Blood Orange " Freetown Sound " .......today's featured album

From now on I am going to try to blog about new music I'm really impressed by as often as possible....I'd like more to people to read my posts so I'm going to have a go at promoting The Soul Guru on social media .

Blood Orange's new album " Freetown Sound " is another excellent album that I'm enjoying a lot .
Blood Orange is Dev Hynes latest project following his recordings as Lightspeed Champion and Freetown Sound   is Blood Orange's 3rd album....and unquestionably their best so far following " Coastal Grooves " in 2011 and " Cupid Deluxe " in 2013
Dev was named the " 49th Coolest Person In Rock " by the NME in 2007

" Best Of You " featuring Empress of Lyrics was the first track to be made available on Spotify etc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1giWnKWIDo

The awesome " Augustine " already has over 800,000 Youtube views and is one of my favourite tracks of the year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXtzcViZPGA

check the album out on Spotify...it's well worth it

The Soul Guru
x

Michael Kiwanuka's " Love & Hate " is a truly GREAT Soul album

Michael Kiwanuka's new album " Love & Hate ",released on Communion Records, is a truly great SOUL album.....in my opinion one of the best British Soul albums ever

Michael was raised in that well-known SOUL hotbed Muswell Hill ;-)  and won the BBC's Sound Of 2012 poll

I was a bit disappointed by his debut album " Home Again " released in early 2012...to me it sounded like he needed more time to work on his songs

" Love & Hate " ,released 2 weeks ago,shows that he's spent the intervening 3 years working on his songs....the album is a fabulous collection of great songs ....the lyrics and production are as good as anything I've heard this year ..." Love & Hate " is definitely my album of the year so far .

He's been compared to Otis Redding,Bill Withers,Terry Callier and more but  he reminds me of my idol Marvin Gaye more than anyone .....that's not something I say lightly .

The title track is beautiful.......an 8 minute SOUL opus ,Michael's voice is fantastic as is the production....I wish I'd signed him !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMZ4QL0orw0

" Black Man In A White World " is so relevant today given the state of things in the USA at present....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TYlcVNI2AM

That's what real SOUL music has always done...from Marvin to Gamble & Huff and Gil Scott Heron ..it addresses real issues ...before hip-hop SOUL was the music of social protest......thank you Michael Kiwanuka for bring it back and making SOUL music important again........

The Soul Guru loves YOU
xx

The GENIUS that is Maxwell

Friends,fiends,believers,non-believers and don't knows this week's blog features one of the greatest contemporary SOUL artists who has just released his first album for SEVEN long years.....Gerald Maxwell Rivera...aka Maxwell

Listening to his new album blackSUMMERS'night ,the follow-up to 2009's BLACKsummersnight , the second album of a trilogy , makes me glad to be a SOUL man as it encapsulates all I've loved about SOUL music since Marvin changed my life with " What's Going On " .

I've been a huge fan since Maxwell's seminal debut album " Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite " released back in 1996 . At the time I was A&R Director of Columbia ( the label not the country ;-) ) in the UK so saw him perform at numerous Sony conferences and  in front of a real audiences too - as opposed to Sony executives who must have been the worst audience for any artist to play too .

I've been fortunate to see most of the great SOUL artists live...Marvin at The Albert Hall 1974...Stevie Wonder at his peak many times...Prince - possibly the greatest live performer ever -James Brown ....Maxwell is right up there as a live performer...I was astonished when I saw him for the first time in New York at a Columbia Records showcase ,he was amazing ....I met him afterwards and he was such a lovely guy ,modest but so confident in his talent ,quite rightly .

I've always been drawn to the more enigmatic artists.....Marvin,Curtis Mayfield,Prince,Erykah Badu,to name but a few,and Maxwell is worthy of their company

blackSUMMERS'night features the first single " Lake By The Ocean "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsSu0bRZEHM

It's brilliant....and listening to it it's clear who Frank Ocean's inspiration is !

It's a joy that after a 7 year break Maxwell has returned with a great album,he sounds better than ever,the songs and production are outstanding....do yourself and stream or buy blackSUMMERS'night asap...it will make your life better

The Soul Guru loves YOU
xx

This week's blog features new music from DJ Shadow , River Tiber and Fred V & Grafix ....ENJOY !

Bon Jour mes amis ...ca va  ? ca va bien merci.....The Soul Guru is still en vacances in Juan Les Pins as you can tell . Over the past 2 weeks my schoolboy French has improved a great deal..long-forgotten words suddenly spring to mind and I can just about make myself understood when I'm speaking French....unfortunately I don't have a clue what's being said to me !

