samplin is not a crime...

... but sometimes, it's a bit too obvious. The whole internet (well, at least the hip hop community) has gone wild over a few things lately, like Tyler's award, Weezy's new album and, of course, the sampling issue between the legendary Syl Johnson and Kanye West.

Maybe Kanye thought he could get away with it (is he that stupid ?), but "Different Strokes" ain't exactly a confidential song... So, Syl is pissed off, and claims "Kanye could have called me".

On the topic, a fine summary by Flea Market Funk.

And an absolute read, check this recent interview of the man.

"This house I'm sitting in right now I built in 2002 with the Wu-Tang money... "Shame on a Nigga".

soleil rare 6 - sippin.

You didn't expect it, well, here it is : the first "Soleil rare" club selection. 

Kavinsky - Testarossa Autodrive. 

In the world of Kavinsky, cars are a leitmotiv. And the track "Testarossa Autodrive" being the first on his debut, you can hardly miss this fact. Released in 2006, "Teddy Boy" is a highly slept-on EP of French electro. But it spread light on his work, reminescent of the 1980's spirit ; Kavinsky's shit is a mix of "K-2000", "Back To The Future", "Miami Vice" and such. 

Now linked to the best of the French scene thanks to his connection to Ed Banger, Kavinsky frequently offers dope mixes in clubs, with his unique i don't give a fuck style.

But what about "Testarossa Autodrive" ? Oh yeah... it's dope, simple as that. Those crazy layered synths became Kav's business card. Several producers and DJ's made remixes of this hit, such as Mr. Oizo and SebastiAn. And last but not least, don't miss the video.

A-Trak - Say Whoa.

Having talked of Ed Banger, it was normal to talk about Kitsuné, the French rival alter ego label which released "Say Whoa", by ex-scratch-wonderkid-turned-major-actor-of-the-club-scene A-Trak, as a 12" single. 

In just a few years, A-Trak had such an impact on the club scene that he's now considered a veteran... but what a career, at just 29. Several times DMC-ITF-Vestax world champion as a kid, partner of the very best in the scratching game (Craze, Q-Bert etc.), Kanye West's touring DJ, founder of the Fool's Gold label, incredible remixer, tireless clubber, one half of insane house duo Duck Sauce alongside the legendary Armand Van Helden, etc etc etc, A-Trak's resume is just too long to get going.

Released in 2008, "Say Who" acted as A-Trak's kick in the door. Well, now he owns the door. And the whole house too. Don't miss him at your local club.

Simian Mobile Disco ft. Chris Keating - Audacity Of Huge

Simian Mobile Disco kinda revived the British electro scene, with their elegant house sound, and their use of vocals. They gained fame in the game with numerous remixes and a few singles. The FabricLive series even surfed on the wave by having the boys of Simian hosting their #41 episode. 

After a first album, called "Attack Decay Sustain Release", Simian Mobile Disco's sophomore album, "Temporary Pleasure", was released in 2009. 

On "Audacity Of Huge", the second single from this album, the vocals are brought by Chris Keating of Yeasayer, an American band of psych pop. Almost girly, maybe not danceable, but a good mood setter.

MSTRKRFT - Street Justice. 

We're going a rougher road with MSTRKRFT (damn, it's a torture to write their name). Another Canadian act in this selection, also widely known for their remixing skills... their list of remixes is just too extended but they did everyone from Kelis to Armand Van Helden, through Bloc Party and Usher, to name just a few.

Using twisted bass sounds as the main core of the track, with fast hi-hats and a heady sentence, "Street Justice" served nicely as a single for the duo's debut "The Looks". The head-nodder of this set.

Sébastien Léger -P.Y.T. 

Gotta love the cover. Gotta love the MJ reference. Gotta love Sébastien Léger. 

Of course, sampling Michael Jackson and calling the track "P.Y.T." is too simple. But, what the hell... consider it a remix if you want, it sounds like a new track using a sample. The limit in electronic music is often so thin. 

This track was featured on Sébastien Léger's album "King Size", released in 2002. Compared to the current scene personified by the Ed Banger crew, Sébastien Léger's sound has deeper influences in techno, using fast hard beats. But this track sounds more like a Bob Sinclar early hit ; it reminds of the "Africanism" spirit. A good spirit.

DJ Mehdi - Pocket Piano (Brodinski Remix).

