George FM Playlist 24th October 2010

Even though I was only way from the airwaves for a week, I missed it like crazy. Does that mean love the limelight? I reckon I simply enjoy sharing my Sundays with you, good listener.

And what a Sunday it has been! The long Labour Weekend here in NZ has been kind to us. We've had gorgeous sunshine here in the AK, and my veges have been responding exceptionally. Fret not, I shall keep you posted with all my exciting gardening news...

Being a long weekend, I (mistakenly, as it turns out) didn't play any ads during the show today, so it's a little longer than the usual. Huzzah!

Freddie Cruger with Desmond Foster | Something Good (12") [Raw Fusion]
Jaylib | The Red (inst.) (12") [Stones Throw]
Amp Fiddler | I Believe In You (Jaylib remix) (12") [Genuine]
Collen & Webb | Golden (Tighten Jill Up) (12") [GAMM]
Eddie Harris with Carole Kaye | Bold & Black (remix) (12") [Up Above]
Lumidee | Uh Oh (Bollywood remix) (12") [Mister Tibbs]
Oscar Sharp with Melo | Runaway (LP Inside Scandinavia) [Raw Fusion]
Macadamia Cuts | Little Space Odyssey (12") [White]
Andy Gibb | Shadow Dancing (7") [Interfusion]
Jermaine Jackson | Little Girl Don't You Worry (7") [Motown]
Speak Low | Thriller (7") [Marula Soulfood]
The Lions | Think (About It) (12") [Ubiquity]
Butch Cassidy Sound System | Cissy Strut (12") [Fenetik]
Patchworks & Mr Day | Brothers On The Slide (7") [Favourite]
Marvin Gaye | What's Goin' On? (Truth & Rights remix) (7") [Al Fingers]
Nostalgia 77 with Alice Russell | Seven Nation Army (12") [Tru Thoughts]
Son Of Dave | Low Rider (7") [Kartel]
This Kid Named Miles | Ring Of Fire (7") [Alatac]
Sugar Pie Desanto | Git Back (7") [Luv n' Haight]
L.A. Carnival | Blind Man (7") [Now Again]
The Bamboos | Tighten Up (7") [Kay-Dee]
The Bamboos with Megan Washington | King Of The Rodeo (7") [Tru Thoughts]
Sunlightsquare Latin Combo | I Believe In Miracles (7") [Sunlightsquare]
Aiff | Akwaaba (7") [Unique]
Quantic & His Combo Barbaro | Linda Morena (7") [Tru Thoughts]
Linda Lyndell | What A Man (LP Soul Sides) [Zealous]
Lowrell | Overdose Of Love (7") [AVI]
Syl Johnson | Goodie Goodie Good Times (7") [EPI]
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings | How Long Do I Have To Wait For You? (7") [Daptone]
Beat Assailant | Hard Twelve (LP Good Times 5) [Resist]

Radio Ponsonby Record Review: Belleruche '270 Stories'

BELLERUCHE
270 Stories
[Tru Thoughts]

"Beautiful Beehive". That's the literal French translation of the word "Belleruche".

It's also a pretty apt description of the left-of-centre blend of scratchy hip hop beats, bluesy guitar licks & soulful, honeycomb vocals found on London, UK trio Belleruche's new album, 270 Stories.

While their critically acclaimed debut album Turntable Soul Music (2007) & its equally well received follow up The Express (2008) both sound "...like Sarah Vaughan, Django Reinhardt & Cut Chemist stuck in a lift with Russian beer & a sampler..." (as their very well-written press release/bio so snazzily & succinctly states it); the "difficult" 3rd album sees the group's sound changing, at times quite considerably.

Belleruche have genuinely hit their stride with 270 Stories, tying together all that is so appealingly fresh & distinctive about their sound. It is a far more layered & textured listen than either of their previous albums, while also being tougher, more aggressive & certainly more introspective. The beats from turntablist DJ Modest are harder-edged, with a nod to darker contemporary influences; while guitarist Ricky Fabulous (a relation of Mike from The Black Seeds perhaps...!?) also adds bass guitar to many of the tracks here, creating an exciting dynamic interplay between guitar & bass.

Singer Kathrin deBoer has already marked herself as a serious talent to seriously watch, appearing on (seriously good!) albums from DJ Vadim, Bonobo & Aaron Jerome. With 270 Stories she lives up to the hype: while others still rely on vocal preening & strutting with little of real substance to back it up, deBoer kicks it right in the guts, Trev; looping her voice, tweaking it with guitar effects pedals & layering harmonies atop one another, adding depth to an already rather thick, yet sophisticated, musical stew.

To be perfectly frank - and if you can't be frank when writing your own blog, please tell me when you can - it does take a couple of listens to really "get" 270 Stories. I admit I didn't warm to it immediately. Start with Clockwatching, or maybe even with one of their other records altogether. That'll help to illustrate m point: that this album is the sound of a band pushing forward, ignoring the supposed limitations of a vocals-guitar-turntable trio & letting their ideas roam free.


In A Nutshell: tough hip hop-styled beats, deep bluesy guitar licks & honeycomb vocals reward repeat listens
Nyntee's Rating: SEVEN beautiful beehives out of TEN

Listen to Sweetpants & 90 "talking about music" every Wenerei morning at 8.30am on Radio Ponsonby 107.7FM. Big thanks to Longroom.

Hit It & Quit It "Fright Night" Halloween Special

That's right ghouls and girls... Hit It & Quit It in association with Sick Disco are proud to present "Fright Night": A Halloween Throwdown! Prepare yourself for a night of dancefloor mayhem and boo-bonic funk of monster mash proportions...

Fright Night will be helmed by the ever dependable Counts of the bounce - Recloose and Frank Booker, along with dastardly duo Uncle (Fester) Barnie & Shock-lectah Sam and the party rocking mad scientist Jellphonic!

Your (Un)Trusted Friends Sweetpants & 90 will be hosting the backroom...

Dark disco and haunted house all night long!!!
All DJs will be wearing costumes - and we've PRIZES for the best costumes we see!!!

Sat 30 Oct
Cassette #9
$10 on the door
Undead from 10pm

Radio Ponsonby Record Review: Coming Home - Boozoo Bajou

COMING HOME
Boozoo Bajou
[Stereo Deluxe]

"Chillout" pretty much became a dirty word in compilation CDs for me early in the '00s, after a steady flow of Cafe del Buddha Bar collections dumbed the genre down to elevator muzak.

Thankfully there were still a few plump, peachy downtempo delights ripe for the picking, if the listener cared to reach a little higher - step up the likes of Austrian duo Kruder & Dorfmeister, UK-born Spanish-resident George Evelyn aka Nightmares On Wax & the German production duo known as Boozoo Bajou.

Much like the aforementioned elusive Austrians across the border, Nurembergers Florian Syberth & Peter Heider, aka Boozoo Bajou, have hardly been prolific, with three artist albums in the past10yrs - Satta (2001), Dust My Broom (2005) & Grains (2009), yet theirs is a signature sound instantly recognisable by it's smooth, buttery instrumentation & deep, dubby tempos.

Joe Dukie from the uber-languid Fat Freddy' Drop sings what is probably Boozoo Bajou's best-known song here in NZ - and it's called Take It Slow. Furter proof required...?

Their acclaimed Juke Joint compilations have only enhanced their reputation as dons of downbeat, with immaculately eclectic programming a notable feature. This is something sadly lacking in many compilations nowadays, regardless of genre, so it's a great pleasure to wrap my listening gear around the new Coming Home compilation CD, selected & mixed by BoozBaj themselves.

