Kanye, John Legend & Aphex Twin

This new song blame game owes so much to Aphex Twin's Avril 14 but is still pretty great.

11 Blame Game Feat John Legend (no tags) www.pinboardblog.com by PinBoardBlog.com

VIA THE ALWAYS EXCELLENT PINBOARD BLOG

Nicki Vs Em'

Nicki Minaj featuring Eminem - Roman's Revenge by Hypetrak

I just love Ms. Minaj's English accent in this new song from her Pink Friday album, due out later this month.

A Streets Poem

Mike Skinner is back. And rather than releasing a shedloacd of free songs (as he did a year or so ago) he's posting weird cryptic vids on HIS BLOG. The below is the best of them and is genuinely quite thought-provoking and dark. He also let slip that there is a video for previously leaked Trust Me in the works. I've posted the original song below too.

Lil Jon & Diplo- Unsurprisingly Filthy

Diplo feat. Lil Jon- U Don't Like Me from Mad Decent on Vimeo.

I'm sure this needs to be heard in a club at ear-splitting volume to be fully appreciated.

Phoenix & Daft Punk At Madison Sq Gardens

Now I usually hate dodgy fan made Youtube videos of gigs like the below. But this had to be documented and now ranks along Jay-Z at the Royal Albert Hall in my 'wish I was there' gig list.

I love Phoenix and love Daft Punk and even the screams when the audience realised what was going on sent a shiver down my spine. You lucky New Yorkers.



Check out my best of Phoenix spotify playlist here

Just Because...

Here's Nicki Minaj's album cover, lets hope the record lives up to both the hype and the artwork.

Hurts- Stay

I CANNOT get enough of this song or video. The track sounds to me like Gary Barlow-style pop. And by that I mean pretty amazing. The production is spot on too and the vid was shot by Dave Ma in Iceland according to my friend and yours Dan Sully.

New Cee Lo

The Lady Killer album is getting closer and here is another taste from it. The title 'Old Fashioned' kinda says it all. This is classic Motown sounding soul, and who better to sing it then Cee Lo. Sit back and enjoy.

Old Fashioned www.pinboardblog.com by PinBoardBlog.com

VIA PINBOARD BLOG

James Blake

HOW HAVE I NOT BLOGGED ABOUT JAMES BLAKE BEFORE? It's fucking criminal. He's gonna be huge next year. And this Feist cover is beautiful.

I Interviewed Magnetic Man

And there's an extract below FULL ARTICLE AT THE DAY JOB HERE

How does it work in the studio?

Benga: It’s mix and match, we don’t have a way of making music we just do it. We spent two months together in one studio in Cornwall.

Skream: The rule is we’ve all gotta agree on each track, if one person doesn’t agree it’s out.

What was Cornwall like?

Artwork: Mental

B: I wasn’t allowed out cos I’m black. They let me down there but I wasn’t allowed out of the studio.

How did you decide how the album would sound?

A: We just had a rule- that it would just be good music. We were lucky with the record label (Sony/ Colombia). When we signed to them, they’d seen the live show and told us to ‘keep doing what you’re doing and we’ll worry about the rest’.

Gorillaz- Doncamatic (All Played Out)

Here's Damon's latest non-Plastic Beach single featuring Daley. It's got a similar synth vibe to a lot of the tracks from the last album and is already growing on me after a few listens. I wish there was a little more of Albarn's vocal on there though.

There are sure to be some really big remixes too.

A link splurge

Click these things. If you want.

I need to go and see Anish Kapoor's new outdoor exhibition

Chris Cunningham's moody video for Gil Scott Heron, it's essentially a portrait but is really cool.

Kanye's leaked track featuring Bon Iver. Which is well worth a listen

A really sick tune by Dubstep dude Ramadanman

Are Harry Potter and Norman Foster in cahoots?

Mark Ronson and Boy George have made a new song, it's pretty super.

That Ninja Tune Album I Keep Talkin Bout

is mostly on this Spotify playlist. And is so worth a listen.

Two New M.I.A Tracks

This one VS Blaqstarr at http://ithinkyoumightgetshitforthat.com/

And this Diplo one at http://4thepeopleontheboat.com/

Both are worth a minute of your time and better than about a third of her last album Maya. Can't wait for those live dates next month.

Jessie J Does It Like A Dude

Here's the first single proper from Jessie J. Do It Like A Dude. Well this is actually the Labrinth remix but its better than the original (link) so stick with this one. I said it the other week but she's gonna be bloody huge!

Jessie J - Do It Like A Dude (Labrinth Remix) by PurplePR

I'm In Love With Nicki Minaj

And THIS new song Right Through Me should be number one all over the world. I'm obsessed with it.

Benga Remixes His Own Band

And it goes well...

Perfect Stranger feat. Katy B (Benga Remix) by Magnetic Man

Speech/ Bonobo

This is one of the more chilled moments on the A-MAY-ZING Ninja Tune XX Boxset.

