Loik & Djouls - Block Party Vol.2 (MP3 Podcast on www.ParisDJs.com) Kraked/T.I.M.E.C., 2007-01-06 [comment faire?/how to?] Tracklisting : 01. TM Juke - Life, Rain, Fall (from 'Forward' LP, 2006 / Tru Thoughts) 02. Freddie Cruger - Running From Love feat. ADL (from 'Soul Search' 2xLP, 2006 / Tru Thoughts) 03. The Procussions - Simple Song (Grant Phabao Remix) (from 'Simple Song (Grant Phabao Remix)' virtual release, 2006 / Paris DJs) 04. The Coup - My Favorite Mutiny with Black Thought and Talib Kweli (from 'Pick a Bigger Weapon' CD, 2006 / Epitaph) 05. Cut Chemist - The Audience Is Rural...

The 150 Best Records Of 2006 - Part 2

10 ELECTRONIC ALBUMS & SINGLES FOR 2006 PART 2

01. zero dB - Bongos, Bleeps & Basslines (Ninja Tune)
02. Lost Idol - Utters From A Cluttered Mind (Cookshop)
03. Yppah - You Are Beautiful At All Times (Ninja Tune)
04. Doctor L - Forgotten Tracks From Da Hard Drive (Mind)
05. TM Juke - Forward (Tru Thoughts)
06. Thunderball - Cinescope (ESL)
07. Squarepusher - Hello Everything (Warp)
08. Herbert - Scale (!K7)
09. Kerrier District - Kerrier District 2 (Rephlex)
10. Koop - Koop Islands (!K7)

The "Electronic" selection was the hardest to build this year. There are so many new "electronic", "techno", house" or whatever, nowdays, that it's getting kinda hard to follow. One of our main sources of information was the Bleep website from Warp Records, but with nearly every "electronic" label going for some experimental pop/rock things now it's also hard to keep on getting informed. If you got some records that could fit in there which we missed don't hesitate to leave a comment! Meanwhile, we'll do with our own selection of "electronic" producers [even though everybody records with a computer today and most of the music produced can so be qualified as "electronic" - but that's for another debate...].
The smash of the year is undoubtly zero dB's album, with its heavy dancefloor action of grinning electro-rock techno-latin mashing-up. At least there's someone else than Amon Tobin trying to get things forward at Ninja Tune... Their new signing Yppah is also in our selection, it's a Joe Corrales guy from Texas mixing all kind of influences into a solid and beautiful electronic-low-fi-hip-hop-indie whole, and it's a real discovery.
We also loved Lost Idol's album, marketed as some kind of "Beck meets DJ Shadow", at the crossroads of categorizing with its electronic production and psychedelic sounds. Hard to describe, the album is at the same time cinematic and catchy, we could not classify it and could not put it out of the CD player. It's the new thing and comes from Brighton, as most UK treats this year. Take for example Alice Russell's producer TM Juke, who released his second album this year. You can call him "Catchy" cos' the guy knows how to write a song: at least two major BOMBS are hidden on his album ("Skin" & "So Good"), which should see the light as 12 inch singles with loads of remixes in 2007... Yummy!
If you like your cinematic beats to go trough the roof, big beat-stylee, infused with spices of Latin, Funk, Afro, Bollywood, Reggae & Soul sounds, check the new album from Thunderball, alias Steve Raskin with Sid Barcelona (from Fort Knox Five fame). For something more for the mind, Doctor L's new CD of electronic acid grooves, slams and vibes might be just what you're be looking for.
It's no surprise but we still love what we call here "the masters", among which come Herbert, Squarepusher or Luke Vibert (under his Kerrier District pseudo), which all released solid albums this year, keeping on being the best at what they do. The selection ends with some airy niceness from Swedish duo Koop and their sweet swinging Caribbiean melodies. Is it jazz??

13 FOLK ROCK POP ALBUMS FOR 2006 PART 2

01. Brian Mitchell, Marco Benevento, Joe Russo, Mike Dillon - Rhythm & Poetry (Self released)
The Benevento/Russo Duo feat. Mike Gordon - Live From Bonnaroo 2005 (Phih Downloads)
The Benevento/Russo Duo - Instant Live: Paradise - Boston, MA, 12/2/05 (Instant Live)
The Benevento/Russo Duo - Play Pause Stop (Reincarnate)
02. Phish - Colorado '88 (Phish Dry Goods)
Phish - Live In Brooklyn (Rhino)
03. The Pnuma Trio - Live from Out There (Harmonized)
04. The John Popper Project Featuring DJ Logic - The John Popper Project Featuring DJ Logic (Relix)
09. The Slip - Eisenhower (Bar None)
06. Particle - Transformation Live For The People (Shout Factory)
07. Weird Al Yankovic - Straight Outta Lynwood (Volcano)
08. RAQ - Ton These (Harmonized)
09. The Whitest Boy Alive - Dreams (Bubbles)
10. Tea Leaf Green - Rock and Roll Band (Sci Fidelity)

