For earth, peace.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - Four Tet consistently makes some of the most amazing, beautiful music out there and he's flying under a lot of people's radar these days. Finally picked up his last album, Pink, and though it's essentially a collection of vinyl-only singles, it is no less awesome as a complete work. This particular track, Peace For Earth, doesn't necessarily reflect the rest of the album, but it stands out to me as something so out of music-fashion in many ways and perhaps even the more lovelier for charting it's own course.

Also, be sure to check out his recent remix of Neneh Cherry & The Thing's "Dream Baby Dream". It's gnarly.

http://soundcloud.com/four-tet/neneh-cherry-the-thing-dream

Don't be a slave to your grave (breathe in, breathe out).

The longest night of the year has passed one week ago and I am now listening to some late night Bahamian Obeah/hoodoo music from the amazing musician artist, Exuma, and digging deep inside and grabbing out all that darkness in me and letting it go in preparation for the new breath of the new year. And here's my song mantra for it. From his first album. Dig those haunting low-end drums. Out with the bad, in with the good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damballa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exuma_(musician)

There's nothing to do in the Midwest but dream.

I discovered Joseph Arthur years ago and ever since his music and in particular, his voice, is inextricably entwined with road trips out on the West Coast.
Listening to his new album makes we want to get in the car and drive aimlessly, with wind whipping through the car, down open roads, past prairie lands, off the beaten path small towns and high-plain deserts.

Song of the day from album of the week.
Can't even begin to tell you enough how much I love this.

http://www.josepharthur.com/discography/thegraduationceremony.htm

Don't call me home.

Back to Chicago after a nice, much needed stint in the Bahamas where we celebrated our one year anniversary.
It was an absolute blast.
I also finally got my turntable unpacked and picked up a pair of used PSB speakers today.
Testing them out now, I came across this lovely song from Nico.
It's beautiful melancholy feels perfect on this cold March day.
Here's to hoping that spring is not too far around the corner.

Stay cool.

Back in NYC from the Bahamas and though I'm getting a little butt kicking from work, trying my best to retain some of that sunny mellow vibe.
Fortunately the album "Next Stop...Soweto Vol.3" is really helping with that.
So super amazingly good. Pick it up.

http://www.nextstopsoweto-3.com/
http://www.strut-records.com/node/362