Yesterday’s Machine is the debut release from King Britt’s Saturn Never Sleeps project, his collaboration with singer/artist Rucyl. The blurb from the label describes it as well as I could:

Their debut album, Yesterday’s Machine, combines an experimental create-in-the-moment vibe with inspirational lyrics and vocal sonics that range from Sade tones to Flora Purim’s ethereal layers. The result is well-crafted, intelligent, genre-pushing, electronic soul rooted in the duo’s collective years of experience and musical expanse.

Listen and download the album for free below, and also watch the video for “Grace”

SaturnNeverSleeps – Grace from rux on Vimeo.

No tea and biscuits?! Definitely a bummer. But don’t be fooled by the flippant title of this collection. The emotional output of this EP runs far deeper than such superficial disappoints. In fact The Shelltoes might be doing themselves a disservice by saying that their music blends jazz, hip-hop (this part is true) and “that feeling when you open the pantry and there’s no English Breakfast left. Or there is, but there’s no milk. Heartbreaking stuff.” Far from the novelty that verbiage suggests, The Shelltoes – made up of two Aussies, DJ/producer Glen Coates and vocalist Kyla Sexton – are a soulful pair with a distinct sound making this free EP worthy of your hard drive space. My faves are the thick, simmering soul of “Porgy” and the Nightmares on Wax-ish “Requiem.” Listen & download below. Definitely be looking out for more from these guys in the future.

More info: http://www.shelltoesmusic.com/
Download I Was Told There Would Be Refreshments

The Angel, one of the most versatile producers around, and Jhelisa, an inspired vocalist, come together to create a magical tune that combines progressive soul, downtempo and dub. Atmospheric and soulful, hopefully this collabo will be the first of many. Learn more about the behind-the-scenes of the track at The Angel’s blog.

Download “Ultra Light” – The Angel ft. Jhelisa
Purchase at 

I don’t usually do year-end lists, but this year I decided to go full force and not only do my own, but gather a few from some esteemed musical colleagues which will be posted separately.

Beatlife Top 8 of 2008 (in no particular order)

Little Dragon – Little Dragon
I said no particular order, but if I had to pick, this would probably come out on top due to the fact that it was simply the freshest sounding album I’d heard in aaaaages, and easily traversed any labels or genres you could try and pin it down with. Read more here and here

Carlos Nino & Lil Sci – Elevation
This album was criminally slept-on but features, in my opinion, some of the best and most progressive hip-hop you’ll hear.

Buff 1 – There’s Only One
It’s no secret that I loved this album- it’s what got me re-inspired by hip-hop. Read more.

14KT – The Golden Hour
Dope production in a somewhat Flying Lotus-esque vein. The A-Side camp were on fire this year!

Wayna – Higher Ground
Wayna definitely turned some heads with this excellent indie soul album. Compelling listening from start to finish. More info.

Replife – The Unclosed Mind
This is one of the most inventive hip-hop albums you’ll ever hear, as Replife easily brings nu-jazz and soul into the fold. More info

Eric Lau – New Territories
I don’t know where this guy came from but he sneakily dropped a brilliant progressive soul album! Thanks!

Sy Smith - Conflict
Well Sy is always a favorite when it comes to good soul music. Conflict is possibly her best album yet, can’t wait to see what she does next. More info

other contenders: Peter Hadar, Zach Lipkins, The Foreign Exchange, Afta 1, Slakah The Beatchild

Alumni of URB’s Next 100 feature, Black Stone Theatre Collective are making old school soul, funk and disco sound good as new on their album Music For A Saturday Evening. Producer Andy C is the mastermind behind it all and he is joined by a selection of Chi-town vocalists – Keanna Johnson, Tunji, Yaw, and Zzaje. The album is well-crafted from start to finish and has a timeless feel to it. Check out some tracks below, as well as a free bonus track “Sexyness.”
DOWNLOAD BSTC – “Sexyness” ft. YAW

For more info: http://myspace.com/bstcollective

I’m on a bit of a Replife roll at the moment, so I thought I’d give y’all a little taste of the man’s music in case you happen to still be sleeping. “Change 4 A Dolla” is taken from his album The Unclosed Mind which was recently released via Futuristica and can be copped at MobileUnderground.com.

Download “Change 4 A Dolla”.