02 Sun Will Rise by Speech Debelle

THE Next Big Thing- Jessie J

2011 should belong to this girl. She's from Essex I think (like me, blap blap) and has been working with Britney/ Ke$ha/ Katy Perry svengali Dr. Luke.

Which pretty much guarantees she'll be huge. A track called Price Tag was recently leaked (and then taken down), with a sound suggesting Jessie will be the next Lily or Perry- but with a much better voice. As the above video shows.

Want A Headache?

Well the quickest way to get a pounding in your cranium is to watch this typically mental new video from M.I.A. It's for Story To Be Told and is only available at the nattily titled:

http://yesthelittlepeoplewillneverwinbuttheycanfuckshitup.com/

It may get better if watched on drugs. But I wont take the blame for any headaches.

Gyptian

Gyptian - Hold Yuh (Official Video) from 340pm on Vimeo.

I'm late on this but it's a massive tune and a possible number one. There is also a Major Lazer remix (HERE) and a version with a Nicki Minaj verse (HERE). As Imran Ahmed points out for the Guardian (HERE) it could be this year's No Letting Go or Welcome To Jamrock.

Bestival Reviews

I was at Bestival the other weekend and reviewed the bands for the day job.

Friday here

And Sat/ Sun here

My overall highlight had to be the legendary Nile Rodgers and Chic. They were inclredible. Check my Nile Rodgers/ Chic spotify playlist here

Congrats To The XX

I think they were deserved winners of the Mercury last week, as their album was the one of the list that was the most 'forward thinking' and genre mashing. Which if you ask me is what the Mercury should be about.

When I interviewed the trio at the event they were humble, surprised and very sweet. Below is a DJ mix by Jamie from the band that I posted a while back. It's full of great dubstep, two-step and brooding beats. I realy need to see him DJ live soon.

01 Jamie XX mix for Colette 10 by abeano

Zaha Hadid In Brixton!

One of the world's best (and most futuristic) architects Zaha Hadid has built in Brixton.

When she was handed the commission for the Olympic Aquatic centre it was highly publicised. But not many people (myself included) realised her first building in Britain would actually be a secondary school in South London. It almost makes me wish I was still a a teenager and at the Evelyn Grace Academy- which opened this week.

Construction pics above are from Zaha Hadid's website. I'll try and take some newer ones when I can see the school. Probably on a weekend to avoid looking suspicious.

Magnetic Man & Katy B Vid

Here's the new single from Magnetic Man (Artwork, Skream and Benga) with vox from lovely Katy B. I've had the album for a while and looks like one of the year's best. When I interviewed the 'dubstep supergroup' recently they praised young Katy loads and said she was hard working on this vid shoot in Romania. They also forced me to have a mojito with them, as it was Benga's birthday. Sound guys. I'll post a link when the interview is up.

Magnetic Man - Perfect Stranger (f/ Katy B) (Video) from Adrien Picard on Vimeo.

Arcade Fire

Are just one of the very best bands in the world, aren't they?

I was at their Reading show the other week and it was incredible. Songs like Modern Man, The Sprawl II and We Used To Wait completely stand up next to their older material. Win and Regine are both amazing.

Interact with their pretty affecting 'video' here

And buy The Suburbs here

Cee-Lo Says Fuck You Again

THIS SONG HAS TO GO TO NUMBER ONE. And finally Cee Lo Green The Soul Machine will get the props he deserves as a solo artist.

Here's the proper video which is just as good as that first animated typography viral...

Katy Perry Fan?

Here's a track by track of her decent new album Teenage Dream I did for the day job.

Below are three of the best tracks to hear..
E.T
Hummingbird Heartbeat
Last Friday Night

Nicki Minaj Outshines Jay & Kanye

Well the big news of the day should be that Jay-Z and Kanye are releasing a 5 track mini album Watch The Throne together. And West has released Monster- the decent first track from it.


HEAR/ DOWNLOAD MONSTER HERE

If this song is anything to go by the mini-album is more likely to sound like Kanye tracks with Jay features. But actually i'm over all that after hearing Nicki Minaj on the track.

Her lyrics are biting, satirical, filthy and just plain crazy. While her flow is twisted, it's thrilling when she affects different voices for each line- like Biggie and Slick Rick did back in the day. As she raps about getting $50k for a guest verse and shows "ten times your pay" it just makes me very excited for the album.

And the whole 'is she selling herself on her looks/ body/ sexuality debate?' is redundant when her rapping is this good.*

*She is also clearly very sexy.

Cee-Lo Says Fuck You

This has gotta be one of the tracks of 2010 so far right? Production is apparently from Salaam Remi- the man behind half of Amy's Frank and Back To Black albums and various tracks for Nas. Can't wait for Cee-Lo's Ladykiller album later this year.

