Quantic y Los Miticos del Ritmo - "Hotline Bling"

I'm in need of a very specific kind of Bat-signal. It's the one I want to light the sky with after hearing this song that will alert the owner of Helmut the Pug that they need to re-cut their video of the dog dancing to "Hotline Bling" to this cumbia version from RR faves Quantic y Los Miticos del Ritmo.

Share Some Love

If you follow this blog on the regular then you know I've talked about labels like Tru Thoughts, Finders Keepers, ZZK, Strut and Soundway. If you dug any of that stuff, then you're in luck. The fine folks behind those even finer record labels have banded together for the seventh installment of Label Love, a compilation featuring selections from their recent catalog. AND IT'S FREE. Get it, and then chase down full-lengths from the likes of Nicola Cruz, flako, Quantic presents The Western Transient and more and support the folks that put this thing together.

Lost Midas - "Head Games (ft. Audris)" Live

Here's a little sneak preview of my Top 20 songs for my New Years' Eve countdown. Was putting my list together and discovered that there's a live performance of this entry from Lost Midas' Off The Course LP. Great stuff. Needless to say, it made the cut.

Quantic - "Duvidó" feat. Pongolove

OH HELL YES. The single "Duvidó" isn't officially out on Tru Thoughts until St. Patrick's Day (like you need a reason to raise a glass) and the full-length Magnetica is even further afield with a May 5th release date but you can hear the first cut from Quantic's first release under his solo moniker since 2006 (!!) right now. Dig.

Tru Thoughts new website compilation

My love for the Tru Thoughts label should be pretty apparent to anyone who follows Reductive Reviews on the regular. From longtime label stalwarts like Quantic to recent signings including UK rapper Ty and more, Tru Thoughts have a wide-ranging catalog unified by one thing: QUALITY. I have never met a TT release I didn't enjoy and there have been some that I truly love. If you're unfamiliar with the TT roster this is a brilliant entree to their stuff. The fine folks at Tru Thought have put together a 15-track compilation which you can check out on their Soundcloud account or get as a free download. If you've been sleeping on these folks, it's time to wake up.

Quantic & Nidia Góngora - "Muévelo Negro / Ñanguita"

OH. GOD. YES. Nidia Góngora - part of the fantastic group of musicians responsible for the Ondatropica album that came out on Soundway a little over a year ago, has teamed up with Will Holland, aka Quantic (he of the midas touch) for an amazing 7' that you can hear in its entirety below. Heck, you can even flip the record yourself.

Alice Russell - "To Dust"

Happy To Dust release day folks.

Alice Russell - "Twin Peaks"

Alice Russell never disappoints. Except when I discovered how much taller I am than my musical crush when I introduced her performance at the Jazz Fest. But that's as much on me as it is on her. New album, To Dust, is dropping soon. It stands tall.

Ty - "Like You Never"

YES!!! Got the news in my inbox this morning that UK rapper Ty has signed on with Tru Thoughts and has a new EP due out in April. Not sure why he's no longer repping Ninja Tune subsidiary Big Dada (which has released some killer records from him and Roots Manuva among others), but I'm just glad to have him back.

Menagerie - "Leroy & The Lion"

Aussie Lance Ferguson (Lanu / The Bamboos) is the best thing to come out of that country since that great smelling shampoo. His new spiritual jazz project Menagerie features Roy Ayers on the track below. Menagerie - Leroy & The Lion by Tru Thoughts

Alice Russell - "Heartbreaker"

The heartbreak for me was that when I met Alice Russell in person, I discovered my musical crush was just too short for me - but she's head-and-shoulders above the competition when it comes to slaying a vocal like she does here.

Hidden Orchestra - "Vorka"

Put on the headphones for this one. There is a lot swirling around in the percussive mix - including a cellist playing the saw.

  Hidden Orchestra - Vorka by Tru Thoughts

Quantic & Alice Russell - "Here Again"

Honestly, if the previous post didn't convince you to get the Q&A collabo, I don't know what will. But here's a little something more from the pair and the Combo Barbaro.

Hint - "Aliens Enter" feat. T-Fly

T-Fly kinda reminds me of Jean Grae. The beat on "Aliens Enter" kinda reminds me of a drunk calliope monkey. Bangin.