As the opening minutes of Linkwood Family's gorgeous Miles Away (nicely ref. Mr Davis) slid from my stereo speakers, that familiar lush, laidback BoozBaj vibe washed over me - but then the hi hats start, the keys kick in, the beat drops & it becomes clear that here at least, Boozoo Bajou are dancing to the beat of a different drummer. They've lifted the tempo, considerably in places, while retaining those deep space echoes & distinctly dubby details, and as such, the compilation seems as suitably styled for late night dancefoor shuffling as it is for lounging sipping cocktails.

There are three excellent Boozoo Bajou tracks here - including the dancehall smash Killer, featuring the legendary Top Cat on vocals - alongside a compelling lineup featuring Soulphiction, Henrik Schwarz, Motor City Drum Ensemble & Move D, among others.

These ears particularly enjoy the Elvis P-meets-Farda P vocals laid down by Ski over an insistent shuffle & big ol' bendy bassline courtesy of Tontelas. Icasoul also makes an appearance with the semi-instrumental banger Givin' It Up. (I mention this mostly as the version of this track with the full vocal from Capitol A is a stone cold killer well worth the search, trust me.)

Standouts aside, it's the measured way Boozoo Bajou have woven these tracks into a stunning tailormade musical fabric that makes this particular "chillout" compilation stand out on the hanger.


In A Nutshell: Boozoo Bajou do uptempo dancefloor shuffling mix & it's as good as their slow stuff!
Nyntee's Rating: EIGHT smudged mirrors out of TEN

Check out the Radio Ponsonby Record Review with 90, on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show every Wednesday around 8.30am, on 107.7FM. Big thanks to the Longroom!

George FM Playlist 10th October 2010

J Dilla | Crushin' [Stones Throw]
Nostalgia 77 Trio | My Name Is... [Tru Thoughts]
DJ Rootz | Rocking Rock [Wellred Records]
Max Romeo | War Inna Babylon [Charmax]
Bob Marley & The Wailers | Buffalo Soldier (dub) [Tuff Gong]
Timothy McNealy | Sagitarius Black [Now Again]
Restless Soul with Zanzibar | Everytime [Raw Fusion]
The Isley Brothers | Love The One You're With [T-Neck]
Belleruche | Drum At Dusk [Rebtuz]
Sunshine Anderson | Heard It All Before (QSO version) [Rebtuz]
Quantic Soul Orchestra | San Sebastian Strut [Tru Thoughts]
The Tornadoes | Huihui [From The Crates]
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings | Keep On Looking (Kenny Dope remix) [Soulplex]
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators | Feeling Free (Aaron Jerome remix) [ATC]
Otis Clay | The Only Way Is Up [Echo]
Harvey Mason | Groovin' You [Arista]
Prince | Party Up (Gay Marvine edit) [Gay Marvine]
7 Samurai | Muzic [GAMM]
Don Ray | Got To Have Loving [Malligator]
Chocolate | Syrup [Compost]

Radio Ponsonby Record Review: Chromeo 'Business Casual'

CHROMEO
Business Casual
[Universal]

The world is a serious place. Just like the world, music can be a serious place, too. Some musicians who seem to be trying to have fun even manage to take that a little too seriously. Hair metal, anyone...?

Nobody could accuse Montreal duo Chromeo of taking themselves too seriously.

Nor of playing hair metal, as these guys peddle a brand of shiny, party-starting plastic-funk & electro-pop that's been tearing up indie dancefloors worldwide since their debut album She's In Control - or more correctly, the huge single Needy Girl - through their "mainstream breakthrough" follow up Fancy Footwork.

Now some 6yrs since that debut album & with some seriously fun globe-trotting (Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds, Fujirock, Lollapalooza, Coachella, Bonnaroo, etc.) under their designer belts, P-Thugg & Dave 1, aka Chromeo, return with an album that shows the pair are far more than a loving (& rockin') homage/tribute/rip-off of Hall & Oates, Klymaxx, Zapp & Sylvester.

Business Casual still has moments that deeply pierce the dancefloor jugular, but many of the songs here have been carefully stripped back, allowing the pair's growing songwriting abilities room to breathe. Sure, there's plenty of dazzling fretwork from guitarist Dave 1 (French Literature PhD & brother of DJ wunderkind A-Trak) & P-Thugg's talkbox is still prominent, but somehow the cheese gets soaked up amongst the songwriting: the lyrics here are simple, efficient & clean, much like the music itself.

Perhaps Chromeo have chosen to slow down a little with Business Casual. That's not to say they won't be flashing their fancy footwork all over the floor this NYE at Rhythm & Vines, as they undoubtedly will; but these ears will be listening long after they've left our shores.

Scratch the surface of Business Casual & you'll expose bodywork with a little more substance than first appearances would suggest. A grow-er AND a show-er.


In A Nutshell: seriously fun plastic-funk-pop with more than a side of sophisticated songwriting
Nyntee's Rating: SEVEN & A HALF leggy mannequins out of TEN

Watch Chromeo performing live on Letterman here...

Check out the Radio Ponsonby Record Review with 90, on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show every Wednesday around 8.25am, on 107.7FM. Thanks to the Longroom!

George FM Playlist 3rd October 2010

Felt like a proper Spring day today, as the sun had been shining since Friday afternoon & all was good with the world.

Propers to everyone tending their own patch of earth & growing whatever's clever in their garden! We've been enjoying brocolli, cabbage, spinach, lettuce & a bunch of herbs out of ours - and I'm only weeks away from beetroot & carrots! But I digress...

Stonephace | Wedgehead Gets Lucky [Tru Thoughts]
House Shoes | The Makings [Do-Over]
Dam-Funk | Burgundy City [Stones Throw]
Fat Freddy's Drop | Cays Crays (Blood & Fire vs Deep Sounds remix) [The Drop]
King Kapisi | Reverse Resistance [Urale/FMR]
Tha Feelstyle | Break It To Pieces [Can't Stop/FMR]
Flash Harry | Alright [Capital]
Salmonella Dub | Slide [Salmonella Dub/Virgin]
Carl Douglas | Kung Fu Fighting (Karl Moestl remix) [Select Cuts]
The Black Seeds | Rotten Apples (Lowman's Block Rockin' Bass remix) [White]
Sola Rosa with Iva Lamkum | Turn Around (TM Juke remix) [Way Up/Rosa Recordings]
Prince | 1999 (Pepe '99 edit) [Mashed Up Funk]
K.W. Griff | Respect (Mooqee & Russ Cuban edit) [Bomb Strikes]
Afrodisiac Soundsystem | Italo Nitro [Afrodisiac]
Me&You | Sneaker Thief [Tru Thoughts]
Michael Jackson | Billie Jean (Jackson Torpedo edit) [Mashed Up Funk]
Louis La Roche with Ad-Apt | Missing You [ ? ]
Zeb | Revolutionary Dreams [Wonderwheel]
Sandboy | Lua Nua (Smiles Ahead Three Trees remix) [Hinterland]
Up Hygh | Compatible (PTH Projects remix) [Tru Thoughts]
Quantic | Only A Little While Here [Tru Thoughts]
Prince Fatty | Insane In The Brain [ ? ]

Check one of my favourite labels out right here:
Tru Thoughts website

Radio Ponsonby Record Review: Aloe Blacc 'Good Things'

ALOE BLACC
Good Things
[Stones Throw]

There's this style of music which has been around for a minute or two, but which is currently being referred to as "throwback", "vintage", "retro", or some other dismissive term loosely, lazily applied by someone who really should - but probably doesn't - know better.

