Space-age R&B slow jams are still where it’s at. Dig BenZel, who describe themselves as two Japanese teenagers with “a profound appreciation for ’90s R&B and J Dilla.” Fresh from partnering with Jessie… Continue reading
DJ Benji B, arranger Grant Windsor, and their 16-piece string ensemble reorchestrate 12 future soul and beat culture standards live on BBC Radio 1. Click below to watch what is undoubtedly the… Continue reading
Stones Throw team up with Jonti to get festive. Jonti – “Christmas Worm” (Stream) The “teenage Beck in a barbershop quartet” sound of “Christmas Worm” is one of eight exclusive tracks… Continue reading
From the Fugees to Nas to the Wu-Tang Clan, the output of Philadelphia soul outfit the Delfonics is an oft-mined hip-hop sample staple source. The haunting lilt of “Stop and… Continue reading
This is special. Two sublime and subaqueous folk acoustic cover versions of two hip-hop classics. Mos Def’s “Umi Says” & the Pharcyde’s “Runnin” by B.J. Smith (Folk Acoustic Cover Versions) Download… Continue reading
Mini-Jessie Ware the singer meets mini-Julio Bashmore the producer. There are many best moments in this video, but the bestest is at 1min 49sec. Jessie Ware – “Sweet Talk” (Official Video) … Continue reading
So here it is, the year that was. Here are my 50 favorite songs of 2012. 50. My Morning Jacket – “Outta My System” (Washed Out Remix) 49. Alt-J – “Tessellate” 48.… Continue reading
Questions drop into blues guitar chord puddles amidst gently insistent vintage drums. Arima Ederra ft Blu – “Questions” (Produced by Bhonstro) (Free Download) Download this track for free here.
My favorite song of all time gets the cover treatment again, this time from LA’s Decoders, who take the psychedelic soul of the original and infuse it with upbeat samba. The Decoders… Continue reading
I’m renaming Cyber Monday “Cy-R&B-r Monday” and celebrating it every week of the year until the end of time. inc. – “5 Days” (Official Video) LA-based brother duo inc., formerly known… Continue reading
Only five songs deep on his Soundcloud page, Manchester, UK producer Werkha has created some Francophonic Brainfeeder-ish brilliance with his song “Le Roitelet.” It starts off simple enough, but it’s the Debruit-esque bass… Continue reading
The stunning vocal prowess of Alice Russell paired with the comedic greatness of Harry Shearer is a potent combination. Alice Russell – “Heartbreaker” (Official Video ft Harry Shearer) “Heartbreaker” is out… Continue reading
Future organic garage and dubstep rhythms from Leeds, UK live electronic seven-piece Submotion Orchestra. They join the ranks of my top-rated, best-loved Orchestras, which include Cinematic, Hidden, and BBC Concert. What Reprazent are… Continue reading
That starry soul-hop from outer space-via-Amsterdam. La Melodia is MC Melodee and producer I.N.T. I can easily hear Pharrell’s falsetto and his signature live drums lacing a remix of this one. La… Continue reading
Copenhagen, Denmark’s Karen Marie Ørsted is MØ. The tried-and-tested pop sound staple that is the handclap cleverly and effortlessly forms the backbone and steady propulsion of “Pilgrim.” MØ – “Pilgrim” (Official Video)… Continue reading
Couldn’t decide which new track I thought was more incredible from Ross Wakefield and Toby Vane aka London’s Part-Time Heroes, so I ended up posting ’em both! Taken from “Holy,” the third single… Continue reading
Full-blast future-doo-wop neo-soul from Finland. Heikki Soini and Tiia Marjanen team up with rapper Ekow from Helsinki hip-hoppers the Megaphone State for a rare English-language excursion on “Love Affair.” The duo also… Continue reading
Los Angeles duo Rhye return with more Sunday afternoon soul. Rhye – “The Fall” Listen to the pair’s stunning debut single “Open” here. Rhye‘s The Fall EP is released October 9… Continue reading
Nothing like a Rhodes-y stomp, scattered scat vocals, and shaking shakers coming together to literally make it good. An absolutely fantastic tune. Who is/are the White Lamp? Rumor has it that it’s… Continue reading
Boston bassist, composer, and producer Gizmo lifts souls with soul. More songs from Gizmo‘s latest album Red Balloon here.
