TURNTABLE LAB

Ayres/JD & DJ Eleven
Houston 2CD

Ayres told me he was working on this mix a while back, and it kinda slipped into the back of my mind until a few months later, when Eleven said that he'd just finished up a Houston-themed CD. How could such a thing happen? Was there miscommunication in the Rub camp? No, friends - it was all part of a larger plan, unveiled here for the first time. Headlining the show is "Houston," a retrospective that spans 15+ years of H-Town history, from Geto Boys to UGK, Scarface to Slim Thug. Mixed by Ayres and genuine TX native JD, and hosted by big Bun B himself, it's a top-notch lesson in a regional sound that's only recently come to the attention of most people. It's also a perfect primer for the second CD, tucked away as a 'bonus' in the back of the case. "Houston Rocks It" offers a 40+ track survey of Houston as we know it today - Cham, Paul Wall, Flip, etc. - all masterfully mixed by the big homie, DJ Eleven. Chalk up two more for the Rub with this quality double-pack.
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red


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The Rub
The Rub Up 2CD

Damn, what to say about this one? It's pretty much automatic. The Rub's DJs Ayres & Eleven follow up their their solo reggae mixes (Sun Lovers & J.A. Goods) with this MEGA dancehall collab. Now, I thought I was up on my dancehall classics, but I feel like one of those fucking fratboys who only owns Legend when I look at the back of this CD. Even if you know a lot of the artists here, I betcha most of the tracks will be unfamiliar. 68 tunes spread over two CDs, so getting into names would be kinda foolish... but here's some anyway: Buju, Sizzla, Pinchers, Wayne Wonder, Ini Kamoze, Barrington Levy, Gregory Isaacs, Shinehead, Johnny Osbourne, Beenie Man, Super Cat, Cutty Ranks, General Degree, Spragga Benz, Shabba and lots (LOTS) more. Not to mention the Rub have stepped their duplication game up and these are two real (not CDR) discs in a jewel case... shrinkwrapped! Recommended.
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red


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Ayres & Eleven
Glamorous Life #3 CD

Ayres and Eleven knew they have a good thing going with the Glamorous Life series (GL #2 was not only a certified Lab best seller, it's one of the most played mixes in the Lab office EVER) so they went and did the logical thing and made part 3! (About time too, it's been like 4 years since the second one.) Like the previous volumes, the selection is top notch 80's (a great blend of educated sureshots, soulful boogie, garage classics and poppin' funk) and the mixes and cuts are flawless as you would expect. Features tracks from the likes of Zapp, Teena Marie, Midnight Star, Gap Band, Gwen Guthrie. The dudes don't disappoint! 34 tracks, about an hour and 15 minutes. Recommended.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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DJ Ayres & DJ Soul
Ghostface: Chamber Music CD

Ayres reached way back into his archives and hit us up with these copies of this mix with DJ Soul. These were originally sold with copies of Fishscale, so it's not ancient history but it feels like it. Plenty of rarities and b-sides mixed in with everyone's all-time favorites. 28 tracks total.
reviewed by Hires


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Ayres & Eleven
Glamorous Life #1 CD

What is the glamorous life? Is it some P. Diddy fashion show shit with flashbulbs poppin while you're showing off how many diamonds you got in your teeth? True playas know it's a state of mind - it's all about vanity and voguing, hairspray and hot pink. On this CD, white boys with flava Ayres and Eleven show their love for the worst (meaning of course best) decade, and rock you with some serious 80s R&B action. Not just memorable radio monsters like BBD, Janet Jackson and a ton of Prince-related groups, but also disco legends like Gap Band, Fonda Rae and Grace Jones who survived the transition to the 80s. Using his fancy shmancy high end Pioneer mixer, Ayres adds some light production touches (echoes, delays) and some low-key doubling to his mixes, letting most tracks play out but also cutting some short (I don't really need to hear all of "Jungle Love" anyway). The result: these two guys rip through 30 tracks and come off like a radio station without some guy telling you every 10 seconds about ladies night at Hunka Bunka in Sayerville. If you're afraid of drum machines, heavy synths, divas and catchy choruses, stay the hell away! Otherwise, get this mix and play it before a night of heavy drinking - this is some "I must beautify myself" music. By the way, Ayres spins like a robot: he doesn't move, each mix is on-point, and he insults people with requests (to their faces!).
reviewed by the Woodman


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Ayres & Cosmo Baker
Hip House CD

Thank God for Ayres and Cosmo, who may fall a few shades short of 2 Puerto Ricans, a Dominican and a Black Man, but have certainly Done It Properly with this perfect exposition of Hip House. The prodigal son, a bastard child of hip hop and house, has been welcomed home with open arms on this hour-long mix. For those who may be unfamiliar with the joys of this unjustly neglected genre, what we're talking about is uptempo beats in the 120BPM range topped with rapidfire raps and an anything goes, pre-lawsuit sample mentality. It's the perfect soundtrack to get you pumped up for a night out, I felt like I was back listening to Merlin Bobb's Saturday Night Dance Party on WBLS. This mix is yummy as a slushy, and just as sticky sweet. The fellas have spiked the already potent brew with liberal amounts of current acapellas and re-edits (Ghostface, Joe Buddens, Missy, Kelis and Outkast all make cameos), a logical update of the original idea that shakes any cobwebs off the concept. Kicking off with the ultimate hip house cut, Twin Hype's "Do It To The Crowd," a quick run through of some of the genre classics from well-known rappers follows. Latifah's "Come Into My House" has been a big gun in my house sets for a while, licking shots here alongside nuggets from fast rap masters Craig G, YZ, Special Ed and Rob Base. A short segment that immaculately links megablasts from Aly Us, Mr. Fingers and Marshall Jefferson with the Jungle Brothers' "I'll House You" acapella is nothing short of levitational. If this doesn't get you up, you're a lame loser – go listen to IDM on your headphones. The 41+ high-octane tracks on here mean that I can't name all my favorites, but a special El Poopoo dukey shout goes out for the inclusion of Sugar Bear's rarity "Don't Scandalize Mine" and the Big Daddy Kane DJ feature "The House That Cee Built." By the time Frank Ski starts calling out the "whores in this house" you know it's cuz they're all up on the dancefloor.
reviewed by monk


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Ayres
Flashback CD

His recent Hip House mix with Cosmo Baker led the New York Times to label DJ Ayres "one of New York's best mixtape DJs;" Vice, XLR8R, and The Village Voice haven't been stingy with props, either. Yet press acclaim don't put 28s on the Pathfinder, yahmeen? Urrrs stays on his grind (so focused right now), and has quickly followed up Hip House with the 10 Deep Flashbacks mix, blending classic and current hip hop, cleverly linked together by the drum breaks and lyrics that the new schoolers sampled, borrowed, and/or flipped from the old. "Definition" into "Super Hoe," the Ice-T and Jay-Z versions of "99 Problems," etc. The mixing is seamless and track selection very much on point, but what sets this apart from similar "throwback" mixes is the diversity of artists included – everyone from iced-out Roc chain wearing Young Gunz, to underground favorites like Madlib and Non Phixion, and even left-field dudes like Dizzee Rascal get their shine alongside Slick Rick, Run DMC, and other legends. With over 70 tracks blended together over the course of the mix, "Flashbacks" drops knowledge, moves asses, and makes for essential summer listening.
reviewed by Nick Catchdubs


