My love for this song is well documented. I’ve had it as my ring tone on almost every mobile phone I’ve ever owned. I sometimes change it, but I always quickly return.

I fell in love with this track when I watched the movie “Big Daddy” when I was 11. I would probably say it was the first song I heard that got stuck in my head. I had no idea what it was called, who it was by, or even that it was “Hip-Hop”. I was unaware of genres at this point and most likely naively assumed music was just, “Music”. It took me a few years before I eventually stubbled across it when I started taking an interest in music and did some research.

But the intro to this track will forever be embedded in mind thanks to Adam Sandler, which is odd. I’d like to think this track was the catalyst in my music quest, because this song led me to discover so much by giving me just a little taste of what Hip-Hop was about. If I hadn’t heard this song at 11 on Big Daddy I wonder if I’d know who Dilla was, or ATCQ, or De La Soul…which seems unimaginable considering the significance they have had on my taste in music.

Passin’ Me By by The Pharcyde

Keep on tagging audio posts with MYEDOM.

(Source: itunes.apple.com)

I tend to judge an albums success on whether I skip any tracks when I listen to it. There are only a select few albums that I can listen to in there entirety without skipping. J. Cole is one of my favourite rappers but I still skip that shitty Mr. Nice Watch track every time, which is a shame because it’s a great album let down by one track.

Silent Alarm by Bloc Party however, is in that select few. It’s in there with Illmatic, Within and Without, Enter The Wu-tang (36 Chambers), Section.80, I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, xx, everything Bonobo has ever done, and some others I can’t be bothered to mention.

As I’m getting ready to go out to an indie club I figure I’d post something to get me pumped up for it, hope you all have a good night and don’t get too drunk.

Helicopter by Bloc Party

Keep on tagging you music posts with MyEDOM

Burial recently released his new Kindred EP but I thought I’d post something from his previous albums to reminisce a little.

Often my favourite tracks by Burial are the ones with no beat, no drums, just rolling sounds, melodies and vocal samples. I honestly can’t see how anyone can dislike him, everything he has ever put out if pure gold and doused in his rough and unrefined style. I like to imagine every Burial vinyl to be dusty, if that makes sense. The static and organic bass of each track create incredible atmospheres which go unmatched.

I don’t know much about Burial, and neither does anyone else really. He’s one of those people who I respect immensely, he does music for music, not for fame, money and glory. He does no live shows, he’s only done a few interviews, to my knowledge, and he remained anonymous for many years, just secretly sending tracks to Kode9 at Hyperdub.

I struggled to pick a track to post, as each of his songs are equally magnificent and I hope that if you’ve never listened to Burial, that the one I selected as made you consider looking in to his work a little more. Trust me the more you listen the more you love him.

Etched Headplate by Burial

Keep on tagging your audio posts with MyEDOM

Ifan Dafydd (pronounced ee-van da-vith) is not James Blake, although you’d be forgiven if at first you thought Ifan was his new alias. There’s not much information about Ifan, but he’s known to be either Blake’s ex-flatmate from university or his cousin, or both, but either way it’s clear that they have both influenced each other.

The pitch shift vocal samples, the synth sounds and just the drums are very reminiscent of Blakeys R&S Records releases, and I can’t get enough of a good thing, so when I heard Ifan I was excited to hear more.

I first heard Ifan’s track, No Good, some time near the start of last year and I instantly knew he would grow to become one of my favourite producers. Much like when I first heard CMYK by James Blake, and MTI by Koreless.

Me To by Ifan Dafydd

Tag your audio posts with MyEDOM, and I’ll give them a listen, I always want to hear new music

(Source: itunes.apple.com)

So where should I begin. I found Wu Lyf really intriguing, with very little known about them leading up to the release of their album and declining several interviews, I struggled to find any information about them when I was told about their album last year.

Which left me to judge them purely on their music rather than anything else, which I found some what refreshing, however remaining anonymous is really nothing new :P

Interestingly Wu Lyf’s album was recorded in a less than orthodox manner. Being recorded in a church the sounds bounce and reverb around the high ceiling and give an eerie atmosphere which surrounds and cocoons each track. Which is up for debate, because some people think it blends everything together into a sloppy mess and that it’s hard to really hear everything. I like it though, and the organ is a nice touch.

Such A Sad Puppy Dog by Wu Lyf

(Source: itunes.apple.com)

Not sure what to say about this track. The lyrics are incredible, and the story being told is so thought provoking and moving. This track for me is the highlight of Ghostpoets album, and the remix by Koreless was equally good.

Ghostpoets slurred emotional voice really helps you feel what he is saying, and it works so well with this soft flowing instrumental.

I’ll keep this one short and let the music speak for its self.

“Life is a funny thing, twists and turns, and in the bad times it just breaks and burns”

Survive It by Ghostpoet

(Source: itunes.apple.com)

I have to be honest, I’m not all that familiar with Anti-Pop Consortium. I first heard them because of this remix, and I’ve since got hold of their album Fluorescent Black, but I haven’t heard anything else by them.

Four Tet is an incredible producer, I’m sure most of you are aware of this. He’s done fantastic solo work, as well as a few magnificent releases with both Burial & Thom Yorke, which I urge you to check out, and if you can find a copy…Buy it.

