Review: Derrick Carter + David Rodigan Fabric Mix CDs

DERRICK CARTER
Fabric.56
[Fabric]

DAVID RODIGAN
Fabriclive.54
[Fabric]

A good DJ mix is like making love. I don't mean fucking, I mean actually making love, properly, taking your time, with someone you care for deeply. There are peaks and troughs, there are highs and lows, there is giving and there is most certainly taking - it should be a fluid situation which ebbs and flows as the situation develops. Legendary Chicago DJ Derrick Carter is famed for his ability to lay down erotically charged funk-infused house music ideal for getting juiced up to, but, sadly, his Fabric.56 mix is devoid of emotion, personality and sensuality, instead relying on hard, jacking beats and the usual cliches of house music - big vocals, piano hooks and simple loops - to keep asses shaking. Sure, we all enjoy a rampant quickie now and then, but be aware: there is no making love going on here. If you like it hard, heavy and repetitive, bend over, baby.

In stark contrast is the startlingly relevant and exciting mix courtesy of UK reggae's most infamous hypeman, David Rodigan. Unlike Carter, Rodigan's focus is on keeping the listener's interest by ensuring the tunes are fresh and the selection tight throughout - so much so that he barely bothers with mixing, instead concerning himself with quality, placement and avoiding any obvious choices. This is no bad thing at all, as many a DJ has fallen into the trap of relying on showcasing their turntablist skills rather than playing good music (see review above). Fabriclive.54 features an impressive an informed blend of the new and the classic old school, with a clutch of rare tracks and unheard dubplates from Rodigan's travels in Jamaica across the decades and a lifetime of digesting reggae, dub and dancehall music. This is a properly crafted mix and a crucial selection which comes very highly recommended.

Derrick Carter   1 & 1/2 stars from 5
David Rodigan   4 stars from 5

George FM Playlist Sunday 3rd April "In The Pocket with 90"

Jimmy Smith & Etta James | I Just Wanna Make Love To You
Colourbox | Baby I Love You So (Radikal Roots re-edit)
The Cool Kids | Mikey Rocks
Kenn Starr, Asheru & Talib Kweli | If
Kim Hill | Right Now (Presto remix)
Jill Scott | A Long Walk (A Touch Of Jazz remix)
Amp Fiddler | Freakin'
King Kapisi | Sub-Cranium Feeling
Herbie Hancock | Palm Grease
Kyoto Jazz Massive | The Brightness Of These Days (Quantic remix)
Me&You | The Hoop Loop (Solo Moderna remix)
Gecko Turner | Toda Mojaita (Dutch Rhythm Combo remix)
Soul Vigilantes with Mayka Edjole | Close The Door (TM Juke remix)
Afrodisiac Sound System with Raashan Ahmad | Revolution
K'Bonus | Flibberty Gibbert
Ebb | Be A Man (Chris Lumified's Vocal mix)
Earth, Wind & Fire | Jupiter

Review: Tiki 'In The World Of Light' + Shapeshifter 'System Remix'

TIKI 

In The World Of Light

[TikiDub]

SHAPESHIFTER

System Remix

[TrueTone]

"There ain't no party / Like a NZ party / In the summer time" sings Tiki Taane over Summer Time, opening track of his #1 debut, second solo album, In The World Of Light. I reckon Tiki's one of the cleverest people in the NZ music business. He's fully aware of how marketable he is to, on the face of it, two hugely differing camps: those who lap up the pop-reggae of Always On My Mind and those who prefer the bass-heavy swagger of Soundtrack To Forever. Thing is, (aside from the astoundingly monstrous Tangaroa, easily the highlight of his solo debut Past, Present, Future) whichever way you want to slice it, Tiki's music is designed to please as many people as possible as often as possible - often all in one place at once. It's a pursuit he seems to take very seriously indeed. Having said that, this is a very big, very likeable album, with notable guest spots from Moana and The Tribe, Crushington and Hollie Smith retracing her Celtic roots atop heavy metal guitar courtesy Tiki's Dad, Uekaha Taane.

System Remix follows Shapeshifter's massive fifth studio album System Is A Vampire and is another example of crowd-pleasing bass-focussed music, but unfortunately the bulk of these remixes seem to be working to a thoroughly predictable and ultimately kinda dull template. There are undoubtedly highlights: Pacific Heights' gorgeous rework of The Touch; a reverent re-rub of Twin Galaxies by The Upbeats; and two stonkers from State Of Mind, with their reworks of Dutchies, and Electric Dream - easily the highlight of this collection, despite the original being taken from the Soulstice album. This collection is clearly intended for fanatical fans of Shapeshifter, but for me is a bit of a let down and really only serves to illustrate how much better the group's original versions are.

TIKI 3/5

SHAPESHIFTER 2/5

Check out the review of State Of Mind's album Nil By Ear here...

George FM Playlist Sunday 27th March "In The Pocket with 90"

Recloose | Get There Tonight
Grooveman Spot | Looking Up To You
Roy Ayers | Running Away (Noodleman rework)
Michael Wycoff | Looking Up To You (The Revenge rework)
7 Samurai | The Moment (reggae version)
V.I.P. Connection | West Coast Drive
Gladys Knight | Who Is She (And What Is She To You)? (D-Classics rework)
Wildcookie | Jackson Miles
Gazeebo | School Boy Chubby
Furlan Williams | When Autumn Leaves Fall
Blundetto | Nautilus
Electric Empire | Baby Your Lovin'
Daft Punk | Something About Us
Eddie C | Migration
Quincy Jones | The Dude
Al Green | Love Ritual
George Benson | Turn Your Love Around (Onur Engin edit)
Sinclair | Ain't No Casanova (US Encore remix)
Imagination | Streetmix (Disconet edits)
Killer Funk Disco Allstars | Supermodels & Sponge (Cake Mosh edit)
IG Culture Presents Zen Badizm | Girl You Need A Change Of Mind

WOMAD 2011 Festival, New Plymouth

WOMAD 2011 NZ Festival
New Plymouth, 18-20 March 2011

A first time vist to WOMAD is kind of like seeing the Pyramids of Giza or Michelangelo's statue of David for the first time: while you know exactly what to expect, it still has the capacity to surprise and amaze. Yes, I admit this was the very first WOMAD I'd attended - and I'd go again in a heartbeat. I absolutely, thoroughly loved it. The music, the people, the weather, the vibe, the food, the arts, the flags, the attitudes, the ease with which we moved about - it all added up to a wonderful experience. Musical highlights included Sudanese group Rango; Chinese-Mongolians Hanggai; the raw, ribald Calypso Rose; the high-energy Colombians Sidestepper; British DJ legend Don Letts; the incredible Horace Andy... well, I could go on for quite some time, to be honest. In a nutshell, this would have to be the best music festival I've ever attended, hands down. Go.

This is Calypso Rose. Do yourself a favour and find a live performance of hers on the interwebs. She's brilliant. And rude as hell!

