Cannonball Adderley - Somethin'Else (1958)

Cannonball Adderley - Somethin'Else (1958)


01.Autumn Leaves
02.Love for Sale
03.Somethin' Else
04.One for Daddy-O
05.Dancing in the Dark
06.Bangoon - (previously unreleased, bonus track).


My Review :  
One of the best recordings in Jazz's long history was made when five of the premire musicians of Jazz, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderly, Art Blakey, and the other greats got together for this landmark recording. From the first song "Autumn Leaves" to the last song "Bangoon", each and every song on this showcases the brilliant musicianship and uniqueness that this quintet had. Miles Davis on his unique and brilliant Trumpet, Cannonball Adderly on the Sax, and Art Blakey on the Drums, as well as the other greats on this show their fantastic style excellently. This timeframe of Jazz (mid 1950's to early 1960's) produced some of the absolute best recordings that Jazz ever offered.

Something Else is a perfect way to introduce a person who never listened to Jazz to the fantastic, complex sound of the Jazz world. In my opinion, this is an album (CD) that every Jazz enthusiast MUST have in their collection, it is that brilliant and fresh and can be listened to with enjoyment over and over again. Well worth 5 stars and more
 

Dexter Gordon - Go (1962)

Dexter Gordon - Go (1962)


1. Cheese Cake
2. I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry
3. Second Balcony Jump
4. Love for Sale
5. Where Are You?
6. Three O'Clock in the Morning
 
 My Review : 
It's puzzling to me when I see "essential" jazz recording lists, GO rarely appears. Well, it makes my essential list and has easily pushed it's way into my top 10. From the exultant opening blow of "Cheese Cake" to the stunning ballad "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry" you realize you are hearing a musician "in the zone" who has complete command of his talent and is evoking it here at will. As the liner notes state, "Dexter soars like a condor over the Andes, with grandeur and great staying power." This also contains my favorite recording of "Love For Sale." There is not a wasted note on this album. It's like witnessing a baseball pitcher throwing a perfect game.

Fashawn - Boy Meets World (2009)

Fashawn - Boy Meets World (2009)


01 02:17 Intro
02 03:07 Freedom
03 04:06 Hey Young World Ft Aloe Blacc & Devoya
04 04:29 Stars
05 04:22 Life As A Shorty Ft. J.Mitchell
06 02:42 The Ecology
07 03:32 Our Way Ft. Evidence
08 04:27 Why
09 05:13 Samsonite Man
10 03:25 Father
11 05:40 Sunny CA Ft. Coss & Mistah Fab
12 02:56 Bo Jackson Ft. Exile
13 04:21 Lupita
14 04:19 When She Calls
15 10:03 Boy Meets World
 
My Review : 
 Every year there is at least a couple new or upcoming artists who capture the right mood or sound that fans have sought out. In 2009, Fashawn and Exile have taken the scene hostage. The uplifting mood and tempo in a dying industry is pretty unique and is a good starting point. After a couple spins, I have to say Fashawn is one of the few youthful artists left in hip hop with great potential. This album has a fresh sound thanks to his personal style and honest rhymes. Exile produced the entire album and the sound comes off fresh. The samples sound original, the cuts are fresh, and he allows Fashawn to go on with his life stories without being a distraction. Fashawn's flow is very polished, and for a 20 year old kid he has a lot of knowledge. This is definitely the best release in 2009 and I don't see anything topping this unless there's a magical Rakim return to his prime

Lovage - Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By (2001)

Lovage - Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By (2001)


1 Ladies Love Chest Rockwell
2 Pit Stop (Take Me Home)
3 Anger Managment
4Everyone Has A Summer
5 To Catch A Thief
6 Lies And Alibis
7 Herbs, Good Hygiene & Socks
8 Book Of The Month
9 Lifeboat
10 Strangers On A Train
11 Lovage (Love That Lovage, Baby)
12 Sex (I'm A)
13 Koala's Lament
14 Tea Time With Maseo
15 Stroker Ace
16 Archie & Veronica
 
Upon hearing the news that Faith No More was planning on reuniting I found a list of some of Mike Patton's other projects. I was familiar with most of it - Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, Tomahawk, Peeping Tom and Mike's solo stuff, but one I had never heard of was something called Lovage - a collaborative effort between Dan Nakamura, Mike Patton, Jennifer Charles and Kid Koala.

Mike Patton has an absolutely incredible voice, but I much prefer to hear the man sing instead of doing his more deranged solo/Fantomas stuff. I totally respect the man as an artist and everything, but I just can not get into this type of stuff. Luckily Lovage is a very cool, laid back trip-hop/lounge outfit which lets Mike's (and Jennifer's) tremendous singing voice shine. If you like your Mike Patton a little poppier (like Peeping Tom) I would give this a shot.
 

Illogic - Unforseen Shadows (1999)

Illogic - Unforseen Shadows (1999)


-1. Introduction
2. What It Takes
3. Me Vs Myself (Feat. I)
4. Lioness
5. Blaow!! (Feat. Lioness)
6. Favorite Things (Intro)
7. Favorite Things (Feat. Blueprint)
8. Check It Out
9. Blacksmif
10. Illogistics
11. Angel
12. Dose One
13. Hate In A Puddle
14. Blueprint
15. Tale Of A Griot
16. Cinderella Complex (Feat. Blueprint)
 
My Review :  
Illogic is an MC from Columbus, OH and Unforeseen Shadows is his debut album. All the production is done by Blueprint of Greenhouse Effect. Although all the beats are done by one man, the beats don't sound the same. "My Favorite Things" is their take on the song of the same name from the movie The Sound of Music. It features a great beat, and while it used the original song as a model it went its own imaginative direction and sounds great. "Illogistics" features a funky guitar sample, and the beat on "Tales of a Griot" has an orchestral feel to it that works really well. Illogic is impressive on the mic; he has a creative flow and good lyrics. On "Check It Out," Blueprint tells Illogic the true test of an MC is his versatility. Illogic shows his versatility throughout Unforeseen Shadows. From the personal "Angel" to the battle rhymes of "Me Vs Myself," he is even able to change his flow to follow the beat at the end of "Illogistics," which speeds up and gets more choppy. Unforeseen Shadows is an impressive debut album.
 