Breezy, lovely, joyful electronic soul from Los Angeles’ Breezy Lovejoy. A new favorite. Fans of Plantlife and 4hero’s later output will most definitely dig. Breezy Lovejoy – “Paradise” “Paradise” and eight… Continue reading
The dub reggae lilt of New Zilla’s Fat Freddy’s Drop vocalist Joe Dukie gets a propulsive bass-step boost from the Nextmen. The Nextmen vs Joe Dukie of Fat Freddy’s Drop – “When… Continue reading
This one sounds like a beefed-up version of Jai Paul‘s “BTSTU.” Rockwell sheds a few bpm’s from the drum ‘n’ bass tempo territory of his previous output to deliver this heavyweight slab of… Continue reading
Daytime disco duo Poolside uncover the neon nocturnal wildlife of urban Los Angeles. Download the ravey strut of “Only Everything” for free from the good folks at Scion AV here.
Say hello to unsigned London beatmaker Warren Xclnce. Warren Xclnce – “Say Goodbye” (Free Download) More Xclnce here.
End of summer tune. London-via-Ghana musician Andrew Ashong teams up with Detroit techno svengali Theo Parrish to create nine minutes of rattling, soul-infused, slow house. Andrew Ashong &… Continue reading
Bristol, England goes boogie! Sure Thing is a live boogie funk outfit fronted by the legendary drum ‘n’ bass DJ and producer DJ Die (who also spins disco under the name Laminate Radio),… Continue reading
If you ever need to mix your way out of Massive Attack’s “Blue Lines” into a lazy saxophone lounge jazz set, this one is for you. Get Down Edits – “Sneakin’ In… Continue reading
Sofa soul. Future funk. Naytronix is the solo project of Nate Brenner, bassist for tUnE-YaRdS and Beep. Fans of Jonti and Sonnymoon will no doubt dig. “Baby Don’t Walk Away” is second… Continue reading
This video for Antwon‘s 2012 summer jam “Living Every Dream” manages to look and sound like a pitch-perfect recreation of everything 1993. I’m off to scour YouTube for taped VHS uploads of… Continue reading
August music in every sense of the word. This sublime soul-jazz cover of Junior Murvin’s reggae standard “Police and Thieves” will feature on Zara McFarlane‘s second album out… Continue reading
Always supremely enjoyable DJing the late late late night on KEXP 90.3FM Seattle. Some tracks just make perfect sense at 3:30 in the morning. In these wee small hours is where the best… Continue reading
On first listen, it’s all Julio B business at usual, but then that classic Chicago house bassline comes in at 1:33 that catapults this remix from good to great. Drop at 3:06… Continue reading
This beat. “When you appreciate someone else’s art, it makes your art better.”
Friday night’s radio show on KEXP 90.3FM Seattle was great fun. Below is a list of the tracks played. Listen back to the show via KEXP’s streaming archive here (while stocks last). … Continue reading
I’ve made no secret of the fact that this 1970s psychedelic soul classic is my favorite song of all time. This new version by Ethiopian piano prodigy Samuel Yirga features the Creole Choir… Continue reading
Star Slinger just posted this new remix on his Soundcloud. Jessie Ware – “Wildest Moments” (Star Slinger Remix) Seems like every producer out there right now can’t help but succumb to… Continue reading
Brazilian-American singer Mônica da Silva and her partner Chad Alger expertly cover Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side.” Impossible to tell whether this was filmed in 1965 using an 8mm camera… Continue reading
While. I’m Not. Always. In. The Mood For. Spoken. Word. Poetry, this is pretty good. Superb soul-jazz beats and bass with a voice and flow that recalls a younger, laid-back Ursula Rucker. … Continue reading
Stupendously superb soulful sounds from the street for the summer on the show ce soir! Big ups to all the regular listeners and anyone listening for the first time. Welcome aboard! … Continue reading
Funny how Ben Westbeech’s funky, bass-driven throwback house output under the moniker Breach always sounds so much more confident than his singalong soul tracks recorded under his real name, given that he’s a… Continue reading
Too many great tunes in the mix tonight. New, old, electronic, soul, beats, heat, bass, space. Let me know what you’re liking and what you dig by emailing dan@dandigs.com and get yourself shouted… Continue reading
Summer beat vibes. Out now on Bastard Jazz. Featuring music by Tensei, MonkeyRobot, Ta-Ku, Evil Needle, Teru, Chief, Jeriko Jackson, Buscrates, Floydcheung, Doc Illingsworth, Schecky’s Jazzy Tofu, and Tall Black Guy.… Continue reading
From UK producer Rudimental. Probably what Soul II Soul would sound like had they come up in the xx’s and Disclosure’s London of the early 2010s.
