could go do... something dirtyyyy yeah.'
It's so gaytasticly dirty, it'll make you feel like you need a shower.

This song isn't about Faultline. It's not about how as a child he blew out his left lung while playing clarinet in orchestra. No. What distinguishes this song from the rest of the tracks on Faultline's recently re-released album is the melancholy voice of Coldplay's Chris Martin. It's bare, fragile, and leaking wistful emotion at the sides. This should have been the hidden track on Rush of Blood to the Head.
You listen, you lose focus, and you beat yourself up over why you let her leave; why aren't you holding her tight right now?

Awash in aural beauty. A sonic landscape of life unfolding. Electronica heads know Plaid's 1999 album Rest Proof Clockwork well, and for good reason; it's a talent showcase of the more experimental side of electronica. "Ralome" is less experimental, more ethereal. Synthesizers so soft, so gentle -- luscious round droplets of sound hop-skotching into your ears. Silky sonics wrapping warm legs around you while looking up at the stars. How's that sound?
One of the most gentle melodic lines you'll find in all of electronica.

This music exudes solid, soothing feeling. Feeling I've been looking for; to fill the emotional gap that's come as I've just finished my undergraduate education. I'd say these two songs are a fair representation of my duality of feelings towards school. "Another Day" is an earthy nu-jazz groove with Jill Scott voicing some deliciously soulful complaints about having to work. "Les Fleur" then enters quietly; it's unassuming track gradually leading up to a crescendo of accomplishment. Good job, mate.
"I don't wanna go to work today, I'd rather stay home and play video games..."

There is something so irrestible about handclaps leading off a song, especially when they're backed up by a scorching brass section. Mr. Joe Bataan evolved from a childhood in Spanish Harlem, an adolesence with Puerto Rican gangs, and an absorbtion of R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences into the absolute king of the boogaloo. He released this red hot track in 1969, right when the fiery attitude of the genre was at its peak. Unfortunately for him and others like Joe Pito, the fanbase faded but we're keepin' it hot. If this shit lights you up, get down with one of these soul brothas.
Get on this train and shake down with your lady.

It being a chilly night and my furnace giving out, I'm turning to some warm snuggly music to envelop me. But instead of soft, comforting sounds, I want some sonics that come at me unexpectedly -- from beneath, from behind and circling around my head. And I want all this confused sound to make complete sense. I'll thank Telefon Tel Aviv and their debut album Fahrenheit Fair Enough for giving me exactly what I need tonight. They push both music in new directions and meanwhile continously demand more from themselves; their second album saw them mixing their trademark bleeps and twitches with vocals, breakbeats, and some more downtempo elements. (Sample the new album @ the ORTF mp3 blog)
Consider these a toe-dip into the experimental electronica tide pool.

Looking through Afro Funk, volume 5 from the incredible Rare Funk 12-disc series, I knew I'd find plenty to like. Some ass-grabbin' Fela Kuti leads the record off to a roaring afrobeat start. And if you got the great funkin' action of The Mohawks and The Equals tying it up nicely, you know there's gotta be some hot groove sitting in the middle. Well, "Big Chief" by Professor Longhair is it! Some sloppy-hand piano licks drop you right in, followed up by a african breakbeat, and some bass and horns give the song a bluesy AABA structure that's relentless at getting you into the groove.
It's a short, but potent number from the vinyl funk past.

You wouldn't expect a french house song to start off with wailing electric guitars and a strong vocalist. And you wouldn't expect a raspy synth line to kick the track into high gear. And you definitely wouldn't expect this from France's most well-known house group, behind Daft Punk. On their second album, Au Reve, Cassius took a departure from the standard house sound of synths and 1,3 bass - here, we've got guitars, melodies, and a song construction closely approaching that of a pop song.
An incredibly catchy driving track, despite the eerily odd combination of the song title and lyrics...

The title "No Escapin' This" is an apt one; because you really can't avoid the hotness of this track. Heavy hittin bass slams you on a syncopated beat and a backup black chorus robs you of your own your complementary contribution; they've got this song pinned down. The Beatnuts have a production style so polished and perfect, meanwhile their beats sound natural, earthy and justly flavored. They hit the balance right.
The man Angad sez: 'anyone who claims to know about hip hop should know who the beatnuts are.' Set it off.