Review: WOMAD 2011 CD Sampler

Various Artists
WOMAD 2011 CD SAMPLER
[Cartell Music]

Famed world music festival WOMAD was first held in the UK in 1982 with audiences entertained by co-founder Peter Gabriel, Don Cherry, Drummers Of Burundi and others. There have been over 160 events in 21 countries since, with New Plymouth hosting the event annually since 2005. The first NZ WOMAD was in Auckland in 1997, and featured Afro Celt Sound System - who, having disbanded and re-united since, perform again in 2011. They are one of many highlights from this excellent sampler, alongside legendary Jamaican singer Horace Andy's wavering yet silky, sensuous voice; the passionate, engaging Creole Choir Of Cuba, sounding like Graceland on steroids; American Bob Brozman's delicious guitar wizardry; Chinese group Hanggai, who blend Beirut and The Pogues; the lilting ska of Trinidad and Tobago's Calypso Rose; and a lip-smackingly good version of The Dream by Trinity Roots. I couldn't recommend this music more. Buy any/all of the above.

5 stars from 5

George FM Playlist Sunday 13th March "In The Pocket with 90"

Ben Westbeech | So Good Today (Yoruba Soul remix)
Aaron Jerome | Jelabi
Zumen | New Sound
Gecko Turner | Afrobeatnik? (Seiji remix V.2)
Barakas | Stabilo Bossa
Quantic | Tell It Like You Mean It
Joe Mensah | Africa Is Home (Natural Self remix)
Kokolo | Mama Don't Want No Gun (Beatconductor remix)
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra with Mayra Vega | Che Che Cole Makossa
Guido de Palma & Jazzinho | Humano, Desumano
Speechless with Diane Charlemagne | The Beat
Macadamia Cuts | Little Space Odyssey
Madvillain | America's Most Blunted
Rufus with Chaka Khan | Circle
L.A. Carnival | Pose A Question
Breakout | Planet Rock (Pts. 1 & 2)
Coke Escovedo | I Wouldn't Change A Thing
The Tornadoes | Huihui
MPHO Skeef | I Don't Like You

REVIEW: Chico Mann 'Analog Drift'

CHICO MANN
'Analog Drift'
[Wax Poetics]

Once in a while an album drops which surprises you, takes you to unexpected places. Analog Drift, the second solo release from jersey City-based Chico Mann, is one of those rare gems. The multi-instrumentalist, born Marcos Garcia, melds 1970s Afrobeat, soul and funk with 1980s breakbeat and electro to create a hybrid he describes as "Afro-Freestyle and Electro-Afrobeat". Stuttering handclaps, plucked guitars and vintage synths up the charm factor, but not nearly as much as Mann's simple call-and-response vocals: half choruses are effortlessly offered up in both English and Spanish, seemingly unpolished, yet entirely memorable. Mann's "dayjob" is playing guitar in New York allstar Afro outfit Antibalas and his musical family included a Father who owned a Latin record label, so it's not surprise those elements have informed the music. Throw in a little Herbie Hancock, Egyptian Lover and Quantic, and this compelling melting pot of sound takes hugely enjoyable shape.

Four and a half stars from five

George FM Playlist Sunday 6th March "In The Pocket with 90"

James Blake | Unluck
Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie XX | Ur Soul And Mine
Taylor McFerrin | Awake To You
Platinum Pied Pipers with Spacek | No Worries
4 Hero | Take My Time
Nuyorican Soul with Jocelyn Brown | I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun
Nuyorican Soul with Jocelyn Brown | It's Alright! I Feel It!
Jazzanova | Let Your Heart Be Free
Underworld | Cups
Roy Davis Jr with Peven Everett | Gabriel
Phoenix | If I Ever Feel Better
Blue Boy | Remember Me
Randy Crawford | Cajun Moon (extended)
The Nomad with Farda P | 141
Chico Mann | Sound Is Everything (Rich Medina remix)
Masters At Work | Nautilus (MAWtilus)

Review: Gilles Peterson Presents Worldwide

Various Artists
GILLES PETERSON Presents WORLDWIDE
"A Celebration Of His Syndicated Radio Show"
[BBE]

Remember the old days of making mix-tapes for your friends? Painstakingly selecting songs around a theme, which meant something to you and/or the recipient of the tape, or were simply plain awesome? Consider the new Worldwide compilation selected by DJ, label owner, renowned record collector and globally famous taste-maker Gilles Peterson as one of those treasured mix-tapes. Assembled from tracks Gilles has championed through his famed BBC Radio One show and his annual Worldwide Awards, this two disc set hits all the marks, with tracks from a roll call of famous names: Erykah Badu, Q-Tip, Jill Scott, Dwele, Little Dragon, Sa-Ra, Outlines, Theo Parrish, Benga and Spacek nestle up against epic songs from the past few years, like RSL's Wesley Music, M.I.A.'s Galang, Cinematic Orchestra's All Things To All Men, Gotan Project's Triptico and Recloose's absolutely massive Dust. As Gilles himself may've intoned as a young lad: "Ooh la la!"

4/5 stars

George FM Playlist Tues. 1st March "Free Range with 90"

So I woke up this morning, gaping & stretching, to a text message from Tom at George FM: "Are you able to cover Soane's show this morning please? The coffee is on me...".

Sure, I said, why not?

Daft Punk | Something About Us
Kanye West | Diamonds (J-Todd's "Gimme The Ice" remix)
Syrup | Connection
Grand Pianoramax with Spleen & Celena Glenn | The Hook (DJ Spinna Vocal mix)
Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie XX | Ur Soul & Mine
Chico Mann | Anima
Icasoul with Capitol A | Givin' It Up
Rasmus Faber with Melo | Get Over Here
Outlines | Just A Lil' Lovin'
Orgone | It's Time Tonight
Don Freeman | Fracture In My Soul (Las Gammas mix)
Sam Irl with Anya | African Dance
Krystal Klear | Tried For Your Love (Hudson Mohawke remix)
Quantic | Mishaps Happening (Flux Pavilion remix)
Crazy P | Love On The Line
Los Charly's Orchestra | Dana's Dream
Afrodisiac Sound System | Italo Nitro

George FM Playlist Monday 28th Feb. 2011 "Groovadelica with 90"

I once more had the great pleasure of stepping into the shoes of Jason Eli, covering for his Groovadelica show on George FM on Monday morning. I do believe he was nursing his birthday wounds from a big weekend...

