So what do you do when suddenly you find yourself receiving a bit of Christmas music goodies in your inbox, when an opportunity comes to present you with a Christmas mix courtesy of a very respected UK producer? It’s a special Christmas show, that’s what!

The mix came first, then the Christmas music, and then I’ve found a few favorites lying around. Put them all together, and you have 90 minutes of music that should rival that nagging Christmas music playing in malls (well, one can try at least).

The Christmas mix, included as part of the show, comes courtesy of Dr. Rubberfunk (GPS Recordings/Jalapeno). If you’ve been a longtime fan of the show, you’ve heard tunes from him on the show. Known for his very soulful approach to funky breaks and the like, he’s put together a couple of special mixes for the holidays. One of those mixes makes up this week’s guestmix.

There isn’t much else to say, except I hope that you have a great holiday, whichever you choose to celebrate during this time of the year. Back atcha in 2010!

Peace.

Song – Artist – Label
This Christmas – Donny Hathaway – Motown
Christmas Morning – Zebra – Strut
Ain’t No Chimneys – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Daptone
Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Issac Clarke – Strut
Soul Santa – Funk McHine – Strut
Christmas Day with Me – Laura Vane & The Vipertones – Social Beats/Unique

Song – Artist – Label
Praise Yuletide – Dr Rubberfunk – Intro
Getting Down For Xmas – Milly & Silly
Simply – De La Soul – Tommy Boy
One Little Christmas Tree – Stevie Wonder – Motown
Christmas in Hollis – Run DMC – Profile
Santa’s Got A Bag Of Soul – Soul Saints – Jazzman
Funky Penguin – Rufus Thomas – Stax
Merry Christmas Baby – Otis Redding – Motown
- Celebrity Christmas Message #1 -
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer – The Temptations – Motown
Christmas Rappin’ – Kurtis Blow – Mercury
Soulful Christmas – James Brown – Jazzman
Don’t Turn Your Heater Down – Steve Cropper, Pops Staples & Albert King – Stax
Alcohol – Robert Jay – Vox Pop 45’s
- Celebrity Christmas Message #2 –
Parrty – Maceo & The Macks – Polydor
Black Out – Wes & The Airdales – Jazzman
Ain’t Nothin But A Party – The Blenders – Tramp
Jive Turkey – The Ohio Players – Mercury
Auld Lang Syne – Black & White Affair – Light In The Attic
END OF DR. RUBBERFUNK
CHRISTMAS MIX

Wishing You a Happy Christmas – The Hush Now – The Hush Now
What I Want for Christmas – Orba Square – Res-Freq
Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses – Ze/Island
Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Forro in the Dark – Nublu/National Geographic
Christmas Time is Here – Vince Guaraldi Trio – Fantasy
END BROADCAST

 

 Show 12.44 - Christmas Special w/Dr. Rubberfunk Guestmix [90:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Another year of good music comes to a close, at least for Urban Landscapes.

This week’s show is Part Two of the Most Recommended Music of 2009. The focus is on the singles and EP’s of 2009, and per usual they are far more numerous in terms of selection, compared with the albums from last week. Literally hundreds of singles and EP’s were narrowed down to just over 100. Even then, the picks wouldn’t fit into a three-hour show; that’s right, three hours this week instead of two. So much goodness, and yet the end result is the hallmark of what the radio show is about. It is jazzy and soulful club culture, and you’ll listen to the show in all of its variations (shouts to Marc Mac from 4Hero for that one paraphrase, via Facebook).

Some ground rules about the picks from this show and the show prior. Generally, it goes like this:

1. The work must have been released in 2009, or at least played in 2009 if it’s unreleased.
2. A single tune of a two-track (or more) single doesn’t count, as does three singles from an album. I need to hear the whole album, or the whole EP, to make an informed decision on what’s best for the listeners, as well as for yours truly.

