The Fedz...The most significant British Black Music Collective since Soul II Soul

 I write this blog because I LOVE music ...especially all types of  British Black Music,Electronic ,Drum & Bass and Hip-Hop ( aka Rap/Grime ;-) )  ( I loathe EDM and all that crap ) .

 In my long and illustrious career I was fortunate enough to sign Loose Ends,Soul II Soul,Maxi Priest,Leftfield,Grooverider and more unique innovative acts who shared a simple common denominator...they made great original music that changed the perception of British music all over the world .

I signed Soul II Soul 28 years ago ....it seems like yesterday....and in the intervening years I haven't heard another artist/band or collective who come close to having the same impact musically and culturally ....until 6 weeks ago when my great friend  Garfield Hackett sent me a video by The Fedz to their debut track " What's My Name "....I was blown away 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-e9O4ti0Swsh Black Music

Since then I've heard 6 more tracks and been to the studio to meet the man behind the project  the LEGENDARY Dennis Bovell ,and one of his co-collaborators ,the mysteriously named Q .

For those of you youngsters unfamiliar with Dennis's  history he was bass player in iconic British reggae band Matumbi and was a long-time collaborator with the great Linton Kwesi Johnson...my personal favourite album of his is his incredible collaboration with Steve Mason " Ghosts Outside "

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9j7cUnkka8

The Fedz are simply brilliant...a true collaboration,a collective meeting of incredibly talented musicians dedicated to creating outstanding music.....I'm lucky as I've heard the music...suffice to say that it's the best British Black Music I've heard since Soul II Soul....and I've never said that before 

The collective have an amazing vocalist..Karmie ( forgive me if I got the spelling wrong Karmie ) whose voice is unbelievable...effortlessly soaring with clear and precise diction .

The songs are brilliant ...real songs with real melodies ,great lyrics and choruses.....wait til you hear " Imagine " 

Mista Jam and Clara Ampho are on the new track " Best I Ever Had " and it was featured on Steve Lamacq's " Round Table " show on 6 music yesterday

The Fedz gonna be HUGE.....get onboard now !

New music from Frank Ocean,Mac Miller and Danny Brown

Apologies  to all you believers,non-believers and don't knows....The Soul Guru has been listening to a lot of new music but  I haven't felt inspired to write about a lot of it as the majority of what I heard was just mediocre rubbish .
 However there exceptions...but not always for the right reasons.....
Once I heard Frank Ocean's brilliant first releases in 2011 ,Novocane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMfPJT4XjAI

and Swim Good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmN9rZW0HGo

then his phenomenal debut album " Channel Orange ", in 2012 I believed he could be a worthy contemporary successor to Marvin Gaye due to his intensely honest and personal lyrics .
In August this year Frank Ocean released his second studio album " Blonde " . I was so excited....bought it the day it came out and settled down to listen to more great music .
To begin with I was confused by the album but thought if I stuck with it more would be revealed ....after a month of listening I came to the conclusion that far from being a work of genius it was pretentious self-important rubbish.....just like Terence Tent D'Arby's dreadful second album " Neither Fish Nor Fowl " .
He obviously didn't have a label or A&R guy strong enough to tell him the truth about the album .
Blonde is a MAJOR disappointment

I love it when folk introduce me to new music ...especially when either of my sons - Jamie and Callum- play me something I really like .
I was staying with Jamie a couple of weeks ago and he said " Dad have you heard Mac Miller's new album " The Divine Feminine " ? I'd heard tracks from his 2015 album " GO:OD AM " ...100 Grandkids being especially memorable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDCoM1x7U38

The Divine Feminine is a great listen,a collection of excellent  contemporary songs featuring Anderson.Paak on the brilliant " Dang " ! A classic dancefloor filler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR3GQfryp9M

and " We " featuring Cee-Lo-Green

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL--KSNxfy8

The Divine Feminine is HIGHLY recommended

Last but certainly by no means least is Danny Brown whose terrific new album Atrocity Exhibition is truly outstanding
His last 2 albums , XXX from 2011 and Old from 2013 earned Danny a lot of critical acclaim but in my opinion Atrocity Exhibition has put him the Premier League of MCs...tracks like " Really Doe " featuring the ubiquitous Kendrick Lamar , Ab-Soul and Earl Sweatshirt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spfsdpuvUyQ

and Pneumonia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs-Dc3_eiV8

demonstrate an artist who has developed over time and is now at the peak of his powers....once again HIGHLY recommended

The Soul Guru loves YOU
xx