Building a song, nation by nation

We've blogged here before about the ways technology continues to reshape the very concept of a "band" or a "recording". Remember Kutiman, who turned all of youtube into a meta-band?

Playing For Change has been performing another mind-bender on music production. They record street musicians all over the world, each playing a part in one song. The result is great music from a "band" who's never met and will never likely be in the same continent at the same time.

I received a new Playing For Change CD yesterday, so we'll be hearing it on the Beat Authority soon. In the meanwhile, here's their latest creation:

What good's a boom box in a museum?

NPR has a cool retrospective on the boom box and its demise, with an interview with Fab 5 Freddy, whose boom box has gone silent at the Smithsonian. I love my iPod and headphones as much as the next guy. But didn't we lose something when we lost the public soundtrack, the chance to get your turn to slip that cassette in, press play, and play DJ for everyone around you?

Quantic's sweet spot

Quantic aka Will Holland is one of my favorite global beatmeisters, for lack of a better term. He's always doing new things, but keeps the groove funky and sweet. It's like he doesn't feel like he has to impress people with complicated time signatures or avant guarde stuff. There's a reason humans have been digging the groove as long as there've been people.

Quantic's about to release a new album featuring a fusion of old and new from Colombia. I'll play the advance single on the Beat Authority on Friday. Here's a little glimpse of the city of Cali and what the music's gonna sound like...


Tradition in Transition: A Postcard from Cali (TRAILER) from Quantic on Vimeo

Digging In

I'm a huge baseball fan as well as a funky music fan. Maybe it's no coincidence that my favorite Yankees' bloggers also specialize in funk, jazz, and hip hop...a welcome breather in the marathon 162-game season.

Anyway, blogger S. Compton (a Potsdamanian) wished me a happy Opening Day a couple weeks ago. He shared this excellent call-to-action for all stadium music programmers (most of them listen to the Beat Authority, no doubt).

Every baseball fan loves to think about what song they'd have playing as they walk up to the plate and dig in for an at-bat. You get about 10 seconds. Here's my fave. What's yours? Happy baseball!

Smooth Like Buttah

Thinking about Q-Tip today, of A Tribe Called Quest fame, of course... I slept on his solo record released last year. Anybody listen to The Renaissance? This track sure is funky, anyway...

Beat Authority playlist: 4/17/09

Live it. Love it. It's just a playlist. Really check the Beat Authority by listening to the live on-demand stream here.

UPDATE: Swimming in Speakers

Whole lotta love for Swimming in Speakers in the comments section of the previous post!

Not only do lots of blog readers/listeners dig them, but Joel Hurd and our Heard Up North operation are all over it. I'm embarassed to admit I missed their track on our 3-CD Music Heard Up North collection released last year. They recorded in Malone, a song called "No Song", which you can hear, along with an interview, at the link above.

Chris Clarke, from Massena, is the man. But it seems from the latest demo he's added a female vocalist.

Chris, where are ya? We want to catch up with you!

Swimming in Speakers

I was listening to a podcast I check out regularly to stay up on the indy-rock/-pop world, The Sounds in My Head, and came across this band from Saranac Lake. They remind me of a sunnier Massive Attack or Psapp or Ratatat...or like a lot of Swedish pop Delaney Flushboy sends our way. Very nice stuff. And best of all, Swimming in Speakers is from that glistening emerald city of Franklin AND Essex counties, Saranac Lake.

Anyone know them?

Beat Authority playlist: 4/10/09

Next year in Espana. Happy Easter and Passover. Come on down to the DJ breakdown tomorrow night at La Casbah in Potsdam. Say hi if you do...

The Hip Hop Hagaddah!

I'm in Buffalo for Passover. Tonight's the first night, and I'd be remiss to remind you about the seminal audio text for the holiday. SoCalled is a musician/producer/DJ from Montreal (who incidentally became good friends with former NCPR news reporter Gregory Warner when he lived here). His The SoCalled Seder is what I'll be spinning in my mind tonight, probably soemwhere between the third and forth cup. I'll play a tune or two Friday on the Beat Authority. Be sure to tune in live or via the new on-demand stream. Chag samayach!

Mud Season Throwdown

Have you been to the new upstairs room at La Casbah, the Moroccan restaurant in Potsdam? It's a lovely, cool place to hang out, usually is pretty packed, and has a fine bar. I hope it'll be REALLY jumpin' this Saturday night for a special DJ throwdown.

If you like to listen to the Beat Authority, you'll love getting your groove on with a big sound system at La Casbah! Details on the flyer (at right). Please introduce yourself when you're there!