Dessa

Although people outside of Minneapolis might still reminisce over the Replacements, Husker Du, or even Prince and Morris Day when thinking about the city's musical offerings, hip-hop has always been on the minds and in the souls of its residents. The city's hip-hop rep might still be considered underground on the national level (or, is it), but, people in this town are as passionate about their music as any other -- and, probably more. Would you leave your cozy apartment and schlep through the snow in -30 degree weather to check out local hip-hop on a Tuesday night? If you're from Minneapolis you would.

From Atmosphere and the entire Rhymesayers label (www.rhymesayers.com), Eyedea and Abilities, Brother Ali, Felt, Heiruspecs, and the Doomtree Collective (http://www.doomtree.net/) - this city has a wealth of talented MC's, musicians, producers, and dj's involved in the game. Any of these acts could easily take it to the next level, it's only a matter of time.

The Doomtree collective is a hip-hop crew, yes, but they are also a fast-growing label. Their biggest resident might be critically-acclaimed MC, P.O.S., but, they've also got Cecil Otter, SIMS, Mike Mictlan, Lazerbeak, Paper Tiger, and, the writer and MC I'm here to talk about -- Dessa.

Dessa's debut full-length album, "A Badly Broken Code," was released this past Tuesday. What I've listened to so far is a complex mix of dazzling wordplay and hip-hop production with trace elements of RnB, with more than a few nods to vintage torch singers. Her voice is gorgeous, the production is killer, and, the songs are not only solid, they're inspiring.

Here are a few cuts from "A Badly Broken Code" ala youtube:

Dixon's Girl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eQL3BrRqM8

The Crow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JfAnS8mRK4

Alibi (not the best sound quality on this one)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j2A4Lb7RFo


Buy Dessa's album on Doomtree:
http://store.doomtree.net/product/a-badly-broken-code-dessa

Check out Dessa's profile on Myspace:
www.myspace.com/dessadarling

We're big fans of Ellie Goulding here at OSS-- but then again, who isn't? Anticipation is building for the release of her debut album, entitled Lights, on 1 March, and the new darling of the British music industry (from the BRITs to the BBC) is well on her way to becoming one very successful pop star.

Of course we've all heard the songs that have been floating around online for the past year, but recently I came upon a new one entitled "This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)", and I am more than smitten. The recording is a live one taken from (what I gather is) a recent show at Shepherd's Bush Empire; the quality isn't great, but you gotta hand it to the amateur recorders at these gigs for giving the impatient among us something to latch onto until the real thing comes out.

"This Love" is beat driven, dance-pop with an angsty bent-- that uniquely Ellie Goulding sound-- and I can't seem to turn it off.

Thanks the folks at elliegoulding.net for the original upload of this track. Hop over to the site for downloads of all the other Ellie stuff floating around that you may have missed, including live performances & demos.

Ellie's on tour through the spring in the UK, so hop to one of the gigs (London shows are sold out, among others). You will be glad you did! Check elliegoulding.co.uk for details.

Ellie Goulding - This Love (Will Be Your Downfall) (Live @ Shepherd's Bush Empire)

Since 2005, Rio's Baile Funk movement has had a thriving European base with the help of Daniel Haaksman and his Berlin label, Man Recordings (www.manrecordings.com). Dubstep and B-more aside, I can't think of a more talked-about genre in the past few years. This music is huge!

Besides promoting Brazil's best producers, artists, and dj's (Edu K, DJ Sandrinho, DJ Edgar, DJ Amazing Clay, etc.) to the rest of the world, Haaksman also releases albums by artists who are inspired by this amazing style of music (Diplo, Crookers, Feadz, Sinden, Scottie B, etc.), as well as his own music.

Man's most recent release is from two German dj's/producers, SCHLACHTHOFBRONX (if you can't say their name, just say "schnitzel"). Their first release from Man is an EP called "Ayoba" and keeping with the German kitsch theme here, Brazilian producers/dj's, Mixhell called it "Bavarian Baile Funk" on the Man website. SCHLACHTHOFBRONX is appropriately influenced by Baile Funk, Jamaican Dancehall, Angolan Kuduro, Trinidad carnival sounds, the Dirty South and Balkan beats (aaaaaand, rinse!). I am guessing/knowing these dudes throw one helluva party.

The lead track, "Ayoba," features two MC's, Spoek Mathambo of Sweat X and Playdoe, and MC Gnucci Banana and more crazy tropical beats than the noontime sun in Jamaica!

Fans of Major Lazer and a nice crisp Pilsner, this will not disappoint.

Just listen to it.

Ayoba - SCHLACHTHOFBRONX

No one can argue Florence + The Machine had one of the most interesting, beautiful albums of 2009. One of my favourite tracks from Lungs was 'Hurricane Drunk', a boozy dream of a song. I kinda thought it couldn't get better, but then suddenly, it did-- The Horrors remixed it.

Flo played this version on the BBC yesterday, where she hosted the Takeover for Zane Lowe on Radio 1. The .mp3 is a radio rip from Radio 1, so it's not 100% quality, but it'll do until it's commercially available.

Without further ado, I present you:

Florence + The Machine - Hurricane Drunk (The Horrors remix)

DJ AM was found dead in his New York City apartment yesterday afternoon, which, needless to say, has been a huge blow to anyone who knew him and his work. No one had the technical skills that AM did, or the feel for so many different genres. He was a mentor to many of the most amazing DJs out there these days, and he will never be forgotten.

Below, some links to a few DJ AM sets. Listen, and celebrate the life of an amazingly talented man.

DJ AM - Live on Power 106 12/29/05
DJ AM - 2009 mix
AutoErotique - Gladiator (Steve Aoki & DJ AM Remix)

While I'm on about Mark Ronson's show, that reminded me about how much I really wanted to talk about Ellie Goulding. Surprise surprise, she's from the UK! I was initially introduced to her by a friend who thought I might like her, and I immediately got addicted to "Starry Eyed", a electronic meshing of teenage romance that could be the soundtrack to a first kiss. It's that perfect mix of simplistic idealism that is unique to late adolescence and first love, and I can't get enough of it.

Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed:

Ellie is unique among her peers: playing acoustic gigs around London in the singer-songwriter scene (she's friends with One Small Sound favourite Laura Marling!), she eventually began a natural progression into electronically influenced music. Since then, she's met up with UK producer Starsmith, with whom she's been collaborating ever since. While she doesn't have a full length album out just yet, she's recently signed a deal with Polydor records in the UK, and I believe an album is in the works.

In the meantime, Ellie stopped by EVR on 7 August to do an interview and perform a few songs on air. Below, hear her performance of "Guns & Horses". She's soon to be touring the UK with Little Boots, so don't miss her.

Ellie Goulding - Guns & Horses (Live on East Village Radio)


Ellie Goulding on Myspace
Ellie Goulding on Twitter