Not much to ask, other than pitting quality against quality. I set the bar really high for my picks, be it for the weekly show or for the year-end specials. Because not all of my picks will fit into this show, know that you can view the rest of the picks that gets my highest recommendation at the bottom of the playlist (note: if you don’t see it right away, hold tight – the list will be complete in a day or two).

For many of you, this may be the last Urban Landscapes mailer you’ll be reading before the holidays. I want to take the time to thank you….all of you; the labels, artists/producers, DJs, radio and music promotion companies, the partners who broadcast Urban Landscapes via their radio stations, and the fans. Know that this show would not exist without your support, and I’m truly fortunate to be doing what I most look forward to at least 40 weeks out of the year. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

When Urban Landscapes returns on Thursday January 7th, 2010, it will be 12 years old. It won’t rest on its laurels, though; it’ll be another year of fresh new music, guestmixes, and much more.

Thank you again; enjoy the show, and have a fun and safe set of holidays with you and your loved ones. See you in 2010!

Peace.

Song – Artist – Title – Label
1849 – Richard E. and Annabel(lee) – Further Out
Transcending – Nailah – Life in Sessions EP – NaiMuse
Everything is Alright (Daisuke Tanabe Remix) – Yellowtail featuring Monday Michiru – EP – Bagpak
The Fourth Song – Half Past Never – EP – promo
Willpower (featuring Bajka) – Dalindeo – Ricky-Tick
Eastern Moods – Bhakti Jazz – Tramp
Summer Dresses (featuring Cecilia Stalin) – Mr. Windmill & Jay Soul – promo
Pave the Way (DJ Mitsu the Beats Remix) – Colonel Red – Roaming Lion EP – Ruff Language
Unite (featuring Fatima) – Tettorybad- Don’t Push Me EP – Sunshine Enterprises
It’s All That – Sarah Linhares – Messages from the Future EP – Public Transit
Read My Mind (Hearin’ Aid’s Psychic Network Remix) – Clyde featuring Jane Hamilton – EP – M8MC
Fallin’ Apples – Mr. Beatnik – Futuristica
Hidden Hand – The Budos Band – The Budos EP – Daptone
Soul is What You Got – Speak Low – Lovemonk
Vamos Par Georgia – Sinto – Tramp
On Yer Feet – Captain Planet – Speakin’ Nuyorican EP – Bastard Jazz
V.L.A.M. – Kind and Kinky Zoo – EP – Straightup
Do Me Wrong (featuring Sitzka) – Soopasoul – EP – Jalapeno
Reversed (Opolopo Remix) – Blacktop featuring Amalia – promo
Overdose – Bocca Grande – Intensive Spot EP – Four Roses
Ayers Rock – Rainer Truby – EP – promo
Marvin – Acid Pauli – EP – promo
Oddity (Pilooski Remix) – Zwicker – Black Label #56 EP – Compost
Carnival Time – Rondenion – Love Bound EP – Rush Hour
Blackmagic (DOP Remix) – Jose James – EP – Brownswood
Come On, Come On (Joe Claussell Sacred Rhythms Suite Version) – Scott Hardkiss featuring Lisa Shaw – EP – God Within
Fuck Da Day (Bonus Mix) – Rocco – EP – Real Tone
Freak It – DJ Hell & Christian Prommer – EP – Buzzin’ Fly
360 – Ibex – EP – Rush Hour
Mood Play – Certain Subjects – promo
Find A Way – Masirah – EP – Futuristica
Info People (A&D’s Bruk Mush Mix) – Atjazz, Domu & Yannah Valdevit – EP – Development Music
Can’t Stop (Benny Beatz Mix) – Masterbuilders – Future Licks EP – M8MC
Definite Indefinite – Computer Paul featuring Michelle Amador – EP – Bagpak
Afro Blue (Future) – Cecilia Stalin – EP – Ajabu
Wanna Be With You (DJ Kiva Remix) – Arch_Typ featuring Sarah White – EP – Bagpak
END BROADCAST

