Analog Giant

the ARE and Manipulated Marauders.

2009-11-21T10:20:00.003-06:00

This is two years old but I wanted to give it some light. Manipulated Marauders is a great take on the Tribe Called Quest's classic record Midnight Maurauders. The ARE Houston based beat maker who has been making beats since 1991 has done some great things. He used all of the original samples from A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders and re-produced the tracks giving them his own spin. I suggest you check it out.

Mp3: the ARE - "Million"

Whole record is available as well if you missed it the first time. Head over to FWMJ's Rapper's I know Blog to get it. Read his blog here.

Dr. Rosen Rosen strikes again.

2009-11-19T18:00:00.004-06:00

Dr. Rosen Rosen put together an amazing spaced out remix of Phoenix's "Lisztomania" and now he is back and taken the track "Forever" by Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem and given it his patented remix sound. The remix was done for Interscope records check it out.

Mp3: Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem - "Forever" (Doctor Rosen Rosen Remix)

Keenhouse from Los Angeles.

2009-11-18T20:05:00.003-06:00

Just found out about Keenhouse thanks to One Day Later. What appears to be one solitary dude making great music. Keenhouse is signed to the up-and-coming French label Valerie and are label mates with Russ Chimes, Anoraak, and The Outrunners. Along with the help of Classixx there is a lot of good electro coming out of LA right now. Check out the video.

Fellow blogger and friend over at Discodust has a bunch of Keenhouse tracks for you to consume head over and check it out.

Remix record from Boozoo Bajou.

2009-11-18T19:48:00.004-06:00

New remix record from Nuremburg duo Florian Seyberth and Peter Heider known as Boozoo Bajou. Their features a collection of Boozoo Bajou remixes spanning their back catalog, Killer, Take It Slow, Same Sun and their latest offering Sign. Dust My Grains also includes a brand new remix of "Fuersattel" by Idjut Boys, one of the stand out tracks off their last studio record.

Of course I am pleased to see the AG loved Prins Thomas show up twice on this record. Check out a track.

Mp3: Boozoo Bajou - "Sign" (DSL Mix)

Buy: Get the record here.

photo of Nuremberg by pfn.photo

Amazing video from DJ/rupture and friend.

2009-11-16T19:14:00.004-06:00

The production duo of DJ /rupture aka Jace Clayton and Matt Shadetek just released their new video, directed and animated by Sara Taigher with illustrations by Maria Chiara Di Giorgio, set to the music off their just-released record, Solar Life Raft (out now on The Agriculture).

The video is a medley featuring DJ /rupture and Matt Shadetek’s “Underwater High Rise,” Nico Muhly’s “Mothertongue Pt. 1,” and Mizz Beats’ “Blue Night.” I highly recommend this. If you didn't get DJ/rupture's first effort (Uproot) you need to pick that up as well.

DJ/rupture and Matt Shadetek will be playing this Friday at the Empty Bottle. Head down and check it out if you are in the area.

New music from James Pants.

2009-11-12T18:03:00.006-06:00

Few musicians claim to be based out of Spokane Washington and while I am not certain that James Pants actually spends a majority of his time there its unique nonetheless. I have been a big fan of his for awhile now and am especially excited about his new record due out soon. Check out "Thin Moon" a psychedelic mix of synths and bass off the upcoming James Pants release Seven Seals coming out Dec 8th. Thin Moon is released as a 7”, as the 1st single off the album. Take a listen:

Mp3: James Pants - "Thin Moon"

Buy: Get the record here.

photo by evasèe

New music from Big Spider's Back.

2009-11-10T18:07:00.004-06:00

Can't pass up a band from my home state. Seattle's Big Spider's Back has a new album out, Warped. It is the debut EP from electronic musician Yair Rubinstein, featuring the twenty five year old Seattle-based artist’s blend of ambient noise, feedback and sample-based pop. The record began as a bedroom recording project back in the summer of '07 has evolved into a full length record. I recommend you check out a track.

Mp3: Big Spider's Back - "Perfect Machine"

Buy: Get Warped here.

Link: Check out a cool video for an equally cool track "Mind Grapes."

photo by The Astrid

Music from Natural Yogurt Band.

2009-11-06T17:16:00.005-06:00

Reissue from the Jazzman Records (now on Now-Again) is a set of spaced out funk. Something we don't get enough of is natural yogurt, and while I probably wouldn't name a band after it that is exactly this mysterious duo did. Natural Yogurt Band work in spare, funky territory with a mix of heavy drums.

