In conjunction with Ninja Tune, USOUNDS brings you a special preview of upcoming releases in the form of Mp3s and streaming audio/video. Check out new sounds from Herbaliser, Amon Tobin, DJ Vadim, Mos Def, and many more…
1. DSP featuring Chill Rob G “Imagine That” from the LP “In the Red”, Out: 16th September (UK/Europe). Another taster from DSP. “The production team of Loop Professor and B Allen aka Jonny Cuba have laid down some hefty mid-tempo tracks, with some of the best guest vocalists they could have”. Already pumping through bass bins in North America and Japan, “In The Red” is now out worldwide and “Imagine That” features one of hip hops Old Skool legend rhyming to some straight up groovesome funk.
2. Mr. Scruff “Beyond” comes from a limited edition 7″s and companion CD single. Out: 23rd September, another tasty slice of Mr. Scruff’s new album “Trouser Jazz” released in September. ‘Beyond’, kicks off with an old soulful pounding beat, rolling bass line, and a voluptuous vocal from Homelife’s Seaming To (who shone on Herbaliser’s ‘Something Wicked’). A class piece of funk. Mr. Scruff has built a reputation on the DJ circuit, for his genre-defying and strenuously long 6 hour sets and for his ability to add humour and playful sampling shenanigans. Mr. Scruff is currently on a 23-date tour of the UK and heading for his fifth trip to storm the dance floors of America and Canada this fall.
3. The Cinematic Orchestra “Horizon” out 14th October. Returning from two trips to Japan, European Festivals and a current UK tour, and with the critical acclaim heaped on the new album, “Every Day,” J Swinscoe and the Cinematic Orchestra deliver a dance floor destroyer, which stays true to the group’s roots in jazz. The tune features Niara on vocals, the young London singer who so impressed Fontella Bass on her recent UK tour with the group, and no wonder. The uplifting, conscious lyric and her way of rising above the syncopated maelstrom make this a soul-jazz classic.
4. The Herbaliser “Time To Build featuring Blade”, Out: 21 October. The third single taken from the fine Herbaliser album, ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’, another chapter taken from their fourth and most comprehensive album work. “The tastiest blend of the Herbs yet” – The Independent On Sunday. “Not only their best album but one of the best the Brit beats scene has yet produced”. -Muzik. This latest release seals off their single campaign 2002 with a remix package focusing on the cream of UK hip hop talent. Kicking off proceedings is Blade’s rapid firing spoken word on Time 2 Build the Bomb! Have a listen for yourself and discover why Blade is one of UK raps best.
5. Amon Tobin’s “Verbal”, Out 30th September. Sample a taste from Ninja’s six figure selling artist, whose about to release his fourth album on October 14th appropriately titled “Out From Out Where”. “Verbal” featuring the vocal talents of MC Decimal R, starts off (for all of thirty seconds) as a beautiful acoustic guitar driven headnodder. Then Amon Tobin drops the beat and something intense jumps out your speakers. Slathered in sub-bass with enough wobble to make Big Mac consumers tremble at 50 yards, the whole tune warps off into the dream/nightmare territory that Mr Tobin has made his own over the last few years. It’s spooky, catchy and irresistibly great, all at once.
6. Pest “Child of the Deep Freeze”, Out 4th November from a 10″ EP. It’s one of Ninja’s newest signings and their second taster on vinyl only. You know that feeling you get when you think you’ve lost your keys? Well, try to imagine it. Imagine that Abba had got into acid. Imagine if B movies were the main feature. Imagine if Heinz alphabet soup had a 27th letter. Imagine if the Art Ensemble of Chicago and KLF wrote a new national anthem. It’s the world as we almost know it – the angle and focus all wrong, the moon coming up at dawn. It’s Pest – the most compellingly enjoyable chunk of weirdness you’ll hear until, well until their album is out next year. Origami with eggs, French letters with words. File under origami funk jazz noodle soup.
7. From Chocolate Industries Urban Renewal Project: Mos Def & Diverse “Wylin’ Out” from the single out 11th November. The second taster from this project is going to be released as a triple header 12″ & CD also featuring Asesop Rock and RJD2. The Urban Renewal Program is the past, present and future of urban art, music and expression. “Wylin’ Out” has a laid back soulful beat with Diverse exposing a more melodic side of the urban underbelly. The album features rising stars in the world of abstract beats including: Mos Def, Diverse, Caural, DJ Food, El-P, Aesop Rock, Tortoise, Prefuse-73, and Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto and Gorillaz.
8. Super Numeri “Electric Horse Garden”, Out 7th October on 7″. Another new Ninja signing with an album scheduled for release early next year is being introduced here. Super Numeri is an ever-changing line-up, which includes the classic rock and roll instrumentation, brass, woodwind, harp and a very fine string ensemble. The group play at what they claim is Liverpool’s only avant-garde indoor fete ‘Den Du Frott’. We have no idea what this is, but if your first love is classical musical you are going to find a delicate beauty in “Electric Horse Garden”, the likes of which have never come from Ninja Tune before. In keeping with most Ninja releases, another group that stretches the boundaries of sounds and genres.
Videos
DJ Vadim “It’s On” directed by Sam Arthur has been gaining accolades for animation and premiered at the prestigious Darklight Film Festival which focused on animation this year.
Funki Porcini “Ritmo di Jazz”, another Porcini video from the “Fast Asleep” DVD release which is currently touring International Film Festivals worldwide.
yo this is some sweet shit, the Herbaliser is my favorite of this group but the DSP track is not to be missed. Has anyone heard anything about Chocolate Industries? Is Mos Def on the entire record or just the single?
no, just that one track. but that Choc. Ind. comp is *not* to be missed: aesop rock, miho hattori, prefuse 73, rjd2 to name a few…
Ever heard of pherimones? Those pesky blighters that irrisistably draw you in like a helpless moth to a lightbulb, then after what seems to be an infinity teatering on the delirious sublime, spits you out dazed and bewildered, with a pseudo-drug induced headiness that entices you back for more.
Let me give you a big clue to the musical equivalent: Super Numeri. Now I’ve found them, I just can’t resist…………
Prefuse 73, P-Love and the legendary Mr. Tobin rocked The Metro (Chicago) last Friday night. What a show. Amon is a genius.
Ninja Tune is the greatest label on this planet. Great Jazz, great Hip Hop and great funk…… what more could you want!!!!!!!!!!!
Your mum
Amon Tobin has some of the best beats! Check out Four Ton Mantis on Epitonic, Its killer!
heratym wryu nat me ingo laty
Amon Tobin’s Four Ton Mantis is an absolute Mashed-up-beats-masterpiece…freakin intense track!
amon tobin deserves title of the best on ninja tunes but and 8 out of ten cats prefer old skool food!
jon m