Louis Armstrong - All Time Greatest Hits (1994)

Louis Armstrong - All Time Greatest Hits (1994)


1. What A Wonderful World
2. Hello Dolly
3. Sittin' In The Sun
4. Mack The Knife (Theme from "Three Penny Opera")
5. A Kiss To Build A Dream On
6. It Takes Two To Tango
7. That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)
8. Kiss Of Fire
9. (When We Are Dancin') I Get Ideas
10. Gone Fishin' (Duet with Bing Crosby)
11. Skokiaan
12. La Vie En Rose
13. The Dummy Song
14. Chloe
15. I Still Get Jealous
16. When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)
17. Blueberry Hill
18. When It's Sleepy Time Down South

Jazz is great and Louis Armstrong is one of the greatest of the great art. This is a fantastic collection of his works and if you like Jazz get this album. I can't even begin to tell you the influence this man has had on music. Listen to jazz, its good for your soul. 


 

Louis Armstrong - Hot Fives and Sevens Vol. 2 (1927)

Louis Armstrong - Hot Fives and Sevens Vol. 2 (1927)


01- Willie the Weeper (3:10)
02- Wild Man Blues (3:13)
03- Chicago Breakdown (3:21)
04- Alligator Crawl (3:04)
05- Potato Head Blues (2:58)
06- Melancholy (3:05)
07- Weary Blues (3:01)
08- Twelfth Street Rag (3:06)
09- Keyhole Blues (3:29)
10- S.O.L. Blues (2:55)
11- Gully Low Blues (3:18)
12- That's When I'll Come Back to You (2:58)
13- Put 'Em Down Blues (3:17)
14- Ory's Creole Trombone (3:07)
15- The Last Time (3:32)
16- Struttin' with Some Barbecue (3:06)
17- Got No Blues (3:26)
18- Once in a While (3:19)
19- I'm Not Rough (3:05)
20- Hotter Than That (3:05)
21- Savoy Blues (3:28)
 
For affordability and sound quality, JSP outshines Columbia and most other labels with its high protein four-disc Hot Fives & Sevens collection. Volume two of this set documents an especially fine segment of the Louis Armstrong story with 21 classic sides waxed in Chicago between May and December 1927. These are some of the best records Louis Armstrong ever made. They also rate among the most important jazz recordings of all time. "Willie the Weeper," for example, defines the artist, the genre and the entire human condition. Armstrong's Hot Seven swelled to ten pieces at the sessions held from May 9-14; pianist Earl Hines came aboard for these exciting dates and Carroll Dickerson acted as bandleader. All of the essential Armstrong components are here in concentrated form; "Alligator Crawl" and "Potato Head Blues" are unparalleled masterworks, and "That's When I'll Come Back to You" is a distillation of the great Afro-American vaudeville tradition. Here Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong align themselves with Butterbeans & Susie and their contemporaries Coot Grant and Kid Wilson. During the autumn of 1927 Louis Armstrong pared his ensemble back down to the original quintet. Highlights from this period include "Ory's Creole Trombone" (first recorded by Kid Ory in 1922) and Lil Armstrong's magnum opus "Struttin' with Some Barbecue." The sessions which took place on December 10 and 13 featured guitarist Lonnie Johnson, an exceptionally fine improviser who brought yet another level of artistic eloquence to this already sublimely endowed jazz band. ~ All Music Guide 

Nujabes - Metaphorical Music (2003)

Nujabes - Metaphorical Music (2003)


01. Blessing It (Remix) (feat. Pase Rock & Substantial)
02. Horn In The Middle
03. Lady Brown (feat. Cise Starr)
04. Kumomi
05. Highs 2 Lows (feat. Cise Starr)
06. Beat Laments The World
07. Letter From Yokosuka
08. Think Different (feat. Substantial)
09. A Day By Atmosphere Supreme
10. Next View
11. Latitude (Remix) (feat. Five Deez)
12. F.I.L.O. (feat. Shing02)
13. Summer Gypsy
14. The Final View
15. Peaceland
 
My Review :  
Seba Jun is a Japanese DJ/producer who goes by Nujabes (name spelled backwards). He places rap over different jazz backgrounds and the results are immediately likable mashups. Even people who don't like rap could get into this album. "Lady Brown" is insanely good, great guitar riff. He has another album out that I'm gonna find and upload (eventually). Till then, do yourself and listen to this awesome record. 

Nujabes - Modal Soul (2005)

Nujabes - Modal Soul (2005)


 01 feather (ft. cise starr & akin from cyne)
02 ordinary joe (ft. terry callier)
03 reflection eternal
04 luv(sic) pt.3 (ft. shing02)
05 music is mine
06 eclipse (ft. substantial)
07 the sign (ft. pase rock)
08 thank you (ft. apani b)
09 worlds end rhapsody
10 modal soul (ft. uyama hiroto)
11 flowers
12 sea of cloud
13 light on the land
14 horizon

 My Review : 
i first heard about nujabes from a friend who had downloaded the ristorante nujabes mixtape which is amazing by the way. this album is great also, not a party mix like ristorante, but lots of different musical variation and impressive dj-ing skills tempo changes, cord changes, all really good. 

Jay Jay Johanson - Poison (2000)

Jay Jay Johanson - Poison (2000)


1. Belive in Us
2. Colder (I Want You No More)
3. Keep It a Secret
4. Alone Again
5. Escape
6. Anywhere Anytime
7. Time Is Running Out
8. Poison
9. Humiliation
10. Suffering
11. Changed
12. 75.07.05
13. Far Away
14. Whispering Words
 
My Review :  
While not quite as flawless as his last release 'Tatoo', this is another exceptionally strong collection of haunting, trip-hop flavored songs from the Swedish crooner. The best songs on the release are his best yet, and show growth in both songwriting and arranging skills.

Jay Jay's voice is his signature, and it's on full display here. Melodic, clear, deep (in texture, not tone), and hypnotic. The spare trip-hop arrangements are the perfect complement, and togetehr you get a unique and beautiful cocktail of thoroughly modern music.
 

