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1. Sambassadeur – Albatross
This song is pure delight. The opening, accentuated with gorgeous strings, seems straight out of a big sweeping film score. And then the ethereal voice hits you and you’re done for…If you could put love into song form this just may be my version. Sambassadeur hails from Sweden and their name is taken from the Serge Gainsbourg song “Les Sambassadeurs”. According to their Labrador label bio, “This is said to be the extrovert album from Sambassadeur. They’ve finally accomplished making the grand, classic and orchestrated album they’ve always wanted to.” Well done. You can buy the album now HERE.
Sambassadeur – Albatross

2. Wakey! Wakey! – Twenty Two
This is the kind of track that seems tailor made for commercial placement. It has a fresh pop feel to it, yet still enough of the indie sensibility about it so it stays cool. I love that Wakey! Wakey! frontman Mike Grubbs started playing piano at age 5 and describes his childhood relationship with the piano as “almost like video games” for him. Wakey! Wakey!’s album “Almost Everything I Wish I’d Said The Last Time I Saw You”, came out last month and you can buy it now HERE. You can also download this single for free HERE.
Wakey!Wakey! -Twenty Two

3. Modular – Femme Fatale (Velvet Underground cover)
This track is taken off of Modular’s EP “Yoga para extraterrestres”, which came out late last year and you can download for free HERE. Self described as lounge/psychedelic/pop it’s 60s mod as if seen from the future. Modular comes to us from Argentina and have a worth-visiting website HERE. The original Velvet Underground track is from the bands debut album”The Velvet Underground & Nico”, and was, at the request of Andy Warhol, written about the late, great Edie Sedgwick. You can watch a video and listen to the original song HERE.
Modular – Femme fatale

4. Happy Birthday – Subliminal Message
Subliminal Message = Kyle Thomas, Chris Weisman and Ruth Garbus from Brattleboro, Vermont. This song is perfectly bottled up youthful essence. Innocent and effervescent, it manages to keep away from being too sticky sweet due in large part to the unique quality of Kyle’s voice. Their album “Happy Birthday”, just came out on 3/16 and you can buy it now HERE.
Happy Birthday – Subliminal Message

5. Currensy – Address (Feat. Stalley)
This song comes off of the forthcoming Ski Beatz album “24 Hour Karate School”, slated for release on 3/30. You can watch a trailer for the album HERE. There is also a great video for the song HERE. The album is mix-tape of sorts and according to reports, will feature appearances from Jay Electronica, Mos Def and The Cool Kids among others. This track offers us just a taste of the greatness to come.
Currensy – Address (Feat. Stalley)

6. Extra Classic – Congo Rebel
This is exactly the song you want to listen to on a lazy Sunday summer afternoon. It’s got such a great chill reggae-dub feel to it. I love the fact that Extra Classic is recording everything on analog and that the band features the voice of singer Adrianne “Dri” Verhoeven. Adrianne has already been involved with some pretty amazing projects: the Anniversary, Art in Manila & Fourth of July. She also recorded a solo album “Smoke Rings”, in 2007 (check out the video for one of the songs off that album “Two Are One”,HERE). She was way ahead of the whole lo-fi movement and her voice is divine. Extra Classic is currently in studio working on their debut album.
Extra Classic – Congo Rebel

7. Downtight (Chambaland Mashup) – Stevie Wonder vs. Jay Sean Feat. Lil’ Wayne
I usually have a hard time with mashups. Normally they just sound like disjointed sonic garbage and I shy away from them. But this one is just so well done and features one of my favorite Stevie Wonder songs. It’s a driving in the car with the windows down on a summer day kind of track. Sure it’s basically just a new take on an old classic but it really works. I found this on one of my favorite music blogs Muzjiks HERE and you can get it from the original posting HERE.
Downtight (Chambaland Mashup)

8. Goldfrapp – Shiny and Warm
London’s Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory make really good music together. They have perfected the recipe for synthpop and you may know them best from their track “Strict Machine”, which you can watch the video for HERE. Her voice is a perfect match for the electronic music that backs it. It has a robotic quality with just the right amount of warmth mixed in to keep it from going too far into the abyss. Their new album “Head First comes out on 3/23 and you can pre-order it now HERE.
Goldfrapp – Shiny and Warm

9. Erykah Badu – Strawberry Incense
I can remember exactly where I was when I first heard Erykah Badu’s album “Mama’s Gun”. I was so struck by Erykah’s singing and her earthy bohemian musical style; I listened to the album on repeat for months. For some reason, I just didn’t get into her last album and I feared that I wouldn’t again experience the connection to her music that I had back in 2000. This just released single “Strawberry Incense”, has given me hope that we have much to be excited for from her forthcoming album “New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)”, out on 3/20/10. In the video interview HERE she states, “I didn’t think about it, I just felt it” and it really does feel like she has gone back to her roots with this track. It’s mellow in the best way. You can pre-order the album now HERE.
Erykah Badu -Strawberry Incense

Oldies but worth a re-listen:

1. A Tribe Called Quest – Luck of Lucien
I’ve had this album on rotation all week. Hard to believe it came out in 1990.
A Tribe Called Quest – Luck Of Lucien

2. Bill Withers – Use Me
So. Much. Talent.

2. David Bowie – Ashes To Ashes
Because every Friday should include some David Bowie.

ashes to ashes Bowie
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