You may also have heard Rep on tracks with The Politik. He’s also part of the Strictly Social fam, having performed at both Strictly Social: NY Edition, and October’s LA Strictly Social at Little Temple Bar – check the coverage here. Replife is a true original, blending broken beats with his hip-hop sensibilities and blazing intellect. You can hear a couple more tracks in the player below. And “Change 4 A Dolla” is kicking off our new feature – the Beatlife Featured Download.

Eric Lau’s debut solo album New Territories is a discovery I made on Emusic. I stumbled upon it and haven’t stopped listening since. Recently released on Ubiquity Records, New Territories is an excellent progressive soul album. Lau’s hip-hop influenced beats and funky, soulful production are the mainstay of the album which features several guest vocalists, all of whom are unknown to me – Tawiah, Rahel, Sarina Leah, Meshach Brown.

Despite the variety of vocalists, the album doesn’t lose any cohesion. Lau provides the common thread, collaborating on writing credits with the various singers, and handling production. He has his own spin on progressive soul, incorporating strong melodies with spacious beats, snares that have the snap of 2-step, just the right amount of both funk and futurism, and of course always a healthy bottom-end.

Lau, of English-Chinese descent, might seem like he’s just appeared out of nowhere, but his production history includes the likes of Lupe Fiasco, Dudley Perkins, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Guilty Simpson, Wildchild, Tanya Morgan, Hil St Soul and others.

Standout tracks for me include “I Don’t Do It To”, “Let It Out” and “Don’t Let Them” although there is no filler in this collection at all. Simply a brilliant album that will have you captivated from start to finish.

Lau’s sound also translates well to a live setting, as demonstrated in a series of YouTube videos of a live set at London’s Deviation. Here’s the first of about eight parts, to be found at Ubiquity’s YouTube channel

Everyone’s (well, definitely mine anyway) favorite sound scientist from outer space, mr Rep Life to you, recently appeared on Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide radio show for an interview. Futuristica label head Simon also drops a wee dj mix full of gems. Download the podcast with all this otherworldly goodness here.

If you are not already familiar with Rep Life, then go school yourself at:

www.myspace.com/danielgraykontarisreplife

He’s a dope MC with a penchant for futuristic broken beats and generally busting your mind wide open. Look out for his album The Unclosed Mind. He can also be found on the recent Politik project.

Here’s a great opportunity for all you would-be producers out there. A chance to remix The Politik album and artwork, and have your work included on the official Remix album. The official blurb and linkage follows:
“Bembe Segue and Mark de Clive-Lowe welcome you to The Politik Remix Album + Artwork Competition. We had a lot of fun making this album in London and Vancouver and now it’s your chance to have a go at flipping it. We’ve uploaded remix parts for the entire album plus the original raw artwork.. share this link and info with everyone who might be interested!

This competition is open to anyone and everyone who’d like to have a go at remixing one (or more) songs from The Politik’s debut album. The winning remixes will be compiled into the official remix album The Politik Remixed to be released on both physical and digital formats. The second part of the competition is an artwork remix competition for the cover art of the official release. Download the original artwork by Joshua Mays and have a go at reworking it in the spirit of the Remix.”

All entries must be received by April 14, 2008.
For more information, download links for all the files and the submission info click:
http://remixthepolitik.blogspot.com/

myspace.com/thepolitik
thepolitik.imeem.com
coopr8.net

Finally, after 6 years, the UK’s 4Hero are back with a new album. Play With The Changes drops Feb 27th on Milan Records. We’ve heard it and with their sound still as fresh as always, it definitely won’t disappoint their diehard fans while hopefully attracting some new ears.

TRACKLISTING
1. Morning Child – feat. Carina Andersson
2. Take My Time – feat. Jack Davey
3. Look Inside – feat. FACE
4. Sink Or Swim (No Choice For Me) – feat. Lady Alma
5. Give In – feat. Darien Brockington & Phonte of Little Brother
6. Play With The Changes – feat. Talita Long & Larry Mizell
7. Something In the Way – feat. Bembe Segue & Kaidi Taitham
8. Stoke Up The Fire – feat. FACE
9. The Awakening – feat. Ursula Rucker
10. Sophia
11. Superwoman(Where Were You When I Needed You?) – feat. Terry Devos
12. Why Don’t You Talk?
13. Bed Of Roses – feat. Jody Watley
14. Gonna Give It Up (Wanna Quit) – feat. Lady Alma
15. Dedication To The Horse

For more info:
http://www.4hero.co.uk/
http://www.milanrecords.com/