Other Recommended Singles and EP’s from 2009
Atjazz – Parallels EP – ARC
K-Scope – Fall Into You EP – 4Lux
NDV – Southbridge EP – Botanika
V/A – Broadcite Unplugged Vol. 3 EP – Broadcite
Deborah Jordan – Breathe Remixes EP – Futuristica
Sygaire & Defcon – The Latest EP (featuring Captiol A) – Om
Blaktroniks – Slap Matik EP – Bagpak
Electric Conversation – La Neige/Fastlane – Futuristica
Landslide featuring Excentral Tempest – Parables EP – Landmass
Klic – Karoake/Hi Tech Soul – Unique Uncut
Daytoner – Little Wonder/Joy to the World – Wack
Moonstarr featuring Tony Ezzy – Farfisa 45 – Public Transit
Kev Luckhurst – Archive Beats Vol. 1 – Unique Uncut
Ben Watt – Guinea Pig EP – Buzzin’ Fly
Manoo & Francois A – Souvenir/Today is Tomorrow EP – Buzzin’ Fly
AFMB – Here There EP – AFMB
Alif Tree – Clockwork Remixes EP – Compost
V/A – Collection of Moods Part 4 EP – Real Tone
Audion – It’s Full of Blinding Light EP – Spectral Sound ??
Ben Mono – HIt the Bit Remixes EP – Compost
Bibi featuring Malou Beauvoir – Got to Believe EP – Cheers
Loko – In Love/Pasionaria EP – Buzzin’ Fly
Catalan FC and Sven Love – The Classic Traxs Vol. 4 EP – Cheers
Circle of Funk – Fear of Time EP – Slapped Up Soul
Dasoul & Fabry Diglio featuring Nadine Navarre – Directions EP – Sole Channel
V/A – Deep London Miami 2009 Sampler EP – Deep London
Demarkus Lewis – Into the Deep EP – Grin
Dmarkus Lewis – Make the Room EP – Grin
DJ Hell – The Angst EP – International Deejay Gigolo
V/A – Ewonder Suite No. 4 EP – Ewonder
Franck Roger – DJs Beats Vol. 1 – FR Productions
Future Beat Alliance – Dark Passenger EP – Rush Hour
Tarek & Ramirez featuring Cristina Soto – Say Goodbye EP – Grooveland Music
Osborne – Hovercrafting EP – Spectral Sound
HT Zero featuring Kai Alce – Session 201 EP – Fast FWD
Ibex – 360 EP – Rush Hour
Roland Clark – Glad You Came EP – Ill Friction
Inaya Day & Ralf Gum – Reap EP – Deep Sugar
Innerwav – Inner Navigation EP – Reincarnation
Jay Shepherd – Black Label #58 EP – Compost
Jose James – Blackmagic EP – Brownswood
Lee Curtis – The Black Door EP – Spectral Sound
Mario Dujic featuring Marie Craven – Sunshine EP – Nosa
Nebraska – Terrestrial Variations EP – Rush Hour
Negghead – Super Skeleton EP – Wax On
Norm Talley – In Yo Soul/The Journey EP – Third Ear
Partners in Crime – Goin’ Underground EP – Swedish Brandy
Peter Kruder – Black Label #50 EP – Compost
Peter Kruder – The Law of Return/Chordal EP – Macro
PSoul featuring Peter Panic – Time is Coming EP – Stilnovo
Dalindeo – New Creation/Another Devil – Ricky-Tick
Santiago Salazar – Arcade EP – Macro
Sarass – Black Label #44 EP – Compost
Domu – This is House EP – Swedish Brandy
Seth Troxler – Panic Stop Repeat EP – Spectral Sound
Stefan Goldmann – Art of Tomorrow – Macro
V/A – Suara Showroom 5 EP – Suara
Son of Aphrodite – Vibrations EP – Ill Friction
Matt Flores and Tyree Cooper Presents Goosebumpz – Shining Lights EP – Tjumy
V/A – Sophisticated Sass Sounds EP – Tjumy
Tom Trago – Voyage Direct Remixes EP – Rush Hour
Tora Vinter – Don’t Turn Around/Sophie’s Nightmare EP – My Sonic Mountain
Tortured Soul – Another Lover EP – Dome
Joakim – Watermelon Bubblicious EP – Versatile
Etienne Jaumet – Entropy EP – Versatile
A Bossa Electrica – Praia do Futuro EP – Favourtizm
Valuka – Sundown EP – Doppelschall
Dollkraut – Catch My Soul EP – Doppelschall
Larissa Kapp – Lost Piano EP – Tjumy
Lil Bo Tweak and Art Bleek – Tweak, Bleek and a Disco Freak EP – Loungin’
Ogris Debris – Black Label #57 EP – Compost
Brandt Brauer Frick – Button/Wallah EP – The Gym
Trevor Loveys – Good to Be Here EP – Loungin’
Ye:Solar – ?? – ??
Loveys and Yusef – Get Busy EP – Tragic Magic
Opolopo featuring Amalia – All Systems Down EP – promo
Wbeeza – The So Crazy EP – Third Ear
Peter Kruder – Take the Weight EP – G-Stone
Will Saul & Mike Monday – Zippo EP – Buzzin’ Fly
N’dinga Gaba – Queen EP – Sole Channel
Zed Bias – Neighbourhood EP – Biasphere
Sepalot – Red Handed Remixes EP – Compost
Ekiti Son featuring Valeska Jakobowecz – April Weather Remixes EP – Office Ekiti

