Jack's Top Tracks - March 27 2013
Old
Bakini - Company B-Boy (Starring the Andrews Sisters)
In the absence of any scantily clad young ladies I bring you visual delights of a different time. This was originally released back in 2003, but a chappy named Grant Bernard (what a great name), an electroswing DJ from Toronto who also goes by The Great Grantsby, has made this very fine video for it. He has also made a few videos for Skeewiff. Subscribe to his YouTube channel here.
New
The After Hours Quintet - Red Dust (Swing n Bass Reprise)
In their own words the After Hours Quintet are 'all beardy blokes', so have only provided a Soundcloud clip rather than a video. The 5 piece are the house band at Speakeasy Leeds and, it turns out, live on the same road as the Jenova Collective, who I featured last week. This is a new tune from them, and I rather like it.
Old
DJ Yoda - Cheesecake (Louis Armstrong)
DJ Yoda might be the most famous turntablist DJ in the world. I certainly can't do him justice in this short space. I had his How to cut and Paste Volumes 1-3 when I was at school. Here is a track sampling Louis Armstrong singing about cheesecake. Like that pudding, this tune is simple yet satisfying.
Old
I Monster - The Blue Wrath
For some reason I feel like ending on a cheery note this week, and this track just popped into my head a few moments ago. I used to listen to it at work and it always made me feel quite chipper. I think it has something to do with the way that it ends - a bit like an old cockney pub song. Enjoy!
So, that's your lot for this week. I will be heading out to SwingStep @ Ginglik on Friday night. Jamie Berry is DJing and there are a few live acts on so it should be a good one. If you are going, come and say 'what ho'.
Happy Easter.
Jack's Top Tracks - March 18 2013
Another Monday. Already. I know. Hateful, what? If, like me, you need some swinging beats to help you through the rest of the week then you have come to the right place. As advertised, I have spent hours sifting through the whole of the interwebs to bring you the finest electro-swing on the planet. Tally Ho!
Old
Broken Hearts DJs - Count Those Freaks
These ladies are well known to listeners of Jazz FM thanks to their show 'Peppermint Candy'. Their website describes them as 'turntable goddesses', which seems fair. They are Amber and Nisha, and though I am buggered if I know which is which, both of them appear to be a perfect fit for what seems to have become something of a shrine to sexy swing ladies. (It is very hard to avoid innuendos about swingers sometimes.) These ladies will be taking their show on the road this summer as they team up with White Mink at the Love Supreme Jazz Festival.
Newish
Dutty Moonshine - Ed Keene - Lindy Hop (Dutty Moonshine remix)
These guys are going from strength to strength - they are currently on tour witjh Defunk, are launching a new night in Oxford called 'Dutty Moonshine and friends', have recently announced a number of impressive festival performances, and to cap it all off have just made a remix of the Frohlocker classic 'Hipbrass'. The track below is slightly older, as the free download one is only a snippet on Soundcloud. Nonetheless, this d'n'b remix of Ed Keene's 'Lindy Hop' should get your feet moving while you wait for the download to complete (get the free track here)..
New
The Jenova Collective - Lady Gaga vs. Caro Emerald - Bad Romance (Jenova Collective Remix)
Ra Ra Ooh La La.
Ahem. Sorry about that. I just love how silly electro-swing can get. This might be a tad too poppy for my usual tastes, but nonetheless I include it here as it is undeniably fun.
New
Rory Hoy vs. Kitten and the Hip - Who's Gonna Pay for That?
Rory Hoy, independent producer of house, big beat and what have you, who, coincidentally also won that remix competition for Swing Republic's Crazy In Love last year, has teamed up with Ash and Scarlett from Kitten and the Hip to make this big bad banger. Horns, wobbles, bass... lovely stuff. Who's gonna pay for it? You will, if you've any sense.
