The Muffin Man

I know, I know..

It’s been too long since my last post but there’s been a lot going on that’s been taking my time away from my blog but more on that later. Here are my favourite releases of January the beginning of 2011. Do listen, buy, dance.. (and click through the pics to listen to a track off the record)

Julio Bashmore - Everybody Needs a Theme Tune

Julio Bashmore had a fantastic 2010, finding his own niche of house music, with consistently solid releases on Ten Thousand Yen, Batak Groove and the mountainous remix of Mosca’s Square One for Night Slugs just to name a few. His latest fuses his tropical touch with 808’s, Detroit and disco influences to put together 4 tracks that are sure to be only the beginning of Julio’s takeover of 2011.

Jacques Greene - The Look

This one is cheating a bit because it came out digitally in late 2010 but the vinyl release is set as January so it does also fall under a January release (fooled myself). Certainly not a producer who needs any introduction but certainly one who if you do not know you have to immerse into your life. The Look EP has all the elements you’ve heard before UK garage, RnB vocals, Chicago House, Detroit Techno etc but it’s the perfect fusion of all these influences and a geek-like love for vintage gear comes together perfectly in Jacque’s Greene futuristic acid tinged garage tunes.

James Blake - Self Titled

More cheating, this is actually out in February but just got my hands on it and feels a bit unfair on other releases to put this one before them as I’m still listening to it but I like it not just because it’s James Blake doing what he does best but also not doing what he does best. For this album James steps outside the realm of samples and uses his own vocals, something many producers aren’t ready to do. It’s a less clubby album but the instrumental, indie-ish, folk, garage (I don’t know what to call it) songs are unobtrusive but at the same time deeply atmospheric; you can’t help but be drawn in. Now just to wait for the James Blake live shows..

Edit

So I went ahead and just made it the best of early ‘11. Now I’m not cheating. Also there is no definite reason as to why all the artists start with J. It’s just how it is.

the smiths

when pekka posted this cover a few days back, it reminded me of how much i really love this album, it’s one of the top 80s albums for me and is a stark contrast to the post-punk (<3) and synthpop sounds that were common at the time, the smiths’ debut is reminiscent of 60s melodic rock, with layered, intricate guitar work by marr in harmony with morrissey’s witty, ironic lyrics. even though the smiths continued to improve later in their career, it’s nevertheless a stunning debut, few first albums impress me, although one that i hold in high esteem is unknown pleasures; but that’ll be on another day. so go out, buy and listen to this album, you won’t be dissapointed