Influence here is from cinematic funk particularly that of the Italian soundtrack variety. Makes me think of a vintage Guy Richie soundtrack. The album is called Away with Melancholy and I highly recommend you give it a listen. The new release is an expanded version of the now out-of-print debut album. Check out a track.

Mp3: The Natural Yogurt Band - "Chapter One"

Buy: Get the record here.This North American version is limited to 1,000 pieces in each format – once they’re gone, they’re gone.

photo by Nosaj Thing.

Nosaj Thing and Bassnecter tonight.

2009-11-06T16:08:00.001-06:00

Don't forget that Bassnectar is playing with Nosaj Thing tonight in Chicago at the House of Blues. I am surely going to be there and I encourage everyone to head down there. My opinion is that Nosaj Thing's record Drift is one of the best records of the year. Still tickets available so go get some and meet me down there.

New music from Blockhead.

2009-11-05T17:26:00.004-06:00

Blockhead aka Anthony "Tony" Simon is a hip hop producer from Manhattan. He has a great catalog of solo stuff along with producing for Aesop Rock. His new record Music Scene came out on Monday. He has always had a knack for great production. A quick listen of the record and this one is no different. Check out a track.

Mp3: Blockhead - "It's Raining Clouds"

Picture from the cover of the album. Get the record here.

New music from the Portico Quartet.

2009-11-04T18:06:00.002-06:00

The Portico Quartet are a 4-piece (hence the quartet part!) modern jazz group from London. They comprise Jack Wyllie (soprano and alto saxophone), Duncan Bellamy (hang and percussion), Milo Fitzpatrick (double bass), and Nick Mulvey (hang and percussion). There new record is called Isla. The video above is for their single "Line" which was featured on the award winning 2008 album Knee-Deep in the North Sea.

Mp3: The Portico Quartet - "Johnson"

Get the record here.

New music from Two Crown King.

2009-11-03T19:13:00.004-06:00

Two Crown King the soul, hip-hop group made up of Adam Dick and Sean Goodchild from Ontario Canada. The two met while studying together at Fanshawe College's prestigious Music Industry Arts program. It appears there is three additional members of the group (see picture), not listed on their myspace page, I assume backing group.

This is the first time I have heard of this duo (5-piece?) and they certainly have a great mix of vocals and production. Their single "A One Man Mess" is a great track. Check it out.

Mp3: Two Crown King - "One Man Mess"

There first full length ep is due out soon.

Double L's Flashback Party Mix.

2009-11-02T19:18:00.002-06:00

Friend and fellow blogger Double L has done it again. Noted for his fantastic reggae mixes and reggae blog he brings us a collection of hip-hop, reggae and R&B gems from the 1990's. Mix is real heavy and while the "party" vibe of the mix isn't realized here with me listening to it at my desk with two sleeping poodles* next to me, I assure you if you had the components of a party this would be an awesome mix to rock. Heavy D, Notorious Big, Buju Banton, Jay Z and more are all in the mix. Check it out.

Mp3 link: Double L - Flash Back Party Mix Volume 1

*For the record they are standards (I don't mess with any other size) and they do not have a poodle cut. Scroll to the bottom of the blog for reference if you have not done so previously.

Chromeo and Boys Noize Halloween

2009-10-29T18:28:00.004-06:00

Chromeo, Boys Noize and Crystal Castles will be playing Freaky Deaky Halloween this Friday at the Congress theater. I hope everyone see the possibility of this being a truly great dance party. If you haven't you need to check Boys Noize's Essential Mix on the BBC pretty great stuff. Here is a couple great remixes of Chromeo's new track "Night by Night" in preparation for tomorrow.

Mp3: Chromeo - "Night-by-Night" (Skream Remix)

Mp3: Chromeo - "Night-by-Night" (Siriusmo Remix)

Both remixes are available on Green Label Sound.

New music from Gift of Gab.

2009-10-26T18:59:00.005-06:00

Gift of Gab is one of my favorite emcees. For those that might not know Gab is the 2nd half of Blackalicious along with Chief Xcel. His new record Escape 2 Mars is due out November 3rd. Gab is on tour now with a bunch of top notch hip hop talent on the Deadliest Catch tour featuring Charli 2na, Mr. Lif and Lyrics Born. Check out a track off his upcoming record.

Mp3: Gift of Gab feature. Del and Brother Ali - "Dreamin"

Buy: Get the record here.

