Paris DJs Soundsystem - Blues Ain't Nothin' But A Low-Down Shakin' Chill
(MP3 Podcast on www.ParisDJs.com) 2012-10-14
This mix started as a monthly Bag of Goodies, checking the stack of new records and the playlist of digital downloads we received during the past month. Then a trend emerged, some overall bluesy feeling that permeated many of those new albums and singles. We gradually got deep into a 21st century blues kind of vibe, through many music styles. One can wonder if the global economic crisis might be affecting today's music producers… or if it's just the rise of another cycle in music trends? There was a huge rock copycats period, new wave hit electro music quite hard before it went nu disco on many, and hip hop has gone mainstream. That was the late 70s and the whole 80s all over again. So what's next? A comeback of mid-1990s trip-hop?
Well at Paris DJs we just call it the Blues.
Nothin' but a low-down shakin' chill.
Kid Koala just released a full album of scratching blues trickery on Ninja Tune. Meshell Ndegeocello's going back to her roots with an album of Nina Simone covers. Menahan Street Band gem of a second album is music to an unreleased Sergio Leone western starring the Wu Tang set in 1992 as their leader Thomas Brenneck puts it. Former Metronomy-member Gabriel Stebbing returns to the scene as Night Works with a plaintive and soulful R&B ballad. Grant Phabao filters the southern-fried, psychedelic funk of Adrian Quesada's The Echocentrics through Jamaican gospel. Hidden Orchestra reinvents chill-out with their textural groove and head-nodding experiences. Doctor L notes that We Got Lost along the way and goes back to folk/blues songs with his unique trippy style. Lukid amazes with his soulful/ambient electronic pop. Ghana-based singer/songwriter Andrew Ashong enlists the help of Detroit techno/Chicago sound sculptor Theo Parrish for some romantic beats and soulful ballads. Singer/songwriter Jesse Boykins III and producer/emcee Melo-X join forces as Zulu Guru, bringing together a new electronic sound rooted in soul and blues. Studio One veteran Carlton Livingston starts putting on his soulful reggae songs some soul jazz dressings thanks to Parisian sound master Grant Phabao. And jazz drummer Karriem Riggins pays tribute to James 'J Dilla' Yancey's percussive blend of cosmic soul…
Do you feel it?
Tracklisting :
01. Kid Koala - 5 bit Blues
(from '12 bit Blues' album, 2012 / Ninja Tune) info | buy
02. Meshell Ndegeocello - To Be Young, Gifted and Black feat. Cody ChestnuTT
(from 'Pour Une Ame Souveraine - A Dedication to Nina Simone' album, 2012 / Naive) info | buy
03. Menahan Street Band - Three Faces
(from 'The Crossing' album, 2012 / Daptone) info | buy
04. Night Works - I Tried So Hard
(from 'I Tried So Hard' 12 inch, 2012 / Loose Lips) info | buy
05. The Echocentrics - Don Alejo (Grant Phabao Remix)
(from 'The Echocentrics Remixes' 12 inch, 2012 / Ubiquity) info | buy
06. Hidden Orchestra - Vorka
(from Archipelago' album, 2012 / Tru Thoughts) info | buy
07. Doctor L - Come On Over feat. Robert 'Chicken' Burke
(from 'We Got Lost' album, 2012 / Comet) info | buy
08. Lukid - Bless My Heart
(from 'Lonely At The Top' album, 2012 / Werkdiscs) info | buy
09. Andrew Ashong - Flowers feat. Theo Parrish
(from 'Flowers EP' 12 inch, 2012 / Sound Signature) info | buy
10. Zulu Guru (Jesse Boykins III & MeLo-X) - The Perfect Blues
(from 'Zulu Guru' album, 2012 / Ninja Tune) info | buy
11. Grant Phabao & Carlton Livingston - Could Be Bitter (Jazz Rework)
(from 'Could Be Bitter' digital single, 2012 / Paris DJs) info | buy
12. Karriem Riggins - J Dilla The Greatest
(from 'Together' album, 2012 / Stones Throw) info | buy
Total time : 50:18
All the original cover artworks are available on the Paris DJs blog
Credits :
Selected by Grant Phabao and Djouls from the Paris DJs Soundsystem (parisdjs.com) with the help of Jais/Fred/DJ Oof and Florence from Ping Pong Promotion (pingpong.fr)
Mix and audio mastering by Grant Phabao (grantphabao.com)
Artwork layout by Djouls (djouls.com)
Links :
Paris DJs : parisdjs.com | bandcamp | facebook | pinterest | soundcloud | twitter | youtube
Ping Pong Promotion : official | facebook | myspace | mixcloud | soundcloud | twitter