Easy Star All-Stars - The Dub Side Of The Moon (2003)

There's lunacy, there's hybris and then there's megalomania. When in late 2002, NYC-based producers Michael G. and Ticklah announced to record a remake of Pink Floyd's masterpiece "Dark Side of the Moon", critics were mildly amused by the idea. Shortly after word was spread that they intended to redo the Floyd classic as a Dub remix album critics and fans went nuts. One year later "Dub Side of the Moon" was released and it became an instant success; with its biggest ace in the hole being the album's diversity, which unfolds as the duos experiments with varying line-ups and production techniques as well as a large range of styles, reaching from roots reggae and dub to more modern genres like dancehall and jungle.

1.) Speak to Me/Breathe

2.) On the Run

3.) Time

4.) The Great Gig in the Sky

5.) Money

6.) Us and Them

7.) Any Color You Like

8.) Brain Damage 

9.) Eclipse

         

Pantha du Prince - Black Noise (2010)

Pantha du Prince is a one man minimal electro project by German producer Hendrik Weber, who gained some fame in the late 00's working on Remixes for Bloc Party and Animal Collective. On his very eccentric third solo record, "Black Noise", Weber expands his musical horizon by including a bunch of guest musicians as well as experimenting with rather unorthodox instrumentation (using lots of bells and chimes). The result is a cutting-edge fusion of deep pulsing house beats, mesmerizing basslines and dream-like soundscapes. This is one of these rare albums that works just as fine on your headphones as it does on the dancefloor.

1.) Lay in a Shimmer

2.) Abglanz

3.) The Splendour

4.) Stick to My Side

5.) A Nomads Retread

6.) Satellite Snyper

7.) Behind the Stars

8.) Bohemian Forest

9.) Welt am Draht

10.) Im Bann

11.) Es schneit

      

John Coltrane - Giant Steps (1959)

Only one week after finishing his work on the legendary masterpiece "Kind of Blue" with Miles Davis, John Coltrane "borrowed" Davis' session musicians in order to record seven of his own compositions. When, two months later, Atlantic Records released "Giant Steps" in the spring of '59, it would change the course of Jazz history forever. Anything on this album -from the third-related chord progressions to Coltrane's iconic melodic phrasing- was revolutionary for its time. Coltrane's greatest coup was replacing then common cordial solos with his virtuose saxophone improvisations, which at times equaled torrential outbursts rather than usual jazz lines - ultimately paving the way for modern jazz improvisation.

1.) Giant Steps

2.) Cousin Mary

3.) Countdown

4.) Spiral

5.) Syeeda's Song Flute

6.) Naima

7.) Mr. P.C.

                                         

Madrugada - The Nightly Disease (2001)

Somewhere between Folk and Psychedelic Rock Norwegian band "Madrugada" found its niche. On their second album lyrics and music are revolving around rather grim topics, mostly darkness, death and depression; resulting in dense, atmospheric compositions which are carried away by vocalist Sivert Hoyem's haunting croon. The flexibility of Hoyem's voice is simply stunning, ranging from Jim Morrison howls to Iggy Pop snot, eventually channelling Morrissey. Sad, beautiful, mesmerizing...this is melancholy taken to an art form.

1.) Black Mambo

2.) Step Into This Room And Dance For Me

3.) Nightly Disease, Pt.2

4.) Lucy One

5.) Hands Up - I Love You!

6.) A Deadend Mind

7.) The Frontman

8.) We Are Go

9.) Into Heartbeats

10.) Sister

11.) Two Black Bones

12.) Only When You're Gone

The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole (1997)

One year before Norman Cook a.k.a. Fatboy Slim gained world fame and catapulted the Big Beat genre into mainstream with "You've Come A Long Way, Baby", British producer duo The Chemical Brother released their second album "Dig Your Own Hole". While Cook's pop-oriented bubblegum beats appealed to a wide audience, the dark and menacing sound of the Chemical Brothers was clearly geared for the underground; but it wouldn't stay there for long. When Cook's record is the friendly neighbor from next door, "Dig Your Own Hole" is his psychopath twin, an evil-as-fuck crucible of hypnotic basslines, kick-ass breakbeats and hooks that border insanity. This is the kind of record that makes you want to do all the wrong things.

1.) Block Rockin' Beats

2.) Dig Your Own Hole

3.) Elektrobank

4.) Piku

5.) Setting Sun

6.) It Doesn't Matter

7.) Don't Stop The Rock

8.) Get Up On It Like This

9.) Lost In The K-Hole

10.) Where Do I Begin

11.) The Private Psychedelic Reel

Soulive - Live (2003)

Boston-based Psychedelic Funk trio Soulive was formed in 1998 by brothers Neal and Alan Evans as well as funk guitarist Eric Krasno. While Alan's drumming is often very hip-hop oriented, Neal Evans' spacy hammond organ sounds like something off of a 70's Herbie Hacock record. Krasno plays funky jazz guitar solos in the mellow style of such greats as George Benson or Grant Green. The melange of these very distinct playing techniques leads to a rare and exciting blend of psychedelic jazz-funk. This is the band's 2003 live recording, which perfectly captures the drive and groove of a Soulive concert.

