It’s a Miracle…

That this blog has been resuscitated? I suppose its heart did stop beating for over six months’ time. And by no means did music lose its pulse; like the other hiatuses MiS has taken, the music around me didn’t stop piling up, or I didn’t hit the STOP (that still exist?) button. Much has happened in my musical bubble over the course of this time. This art form we’ve chosen to follow, invest our time and money in, and help to add something to our day-to days, never is shut off. Music encompasses everything that I do from day-to-day. On a Friday morning, the soundtrack is upbeat and celebratory after shutting down another week; after a rough day, the dial turns to something carefree, maybe even nostalgic to remember a simpler time. On a random Tuesday, while at work, but really before work, it’s a pulse that amps me up for the day, one that maybe even is uplifting in an inspiring way. Like you, I love creating my original soundtrack on a daily basis. Miracle, a track off Parisian classically trained for the club Yuksek‘s latest, has been electrifying my days, no matter what’s happening around me….

Yuksek :: Miracle

Our Year Featuring Hawksley Workman…

The multi-faceted one-man jam, Hawksley Workman is always keeping me guessing. The Canadian had another eclectic year with his upbeat, electro-rock self and his minimalist piano perfection side, too.

When the Ontarioan makes his voice the forefront of a performance, the outcome is moving. Hawksley pairs up with fellow compatriot by way of Glasgow John McDermott to bring more moving minimalism with Our Year.

The original can be found here; what’s below doesn’t appear too synched up with the audio…

Native Tongues Make Her Move….

It’s unfortunate it takes crossing paths with a member of the Billionaire Boys Club to ignite this blog. Earlier today, while rolling through none other than J. Crew – hey, they’ve stepped up their game – I crossed paths with Pharrell Williams, who I know as a man behind one of, at the time, my favorite records of 2002. Sure, time can be cruel and the rap meets rock thing isn’t as hot; but realize In Search Of occasionally is still spun. And way back when, N*E*R*D was an excellent act live; the Metro in Chicago can definitely attest. To celebrate me locking eyes with Mr. Williams today, I wanted to share a remix of their single from LP #2, She Wants to Move. Where the original was hot, the addition of many more verses care of Mos Def, De La Soul, Common, and Q-Tip help to create five minutes of hard-hitting beats and rhymes.

I regret not shaking the man’s hand.

N*E*R*D :: She Wants to Move (Native Tongues remix)

Rhymefest’s Prosperity….

Chicago-based Rhymefest has a lot to say behind beats and when the needle isn’t down, too. The man is a conscious poet – one who comes across sincerely concerned for what’s happening around him. Recently he sat down with the Chicago Reader and made me respect him that much more.

It’s funny because I live in the hood near Barack, you’d think we’re doing good—but the amount of violence that happens in a ten-mile radius of here, it should be embarrassing to him. He should have more to say about the violence around his hood.

They were fixing things up around here for the Olympics and were going to gentrify the area. I just wonder: How do we get so much money for an Olympic bid, for this Olympic committee, but there is no money for teachers? How is there money for all these new police trucks, money for assault rifles, when we don’t even have enough police in the city? . . .

Chicago Reader interview featuring Rhymefest

And finally, his follow-up to Blue Collar, El Che is upon us. Get funkdafied with his qualms on preying upon the less fortunate on Prosperity…

In the Lab With Lidell…

I’m really comfortable now with the idea that I am this many styles….and this many directions….I feel like I can rightfully hold a compass….and feel like I’m not lost; I’m going where I want to be going…..

The soulful German, Jamie Lidell, not scared to experiment with his sound, either on record or in front of a live audience, is preppin’ Compass – his follow up to ’08′s Jim.

If the two tracks below are any indication, we’ll have more slow burners and funky cuts on the blues-tip.

Compass & The Ring

Below, step into the lab for a making and introspective face-time with Jamie, Beck, and Feist as they put it down….

Nuthin’ But a Hood Thang…

Skeptics beware: This one burns – on the very smooth tip.

The mixologists with patience and respect for a track to let it ride, The Hood Internet, have proved less is more when re-creating 1992…

Hood Internet :: Nuthin’ But a Journal Thang (Dr. Dre vs Class Actress)

Hood,

Want to put me on the guest list at the Bottle on 4/3?

Wanna Be My Suitcase Pimp?

I made a mistake when composing my best of ’09 list. Like anyone who listens to many records in the course of 12 months, this end-of-the-year ritual – for some – is a challenge; like a post here, one could always go back and make changes, improve upon a previous draft, per se.

Prairie Cartel,the super group of the past few years – in awesomeness and the makeup of the members – unleashed, after many troubling events, Where Did All My People Go – an amalgamation of their former selves, with a serious, mature evolution of the dance meets spacey enthusiasts this quartet has become. 2009 was no joke when it came to records; but if I had to go in and edit, I’d realize, I made a huge mistake.

Prairie Cartel :: Suitcase Pimp

Autolux’s Joy Factory…

Building up anticipation is a good thing. There is a reason the headlining act takes that additional 15 minutes to grace the stage. When they do, finally, all that buildup impatiently waiting around, becomes for something. Never do I condone it – but the wait is almost always worth it.

Here I am discussing minutes, where some bands think in other units – like years. Autolux, the treacherous trio armed with a wall of dirty, fuzzy sound capable of erupting, have yet to follow up their debut Future Perfect. Sure, Autolux, continue to wait behind the curtain and keep us salivating. If they do unleash their sophomore LP, and I am holding my breath, 2010 will solidify itself as one hell of a strong year.

So we don’t forget, and I won’t after previous gigs, they are baiting us along with the rumored to be 2010 release of Transit Transit. The latest news:

TRANSIT TRANSIT is going to be released on the following record labels:

U.S. & JAPAN —- tbd records (yes that is actually the name of the label) = tbdrecords.com
U.K. & THE REST —- ATP Recordings = atpfestival.com/recordings
RECORD RELEASE DATE —- (YOU DON’T ACTUALLY THINK WE’D HAVE THAT YET, DO YOU??)

but we do have this:

Transit Transit tracklist:

1. Transit Transit
2. Census
3. Highchair
4. Supertoys
5. Spots
6. The Bouncing Wall
7. Audience No. 2
8. Kissproof
9. Headless Sky
10. The Science Of Imaginary Solutions

UNKLE, the London-based act not scared to experiment with all moods, has enlisted Autolux – again – for Joy Factory, a spacey and tripnotic, slow moving dance number.

UNKLE featuring Autolux :: Joy Factory

Mr Field’s Ladies….

Soul burnin’ is what Lee Fields & The Expressions bring to the mix. Last year, I delved into more modern day funk and soul; these lyrical odes to ladies and love continue to linger throughout my head, bring a smile to my face, and make me groove – as always, in my kitchen. If you missed this man and his ability to craft modern day masterpieces, maybe his passion for women can reel you in…

Lee Fields & the Expressions :: Ladies

Fuck, do I miss Schubas…

Happy House From the Double Door!

When you miss a show, one with a momentous closer, do you watch/listen to a live clip in awe or disgust? I’m still trying to figure out the answer to my own question – but leaning towards the latter. Juan Maclean, the spacey house creator of last year’s The Future Will Come, an album best described as if LCD’s Sound of Silver butted heads with Human League, ripped up Chicago’s Double Door last year with Happy House. The evidence, and the ability for you to quickly find your gruuuve, await you below.

Yea, I’m going to go with disgust. 21 minutes of excellence!