Tony Allen | Kilode (Waajeed dub)
Krystal Klear | Tried For Your Love
Disco Tom | Goldie's Boogie
The Streets | Those That Don't Know
Charles Earland | Comin' To You Live (edit)
Manujothi | Shake Your Body
Herbie Hancock | Stars In Your Eyes
Cole Medina | I Got My Mind Made Up (Cole's rework)
Killer Funk Disco Allstars | Look! A Van Gogh! (Good Groovin' edit)
The Dells | No Way Back (Theo Parrish edit)
Ron Basejam | Is The Word
Henry Greenwood | The Rhythm
The Blackbyrds | Rock Creek Park
Bobby C Sound TV | Boom For Rent
Common | I Am Soul (Todd Terje edit)
King Onkyo | Boogie Gonna Get Ya (Discodub)
Local Legend | Back Fo' Mo'
L.T.D. | Love To The World (DJ Day remix)
Los Charly's Orchestra | Rio Chico's Sunset
Spectral Display | It Takes A Muscle

Review: Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie XX 'We're New Here'

GIL SCOTT-HERON & JAMIE XX
'We're New Here'
[XL/Young Turks]

We've every right to be dubious when labels pair up hip, young zeitgeist producers with respected, legendary older artists, particularly thanks to the recent release of a few disappointing collaborative efforts (did some mention Jack White and Wanda Jackson?). We're New Here is different. How? For a start, this is a remix album. Then there's the source material: living-legend Gil Scott-Heron's 2010 epic/comeback, I'm New Here. Young Jamie Smith (drummer/producer for world-conquering UK indie three-piece The XX) has completely reworked thirteen tracks from the original album sessions, placing Scott-Heron's disembodied vocals amongst pulsing, spidery soundscapes. While sounding excitingly modern, like Burial or James Blake, We're New Here is endearingly reverent, even adding a degree of warmth to the intentionally deep, dark originals. Smith also samples snatches of vocals from Scott-Heron's work in generations past, providing for some kind of deep, philosophical inter-generational link. Whatever. This is proper dance music, 2011-style.

4/5 stars

Review reprinted courtesy of Waikato Times

George FM Playlist Sunday 27th Feb "In The Pocket with 90"

Andreya Triana | Lost Where I Belong (Mr Scruff remix)
Dam-Funk | Night Stroll
Starkey with Anneka | Stars (Slugabed Did A Remix)
Terry Callier | Dancin' Girl
Al Green | L-O-V-E (Love)
Lalo Schifrin | Quiet Village
Funkadelic | Hit It And Quit It
Gladys Knight | Who Is She? (D-Classics remix)
Dedy Dread | M.I.A.'s Big Stuff
Mil | Emily
Reggie B | A Few Steps Forward
Cro-Magnon | Galactic Mellow (Grooveman Spot remix)
Krystal Klear | Tried For Your Love
The Streets | Those That Don't Know
The Kenneth Bager Experience with Gisli | Fragment One (And I Kept Hearing...)
Elvis Seconde, Shaggy Sharoof, Jacques Palminger & Erobique | Dengue Fieber
Big Bang with Rasiyah | To The Full Every Minute (Yam Who? rework)
Mo'Horizons | Ay Y N'ama (DJ Day remix)
Raeo & Zeb | Lunar New Year
Hydroponic Sound System | Young Ladies In The House
Steve Miller Band | Fly Like An Eagle (Team9 edit)

Review: Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra 'World Of Funk' and 'Hooked Up Classics'

SHAWN LEE'S PING PONG ORCHESTRA
World Of Funk AND Hooked Up Classics
[Ubiquity]

There are many words reviewers use which are superfluous. That's probably a chief culprit right there.

However, the one I'm picking on introduce this brace of Shawn Lee albums is "prolific".

The LA-based DJ, beat-maker, producer and weed-head Madlib aka Yesterday's New Quintet aka Otis Jackson Jr is prolific, recording quite literally stacks of material for the Stones Throw label, under multiple aliases. Legendary American indie rock-popper Robert Pollard is prolific, churning out something like eight albums a year via his bands Guided By Voices, Boston Spaceships, Circus Devils and too many more to mention here. Brighton-born, Cali, Columbia-resident, producer, DJ and crate-digger Will Holland is prolific, recording as Quantic, Quantic Soul Orchestra, Quantic and His Combo Barbaro and many others besides.

Add American-born, UK-resident Shawn Lee to this list.

This multi-instrumentalist, producer & musicologist is genuinely prolific, having released literally dozens of albums on his own, as the Ping Pong Orchestra and in collaboration with the likes of Money Mark, Tommy Guerrero, Clutchy Hopkins - not to mention in his past life as a session musician for hire, when he worked with everyone from The Dust Brothers & Jeff Buckley to the Spice Girls, while the man has made a mint from providing the musical backing for hugely popular TV shows like Lost, CSI, House, Ugly Betty etc. You could argue he began his career as a "library" music composer and performer when he released the phenomenal Ape Breaks series back in the day.

Under his Shawn Lee and The Ping Pong Orchestra guise, he now presents two more albums of heavily conceptualised library music, each as eminently listenable as his past work.

Following in the footsteps of recent albums Soul In The Hole and Sing A Song, where Lee was joined by a roll-call of guests in albums dedicated to various readings of one musical style, World Of Funk is packed with churning, riveting afro-funk in all its many flavours.

Guests include legendary Egyptian singer Natacha Atlas, multi-instrumentalist Brazilian artist Curumin, Dengue Fever's LA-based Vietnamese singer Chhom Nimol, Truth and Soul recording artist Michael Leonhart, NOMO band-leader Elliot Bergman and others.

While some may rail against Lee ripping off or bastardising these musical styles, the fact remains that this is a labour of love for him. He really does pour himself into these albums, playing many of the instruments himself & wholeheartedly committing himself to an authentic, genuine approach to song-writing, performing and recording the music.

The second of this pair of Ping Pong Orchestra albums is inspired by the Hooked On Classics series of the early '80s (factoid: put together by ELO's Louis Clark) and follows more in the vein of previous Lee albums Hit The Hits and his Christmas album.

Hooked Up Classics sees universally known songs like 1812 Overture, Swan Lake, Dance Of The Sugar P{lum Fairy, Also Spracg Zarathustra and eight others given a right odl dressing down, with Lee taking the essential elements from each piece and reinventing them within entirely new frameworks: 1812 Overture becomes a sweet, sunny, BBQ reggae track; Flight Of The Bumblebee welcomes a freestyle "chorus" over a boom-bap beat; and Hall Of The Mountain King gets twisted into a frenzied surf-guitar stomp.

This is an entirely enjoyable, hilarious and musically unpredictable journey through some of the best known songs ever written. Upon first listen I snorted, more than once, thinking "Sure, this is fun, but how many times am I actually going to listen to this gimmicky record?"

The answer? Prolifically.


World Of Funk: SIX AND A HALF sitars out of TEN
Hooked Up Classics: SEVEN AND A HALF outraged classical music buffs out of TEN

Listen to the Radio Ponsonby Record Review with 90, every Weneri morning around 8.30am, on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show. Thanks To Longroom.

