Being pretty lapse on the post front of late, things have been pretty hectic. But in this time a slew of releases have occurred and heres one we feel you should know about. Its Ninja Tune celebrating their 20 year anniversary with the Ninja Tune XX Box set.
For many, the beginnings of ninja tune are all about Coldcut, Dj Vadim, Mr Scruff, chill out trip hop and left field hip hop. But rather than trying to shun the present day like so many labels that have died out years ago, Ninja Tune XX presents a full spectrum of old and new a like, along with a look to the future. You’ll be mistaken to think this ’20 years of’ will all be the jazzy, sampled, vinyl crackling, melodic trip hop it started out as. Infact its far from it, with remixes and sounds that encompass everything good from the later half of the naughties. Dubstep, Future Garage, Electronica, and House remixes are in abundant, and from producers such as Diplo, Scuba, Rustie, Gaslamp Killer.
The Box set is a perfect mix of new and old, and Ninja Tune deliver the perfect balance and in no particular order.
I remember the days of listening to DJ Vadim’s Terrorist and its nice to see a label go from such trip hop, nu-jazz hip hop to the newer styles and genres without loosing its original identity. The result is the healthy sound of the label’s output for the future, and not one thats stranded in the past.
To really sample the delights of Ninja Tune XX go buy the big box set. It has things you just don’t really get with a digital download. Find out more about it here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Diplo – Summers Gonna Hurt You (Diplo 2010 Remix) (Download)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Stateless – Ariel (Rusties Pentagram Remake) (Download)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Jamie XX – We’re New Here
Jamie Smith of the XX is quickly establishing himself as one of the most diverse and innovative producers in the game. His latest effort remixes Gil Scott Heron’s much lauded and critically acclaimed album ‘I’m New Here’. Throughout the 13 tracks he marries a variety of genres and samples but impressively still leaves you with the feeling that they are part of the same organism. You also quickly get a sense of the fun he is having on tracks such as ‘I’m New Here’ where he juxtaposes the vocals from Heron’s title track and Gloria Gaynor’s ‘Casanova Brown’ and plays it like a conversation between two people meeting for the first time, or the cheeky nod to Rui Da Silva’s 2001 hit ‘Touch Me’, which has clearly inspired the rhythmic crux for ‘Ur Soul and Mine’.
(Also, check Jamie XX’s steel pan remix of Touch Me which is bound to find a release in time for the summer.)
If there’s a downside to the album, it’s that the interludes are begging to be developed into something more and while they may be in keeping with Heron’s original vision they stunt the flow of the album as a whole. However, of the 13 tracks 8 of them are killer and definitely worth seeking out.
Top 3 Picks…
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Running
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Ur Soul and Mine
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I’ll Take Care of You
Go here and buy it… now. Word(s).