Cool Hunting
Bringing together elements of his African roots, Parisian upbringing and American musical influences, trumpeter Pascal Ohse, a.k.a. Soel, created a brilliant collection of music bridging jazz, 70s funky soul and R&B and ambient electronic music. Imagine the JB Horns smashed up with Miles Davis, Barry White and Brian Eno.
The recently released Memento was produced by longtime collaborator Ludovic Navarre, otherwise known as groundbreaking DJ St. Germain, at his home outside Paris. Soel employs music from various points in his life, including world, spoken word grooves and samples by the Last Poets, the controversial pre-hip hop collective from the early 70s. Top that off with some politically inspired diva vocals and you have a batch of songs that will make you want to blow off work and spend the day in bed naked with your lover.
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"Savoir Faire is everywhere!" Ever since I first met this very unassuming maestro back in 1999 at DC's infamous Eighteenth Street Lounge, I've always been impressed with the high contrast between Alex Gimeno's mild-mannered in person demeanor and his jet set persona "Ursula 1000," a name that is defined by swift navigation of stylistic currents, savvy sense of humor (in song titles, art work...
Minimal, sparse, and beautiful, Solo Piano is unlike anything else I’m listening to right now. Canadian-born musician, producer, and rapper Gonzales has worked with everyone from Jane Birkin, to Daft Punk, to ex-label mate Peaches. Critics compared him to Eminem, Prince, and Beck when his debut record, Gonzales Uber Alles, came out with a bang in 2000. That being said, this one might throw...
Following the stunning "Remixes 1997-2000," the eclectic album of originals "In Between," "In Between Remixed" and the dancefloor approved dj mix "Mixing," the Berlin-based six-member collective Jazzanova presents "The Remixes 2002-2005," a compilation of released, unreleased and brand new—if you haven't guessed it—remixes. Though shorter in number of tracks by far to the original "Remixes" collection, this new edition does not skimp on quality....
Not new but worthy of mention here, the latest Boards Of Canada album "Campfire Headphase," released last month on Warp records is to me the music my dreams are made of. The new arrival of guitar (however warbled) to the BOC sound just adds a new layer of authenticity to their magical oeuvre. Its so easy to forget how cold it is outside when...
One of this season’s most highly anticipated albums finally made its way across my desk –- and it hasn’t stopped playing since I got it. Madonna has outdone herself once again. On Confessions on a Dance Floor, the Queen Chameleon did what she should have done years ago –- create a non-stop, no-breaks-between-songs dance remix album. For years, singles quickly followed up every album...
Wolf Parade is the latest Montreal export worth more than a listen. Their first full-length album, Apologies to the Queen Mary, is a driving mix of indie backbeats with psychedelic, artsy, and electronic influences. Like the oft-compared Arcade Fire, the upshot is an eclectic yet tightly produced answer to all the retro rock of late and the vocals share more than a little bit with...