Another French guy. Once again from the Ed Banger catalog. And again with a diverse background. Indeed, Mehdi wasn't born into electronic sounds, he started as a hip hop DJ with teenage band Idéal J. He developed incredible skills as a rap producer and beatmaker, crafting beats for his group as well as for the best actors of the French rap scene. Then, suddenly, he turned himself into a club DJ and a electro composer. Well, not so suddenly if you listen to his work as The Cambridge Circus and with Cassius... but enough of the history lesson. 

Brodinski, remixer of "Pocket Piano", is a collaborator of Ed Banger, but is not part of the label. He instead works with Yuksek, another interesting side act of the French scene. Just like in the previous track of this selection, there's an "Africanism" mood on this track. I guess Bob Sinclar paved the way before doing irrelevant music...

Jaydee - Plastic Dreams (Laidback Luke Bootleg).

Au commencement était "Plastic Dreams"... I remember confusing Jaydee for Jay Dee back in the days. An honest mistake, because I aknowledged the existence of the Dutch house producer before I realized Jay Dee was responsible for so many excellent rap songs. 

Released in 1993, "Plastic Dreams" set the standard for the house scene : heady organs, loud bass... David Morales, MAW, Armand Van Helden, so many guys got inspiration from this unique song. Yea, those drums you hear in "U Don't Know Me", they come from "Plastic Dreams".

It's only normal that another Dutch guy, Laidback Luke, remixed "Plastic Dreams" in the more recent years. This one being a bootleg, it's very hard to get info about Luke's version, and you may only find it as a mp3 on the internet. Luke gave the original a modern lifting, with more echo, claps, distortion, but kept the basic elements of the original. Clubbish indeed. 

TTC - Dans Le Club (Instrumentale Version). 

A few years ago, electro rap wasn't the obvious path to get fame. Far from it. So TTC went the hard long road of releasing underground records until one day, they caught the ear of the guys of Big Dada. And then, the group entered into a new dimension. A dimension of excentricity. Lead by the charismatic (but bad rappers, you have to admit) Cuizinier and Teki Latex, the band capitalized on originality and anti-conformism. So much that, as always, it seems that they fell into their own game. 

The French lyrics of the vocal version of "Dans Le Club" are pretty scandalous, but hilarious if you are able to understand TTC's humour. So, here is the instrumental version, produced by the one and only Para One, a genius in his own genre. Fully enjoyable in your car, for example. Drive slow homey.

David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over.

It would be too simple to hate on David Guetta. But you have to admit he knows how to rock a crowd. Sure, I hear all the rumours... ghost producing for example. Well, I could give a damn. But I don't, because I heard live mixes in which David delivered some real intensity, getting deep into electro and avoiding his own hits and all the popish sounds. 

Now, I confess I grew tired of the Guetta formula, plain and simple. But it applies to the very recent songs. This album, "One Love", was pretty consistent. Strangely, I found the worst tracks to be the Black Eyed Peas collaborations. "When Loves Takes Over" lifted the album to the top of the charts, thanks to Kelly Rowland, who also revealed herself as another crowd rocker after the collapse of Destiny's Child. It might be the last time I select a Guetta's track for "Soleil rare", but whatever...

diggin tips.

Beat Tips posted an interesting article, made of extracts from the forum of the website. Thanks to the contribution of the members, you will be able to avoid a few mistakes, realize that you made "normal" mistakes, etc.

Of course, the tips are mainly directed to crate-diggers who want to sample old records, but it is also a good read for "simple" listeners and collectors. Just because advices such as "be patient", "be open minded", "don't rush" or "be curious", can apply to anyone who is interested in getting black dust on his fingers.

soleil rare 5 - L word.

Minnie Riperton - Stay In Love.

Minnie Riperton surely had a rare vocal talent. She didn't scream her heart out, but preferred whispering. Her voice gives more sense to the title of this song, produced by her husband Richard Rudolph. Backed with sweet backed vocals (both male and females voices), "Stay In Love" is a very nice ballad, that Minnie concludes with a high note, the kind of note that inspired Mariah Carey. Gentle Spanish-style guitars also make their way inside your ears to suggest you sit back and relax.

For the story, published in 1975, the "Stay In Love" album is the last album Minnie recorded before she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Marvin Gaye - Need Your Lovin' (Want You Back).

It's hard to believe Marvin started in the music business as a drummer. According to the legend, he was once even featured in a teen band alongside Stevie Wonder... what a line-up. 

