'A Town Called Obsolete' is an obliquely upbeat and heartfelt plea for patience and faith in the face of indifference. Triana’s voice is perfect for this mixture of longing and hope, smokey, beautiful and tonally perfect. Bonobo, meanwhile, hooks up dusty break-drumming, thrumming electric bass and a horn part that peaks at just the right times.
Remix duties are taken care of by the hotly-tipped Mount Kimbie. Labelmates of Joy Orbison on Hotflush Records, the duo string Andreya’s backing vox over melancholy pads like Christmas lights round the screen of a lovelorn mainframe. Computer-soul never sounded so melancholy.
The package is rounded out by a live recording of Andreya performing 'A Town Called Obsolete' at Worldwide Awards 2010 at The Garage, London on 6th February. Her band that night featured Bonobo on bass and Fink on guitar!
01 A Town Called Obsolete (Album Version) 02 A Town Called Obsolete (Radio Edit) 03 A Town Called Obsolete (Mount Kimbie Remix) 04 A Town Called Obsolete (Live)
NINJA TUNE XX - WEEK XI - XXEN010
The Cinematic Orchestra, Roots Manuva, Jaga Jazzist & Bonobo - Live
This week's Ninja Tune XX giveaway celebrates the rich heritage of live music associated with Ninja's 20 year history. From the intimate, DJ-based club gigs of the label's early days, Ninja Tune artists have gone on to perform at infamous concert venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, The Barbican and Brixton Academy. Luckily, many of these moments have been recorded for posterity, and this week we're giving away four of the best of them.
The Cinematic Orchestra's 'To Build a Home,' from 2007's 'Ma Fleur', very quickly became one of their best loved songs. On this live version, recorded at The Barbican in 2007, you can hear the creative sparring between J Swinscoe and Patrick Watson, the adulation of the crowd, and most importantly the music that justifies it.
Roots Manuva's 'Movements' has always been one of his iconic artistic statements. Opening the debut album that wowed so many, way back in 1999, its unmistakable opening bars always bring on a tangible wave of excitement when Rodney performs it live. This version was recorded at The Forum, Kentish Town, in 2005.
Jaga Jazzist are undoubtedly amongst the finest live performers on the label. Their shows have stunned audiences across the globe; inch-perfect, ultra-tight renditions of their unique sonic landscapes. This rendition of '110 V Spektral' was performed at By:Larm in 2010.
Finally, Bonobo's live show around his latest album, Black Sands, is truly a wonder to behold. Ranging fluidly across dancefloor-moving electronics and spine-tingling soul, it shows an artist and his band at the very top of their game. This version of 'Stay The Same', featuring Andreya Triana, was performed live at The Roundhouse earlier this year.
Roots Manuva will be performing live at the Ninja Tune XX night at Ewer Street on October 2nd.
The Cinematic Orchestra will be performing at The Royal Albert Hall on 14th November with guests Lou Rhodes, Grey Reverend, Heidi Vogel, PC and the 24-piece Heritage Orchestra.
It's a busy week for celebrations and, indeed, for Dalston. On Thursday night Roots, Wrongtom, Ricky Ranking, the legendary Don Letts and Photomachine will be seeing 'Duppy Writer' off out into the world at The Alibi, 91 Kingsland High Street E8 2PB. The night will run from 8pm until 3am, it's free entry and the place is really quite small, so please get there ridiculously early or stand around outside feeling vexed. The choice is yours....
07.09.10Ninja Tune XX Pop-Up Shop
Come to the Ninja Tune XX '20 Years of Beats & Pieces' exhibition this Saturday and browse a special pop-up shop with handpicked items from the Ninjashop. From 12-5pm, free entry.
Black Dog Space 10a Acton Street London WC1X 9NG
06.09.10Ninja Tune exhibition at the AB restaurant in Brussels
Didn't get a ticket to the (sold out!) Ninja Tune XX show at Ancienne Belgique - AB? Want to celebrate the label's anniversary?
Get your ass down to the AB Resto and see some of the best Ninja Tune artwork, chosen by the London crew themselves.
05.09.10Eskmo - Cloudlight
Welcome, Ninja Tune’s latest signing, the one and only Eskmo. Brendan Angelides, a native of Connecticut now based in San Francisco, has been causing a considerable stir for the last few years, releasing music on labels including but not limited to Warp, Planet Mu and his own Ancestor imprint. Already tipped by many in the electronic music community to be a major presence for years to come, Eskmo shows exactly what the fuss is all about on his debut for his new home-label.
'Cloudlight' somehow manages to rope together the aesthetics of glitch, dubstep and r&b into the kind of song Marvin The Paranoid Android might have recorded if he were put on a course of anti-depressants, got laid by a washing machine and munched enough ecstasy tablets to explode a cat. Troubling, beautiful and strangely uplifting all at once, it states, simply and without the need for any of these words, that Angelides is a unique presence in electronic music. 'Come Back' develops the sound perhaps even further, a narcotisized Timberlake number or a disembodied ghost voice? It’s a question only the listener can answer, though Angelides injects real longing into his deadpan vocals. Remix duties are dealt with by Brainfeeder’s Lorn, who turns in a brutally pummeling remix.
'Cloudlight' download single is out now, with a self-titled album coming 4th October.
