Various (Rhythm & Culture)
The Sound of Rhythm & Culture
(Rhythm & Culture Music)
Rhythm & Culture is a label that has never really claimed its full potential. It's origins are steeped in the same brew that gave the world Thievery Corporation and ESL Music, though I'm not sure how closely related most people know the two labels are. It goes way beyond just being based in the same city of Washington, DC. Rhythm & Culture was founded by Thomas Blondet and Farid Nouri, co-founder alongside Eric Hilton (of Thievery Corporation fame), of the famous Eighteenth Street Lounge. Hilton regards Farid as one of the best DJs he's ever been exposed to, while Thomas Blondet is also a regular DJ at Eighteenth Street Lounge, and in fact, you'll find ESL Music's imprint is on this release. Literally. So you see, there are more than just convenient similarities between Rhythm & Culture and ESL Music, and yet, the former has carried on an almost invisible existence in comparison to the latter. I think this compilation should change a lot in that regard. ... read more

Various (ESL Music)
Babylon Central
(Eighteenth Street Lounge Music)
ESL Music has brought together a really nice soundtrack to go with Eric Hilton's debut film effort, Babylon Central. It's heavy on reggae and dub, but doesn't hold back on the smooth, lounge vibes or downtempo killers you'd certainly be right to expect. Watching the movie you can't help but feel the story line parallels parallels Eric Hilton's life experiences; as it stars an upstart DJ trying to make good on his skills and motivations, who eventually brings it all together. Sorry if that's a spoiler, but there's no other way to say it. ... read more

Various (Le Pop Musik)
Le Pop 5
(Le Pop Musik)
I always look forward to new compilations from Germany's Le Pop Musik. I can't really tell you why, but there's just something abstractly addictive about nouvelle chansons music, and that of course, is Le Pop's raison d'etre. I think the distance and disconnection of not being based in France is what gives Le Pop it's advantage and quality in compiling this music. Les chansons are unrepentently poppy, willfully childlike, curiously jazzy, certainly folky, and ultimately unique. ... read more

Mishkin vs. Anna Mystic
Free/Livin Trouble
(BSTRD Boots)
The BSTRD BOOTS vinyl releases have revealed some incredibly good sounds that happily bump along the rough roads of the mashup. On the A-side of this one we have Mishkin, so far known most for his role in duo Palov & Mishkin, and possibly for being Greece's funkiest producer, reworks a Linval Thompson reggae track titled "Free Marijuana". The B-side has Mishkin teaming up with DJ Anna Mystic for a track that is a surefire dancehall dancefloor destroyer called "Livin Trouble". ... read more

Gaudi
No Prisoners
(Six Degrees)
Gaudi is an interesting artist. Whether you're speaking of the artist or the musician, the same holds true, but in this case we're talking about the musician. Having honed his art over the past 20 or so years, Gaudi works within his own world of dub and electronic music and liberally delves into the depth of his experience. The sounds he turns out on his latest album, No Prisoners, is an intricate mesh of avant-garde 80s synths, 90s worldliness, and modern dub styles. His focus and artistic freedom are perhaps more clear and realized than ever, but do I, as a listener, connect with his vision of music? ... read more

Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno
Dog With a Rope
(Tru Thoughts)
The best thing about the new Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno album is the way Will Holland has evolved his sound. At a glance you may wonder what makes Flowering Inferno different from Combo Barbaro, and honestly, it's a fine line. With the recording of Flowering Inferno's Dog With a Rope however, that line has now become a very, very fine one. When it comes to Quantic's music on the other hand, it doesn't matter what you call it, the man has a distinctive sound that rarely disappoints. Tru Thoughts describes this album as a "Tropical Soundclash", and while it is, Holland had a deeper goal in mind. ... read more

Jon Kennedy
14
(Organik Recordings)
14 is the newest release in a consistently good catalog of downtempo by Jon Kennedy. Strong funk drums leaning towards hip hop have always been his strong suit, and these 14 songs keep the beats in the forefront of the mix. Utilizing guest vocalists as well as his own voice, Kennedy brings a pop sensibility to songs that could have appeared as instrumental hip hop. ... read more

DJ Thomas Blondet - Live DJ Set at 18th Street Lounge w/Ancient Astronauts

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