'A Town Called Obsolete' is an obliquely upbeat and heartfelt plea for patience and faith in the face of indifference. Triana’s voice is perfect for this mixture of longing and hope, smokey, beautiful and tonally perfect. Bonobo, meanwhile, hooks up dusty break-drumming, thrumming electric bass and a horn part that peaks at just the right times.
Remix duties are taken care of by the hotly-tipped Mount Kimbie. Labelmates of Joy Orbison on Hotflush Records, the duo string Andreya’s backing vox over melancholy pads like Christmas lights round the screen of a lovelorn mainframe. Computer-soul never sounded so melancholy.
The package is rounded out by a live recording of Andreya performing 'A Town Called Obsolete' at Worldwide Awards 2010 at The Garage, London on 6th February. Her band that night featured Bonobo on bass and Fink on guitar!
01 A Town Called Obsolete (Album Version) 02 A Town Called Obsolete (Radio Edit) 03 A Town Called Obsolete (Mount Kimbie Remix) 04 A Town Called Obsolete (Live)
NINJA TUNE XX - WEEK XI - XXEN010
The Cinematic Orchestra, Roots Manuva, Jaga Jazzist & Bonobo - Live
This week's Ninja Tune XX giveaway celebrates the rich heritage of live music associated with Ninja's 20 year history. From the intimate, DJ-based club gigs of the label's early days, Ninja Tune artists have gone on to perform at infamous concert venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, The Barbican and Brixton Academy. Luckily, many of these moments have been recorded for posterity, and this week we're giving away four of the best of them.
The Cinematic Orchestra's 'To Build a Home,' from 2007's 'Ma Fleur', very quickly became one of their best loved songs. On this live version, recorded at The Barbican in 2007, you can hear the creative sparring between J Swinscoe and Patrick Watson, the adulation of the crowd, and most importantly the music that justifies it.
Roots Manuva's 'Movements' has always been one of his iconic artistic statements. Opening the debut album that wowed so many, way back in 1999, its unmistakable opening bars always bring on a tangible wave of excitement when Rodney performs it live. This version was recorded at The Forum, Kentish Town, in 2005.
Jaga Jazzist are undoubtedly amongst the finest live performers on the label. Their shows have stunned audiences across the globe; inch-perfect, ultra-tight renditions of their unique sonic landscapes. This rendition of '110 V Spektral' was performed at By:Larm in 2010.
Finally, Bonobo's live show around his latest album, Black Sands, is truly a wonder to behold. Ranging fluidly across dancefloor-moving electronics and spine-tingling soul, it shows an artist and his band at the very top of their game. This version of 'Stay The Same', featuring Andreya Triana, was performed live at The Roundhouse earlier this year.
Roots Manuva will be performing live at the Ninja Tune XX night at Ewer Street on October 2nd.
The Cinematic Orchestra will be performing at The Royal Albert Hall on 14th November with guests Lou Rhodes, Grey Reverend, Heidi Vogel, PC and the 24-piece Heritage Orchestra.
08.09.10Toddla T Does Select Dates, Plays Vancouver Tonight
Currently supporting his "Sky Surfing" single and forthcoming Ninja Tune release, Toddla T is on the road and if you're lucky, in your town!
8 September, Vancouver @ Fortune Sound Club
9 September, Calgary, AB @ Hi Fi
10 September, San Diego @ House Of Blues
11 September, Toronto @ Wrong Bar
Also playing the US Ninja XX shows!
Three full days of back to back events in NY, LA, and a FREE event in SF sponsored by Converse (details forthcoming!).
28th October - New York - Santo's Party House
Amon Tobin, Kid Koala, DJ Food & DK, Poirier, Toddla T & Serocee, DJ Kentaro, Eskmo, more TBD
96 Lafayette St//New York, NY 10013
30th October - Los Angeles - Echo/Echoplex
Amon Tobin, Kid Koala, Cut Chemist, DJ Food & DK, Toddla T & Serocee, DJ Kentaro, Eskmo, Ghostbeard, more TBD
1822 W. Sunset Blvd//Los Angeles, CA 90026
08.09.10Amon Tobin New Webstore
New webstore at amontobin.com, which has the entire Amon Tobin Ninja Tune back catalogue, Two Fingers material released on Big Dada, independent projects such as the Taxidermia soundtrack, as well as ringtones, special compositions, and other choice goodies like t-shirts and posters. All digital material is either MP3 or WAV.
To celebrate, Amon has released limited-edition 12" picture disc EP featuring four songs from the much-lauded Monthly Joints Series: 'Hey Mr. Tree', 'Technique', 'Delpher' and 'Shut Down', available for the first time ever on vinyl. Amontobin.com has a special price for a deluxe package including the 12" picture disc alongside WAV and MP3 versions of the entire series with an exclusive Ableton Designer Sounds Pack, a fresh new T-shirt designed by Two Fingers's very own Doubleclick, and a collectors edition poster!
08.09.10Roots Manuva Meets Wrong Tom - Launch Party - LIVE STREAM
Roots Manuva and Wrong Tom will be launching their Duppy Writer album with a live show in East London this Thursday night.
For those of you overseas or unable or unwilling to squeeze into the intimate setting of the Alibi, we are streaming the whole performance live on The Funhouse and inviting the whole world to watch.
We'll be shooting from several angles and hopefully making you feel like you are there in person. Except you'll be slightly less sweaty and you probably won't have to wrestle your way to your own fridge should you want a beer.
Who knows, if you log in to the chat room we may even be able to relay your rewind requests to the DJ!
Welcome, Ninja Tune’s latest signing, the one and only Eskmo. Brendan Angelides, a native of Connecticut now based in San Francisco, has been causing a considerable stir for the last few years, releasing music on labels including but not limited to Warp, Planet Mu and his own Ancestor imprint. Already tipped by many in the electronic music community to be a major presence for years to come, Eskmo shows exactly what the fuss is all about on his debut for his new home-label.
'Cloudlight' somehow manages to rope together the aesthetics of glitch, dubstep and r&b into the kind of song Marvin The Paranoid Android might have recorded if he were put on a course of anti-depressants, got laid by a washing machine and munched enough ecstasy tablets to explode a cat. Troubling, beautiful and strangely uplifting all at once, it states, simply and without the need for any of these words, that Angelides is a unique presence in electronic music. 'Come Back' develops the sound perhaps even further, a narcotisized Timberlake number or a disembodied ghost voice? It’s a question only the listener can answer, though Angelides injects real longing into his deadpan vocals. Remix duties are dealt with by Brainfeeder’s Lorn, who turns in a brutally pummeling remix.
'Cloudlight' download single is out now, with a self-titled album coming 4th October.
