Urban News With Cyclone
Keeping It In The Family
tryy, rreggae egggaee iss a ggenre eg egg enre that enr en enre that yo yyou ouu Like country, ’t FFortunately, t t l Di D it t either gett or ddon’t. Distant Relatives is not straight-up ‘reggae’. In fact, Nas has suggested that he felt an affinity with Marley’s youngest son as “a rap guy”. Damian is more ‘urban’ than his musical siblings, who’re beholden to following their father’s legacy. Damian was the first reggae artist to win a Grammy outside Collaborative albums are hit or miss in the genre with the single Welcome To urban music. Mighty egos can easily Jamrock (it scooped ‘best urban/alternative negate each other. Jay-Z teamed up performance’). Surprisingly, Distant Relatives with R Kelly for 2002’s The Best Of Both is Marley’s first endeavour in five years. The Worlds – and distanced himself from the buddies have something else in common: whole enterprise soon after. (Kelly’s sex both are the progenies of legendary scandal didn’t help.) Then there have been musicians, Nas’ father being Olu Dara. forgettable alliances like Bow Wow and Distant Relatives is produced by Damian in Omarion. So what of Nas’s partnership conjunction with his brother Stephen. The with Damian Marley, AKA Junior Gong, on Distant Relatives? Can the duo recreate Marley offspring are not exactly the synergy of their earlier Road To Zion from Marley’s 2005 Welcome To Jamrock? innovators – or risktakers – so Nas has already released a much-hyped don’t expect collab album with The Firm. At the time, anything cuttinghip hop heads questioned the conscious MC’s involvement in a gratuitous Mafioso edge. Major Lazer, this ain’t. However, rap project, but Nas has always been as elativ ela tives tiv es iss es Distant RRelatives contradictory as he is brilliant.
(ON TOUR) WITH NICK CONNELLAN In the past month or so, I’ve been cruising around Bolivia and Peru. Besides a bit of psy here and there,, it’s been mostly pop rubbish at clubs. Decent dance is pretty scarce. My own listening has been restricted too, usually just to bus trips. At first, this scarcity was troubling. However, I soon came to realise something I’ve actually known for break. a long time: I’ve been needing a break In the age of the internet and mp3 players, we’re positively saturated with tunes. Us music lovers are like junkies chasing the dragon: we listen in the car, on the train, at work, at home, at clubs and anywhere else we’re able to. We surf Beatport incessantly, download live sets and read blogs. Too much is never enough; it’s always about that next track. While the beauty of the internet is that it’s bought music to our fingertips, it’s also made it too available. In reality, the medium has probably done as much bad as it has good. can begin to lose When music is a constant presence, it ca that which made it so special in the first place. jocks used masking In the late ‘80s, all the major jock their bigger vinyl hits. tape to cover the titles of thei Going out actually meant something, simply couldn’t get their fix because punters could elsewhere. were ignorant of elsew where. People w they were hearing at which tunes the w DJs drew crowds clubs and DJ
NAS & Damien Marely
e ful er fully lyy ex xppans xpans n ive ve.. TThe h alb he lbum buum m iss als aalso lsso inhe iinherently nheerently rently wonderfully expansive. album al w ith a str ith trong ong lillive ve ori oorientation rient ient e taat atitiionn – nnirvana iirv rvan ana naa ffo musical with strong forr ffeeling feeli eeli eling ng the thh sy ssynthetic ynth ntheti nth eticc ssounds eti ounds oun dss cur ccurrently cu rently ren tly those nott fe dominating urban – plus symbolic samples. (That live element is apt given that Nas has toured with a rockin’ band.) Ultimately, the most important aspect of Distant Relatives is the concept. The album explores the geopolitical – and cultural – nexus between reggae and hip hop, tracing black music’s journey from Africa to the Caribbean to the US, while centring on the plight of postcolonial Africa. (Monies raised from Distant Relatives will reportedly be used to fund a school in the Congo.) Marley proclaims the pair to be “street int in ntell ellect el eect ctual ualss , ua intellectuals”, buu itit’s but t’s rea re lly lyy really oonly onl nnly N Nas as w qu wh who quali a fie ali fies es qualifi fo tth for hat that des de scriiptition. ion. n. description. Thee M Ma rleey Marley ccla laan hhave ave lo nngg clan long pri privil rivili ege egedd privileged
