The HighLife

Are you sitting comfortably?  Now let's begin.  Or more so, close out 2009.  It's seems that everyone is really eager to throw out 2009 with the bath water.  I personally beg to differ.  A common malady of our current web 2.0 generation is ridiculously short memory spans, and if some of us were to actually consider the entirety of '09 we'd find something to cheer about.  So here's my thanks to 09.  The year that connected all of us much closer than we are even yet to realize; giving way to the rise of social media, unreal NYC all night dance parties, the disco ball at Santos party House, pastel colored sunglasses, the most ridiculous Bonnaroo ever, Pretty Lights, Phish coming back, the most amazing concert i've ever been to with The Roots and Antibalas @ the Red Bull Soundclash, rocking out underneath the McGrath Bridge, free Chester French and Wale concert in Harvard Square, Jesse Dee, The Bodega Girls, Show Dem Camp, Blackjoy, Shepard Fairey at the ICA, dance parties at the ICA... i could keep going but it'd take too long.  So if you're of the opinion that this year wasn't that great, you probably weren't trying hard enough. 





As we proceed into the new year, the Highlife crew would like to thank you all for your support.  This enterprise has been a leap of faith from the beginning, and it wouldn't be possible without all of you out there.  The scary thing about leaps of faith is that you don't how or if you'll land.  But you have to jump anyway.  That said, our resolution for 2010 is to make the impossible possible.  Keep watching this space.

Jumpoff On Point 2009


Happy New Year!!!

Merry merry y'all.  Here's one of a few presents we've got for you before the year is out.   Think of them as essentials for heading into the new year.  First off, a couple of guaranteed party starters by a duo of really talented dudes from Norway.  These are the Albino Superstars.

Team Disco

+ Louder Version

My Girls

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

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

IMAGINATION who can sing thy force?
Or who can describe the swiftness of thy course?
Soaring through air to find the bright abode,
Th'empyreal palace of the thund'ring God,
We on thy pinions can surpass the wind,
And leave the rolling universe behind:
From star to star the mental optics rove,
Measure the skies, and range the realms above.
There in one view we grasp the mighty whole,
Or with new worlds amaze th'unbounded soul.
-Phillis Wheatley


-Bibio

 

"Go in this thy might..."

60 minutes.  That's all you'll need to be thrown into full-blown summer mode.  The group we're spotlighting today just might turn the rest of your summer (possibly year) into one big dance party.  I learned about them very recently, and have now become quite attached to their sound in my ears (all day every day!).  They're a french based group spearheaded by Jerome Caron, and a group of talented musicians who produce a very specific brand of "disco-house", that is irresistibly infectious.  Just press play and you'll see what i mean. 

So, for the next 60 minutes all you need to do is, turn up the volume as LOUD as possible, kick back, loosen up, and behold the unassailable might of...

Blackjoy







By the time this is done you should be bouncing wherever you are; work, home, train, wherever.  Just try not to scare people with your enthusiasm.  They're probably not as ready for the summer as you are.  So do feel free to share Blackjoy with as many people as you can.  I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy of Blackjoy Disco Jams, the only problem you'll have is liking it too much.  If that's possible.  Also, check out their blog for the latest on all that is Blackjoy.



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And that will do it for this New Music week.  Please do check out the groups and artists spotlighted all week, they're awesome and I know they'd think you're awesome too.  So get to know them.  Until next time, keep dancing, stay cool, and be easy.
Afolabi

 

Formed in 1988 in Manchester, 808 State took their name from the Roland TR-808 drum machine and the "state of mind" shared by the members. A second probable reference to this is the name of their first hit single:

808 State - Pacific State

Pretty Lights - Solamente