Music: From Me To You

MUSIC: From Me To You... For Free...

Over on the left hand side of this blog is a lil' list of interesting tidbits, time-consuming procrastinators and shenanigan-inducing behavioural suggestions. Among them are a bunch of mixtapes I've lovingly assembled - the 'A Pocket Sized Mixtape' series.

Currently there are three volumes available for download, from either Soundcloud or Mixcloud...

Vol. 1: In The Pocket / Workinonit   ( sound / mix )
Vol. 2: Lazy Hazy Days   ( sound / mix )
Vol. 3: Through The Clouds   ( sound / mix )

Oh, and I've another trilogy of sorts ready to load up, so it might well be worth checking back there every now and then. If you like the music, that is...

I reckon you just might.

Playlist: In The Pocket | Sun 8 Sept

First show back on George FM for a few months. Just like riding a bike. Apparently.

'In The Pocket with 90'
12-2pm Sunday 8 Sept 2013
George 96.6FM
www.georgefm.co.nz

D'Angelo | Spanish Joint
Cole Medina | Ain't No Funq
Erykah Badu | Honey (Mark Rae edit)
The Bar-Kays | Too Hot To Stop (D.Veloped edit)
Jurassic 5 | What's Golden (DJ Maars reggae re-fix)
Pharrell | Frontin' (Frankie Goes Deep 'First Day Of Summer' edit)
Talk Talk | It's My Life (Phil Drummond remix)
40 Thieves | In Your Space
Groove Assassin | I Love You (RedSoul remix)
Al Velilla with Opolopo | Fearless
Harleighblu | Play Me
Dizzy Gillespie | Alligator
Johnny Harris | Odyssey (Part 1)
Greyship Daviz | Traffic (Cheek To Cheek, Bumper To Bumper) [Markus Enochsen Traffic Jam remix]
Tom Browne | Funkin' For Jamaica (N.Y.)
The Pockets | In The Pocket
Lady | Money
The SSO Orchestra | Faded Lady (Leftside Wobble edit)
Omar | I Love Being With You
Quantic Y Anita Tijoux with Iara Renno | Doo Wop (That Thing)
Gecko Turner | Monosabio Blues
A Tribe Called Quest with Baby Bam | If The Papes Come
Ed Sheeran | The A Team (Shy FX remix)
Sammy Bananas | Run 2 Me (Thicke remix)

Playlist: George FM 'In The Pocket' Sun 5 Aug

Lava Lava | Burnt
Up, Bustle & Out | Hip Hop Barrio
Freddie Cruger with Linn  | On My Way
Moka Only | Lowdown Suite
Peven Everett | Testin' Me
Diverse | Jus' Biz
Rae & Christian with Veba | Spellbound (Old English remix)
Tosca | Chocolate Elvis
Kinny & Horne | Sacred Life
Beatfanatic | Origins (Of Hip Hop)
Visioneers | Swahililand
The Odd Couple | Paperkites
Eru Dangerspiel | Coq Au Vin
The Avalanches | Since I Left You
Smoke City | Underwater Love
The Black Seeds | Make A Move
Marvin Gaye | What's Going On (The Reflex edit)
Erykah Badu | Bump It
Roots Manuva | Movements
Take | The Highest Highs & The Lowest Lows
Lewis McCallum | Fly Or Die
King Kapisi | Sub-Cranium Feeling

Cosmic Disco Mixtape

A one hour mini-mix put together live & loose, without any technical assistance (outside of a beer or two, that is...), and featuring a bunch of slow disco & cosmic boogie tracks which are currently spinning my wheels. Oh, you want a tracklist? Yeah right. Try your luck with shazam, pal.

Available for streaming AND free download...

Cosmic Disco Mix by bro90

Highlight: V. B. Kuehl

It's always a treat to receive music "in the mailbag" (as it were) from folks anywhere, be they just down the road - or in Germany, as is the case in this instance. V.B. Kuehl is a producer based in Frankfurt, who makes electronic music with a twist - there are elements of live instrumentation throughout much of his work, most notably on the track I'm highlighting here, Arab Spring. A highly emotive piece of music as it is, listen to the song first and then take a look at the video for the track here, utilising some incredible photographs by Ferhat Bouda. It's a truly remarkable pairing.

