Jazzmaica

Posted by modulatorsoul on March 11, 2015
Posted in: Jazz, Reggae, Ska, Soul. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Gramophone AllStars

I am really late to the party, the party is almost over but better show up than never! I stumbled on the Gramophone All Stars out of Spain, this group is amazing. They bring the energy of Ska and Reggae with the intricacies of Jazz all mixed together with some super soulful vocals. The fifteen piece band has been dropping albums since early 2010, and they have been reproducing some heavenly covers. The classic Summertime was the track that got me hooked, and most recently they dropped their newest album Jazzmaica, which they cover some classics from Stevie Wonder as well as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Highly Recommended, go check these guys out!

Choose Your Weapon

Posted by modulatorsoul on March 4, 2015
Posted in: Electro, HipHop, Soul. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Hiatus Kaiyote

I have mentioned Hiatus Kaiyote multiple times on this blog, and with each new release there is something that needs to be said. Well with the new single Breathing Underwater is no different, Hiatus Kaiyote has stepped up game. It is like they have further refined their sound, the composition and arrangement encompasses both simplicity and complexity while elegantly matches Nai Palm’s vocals. The Melbourne group  will be releasing their new album Choose Your Weapon sometime soon, but in the meantime keep Breathing Underwater on repeat.

Golden Dreams

Posted by modulatorsoul on March 4, 2015
Posted in: Electronic, Soul. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Idesia Golden Dreams

Let’s make this one quick, stop what you are doing and cop Idesia’s new album Golden Dreams. The LA soul band is creating some dope electronic soul. Sophie Dimitroff holding down the soulful vocals and the USC trained band creating these aural pleasures that makes you hit repeat. Just grab the new album!

Sour Soul

Posted by modulatorsoul on February 27, 2015
Posted in: HipHop, Jazz. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

ghostface badbad

The prolific Ghostface Killah aka Tony Starks is back, linking up with the Canadian group BADBADNOTGOOD to drop their new collabo album Sour Soul. As usual, Ghost brings the raw, rapid fire, lyricism which he is known for and BADBADNOTGOOD supplies the dope soulful jazzy beats.  The Canadian group provides live instrumentation to the production and it adds another dimension to the sound. The rawness of Ghost’s lyrics with the live sound is something that I think is missing from hiphop. I think we are so used to having hiphop being produced purely from digital machines that we forgot the live instrumentation possibilities. I am really feeling this album, go cop it!

Thoughts

Posted by modulatorsoul on February 25, 2015
Posted in: HipHop, Rnb. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Kaeyae Alo

Back at it, it has been a minute but the music keeps flowing and Kaeyae Alo aka Asha Moyo comes correct. The Canadian songstress links up with the Rotterdam beat makers The Stone Detectives to drop her new single Thoughts. Smooth is the perfect description of Kaeyae Alo’s voice, and it flows over the beat effortlessly. My biggest complaint is that the song is too short, I want a like 10 minute jam of Kaeyae Alo singing. I can’t wait for her to drop more tracks, Check it out the new single.

LateNight Munchies

Posted by modulatorsoul on February 7, 2015
Posted in: Jazz, Soul, World Music. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Kadjha Bonet2

The first thing you are going to notice when you first hear Kadhja Bonet’s voice is how angelic it is. The LA songstress effortlessly flows over different productions, especially on her new single LateNight Munchies, while still having a smooth and mellow sound. The new single was recorded at the Red Bull Academy in 2014 with RJ and Mark Maxwell on the production, the synthy cosmic sound pairs well with Kadhja’s voice. The only other single I have heard from Kadhja Bonet is Tears for Lamont, while it has more of a traditional worldly sound, her voice and lyrics are on point. Check her out!

All Time Love

Posted by modulatorsoul on February 1, 2015
Posted in: Rnb. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Eric Roberson

Rnb has always been about the singer, the band got minimal love compared the voices. I think that is changing, Esperanza Spalding was able to showcase the complexities of playing the music as well as having a dope voice. Robert Glasper is another musician that has added another level to Rnb and Jazz, his albums features great singers but his instrumentation and direction really take the songs to the next level.  Jeff Bradshaw is the next in line, the trombone player has arranged for some big names such as Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, and he is ready to drop his new album Home. The new single All Time Love features some heavy hitters such as Tweet, Eric Roberson, and Robert Glasper, but listen to the arranging and instrumentation. It has such a different sound than the typical Rnb track. I can’t wait for the new album, Jeff Bradshaw comes correct!

Yesterday I Had The Blues

Posted by modulatorsoul on January 28, 2015
Posted in: Jazz. Leave a comment

jose-james-yesterday-i-had-the-blues-the-music-of-billie-holiday

It is something special when an artist recognizes the impact and influence another musician had on their career .The ultra talented Jose James will soon be dropping his Billie Holiday album, Jose who refers to Billie Holiday as his “Musical Mother” wanted to share his love and adoration for her music and its influence on him. Blue Note records will be dropping the album in North America in March but have created a video album trailer to get you pumped for the project. I am certain that it will be an unbelievable album and probably one of Jose’s best releases. Check it out!

For The Love Of It

Posted by modulatorsoul on January 27, 2015
Posted in: HipHop. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

sHUKO fOR THE LOVE

The lineup on Shuko’s new album For the Love of It is bonkers, he gets some crazy assistance from the old school likes of Grand Puba, CL Smooth, to the new school greats of Blu, 20Syl, and Talib Kweli, and there are many more. Shuko, the german beatmaker has been steady in his releases, always putting quality ahead of quantity and this album is no different. He loves chopping up some soulful samples layered over some banging drums. The new single Allow Me featuring Pete Philly, Evidence, and 20Syl is a real heater, if this doesn’t get you excited for his album, I don’t know what would. The album drops on the 30th, cop it!