1.) Aladdin

2.) El Ron

3.) Solid

4.) First Street

5.) Shaheed

6.) Dig

7.) One in Seven

8.) Lenny

9.) Turn it Out

The Good, The Bad & The Queen (2005)

"The Good, The Bad & The Queen" is the debut record by the British supergroup of the same name. Formed by "Blur" singer Damon Albarn in early 2005, the lineup consists of such legends as "The Clash" bass player Paul Simonon, "Fela Kuti"'s drummer Tony Allen, "The Verve" guitarist Simon Tong and "Gorillaz"/"Gnarls Barkley" producer Danger Mouse. Living up to the hype their music clearly exceeds the sum of its parts, with Danger Mouse's trippy production adding further edge to Albarn's gloomy Britrock. Where other "supergroup" recordings often lack consisteny and direction, TGTBATQ manage to keep it simple and effective, delivering minimalist, melancholic pearls.

1.) History Song

2.) 80's Life

3.) Northern Whale

4.) Kingdom of Doom

5.) Herculean

6.) Behind the Sun

7.) The Bunting Song

8.) Nature Springs

9.) A Soldier's Tale

10.) Three Changes

11.) Green Fields

12.) The Good, The Bad & The Queen

Tote King - Un Tipo Cualquiera (2006)

Born in Sevilla, Spain in 1978, Manuel Gonzalez Rodriguez a.k.a Tote King started his career in the legendary Andalusian Hip-Hop collective "La Alta Escuela". In 2004 he dropped out of university and released his first solo record, "Música Para Enfermos". Unlike other Spanish rappers who usually tend to imitate the hedonist approach of American Gangsta Rap, Tote King prefers profound, intelligent lyrics; many of them delivered  in the style of angry rants and poetry slams. The instrumentals by Big Ozone (who samples anything from roots reggae to Rage Against The Machine on this record) are as minimalist as memorable, many of them reminiscent of early DJ Premier. "Un Tipo Cualquiera" is a pleasure to listen to and (along with Tote's debut) arguably the most impressive Spanish Hip Hop album of the 00's.

1.) Empezamos

2.) Nosotros Mismos

3.) Ni De Ellos Ni De Ellas

4.) Bumm!

5.) Un ano mas

6.) Mentiras

7.) Interludio Osr

8.) Acuestate

9.) Merece La Pena

10.) Potines

11.) El Primer Día Del Resto De Tu Vida

12.) Lo Hacemos Asi

13.) Woh!!

14.) Progres

15.) Cuatro Minutos Te Escupo

The Avalanches - Since I Left You (2000)

When Australian sextet The Avalanches released their debut in the winter of 2000, it earned raving reviews by critics and became an instant classic among audiophiles from all over the world. With all their members rooted in distinct musical styles (from Punkrock to Turntablism) the Avalanches benefit from a sheer endless flow of input. On "Since I Left You" they finally manage to bundle these inspirations and unleash their full creative power. The result is a stunning tour de force through music history, an orgy of samples blended with original instrumentation. This is easily one of the most innovative and interesting records of the past 20 years. 

1.) Since I Left You

2.) Stay Another Season

3.) Radio

4.) Two Hearts in 3/4 Time

5.) Avalanche Rock

6.) Flight Tonight

7.) Close To You

8.) Diners Only

9.) A Different Feeling

10.) Electricity

11.) Tonight May Have To Last Me All My Life

12.) Pablo's Cruise

13.) Frontier Psychiatrist

14.) Etoh

15.) Summer Crane

16.) Little Journey

17.) Live At Dominoes

18.) Extra Kings

                                         

White Denim - D (2011)

"D" is the third album by Austin,TX-based quartet White Denim, which marks a strong musical departure from their earlier records. Formed in 2004, they started off playing indie rock and have developed a very unique retro sound over the past decade. They play psychedelic 60's rock in the tradition of such legends as Jethro Tull or The Greatful Dead, driven by a progressive ryhthm section and jammy, playful lines by the lead instruments. The 10 songs on "D" continously float like a cool summer breeze and will leave you wondering how such ambitious music can sound so airy and laid-back.

1.) It's Him

2.) Burnished!

3.) At the Farm

4.) Street Joy

5.) Anvil Everything

6.) River to Consider

7.) Drug

8.) Bess St.

9.) Is And Is And Is

10.) Keys