The GENIUS that is Moodymann,the SUBLIME Submotion Orchestra ,the BRILLIANT Beady Belle....Scorcese & Jagger's " Vinyl "

Friends, disciples, non-believers and sceptics The Soul Guru is back to enrich your lives by recommending some  truly amazing music but unfortunately at present my links aren't working but please read on if you love music...this is my role...to spread love and open your ears to music you may not be aware  of.......it's good for you to make the effort to check out the music I recommend

I have been in love with the music of Kenny Dixon Jnr aka MOODYMANN ever since I heard his first album " Silentintroduction " in 1997.....from 1998 through 2004 his albums "Mahogany Brown " " Forevernevermore " " Silence In The Secret Garden " ( my personal favourite ) " Black Mahogani " and " Black Mahogani II " were rarely off my stereogram.....these albums are an amazing collection of samples,sounds,beats.....Moodymann didn't just moved the goalposts...he changed the whole game...out of Detroit but not Techno his music continues to entrance and beguile me when ever I listen....I'm listening to " Forevernevermore " as I write this and ,as usual,I find it inspiring,uplifting.....and beautiful .

On February 9th this year Moodymann's DJ Kicks compilation was made available...I had looked forward to it for weeks......suffice to say it's every bit as brilliant as I hoped.....individual tracks from Andres,Beady Belle ( more about her later ) ,Big Muff, Flying Lotus and Jose Gonzalez plus an 80 minute continuous mix which is truly brilliant ......

The DJ Kicks series is,in my opinion,consistently the best DJ compilation series ....the Kruder & Dorfmeister mix is a CLASSIC as is Maya  Jane Coles and Nina Kraviz.....

Moodymann is a  GENIUS...listen up NOW !

The second new album I bought this week....BOUGHT not illegally downloaded...is Submotion Orchestra's  " Colour Theory ".....I've been a big fan since I heard their debut album " Finest Hour " in 2011.....I vaguely seeing them live at The Big Chill but I was dazed and confused at the time so it's a bit sketchy...

The new album is a fabulous body of work as opposed to just a collection of songs...there's a big difference between the two 

I wish I new more about the new album  ...it features some guest vocalists...Billy Boothroyd, Andrew Ashong,Ed Thomas.....that combine to make something really wonderful....they are touring from next week...playing Brighton Concorde 2 on Saturday March 12th....I wouldn't miss it for the world.....please take time to listen as it will make your life better

Last but DEFINITELY by no means least I come to tell you about a band  I'd never heard of until I heard their fabulous track " When My Anger Starts To Cry " track on Moodymann's DJ Kicks album....Norway's Beady Belle

One of the greatest joys I have in my life is when I discover, or someone introduces me,to new music that immediately enriches my life.....so thank you Moodymann for doing just that .

I've had to do some serious research here ......Beady Belle were formed in Oslo in 199 by Beate S. Lech  and Marius Reksjo....they have released 7 albums including last year's  " Songs From A Decade - The Best Of Beady Belle " which I am listening to and loving a lot .

I think Jazz/Electronica is the best way of describing their sound....Beate has a brilliant voice...the songs are excellent..the production is TIGHT.... HIGHLY recommended

Scorcese and Jagger's " Vinyl " is brilliant...the new Spinal Tap....Monday 9pm Sky Atlantic...you CANNOT miss this Rock& Roll EPIC

The Soul Guru will return with his links working very soon...meanwhile....The Soul Guru loves YOU xx

Outstanding new music from ,Lineage,Raleigh Ritchie and Willow Robinson

Good morning,afternoon or evening friends,disciples,cynics and non-believers.....The Soul Guru does not judge...he loves all of you

One of the great things about being The Soul Guru is that friends trust me with their new music so I get to listen and enjoy much earlier than most folk.....the thrill of getting a new album or track has never diminished and never will........as The O'Jays sang so gloriously.......I LOVE MUSIC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_1s2UFc_z8

I will begin with the brilliant Lineage whose album I truly love.......multicultural hip-hop with it's roots in Ireland...here is what Alex O'Brien ( founder and key member ) told me :
Lineage is a multicultural hip-hop group made of 3 MC's and 1 DJ :
Alex O'Brien ( Irish )
Miquel Ahumada ( Spain )
Cain ( France )
DJ jus Me ( USA )

