Homeboy Sandman: Chimera (EP)

This is the first Homeboy Sandman I've heard and right now he is my favourite lyricist. This 6 track EP is the second release on Stones Throw and I really can't wait for a Full LP.

The wordplay and flow is up their with Nas and Kane at their best. Hold Your Head is a lyrical fire yo! Hoooooooolllllllllddddddddd...

De La Soul 's Plug 1 & Plug 2 Present... First Serve: First Serve (2xLP)

After hearing the first single 'It Must Be The Music' I was a little sceptical about this LP. After listening to the first half of while talking to friends (I know, not the best way to take in a new LP) I was pretty nonplussed.

So after leaving it on the shelf for another week I picked it up and sat down with the hope of taking it all in. In true De La style, this album delivered! The production from 2 and 4 just sets off what is (if there was one) the LP of the summer!!

This just never stops hitting it's targets - whether it be amusing skits, phat joints or danceable summer jams - First Serve are always on point. I cannot recommend this enough. It's fucking awesome!!! I have had it on constant rotation for the last month or so...

I've added some of my favourite cuts below. Pick this up now!

 

 

Shaq: Legal Money featuring Mobb Deep & Lord Tariq (12")

I know what you are thinking. A Shaq 12 inch?!! Well this is straight fire homey!!!

Produced by Havoc this 12" is worth it for the instrumental alone (it samples Marvin & Diana's 'Stop, Look and Listen to your heart.'). Better off ignoring the weak remix on the flip though...

Teenage Fanclub & De La Soul: Fallin' (12")

Who would have thought this would have worked? An amazing jam from one amazing group and Teenage Fanclub... ;-)

This 12" also features the De La produced remix which is also incredibly good! I think I'll go and dust of that copy of the Judgement Night OST...

Lord Finesse: Signature Sevens Vol 1. (2x7")

I've waited over ten years for the instrumental to one of Xtra P's greatest creations (second only to The Funk Mode?). The wait is finally over as Lord Finesse's Signature Sevens Vol. 1 features (now called the Large Pro Remix rather than the Xtra P Session mix) the Isn't He Something Remix instrumental!!

YES!!

All those years of anticipation could have never been fulfilled realistically and this is certainly the case here. The original version of this remix was first featured on the Crates to the Files LP (released back in 97, recorded in '92) and the important thing to notice is that it was 'a session mix'. The recording quality wasn't great - pretty much bootleg standard - but OH LORDY did it sound good!!

It had a real dirty, grimy quality and the crashing bell sound that Xtra P used to beef up the snare had my speakers screaming for mercy at the time! This version has been re-mastered by K-Def and while it stills sounds fucking incredible (Did anyone sound better than Finesse in '92?) it seems to have lost a little of that 'basement tape' feel that made the OG version so memorable.

Here is the OG Version:

The other 7" contains Hands In The Air, Mouth Shut. This and its instrumental are both incredible. Classic Showbiz Production and funky Lord Finesse rhymes.

 

You can pick up all the Signature Seven Vols here.

Cliff Martinez & Various: Drive Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2xLP, Pink Vinyl)

Ever since seeing the movie I have wanted to get the soundtrack on vinyl. Well it's been worth the wait as now it's available in a glorious 2x LP Pink Vinyl package from Invada Records.

It also comes in a gate fold cover complete with imagery from the film. At £20 this is a freaking bargain!

As well as the excellent Cliff Martinez OST you also get the amazing 'Nightcall' from Kavinsky & Lovefoxx and
College's essential 'A Real Hero (featuring Electric Youth)' plus all the other electro-bangers that feature in the movie and are linked below.

Mondo  have also announced they will be issue the vinyl edition of "Drive" in the U.S. in June. Tyler Stout is signed up to do the artwork so I may have buy a second copy of this...Damn.

De La Soul: Buhloone Mind State (LP & 2xLP)

"Fuck being hard, Posdnuos is complicated!"

It feels like the summer of 96 all over again! Yes I know this was released a year earlier but I slept on this for a good twelve months before I really started to 'get it'. I put this down to all the Soul Assassins, Ice Cube and generally up tempo, aggressive stuff I was listening to at the time - This LP is like a chilled out July afternoon.

Luckily I now have two versions of this on wax, the original UK Big Life edition and a far superior double vinyl bootleg edition (which is what the LP really deserved).

The highlights are many but if I have to pick then the incredible I Be Blowin' featuring Maceo Parker just slays it (as does the vocal version I Am I Be) and the jazzy Patti Dooke (featuring Guru on the hook) really sets the tone for a classic De La LP. Sadly, there last with Prince Paul.

Choir of Young Believers: Hollow Talk

This song has haunted, beguiled and entrapped me in equal measure for about the last 2 months.

An incredible piece of music from start to finish. I would love to pick it up on vinyl but unfortunately it's only available on the Danish version of the LP (This Is For The White of Your Eyes) so please somebody somewhere please press this on vinyl! 7" or 12" I'm not fussed.

You will possibly recognise the tune from the BBC 4 Swedish/ Danish drama series Bron | Broen (The Bridge). It's where I heard it first and haven't been able to budge it from my mind since.

It's utterly euphoric, from the piano keys on the intro to the children's choir at the end. Staggeringly beautiful.

My favourite song of the year so far? Quite possibly.

                                  

Masta Ace Incorporated: The INC Ride (12")

The summer is here!!!

Well okay, we've had three days of good weather so that counts in my book and there is no better summer jam than Ase Ones INC Ride!!

This 12" is practically nailed to my turntable as soon as June hits! Featuring the a super smooth Isley Brothers sample this is just the tune to be bouncin' along to in your Caddie/Ford/ Hyundai (delete as appropriate) as your arm gets sun burnt!

The only thing I don't like about this 12" is the piss poor 'No Ends' Remix. Oh and the lack of an acapella. Other than those minor gripes this is straight FIRE!

The Funk League: Funky As Usual (2xLP)

Funky As Usual is a bit of an All Star package of all your favourite 90's East Coast MC's.

Xtra P, Sadat X and Diamond D all appear over some classic 90's inspired beats from Jackson J.

The Funk League have kicked of the summer on a high note! This one will be on the decks for a good few weeks to come and strangely enough my favourite track on the whole LP is the final cut; Hyponitzed featuring Joyous Juice & Kylie Auldist.

This is a cracking neo-soul banger that I can't really get enough of.