Matte Black Soul

Posted by modulatorsoul on December 13, 2014
Posted in: HipHop. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

AWON

Has anyone ever said, “Man, that track has too much soul”? I don’t think so. I think everyone has an appreciation for soul music, regardless of the music you regularly listen. Awon and The Phoniks are some big admirers of soul music. Awon’s new album Matte Black Soul heavily chops and samples old soul records with Awon handling the lyrical delivery. The album focuses on that classic soul based boom bap sound with The Phoniks and Awon producing most of the album. They masterfully create these up to date chilled out soul landscapes for Awon to rhyme on. Awon is a talented lyricist, easily spitting dope flows over the smooth and soulful production. Don’t sleep on this album!

Équations Verbales

Posted by modulatorsoul on December 11, 2014
Posted in: HipHop. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Micronologie-Equations Verbales

It has been a long minute but let’s get the music going. If you are a connoisseur of french hiphop, you have to check the group Micronologie. These guys bring the heat, the new album Équations Verbales is a good mix of hiphop, jazz, and soul. On a couple of the tracks, they link up with PermOne of SoulSquare to handle the production and it brings a slightly funkier sound. I highly recommend this album, Micronologie brings tight flows and dope production.

Bells and Whistles

Posted by modulatorsoul on December 2, 2014
Posted in: Downtempo, HipHop, Jazz, Rock. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Blockhead

Most people regard Dj Shadow’s Entroducing as one of the most influential instrumental hiphop albums, it was able to merge hiphop with rock, soul, jazz, ambient, and many other genres and bring hiphop to a wider audience. It was ground-breaking; it showed the intricacy and creativity behind the sampling and arrangement of behind the production. Blockhead has been one beat maker who continues to expand and push Dj Shadow’s musical imprint, he continues to utilize and create these heavy sampled productions while incorporating as many different genres as possible. Blockhead’s new album Bells and Whistles carries on with his signature musical landscapes, as a listener you get fully immersed floating away in aural pleasure. Bells and Whistles chops up vocal samples over banging drum arrangements with some soulful samples. Do not listen to just one track, no start and stopping, give yourself the time and give the album justice and let the whole thing play out. Highly Recommended!

MAÏA

Posted by modulatorsoul on November 29, 2014
Posted in: Funk, Rnb, Soul. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Maia

I haven’t heard too much the Australian songstress MAÏA, I was lucky to hear her new single Life Is A Lie and I was blown away by her voice. MAÏA’s chilled vocals goes perfectly with the funky airy production. You can check out a few other tracks on her soundcloud. I can’t wait to hear more from MAÏA, hopefully there is an EP or a full length album in the works.

By Fire

Posted by modulatorsoul on November 27, 2014
Posted in: Rnb, Soul. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Hiatus Kayote

The Melbourne based group Hiatus Kaiyote is back with a new EP , it is tragically named By Fire because of the loss of Nai Palm’s father in a house fire.  While the loss of her father is tragic, I believe with this EP, she is trying to celebrate his life. The sound and rhythms are more gentle and cheerful with her soulful voice coming through. The EP drops Dec 2nd, and their second full length album will drop in 2015. Cop it!

Stripped

Posted by modulatorsoul on November 24, 2014
Posted in: Jazz, Rnb, Soul. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Szjerdene

Bonobo’s super successful release The North Boarders exposed world to Szjerdene and her lovely voice. Even though she has released her own EP patchwork in 2013 (check it out if you haven’t),  her collaboration with with Bonobo really turned some heads. Even though The North Boarders album was released in 2013, Szjerdene and Bonobo keep releasing reworks, or live sessions from the album. A few days ago, she released a stripped down live session of Transits and man she kills it. I think I love this version even more than the original. The simplicity of the piano keys and her voice is amazing, she has one of the smoothest voices out there. Check it out below!

Do it

Posted by modulatorsoul on November 15, 2014
Posted in: Funk. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Tuxedo, the supergroup consisting of Jake One and Mayer Hawthorne just dropped visuals for their track Do it off their undisclosed EP that dropped last year. The three track EP was dropped under the radar with no info about group, I think they didn’t want their prominence to hype up the release. The music stood out and created the hype and excitement. Pure funk was made,  and for almost 4 months straight I was listening to the EP constantly.  The new visuals gives another dimension of funk and I will probably be watching the video for the next 4 months. All I will say is “That Boy Can Dance” Check it out

Breaking Codes

Posted by modulatorsoul on November 14, 2014
Posted in: Rnb, Soul. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

Claire Renee Breaking Codes

I am the biggest sucker for a smooth voice, I don’t know what it is, but there is something special being serenaded. by a dope voice The ultra talented Claire Renee collaborates with Bagir-Ba to release the new EP Breaking Codes. The first thing that you will notice is her voice, it is so pleasant. The futuristic soulful production laid down by Bagir-Ba creates the perfect landscape for Claire Renee’s voice to flow over. Regardless of the tempo and rhythm produced by Bagir-Ba, Claire Renee makes every track the star of EP. Don’t sleep and cop this EP, it is free!

Urban Flora

Posted by modulatorsoul on November 8, 2014
Posted in: Electronic, Jazz, Soul. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Urban Flora

Music transcends all, regardless of distance, culture, and language great music can be created. The intercontinental collabo between the Danish producer Galimatias and the 20 year old Ohio native Alina Baraz is something special, it was meant to be. I can’t get enough of their track Fantasy, I am not exaggerating, she has one of the smoothest voice I have heard in a long time. Check it out!

Je$u$

Posted by modulatorsoul on November 7, 2014
Posted in: HipHop. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Jesus

I hate to say it but if your production caters to the golden era sound, you almost gain this instant credibility and recognition. It is like you have this refined and elevated ear that the heads appreciate. The german beatmaker Je$u$ has this signature sound golden era style but he doesn’t need the instant recognition. Once your hear his production, you realize this guy is the real deal. Je$u$’s remixes are on point, it sounds so natural that you think the artist was present in the studio with him. One of my favorite remixes of his is Afu Ra’s Whirlwind Thru Cities, the mellow beat has pure jazziness exuding out. Check out his beat tapes as well, highly recommended!