NEW TUNES from Hervé, Joe & Will Ask?, Chima Anya of GTA, N.A.S.A, Jokers Of the Scene and more

A Hervé track is like manna from heaven for me. He's a great balance between electronic music and rock sensibilities... he's a trailblazer for a new "anything goes" generation of clubbers... he's kind and down to earth... and his music is always awesome even though he's more prolific than two rabbits when it comes to making tracks!

This is why I'm even more surprised that it took me this long to post this. See, around the time my dearest Anna sent this to me... I was so depressed I couldn't even really read the email. I'm sure the rest of you who are feeling the recession blues get it... hell, almost ALL my favourite blogs have come close to hanging it up at one point or another. BUT not unlike the Heads We Dance feat Little Boots track from the other day, music like this is undeniable (and even though loads of other people got around to posting it before I did, that doesn't make it any less awesome lol)... I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

The Young Lovers Album Minimix
The Young Lovers- "Love You Madly" (192)
The Young Lovers- "Love You Madly" YSI

* The prolific Joshua ‘Hervé’ Harvey returns with an album somewhat different to what you may be used to hearing from the electronic producer – Mixmag compared it to Saint Etienne this month (4*)
* Inspired by Joshua’s “trips to Rome, Paris and Barcelona”, the album also features Joe from Primary One and Trevor Loveys
* Joshua has just released his first mix compilation ‘Ghetto Bass’ and is currently working on The Count & Sinden album for Domino Records. The second Machines Don’t Care album looks to be released later this year, with a Hervé debut LP arriving in 2010

It's still not out for a week (11 May) so I didn't sleep on it tooooo long! Check out more at Myspace.

Next up is one from Joe & Will Ask? who made an appearance with a Lowline remix a few weeks back. Here's the press...
The track is to be Released on Gulp Communications later on in 2009 and more Joe and Will Ask tracks are available at www.beatport.com.
Joe & Will Ask?- "Yellow Stone"

NOW THIS I GOTTA HIGHLIGHT... my boy Chima Anya from Oxford's GTA is the only doctor in Brithop and this man spits straight fire. Not only is he a wicked emcee but he also has a knack for choosing the BEST possible instrumentals to work with as you'll see in the press blurb below. DOWNLOAD THIS or miss out on one of the UK's fastest rising hiphop stars...

Having already received support from the biggest radio stations in the uk (Radio 1, 1Xtra, Choice, Kiss FM) and cosigning from some of the most progressive blog sites arouind (Moovmnt, IBYM) Chima Anya (hip-hop's only practicing Doctor) releases his mixtape to great anticipation.

Featuring production from Flying Lotus/ Hudson Mohawke/ Samiyam/ Rustie (editorial note: holy shit, see what I'm saying?!?!) juxtaposed to the more commercial standard bangers this mixtape is the first symptom of vocal hiphop's evolution to a Higher Ground.

Chima Anya higher Ground Mixtape

This I thought would be fun to post... you know how I feel about Brithop (only the grime boys and GTA ever make the cut)... but The Forcefield Kids do, and I quote, "leftfield/lo-fi UK hip-hop act from Newcastle and have an EP coming out on the 6th of July" and I enjoy it. The lead track from the EP is right here:

The Forcefield Kids- "Little Miss Star"

Now I got some rock for those of you who thought I forgot what that was (smirk). Duke Special have a nice little 3 track sample they want you music fans to have and it's got a fun cover in it that you don't wanna miss. Here's some press about their album that just came out and this freebie:

‘I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD COME’: The brand new album, out 20th April 2009
"A more immediate and visceral collection than the previous multi-platinum selling Songs From The Deep Forest, Duke Special’s new album, I Never Thought This Day Would Come is full of moments of beauty and hope juxtaposed with a dark, brooding edge.

Recorded between Wapping, London; Champaign, Illinois and Culleybackey, Northern Ireland, 'I Never Thought This Day Would Come' was produced by long-time collaborator Paul Pilot and mixed by Nick Terry, best known for his work with the Klaxons and The Libertines."