Fortunately, Marvin once took a mic and never left it, until he was killed by his father. "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" earned Marvin a great success in 1965, reaching the top of the charts, and selling one million copies. It was one of his first hits as a solo artist. 

"Need Your Lovin' (Want You Back)" was written by both Clarence Paul and Marvin Gaye. Opening on piano notes, in the classic Motown mood of the 60's, the song uses the formula of one-and-two's between Marvin and the backing vocals. A few horns are featured, by frankly, the song is all about Marvin's voice. And yeah, it's too short. 

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Everybody Needs Love.

It's not an insult to say that The Miracles are not the main ingredient of this track. Because Smokey Robinson has such a presence behind the mic. Because I guess it was Edward Holland and Norman Whitfield's intention to push Smokey forward. Because the backing band of Motown drops a heady performance : drums are on point, with nice rimshots, horns, a sweet guitar and bass pattern. A classic Motown recipe for a true statement. 

The Stylistics - Love Is The Answer.

It starts like a Barry White instrumental song. And guess what ? Well, The Man had nothing to do with it. 

The Stylistics were hailing from Philly ; just for that, you would expect them to appear in the Philadelphia International rooster. Well, they didn't. "Let's Put It All Together" was recorded on Avco Records, a label that enjoyed success thanks to The Stylistics, and that's almost it.

On this track, "Love Is The Answer", it's another great vocal performance that makes it special. But I guess the producers found their instrumental good enough to make it follow the vocal version on the B side of the album. And don't underestimate the percussions.

Willie Hutch - Lucky To Be Loved By You.

What do you know about Willie Hutch ? "The Mack". Yeah. "Foxy Brown". Yeah. Two masterpieces, two soundtracks. But Willie also composed albums for himself, so to speak. "Soul Portrait" was his debut album, and, hot damn, it wasn't a foot set in the industry, it was a whole leg. 

Responsible for the music and the words of most of the album, Willie Hutch set the record straight in 1969. This incredible effort attracted the ears of Detroit label Motown on the L.A.-born singer. Indeed, after releasing two albums on RCA, Willie Hutch started writting for Motown superstars The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson etc. And had the career we know.

The Three Degrees - Get Your Love Back.

This mid-70's effort wears the touch of the magical combo Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, the creators of Philadelphia International. With a little help from John Davis as the arranger (Gamble & Huff didn't know how to write music), the duo crafted a up-tempo hit for the female trio that followed The Supremes is the heart of the soul lovers.
Behind the instruments, of course, that's another good performance by in-house band MFSB. Now, stomp your feet and let your body respond to the bass.

David Ruffin - Still In Love With You.

Goddamn, David Ruffin was the man. He had such a powerful voice. Everyone noticed it when he was the lead singer of The Temptations. But it became even more obvious when he decided to take the solo exit.
"Still In Love With You" sounds like a song by The Whispers ; it indeed reminds of "This Kind Of Lovin'". This is because it was made in 1980, at a time when disco was taking the spot of soul music in the industry.
The tune is so danceable that you'll find yourself moving to the beat even if you're seated. 

Teddy Pendergrass - Love T.K.O.

Teddy Pendergrass should have left Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes much earlier than he did. But, life is like a box of chocolates... Teddy expanded his wings in 1977, quite late in the history of soul music. And in 1982, he became half paralized, following a car accident. He kept recording after this drama though. But life was not the same...
During his five main years, Teddy Pendergrass gained international fame, thanks to a voice that was making girls faint. That may be the "Love T.K.O."... With the unbeatable Philadelphia International team to nurture him, Teddy couldn't miss. As mellow as it gets, "Love T.K.O." is a real pillow call.      

Barry White - It's Only Love Doing It's Thing.

Another voice. Another incredible charisma. Barry White didn't need to sing, he could whisper or talk and make a hit nonetheless. Strangely enough, people usely think Barry was only the voice over other people's music. Errrr... that's quite not true. Apart a little help from friend Gene Page, Barry was a dope composer for himself, and for a big amount of acts.
Featured on "The Man", "It's Only Love Doing It's Thing" will easily being spotted by 50 Cent's fans, as the first notes were sampled for the rap song "21 Questions". But as a whole, the song is a great proof of Barry White's skills as a producer : nice melodies, impressive orchestration. Flawless.

Curtis Mayfield - So In Love.

Once again, a "Soleil Rare" selection features a song from Curtis Mayfield's catalog, and moreover from his "There's No Place Like America Today" album. Well, yeah, it's a dope album. Addictive.

