Mojitos and Little Dragon

Any hiphop song that namechecks Little Dragon and comes off sounding like some mad-ass bleepy sonic hat-tip to said band is alright by me. Check this.

"After a successful release of the GOD: LoFi EP, MeLo-X releases the second installment of his three part EP series GOD:HiFi." Download the EP for free, over at Soundcloud.

Gene Dudley debut out July 15

"The Gene Dudley Group represents an outpouring of deep soul and funk music from obscenely talented 27 year-old multi-instrumentalist, Gene Dudley.

The debut album, Saturday Shifting (out July 15 on WahWah45s), was recorded in a cupboard in Muswell Hill, North London, and features the man himself on trumpet, saxophone, drums, bass, guitar and piano.

Fans of labels like Truth & Soul and Daptone will relish these sonorous soulful offerings, but the influences on this album are wide ranging.

Tracks like "When The Gorilla Get Grip' and "The New Lots Of Cooperstown" conjure up 60's spy soundtracks, but elsewhere there are afro-beat influences on "The Hilo Bay Halfway" and more easy, introspective moments on "Minnie" and "Do The Stanley Weinberger".

In the live arena, rather than trying to play all the instruments himself, Gene deploys a quartet of top notch young musicians to help him out (whilst Gene mixes it up between bass and keys throughout the set) as witnessed at the recent Hot 8 Brass Band gig in London, The Gene Dudley Group's debut live show.

Since that first outing, the group have played to much acclaim at venues such as London's XOYO, and will be celebrating the release of "Saturday Shifting" with a live album launch, in support of label mate Henri-Pierre Noel, at The Jazz Café on July 13th. A night, and an album, not to be missed."

PCore live

Our slot at Galatos before Drab Doo Riffs was a lot of fun, thanks to everyone who came along. If you couldn't make it, we had some friends filming it. Check it above. The Picassos gonna do another show soon.

Ring The Alarm playlist, June 29

Latisha - I'm every woman
Cedric Im Brooks - Africa
Cutty Ranks - Who say me dun
Family choice - Reggae beat goes on
International observer - London dub
Daddy Ous - Like a rock - Groove corp remix
Linton  Kwesi Johnson - Victorious dub
Prince Jammy - Hold them in dub
Chaka Demus and Pilers - The boom
Pat Rhoden - Living for the city
Stevie Wonder - As
Mr Scruff - Get a move on
Wabine - Sail on
Claude Papesch - Trini baby
Prince Tui Teka - Let's stay together
Mark Williams - Love the one you're with
Orange juice - Rip it dub - Dicky Trisco edit
Yoshi Horikawa - Wandering - Rough fields remix
Owiny Sigoma band - Owiny techno
Fat Freddys Drop - Mother mother
Candi Staton - Do your diuty - Pep Braddock refix
Platinum pied pipers - Stay with me
Caroline Lacaze - L'etrange
Mountain - Long red

Hackney Colliery Band vs Goldie

"Finally, the new HCB album is almost upon us, and the first taster features another unexpected cover in the shape of Goldie's 90's soulful d&b classic, "Inner City Life".

The response to their unexpected cover versions and twisted originals has been incredible, with huge amounts of radio play from the likes of Craig Charles and Huey Morgan, and with their covers of "Africa" and "No Diggity" fast becoming club staples for hip hop DJs like Mr. Thing and Questlove.

On the flip is another firing original from the band. "Hitched" is an intense and furious Balkan flavoured bomb that's sure to be a festival favourite this summer. Single out July 8 (digital/7" vinyl) on WahWah45s.

On July 8th the Hackney Colliery Band will be hosting a very special show and Hackney Colliery BBQ at Sutton House in Hackney.

Not only will there be a full show from the band but you can have the specially commissioned Hackney Colliery Banger for dinner and drink locally brewed beer too! Come see them launch there new single and begin the countdown to the incredible forthcoming album with a massive celebration of all things Hackney."