**New Music Alert** Cee Lo - F**K You from PJ Davis on Vimeo.

For The Dubstep Heads

25 Tracks: A Dubstep Chronology by Eighteen on Mixcloud

FULL TRACKLISTING RUNDOWN AT DiS HERE

Picasso: The Mediterranean Years

I've been living in London for four years but have only recently realised that there are loads of hidden away private galleries with great shows- besides the major NPG, Tate, Barbican etc.



Seeing this vast free exhibition at the Gagosian (in Kings Cross) and last year's Gilbert and George White Cube shows has really made me realise that its not just about the big public institutions.

Picasso: The Mediterranean Years shows off the artist's versatility with a wide range of statues, paintings, pottery and sketches. You really should see it before it ends on August 28.

LOADS MORE INFO HERE

XXXO VID

I love this. It's apparently directed by hip hop music vid hero Hype Williams.

M.I.A - XXXO [OFFICIAL VIDEO] from Jameson Pierre on Vimeo.

New Roots Manuva

Two things... There is a bubbley new track from the UK MC called It's On with a beachey video. It has a nice two step kinda beat and is featured on Ninja Tune's rather amazing 4CD 20th anniversary XX album.

WATCH THAT VID HERE

And then below is Roots doing his classic Witness with the Fun Lovin' Criminals! Presumably it's taken from Huey's always great 6 Music radio show.

Roots Manuva & Fun Lovin' Criminals - Witness (1 Hope) from Somethin' Else on Vimeo.

Aeroplane's July Mix

This mix below by dance music man of the moment Aeroplane has kept me going at work this week. If you're short on time skip the halfway mark for amazing remixes of The Chemical Brothers, Omar and Chromeo.

Aeroplane Late July Mix by Aeroplane (Official)

1. Sweet G - Games People Play ( Instrumental )
2. Sarah Dash - Low Down Dirty Rhythm
3.Koto - Chinese Revenge ( Maxi Version )
4.Everything Everything - My Kz, Ur Bf ( Grum Remix )
5.Sheharzad - Yalla Yalla ( Kid Who Remix )
6.Chromeo - Don't Turn the Lights On ( Aeroplane Remix )
7.Omar - Feeling You ( Henrik Schwarz Remix )
8.The Chemical Brothers - Swoon ( Lindstrom & Prins Thomas Remix )
9.Goldfrapp - Believer ( Joris Voorn Remix )
10. Yoko Ono - Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him

Get Cape's Back

Wow. This is a turn up for the books. I dont think Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. was ever that bad I just think he became over-exposed.

This is the way to comeback- with a sick breakbeat by Shy FX and a cool video by my fellow Bournemouth grad Luke Snellin (through 2AM films).

GET CAPE. WEAR CAPE. FLY - 'COLLAPSING CITIES' from Luke Snellin on Vimeo.

When I Say 'B' You Say 'anger'

This is the biggest tune i've heard in some time. I know i'm a month late in posting but still thought I should get it up. With production from Benga it sounds very very South London.

THIS TRACK Louder is also worth a listen. The beat on that is by Zinc.

Yeezy

Say what you want about Kanye West, and there is a lot to say, but he picks some great collaborators.

On Late Registration he brought in Jon Brion to co-produce and orchestrate the record, adding depth to the rapper's own beats. According to rumours he's brought DJ Premier and Q Tip in to work on his new album- which is possibly called Dark Twisted Fantasy. Of course he's also championed Kid Cudi, Common and Lupe Fiasco and worked with Daft Punk, Mos Def, Talib, Nas and Jay-Z.

West's Graduation cover was by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, while his recent Power sleeve is by respected painter George Condo.

On music vids he's worked with Spike Jonze (Flashing Lights and a still unreleased short film), Hype Williams (Stronger & others) and Michel Gondry (Heard Em Say). His spectacular new 90 second promo for single Power is artist Marco Brambilla- who has exhibited at the New York Guggenheim and also directed Stallone/ Snipes action movie Demolition Man back in 1993! Plus you gotta respect Kanye for sampling King Crimson.

WATCH THE POWER PROMO HERE

Some links

that I should have posted ages ago.

Why did the Government scrap the UK film council? Two words- DANNY DYER

I liked Inception but I wasn't in love with it like some people. This sums up a lot of my feelings.

A Lauryn Hill track that could be new. I dont think it is to be honest. I would love it to be but she crazy.

Daft Punk/ Tron tracks- which I think are real this time.

Hurts

Manc duo Hurts are really nice guys, i've interviewed them twice in two months and they are well sound, articulate, decent blokes.

Their new re-released single Wonderful Life is really, definitely worth 4 mins of your time too. Watch the rather nice video here.

Serpentine Pavillion

Each year the Serpentine gallery next to Hyde Park commisions a star architect to design a temporary structure on its front lawn. I saw this last week and its quite spectacular. When viewed from the right spot Jean Nouvel's fluid red building dominates your vision and contrasts pretty nicely with the green park around it.