So this week I was thrilled to hear DJ Shadow's new album  " The Mountain Will Fall " ,his first album of original material since " The Less You Know,The Better " from 2011 .
I've been a huge fan since his seminal debut album " Entroducing " released on James Lavelle's legendary " Mo' Wax " label 20 ( yes TWENTY ) years ago .
" Entroducing " was an album comprised of almost entirely sampled material and is a landmark in instrumental hip-hop....if you don't know it I recommend you listen as  it still sounds great .
" The Mountain Will Fall " was only released yesterday so I'm still getting to know it...it's on my headphones as I write this ...but I already love " Nobody Speak " featuring the magnificent Run The Jewels and " The Sideshow " featuring Ernie Fresh

Here's a link to Shadow and Run The Jewels performing " Nobody Speak " on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon .

As with all Shadow's work the album has a menacing feel to it...lots of slow,dark,HEAVY beats give some of the tracks a post-Apocalyptic vibe which I love .

I'm looking forward to immersing myself in " The Mountain Will Fall " over the coming weeks as I know more will be revealed ....RECOMMENDED

Next up is Toronto's River Tiber whose excellent new album " Indigo " was also released yesterday . I must confess I don't know a lot about him ,in fact he first came to my attention as a featured artist on Kaytranada's new album .
" Indigo " is his first album as far as I can tell though he has released a couple of EPs previously...his most well-known track is " West " featuring Daniel Caesar ,here's a link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRYl7J31rrg

It's a good example of the mellow electronica that typifies River Tiber's album....I really like it,it's perfect cool laid-back summer music

Finally The Soul Guru has always LOVED a bit of drum & bass and Fred V & Grafix new album " Oxygen " is a great addition to Hospital Records catalogue of uplifting d&b  . Fred V & Grafix come from Devon apparently( ! ) and they released their first album  " Recognise " in 2014 .
Here's a link to " Ultraviolet " from " Oxygen....it already has nearly 250,000 views !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyDa-D19hN0

My favourite track is " Like The Sun " ,link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mg3zTe3M3s

Talking of liking the sun it's time for me to climb aboard my trusty sunbed and listen to music....a bien tots touts les monde

The Soul Guru loves YOU x

New music ... Kaytranada,Fhin and Cassius from my sunbed in France

Good morning disciples,believers,non-believers and don't knows ...or rather Bon Jour as The Soul Guru is currently en vacances in Juan Les Pins on the glorious Cote D'Azur ....

Today's post features some exceptional new music as usual.....

Let's start with one of today's hottest Producers - KAYTRANADA- and his new album 99.9% . Kaytranada is a Haitian-born electronic musician/producer who has been making excellent music since 2010,initially as Kaytradamus, and since 2013 as Kaytranada.....extremely prolific as well as talented 99.9% is his first album as an artist on XL Recordings...the label that can do no wrong at present .
Featuring a who's who of collaborators...Anderson Paak,AlunaGeorge,Craig David ( who is brilliant on " Got It Good " ), and Little Dragon amongst others ...99.9% is a great collection of contemporary electronic music .

Here's a link to " Bus Ride " featuring Karriem Riggins and River Tiber

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AWipr9KHY4

and here's a link to my favourite track " Glowed Up " featuring Anderson Paak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaWesK-nWts&list=RDyaWesK-nWts#t=0

IF THE LINKS DON'T WORK GO TO YOUTUBE AND YOU WILL FIND THE VIDEOS BY SEARCHING KAYTRANADA.....

99.9% is the perfect album for Summer 2016 !

Next up is an artist who I hadn't heard of until last week......Fhin whose EP " A Crack In The Eyes " has just been released . I don't know anything about him...I think he's French...but his modern melodic and minimalist electronic music is beautiful.......here's a link to " Your Heart Sounds Like " from the EP which is a great introduction to his music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbBYE5IgPPE

and my favourite track " But Now A Warm Feel Is Running "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9y22-aoNCg

Enjoy !

Finally I'm really excited because the Mighty Cassius have a new album " Ibifornia " due in August . Cassius are Phillippe Zdar and Boom Bass ...a French House /Dance /Alternative duo who have been making music The Soul Guru loves since 1999 and just get better and better .
Ibifornia features collaborations with Cat Pwer and Pharrell Williams ,Cat Power and Mike D and Ryan Tedder ......here's a link to " Go Up" featuring Cat Power and Pharrell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEo2AtKl9RI

and here'a " Action " featuring Cat power and Mike D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA0z0b7tNLg

Cassius's " I Love Techno " compilation from 2011 is still frequently on my stereogram as is Skream's remix of " I Love You So " ....here's a link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVgGte6vlic

That's all for now...a bien tot as they say here ....enjoy the music...you can follow me on Twitter @TheSoulGuru...on Instagram The Soul Guru and Facebook......