For more music from V.B. Kuhl, check out his soundcloud page; and take a look at some of his design work here. Thanks Volker!

Arab Spring by V.B.Kühl

Credit To The Edit: Late Nite Tuff Guy

Now it's not often I'll sing the praises of an Aussie (there are various reasons for this, most of which I won't be going into here), but in this case I really do need to make an exception. Late Nite Tuff Guy is a producer out of Australia that has been laying down some seriously good edits, reworks and remixes for a minute now. With releases recently from one of my favourite labels, House Of Disco, this is a guy who is making waves with his immaculate re-touches. I could've chosen any one of a bunch of edits to highlight here, but I've chosen his version of Narada Michael Walden's track 2nite, as he has made it available for free download to celebrate reaching 4000 followers on soundcloud. Enjoy!

Check out Late Nite Tuff Guys soundcloud page here and his facebook page here.

2nite [LNTG Re-Edit] by Late Nite Tuff Guy

Credit To The Edit: The Specials

In tribute to The Specials being in Auckland Town this evening...

The Specials - A Message To You Rudy - (J-Sound Mix) by J-Sound!

Credit To The Edit: Onur Engin

The first in a brand new (but admittedly intermittent) series highlighting some of my favourite edits, reworks and re-rubs of recent times. The whole "edit culture" seems to get bad press from grumpy DJs, but there's definitely some boss among the dross. Here's one: Turkish producer Onur Engin has released a slew of cracking edits, pretty much all of which qualify as 'class'. Cop a few of them on his Soundcloud page, or check his facebook for more info. Two absolute belters below: James Mason's 'Sweet Power Your Embrace' and Kool and The Gang's 'Summer Madness Live'. Get hip to the script flip...

James Mason - Sweet Power Your Embrace (Onur Engin Edit) by Onur Engin

Kool & The Gang - Summer Madness (Onur Engin Edit) by Onur Engin

Playlist: George FM 'Play It All Back' Wed 7 Mar

Another day, another radio show. I feel pretty lucky to be able to play as much music as I do on George FM - and here's the playlist from 'Play It All In The Back Pocket', where I did my best to fill in for Mr Roger Perry. Check it...

Late Night Tuff Guy | Come Inside Me (LNTG rework)
Marvin Gaye | Sexual Healing (Simon's Dark Keys remix)
Mayer Hawthorne | Um Caso Estranho (A Strange Arrangement version)
Kwick | Nightlife
Sly & The Family Stone | If You Want Me To Stay (Funk Ferret edit)
DJ Steef | Just Let It Lay (DJ Steef edit)
George Benson | Shiver (Space Duke extended edit)
Al Green | Piece Of Mine (Jayl Funk edit)
Sleeve | Hipness
Key-Matic | Breakin' In Space
Gazeebo | Bottoms Up
Jimmy Castor | Supersound (Busta & Some DJ remix)
Picture House | Blaxploitation
Parliament | Aqua Boogie (Slynk edit)
Odyssey | Going Back To My Roots (Fingerman's Maximum Fonk edit)
Dez Andres | A Time To Boogie
Area Social | Dayton's Tonite
Zapp | It Doesn't Really Matter
Majesty's Pleasure | What's The Word (Respect)
Moon Boots | Bills To Pay

Go Buy It: George FM Yearbook 2011

GEORGE FM YEARBOOK 2011
Now Available In Stores and On Line

The radio station I've been lucky enough to remain involved with for some years now has recently released a compilation of tracks voted on by listeners and mixed by Dick Johnson, and I feel obliged to encourage you to purchase it. Not because of any sense of loyalty to the station, but because it's really rather good. There's plenty of huge songs on there (SBTRKT, Chase and Status, Nero, Toddla T, Magnetic Man and Katy B, Joe Goddard, Two Bears, PNAU and plenty more), and best of all, a stack of local talent - Ladi 6, Tiki and Sambora, David Dallas, P-Money and Dan Aux, MayaVanya and even old Magik himself. 

So go on, get your metaphorical wallet out and get amongst...