Been together 6 years playing and working with a variety of artist including Maverick Sabre....an artist I really like a lot incidentally
Their debut album " From Here And There " is a an amazing body of work...with a traditional Irish feel plus with superb Urban beats
Lineage write produce and mix all their own material in their own studio....I LOVE this album and with Alex's blessing you can hear it here ...

https://soundcloud.com/lineageofficialband/sets

Next up is Bristolian Jacob Anderson aka Raleigh Ritchie but probably most well known as Grey Worm from Game Of Thrones...a character I think is brilliant :-)
Signed to Columbia Records and A&R'd by a friend whose skills I greatly admire and a devoted Hull City fan....Julian Palmer
The first time I heard Jacob was on Typesun's brilliant " The PL " released in December 2013 ..one of the GREAT records, played by Gillies Peterson many times....he called it one of the tracks of the year...quite rightly
Jacob is now known as Raleigh Ritchie for his musical career and his debut album is out later this month I think....I've been listening to it non-stop since I got it and it is a great album....RR is a superb vocalist, his lyrics are SO good " Stronger Than Ever " is my personal favourite but there so many great tracks
Here's the video to " Stronger Than Ever "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoyMvE5g7f8

This is a fantastic album......HIGHLY recommended to all of you

Last but DEFINITELY not least is a young man called Willow Robinson.....I have to say I have a vested interest as he is the first signing to me and my partner Alan McGee's " Clark & McGee Ltd " label.....Alan discovered him living next door to him ...true
His first single " Stones " is now finished,mixed and mastered...the video will be finished next week and we hope for a release in early May....I can't share it at present but trust me....it's " fucking brilliant " as my son Callum said

That's it for this week...The Soul Guru knows and loves music.....and he loves you too
Spread Love x

New music from Lafawndah,Wiz Khalifa and the genius of Octave One

Friends, Romans and countrymen....I come here celebrate great new music and to praise it.....music is ART..it's IMPORTANT.....it's NOT product to be taken for granted...to be acquired and enjoyed  for free and it's NOT disposable...

After last week's post about the mighty Massive Attack,Underworld and Leftfield the focus is on a 3 artists....the amazing Lafawndah...the great Wiz Khalifa .....and the INCREDIBLE,GLORIOUS Octave One who have taken Techno to a different planet......

Disciples,followers,non-believers and cynics ( you're the worst ) I'm talking NEW music....

Lafawndah's new EP " Tan ".....I LOVE it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TicX8IcImtE

Lafawndah....raised in Paris,grew up in Tehran and Iran and now lives in New York....a very eclectic life that is beautifully expressed on the 4 track EP " Tan "
In collaboration with L-Vis 1990,Tamer Fahri and Nick Weiss of Teengirl Fantasy Lafawndah has created something exciting,unique...impossible to categorise so don't bother trying...just enjoy !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC6JQlIhQsA

Next up is Wiz Khalifa whose new album " Khalifa " dropped this week......like Kendrick , Wiz is a lyrical king with a great easy flow that I like a lot...here's the first track BTS.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU7N6SloCXE

Cameron Jibril Thomaz ( aka Wiz Khalifa ) is a consumate rapper.....intelligent,thoughtful,insightful...
I'm a 60 year-old white guy so I wouldn't presume to be " street " or have any shared experiences with the youth of today....but I recognise  outstanding Soul,Electronic,Drum & Bass and HIP-HOP ( as we used to call it ;-) ).....Khalifa is a really good body of work that sits together perfectly as an album...and I LIKE that ......featuring a group  of collaborators including Rico Love,Courtney Noelle , Ty Dolla Sign amongst others this is rap for the new generation....HIGHLY recommended

So finally we come to the GENIUS that is Octave One.....the greatest techno artists EVER I think....Atlanta-based brothers Lenny and Lawrence Burden have made some of the greatest records ever....Blackwater featuring Ann Saunderson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmg_DtZ0Scw

and current club SMASH " Jazzo " ( Paul Woolford rework )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmg_DtZ0Scw

They recently played live with members of the Tonhalle Philharmonic of Zurich....you MUST watch this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlxL1rdNqFM

It's amazing,incredible,unbelievable....one of the greatest things you will EVER see

My great friend Neil Rushton introduced me to Octave One ....Neil took me to Detroit in the early 1980's to meet 3 young guys making this new music called " Techno "....Kevin Saunderson,Juan Atkins and Derrick May ....the rest is true music HISTORY as I released a double album called " Techno -The New Dance Sound Of Detroit " featuring amongst others Inner City

Now thanks to Neil I am working with Octave One and I am so happy,so grateful....and so honoured....there will be AMAZING new Octave One projects soon....I'm lucky coz I've heard one of them...that's why I'm The Soul Guru

The Soul Guru LOVES you

Age ain't nuthin but a number ...Massive Attack and Underworld better than ever

 Good Morning disciples,followers and non-believers...you are all welcome here in the church of the poisoned mind .

