Archive for May, 2008

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The Urban Landscapes Radioshow 11.17

Saturday, May 31st, 2008

After recuperating during my week off, I’m back to make up for my absence with a three-hour broadcast. The styles go all over the place per usual, so there’s bound to be goodies that you’ll dig.

The Halfway Rewind Specials are forthcoming, looking back at the quality music during the first hald of 2008. Dates will be announced soon.

I’m quite busy at the moment, so will leave it there. Enjoy the show, and will catch you next week.


The Urban Landscapes Radioshow 11.17
Thursday May 29, 2008
Three-Hour Edition

Song - Artist - Title - Label
untitled track - Auteur - test
Style - re:jazz - Live at Motion Blue Yokohama EP - Infracom promo
New Morning - Sabrina Malheiros - New Morning - Far Out promo
Donkey Ride - Mr. Scruff - EP - Ninja Tuna
Sunbreak - Danny Massure - What It Is - Spring Strut
Be Still My Soul (Dasuke Tanabe Remix) - Onur Engin - EP - Straightup promo
Close The Door (TM Juke Remix) - Soul Vigilantes - EP - Lovemonk promo
Rollerskate Jam - Plantlife - Time Traveller - Decon
California Soul (Diplo Remix) - Marlena Shaw - Verve Remixed 4 - Verve Forecast
Pieces - Jet Tricks - Remote Control - Jet Tricks
Before - Atjazz featuring Clara Hill - Full Circle - Mantis
A Ways To Go - Daru & Reggie B - Future Music - 4Lux
What’s Your Name - Milez Benjamin - Feel Glorious - Tru Thoughts
One to 31 - J-Live - Then What Happened?! - BBE
Street Karma (A Cautionary Tale featuring Jean Grae) - The Herbaliser - Same As It Never Was - !K7
Honey (Captain Planet Remix) - Erykah Badu - Bastard Boots #5 EP - Bastard Boots
The Chosen One (Biggabush’s DubStepper Mix) - Rob Symeonn - EP - Redbud promo
Searching For Stalag - Dub Traffik Control - Bastard Boots #4 - Bastard Boots
Free Rider - Quiet Village - Silent Movie - !K7
Space Convoy - DJ Frane - Journey To The Planet of Birds - DJ Frane
Everyman - The Captain aka Fab Samperi - Resense
Pointless Dreams - Ben Mi Duck - Here Comes Treble - TrebleO
Take Five (Nicola Conte Remix) - Roberta Roena - I Like It Like That: Fania Remixed - Mr. Bongo
Pa’ Bailar (Bandido Mix by Alexkid) - Bajofondo - EP - Decca Surco promo
I Forget You - Atjazz featuring Clyde - Full Circle - Mantis
Dead End - Bangana featuring Clarisse Muvemba - EP - Heya Hifi
Evolutionism - Soul Designer - EP - Third Ear promo
Underwater featuring Xan Blacq (Simbad Remix) - Soul Vigilantes - EP - Lovemonk promo
Para Na Vivir Desperado (Diesler Remix) - Instituto Mexicano del Sonido - EP - Lovemonk promo
Connexao (DJ Venom Remix) - Sabrina Malheiros - EP - Far Out CD-R
Plastico (Bugz In The Attic Remix) - Ruben Blades - I Like It Like That: Fania Remixed - Mr. Bongo
It’ll Come (Yam Who Remix) - Belleruche - Shapes 08:01 - Tru Thoughts
Cry Me A River (Cinematic Orchestra Remix) - Dinah Washington - Verve Remixed 4 - Verve Forecast
Get To Know Me - Amber Ojeda - demo
END BROADCAST
 
icon for podpress  Show 11.17 [172:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Posted on Saturday, May 31st, 2008 at 9:45 pm You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

DJ Cosmo Launches New Label Showcasing The Loft

Monday, May 26th, 2008

This is the bulk of an email that legendary DJ and tastemaker DJ Cosmo has sent out last week. Vinylheads rejoice!

Dear Friends,
We are ecstatic to give birth to The Loft’s very first official record label:
The Loft Audiophile LIbrary of Music.

Our objective is to re-issue selected master recordings, and release them in the highest audiophile quality vinyl recording 12-inch singles on 180 gram vinyl and 45 rpm. Mastering will be handled by the legendary audiophile engineer Stan Rickman who did the mastering of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” amongst many other great recordings.

In times of audio quality compromise due to new technological advancement (i.e. digital convenience) that is ultimately decreasing the value of music in general (i.e. standardisation of the mp3 format), we believe this concept is a solution to our striving passion for music appreciation, quality and the preservation thereof which ultimately gives a choice to the global music fans of today.

Our mission statement is “To share authentic musical information (musical recordings, energy, history, messages, visions, emotions, expressions, creativity and artistic integrity) through quality playback.”

