Lordly Nightshade

Pass the peas like we used to say, Pass the peas like we used to say, Pass the peas like we used to say, Pass the peas like we used to say, Pass the peas like we used to say, Pass the peas like we used to say, Pass the peas like we used to say, Pass the peas like we used to say, Pass the peas like we used to say, Pass the peas like we used to say…. PASS ‘EM Then!

In this volume I am going to write about the music, not so much the musicians. Information will be subjective and devoid of any accurate information about the groups.

I want to talk about how the music does to you, how it inspires you to write and where it leads you.  The internet is there for information if you want to know more about them, but perhaps not these sorts of personal reviews.

Well I think that’s the idea…

Musical musings and whimsical writings

Up, Bustle out – Emerald Alley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1VUBGn0Eco

I am listening intently to ‘Emerald Alley’ from ‘Up, Bustle out’s album ‘Light ‘Em up Blow ‘Em Out’

This song builds a real momentum and am always sad to hear it finish, but if you listen to the album it mixes into the next track, ‘Rain In Tibet’ which is a beautiful transition, delicate like being put to bed when you’re a child… at least my memories or imagined memories of being put to bed as a child…

A long enjoyable experience with someone loving and gentle putting your head softly onto a cold pillow and drifting off into imagination.

Indian sitar intro, building driving bongo beats, wobbling bass, the odd atmospheric whistle, into the main sitar riff, backed by a droning bass and a break funk sort of drum beat.   It makes me want to walk

Dirty dozen brass band – Their version of big chief by professor long hair

I can’t find a version of this on the internet, but you can download it of Amazon, I wholeheartedly recommend it! But this tune will give you an idea. Burr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VllOlTuiH9o

This song is incredible (big chief cover) , there are a lot of versions of this, I think this one is particularly good, there’s a little for everyone.  Everything combines together to create good fruit. Make you wiggle in certain places make you want to jig your heels.  I think this has a much fuller sound to the original which is more New Orleans jazz and ‘tinkely’ …

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Jools Holland Show

War,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ospt8g4i-9k

Mars,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qttZ3zTPzm4

 

And one to investigate if you’re hooked which isn’t on the internet – Mushallah

 

I must keep writing about the Hypnotic brass ensemble, I have watched live clips of theirs over and over and it still makes my spine tingle.

Their sound is so full powerful and they create such an atmosphere it stirs you deep inside.  Reaches in somewhere and grabs you… their like modern day pied pipers.   Pulling us away from the city… hopefully were not the rats going to our deaths but the children being freed from expectations, guilt, work and a life of built up intimidation..  Anyway ,

I can’t put my finger on a song to sum them up, the clip from jools Holland is incredible but  Mars, Mushallah, War are all totally captivating.

At the start of ‘War’ in particular strikes up images of people calling out to the sky, heavenward in desperation and helplessness.  Like for example when you see Middle Eastern people mourning together on the streets, expressing  and releasing their pain together.   Throughout the song as the rest of the horns join in and it build momentum, there is more joy, lament, determination and hope..  The words of the trumpet are ‘come on, this is dumb’ ‘ look at what we’re doing to each other’ . Maybe.

Even so, is bloody inspiring and heart-wrenching music.

I really can’t get enough of brass bands; they make my heart feel weird…. This happened with techno for a bit, and I had to take it easy and not listen to it so much, I would get too psyched listening. Maybe I need to harness this someway..

Hot 8 Brass Band –RastaFunk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJfSFieyS3I

Anyway… wo… listen to this…  rata funk…  hot 8 have a fuller band than other brass bands… they make such a big sound, I still prefer hypnotic, I think, but this song really does it.. I need a big sound system and a party to play this at   ..  I think I could dance to this for about a week, before my ears started to bleed and I needed to get to the doctors or something. .    I think at the moment, if I could be a song it would be this..  every step you made you would release a note.   You’d have to walk fast…

The Herbaliser – Mr Holmes,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijXSZDw0FrY

Gold rush,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg6OC3G50YQ

The missing suitcase

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAbxftzMANg&feature=related

The herbaliser I think are masters of many trades. Mostly hip hop and breaks. I have added music  of theirs before, but it’s all good… a good first album of theirs to get is very mercenary, or they have done a really good Solid Steel mix

 ‘Back when shoe laces were fat and Michael was black’

Ugly Duckling – down the road

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GDnwHYM5rk

This is the first UD song I heard and I have had it in my head ever since. Rufus lent me their journey to anywhere CD  quite a few years ago, unfortunately I gave it back,  but fortunately I got a copy courtesy of a lovely shop.   They are ambassadors of hip hop and what I feel to be funk hip hop, as DJs are often looping the breaks or certain melodies from old funk tunes. They are actively having a dig at ‘potty mouth’ rappers saying they are un imaginative and un original.