Etro Anime - See The Sound (2002)

Etro Anime - See The Sound (2002)

 1 Purest One
2 Portrait
3 Summer Rain
4 Endless
5 Danger
6 Diablo
7 Let It Go
8 Adonis
9 Forgotten Love
10 All I need
11 Either Way
 
My Review : 
Etro Anime's "See the Sound" was one of those CDs that I just happened to stumble across in the record store. Known to take dares on new acts, I was very impressed by this very ambitious and daring group at first listen. I didn't have to listen to it a couple of times like I do most albums to determine whether I like it or not..."See The Sound" immediately grabbed me with its heavy bass lines, refreshing grooves, dreamy melodies and infectious hooks. Lissette Alea's vocals are beautiful and strong enough to be compared to the likes of Gretchen Lieberum, Nelly Furtado and Geri Soriano-Lightwood (Supreme Beings of Leisure). Songs of note are "Endless", "Diablo", "Adonis", "Summer Rain", "Forgotten Love" and "All I Need." 

Glen Porter - Falling Down (2009)

Glen Porter - Falling Down (2009)


1. 5AM (2:38)
2. And Death Of (4:00)
3. Ave. (2:47)
4. Broadcast (3:46)
5. Days 2 Come (3:44)
6. Goodbye (3:28)
7. Hands Without Eyes (3:02)
8. Last Call (1:28)
9. Need Itself (2:50)
10. Need Itself Pt. 2 (4:10)
11. Self Destruction (2:42)
12. Suffer (4:47)
13. The Little People (2:27)
14. Yours (3:47)

My Review :  
As moody guitars swing and sway around dust encrusted drums and melancholy voices, story’s of the the lonely and broken hearted begin to form in your head. “Falling Down” by Glen Porter is a journey into the darker side of instrumental music. In the fasion that only he can, he sets the mood and provides the soundtrack for you to sit back, paint pictures and conjure up stories to the music flowing through your mind.
Paintings by Gordon of PMC.
 

 

Glen Porter - Blessed by a Young Death (2008)

Glen Porter - Blessed by a Young Death (2008)



1 29 Palms 4:02
2 Transient 3:09
3 The Life 3:28
4 Forgive Me Part 1 2:33
5 Glen Porter 3:28
6 Sunset 3:02
7 I Sat Alone 2:54
8 Slowburn 3:50
9 Forgive Me Part 2 2:13
10 She Cries 3:28
11 Release 4:17
12 Satire 3:07
13 Awrldofmkblv 3:01
14 And Death of 3:59
15 1918-08-26 3:00
16 Something Glue 5:42

Manmachineman - The Rhythmdesign Rising (1997)

Manmachineman - The Rhythmdesign Rising (1997)


1 Subway in 0:52
2 Travelling Bass 1:31
3 Chess 7:32
4 Electricity Babies 5:02
5 Psychedelic Green 5:07
6 Funk Corner 6:20
7 Sundance 6:22
8 Sunset Blvd. 5:10
9 Arabesque (Night Mix) 3:55
10 Timewarp 1923 3:29
11 Mitropa 2:28
12 Maelcum's Score 5:54
13 All the Time Back of My Mind 7:44
14 Seestream 5:50
15 Wuz Going On? 5:13
16 Threethirtytwopm 3:38
17 Subway out 0:35
 
My Review :  
Hard to find album by Manmachineman released on Mole. Amazing overlooked piece. These tunes are so cool, laid-back, funky. Manmachineman is a producer of DePhazz, but this album is much more trip hop than jazz. Rich, rich stuff. Enjoy! 

password: secretmusicbox 

Joe Beats - Diverse Recourse (2007)

Joe Beats - Diverse Recourse (2007)


01. Don't Front
02. Live My Life
03. Me Talk Pretty
04. Slivers
05. Doing The Nothing
06. Sleep Or Bust
07. Caught Up
08. Friday Afternoon
09. Hellfire (Remix)
10. Pour Me One
11. Big Eyed Son
12. The Buzz Off
13. Merc Ret
14. Spikes For The Punch Bowl
15. Indian Summer
16. Cutie Pie
17. ETA
18. Fade
 
My Review :  

I first noticed Joe Beats with his dope beats on the Non-Prophets album and since then he's become one of my favorite producers. This is his 2nd solo instrumental release and he also dropped a dope indie rock remix album. Now in 2007 he's on a new label, the excellent Bully Records straight from Montreal. Joe Beats continues his hot streak with another dope release, this album does not dissapoint at all. The beats are very dark & groovy, always with some very dope drums which is the signature sound for Joe Beats. This is a very excellent LP, I would recommend this album to those who where dissapointed with the last DJ Shadow & RJD2 albums. Joe Beats stayed true to his sound and didn't go on some weirdo trip... So far best instrumental hip hop album of 2007. 

40 Winks - The Lucid Effect (2008)

40 Winks - The Lucid Effect (2008)


1. Winks Jazz
2. Sleep Rock
3. One Way Ticket
  4. Keep On
5. Rap About That (Smoke And Mirrors)
6. Wizardry
  7. Hazy Notion
  8. Sleep Ritual
9. I Heart U On Drums (Interlude)
10. Distorted Reception
11. Input A
12. Highwaves
13. Wise Up 

My Review :  
40 Winks are known for their laidback atmospheres and vibes. However, after 5 years of looking for the perfect beat, they decided to break free from the usual mold and dive into the unknown for this project. Having reached listeners in different scenes and parts of the world, they decided to incorporate all those genres and styles into their own, to create an instrumental hip hop album in which the traditional boundaries of rhythms, tempos and sampling techniques are wildly stretched. Instrumental hip hop aficionado or not, music lovers are bound to find a treat in this one!

40 winks - sound puzzle (2007)

40 winks - sound puzzle (2007)


1. New Day (Introlude)
2. Sketch
3. Goodmorning (Intro)
4. Go Ahead Bobby (Interlude)
5. Progress
6. It's Here
7. Picture This
  8. You (Interlude)
9. Melancholia (Bonus)
  10. Old Train
11. Soulful Sensitivity
12. Mind Lost (Interlude)
  13. For the Traveller
  14. Divine Intervention (Interlude)
15. I Bring You Dreams
16. Planet Anvers
17. Way Past Bedtime (Outro)
18. Egyptian Love Poems
19. One Button
  20. Welcome to Paradise Island (Interlude)

My Review : 
40 Winks is an instrumental hip hop group made up of two producers - padmo’ and Weedy - from Antwerp, Belgium. No hay banda! (“there is no band”, Mulholland Dr. 2001) pretty much sums up where 40 Winks aims to go with its instrumental hip hop: meticulously chop and paste samples together, to create an atmosphere of beats and vibes which steps beyond unimaginative loops. Their emphasis on creating vintage organically sounding beats has left people wondering why 40 Winks won’t perform live, the answer simply being: ”there is no band!”.
Very nice one, listened to this several times during last few weeks and it's getting better and better.


