She tears you down darlin'

Most mainstream drum and bass has a whiff of cheese about it these days but every so often a track comes along that is so bangin' and uplifting it cannot be ignored.

This is one of those times. The Brookes Brothers have been slowly building a name for themselves with releases on Ram Records and BBK as well as collaborating with the one like Danny Byrd on his recent LP. Tear You Down is their true breakthrough, working its way into the record boxes of everyone from Annie Mac to Andy C.

Defiantly one of those big summer tracks, super size big.

Brookes Brothers - Tear You Down

As a little bonus and on the insistence of other members of this blog I have also included a rare remix of Common's The Light by the Brookes Bros. Not quite as earth shattering the above track but still a nice little roller. Enjoy, and don't say we don't do nothing for you.

Common - The Light (Brookes Brothers Remix)

Myspace

Canada via Cali

I was searching for Pearl Jam's "Corduroy" a few minutes ago in a fit of nostalgia, and accidentally came across this track by Estea Elements. And snap, yo - like a breath of fresh air.

As a fan of pretty much everything under the 'hip-hop' umbrella, I do have to admit to a certain amount of fatigue with the continuing grandiose, hyperbolic direction of mainstream rap, and the hyphy electro stuff that you can't quite bang at a pool party. So whatever, underground isn't and hasn't done either of those, but they flirt with that consciously minimal (read: bad) production and make equally as exhausting claims about how real and incisive they are. YOU'RE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE, WE JUST DON'T GET IT LIKE YOU DO.

Estea Elements, however, seem to be a young group out of Canada (where else?) who are kicking a flavour of rap that's a soothing blend of some almost-p-funk with an inescapably Jurassic 5 flow. It's like late-90's skate vid music and I love it. So while the snow approaches up in the Northern reaches, my antipodean brothers and sisters can look to this as some great summer-vibe music.

Estea Elements - Corduroy B-Boy (feat. Miles Repeated)

Myspace | Website

Zozobra - Bird Of Prey

Well fuck me it’s been a long time between posts by yours truly. Ironic then that I should be posting about a band proving to be quite prolific. Zozobra have wasted no time brining us Bird Of Prey their follow up to last year’s debut Harmonic Tremors.

Yet again this album’s pretty much the work of Caleb Scofield, the band’s songwriter come bassist come guitarist come vocalist, but for this album he’s been joined by Isis drummer Aaron Harris who also handles the production and mixing.

Sonically this new album strays very little from what made Harmonic Tremors great. Severe amounts of distortion, slow hypnotic riffs, layered shouty unintelligible lyrics and a wall of sound production that makes you feel like the whole thing’s been recorded live in a train station toilet.

Altogether Bird Of Prey plays like a continuation of the sound Zozobra developed on Harmonic Tremors. It's a welcome addition to what looks to become an impressive discography.

Also like its predecessor, Bird Of Prey is a rather short affair, about thirty minutes, so at the end of it you may find yourself eagerly waiting their next effort. But hopefully, if Bird Of Prey is anything to go by, the follow up won’t be long off.

Zozobra - Heartless Enemy

Myspace | Hydra Head Records

Human (after all)

Stuart Price is a studio god. His remixes and production elevate even the most mundane artists (Gwen Stefani, Star Sailor, Britney Spears to name a few). After turning out a number of amazing remixes for the often over hyped Killers he has now produced their upcoming record, Day and Age.

The first single is titled Human. The lyrics are rubbish, the production is amazing. Enjoy.

Human - The Killers

Myspace | Homepage

He Say, She Say

Once again, Cream Team has come up with something I have flip out about.

It takes about one listen to get why He Say, She Say copped one of the support slots on Yeezy's recent tour. The ballsy, dirty production from Million $$$ Mano, coupled with the sassy rhymes from Drea have that X-factor you instantly recognise as cooler and better than you. This, I dunno, gangsta-electro-disco, would work anywhere from the clurrrb to home - but I badly wanna hear it at a house party. That would be the hype.

Actually, I'd also kinda like to just bang these tracks in public for a reaction, cause Drea fires out some of the most graphically sexual lyrics since Akinyele, while avoiding the forced crassness of Lil' Kim. It's special.

He Say, She Say - Crash Dummie

Myspace

Hermitude - Threads

Regular readers of BW would know that we are quite the fans of the boys from the Blue Mountains around here. It was with great joy that I have now got my grubby little hands on their new LP, Threads.

On this record Hermitude have moved to diversify their sound even further. Smooth hip hop inspired beats rub shoulders with live instrumentation and electronic bleeps and squeaks. It should be also noted that almost half the cuts are laced with a vocal. They range from soul to atmospheric with the odd verse thrown in for good measure, courtesy of Urthboy and Hau.

While not quite as consistent as their previous effort, 'Tales of the Drift', this record is still shines with effortless beats and grooves perfect for the coming summer months.