The intention is to belittle the target because it's not "moving music forward". Hello? Is dubstep really some amazing evolutionary advance...?

Don't get me wrong, I ilke a jolly good sub-bass wobble as much as the next degenerate, but I'm pretty sure I'm not just being old-fashioned when I opine that two of the most basic human musical needs in song are "good rhythm" & "catchy melody". If you can combine the two, in any genre of music, I'll wager you're onto a winner.

Ladies & Gentlemen, I give you Good Things, the 2nd album from Californian native, Aloe Blacc, which has both of those aforementioned qualities in spades - and just so happens to sound as though it could've been recorded in some smoky lil, late-at-night backstreet studio during the early '70s.

Vintage? 2010. Region? Straight West Coastin', USA. On the palate? A big soul & a whole lotta heart...

With thoughtfully arranged & exceptionally executed musicianship courtesy of Truth & Soul Records' main men Jeff Silverman & Leon Michels; and Aloe's captivating voice delivering deep lyricism advocating positive social change, while never shying from the reality of America right now; Good Things has all the hallmarks of a lasting classic like What's Going On, or Innervisions.

I'm going to mention names like Bill Withers, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Sharon Jones & Lee Fields, just to give you a peg to hang your jacket on while you're shaking your backyard on the dancefloor to the sleeper hit of the summer, I Need A Dollar.

Never mind which vintage Aloe Blacc occupies. Some Good Things are timeless. Here's one.

In A Nutshell: imagine Bill, Curtis & Marvin making moves with Gnarls Barkley
Nyntee's Rating: NINE smooth operators out of TEN

Check out the Radio Ponsonby Record Review with 90, on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show every Wednesday around 8.25am, on 107.7FM. Thanks to the Longroom!

George FM Playlist 26th September 2010

Bob Marley v Marvin Gaye | Healing In Vain
The Foreign Exchange | Maybe She'll Dream Of Me
Hammy's Theme
Gorillza | Clint Eastwood
Rodney P | Fading
Kylie Auldist | In A Week, In A Day (Ashley Beedle's Streetsoul edit)
TM Juke with Alice Russell | Playground Games (Diesler remix)
Prince Fatty | Insane In The Brain
Jimi Tenor & Tony Allen | Against The Wall
Fela Kuti | Egbe Mi O (Frank Booker Afro Disco Beat edit)
DJ 45-O | Swing It Brother
Crimson & Boogie
Happy Touch | Lost Dub Version
Orgone | It's Time Tonight
Spektrum | Kinda New
Maddslinky with Omar | Special (MJ Cole's Back to the Future mix)
Louis La Roche with Ad-Apt | Missing You
Dalvanius & The Patea Maori Club | Poi E (Beatworms remix)
Cantaloopz
The Temptations v Groove Armada | Papa... In Chicago (Sugamoto edit)
Little Dragon | Test
Stephanie Mackay | Jackson Avenue

Radio Ponsonby Record Review: Horse Meat Disco II

Various Artists
HORSE MEAT DISCO II
[Strut]

This is the second killer collection of underground disco, Italo cuts & proper disco rarities that have been dug up & lovingly (lustingly...?) delivered by a quartet of British DJs with a clubnight known as Horse Meat Disco.

These are tried & tested cuts - Horse Meat Disco residents James Hillard, Jim Stanton, Severino & Luke Howard aka Filthy Luke have given these sticky sweet selections the sweaty dancefloor treatment, from their clubnight in Vauxhall, London, to dancefloors worldwide - including residencies in London, Lisbon, Berlin & Istabul.

The clubnights are notoriously inclusive, with homos, heteros & every sexual shade in between shaking what their Mommas gave 'em right alongside one another. Horse Meat Disco II captures the essenceof the clubnight, with an essential selection of New York classics alongside a host of lesser known underground disco gems - getting repeat plays on the stereo at Casa del Nyntee are the tracks You Can Get Over by Stephanie Mills, I'm Not In Love (Girl You're In Love) by Freda Paynes sister Scherrie &the Italo oddity Touch Me Now by Bravo - each seemingly more fruity than the next.

A pleasure? Undoubtedly. A guilty pleasure? If you're comfortable in your own skin, this really is just a whole bunch of smiley-faced fun. Slip this on your stereo, strip down to your smalls & get amongst!

In A Nutshell: as fruity as your Nana's Christmas punch with a kick like a rogue bull elephant
Nyntee's Rating: SEVEN & A HALF studded leather chaps out of TEN

Check out the Radio Ponsonby Record Review with Nyntee, on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show on Radio Ponsonby every Wednesday around 8.25am. Tune in! 107.7FM in Auckland & streaming live.

George FM Playlist 12th Sept. 2010

Milez Benjamin | Hold Your Head High
Tony Cook with Dam-Funk | What's On Your Mind?
Chicago v Chemical Bothers | Saturday Salmon (Team9 edit)
Tricky | Murder Weapon
MGMT | Kids
Weekend Inc. | Take It Easy (Breakdown Dub)
Louis La Roche with Ad-Apt | Missing You
Louis La Roche with Ad-Apt | Missing You (GoGo Bizkitt remix)
Crazy P Presents The Syndromes | The Hit
Flying Lotus | Do The Astral Plane
The Temptations v Groove Armada | Papa In Chicago (Sugamoto edit)
Smashing Pumpkins | 1979
Greyboy with Bart Davenport | To Know You Is To Love You (Red Astaire remix)
Nancy Wilson | Sunshine
Steve Miller Band | Fly Like An Eagle (Team9 edit)
Junk Funk with Wray | Just Like Me (Temple Of Boom remix)
The Black Seeds| Rotten Apples (Lowman's Block Rockin' Bass remix)
Lily Allen | Smile
Tama Waipara | Where I Go (MdCL remix)
TY | Music 2 Fly 2
Boozoo Bajou | Sign (DSL remix)
Stephanie Mackay | Jackson Avenue
Bah Samba | It Tastes Good (DJ Spinna remix)
J-Davey | Dirty Love

George FM Playlist 5th Sept 2010

Cee-Lo Green | Grown Roads (Nirobi edit)
Dee Edwards | Why Can't There Be Love? (Pilooski edit)
RJD2 | Here's What's Left (inst.)
DJ Mitsu The Beats with Dwele | Right Here
The Roots with Joanna Newsom | Right On
Bebel Gilberto | Baby (Yam Who? rework)
Rhythm & Sound with Cornell Campbell | King In My Empire (Burial remix)
Milez Benjamin | Chop That Wood
Platinum Pied Pipers with Tiombe Lockhart | I Got You
Cornish Waters with Duchess | Walking
7 Samurai | Marlies & Marcus
Sa-Ra Creative Partners | The Bone Song
Betty Lavette | Let Me Down Easy
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings | Genuine
The Blackbyrds | The Runaway
Herbie Hancock | Palm Grease
Madcliff | You Can Make The Change
Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers | Chitterlings Con Carne
Sound Experience | Boogie Woogie
Idris Muhammed | Crab Apple
Charles Wright & The 103rd Street Band | What Can You Bring Me?
Mighty Generation | The MG Beat
David Bendeth | Feel The Real
Yesterday's New Quintet | Superstition
Eric Lau with Tawiah | I Don't Do It To
Simbad with Steelo | Soul Fever

George FM Playlist 29th August 2010

A very special "DOUBLE EPISODE" this week - with the assistance of Jay "Fat Albert" Jeffrey!

