A Sunny Day in Glasgow Stereogum Premiere

September 1st, 2009 View Comments

A Sunny Day in Glasgow are prepping a new album, Grammar Ashes, for September 15th. Check out the new track, “Failure”, over at Stereogum.

274648 72 A Sunny Day in Glasgow Stereogum Premiere Artist: A Sunny Day in Glasgow
Title: Ashes Grammar
Label: Mis Ojos Discos
Genre: Pop : Rock
Release Date: 9/15/2009
UPC: 616892049968
Territory: World

Opening with a ten second homage to Estonian composer Arvo Part, it’s immediately apparent that A Sunny Day in Glasgow’s new album, Ashes Grammar, is going to be a much more visceral outing than their 2007 album debut, Scribble Mural Comic Journal. It takes a few minutes for the record to even begin to reveal itself, as a swarm of 1950s acapella (“Secrets at the prom”) gives way to resonant drones, room noise, and sub bass (“Slaughter killing carnage”). It’s here that “Failure” unexpectedly kicks in with a tribal stomp and a fluttering guitar acting as a pair of wings, lifting the circular chants of the song’s melody off the ground. It’s all at once joyous, insecure, and blissed-out—and sounds nothing like we’ve heard from A Sunny Day in Glasgow before. The album is out today on iTunes and 9/15 everywhere else!

Review: Statik Selektah

September 1st, 2009 View Comments

By: Elijah Carroll

Artist: Statik Selektah
Title: Critically Acclaimed b/w The Thrill Is Gone
Label: Brick Records
Genre: Hip-Hop : Rap
Release Date: 9/8/09
UPC: 765481880717
Territory: World

Despite what Nas said hip hop is definitely not dead in NYC. Showoff Records founder/CEO Statik Selectah is making sure of that. A one man force of nature Statik is quickly establishing himself as one of the best DJ/Producers in the game. His style is reminiscent of many of the 90′s era greats that he cites as inspiration. With two critically acclaimed LPs to his credit and uncountable other tracks and mixtapes Statik may soon rival Lil’ Wayne’s productivity. “Critically Acclaimed” is the lead single of his upcoming third LP 100 Proof. Featuring Lil Fame, Saigon and Sean Price it’s clear Statik is more than just another underground beat maker. The release has 2 b-sides including “The Thrill Is Gone” featuring Styles P and Talib Kweli which is already making it’s rounds on youtube.

“Born January 23, 1982 in Lawrence, MA, Patrick Baril was exposed to production equipment at a very early age, tinkering with his parents’ eight-track machine, cassette recorders, and turntable. By middle school, he was already DJing school functions, but he was inspired to be a true wheels-of-steel artiste after hearing DJ Premier scratch and mix records on Funkmaster Flex’s Hot 97 radio show. Soon after, at 14 years old, he purchased his first turntables and mixer. Calling himself DJ Statik (the “Selektah” surname came later), he started to work clubs and private parties up and down the New England coast.” -From Statik Selectah Myspace

Always ahead of the curve, Statik founded Showoff PR in 1993 at the age of 21. Since then he’s been breaking rappers, most notably fellow Lawrence, MA native Termanology, and building his reputation as one of the best beat makers around. This is clearly evidenced by the myriad of talent that he’s already produced tracks for including Foxy Brown, AZ, Talib Kweli, Bun B, Styles P, Freeway, M.O.P. and Jadakiss. Add to that list all the rappers that have appeared on his tracks and you’ve got a who’s who of east coast rap. His musical style and deft sampling give him an appeal from indie to more mainstream. From Mass. to N.H. to NYC Statik’s roots and style are east coast to the core. His talent and drive are undeniable so it’s only a matter of time before the world knows his name.

Here’s a single from 2007 featuring AZ and Cormega:
Statik Selektah
“No Holding Back” (mp3)
from “No Holding Back”
(Brick Records)

icon landing page Review: Statik Selektah More On This Album

Review: Statik Selektah
Check out the video from the lead single to his last album Stick 2 The Script:

Featured Label: Topic Records

September 1st, 2009 View Comments

In 2009, Topic Records celebrates its 70th anniversary. This makes it the oldest, truly independent record company in the world and an extremely sprightly, almost ageless senior citizen compared to youngsters Motown, Island and Rough Trade who also enjoy big anniversaries this year.

During the past 70 years, Topic Records has quietly built a deserved reputation for not compromising the nature of its work or that of the independent spirited artists it represents. TOPIC 70 at Southbank Centre, celebrates the work of this important record company and presents three very special concerts, featuring some of the label’s current recording artists (starting with The Waterson Family on September 11th).

Topic’s new 21 track taster digital sampler ‘Three Score & Ten – A Journey Back In Time’ is out on the 31^st August with much more to follow over the coming months – 10 albums per month from September for 7 months (see below for the first 5 releases in this series).