 

 Show 12.43 - The Most Recommended Singles & EP's of 2009 [184:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

2009 is almost over, and that means that it’s time once again to go through the many playlists and charts from this year, narrow the choices, and give you The Most Recommeded Music of 2009. It’s, of course, the music sent to, and played, on the show, by the labels, promotion companies, artists and producers that help make it all possible. There are those standouts, and some of them are showcased this week.

The focus on this show is on the albums. Talking about standouts, not all of them were able to be represented in two-hours. Be sure to check the lists below the playlist for the other 2009 albums that I approve of, and of the choice compilations as well.

Have a listen, and please support the artists and labels by purchasing some of these albums if you don’t have them in your collection already. I like to do my part by celebrating musical excellence on the show, but I’m sure that the artists and labels would appreciate it just as much if you show them your love of the music by buying an album or three.

Next week will be Part Two, focusing on the singles and EP’s that have stood out this year. Meanwhile, enjoy this week’s show, and feel free to pass it on!

Have a good one, in the meantime; peace.

Song – Artist – Title – Label
Miriam Aida – Cancao de Outono – Letras ao Brasil – Connective
Clareana – Joyce – Visions of Dawn – Far Out
Just A Little Bit – Zeep – People and Things – Crammed
This Tea Makes Love to Me – Gaby Hernandez – When Love – Armed Orphan
One – Deborah Jordan – The Light – Futuristica
Beautiful – Joy Jones – Godchild – Future Soul
Rendezvous (featuring Mishoo the Drumkit and MC Nnoja) – Comfort Fit – Polyshufflez – Tokyodawn
U Gotta Find (featuring Shaunise) – Portformat – The Repeat Factor – Tokyodawn
Keep on Trying – The Deadbeats – Made in the Shade – Wax On
Bologna – Jazz Chronicles – Jazz Chronicles – Futuristica
We Travel the Spacebeats – Emanative – Space – Futuristica
The Flies Away – The Battery Apple Trees – The Year of the B.A.T. – The Battery Apple Trees
Manteca – Cesar’s Salad – The Latin Beat – Perfect Toy
Heaven and Earth – Deep Jazz – Heaven and Earth – Perfect Toy
Springtime – Scrimshire – Along Came the Devil One Night – Wah Wah 45’s
Come and Get Me – The Five Corners Quintet – Hot Corner – Milan/Ricky-Tick
Interpretation – Ray Harris and The Fusion Experience – Ray Harris and the Fusion Experience – Fusion Music
Mother N Soul – Scallymatic Orchestra – Annie Get Your Gun – Flyin’ High
Goose It Up – Cookin’ on 3 Burners – Soul Messin’ – Freestyle
Get Up and Get It – Deep Street Soul – Deep Street Soul – Freestyle
Good Thing – The Sweet Vandals – Love Lite – Unique
Lights Went Out – Alice Russell – Pot of Gold – Six Degrees
Damage! – Kira Neris – A Frozen Second – Faces
Hold On (featuring Andreya Triana) – Mr. Scruff – Ninja Tuna – Ninja Tune
Looking Glass – Little Dragon – Machine Dreams – Peacefrog
END BROADCAST

