Here’s a demo we got ahold of recently, but which actually leaked late 2011. ‘Scared of Beautiful’ houses Frank’s always straight-forward, heartfelt words. Production is provided by Midi Mafia and holds well with Frank’s vocals.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/63176337" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
No one loves Chris Brown or when vocals are sped up to Chipmunk status, but they’re on this today and don’t you goddamn complain about it. Whether or not he’s been one of the biggest fuck ups in celebritism, Chris Brown’s voice sounds soulful even when sped up to near Chipmunk levels. Cleindl takes Brown’s vocals from ‘Yo’ & transforms them with hypnotic soul into depths Brown’s pop persona could never reach.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/58516847" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
I think I’ve narrowed it down to two things that I like so much about Two Inch Punch. One’s pretty straightforward, while the other’s not so clear just yet.
My first experience with TIP was his remix of Birdy’s ‘People Help the People,’ manipulating her vocals with a varied charm. TIP always pulls off the chop & skew with any vocals, harmonizing ’em at just the right moment.
The other thing I like so much about T.I.P deals with his experimental productions. It’s not only his hand in pushing this progressive style of electro soul or “lovestep” forward, but the whims he goes off in. Try out ‘BrokKen’ and see if you can hear it for yourself, it’s a bit of nonsense at first, but you’ll warm up to it quite quick.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/78135456" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
Oren Lyons’ first single, ‘Forever Found,’ starts off as a pleasant orchestral piece, but doesn’t get to its glory quite yet. Kristianne Bautista’s vocals may not come off that heavy at first, but once she builds on it, her power soars along the way.
One thing I did notice needing some fine tuning was its production. I felt at times like the quality was degraded, and even though this could just be my attempt at trying to find something to criticize (or maybe just my speakers), it’s been stuck in the back of my head since the very first listen.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/53097541" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" width="60%"]
Running through Channel Orange over, I can’t stop going back to ‘Lost.’ I mean, I connect with a few of the others, mostly which were already released, but I just can’t get away from that melody in ‘Lost.’ The lyrics haven’t really hit me like a few of his others have, but I’m never one to look into lyrics all that much – ’cause usually when I do, some ass has to correct me, and usually they’re right. Or it could be the words and I just don’t know it, yet. Wish I could get a little more lost in life, physically – got the mental down.
[audio:Lost.mp3|titles=Lost]
‘Sweet LIFE’ is the latest single off Frank O’s Channel Orange. Co-produced by Pharrell Williams, ‘Sweet LIFE’ changes gears from his last single, ‘Pyramids,’ with a simply smooth, jazzy vibe. Frank lays down those ever lucid lines and reminisces about high society’s secluded life of luxury. Effortlessly lovely as always, Frank.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/52001640" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
Ever since I started up Silence, I’ve always wanted to discover the next big thing in R&B, mainly because of my disliking for its mainstream counterpart over the past few decades. The problem with finding this underground soul that’s about to reinvent R&B is that they’re not easy to dig up online, but I managed to do it, eventually.
I got my first taste of neo soul, or so I liked to call it, when I heard the super-group out of Minneapolis, Gayngs, play ‘The Gaudy Side of Town.’ The group gained a decent following, but never enough to start a movement, even in light of all the names behind the project. Six months later, however, a duo out of Toronto created one soulful tune that set the spark for soul & R&B’s reunion, their name was The Weekend […]
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/40446926" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" width="60%"]
A new Frank Ocean with the usual sensual seduction, but unlike his usual, “Pyramids” takes that synth to heights, something similar to a Starfucker beat. I wonder if it’s from a Starfucker beat… I just love saying Starfucker.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/49080453" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
Who would’ve thought such soulful music could’ve come out of Australia (other than the Aussies) I guess that’s what I love so much about SoundCloud and the internet as a whole, it breaks down the barriers of where specific styles of music are known for thriving.
This Aussie, who goes by Josh Jakq, sounds like Justin Timerblake taking on The Weeknd, as Zach of FMI points out. I don’t know if he’s got the lyrical forte quite down yet, more so referring to his other track, but he sure has his sound locked down.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/44290033" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]
There’s nothing quite better than stumbling across a gem like this, especially when it’s yet to be pounced on by every other blogger in the atmosphere.
‘Magic In Your Eyes’ borrows vocals from the soulful Frank H Carter III, who carries a tune quite similar to Sam Sparro‘s. But unlike Sparro, Carter is something to be discovered. I don’t know if it’s Red Sky Lullaby’s abrasive neo soul tune, but this shit is hitting righter than anything I’ve listened to in a while (it’s been a long while).
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/48450604" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]