Chandeliers are a banging good time live, but I wasn’t sure that three analog keyboards and a drummer would sound as dynamic on record. The four piece plays with a lot energy live, and they bring a steady, but quickly shifting stream of funky, electro pop. It’s great music for art school loft parties, and I say that with all sincerity. With The Trush, Chandeliers keep the energy up and maintain a live drum sound that gives the album an organic freshness. Comprised of members from Icy Demons and Mahjongg, Chandeliers are more of a dance outfit that keeps all the songs under five minutes and never strays too far from pop sensibilities. The melodies are often angular and stark; sometimes producing a playful tone, but at times they create dark and alien atmospheres. The songs are typically linear in structure, with multiple themes spinning into and out of the slowly evolving beat.

There’s nothing in The Thrush that Squarepusher hasn’t done before, and live bands making dance music have been a dime a dozen over the last ten years. But Chandeliers standout to me, and I’m not quite sure why. I guess I imagine they’re all going to nail hot sculpture majors right after their set, and that makes me happy. Continue reading…

Hello yo.  This is DJO aka El Beatardo from The Beatards. And this is my first blog post ever.  Since Charlie got me on this thing I feel it’s only right to dedicate the first one to the good Captain.  Also I’m looking at this thing as a kind of long spaced out mixtape and this song has a killer (short) intro. So… dedicated to the Captain…  

Blues Image : Ride-Captain-Ride
from Pay My Dues on Atlantic (1970)

I’ve been waiting so long for this one and it’s WORTH IT! The video for NASTY FUNKY (Directed by the legendary Christine Turner of Say It Loud! Productions) is done and looks amaaaaaaazingly fresh. Come out tonight and rage with us at Beauty Bar with 2 for 1 drinks, a live Beatards performance, and VIDEO SCREENINGS ALL NIGHT! Bound to get rowdy on the dancefloor with me and DJ O providing mixmaster services as well. At some point throughout the night, I promise to drop my new anthem as of 3 hours ago… “MY MUSIC” by Mr. Johnson (shouts to Never Not Working crew for the revelation). 

Yes Jadakiss heads, this is the sample source for “We Gon’ Make It” (wait for it!), but more importantly, it speaks to those of us who actually think about the plausibility of marrying music. Listen to the album if you seek more of the good shit.

Samuel Jonathan Johnson : My Music
taken from the album “My Music” on Columbia (1978) 

I recently dug up this Shirley joint and was reminded of just how simple the recipe is for a timeless dancefloor banger.  Double-dutch rhymes, handclaps, and the obligatory pounded-by-caveman drums. Still works for plenty of artists today. First thought: this is screaming to be remixed and I will do it. While allowing the record to linger in my “to be remixed” crate, I finally gave a listen to the Kizzaland mixtape that people had been telling me about (sometimes I’m slow). First thought: that bastard Timbaland protege beat me to it! The rest of the mixtape is definitely worth a listen too, but this one made me smack the back of my head. Also check these Izza Kizza videos if you got a second. Continue reading…

What happens when you’re a singer who can’t sing your own praises? What happens when your talent doesn’t come genetically outfitted with the blueprints for an inner Hype Machine? When the process of creating and the act of performing do not demand mutual reciprocation? In other words, what happens when you’re not a Kanye West?

Well. You have a career like Margo Guryan. 

I stumbled on this album, Guryan’s only recorded LP, by chance, while sifting around for nuggets on Emusic–a guilty pleasure from time to time. Needless to say, it didn’t take much for me to be seduced. The uber-smooth vocals, soothing riffs… and FUZZ? DRUMS?! FUNKY TIME SIGNATURES?!

This is essentially a typical late 60’s easy-listening album tricked out by a true musical original with future beat heads and record dorks like us in mind. Listen to “Love” and you’re basically treated to a three part carnival of ill psychaedelic experimentation. “Sunday Morning” opens almost like Billy Garner’s super-funky “I Got Some”. And let’s not forget “Someone I Know” which incorporates those beautifully melodic french horns… directly borrowed from J.S. Bach!

Damn! Girl had it going on! But like I said, the lady didn’t like to toot her own horn.  She went about quietly penning a few more hits here and there, collaborating with a handful of other notable musicians of various schools: jazz, rock, pop. She started a family. But did she ever get her props? Hell no!  So I’ll do it for her, forty years too late. 

To the soft spoken Margo Guryan; to the longevity of good music.

Continue reading…

Man o man. A song like this will do it to me every time. A little simple Tuesday soul for y’all.

Your average R&B flunky is likely familiar with the Gwen McCrae original (Glades, 1972) which is, in its own right, an absolute jam. I wouldn’t say this really tops the OG version, per se. I mean, truth be told, it’s not terribly different. The instrumental track is virtually identical and the drums are actually harder behind Gwen… but… but…

It’s the voice. Whereas Gwen vamps heavy with her powerful phrasing, my girl Vanessa goes with understated sexy. A little softer. A little sadder somehow. And I’m just spinning… 

Vanessa Kendricks - 90% of Me Is You

taken from the re-issue 12″ on Jazzman; also on the Jazzman complilation Florida Funk