Masta Ace's second solo album, his first in six years, which managed to cement his place as one of hip shop's greatest ever MCs. Disposable Arts is a concept album about a man being released from prison. The production is tight, the rhymes are sick, and the abum is just an absolute treat from start to end.
An early demo album, self-produced by the then fifteen-year-old Zach Condon. Fans of his earlier folky work will be surprised - hopefully pleasantly, as I was - by the electronic elements of this album.
Despite their name, The Final Solution were't a white power band - they were a Chicago-based fivesome who recorded a soul & funk infused soundtrack for a Blaxpoitation film that was never released. Consequently, the band and the album faded into obscurity before being resurrected in 2008 by the impeccable Soul Jazz Records.
The Slits were an all-female punk group based in London. Lead singer Ari Up, who tragically died last week at the age of just 48, was the step-daughter of Johnny Rotten, and was only 17 when this album was recorded. It has reggae/dub influences as well as the obvious punk we all know and love, and is highly recommended.
Combining elements of drone with neo-classical, New York-based Canadian composer Kyle Bobby Dunn manages to craft an extremely interesting little album. Clocking in at just over 20 minutes long, it always leaves you wanting more. Oh, and he's only two years older than me - fuck my life!
Some hero has put each and every FabricLive compilation online for your listening pleasure.
Pocahaunted were boss. Unfortunately they're probably most famous because the lead singer from Best Coast formed this band. Don't let that fact make you expect summery indie pop - Pocahaunted played psychedelic dubby goodness. Highly reccomended.
A one-off supergroup from the Chicago indie/math-rock scene, consisting of brothers Tim "Cap'n Jazz" Kinsella and Mike "Owen" Kinsella, as well as the guitarists from Ghosts & Vodka. If any of those bands tickle your fancy, then this is for you. If not, then try it anyway - this album is truly spectacular.
Everyone has a German house DJ mate living in Edinburgh, right? You don't?! For shame.
Hey kids, I know the weekend's here, but are you ready for some fun musical maths? Good.
Politically charged post-rock from San Francisco. As well as creating soaring guitar-scapes, this trio use samples from TV and film to get their vitally important pro-liberty message across.
Epic post-rock with a slightly darker edge. This band hail from Athens, Georgia so you know they're gonna be good.
So about a fortnight back I went out in Hull for my cousin's leaving party (she's moved to Shanghai for a year), and ended up at one of those shitty clubs I hate so very much. Luckily the DJ played this amazing song - a remix of Tinie Tempah by a dubstep producer from Dublin called Fog (check out his SoundCloud for more of his stuff) - which not only saved me from throwing myself out of the window, but is about infinity times better than the original, which is well shite.
Congrats to the XX for winning this award last night - almost as prestigious as coming 7th in TCOAL's Best of 2009, but not quite. Don't get me wrong, it is a great album (go buy it, cos I'm sick of uploading it and it getting deleted), but to be honest it was a pretty shit batch of albums nominated - yeah, Mumford & Sons made a good record, and yeah Foals were interesting (but nowhere near as good as their first record, quelle surprise), and yeah Dizzee Rascal made THE anthem of the decade, but none of the albums were groundbreakingly amazing, and most were a proper load of bollocks. For shame.
A kick-ass new club night in London run by my dear friend Chev (of 'Best of 2009' fame), a guy who has such an eclectic and expansive music taste it makes me weep with jealousy.
My cousin's band. He's the lad with a circle round his little face. He plays guitar. My Dad even managed to get my Gran to go on their MySpace page to check them out. I wasn't there (too hungover, in no fit state to see my eldest living relative for the first time in eight months) but I wish I had been now...Much love, chat soon. xx