 

 

Blu and Exile - Below The Heavens (2007)

Blu and Exile - Below The Heavens (2007)


01 blu & exile - my world is..
02 blu & exile - the narrow path
03 blu & exile - so(ul) amazin' (steel blazin')
04 blu & exile - juicen' dranks (ft. taraach)
05 blu & exile - in remembrance of me
06 blu & exile - blu colla workers
07 blu & exile - dancing in the rain
08 blu & exile - first things first (ft. miguel jontel)
09 blu & exile - no greater love
10 blu & exile - show me the good life
(ft. aloe blacc & joseph)
11 blu & exile - simply amazin'
12 blu & exile - cold hearted (ft. miguel jontel)
13 blu & exile - the world is (below the heavens..)
14 blu & exile - you are now in the clouds with
(the koochie monstas)
15 blu & exile - unlisted bonus track
16 blu & exile - unlisted bonus track
17 blu & exile - unlisted bonus track
My  Review : 
Below The Heavens is the debut album by the 22 year old rapper Blu and producer Exile.
There's times when i simply can't stand rap's exposure, i can hardly name a rapper that doesn't talk about the ghetto crime, drugs or tries to act tough on a record, what you get from Blu's lyrics is questions of life and struggle by a common young man in an everyday life, there's such innocence in the lyrics that surprised me.
The extremely talented Blu provides the listeners with a very common subject, in the amazing "Show Me The Good Life" he raps about the struggle and responsibilities raising a child, the lack of a job and money for food, his flow is excellent.
On "In Remembrance Of Me" he raps about his past and life's obstacles, another amazing track.
The production is beautiful, harmonious beats make a perfect base for Blu's lyrics, Exile is very talented as well and through the album the chemistry between the two artists is more than noticeable, the beat for "Dancing In The Rain" is outstanding.
Usually when i find an album i get a few songs that satisfy me and i keep listening to the same ones and rarely the rest, but on this album every song is unique, every song is followed by an equally good one and each time i keep the album on repeat.
I may call this a classic, it's easily the best album of the year but if you like aggressive lyrics and club bangers you could be disappointed.
It's a very personal album, an album that brings emotions to the listener and a very enjoyable listen.
 

Ametsub - The Nothings of the North (2009)

Ametsub - The Nothings of the North (2009)

1 Solitude
2 Lichen With Piano
3 Repeatedly
4 Snowy Lava
5 Old Obscurity
6 Peaks Far Afield
7 Time for Trees
8 Skyr
9 Faint Dazzlings
10 Mosfell (Pathless)
11 66
12 Off-Road 264
 
My Review : 
  Excellent. A worthy follow-up to Linear Cryptics. Superior to anything Fout Tet has produced of late.

 

edIT - Crying Over Pros For No Reason (2004)

edIT - Crying Over Pros For No Reason (2004)

01. Ashtray
02. Ants
03. Laundry
04. Situps Pullups
05. Dex
06. Twenty Minutes
07. Screening Phone Calls
08. Mop Head
09. Ltlp
10. Mildew

My Review :  
 this album is great, it's some downbeat glitch-hop, very smooth, technical, and groundbreaking idm. it has a lot of instrumentation, which makes it different from most idm, kinda like savath & savalas with the tricky glitch type beats. if you like autechre, boards of canada, prefuse 73/savath & savalas, ect. this album will not dissapoint. a must have for any idm fanatic.


 

Somewhere off Jazz Street - Road To Somewhere (2008)

Somewhere off Jazz Street - Road To Somewhere (2008)

1. Enter Orbit (3:14)
2. And The Angels Said (3:22)
3. Elevated Feet (4:10)
4. Had Enough (5:03)
5. Outside Looking In (3:51)
6. Snakes In The Grass (4:13)
7. Slippery Ground (3:35)
8. Lurk (2:44)
9. A.W.A.S. (4:59)
10. Collateral Damage (8:24)

My Review :  
It's pretty good, but I think the fact that all the music is made from a keyboard really holds the music back. It would sound so much better with real instruments. 

Bohren & der Club of Gore – Gore Motel (1994)

Bohren & der Club of Gore – Gore Motel (1994)

1 Die Nahtanznummer, Teil 2 6:32
2 Sabbat Schwarzer Highway 8:15
3 Gore Motel 6:44
4 Dandys Lungern durch die Nacht 5:04
5 Dangerflirt mit der Schlägerbitch 6:20
6 Conway Twitty zieh mit mir 6:01
7 Die Fulci Nummer 4:56
8 Der Maggot Tango 4:15
9 Texas Keller 4:42
10 Thrash Altenessen 4:34
11 Cairo Keller 8:59
12 Gore Musik 7:55
 
My Review :  
I can't really describe what to expect, because it's a bit too 'lively' to be pure ambient. It's also a bit too droney and rock-based to be jazz (Even for jazz fusion). However, it's also too jazzy to be doom metal or rock. It's definitely a beast of its own, which makes it even more disappointing that Bohren would change their style over the next two albums. Essentially, imagine Neil Young's Dead Man Soundtrack crossed with the Twin Peaks soundtrack, with jazzy drum fills. It's mind-blowing. 

Password – SirensSound.blogspot.com 

Bohren & der Club of Gore – Midnight Radio (1995)

Bohren & der Club of Gore – Midnight Radio (1995)


Disc One1 – 1 22:34
2 – 2 13:12
3 – 3 10:23
4 – 4 12:59
5 – 5 12:37

Disc Two
1 – 6 11:34
2 – 7 12:31
3 – 8 12:29
4 – 9 12:09
5 – 10 12:17
6 – 11 12:42
 
 My Review : 

Another highly atmospheric release from Bohren - though this one needs even more time and patience to appreciate. There is no saxophone here and little bass... meaning it's very minimalistic. The songs are ridiculously slow, sometimes slower than on Black Earth with the drumming being close to non-existant - one high-hat hit every ten seconds or so. There is more guitar than in other Bohren, quite slow, piecemeal guitar solos that ride the music with grace and placidity. This is still a highly effective album and the most complete for the 'film noir' sound, for me at least. Some of the songs are quite long - some more than 20 minutes - that it's hard to listen to the whole double album in one go. And in a way this is the album's strength, it gives you so much whilst giving you so little to work with. There is also a great feeling of loneliness here too... though it's a reassuring and comforting projection.
 
