Thundamentals – So We Can Remember

Progressive, innovative, cohesive, definitive, informative, expansive … all these words fit the new album by Thundamentals. Add experimental, honest and evocative and you’ve got more than enough reasons to take time out to vibe on So We Can Remember.

May 3 marked the anticipated release of So We Can Remember (out now on Obese Records) from Australian hip hop outfit Thundamentals. With the lead single ‘Smiles Don’t Lie‘ debuting at #5 on the iTunes hip hop charts and coming in at #32 on the Triple J Hottest 100 Countdown of 2013 (bagging the highest position for a local hip hop act at the same time), success was always on the cards for this trio.

And it doesn’t stop there… dreamy pop-infused number ‘Something I Said (ft Thom Crawford)‘ is poised to generate as much, if not more, chart success than the lead single. The track has already grabbed #1 as the Most Viral Track on Spotify, as well as being the #2 Most Played Track on Triple J. It’s not hard to see why the group are generating such quick success – Thundamentals seem to have perfected the formula to creating an upbeat party song whilst still maintaining a raw essence of hip hop through personal experience.

Aside from their phenomenal chart success with single releases of more party/pop-oriented tracks, So We Can Remember also delves into the grittier side of Aussie hip hop, with some exceptional production courtesy of resident beat-mapper DJ Morgs. Standout in regards to production is the track ‘Much About Much’, which you can buy off iTunes here…

Both MCs credit their partner in prime sounds DJ Morgs for embracing a wider outlook. “When Morgs delivered these beats, I was thrilled,” says Jeswon. “I feel like hip-hop is having another renaissance. There’s a new wave of artists and a new attitude towards beats. As an MC, you want to be working on beats that feel innovative, because that brings out the best in you as a lyricist.”

All in all, So We Can Remember is a catchy, melodic mix of pop/R&B-flavoured tracks and fun, party-oriented rhymes that make one reminisce to the good old days of summers past. It’s also great to see some hip hop invading the Australian mainstream charts again, so show your support and grab your copy of So We Can Remember, which is out on Obese Records now.

UPCOMING SHOWS:

Thu 1 May @ The Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC – SOLD OUT!

Fri 2 May @ The Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC – SOLD OUT! 

Saturday 3 May @ Bendigo VIC – SOLD OUT! – GTM

Sunday 4 May @ Townsville NSW – GTM

Thu 8 May @ Flyrite, Perth WA – SOLD OUT!

Fri 9 May @ Mojo’s Fremantle WA – SOLD OUT!

Saturday 10 May @ Bunbury WA – GTM

Fri 16 May @ The Zoo, Brisbane QLD – SOLD OUT!

Sat 24 May @ The Metro Theatre, Sydney NSW – SOLD OUT!

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The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra – Shake / The System

Australia’s very own Public Opinion Afro Orchestra are a seventeen-piece powerhouse blending elements of afro-beat from Nigeria and its surrounding neighbours with a politically-conscious funk/hip hop edge. ‘The System‘ and ‘Shake‘ were released by Melbourne’s Hope Street Recordings  as a digital-only (which you can purchase directly off the Hope Street Recordings bandcamp here for $2!!), and the result is a lush, nostalgia-soaked sound that takes you right back to the heyday of 60s and 70s afro-beat funk.

‘The System’ is an unapologetically aggressive funk track with relentless driving motion from Senegalese percussionist/vocalist/dancer Lamine Sonko and the horn section (Tristan Ludowyk, Declan Jones, Nick Lester, Peter Slipper and Andy Williamson). POAO’s MCs and backup vocalists The Public Opinionettes are complemented by a dense texture that envelopes the listener in a cloud of Afrobeat rhythms and layers of brass harmony. Fela Kuti’s influence is clear – from baritone sax to jazzy muted Wurlitzer organ, POAO brings the best parts of 70s funk to meld perfectly with traditional Nigerian rhythms and melodies.

‘Shake’ kicks off with halting horn riffs and that beautiful Wurlitzer (credit to John McAll) sweeping across the cabasa and clave rhythms, before showcasing the vocal talents of the Opinionettes (Kuukua & Lydia Acquah and Fem Belling). Everything has its place within Public Opinion Afro Orchestra – the instrumental voices take as much precedence as the vocals and rhythm section, and the result is a unique and distinctive sound that pays homage to its musical ancestry while still breaking new foreground in the Australian international music scene.

As mentioned before, please show your support for Public Opinion Afro Orchestra and Hope Street Recordings by purchasing ‘System/Shake’ from the bandcamp site here.

 

Links 

http://www.thepublicopinion.net/ http://www.reverbnation.com/poao https://www.facebook.com/publicopinion https://www.facebook.com/publicopinion http://www.hopestreetrecordings.com/

Single review: Oddisee – Lonely Planet

 

 

Behold! D.C Native Ahmir Mohamed el Khalifa, better known as Oddisee, has finally dropped the lead single for his upcoming album The Beauty In All. It’s been a while since the rapper/producer has released a purely instrumental album and if the lead single ‘Lonely Planet’ is any indication of what is to come, then all Oddisee fans are in for a treat. The producer is well-known for his laid-back, jazz-infused grooves and ‘Lonely Planet’ is no exception. The track fades in with a slow groove featuring rim shots with soft delay, before breaking into a gentle head-bopping soulful R&B hook complete with funk-tinged fretless bass. Muted jazz guitar riffs and soft string arrangements add further interest to this beautiful track. The Mello Music Group artist had this to say about The Beauty In All:

“The Beauty In All is about the flaws & mistakes that give life its character and worth – how even ignorance can give light to knowledge … If everything we are is out in perfect tutorials, we might never deviate from the teacher. This record is dedicated to imperfection and the sense of pride & accomplishment we get from our struggles. Hopefully, you listen to this record, reflect on the ups & downs of life, and see the beauty in all.” (Mello Music Group Bandcamp, 2013).

Oddisee possesses a unique ability to be able to take a simple idea and gradually introduce subtle, unobtrusive layers until the idea is built into a deceptively complex culmination of rhythms, texture and harmony. I for one cannot wait to hear the rest of this instrumental masterpiece. The Beauty In All is released on October 20 but you can pre-order the album here.

Related articles

• Oddisee – The Beauty In All (dobrobad.wordpress.com)
• “Lonely Planet”-Oddisee (strikerlifestyle.com)
• Oddisee – Lonely Planet (freedomhallblog.wordpress.com)
• Oddisee – Lonely Planet (Audio) (saunt3r.me)
• Oddisee – Lonely Planet (matchmusik.wordpress.com)