From: Velanche Stewart (mail_at_urbanlandscapesshow.com)
Date: 2003-12-05 20:19:24
*Urban Landscapes* hits the airwaves Friday evenings from 9-11pm
PST on KCPR 91.3 FM, as well as via live mp3 streaming on the
Internet at http://www.kcpr.org/.
If you miss the live show, you can hear it anytime via the Urban
Landscapes web site at http://www.urbanlandscapesshow.com. The
most recent show will also be posted soon after the broadcast on
the site's home page. You'll find the links at the bottom of the
site's home page.
As always, be sure to tell your friends about the show...and fee
free to pass this circular on!
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*CONTENTS THIS WEEK*
* News
* This Week's Urban Landscapes Guestmix: Da Lata
* Year-End Broadcasts
* Al-Haca/Break Reform Interviews in Mundo Vibes
* Music Reviews
* Velanche's Picks for December 2003
* Playlists & Audio Links for November 21 & November 26
* Fin
*NEWS*
* *No live show last week due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday
weekend, so as an added bonus I've recorded a new show just
before I've left Dodge. The show includes the week's Urban
Landscapes Guest Mix from Versatile label boss Gilb'r, also half
of the duo Chateau Flight. He has a radio show in France, and
did a mix on the show that he liked well enough to send across
the pond.
The international version of the previous week's broadcast is
also online, along with the playlist. That show includes the
Urban Landscapes Guestmix from 4Lux label head Gerd & colleague
DJ Pathless.
The playlists and audio links for both shows are below, or just
check the web site.
*SOUL INVASION RESCHEDULED*
No Soul Invasion last week for some of you that came. Apologies
for the late notice; it's been rescheduled, and new dates will
be announced wide very soon. Hold on!
*THIS WEEK'S SHOW WITH A DA LATA GUESTMIX*
This week's show goes regular with an hour's worth of
goodies...plus the week's Urban Landscapes Guestmix will come
from the production team Da Lata. The album from Da Lata,
"Serious," is now available through the Palm Beats label, and
the title track has been ripping dancefloors (especially the
Seiji remix). A one-hour mix with Da Lata drops this week on the
radioshow.
*THE YEAR-END BROADCASTS*
/December 12/ begins the year-end show, focusing on my most
recommended picks of 2003. That week's show will focus on my
most recommended albums of 2003. On /December 19/ will be my
most recommended singles & EPs. So tune in to find out the goods
that you should check out to add to your collection. More
details are coming next week.
*AL-HACA & BREAK REFORM INTERVIEWS AT MUNDO VIBES
*Be sure to check out my interviews with Abstract Blue recording
trio Break Reform & Different Drummer's Al-Haca Soundsystem at
the Mundo Vibes website (http://www.mundovibes.com). The Al-Haca
interview has just been posted, so do check it.
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*NEW MUSIC REVIEWS */(as listed on the web site)/
*Searching (Africa 70 Version)/Brand New Feelings - Roy Ayers -
BBE 12" /UK /*
This 12" from BBE features two previously unreleased gems from
the legendary Roy Ayers, recorded during his most creative
heyday of the mid-1970s. "Searching (Africa 70 Version)" is a
nice slice of mellow soul, made all the warmer by Roy's vocals
(with Diane Venter enveloping around his singing, complimenting
it in a nice fashion). Going at a bit over ten minutes, it's a
lovely track to unwind and relax to. For me, though, it's "Brand
New Feelings" that's the winning choice overall. Some extremely
capable vocal work coming through courtesy of Merry Clayton. The
tune is a slow scorcher of a tune, and Clayton commands as her
vocals come on strong from the get-go and doesn't let go until
the end (except for a nice break with some deft tenor sax work
from Justo Almario). But by then, you'll want more of her. What
a treat, what a find! If good music stands the test of time,
then this 12" is a nice testament to how kind time can be.
Essential goodness from BBE.
*Touching You 12" - Talk - Perfect Toy 12" /Germany /*
Germany's Perfect Toy can be relied on to put out some quality
music, and this release is no exception. Six months in the
making, DC-based duo T-Kolai and Germany's Lars Behrenroth (he
of the radio show "Global House Connections") has added grooves
and jazz with some fluid basslines and great vocals from Mustafa
Akbar. It's a cross between chillout, Afrobeat, and modern jazz
and surely gets my mojo going. On the remix front, T-Kolai.gives
"Touching You" some tribal rhythms and brings out more of the
Afrobeat side. Pianos stand out beautifully, and some tenor
saxing is at work on this one as well. On the flip, Behrenroth
gives the tune a hypnotic build with a darker atmosphere. It's a
more tribal feel here, as it continues its construction
throughout that leads to a rather satisfying conclusion.
Careful...you might not be able to shake this one offa ya for
awhile!
