IM // UR | Blood Diamond Mixtape

To say that Local Natives are this year's Fleet Foxes isn't wrong, but not that right either. Local Natives are softer, brighter and lighter than their widely critiqued sort-of-counterparts. Gorilla Manor is a delicious debut that should be listened and loved for its own merits and there are 12 of them here; from the beautiful single 'Airplanes' to the epic journey of 'Stranger Things'. For fans of harmonic vocals, delicate guitars and gorgeous layers (and I bet there'll be a lot of you).

WE // R \\ WEARING

You know about FAJ right? That's Fanny and Jessy as they are also known, and this duo have one of the coolest young labels coming straight out of London. They debuted their first range last year entitled 'I Hope You Die Soon' and they're also responsible for the infamous tee of the same name (and it's sibling, 'Suck It You Fuck') which I actually often find gets quite a warm reaction despite it's sentiment. This month they're showing their hotly anticipated sophomore collection for AW 2010 which no doubt will be full of their trademark wicked humor and edge. Definitely ones to watch.

WE // R \\ WATCHING

Honestly, who isn’t? The sixth and final season of Lost, one of the best series ever created, just started and we are sure spending more time talking, reading and thinking about it than watching it. Well, from what we read some mysteries won’t be answered (the real meaning of the numbers, anyone?), but if there's something we've learned from accompanying Locke’s island friends (and enemies) is that the travel is always more enjoyable than the actual place it’s taking you to. Well, not if the smoke monster is trying to kill you.

WE // R \\ GOING

The latest station on the Drunky Town train line is in Sydney, Australia at a little club in the Spanish Quarter (actually it's just two Spanish shops next to each other on the same street or something like that in the CBD) called GoodGod, which plays host to soirée of the moment, Slow Blow. Word has it that in January, Karen O crashed Sydney's current cool kids party, but to be honest by that time everyone was too busy dancing and cutting loose in D-Town to care. And that's the true mark of a good time - when you find yourself twirling about without a care in the world. Or it could just mean you're trashed. Heh.

WE // R \\ READING

You know those films where there are all these supposedly 'intertwined' stories and lives? Quite a cliché concept for both books and movies I suppose, but rarely does it really resonate in either medium. David Mitchell though (not the Peep Show one) manages to spin tales into tightly woven rugs that are quite fantastical yet believable, moving without being overly sentimental, eclectic and incredibly entertaining. He also writes straight narratives too, with just as much panache and verve. I just (re)read Number9Dream though any and all of David Mitchell's books are highly recommended...and he's got a newie coming out this year. EXCITEMENT.

Blood Diamond Mixtape

Monday // July 13, 2009 at 07:00 // filed under Music

Buraka Som Sistema's Blood Diamond Mixtape

So more Buraka Som Sistema news - they've dropped their latest mixtape entitled the Blood Diamond Mixtape, conceived, mixed and produced by J-Wow aka Lil John.

This mixtape ain't just a diamond, it's a GOLDMINE (HA feeble I know, I know. Look, its 7am. 'Nuff said). It's also a perfect example of the further cross culturality (is that a real word?) in music and new contexts that the current wave of '3rd world beaters' are putting various 'ethnic' influences into.

Like, when the guitar riff sample kicked in on the Radioclit vs Guns 'n' Roses track, my eyes widened in mild disbelief - I mean, I realise that 'Sweet Child 'O Mine' is as much of a party choon as the next total cheese ball, but after having heard it twice in as many days in this kind of context I can't help but feel I'm missing something...when did the Gunz actually get cool? I didn't realise that they'd gone so far into being good that they were bad, that they had come back to good again.

Another moment was Toy Selecta's remix of Buraka's latest single 'IC-19'; reminded me of DFA's remix of Paper Planes - enjoyable.

The whole thing was handled with mad skillz; this mixtape is super nimble. For some reason I generally associate a heavy weight feel with kuduro and Buraka Som Sistema in general, and this was as light footed as their previous work on Lykke Li's track. Some wiiiicked beats are dropped, and I was utterly sold by the time I hit 'Aqui Para Voces (Favela Funk Samba BSS Mix)' as it contains one of my favourite funk samples EVER (vamos começa essa brincadeira gostosa?).

All the tracks are super short, the shortest clocking in at 42 seconds and the longest by far being the Buraka remix of Lykke Li's 'Dance Dance Dance' coming in at 3mins 42. The brevity of the tracks was a great move, offsetting the wit of the mixtape brilliantly, showing off Buraka's nicely exercised musical muscle on this one without at all being strained.

HAWWWT.

Go get the mixtape HERE. RUN. NOW.

Tracklist after the jump >>

Tracklist:

01. Diamonds are Forever Intro
02. Dj Znobia feat Jaime Foxx- Africa
03. Buraka SOm Sistema - Kalemba (wegue wegue) Afrikan Boy remix
04. Os Lambas - Sapo (BSS Edit)
05. Radioclit vs Guns'n'roses - Sweet Secousse of Mine (Bss edit)
06. The Kiss - Black Diamond
07. Tunes for Baby That Won't Drive You Crazy - Black Diamond
08. Buraka Som Sistema - IC19 (Toy Selecta remix)
09. Buraka Som Sistema - Aqui Para Voces (FAVELA FUNK SAMBA edit)
10. Buraka Som Sistema - Wawaba (James Braun Copyflex remix)
11. Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance (BSS Remix)
12. Dirty Tricks - Black Diamond
13. Rusko vs Puto Prata - Let's Go (BSS Edit)
14. Buraka Som Sistema - R.I.A.D.
15. J-WOW feat Aloe Blacc - Off with ya head
16. Buraka Som Sistema - Gang Bang feat Blaya
17. David Zé - O Guerrilheiro
18. Johnny Clarke - Come Back To Me
19. Buraka Som Sistema - Sound of Kuduro (D1 remix)
20. Zomby feat Pongolove - Kuduro Rumours (BSS Edit)
21. Rusko - Cockney Thug (BSS Remix)
22. Paul Simon - Diamonds on the soles of her shoes