Other Recommended Albums
Title – Label
V/A – 4Hero Presents Extensions – Raw Fusion
Shahrokh Sound of K – Dripping Point – Compost
The Young Lovers – The Young Lovers – Loungin’
Tosca – No Hassles – !K7
Colonel Red – Sweet Liberation – Ruff Language
Brownout – Aguilas and Cobras – Six Degrees
Dubblestandart – Return From Planet Dub – Collision
BadboE – Break the Funk – AuditoryDesign
DJ Vadim – U Can’t Lurn Imaginashun – BBE
Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens – What Have You Done, My Brother? – Daptone
Shafiq Husayn – In A-Free-Ka – Plug Research
Clara Moreno – Miss Balanco – Far Out
Glam Sam and His Combo – Groovy! – Lemongrass

Saskamodie – Mocky – Crammed
Opolopo – Beyond Jipangu – Swedish Brandy

Grand and Putnam – Yellowtail – Bagpak
Aybee – East Oakland Space Program – Deepblak
Atjazz – Full Circle – ARC
Nickodemus – Sun People – Eighteenth Street Lounge
Magic Drum Orchestra – In the Studio – Lion Head

Recommended Compilations
Title – Label
Bagpak Selects Vol. 2 – Bagpak


Tudo Ben: Jorge Ben Covered – Far Out
Om Lounge 15th Anniversary Edition – Om
Wax On Records Vol. 2 – Wax On
Lion Head Compilation Vol. 1 – Lion Head
Daptone Gold – Daptone
Shapes 09:01 – Tru Thoughts
Brownswood Bubblers 4 – Brownswood
The Best of Mr. Bongo – Mr. Bongo
Nicola Conte Presents Viagem 2 – Far Out
Jazz Bizniz 4 – Counterpoint
Duck – M8MC
Negghead – Scrambled Negg
Bar Bubbles – Holophon

 

 Show 12.42 - The Most Recommended Albums of 2009 [117:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Artist – Title – Label
1. Deep Street Soul – Deep Street Soul LP – Freestyle
2. SK Radicals – Urban Eclectiks LP – Freestyle
3. The Hi-Fly Orchestra – Rodo de Samba single – Record Kicks
4. Comfort Fit – Polyshufflez Remixes LP – Tokyodawn
5. Rainer Truby – Black Label #60 EP – Compost
6. The New Mastersounds – Future Licks EP – M8MC
7. Atjazz – Fantasy Remixes EP – ARC
8. Gizelle Smith – June single – Record Kicks
9. Loko – In Love EP – Buzzin’ Fly
10. V/A – Liberate Sampler 2 EP – Liberate
11. Dalindeo – New Creation / Another Devil (w/Bajka) single – Ricky-Tick
12. Sinto – Man on the Banks / Vamos Par Georgia single – Tramp
13. Kylie Auldist – In a Week, In a Day EP – Tru Thoughts
14. Brandt Brauer Frick – EP – The Gym
15. Pepita Project feat. Paris Brightledge – The Way We Were EP – Pep Sounds
16. JSBL – Twice Upon Two Times EP – Affine
17. Tettorybad – Don’t Push Me EP – Sunshine Enterprises
18. Portformat – The Repeat Factor LP – Tokyodawn
19. Asusu – Small Hours/Taurean EP – Project: Squared
20. Munk – No Milk Remixes EP – Gomma

Another year of Urban Landscapes is almost over.

