King Tuff

King Tuff is crazy music. King Tuff or Kyle Thomas is a musical recluse from Brattleboro, Vermont. He's just released his first full-length album called Was Dead on Colonel Records. After listening to the album, "Sun Medallion" immediately jumped out at me as the stand out track. Sun Medallion has the potential to reach a lot of people with its lo-fi sound and vintage revival guitar riffs. Connection and Freak When I'm Dead are great too. If anyone is interested VBS has a great interview. All I can say is Hail to the King.

Sun Medallion - King Tuff (YSI)

Connection - King Tuff (YSI)

Freak When I'm Dead - King Tuff (YSI)

Slim Harpo

Here's another old-time delta blues legend. Slim was an orphan from Baton-Rouge, born in 1924. Probably one of the most important pioneers of electric-blues, Slim was never a full-time musician. He ran his own trucking business. His songs are basically standards; you'll hear them covered six ways to Sunday. A notable example is The Rolling Stones cover of "I'm a King Bee." It's basically a note-for-note copy/rip-off/tribute whatever you wish to call it. I'm laying down two tracks which have received a little less play time in their old age. Killers none the less.

Slim Harpo - Buzzin'

Slim Harpo - Shake Your Hips

Beach House

The 3rd LP from Indie favorites Beach House demonstrates a more refined sound and stronger songwriting than their previous efforts. The quality holds strong throughout all ten tracks. The single, "Norway," follows the bands signature sound (simple drum machine, guitar line, and Victoria's smooth vocals) but creates a fuller sounds than other tracks. I haven't given the album enough of a listen to give a full review, but this is definitely a CD to check out. They unfortunately won't make it out to Philly or NY until May, but at least we'll have some new material until then.

Beach House - Norway (YSI)

Beach House - Lover of Mine (YSI)

Danger

Have no fear y'all, a new crime-fighting frenchman is on the loose. The world no longer needs to fear a lack of pumping bass and catchy electro. Danger is that hero. This guy is truly a stand out on his newest release EP III. I'm definitely going to keep and eye on this guy.

0h00 - Danger feat. Vyle (YSI)

4h30 - Danger (YSI)

Ernie K. Doe

Ernie K. Doe (born Ernest Kador) was a staple of early soul from New Orleans, who eventually blended into obscurity, and back out via eccentricity. Before his death in 2001, he was known to tramp about the bustling music scene in a green cape and a crown, trumpeting his title as Emperor of the Universe. His daughter still runs his old night club down in Louisiana, and his jams still rock. This track, "Mother-In-Law," made K-Doe the first artist to ever produce a #1 chart-topping single from the depths of The Big Easy. 1961. I'm posting it with another song off his album Here Come the Girls! to show he's worth his weight in gold. Not capes. 

Ernie K. Doe - "Mother-In-Law (Alternate Version)"

Ernie K. Doe - "Fly Away With Me"

FUNK

If you're looking for some funk that HASN'T been sampled a thousand times over, Jean-Claude Pelletier's 1974 Streaking! album is a diamond in the rough. It's got some unique and punchy baselines, but the large rhythm section is what makes the album stick. He backs off where more popular artists from this period of blaxploitation sounds would lay on the horns. I'm a huge brass fan, myself, but there are so many unmistakable hooks coming out of the grind-organ alone. So why is it so rare? God knows. Probably because it's French. Since Streaking! was never released on CD format, the vinyls fetch exorbitant fees wherever you can find them. Basically, if you want some virgin tracks with an extremely raunchy soul, dig through this guy; because, in the end, aren't we all looking for a virgin with some grit?

Jean-Claude Pelletier - Dangerous for Your Health

Jean-Claude Pelletier - Hey Doc! Help...

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

To be honest Joe was the one to recommend this amazing album but he's been too lazy to post it and I couldn't let that happen. Anyway 25 year-old Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson is great artist from Brooklyn. He has just released his second album called Summer of Fear on Saddle Creek Records with the help of Kyp Malone (TV on the Radio), Chris Taylor & Christopher Bear (Grizzly Bear) and Say Hey Records. Its some incredible songwriting by a talented young guy. Buriedfed, The Debtor, and Woodfriend start off his self-titled debut album and really give you the best idea of his material. Most impressive for me is Buriedfed.

Buriedfed - Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (YSI)

The Debtor - Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (YSI)

Woodfriend - Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (YSI)

Dark Night of The Soul

Dark Night of the Soul is a great compilation album and illustrated book put together by DJ Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse, and for an extra dap of weirdness they threw in David Lynch. In addition to the hardcover book, the album includes vocals from the Flaming Lips, Julian Casablancas, Frank Black, Iggy Pop, Nina Persson of The Cardigans, Suzanne Vega and Gruff Rhys. Its very good. Standouts include Little Girl which is in classic Casablancas style. Also the contributions by the Flaming Lips, and Gruff Rays are very solid definitely give it a listen.

Little Girl (feat. Julian Casablancas) - Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse (YSI)

Revenge (feat. the Flaming Lips) - Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse (YSI)

Just War (feat. Gruff Rhys - Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse (YSI)

Don't worry we're back.

Robbed

In a blurry night of boozing, dancing, and probably sleeping in public, I was robbed two weeks back here in Madrid. I woke up at 4pm after a "rough" night to no phone or wallet. Even worse, the fucker took my only operational headphones. This put a dent in my music listening to say the least - new music crept out of the shitty speakers on my laptop, but it just wasn't the same. I bought a knife and then today I ponied up the cash for a new pair of earbuds with "RESONANT BASS" screaming across the label. To celebrate, enjoy these groovy tunes.

Steve Angello - Tivoli (Original Mix) (YSI)

Will Bailey - Hustlin and Scratchin (Gigi Barocco Remix) (YSI)

Chillwave Glo-fi Brah

I'm going to admit it. I've been dragged into the Chillwave obsession. It's gotten a shit from critics saying it's just a fad. Only time will tell if this is true. I don't know what it is but I've gotten really into shoegaze lately, so I guess that helps explain it. I feel like the genre covers a lot of ground, so get ready for a big swash across the glo-fi spectrum. These are a collection of stand-outs. My favorites are the Librarian turned Sampling Rocker; Washed Out and Small Black a tiny band from Long Island. The rest are great. Definitely give it a listen.

Small Black - Despicable Dogs (YSI)

Washed Out - Feel It All Around (YSI)

Washed Out - New Theory (YSI)

Smith Westerns - Be My Girl (YSI)

The Time & Space Machine - Children of the Sun (YSI)

Ghosthustler - Only Me to Trust (YSI)

Neon Indian - Mind, Drips (YSI)