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| Date |
24-Feb-2006 |
| Subject |
New At Tunes: Not A Test |
Greetings,
Just when you thought things couldn't get worse, another
devastating news-bomb drops. Test Icicles have split up.
After struggling to get arrested following the release
of their debut album 'For Screening Purposes Only', the
London three-piece stabbed themselves in the rectum by
slagging off label mates Arctic Monkeys, essentially
laying an egg on the possibility of a few sales from the
latter's legions of devoted fans, who now simply want to
hit them hard in the face.
A statement on behalf of the group, who've been
together for close to eight months now, details the
traumatic backstory to their gap year rock 'n' roll
implosion: "The band have just come off a European tour
and are exhausted from the constant pressures of touring,
subsequently they have cancelled their show at the NME
Awards."
They're exhausted. It's the constant pressure,
see. What next for Test Icicles then? Labouring in an
Albanian chain gang? Nightshift at the abattoir? Social
work in Tower Hamlets? Or maybe just change the name of
the band, have another crack at it.
##ALBUM OF THE WEEK##
>>>>Last To Leave - Hardkandy<<
Hardkandy's second album is a beautiful collection of
modern soul, futuristic folk and classically structured
songs with a unique slant, with guest appearances from
Sean Clarke, Limp Twin Russ Porter, Lo Fi Allstars, Will
Quantic, Jess Chungking and folk legend Terry Callier.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11253.html
##ALBUMS##
>>>>Strings & Things - Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra<<
Shawn Lee stretches the Ping Ping Orchestra formula
from shorts to full-length tracks on his latest album,
covering kung-fu-flick flavors to Bombay-bastic beats
to Morricone-styled pieces and orchestral space funk.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11249.html
>>>>Triple P Instrumentals - Platinum Pied Pipers<<
Limited edition DJ vinyl copies of instrumental versions
of tracks from the excellent 'Triple P' album. Inter-
galactic soul that cross-breeds styles to create a
unique new sound.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11257.html
>>>>My Kinda Funk - Zero Crossing<<
Bavarian producer Andreas Angerer draws on influences like
Photek, Richie Hawtin and Herbert and adds jazz and boogie
elements to create a unique electro-infused funk sound.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11273.html
>>>>Midnight Soul 2 - Various<<
NYC impresario Craig Roseberry, aka DJ Shifty, is the
man responsible for compiling this broad appeal lounge-
to-dancefloor selection. A smart double CD set.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11259.html
>>>>Screaming Target - Big Youth<<
Re-issue of this 1972 release by one of reggae's finest
second generation deejays. Creative toasting backed up by
roots rhythms and melodies and wild dub sound effects.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11252.html
>>>>Chillifunk: The Best Of Ten Years - Various<<
Lofty and Dr Bob Jones celebrate the 10th anniversary of
Chillifunk Records with this three box set of premium
soulful, funky, jazz-tinged house music.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11250.html
>>>>Habitat Collection: Fireside - Various<<
>From the label behind the Afterdark and Frequent Flyer
series, 'Fireside' features an expertly programmed mix
of downtempo electronic grooves, hip-hop and neo-soul.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11260.html
>>>>Friday Night Funk - Various<<
Hardcore funk anthems, rare 45s, mellow, soulful funk
joints and classic party tunes on this bargain priced
collection. A great introduction to the genre.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11254.html
>>>>Root Down - The Beastie Boys<<
Between making 'Paul's Boutique' and 'Check Your Head',
the Beastiess took time out to jam and experiment. The
result was this record, airing a funky, punky new flow.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11255.html
>>>>Brand New Heavies - Brand New Heavies feat. N'Dea<<
Re-issue of the debut from one of the most successful
acid-jazz/UK funk groups of all time, originally
released in 1990 on the Acid Jazz label.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11258.html
>>>>Frequent Flyer: Mile High Club - Various<<
Twenty three dancefloor magnetizing tunes on this double
CD continent-leaping jaunt through the pulsating beats
of Brazilian, Latin and African-influenced house music.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11251.html
>>>>Amplified - Q-Tip<<
Q-Tip's 1999 solo album, co-produced by Jay Dee (RIP)
and DJ Scratch, gives plenty of room to the Tribe Called
Quest man's adenoidal tone and tight rhyming.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11256.html
>>>>Bar suSU 2 - Various<<
Bar suSU returns with another collection of jazz-flavoured
house, laid back dancefloor grooves and classic soulful
vocal house tunes. Limited edition vinyl now available.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11157.html
All these and loads more albums at:
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/recent_additions/
##SINGLE OF THE WEEK##
>>>>Afroheat Vol.4 - Afrodisiac Soundsystem<<
DJ-friendly club mashup style remixes that blend the
organic sounds of West African funk with the dancefloor
staples of classic disco, hip-hop and beyond. This
instalment promises to be one of the most sought after,
with something for everyone from hip hop and house heads
to disco freaks and Afrobeat connoisseurs.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11150.html
##SINGLES##
>>>>Africa Is Home / Olufeme - Joe Mensah / Oscar Sulley<<
Following the success of the first 'Ghana Soundz' remixed
12”, Natural Self (Breakin’ Bread) gets to grips with two
tracks from 'Volume 2'. Drum-heavy, bumping Afro grooves.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11276.html
>>>>Easy That Would Be - Jafrosax<<
Japan's Jafrosax mesh together jazz, soul and house music
on this Yukihiro Fukutomi produced 12" of slick sax and
vocals riding over a solid dancefloor groove.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11275.html