Released 31st August 2009

Various Artists
“Three Score & Ten – A Journey Back In Time”

Oldham's Burning Sands The Oldham Tinkers
“Oldham’s Burning Sands”

Shirley & Dolly Collins
“For As Many As Will”

Martin & Jessica Simpson
“True Dare Or Promise”

Dick Gaughan
“Coppers & Brass”

Alistaire Anderson
“Corby Crag”

“I’ve been buying and scrounging Topic records since 1954. It feels like Topic has always been there, quietly doing good work. Like a backbone’ – John Peel (1999)

‘If it came to pass that Rough Trade would end up as part of the tradition started by the father of them all, the great Topic Records, I would be very proud. I am referring to the tradition of great independent labels. Topic has always been an inspiration to me and its roots and riches grow more precious as the years go by..’ – Geoff Travis (M.D. Rough Trade – 2009).

“70 years! Topic records might be the greatest recording institution in the history of British music. They make most so-called indie labels look pretty corporate to be sure. Their consistency, musical purity and genuine independence is second to none and they deserve to be celebrated properly”. – Laurence Bell (M.D. Domino Records – 2009)

“Topic Records has always been an inspiration. It’s a wonderful thing that this very musical, daring and uncompromising institution is with us and thriving. Wishing Topic many happy birthdays to come. ” – Nick Gold (MD – World Circuit – 2009).

“I don’t know how the British musical landscape would have looked without Topic being there all those years. A vital component of British culture” – Richard Thompson (Singer & guitarist – 2009)

Vote for our SXSW Panels!

August 31st, 2009 View Comments

Just a few short days left to vote for 2010 South by Southwest panels and we have a couple for you to choose from. Details are below! Don’t be shy to click “Thumbs Up”!:

Global Music Marketing: How To Really Reach Fans Worldwide-

The digital age has opened up the world to your music, but it doesn’t happen by itself. Like growing your fans domestically, international reach requires a deliberate strategy. Come learn what are the most effective global marketing tools, what regions are worth your efforts, how to best use social media in other countries, what regions are mobile hotbeds, how to measure impact and much more at this engaging panel discussion.

cp thinbar Vote for our SXSW Panels!

How to Take Your Music to Market-
In this digital age more and more artists are wanting to jump on the DIY trend. This crash course in how to get your music out to your fans will walk through the basics of what you need to know by answering: How do I register by songs? What do I need to know about copyright? How do I get digital distribution? How do I get on iTunes? What legal structure do i need to have in place?

Review: Glenn Jones

August 27th, 2009 View Comments

By: Mike Madavi
Artist: Glenn Jones
Title: Barbecue Bob in Fishtown
Label: Strange Attractors Audio House
Genre: Folk : Alternative
Release Date: 9/1/09
UPC: 789856305629
Territory: World

The Boston Globe claims Glen Jones is “The best guitarist you never heard of,” and we couldn’t agree more; the fingerpicking wonder has made a name for himself as one of the finest steel string players around. Aside from being seduced by punk in its latter-70’s heyday and brandishing the electric for a large portion of his career (including 20 years as a founding member of post-rock instrumentalists Cul de Sac), it was the acoustic steel-string and the seemingly multi-directional genres born from Takoma Park, Maryland’s folk breeding ground that informed much of Jones’ early musical vision.

The album’s title has an interesting back story that also reveals part of Glen’s compositional process. Fishtown is the part of Philadelphia where Jack Rose, a younger player who Glen met in 2003 at a Folk Festival in Western Massachusetts, lives. Glen instantly understood what the young player was doing with his unique, regional style and also recognized similar influences by the playing of John Fahey and Robbie Basho. Barbeque Bob was one of the great Atlanta 12 string players who Glen admires, so he had this idea about him bringing his Atlanta 12 string style to Fishtown to combine the two regional styles. Fahey and Basho were mentors to Glen in earlier days and he basically has mastered what the two taught him and carries on today as a living biography of their lives and unique playing styles. With two gorgeous, critically-acclaimed solo albums under his belt, Jones is widely and justly recognized as one of the major voices of the international wave of acoustic steel string players that seemingly crested in the wake of Fahey’s death.

The resulting album, his third release, Barbeque Bob in Fishtown, showcases only the finest in composition and steel string proficiency. Glen is also one of the pioneers of partial capo use, electing to use the neck clamp which changes the pitch of open strings on only a limited number of strings, as opposed to the traditional full six. Thus, he accomplishes unique tunings which lend themselves to compositions of unheard structure and awe. Songs like “David and the Phoenix” (named after and inspired by Glen’s favorite childhood book) are beautiful, cinematic pieces that summons complex, interwoven emotions to create a unique and dazzling pattern. This goes beyond simple fingerpicking patterns, he’s playing complex bass and rhythm lines on the capo’ed strings (which are thus in a separate pitch) and creating elaborate harmonies and melodies on the higher three strings. That all may sound too technical for a non-guitarist, but trust me, the end result will dazzle you all the same. These are at the most fundamental level unique and beautiful instrumental pieces that spawn from a style of guitar playing that is increasing rare to encounter.