George FM Playlist Sunday 20th Feb 2011 "In The Pocket with 90"

DJ Day | Skyy, Can You Feel Me?
Platinum Pied Pipers | Pigeon Hole
Datsun Stereo | 4 My Pepys
Take | Dream Over
Black Gold Massive | Sometimes It Snows In April (Mr Gone's Southport Weekender remix)
Amp Fiddler | Cool About It (Living Room remix)
Tony Cook with Dam-Funk | Tell Me What's On Your Mind
7 Samurai with Desmond Foster | Feel The Same
Kinny & Horne | Us On Fire
Eric Benet with Faith Evans | Georgy Porgy
Maxwell | Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) (Ken At Work remix)
Tweet | Boogie II Night
Beatconductor | All Night Long
Charanga 79 | Good Times
Lord Echo with Lisa Tomlins | Thinking Of You
Icasoul with Capitol A | Givin' It Up
Vin Sol & Charles McCloud | Couldn't Love You More
Chic v Trus'Me | 4 Working Nights
GQ | Lies (Theo Parrish remix)

Lazy Sunday Selections

Review: So Frenchy So Chic 2011

Various Artists
SO FRENCHY SO CHIC 2011
[Cartell]

Those crafty frogs.

With their effortlessly stylish ways, a seemingly unshakeable self-confidence & the ability to strike the balance between sexy & not taking themselves too seriously, the French have always seemed so... well, just so damned charming.

The double-disc compilation So Frenchy So Chic 2011 does nothing whatsoever to dispel those stereotypes.

Far from being solely about endearing chanteuses or deep, throbbing dance beats though, modern French music is inspired by the melting pot of cultures & peoples present in the country. Combining African rhythms & elements of indie rock; soulful singer-songwriters & the sweetest pop; edgy electro & twisted trad-folk sounds, So Frenchy So Chic delves deep to uncover some glittering gems.

Frenchies resident in Oz, Juliette Bouquerel & Jean-Francois Ponthieux have assembled yet another joyful & highly enjoyable romp, showcasing some of France's brightest new musical talents, across a number of genres.

And yes, absolutely charming.

Listen to the Radio Ponsonby Record Review with 90 every Wenerei morning, on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show. Thanks to Longroom.

George FM Playlist Sunday 13th Feb. "In The Pocket with 90"

I had the great pleasure of welcoming Fat Albert himself into the studio this afternoon, with Jay Jeffrey bringing along a bag of goodness. We dropped two-for-two across the 2hr show & time flew.

Linkwood Family | Miles Away
Fat Freddy's Drop | Boondigga
Leonard Seeley's Heritage | Feel It (BT Magnum edit)
The Blackbyrds | Rock Creek Park (Onur Engin edit)
David Joseph | You Can't Hide Your Love (Larry Levan remix)
Sharon Redd | Never Give You Up
* Change | Mutual Attraction
* Russ Brown | Find A Way
Manujothi | Shake Your Body
Michael McGlory | Love Every Inch Of Me
* Candido | Thousand Finger Man
* Loose Joints | Is It All Over My Face
Lakeside | We Want You On The Floor
Disco Tom | I Wanna Take You For A Ride
* Young Disciples | Move On
* Galliano | So Much Confusion
Bernard Wright | Haboglabotribin
Mtume | Juicy Fruit
* Q-Tip with Erykah Badu | Show Me The Way
* The Roots | Mellow My Man
Esther Phillips | Home Is Where The Hatred Is (Onur Engin edit)
Guru with Erykah Badu | Plenty

* denotes a selection from the deep crates of my good mate Jay Jeffrey.

For Your Ears aka Random Review: Anna Coddington - Cat & Bird

ANNA CODDINGTON
Cat & Bird
[Teaset]


Some people make this music lark look easy. Anna Coddington is one of those people.


One her 2nd solo album, Cat & Bird, Coddington effortlessly glides through a balanced set of exceptional indie pop. Deceptively simple sounding, with each listen the songs reveal subtle turns of phrase & clever melodic interplay between the stellar band - producer & guitarist Ned Ngatae, drummer Riki Gooch (Trinity Roots), bassist Mike Hall (Nightchoir) & keyboardist/vocalist L.A. Mitchell (Dave Dobbyn).


Cat & Bird has a more guitar-driven, full band sound than her excellent, alt-country influenced debut The Lake, but long-time fans need not worry: there are also a handful of gorgeous, delicate & incredibly touching songs here, showcasing Coddington's considered approach & strong vocals.


Her unassuming presentation belies a clever song-writing brain & though she's relatively unknown, Cat & Bird is further evidence Coddington is a NZ artist we willl treasure in years to come.


4 stars from 5

Review reprinted courtesy of Waikato Times

Review: Kelis - Flesh Tone

KELIS
Flesh Tone
[Interscope]

Reviewing this album confused me.

On one hand it's as light & fluffy as chewing clouds, while on the other hand it almost seems there's something a little darker going on just beneath the surface.

Strictly speaking I should strongly dislike, if not hate this album.

It's essentially euphoric dance pop music, blending electropop, synthpop & house music. Production is by David Guetta, Boys Noize, Jean Baptiste & Benny Benassi, among others. It's released on Will.I.Am's label. While it may be a radical departure from Kelis' previous R&B-styled albums, Flesh Tone breaks no new ground & she does nothing we've not heard from others before.

However, I don't strongly dislike this album & I certainly do not hate it. I'm still not sure I like it, necessarily either. Here are three reasons why I'm struggling to get a true handle on my feelings about this album.

Firstly, despite brimming with sleek dance pop, the album flows as a listening experience incredibly well - something which can seldom be said these days, as most albums are really just collections of radio singles - while also playing host to a handful of potential major club anthems. Of particular note is the lead single Acapella & forthcoming single Scream, both of which incidentally, are produced by cheesy house maestro du jour David Guetta.

Secondly, Kelis sounds good. Really good. Full-tilt house diva mode clearly suits her. As does Motherhood. She has been quoted as saying that Flesh Tone is an uplifting album which celebrates the birth of her first child, so while she's obviously in good spirits, the Giorgio Moroder-era Donna Summer v modern Euro club pop sound is also an apt fit.

Thirdly, even though there's not one single fresh idea present on Flesh Tone, only one track really outstays its' welcome (the mindlessly repetitive Emancipate) & in all, the album's nine tracks barely scratch the 38min mark, strangely leaving me quite happy to listen again.

I admire any artist willing to change up their sound from album to album, and Flesh Tone is nothing if not a departure from her previous work. It's even highly enjoyable, in places, kinda like candy floss.

Hmmm... when was the last time you ate candy floss & felt good about it afterwards...?


In A Nutshell: candy-coated sleek club pop which is a non-fattening guilty pleasure
90's Rating: SIX glittering disco balls OUT OF TEN


The Radio Ponsonby Record Review airs on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show every Wenerei morning at around 8.30am. Big thanks to Longroom.