Bumps: Funk Moguls v Avicii 'Superstar Levels'

Levels by Avicii is a massive tune worldwide. However, it's not entirely suitable for every d-floor, and there are more than a handful of pretty rubbish edits floating about. This one, by the Funk Moguls, is most certainly not one of those. It's a cracker. Slowing the tempo to 120bpm (but you can pull it back a little further, trust me), the Czech pair throw on an acapella, chop up the hook, slap on a break and voila...

Bumps: Daryl Hall & Chromeo 'I Can't Go For That'

Would you trust these men? Not with your daughter, perhaps, but almost certainly with your ears; as this is Daryl Hall (yes, from Hall & Oates) and Patrick Gemayel (from Chromeo), who recently jammed together on this Bump. And what a bump...

Mu from Freddys interview in Groove Guide

Pick up a copy of this weeks Groove Guide magazine and have a read of the interview with DJ Mu from Fat Freddy's Drop. It's my first piece of writing for a publication which has been moving from strength to strength under the guidance and editorship of that fine fellow Sam Wicks. Get amongst!

George FM Playlist 30th May

Choi | The Way We Are [Equatorial]
Lanu | Dis-Information [Tru Thoughts]
Crazy P Present The Syndromes | The Hit [Kolour]
Dublex Inc. | Repercusion [Pulver]
Zapp | More Bounce To The Ounce [Warner]
Afro Soundsystem | #1 [Afro Soundsystem]
Quantic | Don't Joke With A Hungry Man (Rebtuz remix) [Rebtuz]
Red Astaire | Tito [GAMM]
Palov & Mishkin | Muchachos [Rebtuz]
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators | Feeling Free (Natural Self remix) [ATC]
Amp Fiddler| Faith [Genuine]
The Managers | Up In Arms [Hoi]
Live Interview with The Managers
The Managers | Terror Firma [Hoi]
Flowering Inferno | Portada Del Mar [Tru Thoughts]
Radio City with Bajka | The Hop [HVW8]
Me&You | Brown Paper Bag [Tru Thoughts]
Dublex Inc. with Sandhy Son Doro | Shine (The Dynamics remix) [Infracom]
PPP with Karma | On A Cloud [Ubiquity]
Kanye West | Diamonds (J Todd remix) [Platinum Soul]
Big Bang with Rasiyah | To The Full Every Minute (Yam Who? remix) [Arision]
Waajeed | Funkin' For Jamaica [Jazzy Sport]
Recloose | Red Road [Fingertips]
Choklate | Bigger Than You [Kajmere]

George FM Playlist 23rd May 2010

MonkOne | Tom's Dinner
Timeless Orchestra | Fantastic (Georgia Anne Muldrow remix)
Recloose with Joe Dukie | Deeper Waters (Yes King remix)
Homebrew | Benefit
Heritage Orchestra | Spottieottiedopealicious
Boozoo Bajou | Sign (DSL remix)
House Shoes | Newports
Musiq Soulchild with Estelle | Everyday People
Common | I Want U (Illmind remix)
DJ Vadim with Zion | Got To Rock
Michael Jackson | Black Or White (Taggy Matcher edit)
Cornerstone Roots | Forward Movement
Little Dragon | Blinking Pigs
? | Mr Dizzy Scruff
Dan Le Roc vs Scroobius Pip | Thou Shalt Always Kill (Raiders Of The Lost Ark remix)
A-Trak | Trizzy Turnt Up
Franz Ferdinand | Take Me Out
Bulletroof with Tiki Taane | Soundtrack To Forever
Datarock | The Pretender (Holy Ghost remix)
The Wiseguys | Ooh La La
Sepalot with Ladi 6 | You Got It (AC Slater remix)
Only Child with Veba | Addicted (Llorca remix)
Mr Day | Small Fry (remix)
Quantic with Alice Russell | The Sound Of Everything (Senorlobo & Watch TV remix)
Florence & The Machine | You've Got The Love (The xx remix)