Inside the main building the Wolfgang Tillmans photography exhibition is also worth a half hour browse. MORE INFO ON ALL HERE

Mercury

Firstly- how did Dizzee's weakest album (Tongue N Cheek) get a nomination? I've supported the rapper since day one (either on my bedroom stereo or with actual interviews, articles etc). But really the T-N-C is so poor.

Also why aren't M.I.A and Hot Chip latest discs on the list?

Anyway on a more positive note I hope Corinne bailey Rae's incredible album The Sea wins. Or failing that the favourites The XX.

Just finally I stand by my love for Speech Debelle's album which won last year. Just a shame she turned out to be a bit of a knob, dropping her label and talking sh** in interviews.

Prodge In Ibiza

My lack of posts recently is absoultely deplorable. This week i've been in Ibiza seeing The Prodigy at Ibiza Rocks here is the review I did for the DAY JOB

The Prodigy have been playing amazing live shows for so long now that last night’s gig at Ibiza Rocks was easy for them.
They formed in Braintree 20 years ago and have barely stopped raving since. Yesterday half of the Essex town’s lads and ladettes seemed to be in the audience - which obviously helped.

Despite the trio's back catalogue bangers it was their newer material that went down best at this near two hour show. Breathe was played second but was immediately outshone by the reaction to Omen. Which was, to be frank, ballistic.

Keith and Liam literally bounced off each other on stage as the few thousand punters jumped in unison beside the pool, and they didn’t stop till the rave revival anthem ended.

Later Firestarter undoubtedly went off while Smack My B**** Up built up and banged - as the band’s frenzied light show helped the mood. But it was still The Prodigy’s Invaders Must Die material that was lapped up by the mostly young clubbers.

The twisted beats of the album’s title track and Take Me To The Hospital echoed around the building as those staying at the hotel-come-venue hung off their balconies. Through the set producer Liam - behind a bank of laptops and knobs and joined by a drummer and guitarist - mostly stuck to the original versions of his anthems.

To be honest that’s all that was needed here. Nothing could go wrong with two excellent frontmen, choons-aplenty and the most up for it crowd MTV’s seen in ages.

The Soul Machine

Cee Lo is prepping his first solo album in a while and I can't wait to hear it. I love his voice so much I honestly believe it could solve various world crises. Send him to Palestine now!

Paul Epworth revealed recently on his Twitter that he was working with him. Which seems a leftfield choice given the Brit's work with Bloc Party, Friendly Fires and Maximo Park. But when you consider that he also produced Plan B's most recent record and most of Florence And The Machine's massive selling Lungs the collaboration makes more sense.

Cee Lo's proper single is an Epworth produced cover of the Band Of Horses track No One'ss Gonna Love You. WATCH THE DECENT VIDEO HERE

Probably better though is the Atlanta man's track Georgia which is free to download when you sign up at CEE LO'S WEBSITE. The album- due later this year- will be nattily titled The LadyKiller.

Revofev

This is the first taste of Kid Cudi's new album. And if you ask me it's enjoyably rough and ready, and just downright weird. It reminds me of Kanye's 808 material although with parred down production, and less ego obviously.

If you dont own Cudi's album The Man On The Moon, you really should. It was one of the better albums of 09 but passed a lot of people by.



BONUS: CHECK OUT LISSIE'S COVER OF KC'S PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Maps and that

Went to the Magnificent Maps exhibition at the British Library a while back and it’s definitely worth an hour of your time.

There are some beautiful, intricate, ancient artefacts in there mixing art, history and politics. And it’s also fun just spotting somewhere near where you live in maps hundreds and hundreds of years old.

Saying all that my favourite was still the above by artist Grayson Perry- who studied art at the same bog standard Essex community college that I went to.

Big Boi Reveals All

I spoke to Big Boi recently and you can read the full interview and watch some music videos at my day job HERE

In other news I really need to get me a physical copy of the album. Bloody love those Outkast boys. There's a decent review at Pitchfork here.

Joker/ Green/ Lily

This track will be going to number one in a week or so (mark my words). So you might as well give in to it. If you're not already converted (I am) this remix will help.

Kanye's Power Artwork

IS SO FUCKING GOOD. (MORE INFO HERE)



By George Condo

Dirty Projectors + Bjork

Saw DP last week at the Barbican. The first hour was their weird Getty Address album played with an orchestra and a man on gaffer tape (honestly). Bit much for me as you can imagine. The second Bitte Orca set was superb though.

Below is the first taste of the band's mini-album with Bjork though, which should be great. The artwork is above.

Dirty Projectors + Björk- All We Are by DominoRecordCo

Kanye Jumps Shark

But in quite a good way I think. This is absolutely hilarious and the tune is still massive:

I Reviewed Paul McCartney

You can read it below. Day job MTV UK link here

"Good evening Hyde Park. I got a feeling we're gonna have a rocking time tonight," intones one of the most recognisable voices in the world on a very warm night in London.