George FM Playlist Waitangi Day Sunday 6th Feb "In The Pocket with 90"

Flying Lotus | Sangria Spin Cycles
Tosca | Heidi Bruhl (Plantlife's Love Philosophy remix)
Sa-Ra Creative Partners with Noni Limar | I Swear
Al Green with John Legend | Stay With Me (Max Kane Slump)
Mayer Hawthorne | Just Ain't Gonna Work Out (El Camino remix)
Roy Ayers | Liquid Love
Blackstreet | No Diggity (B.Cause Blend)
Beat Assailant | Hard Twelve (instrumental)
Marvin Gaye | Sexual Healing (Simon's Dark Keys remix)
Stonephace | Wedgehead Gets Lucky
KMD | Sounded Like A Roc
Kinny | Backstreet Lust (Azaxx remix)
The Black Seeds | Rotten Apples (Lowman's Block Rockin' Bass remix)
Bittersweet | Overdue (Blackbeard remix)
Jamiroquai | Just Another Story
Lanu with Megan Washington | Beautiful Trash
Me&You | Texture Like Sun
Law | Winning Hand
B.O.B. with Bruno Mars & Common | Nothin' On You (B.Cause GO edit)

Review LANU 'Her 12 Faces'

LANU
Her 12 Faces
[Tru Thoughts]

Upfront: I'm a big fan of Lanu's work.

Under his birth name Lance Ferguson he has produced five albums as the bandleader, guitarist & chief songwriter for The Bamboos, one of the best Deep Funk bands on the planet. He was the producer & co-songwriter for two albums by Bamboos frontwoman Kylie Auldist, showcasing a slick, R&B-styled soul-pop. As Lanu, his debut solo album, 2007's This Is My Home, blended West London broken beat with Detroit-styled future soul & an intuitive jazz sensibility.

So I was excited to hear he is about to release his 2nd solo album, titled Her 12 Faces. I came to the album with no indication how it might sound other than having been told "it's a little different from my other albums" by the man himself. I hadn't read the record company press release. I hadn't heard the single.

And I must admit upon first listen I was entirely underwhelmed.

Where's the edginess? Where are the "interesting" bits? Where the bloody hell has Lanu gone!?

However as I persevered, the hidden charms of this electronic-flecked dream pop began to reveal themselves. Dream pop? Oh yes, dream pop. And Lounge, Folk, even a little Latin music, all drawn together into a subtle sonic stew - which utilises clever songwriting alongside the kind of scholarly approach to contemporary beats you'd expect of someone who counts Mr Scruff, Keb Darge, DJ Food & Kenny Dope as fans/friends.

Despite the access to well-known international names (This Is My Home featured Aloe Blacc & Quantic, among others) the key guest on Her 12 Faces is Aussie popstress Megan Washington.

Fresh from a Gold-selling album in Oz, which also won her two ARIA awards last year, Washington's involvement here seems to have allowed Lanu licence to approach his songwriting from another angle stylistically. I mean, let's face it: the man knows his way around a tue, we're already well aware of that, but, given a new muse to work with, Lanu has branched out further from his past work to deliver 12 slices of peerless indie dream pop.

Having now read the press release I see they mention Koop, Feist & Janelle Monae, but I reckon Her 12 Faces pitches almost exactly halfway between Little Dragon & Steely Dan. To be frank, I can't think of anything dreamier, or more appealing in pop terms, than that. Nice one, Lance.


In A Nutshell: 12 slices of peerless indie dream pop from a modern songwriting wunderkind
90's Rating: SEVEN swaying sunflowers in a summer's meadow OUT OF TEN

Check out the Radio Ponsonby Record Review with 90 every Wednesday morning around 8.30am, on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show. Thanks to Longroom. And youse fullas.

George FM Playlist Sunday 30th Jan. "In The Pocket with 90"

DJ Day with Miles Bonny | Still Miles
Barry White | Your Love (Onur Engin edit)
Tweet | Boogie II Night (Mr K edit)
PPP with Zeno | Fever
Cornish Waters with Duchess | Walking
Dubxanne | Walking On The Moon (dub)
7 Samurai | Marlies & Marcus
Joy Denalane with Lupe Fiasco | Change
Sweet Charles | Yes It's You
Al Green | Rhymes
Johnny 'Guitar' Watson | Ain't That A Bitch
France Joli | Gonna Get Over You (edit)
Herbie Hancock | I Thought It Was You (Onur Engin edit)
Convertion | Let's Do It
Sylvia Striplin | Searchin' (edit)
Panache | Sweet Music
Marbeya | Sancho
MFSB | Summertime
Maze with Frankie Beverley | Joy & Fear (edited)

Bumps

Bumps are tunes I'm feeling at the moment. In this instance, I'm posting a link to DJ Friction aka Frico's edit of Love Thang, by '70s Philly disco trio First Choice. An outstanding, percussion-based rub of an already brilliant tune. Enjoy! Just click on the Bumps...

Deeper Pocket with 90 at Longroom

Deeper Pocket with 90
A deeper selection of soul, boogie, funk, proper disco & rare grooves, spun with love...
From 7pm WEDNESDAYS
At Longroom
114 Ponsonby Rd
Stop by. Say hello. Settle in. Get amongst...

Review: The Rhythmagic Orchestra 'The Rhythmagic Orchestra'

THE RHYTHMAGIC ORCHESTRA
The Rhythmagic Orchestra
[Impossible Ark / Unfold / Tru Thoughts]

As I lean back in my plushly lined listening chair in the expansive sound lounge of Chez Nyntee, with a cup of tea in one hand & the hi fi remote in the other, casually dictating this week’s Radio Ponsonby Record Review to one of my many personal assistants, a troubling thought again crosses my crumpled brow…

Why does good music like this get so little attention?

OK, so to us cynics the answers seem painfully obvious, so much so that I will simply ask you, dear reader, this: does the TV3 Nightline news team really need to be “reporting” about Justin Bieber? It’s after 10pm. What IS their target audience…?

But we at In The Pocket are not about to launch into a general rant about the many failings of the culture of celebrity while there’s an opportunity to carve some interest for a group who most certainly fall squarely into the aforementioned “brow-crumpling” category.

The Rhythmagic Orchestra was conceived & is produced by Benedic Lamdin & Hugo Mendez, two individuals with deep roots in Jazz & Latin music respectively; while the Orchestra themselves count members of Nostalgia 77 Octet, Ska Cubano, Examples Of Twelve & Jazz Jamaica among their number.

Lamdin himself is Nostalgia 77 & the co-owner of Impossible Ark, the label this self-titled debut is released upon (via Unfold & Tru Thoughts). He has long been championed in the British Jazz scene & beyond, with his work with UK legends Keith & Julie Tippett, as well as his critically acclaimed Skeletons project, of particular note to the Jazz Cats. His collaboration with Alice Russell on the massive slab of music that is Seven Nation Army, their stonking version of the White Stripes’ track, is a huge reason why he has also turned Heads in underground dance music circles.

