'A Town Called Obsolete' is an obliquely upbeat and heartfelt plea for patience and faith in the face of indifference. Triana’s voice is perfect for this mixture of longing and hope, smokey, beautiful and tonally perfect. Bonobo, meanwhile, hooks up dusty break-drumming, thrumming electric bass and a horn part that peaks at just the right times.
Remix duties are taken care of by the hotly-tipped Mount Kimbie. Labelmates of Joy Orbison on Hotflush Records, the duo string Andreya’s backing vox over melancholy pads like Christmas lights round the screen of a lovelorn mainframe. Computer-soul never sounded so melancholy.
The package is rounded out by a live recording of Andreya performing 'A Town Called Obsolete' at Worldwide Awards 2010 at The Garage, London on 6th February. Her band that night featured Bonobo on bass and Fink on guitar!
01 A Town Called Obsolete (Album Version) 02 A Town Called Obsolete (Radio Edit) 03 A Town Called Obsolete (Mount Kimbie Remix) 04 A Town Called Obsolete (Live)
NINJA TUNE XX - WEEK XI - XXEN010
The Cinematic Orchestra, Roots Manuva, Jaga Jazzist & Bonobo - Live
This week's Ninja Tune XX giveaway celebrates the rich heritage of live music associated with Ninja's 20 year history. From the intimate, DJ-based club gigs of the label's early days, Ninja Tune artists have gone on to perform at infamous concert venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, The Barbican and Brixton Academy. Luckily, many of these moments have been recorded for posterity, and this week we're giving away four of the best of them.
The Cinematic Orchestra's 'To Build a Home,' from 2007's 'Ma Fleur', very quickly became one of their best loved songs. On this live version, recorded at The Barbican in 2007, you can hear the creative sparring between J Swinscoe and Patrick Watson, the adulation of the crowd, and most importantly the music that justifies it.
Roots Manuva's 'Movements' has always been one of his iconic artistic statements. Opening the debut album that wowed so many, way back in 1999, its unmistakable opening bars always bring on a tangible wave of excitement when Rodney performs it live. This version was recorded at The Forum, Kentish Town, in 2005.
Jaga Jazzist are undoubtedly amongst the finest live performers on the label. Their shows have stunned audiences across the globe; inch-perfect, ultra-tight renditions of their unique sonic landscapes. This rendition of '110 V Spektral' was performed at By:Larm in 2010.
Finally, Bonobo's live show around his latest album, Black Sands, is truly a wonder to behold. Ranging fluidly across dancefloor-moving electronics and spine-tingling soul, it shows an artist and his band at the very top of their game. This version of 'Stay The Same', featuring Andreya Triana, was performed live at The Roundhouse earlier this year.
Roots Manuva will be performing live at the Ninja Tune XX night at Ewer Street on October 2nd.
The Cinematic Orchestra will be performing at The Royal Albert Hall on 14th November with guests Lou Rhodes, Grey Reverend, Heidi Vogel, PC and the 24-piece Heritage Orchestra.
Welcome, Ninja Tune’s latest signing, the one and only Eskmo. Brendan Angelides, a native of Connecticut now based in San Francisco, has been causing a considerable stir for the last few years, releasing music on labels including but not limited to Warp, Planet Mu and his own Ancestor imprint. Already tipped by many in the electronic music community to be a major presence for years to come, Eskmo shows exactly what the fuss is all about on his debut for his new home-label.
'Cloudlight' somehow manages to rope together the aesthetics of glitch, dubstep and r&b into the kind of song Marvin The Paranoid Android might have recorded if he were put on a course of anti-depressants, got laid by a washing machine and munched enough ecstasy tablets to explode a cat. Troubling, beautiful and strangely uplifting all at once, it states, simply and without the need for any of these words, that Angelides is a unique presence in electronic music. 'Come Back' develops the sound perhaps even further, a narcotisized Timberlake number or a disembodied ghost voice? It’s a question only the listener can answer, though Angelides injects real longing into his deadpan vocals. Remix duties are dealt with by Brainfeeder’s Lorn, who turns in a brutally pummeling remix.
'Cloudlight' download single is out now, with a self-titled album coming 4th October.
04.09.10Roots Manuva Pop-Up Shop
News direct from the mouth of Mr Manuva: "Come and meet the Ghost writer behind all the Roots Manuva Classics. Rodney's dead twin from Duppy Land will be haunting East London 2-6pm. Can't stay long he has to get back to being dead." Or to put it another way, Roots and friends will be celebrating the release of the record by taking over the shop Pelicans & Parrots at 40 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston, N16 7XJ; 2-6pm; Monday 6th September!.
A mixture of instore, pop-up shop and chaotic mess, come through, listen, smile, buy something and get it signed. Should be fun...
03.09.10Solid Steel Radio Show - DJ Self Help, DJ Moneyshot
Solid Steel in association with Serato (3rd September) This week DJ Self Help’s “clusterfunk” mix is a borderline schizo blend of more genres than you can count on both hands and feet; not for the faint of heart or the closed of mind. No combination of styles is left unexplored, everything from Dancehall-Afrobeat blends to Hip Hop laced over top Brazilian chants, old Soul, noisy Electro, indie rock remixes, and a few of self help’s remixes (Dolly Parton, Bat for Lashes, The Zombies) and original beats thrown in for good measure.
DJ Moneyshot takes care of hour 2 with a brazilian mix perfect for stretching out the last few weeks of summer. Music from Jorge Ben ,Tim Maia and Os Mutantes, alongside Gal Costa, Sergio Mendes and interlaced with commentary on Brasil's football legend Pele.
31.08.10Amon Tobin - 'Esther's' - Coming Soon
Here's a taste of the upcoming new Amon Tobin video 'Esther's', directed by Charles de Meyer (aka Chuck Eklectric).