Human Race | Human Race
El Michels Affair | Detroit Twice
Sugar Pie Desanto | Git Back
The Temptations | Masterpiece
The Diversions | But Is It Funky?
Syl Johnson | Goodie Goodie Good Times
The Undisputed Truth | California Soul
Esther Phillips | Use Me
Leroy & The Drivers | The Sad Chicken
Santana | Wham!
Hector Rivera | I Want A Chance For Romance
Ray Christoph's New Sound | Wordless Blues
The Jazz Invaders | Bonga Bonga Jazz (Aiff remix)
Fabulous Souls | Take Me
*Rhythm Heritage | Theme From Rocky
*Donald Byrd | Think Twice
*The Undisputed Truth | Sandman
High Inergy | You Can't Turn Me Off (In The Middle Of Turning Me On)
Soft Touch | Plenty Action
The Brothers Johnson | Strawberry Letter 23
*Ann Sexton | You're Losing Me
Bill Hawks | Oh Baby (I Believe I'm Losing You)
*Tuomo | Don't Take It So Hard
Stevie Wonder | Keep On Runnin'
Huba | Mary
*Mondo Grosso | Voice Of The Moon
*Soul | Memphess
*Malik | Malik
Kashmere Stage Band | I Wish (Pt. 1) (Tee's Freeze)
Spanky Wilson | Sunshine Of Your Love
The Isley Bros. | Live It Up (Pt. 1)
*The Fatback Band | The Booty
*Breakwater | Say You Love Me
*Fat Larry's Band | Sparkle
100 Proof Aged In Soul | 90 Day Freeze
The Soul Seven | Southside Funk (Pt. 1)
Stevie Wonder | We Can Work It Out
*American Gypsy | Inside Out
*Wisdom | I'm So In Love With You
*The Supremes | Come Into My Life
LEWIS McCALLUM INTERVIEW
Lewis McCallum | Fly OrDie
Tommy James | Draggin' The Line
Joe Cocker | Look What You've Done
Open Sky Unit | Sunshine Star
*Cold Blood | Love To You
*Pete Rock | Reminisce Over You
*FBI | Keep On Runnin'

All selections marked with * courtesy of Jay Jeffrey

Radio Ponsonby Record Review: Keb Darge & Paul Weller Present Lost & Found: Real Rn'B & Soul

Keb Darge & Paul Weller Present
LOST & FOUND: Real Rn'B & Soul
[BBE]

This is a genuine treasure trove of a compilation, a joyous celebration of "dance" music put together by two of the most famously grumpy old men in UK music: Scottish DJ, label owner & "Deep Funk" aficionado Keb Darge; & the legendary English songwriter & musician Paul Weller.

Weller is an acclaimed rock star & soul music collector whose contribution to music is well documented - The Jam, Style Council & a successful solo career - while Darge is the man who coined the term "Deep Funk" & the co-founder (alongside fellow funk record collector Mark Cotgrove aka Snowboy) of that now globally recognised musical scene. He co-owns the Kay-Dee label with US producer, DJ & collector Kenny Dope (of Masters At Work); works as producer with one of the leading lights of the live band funk scene, The New Mastersounds; & is a former Tae Kwon Do World Champion.

For many years now Darge has been putting his name to exceptional compilations of heavyweight funk music, many of them for the UK label BBE, such as 'Funk Spectrum' & 'Keb Darge's Deep Funk'. His new 'Lost & Found' series, also on BBE, apparently sets out to expose lesser known or forgotten lights of soul music from the '50s & '60s.

Many of Darge's (deeeeep!) selections are definitely forgotten lights - but just as many of Weller's are not: Tammi Terrell, Margie Joseph, The Dells, Bobby Bland, Albert King, Jimmy Witherspoon & Slim Harpo are all still fairly well known, I would've thought. There can be no doubt though, that each & every selection is an out & out gem, entirely worthy of inclusion here.

The soul of the '50s & '60s is pure & honest, reaching parts that a lot of modern music simply can't. The lyrics are direct, the music similarly so - these songs hit you in the gut. These songs are for the heads AND for the feets! These songs take me straight back to the dancefloor at Keb Darge's Legendary Deep Funk night at the infamous Madame JoJo's in London's Soho...

"I look into the sea of smiling faces on the dance floor every Saturday night at Madame JoJo's, & get a feeling that somehow this music as saved these people from a false & dreary nightlife." Keb Darge

IN A NUTSHELL: a joyous treasure trove of old school dance music compiled by two deeply (old)-schooled selectors
NYNTEE'S RATING: nine dusty old funk 45s out of ten

Check out the Radio Ponsonby Record Review with Nyntee, on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show on Radio Ponsonby, every Wednesday around 8.25am. Tune in! 107.7FM in Auckland & streaming live.

George FM Playlist 15th August 2010

Maddslinky with Omar | Special
Maddslinky | Lost On Tenori Street
Daft Punk | Da Funk (re-edit)
Bulletproof with Tiki Taane | Soundtrack To Forever
Cream | I Feel Free
The Black Seeds | Make A Move (Downtown Brown remix feat. Mighty Asterix)
The Funkees | Slipping Into Darkness
Shuggie Otis | Sparkle City
Kologbo with The Deacon | Freedom Back
Kokolo | Girls On Film
Sola Rosa with Bajka | Humanised (moO (ISTANBUL Guitar Check) remix)
? | The Beat Goes On (re-edit)
!!! | AM/FM
Chic | I Want Your Love (Todd Terje edit)
Groove Armada vs The Temptations | Papa In Chicago (Sugamotor edit)
Michael Jackson | Rockin' Robin (Grant Phabao remix)
Mayer Hawthorne | Maybe So, Maybe No (reggae remix)
Kinny | Forgetting To Remember (Grant Phabao remix)
Sola Rosa with Iva Lamkum | Turnaround (TM Juke remix)
Yarbrough & Peoples | Don't Stop The Music (Professor La Criox re-edit)
Snooky | Ease The Pain
Tony Cook with Dam-Funk | What's On Your Mind (Nick M. remix)
Ron Richardson | Ooh Wee Babe

Radio Ponsonby Record Review: Sola Rosa - Get It Together (The Remixes)

Sola Rosa
Get It Together - The Remixes
[Way Up/Rosa Recordings]

Over the last decade Andrew Spraggon has taken Sola Rosa from one-man bedroom recording nom-de-plume to fully-fledged, all-guns-blazing live band lineup, delivering a clutch of excellent studio albums along the way.

None are finer than last year's Get It Together: a body blow of significant proportions & a vastly under-rated album. Get It Together is all killer & no filler, boasting one of the biggest local tunes of the year (nay, decade!?) in Turnaround (featuring the bluesy, soulful vocals of Iva Lamkum), lovingly enshrined in the warmest, fattest production this side of the Black Stump.

So, I must admit it was with some trepidation I cracked the seal on Spraggon's latest venture, Get It Together - The Remixes.

Remix collections are notoriously hit & miss affairs, with some veering into the outer limits of what's enjoyably listenable simply for the sake of having the latest, coolest DJs involved; while others are blanded out beyond muzak in a half-hearted effort to please most-of-the-people-most-of-the-time.

This isn't like either of those. At all.

Sure, there's a host of globally recognised names involved: DJ Vadim, The Nextmen, Biggabush, TM Juke, Beatfanatic, Yes King, J-Star; alongside the lesser known likes of Thomas Blondet, Moo, Mr Boinkin & our own/adopted Jason Eli - but this is top drawer gear, mate! Each of the producers involved bring something fresh to the tunes they've tweaked, without losing the heavy-lidded, borderline Tex-Mex flavours Sola Rosa so consistently cook up.