Here’s a great recording of Glen playing “David and the Phoenix,” dig it:

Review: Tim Buckley

August 26th, 2009 View Comments

Artist: Tim Buckley
Title: Live at the Folklore Center, NYC – March 6th, 1967
Label: Tompkins Square
Genre: Folk : Folk-Rock
Release Date: 8/25/09
UPC: 894807002189
Territory: Worldwide

Nearly 34 years after his tragic death, a live recording of folk legend Tim Buckley (also father of the late Jeff Buckley) will finally reach fans’ ears when Live at the Folklore Center, NYC – March 6th, 1967 is released on August 25th on NYC’s Tompkins Square label. This record marks the earliest official release of any Buckley live album. The entire night’s concert, performed in front of a very small audience, is presented in its original running order of 16 songs, featuring mostly tracks off Buckley’s 1966 self-titled debut and his 1967 follow-up Goodbye and Hello. The live recording also contains six Buckley compositions that have never before been released on any studio or live album: “Just Please Leave Me,” “What Do You Do (He Never Saw You),” “If The Rain Comes,” “Cripples Cry,” “Country Boy” and “I Can’t Leave You Loving Me.”

The live set was recorded by folk impresario Izzy Young at the Folklore Center, the Greenwich Village club that was a fertile ground for folk acts in the 1960′s, including a young Bob Dylan. Listeners will first notice the show’s very intimate nature, as it’s approximated that around 35 people were in attendance that night. While the sound of the tapes surely captures the emotive singer in a raw state, it’s not to say some mastering wasn’t done. Grammy-winning engineers Steve Rosenthal, Warren Russell-Smith and Jamie Howarth all worked on getting the sound up to par, while keeping the original running order of the show. The recording suffered from the usual suspects: hiss/tape noise, drop outs, hums, outside noises and a girl coughing, all of which were addressed and properly corrected to create a lucid, true reproduction of this powerful performance. The end result is a highlighting his magical guitar playing and soaring vocal style.

Warren-Smith told Billboard magazine that when listening to this show, Buckley’s energy is quite apparent despite the small audience he was playing for. “It’s fast and furious, he doesn’t dwell too much in between tracks and once he’s into a song it’s all emotion from there on in.”

While Buckley only lived to 28, his output was quite prolific in the short time he was performing and recording. He was among the most adventurous and influential singer-songwriters of the `60′s and `70′s, releasing nine studio albums in his career before his untimely death in 1975.

Take a listen to the voice that captivated and inspired a generation of folk singers; it’s just as potent today as it was in 1967.

Review: Raashan Ahmad

August 25th, 2009 View Comments

By: Elijah Carroll

Artist: Raashan Ahmad
Title: Soul Power
Label: B Sides
Genre: Hip-Hop : Soul
Release Date: 8/25/09
UPC: 844185072250
Territory: World

Since the late 1990′s Raashan Ahmad has provided the smooth melodic lyrics for the Bay Area via Boston hip hop group Crown City Rockers. Originally formed in 1997 under the name Mission. Crown City have become a model for those who believe live instruments and hip hop can be a successful combination. Over ten years later Raashan continues grace our ears with his seamless flows and musical stylings. Last year Raashan branched out with his first solo effort the critically acclaimed Push (Om Music). Now he’s back with Soul Power a record that is sure to keep him at the top of the indie hip hop game. With guest appearances from Aceyalone, Ragen Fykes and Alex Newman from Giant Panda this album is a well crafted tour-de-force that allows the listener a chance to really feel Raashan’s soul.

“Thirteen original songs mostly recorded in early 2009. After touring the United States to promote my first solo album THE PUSH, I discovered that I wanted to add more bangin’ songs to my live set as well as speak on some more topics that I have been dealing with.

SOUL POWER is the result. When I say “soul power,” I’m talking about about what gives my soul, my spirit power- which is music! This project was especially born out of all that I learned being on the road as well as teaming up with new friends I’ve met along the way which led to some dope collaborations!” -Raashan Ahmad

From the driving upbeat “Move (feat. Aceyalone)” to the layed back old school soul on “Soul Train (feat. Wafeek & Ragen Fykes)” Raashan takes us on a ride through his reality. Soul Power is a true album in this age of MP3′s and one track downloads. The music combines old soul sounds with newer electronic production all deftly narrated by Ahmad. His honesty and self awareness make him easily relateable while his smooth intelligent style soothes the ears. Despite having multiple beat makers for the record the tracks flow together beautifully while Raashan takes the listener on a soulful ride you won’t want to miss. With his second solo record in as many years and a Crown City album due out this fall Raashan has clearly hit his stride.

Check out this video for the lead track “Mobstar Life”: