Cruisin' Helsinki

^^ OUT NOW ^^ music put to moving images below vv

HELSINKI 78-82 - CRUISING from Top Billin on Vimeo.

Reviews from people cooler than I:

‘So Lifelike is the JAM’ – Diplo

‘So Lifelike is so great!’ – Nick Catchdubs, Fools Gold Records

‘This isn’t only a surprise but a true treat for the ears.” -Turntable Lab

Cop the vinyl here, and the digital here.

Belated Disco

There were two sweet disco parties this weekend. Neither of which I was able to attend. You gotta love summer weddings, right? The jump-off Friday night was at the First Ave VIP room where I'm sure hella classy and rare joints were spun by Mike 2600 and Attitude City. Be sure to catch this every 2nd Friday of the month! Saturday night's disco party was at... awww, hell, I don't know where it was. The point is that I was meaning to share some tasty disco records that I had picked up in NY in lieu of this weekends' festivities. Without further ado...

I love how Carole King extends the "disco school" theme throughout this track. It even has a little tasty disco break down near the end.

Carole King, "Disco Tech"

So this one's a bit cheesy. I only picked it up because it was a West End disco single which almost never miss. If you can get through the initial vocals, you will be rewarded with some bossa guitar riffs. It totally redeems the track.

DAWN Robertson, "With All My Heart (Disco Version)"

When I saw this record at Academy Records in NY it was a complete no-brainer. I love Rufus and ever since I came across the Billy Cobham and George Duke Live in Europe record, I've become convinced that George Duke can do no wrong. This boogie track needs no further description other than what's in the title:

Rufus, "Take It To The Top (prod. by George Duke)"

Useful instrumentals from different mothers

I picked up both of these singles today on my weekly record binge solely for the instrumentals that should routinely come in handy. I hope you too can use these gems.

For your hip-hop sets and/or remixes:

Method Man & Redman, Da Rockwilder 12"

For your disco sets and/or edits (and all of the dirty old men out there):

Rick James bitch, 17 12"

It's Tiiiiiiiiiime!

It's time for some West End boogie.  Disco has been seeing a revival lately in many different forms.  Whether it be edits, new disco, Italo, or obscurities it's been showing up everywhere and has even been influencing some of the new pop sound.  One of the proofs of disco's resurgence has been in the re-issues of some of the smaller labels that had slept-on gems.  I've been a huge fan of disco ever since I started buying records because 1) I love to dance and 2) disco records tend to be cheaper than any other used records.  Recently I've been getting into some of the re-issues.  My favorite series of re-presses has to be the boogie on the West End label.  I actually have about a half dozen of them.  With all that said, you could imagine my excitement when I came across an original pressing on West End.  And it's not just any disco track, this is the real deal.  It even has a nice disco break in the middle.  Enjoy!

Stone, "Time (Vocal)" from a 1981 West End 12"

While I was enjoying my Memorial Day digging through records I ran into Tasha from Black Blondie.  I sure hope I don't need to mention how much I absolutely love Black Blondie.  I truly believe that they are the next big thing to come out of Minneapolis.  I had a bunch of stuff in my satchel I sifted through to find something to get signed but I couldn't find anything worthwhile.  So I hopped upstairs to the CDs and bought my third copy of Do You Remember Who You Wanted To Be?.  I ripped it open and cheese-ily approached the ever-gracious Tasha for an autograph (nerd!  I know).  She was very kind and happily obliged.  I asked her about some of their upcoming gigs and the one that I'm looking forward to most is at the 501 Bar by Block E where they'll be playing a full set and then sticking around for the rest of the evening as a three-piece without the drums.  She says that they'll probably do some dub/reggaeton stuff.  Be there!  June 6th and it's free?!?!?!