A couple of quick posts today and tomorrow before I begin with the Touch & Go posts for next week. First off, a new track from the forthcoming Days to Come LP from Ninja Tune artist Bonobo who continually produces the finest downtempo there is. You know, I sort of hate to say downtempo too, but there isn’t a more specific word to describe the post-intellectual, pretension-free exports that the Ninjas do best.
A few posts ago, a reader chastized me for posting the No Luck Club and provided me with what I thought was a pretty decent description of what downtempo should be. He unfortunately didn’t realize that the No Luck Club guys are turntablists and thus limited a bit by there production methods. Bonobo aka Simon Green, is not similarly limited, and uses live instrumentation, vocals, and the computer to mix together an undisputedly potent form of music. Song-oriented but supported by tight loops, Green is fast becoming the torch-bearer for mellow, jazz-influenced road-trip tunes with hip-hop attitude. Check out all his stuff, but I think the October-release of Days to Come will mark his highest point yet. There’s not much I can say for “Transmission94 (Parts 1 & 2)” that you won’t hear in the music. The shit is straight epic and just when we think that Ninjatune may have lost some of their time-tested technique, we realize they are still the undisputable masters of the game.
RIYL: Cinematic Orchestra, Quantic, Fila Brazillia, Hint, David Axelrod, The Herbaliser
BUY: Ninjatune.com
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