George FM Playlist 16th May 2010

Erykah Badu | That Hump [Motown Universal]
Starkey | 11th Hour [Planet Mu]
Eprom | Bubble [Bad Acid]
Benny Tones with LP | Odyssey [EWH]
Milez Benjamin | Chop That Wood [Tru Thoughts]
King Kapisi | Sub-Cranium Feeling [Heroic Trio]
JDubs with Sacha Vee | What You Want [Truetone]
Nightmares On Wax | The Sweetest [Warp]
DJ Day | Four Hills (Short Cut) [Melting Pot Music]
Hudson Mohawke | Rising 5 [Warp]
Little Dragon | Test [Peacefrog]
Colder | Confusion [Output]
Dam-Funk | Rollin' [Stones Throw]
Mayer Hawthorne | Maybe So, Maybe No [Stones Throw]
Kandra Lou & The Miracles | Everyday [Wah Wah 45s]
Spanky Wilson | Sunshine Of Your Love [BGP]
Killer Funk Disco | Going Back To My Boots (Because I Can't Find My Shoes re-edit) [Killer Funk Disco]
Lewis McCallum | Tales Of Mingus [Finch]
Syrup | Chocolate [Compost]
The Bamboos | Kings Cross [Tru Thoughts]
Belleruche | Anything You Want (Not That) [Tru Thoughts]
Gotan Project | Rayuela [XL]
James Hardway | Los Locos Inglis [Dukebox]
Gotan Project | Desilusion [XL]
P'taah | Flying High [Ubiquity]

"The Tight Five" - Playlist: 9th May 2010

Artist: Various Artists
Title: Shapes 10:01
2LP
Label: Tru Thoughts

This week's show saw a number of songs taken from the outstanding Tru Thoughts compilation Shapes 10:01, so it's only fair it's highlighted as one of the "Top Five".

Three tracks this week: the bassline-heavy, dusty reggae vibes from Fredo (straight up exclusive to this compilation) ; the tastefully dubstep-saturated Flux Pavilion remix of Quantic's Mishaps Happening ; & the wobbly ol' Andy H remix of Petrified, Dazed, from the beautiful Kinny.


Artist: Hepcat
Track: I Can't Wait
From the album RIGHT ON TIME
Label: Hellcat

One of Hellcat's earlier releases came courtesy of a ragtag bunch of Southern Californian kids calling themselves Hepcat & playing a tasty blend of reggae, rocksteady & impressively authentic-sounding ska. Any of the tracks on Right On Time slay me every time, but I Can't Wait never fails to put a smile on my dial.


Artist: SJD
Track: Rising, Falling, Rising
From the album SOUTHERN LIGHTS
Label: Round Trip Mars

The opening track from SJD aka Aucklander Sean James Donnelly's 3rd album, Southern Lights, released by Stinky Jim's label Round Trip Mars (click that link, it's worth a peek!) could be described as a floor-filling orchestral dance track. If you had to. What can't be argued is the fact it is possessed of a killer bassline.


Artist: Lewis McCallum with Tama Waipara
Track: New Someone
From the album SYNTHEOLOGY
Label: Finch

Speaking of killer basslines, Lewis McCallum is another local artist more than capable of conjuring up a bassline with murderous intent (witness tracks like Fly Or Die from his debut album Wake), having laid out a clutch of them on his new album, Syntheology. This track has the sexy broken flavour of a classic cut from the likes of Daz-I-Kue or Dego from 4 Hero.


Artist: Slugabed
Track: Quantum Leap
12"
Label: Planet Mu

A fresh cut from Brighton-based producer Slugabed, who lavishes dollops of thick, low end sound over his grimy, dubstep & hip hop stew all over his Planet Mu debut EP, Ultra Heat Treated - from which this outstanding instrumental cut is taken. If you dig Hudson Mohawke, Burial or Breakage, then I reckon you might be into this as well.

