Tribute to Raphael Saadiq – Selected by Russ Ryan
“Raphael Saadiq is the Neo Soul and R&B producer, arranger and songwriter of a generation, yet criminally unsung. I simply wanted to shine a light on known, and some unknown, involvement of his in music over the years, from uptempo Soul of his own to his signature Two Step sound. …
Album Of The Week: Tirzah “Devotion” (Domino)
A lot of people hate the hyper classification of music, arguing about which sub-sub genre box a record fits. Personally, as a music nerd and omnivore, I love it. I love contextualizing the record by trying to imagine in my head where I would file it in my collection – …
Reissue Of The Week: Monk Higgins “Extra Soul Perception” (1968, Real Gone Music)
Don’t choke on or spit out the Kombucha and Kale chip combo you’re working on when the opening bars from “Code Of The Streets” by Gang Starr waft out in front of the Monk Higgins 1969 cover of “Little Green Apples”. Calmly rewind your mind to the fact that Milton …
Album of the Week: The Internet “Hive Mind”
With all of the attention and massive hype generated by 2015’s Grammy-nominated “Ego Death”, it would have been natural for The Internet’s new album – their first for major label Columbia / Sony – to seek new audiences and to try and “crossover” for lack of a better word. On …
Album of the Week: Children of Zeus “Travel Light”
The Manchester duo of Konny Kon and Tyler Daley known as Children of Zeus have finally dropped their hotly tipped debut album titled “Travel Light”. They built up quite a buzz on the soulful streets following three sell-out singles on First Word and a compilation EP comprised of tracks made by …
Exclusive Premiere: Kwalia “Pulse”
Jordan Rakei and Richard Melkonian have teamed up to release their debut EP “Pursuit” under the name Kwalia. A combination of effected string compositions and soulful vocals flow effortlessly alongside one-another feeling as though the music was incepted naturally and without too many roadblocks along the way. The forthcoming EP …
BALANCE – Show #538 (Hosted by Spacewalker)
So much quality music floating around, so it’s brand new stuff all the way on this edition of BALANCE with Spacewalker! Featuring music from K15, Chip Wickham, Kamaal Williams, Dreamcast, Moods, Prophet & more! TRACKLIST Kamaal Williams – The Return | Black Focus R+R=NOW – Change of Tone | Blue …
Tribute to CURTIS MAYFIELD – Mixed & Selected by Kobal
Curtis Mayfield (born June 3, 1942, died December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind Soul and politically conscious African-American music. He first achieved success and recognition with The Impressions during the civil rights movement of the late 1950s …
Exclusive Premiere: The Magnificent Tape Band “Danger”
Recorded entirely on vintage analogue recording equipment packed into a disused garage in Leeds, the LP features the vocal talents of Gospel-inspired Soul singer Rachel Modest. Taken from The Magnificent Tape Band‘s forthcoming debut LP “The Subtle Art Of Distraction”, ‘Danger’ is a heavy slice of Soul that is held down …
Exclusive Premiere: Potatohead People “Do My Thing ft. Kapok & Illa J” (Bastard Jazz)
Comprised of Vancouver producers and multi-instrumentalists Nick Wisdom and AstroLogical, Canadian duo Potatohead People boast a number of noteworthy accolades thanks to a their signature sound drawing influences from ’90s Boom-Bap, future Soul, classic Jazz, Deep House, and Boogie/Funk. Beginning with a series of EPs including their landmark “Kosmichemusik” EP, …
Kay Robinson “We Need Time” (1970, King Records)
(Dedicated to the Charleston Nine, Sandra Bland, and Mary Elizabeth Guthrie) Jesus is a popular dude… and he didn’t play the drums. Growing up in the Black American church in the 1980s, I was exposed to a more modern form of Gospel music, and coming from a family of singers, …
Woods Empire “Universal Love” (1981, Tabu Records)
I found this record at People’s Records in Detroit in 2012, not knowing what it was, but just loving the awesome, spaced out cover. I later realized luck had struck me, and I came home with a beautiful modern soul, rare groove gem. Woods Empire, based out of the serene …