Speaking of underground dance music circles, Hugo Mendez has generated more than a few & been gainfully employed in many more than that in his time. His own record label, Sofrito, is a true beacon of Latin-based music & he is considered a leading light in the London “tropical music revival” (for want of a better phrase). He assisted Soundway Records in compiling their outstanding Tumbele compilation & has brought tropical music to the heads & feets of many folks across the UK & Europe.

Enough nerding out – what about the music?

It’s not often you can put an all instrumental album on your stereo & have it hold your attention from start to finish. I have listened to the Rhythmagic Orchestra album no less than five times through in the last couple of days. It is genuinely compelling listening, particularly for a fan of Soundway Records, Quantic & His Combo Barbaro & (dare I say it!?) the Buena Vista Social Club.

The Rhythmagic Orchestra features some of the finest Jazz & Latin musicians in the UK, so it’s no surprise that the rhythm section’s interaction is excitingly fresh & the rhythms playful; the lyrical melodies are strongly presented via some beautiful brass playing; & it is all tied together with an understated, never overplayed, hand by a very versatile pianist. It seems as though everyone involved is playing FOR the betterment of each song. Wow, what a concept!

The Rhythmagic Orchestra have presented us with a beautiful blend of Jazz & Cuban music, well crafted & passionately played, which makes for vibrant, liberating listening, from top to bottom. The only sensible thing to do is turn the Bieber-dial down & get your stereo speakers popping with some actual music.

In A Nutshell: Liberating, vibrant, compelling Jazz/Cuban music, well crafted & passionately played.

90's Rating: EIGHT stoned bongo players out of TEN.

Listen to the Radio Ponsonby Record Review every Wenerei at 8.30am on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show. Huge thanks to Longroom for sponsoring the review. Nice one.

Longroom On The Regular

I'm pleased to be continuing playing at Longroom during the beginning of 2011, with a residency on Wednesdays (from 7pm) & Fridays (6-9pm). I'll be looking to roll out a "deeper selection" of soul, boogie, funk, proper disco & rare grooves on both occasions.

I'm also delighted that the Longroom Crew are still on board with the radio show too - continuing their valued support & sponsorship of In The Pocket with 90 at midday every Sunday, on George 96.6FM.

George FM Playlist Sunday 23rd Jan. 2011 "In The Pocket with 90"











Slave | You & Me
David Boydell | Red Light
Sylvester | Rock The Box
Michael Henderson | Wide Receiver Pt. 1
East Coast | The Rock
Phreek | Much Too Much
Candi Staton | You Got The Love (House Appella)
Hot Toddy | Down To Love
Status IV | You Ain't Really Down
The Jimmy Castor Bunch | E-Man Boogie
First Choice | Love Thang (edit)
Chubb Rock | Treat Me Right
Carmen | Throw Down
Tyree | Nation Of Hip House
Dianne Marie | I've Waited Much Too Long (Frico edit)
The Clash | Cool Confusion
Wings | Band On The Run (Woolfy edit)
Oneself | Unfamiliar Places
The Trammps | Rubber Band (Larry Levan remix)

Deeper Pocket with 90 at Longroom

90's residence at Longroom kicks off in 2011 with DEEPER POCKET, every Wednesday night from 7pm 'til close. I'll be spinning a deeper selection of soul, boogie, funk, proper disco, house & rare groove, with a view to head-noddin' & good music appreciation. Plenty of room for good vibes & great friends. I strongly suggest you get yourself out of the house on a Wenerei & drop in to Longroom to say hello.

Nice one...

Review: Wanda Jackson 'The Party Ain't Over'

WANDA JACKSON
The Party Ain't Over
[Third Man/Nonesuch]

Imagine this. You're a girl. You want to be a singer. You set out playing country music, but the exciting new rockabilly sound is your calling. Despite being told "Girls Don't Sell Records!", you become the first woman to record a rock n' roll song - Let's Have A Party, in 1958 - launching a remarkable career that continues to this day. In fact you're known globally as "The Queen Of Rockabilly" & "The First Lady Of Rock n' Roll".

You're also forever referred to as "Elvis Presley's girlfriend".

Such is the story of Wanda Jackson. Sort of.

The Party Ain't Over is her new album & despite her prominence in the rock n' roll world, it's another bloke who's getting the most attention: producer Jack White of The White Stripes.

Sure, The Party Ain't Over contains some fine exampls of rock n' roll, particularly opener Shakin' All Over, an absolute stormer that benefits from an inspired treatment from White. Other highlighs include the original rocker Rip It Up & a reading of Bob Dylan's recent Thunder On The Mountain.

Mostly though, the album struggles to really fire, as the band clatters through a collection of covers, with no new material from Jackson. A bizarre punk-calypso take on Rum & Coca Cola joins a jarring version of Amy Winehouse's You Know That I'm No Good as probably the weirdest of a frankly strange bunch.

While Jackson gained her fame from her "sweet but nasty" voice & self-assured, ground-breaking early fashion style, there can be no doubt the raw vocal power of her youth has dimmed. The greater shame is that the "outlaw attitude" which was once such a huge part of her charm is also sadly lacking. OK, so she's a 73yr old born-again Christian, so I guess I can cut her some slack, & sure, this is the real deal, grit on display & all of that - but to these ears it's just a little tired & that's not entirely Jackson's fault.

Despite my harsh criticism of Jackson's ailing voice, White really should shoulder some responsibility here. His 2004 album with Loretta Lynn was inspired & the recent Mavis Staples-Jeff Tweedy collaboration saw a gem of a record as a result.

Here we lose sight of Jackson amongst a grab-bag of musical styles, grandiose arrangements & sheer over-playing by a band which includes White's wife Karen Elson alongside old buddies - though White's searing guitar solos are admittedly impressive.

If this collaboration encourages people to go & pick up Jackson's first records, that's a good thing, because her early material is hair-raisingly exciting. Sadly, The Party Ain't Over is closer to curlers & blue-rinses.


IN A NUTSHELL: Rockabilly so badass it'll mow your lawns without even asking first...
NYNTEE'S RATING: FIVE out of TEN (and THREE of those are for the scorching opening track!)

