New music recommendations from The Soul Guru

This blog is called Music For The SOUL because I write about music with SOUL that moves my SOUL......that doesn't just mean SOUL music...I listen to all kinds of music..this morning I bought Jamie XX's " in Colour " album ...it's a brilliant,modern electronic album...I'm loathe to call it a " dance " album as it's far more than that.....check out " loud Places " featuring Romy where Jamie samples  Idris Muhammad's " Could Heaven Ever Be Like This " to great effect .....

ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9luRtEqjc

This week is all about new music...in fact music so new you won't be able to hear it for a while but when you do you will say......" The Soul Guru was right ".....

The first artist I'm going to talk about is Reverieme ....a band from Airdrie in Scotland featuring the sublime vocals of Louise Connell . Beautifully Produced by Stuart MacLeod the mini-album  " Or Else The Light " is a collection of songs that Joni MItchell would be proud of...I'm listening to a song called " Venus " right now.....I listen to the songs every day around this time ( 6 am )....it's perfect .
I'm not sure when it's available but when it is I'll let you know as it's truly outstanding....ESSENTIAL .

I love Techno...I went to Detroit with Neil Rushton and released the seminal album " Techno.....The New Dance Sound Of Detroit " on Virgin 10 in 1988...this was the first Techno album to be released and included Inner City's " Big Fun "...if you have a copy of the original double-album then hang on to it as it's a collector's item now .

Last week Neil sent me the new album from original Techno masters.....Detroit's  Octave One......and it's just what I hoped for....original,exciting  modern Electronic music......Octave One are Lenny and Lawrence Burden and ever since their first release " I Believe " on Derrick May's Transmat label they have been at the forefront of innovative and original electronic dance music ( I Believe was included on Techno 2 - The Next Generation in 1990...another great album I released ! ) .
25 years producing such great music is some achievement ....again I'm not sure when it's available but as soon as I know I'll let y'all know

The third artist is an artist I am working with so I have to admit my personal commitment and belief in him .......
I have been friends with Alan McGee ( the greatest  British A&R man for the past 25 years ) for many years....we share a common love and passion for music...in his case Rock&Roll,in my case Electronic,Dance and Soul....and early this year he started telling me about a guy called Pete MacLeod who was recording an album with the legendary Youth Producing ....he said he had asked Youth to put Acid House and Electronic beats to anthemic rock songs ....it shouldn't work of course...but Alan being such a visionary guess what ? ? It has worked brilliantly
Pete's songs are excellent...fabulous melodies and huge anthemic choruses and Youth....well what can I say that hasn't already been said about him ?
The first track " Minotaur " is perfect for when you've been up all night...it's 6 am,you're on the beach...you've just dropped an E and everything is warm and fuzzy ( not that I've ever dropped an E ;-) ) it's  got the same vibe asThe Beloved's " Sun Rising" ....it's GLORIOUS.....
The album is almost finished...it includes possibly the greatest Nirvana cover ever ( Alan sent it to Courtney and she LOVES it ) .....it's a privilege to be working with Alan,Pete and Youth on a project that is going to be huge....again I'm not sure when we start but I'm pretty sure you'll be able to hear Minotaur pretty soon

Finally I'd like to mention a really talented new artist called Michelle O'Faith whose first release " Sleep Through The Fire " is available on i-tunes now......I love Michelle's music...her songs are original,innovative...lyrically and melodically outstanding......I predict great things for her...HIGHLY recommended !

Thanks for your time......The Soul Guru loves YOU...follow me on Twitter @TheSoulGuru

George The Poet And The Role of Black Music in the History of Music as Social Protest......

Morning fiends,disciples and even non-believers ....I'm an equal-opportunity Soul Guru if nothing else ....it's that time of the week when I recommend new music that I'm enjoying .
Today I'm going to highlight a guy who ,after due consideration ,I regard as one the most exciting,original and important Black British artists to have emerged for a long time.
 Here is a quote from an interview he gave :

" I think rappers are primarily expected to make money for the industry and provide party soundtracks ,but obviously there are exceptions and grey areas .
 The poet's role is primarily to provide thoughtful social commentary "

The guy who  said this is 24-year-old  London-born  George Mpanga...aka George The Poet...signed to Island Records

Before I talk more about this remarkable artist a brief history of Black Music as the music of Social Protest from my perspective
In the 1970's thanks to great artists and songwriters such as Marvin Gaye ( What's Going On ) Curtis Mayfield ( There's No Place Like America Today ) ,James Brown , Gamble & Huff SOUL music was the music of Social Protest for Black America....I loved all these artists but growing up in a village in Gloucestershire it took some time for me to understand and appreciate the true meaning and context of their work .
The Rap happened and very quickly usurped the role through the likes of KRS-One...rap itself carrying on the tradition of legendary poets such as The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron...rap spoke the language of the streets directly  to the poor ,disenfranchised Black youth of America...it's urgency,power and authenticity exploding throughout the communities of every inner-city community . Here Linton Kwesi Johnson was releasing 2 of the greatest albums I have.....while  Benjamin Zephaniah was telling it like it is in the UK.
Rap was a powerful  art form...but unfortunately where there's something as innovative as rap it didn't take long for the music " business " to see an opportunity to make a vast amount of money by dumbing-down and exploiting rap .
 In my opinion most rap today is exactly as George The Poet describes it ...a risible parody where dimmed-witted rappers talk about money,ho's ,cars,cognac etc etc etc
Of course ,as GTP says there are exceptions...I love The Roots,Eminem, Common for example....but for the most part rap has dumbed itself down so far it's a joke .

