The Unearthed Sounds crew members have compiled their weekly picks containing collectively, in no particular order, our favourite tracks/releases of the week.
Here are the selections individually from the crew:
Your Old Droog & Tha God Fahim’s second joint release, Tha YOD Fahim, is a celebration of the immense talents of its creators. They have an undeniable chemistry that started as guest appearances and has now blossomed into something greater. And while the world got an amazing appetizer in the form of 'Tha Wolf On Wall St' in January, the two like-minded artists are back just weeks later with this full-length release.
The connection of YOD and Fahim is a pairing that simply works. Both have their roots in raw, unpretentious hip-hop that also pushes the music to its boundaries, and you can hear those qualities running throughout all 14 tracks. As unadulterated as the music is, the album represents something even greater from both Droog and Fahim. It’s a testament to their creative synergy and their gifts as artists who never compromise or hold back.
1. Icee Shop / Entrées 2. Stretch 3. Charles Barkley 4. Mailman 5. Slam Dunk Contest (feat. Pharoahe Monch) 6. Brrt Simpson (feat. Left Lane Didon) 7. Reign Man 8. WNBA 9. The Dunking Dutchman 10. Long Time Coming 11. Disney World 12. Lost Smile 13. Questions 14. 90 From The Line Remix (Šarūnas Marčiulionis)
Steel Drum Covers of Grace Jones, Galt MacDermot, Slum Village, Minnie Riperton, Jay Z, Ike Turner, and more.
Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, the mysterious steel pan outt hailing from Hamburg, Germany have amassed a cult following around the globe. With a slew of classic 7”s and two critically acclaimed full length albums, they set a high bar for themselves, one they clearly intend on pushing even higher with this new offering. On their third album, aptly titled Expansions, BRSB are back with more of the same, but more of the same with them is inherently different. Covering songs that span genres and range from mega hits to album cuts, they make them their own with their unique approach to the traditional steel pans of Trinidad and Tobago.
Part of the allure of a new record from Bacao is nding out what covers they chose. However, die hard fans are also waiting to hear the original numbers like the stellar album opener “Tough Victory”. Its airtight rhythm section, brass arrangements, and layers of steel pan melodies make the term “cover band” a shoe that could never t Bacao. Within the next three songs they go from Jazz (Galt MacDermot), to Hip Hop (Slum Village / J Dilla), to a dance ‑oor classic (Grace Jones) taking them all on with their signature style, expanding on the originals. An easy crowd favorite is their gritty, gully, and neck snapping cover of the Timbaland produced Jay-Z club hit “Dirt Off Your Shoulder”. The infamous crushing Bacao drums start the show and the moment they start playing the top line on the pans, all bets are off. Sure to become a dance ‑oor ller is their bottom heavy, four on the ‑oor version of Sylvester’s classic “I Need Somebody To Love Tonight”. They venture into some gutbucket funk with Ike Turner’s “Getting Nasty” and bring the steel pans to Minnie Riperton’s Jazz classic “Les Fleurs”. Digging deeper in the modern canon and paying tribute to a tribute, they cover Erykah Badu’s homage to the late great J Dilla, “The Healer”. This is the type of thing to make Spice Adams jump on his kitchen counter and scream. From the second the beat drops they give the original Madlib production a run for its money, shaking subwoofers with the eerie tremolo bass while the pans play E. Badu’s vocal melodies.
By the time the album is through Bacao has taken the listener on a journey that spans a myriad of energies, tempos, and moods while somehow managing to keep it all under one umbrella. For all that, these songs are alive, and they will be taken out of the context of this album and sewn into the fabric of DJ sets around the globe for many years to come. Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band is breathing renewed life into the originals and continuing to push the boundaries of steel pan music, or, as the title suggests, expanding on it.
SIDE A: 1. Tough Victory 2. Space 3. Raise It Up 4. My Jamaican Dub 5. I Need Somebody To Love Tonight 6. Dirt Off Your Shoulder
SIDE B: 1. Getting Nasty 2. Blow Your Cover 3. Represent 4. The Healer 5. Les Fleur 6. Squaring The Circles
Rhythm Section International proudly presents it’s 8th offering from local boys Chaos in the CBD. Born in New Zealand, but based in Peckham for the last few years (literally just around the corner from Henry Wu and Bradley Zero), these brothers have made a real mark on the scene here in London town and with their latest set of productions are set to take this message further afield.
Having already released internationally on labels such as ClekClekBoom (Paris), Hot Haus (London) and Amadeus (Montreal), the duo’s approach to production has matured immeasurably in the last year, as is evident in the restrained potency and poetic subtlety on the 4 tracks across this accomplished EP, Midnight in Peckham.
Taking it’s title from the locale the boys have come to know as home, the record channels a delicate late night energy - equally indebted to the hypnotic incantations of Ron Trent as it is to the hazy suburban atmospheres of Burial. These 4 classic cuts pay homage to deep house in it’s truest sense - at once sublime, melancholy and meditative . Chaos in the CBD have clearly taken their cue from the mid-west masters of the genre but have not been afraid to let their own influences and environ creep in, and in doing so have created something that is unmistakablely London and infact, timeless.