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Tom Noble
Liger Music Vol.1 CD

vintage boogie and funk mixed

Excellent mix CD filled with vintage boogie and disco, mixed by Tom Noble (one of the most respected rare boogie collectors out there). It's short and sweet (only 32 minutes) and the mixes are quick and clean. Features tracks from acts like JBC Band, Initials, Vernon Cheely, The Prophet and many others. Fans of PPU Records and Dam Funk will definitely dig this. Recommended.
reviewed by Hires


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Fresh Daily
The Gorgeous Killer In Crimes Of Passion CD

quality indy rap

Debut full length from Brooklyn MC Fresh Daily entitled The Gorgeous Killer in Crimes Of Passion. As with most the indy hip hop from Sucio Smash's Highwater Music label that has been released recently, this stuff is thorough with the quality. If you think independent hip-hop is dead in 2009, think again. Check the charismatic flows and tough beats from Oh No on tracks like "Break A Leg(1)," or "Untucked Nunchucks(2)" produced by Exhile. Fresh Daily also shows he's versatile with the styles as he confidently rocks over smoother beats like "Me First(3)" with Tanya Morgan or his gushing love letter to hip-hop, "Love Breakdown(4)." Other highlights on the album include "Bullet Tooth Tony(5)" with Cool Calm Pete, "Starter Pistol(6)" with Homeboy Sandman, an ode to gaming on "Video Gaming(6)," and an an ode to mammaries on "T.I.T.S.(7)." 13 tracks total.
reviewed by snackmaster


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V/A
Beat Dimensions, Vol.2 (Nosaj Thing, Samiyam, Ras G, Exile) CD

new school beats comp, pick

Cinnaman & Jay Scarlett culminate their Beat Dimensions 12" series with this 20 track compilation of the finest in new school beats. We already know about producers such as Ras G, Exile, Danny Breaks, Samiyam, Mike Slott, etc. But it seems like every week, new producers on this comp are emerging like Nosaj Thing, Mono/Poly, Dimlite, and Fulgeance. If the compilers were picking stocks, they'd be rich. If you want a snapshot of the current new beats scene, you can't do much better than this. Highly recommended.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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V/A
15 Years Of Metalheadz CD

DnB compilation from legendary label

UK's legendary Metalheadz has been around for 15 years now and to celebrate they've rounded up the biggest tunes from their extensive catalog. The influential drum n bass/jungle label pretty much brought DnB to the masses thanks to seminal releases by Goldie and his crew of now legendary producers back in the early 90's and with this compilation you can revisit (or hear for the first time if you missed it!) all the hits that changed dancefloors across the globe. Check out early classics like Doc Scott's raw "VIP Drums(1)," Dillinja's "Angels Fell(2)," Alex Reece's groovy "Pulp Fiction(3)," Adam F's "Metropolis(4)," and Lemon D's super tough "This Is LA(5)," later anthems like John B's ravey "Up All Night(6)" and Marcus Intalex & ST Files' smooth roller "Universe(7)" and even much more recent bangers like D-Bridge and Vegas' "True Romance(8)" and The Comix "Be True (9)." Is a DnB revival eminent?
reviewed by snackmaster


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Golf Channel Recordings
Try To Find Me, Vol.2 CD

excellent disco, soul and house mix from cult NY label

Golf Channel is killing it right now. You already know about their top notch 12" releases, but this mix cd is up there as one of the better disco/dance mixes I've heard in awhile (and I hear a lot of them). NY DJ/musician Justin Vandervolgen is behind the decks here (and the edits) and totally makes you feel like you're at the best underground party the NY scene has to offer. The mix kicks things off with some mind melting disco funk, then seamlessly flows into deep disco soul grooves, killer house grooves, raw italo, proto-house, and back again to the disco for just under an hour of mix heat. There's a tracklist, but no original artists are mentioned since as the title suggests, these are not your average, easy to find grooves (try to find 'em!). Only the choicest cuts make the mix here, and you'll love every second of it. Big Recommendation.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Jimi Tenor & Tony Allen
Inspiration Information Vol.4 CD

modern afrobeat

Strut's Inspiration Information series moves on from the critically acclaimed Mulatu Astatke / The Heliocentrics collaboration with the fourth album in the series, a mouth-watering head to head between Finnish maverick Jimi Tenor and Afrobeat drumming legend, Tony Allen. Jimi Tenor remains a fascinating enigma in modern day music. Consistently one of the best and most unpredictable live artists around, his work since his breakthrough album "Intervision" (Warp, 1997) has involved open-minded projects ranging from live film soundtracks and orchestral pieces to a series of Afro-based albums with his band Kabu Kabu. Tony Allen continues to attract new fans as one of the greatest drummers alive today. Celebrated as the creator of the Afrobeat rhythm and a lynchpin of Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band, his recent work has included The Good, The Bad & The Queen collaboration with Damon Albarn and his first album for World Circuit Records released earlier this year, "Secret Agent." Recorded at Lovelite Studios in Berlin during November 2008 with further sessions this year in Finland and Paris, the Tenor / Allen collaboration whips up a raw, heavy analogue sound mixing the full range of Allen's Afrobeat repertoire with Tenor's off-kilter brew of dark humour, tongue-in-cheek lyrics and tight, firing musicianship. The sessions involved key members of Tenor's Kabu Kabu band and Berlin-based guest MC Allonymous with tracks evolving from jamming ideas together over five intense days of recording, fuelled by plenty of African food and whisky. Tenor's trademark range of home-made instruments rub shoulders with vintage keyboards and traditional African percussion. The resulting set is one of the best recordings that both artists have produced in recent years. Tracks range from Jimi's S&M tableau, "Darker Side of Night(1)" to apocalyptic commentary on our times, "Path To Wisdom(2)" and the hilarious lampooning of the UK immigration system, "Mama England(3)", composed on the Tenor tour bus. The album also features fusions based around traditional Afrobeat structures ("Sinuhe(4)", "Got My Egusi(5)") and ends with the extended freestyle builder, "Three Continents(6)", a life affirming, mesmeric groove built around another belting Allenko rhythm base. Topical, biting, funny and always funky, experimental but never straying from "the one", this is another high quality addition to the Inspiration Information series, a "no rules" set that brings the best out of both artists. 9 tracks total, recommended.
reviewed by label review