>>>>Innerspace - One Deck & Popular<<
Limited 10” single (300 pressed only) from South London
pair One Deck & Popular, whose the old school cinematic
groover gets a stomping dancefloor dub re-rub from Umblu.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11269.html
>>>>One More Time - New Cool Collective feat. Tony Allen<<
Dutch group New Cool Collective's mix of electrifying
soul and jazz spiced with Latin flavours gets a boost
from Afro-beat drummer Tony Allen's poly-rhythmic input.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11267.html
>>>>Advice - Hardkandy feat. Terry Callier<<
First single from Hardkand's smart new album is sung by
folk-soul hero Terry Callier. Manasseh's organic dub
and Nu:Tone's drum & bass remix provide some contrast.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11268.html
>>>>Soulmates - Fred Everything feat. Fourfeet<<
Montreal DJ and producer Fred follows his recent 'House
Of Om' mix compilation with this silky deep house tune
featuring vocals from Fourfeet on the San Fran label.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11265.html
>>>>Waiting Is Over - Faze Action presents Orto
feat. Vanessa Freeman<<
Robin and Simon Lee bring Vaessa Freeman on board for
the first release from their new Orto project. Soulful,
funk and jazz-sprinkled broken beat business.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11210.html
>>>>Rick Rubin - Spank Rock<<
An ode to rock record producing legend Rick Rubin from
this Baltimore bunch. A warped out vocal brag backed by
squelching bass, Afro-Latin percussion and dub twists.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11264.html
>>>>Higher Love - Antonio Ocasio feat. Mustafa Akbar<<
One of New York’s best deep, soulful underground house
DJ/producers, Ocasio drops this tribal groover, with
Hammond, sax, flute, Rhodes, bass and spiritual rhythms.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11261.html
>>>>Going Deaf - DJ Marky & XRS<<
White label promos of this one from Marky and XRS. Jump
up, deep rolling drum & bass with a Brazilian flavour.
Flip for new talent DJ Roots' soulful vocal track.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11233.html
>>>>Gift Of Funk - Ed Royal & DJ Enne<<
Two fabulously funky tracks, kicking off with the bass
groove, organ jam and flute freestyling of 'Gift Of Funk',
with a remix from Washington DC's Soulphonic Soundsystem.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11262.html
>>>>Show Me Love - Robin S<<
Revamp of one of the all time classic house tracks from
Robin S, with brand new mixes from Stonebridge, Todd
Edwards, Kerri Chandler and Diesel from X-Press 2.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11263.html
>>>>Noire Desire EP - Deckard<<
Lovely release on Equinox for Deckard, whose Mo' Wax /
DJ Krush / DJ Cam influenced downtempo beats are
infused with his own personal twist (500 pressed only).
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11154.html
And loads more singles at:
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/recent_singles/
##SEVEN INCHERS##
>>>>Wordless Blues EP - Ray Christoph's New Sound<<
Originally released on Orange Records in '69, the British
psyche-jazz-pop combo have been picking up recognition
from the jazz dance scene, hence this re-issue.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11270.html
>>>>Medium Wave - The Voodoo Trombone Quartet<<
Limited edition 7" from VTQ, featuring a fun and funky
upbeat slice of skanking instrumental breakbeat ska,
backed with the infamous 'VTQ From The Block'.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11271.html
>>>>Roll Call - Random Heroes<<
Breaks-loaded, b-boy-friendly party tackle from Random
Heroes, featuring a gravel-voiced eulogy to the power
of beats with a killer rolling bassline.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11149.html
>>>>Don't Want To See Myself (Without You) - Terry Callier<<
Chicagoan soul, folk and jazz legend Terry Callier's track
gets a funky dancefloor edit from Andy Lewis on this l
ovely limited edition Acid Jazz 7".
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11282.html
>>>>Step It Up - The Bamboos feat. Alice Russell<<
Having toured with Quantic and Alice Russell in their
own country, Australian band The Bamboos were well
placed to get the soul-funk queen to guest on this track.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11272.html
##PRE-ORDER ALBUMS / SINGLES##
>>>>The Invisible Session - The Invisible Session<<
Luciano Cantone, Paolo Fedreghini and Marco Bianchi are
the trio behind the Invisible Session project, expanding
their dancefloor jazz credentials into a more globally
influenced musical framework. Vocals come from Jenny B
and Mika, while a pool of session players from the
Schema pool contribute across the album.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11286.html
>>>>Watch The Tables Turn - Dr. Rubberfunk<<
Simon Ward's latest 12" beat jam is a mid tempo b-boy
funk blast featuring vocals from Sara J, beatbox by
Shredded Pete and cuts from Rap Gang Inc's Buddy Peace.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11285.html
>>>>A Million Stories - The Cuban Brothers<<
Bestival favourites release this taster from their forth-
coming album. A heavy, funk groove driving Mike Cuban's
MCing and a hooky chorus, plus a trio of decent remixes.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11283.html
>>>>23 Minutes In Brussels - My Robot Friend<<
Falling somewhere between the energy of Devo and the
performance art of Laurie Anderson, this cover of the
Luna track is an atmospheric retro electro adventure.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/11284.html
More pre-order albums at:
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/prerelease_albums/
More pre-order singles at:
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/prerelease_singles/
##MAILOUT ARCHIVE##
Access all the previous mailouts for past recommendations,
albums and singles of the week(s) and poisonous rants.
http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/mail_archive/
Cheers,
Derek
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