Password – SirensSound.blogspot.com 

Bohren & der Club of Gore – Geisterfaust (2005)

Bohren & der Club of Gore – Geisterfaust (2005)

01. zeigefinger
02. daumen
03. ringfinger
04. mittelfinger
05. kleiner finger
 
My Review :  
 It is still distinctly Bohren. It's slow. It's moody. It's easy to listen to, hard to grasp. Jazzy and ambient at the same time. Beautiful and depressing, but not particularly frightening like one might have hoped for. And worst of all, where's the saxophone?


Yes, this album is sure to have put off some fans of the previous releases. The long track times are intimidating on their own, but the fact that the only time the saxophone is used is at the very end of the last track guarantees that few people will have the patience to experience the pay-off.
But that's not how to approach the album at all. The journey is more important than the destination. It doesn't matter that there isn't any saxophone; There doesn't need to be any. It's still soothing, mellow, and as brilliantly composed as any Bohren release.

Geisterfaust is different yet familiar, and a breath of fresh air in Bohren's discography. It just goes to prove that Bohren don't sustain themselves by rehashing their old successes indefinitely, which is an admirable trait many artists should learn from.

Also I don't think I can listen to it without falling asleep.
    

Bohren & Der Club Of Gore - Black Earth (2002)

Bohren & Der Club Of Gore - Black Earth (2002)

1. Midnight Black Earth
2. Crimson Ways
3. Maximum Black
4. Vigilante Crusade
5. Destroying Angels
6. Grave Wisdom
7. Constant Fear
8. Skeletal Remains
9. The Art Of Coffins
 
My Review :  
Dark, dark atmospheres are created here. The band describes themselves as "horror jazz", which is close to what they sound like (although not in a schizophrenic John Zorn sorta way). The music is slow and brooding and very dark. Despite it's slowness and "jazziness" (although it certainly doesn't swing), this album is HEAVY - not in a distorted, down-tuned guitar kind of way, but in a CRUSHING ATMOSPHERE kind of way. This is the kind of music that overtakes you - the kind of music that when you listen to, you can't move or do anything, you're just paralyzed by the sheer weight of it all. _Black Earth_ makes you feel like the demons of hell are returning from below, reaching into your chest, and trying to take your soul. Highly recommended. 

Bohren & der Club of Gore - Sunset Mission (2000)

Bohren & der Club of Gore - Sunset Mission (2000)

01. Prowler
02. On Demon Wings
03. Midnight Walker
04. Street Tattoo
05. Painless Steel
06. Darkstalker
07. Nightwolf
08. Black City Skyline
09. Dead End Angels

My Review :  
"Sunset Mission" is another quality release from these Germans. Although it features many of the same traits as their classic "Black Earth" release (which came two years afterwards), this album is not quite as effective. I attribute this to the reduced dark ambient influence which leaves the deeper jazz stuff sounding like .... well... deep jazz. This is not necessarily a problem though as "Sunset Mission" still makes a really lovely accompaniment to a late night in with a book. It's just lacking a little bit of the brooding darkness that made "Black Earth" such a classic release. I suggest treating this album on it's own merits rather than making comparisons. If you don't go into it with the expectation of a dark atmosphere then you'll probably be really pleasantly surprised.


 

parov stelar - shine (2007)

parov stelar - shine (2007)


01. Come closer (3:34)
02. Good bye Emily (3:24)
03. Shine (3:40)
04. Tango muerte (3:41)
05. Your fire (3:01)
06. Lost in Amsterdam (3:28)
07. Little lion (3:37)
08. Love (Part 1) (4:55)
09. Charleston butterfly (3:47)
10. Autumn beasts (3:08)
11. On my way now (Love Part 2) (4:54)
12. Crushed island (4:33)
13. War inside (3:09)
14. Happy end (2:32)
15. Homesick (3:32)
 
My Review : 
 "Seven and Storms" is still one of my favorite albums. This album has now a sucessor: Shine. It´s the same mixture of Jazz, Soul and Downbeat that made the first album one of my favorite albums. It´s not as good as it´s first one but it´s still way beyond 95% of the trash that was published this year. My only critic remark to the album is the recycling of some ideas of the first album. You should listen: Your fire, Come closer and Homesick...

parov stelar - seven and storm (2005)

parov stelar - seven and storm (2005)


1 Seven 3:29
2 My Inner Me (feat. Phoebe Hall) 4:16
3 If I Had You 4:05
4 Nowhere (feat. Billy Kern) 3:43
5 Faith (feat. Odette Di Maio) 3:48
6 Autumn Song 3:56
7 The One (feat. Anita Riegler) 4:03
8 Powder 3:07
9 Dark Jazz 3:22
10 Between the Machine 3:31
11 Warm Inside (feat. Leena Conquest) 3:26
12 Storm 4:12
13 Spygame 6:10
 
My Review :
Parov Stelar is one of Europe's hottest stars, unfortunately not well known in this country. The Soul Seduction internet site is the place to find all of his CD and EP's. His style is both modern and retro, with electronica, saxaphone, and an excellent female vocalist performing on several selections. The sophisticated style makes me think of groups such as The Dining Rooms and Tosca. This is one of my all-time favorite CD's.

Parov Stelar - Rough Cuts (2004)

Parov Stelar - Rough Cuts (2004)

01 Sometimes (feat. Anita Riegler)
02 Tell Me (feat. Anita Riegler & Peter Kreuzer)
03 For All We Know
04 Odessa
05 Psychadelic Jazz
06 Kisskiss
07 Red Haired Woman
08 Afternoon Breaks
09 I Hold You
10 The Fusion (feat. Peter Kreuzer)

My Review :  
This is a wonderful, sophisticated, slow-jazzy/downtempo/chill album that shines amongst the many releases of 2004. Parov Stelar is a talented composer and maker of electronic dance grooves in Austria who slowed down the pace for his first full-length release and turned out this gem.


