From: Velanche Stewart (mail_at_urbanlandscapesshow.com)
Date: 2003-06-09 09:28:13
U R B A N L A N D S C A P E S
Global Club Culture...
Made Fresh Weekly.
Urban Landscapes hits the airwaves Friday evenings from 8-11pm PST on
KCPR 91.3 FM. You can also listen to the show live on the Internet at
http://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 are usually posted a day or two after the broadcast on the
site's home page. Visit the Playlists section of the site to listen to
the five most recent shows online.
Be sure to tell your friends about the show...
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---- ADDRESS FOR MUSICAL SUBMISSIONS To jump right to the mailing address for musical submissions, please scroll toward the bottom of this circular for more information. ---- NEWS This is going to be a long one; there's no two ways about it. I've been very busy these past few weeks with quite a bit going on, and for now the load isn't as great as it was. Feel free to peruse through this circular at your leisure...no rush! THIS URBAN LANDSCAPES PROFILE: AYRO it's been awhile since I've profiled an artist for Urban Landscapes, and so this one is going to be a treat. I was fortunate to have an interview with Omoa Record artist Ayro just before his busy weekend at last month's Movement Festival in Detroit (formerly known as the Detroit Electronic Music Festival). You'll get to hear Ayro, along with music from his forthcoming album. In addition, we'll feature his past works as well as remixes he's done. It all comes together on this week's broadcast, so you won't want to miss out. LIVE SHOW VIA THE INTERNET We have a minor technical issue that disallows anyone from outside of Cal Poly from listening to KCPR's live stream. We should have this issue resolved soon, and I'll let you know when that will be. On the subject of our live streams, we are very happy and relieved now that the royalty rates for Internet streams have been worked out between non-commercial/college broadcasters and the recording industry. From our station's standpoint, the flat rate proposed are affordable. We look forward to bringing the listeners here streaming for the masses...unimpeded. This is great news. THE HALFWAY REWIND SPECIAL My look back at the year 2003 so far is right around the corner. Airdates are as follows: June 20--The Albums June 27--The Singles & EPs SPECIAL SHOW: GONKYBURG I haven't been able to get to my European material for the special show I've intended to do. The majority of my audio collection has only focused on a couple of countries, and one of them is Gothenburg, Sweden. To that end, I'm planning a full broadcast on Gonkyburg. I've collected several interviews and enough music to keep things moving. You'll hear conversations with some of the people who are making the Gonkyburg scene happen. More details soon, but it'll air sometime in July. THE URBAN LANDSCAPES GUEST MIX This is getting a little bit of a hiatus until sometime in July. I know of a few people who are working on their mixes to air on the show, which will be cool. I do have in the can yet another exclusive mix from one of the members of the talented Gonkyburg massive, and it's solid. Details to come soon. LIVE DJ GIGS THIS SUMMER We're just getting started here. We've just finished up our Soul Invasion night of all soul and funk vibes, and we plan on doing it again. We will also have another Eclectic Grooves event this summer here, as well. The untried is always a challenge, and our goal is for more folks to become aware of these events. The summertime here won't be as busy, but we'll move forward with our plans to drop our own styles of dance music to San Luis Obispo. We feel that it'll be great to help revitalize the dance scene here, joining the house/trance/techno DJs that are pressing forward on their own. Time will tell, but we are patient and (so far) have some terrific support. I'll announce the dates of our events soon. CHANGES & NEW OPS Summer is just around the corner. For the most part, the weather is rather nice here in California, and here in San Luis Obispo in particular. If you come through California, you should really do well to make a visit here. It's just 12 miles from the ocean, has some nice landscapes, and clean air and a laid-back attitude to boot. Heck, I'll even buy you coffee if you choose to make a stop...you know how to reach me. As you might have known, I haven't been able to put out the circular on a weekly basis. So I"m going to make some modifications, but not too much so. First, the reviews will be done close to monthly. My time is rather tight to give enough attention to do reviews on a weekly