Author: Commercial Break
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Beacons EP – Werkha
The rhythmic electronica of the Beacons EP is a terrific follow-up to Werkha’s appearance on a Gilles Peterson album Werkha is DJ/producer Tom A Leah. Although he was born in Manchester in north-west England, he spent much of his childhood further north in rural Cumbria where, as he recalls, you needed to “find ways to […]
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Vifa Copenhagen wireless speakers
Introducing the Vifa Copenhagen wireless speakers, an unsung Danish firm’s attempt at creating devices that fuse style and substance Recommended price €899/£743/$1236 (approx.) Websites Vifa design-people The Vifa Copenhagen is the kind of boombox a Scandinavian designer would covet. More accurately, it’s a wireless speaker that will reproduce the MP3s on your smartphone, tablet […]
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Tall Black Guy mix by DJ Raphael – free music download
Download DJ Raphael’s introduction to a gifted beatmaker who’s attracting plaudits from the likes of Questlove Producer Tall Black Guy (TBG), aka Terrel Wallace, is on the cusp of gaining major recognition. Earlier this year, The Root’s drummer Questlove revealed he’d been “binge” playing TBG beats to D’Angelo. Three months later, TBG announced via Twitter […]
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Nobody video – Moonchild
Vocalist Amber mingles among Europe’s unsuspecting folk as she unveils Moonchild’s breezy brand of neo soul Websites Moonchild iTunes Bandcamp None other than Jill Scott tweeted this video, which could be mistaken for a travel ad from the European Tourist Board. Here, Moonchild’s vocalist Amber Navran racks up the air miles, as she cheerfully serenades […]
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Rising Son album review – Takuya Kuroda
For his debut album on Blue Note Records, 33-year-old Japanese trumpeter Takuya Kuroda has made a recording with broad appeal. Its title track gives a passing nod to hip hop, while soul-jazzers will bob approvingly to Kuroda’s cover of Roy Ayers’ classic Everybody Loves The Sunshine. More orthodox jazz fans aren’t ignored, either – Afro […]
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In The Spirit Of Harlem book – Naomi Fertitta
A colourful coffee-table book exploring the rich cultural heritage of this influential Manhattan enclave Book In The Spirit Of Harlem (Assouline Publishing) Website Assouline Publishing Of late, there’s been much talk of the gentrification of parts of New York that were once deemed undesirable. Harlem is one such district caught up in the conversation, […]
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Robert Glasper Experiment video – mini concert
Courtesy of NPR, you can enjoy a mini concert with the Blue Note jazz pianist from the comfort of your living room Blue Note jazz pianist Robert Glasper makes a welcomed appearance on National Public Radio’s Tiny Desk Concert series, which has in the past featured slightly better known acts such as Suzanne Vega and […]
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3 Years Of Soulection compilation – free music download
Download this free 32-track compilation from a California-based record label that’s celebrating three years of spreading soulful sounds LA-based record label Soulection celebrates its three-year anniversary with a free compilation. The selection reflects the collective’s soulful take on electronica, hip hop and dance beats. Highlights include the lo-fi neo soul of Stiller See featuring Soia, […]
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Basementality 2 album – Amp Fiddler
Listen to the mini neo-soul album by Detroit-based singer-songwriter Amp Fiddler, which includes an appearance by Raphael Saadiq Detroit-based Joseph “Amp” Fiddler, who’s best known for being part of George Clinton’s Parliament and Funkadelic groups, has released a mini album on the Bandcamp site. Even though the album was released in late January, its killer […]
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Slowly Rolling Camera album – Slowly Rolling Camera
The self-titled debut album from this Cardiff-based four-piece will appeal to fans of The Cinematic Orchestra and beyond… Alongside the likes of Nightmares on Wax and Kruder & Dorfmeister, The Cinematic Orchestra pioneered a form of downbeat stylings that exhibited a jazzy sensibility. But it sometimes seems that with each new project from Jason Swinscoe’s […]