*Stampede Remix EP - Quantic Soul Orchestra - Tru Thoughts 12"
/UK /*
Brighhton-based artist Quantic really has been getting around.
Whether it's one of his excellent remixes. or one of his many DJ
gigs, or jamming with his posse the Quantic Soul Orchestra,
prolific seems to befit this young talent. On the heels of the
"Stampede" long-player comes a new EP of remixes of tunes from
the album. The mixes kick off with Quantic himself remixing
"Take Your Time, Change Your Mind" by adding more pronounced
snares and claps and putting some pressure on the drums...and
pumping the bassline during the chorus. He does it fine and good
as one would expect a Quantic remix to be. The Faze Action duo
goes part-samba and part-Afrobeat, mixing up "Take Your Time,
Change Your Mind" into a nice midtempo direction with a slightly
dirty bassline. Labelmate Nostalgia 77 takes on the track "Raw
Ingredients," upping the ante by speeding up the tempo, making
the beats heavier, lifting the horns "riffs" and overall making
it superfunky for the dancefloor. And let's not forget the
accapela of "Pushin' On" for all the daring jocks to mix in with
other beats and rhythms. It's yet another feather in the cap for
Tru Thoughts, and a welcome addition for "Stampede" fans.
*Chica da Içi/My Favorite Things 12 - Mokadi - Perfect Toy test
12" /Germany /*
Oooo-weee...some delicious music here! A little jazz, a little
soul, and a lot of play. "Chica da Içi" has a strong modern jazz
presence and is well done. That probably would be the end of it,
but the real surprise here is vocalist Dita von Aster. She
really invigorates the tune full of life with some playful and
enchanting vocals that just knocks me off my feet. I can't
forget the talented musicianship that Ralph Kiefer (formerly of
Hipnosis) and Marc Frank (from Les Gammas) bring to the tune.
It's soul/jazz/funk that's engaging and fun. The flip sees the
band attempt a cover of Coltrane's "My Favorite Things,"
starting off with syncopated beats (kinda broken) and moves into
some Fender biz with Dita's vocals back once again in a more
controlled pace. It's mo' modern on its jazz sensibilities and
has some spaced-out overtones, but works nicely for me as a
decent cover. Find this one on Perfect Toy about late November
and grab it. Jazzheads and music lovers should go gaga over this
one. Potentially great dancefloor madness here. Can we have more
from Mokadi, please?
*Maps From The Wilderness - TM Juke - Tru Thoughts CD /UK /*
And the great albums from 2003 keeps on coming; this time in the
form of the debut album from TM (or "The Man") Juke, once known
on Brighton-based label Tru Thoughts as Al Stylus. This is
multilayered bliss here, blending soul, jazz, downtempo, and
hip-hop to create an album that one would expect from more
accomplished veterans. Its' just spot-on in all of the right
places, transporting from one terrific tune to another. I
really, really, REALLY hate to pick favorites here because
overall it's such a slammer of a debut. But do check out some
delicious vocal tunes such as Tru Thoughts regular Alice Russell
on "Knee Deep" (sharing the bill with Jim Oxborough) and
"Playground Games," and MCing from Bread & Water taking on "Get
It Together" with some tasty funk reminiscient of the 70s with
some hip-hop scratches for good measure. Like I said, it's so
unfair to pick favorites. This is one of those gems that is a
joy to listen from beginning to end, as all good albums should
be. And this is an album that sucks me into another place, again
as all good albums should. It surely will be on my list of "best
of" albums come the end of 2003, and hopefully on yours as well.
*Required Listening - Various Artists - Do Right CD** /Canada/*
2003 is about to end, and yet another excellent compilation
comes down the pike by way of Canada. In particular, the city of
Toronto is represented on "Required Listening," the newest
compilation from John Kong's Do Right label. And Kong picks the
selection quite well, with a wide array of talent from a variety
of genres unleashing some musical goodness. Too many excellent
cuts to mention, but my prime faves are the full-on
Afrobeat-influenced stormers "Don't Stop" by the B.A.W.
Collective and the Augusta remix of Pedras Da Rua's "Terra do
Bravo." I've thought it was just me that felt that these two
cuts were the highlights of the compilation, but apparently
tastemakers from Mr. Scruff to Rainer Truby are also down with
them. But do not overlook the other quality artists that pervade
throughout the comp....Ivana Santilli, Hand Polished, DJ
Serious, Kaje, and many more...all worthy of being noticed, as
well. Overall, it's a great introduction to the forward-moving
sounds of Toronto. This should have enough staying power to move
into 20'04. Hats off to John Kong..Do Right does it again!