Ra taf Ras taafaa Rastafarian spirituality and positi po pos itit vi (cue: One Love) over positivity crr tiq cri iqquee but here Damian’s critique, hum human umann balances Nas’ humanism sttree str eeet etw cynicism. The lead streetwise sin ingle nglee is i the uptempo As We single Entteerr, which w Enter, samples Mulatu Asstatk Astat Ast As atk at tke the godfather of Astatke, EEth thiop opii jazz. Nas and Damian Ethiopian might mig h have h secured Senegal’s might Akon as Ako a a guest, but instead it’s Akon Som o alii Somalian-Canadian MC K’naan whhho blazes w b bl who on two cuts, including he pertinent per peer the Tribes At War – and ttha hatt’s ’s a good thing since Akon that’s a disputed dis di has the existence of blood o diamonds. d blood Nah Mean is the haarde hhar ddess hardest-hitting hip hop joint with Nas on form. Triumphant, too, is the dancehall Land Of Promise, on which the late Dennis Brown can be heard in an old interview. RZA’s Gravediggaz aired the most poetic song ever about the African Diaspora, The Night The Earth Cried, and Patience is nearly as spectral, borrowing from Amadou And Mariam’s Malian blues, Sabali. Overall, Distant Relatives is a success. It could have been moralising, or laden with platitudes, but the dynamic between Nas and Damian is such that they lead each other away from any pitfalls. Perhaps Distant Relatives lacks the intellectual vigour (and controversy!) of
Nas’ recent solo forays, but that would have undermined Marley’s contribution. Alas, Nas veers offtopic in Strong Will Continue with a spiteful dig at his ex, Kelis – not in the spirit of this project. And, indeed, there’s no black female voice on Distant Relatives. The sole girl is (the uncredited) Joss Stone, who warbles on the overblown gospel My Generation, which also features Lil Wayne, repping for New Orleans. (Nas appeared on Stone’s Colour Me Free!.) It’s a pity that Damian didn’t convince his not-soauuurryn yn Hi H Hil coome mee ou oout ut ooff the thhee distant relative Lauryn Hillll ttoo come shadows…
Kiss FM Chart
Protoculture because peers mostly becau use they had music their pe eers didn’t. downloadd last night’s These days, itit’s t’s all too easy to downloa listen illustrated tracks and lis sten at home. This is illustra ated perfectly by my situation. I’m backpacking around South S America, and perfectly Protoculture’s yet I’m perfec ctly aware that Protocultur re’s new album is released today. Hell Hell, I’ll proba probably due to be rele eased today ably download it off Beatport ttoo. I can’t help myself. When h you’re ’ really, ll music, it can be hard to just let go. I admit it: really into mu I’m a FOMO (fear of missing out). Thus I propose the following, if you can bear it. Take a break from scouring Beatport. This is a good start because pretty soon they’ll be emailing you and offering 25% off your next purchase. It’s standard procedure when any customer stops buying. Then, stop listening to background music. Turn off the tunes when you’re working or otherwise distracted. Save your listening for when it’s got your full attention. Things might seem shitty at first, but you’ll reap the benefits when you next fire up the stereo. The shivers down your spine will return and the beats will once again seem enticing. You’ll wonder how exactly you enjoyed music when it was so common before. Perhaps it’s just me, but a break from the electronic is the best thing that’s happened since I first discovered it. nickconnellan@gmail.com
