London and NYC Club and Concert Listings
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Heavy Rotation: January 2003
Links to Amazon.co.uk for your purchasing convenience...
To send us music for potential inclusion, email us at
promos@knowtheledge.net.
1) JOHN COLTRANE - A LOVE SUPREME (DELUXE EDITION) (Impulse LP)
One word: transcendental. This is as close as recorded music gets to a religious experience, and was one of my personal
epiphanies when it comes to musical appreciation. Put it on and I challenge you
not to feel your hairs stand on end, a tingle run down your spine, and a tear well in your eye. Generally acknowledged
as one of the most important jazz records ever made.
The first disc consists of A Love Supreme as released in 1965. The second disc includes the only live
performance of the suite, recorded at the Antibes jazz festival that summer. It also includes the long-rumoured sextet
version of the opening movement - it's first release ever. Beautiful gatefold packaging with extensive liner notes and
gorgeous photography.
Buy
2) TALIB KWELI - QUALITY (Rawkus LP)
Talib Kweli's first solo outing, after the excellent 'Black Star' with Mos Def and 'Reflection Eternal' with
Hi-Tek. The highlights are 'Get By' - an amazing, inspirational gospel-fuelled piece of positivity, and
'Shock Body', 'Guerilla Monsoon' (featuring black thought and Pharoah Monch), and 'Good To You' - all guaranteed floor-rockers.
The only flaws are the inclusion of 'Gun Music' (disappointing and hypocritical in it's endorsement of gun-packing - we've come to
expect better from you Talib), and 'Put It In The Air' featuring a dated G-funk beat from DJ Quick. Nevertheless, a very
good album with (for the most part) intelligent lyrics and phat beats.
Buy
3) EL CAMARON DE LA ISLA - DISCO DE ORO (Philips LP)
Picked this one up in Malaga. 'El Camaron' is to Spanish flamenco music what Bob Marley was to reggae - the music incarnate.
'Disco De Oro' was recorded with the amazing guitar player Paco De Lucia, whose playing perfectly complements El Camaron's
raw, empassioned, soul-wrenching vocals. Powerful.
Buy
4) PANJABI MC - MUNDIAN TO BACH KE (Showbiz/Instant Karma 12")
Stunning hip hop bhangra from Leicester's finest. PMC is the don of the Bhangra/Desi scene, not to be mistaken with
the rather Asian Underground scene represented by Talvin Singh and Nitin Sawnhey, which is rather more, well, underground.
This is all about the dancefloor; a clever
appropriation of Busta Rhymes' 'Fire It Up' Knight Rider beat is combined with Panjabi lyrics plus dhol and tumbi instrumentation
into something very special. Currently blowing up the charts across Europe, this is sceduled for a UK release January 13th.
You have been warned!
Buy
5) SLUM VILLAGE - TRINITY (PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE) (Capitol/Barak LP)
These Detroit hip hoppers come with some dirty laid-back funky shit. Lazy drawls, slurred pronunciation, and downright nasty
(in the sexy sense) lyrics, are dropped over the top of some pretty experimental and yet soulful beats and melodies.
At twenty-three tracks in length, it's not a short album, but there isn't a dud in sight which, as you know, is very rare.
Buy
6) CARLOS GARDEL - THE VERY BEST OF (Disconforme LP)
There is a saying in Argentina: "It will snow again in Buenos Aires before a replacement for Gardel is found".
A true embodiment of the spirit of the Argentinian people, he is the king of tango music, and remains a legendary figure to
this day.
Buy
| Biography
7) ROUGH GUIDE TO THE MUSIC OF CAPE VERDE (World Music Network LP)
You may have heard of Cesaria Evora, but here is a chance to hear music from other artists from from the Brazilophile islands which lay
off the Senegalese coast. The music consists of lolling ballads called mornas and African-derived funana, the percussion-based
batuque which is mainly heard at weddings, and it's all very good (if rather mournful) stuff.
Buy
8) MAX DE CASTRO - ORCHESTRA KLAXON (Trama LP)
Great Brazilian RnB/funk/nu-soul on the excellent Trama label.
Buy
Read the Know The Ledge interview with Ady Harley, Trama's European Director.
9) KYOTO JAZZ MASSIVE - SPIRIT OF THE SUN (Compost LP)
Nice 'n' chilled out nu-jazz and jazz-funk from Shuya Okino and Yoshiro Okino. Guest appearances include Victor Davies and
Vanessa Freeman, plus Alex Attias gets some production work in.
Buy
10) KETAMA - DAME LA MANO (Mercury LP)
Another acquisition from my recent trip to Andalucia (thanks Loli for the recommendation!). Could be decsribed
(rather ineloquently) as soulful Spanish flamenco-tinged pop with a helping of acid jazz. Some of this is rather too 'smooth'
for my own personal tastes, but still glad I got it; tracks like the brilliant 'Cae La Noche' made it worth my while.
Not yet available on Amazon.
Dame La Mano website
To send us music for potential inclusion, email us at
promos@knowtheledge.net.
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