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V/A
Strange Breaks & Mr. Thing Vol.2 2CD

top notch rare groove mix + comp

Has BBE ever put out a weak comp? For his second go-around UK DJ/Collector (of Scratch Perverts fame) exposes 18 more unusual funk-dified moments and unexpected breaks. We're talking wizard level digger's selection here (I recognize 2 names out of the 18 tracks. CD 1 features a mixed version, and CD 2 includes 19 unmixed tracks. Recommended.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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Edan
Echo Party CD

old school disco rap, dance, and punk funk rarities mixed and freaked

Crazy fresh mixtape project from Edan for fans of old school disco rap/dance and analog effects wizardry. Edan was given access to the back catalog of classic old school labels like P&P, Chocolate Star, Magic, etc. and was asked to make something new out of it - basically whatever he wanted! The result is Echo Party, a funky dubbed-out trip through old school rarities, freaked and funked with plenty of moog, tape echo, turntables, guitar, and even kazoos. Basically Edan kills it in a major way. He even goes so far as to obsessively jot down every single detail of the mix (i.e. moog note echoed out at 0:49, sample chopped at 1:33, etc.) madman style so you can recreate the mix (yeah right buddy!). These liner notes are included in the fancy 12 page book the CD comes packaged in with original art by Edan himself. What a talented MF'er (but you already knew that)! Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Mulatu Astatke
New York-Addis-London: The Story Of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975 CD

recommended vintage african jazz

Vibraphone and keyboard player, master arranger and bandleader, Mulatu Astatke is one of the all-time greats of Ethiopian music and the creator of his own original music form, Ethio jazz. Through the acclaimed Ethiopiques album series and through featuring on the soundtrack to the Jim Jarmusch film Broken Flowers, his music has belatedly reached a global audience and a new, younger generation of fans. In November of last year, he recorded an inspired new album with London psych jazz band The Heliocentrics for Strut's "Inspiration Information" studio collaboration series. Now, Strut are proud to present, for the first time anywhere, the definitive Mulatu career retrospective covering his landmark '60s and '70s recordings. Mulatu is a true pioneer of African music. He was the first Ethiopian musician of his generation to travel extensively and to record abroad - he studied in the UK in Wales and at Trinity College Of Music in London, cutting his teeth on the buoyant London jazz scene of the early '60s. He became the first African student to attend Harvard and he lived and recorded in New York, developing a unique sound that fused Western jazz with traditional Ethiopian melodies. As Mulatu says, "it took a long time to get the balance, to let the colours and the feelings of the Ethiopian modes shine through." Returning to "Swinging Addis" during the late '60s, he became a pivotal figure, arranging for many of the country's top vocalists and developing rich, dense textures in his own music during the final years of Selassie's reign and the mid-'70s rule of the Derg Communist military junta. Tracing the progression of his Ethio jazz experiments with full access to all of the labels for whom he recorded, Mulatu Astatke: New York-Addis-London is the essential Mulatu. Covering his first recordings in the UK during 1965, his groundbreaking fusions for the small Worthy label in New York and his key '70s recordings back in Addis on Amha, Phillips and Axum, the album features comprehensive sleeve notes by Miles Cleret, boss of the excellent Soundway Records imprint, and rare, previously unseen photos from Mulatu's personal archive.
reviewed by label review


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V/A
Forge Your Own Chains: Heavy Psychedelic Ballads And Dirges 1968-1974 CD w/ FREE Fan Club 45

heavy psyche comp by Egon and Stones Throw crew

LAB EXCLUSIVO: purchase this CD and receive the corresponding Stones Throw Fan Club for free.

This is as close as record digging gets to "grown and sexy." Now Again strikes again with a 15 track compilation of heavy psyche compiled by label head Egon. There's been numerous bootleg psyche comps that have trickled to collectors over the years, but this official compilation wipes the slate clean and allows even the newbie to get deep into this nerdus genre. Here's what the label has to say:

"Those of us birthed into record collecting by the Hip Hop midwife revered Jimi Hendrix as well as James Brown. We searched for albums by Mulatu Astatke and Power of Zeus with the same fervor," Egon writes in his introduction to the comp. Forge Your Own Chains showcases music from all corners of the world: Colombia, Nigeria, Sweden, South Korea, Thailand and Iran. The focus is on melody, driving rhythms and accessibility. Not one song is included on this compilation because it is from a "rare" album. Certainly, many of these songs do spring from albums that exchange hands for many thousands of dollars and many of these songs have never seen reissue. But these songs are all beautiful in their own right and work to form a coherent album. Psychedelic records, long the mainstay of older, grizzled collectors and seemingly quaint, are, in the hands of Egon and those of his generation, giving up new ghosts.

15 tracks in all, includes a 40 page detail booklet. Recommended.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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Fela Kuti
The Best Of The Black President 2CD

recommended comp of Fela classics, b-sides, edits

Great to have this back in print. Knitting Factory has reissued this double disc compilation of Fela's most crucial classics. Originally released in 1999, the tracklisting includes a number of edit versions as well as the DJ friendly part 2 versions. Packaged in a spiffy fold-out digi-pack, this set features 13 tracks. Highly recommended.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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Mr. Chop
For Pete's Sake (Pete Rock Covers) CD

psych, funk, jazz and rock covers of Pete Rock beats

Coz Littler aka Mr. Chop does an incredible job of reinterpreting Pete Rock's greatest beats in a psych, funk and jazz mode. A talented producer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist, Chop is certainly not a new jack when it comes to producing. After working on several Now Again, Jazzman, and even recent Doom releases, Chop has honed his skills and gives us a unique and refreshing take on Pete Rock classics. Recorded at Cheshire UK's Ape Recording Studios with the help of Heliocentric's Malcolm Catto, Jake Ferguson, and Mike Burnham, For Pete's Sake takes you on a hazy, psychedelic trip through hip-hop territory like you've never heard before. 17 tracks total.
reviewed by snackmaster


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J. Dilla
Dillanthology 3CD Box Set

Dilla's best productions and remix collected over 3 CDs

Sweet triple CD boxset from Rapster compiling the best Dilla productions and remixes from his highly influential catalog. The Dillanthology boxset features all 3 previously released Dillanthology discs in one definitive package. You get volume one which focuses on his best known production for other artists like the Pharcyde, Common, Slum Village, De La, Erykah Badu, The Roots, etc., volume 2 that focuses on his remix work for the likes of Busta Rhymes, Artifacts, Spacek, Fourtet, Masta Ace, DJ Cam, etc., and volume 3 that collects some of his best solo productions from his last few albums Donuts, The Shining, Ruff Draft, and Welcome To Detroit. With 39 tracks total, this is a must for anyone just starting to delve into the genius of Dilla's work and veteran Dilla completists alike. Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Grandmaster Roc Raida
52 Beats 2008 CD

mix of classic breaks

In the tradition of Demolition Pumpkin Squeeze and Kid Capri, Roc Raida edits and re-arranges the classic Ultimate Breaks & Beats catalog. But unlike the turntablist orgy of Pumpkin Squeeze, Roc goes for precision, focusing on clean doubles, scratching , and transitions. Don't get me wrong there's moments when Raida lets loose, but as a whole this is presented more like a very well executed b-boy tape. 68 tracks, over one hour. Brought to you by the good peoples at BBP.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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Glass Pyramid
Glass Pyramid: Unreleased Archives 1979-89 CD

lost unreleased boogie funk restored

Special expanded CD version. 14 tracks of unreleased 80s funk and soul from... Oklahama City?! Believe it! Check out the incredible synth funk on these lost jams like "Who's Girl Are You(1)," "Time To Party(2)" and "Country Cowboy(3)," plus vocal 80s R&B groovers like "Better By The Minute(4)," "Really Want to Be The One(5)," and even smooth as silk slow jams like "Love Song(6)" and "Back To Lover(7)." Thanks again to the vinyl and tape excavators from PPU for unearthing these gems that would have never seen the light of day. These tracks were actually remastered from the original cassette tapes, but sound just fine on this crispy CD. Cool Digipak cover too. Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Daniel Joseph
Pretty / Ugly CD