As a free taster please download 3 Duke Special Tracks:
1. "Those Proverbs We Made in the Winter Must End" (Duke Special / Bernard Butler) produced, co-written and co-played by Bernard Butler
2. "I Feel For You" (Prince cover but made famous by Chaka Kahn)
3. "Low" (Duke Special)

So hopefully you'll dig that. Now this is kind of off the beaten path for this blog but I recognize I've come close to being a British "dance" music blog, not just a British music blog so... I'm broadening the horizons some! I've heard VERY heated pro/con online convos about this trio but... I'll let you decide what you think of it. I will say I thought they said "drinking out of a sports bra" and thought "That's a little naughty isn't it? I can't even picture that!"... which is proof I'm a moron :)

The Dolly Rockers- "North vs South" Stream
"It's like three Lily Allens meeting Motiv8 after they've had a quick rummage through one of Pepsi & Shirlie's jumble sales."
Visit http://www.myspace.com/thedollyrockers for 3 more tracks

FORMAT CHANGE: I had a lot of good stuff in the inbox so I decided to post some non-British artists. I don't do this often, but when you ignore your inbox for weeks you stumble upon loads of sick tracks. I mean tell me you don't want this N.A.S.A. or Jokers On the Scene... yeah, exactly my point... ENJOY

Ok, well I know you guys like designer shit (I'm a Kidrobot man myself), and I know a lot of you like drugs (shame on you), and while rocking both I notice a lot of you listen to Designer Drugs. Now I present to you "the amazing ‘Strange Enough’ with a Designer Drugs touch, featuring Ol Dirty Bastard, Karen O. and Fatlip"...
N.A.S.A. - "Strange Enough (Designer Drugs Remix)" (320kpsex)
N.A.S.A. - "Strange Enough (Designer Drugs Remix)" YSI

The Brash are from Canukistan (*cough* my neighbour to the north, Canada). They are described as "two guys from around the corner. A Dj and a geek.
Straightforward electronic music. Nothing more, nothing less"... and personally I like a press release like that lol. They got fellow Canukistanians Jokers Of the Scene to do a remix so you know they're about to be hot shit!
THIS TRACK IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The Brash - "H Muet (Jokers of the Scene remix)"
The Brash - "H Muet (Jokers of the Scene remix)" YSI

I'm posting this Dirty Projectors track because a) I like it and b) I think this AIDS Charity they are doing with Bjork is awesome... read more below...

   

"Stillness Is The Move" is available on 12" and digital with new b-sides a remix by Lucky Dragons May 5th. Pre-order the 12" now from Domino Mart -http://www.dominorecordco.us/usa/singles/09-04-09/stillness-is-the-move/

"Stillness Is The Move" is taken from the upcoming album, Bitte Orca, which will be released worldwide the week of June 8th (check local listings). Many of you will be able to catch the band live in action prior to that as special guests on the upcoming TV On The Radio tour:

FRI 5/22 - Oakland, CA - Fox Oakland Theater
SAT 5/23 - Portland - Roseland Theater
MON 5/25 - Vancouver - Malkin Bowl
WED 5/27 - Edmonton - Edmonton Events Centre
THUR 5/28 - Calgary - Macewan Hall
FRI 5/29 - Saskatoon - Louis’ Pub
SAT 5/30 - Winnipeg - Burton Cummings Theatre
TUE 6/2 - Toronto - Sound Academy
WED 6/3 - Montrea - Metropolis
THUR 6/4 - Boston - HOB
FRI 6/5 - New York - Summerstage
SAT 6/6 - Baltimore - Metro Gallery - w/ A Place To Bury Strangers
MON 6/8 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
TUE 6/9 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
WED 6/10 - Richmond, VA - The National
THUR 6/11 - Charlotte, NC - Amos’ Southend
*All shows with TV on the Radio except June 6th

In addition, on May 8th, Dirty Projectors and Bjork will be collaborating for a one-night only benefit show at the Housing Works Bookstore in Manhattan. The performance will feature an original piece composed by Dirty Projectors’ David Longstreth. The material will pair Bjork and Longstreth with the Dirty Projectors’ Amber Coffman, Angel Deradoorian, and Haley Dekle. All proceeds will go to Housing Works, a non-profit established to provide services for homeless men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS.

OK! Hopefully that makes up for my absence! I'll try to make sure to stay on top of things from here on out and appreciate all your support. I notice a lot of you adding me on Twitter but please feel free to "follow" the blog (the option is located in the right sidebar). I'll have a show starting soon on Hype.FM in the next week so make sure you keep your eyes and ears peeled because that'll be off the fucking hook... have you seen the other names who are gonna be on that site? Phew! And for those of you already podcasting Albion I apologize about the lack of updates... we have a server problem that should be fixed soon. Thanks again, I couldn't do this without you guys, be back soon!