DJ Destroyer drops the next volume in the Strictly Social series. If you are not in LA to experience the progressive soul monthly event Strictly Social, these mixes are the next best thing.Destroyer has lined up another stellar selection of tunes.

1. The Highest – MeLo-X
2. Melody (Featuring Shabaam Sahdeeq and Erik Rico)- DJ Spinna
3. Too Late For Us – Tiye Phoenix Feat. Phonte
4. Sounds Like Love (Feat. Debi Nova) – Illa J
5. Get Involved – Pete Rock
6. Super Stereo Blaster (Feat. Reach) – Leonard DStroy
7. Milk And Honey – Goapele
8. Universe 4 U(Feat. Phase One) – Chester Gregory
9. Rhythm Of The Drum – M64-Ragen Fykes+Ohmega Watts
10. Candelight (Myx’s Nu Soul Remyx) – Jody Watley
11. Killdat – Dam Funk
12. I Feel It All (Diplo Remix) – Feist
13. You Could Be Here- Deborah Jordan
14. Pretty Wings (Willie Isz/Jneiro Jarel Remix) – Maxwell
15. The Joy – Joy Jones
16. Want U for Myself (Feat. Peter Hadar) – Theophilus London
17. Love Czars – Sa Ra Creative Partners
18. I Want You (Remix) – Karriem Riggins
19. Wanna Be (Vicelounge Mash) – Maiysha
20. Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out – Mayer Hawthorne
21. Never Change – Choklate
22. Futuristic Soul (Do You Agree?) – Tony Ozier
23. Real Good (Feat. Phonte) – Yazarah
24. Slowly Surely (Supreme Remix) – Jill Scott
25. Look Around – Dotmatic
26. LOVE – Frank Nitt
27. Keep On Going (Feat. Vitamin D) – D. Black
28. Believe – Ayah
29. Cosmic Theory – fLako x Noir
30. Breath Of Fresh Air – Caretta Bell
31. Right Person Wrong Time – Jamal
32. Never 2ndary – Tanya Morgan
33. Smile – Alchemist Ft. Maxwell & Twista
34. Sunday – 9th Wonder Feat. Keisha Shontelle & Chaundon

Download DJ Destroyer – Strictly Social Mixed Vol 5

This was a nice treat in the ole’ inbox today. Mr J.Rawls hooked me up with this new beat collection, courtesy of Polar Ent & Mighty Healthy NYC – Hotel Beats Vol. 1. This collection shows off Rawls’ diversity, featuring bright jazz-heavy beats (“Red Pepper”)  alongside darker fare (“Casina”) which will satisfy hip-hop heads with an edgier taste. Then there’s tracks like “A Game” which are ready for a dope singer or MC to take to yet another level, along with the funk-laden “Hold On To It.”

Download J. Rawls – Hotel Beats Vol 1

So yeah, good stuff as always from J.Rawls!
More info: www.myspace.com/jrawls

I have been extremely remiss in holding on to this mix for so long. But the homie DJ Destroyer has come through lovely once again with another dope mix. This time the Strictly Social resident, Destroyer takes you on a journey encompassing funk, disco, soul and house and providing a nice mesh between old and new school. This dude knows his music.

Download DJ Destroyer – This Is My Loft Vol 1

Really diggin’ this free mixtape from stylish MC Fresh Daily. The perfect combination of spage-age beats and solid boom-bap along with his smart lyrical skills make this one of the better hip-hop releases so far this year. Featured guests include Flying Lotus, Jesse Boykins III, Oddisee and others. And it’s free, so no excuses not to have it.

Download Fresh Daily – Tomorrow Is Today

I’ve been a major slacker as far as blogging goes lately. But that’s ‘cos I’ve been un-slacking in other areas. You know, work and such. So anyway forgive me for what could be a series of really late passes. But anyways, Little Dragon are near and dear to my heart so here’s the infos on their new album Machine Dreams along with a download (below) of “Blinking Pigs” which I first saw over at TreesForBreakfast. Press release via Dog Day Press. “Feather” is currently being played by various DJs on KCRW.

Little Dragon return with a spectacular second album offering in August, a pulsating electro pop epic that Prince would be proud of (only fronted by a beautiful Swedish lady with a sultry voice). A bold and surprising side/two step onwards from their acclaimed 2007 self titled debut. Machine Dreams, with its nagging hooks and gloriously infectious tunes, will see the band break out into the mainstream.