quality indy rap from Jersey

Full length for the indy hip-hop heads from Daniel Joseph on Highwater Music. Things are kept really real on Pretty/Ugly, with raw, intelligent raps from Mr. Joseph and top notch soulful, but equally bangin' beats from the Akai Pros. The opener "And I(1)" sets the bar pretty high (both beats and raps wise) and Daniel is able to keep it up throughout with head-knodders like ESTILLME(2), "Off Course(3)," "Coffee And Cigarettes(4)," "Moonlight(5)," "Understand(6)," and "For You(7)." When it comes to recent indy rap shit, this is way better than your average. 12 tracks total.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Shackleton
Three Eps CD

dark and minimal dubstep

Shackleton has always been on his own thing (which is why he's one of the more interesting producers in the dubstep realm). The master of dark, tribalistic, dubstep visions has recently moved from the UK to Berlin, and with that move has come a move in labels - from his Skull Disco imprint to Perlon, home to many astute producers including Ricardo Villalobos. This move also can be heard in a slight mutation in his music. On Three EPs, that sparse darkness is still there, but now coupled with a rhythmic deepness that seems to be mixable with Berlin's big minimal techno and house scene. It's pretty mmuch consistent on every track in this release which pulses with depth while keeping tense and droning at the same time. Check the sounds: "(No More) Negative Thoughts(1)," "Lets Go(2)," "Mountains of Ashes(3)," "Moon Over Josef's Burial(4)," "Asha In The Tabernacle(5)" and "Trembling Leaf(6)." 9 tracks total.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Roll Deep
Street Anthems CD

big grime tracks from infamous UK crew

Roll Deep was formed back in 2002 by a group of grime MCs (including Wiley and Dizzee Rascal!) so you know these cats are surrious with the skills. After 3 full albums and a gang of mixtapes, you can bet Roll Deep has amassed some real heaters, and on Street Anthems they give up the best of the best. Check out the frantic raps over tough, bouncin' beats on "Eskimo(1)," "When I'm Ere(2)," "Do This Ting (3)," "Babylon Burner(4)," "Heat Up(5)," "Badman(6)," "Do Me Wrong (7)," "Celebrate(8)," plus the soul sampling "Avenue(9)" and the skankin' "Movin' In Circles(10)." Think of this as a "greatest hits" of sorts for UK's most famous grime crew. 19 tracks massive.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Starkey
Street Bass Anthems Vol.4 EP

crunk and r&b infused bass bangers

More bad bass hybrids from Philly's Seclusias crew. Your boy Starkey heads things off with his pumpin' R&B laced ghetto mutant "Starkvillain(1)." Total pop friendly vocals on this exclusive track that'll get the club bouncin' while the instrumental is hooked up if you wanna keep it strictly beats. Flipside features Pacheko's "Lockdown(2)" gets a hard steppin' remix from 6blocc (from those hip- hop dubstep remix 12"s) and Dnaebeats' sub-bubblling creeper "Razor Kut(3)." Heavy!
reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
vinyl new arrivals

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Toxic Avenger
Scion Sampler, Vol.26 CD - FREE WITH PURCHASE

Free with any physical purchase, limit one per customer.
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
all /

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V/A
Jahtarian Dubbers Vol.1 CD

digi-dub compilation

The first Jahtari CD compilation from 2007, around the time when the label started marking their presence with physical releases. This comp was definitely crucial in setting up the label's position as the vanguard of the current digi-dub scene. Disrupt sets the foundation here with two(1,2) of his patented digi-dubs. Ilyah & Ltd. Candy, who just released a full EP, are here with one of their earliest releases "Machines And Ghost(3)." The selections are rounded out by the wide network of Jahtari producers including tracks from Rootah(4), Pete Murder Tone(5), African Simba(6), Blaze Dem(7), John Frum(8), and others. 10 tracks in all, recommended.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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Dirty Sound System
Dirty French Psychedelics CD

rare French psych gems compiled

Dirty Sound System (Clovis Goux and Guillaume Sorge) built up quite a rep as the French diplomats of tasteful selections and edits with their limited DIRTY Edits volumes 1 & 2. Great to see a new release from the dudes, but if you were expecting dirty disco edits volume 3 you might have to wait a bit longer. This CD adds a whole new dimension to their already vast repertoire of styles focusing on exotic and rare psychedelia of the 70's with a decidedly French slant. No dancefloor fillers or party rockers here, just wonderful and trippy head music to set your mind adrift... (and a lot of times that's all you need). Fans of Serge Gainsbourg, AIR, etc. will certainly dig these rare and hard-to-find gems. 14 tracks total from the likes of Christophe, Bridgitte Fontaine, Cortex, Nino Ferrer, Jean Jacques Dexter, Alain Kan, Francois De Roubaix, and a bunch of others. Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Diplo
Decent Work For Decent Pay: Selected Works Vol.1 CD

colllection of diplo remixes

Doesn't it seem like it was yesterday that Thingamajawn was coming out on Money Studies? And now the guy's nominated for a Grammy. They grow up so fast! This CD kind of serves as an early career retrospective, featuring a selection of both early original productions and official remixes that have been released over the last few years. Early cuts like "Newsflash(1)" mingle with productions for other artists (Kano's "Reload It(2)" and, the mother of them all, "Paper Planes(3)") as well as remixes for artists like Hot Chip(4), CSS(5) and Peter, Bjorn and John(6). The CD also features a bonus media folder containing MP3s for the other versions of Diplo Riddim (Pantera Os Danadinhos' "Percao" and Vybz Kartel's "Baby"), the Johnny Blaze Remix of "Way More" off of the Florida LP, Diplo's remix of Spoon's "Don't You Evah," as well as the video for "Percao." 15 Tracks total, Recommended.
reviewed by Hires


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Paten Locke
Super Ramen Rocketship CD

indy hip hop

You may know Paten Locke as Therapy, or from groups like Asamov, The
Perceptionists, or The Alias Brothers, or maybe even from his production work for Mr. Lif and Akrobatik, but this is the very first time the Jacksonville MC/Producer/DJ has put all three of his skill sets together into a full length album... and it bangs! One listen to Super Ramaen Rocketship, and it is evident Mr. Locke knows the deal, with true school aesthetics that will appease all the hip-hop heads starving for fresh material. The opener "Soup For One(1)" sets things off on the right foot, with pumping horns and raw raps for heavy head nodding. "Breakthru(2)" comes next and keeps it moving, then "Ash On Em(3)" goes hard on some diss raps. Also check "Auto
Reverse(4)," a dope ode to the days of cassette, "Funky Hit Record(5)," the quick and funky "Wadaap!(6)," jazzy loop action on "Just Me(7)," and of course the title track "Super Ramen Rocketship(8)." 14 tracks total.
reviewed by snackmaster


