on the regular

If you've listened to Top 40 radio or flipped through the video channels during the past few years, odds are pretty good you know something about John Legend. He played piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" and might as well be considered Kanye West's sidekick, having assisted the producer and MC on several sessions — Jay-Z's "Encore" and Slum Village's "Selfish" being two of the more prominent 2004 singles featuring his work. A former choir director, he has also released a handful of energetic live discs, some of which are credited to his less hubristic birth name, John Stephens. And though he claims "I've got something new," you've also heard substantial chunks of Get Lifted in records made decades ago by Sly & the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Quincy Jones, and Bill Withers. This might not be a problem for listeners who crave anything that recalls the music they first heard in their youth, but Legend's over-reliance upon his inspirations is an impediment as much as a slick way to grab attention. That's because he has more than enough talent and charm to get by on his own. His own lyrics and hooks are unique and clever enough to get the point across that he's no everyday R&B artist and, just as importantly, he has a personable and instantly fetching voice you could listen to all day long. However, the association with West — whose Sony-distributed boutique label released the record — is very helpful. Without it, Legend would likely be zoned into neo-soul (2003's Live at SOB's New York City really makes this notion apparent), thereby standing little chance of reaching the ears of anyone younger than 30. The production work supporting his songs strikes a fine balance between soul and hip-hop, allowing him to appeal to those who are coming from either angle. This is a very good record. It's a given that Legend is destined to make at least two others that top it. 

Ordinary People

08 Ordinary People

NICOLAS JAAR  band feat CARMINHO

Recent remix for Kaya Project's forthcoming Elixir Remixes release featuring Desert Dwellers, Toires, Banco De Gaia, Indidginus, 100th Monkey and more.

Will update with more release info as soon as I have it.

Your comments are appreciated!!

Kaya Project - 65 percent (Tripswitch's The Other 35 remix) :: teaser

ribal Shift Records are proud to present 'The Elixir Remixes'. 

This release, in association with Interchill Records, provides the opportunity to re-imagine the tracks from the classic Kaya Project album 'Elixir'. Including remixes from Banco De Gaia, Tripswitch, Desert Dwellers, Toires, Master Margherita, Indidginus, Mouldy Soul, Biotone, Digitalis, C23, Chaos By Design & Dubsahara. 

First up is C23's atmospheric dubstep reworking of 'One God Dub'. Haunting zourna, flute & vocal effects are pushed along by a massive bass driven beat. Tripswitch takes it deep with his reworking of '65 percent', focusing on the tribal vocal hook from the original. Subliminal bass drums underpin the glitched-up synth cuts in this hypnotic rolling number. 'Ghasi Ram Blues' gets the Desert Dwellers treatment in a surprise 4/4 reworking. Tribal drums & shaker loops accompany the original vocals by Ghasi Ram. Mouldy Soul aka Richard Carrigan brings the Bass with his remix of the Kaya Project signature track 'Harem Bizarre'. Natasha's dreamy vocals get glitched & gated, pushed along by grooving congas and a crisp kick & snare combination. Toires makes a guest appearance with his remix of 'Raag To Ragga'. Adding live guitar & drums to the vocal, tzoura & violin recordings from the original & replacing the dancehall beat with a head nodding infectious groove. Indidginus aka Michael Martin pushes 'Dark Tabla' into new realms with rude bwoy MC toasting & a tough dancehall beat transforming the track into a jump-up rocking number. Banco De Gaia aka Toby Marks utilises his recent forays into sonic experimentation with awesome results. A polyrhthymic major to minor arpeggio based chill out expedition, reminiscent of the golden years of the ambient movement. Master Margherita brings us the deepest cut of the album, with his remix of 'Pachamama'. Hypnotic sub bass & deep techno tinged 4/4 beats roll along at a compelling 100 beats per minute in a way only Moreno knows how. 

- This album also includes a previously unreleased version of Greg Hunters 'One God Dub' Dubsahara remix. Originally remixed by Greg for the compilation ‘Arcana’ on Interchill Records, this instrumental mix had never seen the light of day until now. A totally different take to his previously released version & one we are happy is finally making it's sonic debut. 

- Seb Taylor also provides 3 more remixes from his various projects, namely Biotone, Digitalis & Chaos by Design, providing us respectively with a 4/4 Electro-Tech remix of 'Raag To Ragga', a deep Drumstep reworking of ‘Harem Bizarre’ & a rolling Glitch Hop infused remix of 'The Flow'.

NICOLAS JAAR band feat CARMINHO

dafonseca

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