New
Kid Kasino - Swingin' on Nuthin'
To round things off this week here comes some smooth yet growly ghetto swing from the legendary Kid Kasino. One of the things I like most about his work is the respect he shows for the tunes he samples. I get the feeling that he is a real swing/jazz/blues fan, which is why his remixes are so effective. He doesn't impose his style on the original , but manages to coax and persuade the sound so that it becomes his own. A great way to end the round up.
Whoops, there it is. Another week's worth of nutritious electroswing goodies for you. Directions for use: Take one aurally after meals. If symptoms persist, repeat dosage until a) feeling better or b) dead. If symptoms persist after this, you are a vampire and nothing we can do will help.
Jack's Top Tracks - March 11 2013
Phew, what a day. First morning at a new job, so I have been ever so slightly stressed out today. Perhaps your Monday was tough too? If so, here is this week's selection of tasty electro-swing goodness to help you relax. If you don't need help relaxing (you lucky blighter), just enjoy the music. That's an order.
Old
Elle and the Pocket Belles
That's right - this week you get 5 lovelies to listen to and gawp at. You there! Stop drooling.
I have selected this video for you this week because I was at a great night on Friday at which these girls were headlining. Performing with their Big Band they always put on a great show. A special nod to Li'l Kimberley, who tells me she is the cute one of the group. I, however, suspect that this is a front to lull unsuspecting and totally respectable gentlemen like myself into indiscretions and louche behaviour. You can keep up to date with their activities via their home page, Facebook or Twitter.
Old
Kiril Dzajkovski - Jungle Shadow - Live at Exit 08
You thought I had gone soft didn't you? Well, this will put your mind at ease. This crazy little video is from a few years back - I came across it when researching an academic piece on the Balkan Beat scene last week. It sounds ever such a lot like Pendulum bought a trumpet. Get your listening apparatus around these five minutes of brassy Balkan bonkers-ness and I guarantee you happiness will result.
Brand SPANKING New
Pique-aboo - Spanky
Stockings! Bottoms! Spanking! Swing! I think I died and went to heaven. Pique-aboo are a Cape Town-based duo consisting of Talya (vocals) and Helena (drums) - just came across these girls last week, but didn't have space for them in the selection, so here they are this week. What do you think of the song?
New
donJohnson and Leo Wood - I need swing (ft. Myles, Declan and Nicko B)
Who likes bass? Do you like bass? I like bass, so I like this. donJohnson, one of the guys behind the legendary Cabaret Voltaire (Exeter and Bournmouth), has made this wubby, dubsteppy, bluesy number and it quite simply rocks.
New
Defunk - I Put A Spell On You (ft. Sam Klass & Vindaloo)
I think Mr. Defunk must have put a spell on me. When was the last time he wasn't included in the selection? How is it that he keeps producing such stonking tracks? This one makes me feel like James Bond. Actually, I am far more suave, not to mention disreputable (I mean really, how come he still hasn't done the dirty with Moneypenny?) Have a listen - I defy you not to pump your fists with the bassy, choppy synths.
So that's it for another week. It has been really hard to choose between tracks this week, and there is a whole load of great music around at the moment. Keep your eyes on the Facebook and Twitter feeds the latest updates. As always if you are a DJ, producer or a band, do send me your latest tunes and you never know, I may just plug them here for you. Everyone else, do please share your thoughts on this week's selection this week. What did you like? What didn't you like? Leave a comment below and let me know!
Jack's Top Tracks - March 4 2013
My word doesn't Monday come around quickly? And you know what Monday means. That's right, five more stompin', swingin' tunes for you to wiggle your bottom to as you cook your supper. Aren't you lucky?
Old
Alice Francis - St James Ballroom
I like to start each of these round-ups with a video, so that you have something nice to look at on a Monday. It has to be said that Ms. Francis here is very nice to look at. More importantly, she makes some great electroswing. Hailing from Germany, this young lady and her band are extremely popular on the continent but are rarely seen here in the UK. I have chosen to include her in this week's selection - first, as she will be shortly releasing a single with the legendaty Grant Lazlo, and secondly because she will be supporting Caravan Palace at the Shepherds Bush Empire in May. Find out more about her and check out more of her music on her website.