Ya know, sometimes I see this song floating around; I think Thank god somebody's listening to it. But still not enough bodies are hearing this; it's an absolute classic. It's been sampled by everyone -- from Public Enemy to Congo Natty. Picture this: a suave black brotha' strutting down the city block after he had just kissed his sweet lookin' honey that he just knows looks too good for him, but damn it, he'll take it. And he is one happy, smug fella'.
The simmering convergence of meaty funk and hearty soul.

Miss Carla Bruni is one of the world's most photographed models. She's widely regarded as the top Italian model in the world, as well as one of the most financially successful. Being beyond the definition of beauty was apparently not enough for Carla, so she decided to try her (gorgeous) hand at music. She took after her idols Serge Gainsbourg and Joni Mitchell and crafted a quiet record of delicate songs, although not her in native tongue — rather, in French. The result is a intimate album with a lonely and wistful tone.
Listen to a supermodel sing on her own terms.

This man is nothing new to you, and rightfully so. He's musician of absolute talent, a dj doing justice for the two letters in front of his name. Ever since his debut Entroducing, he's blown his listeners' minds. He rocks out on some wild beats 'n vinyl, here kicking the shit hott with lyricist Roots Manuva. While you're dropping this song, be sure to drop by John Book's ultimate DJ Shadow Sample page, it's got every single sample documented -- ridiculous. (The URL changes regularly, peep this to stay updated.) More bass.
The perfect heavy-hitting rhythm to get your git-buzy weekend bumpin'.

This powerful duo debuted originally with the name "The Dust Brothers", but an American group with the same name (later well-known for the Fight Club soundtrack) pressed some litigation and forced a change. Though mildly bitter, the british Chemical Brothers carried on, releasing their first album appropriately named Exit Planet Dust. Now, ten years later, the two release Push The Button, a break-rocking record exploring their trademark dance-rock-rap mix. Though "Galvanize" has gotten the first-single attention, it's the sophisticated dance track "The Boxer" that rocks this record. Hard.
Sorry Fatboy, they've come a longer way, baby.

You know you're doing something right in music when you attract the remixing talents of Quantic, Soulstance, the Bedroom Rockers, the Cinematic Orchestra, and Four Tet. This Milanese duo has been putting out fairly solid albums since 1999 providing the perfect sonic groundwork for some involved and exquisite remix action. And I believe that's exactly where their work really shines -- drop these (long, but) groovy, soulful tracks and taste it for yourself.
Get into bed with a hot bass, smooth marimba, and sweet saxes.

I know you wanna snap your fingers. You want a swingin' song to snap to, that's what you want. Let me help you out. Mister Louis Prima wrote some of the hottest, swingingest songs ever. "Sing, Sing, Sing" and "Jump, Jive, An' Wail" anyone? In fact, all of his best songs have the same darling piece of punctuation in the title. So, to keep with consistency, here's another -- "Hey, Boy! Hey, Girl!" is a cute little back-and-forth lovey swing tune you're bound to enjoy.
Grab your wingtips, your girlie and get cute with this song.

Despite the absolute frigid temperatures this morning, my ride to work was warm because I had the sizzling island flavor of this tune to keep me moving. What at first intrigued my ears as odd spanish rap, soon matured its sonic sound as a dubbed-out dance track where you choose your level of involvement. You can let it be the backdrop for your utterly fascinating conversation of say, folksonomies; or conversely, you can crank it up, clap your hands, and make the other drivers on the road wish they had the CD, too.
A squeeky clean tropical production of deliciously organic sounds.

It opens like a treasure box, curious colors squiriming around inside. Slowly, they transform into a steed mounting the orange horizon. The African moon rises slowly, placing you in a trance and absolving you into an addictive chant. Bill Frisell has been creating songs melding together an assortment of world flavors for years. This track, "Baba Drame" from his 2003 album, The Intercontinentals, amalgamates seemingly disparate world genres. An african rhythm guitar and percussion start off the song, however a country violin pairs with the guitar for a solid harmony that feels mistakably celtic.
A beatiful sample of the world's sound in a palatable package.

Brit Tom McRae has a way with music. Critics lauded his 2001 self-titled release and it earned him a Mercury prize nomination. Many suggest comparisions to Nick Drake and early Dylan aren't such a stretch. It's his warm and homey while intimately gloomy mood that creates such a stir. His blisteringly bare vocals create a vocal line that slowly wraps around you like a smile. His quiet guitar strumming provides the pillow for your wondering head to crash down on.
It's the soundtrack to your 3am drive away from that girl you can't not like.

