Downstairs Mix-up

A  few tracks I've been heavily listening to in the last week...

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Lupe Fiasco - Bitch Bad

Lupe Fiasco's next track 'Bitch Bad' follows the release of 'Around My Way' - both included on the pre-empted album 'FOOD & LIQUOR 2: The Great American Rap Album PT.1' which is out 25th September.

Another lesson from Lupe about derogatory language...

SBTRKT - Gloss

SBTRKT has shared another new track via his soundcloud (which may or may not make it onto the next EP/album) - 'Gloss' is dreamy and mellow with whispered percussion. 'Gamelena' (which was shared 2 months ago) contrasts this with a more upbeat, dance-driven/tribal vibe with a much bigger beat behind it.


SBTRKT recently blew me away with an outstanding DJ set at Hideout in Croatia - a truly epic experience in a perfect setting, definitely a must see.


'Gloss' & 'Gamelena' create a great sense of excitement for what's to come from SBTRKT's next album venture, hopefully the wait won't be too long...

Bobby Womack - The Bravest Man In The Universe

What. A. Man.

At 68 Bobby Womack has created a gritty soul & electronic-fused album produced by Damon Albarn & XL Records' Richard Russell (who engineered the last album from the late Gill Scott-Heron), which has reinvented & boosted his legendary voice.


Womack's 27th album boasts some admirable collaborations from Lana Del Ray, Gill Scott-Heron & Fatoumata Diawara, which all contrast & compliment the moody beats with Womack's gravelly tone, sombre emotion & lyrics (he fell prey to cocaine addiction, a violent & turbulent personal life as well as cancer).


Favourites from the album are 'The Bravest Man In The Universe', 'If There Wasn't Something There' & 'Stupid'.


Here's a great little video behind the making of the album...

The XX - Angels & Chained

The XX have been in the studio producing their coming album Coexist (due for release on 11th September) after 3 years since their self titled début release. 

Here are the first two singles from Coexist, 'Angels' & 'Chained'...

Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

Frank Ocean's new album 'Channel Orange' is out and proud...just as he now is after publicly announcing his sexuality days before the album's release was brought forward. 

Channel Orange is a perfect blend of classic R'n'B and beautifully evocative song writing. After last years huge track 'Novacane' (which always gets stuck in my head) Ocean's album was always tipped for good things.

'Thinkin bout you' is a killer track to kick things off on the album and 'Sweet Life' has blown me away, the whole album washes over you like honey. 

Here is Frank Ocean with his first televised performance on the Late night with Jimmy Fallon show...

Stream the album here...

http://frankocean.com/

Track listing
'Start'
'Thinkin Bout You'
'Fertilizer'
'Sierra Leone'
'Sweet Life'
'Not Just Money'
'Super Rich Kids' (feat. Earl Sweatshirt)
'Pilot Jones'
'Crack Rock'
'Pyramids'
'Lost'
'White' (feat. John Mayer)
'Monks'
'Bad Religion'
'Pink Matter' (feat. André 3000)
'Forrest Gump'
'End'