Ready to chant down Babylon with musical fire and brimstone, none other than Bukkha returns to the revered Moonshine Recordings with a truckload full of sound system music in Roots Dub and Stepper style. Ten organic heavyweight cuts on 2x12" - strictly dubwise, no compromise!
Originally from the US and now residing in Spain, a musical veteran with a career spanning more than a decade, it's safe to say Bukkha runs things when it comes to fuelling sound systems. On top of his long-standing involvement in the thunderous Moonshine Rec. discography, the prolific artist maintains a consistent record of top-shelf releases on numerous famed record labels within the global melting pot of Dub-influenced dance music, including System Music, Dub-Stuy, Lion Charge, and so on. His 'In Roots Vol. 1' debut LP features seven talented guest artists from around the globe, the extended Dub family in full force and effect - connected to Bukkha through previous projects, shared tours and overall engagement in the scene. The symbiotic nature of the collaborations can be heard and felt as big stacks of speakers lend their voice to the musical message. Rebellious sounds for the healing of the nation. In a conscious stepper style, the release marches through original future classics - whether instrumental or led by the Rastafarian teachings of Mowty Mahlyka, anthem brass melodies by JahWind All-Stars, harmonica meditation by Hazeldub or Don Fe's notoriously brilliant flute virtuosity. With true to the roots delay and reverb effects in the original Dub fashion, the album pays tribute to the technique pioneered by the likes of King Tubby, nothing less than a next-generation torchbearer. Sound system music, as timeless as its cultural heritage.
A1 Bukkha - All For Jah
A2 Bukkha - Dub For Jah
B1 Bukkha & Fada Jep feat. Mowty Mahlyka - Bun Di
B2 & Fada Jep feat. JahWind All-Stars - Bun Di Horns
Down the long driveway at the end of Second Avenue is a single story abode perched on a cliff overlooking the water. The timber constructed house built in the 1950s, is surrounded by native pohutukawa trees whose bright red coloured flowers are mimic'ed by the window frames and detailing of the exterior. As you walk down the narrow path along the side of the property, you can peer into the studio and catch a glance of an older man working away at his desk. Surrounded by books, records and CDs he will be drafting plans by hand for his next project. Continue along the path and reach the edge of the cliff — watch your step as you go down the decaying staircase and arrive at a small landing lapping in the waves of the harbour.
This record is dedicated to my grandfather Jack and the house he built.
A1.All Night, All Right!
B1. Shoplifters
B2.Shifting Sounds
Phuture Assassins - Back To The Phuture EP [Green Splatter Vinyl]
Phuture Assassins - ‘Back To The Phuture EP’ - We are going back to the Phuture with this incredible package of exclusive 'Future Sound' mixes which has something for everyone!
The very first release, before there was Suburban Base, was a Boogie Times release which didn't even carry a label name or logo... BOOGIE 001 under the artist name 'Phuture Assassins' became the record that really did start it all. So what is more appropriate than the next release in a continued order of catalogue numbers for the whole new era of Suburban Base than a Phuture Assassins release as SUBBASE 77 to continue your collection.
Leading with the unreleased Dead Dred '95 Dubplate which was considered a 'lost DAT' until it was recently unearthed amongst the archive of masters in Sub Base storage. You can imagine how excited we were to rediscover this and were able to save and remaster it for release. This was intended as part of a remix package that never ended up being released and was only available to a selected few as a Dubplate, that is, until now.
Alongside it we have included the 2 Bad Mice remix, which is now considered not only a classic but it is also the definitive mix of 'Future Sound', for those of you that were looking for a reissue. Its been expertly remastered to superb quality.
You wanted a brand new remix? Mark XTC & Exile's 'Future Sound' 2021 Remix brings the 1992 future to the 2021 present! They have given the timeless Suburban Base classic 'Future Sound' the remix treatment, producing 'raise your lighter' moments in their inimitable style, drum and bass with deep subs, whilst still keeping to the original vibes of this classic.
And completing the package is a version from the legendary Cause4Concern, their remix of Future Sound was only ever promo'd and despite receiving critical acclaim and extensive club play it never saw a full release. Now it's being fully unleashed in beautifully re-mastered form.
This release has it all, unreleased 'lost' mixes, remastered reissues, brand new remixes, beautiful special effect vinyl for the entire pressing run, all wrapped up in one of the most stunning original Nodz artwork sleeves ever created, an Assassin from the Phuture emerging from a time travel wormhole firing Sub Base Bullets!
A1. Future Sound (Dead Dred Remix)
A2. Future Sound (2 Bad Mice Remix - Original 92 Mix)
Liverpudlian Andy Ash is no stanger to the scene. Improving his production skills over many years, Andy has an impressive list of labels he released on: Stillove4music, Delusions of Grandeur, Dessous or Foto Recordings just to name but a few. After two compialtion tracks for Quintessentials, it’s time for his first full release! The "Lightbulb EP“ starts with „Lightbulb transaction“, a straight floating club track just perfect for these summer nights. The b-side goes deeper, focusing on slower beats yet keeping the „summer vibe“. Andy Ash is not only a master when it comes to the perfect blend of House, Disco and Techno, he is also a very talented painter, as you can see on his artwork! Hats off for the music and the design Andy!