The vocalists from the original Get It Together album all line up here again (longtime collaborator Spikey Tee, German songstress Bajka, US emcee Serocee & Wellington's waaay-more-than-promising Iva Lamkum), while the CD closes with a genuine highlight & new take on the instrumental track Del Ray, featuring a seamlessly flowing rap delivered in his native tongue, by the Chilean rapper Four-D, who sent his "mash-up" version to Spraggon over the internet, completely out of the blue!

Put simply: these remixes could play alongside most of Sola Rosa's back catalogue without sounding out of place at all. Being that Spraggon took the best part of a year sifting through remixes to select & program this collection we shouldn't be at all surprised. After all, the man's inescapable attention to detail as seen us all rewarded with a fine swag of musical riches for more than 10 years.

Here's to another ten - Viva la Sola Rosa!

NYNTEE'S RATING: seven & a half Cuba Libre's out of then
IN A NUTSHELL: Sola Rosa slide in sideways with a selection of top drawer. heavy-lidded remix treats

Check out the Radio Ponsonby Record Review with Nyntee, on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show on Radio Ponsonby, every Wednesday around 8.25am. Tune in! 107.7FM in Auckland & streaming live.

Black Is Back!

Just as it says on the tin: Black Is Back!

Join Nyntee & his new family at Sugar Bar THIS Friday night - BLACK FRIDAY! - for an evening of funk, soul, disco boogie & rare groove, spun with love & happiness by yours truly, in the lush, sexy surrounds of Sugar Bar - surely Newmarket's best-kept secret...

From 8.30pm 'til just after midnight & no cover charge! Seeya there...

George FM Playlist 1st August 2010

Leon Ware | California
Leroy Hutson | Cool Out
Aloe Blacc | Billie Jean (live)
The Roots with Monsters Of Folk | Dear God 2.0
Seu Jorge & Almaz | Cirandar
Mayer Hawthorne | Maybe So, Maybe No (reggae version)
Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno | Portada Del Mar
Saravah Soul | Mussum
Jimi Tenor & Kabu Kabu | I Wanna Hook Up With You
Vampire Weekend | Cousins
Funeral Party | NYC Moves To The Sound Of LA
Hudson Mohawke | FUSE
Groove Armada | Purple Haze
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti | Round & Round
Woolfy | Odyssey
Quantic Soul Orchestra with Alice Russell | Take Your Time, Change Your Mind (Faze Action remix)
Waajeed | Kilode
Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band | Roforofo Fight (Louie Vega remix)
Quantic & His Combo Barbaro | The Dreaming Mind (Pt. 1)
Jackie Wilson | Higher & Higher
The Black Seeds | Make A Move (Downtown Brown remix feat. Mighty Asterix & MC Switch)
Dil Jackson | Make Me Feel (MCA version)
Starkey with Anneka | Stars
Dam-Funk | Burgundy City
Breakage with Roots Manuva | Run 'Em Out

George FM Playlist 25th July 2010

Gotan Project Meets Chet Baker | Round About Midnight

TM Juke with Alice Russell & Jim Oxborough | Knee Deep

Chungking | Making Music (4Hero remix)

Groove Armada | Purple Haze

Kinny & Horne | Us On Fire

Dublex Inc. with Sandhy Son Doro | Shine (The Dynamics remix)

Exotic Pets | Bush Skank

Manu Dibango | Wakafrika

Red Or Dread | Private Life

The Heritage Orchestra | Skybreaks (Jazzanova remix)

Reel People | Can't Stop

? | Cantaloopz

Philly Blunt | Loves California

Alice Russell | All Over Now

Recloose with Justin Chapman & Genevieve Marentette | Red Road

Teddy Rok 7 with Okou | Feel

Lewis McCallum | Tales Of Mingus

Project Sandro | Blazer

Dam-Funk with Steve Arrington | For My Homies

Radio Ponsonby Record Review: Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno 'Dog With A Rope'

Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno
Dog With A Rope
[Tru Thoughts]

I don't know about you, but I reckon it's getting colder as the NZ winter really begins to slide her icy fingers under our collective rump.

So when an album billed as "Tropical Horns on Reggae Rhythms" arrives for release, I find myself fighting thoughts of jealousy. When said album turns out to be the new Quantic full-length, from his Flowering Inferno project, well that, my dear reader, is another matter entirely.

Let's get the disclaimer out of the way up front: British-born, Colombia-resident Quantic aka Will Holland, is one of this music fan's favourite independent artists, with a vast back catalogue of excellent releases as Quantic, Quantic Soul Orchestra, Quantic & His Combo Barbaro & The Limp Twins; & projects with Alice Russell & Spanky Wilson.

Flowering Inferno is the freshest of Holland's many musical guises, which, all up, have seen the uber-prolific young prodcer, musician & DJ release 14 full-length albums in 10yrs, each of them on the little-label-that-could, Brighton's famed Tru Thoughts.

Dog With A Rope is his 2nd album as Flowering Inferno & it sees him embrace even more fully the ties between Jamaican music's reggae rhythms & Afro-Latin's many dance styles.

Recorded at his own Sonida Del Valle Studios in Cali, COlombia (where Holland has been resident since 2007), the album is inspired by soundsystem culture & is a seamless blend of rocksteady, reggae & dub with Colombian cumba & Cuban rumba, delivered by a well-schooled cast of musicians.

Holland has gathered an ensemble of horn players from Cuba, Colombia, Puerto Rico & Panama to ply alongside Jamaican-born drummer Conrad Kelly (UB40, Steel Pulse), Peruvian pianist Alfredo Linares (who has appeared on Holland's last 3 albums), Colombian percussionist Wilson Viveros & Holland himself, of course. The featured vocalists are Nidia Gongora, who you may remember from the ubiquitous Quantic & His Combo Barbaro single Un Canto A Mi Tierra; & Markittis Micolta, a vocalist who began his career in the '60s with the Colombian band Peregoyo y su Combo Vacana, one of the first groups to combine Descarga & Cuban sounds ith Colombian folklore.

Dog With A Rope stands in contrast to - and as an ideal companion piece for - Quantic & His Combo Barbaro's critically acclaimed 2009 album Tradition In Transition, which saw Holland explore the Latin styles of cumbia, son, salsa & mambo; and Flowering Inferno's debut album, Death Of The Revolution, upon which Holland delved more deeply into the roots of reggae.

On Dog With A Rope we hear more fully formed "songs" & more vocals than on the Death Of The Revolution, yet Holland keeps each track short & sweet; with the ideas plentiful, the sweet funk bountiful & the freshness palpable. Heavy, heavy bass, tropical reggae & genuine Latin rhythms make for the sunniest listen of our winter months & also one of Holland's finest albums to date.

The initial Tru Thoughts vinyl release of Dog With A Rope includes the album on LP plus a 7" vinyl single & the full album on CD!

In A Nutshell: top shelf tropical reggae with plenty of heavy bass
Nyntee's Rating: NINE Mojitos out of TEN

Check out the Radio Ponsonby Record Review with Nyntee, on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show on Radio Ponsonby, every Wednesday around 8.25am. Tune in! 107.7FM.

Light Fantastic at Sugar Bar THIS Friday!

I'm really looking forward to spinning some disco boogie, rare groove & all 'round cosmic tunes THIS Friday 23rd July at Sugar Bar for a brand new evening of quality music in quality surrounds, this month titled Light Fantastic.

From 8pm 'til late & for just $15 on the door, you'll experience the lush surrounds of the wonderful Sugar Bar & their excellent staff, drinks specials all night & a sweet selection of tasty disco boogie business!