Paul McCartney is a man who changed pop music twice with one band. But at times tonight he still tells bad jokes, puts on cringeworthy accents and dances like your dad! But eclipsing that is the 68 year old’s huge enthusiasm for music and live gigs. He puts most twenty-something bands to shame.

Tonight's 3 HOUR set starts slowly with Jet, solo tracks and songs from his Fireman records. Surprisingly his recent single Dance Tonight and much derided Obla di Obla Da get two of the biggest early cheers from the 50,000 'Hyde Park-ians' (his words).

Paul pays touching tribute to his late bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison and also plays Blackbird alone on stage. With just an acoustic guitar the legend shows that he doesn't hide behind his great backing band- unlike contemporary Brian Wilson.

But it’s the last hour of this show that everyone is here for. The Beatles classics (and er, one Bond theme) that have entered the international psyche. In order Macca plays- Let It be, Live and Let Die with trademark fireworks, Hey Jude, Paperback Writer, Lady Madonna, Get Back, Yesterday, Helter Skelter. Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band and The End.

All songs guaranteed to raise the pulse and bring tears to the eyes of pretty much everyone. Who needs the World Cup when we've got Paul McCartney?

New Asher Roth

Think think is a step up from most of the tracks on his debut to be honest. Really great summer party vibe on G.R.I.N.D. Hope it charts well in the UK when it's eventually released.

Magnetic Man HQ

A little dubstep banger from Skream, Benga and some other guy. Turn the bass up for this.

EXCLUSIVE | M.I.A Vs Diplo

Got some unexpected tweets from Diplo after mentioning a song from the new album. I got very excited as you can imagine. Loved his production on Arular, his remixes and that excellent Fabric mix he did a few years ago.

Anyway after a few messages I found out him and M.I.A have had a massive falling out. This is our conversation...

ME: That track Muscle is amazing. Big up @diplo 's production.

DIPLO: Whoa did the record leak?

ME: I heard it at @xlrecordings Love Muscle. She seemed surprised you had heard the finished album though, during my @mtvuk interview!

DIPLO: yes she is surprised, but i got as many crew at interscope... she didnt want to put any of my records on it like last time :(

ME: Muscle was the best thing I heard on the album. Nice dub Sandanista vibe. She did use the word 'warring' in relation to you and her.

DIPLO: Awe thats sweet

ME: Asked by me about Muscle (during the int') she didn't mention you but said: "if you’re going to do it anything interesting with the vocal BlaqStar was the guy. He’s the inventor of chopping you up to death vocally. He can make music out of anything."

DIPLO: She (m.i.a) will do anything to discredit me + throw a lil blaqstar in there (an artist she stole from MadDecent) for extra punch

Another Big Boi Vid

Can someone send me Big Boi's wardrobe? I love those sweaters, caps and shades. Is that the gayest thing i've ever said?

The track is good too.

Oh here's a bit of my interview with him for you too.

Talib Kweli & Hi Tek

This is one of my favourite songs at the moment. It's taken from the new album by Talib Kweli and producer Hi Tek- who are going under the name Reflection Eternal.

It's just one example from the album of Talib's skill as an MC. He really doesn't waste a line. Presumably it was recorded before the BP oil slick too, but the lyrics still make a lot of sense. Download the album if you can. There are solid guest spots from Jay Electronica, Bun B and Estelle on there.

M.I.A & Kele

I've interviewed two people this week. One was M.I.A- who was cool and told me lots of things which I will probably be able to reveal next week. To be honest she kept quiet about the Jay-Z remix that leaked a few hours after I met her. The bitch.

Here it is to download at Pinboard blog though

The other interview was newly-buff Bloc Party man Kele. His debut solo album The Boxer (produced by Spank Rock's XXXChange) is really worth a listen. And the single Tenderoni (below) is pretty decent too...

Kele - Tenderoni from Andrew Lawandus on Vimeo.

Hendricks & Broken Bells

If you don't own the Broken Bells album- you should buy it. If you haven't watched Mad Men you definitely should. And if you don't know who Christina Hendricks is then you're a damn fool. Here's the video for The Ghost inside...

Another GaGa Epic

It's no Bad Romance (or Telephone) but Alejandro is obviously worth a watch. They could definitely shave a minute or two off though. It's directed by fashion photog' Steven Klein who has worked with Madonna a lot.

WATCH IT HERE IN HQ

Another roundup...

A lack of posts this week I know but then the weather has been beautiful so please forgive me. Here's some things that are varying degrees of good...

Eminem and Pink's duet from his Recovery album (@ Pinboard)

This advert for a skateboarding game is very cool. Reminds me of my days boarding really badly in Essex carparks

A new song by Jay-Z (produced by Swizz Beats) called Ultra (@Nah Right)

The always reliable Coral turn out another decent song

M.I.A NYT

This New York Times article is fascinating. Although admittedly it is also very very long. M.I.A immediately hit Twitter to give out the writer LYNN HIRSCHBERG's phone number cos she was so disgruntled. Which is fairly childish. I still cant wait for the album though.

