Albums of the year 2013

Ugh! How rubbish have I been, barely any posts this year let alone the last couple of months.

Anyway, its been that time again to provide my top albums for the urban75 top albums of the year thread, and in the past I've written my selections up.... This year will be no different.

1. By The Rivers - By The Rivers
Been hearing a lot on David Rodigans sunday reggae show on BBC 1xtra. So I decided to take a punt on itunes, and its undoubtedly been my favourite album this year. Nice and summery, reggae vibes, and I've got to admit, I love singing along to it in the car.

2. Death Grips - Government Plates
Death Grips have been at the top of my list before, amazing life, fantastic on album. Back again with a free album, this avant garde rap outfit from Sacramento make some of the filthiest background tracks ever, complete with lyricist and mental drummer for live shows (last seen playing handcuffed).
Well worth checking out, especially when its free. (or just listen to the album mixtape in the youtube video)

P.S. It'll be explicit

 

 

3. Queens of the stone age - Like Clockwork.....

One of thos bands thats grown on me a lot as I've got older. A great stoner rock album with distinctive lyrics and a really nice flow to the album throughout.

 

 

4. Ruby My Dear - Form

With out doubt, one of my favourite breakcore artists of the last few year, this latest album remains on form, but with some crunchier slower tracks. Haven't given it as many plays as I'd like as my iPhone was playing up, but each time I listen I am thoroughly stoked.

 





 

 

5.The Flatliners - Dead Language



One of my freinds went on about this band so much on facebook I had to look them up. On listening to the first tune I found on youtube, it was basically a "YES!". Great punk band.

6. Om Unit - Threads
As far as DJ tunes for me this year, its all be about Juke influences, and none better than Om Unit. One half of Dream Continuum who I think I've written about her before, lots of Jungle influence juke about 160 BPM.

7. Shaggy and others - Out of many, one music
This probably seems like an odd choice for me, but shaggy has always made waves in the reggae scene, really bringing the music to masses worldwide. Again I first heard this on David Rodigans Reggae show on 1xtra, there's some great songs on the album.

8. Gentlemen's Dub Club - FOURtyFOUR
Their first full album, I've been big on these chaps since I first heard them, and I'm glad to see them through to a first album. There's a lot of influences in there, reggae, dubstep and at one point even a trap beat at one point. Well worth a look up.

9. Machinedrum - Vapor City
The other half of Dream Continuum as mentioned in the Om Unit bit above, again more deep jungle juke sound, another one of my DJ faves this year.

10. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Highly anticipated album this year by many people, I was dissappointed when I first heard it. The more I listened, the more I liked though. Its only really just making it into my top ten, and its got some nice guest appearences, but I certainly wouldn't be forcing my way to the stereo at a party, shouting "listen to this!"

Finally when I submitted my votes, I totally forgot about the brilliant Congo Natty album this year. I've had the joy of seeing them 2 or 3 times, and they smash it every time. Anyway, on a hot junglist tip this year, I would have put this in at about number 4, but it came out ages ago and I totally forgot when I was writing up me votes.

The Filthy Bastard Mix

Its been a while since I've put up a new mix, so here's a smasher I recorded today. Lots of tunes from PRSPCT and some from others like Killing Sheep and Ad-noiseam....... This needs to be played LOUD!

Malice Afterthought - The Enemy + Kid Kryptic

Prayer's End - DJ Hidden

Dying Time    The Enemy

Rivers Of Hades (Lake Of Fire remix by Gore Tech) - Underhill

Ravepit (Original Mix) - SHAKA-ITCHI

Total Confusion - I:GOR

VD Majick - The Panacea

Misbit (with Current Value) - COOH

Fallen Sons [Lowroller Remix] - Bong-Ra

Riget - Limewax

Dubwar - Gore Tech

Mindfuck - Counterstrike

Judgement - C Netik & Erre

Testify - I:GOR

Hope you all like :)

The Filthy Bastard Mix by The Wonkydonkey (Sim) on Mixcloud

Mini Album Review: Queens Of The Stone Age - ..Like Clockwork

So Queens of the Stone Age is a bit of an odd band for me to review compared to my usual suspects of Electronic, Hip Hop and 8 Bit esque stuff, but in all fairness I was very into my rock/metal as a teen.

