The other day I got an email in my box via the Moovmnt fellas - Julie Dexter – Transitions (produced by Zo!) it said. Awesome, new Julie Dexter, I thought. However, turns out this track was released several years ago and Moovmnt were showcasing it as part of “slept-on sundays.” So clearly I’m guilty of sleeping on it, but am glad Moovmnt brought it to light again, it’s a really great track. Once I heard it, I kinda wanted to hear more collaborations between these two, although none could be found. I also could not find an album on which this track was actually released. If anyone knows of its fate, please leave a comment!

Jay Scarlett has just posted another wonderful AmpSoul mix. Described as Soul, Future Beats and Lovestep it features all kinds of soul, from classic to futuristic, expertly programmed by Mr. Scarlett.

Some more tasty selections from the mind and record bag of Anthony Valadez.

Streaming player below….

Tracklist:

**Intro w/ Phontae (Little Brother/The Foreign Exchange**
SBTRK & Sampha – Livin Like I Do
Nina Simone – Funkier Than A Mosquitos Tweeter
Ifan Dafydd – No Good
Joy Division – She’s Lost Control
Fantastic Mr. Fox – Over
Bilal – Levels (Sonnymoon Remix)
Darondo – Didn’t I?
Cee Lo – Bodies
Jose James – Vicadon
D’Angelo – BS (Feat Roy Hargrove)
Orakel – Sou Do Futuro
Michael Jackson – I Cant Help It (Cuthead Re:edit)
Queztal – Yes He Can.. Lie
Flako – Gentle
Pedders – Hankuri
Eme Lelu – Quim Manuel O Espirito Santo
Ben Westbeech – Slowly
Hiroshi Fujiwara – Lost Child
George Fitzgerald Vs Groove Theory – Tell Me
Kid Cudi – Mr. Ranger
Wunder – Noit’z Kakao

HEAR WHAT I SEE by anthonyvaladez

The other day I stumbled across this pretty wicked track from Brainfeeder artist Taylor McFerrin. Ryat’s vocals are reminiscent of Bjork, and definitely add a certain edge to this haunting song and video. “Place In My Heart” is taken from the forthcoming full length release Early Riser.

Taylor McFerrin feat. Ryat – Place in My Heart from Simon Benjamin on Vimeo.

AFTA – 1 and Nikko Gray have a truly magical musical partnership. They just released this EP which exemplifies their stylized soul. In my humble opinion, AFTA-1 is making some of the best beats in years. He manages to make his tracks sound like they’re from the  year 4000, but never in a sterile or robotic way. He’s just apparently inhabiting another soulful cosmic dimension simultaneously. Paired with Nikko Gray’s unique vocals, this is pretty much what   sounds like. Listen and purchase below.

This is how AFTA-1 announced the project on his site:

With Love,
Nikko & I are honored to share our latest project
The AFTA-1 & Nikko Gray EP is a collection of songs originally created for our first performance together, January 2010.
Through a year of experiences in life & love, personal revelations, and strengthened friendships, we were finally ready within the last month, to bring the project to completion. And did so last night at 8pm
And of course, as usual..we made it available immediately
Enjoy

Wow, to think I almost totally slept on this track. “Don’t Pass Me By” is a beautiful, evocative track that eludes traditional categories. It drips with soul and the addition of Esthero’s vocals make this a truly magical experience.

Don’t Pass Me By ft. Esthero by spreewilson

Andreya Triana’s album Lost Where I Belong was one of 2010′s gems. You may have heard her distinctive vocals previously on works with Flying Lotus (“Tea Leaf Dancers“), Bonobo, Aaron Jerome and more. Lost Where I Belong is her solo debut, and while retaining some elements of the experimental, it’s also a very warm, kinda folksy-jazzy album. “Far Closer” is taken from that album and gets a vibrant working over from LA’s latest digital beatsmith, Tokimonsta. She applies a tougher edge to the track without losing any of its original organic warmth.

Listen:
[See post to listen to audio]

Download “Far Closer (Tokimonsta Remix)” – Andreya Triana

Thanks to LA Weekly’s Urban Nomad for giving us the heads up on this new Little Dragon footage. In this live video they perform a new song “Little Man” at a recent show at LA’s Natural History Museum. We’ll have some interview footage shortly (hopefully).

Go shop for Little Dragon on iTunes, both albums are keepers:
Machine Dreams – Little Dragon
Little Dragon – Little Dragon

Here’s the second of the Jose James treats I promised you. Vicadin is everything you’d expect from a collabo with Flying Lotus. Delicious.

VICADIN by josejamesworldwide

I was lost in the darkness
trying to find my way home

all alone + my heart said

(I’m just waiting for the light of day
to find my way to you baby)

(love is the most precious thing that
we have found together)

(I didn’t know it then
but I was all alone)

I didn’t know that I was
reaching out for a hand to hold

(I didn’t know it then
+ I was on my own)

+ all I needed
was a friend

feelin’ like the struggle in my soul is
coming through my daily motion

believe in what you know
+ what you see + how it flow

feelin’ like the day is coming
when we are we can we be

free to be believe in none of
what you hear + half of what you see

I was going from place to place
town to town
face to face
body to body

running my Spirit down
see I was living on borrowed time

inner peace I couldn’t find
spendin’ money down to the dime
+ takin’ chances with You in mind

(I didn’t know it then
but I was all alone)

+ I didn’t know that I was
reaching out for a hand to hold

(I didn’t know it then
+ I was on my own)

+ all I needed
was a friend

(love is the most precious thing that
we have found together)

see

you don’t need to
wait for love + (x4)

sittin’ feelin’
reachin’ growing

plantin’ diggin’
reapin’ sowing

beneath the Tree
beneath the beat
beneath the moon
just You + me

when we touch it seems
we’ve loved forever
been through pain +
been through pleasure

believe in me
+ I’ll believe
in all You
brought to Be

I’m a sucker for Jose James, I won’t even lie. Here’s the first of 2 new treats from the man. Lyrics and credits below.
Listen:
[See post to listen to audio]

Download Jose James – “Coltrane (Dear Alice)”

José James – vocals
Nori Ochiai – piano
Alexi David – bass
Luke Damrosch – drums + bells

You are the Giver

I hear Your Voice Call

into the silence

of a new Sound

I hear voices calling

Calling me home

they bring me

out of what I know

on + on

to begin

to understand

to find yourself

learning anew

a new Way

to fill your Dreams + Hopes

beyond

what’s already known

+ I go so softly with the Dawn…

::

into

the world we go

traveling on the strength of

all that’s felt

we grow

we grow

into Eternity
hold it very close to you…