Undoubtly, our "rock" artists of the year are keyboard player Marco Benevento and drummer Joe Russo. We found FOUR major releases for them just this year, starting with the SPLENDID album from Brian Mitchell (guitarist for The Yards, Carlos Washington's Giant People and Amayo's Fu Arkestra), an instrumental jazz guitar thing mixed with some rocking spirit of heavy psychedelic jams, to be classified as "Phish meets Blue Note" or something THAT big. The album is 100% independant, self-released, but it's easily findable on the internet... and if you liked the joyful inventiveness of the Benevento/Russo duo, don't miss their jam/jazz live album featuring Mike Gordon, their rocking Instant Live release or their new album "Play Pause Stop". Those guys are The White Stripes of the american jammy scene, soon to be as famous as Phish or John Medeski - don't say we didn't warn ya.
Talking about Phish, the band doesn't exist anymore but their live recordings are still the best out there. A 1988 triple CD set has surfaced, and you just can't believe its tracklist. Pure bliss. Their 2004 show from Brooklyn is also available, in DVD or 3xCD releases, and it's another essential buy for fans. If you're reading this site you might be one of them and will know what I'm talking about there... But the jamming action didn't stop with Phish calling it quits and bands from the next generation are kicking hard, with solid releases from The Slip, The Pnuma Trio, Particle, RAQ, Tea Leaf Green or John Popper (singer for Blues Traveler) with his new project featuring DJ Logic. The american underground "rock" scene is still bursting with sensational new talents and nearly a hundred excellent recordings each year if you include the more jazzy or funk ones (read below), but no medium is talking about them in Europe, djouls.com excepted. You'll just have to trust our selection!
Even though pop/rock is the mainstream now, and most releases tainted with major companies business direction (as opposed to "artistic direction"), we managed to fit a couple of favorites in the list, with a new album from the funniest composer alive on the planet, MISTER 'Weird Al' Yankovic, who brings the parody to another level with a DualDisc of songs and videos to laugh hysterically to (I must admit he's a genius in my France), and a nice electronic poppy one from Kings Of Convenience founder Elrlend Oye and his band The Whitest Boy Alive. We'd had loved to add more pop/rock albums here but... which ones?

10 HIP HOP ALBUMS FOR 2006 PART 2

01. Freddie Cruger - Soul Search (Tru Thoughts)
02. The Coup - Pick A Bigger Weapon (Epitaph)
03. Kid Koala - Your Mom's Favorite DJ (Ninja Tune)
04. Braintax - Panorama (Low Life)
05. Madlib - The Beat Konducta Vol.1-2 (Stones Throw)
06. The Procussions - 5 Sparrows For 2 Cents (Rawkus)
07. Mayday - Mayday! (Southbeat)
08. Pigeon John - And The Summertime Pool Party (Quannum)
09. Hydroponic Sound System - Mixtape Mentality (Swedish Brandy)
10. DJ Yoda - The Amazing Adventures Of DJ Yoda (Antidote)

While we were still listening to Freddie Cruger's The 3 Foot People album "3 Feet High & Rising", REALLY one of this year best hip hop vibes of this year, Mr Cruger released another over-the-top flawless album, this time on Tru Thoughts Recordings. He comes from Sweden and is the hip hop artist of the year in our book. How strange is that??
Less surprising is the presence of The Coup duo here, with their "Pick A Bigger Weapon" drenched in p-funk influences. You might consider passing on the new Outkast soundtrack and get this opus instead...
Turntablism lovers will have jumped on the new Kid Koala release - as mind-blowing as ever, don't miss the Kid if he plays in your town tonight!! If more into lyrics, check the Braintax album, he's just one of the best British rappers out there words-wise (beats are good too - don't worry). If lyrics ain't your thing, you could put your ears on the new Madlib album/compilation of eccentric hip hop instrumentals...
More "classic old school hip hop" can be found on The Procussions new album on Rawkus Records, or the Pigeon John one on Quannum Projects. Not new, but fresh, don't hesitate. The mixtape from Hydroponics Sound System is more adventurous, rather dancefloor-oriented, mixing lotsa other influences in their hip hop.
To conclude this selection on a lighter note, we've chosen DJ Yoda's first album. After so many funny mixtapes, he's finally released his own thing with loads of guests, and it's one winner of a groovy hip hop humor thang.

In those hard times when government individuals thrive more and more on the poor, it's really nice to meet educated and involved artists. The Procussions are that kind of people, nice, intelligent and with something to say, without ever losing their natural cool. This is rare enough to be pointed out... Their latest album, 5 Sparrows For 3 Cents, was released earlier this year in the US but only in november 2006 in Europe. It's top-of-the-notch L.A. hip hop, funky, old school, with plenty of sunshine, so we thought at Paris DJs headquarters that it could be a good idea to try and do a...