Once again, Curtis will guide you to your bed with harmonious organs and horns, supported by slow drums. Curtis knew how to let the music speak for itself, before laying lyrics over the notes with his typical voice. "Woooo oooooh". Sing along y'all... "so in love"... Forever Curtis.

diggin guide - Istanbul (Turkey).

Even though there are records to find on both sides of the Bosphorus, I will mainly talk about the European side. The reason is quite simple : when I crossed the strait, and set foot on the Asian side, it looked like all the record stores were closed.

On the contrary, I had plenty of time to dig on the European side. You should remember three names : Aslihan Pasaji, Deform and Plakhane.

It's been a few years now that Turkish records are at the top of the list of a lot of diggers. Psychedelic rock and funk are the main quests. This fact helps to understand the prices of records in Istanbul : they are not cheap, but not that expensive either. Actually, it may be a bit lower than what you can find in Western European countries. 

Plakhane is run by two guys, who also act as DJ's in Istanbul. I met Dennis, and thanks to him, I had some nice tips on Turkish music. Considering Baris Manco's records are either impossible to found, or extremely expensive (even reissues), Dennis directed me towards other names, especially female vocalists. After an extensive search through all the crates, Dennis let me listen to everything on the central audio set.

But I shouldn't insist so much on Turkish music, as most of the crates are dedicated to other styles, and especially black music, with nice jazz, soul and funk records. Rock is also well represented.

Deform, located in a street next to Plakhane, looks like the twin brother. The staff is younger though. The stock shares the same characteristics as what you can find at Plakhane. They have a turntable to listen to the records. The discount stuff located on the pavement helps you to locate the store. As far as I remember, their yerli (as in "for us" in Turkish, as Dennis told me, meaning Turkish music, including the highly wanted Baris Manço, Erkin Koray and other Turkish prog albums) stock is not as extensive as the one at Plakhane.     

Aslihan Pasaji is an indoor alley, kind of a book/old paper/records market, right next to Istiklal Caddessi, in front of the Galatasaray Lisesi main entrance. Many stands are furnished with records. I don't remember seeing names, so it'll be hard to advise one. Anyway, the most famous, thanks to the internet, is managed by two sisters.

Surprisingly, the prices there are quite high. They have great Turkish music, but I just thought it was too much for me, especially for 45's... more and more crate-diggers are shopping in Istanbul, so prices are logically getting higher. sometimes, you must have limits. I remember another stand, with hidden crates (not very interesting though), but the parrot in its cage was disturbing (yeah, diggin is quite religious).

Besides these locations, that sell second-hand records, a few shops sell new vinyls. Mephisto, on Istiklal Caddessi was a nice one, with a few good crates. But you are not likely to find anything you couldn't find elsewhere. At the time I was there, there newest records were the reeditions of Herbie Hancock (right after the web went crazy over the identification of the sample of Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones Pt. 2") and Quincy Jones' albums.

Even if I was unsuccessful on the Asian side of Istanbul, here are a few spots that I regret I couldn't visit. Rainbow 45 is located in the Kadikoy district. When you get off the ferry boat from the European side, take a right, and keep following the main street, along the water, until you see small streets and lots of people ; that should be the Kadikoy market. There, you should find other records stores. But, be thorough, patient, read the signs. In the same area, there's Zoltan. Also, the Akmar Pasaji, on Muhurdar Caddessi, contains several stands, on the same model as the Aslihan Pasaji.

Of course, I'm not the first one to write about Istanbul record stores. You can find interesting information here, here, and here.

Edit : Dust & Grooves posted an interview of a record collector living in Istanbul. Apparently, there's more to come. 
Edit 2 : Dust & Grooves posted an interview of a local digger, who, through the years, collected the rarest of Turkish records. Judge by yourself : 3 vintage copies of Baris Manço's "2023" are seating in his apartment. 

soleil rare 4 - blankets.

Curtis Mayfield - Hard Times. 

In the current state of the world, let's just forget the title of the album... "There's No Place Like America Today" was released in 1975, and is probably Curtis Mayfield's best album. Short but so soulful. 

Now, can we really say that "Hard Times" by Curtis is a cover of Baby Huey's song ? Well, Baby Huey's "Hard Times", a timeless classic released in 1971, was actually written and produced by Mayfield.

While Baby Huey's version was enhanced by a deep voice and a powerful orchestration, Curtis make his song very quiet, relax yet sophisticated, almost sexy, paving the way for Prince and Pharrell Williams. 

