Now Playing 09.02.14

Firstly, I want to apologise for the late post, I’ve been poorly this weekend but a friend of mine gave me a nice kick up the ass just now so here we go:

Kelis – Jerk Ribs (Mount Kimbie Remix) – Now, there is no doubt that the original is proof that being signed to Ninja Tune records was an intelligent move for Miss Kelis. She’s now established enough that going to a smaller label from the previous Virgin, has enabled her to focus more on what she wants to produce, rather than what the label wants. Her new album ‘Food’ (release date 24.01.14) is highly creditable and after having been released from Virgin, she spent a year and a half at culinary school and is now looking into making her own brand of sauces (something that, personally makes my skin crawl), but good for her! She’s insistent that the album isn’t solely about her divorce with ex-husband Nas and talks about it being, “Just about where I’m at right now, and what’s going on around me and wanting to make a record that… that I believe. That I can sit down on a stool and sing for a long time.”  And the fact the Mount Kimbie are remixing this, I mean if there were ever a musical metaphor for a really exciting meal, this remix of Jerk Ribs is definitely up there. Bon appétit!

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Rhye – Open (Ryan Hemsworth remix) – Having just discovered Rhye, I must admit that this remix of Open was a tough decision to make, when sat side-by-side with the SOHN remix. However, I do think that Hemsworth mixes things up a bit more and creates a more chirpy and uplifting track in comparison. Headphones only.

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Kwabs – Last Stand (Produced by SOHN) – I haven’t quite worked out where I stand with Kwabs. Whether it’s because he reminds me of the lower standard of 90’s R&B that I’m thankful we’ve escaped, or simply because I’m unsure of where to place him yet. Either way, he seems to be doing well for himself and has received a helping hand from SOHN on this track and Wrong or Right, I’m interested to see the direction he next goes in.

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Maribou State & Pedestrian – Mask – This track, sounding Samphaesque is a great one for a Sunday afternoon.

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Howls – 003 – Ta-Ku and Kit Pop seemed to have a bit of a dip with 002 but they’re back on fire with their most recent track. I can imagine this being great to put on if you’re running late for work tomorrow.

Mount Kimbie @ Koko 14.11.13

So I got a last minute ticket to see Mount Kimbie last Thursday at Koko and how glad I am that I did! Their set was absolutely incredible, I actually have nothing bad to say about it.

They started off with Maybes which, although is one of Kimbie’s most popular songs in the real world, surprisingly enough you can’t find it on Spotify, which I’m actually pleasantly surprised about. Its quite refreshing to know that if you have followed a band from the start, that you have inside knowledge that some may never discover. Oops, sorry for being a dick.

They played most of the tracks from their most recent album, Cold Spring Fault Less Youth and then to introduce King Krule, Dominic Maker performed a sublime version of So Many Times, So Many Ways, just look at his clapping!

King Krule was spectacular, unfortunately the film I have is of awful quality but here’s a photo of him performing You Took Your Time.

Krule is a hard one to understand, definitely not a smash hit kinda guy, but from the first time my 17 year old neighbour dragged me to see him at Field Day I haven’t been able to stop listening to his tracks and then the fact that this wonderful collaboration happened well, you know he’s on to something. At only 19, this South Londoner is part of a new movement of underground music that we should all be tapping into.

And to finish everything off, here is Mayor for their encore, so fucking epic! Apologies for the poor video quality…

As some may have noticed, I’m not a musical geek – in the sense that I don’t know how many beats per second it takes to be in the genre of drum and bass or anything about what defines music theses days and to be honest, I’m not sure what exactly it is about Mount Kimbie that make their music so special and beautiful to listen to. What I can tell you is that since I last saw these guys about three years ago at Heaven, a gay club with one of the best sound systems in London, where they blew my mind for the very first time, not only have they tightened up their musical performance since but their on-stage presence makes them kinda irresistible now.