Now we’ve all heard of auto-tune rapper T-Pain, but who knew he was such a skilled singer. Makes you wonder why he doesn’t throw out the gimmick right this instant.
Given that it has brought him to where he is at the moment. Lets be honest though…al this guy needs is a Fender rhodes and a microphone. T-Pain’s Tiny Desk concert on NPR is nothing short from amazing I tell you! They asked him if he would be kind enough to grace the Tiny Desk without any embellishment or effects to show what’s really made his career: his voice. He performs three songs that sound so different, yet beautiful to us.
Set list:
“Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin’)”
“Up Down (Do This All Day)”
“Drankin’ Patna”
Erik Tagg’s obscure album “Rendez Vous” is one of those albums you don’t come across much. I guess at times I’m a lucky bastard, for I have found two copies of this wonderful LP. And get this at the same record shop.
One of my favorite record stores is located just a few blocks from where I grew up and I remember visiting it first at the age of fifteen. As a youngster my knowledge of records was not what it is now…almost two decades later. The small shop is ran by a guy called Erik (is this a coincidence or what?), who has been the nicest guy for almost twenty years.
The shops basement once housed over twenty-thousand records, but throughout the years numbers have decreased. A few years back Erik was cleaning up the basement and I helped him alphabetize a couple of thousand records. Of course I came up with more one great finds, most memorable being a copuple Erik Tagg or Eric Tagg albums.
Erik Tagg was born in Illinois and began his musical career in the Netherlands as band member of Beehive (1973-1974) and Rainbow Train (1975-1979). During the 1980’s he worked with Lee Ritenour. His Rendez Vous album on Poker is not only a rare find. It contains “Got To Be Lovin’ You”, which is one of my favorite AOR songs. His blue eyed soul was recognized worldwide and in 2001 Zafsmusic and Mark Goodvibes Taylor licensed the previously unreleased track “Living Off The Love” for the compilation album Americana: Rock Your Soul – Blue Eyed Soul And Sounds From The Land Of The Free.
Sorry it took me almost two years to do a follow up Random Record Rants post. I realize this is a great way for some of you to get to know me a little better and I truly hope you will dig the records I’m sharing here.
Now you might be familiar with the name Matt Martians (yet). Perhaps you have heard of a band called The Internet. Does that ring a bell? Oh it does huh?!
Well Matt Martians is the genius behind their music and together with Bobby Earth on vocals, Jameel Bruner on keys and Steve Lacy on bass he dropped the outstanding track “I Kno U Kno“. Enjoy an amazing display of Future Soul music that will probably never see a release. Sadly the song is also kind of short with just under two minutes worth of deliciousness. Just put it on repeat, that’s what we did.
Another northman who goes by the name of Jasper Staal teams up with fellow Groninger Duke Hugh on the track “Buttarolls“.
While most of Jasper’s productions are Trap-oriented. With Buttarolls, we see a more soulful side with Don Blackman inspired slap bass. The homie Hugo is one of Holland’s best kept secrets. Fatherhood made him grow a belly, but when this guy teams up with Jasper Staal that’s the hook! I heard that Jasper and HughGo are working on a project together, so lets hope there’s more butter in the barrel waiting to be churned.
Shout out to the Darker Than Wax fam for making this one available for free download. Worldwide, we moov!
At times I hear music that’s a bit older, but so good I just have to mention it. Earlier this year singer/composer/multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Garzón-Montano, from Brooklyn NY, released his debut EP on Sus Records.
Gabriel was born to a Colombian father and a French mother and spent his early years mastering the violin, guitar, and drums. He later turned to the piano and bass guitar to better complete his compositions. By the time he graduated from Purchase College’s Conservatory of Music, the foundations for his debut EP, “Bishouné: Alma del Huila“, were already laid. The EP collects six songs of the highest quality, all recorded directly to 2” tape through a Helios console in real time.