George FM Playlist Sunday 9th Jan. "In The Long Pocket 4hr Special"

Suite For Ma Dukes - Nag Champa
Kanyor - Antidote
Joe Dukie & DJ Fitchie - Midnight Marauders
Michael Jackson - Never Can Say Goodbye (Olly Buck remix)
Erykah Badu - Honey (DJ Day remix)
Horace Andy - Do You Love My Music
Parliament - Up For The Down Stroke
Colonel Red - Blue Eyed Blak
Ladi 6 - Norwest
Ozomatli with Chali2na - O Le Le
Downtown Brown - Mr Brown
Grand Pianoramax with Spleen & Celena Glenn - The Hook (DJ Spinna Vocal mix)
The Bamboos with Alice Russell - Bring It Home (Lanu remix)
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Beggin' (Pilooski edit)
Kelis - Trick Me (TM Juke remix)
Tawiah - Watch Out
Bebel Gilberto - Baby (Yam Who? Uptown Safari Jazz remix)
Iva Lamkum - Kung Fu Grip
The Black Seeds - Rotten Apples (Lowman's Block Rockin' Bass remix)
Mark de Clive-Lowe with Abdul Shyllon - Slide
Shapeshifter - One
Martyn with d-Bridge - These Words
[2pm]
Gecko Turner - Monosabio Blues
Dub Asylum - Ba Ba Boom!
OutKast - Spottieottiedopealicious
Opensouls - Turn It Up! (Submariner meets Opensouls & Killamanraro Uptown)
Habitual Parking Violators - One To Twelve
Bilal - Free
Amp Fiddler - Find My Way
Grace Jones - Nipple To The Bottle
Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl
Kora - Flow (Crazy P remix)
Stevie Wonder - Do I Do (U-Tern remix)
Sepalot with Ladi 6 - Go Get It (A.C. Slater remix)
GQ - Disco Nights (Rock Freak) (Frico edit)
William DeVaughan - Be Thankfull For What You've Got (Onur Engin edit)
Phreek - Weekend (Kon's edit)
Ohio Players - Skin Tight
Quantic & Nickodemus with Tempo & The Candela Allstars - Mi Swing es Tropical
Una Mas Trio - Son Montuno
Charles Earland - Coming To You (edit)
Chic - I Want Your Love
Sylvia Striplin - Searchin' (edit)

George FM Playlist Fri. 7th Jan. aka "In The Selector's Pocket"

Missy E v Groove Corp - The Rain
Seu Jorge & Almaz - Everybody Loves The Sunshine
Sleeve - My Life
Karlmarx Project - Distant Future
Isaac Aesili with Aaradhna - With You In My Bed
The Rebirth - This Journey In
Raphael Saadiq - This One
Marvin Gaye v Bob Marley - Healing In Vain
Georg Levin - In Your Car
Crazy P Presents The Syndromes - The Hit
Uptown Funk Empire - Boogie
The Ripple - A Funky Song
Skipworth & Turner - Thinking About Your Love
Gwen Guthrie - Ain't Nuthin' Goin' On But The Rent (Larry Levan Club mix)
Joe Thomas - Thank You (Fall Etin Me Be Mice Elf Agin)
Alvin Cash - Do The Ali Shuffle
The Bamboos - Amen (Kjell remix)
Quantic - Perception
Shapeshifter - Long White Cloud (Floor mix)
J-Roc - Funkanomical Boom
Me&You - Sneaker Thief (Hint remix)
The Disciples - Get On Down Now!
Simpson Tune - Bring It Down (Da BMR's Club mix)
Louis La Roche with Ad-Apt - Missing You
Dizzee Rascal - Dance Wiv Me
Chromeo - Hot Mess
Omar - It's So (Druw & Perez remix)
Disco Deviance - NY Jump (T-Rice edit)
Recloose with Tyna - The Sanctuary
Slynk - Gotta Shine

George FM Playlist Thu. 6th Jan. 2011 aka "In The Selector's Pocket"

Sandboy - Lua Nua (Smiles Ahead Three Trees remix)
Maddslinky with Omar - Special
Blakai - Don't Stop
Burial - Archangel
Cherie Mathieson - Tomorrow's Day
Playgroup - Number One
Spiritual South & Sweetalker Sleepwalker - Hullabaloo
Attacca Pesante with Shea Soul - Make It Funky For Me (Rusko remix)
Donae'o - Riot Music
The Wiseguys - Start The Commotion
Nickodemus with Zeb - Gibraltar (Zeb & Sabo remix)
Kahil El'Zabar Deeper Soul Project - He's Got The Whole World In His Hands (Henrik Schwarz)
Coldcut with Robert Owens - Walk A Mile In My Shoes (Henrik Schwarz)
Chemical Brothers with Wayne Coyne (The Flaming Lips) - The Golden Path
Colder - Crazy Love
RSL - Wesley Music
Chris Rea - On The Beach (Todd Terje edit)
Quantic & Nickodemus with Tempo & The Candela Allstars - Mi Swing es Tropical (Zeb's Reggae mix)
Zeb - Revolutionary Dreams
Greyboy with Jeremy Ellis - Colour In Between The Lines
Uptown Funk Empire - Good Time (Bye Bye Mr Dynamite)
Van McCoy - The Hustle
John Legend & The Roots with Black Thought - Hard Times
Afrodisiac Sound System - Raygun Kills
Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered (remix)
Checker Kabb - By My Side
J-Davey - Dirty Love
Me&You - Brown Paper Bag (Flowering Inferno remix)

George FM Playlist Wed. 5th Jan. 2011 "In The Selector's Pocket"

Starkey with Anneka - Stars (Slugabed remix)
Eprom - Bubble
Milez Benjiman - Chop That Wood
Benny Tones with LP - Odyssey
Owusu & Hannibal - Blue Jay
One Self - Unfamiliar Places
One Self - Fear The Labour
PPP with Zeno - Fever
Raphael Saadiq - I Know Shuggie Otis
Isaac Aesili with Rachel Fraser - Make It That Way
Bembe & Dego - Stuff You Like To Unload On Me
Kora - Flow (Crazy P remix)
Quantic Soul Orchestra with Alice Russell - Take Your Time, Change Your Mind (Faze Action remix)
Me&You - Last Night
Quantic - Perception (Nu:Tone remix)
G-Swing with Jimi Bazzooka - Cement Mixer
Red Or Dread - Private Life
Sola Rosa with Bajka - Humanised (Jason Eli's Groovadelica remix)
The New Mastersounds - One Note Brown (Lanu remix)
Mexicans With Guns with Chico Mann - Me Gusto
Sam Irl with Anya - African Dance
Salmonella Dub - Ez On (Concord Dawn remix)
Goldie - Inner City Life
K.W. Griff - Respect (Mooqee & Russ Cuban edit)
Outlines - Just A Lil' Lovin'
Outlines with Beat Assailant - Waiting In Line
Foreign Exchange - Sincere
The Captain - H2H
Philly Blunt - Loves California
Pacific Heights with Joe Dukie - Peace
P-Bass Expressway - Easyride (Downtown Brown remix)

George FM Playlist Tues. 4th Jan. 2011 "In The Selector's Pocket"