basis. If some of you are on a deadline situation for some reason, please let me know and we'll try and work something out. The other change I'm planning to make in an effort to alleviate my busy schedule is to cut back on writing out the playlist within the circular. I usually have to do this twice...once on the web site, and the other manually retyping it in the circular. It adds a bit more time than I have. So in its place, I will put in the links for both the audio feed and the playlist for that week's show. Having said that, if there's enough feedback for people who would rather have the playlist info within the circular, I will surely take that into account. Also this summer, I will soon be whipping reviews for Straight No Chaser, considered to be the "bible" for all of us who are deep into our music. More details are coming soon. I'll be an issue or two before you'll start seeing them (I hope), so don't go looking just yet. I'm working on possibly doing reviews for another publication, and I'll let you know if I get the all clear sign. ---- MUSIC REVIEWS Various Artists--Inner City Sounds (Luv N'Haight) Nice collection of obscure and underground grooves from the Inner City Sounds label ran by one George Semper. The compilation's tracks were recorded between 1969 and 1977 with quite a few tracks that tip the soul scale in the right direction. Nice liner notes from Ubiquity's Andrew Jervis tell the stories behind the music, which includes quotes from Semper himself. And of course, numerous tracks of musical goods that sounds as funky and fresh today as it must have when originally out back in the day. Yet more rare gems sent to us courtesy of the good folks at Luv N'Haight. Micatone--Is You Is (Sonar Kollektiv) The six-member band Micatone follows up its "Ninesongs" debut with quite a dope followup, as "Is You Is" delves deeper on the jazz-dance tip. Lisa Bessenge's vocals are quite prominent and as confident as ever, and the rest of the crew gets its modern jazz groove on. Tracks to listen for includes "I'm Leaving Anyway," "Plastic Bag & Magazines" (the first single from the album) and "Got To Give It Up." The whole album should be part of your collection....nice sophomoric effort from Micatone! Pest--Necessary Measures (Ninja Tune) I was broadsided listening this album and now I can't put this one down. Some really tight and creative slices of sampling and instrumentation from the quartet known as Pes. Quite a few of these tracks could potentially work very well on the dancefloor in some creative ways. "Necessary Measures" is a listener's delight that really goes up there with the best Ninja Tune albums. Prepare to be hit hard, because Pest can suck the listener into its world and won't let go until it's over. Solid the whole way through, and sure to head up there as one of the best albums of 2003. It's a must-have if you haven't checked it already. Donnie--Cloud 9 12" (Giant Step/Motown) This is the first single from Donnie's re-release of his debut "The Colored Section," originally released last year on Giant Step and now out through Motown. There's the original from the album, and then there's Spinna putting his downbeat touches on "Cloud 9" while keeping Donnie's vocals out front and center. Nice one. Kaskade--It's You, It's Me Remixes 12" (Om white) Some nice remixes for this new 12" from the folks at Om. Marques Wyatt gives the tune some subtle Hammond sampling and some nifty keyboard work, while Jason Hodges takes the tune sort of a spaced-out direction while dubbing up the vocals just a bit. The flip side has Johnny Fiasco remixing "Meditation To The Vocals" for a full-on soulful house affair. Various Artists--Richard Dorfmeister Presents A Different Drummer Selection (Different Drummer) From K&D's Dr. Richard Dorfmeister comes a compilation of dubiness from Different Drummers, one of the most reliable labels for good dub business. Plenty of Different Drummer goodness to keep dub fans in stitches, the Doc delivers his prescription for soothing the musical soul in the right way. Kaidi & Dego--Got Me Puzzled 12" (2020 Black/UK) Kaidi & Dego....two, two, two London powerhouses that go well together. And so it is that we get a nice collaboration for "Got Me Puzzled," with some groovy synth-bass biz, Kaidi's keyboard wizardy, and vocals from Face. The B-side gives us another broken slammer in "Dnutty Jancrow." Dollis Hill reigns supreme. Bugz In The Attic--Zombie 12" (Bitasweet/UK) Still on the subject of Dollis: Most of us have heard the Bugz's cover of Fela's "Zombie" as part of the "Red, Hot & Riot" compilation that was released last year in an edited 2-minute version. Grab this