End of Week Beats + Pieces (Part 3)

Various odds and ends.

Man… As 2021 draws towards it’s inevitable conclusion, it’s pretty clear that things won’t be settling down anytime soon. My thoughts and love are with everyone in the UK, Europe and US (and everywhere else) who has caught Covid recently. Every week, I hope and think about seeing you all again one day. This week’s photos were shot on a Polaroid NOW iType instant camera with Blue 600 film, then scanned at home by yours truly. Anyway, let’s get into it.

WHAT I’VE BEEN DOING:

The latest edition of my quarterly new music column is live now on Dazed Digital. Loads of great releases from the likes of Blackhaine, CCCVVV, Grouper, Rainbow Chan, Fire-Toolz, etc. Read more here.

In the late 1980s, Semi MCs from Manurewa were one of the most important groups in the first wave of hip hop in Aotearoa New Zealand. However, as the new decade dawned, they embraced the sounds of New Jack Swing and Swingbeat before recording ‘Set Your Body Free’ and ‘Trust Me’, both of which are now highly prized DJ deep cuts. Although the group went their separate ways in the mid-90s, their legacy and influence endure to this day. I profiled them for Audio Culture here.

In other Audio Culture news, next week they will be running my profile of Dunedin, New Zealand hip-hop scene stalwart DJ Shan. Shan produced two tracks of New Zealand rapper Scribe’s legendary record-breaking debut album The Crusader and has held down for hip-hop in the South Island since time. It’s his story, but it’s also the story of Dunedin hip-hop.

I went on Radio New Zealand and talked about Brooklyn-based Pakistani vocalist, music composer and producer Arooj Aftab’s magical album Vulture Prince. You can listen by playback here.

Episodes one to four of Aotearoa Hip-Hop: The Music, The History, The People are live for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music now.

WHAT I’VE BEEN READING:

Tom Dubwise pays tribute to Robbie Shakespeare for Test Pressing (here).

Anessa Ahmed has been getting to the bottom of some very serious Train TikTok business for Mixmag (here).

Talia Marshall discusses photographer Ans Westra’s 1967 book Maori (here).

Also on Mixmag, DJs have been breaking through. Why does this keep happening? (here).

Vivian Yeung profiled the Eastern Margins crew for Crack Mag (here).

Louise Matsakis, Meaghan Tobin And Wency Chen on How Shein beat Amazon at its own game — and reinvented fast fashion. This is utterly mad (here).

MUSIC/MUSIC VIDEOS:

Tokyo 1981, ‘Seen Her’ (Bandcamp)

Chicago’s Tokyo 1981 absolutely did not have to go this hard on the US R&G vibes. Check out their whole Bandcamp page. It’s loaded with heat. Surly knows what I’m talking about.

Jeff Parker, Forfolks (International Anthem)

Helado Negro’s album of the year. That’s a character reference of the highest order. Chuck on some headphones and let yourself drift away with this one.

KODY NIELSON, BIRTHDAY SUITE VOL. II (Bandcamp)

Utterly spellbinding Birthday Jazz from Kody Nielson aka Silicon (and Opossum), also the brother of Ruban from Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Kody barely does promo or press, but the songs always speak for themselves.

christoph el' truento, live from the cloudy subtropical (Bandcamp)

2021 Sampledelica from Tāmaki Makaurau’s top urban farmer and recycled beat builder, christoph el' truento. This is quirky (in a good way) and has a huge amount of character (in a great way). el' truento’s journey has taken him from teenage battle DJ/boombap producer to an experimental jazz rap wunderkind in his early twenties, before landing in his own space, with forays into dub, noise and psychedelica along the way. Always playful, always referential.

Warm Human, ‘Gimme A Reason’ (House of Feelings)

A warm welcome to House of Feelings new Chicago-based signing, Warm Human. Here’s their spectacular single/music video combo ‘Gimmie A Reason’. Epic in all the right ways.

FIN.