As the promoter so aptly puts it: Come Lose Yourself With Friends 30+

George FM Playlist 18th July 2010

Maddslinky with Omar | Special
Weekend Inc. | Take It Easy (Breakdown Dub)
Rhythm Skaters | Ready For Skating (Frico edit)
Crown Heights Affair | Dreamin' A Dream (Frico edit)
Teddy Pendergrass | The More I Get (The More I Want) (Frico edit)
Joe Quartermain | So Much Trouble In My Mind (South City Allstars edit)
Chic | Soup For One (Frico edit)
Smoove & Turrell | You Don't Know
Night Dubber | Loose Boogie (King Onkyo edit)
From Russia With Love | Love In The City (Vladimir The Russian edit)
Jan Leslie Holmes | I'm Your Superman (DJ Spinna remix)
M.I.A. | XXXO
M.I.A. | Born Free
The Roots with Joanna Newsom | Right On
Maddslinky with Tawiah | Further Away
Electric Wire Hustle | Gimme That Kinda
Style Council | Long Hot Summer
Seu Jorge & Almaz | Everybody Loves The Sunshine
Curtis Mayfield | Keep On Pushing (South City Allstars edit)

Radio Ponsonby Record Review: Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

Before Today

[4AD]

I never thought I’d be reviewing something positively whilst comparing it to Hall & Oates, Steely Dan & the Beach Boys.

Not that there’s anything particularly wrong with any of those well-respected & frankly mega-huge acts, you understand, but… well, none would exactly make it to my ‘All Time Favourites’ list.

However, the wee L.A. native Ariel Pink & his merry men, Haunted Graffiti, may well have edged into that list of favourites – by melding messy guitars, layered synths & keening vocal melodies with half-remembered hooks from those aforementioned ‘80s uber-stars – with their new album, Before Today.

The 2004 re-release of Ariel Pink’s Doldrums album (the first album from a non-Animal Collective member on that band’s own Paw Tracks label) brought his distinctly lo-fi styled, bedroom-produced, noise-pop sound to greater public attention.

Before Today is also a re-release of sorts, in a way, with a handful of these songs available previously in differing versions. It's their first album for the famed 4AD label (home to The National, TV On The Radio, Pixies) & no expense has been spared with the recording, with these full-bodied studio version more fully-realised, better produced & ultimately far more engaging than any previously available.

Yes, it is smooth & sometimes even a little cheesy in places, but it’s also pretty rugged in others, as if Phil Spector produced half of the album & Iggy Pop or Syd Barrett the other half. Having said that, after ten plus years & more than a dozen albums, Ariel Pink seems to have reigned in his noisiest elements & successfully harnessed his most melodic, resulting in what is easily his most accessible work.

In A Nutshell: jam-packed with outsider A.M. gold nuggets

Nyntee's Rating: EIGHT yachts out of TEN

Check out the Radio Ponsonby Record Review with Nyntee on Murry Sweetpant's Breakfast Show on Radio Ponsonby, every Wednesday around 8.25am. Tune in! 107.7FM

George FM Playlist 11th July 2010

Flying Lotus | Do The Astral Plane
The Clonious with Muhsinah | One At A Time
Chaka Khan | Chaka Kon (Kon's re-edit)
Mr Chop with C.L. Smooth | T.R.O.Y.
Stevie Wonder | All Day Sucka
The Spinners | It's A Shame (Frico edit)
Afro-Cuban Band | Something's Got To Give (Frico edit)
Jimmy Smith & Etta James | I Just Want To Make Love To You (unreleased mix)
Kendra Lou & The Miracles | Everyday
Son Of Dave | Low Rider
Vampire Weekend | Cousins
The Naked & Famous | Young Blood
J-Roc | Funkanomical Boom
Manhead | Birth School Work Death
Nightlife Unlimited | Peaches & Prunes (J-Rocc edit)
Natural Self | Fire The Body (Les Noirs remix)
Yarbrough & Peoples | Don't Stop The Music (Professor LeCroix re-edit)
Foreign Exchange | Sincere
Dam-Funk with MC Eiht | Hood Pass Intact (12" version)
George Baker Selection | Little Green Bag
Cardell Funk Machine | Shoot Your Shot
Jermaine Jackson | Little Girl Don't You Worry
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti | Round & Round

Back To The Future

George FM Playlist 4th July

Gene Rivers & LP | Voice Inside Me
James Pants | Driftwood
J Dilla | Safety Dance
Mayer Hawthorne | Just Ain't Gonna Work Out (El Camino remix)
MED with Talib Kweli & Madlib | Classic
House Shoes | Newports
Shawn Lee | Fade Up
Josh Rouse | Wonderful
Seu Jorge & Almaz | Everybody Loves The Sunshine
The Beatles | Because (edit)
Rick James | Getting It On (In The Sunshine)
Grandmaster Flash | The Message (Ed Smith remix)
Jimmy Cliff | You Can Get It If You Really Want
? | And The Beat Goes On
50 Cent | Window Shopper (edit)
Quantic with Alice Russell | Sound Of Everything (Senorlobo & Watch TV remix)
Checker Kabb | By My Side
Midnight Express Show Band | Breeze Up
Dam-Funk | LAtrifying
Exquisite Taste | It's You That's Happening
Shalamar | Take That To The Bank
D-Train | Music (Tony Humphries remix)
Evelyn "Champagne" King v Kid Cudi | Shame At Night
Orgone | It's Time Tonight
Florence & The Machine | You Got The Love (The xx remix)

George FM Playlist 27th June

Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno | Echate Pa'lla
Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno | Te Pico El Yaibi (Version)
Recloose with Joe Dukie | Deeper Waters (Yes King remix)
Seu Jorge & Almaz | Cirandar
Ed Motta | A Charada
Yo La Tengo | Here To Fall (Pete Rock remix)
Alfonzo Hunter | Weekend Thang
Gregory Isaacs | Night Nurse
Willie Hutch | Woman (Bazi's Beats mix)
Althea & Donna | Uptown Top Ranking
Dub Asylum | Ba Ba Boom!
The Dynamics | Move On Up
Raphael Saadiq | It's A Shame
Nicole Willis | Feeling Free (Natural Self remix)
Kruder & Dorfmeister v Grandmaster Flash | The High Noon Message
Karlmarx Project | Mists
Stevie v Empire Of The Sun | Jammin' On A Dream (Leo Zero edit)
America | Horse With No Name (Todd Terje edit)
Orgone | It's Time Tonight (Curly Locks Dub mix)
Roy Ayers | Holiday (Kenny Dope Main Pass)
Nuyorican Soul | I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun (4Hero remix)

George FM Playlist 13th June 2010

Herbie Hancock | Tell Everybody
Don Ray | Got To Have Loving
Gay Marvine | Rise Above
Jamiroquai | Virtual Insanity (HT Funk edit)
Space Funk Project | Disco 2000 Selector
Willie Hutch | Chase (edit)

Tony Cook with Dam-Funk | What's On Your Mind

Aurra | Nasty Disposition
Twilight | Dance With Me
Demis Roussos | L.O.V.E. Got A Hold On Me
Dam-Funk | Burn Straight Thru U

Joy Denalane with Lupe Fiasco | Change

Aloe Blacc | I Need A Dollar

Jack Mayforth | Disco People (E's E edit)

Freshro | I Turn My Camera On

Suzanne Vega | Tom's Dinner (MonkOne edit)

9th Wonder | E's E Sunset Park re-edit

Manzell | Midnight Theme (Dopebrother remix)

Stephanie McKay | Jackson Avenue

Diana Ross | Brown Baby (Onur Engin edit)

Rusko with Gucci Maine | Got Da Groove

Dam-Funk with Mark de Clive-Lowe | Candy Apple

Aurra | Checking You Out

Seu Jorge & Almaz | Everybody Loves The Sunshine

Loop Professor v Gilberto Gil | Stop & Gil

Mandrake Som 79 | Soul Samba

Joao Donato | O Morro Nao Tem Vez (Onur Engin edit)

E's E | Man With The Horn

? | Tango Hustled (JDeep edit)

Common | I Want U! (Illmind remix)

Roy Hargreaves | Universe
Allen Hoist | Inner City Blues (4Hero VIP remix)

Long Lounge at Longroom

As the Auckland weather begins to turn, the hottest spot on the Ponsonby Strip just made it a whole lot easier to squeeze every last drop out of your weekend! Join yer Bro 90 as I spin my usual musical melange - with an emphasis on the "lounge" - inviting you to slide deeper into the couches in front of the roaring logfires...