Queens of the stone age were a band that I got into a bit later into my rock time, probably not until my early twenties. I wouldn't normally by their albums, I'd usually wait until they found me, that said, I've only got one, and heard two in total (Rated R & Songs for the deaf), but I'd heard a song of the new album, and really liked it, and as I was a bit glum today thought I'd buy it for myself.

The album starts of with quite a clunky song, a good opener, but not particularly to my taste, after that it all picks up and leads into a really good album.

"I sat by the ocean" is song number two on the album and has that really distinguishable Queens of the Stone Age balance between vocals and guitars we all know and love, this is a great song, well worth a listen.

My favourite song on the album I still think has to be the one that prompted me to buy it in the first place it reminds of a lighter "First it Giveth" but I can't quite put my finger on why.

Anyway overall I would say that the album is a great addition to the collection of any QOTSA fans, maybe a bit more mature and tame than previous albums I've heard, but then I'm coming back to them after a 2 or 3 album break, and I'm sure they've probably matured a bit since then, are the cock in sock days behind them?

Mini review - Crystal Castles - (III)

Im going to keep this one short and sweet because anyone who knows me knows I'm a big big Crystal Castles fan and have been since they were releasing demo's.

So their newest album is in my opinion their best so far, a very well developed sound which is a lot more chilled out than their earlier stuff, that said the production has really improved. Its not a new album, coming out in 2012 (yeah I've had it a while), but I still listen to one or two tunes of it daily.

First tune I'd recomend trying out is Kerosene, definately my favourite on the album

The second tune I'd recommend is mercenary, its just another one of their songs called sad eyes backwards and slowed down, but it packs a really trippy punch in comparison to their counterpart.

You can find more out about the Crystal Castles here and you'll be able to catch them at Glastonbury festival this year, hopefully they'll tour too.

Mini Review - Monokle - Saints

Monokle is an artist suggested on the Urban75 forums, and I noticed it because of the "chilled out footwork/juke style" it was described as. Indeed it does have some juke elements to it, but its still stays on the lines of other artists I'd associate with a more house style like Martyn.

Monokle comes from St. Petersburg (a lot of good russian electronic artists coming to the fore lately), and I think this is his first LP after releasing previous EP's. The album is a great driving album in my opinion with a lovely chilled out flow to it, and I think its safe to say their isn't a single song I don't like on it.

The first tune I listened to is probably still my favourite, and its the only one with noticeable vocals on it from memory, its a good starter one I'd suggest anyone to try out.




If you want to know anymore about monokle you can find him on facebook here

Updates (again) & Mini Review - Spoek Mathambo - Mshini Wam

So again its been ages and ages since I updated this. I've got some new music to post up and some new images (which will be in a seperate post). Its been a busy few months, working hard, really practicing my mixing and taking a 10 day jaunt to Budapest, Belgrade and Zagreb.

 So to start this off, lets talk about music, and what I've been listening to of late.

 Whilst not a new album Spoek Mathambo's Mshini Wam was an album I had to have after hearing his cover of Joy Divisions "Control" - My attention was brought to the video by the British Journal of Photography magazine, as its directed by Pieter Hugo a well known South African photographer



Spoek Mathambo is a really eclectic artists with influences from rap, bass music and afro pop. The album doesnt disappoint at all, very well produced, interesting lyrics and comes highly recommended.

Two tunes I'd seriously recommend checking out off this album are Mshini Wam (the album title track)
- I really like the female vocal on this track

And War on words with a warbling bassline and some great lyrics.

To find out more about Spoek Mathambo and to get links to buy his stuff you can visit his site here

Its been a long time since I posted: Update

Yeah yeah I know its been an age since I last posted here, but I'm determined to get going on the content again, but just a little update.

Firstly I'm helping out with a new soundsystem, hiring to other nights and running our own too. For more info check out Acoustic Chemistry

Secondly I'm now doing the odd mix for Nexus radio which you can also subsribe to on the iTunes podcast service.

Thirdly I've been mixing quite a lot, and learning too, with some new kit and really enjoying it.

Here's a couple of mixes, firstly a drum and bass jobby, and secondly a deep dubstep one.... Still having a few beatclashes, but a damn site better than what I've posted up here before

More reviews and clips from the internet to come soon!!! Keep your eyes peeled on this page