Sometimes, really good music can help you get through the day. I hope these selections help. Music heals.
Lyrics Born – Take It 2 Far
(Mobile Home Recordings)
Lyrics Born has hit that true Legend status here in the Bay. His early days with Latryx, with classics like “Say That & “Lady Don’t Tek No” lead up to his inevitable and anticipated solo albums. You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing his iconic anthem “Callin’ out” for a while. Over the years LB has kept steady dropping great albums, always elevating his sound while staying true to the vibe that made him the talent he is. On Take It 2 Far, he essentially drops one hell of a goodbye party jam. I say that since this new album, Goodbye, Sticky Rice is allegedly his last. But, traditionally in Hip-Hop, artist who often say it’s their last album, end up making more. Think Too Short, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj just to name a few. Maybe I’m just hoping he won’t be the one to actually retire since, in-spite of his massive catalog, I think the musical landscape would be less interesting without new Lyrcis Born records dropping every so often. But with this new single, he’s really beefing up this party vibe with it’s chunky 80’s funk drums and crazy horn section that gives off classic Teena Marie or even EWF vibes. It’s a banger.
Glass Beams – One Raga to A Disco Beat
(Ninja Tune)
It’s been a long time since we’ve had a group just come out of nowhere, filled with funk, groove and total mystique. Hailing out of Melbourne, this trio caught my attention earlier this year with the release of their EP Mahal, a psychedelic instrumental, funk filled, collection of middle eastern themed grooves. The mystique, comes from their appearance, as all 3 members play their music live wearing intricate masks to hide their identities. Lat time I can remember a band doing this was the lead singer from Brazilian Girls, who would also never show her face live. “One Raga to a Disco Beat”, a cover of ‘Raga Bhairav’ by Charanjit Singh, is a 4 to the floor monster and. This is top shelf dance music that sounds like it could have dropped on DFA in their hay day. I really hope they build off of this to craft more dance bangers like this one. I could also hear this being remixed and blended with the theme from Knight Rider, which I know wasn’t the inspiration, but, that is what first popped in my mind on first listen. Straight fire!
Lava La Rue – Shell of You
(Dirty Hit)
West London based Lava La Rue dropped one of the year’s best albums with the release of her debut Starface, an album described by Lava as “channeling a Lesbian Ziggy Stardust.” It’s great to see Bowie’s influence has found it’s way to gen-z. Shell of You, is an incredible tribute, sonically, to classic 90’s Alt-Rock showstoppers when the crowd would have their lighters lit in unison while drunkenly singing along with it’s chorus and guitar solo that feels like it’s in the same wheelhouse as Wonderwall(Oasis) or High & Dry(Radiohead). Lava La Rue also has been wearing a lot of funky hats in her music videos that give me huge 4 Non Blonds vibe, all with a more sultry, smoother voice that compliments the music and melancholic lyrics to a T. Put Lava La Rue on your radar and this singer, songwriter and director is a force of nature.
Fcukers – Tommy
(Ninja Tune)
File under: Really dope groups who’s name you can’t say on the radio.
Since this is going on the interwebz, I can say it here and tell you, this is the group to watch out for. Coming out of NYC Fcukers caught my attention a number of months back with their song Homie Don’t Shake”, a banger of a house tune with really rugged drums and a rock sample that brings back songs like Devil’s Haircut by Beck. Fcukers is a group that if they came out 20 years ago, I would have guessed would be an artist on the DFA roster, as it does border disco punk in the best way, but on their EP Baggy$ they show off a variety of sounds including House, Downtempo funk, Drum n Bass, and M.I.A style dancehall grooves. “Tommy” is their latest cut off the EP and it’s a house banger but also, pulls a classic electro breakbeat that comes straight out of the 80’s electro/freestyle era to form this bass heavy floor filler with some very cool vibe vocals from singer, Shannon Wise. Like their previous videos, it’s made a small budget but really works with the girtty sounds that come across. The video also features some clean cool uprockin’
Kit Sebastian – The Kiss
(Brainfeeder)
London based duo Kit Sebastian just released one hell of an album, New Internationale, a collection of beautifully crafted songs that sound like it was a ultra rare groove album dug up by a 90’s Hip-Hop DJ and the sample source for many fire records. To describe their sound is a bit tough and that’s a good thing. Kit Sebastian has a sound that is comparable to no one in the current music sphere, but immediately pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It’s heavy on the 60’s, 70’s retro vibe that feels like it was imported from France or even Italy and sung, in English, Turkish and French. The Kiss, one of the album’s more downtempo songs, is also one of the album’s highlights with it’s lush chords and dramatic moments on a song about an undying love. The song is incredibly cinematic and I imagine must sound crazy when live with the full band. Don’t let this album slip through the cracks as in this overly flooded market of new music and new artists, often get lost in the shuffle.