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The Slew
100% (Kid Koala) CD

hard turntablist rock from Kid Koala + Wolfmother

Aww yeah! The homie Kid Koala from Montreal is back with Dynomite D and the rhythm section of Wolfmother(!) to breathe some much needed freshness back into the turntablist music scene. The Slew project is much harder and more rockin' than any of the other Kid Koala projects you've heard in the past (though still just as, if not more fun!) thanks to the raw cutting of wailing guitars and vocals from deep blues rock records and live drums and bass. The end result sounds like the channeling of Jimi Hendrix' spirit through the modern DJ turntable and really has to be heard to be believed 100% rocks hard from beginning to end, but check these highlights for a taste - "100%(1)," "Problem Child(2)," "You Turn Me Cold(3)," "Robbing Banks Doin' Time(4)," "The Grinder(5)," "Shackled Soul(6)," and "Battle Of Heaven & Hell(7)." Also of note: the album was mixed down by Beastie Boys producer and engineer Mario Caldato Jr who says he hasn't heard anything this crazy since Paul's Boutique. Whoa. Definitely catch the live show if it comes through your city.
Recommended.


reviewed by snackmaster


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V/A
Bite Harder: The Music De Wolfe Studio Sampler Vol.2 CD

highest quality comp of library funk

The De Wolfe Studio library seems to be an endless trove of lost funk moments. This is the second OFFICIAL foray into the vaults, this time curated by Joel Martin of Quiet Village. He pulls out gem after gem, there isn't a weak moment (in contrast to the bootleg releases that are limited in resources). You'll hear samples from some of your favorite hip-hop producers, but mostly these are untouched jewels, full of psyche guitar, drums, expert instrument solos, and that library brand of clinical funk. The liner notes detail each track and the original record that they were dug from. 19 tracks, recommended.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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Oh No
Disrupt Chronicles CD

underground hip-hop mix from Stones Throw artist

The pre-album mix CD has become the promotional tool of choice for the commercial hip hop game, now here’s Stones Throw with their version. MC/producer Oh No gives us the 25-track treatment, mostly consisting of highlights from his work behind the boards- original production for the likes of Kali Wild, Grand Agent, LMNO, Disrupt, Declaime, the Visionaries and others. He also takes a nod from street tape hustlers by including a handful of “unofficial” remixes for Large Professor, Que D, Super Natural, Prodigy and others. In my opinion, this mix has achieved it purpose, let’s see if he can become the next Stones Throw starter. -jms
reviewed by the mgmnt


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J. Dilla
Dillanthology Vol.3 CD

classic Dilla production

Third and final installment of in the Dillanthology. Whereas the first volume focused on his best known producton for other artists and the second on focused on his remixes, this one gives shine to Jay Dee's best solo work. Many of the tracks featured are from his last few years on this planet with highlights from Welcome To Detroit, his Jaylib collab with Madlib, his final masterpiece Donuts,as well as tracks from posthumous releases The Shining, Jay Stay Paid and Ruff Draft. Can't front on any of these beats. This is classic material you can bump from beginning to end. Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Koushik
Beep Tape CD

30 tracks of beat sketches by the Stones Throw producer

30 track mixed instrumental album by Stones Throw premier beatmaker Koushik. This dude must be making beats all day long to have so many tracks. All tracks are around 2 min - ADD style(Also known as Dilla/Madlib style). Recommended.
reviewed by C'mish


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Hudson Mohawke
Butter CD

futuristic beats, recommended

Wow, Hudson Mohawke has been putting in the work for this one. From the opening moments, this album literally bursts with new styles. Graduating from the post-Dilla beats school, Mohawke has created his own class, putting together fusion, new age, early 2000 jiggy, and really strong artificially flavored candy. This shit is so future with its science fiction references and strong halcyon sheen. It reminds me of those alternative dimension books (Prometheus Rising and lucid dreaming!) I used to read in college. I thought the cover art was really odd, but it all makes sense when you take a listen. 18 tracks in all, recommended.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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Trackstar
Classickness Vol.3 (hosted by Psycho Les) CD

late nineties style hip-hop mix

Missouri's Trackstar takes is back to the late nineties for this mix of hip-hop nerdus classics and lost ones. The Beatnuts' Psycho Les hosts the entire thing, giving it an extra sense of correctness and academia. Trackstar creates a great balance between known classics and nerdus album cuts, making it far from predictable. For every "Shut Em Down" Pete Rock remix, he'll throw in two lost hip-hop crew tracks ("Beasts From The East" and "Got My Mind Made Up") and one Wu-fan favorite ("For Heaven's Sake"). If songs from Def Squad, The Nonce, Pacewon, MC Breed, Souls Of Mischief, Alkaholics, get your bubble goose bubbling, this might be the mix for you. 22 tracks in all.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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Trackstar
The Guest Chamber (Wu-Tang Guest Appearances) CD

compilation of non-obvious Wu guest appearances

Missouri's Trackstar hits us up with a 21 track mix of Wu-Tang guest appearances. The first selection, Big's "The What" featuring Method, is just the appetizer, as Trackstar gets really deep into album cuts, b-sides, and forgotten singles the rest of the way (he must of spent a lot of dough at Sandbox back in the day). You'll find Wu-enhanced tracks from Gangstarr, Mobb, Alkaholiks, Q-Tip, 2Pac, Muggs, Redman, Big Pun, Pete Rock, Cocoa Brovas, Spice 1, Royce Da 5'9, Outkast, Bounty Killa, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Onyx, Jayo Felony, Cypress Hill, and Hi-Tek.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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V/A
Cosmic Balearic Beats, Vol.2 2CD

top notch balearic and cosmic beats, mixed and unmixed

Second batch of the world's best cosmic house, balearic disco, and slo-mo italo grooves collected by Eskimo for their Cosmic Balearic Beats series. After the success of the first one, a sequel was a no brainer, and once again the Eskimo label does an excellent job recruiting the best known and up & coming producers of this style to contribute top quality tracks. The first disc of this double CD set is perfectly mixed so you can enjoy smooth grooves without interruption, but they also include a bonus unmixed MP3 disc with the full length tracks UNMIXED for the DJs. Stand out tracks include Hot Toddy's spaced-out jump off "I Need Love(1)" with grown & sexy vocals by Ron Basejam, Slight Delay's piano driven anthem "Can You Feel It (2)," Nelue's schmoove "No Strings Attached(3)," Premier Rang's (of Italians Do It Better) psychedelic trip "Zoe Et Heine(4)," Beat Broker's feel good synth groover "Ice Castle(5)," The Outrunner's 80's influenced "These Girls Are Dressed To Kill(6)," Visti and Meyland's voodoo-rific outing "Yes Maam(7)," Mugwump's tribalistic "Stanza(8)," and Lyhome's vocoder swingin' "Other Side Of Me(9)." 16 tracks total. Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Black Devil Disco Club
Strange New World Of Bernard Fevre CD

lost cosmic masterpiece with new mixes and unreleased material

Before the creation of Black Devil's now mythical Disco Club LP in '78, Bernard Fevre (the man Behind Black Devil) released another lost album entitled Enter the Strange World of Bernard Fevre. Similar to Disco Club, this album was incredibly ahead of its time, utilizing all manner of synths and drum machines to create a world of haunting electronic soundscapes and melodies that seem to withstand the effects of time. This ultra rare LP was released on the cult French Library label IM, and is obviously close to impossible to find. Lucky for us, Lo Recordings has teamed up with Fevre to release new mixes of these lost cuts alongside several previously unheard compositions. The vibe throughout the whole album is much less dance-centric as the afro-italo infused grooves of Disco Club. Enter The Strange World is like the best soundtrack to an epic sci-fi movie that would warp your consciousness to another dimension. Basically this is the best astral travelling, cosmic surfin, drug trippin' music I've heard in awhile. The opener "Dali(1)" sets the pace for the album, a cosmic theme that rides on intense arpgeggio bass laced with delicate melodies that seem to be performed by a space orchestra. The intoxicating "Dangerous Mixture (2)" comes next with sounds reminiscent to Fevre's other works. Tracks like "Stay On Grey(3)" and "Co-Lateral(4)" definitely seem to have a modern edge to them with the tough breakbeats underneath, while "Fantasm(5)" offers a strange funk thats is hard to deny. Also check out the dancey beats of "Polyster(6)" and "Molecule Dance(7)" plus the moody "Subconscient Lamentation(8)." Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster


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V/A
Can You Dig It? The Music and Politics of Black Action Films 1968-75 2CD

massive funk/soul compilation

Soul Jazz's legendary compilation series turns its focus to the music of black action films (commonly referred to as "blaxploitation films") made in the late '60s and early '70s. While the films were revolutionary for their depiction of black characters and themes (something that very rarely occurred prior to the civil rights movement), they're also notable because they featured music by some of the greatest funk and soul musicians of all time. Artists like Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Willie Hutch, Roy Ayers, Marvin Gaye and even the godfather James Brown contributed original songs to these films. Often, the artists were able to create music that was beyond the limits of their previous work, thanks to large studio budgets that allowed for additional orchestration and arrangement. On Can You Dig It?, Soul Jazz tells the stories of these films and songs in great detail. The 2CD boxset includes a whopping 34 tracks, and comes packaged with postcards, stickers and an extraordinarily detailed, 96-page booklet that describes the history of black cinema and the stories of the songs that are associated with it. Perfect for those who want to know more about this period in music/film, or those who are already fans and want to fill in some gaps in their collection. Recommended.
reviewed by Hires


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Fat Jon
Hundred Eight Stars CD

compilation of instrumentals prev available only in Japan

Fat Jon, along with Five Deez (with Pase Rock), used to be a fixture on the Lab downtempo pages. However, for the last several years, Jon has been releasing Japan-only releases as he's a bit of a cult figure there. This compilation of instrumentals (most of which appeared only on 12") was first released in Japan back in 2007, and finally gets a domestic issue on Jon's own Ample Soul imprint. For downtempo heads, you know what to expect: impeccably produced beats that touch feet in both the jazzy downtempo scene of the late nineties and the more forward beats of the post-millenium. 18 tracks in all.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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V/A
D-Funk: Funk, Disco & Boogie from Germany 1972-2002 CD

vintage and modern German funk compiled

No it's not Dam-Funk, it's D-Funk baby! Everyone knows Germany ill with their tech stuff, but funk and disco? Yup,
they got that on lock as well, and Mar goes out of their way to prove it to you. Here's their compilation featuring some of Germany's most block rocking disco, funk and boogie picks from 1979-2002. Although they say boogie in the description, the term is used pretty loosely and is not really the kind of "boogie" you're used to. More funk, I say. The most "disco boogie" pick of the comp has to be the Boney M heater, "Dancing In The Streets(1)". The soulful horns and groovin ass bassline just kill it. Next in line has got to be Su Kramer's "Magic Dance(2)" which reminds me of an interpretation of Cat Stevens "If Dog Was A Doughnut" with hot female vocals poured on top like a sweet gravy. For somethin more disco, check out Ganymed's "Future World(3), a killer cosmic disco jam perfect for lovers of that DFA sound(and Bogman), and Andrew Minkacz Orchestra's "Intercontinental Meetings(4) for a taste of some upbeat disco grooves with a heavy funk foundation. For the funk line up, Lyrics Born ex-backup, Poets Of Rhythm come through with their modern classic, "Plus Plus(5)," Cheeseslider's gives up slap bass insanity on "Sweat-Major(6)" and Stolen Property's sweet cover of "Low Rider(7)." Last but not least they give it up to P-Funk, on Montana Chromeboy's intense Troutman style stomper, "War On The Bullshit(8)." Definitely a wide range of sounds here and a lot of heavy heavy jams...
reviewed by C'mish


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Natural Yogurt Band
Away With Melancholy CD

authentic psychedelic library sounds re-issued

Stones Throw subsidiary Now Again has teamed up with Now Again to bring you this special expanded version of The Natural Yogurt Band's debut album Away With Melancholy. If you picked up their sole
45 single or the Jazzman version of this LP consider yourself lucky as they are now out-of-print and hard to come by. Thankfully Now Again has come to the rescue to press up more copies of this incredible album. This is as close as you're going to get to authentic psych library vibes for something made in this century. In fact, if I didn't know any better I'd call it as some vintage shit, but all the tracks contained were made well after 2000! Dope drum breaks lace the entire album along with sweet spaced-out synths, fuzzy organs, vibes, keys, flutes and then some. Check out how ill these cats are comin' on tracks like "Space Echo(1)" which is unique to this release. Also never before released are "Weak Without Wine (2)" and "Invisible Ink(3)." SO good. But there's much more to soak in on this album like the sinister funk of "Chapter One(4)," the harmonizing on "Chit Chat(5)," jazzy south of the border vibes on "Latin Illusion(6)," dreamy moods on "Voodoo(7)" and the hardest dub break on "Soft Cheese(8)." Fans of Finders Keepers, GLK, Malcolm Catto, raw psych funk, drum breaks, etc. need to check this. Limited pressing of 1000 in gatefold, tip-on foil sleeve. Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Questlove
The Breaks CD

The Roots drummer drops some knowledge on ya

?uestlove delivers a deep collection of sample sources mixed together for your listening pleasure. He's "on a mission to educate and entertain you" and you know as well as I do that The Roots drummer's knowledge is fathomless. The mix opens with ?uestlove reminiscing over beats and includes originals sampled by everyone from Timbaland to Sa-Ra. While it's not necessarily a collection of essential breaks, ?uest has more than a few tricks up his sleeve. Whether it's opening with the Arc Choir's "Walk With Me" from Kanye's "Jesus Walks" or getting down with "You Can't Turn Me Away" by Sylvia Striplin, ?uestlove has got you covered.
reviewed by Michu Meszaros


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Main Source
The Original Elements (Breaking Atoms Originals) 2CD

unmixed comp of sampled tracks

Main Source's 1991, Breaking Atoms is generally considered one of the blueprints for golden-era, sample-based hip-hop. Specifically, Large Professor defined the loops and drum breaks that would define the early digger's scene. This two disc set dissects the Breaking Atoms presenting 30 of the original sample sources in their unmixed full length versions. It's quite impressive to see how many records Large Professor "broke". Nearly every track is from an album you'd see on the wall at a record show to this day; classics like: Ike Turner(1), Skull Snaps(2), Pazant Brothers(3), Third Guitar(4), The Mohawks(5), 9th Creation(6), The Meters(7), The Three Sounds(8), Vicki Anderson(9), etc. Gotta love those sparkling jazz loops too. In addition, the tracklisting features the track sample information, so you can piece together all 5 samples Pro used on "Just Hanging Out." 30 tracks in all.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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People Under the Stairs
Stepfather CD+DVD