On January 11th this year I celebrated 2 very special occasions :
January 11th 1956...The Soul Guru enters the world
January 11th 1981...The Soul Guru joins Virgin Records as first UK A&R employed specifically to sign British Black Music

If you're no good a maths that means The Soul Guru was 60 and has been A&R-ing for 35 years...not bad for a shy boy from Gloucestershire who fell in love with SOUL music aged 10......so I'm 50 years a SOUL boy too...and immensely proud of it

The reason I say this is because age is the subject of today's sermon....or rather the meaningless of age ......because
AGE AIN'T NUTHIN BUT A NUMBER WHEN IT COMES TO GREAT MUSIC

Last week I bought new music from Massive Attack and Underworld....2 of the seminal bands from the 80's and 90's...and both sound every bit as relevant today as they did then

Massive Attack's " Ritual Spirit " EP is their first new music for 5 years and it is,quite simply,astonishingly BRILLIANT
Featuring collaborations with Azekel,Roots Manuva,Young Fathers and Tricky with 3D ...video to " Take It There " featuring Tricky and 3D is amazing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWSt_q7M3zI

Massive Attack have been a constant in my life for 30 years and it's a joy to hear them making great music still.......

Underworld have also been a constant in my life for 30 years.....EVERYONE knows their classic " Born Slippy " from 1996
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw1J2XGh86Y

Their new album " Barbara Barbara We Face A Shining Future "...surely album title of the year...is due in March but the first track " I Exhale " is just great...CLASSIC Underworld
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvU8wuXQgE8

Along with Leftfield's triumphant return after 16 years away with the excellent " Alternative Light Source " album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4kwatovztI

Massive Attack and Underworld have been creating brilliant,unique,challenging music for 30 years....how many of today's new " artists " will be doing that in 30 years ? ? ?

The mainstream music business is ageist...I know from personal experience I was written off 10 years ago as a has-been .....well guess what ? I'm back at 60 and about to show everyone just how great I am...I KNOW what A&R is and I've still got great ears...that will NEVER change

The Soul Guru loves YOU
x

The 4th contender for The Soul Guru's album of the year.....Leftfield " Alternative Light Source "

The 4th contender for my album of the year is very close to my heart because I had the honour and privilege of signing LEFTFIELD to Columbia Records ...they are the greatest artist I ever signed and I love them unconditionally

Leftism and Rhythm & Stealth are two of the best albums I was ever associated with ...EVERYONE loves LEFTFIELD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBfs0mPiO3M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzaiL8HEKM0

After a 16 year break Neil Barnes returned with a new album....I was a bit anxious...good it be as good as their previous albums ? Well guess what ? It is ....it is GLORIOUS and LEFTFIELD live are back and as good as ever...I LOVE this album

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYVcyxBiR34

I LOVE LEFTFIELD

The Soul Guru loves YOU 

The 3rd Contender for The Soul Guru's Album Of The Year ....Andreya Triani " Giants "

The 3rd contender my my Album Of The Year is Andreya Triani's  second solo album...the excellent " Giants "....Produced my  old friend Mike Peden of Sade fame....and in fact I think Sade is an interesting point as Andreya and Sade both possess beautiful slightly husky voices

Andreya is originally from Brighton so that's a BIG plus as I live in Hove :-)

Take a look and listen Andreya on Jools Holland.......great stuff !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2TOrMr5RqI

The Soul Guru loves YOU x

2nd contender for The Soul Guru " Album Of The Year " 2015....Kendrick Lamar " to Pimp A Butterfly "

To Pimp a Butterfly is a work of genius......no question...a GREAT album.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRK7PVJFbS8

evoking the sound and feel of P Funk Kendrick Lamer is a lyrical king...a storyteller in the true sense of the word....a worthy inheritor of The Last Poets legacy........

I love this album...intelligent...well thought-out.....a great ALBUM not 4 singles and filler.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY

Just listen and enjoy the feeling odf being in the presence of greatness

The Soul Guru loves YOU

xo