Creamtone

Bossa-chill from Deutschland!

Taken from their album, Music For Collapsing People (2000 / Stereo Deluxe), this sizzling tune by Moodorama grooves along with some of the most infectiously elastic basslines that I’ve ever heard. Embellished with lovely hooks and angelic female vocals, it instantly became a chillout classic when it was released.

It still sounds fresh today.

Whenever I listen to this track, I somehow always picture myself lazing on a tropical beach, with a nice Pina Colada in my hand — complete with a paper umbrella! Ahhhh….. kitschy but wicked nice!

Moodorama - Sinzing Sunset Boulevard

It’s truly a beautiful tune but their puzzling lyrics really leave me scratching my head! Here’s an example…

VERSE 2:
I took up the chase and tried to catch as much as possible;
didn’t find truth, how should I know my fate was like?
Can you hear the edge; I do and I think it’s harmless.
Otherlands like you, unknown and new.

CHORUS:
Simple things in life are the best,
Love so warm besides.

See what I mean?

Forever forward-thinking, auteur Amon Tobin always perplexes and delights with his unpredictable breakbeat/drum n’ bass thrills and spills.

Twisted bossanova, hip hop, jungle, baroque, cinematic soundscapes, jazz noir, angelic choirs, psychedelic filters, hard rock riffs, super-speed percussion — all blend harmoniously in his lush works; sometimes altogether in the SAME song!

Recently inspired by Foley artists who work in audiolabs recording sound effects for films, Monsieur Tobin has gone the way of musique concrète, venturing out with his microphone and finally collecting a cacophony of field recordings. The result is his new darkly experimental album Foley Room that’s just been released (5th March ‘07). Check out some video trailers, courtesy of the nice chaps at Ninja Tune.

With this new album out, I figure it’s time to re-kindle my forever-love for this beatguru… He who exploded my mind many years ago and enlightened me that time signatures are redundant in drum programming. Hehe.

Here are some of my favourite classic tracks from him, a remix by Dillinja, one with Bebel Gilberto singing over his original tune (hauntingly beautiful!) and a few sneaks from Foley Room…

He is a rhythmist extraordinaire.

He is a walking drum machine.

He is on a mission to pummel our tiny heads with super-complex rhythm structures while deceptively soothing us with beautiful cinemascapes.

He is a shapeshifter. A permutator. A supermodifier.

A master of melodious manipulation.

Who needs Heroes when you have Amon Tobin to save the world?

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… before “Acid Jazz” became the buzzword for every goatee-stroking bohemian in the 90’s, there was an unidentified funky object called United Future Organisation. Whizzing around the battlestar galactica in a spaceship, they mind-controlled human beings with their cutting edge experimentations in jazz, latin, trip hop, hip-hop, spy soundtracks and electronica.

Formed on the planet of JAPAN circa 1990 by DJs Tadashi Yabe, Toshio Matsuura and French expatriate Raphael Sebbag, they space-invaded Tokyo’s underground club scene and quickly became highly influential extraterrestrials that everyone worshipped. Soon enough, global domination was theirs and even Gilles Peterson and Norman Jay championed them.

Almost two decades on, the alien mothership is still going strong.

Since tomorrow is Valentine’s Day — although the whole commercialism of romance stinks — here’s a U.F.O. classic reminding us what ♥ L.O.V.E. really should be like.

After all, martians have feelings too.

United Future Organisation - On Est Ensemble Sans Se Parler ~ L.O.V.E.

Dedicated to all the aliens (and ah lians) from Venus whom I’ve loved before.

“Get your soul satisfied, get your brain a little fried, by the Squire for Hire — he’ll naturally set your soul on fire!”

Yes, the fine jazz squire who calls himself Nathan Haines hails from New Zealand — the land of sheep! Classically trained in jazz and now based in London; he’s even dabbled in Drum n Bass, releasing jungle dubplate classics as Sci-Clone (together with A-Sides) under the revered Metalheadz label.

The trip-hop tune I’m sharing with you is the title track from his album Squire For Hire — released in ‘03 (post-DnB days). It’s a got a relentless rolling drum-groove, infectious organ chords and features the ’sex with attitude on high heels’ vocals of disco-queen Marlena Shaw.

Tune in & treat your ears to some aural sex now…

Nathan Haines (feat. Marlena Shaw) - Squire For Hire

Feeling like something more upbeat? Here’s a bonus house mix that’s equally delectable… just for you!

