Downtown Vinyl, CD & Tape 7 Items

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

Hochwertige Box mit 20LPs.
"Downtown Records will be releasing For The Birds: The Birdsong Project on Dec. 9, 2022. It will be a 20 LP box set. It will be an art-filled, 20lp box set with more than 200 tracks of original music and bird-related poetry. Proceeds from the sale of this collection and supporting events will be dedicated to the protection of birds and the habitats they need, today, tomorrow, and for all our futures. Specifically it will go to the National Audubon Society. The Birdsong Project is a community dedicated to the protection of bird life, and to the celebration of the joy and mysteries of birdsong. Members believe that birds — no matter feather or flock — are precious and inspiring and fundamental to our world. That a world without birds would be a world without freedom and flight and song. Thus, the movement intends to inspire bird converstation through art." - Downtown Records

Featured Artists: Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Beck, Alaska Reid & A. G. Cook, Danielle Haim, Karen Elson, Michael Rother & Vittoria Maccabruni, Jim James, Josh Kaufman feat. Annie Nero, Mike Campbell, Wally Wolodarsky, Alex Somers, Mark Ronson feat. Damon Albarn & Wale, Unkle, Emily Cross, Jelani Cobb, Beach House, Natalie Bergman, Uwade, Spring Summer, El Búho feat. Emilie Basez, Darius Christian & Reginald Chapman, Blake Mills, Richard Reed Parry, Tennessee Thomas, Kaoru Watanabe, Terry Riley, Tawiah, Elliot Bergman, Ray Young Bear, Jack Kornfeld, Hatis Noit, Tyondai Braxton, Lee Ranaldo, Kurt Vile, Jarvis Cocker, Haden Triplets, Donald Ray Pollock, Karen O, Molly Lewis, Tilda Swinton, Rudresh Mahanthappa, James McAlister, Nick Rhodes & Wendy Bevan, Adam Green, Suzzy Roche

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

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.