 

RJD2 - since we last spoke (2004)

RJD2 - since we last spoke (2004)


01 Since We Last Spoke
02 Exotic Talk
03 1976
04 Ring Finger
05 Making Days Longer
06 Someone's Second Kiss
07 To All of You
08 Clean Living
09 Iced Lightning
10 Intro
11 Through the Walls
12 One Day
 
My Review :
 That's right -- musical masterpiece. RJD2 comes with a album that transcends funk. This album uses synths, organs, electric guitars, trumpets, the piano, etc. With soft elegant vocals (both male and female) throughout the album.. It is a compelling smooth groove based album. It is not a beats album made to be MC'ed over.
This is not an album that you blast out of your car. It is a album that you listen to.

RJD2 - Deadringer (2002)

RJD2 - Deadringer (2002)

1. The Horror
2. Salud
3. Smoke and Mirrors
4. Good Times Roll PT.2
5. Final Frontier
6. Ghostwriter
7. Cut Out to Fl
8. F.H.H.
9. Shot In the Dark
10. Chicken-Bone Circuit
11. The Proxy
12. 2 More Dead
13. Take the Picture Off
14. Silver Fox
15. June
16. Work
 
My Review : 
Being a producer/music creator myself(not a DJ), I can appreciate the style and creative force that RJD2 wields like an iron sceptor. Each song is crafted and laid out with tight beats and awesome production. All of the reviews on this spot seem to classify RJ as this or that. WEll, to be honest, he has his own style, RJ style. It sounds like no one else.
RJ seems to enjoy using samples, but his creative energy shines forth. This album is more "hip hop" oriented,, even featuring a few emcees who rock the mic right. I love this cd and I would recommend it to all who enjoy tight beats.
 

Bonobo - Animal Magic (2000)

Bonobo - Animal Magic (2000)


"Intro"
"Sleepy Seven"
"Dinosaurs"
"Kota"
"Terrapin"
"The Plug"
"Shadowtricks"
"Gypsy"
"Sugar Rhyme"
"Silver"

My Review :  
This is a fantastic album. All you have to do is put it in and play. If you are in a bad mood it will relax you. The songs start nice and mellow and gradually get a little bit harder. I bought this album without listening to any of Bonobos music before. I playedd it to a group of my friends and they all wanted to buy a copy. Whether this record is played at the lowest or highest setting on your volume control, it will allways sound like a cold strong beer on a hot sunny day. Even if you dont like dance music this is an essetial C.D to have in your collection. 

Bonobo - Days To Come (2006)

Bonobo - Days To Come (2006)


"Intro" - 0:54
"Days To Come" (feat. Bajka) - 3:49
"Between The Lines" (feat. Bajka) - 4:36
"The Fever" - 4:21
"Ketto" - 5:06
"Nightlite" (feat. Bajka) - 5:09
"Transmission 94 (parts 1 & 2)" - 7:57
"On Your Marks" - 4:09
"If You Stayed Over" (feat. Fink) - 5:23
"Walk In The Sky" (feat. Bajka) - 4:34
"Recurring" - 5:06

My Review : 
This album will definitely fall through the cracks even though it's easily one of 2006's best releases. While DJ Shadow is running around out churning out hyphy garbage, Bonobo weighs in with this masterpiece, full of lush orchestrations, dope beats and excellent vocals. Days to Come gives you that late 90s trip-hop feel but with its own original twist and vibe - it's got more funk and less darkness. I'd say it's sort of like a combo between Quantic and classic DJ Shadow, with a little bit of Amon Tobin spookiness.


 

Chinese Man - The Groove Sessions (2007)

Chinese Man - The Groove Sessions (2007)


01. pandi groove 05:00
02. searching for the space monkey 04:53
03. eight y cinco 03:54
04. bunni groove 04:25
05. washington square feat. bionic man sound 04:11
06. i've got that tune 04:30
07. you suck me 05:10
08. indi groove 04:43
09. skank in the air 04:46
10. artichaut 04:27
11. more 04:45
12. chinese man 03:39

Some really nice tunes on this album... very unknown group from france. BPM's range from 80's-120's. Now thats a good range if your a DJ.



 

DJ Cam - The Beat Assassinated (1998)

DJ Cam - The Beat Assassinated (1998)


I Love Hip Hop - 3:04
Broadcasting (Live Featuring Channel Live) - 3:45
Success - 4:04
Renegade (Featuring Silvah Bullet) - 4:42
Inside In A Mind - 4:53
Danger Interlude (Featuring Dj Djam & Dj Jmdee) - 1:29
Raise Up (Featuring Channel Live) - 3:52
Hardcore Freestyle (Featuring Otis) - 5:19
Brooklyn 12 - 5:26
Interlude (Featuring Dj Djam & Dj Jmdee) - 2:24
L'invasion (Featuring Dadou-Kdd) - 4:20
Baron Samedi - 3:41
Pressure (Featuring Homebru) - 5:36

Download
Password : spreadordietrying
 

 

Jay-Jay Johanson - Whiskey (1996)

Jay-Jay Johanson - Whiskey (1996)


It Hurts Me So 6:01
So Tell The Girls That I Am Back In Town 5:05
The Girl I Love Is Gone 3:39
Skeletal 0:40
I'm Older Now 4:06
Extended Beats 2:54
Tell Me Like It Is 3:21
I Fantasize Of You 5:04
Mana Mana Mana Mana 5:15

Dwonload
Password : spreadordietrying
 

 

alphawezen - comme vous voulez (2007)

alphawezen - comme vous voulez (2007)

 01 - green eyes 
02 - gun song 
03 - fim3 (brigitte bardot) 
04 - days 
05 - freeze 
06 - out of sight 
07 - me optimized 
08 - road movie 1 
09 - deja vu (vocal version) 
10 - rootstrackers 
11 - heimat.de 
12 - el nino 
13 - a thousand tears 
14 - doux reves 

Alphawezen - En Passant (2004)

Alphawezen - En Passant (2004)

1 Chance Destination 4:48
2 Speed of Light 4:09
3 Rain 5:59
4 In the Beginning 1:57
5 Welcome to Machinarchy 4:11
6 I Like You 3:39
7 Sommerzeit 5:15
8 En passant 5:25
9 White Noise 3:53
10 Prothétique de cerveau 3:50
11 Wald2 9:22
12 Speed of Light (Godart String Version) 2:49
 

Description: Some of the best down-tempo electronica out there. The music is perfectly blended. Soothing but never boring...exciting even. The female vocals are light and entrancing. It is really amazing. 