*Hi Note - Gerardo Frisina - Schema CD /Italy /*
It's been quite awhile since I've listened to a full-on jazz
album, so listening to the forthcoming long-player "Hi Note"
from the talented Gerardo Frisina was a real treat. He's been
involved with the Italian jazz scene for a long time, having
participated on various projects over the years.And the
experience comes through in spades. Though "Hi Note" has some
modern touches, make no mistake that it's a jazz album and a
fine one at that. It's very energetic, vibrant, and full of
life. Bossa with touches of Latin and Brazilian sounds prevail
throughout, and the results can sometimes be quite fiery. With
"Hi Note," it's almost as if Frisina is taking the best of
uptempo jazz and giving his fellow participants a real workout.
Jazzheads will be most appreciative and all the more grateful
for Frisina's efforts, as it is a rather ambitious affair that
rewards repeat listening. Do check it when it's released this
coming January.
*Ennio Morricone Remixed Vol. 2 EP 12" - Various Artists -
Compost 12" /Germany /*
This is the warm-up for Volume 2 of Compost's most ambitious
project to date. Eddy & Dus comes on funky and strong as they
remix "Dal Mare" in a very uptempo direction. On the flip,
Computerjockeys get down, get funky, and gets electro with its
mix of "Un Uomo Nello Spazio," keeping things spacey yet
warm...yum! The EP finishes off with Chicken Lips, going
midtempo inna dubwise style on "Teorema." The EP should make for
a good teaser leading up to another batch of Morricone remixes,
to drop in all of its full glory come February.
*I Like It - Various Artists - Compost 4xLP /Germany /*
Those crazy folks at Compost are really milking the extra mile
on projects of late, and this is yet another called "I Like It."
Four select tastemakers---DJ Hell, G-Stone's Peter Kruder (of
Kruder & Dorfmeister fame), Compost label head Michael Reinboth,
and Into Somethin's Theo Thonnessen--were asked to pick their
four favorite tunes from any genre they choose (yes, even new
wave, punk, and 80s music are fair game). It's a varied and
diverse selection of tunes chosen, and it's a nice departure to
step out of one's comfort zone and search the shelves as opposed
to merely focusing solely on the tunes-of-the-moment. If you're
one who wishes to step out of the box, "I Like It" is a real
treat of otherwordly musical picks.
*Sakura Aural Bliss - Various Artists - Kriztal CD /USA /*
Nik Weston has been the DJ to turn to when it comes to quality
Japanese artists and releases, and he's at it again with another
compilation to show off the goods. "Sakura Aural Bliss" is his
first American compilation, introducing fans of Florida's
Kriztal label to sounds from Japan. Many well-known artists in
the scene are represented such as Chari Chari, Calm, Yukihiro
Fukutomi, and Electric Sheep. But others that I haven't heard of
myself (but some of you out there may know) do justice, such as
Grooveman Spot, Shiba, and Watusi. Now that you stateside fans
of the show know that it's easily available stateside, seek it
and check it out. You just might be surprised by how musically
aware Japanese artists really are.
----*
Velanche's Soundscapes for December 2003 *
/(in no particular order)/
1. V/A--Required Listening CD (Do Right!)
2. Gerardo Frisina--Hi Note CD (Schema)
3. Mokadi--Chica da Içi/My Favorite Things 12" (Perfect Toy test)
4. TM Juke--Map From The Wilderness CD (Tru Thoughts)
5. Matthew Dear--Leave Luck To Heaven 2xLP (Spectral)
6. Erykah Badu--Worldwide Underground LP (Elektra)
7. V/A--Ennio Morricone Remixes Vol. 2 EP 12" (Compost)
8. V/A--Wide Hive Remixed EP 12" (Wide Hive)
9. Quantic Soul Orchestra--Stampede Remix EP 12" (Tru Thoughts)
10. V/A--The Reindeer Room Vol. 2 CD (Kriztal)
11. V/A--Astor Piazzolla Remixed 2xLP (Chicooligan/Milan)
12. V/A--I Like It 4xLP (Compost)
13. TALK--Touching You 12" (Perfect Toy)
14. Two Banks of Four--Three Street Worlds CD (Red Egyptian Jazz)
15. Inverse Cinematics--Shoot The Pianist EP 12" (Fluid Ounce)
16. Buruman--Kep Track (Flyin' High CD-R)
17. Monta--EP (Citrona)
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*
*The Urban Landscapes Playlist*
*Friday November 21, 2003*
/Listen at: http://urbanlandscapesshow.com/listen/11-21-03.m3u/
