New Future City Radio is the first duo collaboration of longtime creative partners Damon Locks & Rob Mazurek. In a hyperactive 40-minute, 18-track suite that runs like a boombox mixtape, the two prolific multi-media artists contemplate community, transformation, and the future through the programmatic format of a pirate radio station for the people.
A few months back, in the British magazine Country Music People, someone asked why RCA now Sony did not do a complete albums set for Waylon Jennings and Charley Pride, just as has been done for Johnny Cash and John Denver. Waylon and Charley each recorded some 3 dozen original albums for RCA but whereas Waylon has had all but a half dozen or so reissued on CD, exactly the opposite is true for Charley and of the handful of albums reissued 3 were on the now defunct Koch label and are generally unavailable. This release of his first two albums from 1966 and 1967 is therefore immensely welcome. These were fantastic mid 60s period country albums, yes quite a few covers but great renditions of songs from great writers: Harlan Howard, Cindy Walker and Mel Tillis wrote the first 3 tracks. Co-producers were Chet Atkins, Bob Ferguson and Jack Clement who sadly passed away earlier this year. The latter wrote or co-wrote 7 of the songs.
When Rick James died of a heart attack on August 6, 2004 at the relatively young age of 56, some of his admirers were surprised that the funk/soul icon lived as long as he did. Saying that James, who spent a considerable amount of time in the fastest stretches of the fast lane, subjected his body to extensive abuse over the years would be an understatement. Regardless, James was a major talent – some of the most talented musicians are also among the most self-destructive – and his die-hard fans never quit hoping that he would eventually recapture the commercial and creative success he enjoyed during his late-'70s/early-'80s heyday. Recorded in 2003 and 2004 and released posthumously in May 2007, Deeper Still ended up being James' swan song.
Instinct has a reputation for presenting fine compilations highlighting the best of more obscure labels worldwide. This first chapter in their future jazz series heralded styles and categories that have since become adopted into the electronica vernacular. Licensed from Germany's stalwart Compost label, home to many artists eking out their own singular takes on downtempo trip-hop and drum-and-bass, Volume 1 includes contributions from Rephlex's Gentle People (the Casio-squelched lullabies of "Journey"), and Max 404, who uses the gurgling opening synth riff of Gary Numan's "Cars" to devastating effect on the interstellar overdrive "Quiddity." Fauna Flash offers the sultry drum-and-bass sulk of "Sexual Attraction," and there are other outstanding contributions from Patrick Pulsinger, Shantel, Chaser, and Turntable Terranova. The Future Sound Of Jazz is rare groove funk for space critters across the universe.