George FM Playlist 9th May 2010

Dam-Funk | When 80MPH Feels Like 20 [Stones Throw/Stussy]
J. Rawls Presents The Liquid Crystal Project | Tribute To Dilla [Turntable Jazz]
Sa-Ra Creative Partners | Love Czars [Ubiquity]
Fat Freddy's Drop | Big BW [The Drop]
Marvin Gaye | What's Going? On (Truth & Rights remix) [Al Fingers]
Fredo | Squadron Face [Tru Thoughts]
Quantic | Mishaps Happening (Flux Pavilion remix) [Tru Thoughts]
Re:jazz with Akiko | Twiggy Twiggy (The Dynamics remix) [Infracom]
Hepcat | I Can't Wait [Hellcat]
The Phoenix Foundation | Hitchcock [FMR]
Chemical Brothers with Noel Gallagher | Let Forever Be [Virgin]
SJD | Rising, Falling, Rising [Round Trip Mars]
Bachelorette | Mindwarp [Particle Track]
Playgroup | Number One [Output]
Rodney Hunter with Shadee | Huntermatic [G-Stone]
Lewis McCallum with Tama Waipara | New Someone [Finch]
Dr J. Presents 1Luv with Deanna, Amalia & Jzabela | Starz [Sonar Kollektiv]
Southside Connection | Make No Mistake (...To The Disco) [Raw Fusion]
Lazor Sword | Shot In The Nite [Innovative Leisure]
Savage | Swing! [Dawn Raid]
Slugabed | Quantum Leap [Planet Mu]
Kinny | Petrified, Dazed (Andy H remix) [Tru Thoughts]
D'Angelo | Spanish Joint [EMI]

The special Mothers Day show today, with a bunch of tunes that have little or nothing to do with Mothers - except every artist on the show once had or still has a Mother...

Arohanui to Raewyn & Sonia!

Dam-Funk LIVE in NZ!

Yr Bro 90 is absolutely delighted to pass on the news that the inimitable DAM-FUNK will be bringing his Southern Cali cosmic space funk to NZ to play TWO shows - one at the San Francisco Bath House in Welli (Wed 12 May) & the other at Fu Bar in Auckland (Thu 13 May).

The Auckland show features support from that man Frank Booker, Recloose & Isaac Aesili, while the Welli show features support from Electric Wire Hustle Soundsystem & D-Unk live.

Stands to reason I'll see you there, yes? Good.

"The Tight Five" - Playlist: 2nd May 2010

Artist: Ota
Track: Nunui
7"
Label: From The Crates

A delicious slice of instrumental futuristic soul music all the way from Westmere, AK, courtesy of Ota aka Jeremy Toy - guitar slinger & songwriter in the Opensouls, & highly respected production guru (Opensouls, Tyra & The Tornadoes, Hollie Smith's debut album). This wee gem (still available on 7" vinyl, yo!) is Jeremy with his Dilla hat tilted off to one side & also features appearances from bandmates Chip Matthews & Isaac Aesili. A more than worthy addition to your 45s section...








Artist: Diverse
Track: Jus Biz
From the album ONE A.M.
Label: Chocolate Industries

A highlight from a genuinely slept on album from US emcee Diverse, Jus Biz features a gorgeous, loping beat from Prefuse 73 (aka Savath & Savalas aka Scott Herren), at his lush, organic-sounding best. Diverse is a true talent: clever rhymes with excellent construction & lyrics worth listening to. One of my favourite hip hop albums, with production from Madlib, RJD2 & Jff Parker Of Tortoise!








Artist: Erykah Badu
Track: On & On (Arthur remix)
12"
Label: Erca Mystery Projects

Red hot pirate material out of the UK, with Arthur's slo-mo soul broken beat grooves wrapped in a seriously wonky production, with just enough of a hint of dubstep for my liking. Liking? OK, so I'm feeling this track rather more than just liking it.

Nb. Arthur is rumoured to be Pariah, from the Black Acres label, & the flipside of this 12" sees Brandy's massive Angel In Disguise given a bubblicious future beatdown filter courtesy of labelmate Fantastic Mr Fox.








Artist: Starkey with Anneka
Track: Stars (Slugabed Did A Remix)
12"
Label: Planet Mu

Philadelphia dubstep producer Starkey's graceful, tender washes of synth & heavy sub-bass are accompanied by Anneka Warburton's haunting, ethereal vocals - & then gleefully shattered into fragments on this incredible remix from so-hot-right-now UK producer Slugabed, which is absolutely rammed to the gills with wonk. Oh yes, plenty of wonk! In a good way, mind...








Artist: Dam-Funk
Track: LAtrifying
From the album TOEACHIZOWN
Label: Stones Throw

Just one of the highlights from Dam-Funk's critically acclaimed (& rightly so!) album out on Stones Throw. Awash with synths & bass, this futuristic slice of boogie feeds your cosmic soul! The album is available on 2CD - & on a eye-popping 5LP box set! Check out the post above for more info on Dam-Funk's DJ sets in Auckland & Wellington...