Having toured relentlessly since the last record, Little Dragon found themselves to be very popular in the US specifically on the west coast. After sessions on KCRW’s flagship ‘Morning Becomes Eclectic’ show, their album became the most played on the station after Radiohead. No mean feat for the little dragons from Sweden, especially when they didn’t have a US record label backing their forays. The track ‘Twice’ was even played on hit US show Grey’s Anatomy. The band’s US success brought them to the attention of the likes of notorious basement dweller DJ Shadow and David Sitek, the latter asking them to support TV On The Radio on their US tour in May 2009.

Recorded in their home city of Gothenburg, Machine Dreams is fresh and kinetic. Be it Yukimi’s warmly inviting vocals, Erik’s dextrous drumming, the vast array of synths and bleeps created by Hakan or Frederik’s bubbling bass lines, together they don’t sound like anything else around right now. The move towards a more electronic sound was a conscious one, as Yukimi explains; “These days, humans seem more and more like machines, and as technology evolves, machines feel more human and it becomes fuzzy and beautiful and science fiction-ish. We feel dependent on our machines to create and live, and their sounds reflect us”.

Album opener ‘A New’ breaks us in gently with a single whirring note on the synthesiser, an almost alien sound that gradually morphs into a slow, thumping bassline. Yukimi’s vocals flow alongside Hakan’s assortment of sound effects interspersed with militaristic drums breaks. A magical opener that sets the scene and seems to sink into itself, taking us with it, until the pace is swiftly ratcheted skywards with ‘Looking Glass’, the massive snare, crisp driving beat and spacey synths revealing the band’s current penchant for the 80s. This influence continues apace into stand out track ‘My Step’. Utilising a solid drumbeat that nestles next to jagged and playful synthlines, the track breaks down into motorik propulsion with a scuzzy techno bassline that Yukimi works with ease.

Upcoming single ‘Feather’ finds Yukimi’s voice at its most detached and seemingly nonchalant, yet magnificently seductive. Backed by Hakan’s keyboard atmospherics, the song creates a soundscape reminiscent of Tears For Fears’ more reflective moods. Gradually layering more vocals, synths, echoes and reverb, it builds to a quietly psychedelic, dreamy cosmic swirl. ‘Runabout’ brings forth a mini Airto style percussive breakdown at the tail end of yet another Little Dragon pop gem. ‘Swimming’ bursts into life with stabbing keys and reflective bass, while Yukimi sings of young love “and now so many years have past, my memories as clear as glass”. The song is over as quickly as it started, flowing into the next miniature masterpiece in the form of ‘Blinking Pigs’.

The album closes with the stunning ‘Fortune’, which has already caught the attention of none other than DJ Shadow, who wrote to the band personally to say how much he loved the track. It’s no wonder really, as the textured melodies blend with the drifting percussion, creating a blissful sonic mood. With a smattering of drums and bass and the magic of Yukimi’s voice and Hakan’s electronic dynamics floating on top, it’s the perfect song to end this fascinating journey through Little Dragon’s brave new world.

With disparate influences from Depeche Mode to Prince, LCD Soundsystem to James Holden, Dancehall to R&B, Jazz and Soul, Little Dragon take their place among artists who straddle many genres, yet somehow create their own and in doing so create “sounds that make time stop” (Yukimi). Futuristic yet somehow retro, Machine Dreams sees Little Dragon achieve something timeless; that elusive pop classic.

Needless to say, I cannot wait.

Listen to “Blinking Pigs”:
[See post to listen to audio]

Download Little Dragon – Blinking Pigs

More hip-hop niceness from the Kwatro peoples. This time it’s a digital tape (meaning there’s two 15 minute long mp3s – Side A and Side B) from Hubert Daviz featuring a selection of his dope beats, mixed together by Illiaz. Daviz’ beats are nicely crafted – he has a knack for soulful sounds as well as a classic harder hip-hop sound, but his style stays fresh by always nodding toward the future.

Download Sketches

Thanks to the folks at A-Side for this free joint from Tony Ozier’s Aural Penetration album.”Futuristic Soul (Do You Agree?)” is produced by 14KT who’s got that Midas touch with tracks – pretty much anything he touches turns to dope.

Listen to “Futuristic Soul”:
[See post to listen to audio]

Download Tony Ozier – Futuristic Soul

You can find Aural Penetration at 
While you’re there, make sure to pick up 14KT’s excellent album The Golden Hour

The production duo of Ancient Astronauts are getting ready to release an artist album on ESL, June 9th – We Are To Answer. They have previously remixed the likes of Up Bustle & Out, Ladybug Mecca of Digiable Planets, Zion I, and Dr. Rubberfunk, and show off their musical pedigree with this excellent freebie mix (’bout an hour long) of hip-hop, funk, fonky hip-hop and all kinds of other good stuff.