Gabriel Garzón-Montano’s music is something you don’t hear very often. Personal, heartfelt, skillful and genre transcending. It’s hard to believe one man can write songs like “Everything Is Everything” and at the same time play every single instrument himself. Of course there are still plenty of musicians who have mastered the art of almost everything. They just don’t turn up very often. In a way Gabriel’s music reminds me of Diggs Duke and it comes as no surprise that he’ll be supporting Lenny Kravitz on 20 of his European tour dates.
The first pressing of his vinyl EP sold out quickly, but thankfully a repress is in stock. Just visit the Sus Records website and treat yourself to something wonderful.
http://www.moovmnt.com/2013/11/04/iamnobodi-a-sucker-for-love/
Earlier this year the almighty SA-RA Creative Partners announced their return. Brotha Shafiq Husayn is (as you know) one third of this game-changing super group. Who wrote for and collaborated with the likes of Dilla, Common, Kanye and miss Erykah Badu.
The song “It’s Better For You” featuring Anderson Paak (formerly know as Breezy Lovejoy) is a preview of Shafiq Husayn’s forthcoming album “The L∞P“. A project that includes collaborations with Hiatus Kayote, Miguel Atwood Ferguson, Thundercat and Fatima. It is said to come out early 2015. Let’s wait and see what happens.
To hold you over Eglo Records is releasing a 12-inch containing three new tracks on October 20th. Will be available via Bandcamp, so act accordingly.
Melbourne, Australia is home of many talented musicians. Our latest discovery is from down under and goes by the name of Queen Magic aka Nick Mulhall.
Nick is a multi-talented instrumentalist who also sings. He met photographer Charlie Brophy by chance recently through a mutual friend and they hit it off right away. Queen Magic’s silky debut song is entitled “I Don’t Want” and it embodies what Nick enjoys in life. Both musically and visually. The song is lush with smooth synths and is perfect to enjoy on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Nice and mellow, mellow…right on.
Head on over to Queen Magic’s Bandcamp and scoop up a free download!
Last week I came across this compilation on 5 Finger Discount Records. The name of the comp was “Bearded Beats Vol 2: Beardstrumentals” and I heard this dope track from Häzel & TFOX on there.
This morning another song from the duo popped up on Soundcloud, so I decided to stream both in the post. The brotha Häzel from Paris needs no introduction. He’s like the Large Professor of this time…slept on and underappreciated. TFOX is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Woodbridge, Virginia who we hadn’t heard of before. Honestly the two work well together, so perhaps in the future we’ll hear more from these fellas.
Until then kick back and enjoy “The Room” and “Things You Do” to the fullest!
Next Saturday The Foreign Exchange (Phonte & Nicolay) will be performing in Amsterdam. We thought it would be an awesome idea to squeeze all of our favorite FE related songs into one 50 minute mix.
In our opinion this mix is a great introduction for anyone to get to know The Foreign Exchange. At the same time it’s a recap for the die-hard fans, who’ve been enjoying their music for a decade. Grab a free download of ‘The Foreign Exchange Moovmnt’s Favs Mix‘ or just enjoy it on Soundcloud.
FYI…The Foreign Exchange will be performing at People’s Place (Amsterdam) October 4th, 2014. We’ll be hosting the event so don’t be shy and come enjoy some incredible music with us. There’s still some tickets left, so get yours right now!
By now you must be well aware of the fact that Danish producer Galimatias is one of our favorite producers. Admitted the list is long, but still c’mon son. Together with 20 year old miss Alina Baraz from Ohio, he’s been making music/magic for a while now. Rarely do musicians compliment one and other, but in this case it’s a match made in heaven.
Their new song “Fantasy” is just as described. It’s nothing short from a tiny miracle that flows fluently through your earholes like the sweetest whisper imaginable. At first sonicly playful and fairytalelike, but when the song comes to maturity so does the sound. Simply put an amazing work of art of Alina Baraz and Galimatias’ forthcoming ‘Urban Flora‘ EP (which I’m already in love with). Oh and Matias, please start sending it over bruh.