These songs are some of my favourite, really nice beats. Beats. beats

Journey to anywhere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyoJ-_jJUIM

Lay it on ya – is on the journey to anywhere album…

‘Got a propeller to propel and repellent to repel’

Spank-A-Lee – Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters – Bremen, Germany 1974

I have a CD version of this which is better from the album Flood but I can’t find any on the internet to put up here, but take this as a nudge in the right direction, This is by far my favourite herbie Hancock tune.  Its funny Herbie doesn’t come onto the stage till over half way through the song.. he’s probably having too good a time moving.   I love the drums bass and when the keys come in.. keys are like tiptoes, bass is like someone striding round the room moving their hands in mysterious ways and the drums are lifetime residents of funky town

Flevans – Loose Gardener

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-KQWVj1VI4

Every time we say good bye, I die a little.

Where to download minimix for free and legal

Now first things first.  Go to ParisDJs.com and find mix#93. (it’s free) You will find it a  mix by Flevans. And it brilliant, it is of all his first album tunes and therefore best tunes, I don’t rate his new album 27 devils, or something like that. It’s pretty week.. but unfabulous is absolutely tremendous, make new friends has a few gems but if you’re going anywhere start at the beginning.

http://www.parisdjs.com/index.php/post/flevans-unfabulous-megamix

First I heard of flevans was MR Bundle which is on Bonobo’s Solid Steel mix, and I investigated from there, finding the flevans mix and creaming in my pants.

The whole album is hip droopingly super, if I had to pick some bests they would be

12 apostles, Lost/Found, Loose Gardner, Newton blues, Cold hands (nice sax ending), which is most of the album but… go and get it from your nearest dealer.

Flevans is all electronic and great to dance to, although better as a producer than DJ, I thought his DJ set was pretty disappointing, The bamboos DJ set on the other hand.. Joder!

Fela Kuti – Gba mi Leti ki N’Dolowo (one of my favourites but cant find on internet as a link)  and other tunes..

Teacher don’t teach me no nonsense

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4AA6EuZe-k

You be Theif

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPIZBcb6hQI&feature=related

One thing I love about Fela Kuti is that his songs are long. ..  funk tunes are never long enough, his are getting there… they carry on and on..  ‘Gba mi Leti ki N’Dolowo’, Has such a great intro .. and rest of the tune… the drums and guitar combo at the start dictate dancing. Nigerian funk has a real energy about it, it in general seems a bit faster than more western funk, I don’t think I could keep up for a long time dancing, id have some sort of seizure.

Quantic soul orchestra – hold it Down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEiGPL0dzJE

The link says it’s a cover, but I can’t hear any difference… haven’t listened all the way through mind you.

So, will Holland of quantic just does something like this then buggers off to south America to try to master Latin music… what about the funk… as good as his new stuff is with a more Latin tinge, all the Quantic Soul Orchestra stuff owns!.

Powerful vocals mainly from Alice Russell, and spanky Wilson.  Hold it down, that goose on my grave, stampede.  Everything goes together perfectly, although I do like the rawness of other funk the freer approach, it’s very ‘white’ if you naameean… I suppose their all bloody good musicians, making tight music well, I want to horns to go crazy and people to really let rip.. everyone’s holding back… it builds u a suspense in me.. ,maybe dancing would relieve it.

 

More JBS Please – If you don’t get it the first time, get up and try again/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzJFue2AeKQ

 

Pass the Peas

Funk at its prime.. without no doubt and without no introduction. Or little introduction, I can’t really.

 

 

Marilyn Barbarin – reborn

Another powerful soul singer energising your funk bones

Soul Tornadoes – hot pants breakdown

They’ve hit the nail on the head here, hot pants.. meaning when you hear this you’re going to want to get naked and dance around because your pants are so hot!…

For some reason I think of dancing sideways.

So that’s all I have to write today. I end on the maceo parker solo in my ears from  soul power 74… And I’ll stop writing when he stops breathing down the reed, paaarrrtyy and sax ah stop.