Mr. Chester Arthur Burnett was born in 1910 in West Point, Mississippi. He has a sound that matches his name and matches his frame. He amassed an impressive stature of 6'3" 300lbs and vocal power to match. This track screamed at me from the very satisfying Chicago Soul record from Soul Jazz records, the label putting out the excellent reggae compilations from Studio One Recordings. Very solid CD, great tracks from such soul and blues icons as Etta James, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy and Fontella Bass.
A scorching coarse-throated blues track that gets your heart pumping quick.

Over the past decade, these Philly hipsters have made a solid name for themselves. They put together some home-cooked sloppy blues sound with hip-hop flavor and soulful harmonica solos and basslines. They also give a chill good-crowd kind of show, check their tour. I'm sure you've already enjoyed their hits "My Baby's Got Sauce" and "Cold Beverage", but I'm gonna drop a couple of excellent songs on you a bit more laid-back and cooled-down.
Drop it out into a saucepan, bubble gum, double yum. Big man, get it done.

In elementary school, you like girls. In middle school, it's cute girls. In high school, it's cute girls in the same classes as you. By now, you have an (un)determined set of specific criteria by which you select potential mates. Your personal maturity and development has made romantic compatibility into an elusive and challenging goal. Now personally, this song feels like it finds the nooks and crannies of my musical compatibility and fills them to fulfillment. Nothing exceptional stands out audibly, but it gives me the exact sonic mood that I need -- in this case, complex beauty.
The electronica cover and original of a classic shoegazing tune.

Calm gliding elegant brilliance. This magnificent piece touched my ears first when I heard a brief moment of it in Carlito's Way, but many others were familiarized with it in the 1990's by a British Airways advertising campaign. The "Flower Duet" is from Delibes' celebrated opera Lakmé, and in which a woman is aided into her bath by her ladyservant. Tchaikovsky was so impressed with Delibes that he rated the composer more highly than Brahms.
Heaven's golden angels singing exclusively for you.

Despite being a significant fan of downtempo electronica, I have to admit it's difficult for a downtempo track to "jump out" at you. I mean, the whole point is that they are chill and unobtrusive grooves. But when I was listening to one of CPI's choice mixes, this Mawglee track made me stop what I was doing, turn up the volume, and drown in the sound. Starting out with a slightly disorienting hollow hall sound, Mawglee soon drops the song's killer wheelbarrow bass. Just as your head's starting to nod, the song's body is stripped out. When he hands it back with a subtle dulcimer trickle, you just gotta love him for it. (Hat tip: brother Scissorkick blogged this Brighton cat before, giving some love to his funkier side.) Mawglee's got releases on Tru Thoughts and Bastardjazz. Click up.
Downtempo that's dynamic in structure, but remarkably lucid.

"skippy, choppy, and destructed..." "blipworld / fakegrass / speedblues / chamberclick / eccentrock / country&eastern / glitch post-anything music with samples, closely followed by 'food band'." "quick surges of crowd noise, vibraphone, guitar and bits of violin." "they manage to squeeze every last ounce of beauty from these commonplace sounds and let them carry the songs here." "their brilliant reassembly of tone into tune simultaneously created a genre and perfected it." "also the sounds you use seem to be all fragments, like "found objects" really." "We love beautiful surfaces that flow and pull us in, but we also love depth and nuance and invention...
"We are always trying to find that balance between emotional accessibility and musical innovation."

When I learned that Norah Jones was on the eminent Blue Note label, I was flabbergasted. And when I learned that her father was Indian music icon Ravi Shankar, the Blue Note connection felt a little less impressive. But Blue Note's latest sign got there solely by his own "folksy, flannel-and-denim sound with sultry R&B". Taking from his influences Bill Withers, John Prine, Stevie Wonder, and Neil Young, Amos writes music from the heart, and presents it straight up. He's down to earth, and puts genuine heart and soul put into this music.
Fall into this pared-down acoustic soul and let it take you.

I woke up really early this morning. I thought I had to be late and my boss would be calling soon to hound me. But, instead, I have an hour of me time before rolling out to work. These two songs by the California Guitar Trio are the perfect complement to this quiet morning. "The Marsh" begins as simple as could be, but soon a sonic sophistication develops -- harmonies are voiced, counter-melodies balance the sound, and intricate musicianship comes off smooth as fresh linen. "Led Foot" sounds unmistakably like Blue Man Group at the beginning and takes a similar, aggressive approach to the song; be sure to catch the acoustic interplay at 2:50.
Monday morning music. First, soak in the sunshine, then get moving, mister.