Amazing album art by the way.

Music from DJ Center.

2009-10-23T08:44:00.004-05:00

New music from romanian born and Brooklyn based producer, DJ Center. Great deep beat-driven track, with equal parts down-tempo soul, roots and dub reggae. Center's 2006 mix CD, Feel What I'm Feelin, garnered critical praise and URB called it an, "expertly blended, lovingly conceived..." mix record. It really is one of the best jazz podcasts I have heard.

This first song from Center's upcoming Summer 2009 EP release, Everything In Time, features the sweet vocals of the Tunisian-French singer, Ms. Samia Farah, whose incredible self-titled debut (Sony Music France, 1999) was a hypnotic blend of soul, dub and reggae.

Mp3: DJ Center feat. Samia Farah - "Tout Passe"

Buy: Get the whole EP with remixes from the acclaimed Waajeed here (iTunes).

photo of Brooklyn graffiti by toddwshaffer

Ernest Gonzales' new record.

2009-10-23T05:45:00.003-05:00

On the heels of the successful Friends of Friends series releases (Vol 1. Daedelus and Jogger, and Vol. 2 Larytta and Bauchamp), FoF Music is gearing up for their first full-length release, Been Meaning to Tell You by AG friend/artist/blog re-designer Ernest Gonzales. In anticipation of the release, they are releasing an EP, Self Awakening, by Gonzales.

The EP features the title track in addition to two alternate versions, a remix by Faunts and a cover by Take. The EP also includes "We Can Live in the Forest," another Gonzales original, as well as covers by Cyne, Mexicans with Guns, and Yppah. Check out the remix by Florida based hip hop group Cyne below.

Mp3: Ernest Gonzales - "Upon the 49th Day" (Cyne Remix)

Head over to his site/blog at Been Meaning to Tell You.

photo of Austin sky by DigiDragon

New video from Nosaj Thing.

2009-10-22T17:48:00.004-05:00

If you have been reading you know AG is a big fan of Jason Chung aka Nosaj Thing, a 24-year-old producer from California with loose ties to Flying Lotus and the L.A. glitch-hop scene. Been loving his record Drift since it came out and am looking forward to seeing him next month at the House of Blues playing in support of Bassnecter. Video is by yourstru.ly check it out.

Buy: Get some Nosaj Thing stuff here.

1 million page views.

2009-10-20T17:02:00.005-05:00

Analog Giant has just surpassed 1,000,000 (aka F4240 if you are into hexadecimal) page views. Something that is pretty amazing for me thinking that I started an electronic-hip hop-political blog from what was essentially an attic apartment in Montpelier Vermont. Yeah sure I know Perez Hilton gets a million views a day but I never thought I would be able to get such a large audience.

I am glad there are more people out there that love the music I do and support this blog.

Thanks to all that stop by the site and I hope you keep coming back. Peace!

Mp3: DatA - "One in a million" (Drixxxe Remix)

Link: Get more music from DatA here.

New Doom record, Unexpected Guests.

2009-10-19T20:19:00.010-05:00

New record from Doom (aka MF Doom, Daniel Dumile, Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah). Personally I find Doom's work by whatever moniker he has chosen is hit or miss for me. Some of his tracks I totally love and then there are others that I really just don't get into. Anyway, Unexpected Guests is a compilation of old Doom tracks that the Gold Dust imprint has gathered up an thrown on a single record. The record is due out this month.

"DOOM also has a thick catalog of guest appearances, remixes, non-album tracks, & vinyl only singles. For the first time, Unexpected Guest presents many of these hard to find tracks as a mix CD, executed and overseen by the Super Villain himself."

Guests include Talib Kweli, Ghostface & GZA as well as underground heroes Vast Aire, CountBass D and Kurius. Check out a promo track with an annoying sample showing up periodically throughout the track:

Mp3: Doom - "Bells of Doom"

Get the record here.

New video from Duck Sauce.

2009-10-16T17:43:00.003-05:00

Duck Sauce, the collaboration between DJs A-Trak and Armand Van Helden, have released a video for dancefloor filling single "aNYway." Probably the best house single of 2009, Track has been receiving heavy daytime airplay on Radio 1's A list. Check out the video.

Fela Kuti reissues and Felabration.

2009-10-16T06:22:00.003-05:00

The Best of the Black President comes out on 10/27 and the nationwide schedule for Felabrations is out now. Tonight is the Chicago event, Listen:Up presents Felabration! with DJ Ron Trent and DJ Spinna at The Shrine tonight.

