Botany - Feeling Today (Hype 074)

Interesting glorious shimmering cut and paste track taken from their Feeling Today EP out on Western Vinyl soon.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IIOJ62Vr_Y

Beats Rhymes & Life - the film on ATCQ

Took in this documentary on 90s hip hop pioneers A Tribe Called Quest with DJ IKvsDK on a balmy sunday afternoon at Dundas Square. The film is the first by Michael Rapaport and succeeds in providing a perspective on this key member of the Native Tongues hip hop movements.

The doc is organized chronological, starting with a few childhood remembrances of Q-Tip and Phife Dawg and progressing through to high school where they meet the Jungle Brothers and get their first big contact in DJ Red Alert.

The group gains some profile with Bonita Applebaum but it's the release of their second album, Low End Theory, (with tracks like Buggin' Out) that blows up.

The follow up Midnight Marauders (with tracks like Electric Relaxation) was also well-received but the next two releases are less so and the band dissolved after the fifth album.

The doc does a decent job of balancing the perspectives of the two central figures Phife and Q-Tip. Pacing is very consistent. The visuals start with some interesting animation effects but this is replaced midway with a barrage of interview clips.

There was a good mix of contemporaries (Prince Paul, De La Soul, Beastie Boys, Busta Rhymes, etc.) as well as next generation (Pharrell Williams, Common, The Roots, etc.) giving their perspective. There are hints that more material is available and hopefully the full director's cut will make this available. Good job!


Memorable segments:

Q-Tip with the Lonnie Smith album
Jarobi on Phife Dawg
Phife Dawg and Wife
Candid talk from De La Soul after the 2008 Ring the Bells tour
Pharrell Williams with his unabashed respect for ATCQ

Foxes in Fiction Out Of The Box Toronto Underground Theatre July 31, 2011

Took in day two of the three day Out Of The Box music festival here in Toronto courtesy of fellow blogger Indie Machine. This festival is definately just out of the box. I only heard about this very recently and I'm guessing that's potentially why the event was slightly dead. Maybe 30-40 people were around during the opening three bands slot of 9 PM to 12 PM (friends of the bands). Unfortunately, at midnight I was done and missed the last two bands. I also picked up some free old skool 3d glasses to watch the 3d shows they had on in the background including an excerpt from Dawn of the Dead. Here is who was playing

Foxes in Fiction
Human Bodies
Trap Tiger
Heartbeat Hotel
Papermaps

Foxes in Fiction was definately my fav and he only played for about 15 people at 9 PM and went through about 5 of his ambient chillout type tracks.

Here is what people said (or in this case, the only other person taking in the shows):

@IKvsDK Out of the box.chilling to foxes in fiction #undergroundtheatre #toronto

@AdhamGhanem Great 2 sets there from @foxesinfiction. Human Bodies up now at @TO_Underground for Out of the Box. #3D

@IKvsDK Out of the box early. Foxes in fiction epic. Thanks to indie machine for the hook up

@AdhamGhanem Btw, there's popcorn and beer here at @TO_Underground along with live bands and #3D films for Out of the Box fest. (IKDK: I don't know if this was really selling it)

@AdhamGhanem What a great set from Human Bodies. Trap Tiger rocking out now at @TO_Underground for Out of the Box fest. #3D @heartbeathotel next.

@AdhamGhanem @heartbeathotel using not 1, not 2, not even 3, but 4 guitar amps for their set! Right now at @TO_Underground for Out of the Box fest. #3D

@AdhamGhanem Here we go, @papermaps close out a great night 2 of Out of the Box fest at @TO_Underground. Come down before its too late. #3D

Foxes In Fiction - Bathurst

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5PR_OhAPjI

The Cars - Free (Hype 073)

Third new wave hand clapping single taken from their steller new album Move Like This.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix-9WhpEN_c&feature=youtu.be

Cut Off Your Hands - You Should Do Better (Hype 072)

Jangily indiepop track from Cut Off Your Hands off their upcoming album Hollow.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAJBwXcexxc

PNAU - Solid Ground (Hype 071)

Chilled out dance track from Pnau and taken from their upcoming album Soft Universe.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1k2xqnS1lU

Wolf Gang - The King And All Of His Men (Hype 070)

Another jangily epic pop from Wolf Gang taken from Suego Faults. Why does this remind me of Florence and MGMT. Good track though which follows up the brilliant Lions in Cages.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZLv36LvRo8

Carter Tanton - Murderous Joy (Hype 069)

Nice indie rock single which reminds me alittle of Richard Ashcroft of the Verve for some reason.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCAkrQLWw4I

Southern Shores - Night is Young (Hype 068)

Essential cool cut and paste indie track from Southern Shores that brilliantly samples an old nineties Cathy Dennis dance track All Night Long. Nice!!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzQMoFaXnJQ

To Destroy A City - Metaphor (Hype 067)

Epic land scapeish type track from To Destroy A City. Sit back and chill.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjUFwmtwmGc

Toddla T - Watch Me Dance ft. Roots Manuva (Hype 066)

Funky David Bowiesque track from Toddla T ft Roots Manuva for a Saturday Night.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rw9yeS6nqA

Eleanor Friedberger - My Mistakes (Hype 065)

Catchy pop single from Fiery Furnace girl Eleanor Friedberger. Thanks to Guy, pronounced Gee for the tip.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRUOoSKt6Kg

Joakim / Forever Young (Hype 064)

Nice atmospheric indiepop track from Joakim from France on his own label Tigersushi.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z-qmm3rcas

Puro Instinct - Stilyagi (Ft Ariel Pink) (Hype 063)

Very dreamy downtempoish Broadcast like outfit.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5fjnvfeE7A

Devon Williams - Your Sympathy (Hype 062)

Melodic jangily indie cut taken from the to be released Euphoria off Slumberland Records.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9GjTBh-sXk