The first release is “My Favourite Things”, the Studio Version by Alfredo de la Fe and the Live Version by The Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble. It sounds absolutely amazing!

If you’re unable to make the parties but are itching in buying some wax, get in touch and I’ll pass the info on to her.

She’s also on Myspace, as well.

Peace.

Posted on Monday, May 26th, 2008 at 1:19 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Video: Park Bench People by Jose James

Monday, May 26th, 2008
From the terrific album from Brownswood Recordings The Dreamer comes a new video from Jose James; a great cover of Freestyle Fellowship’s “Park Bench People.” It’ll be the next single come early June, b/w a new collab with Flying Lotus. Enjoy!


Jose James - Park Bench People (Brownswood Recordings)

Posted on Monday, May 26th, 2008 at 12:11 am You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

No Urban Landscapes This Week

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

Hello, Good People:
I was all fired up to bring you a brand new show, then I got hit with hay fever and that really slowed me down.

I’m recovering, though still not 100%. I hope that I’ll be fully recovered by next week’s show, at which time I’m going to make up for some time by delivering to you a three-hour broadcast.

Watch out for more soon; have a good weekend!

Posted on Friday, May 23rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

The Urban Landscapes Radioshow 11.16

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
I hope your week so far has been a good one.

Last weekend was a nice one. A couple of local DJ friends and I traveled to Los Angeles to catch an event featuring Tru Thoughts artist Quantic and Wonderwheel/ESL beatmaker Nickodemus. An outfit called Funky In The Middle was responsible for the goods, with DJ Jeremy Sole fronting things. I was awesome to see Jeremy again, and even more awesome to catch up with Q and Nicko for the first time in ages. I’ve also met some new peeps, and danced my ass off to a great time. I will have more info on the event in the coming days, along with pictures.

Be sure to check out the show’s web site, which has a new interview series called The Snapshot. First up is Demus from 2 Banks of 4, sharing knowledge on the excellent new album on Sonar Kollektiv called Junkard Gods. Hope you enjoy the read.

In the meantime, enjoy the latest show. More goodness is coming up on this week’s edition, so stay close.

Peace.

The Urban Landscapes Radioshow 11.16
Thursday May 8, 2008

Song - Artist - Title - Label
Apaixonada Por Voce - Marcos Valle - The Best of Marcos Valle: Caroica Soul - Far Out
Canto Pra Oxum - The Ipanemas - Call of the Gods - Far Out
You Can Do What You Want (Bossa Mix) - Christos Kedras - EP - Lovemonk promo
Simple - Natalia Clavier - Nectar - Eighteenth Street Lounge Music promo
Kiss of Kali - Mop Mop - EP - Infracom promo
Microcsmo - Joe Barbieri - In Parole Povera - Le Pop Musik
Muchacho - Bahama Soul Club - test
Soulful Strut - Peter Nero - A Night At The Jazz Rooms - Mr. Bongo
Last Beat - NOMO - Ghost Rock - Ubiquity promo
El Microfono (Nickodemus Remix) - Instituto Mexicano del Sonido - EP - Lovemonk promo
Bring It Home featuring Alice Russell (Lanu Remix) - The Bamboos - Shapes 08:01 - Tru Thoughts
Never Did I Stop Loving You - Kylie Auldist - Just Say - Tru Thoughts
Free! - Plantlife - Time Traveller - Decon
The Goodum Tune (Umod Bass Mix) - Dirty Diggers - Shapes 08:01 - Tru Thoughts
Voodoo Magic - Probe DMS - Here Comes Treble - TrebleO
Utopia - Quiet Village - Silent Movies - !K7
Love Hangover - Jet Tricks - Remote Control - Jet Tricks
Shalina Music - Protassov - Shalina Music - Switchstance
Carlos Walter Wendy Stanley - The Chap - Ghostly Swim - Ghostly/Adult Swim
So Move - Domu - Here Comes Treble - TrebleO
Saona (Gilles Peterson and Simbad Remix) - Nora Morales - I Like It Like That: Fania Remixed - Mr. Bongo
Letting Go (Yellowtail Remix) - Arch_Typ - Muddy Rhythms EP - Bagpak
Izitobe - Domu with Aina - Here Comes Treble - Treble
Quiet Before The Storm (Quarion Remix) - Forster - Drumpoems: Verse 1 - Drumpoet Community/Compost
One For Joe - Jazz Chronicles - Futuristica Music promo
Remote Control (Reprise) - Jet Tricks - Remote Control - Jet Tricks
END BROADCAST

 
icon for podpress  Show 11.16 [117:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Posted on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 at 9:06 pm You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

The Snapshot: Demus from 2 Banks of 4

Monday, May 19th, 2008

Welcome to The Snapshot, a new “quick-and-dirtee” interview series focusing on the artists, producers, movers and shakers in the special music scene that Urban Landscapes supports. In the absence of time for a proper audio interview due to time commitments and the like, The Snapshot is an alternative way of feeding you with words, sounds and/or images from the people themselves. I hope you enjoy it, and as ever I welcome feedback and constructive dialogue.

