Archive for March, 2010
Soul-A-Go-Go Returns
Saturday April 3
9pm onwards…
Soul-A-Go-Go is back after 3 months of rest, rehab and record collecting. There may be new venue, but the same good times are guaranteed when PBS presents Melbourne’s finest monthly night of Funk & Soul dancefloor burners. Just as with the previous nights, the Johnson will operate two rooms, splitting the Soul DJs and Funk DJs across 2 floors. We’re not really sure what PBS have up their sleeve for the re-opening night – but expect the new Soul A Go Go to be bigger and even better than before.
The soul room will be shaking to the sounds of Vince Peach, Pierre Baroni, Emma Peel, Richie 1250 and live band Saskwatch! In the funk room it’s gonna get nasty with DJ Manchild, Miss Goldie and Zack Rampage tearing it up for PBS, along with special guests - Northside’s one and only Chris ‘Funky Sneakers’ Gill and Minister for Misinformation, Rex aka. Mistarex.
It’s not often that any of the Northside Crew appear on the same bill – so both Chris and I are looking forward to burning the house down with our favourite and most ferocious funk 45’s and vinyl rarities. I’m also excited about seeing Melbourne’s best and most innovative DJ dance moves from the original master of the ‘hip drop’ and long time pundit of the Dunlop Volley, Chris ‘I’m Busy, I’ll call you back’ Gill. We’ve said it before – but we’ll say it again: Sensible shoes is a must. Get Down!
Check the PBS website or keep your eye out for PBS posters featuring Tina Turner (hopefully not singing Nutbush), for more information. Rest assured, no one in the funk room is gonna play Nutbush. Just to prove it I thought I’d best knock up a Northside rebel flyer.
New SJ&DKs @ Northside
Posted by Rex in Fresh stock, News, Recent releases on March 29th, 2010
I Learned The Hard Way…
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
If you live in Melbourne and shop for tunes at Northside or listen to any of our great indie radio stations - you already know Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, and we don’t really need to tell you what to expect…. y’all know it’s gonna be good! For those who don’t know, here’s the blurb from our distributor:
“Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings have released I Learned the Hard Way, their fourth full-length on Brooklyn’s independent Daptone Records. The record marks a bold step forward for a band who almost single-handedly stewarded today’s return of soul music to its more traditional sound. From the lush Philly-Soul fanfare that ushers in “The Game Gets Old” at the top of the record, to the stripped down Sam Cooke-style “Mama Don’t Like My Man” at the tail, the Dap-Kings dance seamlessly through both the most crafted and simple arrangements with subtlety and discipline. I Learned the Hard Way is the “Daptone Sound” at it’s finest.”
The stand out tune for me on this record is “Better Things”, written by DK’s drummer Homer Steinweiss. It’s simple, it’s raw and it’s just plain good without trying to be anything other than real soul music. There’s no fronting from Sharon Jones or the Dap-Kings – they’re just doin’ what they love, and making a whole lot of people look (and sound) like amateurs. GBTTD (Got Better Things To Do)… remember this acronym for text messaging your friends next time they want you to go see some over-rated, over-hyped, over-priced try-hard innovators of soul bullshit.*
As always - we’ve got enough copies of the vinyl to go around, but these records move fast so don’t wait too long to get yours. Available now on LP + CD.
There’s plenty more Daptone goodness instore too. Don’t forget the amazing Daptone Gold comp that pulls together all the crucial Daptone moments since the label’s inception. And, we’ve always got a tasteful selection of Daptone 45’s for those who like it with a big hole in the middle.
* The opinions expressed in this post represent only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of management or staff of Northside Records - nor perhaps anyone else, anywhere, ever.
POAO!
Posted by Rex in Fresh stock, Recent releases, Record of the Month on March 11th, 2010
THE PUBLIC OPINION AFRO ORCHESTRA
“Do Anything Go Anywhere”
I’m a little slow getting to the new releases lately. Here’s one that dropped a couple of weeks ago. It’s the hip new thing after they amazed everyone at WOMADELAIDE.
CHRIS HAD THIS TO SAY:
An incredible debut album from this perfect Melbourne afrobeat collective. Hot on the heels of their impeccable vinyl-only release Two Sides of the Truth/Do Anything Go Anywhere, (picttured right) The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra have made an album to command the attention of world music fans, hip hop aficionados, jazz cats, funk and soul freaks and indie hipsters alike. There are strong echoes of the Afrobeat movement from the 1960s-70s, as well as the influences of the African diaspora in Australia over the past decade, yet this is boundary free, totally modern music that sounds as fresh in the clubs as on the streets of Melbourne where it was born.
Do Anything Go Anywhere delivers seven irresistibly loose-limbed, exotic jams which resonate with ferocious grooves, positive messages, conscious hip hop and gutsy soul. Lyrical odes to the power of resistance and the spirit of the African and Australian people hit home with smoking hot sing song vocals, heavy duty horns, gritty guitar grooves, jazzy solos, all snaking out on top of the infectious polyrhythms of the percussion section. EXTREME LOCAL PRIDE
REX HAD THIS TO SAY:
12″ Cover artwork is crazy. Props to Suzie Bates. I haven’t seen the CD cover yet, but I’ll insert it into the blog once I get my hands on it.
Limited Edition 12″ still available in strictly limited quantities. Includes instrumental versions… nice.
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