WHOLEWIDE WORLD!
A music festival can be measured in many ways: the size and grandeur of its line-up, the number of spectators, its sold out tickets, and for those of us who write in the media about the things we see, by its quality. All this, again, matters very little when you're at the Worldwide Festival. You come here to receive beauty and share smiles, to sunbathe and to dive in its nights. One comes here to give away good vibes to your friends and to share a scarce ressource: positive groove. (Check out our WF Sete '10 videos and the official trailer for the forthcoming documentary on the WF "That's Right That's Right That's Right")
So if I have to tell you about how much has the fifth edition of WF2010 been extraordinary and magical I need to step away from the chronicler, I need to talk to you as a friend. I need to tell you "Boy, what you've missed!". To immediately correct it with a "Come next year!" And I need to eventually add the same phrase we all used to summarized what we lived here once more: "It has been incredible!"
ARTIST OF THE WEEK
Talented UK singer and dubstep producer James Blake is a music student who has turned heads in the dance world and beyond with his new EP CMYK. The guy is something else! He can sing and produce mad post-dubstep/R&B/Wonk/What U Call It beats that ooze soul, funk and bass. He is making enough consistent noise to stay on everyone’s speakers and in conversations since his debut, he’s made quick, almost systematic work, of converting listeners of every sub-genre of two step, not to mention plenty of those on the periphery, to appreciate his categorization-eluding style. This is post dubstep cinema music.
LEFTOOO SHOW #440
The first of a new radio season. I start the show with Marvin Gaye, who was a famous Belgian citizen, new Medaphoar on Stones Throw with Aloe Blacc, this great Mosca track called "tilt shift", on a more r&b tip with Jazmine Sullivan, she did it the olskool way, like it! Great female Chilean rapper called Ana Tijoux, beats from Salva, J.Rocc, Oriol and others. Superb DVA track with Fatima, funky cover of "Good Life" by Brassroots out of London, Ahu, Erykah Badu, some great Colombian music with Systema Solar, Brazilian gems by Marcos Valle and Bossa Tres. Andre 3000 is back too. Uptempo bangers by Roska & Untold, Lone, Kidkut and San Soda. All that and more in this 2 hour mix. Listen to it and enjoy.
MIKI MIKASSO GREMS
London based Grems is the young French writer, street artist, graphic designer, rapper, DJ and creator of some of the most uniquely left-field nu-rap and electro. His work graces watches, shoes, and any available surface and he made a name for himself helping art escape from exclusive galleries to the streets. A man of many colours and voices, GREMS takes his art to the people, turning brick walls, panel trucks, subways, clothing and anything else he can find into highly visible and accessible public canvases. His latest project Broka Billy is out now. Broka Billy is a book, Broka Billy is an album, Broka Billy is a combination of what Grems does best. 17 tracks and 17 chapters where broken beat music meets the wild world of Grems.
NINJA TUNE BIG ANNIVERSARY
In September 1990, Jon More and Matt Black, aka the adventurous DJ duo Coldcut, founded their own label, Ninja Tune. In the years since, Ninja Tune has left its stamp on plenty of different genres of music: pop, techno, IDM, jungle, turntablist post-rap, downtempo, and plenty of combinations thereof. This year the label is celebrating the big anniversary with a box set called XX, a series of concerts, a book, and a video showcase. Coldcut will also present a big live anniversary show October 2 at London's Ewer Street Car Park, and there will be smaller shows in Paris, Berlin, Brussels, New York, Los Angeles, Montreal, and Tokyo. Exhibition: Ninja Tune – 20 Years of Beats and Pieces, Black Dog Space, London, August 19 – September 16 2010
TALENT SEARCH WINNER '10
TRILOGY is music shared between three International artists: Youthman, Redeyes and Luce. Each bring a distinct style and culture to the group; and the end result? A collection of songs that are simultaneously à la mode and ageless. The three musicians work from different parts of the globe and collaborate primarily via internet: Youthman travels constantly, touring as a DJ and MC in the bassline, dub-step and barefoot beats underground. Redeyes is tucked away in a village in the South of France, releasing acclaimed tracks on major DrumnBass labels in the UK and elsewhere. Luce from Australia lends her voice to the project, but she is also a trained classical cellist and composes orchestral works when she’s not singing soulful trip hop. Three collaborators from three musical cultures equal a project that is at once deeply soulful and instrumentally rich, with enough sub bass and electronic beats for even the most discerning record collector. TALENT SEARCH TOP 20!
ELECTRO PUNKS
All three members of dOP were born in the 80’s – and you can hear and feel that straight away. Damien, Clément and Jonathan had a go at everything, including football, reggae, hip-hop and funk, but in the end they all agreed on creating a classy house act. They create music that hits your feet as much as it hits your genitals – music that oozes sex and soul. 'Aficionados knew, straight after hearing the releases on MilnorModern and Cirkus, that dOP would make their mark and give a big kick up the backside to a genre which was becoming very dull and increasingly less relevant – Deep House. It’s when they play live that newcomers start to understand just how talented these guys are. It’s a sexy act, but the feeling’s still there. It looks pretty chaotic yet it’s tight with an irresistible energy that’s hard to shake off. dOP’s sound is head music for the heart, body music for your head.
VOODOO GROOVE
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou was formed in 1969, anchoring their sound in the complex rhythms of the sacred Vodoun ceremonies of Benin, which have had far less exposure than the music of Cuban Santeria, Haitian Vodoun, or Brazilian Candomble. The band created an irresistible sound and frequently opened for Fela Kuti. The group recorded dozens of songs and toured all over Africa. Today there are only 4 surviving members of the original band Orchestre Polyrythmo, but they added new members and they’ve kept on playing. Last Autumn, the band did in fact tour Europe, their first foray outside of Africa. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou is arguably West Africa’s best-kept secret.
DESERT HIP HOP GURU
Enter Gonja Sufi... a mystical individual caught between the Mojave desert, the LA streets and somewhere more cosmic. His soul-baring vocals and haunting voice will leave an indelible mark on 2010, especially with his second 7" single Kowboys And Indians. At once haunting and oddly welcoming, it's not your mind playing tricks on you, it's Gonja Sufi. Combining international psychedelia and the new-school beat diaspora, Gonja Sufi's dark songwriting and affecting vocals will take you on a mystic journey, as witnessed so far on collaborations with Gaslamp Killer and Flying Lotus, the latter describing him as Timeless Incredible Filth.