WHAT AT YOU TAL TALKIN’ LKIN’ BOUT WILLI WILLIS? IS? SSo So, oo, aan anyways, nyw yw ywa waayyss, I ccou co ould ou ld be be as as offensive offf ooff fffen eennnssiive ivvvee as as possible ppoosss ssi ssiibble lee an aand nd ttalk aallk alk lk about abou ab out uutt hho ow could how hiiillari hhil aarrriioous us itit was us was that wa tha hhat aatt Ga G ary ry Co Col C oolema em em maan w ork oor rrkked ed as as a secu ssecurity eccuurrit ecu ec riitity hilarious Gary Coleman worked gguua gua uard ard rd for for fo or a while, whhhiiile whi w le sued le ssuued ed his hiiiss ppa arren reen ents ts go ggot ot iinn a fifight gghhhtt with witthh wi guard parents, ght a woman who asked for his autograph, etc, etc. But, of course, all that shit is immensely tragic and shouldn’t be wished upon anyone, let alone the star of a show (ie. Diff’rent Strokes) that was, despite the fondness that some people may have for it, immensely shit. Not only was it not particularly funny, it perpetuated the patronising attitudes of whites towards the black community in the United States that were actually a hang-up from predominantly white attitudes from the 1960s, when an enormous number of black kids were abandoned by their parents and joined gangs, committed crimes and then, later, started making hip hop. Of course, Arnold Drummond thought it necessary to save these children from what was generally an awful fate by shacking them up in his Park Avenue Apartment. This is despite the fact that some of the more talented ones eventually made it to said apartments, generally based on musical, sporting and comedic prowess. And, of course, some of those new Park Avenue residents were very good drug dealers. So, anyways, RIP Gary, who was probably a nice guy, led quite an unhappy life and proved once again tthha tha hat being beein iinng famous can in fact be very, very shit. that DENNIS HOPPER: What the fuck was it with dead H celebrities cel cce eelleeb ebr briti itttiies es on the weekend? Anyways, there were actually some sooom ssom me very veery rryy good things that my father did for me before he
XXX XXX
WHERE IS IT? Loo Loop, p, 23 Mey Meyers ers Pl Place ace,, Melb Melbour ourne. ne. WHEN IS IT? Thi Thiss Satu Saturda rdayy 5 Ju June. ne. WHAT CAN YOU HEAR? Fun Funkk and and Hip Ho Hopp to to Brea Breaks ks and d’ d’n’b n’b.. WHO PLAYS? A La La Fu Fu (Nin (Ninja ja Tun Tune, e, Big Da Dada) da),, Lick Lickwee weed, d, Zan Zanda da and Mr Ni Nice. ce. WHO’S GOING? All th thee Pick Pickled led Be Beats ats fa fans ns who ge gett spoi spoiltlt wit withh live live au audio dio vi visua suall mashh ups mas ups on the first Sa Satur turday day of ev every ery mo month nth fo forr FREE FREE.. WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW? A/V To Tonig night ht (We (Wed) d) at Loo Loop. p. Ben Benee Gess Gesseri eritt Hous Housee Nurs Nurseri eriies es – a ni night ght of da dark rk amb ambien ient/a t/avan vant-g t-gard ardee live live film sco score re fea featur turing ing Ab Abre re Ojo Ojos, s, Rot Rotteu teur,r, Shane Sha ne Rey Reynol nolds ds and Be Benn Tayl Taylor or and Lu Luke ke Dyb Dyball all,, Hun Huntt Hunt Hunter er..
Autechre A Autechr utechrre Hi-Fi Hi-Fi: H Hi i-Fi: Fi:i: 229 Fi 29.05.10 9.05 0 .10 05 .10 10 Descending the underground Hi-Fi D Descen Des cendin ce cen dingg iinto din nto t th he uunde ndergr rgr groun oundd lair lair of th thee H i-Fii is i-F is eeven ven rumble m e ddaunting more mor a tin aun tingg th tthan hhan usual usual ass th thee dist ddistant istant a ru ant rumbl mblee of of low low frequencies subb ba bass ss fre ss freque r que quennnci ncies es fad fades es iinn slo slowly wly lilike ke a dark dark st storm orm m ominously rolling ominou omi inously l rro lllingg in lling lli in from from a pparallel dimension. The entire cloaked venue ven ue is clo cloake akedd in in dark ddarkness. arknes nesss The lights from the bar fridges throw visibility thr th h ow w jus jjust u t enou eenough n gghh vis nou i ibi b lit bi lityy ffor the few punters who find a beverage necessary, bevera bev erage ge nec necess esssary ary,, as as the the aappropriate hour of midnight Autechre aapproaches app roache roa che hhes and and nd the he A Au utec echr ec hr sound machine rumbles to life. lif e. There absolutely The ere is abs absolu olute teel elyy no no stag sstage tagee lighting at all – the two performers invisible they manipulate their noiseperfor per former for me s are mer aree in nvisi nv isible ble aas tth making machines. ma mak aakking inng ng ma m achi chine ch neess. TThe he sol he ssolitary so ittaa clue to the devices being itita
