" Deluxe " versions of albums are a fucking joke

Morning disciples,fiends  and enemies......The Soul Guru is angry,agitated,pissed-off.....it's not a good place for a Guru to be !

Why am I so angry ,agitated and pissed-off ? I'll tell you why...........

" Deluxe " versions of previously released albums featuring " bonus tracks " and remixes being released for the Christmas market by major labels who are too stupid to sign and develop new artists.....

If the best they can do is ad 6 tracks to Jake Bugg/Jason Day/Disclosure ( my pet hate )  Ed Sheeran etc albums to reheat a salad that went cold in June then I pity them.....

Please fiends don't buy into the major label marketing bullshit...it's a blatant attempt to exploit the consumer

Fuck I'm angry and pissed-off.................but I'm going to Goa to reset my mind

The Soul Guru loves YOU
xox

The new Disclosure album is terrible...Kelela's new EP is brilliant ....Clark & McGee Ltd

Dear disciples
                       I'm sorry that it's been so long.......I've been busy with my great friend Alan McGee starting a label...Clark & McGee Ltd.....and negotiating with WarnerADA to bring our new music to you .....Alan and me are 2 of the greatest A&Rs of our generation.....we signed Oasis,Soul II Soul,Primal Scream,Leftfield ...bands that influenced music and had a huge effect on your lives.....as the legendary perma-tanned " Big " Ron Atkinson said when he became manager of Manchester United " I promise results not promises "......but enough of my vanity ...for now
 I bought ( I buy all my music ) Disclosure's new album with some trepidation......I'd heard " Holding On " featuring Gregory Porter
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVN6FqPpChQ
 " Magnets " featuring Lorde....and I wasn't impressed by either ....I'm a huge fan of Gregory but I just thought he was being used by Howard and Guy Lawrence to increase their " Soul Credentials " without having any understanding of what SOUL music is...just another name to add to the depressingly familiar list of " guest " vocalists....hello Sam " rent a vocal " Smith...
 As for " Magnets " featuring Lorde...........Lord help us
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_KfnGBtVeA
 To me Disclosure embody all that is wrong with the UK music business.....their productions are all the same...dodgy two-step beats to begin with then formulaic " BIG " faux drum & bass breakdowns creating fake " euphoria " in a predictable EMD formula featuring big " guest " artists.......music for people with no wit or imagination
Howard and Guy are probably very nice lads who love their computers and have a vast archive of GREAT drum & bass  - Grooverider ,Goldie, Bukem,Roni Size,DJ Rap - to listen to .......but there's a world of difference between listening and knowing
Caracal is a mediocre album but Disclosure will be " smashing it " it at festivals next summer and making a fortune....

From the mediocre to the truly brilliant.....Kelela has a new EP "Hallucinogen " just released on the mighty Warp label...it's just brilliant ...just watch the video to " Rewind "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py6PgXq0yDM
Kelela is an original unique artist making music that is doesn't give a fuck about boring ,formulaic trends - hello Disclosure - as far as I'm concerned she is one of the most compelling artists around....do your self a favour and BUY " Hallucinogen " .....it will improve your life...I GUARANTEE it

The Soul Guru is back with his great friend - and the best rock A&R man this country has ever produced - Alan McGee ....we heard you missed us.....well we're back !
The Soul Guru loves......YOU 

New British Music Recommendations including Dornik,Michelle O'Faith,Willow Robinson.....and Mick Clark & Alan McGee

Greetings....apologies for the delay but I've been meditating on the meaning of life....I concluded it's a combination of music,football and girls......but I've never been able to meditate as I have washing machine head....I just get my brain to go quiet then " Take That To The Bank " by Shalamar comes on in my head

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiKvo_9feC4

This week I'm going to tell you about 3 young British artists I rate very highly.....artists that I believe have exceptional talent.......I'm also going to tell you something about 2 of the greatest A&R men this country has Produced...one Soul,Dance and Electronic....the other the greatest rock A&R this country has produced

Dornik has been described as " South London's answer to Frank Ocean " by none less than The Guardian.....this track shows why

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj7AOYwo8vA

 " Drive "is taken from his recently released album.....Dornik
Starting out as Jesse Ware's drummer Dornik has created a brilliant modern British Soul album full of great songs beautifully presented.....I love the album's fresh original approach...not the standard generic music that the industry churns out week after week.....
It's a much better album than Jesse Ware's ....HIGHLY RECOMENDED

I wrote about Michelle O'Faith's first single a few months ago....a unique single that sounded like a contemporary Kate Bush with it's great lyrics and outstanding vocals....well she's back with another track that is every bit as good if not better.....White Lies Red Wine ...what a great title !

https://soundcloud.com/michelleofaith/white-lies-red-wine-1

It's genius.....I signed innovative artists who didn't worry about defying convention,they just made music that they knew was special....Michelle does that...I think she will be HUGE

Another new artist that I predict will have a long and very successful career is Willow Robinson...his Dad wrote Withnail & I ...true ! ! I can't be too specific right now but I have to declare a personal interest in Willow....21 years old....great songwriter,fabulous guitarist with a voice reminiscent of the great Paul Rodgers of Free and Bad Company fame......he's been recording with the legend that is Youth and reactions are brilliant...hopefully he will have his first EP out early 2016

Finally the great A&R men are Mick Clark ( aka The Soul Guru ) and the legendary Alan McGee...we are both exceptional A&R who recognise,sign,develop and support artists who make outstanding music.....our skills are not diminished by age....we make GREAT records.....look out for an announcement soon......don't call it a comeback

Dr Dre , Robyn,Warren G

Good morning disciples....The Soul Guru is back with some great new music.