Every song starts with a tuba. Not just your standard oom-pah oom-pah ploppy tuba, no sir – this comes at you ferocious. Following after the famed Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the ReBirth crew throws together a vivid concoction of loud, bright brass slamming you from all angles. You can immediately hear how much they love the music they're making – the invigorating energy just streams right out of their horns. They don't stress about slipping a clam, they just let it all hang out.
Listen in on the New Orleans brass band jam session.

I love my public library. I used to go weekly to borrow 18 CDs of random stuff I'd never heard. Sometime in 2000, I picked up a Best of Bellydance album to check out. To my ear's surprise, Track 2 (Hossam Ramzy - Khusara Khusara) was the original song sampled for the number 1 single at the time, Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin" (and now it's used again in M.I.A.'s "Bingo"). Now if bellydance can work in hiphop, Deep Thinkers prove gypsy can as well in "Kiss the Sky", albeit cut up in a deconstructed style alongside vocals from Wu-Tang and Busta. The Thinkers keep it creative in "Interruption with Substance" using a choice sample from Four Tet's old folktronica group, Fridge.
A new imaginative, passionate, and conscious force in hiphop.

Just got my paws on a smooth new gem and found our friend Kieran Hebden tossing a track on. Everything Comes And Goes is an unusual take on a Black Sabbath cover album, full of "interpretations and mutilations" of classic Sabbath songs. Some, like Matmos's sparse and sporadic "F/X", feel more like inspirations from the originals; others take Sabbath's songs and mimic them in alternative genres: country, space-rock, acoustic, and garage rock. The Four Tet stands out as the most polished and poignant song -- delivering the melody you know, but in a new comfortable light. Just because I love the guy, I've also posted his skillfull take on "Breathe Me" by Sia Furler (vocalist from Zero 7).
An intimately acoustic and earthy sound.

I know you can't see me, but I think it's only fair to tell you that I'm not Paul Irish. I'm Andrew from #644, and Paul has kindly agreed to let me borrow his audience every now and then. Hi!
DJ Format has the remarkable talent of channeling the sound of laidback, funky hiphop, a feat all the more impressive since he's an awkard white guy from the south of England. Abdominal is an MC from Montreal who's as lyrically silly as DAISY age hiphop at its finest. Together, they blow my mind. 'Ill Culinary Behaviour' is irresistable, and 'The Hit Song' does just what it says on the box: hits the spot, every time.
Old-school hiphop from the old-school continent

When Martin Denny passed away a fortnight ago, I had to admit that my knowledge of him and his work was scant. I had familiarized myself well with Les Baxter, but really didn't know much about the true founder of exotica music. Denny was the first to bring together his own trademark tropical jazz music with sounds from nature: bullfrogs croaking, songbirds calling, and palm trees swaying; thus creating a new musical innovation that he termed "exotica". Now, on his EP Percussions, New York-based End now has taken this sound and interjected a healthy dose of electronic sample-magic to take exotica into the decade of the aughts.
A frenetic lounge soundtrack delivering the South Sea by way of the sampler.

No, not another money-spinner for Apple Computers; i:cube is actually a French electronica producer who pops off misty, wondrous chillout without succumbing to the sort of washed out electronic noise that one so often finds on chillout albums. I discovered this album in Boston, of all places, back when the Virgin Megastore on Newbury was still a Tower Records (how's that for old-school?); my friend Susan and I bought a copy each, seduced by our listening-post experiences of 'Adore', the title track. It's got gently popping bubbles in the bass, and wide shimmers of strings and keys over the top. 'Tropiq' is darker, grimier; but I love that salt-shaker beat.
Chillout at its best: music on, mind off.

I know how it went. You watched The Two Towers and enjoyed it thoroughly. The credits started rolling and a curious voice crept inside your ear. Initially, you were like, "Hmm! They have Bjork on the soundtrack!" Then, a few seconds later, you realize that the voices didn't completely match up, although eerily similar. You dive online and find out its yet another Icelandic songstress: Emiliana Torrini. That was then, this is now: off her newest album, Fisherman's Woman, "Sunny Road" is an unassuming sweet lullabye where her unique voice mixes perfectly with the soft subtleties of instrumentation.
The satisfying sound of an accomplished songwriter.