I remember when I first heard this remix. I was intensely listening to all the crackles and pops, the atmosphere which is created, it’s so relaxing. Then the rapping comes as if from no where, so unexpected, and I had a big smile on my face as I was nodding my head. Before this I’d almost forgotten it was a remix, the beat builds up so slowly and the smooth progression is so natural yet surprising.

Anyway enough talking, this is:

Volcano (Four Tet Remix) by Anti-Pop Consortium

(Source: pitchfork.com)

(Source: shabazzpalaces.com)

Not much I can really say about Evian Christ because there isn’t much to say.

Having caused bloggers to flip shit in the last week of 2011 by uploading a series of videos to YouTube, nothing else is known about Evian. No one even knows their identity, except that barsteward Anthony Fantano over at Needle Drop.

Although “Fuck It None Of Ya’ll Don’t Rap” seems to be the most popular on Evian’s YouTube, I feel MYD is the most interesting out of the bunch.

Maybe I’m wrong, but this seems like another Sicko Cell incident as a way to build a buzz by leaving everyone wondering who the creator is. Maybe Evian is just a new producer who happened to immediately shine, or maybe it’s the alias of another producer who’s trying to perfect a new craft.

I guess only time will tell, but regardless if Evian continues to produce work like this then they are definitely someone to watch in 2012.

MYD by Evian Christ

As I’m writing a dissertation on Hip-Hop’s influence on modern music I thought it’s only fitting for me to post one of my favourite songs. 

This song was inspired by the death of the creators close friend, Troy Dixon. They Reminisce Over You, as well as Commons “I Used To Love H.E.R”, are both appropriate for me, because it’s kind of how I feel whenever I listen to rap now days. Granted I was too young to listen to real Hip-Hop in it’s prime and be able to full comprehend the magnitude of what was being constructed around me.

However when I listen to the rap I hear on the radio today I can’t help but feel slightly sad that the soul and passion has been diluted with greed and power, and that corporations control these rap stars like puppets, dressing them up to be something they really aren’t.

KRS-One said that “Rap is something being done, Hip-Hop is something being lived”, and I couldn’t put it any better myself. The knowledge and understanding seems to have been lost in rap, and has instead been replaced with ignorance and arrogance. I struggle to take most rappers seriously now days, they’re just living jokes, an overhyped stereotype of their former selves.

DJ Kool Herc - “I was just going along with the flow, little did anybody know we were giving the kids a culture. That’s the best part of it, the money part is all good, but it’s giving the kids something they can hold on to, and say that’s theirs”

They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

(Source: itunes.apple.com)

This choice is probably going to be a little unexpected.

Again Wild Beasts are another band I was introduced to later than most, the first album I heard by them was Smother, however I tracked back I can undoubtably say all their albums are pure gold.

Now this may sound odd, but I’m a sucker for odd incidentals, and out of place noises in songs. I pay a ridiculous amount of attention to songs when I first hear them and I pick out little noise and sounds in the background which many may not notice. This is why I love dubstep and other electronic music, there’s always odd bits which sound cool hidden within them.

What attracted me to Wild Beasts was the drums, the little bongo type noises that just roll through the track. I know they aren’t hidden away and are easy to notice but I was not expecting them and I love it. So it’s weird to say, but I started listening to Wild Beasts purely because of the drummer.

I’m very glad I did though because I think they are amazing, and they do a really good live performance.

Deeper by Wild Beasts

(Source: wild-beasts.co.uk)

Some chillwave goodness for everyone today to hopefully get you feeling relaxed after a hard week of work, or in my case a hard week of not much…student life.

Anyway, I was recently introduced to Washed Out by my mate Jack, and since then I think the album has pretty much been on loop.

Definitely a highlight from last year, and I can’t imagine someone not liking this.

Get his album, or you’ll truly be missing out on a wonderful piece of art, containing bountiful blissful beats. I love alliterations.

Within and Without by Washed Out

(Source: subpop.com)

As you may, or may not know, I’m a huge Kendrick Lamar fan. I think what he is doing is so refreshing, and I’ve been waiting a long time for a rapper like him.

Kendrick is one of a few rappers from recent times which I truly like. Apart from J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T. and a couple others, there are very few modern rappers that actually say anything of use or importance.

I honestly don’t care how much money they have, how much they drink and smoke, what cars they drive, and what shoes they wear. I have my own shit to deal with.

Like Jay Electronica said “Fuck that, fuck rap, this is God-Hop, Kingdom music for the hard rocks”

Keisha’s Song (Her Pain) (Feat. Ashtro Bot) - Kendrick Lamar

(Source: youtube.com)

I naively let this slip by me, not sure how that happened I’m normally good at looking out for new releases. Thanks to the great Joy Orbison’s recent Guardian interview I discovered this gem. Granted I’m 6 months late, but I was in LA when it was released so I was too busy getting drunk and I quite literally slept on it.

It’s a great song though. I believe this is Kavsrave first release but I may be mistaken, either way have a listen and have a look out for more of his releases in the future, definitely one to watch.

Your Love by Kavsrave

(Source: boomkat.com)