Butch dubs

A collection of new dubs, unreleased dubs and deleted vinyl only b-sides. For currently available vinyl & cd's with worldwide shipping, check out www.butchcassidysoundsystem.com

Feel the pain

Me old mate Johnnie Pain sadly won't be in town this Friday to hold down the bass for Hallelujah Picassos (playing before Drab Doo Riffs at Galatos), but we have the very talented Mr Darryn Harkness in to hold down the bass.

BUT Mr Pain does have an awesome new track up from his musical outfit Pains People, for free too. Have a listen.... delightfully spooky.

Jazz Joustin'

"We at Millennium Jazz Music are very happy to announce the one year anniversary of the Jazz Jousters. Together, the collective have been creating some amazing albums at a very impressive work rate since ‘Almost Blue’ in June 2012, and we’re completely happy with their success. So in true Millennium Jazz style, we have taken this opportunity to celebrate the achievement and mark the occasion with a Milestone."

Name your price, give it a spin...

Film Fest music picks

The NZ International Film Festival recently announced its lineup for Auckland's film festival, kicking off July 18. You've already heard about the live performance by the band Goblin, performing the soundtrack for Dario Argento's classic horror film Supiria.

You can see the full list of music documentaries (on Big Star, The National, Ornette Coleman) at the Film Festival's site. Tickets go on sale this Friday.

Here's a few highlights.



A BAND CALLED DEATH

“Less about punk than family and brotherhood and believing in what you create enough to not compromise and never throw it away.” — Jay Seaver, eFilmCritic.com

Detroit black punk band from 1974. How freaking awesome does that sound?





TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM
NZIFF: A rousing music-filled portrait of some of the great backup singers of American pop, rock and R&B, with appreciations from Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, Sting and more. “An unexpectedly moving, often joyous triumph.” — Indiewire





CHARLES BRADLEY: SOUL OF AMERICA
Intimate and rousing musical portrait of the R&B singer who went from James Brown impersonator to acclaimed Daptone/Dunham recording artist in his own right at age 62. “A Superfunky good time.” — Twitch

Yeah, I've posted this trailer before, but please go watch it again, cos Charles Bradley is the real deal. I have it on good authority that this film will move you to tears. Can't wait to see it.




SHEEN OF GOLD
Doco about incredible and hugely influential 90s NZ outfit The Skeptics. This is the band that influenced Shihad into evolving into a halfway interesting rock band. World premiere, 6pm at Skycity, Saturday August 3rd.

“All the good music is made by outsiders, whether they come from Liverpool, Seattle or… Palmerston North.” — Roger Shepherd

From the NZIFF: Director Simon Ogston continues his excavations of underground Kiwi rock, with a tribute to one of New Zealand's most influential and eclectic rock bands of the 80s: the incomparable Skeptics. Improbably originating from small-town, late-70s Palmerston North, they began as a cacophonous high school punk band. "

Bassist Nick Roughan admits their earliest recordings ‘should stay dead and buried’, but with charismatic frontman David D’Ath, Skeptics soon gained a cult following and outgrew their provincial roots. Wellington beckoned, as well as a new spare, electronic sound.

Ogston compiles interviews with all surviving band members and a wealth of rare archival footage, including Skeptics’ controversial ‘AFFCO’ video – which cut too close to the bone for TVNZ – and their remarkable, emotional final live performance at Auckland's Gluepot in July 1990.

D’Ath died just months later following a short battle with leukemia. His death signaled a premature end for the band but not their music, which will shortly see a long overdue re-release. — Michael McDonnell

Then there's Utu Redux. Greatest Maori western ever. Programs out now, or download the pdf from NZIFF

This Friday - Picasso core, live

We're playing support for the fabulous Drab Doo Riffs, so it will only be a short set. But it will be fun. 

Playing times...

David Saunders W/ Street Chant - 9:00

Orchestra of Spheres - 10:00

Hallelujah Picassos - 10:45

The Drab Doo-Riffs - 11:30

With Dirtbag DJs in between