Gary McFarland - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction. 

You wouldn't expect a jazzman to cover such a rock anthem as the Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction". But, in a way, McFarland totally makes the song his. The jazzy vibe is completed by a latin vibe, thanks to McFarland's favorite instrument, the vibraphone.

So, expect a light touch, so far away from the agressive guitar riffs of Keith Richards. And surprisingly, the two versions were printed on record the same year, in 1965. Well... so were a dozen covers, including Otis Redding's. An instant rock classic ? Nah, it crossed genres.

MPB 4 & Quarteto Em Cy - Because. 

It's hard to keep a covers compilation 100% Beatles-free. Featured on the classic album "Abbey Road", the Lennon-wirtten ballad "Because" was covered 9 years later, jointly by Brazilian groups MPB 4 and Quarteto Em Cy. 

Gathering so many guys allowed them to reproduce the Beatles' vocal triple overdub with the same efficiency. It may be lacking audacity, but there's a latin feeling nonetheless.

El Michels Affair - Shimmy Shimmy Ya. 

In case you don't know, the guys of El Michels Affair are huge Wu-Tang fans and proved it many times. So, after a bunch of covers recorded on 7", it was only a question of time until they release a tribute album. 

This cover of Ol' Dirty Bastard's most famous song starts with the unforgettable piano notes crafted by Rza on the original song ; horns follow, with the bass and, because "Wu-Tang is for the children", a kids choir strike up the most significant lines of the song. "Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang" !Oh, and I didn't mention the dope drums break in this track. A very interesting tribute to the late ODB.

Stevie Wonder - Bang Bang.

In 1966, Stevie Wonder's career as a hitmaker was 3 years old. In 1966, Stevie Wonder stopped being called Little Stevie on covers. In 1966, Stevie Wonder was 16. Yes, sixteen. Yet, on his "Bang Bang" cover, he already sounded so mature, so in shape. It's like his voice hasn't changed since then. 

Written by Sonny Bono, and originally sung by Cher (yes, Cher is old enough to be your grandmother), "Bang Bang" was recently made famous under the voice of Nancy Sinatra, thanks to Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill". Stevie's version easily matches in emotion Nancy's bass-driven cover. Stevie's features bright voices and strings. And the drums, wow ! Now sing it.

Ben L'Oncle Soul - Crazy. 

Ben is a French soul singer, who devoted his young career to instil a drop of Motown and Stax spirit into the music industry. He appeared on the scene with a cover of "Seven Nation Army", quickly followed by a EP of covers, titled "Soul Wash".

"Crazy" was a tough pick to make a cover. Indeed, how to find the formula to turn a club funk anthem into a soul tune ? Well... make it faster than your usual soul song, with well laced drums, and you got it. Add Ben's voice, less surprising than Cee-Lo's but still dope, a symphony of bass, horns, organ and a saloon-style piano... wow, that makes a lot of ingredients. That's how smart Ben is. By the way, he tours in Europe and the US. 

Syl Johnson - Come Together.

It really is difficult to avoid the Beatles discography when making a covers compilation... Out of the classic soul album "Is It Because I'm Black", here is the cover of "Come Together" by Syl Johnson.
Like all good covers, it's good because it's different. Organs and guitars have the top spot, while the drummer tries to reproduce Ringo Starr's famous tom sounds. Strangely enough for a soul track, drums seems to be mixed low compared to the Beatles' original.
But what's really remarquable about this cover is of course Syl's voice, so raw, so... Syl.

Takkhalha - Play With Fire.

Another proof that the music industry can do great things. "Persian Underground" is a compilation of rock songs from the 60's and 70's ; the kind of tunes that you would have never heard without a few meticulous guys.
Complain about the recording quality if you like, but you'll have to admit the simple (but psych) orchestration is quite refreshing. The singer of Takkhalha clearly tries to make a Mick Jagger impersonation, but a good one. This kind of track is funny to listen to, when you think about it, considering the current political and cultural state of Iran. Once again, cultural tribulations are linked to political evolutions, and records act like fingerprints of time.

Seu Jorge - Ziggy Stardust.

If you've never seen it, do yourself a favor and go watch "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou". For Bill Murray, for Wes Anderson, for Owen Wilson, for Cousteau, for whatever reason...
As a soundtrack to the movie, some guy had the great idea of recording Brazilian guitarist and singer Seu Jorge (who makes recurrent cameos in the movie as a member of Zissou's crew). Seu Jorge recorded several covers of David Bowie, enough to make an album, alone with his acoustic guitar. Well, he was wearing Cousteau's red hat also. But it's not your usual cover song, as Seu translated them in Portuguese. The flavor is original, and sticks in everyone's mind just like the figure of Bill "Steve Zissou" Murray. 

soleil rare 3 - bits.