The Soul Guru Loves YOU and in this troubled world please spread LOVE

x

Robert Glasper/ Miles Davis ..Samm Henshaw,Age of L.U.N.A....The Soul Guru's first Spotify playlist

Good morning disciples ,sceptics,non-believers and " I don't knows "...once again it's been a while since I last posted ....
This blog is called " Music For The Soul " and this week features some outstanding SOUL music along with jazz and rap...

Without a doubt the album I am most looking forward to is the  Robert Glasper's re-working of  some of the legendary Miles Davis' tracks.....so far the track " Maiysha " featuring Erykah Badu is available to listen to on Spotify...and Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bstfOqQhW48

The album " Everything Is Beautiful " is available tomorrow and features some of Miles' most well-known pieces re-interpreted by Robert Glasper and a host of Soul,Hip-Hop and Jazz greats.....highlights include " Ghetto Walkin' " with Miles ,Robert Glasper and Bilal...it's superb ...." Violtes " featuring Phonte , " They Can't Hold Me Down " featuring Illa J........all available to listen to on Spotify now

If you're not familiar with Robert Glasper's work his " Black radio " album is a CLASSIC


I've a huge fan of samm Henshaw for sometime now....he's a great talent....a British SOUL man of the highest quality.....his latest release " Our Love " is one of my favourite tracks of the year.....a great song, great vocals and an authentic 70's SOUL feel...in fact I'm sure fans of Northern Soul will appreciate the four-on-the-floor beat and exuberance.....HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5-8dffKBoY

Next up is another young UK band who I've written about before....Age Of L.U.N.A....managed by my old friend Kwame Kwaten they are a supremely gifted UK collective whose music combines SOUL and Hip-Hop to great effect...their new single " Sweetness " is available to stream now on Spotify...I love it...it reminds me of The Ohio Players ..

Finally the most important news of the year....The Soul Guru created his first Spotify playlist yesterday.....it's amazing of course....it's available to hear on Spotify at The Soul Guru,on Twitter @TheSoulGuru and on Facebook on my timeline..please follow me on Spotify if you like it....I'm sure you will

The Soul Guru loves YOU

xx

This weeks's new music recommendations....Anderson.Paak,Snakehips and Samm Henshaw

Greetings disciples....The Soul Guru is back in indecent haste with 3 more outstanding new music recommendations....in fact I'm just like a London bus....you don't hear from me for 6 weeks then 2 come along at once....

Even though I'm not as young as I was ( who is ? ) my passion for NEW music still burns as brightly as it did 35 years ago when I joined Virgin Records as the first UK A&R employed specifically to sign British Black Music .
Consequently  listen to new music all the time but also listen when people whose taste I respect recommend I listen to a particular artist ...when 2 people tell me I know it's time .

Julian Palmer  ( Columbia/Sony Senior A&R ) and me have been friends,fellow A&R's and long-suffering fans of " small " football clubs for many years...he's got excellent taste !
Callum Clark has been my son for over 22 years , poor guy :-)
What do they have in common ?
In the past 6 weeks they've both recommended I listen to Anderson.Paak......I'm so glad I took their advice as his album " Malibu " released January this year is ,quite simply,one of the best albums I've heard this year .
Anderson Paak ,aka Breezy Lovejoy , is a 30-year old Californian singer and rapper whose combination of NeoSoul,Hip-Hop and Funk is utterly compelling.....here's a link to " Am I Wrong " featuring ScHoolboy Q from the " Malibu " album ( I hope the link works )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvPeJLcK2Lk

He's signed to Dr Dre's " Aftermath Entertainment "  and performed 6 tracks on Dre's " Compton " album ....and despite being late to the party The Soul Guru is happy to give Anderson.Paak a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Now we come to an outstanding British electro/R&B outfit making great music ( and signed by the aforementioned Julian Palmer to Columbia Records )....Snakehips -  my nickname on the dancefloor 40-odd,in fact very odd,years ago :-)
They first came to attention via remixes for The Weeknd and Banks
e
Their MASSIVE breakthrough came last year with the quintessential 2016  anthem " All My Friends "...a truly great track  ( which has over 20,000,000 youtube views )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3mrYxPLSH4

On April 1st the " Money On Me EP " featuring Anderson.Paak,Malika and Troy Lanez dropped....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS-fXMwMeDo
Again it's great combination of electro/R&B beats and excellent vocals....Callum will be dancing to this all summer I'm sure :-)

Samm Henshaw's first EP " The Sound Experiment " Vol 1 remains one of my favourite debut collection of songs in the last year....released in September last year I wrote about him as a potentially very significant new SOUL artist
" The Sound Experiment " Vol 2 is released next month...I haven't heard it yet but I'll stake my reputation ( not much I admit ) on it being a another great collection of SOUL songs...as soon as I get the EP I will write about it
Samm starts a tour on May 25th in London...The Soul Guru will DEFINITELY be there

That's enough for this week....I hope you enjoy the music
The Soul Guru loves YOU xx