You’ve been in wait for about three weeks for fresh new music. Were it not for the need to give a proper nod to Domu (listen to the last show if you’ve missed it; worth catching), you would have been treated to such freshness.

This week ended up being a tough one, as this is the last regular show of 2009. I’m sitting on enough material for several more hours of newness, and yet it was tough having to narrow down the selections. Lots of good music had to be set aside for now, but somehow I will find a way to share them in due course.

Meanwhile, this last show of new music is indeed the radioshow (almost) closing the year out in style, full of the eclectic quality goodness that you, dear listeners, expect, and that I enjoy sharing with you. New labels have joined the family, including the likes of Freestyle and Record Kicks, labels that are heavy-hitters in quality. And though I wasn’t able to fit it in this week, Gomma has also joined the roster. Nice to have them in the fold, and I hope you’ll support the labels if you really do enjoy the music.

With the wrap of this week’s show, it’s time now for me to look back at all of the cool music that’s been released this year, and narrow down the selection to a chosen few. It’s the Most Recommended Music of 2009, starting next week. On December 10th, the focus will be on the albums; the singles and EP’s, airing December 17th, will close the show for the year.

Enjoy this week’s broadcast, and we’ll spend the next two shows in the wayback machine starting next week.

Peace.

Song – Artist – Title – Label
On the Sly – The Bamboos featuring Kylie Auldist – EP – Tru Thoughts promo
Glimpse of Truth – Bhakti Jazz – Tramp promo
June – Gizelle Smith – Record Kicks
My Story – SK Radicals – Urban Eclectiks – Freestyle
Un Canto a Mi Tierra (featuring Nidia Gongora) – Quantic and His Combo Barbaro – EP – Tru Thoughts promo
Rodo de Samba – The Hi-Fly Orchestra – Record Kicks
Rekindle of the Libido – JSBL – EP – Affine promo
Christmas Day With Me – Laura Vane & The Vipertones – Social Beats promo
Greenbacks (Shirley Davis) – Deep Street Soul – Deep Street Soul – Freestyle
Straighten Out – Deep Street Soul – Deep Street Soul – Freestyle
Kick Out The Jams (featuring Tia Hunter) – Deep Street Soul – Deep Street Soul – Freestyle
The Third Eye (Emanative’s Sunshine Edit) – Roy Ayers – promo
Superstition – U-Tern & Neighbour – EP – Punchout! promo
Wicked Game (Swede:art Remix) – Comfort Fit – Polyshufflez Remixes – Tokyodawn
Pasionara – Loko – EP – Buzzin’ Fly
Oreo – Franck Roger – DJ’s Breaks Vol. 1 EP – FR Productions promo
The Love Feeling (Christian Prommer Remix) – Nickodemus – The Sun People Remixed – Eighteenth Street Lounge
Dancin’ (DJ Sneak Reheat) – Easy Street – EP – HAWT Music promo
Pure Love (Didier Vanelli’s JazzRockn Remix) – Scott Langley featuring Mel Tidy – “EP – Broken promo
Better (Micky More Classic Mix) – Angela Johnson – EP – Dome promo
Plastic Woman (Recloose & Frank Booker Remix) – Los Amigos Invisibles – EP – Lovemonk promo
Everything Up (Joker & Ginz Remix) – Zero 7 – EP – Atlantic
No I Can Do – SK Radicals – Urban Eclectiks – Freestyle
Next Incarnation featuring Caits Meissner (Boom Clap Bachelors Remix) – Comfort Fit – Polyshufflez Remixes – Tokyodawn
END BROADCAST

 

 Show 12.41 [120:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download