EXTRACT HERE
Maya seemed to be going for a combination of sexy and militaristic. She showed the girls her fabric ideas on her computer, and they were amenable. “Nike is the uniform for kids all over the world,” Maya said for no apparent reason. “And African design has been killed by Nike. Africans no longer want to wear their own designs.” The designers said they thought that was terrible. “The best sportswear is on Blackwater operatives,” Maya continued, referring to the agents who were clandestine guns for hire in Iraq. The designers nodded, but they clearly had no idea what she was talking about. “I want to have a uniform like theirs.”

Oh and there are some great NYT pics here

Kanye West's Power

is bloody great and can be heard at Pinboard Blog Here

He's thankfully back on form after the very dissapointing 808s period. And he samples this 1969 prog classic....

Shutterbug Vid

I so wish I was as cool as Big Boi. May have to track down ATL style clothes after watching this Chris Robinson directed vid. There are some hip hop cliches in there- but with some nice out there Outkast twists. Bring on the album.

The Suburbs

The new Arcade Fire album The Suburbs will be released on August 2. And you can hear the rather nice acoustic title track (and 12" single) on the group's official website HERE

Going To Glasto?

Bloody wish I was cos this lot will be well good.



FULL DETAILS HERE

A Roundup

A new Estelle track with a Nas verse at Nah Right

A preview of Big Boi's Shutterbug video is at Pinboard Blog

A mix by Jamie from The XX on Abeano.com

The new Klaxons track is not that great but you can hear it on their site

Big Boi Reps For Janelle

We had Big Boi (from Outkast) in the office this week and I had the pleasure of interviewing him.

He was an absolute gent and seems very intelligent. You can see why his group have survived so long (over 15 years) in the rap world. He talked at length about his new album, plans with Andre 3000 and single Shutterbugg. Look out for the interview soon…

When I asked about new artists there were two the Atlanta native raved about. B.o.B- who’s going to number one this week with Nothin On You and whose debut album is worth checking out.

And Janelle Monae- who was originally discovered by Big’ and is now being mentored by P Diddy. Check her out absolutely SMASHING David Letterman earlier this week…

Distant Relatives

Got this on Monday and have rinsed it since.

BUY THE ALBUM AT HMV HERE

The bass-heavy Marley production is perfect as the sun shows itself. On tracks like Land Of Promise there is a healthy dose of politics but classic sounding hooks to back up the message.

Patience takes Amadou and Mariam’s Damon Albarn produced Sabali (which was one of the first things I blogged on here) and turns it into a jerking brooding trip-hop beat. Damian turns in some gorgeous verses before Nas contemplates the world:

“Who wrote the bible?/ Who wrote the Qur’an?/ And was it a lighting star/ that gave birth to the earth/ and then dinosaurs were born.”

As much as I love Nasty Nas his recent albums haven’t measured up against classics like Illmatic. His last ‘N’ album was especially poor. But here verses are used sparingly and the rapper is more focused- thanks to both the topics he tackles and his collaborator Damian.

God knows why Joss Stone features but elsewhere both K’Naan and Lil Wayne turn in decent work.

It sounds to me like one of the best albums of 2010 and I’m already hoping they make another LP together.

LISTEN TO THE RECORD ON SPOTIFY HERE

J Dilla

Spotted this beat on an O2 mobile phone ad today so had to post it. Not bothered about the fact it was on an ad' but was just reminded what a classic it is. Vocal version is here.



R.I.P Dilla.

Jarvis Cocker Writes For Russell Brand

For a spoof music vid released to promote his new film Get him To The Greek. It also features topless women and graphics by Shephard Fairey (also mentioned in the below post). It is unsurprisingly fairly funny. My favourite line is... “Mother Mary Marijuana/ Uncle Charlie top banana!”

WATCH IT AT BRAND'S WEBSITE HERE

New A Trak Mix

Here's A Trak's new house/ hip hop/ mash up mixtape. Most are his own re-works and i'd say look out for Whatever You Shoot and Vampire's Going Ham. The artwork above is by the always excellent Shephard Fairey (OBEY)- who is most famous for his Obama Hope poster.



GET MORE INFO AND DOWNLOAD IN FULL HERE

Ofili

If you're at a loose end this weekend you could do worse than catch the Chris Ofili exhibition. Some of it is inspired by hip hop, some is explicit. All of it is beautiful. It's on at the Tate Britain until Sunday only! MORE INFO HERE

Sunday Girl Vs Diplo

I know nothing about this song. But it is sublime.

Bouncy Brooklyn

I love how The Daily Mail completely abandons it's conservative values when it comes to showbiz news. Just check out THESE extraordinary images.

WooHoo

Christina's New Song With Nicki Minaj Leaked Here
And is worth a listen.