Rza - Flying Birds.

"Ghost Dog", movie by Jim Jarmusch starring Forrest Whitaker, sports a soundtrack inspired by the movie and a real score. The track "Flying Birds" is featured on the score, which is a Japanese release. Partly thanks to the Rza, the movie is full of emotion ; opening with "Flying Birds", you instantly know that the movie is gonna be a winner.

Banging drums and a weird piano, that's Rza's basic recipe since the creation of the Wu-Tang, but it definitely works on screen. The ideal track to start this selection.

Dr. Who Dat? - Viberian Twilight Part 2.

If you asked me why beatmakers love to change names so frequently, I would not be able to answer. But who cares ? So, Dr. Who Dat? is Jneiro Jarel and makes great music, in the same mood as guys like Flying Lotus and his Brainfeeder crew.

This track was featured in 2009 on the compilation "Scion A/V Presents : Blu Jemz Beat Machine".

The sound is complex, it's a wall of sounds, which melodies emerging from behind the curtains and a patchwork of sonic special effects. All together, it sounds relaxing despite a messy first impression.

Infinitskills - Morning Lights.

Some say Infinitskills is a group of 3 beatmakers : EricP., Luigi & Pat Gonzales. Others say they are only 2 : EricP. & Luigi. Considering the cover of "Polarized", and the fact that these last two are Monkey Robot, I really can't say. But again, who cares ? One sure thing is that they come from Brussels, Belgium, and they are clearly underrated. They make dope beats, either using samples or using live instrumentation.

"Morning Lights" sounds like a combination. The vocal inserts are of course samples, the strings also. But what about the drums ? Sounds live. And that heaaaavy bass ? Sounds synth-played.

Anyway, the goal was to showcase the talent of these guys.  

Fat Jon - Spacesuit proper.

You don't know Fat Jon ? Well, his curriculum makes him hardly traceable. Born American, member of the Five Deez, he gained fame by contributing to the legendary "Samurai Champloo" music, alongside the late Nujabes. He also crafted albums with J. Rawls, under the name (or number) 3582. To make it even more difficult, Fat Jon The Ample Soul Physician created his own label, and now releases his albums on it.

In a way, Fat Jon labelled his own sound : it's indeed some ample soul.

The combination of flutes, vocal samples and gentle drums makes "Spacesuit proper" a real delight to listen.

By the way, you can usually purchase Fat Jon's albums with your eyes (and ears) closed, as it's always that good...

KenLo - "Bass". 

KenLo hails from Québec, Canada. He became famous over the web and the beat scene by releasing a series of six free instrumental albums, called "Craqnuques" (="neckbreaking"). The track "Bass" is on the "Bleu" album and synthetises KenLo's obsession for basses and drums. A few days ago, it sounded experimental, but now, it's the main sound of the beat scene. It still sounds incredibly dope and will indeed make your head nod.  

J. Rawls - A Tribute To Troy.

J-Rawls is a busy old timer. Yeah, already. He appeared on key projects such as "Black Star" by Mos Def and Talib Kweli. He went the underground way with J. Sands as The Lone Catalysts. He dropped solo albums, and co-authored albums alongside Fat Jon as 3582. Then he collaborated with Declaime, Count Bass D, and John Robinson. 

All that being said, I haven't talked about his Liquid Crystal Project, consisting of several musicians. Two albums were released under this moniker. J.Rawls used them to deliver several tributes to his favorites fellow producers : Jay Dee, Pete Rock, The Beatnuts, Tha Beatminerz...

In this selection, I included "A Tribute To Troy", which is of course an interpretation of "T.R.O.Y." by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth. It includes live instruments, and gives a new dimension to the theme. Sure, the original Pete Rock-produced track remains the reference. But it's nice to hear the same melodies played differently.

Exile - Love Line. 

Unlike some other beatmakers, Exile is really focused on the melodies, even if he chops a lot. His collaborations with emcee Blu made it clear to everyone that he's into jazzy stuff. Your lady will love that track. It's the instrumental version of a song that features Blu. It appears on the "Radio" album. 

