Afro Monk

I just recently got up to date with things going on in the music community and stunned to hear about one of the main distributors in London was burned down. It was home to Sony’s UK distribution as well as PIAS’ headquarters. The biggest his was the fact that PIAS works with TONS of independent labels that I’ve come to LOVE. The list of labels hit by this are: Big Dada, Brainfeeder, Brownswood Recordings, Lex Records, Ninja Tune, Soma, Warp, XL & a lot of others.

The location was burned down, looted, and lost its entire inventory. This could be a devastating blow to a few of the smaller labels which housed their entire inventory at this distribution warehouse. A new site has appeared to help donate money to all the record labels hurt by this lose. Association of Independent Music (AIM) is urging people to buy and support these labels to help keep them afloat in this dishearten times. Cognitive Dissonance Records has launched a new website, LabelLove, to help donate to these labels.

Keep in mind labels such as Brainfeeder, Warp, and Ninja Tune are home to many of the artist I support and come to grow up on. We all know names like Aphex Twin and Venetian Snares call Warp home as well as Flying Lotus, Lorn, & Nosaj Thing call Brainfeeder home. Lets not forget the legendary Ninja Tune label which recently put out the Amon Tobin album and most recent Eskmo LP.

Please help support the cause and help smaller independent labels stay alive after this devastating event. Even if you can’t donate please share this article!

Eskmo released mini EP out today! The EP includes the already hit Cloudlight. Eskmo has recently signed with Ninja Tune and is making a huge mark in the music community. He’s established his own label and has had releases on Warp, Planet Mu, and many others. His full length is due out on Ninja Tune in October 2010. This release features Come Back as well and a special remix from Lorn. The combination of Lorn and Eskmo is perfect. Eskmo chose wisely when he had Lorn do a remix. Lorn’s most recent album Nothing Else has been on rotation for me ever since I gave it a listen.

Be sure to check out Eskmo while he’s on tour. Good friend Sugarpill recently played with him and said wondrous things about his live set. He is on a few dates with the Bassnectar tour. I’ll be catching him at the Orlando show. I can’t wait to see Eskmo live.

Tracklist:
1. ESKMO : Cloudlight
2. ESKMO : Come Back
3. ESKMO : Come Back (Lorn Remix)
4. ESKMO : Cloudlight (Instrumental)

Buy the release: Eskmo – Cloudlight / Come Back EP

Check out the stunning video for Cloudlight. It’s amazing what they’ve done to capture all the emotion and passion of this song visually. I absolutely adore this video and give a bow to the director of this short film which is what it feels like.

Lyrics:
“Cloudlight, Floating and magically colorful pieces of sky.
Pieces of skylight.”

“Come back, I’m floating, Up to the Self.
Inside this. Without this. Self.”

Artist: Blockhead
Album: The Music Scene
Label: Ninja Tune

I’m not that very familiar with Blockhead and his music, sure I’ve heard some tunes here and there but this is the first time I really sit down and listen to his music. Overall it sound pretty good, Blockhead has something quite good goin’ with his own twist of instrumental hip hop but it’s really nothing new, there are many producers out there producing almost the same kind of tunes.

“The Music Scene” contains 12 tracks and Blockheads seems to be quite eager to mix various genres into his music but still sticking to the hip hop core.

Give it a listen, perhaps you’ll find it more interesting than me.

Artist Site: http://www.myspace.com/theblockishot
Label Site: http://www.ninjatune.net