The Story of a Hurricane

"A person is a success if they get up in the morning and gets to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do." - Bob Dylan

My congratulations go out to Bob Dylan, who today marks his 70th birthday and a continuing legacy that has shaped the contemporary music world irrepressibly.

From his humble folk beginnings in the early 60's to today; musician, poet, artist and innovator, he remains as popular as ever, and even at 70 years of age, is far from over.

Dylan's leap to electric guitar performance was as controversial as it was shocking for his audience in the mid 60's... But despite the criticism that bombarded him, he stuck true to it and effectively sparked the little old movement we know today as Rock.

Still a champion of the folk genre, Dylan continues to tour and produce new artistic works on a massive level, showing us he could go on for another 70 given the chance... So today, I raise a toast to Bob, for everythiing he has done for music, and everything he has yet to do.

Cheers.

Star Cuts

It's a double music whammy for you today...

Darren Williams, better known as Star Slinger, is a producer who I feel is finally getting the recognition and acclaim he deserves. The man could well be Manchester's answer to a british J Dilla; a sharply inventive musician who is a refreshing break from the plethora of poorly cut remixes and lazy sampling that has come to plague the hip-hop and R'n'B scene.

You would be hard pressed to trace many of the samples that Star Slinger uses, and it's that very difficulty that makes him so enjoyable to listen to - each track is so inventive and original against its source, that you can't help but be amazed.

From choppy hip-hop beats to the smoothest of slow-jam-esque grooves, there doesn't seem to be an area of the genre that he hasn't turned to gold.

His debut album, Volume 1, is available now for download on his website HERE.

Enjoy the wonderfully chirpy track Mornin' below.


K.

Badgers And Witchazel...

Many of you may be familiar with the comedian/actor Matt Berry, star of many recent comedy hits that include Garth Marenghi's Dark Place, The Mighty Boosh and Snuff Box. Many of you might not know, however, that Berry is something of an accomplished musician...

Enter Witchazel, his second studio album released early this year on famed record label, Acid Jazz. Witchazel is a truly brilliant return to british folk and the early establishment of Prog.  It serenades your ears to images of a woodland stroll on a summer's evening (all of which should be imagined through the lens of a circa 1975 super 8 camera).

The lyrics are somewhat tongue in cheek "..Your penguin's in the bath, it was put there by your mum..", but what of it? It doesn't have to make sense, it's folk-prog.

Nearly all instruments are performed by Matt Berry himself, which only solidifies the integrity of his musical credentials, and we are even treated to guest vocals on the track Rain Come Down by non other than Mr. Paul McCartney.

What a surprising gem this album has turned out to be, and I strongly recommend you find yourself a copy. This has a very strong potential of being your lazy summer anthem 2011...

I shall leave you with the track Take My Hand. 


Enjoy.