The interesting thing here is that the original "Felabrations" which date back to the early 1970s when Fela Kuti and his band took over the courtyard of the Empire Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, and performed several nights a week to thousands of fans. The courtyard was called “The Shrine,” and became a very popular nightspot attended by a range of people from the kids of Lagos to professors, civil servants, government officials and even soldiers.

These events have been created to celebrate the re-mastering and reissue of the entirety of the legendary Fela Kuti catalogue, beginning on October 27 with the record and deluxe edition with DVD release of the compilation The Best Of The Black President, as well as the musical FELA! Check out a track off the upcoming re-issue.

Mp3: Fela Kuti - "Zombie"

For more information head over here.

His birthday was yesterday. He would have been 71.

New collection Dillathology 3.

2009-10-14T17:40:00.006-05:00

James Yancey might be more mainstream in death than he ever was in life. His mainstream certainly has nothing to do with his talent. One of the most gifted and influential hip hop producers of all time and largely unrecognized until his tragic death in 2006. Several posthumous albums have already been released and others are planned, the massive amounts of unreleased recordings by the producer remain at this point are still undetermined and Yancey's estate has also been controverted. Rapster has been releasing a series called Dillanthology. Consisting of three volumes the latest one came out this month.

The last volume contains some of the best tracks of the Stones Throw released Donuts and Rough Draft and some of Jay's best work with Madlib as Jaylib. For all intents and purposes one of the best tracks of all time in my opinion is on this record with "Nothing Like This." Check out a track. His production skill is really phenomenal.

Mp3: J Dilla - "Glamour Sho75(09)"

I think that Yancey really illustrates how the music industry and what used to be "art" has evolved. You listen to his productions and they are so diverse so deep. Today no person is producing like this. Nobody is spending the time pushed by profits. As somebody said capitalism has killed art and music. There are few mainstream artists anymore. Just over produced fame and money hungry fronts for the label people. Sure there is stuff that is catchy but there really isn't much out there that is deep.

Get more here. Read more here.

RIP James Yancey.

The Gossip coming to Chicago.

2009-10-13T19:20:00.013-05:00

Now for a something completely different...I have mentioned it before, but to remind the readers I was born in Olympia, Washington home of The Gossip. While I am not certain if any of the members of the Gossip are actually from Olympia they were formed there back in 1999. The group rock group is fronted by Beth Ditto, guitarist Brace Paine and drummer Hannah Blilie. I am not going to pretend I knew anything about this group till they released their third record, Standing in the Way of Control.

Their mixture of punk/rock background instruments with Ditto's soul sound is such a great and unique combination in indie rock. Their new record is Music For Men produced by the legendary Rick Rubin. Check out the fantastic cover of Wham!

Mp3: The Gossip - "Careless Whisper" (Wham! Cover)

The Gossip plays the Metro this Friday in Chicago.

New Mulatu Astake retrospective.

2009-10-12T18:43:00.010-05:00

In November of last year, Mulatu recorded an new album with London psych jazz band, The Heliocentrics one of my favorite records of this year. Now, Strut ais releasing a definitive Mulatu career retrospective covering his landmark ‘60s and ‘70s recordings.

Mulatu is a true pioneer of African music. He was the first Ethiopian musician of his generation to travel extensively and to record abroad. He studied in the UK in Wales and at Trinity College Of Music in London, making a name for himself on the London jazz scene of the early ‘60s. He became the first African student to attend Harvard and he lived and recorded in New York, fusing jazz with traditional Ethiopian melodies. He returned to "Swinging Addis" during the late ’60s and became a pivotal figure, arranging for many of the country’s top vocalists and he continued to create music even in final years of Selassie’s reign and the mid-‘70s rule of the Derg Communist military junta. Mulatu worked with with many influential jazz artists such as Duke Ellington during this period.

The record gives great breadth to a novice like myself it traces the progression of his Ethio jazz experiments, Mulatu Astatke: New York-Addis-London is the really fantastic. It covers his first recordings in the UK during 1965, his fusions for the small Worthy label in NYC and his key ‘70s recordings back in Addis on Amha, Phillips and Axum, the album features comprehensive sleeve notes by Miles Cleret, head of Soundway Records, and rare, previously unseen photos from Mulatu’s personal archive. Certainly worth checking out for those that love his music.

Mp3: Mulatu Astake - "Yekermo Sew"

Buy: The record is out October 27th on Strut. Get it here.