one, and you'll get the full 9-minute version of Zombie." The flip has a bit of an updated mix, as "Zombie 2003" adds a bit more layers from the original as well as some added beats similar to what Seiji used for "Loose Lips." Nice one to have for the dancefloor...the Bugz do it again! Various Artists--Moving Forward EP (Switchstance) Those guys for Moers just keep on putting out, as Switchstance releases yet another tasty collection of new goods to serve up the floors for the long haul. "Moving Forward" doesn't stray that far off the mark in its intentions from its title. Ancient Astronauts, Deela, Protassov, and Alexander (teaming with Protassov) are all here once again, and taking names with their assorted selection of new musical oomph to get ready for the summertime. Look out...the boys from Switchstance are gonna tear your playhouse down, only to build it right back up. The Rebirth--This Journey In 12" (Kajmere) This single has been talked about in the underground for months. I was sent a copy of this single and now I know what the fuss is about...just some really nice bits of old skook soul reminiscent of the 1970s. From its live instrumentation to the sweeeeeet vocals, The Rebirth lives up to its name. I'm eagerly looking forward to the forthcoming album, as I'm sure many others are. Don Cunningham--Something For Everyone (Luv N'Haight) Another trip to the vault for Luv N'Haight...this time showcasing Don Cunningham & his quartet for "Something For Everyone." As you'll learn in the informative liner notes provided by Andrew Jervis, Cunningham and the rest of the quartet made its mark as the house band for "The Living Room" at the St. Louis branch of the Playboy Club from 1965-68. This is a great reissue of multiple exotic styles (jazz, Brazilian, exotica, etc.). Now you won't have to go out and search for the limited pressings (only 500 copies of the original album were pressed)...check this if you have a jazz-dance vibe from within. And did I mention that this album gets better and better with repeated listening? Now go get it! Motorbass--Pansoul (Astralwerks/Different) Many of you may know Etienne de Crecy from his excellent "Super Discount" compilation and his solo "Tempovision" album. You may also know Phillipe Zdar as one half of Cassius. The two of them together were known as Motorbass. Astralwerks has just recently reissued their Pansoul album both in CD and double-vinyl. It's been said that this is a classic album, and I'm not one to argue with them....this is definitely French house music that cuts deeper than most. Many of the tunes are just as fresh now as they must have been when it was first released. If you like your French house with a bit of soul and depth, then check this one out. ---- VELANCHE'S SOUNDSCAPES FOR JUNE 2003 -Joseph Malik--Remixed 2 EP 12" (Compost/Germany) -Clyde featuring Capital A--Serve It Up 12"(Mantis white) -Amp Fiddler--Love & War EP (Genuine/UK) -Various Artists--Moving Forward EP (Switchstance/Germany) -The First Floor Brothers--Fashionably Late/Signal 106 12" (Citrona) -The Rebirth--This Journey In 12" (Kajmere) -Daniel Magg--O-Bah/Set For Seizure Remixes 12" (Compost/Germany) -Stateless--The Art of No State (Ubiquity) -Pest--Necessary Measures (Ninja Tune) -Kaidi & Dego--Got Me Puzzled 12" (2020 Black/UK) -Red Astaire--Follow Me/The Wildstyle 12" (GAMM/Sweden) -P'Taah--The Oldest Story--Swag Vocal Mix (Ubiquity CD-R) -Kaskade--It's You, It's Me Remixes 12" (Om white) -Madlib--Shades of Blue EP 12" (Blue Note) -Micatone--Is You Is (Sonar Kollektiv) -Rednose Distrikt--Gotta Make A Move 12" (Kindred Spirits/The Netherlands) -Rima--This World Remixes 12" (Compost/Germany) -I:Cube--Vacuum Jackers EP (Versatile/France) -Fertile Ground--Remixes (Counterpoint CD-R/UK) -Mitchell & Dewbury--Rapping With The Gods (Mumo/UK) -Various Artists--Ecosystem: The Brazilian Joint (Unity/Liquid Sky) -J. Boogie's Dubtronic Science--Try Me 12" (Om) ---- RECENT SHOWS Friday June 6--Urban Landscapes Guest Mix: Russ Dewbury Audio: http://urbanlandscapesshow.com/shows/06Jun03.ram (local show) Playlist: http://urbanlandscapesshow.com/playlists/spring2003/06Jun03list.htm Friday May 30--Urban Landscapes Guest Mix: West of Centre Audio: http://urbanlandscapesshow.com/shows/30May03.ram (international show) Playlist: http://urbanlandscapesshow.com/playlists/spring2003/30May03list.htm ---- 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/or 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 send email to info-request_at_urbanlandscapesshow.com. Please write "subscribe" as the title of your message (in the "Subject" area). Have a great week! Velanche Stewart ICQ #211241007