New
Jamie Berry - Frankie Valli vs. De Contrabande - Eyes off You (Jamie Berry Mashup)
I had wanted to include this one in last week's selection, and was hoping I might be able to share the full track with you. Jamie kindly sent me the full version but I am too technologically incompetent to work out how to share it with you. Any road, I think this might be the funniest build and drop I have heard for ages. Enjoy.
New
Smokey Joe and the Kid - Trippin' (feat. Puppetmasterz)
The French swing-hoppers Smokey Joe and the Kid are releasing an EP in March. It will be called 'Nasty Tricks', and if their previous efforts and this bass-laden track is anything to go by it should be a banger!
New
DJ Twister - Ray Charles - Hit the Road Jack (DJ Twister edit)
I am seriously thinking about making this a kind of theme tune for the blog. The interweb is awash with remixes of this track, and most of them make me want to chew my own ears off, but this is an exception. Twister is a Polish DJ who describes himself as a Vinyl Cat on his Soundcloud profile. Sadly, his website is in Polish, and I can't make sense of it. Let's allow the track to do the talking, what?
Newish
Defunk - Retro Baby EP
This wee video was released a little while ago to promote the Canadian bass monster's EP release. It is a little mix of the tracks featured on the EP and gives a pretty good idea of the kind of retro-infused glitch-dubstep-wompathons that have made him a respected figure in the electro-swing scene. I include his work here as has just arrived in the UK for a tour. Get down to Barrio East in Shoreditch on Thursday 7th March to see him play out alongside Dutty Moonshine.
So, that's it for seven more days - hopefully that should satisfy your need for fresh swingin' beats. As always, if you think there is a tune I should include in the next edition of Jack's Top Tracks, get in touch via Facebook or Twitter.
Toodle-pip
Jack
Jack's Top Tracks - February 25 2013
Welcome to the second edition of Jack's Top Tracks. Did you have a good weekend? The end of last week was the blog's first birthday, so watch out for my little celebratory video, coming soon. This will be the first of several multimedia, 21st century offerings that will be coming your way in the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, let's get on with this week's selection, shall we?
New
Dimie Cat - La Voiture
Now, following last week's post featuring Kitten and the Hip, some of you might be thinking that I just have a thing about girls in shorts, but I can assure you that I am selecting this video from French singer Dimie Cat for its happly little bassline, comedy brass section, and the general jollity of the whole thing. Oh, all right, for the shorts as well. This is a video of a track taken from her second album Zig Zag, which is out now and available to buy from her website.
Kinda Newish
C2C - TV intervew and demo
Staying in France, here is an interview and demo from C2C. Sadly it is in French. If you do happen to speak the lingo, it is rather in interesting little piece. If you don't I feel sure you will get the gist. I have featured C2C on this blog so many times, but I continue to find their work fascinating and intoxicating.
New
Extra Medium - 'Tamtam - Little Girl (Extra Medium remix)
Just came across this fella as I was on the train back to London. I know very little about him, save that he is based in Bournemouth and makes electro-swing. This track is his latest offering on Soundcloud. I love the piano, and the laid-back roll of the beats. The wobbles towards the end are pretty tasty too. Is it me, or does the singer (Tamtam) sound quite a lot like Adele?
Newish
Lamuzguele - Claque des Doigts
I have been meaning to mention these guys for ages, but never seem to get 'round to it. Yet another French outfit, these guys come from Grenoble, and are about to embark on a European Tour. This video has been released in order to promote said jaunt. They are spending quite some time here in the UK, so be sure to catch them. I think of them as France's answer to the Electric Swing Circus. There's even a fella with goggles on his topper.