The Procussions - 5 Sparrows For 2 Cents
(CD/2xLP) Rawkus RKS01, 2006-11-13

Tracklisting :
01. Opening Meditation
02. Shabach
03. Anybody
04. Simple Song (feat. DJ Vajra)
05. Fight Here (feat. Afrobots, Ahmad of 4th Ave Jones)
06. Miss January (feat. Talib Kweli)
07. The Storm
08. Rain Dance
09. I'll Fly (feat. Tara Ellis)
10. Track 10
11. Little People
12. Carousel
13. For the Camera
14. Vader March
15. Jiminy Cricket
16. American Fado (feat. Renee Altson)
17. Mars

Links :
theprocussions.com
myspace.com/theprocussions
rawkus.com
myspace.com/rawkusrecords
nocturne.fr

Various - Tres Presents Shipping And Handling
(2xCD) Tres Records TR396-021, 2006-10-03

Tracklisting CD1 :
01. Thes One - Noonen
02. Thes One - Yacht Club
03. Thes One feat. DJ Z-Trip - D'Nunzio
04. Giant Panda - GP Y'All
05. Headnodic feat Zion - Now A Daze
06. Headnodic - Vallejo
07. Headnodic feat The Procussions - The Drive
08. Thes One & Raashan Ahmad - Doin' It
09. Thes One & Raashan Ahmad - Good Co.
10. Thes One & Raashan Ahmad - Alright
11. Lightheaded - Surprise Cypher II
12. Giant Panda - Plus Bonus Party Cut
13. Giant Panda - T.K.O. (T.K.O. Mega Mix)
14. Ta'Raach - Yeah
15. Ta'Raach - Heaven
16. Lightheaded - Uhh! (New Mix)
17. Lil' Sci - Hit Me
18. Lil' Sci - C.U.
19. Lil' Sci - Hit Me (Phone Home Remix)

Tracklisting bonus party disk : KTRS AM Radio Vol. 2 feat DJ Alibi
01. Alibi - Intro
02. Lightheaded - Unconditional
03. Giant Panda - Chops Alibi Remix
04. Bloquera - Taller Gomez
05. Alibi - This Jam
06. Alibi - The Swass Ten w/ The Baron VonWolfgang Thes
07. Giant Panda - Sho' Improve
08. Alibi feat. Bamboombox - Don't Look Down
09. Ta'Raach - Yeah
10. Alibi - One Day
11. Alibi - You Know The Style
12. Giant Panda - Strings
13. Lightheaded - Eye To Eye
14. Alibi - When The Lights Get Low
15. Alibi - Eye On The Five w/ Ohmega Watts
16. Bloquera - Back To The Grind Again
17. Lightheaded - Speak Your Peace Alibi Remix
18. Alibi - Outro

Note : 19 tracks previously only released on wax ! feat. Thes One, Z-Trip, Giant Panda, Headnodic, Lightheaded ... plus exclusive party mix cd !

Links :
tresrecords.com
myspace.com/tresrecords
putsonline.co.uk
differ-ant.fr (french distribution)

The Sound Providers - An Evening With The Sound Providers
(CD) Quaternote/ABB Records QTR006/ABB1047-2, 2004-03-16

Review :
I remember clearly the year 2001 and the marvelous "Soon Come" album from Asheru And Blue Back Of The Unspoken Heard, which introduced me to a new range of independant old school funky back-to-basis hip hop influenced by the Zulu Nation and the Native Tongues tribe. When a few years later I stumbled upon this strange album, called "An Evening With The Sound Providers", listing Little Brother, Asheru, Wee Bee Foolish, Maspyke and The Procussions as featured artists, with a classy Blue Note-styled cover artwork, I couldn't resist buying it. I never regretted the purchase any second as it introduced me to the supa-groovy flow of The Procussions, whom I managed to finally colaborate with on the recent Grant Phabao reggae remix of their "Simple Song" track, but that's a whole other story and you're as misleaded as as I was back in 2001. The band is a matter of fact here the one called The Sound Providers, consisting of Soulo on production and DJ J-Skills on turntables, and the album is mostly a "beatmakers sampling jazz" hip hop deep joint, with only a quarter of the record featuring vocalists. Disappointment?? Not any second. The 5 emcees-fuelled tracks are all killer bopping head-nodders, with a preference for the jazz guitar & beats shoulda-been-a-hit "5 Minutes feat. The Procussions". The instrumentals just complete those stand-out songs perfectly for any ind of heavy blunt-rolling type of business. A must-have for old-schoolers and a perfect introduction towards the new 2006 album "Surreal & The Sound Providers"...
Djouls

Tracklisting :
01. Intro
02. Live At The Spot 1
03. For Old Time's Sake (feat. Asheru Of Unspolen Heard)
04. Night Steps
05. 5 Minutes (feat. The Procussions) | Go download MP3
06. Only Moments Ago
07. Autumns Evening Breeze
08. Live At The Spot 2
09. It's Gonna Bee (Alright) (feat. Wee Bee Foolish)
10. Jazz At The Cove 11. The Throwback (feat. Maspyke) | Go download MP3
12. Live At The Spot 3
13. The Prodigal Returns
14. Live At The Spot 4
15. Pacific Vibrations
16. Live At The Spot 5
17. Braggin & Boasting (feat. Little Brother)
18. Never Judge (feat. Soulo)
19. Live At The Spot 6

Links :
thesoundproviders.com
abbrecords.com/sp_bio.html
myspace.com/soundproviders
music.download.com/soundproviders