Downtown Vinyl, CD & Tape 22 Artikel

Chet Faker, Melbourne, Australia … some laid back stuff straight from the sun! Includes the genius 'No Diggity' cover version!

OZ lo-fi soul singer Chet Fakers debut album!

incl. Download Code

Finally, this Mos Def classic gets a proper reissue treatment. “The Ecstatic” is the 2009 fourth studio album by American rapper Mos Def. Released in June 2009, The Ecstatic charted at number nine on the Billboard 200.After venturing further away from hip hop with an acting career and two poorly received albums, Mos Def signed with Downtown Records and recorded “The Ecstatic” primarily at the Record Plant in Los Angeles. He worked with producers such as Preservation, Mr. Flash, Oh No, and Madlib, the latter two of whom reused instrumentals they had produced on Stones Throw Records. Singer Georgia Anne Muldrow, formerly of the record label, was one of the album's few guest vocalists, along with rappers Slick Rick and Talib Kweli. For its front cover, a still from Charles Burnett's 1978 film “Killer of Sheep” was reproduced in red tint.The Ecstatic was described by music journalists as a conscious and alternative hip hop record with an eccentric, internationalist quality. Mos Def's raps about global politics, love, spirituality, and social conditions were informed by the zeitgeist of the late 2000s, Black internalionalism, and Pan-Islamic ideas, as he incorporated a number of Islamic references throughout the album. Its loosely structured, lightly reverbed songs used unconventional time signatures and samples taken from a variety of international musical styles, including Afrobeat, soul, Eurodance, jazz, reggae, Latin, and Middle Eastern music. Mos Def titled “The Ecstatic” after one of his favorite novels—the 2002 Victor LaValle book of the same name—believing its titular phrase evoked his singular creative vision for the album.

Hip-hop loves to draw from its influences. Australian hip-hop artist Tkay Maidza draws from her African background in her debut record Tkay.The Zimbabwean born Maidza has a lot of appeal in her debut. It's not dull hip-hop we've become used to. Instead, colorful instrumentals and melodies accompany her young and refreshing voice. The album begins with the high energy, intense 'Always Been,' a big of a misleading track to open the record yet does hype it up. It's dark and dramatic, the beat strong and the delivery packed with grime influence. The bars are pretty quick fire, but there's a recognizable reference to Kanye West's 'Black Skinhead' in there that'll pique you're ear in case you can't pick up on anything else.There are several other songs that go hard. 'Carry On,' with Run The Jewels' Killer Mike on the track, throwing down above the synthy bass between the upbeat but still urgent chorus. A darker presence envelops 'State Of Mind,' bouncy synths radiating ominous vibes on top of Maidza's gun of a mouth paired paranoid harmonies.The majority of the record finds itself being poppier. The instrumental of 'Simulation' channels Sia almost blatantly, yet the vocals' light melodies soar high above the 'Cheap Thrills' reminiscent synth. There are thicker, dancier songs like 'Monochrome' that robotically have some groove to them. The muddy instrumental helps elevate the poppier lyrics. 'Drumsticks No Guns' is a fun-loving track, infectiously cute synths bouncing happily throughout the track. 'Castle In The Sky' is the pinnacle of the album's pop tracks, the sweet melodies pairing with the strongest and punchiest instrumental on the record, dynamic brass synths pairing with various acoustic instrumentation and electronics.Sometimes it goes a little too far. With the pop influence, there are a few annoying tracks, like 'Tennies.' The song starts okay, but there has to be a limit as to how many times you can sing "tennies" before it gets old. The beat features some cool instrumentation, some bongos sounding with a punchy string instrumental, but even those can't save the song from its muddy tendencies. The big vibes of 'Supasonic' are interrupted by pretty annoying lyrics.Tkay has all of the the uncertainties of a debut record, but it definitely holds its ground. It's an indicator of a new threat on the block with Tkay Maidza - she's bound to be something big in the hip-hop and pop world. It's a refreshing new sound and certainly one that won't be getting old anytime soon. - immortalreviews.com

Mit den Singles "The Trouble With Us" und "Birthday Card" haben Chet Faker und Marcus Marr bewiesen, wie perfekte musikalische Zusammenarbeit aussieht. Mit ihrer "Work" EP haben die beiden eine großartige Mini-Platte veröffentlicht, die Fans wie Kritiker sofort ins Herz geschlossen haben. Nun folgt die "Work" EP als limitierte 12", sie escheint als extra schweres Vinyl mit bedruckter Hülle.

A true-blue musical chameleon, Mapei brings palpable soul and sonic versatility to a world where genre matters less and less. The Stockholm native soaks up influences – from hip-hop to dance-pop and Swedish club to gospel – and the results feel organic, timeless and positively exuberant. It’s music of experience – well-traveled and alive.

Dawn Golden (formerly Dawn Golden & Rosy Cross), a solo electronic production and songwriting project helmed by Dexter Tortoriello of Houses, officially started in late 2010 when a series of Bandcamp demos caught Diplo’s attention with their stark emotion and forward-thinking production. A year later, we released his 6-track EP, Blow. Since then, Dexter went on to release his first full-length Houses album in the spring of laste year, garnering a smorgasbord of support that turned the eyes of the press onto his unique production style. Still Life carries all of the depth and emotional pull of Dawn Golden, combined with incredible production and unflawed, futuristic tracks. We’ve been blown away by him from the start.