 Password : spreadordietrying

 

Alphawezen - L'après-midi d'un microphone (2001)

Alphawezen - L'après-midi d'un microphone (2001)

01 System 1
02 Into the stars (feat. Asu)
03 Maimouna
04 Wald 1
05 Gai soleil
06 Frost
07 4043 (feat. Simone Schmitt)
08 Fern (sonar)
09 System 2
10 Electricity drive (feat. Asu)
11 Aprés Midi (feat. Asu)
12 U won't get that from me (feat. Yonca)
 

Billie Holiday - 1939-48 Lady Day Vol. 3 & 4

Billie Holiday - 1939-48 Lady Day Vol. 3 & 4
 
 
Vol. 3
 
01 I Gotta a Right to Sing the Blues (Arlen/Koehler) 2:52
02 Yesterdays (Kern/Harbach) 3:23
03 Strange Fruit (Allen) 3:10
04 Fine & Mellow (Holiday) 3:15
05 Night and Day (Porter) 3:03
06 What Is This Going to Get Us 2:41
07 I'm All for You (Bresler/Wynn) 3:07
08 I Hear Music (Lane/Loesser) 2:39
09 It's the Same Old Story (Field/Oliphant) 3:10
10 Practise Makes Perfect (Roberts/Gold) 2:42
11 St. Louis Blues (Handy) 2:56
12 Loveless Love (Handy) 3:16
13 Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love) (Porter) 2:56
14 Georgia (Carmichael/Gorrell) 3:00
15 Romance in the Dark (Green/Broonzy) 2:27
16 All of Me (Marks/Simons) 3:47
17 God Bless the Child (Holiday/Herzog) 2:53
18 Jim (Petrello/Shawn/Samu) 2:57


 
Vol. 4

01 Wherever You Are (Friend/Tobias) 2:57
02 Until the Real Thing Comes Along (Cahn/Chaplin/Freeman) 3:06
03 Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me (Ellington/Russell) 3:32
04 I'll Get By (Ahlert/Turk) 2:57
05 My Old Flame (Johnstone/Coslow) 3:00
06 I Cover the Waterfront (Green/Heyman) 3:28
07 How Am I to Know (King/Parker) 2:44
08 Embraceable You (Gershwin/Gershwin) 3:16
09 I'm Yours (Green/Warburg) 3:16
10 I'll Be Seeing You (Fain/Kahal) 3:31
11 As Time Goes By (Hupfield) 3:09
12 Billie's Blues (Holiday/Marks) 3:07
13 He's Funny That Way (Whiting/Moret) 3:13
14 Lover Come Back to Me (Romberg/Hammerstein) 3:19
15 Don't Explain (Holiday/Herzog) 3:23
16 You Better Go Now (Reichner/Graham) 2:41
17 Baby, I Don't Cry Over You (Krause) 3:11
18 My Man (Yvain/Charles/Wille) 2:55
 
Recorded in New York between April 20, 1939 and December 10, 1948

billie holiday - lady in satin (1958)

billie holiday - lady in satin (1958)

01. Billie Holiday - I'm A Fool To Want You (Edited Master) (3:25)
02. Billie Holiday - For Heaven's Sake (3:29)
03. Billie Holiday - You Don't Know What Love Is (3:51)
04. Billie Holiday - I Get Along Without You Very Well (3:01)
05. Billie Holiday - For All We Know (2:55)
06. Billie Holiday - Violets For Your Furs (3:26)
07. Billie Holiday - You've Changed (3:20)
08. Billie Holiday - It's Easy To Remember (4:03)
09. Billie Holiday - But Beautiful (4:32)
10. Billie Holiday - Glad To Be Unhappy (4:09)
11. Billie Holiday - I'll Be Around (3:26)
12. Billie Holiday - The End Of A Love Affair (Mono) (4:52)
13. Billie Holiday - I'm A Fool To Want You (Take 3) (Bonus) (3:28)
14. Billie Holiday - I'm A Fool To Want You (Take 2 - Alternate Take) (Bonus) (3:26)
15. Billie Holiday - The End Of A Love Affair- The Audio Story (Bonus) (9:50)
16. Billie Holiday - The End Of A Love Affair (Stereo) (Bonus) (4:46)
17. Billie Holiday - Pause Track (0:06)

This is the most controversial of all Billie Holiday records. Lady Day herself said that this session (which finds her accompanied by Ray Ellis' string orchestra) was her personal favorite, and many listeners have found her emotional versions of such songs as "I'm a Fool to Want You," "You Don't Know What Love Is," "Glad to Be Unhappy," and particularly "You've Changed" to be quite touching. But Holiday's voice was essentially gone by 1958, and although not yet 43, she could have passed for 73. Ellis' arrangements do not help, veering close to Muzak; most of this record is very difficult to listen to. Late in life, Holiday expressed the pain of life so effectively that her croaking voice had become almost unbearable to hear. There is certainly a wide range of opinion as to the value of this set. [The 1997 CD reissue adds two alternate takes of "I'm a Fool to Want You," part of which were used for the original released rendition, plus the stereo version of "The End of a Love Affair" (only previously released in mono) and examples of Lady Day rehearsing the latter song, including a long unaccompanied stretch.


 

elsiane - hybrid (2007)

elsiane - hybrid (2007)


01 - vaporous
02 - mend (to fix, to repair)
03 - across the stream
04 - morphing
05 - assemblage point
06 - prosaic
07 - ecclesia
08 - final escape
09 - in a crisis...
10 - paranoia
11 - hybrid

My Review : 
Elsiane's HYBRID is an absolutely gorgeous, breathtaking piece of work. When I found out that this new artist signed to Nettwerk's label was touring with Delerium (who I will regretfully have to miss this time around), I didn't hesitate for one second to check her out. I became enthralled with the song samples and, listening to them in their entirety now, they do not disappoint. Quite the contrary actually. This is some of the best music I've heard in long while and it is easily one of my favorite albums of 2008.