Early influences of Urban Landscapes includes that of ambient, downtempo and acid-jazz. Two pioneers of the UK acid jazz movement, Dilip Harris (aka Demus) and Rob Gallagher (aka Earl Zinger) are the production duo that makes up 2 Banks of 4. The two gents go way back to the days of their outfit known as Galliano back in the early/late 90’s. They soon set up shop via their own label Sirkus (now called Red Egyptian) and formed 2 Banks. Each album raises the musical bar, and with vocalists such as Valerie Etienne contributing the quality soars.

Not long ago, 2 Banks of 4 released its third album, Junkyard Gods (Ed: thanks to Demus for correcting me on the title…argh!), Demus and Zinger treat fans and music lovers to more of the jazzy, spiritual vibe that has drawn much praise and respect. Demus was kind enough to share his thoughts from Londontown.

Velanche: What’s the origin behind the name 2 Banks of 4?

Demus: Its a mildly tedious story but without going into too much detail it is based on strategic terminology relating to a regrouping of forces in a state of flux or emergency, solidifying defence and consolidating strengths. At the time we adopted the name we were looking for a term that would reflect our musical position and outlook.

V: It’s been about five years since the release of Three Street Worlds. Moving forward, what sort of sound/vibe were you attempting to capture with Junkyard Gods?

Demus: With this third LP, it was very much time to unravel a new one. We set out with no conceptual sound other than the desire to develop the material beyond their raw compositional forms. We had started with the idea of an utterly processed entirely live record where the natural & organic feel of musicians interacting would sound unnatural & manufactured but I am increasingly feeling that such a contradiction is not yet feasible!

V: Both you and Rob Gallagher (aka Earl Zinger) are musically astute with your productions over the years. What are your past musical influences in terms of shaping 2 Banks’s music

Demus: For elderly gents like ourselves, consuming music for countless years, influences begin to become more difficult to specify. We seem to regurgitate all sorts of disparate stuff in the most inopportune and inappropriate manner.

Half the time, the things that influence are not even musical; Environment and architecture, Myth and legend, Language and pointy, Japanese shoes.
Different things surface at strange times in our music and our recent rehearsals have descended at times from Delta 5 into Can then Raymond Scott and ended up in Keith Hudson’s courtyard having a rooboosh tea with Marshall Allen & Phillip Cohran yelling at Autechre over the fence to turn down their Tom Waits cassettes.

V: What are your thoughts about the contribution that Valerie Etienne has brought to 2 Banks throughout the years, as well as this album?

Demus: Valerie is the voice of the project and has bought a discipline and focal point for us. We always enjoy challenging her with our compositions - making her sing just that little bit too high or one time too many - and we like to feel she delivers something to 2bo4 that she would not do for anything else (she does, after all, sing for alot of different people).

She also makes a great rissotto.
V: The previous two albums were sort of DIY releases. The new album is being released through Jazzanova’s Sonar Kollektiv label. What made you decide on doing this?

Demus: Jazzanova have always been really supportive of 2bo4 and their expressed desire to release this record allowed us to commit to it properly. Previous 2bo4 LP’s were made in a music business where limited exposure could still result in sales to support a project. In the current climate, a project like 2bo4 needs an established infrastructure to really underpin any release. With Zinger & myself in charge, the business never gets done and never gets done properly!!

V: There weren’t any remixes for your last album, but apparently there will be remixes for Junkyard Gods. Can you share what people should be looking forward to with regards to those upcoming remixes?

Demus: Theres a plethora of mixes in production right now. We already have some luscious mixes from Season & Sygaire (”Shadowland”) , Roland Appel (”Junkyard Gods”), the mighty Manasseh Sound System (”Lights on a Satellite”), Matthew Herbert (”Queen of Crows”), Dego’s 2000 Black (”Go”) and Zero 7/Ingrid Eto (”Junkyard Gods”)…….there are more coming from alot of UK musicians who I find exciting at the moment (Max de Wardner, Tom Skinner, John Burnip in one of his many guises and the enormous Gramme).
V: Will 2 Banks be doing live events to support the album? Will you and/or Rob travel overseas to perform/support the album?
Demus: We are just rehearsing for some shows in Japan and will be playing in Europe over the summer. We are packing a 6 piece core band this time (operating a squad system again) and fiddling with different approaches onstage - again, trying to improvise with electronics and musicians in a visually/theatrically engaging way. It should be chaotic……….so a good representation of the record then.

We are always up for performances it just depends on on-the-ground promoters !!

Junkyard Gods is available on Sonar Kollektiv. Many thanks to Demus for his time. You can also check out the duo’s Myspace for current info and more.

Posted on Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 8:48 pm You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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