Limited edition deluxe edition (previously out of print). Thes One and Double K step it up while sticking to their winning formula of mellow-hot beats and straight from the heart flows. These cats are so real and so creative that this record is making me fall in love with hip hop all over again (ed's note: TK is like the anti-Bob Bannister and Roctakon. Being positive and stuff is so "lame" that it's fucking cool again- don't fight the feeling people). I had to pull back "Pass the 40(1)" twice and force P-Gorgeous and the production squad to share in my overflowing enthusiasm. This is some serious soul sophisticated b-boy snap music. The first single from the album, "Tuxedo Rap(2)," is a great example of how connected these two are to their beats and each other. They roll over the funk so effortlessly, but with a hunger, intensity and chemistry that is so rare in hip hop these days. "Days Like These(3)" almost has me in tears because it's so beautiful. It also has me reflecting on the time I listened to Digable Planets' "Blowout Comb" on acid and truly believed I was in the studio with the Creamy Spies plotting a revolution. "Jamboree Part 1(4)" is built for the BBQ and is a testament to PUTS' appreciation of everyday life (a really good quality to have in this triflin world). "LA9X(5)" boasts the best tambourine guest spot since The Beatnuts' "Are You Ready" while "Reflections(6)" featuring Odell Johnson takes us straight outta Babylon. The closing track "On & On(7)" features Kat Ouano from Crown City Rockers and she layers the Rhodes into a perfect closer like Mariano…or Billy Wagner (had to avoid the ed. note with that one). The CD version also comes with a DVD with all sorts of goodies on it, all wrapped up in some great throwback packaging. If you've been ambivalent about hip hop lately, you owe it to yourself to give this album a try.
reviewed by Telekinetic Kat


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DJ Premier & DJ Mister Cee
A Tribute To Michael 2CD

live MJ mixes from legendary NY DJs

Impressive tribute mixes from NYC's hip hop elite recorded live within 48 hours of MJ's death. First up is the legendary DJ Premier with a mix recorded on his Sirius Radio show June 26, 2009 featuring ALL your favorite of early Jackson 5 hits, with the breaks doubled up, cut up, and freaked, plus all the later MJ jams from the 80's up to the 90's, and even deeper tracks from the gloved one's catalog. You can tell Primo is really gettin' into it the way he's party rocking. The second disc features Hot 97's Mister Cee with a mix recorded live on NYC radio (complete with radio drops and everything) June 26, 2009. Cee's mix keeps things moving with fast paced mixes of classic MJ and J5 with the addition of tracks that sampled MJ from Jay-Z, Q-Tip, De La, and much more. Features cool album art to with vintage photos of young Michael.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Dam-Funk
Toeachizown 2CD

much anticipated full length from the Ambassador of Boogie Funk

Dam-Funk's long awaited funk opus has landed! Comprising of 24 tracks spread over 2CDs, Toeachizown is a modern masterwork of the funk ("funk" meaning Boogie, Modern Soul, Electro-funk). The man himself hardly needs an introduction with the string of highly lauded singles and EPs he has released leading to this album (plus his fame has been steadily on the rise with recent remixes for Animal Collective and Cubic Zirconia and cover shots in the FADER). Completely produced with analog synths and vintage drum machines, Dam successfully brings the essence of funk to the masses while fusing it with his own funky swagger on tracks like "Let's Take Off (Far Away)(1)," "LAtrifying(2)," "Love Is Here 2nite(3)," "Fantasy (4)," and "Keep Lookin 2 The Sky(5)." Of course the heavy G-funk inspired beats bump hard like the title track(6), "Hood Pass Intact (7)," "Brookside Park(8)" and "Killdatmuthafucka(9)," while other tracks ride smooth and stay fly like "10 West(10)," "Flying V Ride (11)," "Burn Straight Thru U(12)," and "Candy Dancin'(13)" with Mark De Clive Lowe on keys. Dam even gets open on the mic and showcases his vocal abilities (not vocoded) on "Come On Outside(14)" and "Searchin 4 Funk's Future(15)." This is one seriously talented dude. Over 2 hours of original music. Don't miss it! Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster


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The Rub
It's The Motherfucking Remix #3 CD

volume 3 of the lauded blends & edits mix series

The Rub's Motherfucking Remix CD series is an all-time lab best seller; we've moved a motherfucking ton of these things. Now, after a three-year wait, Ayres, Cosmo, Eleven and friends are back with another installment. Volume 3 contains an absolute ton of music, blended, edited and mashed up in ways that are scientifically proven to move your ass. DJs like A-Trak, Tittsworth, Diplo, Emynd, Catchdubs, Sammy Bananas, Ross Hogg, B.Cause, Skratch Bastid, DJ Day, Matthew Africa and the Rub dudes themselves all have contributions here, with almost every genre you can think of thrown into the mix. 67 minutes total, super recommended.
reviewed by Hires


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Koushik
Mixobeats 2CD

beats from Koushik's entire discography mixed, many unreleased tracks

Thorough mix of self-produced beats from Koushik Ghosh of Stones Throw fame. On Mixobeats, the talented producer gives us a audible tour of his entire production career to date with almost 80 beats crammed into just over an hour. Expect a hazy mix of downbeat hip- hop, 60's psychedelia, quirky beat head shit, rock and jazz loops plus eclectic funkyness from around the world. Features tons of unreleased material plus music from his Rhythm Trax, Beeptape, Now Again beats, limited 45 projects and much more. Also includes a second disc entitled Mixoremixes that follows a similar formula but with focus on his remix projects from 2001 to 2008 (including remix tracks for J-Rocc, Fourtet, Beastie Boys, Dooley-O, Percee P, and more). A shit ton of music to wrap your head around. Must-hear for Koushik fans.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Crookers
I Love Techno 2009 CD

mix CD featuring the year's best electro and dubstep

The I Love Techno mix series is back for another annual installment, and who better to have at the helm than Crookers? The Italian duo definitely had a huge year, thanks in part to the fact that their Kid Cudi remix was damn inescapable over the past 12 months. Don't let the name fool you, there's a whole lot more electro and dubstep than techno here (though there are a couple techno tracks), with tracks from Nadastrom, Jesse Rose, Fever Ray, Zomby, Rustie, Jack Beats, and Metronomy all making appearances. 18 tracks total, 65 minutes.
reviewed by Hires


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V/A
La Belle Epoque: EMI's French Girls 1965-1968 CD

If the sound of a French dame cooing gently in your ear gets you revved up, prepare to be in Gallic heaven. This cool little import-only comp features 20 seldom heard tracks from 60s French female artists from across the EMI family of labels, all remastered at Abbey Road Studios for maximum sexy. Feast upon the sounds of Les Roches Martin, whose "Tu As Peur De Bruit(1)" (and two other tracks included here) comes across as a slightly darker, off-kilter take on the harmonizing hippy Free Design style. Alice Dona's "Les Trois Couleurs De L'Amour(2)" sounds a lot like a poppy version of the Four Tops' "Can't Help Myself." Christie Laume's tracks - like "Agathe Ou Christie(3)" and "La Musique Et La Danse(4)" - are full of infectious pop tricks that will sink their teeth in quick. Of course it wouldn't be a French 60s comp without just a little Serge, who duets with Michel Arnaud on the Gainsbourg-penned "Les Papillons Noirs(5)." Also check Ria Bartok's "Ecoute Mon Coeur(6)" (literal French horn!) and Anne Kern's "Tant Pis, Tant Pis Entre Donc (Come On In)(7)." 20 tracks; 50 minutes total. Recommended.
reviewed by Larri Byrd