Oh I haven't said a word about Exile's career. Well, he was a half of Emanon alongside Aloe Blacc, produced for a bunch of high class rappers, and released albums with emcees Blu and Fashawn. His solo career is also gaining space in the game.

Madlib - Dillalade Ride (Contact Hide). 

I won't talk too much about Madlib's resume, because it's a mess and you can find what you need to know over on the Stones Throw website. Anyway, following J Dilla's death, Madlib was left without his Jaylib counterpart. Not that he never worked alone before, but since they met and collaborated, J Dilla had seemed to be a huge influence on Madlib's way of producing and musical directions. Yes, even when you're great and ingenious on your own, you can still be influenced. 

So, Madlib produced two volumes of this "Beat Konducta" series for the glory of J Dilla. Titled "Dil Cosby Suite" and "Dil Withers Suite", they includes beats that all refer to Dilla in one way or another. 

Here on "Dillalade Ride (Contact Hide)", it's the soulful samples and chopped vocals that remind Dilla's famous beat-tapes. And then some Madlibness. The Yin and the Yang. 

Count Bass D - All Shook Up. 

Count Bass D is a strange animal. I remember buying his first album, "Pre-life Crisis" in a kind of record sale, out of curiosity because of this smiling face on the cover. Smiling does not seem to be an easy thing for a rapper. It was a good listen but it wasn't raw enough for a Wu-Tang fan. 

A few years later, Count Bass D's name emerged out of nowhere, with a complete new sound. 

"All Shook Up" was part of a free instrumental effort, distributed over the internet. It is based on the classic "Shook Ones Pt 2" by Mobb Deep, using the different parts (bass, drums, main sample) in a clever and entertaining game of 1 and 2's on the turntables. It's short, it's fresh, and you could totally imagine Jazzy Jeff or A-Trak doing this live.

Onra - Come Closr (Kicks & Claps Edit).

Before you say anything about the cover, this is the real one, the first one, designed by Onra himself. The album "1.0.8" was originally released as a digital instrumental album. It displays beats crafted with Indian samples. At the time the album was first released, Onra didn't want people to assume he was biting Madlib's style, considering the recent release of "Beat Konducta In India". It was only in a second time that the album got a vinyl release, with a different cover.

I am glad that I followed Onra's career (almost) since the beginning. His work so far has been consistant. His style evolved, proving that he mastered the different steps of beatmaking, at a quick pace. You may not like everything the man dropped, but he never took anyone for a fool, only releasing quality stuff, such as his critically acclaimed "Chinoiseries" (waiting for the part 2...).

This "Come Closer (Kicks And Claps Edit)", based on a sample by Salma Agha, is so melodic that I always hit the repeat button when listening to it. Many times. And it comes with a beautiful video. Enjoy y'all.    

soleil rare 2 - motions.

François de Roubaix - Un Peu, Beaucoup, Passionnément...

Diving into François de Roubaix's work is an exciting journey. Responsible for the most interesting and progressive soundtracks of the late '60s-early '70s, François de Roubaix surely died too young. 

Fortunately, the good management of his estate made his works available to everyone, either on vinyl or CD. As always when re-editions are floating around, original copies are just impossible to catch. Gotta accept the fact that François de Roubaix became cultissime.

Released in 1971, "Un Peu, Beaucoup, Passionnément..." features female singer Vaea and a romantic yet swinging orchestration. François (almost) at his best.

Acanthus - Sleeping Beauty (Samba Des Vampires).

Finders Keepers did it once again. By releasing the soundtrack of Jean Rollin's movie "Le Frisson Des Vampires", the label turned a digger's dream into reality. But while searching for data about Acanthus, I couldn't find anything. The only thing I know is that it seems to be a Parisian combo.

Anyway, I gotta confess I didn't discover the tune "Sleeping Beauty (Samba Des Vampires)" through the newly released Acanthus' LP, but from a "Written In Blood" compilation made by Nate Ashley.

The sound of this track is so bright, so mellow also... the end of the song seems to be cut, but that's the way it is.

Chan Kwong Wing - I Want To Be A Good Guy.

"Infernal Affairs" is an in-cre-di-ble movie. Period. So awesome that Martin Scorcese himself directed a remake ("The Departed"). But Tony Leung and Andy Lau rule over Leonardo Di Caprio. So much that it became a trilogy in Hong Kong. 

Chan Kwong Wing is the composer of the three movies and a famous movie scorer in Hong Kong. 

