Fact Mix 217: Dark Sky

Don't usually post mixes however this is one the better I have heard in some time.
Also Dark Sky are some of my favourite producers at the moment and they definitely have a good idea of the direction and sound London dance music should be moving in. So pay attention!

FACT mix 217 - Dark Sky (Jan '11)

Download: FACT mix 217 – Dark Sky

Tracklist:
Valentine – Sampha & Jessie Ware
Moth – Burial & Four Tet
Falling Up (Carl Craig Remix) – Theo Parrish
Ultramarine – Lone
Ordinary Things – xxxy
Blackmagic (Joy Orbison Recreation) – Jose James
Brave (Dark Sky Remix) – Kelis
Tell Me (George Fitzgerald Remix) – Groove Theory
Falling (Dark Sky Remix) – Ben Westbeech  

New Ben Westbeech album coming soon

Since the 2007 highly rated album 'Welcome to the best years of your life' Ben Westbeech has been relatively quiet, up till now. He has already released 2 tracks from the new album - Slowly and Falling.
The new album entitled 'There's more to life than this' has been described as  “house inspired, rather than straight up house music” and is due out later this year.
Below are some videos of his new material.

Track Day and the Office: Gourmet

WINNER

ERIK SATIE X JAMES BLAKE X JERU THE DAMAJA

Ill Bill & Vinnie Paz - Heavy Metal Kings

The two most rugged emcees in the game Ill Bill (of Non-phixion/La Coka Nostra) and Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks/Army of the Pharaohs) have combined forces to create a full album.
They have a long history of working together and have similar styles and content therefore it was only a matter of time before a collaborative album was conceived.
Profound lyricism with powerful delivery over even harder beats are the themes to be expected from Heavy Metal Kings. For example see their track of the same name from the JMT album Servants in Heaven Kings in Hell here.

They have released a sample track called Keeper Of The Seven Keys which can be heard below and downloaded here.

 

NEW MADVILLAIN!!!

Finally after a long wait a preview of 2 new tracks from the very highly anticipated follow up to Madvillainy have been released.
These snippets have been taken from Peanut Butter Wolf's podcast of Stones Throw Material for 2011 which can be downloaded here, featuring material from James Pants, Dam Funk, Madlib and more.

Madvillain - Avalanche / Victory lap

Download

Action Bronson - Bon Appetit....Bitch!

The member of Outdoorsman Action Bronson has set the bar very high early in the year with this 35 track mixtape of raw hip hop goodness. 2011 seems to be the year for the Lo dipped Queens  rapper. Action, a food aficionado comes as strong on every track as he does in the kitchen, rapping on anything from 90's golden era beats to the theme song from 'Eastbound and Down'.
Sounding like a young Ghostface, the ginger-bearded monster is also a member of the infamous New York graffiti crew SMART and Ralph Lauren boosting gang Lo-Lifes.
The mixtape is out now on i-Tunes, so make sure if you cop one mixtape anytime soon it is this one.
Check the latest 'Action in the Kitchen' below -

Gourmet again and again

Gourmet come correct once more with the 27 - finally a hiking D-ring boot done right.

Memotone - Multicolour EP

New dope electro shit forthcoming on the excellent Black Acre label.

Memotone - Multicolour EP - mini mix by Black Acre Records

Slept on album of 2010

HELL RAZAH - HEAVEN RAZAH

'Word is this album's too deep for 'em.'

This album definitely did not get the recognition it deserved in 2010. The above line from 'Medical Kush' may just be the reason why.

'Heaven Razah' contains tracks touching the usual underground hip hop subjects of socio-political troubles amongst the poorer community alongside other issues however the difference is that on this album it is done with such eloquence and complexity not heard since Non-Phixion or the Jedi Mind Tricks album 'Sevants in Heaven Kings in Hell'.

Hell Razah makes many religious and spiritual references displaying a great understanding of these topics and proving he is obviously a very well read and studied person on the more 'intangible' points of life.

With regards to above, it should be noted that this album is in no way a flaky conscious-only project.

The beats go hard and are excellently crafted and as a member of Sunz of Man there is plenty of street and thug influence to balance the album.  

Check out the below videos and if you have not already, I strongly recommend a purchase or at least a good few listens. 

Verb T - Tearing The Sky Down (ft. Fliptrix & Kashmere)

This goes hard.

Food Pr0n

LOBSTER BITCHES.

Jack Parow in your mother's house

Jack Parow the sickest Afrikaans MC from South Africa murking it in 'Dans Dans Dans' rapping about barbecuing meat and drinking brandy.