“HEART OF THE FUTURE” TRACK LIST
01. Beatstalkers Anthem – The Beatstalkers (Foot Forward Music)
02. MCs Act Like They Don’t Know – KRS-1 (Classic Re-Edits)
03. I Wanna Make You Move – Freddie Cruger feat. Anthony David (Tru Thoughts Recordings)
04. Catatonia – Connie Price & The Keystones feat. Percee P & Wild Child (Ubiquity Records)
05. Edgelactic – The Beatstalkers (Foot Forward Music)
06. Classic – Ancient Astronauts feat. The Pharcyde (ESL Music/Switchstance Recordings)
07. Insight – Fort Knox 5 feat. Asheru (Fort Knox Recordings)
08. The Roc Boys Get Back – Jay’s Soul Connection (Amsterdam Gangster Music)
09. Funky Furious – DJ Aeon Seven (Modern Funk/Freestyle Records)
10. The Tide Is High – The Beatstalkers (Foot Forward Music)
11. 7 Nation Army (Grant Phabao Remix) – Nostalgia 77 feat. Alice Russell (Tru Thoughts Recordings)
12. Shine Eye Gal (Chase The Remix) – Michael Rose feat. Shabba Ranks (Like Dat Records)
13. Don’t Worry ’bout Romie – Beenie Man vs. Bob Marley (Jiggy Records)
14. Dukku Dukku (The Beatstalkers Remix) – Keith & Tex feat. Shabba Ranks (Fizzle Recordings)
15. Tequilimba – Barrio Katz (Planet Blend Records)
16. Blowing Up The Spot (Ancient Astronauts Remix) – Fort Knox 5 (Fort Knox Recordings)
17. Everybody – Ancient Astronauts (ESL Music/Switchstance Recordings)
18. The Outsider – Lack Of Afro (Freestyle Records)
19. Caffeine (DJ Format’s Getaway Remix) – The Quartertones (Freestyle Records)
20. Heard It Through The Grapevine – The Beatstalkers (Foot Forward Music)
21. Keep On Looking (Kenny Dope Remix) – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (Soulplex Recordings)
22. D’azour Cotaz (Ancient Astronauts Remix) – Timewarp Inc. (Timewarp Music)

Download the exclusive ‘Heart of the Future’ mix here!

And here’s a coupla treats from the album that demonstrates their versatility.:

Listen to “Everybody”:
[See post to listen to audio]

Download Ancient Astronauts – Everybody

Listen to: “I Came Running”:
[See post to listen to audio]

Download Ancient Astronauts – I Came Running

Well this track has been floating around for ages, but since I’m in a Scott Herren kind of mood, I thought now is as good a time as any to play catch up.

Savath & Savalas is Herren’s “Catalan acid-folk project” on which he collaborates with Eva Puyuelo Muns and Roberto Carlos Lange. Stones Throw recently released the digital version of the new album La Llama and the CD release is May 19th.

Download the title track: Savath & Savalas – “La Llama”

Listen:
[See post to listen to audio]

Check out Stones Throw for more info on the project and an interview with Herren.

Beatlife fave Pursuit Grooves put together this free album for y’all in honor of Earth Day (I know, I’m on a permanent late pass)….

*20 downtempo rhythms with titles that focus on the environment and the impact it has around us.

Vanese Smith also known as music producer Pursuit Grooves, received a Holistic Health certificate in 2005 after wanting to learn more about how our daily actions including what we do and how we eat not only affect us as individuals but contribute to the overall welfare of the community. In 2009, there has never been more of an urgency to spread the word about how every action toward sustainable living will slow the process of the negative effects on the future.

The share date for Sustainable Movements for A New Age is timed for April in honor of Earth Day.

Download Pursuit Grooves – Sustainable Movements For A New Age

Tracklist:
Ecosystematics
Windmills
Electric Company Cars
Petrol Water Feeders
Footprints Galore
Dirty Clean Coal
Fear of Genetic Engineers
Pest Insides
Canvas Tote Bags
Renewabilities
Nuclear Rainbows
Crap Snacks
Solar Panels
Lost Honey Bees
Partially Hydrogenated Arteries
War Crimes in Space
All Things Green
Fresher Than Yours
Tricycle Network
Quality Goods