 First of all I'd like to thank all of you a who have taken the time to read my last post....wasn't it brilliant ?

 So this week's post features an artist I LOVE so much and wrote about last week.....Robyn
 An artist and Producer whose influence on music cannot be overestimated...the incredible Dr Dre
 And an artist who made one of the GREAT records of the '90's ...Warren G

I wrote about Robyn's collaboration with the late Christian Falk " Dream On " ....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypQtJ8z6q5o....one of the best tracks of the year...just genius

This week saw the release of the EP by Robyn and La Bagatelle Magique " Love Is Free "....here's a the title track featuring Maluca.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D73qvPTxIcg.....
Robyn is one of the most talented,unique, and important female artists in the world.....NO concessions,no compromises.....I'd love to meet her one day to talk about her music........she's just brilliant and the EP is brilliant...I LOVE it !

Next up is a true legend....a man who truly changed the sound of contemporary music.........Dr Dre ....he makes very good headphones too :-)
His work with Snoop,Eminem,The Game and Kendrick Lamar changed all our lives....
His new album " Compton " is a concept album about.....Compton
Featuring a who's who of Rap Gods ...Snoop , Ice Cube,Eminem, Kendrick Lamar , Xzhibit ......it's a fantastic body of work ....this Medicine Man featuring Eminem at his incendiary best....it's fucking brilliant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNcqd1UwlmU

This is " Genocide " featuring Kendrick Lamar......again just brilliant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxu46gSzpEg

Rap has became the music of social protest from the street......but too often recently it has become a parody of itself " ho's,bitches,money, money " etc......homophobic and misogynist crap.....
" Compton " is a BIG step in the right direction......

Finally Warren G whose " Regulate " from 1995 is one of the GREAT defining West Coast G-Funk tracks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1plPyJdXKIY

I LOVE it

He has a new EP " Regulate G Funk Era Pt II "
This is My House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iETHbo2TY7E

It's not as good as " Regulate "...what could be ? But I'm glad he's back because " Regulate " made my life better

That's all for this week disciples
The Soul Guru loves YOU
Until next week...adios amigos
x

It's alI about strong independent brilliant female artists today.....

Greetings from The Soul Guru....I heard you missed me....well I'm back !
I've been trekking round Brighton,searching for my inner self....I didn't find him but I enjoyed the pier and OhSoSocial.......
 For me any new music from Robyn is a cause for celebration....her collaboration with Royksopp last year on the Monument EP was definitely one of the best things I heard .....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btBSxtKzF6Q
What is it about Robyn I love so much ? She's a brilliant totally unique artist who defies convention and clearly doesn't give a fuck what anyone thinks of her.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7975tw0EJA
 She's a genius and her new colaboartion with the late Christian Falk " Dream On " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypQtJ8z6q5o is just so fucking great it makes my heart sing.....in a world where most female artist are presented as brainless sex objects - Rita Ora ,Rhianna are great role models aren't they ? ...sleep with Calvin Harris...get your tits out ...BOOM...you're successful but have lost any shred of dignity ...a word they probably can't spell let alone understand .
 The reason I LOVE Robyn is because she never compromises....Hang With Me is one of the greatest records ever made https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83vhhEQIRy0

So talking of brilliant unique female artists I am so happy that Jessy Lanza has a new EP on the best label in the world....Hyperdub.....if you don't know who Hyperdub is then get on itunes NOW and buy all their music...Burial,Kode 9 and Spaceape. are just a couple of their amazing artists...but King Midas Sound are my favourite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RYP4WIA5Po....
 Jessy Lanza's new EP "You Never Show Your Love "  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83vhhEQIRy0 is just behind Robyn as my record of the year.....
 Her album last year " Pull My Hair Back " is genius....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkGZr50rXqc.........

Last but by no means least is the totally BRILLIANT Punk Silent Movie Star ....I can't share her music yet but believe me when I say that her music is amazing...her personal story is incredible...it's not for me to share the details but suffice to say that this is one tough lady.....she's just won the biggest battle any of will ever face...she's also a great friend,someone I've known for over 25 years ...I love her and her music so much...she's an inspiration to all of us....

That's all folks....the Soul Guru loves YOU
x

This week's new music recommendations ....featuring Raleigh Ritchie,Leo Kaylan,Samm Henshaw

Good morning afternoon or evening to all you disciples of The Soul Guru......you're all welcome ,come on in .
Last week's blog reached over 1,000 people for the first time...I'm truly grateful .
This blog is written from the heart ...it's called " Music For The Soul " because music is SO important to me..it's not " product " it's ART and I am in awe of the talented musicians who create the music I enjoy and write about .