DJ Day & Miles Bonny - Skyy, Can You Feel Me?
Sylvia Robinson - Sweet Stuff
Johnnie Taylor - Somebody's Gettin' It
7 Samurai - Marlies & Marcus
Red The Man Without The Machine - I Should Tell Yo Mama On Ya (Dam-Funk remix)
Quincy Jones - Summer In The City
Hearin' Aid with Tony Clifton - Higher
Julien Dyne - Maddingos
Moka Only - Lowdown Suite
People Under The Stairs - Tuxedo Rap
Grand Pianoramax with Spleen & Celena Green - The Hook (DJ Spinna Vocal mix)
Suff Daddy & Charles Earland - Come&2ULive&Edit
Bomb The Bass with Justin Warfield - Bug Powder Dust (La Funk Mob remix)
Grace Jones - Nipple To The Bottle
Me&You - Even Vulcans Cry
Quantic & His Combo Barbaro - Mas Pan (DJ Day remix)
Oscar Sharp with Melo - Runaway
Reel People with Angela Johnson - Can't Stop
4Hero with Bembe Segue - Something In The Way
Dam-Funk - LAtrifying
Masters At Work with Jocelyn Brown - I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun
Masters At Work with Jocelyn Brown - It's Alright, I Feel It!
Caribou - Sun
Tone Loc - Funky Cold Medina
Kologbo & The Deacon - Freedom Back
Azymuth - Dear Limmertz
Lee Dorsey - Night People
The Broken Keys - Flow (Pt. 1)
Malcolm Lock - Get Up Stand Up
The Bar Kays - Sexomatic
Aurra - Nasty Disposition
Unique - What I Got Is What You Need
Michelle Wallace - Jazzy Rhythm (Tee Scott remix)

George FM Playlist Mon. 3rd Jan. 2010 "In The Selector's Pocket"

Shapeshifter - Dutchies
Bulletproof with Tiki - Soundtrack To Forever
Hudson Mohawke - FUSE
The XX - Islands (Untold remix)
Gil Scott-Heron - New York Is Killing Me
Dam-Funk - Hood Pass Intact
Amp Fiddler - Dreamin'
Trus' Me with Amp Fiddler - Pretend
Trus' Me with Amp Fiddler - Put It On Me
Spanky Wilson with Quantic Soul Orchestra - Waiting For Your Touch (Domu remix)
IG Culture Presents Zen Badizm feat. Bilal - Girl U Need A Change Of Mind
Recloose - Get There Tonight
Quantic - Mishaps Happening (Quantic Beat mix)
Chromeo - Night By Night
Tricky - Murder Weapon
Flying Lotus - Do The Astral Plane
Crown Heights Affair - Dreamin' A Dream (Frico edit)
Smoove & Turrell - You Don't Know (Kraak & Smaak remix)
Seductive Souls with Donald McCullum - Dazz (Patchworks remix)
Frank Booker - Universal Drive
Jackie Wilson - Higher & Higher (edit)
Harold Alexander - Tite Rope
Bootsy's Rubber Band - Body Slam!
Zapp - It Doesn't Really Matter
Earth, Wind & Fire - Evil
Aloe Blacc - Patria Mia
Gecko Turner - Un Limon en la Cabaza
Jimi Tenor & Tony Allen - Up Against The Wall
Dionne Warwick - Do You Know The Way To San Jose? (Latin Style)
Wes Coats - Land Of Music

Tune in again tomorrow for more of the same...

George FM Playlist "Deep In The Pocket: The Marathon 6hr New Years Session"

7 Samurai with Angie Stone - Muzic
D'Angelo - Everybody Loves The Sunshine
Rick James - Getting It On (In The Sunshine)
Sarah Vaughan - Summertime (UFO remix)
Dublex Inc. with Sandhy Son Doro - Shine (The Dynamics version)
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (Simon's Dark Keys remix)
Jean Knight - Mr Big Stuff (Frico edit)
Al Green - Stay With Me (Max Kane "Slump" edit)
Huba - Mary
Sleeve - Hipness
Thriller U, Jennifer & Johnny N. - Wanna Sex U Up
Josh Rouse - Wonderful
Groove Armada with Red Rat & Nappy Roots - Purple Haze
Bebel Gilberto - Baby (Yam Who? Uptown Safari Jazz remix)
Common - I Want U (Illmind remix)
Maxwell - Ascension (Ken At Work remix)
The Black Seeds - Make A Move (Downtown Brown remix feat. Mighty Asterix)
The Black Seeds - Cool Me Down
Lena Horne - Maybe I'm Amazed
Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis - We Got The Recipe
(12pm)
The Titans - No Time
Little Ike with Jimmy Beck & His Orchestra - She Can Rock
The Rays - Zimba LuLu
Philly Armada Orchestra - For The Love Of Money
Darondo - Legs
The Specials - Ghost Town (Revenge rework)
*Gloria Lynn - How Can I Make You Love Me?
*Marva Whitney - Unwind Yourself
*Lyn Collins - Things Gotta Get Better
*Creative Source - You Can't Hide Your Love
*Slave - Watching You
The Jones Girls - Nights Over Egypt (extended)
Charles Earland - Coming To You Live
*Candido - Thousand Fingered Man
George Benson - Love X Love (Koko Southport Weekender mix)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Stool Pigeon (extended)
*Me'shell N'degeocello - If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)
*DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Summertime
Stretch - Why Did You Do It?
Bomb The Bass with Justin Warfield - Bug Powder Dust (La Funk Mob remix)
Kanye West - Diamonds (J-Todd "Gimme The Ice" remix)
*Inland Knights - Turn
*Erykah Badu v The Dandruff Truckers
Louis La Roche - Get On Down
Louis La Roche with Ad-Apt - Missing You
Basement Jaxx - Music Keeps On Playing (Red Alert remix)
*Hortense Ellis - Woman Of The Ghetto
*Winstone "King" Cole - Black Magic Woman
*Johnny Bristol - Hang On In There Baby
*Stevie Wonder - Do Yourself A Favour
*Alice Clarke - How Did I Ever Stop Loving You
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators - Feeling Free (Hope's JuJu)
Philly Blunt - Loves California
Amp Fiddler - Too High (Wonderland remix)
Norma Jean Bell - I'm The Baddest Bitch In This Room (Moodymann remix)
*The Mazyck Project - More Power To You
*Change - Mutual Attraction
T-Connection - Do What You Wanna Do
Carole Sylvan - Think
The Crusaders - Street Life (Ken At Work remix)
(3pm)
*The Blackbyrds - Rock Creek Park
*James Brown - Do The Hustle
*Maxayn - You Don't Have To Be Lonely
Kleeer - Taste The Music (LeBaron edit)
Afrodisiac Soundsystem - Italo Nitro
Gary Byrd & Stevie Wonder - The Crown (edit)
*Big Daddy Kane - Warm It Up Kane!
*Stetsasonic - Talkin' All That Jazz
Quantic Soul Orchestra v Blackstreet - No Diggity (B.Cause edit)
? - Feel-Good-La
? - I Want Your Message
Kinny - Queen Of Boredness
*Alice Russell - High Up On A Hook
*Brenda George - I Can't Stand It

Wow. Propers to my mate Jay "Fat Albert" Jeffery for dropping science on the show today. All selections marked with a * come courtesy of Jay himself. Nice one...