1. All About The Money AGENT 86 2. I Can Change LCD SOUNDSYSTEM 3. Superstition (Uncle Swerve Fantasy Mix) UNKLE SWERVE 4. Shades of Marble TRENTEMØLLER 5. Hypocrisy (John Digweed & Nick Muir Remix) ABE DUQUE 6. Down By The River BLISS N ESO 7. Fire SHAPESHIFTER 8. Glow CIREZ D 9. A Place They Call The Heart FUNKERMAN 10. What Do We Do BACK BACK FORWARD PUNCH
decided ddeec dec eciide idded ddeed that tha hhat aatt having hhaavin vviing ing sex in seexx with witiitth men wi w men en in in Elwood EElw El lwoo lw ooodd toilets ood to toile iillleets ts was waaass more w pleasurable One pple pl lleeasu eas assuurraaabbllee than asu thhhaan living ttha livi iviing iv nngg with wiitith a stripper wit w ssttrrip riip ippe pper eerr and aannd her heerr kid. kiiidd. O kkid ne of ne these the th hheessee was waaass in w in Grade Grraade G adddee Five, FFiive, ve, ve e, when, whhen, w hen en, en, n, ill ilill at at home, hoome om me, he me he brought brou rou ro ouggh ght hhtt home three (yes, videos, not DVDs): Easy Rider, Deliverance thhhrree tthr ee videos vvii and Cabaret. The first was my first exposure to Dennis Hopper. The second and third should have given me some fairly straightforward clues about where he was heading with his life. MASTURBATION HAS PURPOSE ONCE AGAIN: Kelis is finally single once more. Apparently her divorce from Nas got finalised on the weekend. Woo. LINDSAY BLOWHAN: About two years ago I completed my Lindsay Lohan alphabet, which was prompted by my general obsession with teenage stars with boob jobs, massive drug habits and a penchant for lesbian sex. Not much has changed. However, the fact that she is now playing Linda Lovelace in a biopic has made me realise that I was actually born in the wrong era (ie. I should have been a teenager in the 1970s, when apparently teenage porn stars were de rigeur), and, despite the almost omnipresence of xxx semi-naked women on television, we are employed in fact living in an for the era of crazy moral creation of rectitude. Those sound is the women should be dull glow of an fully fully ful fu ly naked. naakked na nak eed. dd. apple logo – the only recognisable thing that can be seen from the crowd, except for six static LED lights on sp peake pe ake keer cabi ccabinets abiinet netss which have for some reason have not speaker beenn m bbee askked. d O masked. Occasionally a photograph is taken of the duo,, and duo and the theyy aar r bathed in a microsecond of blinding are lilight, lig i ht ht,t no nott nnearly eearrly l enough time to make them appear like any anything ythi th ng mor more o e th tthan h ghosts. Thh au The aaudience dience dience ce iis made up of music nerds and leftover ravers rav vers off the t e more th mor eccentric variety. They try to bliss mor music outt to to the thhe musi m usiic in their semi-awareness, desperately shreds of danceable beats as they rise cclinging cli n ng ngi n to the th sh annd fa and fallllll from ffro rom tthe he melange of twisted bleeping chaos and he wobbling bbowel bow el wob o bli bling ngg bass growls. The hour-plus set builds demented ffrom fro room a de rom emen meented te bastard offspring of drum’n’bass, eventually eventu eve ntuall allyy ecli eeclipsed clips ps by some pounding techno kick drums which w wh whi ch thee danci ch ddancing da anc nci c n pockets lap up with gusto. Sounds whales either of wha ales ei eithe ther dying or mating start to fill the upper the reaches of the room as the backbeats warble to a less abrasive state, with the familiar glitch-out of an epileptic 8-bit computer present throughout. Eventually the music ends, the crowd who have been inexplicably staring at a stage which cannot be seen peel away and the futuristic spell of mind control through rad beats is broken. CHRIS YATES