Driven in part by their parents‘ blue-collar work ethic, Seattle‘s MC Geologic and producer/DJ Sabzi of Blue Scholars dropped their magnetic self-titled debut last year without any cameos, collabos or the support of a big-name label. For everyone that wasn‘t lucky enough to catch this album the first time around, the pair now re-releass a revamped version with three brand-new tracks. One of them is the thought provoking, “No Rest For The Weary,” in which Geo raps, “40 to a class?/No wonder we delinquent/half the school district never make it to commencement.” With his intelligent inquiries and down-to-earth approach, Geo rarely fails to raise ears. Meanwhile, Sabzi‘s lively jazz and ethnic string-driven loops prove to be just as captivating. To think this duo has only been working together for three years-one can only imagine what they‘ll accomplish in another three.
Sa-Ra The Second Time Around
Sa-Ra has been whoring around with indie labels from LA to Japan with aplomb for the past year and change, birthing some of the most mind-bending intergalactic funk this side of the Milky Way. Titillating the masses with this six-song appetizer of an EP (also available as a gatefold double-vinyl set), it‘s easy to see how these dudes constructed such a formidable buzz in the blink of an eye. So as we anxiously await their G.O.O.D./Kanye West debut long player, here‘s a few delicacies from their cosmic slop bucket. The fun jumps off with endorsements from Pharoahe Monch (on the ode to cunnilingus, “Fish Fillet”) and beatsmith J Dilla, who tosses verses on “Thrilla.” But the real treat comes in the form of “Smokeless Highs,” a delicious throwback to the neck snapping mid-‘90s track work of DJ Premier and Large Professor. Not the full-length you‘ve been salivating for, but worth the saliva nonetheless.
Ris Paul Ric Purple Blaze
You‘ve gotta hand it to Christopher Paul Richards. As singer/guitarist for D.C.-based Dischord groove punks Q And Not U, one might‘ve listed him in the “see ya at the reunion” column when the band went its separate ways. But here he comes with Purple Blaze, a solo debut that retains the best parts of Q And Not U‘s beloved sound-the acoustic punk funk of Power, the Prince obsession-and bathes it in a unique wash of XTC-esque West Coast mod melody and Quebecois electronic punk surrealism. (The latter thanks, in part, to resident Alien8‘er Tim Hecker, who helped produce Blaze.) A buried treasure of folk-funk-punk-pop-psychedelia.
Nicolette Life Loves Us
Dreamy, psychedelic, swirls abruptly-almost randomly-punctuated by chipmunk-speed African drums, glitchy 100 mph mechanized riddims, trunk-rattling basses: Nicolette‘s Life Loves Us is simply the most instinctively free music to still be within a “jazz” tradition since Coltrane‘s “My Favorite Things.” Skeletonized, these songs might adhere to the normal world‘s standards: “Sunshine” might approach jazz standard-dom; the come-hither “Jenny,” pop; “I Am Where the Party‘s At,” deep house or R & B. But Nicolette‘s borderline-schizophrenic history-Scottish born, Nigerian parents; former collaborator with both Massive Attack and Shut Up and Dance-takes the reins, resulting in an album as optimistically liberating as it is psychotically original.
Sofa Surfers Sofa Surfers
Viennese quartet Sofa Surfers make music that is almost purposefully run-of-the-mill; it‘s as though-after past experiments with dub, hip-hop and electronic sounds-the band has decided that the only thing keeping ‘90s post-rock from being the ultimate musical sound was that damn experimentation. Even on the best songs-like the hypnotic but ultimately tiring “Never Go Back”-mild lyrics and bland guitars wax poetic over odd time signatures, making a sound that is at once technically intricate, beautifully delicate and utterly forgettable. Full of potential never fulfilled.
Likwid Biskit Inner War
IG Culture and Kaidi Tatham are back under their Likwid Biskit moniker and engaging in some serious bruk stepping science. Heidi Vogel delivers a clear message (“Got to stop the war…”) to a soundtrack of shuffly sub-sonic basslines and twisted keys. An instant classic! Watch for the “Herbs & Spices” 12″ on Co-Op and the full LP dropping any minute.
Various Artists Studio One Roots 2
Nothing stops unearthed material from Studio One-the “University of Reggae” (as Chris Blackwell dubbed it)-from appearing. This second edition features seven unreleased tracks from Sir Coxsone Dodd‘s vaults. Winston Matthews sounds eerily like Robert Nesta on “Sun is Shining,” his melodica tinny and beatifically Rasta. Classics from Cedric “Im” Brooks, Joe Higgs, Ken Boothe, and Count Ossie make this yet another credible addition to the vast catalog of Jamaican folk. The analog sound of classic reggae is unmatched by our digital excursions-these 19 selections are as raw as it comes.
The Travellers Black Black Minds
While searching for something or another, legendary producer King Jammy stumbled across a tape of vocal harmony group The Travellers. During the late ‘70s such outfits were finding their groove, as it were, alongside the hype of Black Uhuru. This quartet fuses the influence of Motown doo-wop with easy, repetitive reggae by the likes of Sly & Robbie. The background beats are solid, though not exceptional; the focus is on the lyrical architecture. Sweet-sounding soul abounds on tracks like “Know Yourself,” though by record‘s end you‘ve heard too much of the same thing, too often.
Various Artists Small Melodies
Keen observers will hear the subtleties that differentiate these 14 “small melodies” compiled by Spekk‘s Nao Sugimoto, who also handles each release‘s high-concept graphic design (the white book Melodies comes in is adorned with silver foil flowers). Listening passively, the tracks blend together in a sonorous wave, anchored by a hum that pervades the album. Aen‘s “Film” seems to eavesdrop on a lonesome party guest, running his finger slowly around a wineglass rim, while Anderegg‘s “Inside/Outside” is sediment flowing through a glinting brook-the rest of the tracks could be described as 4 a.m. in sonic form. Surprises await you, if you can stay awake.
Lackluster What You Want Isn‘t What You Need
A peculiar album from Finnish IDM artist Esa Ruoho, What You Want starts unremarkably, through some “Idioteque”-ish beating around the bush before showing what he‘s got on “Hiatus,” which bubbles with originality and energy. It‘s a jarring lead-in to “Down,” conjuring a journey through dark and ominous country roads, which is Ruoho‘s Lynchian intention. Its electro-ambient follower, “N,” is a contrast of such beauty that you brace for the next devil‘s curve, but from here on out the ride is smooth. The music-box instrumentation of “The Cluster Theme” glistens with just enough grit, and before frenetic closer “Dropouts,” Ruoho hints that he‘s listened to The Cure‘s Disintegration at least once. Ultimately, a disjointed collection with a few satisfying highlights.