/Download at: http://urbanlandscapesshow.com/listen/11-21-03.mp3/
*Song*
*Artist*
*Album*
*Label*
I Wake Up Blu Mar Ten The Six Million Names of God Exceptional
El Tango
(Hi Perspective Remix) Astor Piazzolla Astor Piazzolla
Remixed Chicooligan/
Milan
Chica da Ici Mokadi 12" Perfect Toy test
I Love You My Friends Hird EP Dealers of Nordic Music
Dar Mare
(Eddy & Dus Adria Mix) Ennio Morricone Ennio Morricone Remixes Vol. 2
EP 12" Compost
Tell Me Brotherman Brotherman 12" Nepenta
Latin Love
(Lana Shark Mix) Sean Smith The Obscene EP 12" Classic
Wait A Minute
(Sticky Remix) Ty 12" Big Dada
*URBAN LANDSCAPES GUESTMIX* *WITH* *GERD AND DJ PATHLESS* *(EXCLUSIVE)*
Intro Tru Geniuz --------- CD-R
Trouble In Mind
(Flowriders Remix) Natalie Gardiner --------- 4Lux
#5 Heavenly Social --------- 4Lux
? Istickz
(Spacek & Posse) --------- CD-R
Writers on the Flow Flowriders --------- 4Lux
Dreams Ty --------- Big Dada
? Shadowhuntaz --------- CD-R
Managua Candeias --------- HiTop
Hi! Voce Dom Salvador --------- CBS
Memorias de um Neguinho Poeta Serginho Meriti --------- Polydor
Slop Jar Blues Donald Byrd --------- Blue Note
Things We Like Jazztronik --------- Flower
Can't Get You Incognito --------- Dome
Music Marvin Gaye --------- white
Bliss
(Quantic Remix) Rosie Brown --------- Wah Wah
Sweet Journey Phuturistix --------- Hospital
Rhodesmode
(DB Remix) Perry Hemus --------- Woodlands
*END* *OF* *THIS WEEK'S* *GUESTMIX*
In The Twilight TM Juke Maps From The Wilderness Tru Thoughts
Brand New Feeling Roy Ayers 12" BBE
*The Urban Landscapes Playlist*
*Wednesday November 26, 2003*
/Listen at: http://urbanlandscapesshow.com/listen/11-26-03.m3u/
/Download at: http://urbanlandscapesshow.com/listen/11-26-03.mp3/
Song
Artist
Album
Label
Pacemaker Lop Nor Eclipse EP 12" Ecco Chamber
Cubana Gerardo Frisina Hi Note Schema
Blues For Brother George Jackson Raw Deal 12" Straight Ahead
Something Wicked
(Bossa Remix) The Herbaliser 12" Ninja Tune
Olympic Girls The Bobby Hughes Combination Vintage Chill Volume 4:
Winter Kriztal
TM Juke Playground Games (featuring Alice Russell) Maps From The
Wilderness Tru Thoughts
What Matters #2 Ivana Santilli Required Listening Do Right!
Back In The Day Erykah Badu Worldwide Underground Motown
Who Needs Sleep Tonight Silicon Soul I Like It Compost
West Coast Poplock Ronnie Hudson and the Street People 12" Street People
Touching You TALK 12" Perfect Toy
I Might Do Something Wrong (Yoruba Soul Mix) Tortured Soul featuring
Christian Urich Music & Movement One Climate
Lumiere Future Beat Alliace Lumiere EP Versatile
Dubbing For The Nature #2: Waltz For The Virgin Forest Calm Sakura
Aural Bliss Kriztal
*THE URBAN LANDSCAPES GUESTMIX* *PRESENTS* *GILB'R* *(NO TRACKLISTING)*
Por Donde Vas
(featuring Don Caramellow) Trio Eletrico 12" Stereo Deluxe
You Take Control
(featuring Jackie Deane) Noiseshaper The Signal Different Drummer
This Time The Lithium, Project Many Worlds Theory Hydrogen Dukebox
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Urban Landscapes proudly supports quality independent music of
jazzy and soulful club culture from around the world. Respect
and gratitude to all the independent labels, radio promotion
folks, and related entities for sharing the wonderful musical
goods. The show has been keeping it real for over five years, as
the movement continues to expand its influence.
Please feel free to send promos/musical submissions (vinyl is
preferable; however, CD/CDR and minidisc are acceptable) for
airplay, clubplay and review consideration to:
/Velanche Stewart
Urban Landscapes Entertainment
1029 Southwood Drive #D
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
USA/
This newsletter is sent to DJs, record labels, promotion
companies, and like-minded music lovers from around the world.
If you wish to be removed from the list, please let me know.
To be added to the weekly mailing list, please visit the web at
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to subscribe.
----
*DJ BOOKINGS*
I play a choice selection of music, including funk & soul (old
school & new sounds), Latin/Brazilian, soulful house, and other
jazzy/soulful rump-shaking sounds. For DJ bookings, please
contact me directly via email to mail_at_urbanlandscapesshow.com
<mailto:mail_at_urbanlandscapesshow.com>
Velanche
ICQ #211241007