Sundays 5-8pm, Long Lounge at Longroom, 114 Ponsonby Rd.
www.longroom.co.nz

George FM Playlist 6th June 2010

The Gotan Project | La Del Ruso (Calexico Version)
Red Astaire | Follow Me (QSO Version feat. Alice Russell)
Dawn Penn | You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)
Beat Assailant | Hard Twelve
Uknown | Qualified In Keef (J Deep Edit)
Alice Russell with TM Juke | Hurry On Now (J Todd remix)
Joao Donato | O Morro Nao Tem Vez (Onur Engin edit)
Unknown | Tango Hustled (J Deep Edit)
Leo Zero | Jammin' On A Dream
Killer Funk Disco Allstars | Look! A Van Gogh! (Good Groovin' Edit)
William DeVaughan | Be Thankful For What You've Got (Onur Engin edit)
Etienne De Crecy | Super Disco
Joe Bataan | The Bottle (re-edit)
LCD Soundsystem | Drunk Girls (Holy Ghost! Remix)
Orgone | It's Time Tonight
Al Green | Love & Happiness (Mr President & Mr Day Version)
Betty Padgett | Sugar Daddy
Aurra | Checking You Out
Change | You Are My Melody
Aurra | Baby Love
Bernard Wright | Haboglabotribin

Trusted Friends at Longroom

Just as it says on the tin: your Trusted Friends from the wireless spinning a sweet selection of midweek music at the hottest spot on the Ponsonby Strip. Cold drinks, hot food & tasty tunes, with plenty of room to stretch out on the couches, in front of the fires, in the courtyard...

Every Wednesday night from 7pm til 1am, at Longroom, 114 Ponsonby Rd.
www.longroom.co.nz

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...

A Word Of Warning...

George FM Playlist 2nd May 2010

Today's show is a little bit of a Tru Thoughts love-fest, with a bunch of selections from their varied (& most excellent!) back catalogue - as well as one or two fresh cuts from their brand new SHAPES 10:01 compilation, which is available on 2CD or limited edition 2LP (which inlcudes the 2CD set as well!) right now. I suggest you pick it up.

Kyoto Jazz Massive w/. Vanessa Freeman | Brightness Of These Days (Quantic remix) [Compost]
7-Hurtz | Malibu [Output Recordings]
House Shoes | The Makings [Do-Over]
Ota | Nunui [From The Crates]
Tosca | Rondo Acapricio (DSL remix) [G-Stone]
Downtown Brown | Mr Brown [White]
The Bamboos with Ohmega Watts | Get In The Scene [Tru Thoughts]
Flevans with Sarah Scott | Hold On (Hint remix) [Tru Thoughts]
Dub Asylum | Ba Ba Boom! [Loop Fruits Recordings]
TM Juke with Alice Russell | Playground Games [Tru Thoughts]
The Quantic Soul Orchestra with Alice Russell | Something That's Real (Nappa mix feat. Life & Mr Thing) [Tru Thoughts]
Diverse | Jus Biz [Chocolate Industries]
Natural Self | Feet Keep Moving [Tru Thoughts]
Lizzy Parks | Forever & A Day (Eric Lau remix) [Tru Thoughts]
Erykah Badu | On & On (Arthur remix) [Erca Mystery Projects]
Starkey with Anneka | Stars (Slugabed Did A Remix) [Planet Mu]
Colder | Crazy Love [Output Recordings]
The LCD Soundsystem | Losing My Edge [DFA]
Dam-Funk | LAtrifying [Stones Throw]
Breakout | Planet Rock (Pt. 1) [Melting Pot Music]
Uptown Funk Empire | Celestial Blues [Soulab]
Quantic | Mishaps Happening (Flux Pavilion remix) [Tru Thoughts]

This week's show going out to Glenn, Katy, Hugo & Fergus; & also to Gene, Rachel & the rest of the (ever-growing!) Rivers whanau. Kia ora!

George FM Playlist 25th April 2010

Tosca | Rondo Acapricio (DSL remix) [G-Stone]
Herbie Hancock | Palm Grease [Columbia]
Twilight | Give Love A Try [Luv n' Haight]
Dublex Inc. with Sandhy Son Doro | Shine (The Dynamics remix) [Infracom]
The Nomad with Farda P | 141 [Swarm]
Up, Bustle & Out | Hip Hop Barrio - Who's Gonna Take The Weight? [Ninja Tune]
Hearin' Aid with Tony Clifton | Higher [Jugglin']
The Whitefield Brothers with Edan & Mr Lif | The Gift (Oh No's Ethiopium remix) [Now Again]
Mos Def | Travellin' Underground (Max Tannone edit) [Independent]
DJ DSL with Urbs | Oaschloch [G-Stone]
Dusty | Keep It Raw (Vono Box remix) [Jazz & Milk]
Tosca | My First (Nicola Conte version) [G-Stone]
Dusty | Tap Tap (Watch TV remix) [Jazz & Milk]
Mop Mop | Living Beat (Patchworks remix) [Infracom]
Twilight | Love From You [Luv n' Haight]
Bootsy Collins | Fat Cat [Sonar Kollektiv]
Jumbonics | Take Me With You [Tru Thoughts]
Jazzanova with Paul Randolph | Let Me Show Ya [Verve]
MonkOne | Bossa Biz [Names You Can Trust]
JDubs with Sacha Vee | What You Want [Truetone Recordings]
Breakage with Roots Manuva | Run 'Em Out [Digital Soundboy]
Quantic Presents Flowering Inferno | Portada del Mar [Tru Thoughts]

George FM Playlists

Hello there... well, as you (hello?) may have noticed, I've been rather slack at posting playlists from the radio show recently. It's not been intentional, I promise. If you're interested, please check out the In The Pocket with 90 show page at www.georgefm.co.nz for weekly playlists.

Please do drop me a line here or via my email if you want to engage further...

