Jill Scott

September 21st, 2004 by Paul Irish

neo-soul // contemporary r&b

Full-bodied soul. Warm drowning grooves. This woman should be a household name; daps if you’re already on the tip. She is the epitome of the neo-soul generation – a music movement that includes Erykah Badu, Angie Stone, Musiq Soulchild, and Floetry, all quality groove crafters. Jill has just released her newest album, Beautifully Human. It’s a solid record, but it doesn’t come close to the soul-shattering performance on her first, Who Is Jill Scott?
These songs are what love feels like. Warm, delicious, heavy, fulfilling, and leaving you wanting more…

Jill Scott – A Long Walk (A Touch Of Jazz Mix)
Jill Scott – Love Rain (Remix feat. Mos Def)

TV on the Radio

September 19th, 2004 by Paul Irish

post-rock // experimental indie

Unexpected sounds. Melodic distortion. TV on the Radio is at its root, two black men making what some describe “black rock and roll.” I’ll call it an amalgamation of a number of musical genres: punk, electronica, soul, African, indie rock.
TV on the Radio constructs a weighty sound reminiscent of the gravity and sincerity of mainstream acts like U2 and Radiohead as well as the intelligent, experimental playfulness of artists like Prince and Andre 3000.

TV on the Radio – Staring at the Sun
TV on the Radio – Staring at the Sun (video)
TV on the Radio – Satellite
The lead, Tunde Adebimpe’s blog

Nick Drake

September 19th, 2004 by Paul Irish

acoustic rock // 70’s folk rock

Gentle voice. Calm melodies. You should know him already: Nick Drake had a short, yet prolific musical career; one that saw its biggest response after his apparent suicide in 1974. He was signed at the age of 21, and only produced three complete albums — but each is full of aural beauty. I was first turned on to him by this incredible complilation aptly named Acoustic. (You’ll love it)
Drake’s somber songs have a chillingly beautiful sound that will completely clear your mind. Listen and release.

Nick Drake – Road
Nick Drake – Riverman

Diplo

September 17th, 2004 by Paul Irish

hip-hop // abstract electronic

Complex aural acrobatics. Hard-hitting rhythm. Diplo popped up on my radar screen on a random FTP site, his name was enough to catch my attention. I listened to the bootleg album, Sound and Fury, and the most original, odd, and beautiful sound came out of my speakers. One could describe his sound as Timbaland meets Amon Tobin. The man drops a serious beat, plus he uses soulseek!
Summer’s Gonna Hurt You has been my late summer anthem. Feel the craziest beat creations you’ve known.

Diplo – Summers Gonna Hurt You
Listen to 3 full tracks on the BBC Collective

Groove Armada

September 16th, 2004 by Paul Irish

dance party // chill lounge

Here’s a name I’ve sure you’ve heard. Groove Armada blew up in 1999 with the release of “I See You Baby” (Shakin dat’ ass), but have been exporting quality tracks all the while. Their earlier release of Vertigo produced a chill-out sound good enough to transport your soul to the salty beach. Their more recent albums, Love Box and Doin it After Dark haven’t garnered much attention, but it’s deserved.
“Superstylin” is a dubbed-out reggae dance hit that my butt can’t not dance to. Serve up some “Description of a Fool” afterwards to see exquisite chill-out in action.
Groove Armada consistently puts out a sound that gets right to the heart of the soul-filled Northern electronic sound.

Groove Armada – Superstylin (Radio Edit)
A Tribe Called Quest – Description of a Fool (Groove Armadas Acoustic Mix)

Kings Of Convenience

September 11th, 2004 by Paul Irish

acoustic // indie folk rock // downtempo

Warm harmonies. Beautiful melodic lines. Everyone one else is blogging it, why can’t I? The Kings of Convenience have received a boat-load of press lately, and its fully-deserved. Erlend Øye, one of the members, has bounced off onto a solo career, releasing a DJ Kicks album and his own, Unrest. There isn’t a shortage of comparisons to Simon and Garfunkel, but that’s because the two duo’s sound incredibly similar vocally. Dare I say that the harmonious of the KoC are even better than their 1960’s counterpart.
Feel like you’re snuggled close to your sweetheart in swathes of curduroy in the cool summer breeze. Grab this.

Kings Of Convenience – I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From

Soviet

September 11th, 2004 by Paul Irish

synth-pop // electro

Driving electro bassline. Enough synth action to fulfill your inner moog. My cohort Molly turned me onto these electro-boys from the States. Their lead, Keith Ruggiero, helped produce a couple songs for Erlend Øye (Kings of Convenience). He also wants to completely dispell the idea that Soviet is “electroclash”. This song will make you glee-ful, guaranteed.
Latch your ears onto the chorus at 1:02. It’ll make you makeOUT.

Soviet – Breakdown

The Lovers

September 11th, 2004 by Paul Irish

retro-pop // french // lounge

Cheery. Poppy. Light ‘n fluffy. This track bounces off of the Paris Lounge 4 compliation. There bassline is full and deep, but yet it makes you want to act like a playboy.
Perfect for your next cocktail party when your girl starts swiveling her hips with drinks in her dainty hands.

The Lovers – Crick Crack

Dabrye

September 11th, 2004 by Paul Irish

experimental hip-hop // abstract downtempo

Fresh rhythm. Pounding slow dropped-out grooves. His sound has a good amount of reggae influence. This is hip-hop everyone can love, if they do love real hip-hop. Perfect to get yo’ crip walk on to. Dabrye toured with Prefuse 73 a bit ago, and the two share a similar sound.
Get yo’ glad rags on and join me, thug.

Dabrye – Smoking The Edge

Ty

August 18th, 2004 by Paul Irish

hip-hop // broken beat // funk

Hailing from the Big Dada imprint of Ninja Tune, Ty is a new and powerful force in hip-hop. His beats meld together some of England’s best musical export (Downtempo) with the upbeat feeling of east-coast hip-hop. A very accomplished rapper and beat constructor. My favorite MC from across the lake, Roots Manuva, lends his lyrics to this “refix”.
You can’t listen to this track and not shake your ass.

Ty – So U Want Morre (Refix feat Roots Manuva)