XXXO

Who needs a decent Government when we've got a new song from M.I.A. And XXXO (available from the excellent Abeano blog here) is the star's most pop effort to date.

As the rather good NME feature (and superb pics) this week explain she is a mass of contradictions. Fiercely independent but supported fiercely by Interscope/ Universal and her uber rich connected partner. Trendy indie kids love her yet she's worked with the writer of She Wolf on her album.

I still love her but she's certainly an interesting character.

Swoon

No it's not Christina Hendricks again but actually the new song by The Chemical Brothers. It's nice and you can hear it and watch the video AT EMI'S YOUTUBE PAGE HERE

Election and dat

Thom Yorke published his election playlist yesterday. (READ IT HERE). It included some Aphex, Massive Attack and PJ Harvey. Which reminded me of the below song, which is up there with my fave tracks of all time. Kinda sums up this hung parliament business...

Brooker On Cam

Charlie Brooker is reliably spot-on in his article about the election here:

On Cameron: "I see an avatar. A simulated man with a simulated face. A humanoid. A replicant. An Auton. A construct."

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

As We Enter

Here's the vid for the first proper Damian Marley/ Nas tune. Directed by this guy: http://www.nabil.com/

Some things

that I like. That you might too.

1. David Mitchell talks about the election (from the Observer)

2. Damon Albarn is working on a new opera (MTV.co.uk)

3. A spot on rant about the death of music journalism.

4. The stars of Glee on the cover of Rolling Stone. With Lea Michele looking especially fit.

5. AND CHRISTINA HENDRICKS BEING GENERALLY INCREDIBLE

Rusko & Dirty Projectors

Tracksuits, glowsticks and poppers at the ready! The new Rusko track Hold On is like a proper old school drum n bass belter. Except it has a member of indie heroes Dirty Projectors on the hook.

STREAM IT AT PITCHFORK HERE

The artwork to Rusko's album OMG! (due out next month) is below.

M.I.A's Really Back...

With a garage-rock track called Born Free. It’s a departure for the Sri-Lankan-born-London-raised-New-York-based singer but is also essentially nothing special. It's certainly not as strong as any other single she's released.

The video on the other hand (Directed by Romain Gavras) is pretty bloody brilliant. It’s brutal, looks cool and of course has political meaning. What more do you want?

WATCH IT HERE AT MIAUK
WARNING: NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED

Then look at the tracklisting for her third album, which was released on Twitter today.

There's An Election On!

I know this is journo geekery but the news that Rebecca Wade and James Murdoch walked into the Independent's office unannounced to rebuke the editor is pretty amazing.

The Guardian's political don Michael White also writes in the same article about the Tory press attacks on Nick Clegg.

READ THE ARTICLE HERE

R.I.P Guru

Mos Dub

My little sister tipped me off about this. It's well worth the listen and is ideal for the tube. If you go on a tube. Maybe try in a car if not. Click here to stream or download.

Blur's Fools Day

THIS NEWS is very, very, very exciting.

It's apparently only coming out in 7" format but i'm sure some enterprising fan will stick it online as soon as they get the vinyl. Well I hope so anyway.

I love Pure Groove's quiz idea and am tempted to get down myself.

In other Damon news (sometimes I think I should rename the site Albarn-arama) the below Gorillaz dubstep-y remix is pretty decent.

You Wanted A Hit?

LCD Soundsystem's third album This Is Happening is now streaming at their official website.

HEAR THE ALBUM HERE

I've had it a while now and it's DEFINITELY one of the best records of 2010 so far. I'm not sure it's as good as Sound Of Silver- but I genuinely believe that LP is a masterpiece.

Stand out tracks for me are opener Dance Yrself Clean(look out for the collosall drop after about 3 mins), Pow Pow which reminds me of Us Vs Them on SoS and the Bowie-a-like All I Want.

Hit is one of the best tracks i've heard in ages though. Over 9 minutes it morphs from a gentle bubbling synth riff to include screeching guitars, smart-ass lyrics and James Murphy's strongest chorus yet.

"You wanted a hit- well that's not what we do."

Akala

I've been avoiding UK rap for a while to be honest. I'd lost faith in a genre which is represented in the charts by acts like Chipmunk, DJ Ironik and Tinchy.

I've got into the Tinie Tempah and Pro' Green singles recently but this has fully restored my faith. Akala is hugely under-rated and this SBTV rap is just fucking exceptional....

Two Dubstep Tunes

Both very different. This is on a rave tip....



And this (as one of the Youtube comments says) just makes me want to 'brukk out'!

Primo Pays Tribute To Malcolm Mclaren

Hadn't realised how early Malcolm Mclaren was championing hip hop until now. Basically as soon as he'd finished with punk he was in New York getting into rap.

And because of this DJ Premier has put together a cool tribute mix which is well worth listening to if only for the first five mins which feature Malcolm's amazing tale about hitting a Zulu Nation party and being the only white man there.

