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My Sweetie
This song can only be only be found on iTunes if you purchase Wale’s entire album. It is one of two bonus tracks.
Wale – My Sweetie (directed by tabi Bonney) from tabi Bonney on Vimeo.
ALBUM REVIEW:Massive Attack “Heligoland”
Massive Attack – Paradise Circus
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Tomorrow marks the official release date (U.S. and Canada) for Heligoland, the 5th proper studio album by Massive Attack.
Whereas the 2003 release 100th Window glistened with mechanical accuracy and disciplined minimal techno, Heligoland finds the Bristol duo returning to the dirtier, dubbed out sound of 1998’s Mezzanine. Analog synths bubble around ethnic drums, abstract textures, traditional instruments and vocals in a seamless tapestry only Massive Attack could weave.
Heligoland is not a simple collection of ‘singles’…the album is assembled like the soundtrack to a journey through crowded streets, perpetual darkness and rain, seedy hotels and desperate love. Texture and mood are given precedence over easy to digest pop song structures. One gets the idea that Massive Attack could care less about their music being played on radio. Heligoland is an album, meant to be consumed in its entirety, meant to transport the listener and hold them captive in a distant yet familiar world.
We also note that Massive Attack’s penchant for collaboration has gone unchanged. Guest vocalists Damon Albarn (Gorillaz), Martina Topley-Bird, Tunde Adebimpe, Hope Sandoval and long time collaborator Horace Andy work wonderfully within the framework of Massive’s moody production, Andy delivering one of his most melodic performances atop the menacing bass line of “Girl I Love You”. Guy Garvey of Elbow lends his subdued tenor to “Flat of the Blade”, a song that could easily find its home in a Luc Besson film. “I’m not good in a crowd / I’ve got skills I can’t speak of / Things I’ve seen / will chase me to the grave” Garvey croons in his believable, thick, monotone.
Heligoland is not all doom and gloom, however. The album is sprinkled with bright moments of uplifting sonic emancipation. The near-pop turn around in Pray for Rain. The beautiful string arrangements of “Splitting the Atom” and “Paradise Circus”. These moments break through the tech-noir soundscape like rays of angelic sunshine, adding wonderful humanity and balance.
Heligoland reaffirms Massive Attack’s legendary status. Some will complain that the album is too similar to Mezzanine and doesn’t offer anything new. But as countless electronica bands fall back on robotic 80’s, overly arpeggiated and soul-less sounds, Massive Attack has returned to do what no one else can. Blending influences from across the globe, they have created a wonderful work of art, full of light and shadow, free of cliché, imitation and predictability. Their sound is so unique that an entire genre was created in an attempt to pigeon-hole and market them. Notwithstanding, Heligoland displays the duos ability to transcend genre and classification to create a wonderfully engaging, aural experience.
Pray for Rain feat. Tunde Adebimpe: Tundes voice exists perfectly in the abstract world of samples, ethnic drums and heavy piano work. The song builds to an unexpected, near pop-like climax of beautiful harmony only to resolve back into the menace of the main groove.
Babel feat. Martina Topley-Bird: Martina’s voice falls into the track like a lovely instrument amidst the patchwork of rhythm guitars and analog synths.
Splitting the Atom feat. Damon Albarn: Very Gorillaz-esque staccato organ accompanies Grant Marshall’s signature baritone which contrasts wonderfully with Horace Andy’s high tenor on the hook. Albarn’s background harmonies add mystery and depth and texture as the song is lifted by glorious string textures during its final moments.
Girl I Love You feat. Horace Andy: Horace Andy lends his signature vocals over a menacing bass line and Mezzanine-ish guitar work. The track is transported to another dimension with intricate horn work.
Psyche feat. Martina Topley-Bird: Chopped, jangly guitars wrap Martina’s vocal in an intricate texture of urgency. By all means check out the Flash Treatment remix by Christoffer Berg featured on the Splitting the Atom EP.
Flat of the Blade feat. Guy Garvey.
Paradise Circus feat. Hope Sandoval: One of the most hopeful uplifting tracks on the album, production-wise. Hope delivers her intimate performance in the midst of gentle piano work, hand claps and dub bass. Lovely.
Rush Minute: Del Naja makes up for any lack of vocal ability with the introspective opening line “I wanna be clean but I gotta get high”.
Saturday Comes Slow feat. Damon Albarn: A very nice delivery from Damon Albarn could almost be accused of being out of place…that is until the guitar textures creep in at the 2:20 mark.
Atlas Air: A building near 8 minute groove that takes us close to 100th Window territory is the albums closer.
My Sweetie
This song can only be only be found on iTunes if you purchase Wale’s entire album. It is one of two bonus tracks.
Wale – My Sweetie (directed by tabi Bonney) from tabi Bonney on Vimeo.
Interview: Sean Garrett
in this industry, if you don’t have the right record it doesn’t matter who you are.
The name, Sean Garrett may not be that familiar, however, the artists that he’s worked with most certainly are: Beyonce, Nicky Minaj, Mario, Ludacris, Usher, Chris Brown, Fergie, and Whitney Houston just to name a [...]
Is the Music ‘Tee’ the New CD?
If you ask some people the state of the major labels may be moving past panic mode and possibly entering a critical melt down. Between merges, firings and finger pointing - labels are struggling and working their marketing departments extra hard to create new and innovative ways to encourage music fans to actually go out and buy music.
One of [...]
New (new) Music: Erykah Badu – Window Seat
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Last week Erykah Badu released a new song with Lil Wayne which was thought to be her new single but turned out to be a web-only bonus track off her new album ‘New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)’.