A lot of people seem a bit irked by her voice but I think it's lovely...if not different sounding...and compliments everything nicely. The lush, ethereal pop melodies are emotionally driven with modern electronics and gentle washes of violins, cellos and drums. This is music that truly makes one feel and is perfect for the start of autumn - a rather reflective time of year.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, especially for fans of groups like Delerium and Sleepthief.

Favorite songs include "Vaporous", "Mend", "Across The Stream", "Morphing', and "Paranoia".
 

Wu-Tang Clan - Iron Flag (2001)

Wu-Tang Clan - Iron Flag (2001)

In The Hood
Rules
Chrome Wheels
Soul Power (Black Jungle)
Uzi (Pinky Ring)
One Of These Days
Y'all Been Warned
Babies
Radioactive (Four Assasins)
Back In The Game
Iron Flag
Dashing (Reasons)
 

Wu-Tang Clan - The W (2000)

Wu-Tang Clan - The W (2000)


01. Intro (Shaolin Finger Jab) / Chamber Music
02. Careful (Click, Click)
03. Hollow Bones
04. Redbull (Feat. Redman)
05. One Blood Under W (Feat. Junior Reid)
06. Conditioner (Feat. Snoop Dogg)
07. Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)
08. Let My Niggas Live (Feat. Nas)
09. I Can't Go To Sleep (Feat. Isaac Hayes)
10. Do You Really (Thang, Thang)
11. The Monument (Feat. Busta Rhymes)
12. Gravel Pit
13. Jah World (Feat. Junior Reid)
 

Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Forever (1997)

Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Forever (1997)


CD 1

 Wu-Revolution
Reunited
For Heavens Sake
Cash Still Rules / Scary Hours - Still don't nothing move but the money
Visionz
As High As Wu-Tang Get
Severe Punishment
Older Gods
Maria
A Better Tomorrow
It's Yourz
 


CD 2

 Intro
Triumph
Impossible
Little Ghetto Boys
Deadly Melody
The City
The Projects
Bells Of War
The M.G.M.
Dog Sh*t
Duck Seazon
Hellz Wind Staff
Heaterz
Black Shampoo
Second Coming
The Closing



Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)

Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)


1) Bring Da Ruckus
2) Shame On A Nigga
3) Clan In Da Front
4) Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber
5) Can It Be All So Simple
Intermission
6) Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'
7) Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit
8) C.R.E.A.M.
9) Method Man
10) Protect Ya Neck
11) Tearz
12) Wu-Tang: 7th Chamber - Part II
13) Method Man (Skunk Mix)
14) Conclusion
my comment : 

 
Without wishing to sound like a Dream Theater fan or something, this is something I’ve been thinking about for quite a while now: on a purely technical level, I believe “Protect Ya Neck” by the Wu Tang Clan to be the peak, the pinnacle, the unadulterated high point of music composition, and something that will never be topped by future generations. And I know it’s catchy and destructive as fuck, I’d never doubt that, but let’s give this a bit of analysis:


- The detail! Take that short, scratchy two note sample in the background when Inspectah Deck’s verse begins, for instance.
- The way “your neighbourhood Spiderman” is almost sung, yet has nothing on ODB’s later operatic heroics.
- RZA’s subtle change in sample choice when the mic gets handed over to Raekwon, coupled with the whistling kettle sound that accompanies his and Meth’s verse.
- “Moving on your left, AH!”
- The fact that U-God (that dork…) is given only three seconds, none of it proper rapping.
- SOOOOO!!
- OBD’s singing! Oh man, the centrepiece of the track, no doubt. The way he rides the chants of “protect ya neck!” and “watch ya step kid” is just sublime, only to break out into one of his tightest ever verses. No father to his style.
- Ghost storming in with “for cryin’ out loud my style is wild so book me” before Ol’ Dirty could even finish his last line, showing more raw passion and aggression than most suckers can pack in their entire career.
- The subtle, nuanced piano lines that run through the entire thing.
- “Feelin’ mad hostile, ran the apostle / Flowin’ like Christ when I speaks the gospel”
- The glorious noises that cloud the swearing (on the CD version, at least).
- GZA bringing this whole circus to an end with one of the classiest, chilled verses ever laid down onto wax. He took us the fuck outta here.
                                         
                        Download

Gotan Project - Tango 3.0 (2010)

Gotan Project - Tango 3.0 (2010)


01. Tango Square
02. Rayuela
03. Desilusion
04. Peligro
05. La Gloria
06. Mil Millones
07. Tu Misterio
08. De Hombre A Hombre
09. El Mensajero
10. Panamericana
11. Erase Una Vez
 

GOTAN PROJECT - Lunático (2006)

GOTAN PROJECT - Lunático (2006)


1. Amor Porteno
2. Notas
3. Diferente
4. Celos
5. Lunatico
6. Mi Confesion
7. Tango Cancion
8. La Viguela
9. Criminal
10. Arrabal
11. Domingo
12. Paris, Texas



 

Gotan Project - La Revancha Del Tango (2001)

Gotan Project - La Revancha Del Tango (2001)


01 Queremos Paz
02 Época
03 Chunga's Revenge
04 Tríptico
05 Santa María (Del Buen Ayre)
06 Una Música Brutal
07 El Capitalismo Foráneo
08 Last Tango In Paris
09 La Del Ruso
10 Vuelvo Al Sur



 

Massive Attack - Heligoland (2010)

Massive Attack - Heligoland (2010)


1. Pray For Rain (featuring Tunde Adebimpe)
2. Babel (featuring Martina Topley-Bird)
3. Splitting The Atom (featuring Robert del Naja/Grant Marshall/Horace Andy)
4. Girl I Love You (featuring Horace Andy)
5. Psyche (featuring Martina Topley-Bird)
6. Flat Of The Blade (featuring Guy Garvey)
7. Paradise Circus (featuring Hope Sandoval)
8. Rush Minute (featuring Robert del Naja)
9. Saturday Come Slow (featuring Damon Albarn)
10. Atlas Air (featuring Robert del Naja)