THE BEST MUSIC: NEW & OLD
I know everyone goes on about the Spotify annual round-up (I love it too, don’t get me wrong). But sometimes Soundcloud bangs. Check out a playlist of HarrysMusicalEmporium’s top played tracks this year, right here.
Unlike Spotify, it features a bunch of artists I don’t know so well. Just really nice vibes for the weekend. Enjoy.
This track falls right into my sweet spot.
Things I know about it from researching online:
Anyway, what’s important is what it sounds like. And it sounds like a space disco that has just got fucking out of hand. Turn it up. End of lockdown 2 bitches.
Bonus track: Odyssee is Airotic’s laid back astro-Caribbean cousin
The inimitable Irish songstress Róisín Murphy back with her first album for 4 years.
The whole release has a really fun, chuggy, funky feel with heavy disco influences. As always, her vocals range from the sultry to the melodramatic in a way that only she can pull off.
There are some great tracks on the album (Simulation, We Got Together and Murphy’s Law are my picks) – but what really stands out is the quality of the package. The mixing has been given so much attention and love. Each track flows into the next in a natural, but original and exciting way. Maybe it is a bit of nerdy thing to call out, but it all comes together to create a very cool 54 minute experience that’ll give you a good lift.
Sidenote, she released this on her own label which is called Mickey Murphy’s Daughter. That has to be one of the best label names going.
If you like your house creative and sample heavy then you are in luck today. It’s letherette, back on Wulf with what they describe as a ‘house beat tape’, and it is packed with lively, fun listening.
They pack 15 tracks onto the album. As a result it constantly feels fresh, with new sounds hitting you every few minutes. Maybe also as a consequence, it can also feel a little superficial – each idea not fully fleshed out and explored to its maximum. The duo are clearly incredibly talented, and their sound feels original, so I’m sure they’ll have plenty more to come.
You can read my take on Mander House, Vol. 1 here.
Dear reader, I have an apology to make. This track came out in 2018 and came into my life hard. And I’ve just been sitting on it. It’s not good enough from me. No excuses. You come here for quality music, and I’ve let you down by taking 24 months to serve it up. Please accept my apology.
Now, what do we have here? It is a house track with massive energy that walks the line between sweet and sour. It’s screwy, it’s pumping. Huge vibes. A real monster. Enjoy.
Interesting sidenote: in much the same way as The Black Madonna rebranded to become The Blessed Madonna during the BLM movement, Marquis Hawkes has switched to his birth name – Mark Hawkins. He explained his original choice of artist name as a nod to the legendary late house producer Kenny Hawkes. However, he has been criticised for co-opting black culture for his own gain, and with the additional scrutiny and awareness that the BLM movement has created, decided to go with the name his mother gave him. Fair play.
It took all of 2 seconds for me to know that this was going to be a banger. Strong Sizzling energy. It would have been the track of the Summer if we had one. Soak it up all the same.
Bonus track: if it feels like Karma Kid has been around an age now, you may be surprised to hear that he is only 26. He came onto the scene with this, when he was just 18, with strong Michael Cera vibes. Nuts.
It’s a big day when two of your favourite artists come together to release new music. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Bonobo. What a combo. The track they have come up with is Heartbreak and it has each of their fingerprints all over it.
I like it. In fact I really like it. It’s the kind of track that will blow up a Printworks set. Nice ravey 90s drums and a soulful vocal sample. What’s not to like really?
Big ol’ housey banger. It’s strange, it’s creative and it’s large.
This is a track that I cannot wait to hear out. As in out out.
I came across this little beauty in another of Boiler Room’s Streaming From Isolation mixes. Peggy Gou from the highest point in Seoul. Solid. Very solid indeed.
P.S. A divisive question for you: is Peggy Gou…
a) fucking awesome – the incredible global female DJ superstar from a traditionally underrepresented minority that the whole world needs, OMG I love Peggy!
or
b) a bit basic?
I’m hearing both sides of the argument. Let me know please
Photo credit: JUNGWOOK-MOK
If you’re having the feeling that Summer has been cruelly ripped from your grasp by this COVID-crap then I have something to help. Melbourne Drum Authority. They describe themselves as a “Melbourne house music collective looking to make you groove” and that is pretty bang on. In the Groove is my pick, a cheeky acid-infused disco chugger with a lovely little brass section – what’s not to love?
Natural High is their debut release, out now on Sydney-based label Refuge Recordings, and that’s all I know. Enjoy.
Shout out as always to Ben Gomori for the tip.
Moodymann has two modes: lusty and haunting. His new album Taken Away retains some of his signature erotic funk, but ache come to the fore.
At the start of 2019 Moodymann (Kenny Dixon Jr.) was involved in a pretty terrifying incident with the police – a reality that people of colour face in America on a shockingly frequent basis. Famously enigmatic, he does his talking through his sampling, and his message comes across loud and clear, especially in the title track. It’s house music, it’s foot-stomping, but it is filled with pain and anger.
My take on some more upbeat Moodymann here and here, or you can read an excellent review of the album on Pitchfork here. Shout out to Ben Gomori’s Turned On for the tip.
HARRY'S MUSICAL EMPORIUM 