Nathan Haines (feat. Marlena Shaw) - Squire For Hire (Capricorn mix)

Just rediscovered a remix from years back. An oldie but goodie. Norwegian groove-meisters Röyksopp had really outdone themselves with this beautifully understated remix of an introspective classic from the Kings of Convenience — complete with caramel vocals from KoC’s Erlend Øye.

Left Kings + Right Röyk…

Here’s the original acoustic version…
Kings of Convenience - I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From

Here’s the remix that really transforms and lifts the whole tune…
KoC - I Don’t Know What I Can Save You From (Röyksopp Remix)

Both are delicate masterpieces — perfect earphone music for moments when I feel like sitting on the beach, watching ships pass by, under the evening sun.

Coincidentally and rather strangely, both bands hail from the town of Bergen, Norway and both bands are made up of two blokes.

Must be all the salmon they eat. Haha. Oops.

Dean Wareham & Britta Phillips - Ginger Snaps

From their ‘03 album L’Avventura, Dean Wareham & Britta Phillips deliver a laidback, mellow and classy pop song that is guaranteed to conjure up miles of smiles with its floaty melodies and cozy vocals. Such a fantastic tune to play on a rainy day!

Afterlife - Sunrise (DJ Thunda & The K20 Allstars Mix)

This has gotta be the most perfect track to watch a sunrise with.

Nothing comes close.

I-Monster - Daydream In Blue(from the palindromic album, neveroddoreven)

In 2001, I-Monster released a dreamy hit that had an infectious lazy, hazy summer-time vibe. Ahhh… but do not be fooled by its enchanting melodies and pretty vocals… cos if you listen carefully to the lyrics, you’d discover that it’s a song about having a dirty dream. Haha… Genius!

Here’s the chorus (lalala)…

I dream a dirty dream of ya baby
you’re crawling on the bathroom floor,
you float around the room and you’re naked,
then you’re flying out the bedroom door,
I dream a dirty dream
I dream a dirty dream

Lupe Fiasco - Daydreamin’ feat. Jill Scott

Then into the scene swaggers Lupe Fiasco, who decides to add some of his own flava into da mix, rappin’ up a storm… resulting in a nicely gangsta’d up hiphop version. Coupled with Jill Scott’s powerful & soulful voice, they’ve managed to add more character, sex appeal and oomph! to this eccentric track.

Sweeeeeet.

I often find myself helplessly hypnotised by the lush soundscapes of Boards of Canada. Very few words can adequately describe the beautiful music they make… Ethereal. Nostalgic. Emotive. Intimate. Reflective. Mesmerising. Gorgeous. Enchanting… We’re barely touching the tip of the iceberg here.

I’ve decided to share with you some tracks from their seminal album that had inspired me tremendously many years ago, Music Has The Right To Children — a true classic that changed my life when I first heard it. What’s so great about their music is that I always hear something new with every listen — it could be a subtle vocal sample in the background, or some obscure string melody from an old wildlife documentary layered over the beats. They’re the kings of musical nuances.

Of course, there are many other great releases they’ve done like Hi-Scores, Boc Maxima, Twoism, Geogaddi, In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country, The Campfire Headphase… but Music Has The Right To Children will always hold a special place in my heart.

One word sums this band up for me… life-defining.

Aphex Twin - Milk Man (from ‘Girl/Boy EP’, Warp Records: 1996)

Here’s a special treat. This is a melodious, quirky yet hyper-disturbing piece from über avant garde/electro-genius Richard D. James (aka Aphex Twin) — we can’t expect anything less from the man who once described himself as “just some irritating, lying, ginger kid from Cornwall who should have been locked up in some youth detention centre. I just managed to escape and blag it into music”.

This is one of the very few tracks that actually showcases his vocals. Milk Man starts off really sweetly — almost like a nursery rhyme — and then it quickly morphs into a bizarre twisted breaks-laden fantasy about the Milk Man’s wife and her mammaries. Yes, you gotta listen to it to believe it! Here are the lyrics for you to sing along…

I wish the milk man would deliver my milk, in the morning
I wish the milk man would deliver my milk, when I’m yawning (x4)
I would like some milk from the milk man’s wife’s tits (repeat to end)

Aphex Twin remains my biggest inspiration today. I fully credit him for introducing me to the evil world of electronic music some 15 years ago when I first laid my ears on the beautifully alien sounds of Analogue Bubblebath.

It’s been a downward spiral ever since. Hehe.