This week I continue to celebrate the re-birth of great,original and inspiring British Black Music by writing about 3 artists who I truly believe are headed for great things....as long as their labels allow them to develop in their own time and express themselves without pressure to conform to any stereotype .......

The first artist I'm going to talk about is not a " new " artist per se , in fact he's one of the world's most recognised actors ....Raleigh Ritchie aka Grey Worm from Game Of Thrones
Ritchie ( Jacob Anderson ) is from Bristol ...the Detroit Of The West Country ...and released his first EP ,The Middle Child, 2 years ago on Columbia Records .
Since then he has released 2 more EPs which I really liked as they sounded original and fresh...his recent release " The Greatest "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiqF9KRgyck
is his fierce and has had over half a million views on youtube...now he has collaborated with  Kendrick Lamar's Producer Sounwave to create " Never Say Die "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X46GfIkjhJg
it's his best yet..truly brilliant ........
Respect is paid in full to Columbia Records for letting him develop at his own pace ..and to Julian Palmer for great A&R

Next up is a superb new artist called Leo Kalyan who I first heard late last year on this excellent track " Full Circle "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv0_nEXf70c......please take a listen....
I must confess I don't know a lot about him other than I really like his music....
He has a new track " Fingertips " due imminently via Believe that I'm listening to via soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/leokalyan/fingertips.......it's such a great song ,beautifully produced and performed.....remember where you read about him first !

Last but no means least  I'd like to introduce you to a GENIUS......a young man called Samm Henshaw who reminds me of Curtis Mayfield ...and I cannot pay a higher compliment than that...

Go to his the Soundcloud page  https://soundcloud.com/sammhenshaw for incontrevertible proof that we are in the presence of  SOUL greatness here .....
He's playing The Courtyard in Shoreditch tonight and supporting James Bay on his autumn tour...if I were James Bay I'd be really worried because Samm will blow him away ....
Here's a taste of Samm live...this track " Better " is just being serviced to the blogosphere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y24s_7K7YOw

So there you have it...3 more new British artists making exceptional,original music for the SOUL...I hope you enjoy the music
The Soul Guru loves YOU x

This week's new music recommendations...featuring Leftfield,Typesun and Noah Francis Johnson

Good morning disciples...The Soul Guru is here to recommend more fresh new music that I think you will enjoy .....

I was fortunate to sign a lot of great artists whose music had a profound effect on future generations of musicians....Soul II Soul,Inner City,Mantronix,Loose Ends,DJ Rap,Grooverider to name but a few .
However the band I signed that had the most profound effect on music was definitely the one-and-only.......LEFTFIELD
I am yet to meet anyone who doesn't LOVE " Leftism "....in my opinion one of the Top 50 Best Albums Ever Made.....but then I may be biased as I had the honour of releasing it .
As I sit here I am listening to " Alternative Light Source "...LeftField's first new album for 16 years ......and I'm so happy to say it's amazing...especially " Head and Shoulders " featuring Sleaford Mods
LeftField now are essentially Neil Barnes and long-time sonic collaborator Ads .....it's as if they'd never been away .
 I guess that Leftfield were so ahead of their time that 16 years later they sound absolutely contemporary,relevant and VITAL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4kwatovztI.........Universal Everything was the first track made available from Alternative Light Source and it's everything that I love about Leftfield....I can't wait to hear it live at The Forum this Friday when I'm taking my sons Jamie,23, and Callum ,21, to witness Leftfield live....we'll be right at the front going mental...I can't wait

If you love electronic music buy this brilliant album today....please

Next up is another artist I've had the pleasure of working with.....Typesun ( aka Luke Harney ) from the Detroit of The West Country.....Bristol .
Typesun are probably best known for the seminal track " The PL " featuring vocals by Raleigh Ritchie ( Grey Worm in Game Of Thrones ) that Gilles Peterson called one of the tracks of the year when it was released in December 2013
It's been a while but the new EP with Icebergs featuring Alison Garner plus the sublime Water Song featuring Alex Rita plus a Seven Arrows remix of Icebergs has made the wait so worthwhile...Typesun is a supremely gifted composer,musician,producer who creates music that is ethereal,cerebral ,melodic and hypnotic......I love this EP and urge you to check it out then BUY it

As an aside I BUY all my music....if I spend my money on something and I'm disappointed by it I feel I have the right to say so...if you get something for free then I don't think you have the right to criticise......and from my experience people rarely value things they get for free....free=having no value=disposable,worthless.....

Finally another artist I signed to Sony back in 1998 I think.....Noah Francis Johnson ....I signed him and his partner Raine as a band called Johnson and they recorded a really good album " Hard Mouth To Feed " Produced by Andrew Hale from Sade.
Unfortunately it wasn't successful...but it still sounds great today

Noah has a new single " Set A Fire " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmuBD4dRZPc....from his forthcoming album Tigerbay ...and it's the best thing he's ever done...he describes it as " a prayer " and once you listen you'll understand...it's a beautiful song...check it out

OK ..that's it for this week....I hope you enjoy these blogs and the music I recommend....never forget....the Soul Guru loves YOU
xx