Tom McRae
January 31st, 2005 by Paul Irishacoustic rock // singer-songwriter
Brit Tom McRae has a way with music. Critics lauded his 2001 self-titled release and it earned him a Mercury prize nomination. Many suggest comparisions to Nick Drake and early Dylan aren’t such a stretch. It’s his warm and homey while intimately gloomy mood that creates such a stir. His blisteringly bare vocals create a vocal line that slowly wraps around you like a smile. His quiet guitar strumming provides the pillow for your wondering head to crash down on.It’s the soundtrack to your 3am drive away from that girl you can’t not like.
It opens like a treasure box, curious colors squiriming around inside. Slowly, they transform into a steed mounting the orange horizon. The African moon rises slowly, placing you in a trance and absolving you into an addictive chant. Bill Frisell has been creating songs melding together an assortment of world flavors for years. This track, “Baba Drame” from his 2003 album, 
Despite the absolute frigid temperatures this morning, my ride to work was warm because I had the sizzling island flavor of this tune to keep me moving. What at first intrigued my ears as odd spanish rap, soon matured its sonic sound as a dubbed-out dance track where you choose your level of involvement. You can let it be the backdrop for your utterly fascinating conversation of say, 
I know you wanna snap your fingers. You want a swingin’ song to snap to, that’s what you want. Let me help you out. Mister Louis Prima wrote some of the hottest, swingingest songs ever. “Sing, Sing, Sing” and “Jump, Jive, An’ Wail” anyone? In fact, all of his best songs have the same darling piece of punctuation in the title. So, to keep with consistency, here’s another — “Hey, Boy! Hey, Girl!” is a cute little back-and-forth lovey swing tune you’re bound to enjoy.
You know you’re doing something right in music when you attract the remixing talents of Quantic, Soulstance, the Bedroom Rockers, the Cinematic Orchestra, and Four Tet. This Milanese duo has been putting out fairly solid albums since 1999 providing the perfect sonic groundwork for some involved and exquisite remix action. And I believe that’s exactly where their work really shines — drop these (long, but) groovy, soulful tracks and taste it for yourself.
This powerful duo debuted originally with the name “The Dust Brothers”, but an American group with the same name (later well-known for the Fight Club soundtrack) pressed some litigation and forced a change. Though mildly bitter, the british Chemical Brothers carried on, releasing their first album appropriately named Exit Planet Dust. Now, ten years later, the two release Push The Button, a break-rocking record exploring their trademark dance-rock-rap mix. Though “Galvanize” has gotten the first-single attention, it’s the sophisticated dance track “The Boxer” that rocks this record. Hard.
This man is nothing new to you, and rightfully so. He’s musician of absolute talent, a dj doing justice for the two letters in front of his name. Ever since his debut Entroducing, he’s blown his listeners’ minds. He rocks out on some wild beats ‘n vinyl, here kicking the shit hott with lyricist Roots Manuva. While you’re dropping this song, be sure to drop by John Book’s ultimate 
Miss Carla Bruni is one of the world’s 
Ya know, sometimes I see this song floating around; I think Thank god somebody’s listening to it. But still not enough bodies are hearing this; it’s an absolute classic. It’s been sampled by everyone — from Public Enemy to Congo Natty. Picture this: a suave black brotha’ strutting down the city block after he had just kissed his sweet lookin’ honey that he just knows looks too good for him, but damn it, he’ll take it. And he is one happy, smug fella’.
The title “No Escapin’ This” is an apt one; because you really can’t avoid the hotness of this track. Heavy hittin bass slams you on a syncopated beat and a backup black chorus robs you of your own your complementary contribution; they’ve got this song pinned down. The Beatnuts have a production style so polished and perfect, meanwhile their beats sound natural, earthy and justly flavored. They hit the balance right.