So that is why when I heard George The Poets " The Chicken and The Egg " mini-album back in October last year I immediately sat up and REALLY listened....here was a great new talent with incredible lyrical skills AND a SOCIAL CONSCIENCE ! ! !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3Soy9tSlTM....this is the first track called " If The Shoe Fits " featuring Mega........the album is a " concept " album about unplanned-fatherhood,relationships and the consequences of our actions.....it is,quite simply,BRILLIANT ! You have to listen to the whole album rather than one track to appreciate just how great a body of work it is...BUY IT !

This year GTP has released to outstanding singles....Cat D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJY1XYHaiEY and what is undoubtedly my SINGLE OF THE YEAR so far ,the astonishing " Search Party " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akq2dJ9N5D...... a single which I implore ALL of you to go out and buy....his lyrics are so politically astute,so beautiful..so RELEVANT ! ! This track should be essential listening for everyone who cares about the State of the Tory Nation today...especially young people who's heads are filled the bullshit most rappers spit today

Listening to GTP improves my life,everytime I listen I hear something new in his lyrics .
I can't finish without paying tribute to everyone at Island record for the way they have let GTP develop......it's a brilliant example of old-school ARTIST DEVELOPMENT.....

Listening to GTP gives me hope that there ARE young,innovative,talented Black British artists out there pushing back the boundaries,taking risks......and making incredible new music

I was going to write about 3 other artists but I'll save that for Friday

George The Poet thanks for the music...long may it continue

The Soul Guru

The Soul Guru has new music recommendations for you

Welcome loyal disciples...it's been a while but The Soul Guru works on the principle of  quality rather than quantity so if I haven't got anything to say I don't say anything....simple innit
I'm writing this at 3.45 am...I don't sleep well but I don't care because this is the time I connect with the music I love....
Right now I'm listening to one of the greatest debut albums I've ever heard......ESKA by Eska..it is simply astonishing..........https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReiqlEePYlM
 Released on her own Earthling Recordings label this album is a work of genius and joy....I wish I'd signed her and had the honour of releasing such a great piece of work...it's why I LOVE music and always will .
 The highest compliment I can pay Eska is that she reminds me of Joni Mitchell
 Gilles Petersen called Eska " one of the most important artists in the UK right now "...as usual he's right .
 Another new band I'm really liking are a young London-based collective called Age Of Luna......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guUh4z8S1x0........as a legendary A&R man who signed artists who changed music rather than follow the herd I'm really enjoying seeing such interesting,innovative new artists as Eska and Age Of Luna develop.....I don't think it's a coincidence that both these artists are on independent labels .
 A&R is a tough job...at it's core is Artist Development......my record ( excuse the pun ) is second to none in Artist development...it's about helping an ARTIST DEVELOP....believe it or not ....sadly there's no time for this at the majors nowadays...if your first 2 singles don't happen you're dropped...that's why the independent sector has all the best tunes ...and the best A&Rs
 Another artist whose new album I'm really enjoying is the glorious Andreya Triana's second album " Giants "...also on an independent Counter Records...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li3OzX2Et8k.....Andreya has a great voice ..the album has depth and quality ...she's from Brighton apparently - home of The Soul Guru - I hope she's playing here soon as I've been a fan ever since I heard " A Town Called Obsolete " from her first album....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHNDfMOt700
Finally I can't leave without mentioning The Soul Guru's " Artist Of The Year " for 2014.....Rag 'N' Bone Man.....a truly great artist who IS signed to a major but is being allowed to DEVELOP byJulian Palmer at Columbia Records...he's a friend ( a Hull City fan unfortunately ) so I'm not being a sycophant when I say that I think Rags is one of the most important emerging artists in the UK...his latest EP " Disfigured " is simply brilliant....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7YZtPIzdtM.....his voice and his songs are utterly compelling...I saw him live again last week at The Corn Exchange in Brighton and he was incredible....it was a privilege to be there
 LeftField - the greatest artists I ever signed - have a new album out on June 8th..their first for 16 years...it's astonishing.....they're playing 2 " Sold Out " shows at The Forum in June and I will be there in the middle of the crowd paying homage......here's the first single " Alternative Light Source " from the album " universal Everything ".......ENJOY.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4kwatovztI
Goodnight Disciples........The Soul Guru loves YOU