The HighLife

Happy Friday people!  I've been in a great mood all day and it seemed like a good idea to share some of the goodness.  I put up a few On Point posts last week about Dimitri from Paris and Fantastic Plastic Machine, that if you peeped will be a perfect segue into this contents of this post.   There have been a few new releases in the past few months that have got me pretty excited about life.  Mos Def's The Ecstatic, Brother Ali's US, Gossip's Music for Men, the second half of Jay-Z's Blueprint 3, and Ghostface Killah's Ghostdini, Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City, to name a few.   So for those who haven't been on top of their music game lately, here's a refresher course in what you've been missing.  Plus a few other gems from Saint Etienne, Syreeta, The Disco Biscuits, Ugly Duckling, and Pharcyde.  It's music to handle bidness to.   Welcome to The Jumpoff!

Business Related Affairs


That's all today.  Rock it out this weekend, or at least try to be creative.  Until next time, be easy.
-Afolabi

During my brief period of highlife convalescence I had the opportunity to explore new territory musically.  Discover new sounds if you will.  Pretty much an exercise in stretching my sonic proclivities beyond their current shores.  A lot of the music I came across is actually by artists from other countries; including this particular artist.  Dj/Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, a.k.a. Fantastic Plastic Machine,  hails from Japan.  He played the bass, dj'ed, and recorded music in Japan through the 80's and early 90's.  Eventually releasing his first solo effort titled Fantastic Plastic Machine in 1997.  The sound is highly influenced by bossa nova, house, and 60s lounge music, making it almost seem theatrical at times.  He's released five more albums since his debut, and they're all solid.   Here's a little sample, but I highly recommend getting to know more of the Fantastic Plastic Machine.

If you follow us on the facebook or twitter you should probably have heard the original of this Major Lazer banger.  But i'll bet you haven't heard this fresh off the presses remix by Amphibious of Flavorheard.  Building off the ubiquitous percussion, Amphibious delivers a dancehall-afro-funk infused track that will surely make you wish it was Friday already.  Seriously, listen to this a few times and you might find yourself wanting to listen to it more than the original.  But i'm just sayin'.

Major Lazer - Pon de Floor (Amphibious Remix)

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen! It's been a bit.  I haven't really been on top of writing lately, as i'm sure some might have noticed.  I promise it's all been for good reason.  We're a year old now at The Highlife, and i thought i'd thank all of you out there livin' the highlife with a Jumpoff.  We're only just getting started people, and it seemed fitting to kick it old school to give you a glimpse of things to come on The Highlife.  Take for example, the image you're looking at right now.  Created by one of Boston's finest artists, Dan Szymanowski. You may not know him yet; that'll change.  But like i said, this is only just a preview. Welcome to The Jumpoff!



A-Side
This British house duo has been making me dance since high school, but i kinda eased off their sound once college hit.  Which would explain why i'd gone relatively unaware of their 2003 release, Kish Kash, for quite a while. Nevertheless, it made its way into my ears, and now it will make its way into yours. The juicy cuts at least. This is Basement Jaxx.



B-Side
Sometime last year i put up a post with the Entourage Season 5 closing credits soundtrack.  They're not killin' it so much this year; the show's still good though.  But the song from last week was absolutely solid. They dug deep to find an unreleased gem from the catalog of a music legend; I have nothing more to add... Marvin Gaye - Piece of Clay



And that'll do it for today.  I can't say when next i'll be posting, but it'll be sooner rather than later.  Live, love, be the highlife.  Stay cool.  Until next time, be easy.
-Afolabi

Flavorheard Radio Vol. 5 - Whiskey Barons Edition
Enjoy!

Deadmau5 got some mo' cheese - check his new unreleased track yo!

Push play and let it ride