The HighLife

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

Choice cuts from the catalog of... Datarock

This Norwegian electro-dance-rock outfit has been plying their trade for a while now.  Their latest album, Datarock Datarock, isn't exactly new, as it was released in 2005 (under their own label).  Yet it hasn't quite struck a chord on this side of the Atlantic.  So here's a taste of Norway for you.  This is...
Datarock


Video Listing
- Fa fa fa
- Give it up
- I used to dance with my daddy

The gents of Stones Throw Records were kind enough to make a stop on their current tour in Boston last Monday.  The lineup featured Dam Funk, James Pants and The Royal Zodiac Band, Mayer Hawthorne, and Peanut Butter Wolf himself.  You should already know about Mayer Hawthorne from The Jumpoff "Soul Week" on here a few months ago, but i highly recommend getting to know each of the other names i just mentioned.  If you appreciate originality, creativity, and a constant insistence to go against the mold, get to know Stones Throw Records. Here as a sample, is the futuristic funk stylings of Dam Funk.  I'll put up something more comprehensive later, just so you fully understand how deep their roots lie.  Can you dig it!!!

If you peep this space regularly this group shouldn't be foreign to you.  Here is the genre bending/breaking/defying sound of Chester French, on their debut album, Love the Future...