STREAM THE MIX AT SOUNDCLOUD HERE

You can probably skip the last 5 mins of the Gangstarr man and crew babling about their own importance. And bizarrely plugging the Richard Curtis film The Boat That Rocked (which is titled Pirate Radio in the US).

Roots & Suzanne Vega

Here's another suberb Jimmy Fallon performance with house band The Roots. Perfect for this sunny Thursday afternoon.

Big Boi's Shutterbug

This is exactly what you want from a Big Boi single. Twisting, confusing, unusual and yet utterly banging. DOWNLOAD AT THE FADER

Thankfully his 'Sir Lucsious Leftfoot' album should be out soon after the Outkast man switched to the Def Jam label. I've said it before on multiple occasions but I CANNOT WAIT.

Escape Velocity

Here's all TWELVE minutes of the new Chemical Brothers single. It's the first release from their next album Further- which from what I hear will be less focused on guest vocallists and all about straight up rave tracks. The below certainly suggests as much...

Xtina

This new track is alright. But I know it’s gonna be one of those songs where I come to in a months time and decide its either amazing or amazingly shit. Only time will tell.

More excited for the album Bionic though- which will feature production from Ladytron, Switch and Le Tigre. Woah.

Through The Fire I Come

This Heptones tune sounded great by the pool on holiday and is warming me up for Sunday at Koko. YOU SHOULD COME

The Olympic Tower

I‘m excited by the 2012 tower commissioned for the Olympics and designed by artist Anish Kapoor and engineer Cecil Balmond. (Info & news report here) Not sure about the artists’ impression but then a lot of Kapoor’s work is about how people physically interact with it.

I saw his show at the Royal Academy last year and it was really interesting- playful, funny and kinda mind-boggling. Balmond meanwhile is responsible for the below incredible piece of architecture. China’s CCTV building-

HBO Weekend At The BFI

There are always cool films and events on at the BFI. This month to coincide with the launch of The Pacific there is HBO Weekend. I'd quite like to go to all the events though sadly Larry David's talk is already sold out. I booked tickets for David Simon's Treme premiere though. There's still a few left so get in there quick.

GET DETAILS, TICKETS AND THAT HERE

I Feel Better

So while I was away this appears to be big video that came out. It's directed by comedian Peter Serafinowicz. I love this track and really like the JLS pastiche and the girls faces when their idols get fucked up. Less keen about the sci-fi elements.

Some people at the office suggested it's better than GaGa's Telephone. I'm not having that but it's definitely an above average promo.


Hot Chip - I Feel Better

Hot Chip | MySpace Music Videos

Away

I'm off for a couple of weeks to Morocco so expect a lack of posts. Sure i'll bore you with talk of North Africa when i'm back though.

This is my favourite Morocco' related album: Blur Think Tank (Spotify Link)

Alright it's the only one I can think of- but it's a cracker and will get you in the mood for Spring. It was at least partly recorded in Morocco as Damon Albarn became more 'worldly'.

In related news there is a video for Superfast Jellyfish (from Gorillaz' near perfect Plastic Beach album) WHICH YOU CAN WATCH HERE

And you should definitely buy/ watch the Blur documentary No Distance Left To Run. I caught a screening of it at the cinema and it's one of the best music docs i've ever seen.

Will try to blog about some things that aren't Albarn related when I get back....

Shutter Island

Saw this at the weekend and can definitely recommend it. The story/ premise isn't perfect but the direction is superb.

Scorsese gets his Hitchcock on for sweeping shots in breathtaking locations. The costumes, production design and soundtrack are all great. DiCaprio is solid with Ben Kingsley and Mark Ruffalo on form in support. One to see at the cinema.

New Lonely Island

Featuring Julian Casablancas- who looks very suave and cool. As usual. BOILED GOOSE.

Bowie Predicts The Future

Meant to post this John Naughton article when it first appeared in the Observer a few weeks ago. It basically says that David Bowie is a genius. Though there are few more words to it than that.

No really, it's pretty interesting.

READ THE ARTICLE HERE

And if you don't own Ziggy Stardust (possibly my all time fave album). BUY IT HERE FOR FIVE POUNDS. FOR YOUR OWN SAKE!

Gaga's Telephone

This is fucking excellent if you ignore the blatant product placement. Love the LaChappelle-like colours and Russ Meyer references. The same director Jonas Akerlund made a great film called Spun which is worth watching if you haven't already. I wrote something more thorough about the vid at the day job HERE

New Big Boi and Kid Cudi

Both these songs have been around since last year but it's great to see promos for them. Kid Cudi's vid references Michel Gondry and is enjoyably trippy. I love those girls in the OTT outfits and the cameo from production duo Ratatat.

While Big Boi's has a lower budget but is cool sinply because it features George Clinton. On a sidenote I wish BB would hurry up and release his solo album....

Fo Yo Sorrows VIDEO Big Boi Ft. Too Short and George Clinton from SNORT THIS TV on Vimeo.