The actual single is ‘Window Seat’ a song produced by [...]
My Sweetie
This song can only be only be found on iTunes if you purchase Wale’s entire album. It is one of two bonus tracks.
Wale – My Sweetie (directed by tabi Bonney) from tabi Bonney on Vimeo.
Designer to Watch: Lanie B. (of Hellz Bellz)
NAME: Lanie Alabanza-Barcena (Lanie B.)
Sign: Libra
Reppen: Los Angeles
Occupation: Creative Director and Founder of Hellz Bellz
Crew: Husband Bam and dog Marley
Quote: “There is nothing more empowering for a woman than to be able to hold her own without the help of a man.”
Web: http://hellz-bellz.com/; http://www.whatthehellz.com
“Hells Bells and cockle shells!” What does that really mean anyway? [...]
TV: Kid Cudi Shows You “How To Make It In America”
I gotta confess something: An industry source told me about Kid Cudi filming a pilot for an HBO show months ago. At that time, I couldn’t tell anybody, and to be honest, I still can’t picture Cudi as an actor (on the flip, Drake would’ve been good with this and he has acting experience, but [...]
PHOTOS: The Roots Jam at BB Kings, NYC
Photos by Joann Gomez/Music Looks Like This. Please Support.
The 3rd annual Roots Holiday Jam went down this past weekend at BB Kings in New York City. In addition to the legendary Roots crew, the stage was graced by the cast of the hit Broadway Musical Fela, Brother Ali, The Hynotic Brass Ensemble, and surprise guest [...]
Live: Raphael Saadiq and Anjulie at the 9:30 Club, DC
When we look back on the career of Raphel Saadiq, we must place him among our generation’s greats. For almost 30 years, he has been pumping out amazing soul music, from Tony! Toni! Toné!, to Lucy Pearl, and from his own solo career.
Live: Res at Inside The Artists’s Studio, DC
To some Res is not yet a household name. However, to a small group of fans in Washington, DC last week, she was the center of the world.
IN PHOTOS: Rakim at Black Cat, DC
Last Sunday night, Washington, DC’s Black Cat was graced with hip-hop royalty as Rakim took the stage, rocking old joints and new tracks from his new album The Seventh Seal.
Presenting DC and Bmore’s DJ Quicksilva, and the underground hit, “Where They Do That At?”
DOWNLOAD INTERVIEW HERE…
Interview: Cognito, Mos Def’s Documentiarian and curator of Ecstatic Moments
Photo provided by FroLab
If you’re in Los Angeles this weekend, do yourself a favor and head over to the HVW8 Art & Design Galley, right off of Melrose Avenue. Enter the small, square shaped gallery and you will find Mos Def: Ecstatic Moments, a collection of photographs from the past two years of Mos’ [...]
Interview: Common at BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” panel, Hollywood
Common always seems to be a few years ahead of his time. The Chicago MC was once scolded by the hip-hop community for his more adventitious projects–Electric Circus and Universal Mind Control–however now it’s almost the norm for hip-hop artists to rhyme over electro beats. Ever forward thinking and innovative, the MC has not only [...]
Interview: What’s Up With Selah Sue?
About a month ago I blogged about a girl from Belgium named Selah Sue who many referred to as the ‘white girl who rhymes like a Jamaican’. Since then I’ve really begin to wonder about who this girl is; why is she deeply into reggae and hip hop and how is it that with such a dope [...]
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The Musical Minority Podcast: Asher Roth in the age of Black Music
Asher finds himself in the same position as many other white artists who make black music, but in 2009, has anything changed?
Podcast: Kidz In The Hall
It’s been a while since we had a podcast…..I know people have been asking me about it, and we’ve been dark since May, HOWEVER, we return to the podcast game with a special guest–Nawledge and Double-O from Kidz In The Hall.
Random Ish Radio 025: Badu Remixed, Jay Electronica, Res, Other Treats
Another collection of delectable treats for your iPod.
Random Ish Radio 024: The Podcast Is Back!!!
Whats up people. I can’t even believe that Its been almost a year since the last Podcast dropped. My bad.
ALBUM REVIEW:Massive Attack “Heligoland”
Massive Attack – Paradise Circus
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
Tomorrow marks the official release date (U.S. and Canada) for Heligoland, the 5th proper studio album by Massive Attack.
Whereas the 2003 release 100th Window glistened with mechanical accuracy and disciplined minimal techno, Heligoland finds the Bristol duo returning to the dirtier, dubbed out sound of [...]
Review: Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea
It seemed like only yesterday that we saw fresh faced Leeds singer Corinne Bailey Rae burst onto the scene. Her self-titled debut album, laced with pop hits “Like A Star,” and the empowering “Put Your Records On,” made her a critical and commercial darling.
After experiencing the death of her husband, it seemed like Corrinne would [...]
Mixtape Review: Jack Splash – King of the Beats, Vol. 1
Download: JACK SPLASH – King of the Beats, Vol. 1
Jack Splash was frozen in place conducting a full symphony for Quincy Jones in 1981 at the Hollywood Bowl, unfrozen five years ago after being stored away for almost 30 years and was immediately dropped off at the Compton Swap Meet.
Jack Splash was frozen [...]
Mixtape Review: SMKA – The 808 Experiment Vol 2
The SMKA compilation might lack the star power of Big Boi’s Purple Ribbon All-Stars compilation from a few years ago, but it is a solid piece of work, and should do good things for all who were involved.
