I’ve been having a serious Jose James phase as of late, and it’s a wonderful thing. Here’s two new jams from the man with the butter-voice, that will have you falling in love with him all over again. Props to HoneySoul for turning me on to “Lay You Down”. I believe this one will be on his forthcoming album (due September I think). “Jazzy Joint” is a track featuring Jose James by J.A.M. – the piano trio from Soil & Pimp Sessions.Both tracks provide perfect summer listening.

Jose James – Lay You Down
[See post to listen to audio]

J.A.M. ft. Jose James – Jazzy Joint
[See post to listen to audio]

Purchase Jose James’ excellent album The Dreamer

I do love me some MJ Cole. I haven’t been keeping up with him over the past few years, so when I came across this track, it reminded me of my younger days (sigh), discovering 2-step/garage and MJ Cole’s wonderful album Sincere back in 2000 or so.

This new track “Gotta Have It” has a strong pop sensibility, it’s true, in that it’s slickly and shinily produced, but damn if that bassline and 2-step beat don’t getcha every time :)

Listen to “Gotta Have It”:
[See post to listen to audio]

Rush Hour Recordings and Beat Dimensions have compiled another volume of futuristic, mind-bending beats. The list of featured artists gives you an idea of the pedigree here – producers include Nosaj Thing, Samiyam, Dorian Concept and more. The collection is a no-holds barred selection of tracks straight from the year 3000 or so. These producers take hip-hop to entirely new places, playing with sounds, rhythms and electronic influences. There are two 12″s currently available with another in the works in a few months. You can also purchase the release digitally.

Listen to: Mono/Poly – “Distant”:
[See post to listen to audio]

Listen to: Fulgeance – “Haggis”:
[See post to listen to audio]

Buy Beat Dimensions Vol 2 at

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

Garth Trinidad hosted Maxwell for an in-studio interview on Wednesday night. You can listen to the interview in the player below and hear some of your fave Maxwell tunes, as well as the new track “Pretty Wings” from the (finally!) forthcoming album BLACKSummer’sNight – to be released in July -which is the first of a trilogy.

Well now, this was a lovely treat in my Inbox just now. Beatmaker fLako has collaborated with vocalist Noir to produce this collection of progressive soul tracks, aptly entitled Pearls. Thanks to the folks at Kwatro for this.

Take a listen to this track “Milky Way”:
[See post to listen to audio]

and then Download the EP.

Red Bull Music Academy presents Wandering Feet podcast

James Pants (Stone’s Throw), Chas Jankel (The Blockheads) and Fatima feature this month.

Download the Wandering Feet Podcast and join music journalist, and Red Bull Music Academy team member, Emma Warren, for her take on new music, collaboration and emerging talent with a special UK focus. In the latest episode Emma is joined in the Wandering Feet studio by emerging vocalist Fatima who popped by to talk about jamming with Sly and Robbie and to give us an exclusive preview of some of the new tracks she’s been working on. The Wandering Feet podcast is all about sharing musical knowledge, and in keeping with our tradition of hearing from true masters and pioneers, we touch base with Chas Jankel of The Blockheads who fills us in on the story behind ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’. We’ll be also digging in the Wandering Feet vaults for some words of wisdom from Stones Throw’s newest one man band: James Pants, recorded at a recent Red Bull Music Academy lecture in Barcelona. And of course, there’s plenty of music, with a brand new track from the incredible collaboration between Mulatu and The Heliocentrics, plus a very special live track from Micachu and the Shapes.

Download the podcast here

And you can find it on iTunes here
Or subscribe on iTunes here

Bonus – a track from Fatima feat. Cohen, Cuthead & Dorian Concept:
Download Fatima – Do I Know You

Listen:
[See post to listen to audio]

Here’s some thangs my soulful colleagues are blogging about this week:

Nu-Soul Mag talks to soulstress Amel Larrieux

Pinboard has an in-depth interview with Muhsinah

As usual, SongsInTheKeyofLife has the scoop on another great show, this time from UK soul legend, Omar

Check out Anjulie’s “Boom” video at Adventures of An Audio Diva