New
Dr Cat - The Real Tuesday Weld - 'Me and Mr. Wolf' (Dr. Cat Remix
The Real Tuesday Weld were pioneers of the antique beat, and are famous across London's cabaret scene. This remix of their work by Dr. Cat is taken from the new compilation album brought to us by Green Queen Music, the label that he runs with DJ Pony [Montana]. The compilation also includes new material from Swingrowers, Kiwistar and favourites like Skeewiff, Odjbox and Grant Lazlo. The compilation is available to buy on 3rd March.
So, that wraps it up for another week. I am always interested in what you think of my selection. Get in touch! Likewise, if you are a producer or band, send me your stuff and I might include it next week.
Tally-ho
Jack
Jack's Top Tracks - February 18 2013
Welcome to the first ever edition of Jack's Top Tracks. The concept is pretty straight forward: each Monday I will be posting 5 tracks. They may be new releases, or old tracks I have only just come across, or tracks that have liked for ages and have just rediscovered.
This week I am bringing just such a selection, with some old, some new, and a favourite from the past.
New
Kitten and the Hip - Shut up and Dance
The much anticipated new single from Brighton-based duo Kitten and the Hip (aka Scarlett Quinn and Ashley Slater) was released last week, and its a real earworm. It burrowed into my subconscious and I have been singing it in my head ever since. The release is accompanied by the video below. I may have mentioned in the past that Scarlett is rather easy on the eye too...
The track is available to purchase from beatport, along with remixes by Tavo, James Copeland, The Hip and Dom Meakins. Kitten and the Hip are performing at Electric Empire on 2nd March at the Amersham Arms, New Cross.
New
Jem Stone - The Jem Stone Express
Another of last week's new releases was from Jem Stone, one of the creative forces behind Finger Lickin' Records. You might have come across his track 'The Gasworks Gang', which was featured on the compilation 'White Mink: Black Cotton Vol.2. This tune is laid back, funky and chilled out - a great one to chase away those Monday afternoon blues.
The track is available for free download from Soundcloud.All aboard the Jem Stone Express!
New
Ecklecticmick - Boogie Children
Amid the hype surrounding the recent Electric Empire Escapade in Peckham, you could be forgiven for having failed to notice that the same weekend saw the launch of White Mink's latest London event, an electro-blues night at the Bedroom Bar in Shoreditch. Ecklecticmick, one of the most prolific producers I can think of, is, in my opinion, also the best producer of this sub-genre. This stomping track has all the elements that make him so - haunting vocals, great breaks and exquisitely chosen samples. Hats of to Mick!
Boogie Children is available to purchase on Freshly Squeezed's compilation 'Electro Blues Vol. 1'.
Old
Bobby C Sound TV - Jelly Belly
Thanks must go to my buddy Actuarius (he designed my natty new logo for me) for pointing me towards this chap. It seems Bobby C Sound TV is rather highly respected (Krafty Kuts called him 'the master of funky breaks), and has shared the stage with some big names in the States. He has made a bit of ghetto funk, and this is one of the tracks from the imaginatively named 'Ghetto Funk EP', released a year or so ago. What do you think?
This track, along with the rest of the EP (worth checking out), is available to download from Soundcloud.
Re-discovered
K-Theory & Frost Raven - 18th Century Gangsta
I just love this track, but had not heard it for months and months until it dropped into a long mix I was listening to on my phone. I can't remember who had made the mix - either Incontrol or DJ Dodgy-Style. Whoever it was - thank you for reminding me of it. I had to scroll through nearly 400 'likes' on Soundcloud before I found it. Enjoy!
You can buy this track from here.
And that concludes the first ever installment of Jack's Top Tracks. I hope you enjoyed the music - if you did, or if you didn't, let me know by commenting below or contacting me via Facebook or Twitter!
If you are a DJ/Producer/Band and you have a track you would like me to consider for this part of the blog, please send an email to georgecmbrowne@gmail.com.
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