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Linkwood Family
System CD

brilliant deep disco, boogie and house on Trusme's label

Long awaited debut full length from Nick Moore (aka Linkwood) delivering choice tunes on Trusme's Prime Numbers label. The Scottish producer never ceases to amaze me with his fresh take on classic Detroit & Chicago house plus super impressive deep boogie styles that would perk even the most jaded disco nerd's ears. Quality is oozing out of every cut on here, from the authentic early 80's grooves as heard on "Falling(1)", to the mean boogie groove of "Fudge Boogie(2)" with the homie Fudge Fingas working the Juno and Moog keys, or cool and sophisticated late night disco like "Pumpernickel(3)." Things are equally impressive on the house side of things with tracks like "Electricity(4)" and "Chicago pt. 2(5)" that keep things pumpin' on the dancefloor, while the title cut "System(6)" takes it DEEP in the best way possible. Also note the fantastic soul boogie cut "Tears(7)"
featuring soaring vocals by Reggie Watts. Obviously this is already getting support from all the right players including Carl Craig, Derrick May, Steve Hitchell of Echospace, etc. 10 tracks total. Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster


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La Roux
La Roux CD

debut LP from the UK synth-pop duo

It certainly has been a meteoric year for La Roux. What started last year with a 12" on Kitsune has now blown up into a self-titled LP that has already been certified gold in the UK (along with two top ten singles that featured some huge remixes), now finally seeing release here in the good old US of A. In case you've been sleeping, La Roux is comprised of Elly Jackson on vocals and Ben Langmaid on synths, and when you put 'em together you wind up with a duo that has a serious knack for writing catchy-as-fuck synth-pop. "Bulletproof(1)" is probably the catchiest of the bunch, and should translate to most dancefloors exceptionally. "In For The Kill(2)," which was remixed by Skream to wildly popular results, and "Quicksand(3)" are also danceable standouts. "Cover My Eyes(4)" is a great mid-tempo ballad, while "As If By Magic(5)" and "Fascination(6)" are both dripping with new wave pop sensibility. Honestly, all of the tracks here are really well crafted, the album never really falters. It's rarer and rarer to find an album without a skipable moment these days, but this is one of em. Highly recommended.
reviewed by Hires


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Gaslamp Killer
All Killer: Finders Keepers Records Mixed By The Gaslamp Killer CD

rare psych gems from the Finders Keepers catalog mixed by GLK

Who better than the motherf*ckin' GLK to tackle the insanely deep Finders Keepers catalog for a mix? Nobody, that's who! Our man Gaslamp does a seriously sick job mixing up tracks from the first 20 Finders Keepers releases. Only the rarest and most potent psych, fuzz, and folk rock from around the world gets handpicked and repressed on Finders Keepers so you can bet GLK was positively amped at the chance to dive in and do his thing... and the outcome is nothing short of masterful! Psychedelic breaks for days, spooky interludes, dubbed-out synth madness, trippy experiments in sound, plus dope scratching to boot for just about an hour to blow your mind. Includes tracks from Ersen, Vampires of Dartmoore, Sarolta Zalatnay, Bruno Spoerri, Selda, Mustafa Ozkent, and much much more.
Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster


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Brazilian Beat
Brazilian Beats Brooklyn CD

Greg Caz and Sean Marquand gone legit! After years of holding down the "vintage Brazilian" flag at their weekly Brazilian Beat party in Brooklyn, hustling their excelsior Brazilian mix cds and all sorts of other cool stuff, Mr Bongo has given them carte blanche to put together this compilation. Whereas most of these Mr Bongo's "Brazilian Beats" comps pride themselves on representing all aspects of Brazilian music, this one is focused razor sharp on the sounds that rock their party. That means strictly vintage tropicalia, samba, baile funk, and whatever other categories define that 60s and 70s sound. And being the ultra discerning music collectors & djs that they are, Greg & Sean's selection is amazing- every single track on here offers something new, ear popping and best of all, dancefloor approved. Here's some of my favorites: Os Oncriveis' "Uma Rosa Pra Dita(1)," which I've been digging ever since I heard it on one of their mix tapes, the Willy Wonka influenced Noriel Viela's "16 Toneladas (Sixteen Tons)(2)," drum crazy "Beija Flor Suite(3)" by Chalo Eduardo, Ely Camargo's girl power "Taieras(4)," Os Novos Crioulos' "Mar Afunda(5)" and Quarteto Uai's "Marcas(6)." Also check the Rita Lee (original Os Mutantes member) on "Agora E Moda(7)" and let it play for a while. Starts out sounding like some simple kitsch Brazilian disco (which, let it be clear, I would be perfectly fine with at this point), but it evolves into something that reminds me of Debbie Harry, Diana Ross and Gary Numan all the same time. Considering their track record, I'm not surprised at how good this cd is, but dudes, I am impressed. Recommended.
reviewed by the mgmnt


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Aaron Lacrate
Blow Remix (feat. Spank Rock) CD

With Spank Rock's Big Dada debut officially blowing the fuck up, Aaron LaCrate and Amanda Blank take it all the way back to last year with this CD single featuring remixes of "Blow," the hottest joint off of Milkcrate's B-More Gutter Music mix. The main, unblended mix of "Blow(1)" (which was co-produced by LaCrate and B-More legends Debonair Samir and Scottie B) was never released on CD, so it's dope to have a clean digital version, but that's just the tip of the iceberg here– you also get remixes from 45 King(2), Hollertronix's Low Bee(3) and DJ Equalizer(4). Amanda Blank's "Get Um Gerl(5)" is included here too, another standout from the Gutter Music mix. Of course, the real reason you wanna cop this is to hear NYC bunny/promoter extraordinaire Oxy Cottontail's debut on the mic for "Oxy's Anthem." No sound sample for you! Cop this and hear for yourself. 8 tracks total.
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red

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Sizzla
Dexterity Presents Sizzla CD

Nice mixtape find from the end of last year with Jersey's DJ Dexterity mixing up tons of dubs and originals from Sizzla Kalonji, who somehow still hasn't blown up in a Sean Paul kinda way. Tons of beat jacking here, which is always welcome when Sizzla's on the mic: "Goin' Down," "We Fly High," "Soul Survivor," "Hustlin'," "What You Know," "Window Shopper," "Indian Flute," "Unpredictable," "Hey Ya," "Sexyback" and a bunch more huge beats get the Kalonji treatment here, and it's all hot. There's also some newer Sizzla favorites, like the "Come Fly With Me" remix with 'Clef and Styles and "Ultimate Hustler" from Dame's forgettable reality show. 33 tracks, 55 minutes. Cool shit.
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red


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