"I Want To Be A Good Guy" is a tremendous theme, with opressing violins. Then come the bass, and bing! the drums. Heavy drums. The track doesn't end here, as it is composed of several small parts ; as a whole it is a good way to acknowledge Chan's genius.

Guido & Maurizio De Angelis - Speed Fever.

The De Angelis brothers started their career as composers and arrangers in 1963 in Italy. They were then so prolific that they had to use various names. The strange thing is that they succeeded to remain so gooood.

The "Formula 1 - Febbre Della Velocita" LP was released in 1978. The movie was not a fiction, it was a documentary. You could think that a documentary does not need a powerful soundtrack. Well, the brothers didn't think so.

With its up tempo beat and light mood, "Speed Fever" is not the usual Italian score. It embraces the influences of the time, with class, and reminds of the work of Giorgio Moroder. It was the time of disco, folks.

Bruno Nicolai - Whisky.

Alongside Ennio Morricone and Piero Umiliani, Bruno Nicolai share the top spots of Italian film composer. Ennio and Bruno oftenly cooperated, Nicolai conducting Morricone orchestras on several occasions. Bruno Nicolai may not be as famous as Ennio Morricone, he may have a shorter discography, but his works would make any other movie composer jealous.

Nicolai made a specialty in scoring Mafia movies (spaghetti westerns as well), "L'Onorata Famiglia - Uccidere E' Cosa Nostra" being a good example of his style. 

In "Whisky", Bruno Nicolai displays his love for mind blowing drums and guitar fuzz for your listening pleasure.

Michel Magne & Jean Yanne - Luttons Pour Le Marché Commun.

If you are interested in scores and soundtracks, you already know about Michel Magne. Jean Yanne was a French actor and director, who died in 2003. Being in the cinema industry at the same time as Chabrol and Godard, Jean Yanne developped a rare sense of humour. He also signed a lot of lyrics for movie soundtracks. 

"Luttons Pour Le Marché Commun" is part of the "Moi Y'en A Vouloir Des Sous" movie, on the screens in 1972. It is a funky track, supported by an interesting stomping beat and an element that has its supporters : the cowbell. The lyrics are funny and absurd, but what else would you expect from Jean Yanne ?

The Chemical Brothers - The Devil Is In The Details.

This is quite new as "Hanna" is still displayed in theatres. I confess I haven't (yet) seen it. But I was curious to hear how The Chemical Brothers would scored a motion picture. And judging by "The Devil Is In The Details", it is not your usual ChemBros sound... no fury of samples, no angry beat... but simple repetitive notes that will be quickly stuck in your head if you don't pay attention. It's cute.

Eric Demarsan - Thème De Mathilde.

If I'm not mistaking, the soundtrack for "L'Armée Des Ombres" was originally only released as a EP. And "Thème De Mathilde" wasn't featured on it. So, when Universal Music Jazz and Emarcy released the entire soundtrack of the motion picture as part of the "Ecoutez Le Cinéma" series, it was a good surprise.

Eric Demarsan was tutored by monsters like Michel Magne and François de Roubaix. Can't think of a better schooling... "L'Armée Des Ombres", alongside "Le Cercle Rouge", is the most famous soundtrack by Demarsan. It includes beautiful themes, "Thème De Mathilde" being one of the best examples : light, bright notes, on a bed of strong basses (don't underestimate the basses of this track). A winner.

Alain Goraguer - Déshominisation I.

"La Planète Sauvage" is the absolute Graal of soundtracks. The original pressing sells easily for more than 150€. The (animated) movie is not very well known, even if it won the Special Prize at the 1973 Cannes Festival. In a way, it now exists in the shadow of its music. 

Goraguer's career is very eclectic. Able of being Boris Vian's and Serge Gainsbourg's sideman, he also wrote weird stuff, such as "Gym Tonic". Anyway, most of the time, Goraguer labelled records are must-have. Notice that Goraguer was sampled by beatmaking heavyweights like Madlib and Jay Dee.  

This track "Déshominisation I" has monster drums, and a recurrent low key guitar on top. Tense, but beautiful. 

David Holmes - Lifting The Building.

Let's say it : David Holmes is (or was) underrated. He released stuff without people noticing it, like its Free Association stuff. But with the "Ocean's" series, he had a great occasion to shine. And he didn't miss the chance to prove the world he's one of the greatest scorer of our era. 

His signature sound is made of live drums and percussions, and strong basses. "Lifting The Building" is so funky, that you will sing the notes while it's playing.