I gotta admit this was an impulse postage. In that I really didn’t take the time to see if it was even worth posting. But when you have Pretty Lights + Talib Kweli in the same sentence, it’s pretty much on auto post.
On the up & down side, Pretty Lights sticks to that electro-funk hip-hop he’s personified so well. And even though I’m not sure how long lasting ‘Around the Block’ will be, it’s only the first single off PL’s new album, A Color Map of the Sun, so all it needs to last is ’til the release (that being July).
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/87930214" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Someone in, on or associated with Bondax has got one helluva full voice. This Moon Boots remix may not get to it quick enough, but it turns into a catchyass, disco-pop track in no time (about a minute).
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/87417338" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
I am absolutely falling for Mt. Wolf. Ever since I heard Kate Sproule’s voice in a Catching Flies remix of ‘Life Size Ghosts,’ I knew she’d fit right into my roster of female vocalists to watch. But Mt. Wolf doesn’t just carry a good singer, the instrumentals on their recent Hypolight EP are beautifully dark & enchanting. And damn does Kate’s poignant words carry in the chorus. Really etches her lines into my head all.damn.day <3
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/82744010" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Where a good chunk of songs suck because of their repetitiveness, ‘When I See You’ glorifies it. These vocals are so well cut they put me in a state every time I hear them. I wonder what she’s saying. Does it really matter
Check out ‘Cherry Blossom,’ as well, for another blissful minute.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/70405006" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
When this Janet remix first starts off, her voice slowed with that high hat clap, or whatever you wanna call it, sounded a bit too basic to be honest. Once you get into its real funk, however, it stays funky ’til the end. You wouldn’t have gotten away with this kind of soul even a few years back. But it’s flooding the waves, especially here. It’s a strange kind of soul, to say the least, but it’s easy to get caught up in the madness if you sit back, relax & just take it all in.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/87144656" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Let me explain…
I’ve been criticizing white boy & UK rap ever since I first laid my ears on it and now I just so happen to be featuring a rapper that highlights both. The world is a changin’ and so am I. REECE may be the definition of what I don’t look for in a rap artist, but I still can’t deny the qualities of his latest single.
‘In the Morning’ is first and foremost a well produced track with one catchy-ass chorus. And unlike the rap I’m most apathetic towards, REECE takes his words and blends them into the beat, rather than just rapping to one rhythm. As far as actual lyrics go, I’m never one to judge people’s words too much, but let’s just say this is geared more towards the pop scene. Still, something different than the usual ’round here.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/80810198" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
I wasn’t quite up for another Tribe remix, I’ve just heard too many mediocre mixes, but Bit Funk provides one full flushed take. This ‘1nce Again’ remix turns up the tempo with a harsher kick that’s surely 2013 full & fresh.
edit: I dunno if I’m feelin’ that piano tempo. Little too harsh too.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/81088533" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Every time I hear this start off it instantly reminds me of Solange’s Losing You, it’s that rhythm or somethin’. Classixx also enrolled some brand spankin fresh vocals for ‘Holding On,’ one’s I can’t find credited anywhere… (disappointing) Besides that, this is a clear cut classic, as Classixx tends to always push out.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/78934691" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
D.veloped went up and remixed Norman Greenbaum’s classic of rock classics, ‘Spirit in the Sky,’ with a Pretty Lights like, electro-funk sound. It’s a well polished electro tribute and The Hendrix & Stones sampling is a nice touch. Good step in the right direction, D.veloped.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/82804317" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Night Panther’s ‘Fire’ strangely reminds me of a few different random-ass things. For the first few bars when the vocals kick in, the song slightly reminds me of Home Alone and the nostalgic flashbacks of Kevin preparing for his prankster ways on Marv & Harry (told you it was random). Then it goes on to sounding like a Starfucker bonanza at around 2 minutes past with electro sounds a-blazin’. It finally closes out by returning to that signature Night Panther falsetto with crisp bars of brass behind it, like always (or one other time).
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/74272012" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]