Hermitude - Slychain

Myspace | Website

I'm gonna sip this wine and pass the cup

Let's steer away from the folk and Kanye posts that have dominated BW of late and bring some epic to our lives. I'm talking those Followill boys, you know... Kings of Leon. Their new album, Only by the Night, is due out some time in the coming week depending upon where you reside. KOL's previous effort, Because of the Times, was best described by my co-contributor Nat as "flawless." Only by the Night, is almost as good, they've certainly maintained their stride. I particularly like KOL for their epic guitar tunes (see Knocked Up, On Call etc). The new album adds to these with the likes of Sex on Fire, Manhattan and Use Somebody. Dare I say, but can anybody else hear some Daryl Braithwaite in the new tunes...?
Anyway, no doubt you'll read about the album from real, qualified reviewers in the near future. My intent from this post was to point everyone to the live set KOL played for Zipper over at the beeb's Radio 1 last week - including all the epics!!! Get on board!

(I don't know how long that link will be live for so you could try here if you want something a little more permanent.)

MySpace | Website

Joe Pug's bandit video

Some months back, BW featured Joe Pug's Hymn #101, and banged on about about how sincere and beautiful it was. Well, Mr Pug and friends have been busy. Specifically, they've been running around in ghost towns in desert California, kicking in doors to forlorn taverns, and shooting a music video. Witness above the clip to Hymn #101.

Then go to his website and stock up on Nation Of Heat. Then listen to it, bug out on how awesome his voice is, and run around telling your friends you've found the next torch-bearer of the American troubadour tradition.

Myspace | Website

Horse Feathers

Anyone who doesn't like these guys just hates music. I mean it. Unless you like music but you dislike complex, soulful melodies and arresting voices. In which case you need to lay off the metal.

Also, they come from Portland, which should answer any questions as to what type of music this band plays.

Horse Feathers - Albina

Myspace

New-ye

It would seem that the youtube cuts of Kanye's performance of his new hot fire at the VMAs on Sunday are being taken down. Kanye can help you out with that: just head on over to his blog, and make a beeline for the Love Lockdown post.

Tha Shizzle

One of my very talented friends (check out his previous mixes here) has decided to celebrate the imminent Australian tour of the one and only Snoop Dogg with a seamless mix of some of his hottest jams.

Grab it for yourself here and find the track listing below.

1. Snoop Dogg – Who am I (Whats my name?)
2. Snoop Dogg – Snoop D O Double G
3. Snoop Dogg & Pharell – Sets Up
4. Snoop Dogg & Pharell – Drop it like its Hot
5. Snoop Dogg & Kurupt – Gold Rush
6. Snoop Dogg – Doggz Gonna Get Ya
7. Snoop Dogg - Those Gurlz
8. Snoop Dogg & Charlie Wilson – Perfect
9. Snoop Dogg & Charlie Wilson – Doggfather
10. Snoop Dogg & B-Real – Vato
11. Snoop Dogg & Akon – Boss’ Life
12. Snoop Dogg & Dr Dre – Just Dippin
13. 2Pac & Snoop Dogg – 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
14. Snoop Dogg – Doggy Dogg World
15. Snoop Dogg – Ups and Downs
16. Snoop Dogg & Nate Dogg – Crazy
17. Snoop Dogg & Nelly – Girl like You
18. Snoop Dogg – One Chance
19. Snoop Dogg & Charlie Wilson – Snoop’s Upside Your Head
20. Snoop Dogg & Tray Dee – 21 Jumpstreet
21. Snoop Dogg – Murder was the Case
22. Snoop Dogg – Gz and Hustla’s
23. Snoop Dogg – It Wasn’t Your Fault
24. Snoop Dogg – Make it Clap
25. Snoop Dogg – Snoop Bounce
26. Snoop Dogg & Xzibit – Bitch Please
27. Snoop Dogg – Tha Shiznit
28. Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre & D’Angelo – Imagine
29. Snoop Dogg – Gin & Juice
30. Snoop Dogg – Can You Control Your Hoe?
31. Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg – Nuttin’ but a G Thang
32. Snoop Dogg – Step Your Game Up
33. Snoop Dogg, Warren G & Nate Dogg – Aint No Fun
34. Snoop Dogg & Silkk the Shocker – Gangsta Ride
35. Snoop Dogg, Warren G & Nate Dogg – Dont Tell
36. Snoop Dogg & Pharell – Pass it Pass it
37. Snoop Dogg – Think About It
38. Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg – The Next Episode
39. Snoop Dogg & Akon – I Wanna Fuck You
40. Snoop Dogg, Pharell & Charlie Wilson – Beautiful
41. Snoop Dogg & Supafly – You Thought
42. Snoop Dogg & Justin Timberlake – Signs
43. Snoop Dogg – Sensual Seduction

We just dippin....