Nice one,
Bro90

George FM Playlist 6th December 2009

Read Or Dread | Private Life
Hearin' Aid with Tony Clifton | Higher
Simbad with Steelo | Fever
Oscar Sharp with Melo | Runaway
Foreign Exchange | Sincere
Alice Russell | Got The Hunger? (DJ Vadim remix)
Bittersweet | Overdue (Blackbeard remix)
Palov & Mishkin | Rata Del
Quantic & His Combo Barbaro | The Dreaming Mind (Pt. 1)
Downtown Brown | Mr Brown
Josh Rouse | Wonderful
Sa-Ra Creative Partners | Love Czars
Nitin Sawhney | Sunset
Little Dragon | Mever Never
Alice Russell | Got The Hunger? (Llorca remix)
Trus'Me with Amp Fiddler | Pretend
Jazzanova with Shaun Escoffery | Boom Clicky Boom Klack (Mr Scruff remix)
Clyde with Capitol A | Serve It Up
Mayer Hawthorne | Green-Eyed Love

George FM Playlist 29th November 2009

Project Sandro | Blazer
Aiff | Afro Riddim (Aiff remix feat. Crucial T)
Jorge Graf | Dia-Ka-Ndombe (Gerardo Frisina remix)
The Awa Band with Tony Allen | Bababatteur (Quantic remix)
Snoop Dogg with Pharrell | Drop It Like It's Hot (white label edit)
Afro Sound System | #2 (white label)
Bob Sinclar | Ultimate Funk
Gay Marvine | Rise Above
Nirboi & Barakas | Bungee Jump Against Racism (Diesler remix)
Herbie Hancock | Saturday Night (Beactconductor's Special Disco rework)
Alice Russell | All Over Now
Dublex Inc. | NHL
Freddie Cruger aka Red Astaire | Boogie Down Hagsatra
Seductive Souls with Donald McCullum | Dazz (Patchworks remix)
Jaguar | That's Your Problem Baby
The Broken Keys | Flow (Pt. 1)
Mayer Hawthorne | Maybe So, Maybe No
Flevans | Lay Back (Regal remix)
Scritti Politti with Mos Def | Tinseltown To The Boogiedown (Pete Rock variation)
Palov & Mishkin | Bailando
Noah with Blu | Just Relax (A Dan Aikido edit)
Mark Rae | Medicine
Taggy Matcher | Rapoors Delaaght
Milez Benjamin | All You People
Van Hunt | Out Of The Sky
Guru with Erykah Badu | Plenty

George FM Playlist 22nd November

Breakwater | Work It Out
Sly Stone | Family Affair (A Cracker edit)
Bernard Wright | Haboglabotribin
Waajeed | Funkin' For Jamaica
Sweet Charles | Yes It's You
Edna Wright | Oops Here I Go Again
Bonobo | Kota
Idris Muhammed | Power Of Soul
Maceo & The Macks | Across The Track (We Better Go Back)
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings | Keep On Looking (Kenny Dope remix)
Assembly Line | Falling Back
Lizzy Parks | All That (Natural Self)
Nostalgia 77 with The Fiction Trio | My Name Is...
Marvin Gaye | What's Going On? (Truth & Rights remix)
Breakout | Planet Rock (Pt. 1)
Angelina Goalie & The Football Funkateers | Rocksteady (Beef Jerky edit)
The Bamboos | Amen Brother (Kjell remix)
The Nephews Of Fela | Mulah 2
Martyn with dBridge | These Words
Hudson Mohawke | FUSE
Sa-Ra Creative Partners | I Swear
The Politik with Replife | Sweet

George FM Playlist 15th November

Hudson Mohawke | Rising 5
Dam-Funk | Japan Groove
Breakage with Roots Manuva | Run 'Em Out
El Michels Affair | Too Late To Turn Back
Belleruche | Drum At Dusk
Flowering Inferno | Ciudad del Swing
Fella Cutie | Water No Get Enemy (unreleased edit)
Una Mas Trio | Son Montuno
Louis Perez & The Peruvian Persuasians | Que Se Sepa (Latin Funka edit)
Los Fulanos with Peret | Gato
Willie Bobo | Broasted Or Fried
Breakout | The Funky Goofball
Flevans | Lay Back (Regal remix)
Assembly Line | Cosmic Ballad
Flevans | Hold On (Hint remix)
Lil' Louis | Nice n' Slow Tangoterje remix)
Hint with Laura Vane | One Woman Army (Mr Beatnick Slow Jack remix)
Hudson Mohawke | FUSE
The Foreign Exchange | Sincere
Little Dragon | Never Never
Jazzanova with Paul Randolph | Let Me Show Ya
Jorge Ben | Oba La Vem Ela (The Re-Rub)
Aiff | Akwaaba
Kool & The Gang | Dujii
The Bamboos with Ohmega Watts | Get In The Scene
Red The Man Without The Machine | I Should Tell Your Momma On You (Dam-Funk remix)

George FM Playlist 8th November

Electric Wire Hustle with Stacey Epps | Walk On
Foreign Exchange | Nic's Groove
Liquid Spirits | Destiny
Iva Lamkum | Kung Fu Grip
Raphael Saadiq as Ray Ray | I Know Shuggie Otis
Melo | Moody Melo (Up Hygh remix)
Fat Freddy's Drop | Big BW
Boozoo Bajou with Tony Joe White | Keep Going
Natural Self with Elodie Rama | Midnight Sun
Alison Crockett | UR (Yam Who? remix)
Gecko Turner | Monosabio Blues
Regal | The Village Calling
Negghead | Build It Up (Break It Down remix)
Dam-Funk | When 80mph Feels Like 20
4Hero with Terry Devos | Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You?)
Shuggie Otis | Sparkle City
Jamiroquai | Space Cowboy
The Rebirth | This Journey In
Mayer Hawthorne | Just Ain't Gonna Work Out (Astronote 'El Camino' remix)
Little Dragon | Constant Surprises
Re:jazz | Rockit

George FM Playlist 1st November

Shawn Lee & Clutchy Hopkins | 70mph Isn't Fast Enough To Get Out Of Nebraska
Plantlife with Dena Deadly | Your Love
Manzel | Midnight Theme (Dopebrother remix)
Kinny | Queen Of Boredness
Kinny | Back Street Lust (Azaxx remix)
Electric Wire Hustle | Buy Some Land Put A House On It
Little Dragon | Test
Quantic Soul Orchestra with Alice Russell | Take Your Time, Change Your Mind (Faze Action remix)
Ft Freddy's Drop | Breakthrough
Pacific Heights with Jdubs, Aeries & Ladi6 | Dreaming
Julien Dyne with Mara TK | Layer
Mike Fabulous | Wang East
Notorious B.I.G. | Hypnotize (Taggy Matcher remix)
Palov & Mishkin | Merenda
DJ Format with Chali 2na & Akil | We Know Something You Don't Know
The Bamboos with Lyrics Born | Turn It Up!
D'Angelo | Spanish Joint
Uptown Funk Empire | N.O.W.
T-Connection | Do What You Wanna Do
Bob Sinclar | Ultimate Funk
Crazy P | Love On The Line
Bennson | Whatever It Is
Afro Sound System | White Label

George FM Playlist 25th October

Jackson Five | I Am Love
Me&You | Love In Be Must We
Q-Tip | Breathe & Stop (Taggy Matcher re-edit)
Mary J. Blige | Family Affair (Bost & Bim re-edit)
Busta Rhymes | Rapoors Delaaght (Taggy Matcher re-edit)
Choklate with Chali2na | Waitin'
Nancy Wilson | Sunshine
The Gap Band | Beep-A-Freak
Quantic Soul Orchestra with John Hughes | Walking Through Tomorrow (TM Juke remix)
Michael Jackson | Shake Your Body (dub) (White Label)
TM Juke | Playground Games (Diesler remix)
Kinny with TM Juke | Petrified, Dazed
Crazy P | Reach Me
Quantic | Perception
Jody Watley | Off The Hook (MAW remix)
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators | If This Ain't Love (Mr Scruff remix)
Lanu with Aloe Blacc & Quantic | Mother Earth
Lillian Alexander | Love For Sale (TM Juke remix)
Greyboy with Jeremy Ellis | Colour In Between The Lines