Pon di Wire: A Reggae Rewind

Famous 1970s producer and engineer Linval Thompson (pictured), who has been busy the last several years reissuing classics from Johnny Clark, Barry Brown, Jacob Miller, and others, turns his efforts towards his first new riddims in years. LT’s lick of Diseases features cuts from Elephant Man, Turbulence, and more. Find those and all his classics at Thompson Sound JA.

Find dancehall and community news and more at Nowadayz Dancehall. Catch the latest on Elephant Man’s new single with Wyclef, or pics of Collie Budz’s recent concerts, as well as other crucial links.

Speaking of links, find more Jamaican entertainment news at One 876. This was the first source to break the news of Lutan Fyah’s public misunderstanding with Luciano, Capleton, and Anthony B, as well as the recent raid of Richie Feelings’ popular Bembe Thursday party.

Rose Royce’s beautiful, rare-groove soul ballad, “Wishing on a Star,” gets an update by female singer M’Lonie on B Rich Records Jamaica.

LinkUp Media, Inc–the largest Caribbean-owned media company in the United States–is launching LinkUp Radio ATL 1690AM, with its signature blend of music, news, and information tailored towards Atlanta’s growing Caribbean population.

New York roots and foundation club DJ Queen Majesty has been quite active at gigs like Deadly Dragon Sound’s weekly Friday event Up Park Classics, Redbud’s monthly Dub Tempo, and on broadcasting on EastVillageRadio.com.

Grammy-winning artist and producer Stephen Marley notched a number one debut this week with his latest solo debut album, Mind Control (Tuff Gong/Ghetto Youths/Universal-Republic), landing atop the coveted Billboard reggae chart and the Billboard Top 40 album chart. Mos Def, Ben Harper, and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley guest star on the album.

DJ Kentaro Preps New Album

Japan-based DJ Kentaro is best known for his epic talent as a scratch-master extraordinaire. But 2007 sees him assume the role of full-on producer with his debut full-length, Enter.

That’s not to say he has abandoned his scratching roots (take note of “Keep On,” featuring The Pharcyde). For his Ninja Tune debut though, the man born Kentaro Okamoto simply explores his music-production skills, not to mention brings plenty of company to the table, including Spank Rock, Fat Jon, and New Flesh.

As a whole, Enter runs all over the genre map. Each contains elements of drum & bass, dancehall, jazz, downtempo, and (of course) hip-hop. “Space Jungle” (featuring Spank Rock, Ronnie Darko, and Armani XXXchange) shows Kentaro at his turntablist best, combining cosmic B-more breaks and subsonic hip-house. Whether or not he’ll be a part of the DMCs this year, or touring his ass off, remains to be seen, but in the meantime, Enter will suffice.

Enter is out July 19, 2007 on Ninja Tune.

Tracklisting
1. Enter the Newground
2. Keep On (Feat. Pharcyde)
3. Free (Feat. Spank Rock)
4. Tasogare Highway High (Bass Wannabe A Singer)
5. Rainy Day (Feat. New Flesh)
6. Uminnaka
7. Handmade Gift (Feat. Little Tempo)
8. Space Jungle (Feat. MC Spank Rock and Armani XXXchange)
9. Nursery Room
10. Harvest Dance (Feat. Hifana)
11. Trust
12. One Hand Blizzard
13. Brightin’ Star Enter
14. Let It Go (Feat. Fat Jon)
15. Hatsuyume (Feat. Hunger)
16. Grateful to You

Various Artists Southport Weekender Classics

In a music-crit world, where the term “genre-defining” is a cliché, the biannual Southport Weekender festival still begs use of the phrase. Until now, there hasn’t been a particular musical artifact to point to when someone asks what Southport’s music is. Joe Claussell’s spiritual house? Norman Jay’s crate-diggin’ disco? Classics proves it to be all of the above: from Gloria Scott’s rare soul masterpiece “Too Much Love Making” through house touchstones by Night Writers and Masters at Work. This comp is a perfect illustration of Southport’s influence on dance music, and contemporary music in general.

Various Artists Sci.Fi.Hi.Fi_03: Alex Smoke

With previous installments from Ewan Pearson and Luciano, Soma’s Sci.Fi.Hi.Fi seems to be evolving into a must-have mix series. What the host label’s own Alex Menzies’ contribution lacks in straight-forward immediacy, it more than makes up for in intrigue: That a recording project inspired by a curio shop in the midst of a Swedish forest (Porn Sword Tobacco) begins Sci.Fi.Hi.Fi_03 is telling but Smoke also deploys the likes of Burial, Rhythm & Sound, Model 500, and Troy Pierce in a skilled, measured manner. A trio of Menzies’ own tracks (as Alex Smoke and Quixote) make for a nice finale.

Pissed Jeans Hope for Men

Expanding on the unhealthy din of 2006’s Shallow, Pennsylvania’s Pissed Jeans continue their legacy with Hope for Men, their first full-length on Sub Pop. Combining claustrophobic vocals with dirty, repetitive riffs, the band occupies a space between noise and hardcore previously inhabited by the Jesus Lizard and Flipper. One new aspect is the addition of piano, which adds an element of creepiness to Matt Korvette’s raspy, guttural vocals. Elsewhere, shrill distortion makes way for fist-pumping mayhem on “People Person,” while droning guitars vomit arena-ready rock anthems (“A Bad Wind,” for one). Filled with heavy-as-molasses jams, Hope for Men will blow your mind if you can stomach it.

Terry Poison “24 Hours”

Ekler’o’shock’s tenth release Unexpektheadz 2 is a collection of cosmically-alligned French electro bangers. And the first offering from all-girl protégés Terry Poison is a hyper-active pop-ascent into the new French sound. ’24 Hours’ may be that pre-peak track that gets swanky warehouses and clubs locked, loaded, and ready for departure.

Terry Poison – 24 Hours

The Dark Romantics “This Is The Sound”

There’s goth-rock and then there’s the Dark Romantics. These minimalists make poppy, post-goth that rekindles the spirit of Iggy Pop and the tone of Echo and the Bunnymen–all without falling into the ‘Interpolish’ category. ‘This is the Sound,’ is a solid rock treat from a band that’s mastered its sound less than two years in-the making.

The Dark Romantics – This Is The Sound

Meanest Man Contest “I Was Only Kidding”

After Meanest Man Contest‘s acclaimed long-player Merit for Plug Research, the jazzy hip-hop duo has switched it up for it’s split with minimal psych-master Languis. For Split MMC’s Quarterbar and Eriksolo offer up a healthy dose of futuristic, semi-ambient, guitar-heavy hip-hop ballads.

Meanest Man Contest – I Was Only Kidding

Carl Craig

We set Detroit techno legend Carl Craig loose in San Francisco’s favorite weird music destination, Aquarius Records. Known less for their techno and more for their collections of Scandinavian death metal, Bhangra Black Sabbath, and recordings of glaciers cracking, Aquarius is a playground for the musically refined. Watch as Carl listens to, and waxes poetic on, everything from 8- bit metal core to pygmy chanting to Bloc Party.

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