Bristol DJ Parker's debut UK long player hit shelves this week. Hailed as the UK's RJD2 (for good reason), the westcountry beatmaker / party rocker has built quite a reputation for himself. He has his own radio show on XFM with DJ Moneyshot and some solid 12 inch releases as well the not so long ago released mix CD The Butler Did It.

However although the title track "To Eternity" could be the greatest RJD2 (pre wandering off to make sub-par folk music) track not made by RJ himself, Parker is not a clone and this album shows off a great deal of versatilty. 

Sure "that" Brigton / Bristol (think Tru Thoughts etc.) sound is strong here, but what do you expect - he's a westcountry producer. There's certainly a twist of something uniquely Parker added to the mix. Fans of the UKs leftfield hip hop / downtempo and trip hop scene should be on safe ground, with scene luminaries such as DJ Yoda, A Skillz, DJ Andy Smith, and Massive Attack’s Daddy G all giving praise.

While there's definitely no filler here, my own personal taste has me more interested in the instrumental hip hop. So having said that my favourite tracks would be "To Eternity", "Lost" , "Penny Dreadful" and the stand out (I bloody love it) "Old Time Sermon".

However there's no denying that the likes of "Sugar Coasted", "Western Soul" and "Calling You" will probably have more mass appeal.

Don't sleep on this one, drop by Parkers myspace and check out the tracks there, then go get the album - its one of the best releases this year. Certainly if your into Wax Taylor, Shadow, Aim, RJD2, Rob Smith, Boca 45, P*Nut etc. Your going to want to find a place for this in your CD collection or hardrive.

Parker - Sugar Coated (Video) | Introducing Parker (video)

www.myspace.com/djparker

Check out the mighty "Old Time Sermon" below: 

'One Of Those Days' video taken from the album 'Rock This World'. UK rapper Mystro flows over the production of Mark Rae and Rhys Adams.

www.yeskingrecords.com

Tanya Stephens has to be one of my favourite artists of all time and one of the most competent lyricists in the record industry today.

Born Vivienne Stephenson in Kingston, Jamaica 1973, Tanya was one of the most influential reggae artists of the 1990’s in her native lands, but it wasn’t until her 2004 hit ‘It’s A Pity’ that she gained international recognition.

Unlike many of her female peers, Tanya has something to say for herself. Not content with just swinging her pussy at the world and warbling about men, love and self-exhibitionism, her lyrical content is incredibly diverse and no subject is off limits. From religion, politics, racism, alcoholism and gang culture to the state of the record industry, Tanya’s satirical observations show a rare competent eloquence in social commentary. That’s not to say stereotypical female complaints are off limits though, love and relationships also feature throughout her musical catalogue, but with Tanya it’s always peppered with humour, honesty and a no-bullshit attitude that would make pop’s “girl power” crawl back from under the man they crame from and R&B’s money grabbing ho’s hang their heads in shame (and certainly no-one can accuse her of being prudish either).

But lyrics are only half the song, but luckily Stephens is fully aware of this. From club stompers to head nodding chill out Tanya satisfies the most beat hungry ears, dance loving booties and lounge around sound seekers. All 4 of her previous albums are “play through start to finish” and if you love reggae, dancehall, you’d be a fool to Ms Stephens.

Her new album “Infallible” is set for release later this year.

Back catalogue includes:

Rebelution (2006)
Gangsta Blues (2004)
Too Hype (1997)
Ruff Rider (1998)

Stand out tracks for me (though this is a very select pick, I actually like 99% of them) are:

Rebelution: Spilt Milk, Cherry Brandy

Gansta Blues: It’s A Pity, Can’t Breathe

Too Hype: Mi and Mi God

Ruff Rider: Part Time Lover

Example Lyrics:
"I'm tired of the hunger I see on people's faces
Tired of the animosity between the races
Tired of corruption in high and low places
And pricks with money but no social graces"
-What A Day, Gansta Blues

"Time passed, and Bubba turned 40 years old,
And all them Jack Daniels started taking a toll,
Seem like Bubba was about to make a final bow,
None of his friends from the clan couldnt help him now.

Family gathered at his bedside, ready to sing the blues,
When the doctor rushed in and said "Ive got some news!!!"
"The good news is, Bubba, I’ve found you a liver, only bad news is, it belongs to a Nigger"

Do you still care, about the texture of his hair or the cocoa brown colour of his skin,
Do you still care, do you still give a damn now you're in the predicament you're in,
- Do You Still Care, Rebelution

www.myspace.com/tanyastephensmusic

 Listen below to "Can't Breathe" from Rebelution

 Video Credits: Director Tom Jobbins Assistant animators: Charlie Stoddart, Dave Gilbert

Quantic presents ... Flowering Inferno - Death Of The Revolution (Album details at Tru-Thoughts)

www.tru-thoughts.co.uk

Santogold, aka Santi White, is a singer, songwriter and producer from America. Formely the lead singer of punk rock band Stiffed, Santi was offered a solo contract by Martin Heath of Lizard King Records, and adopted her solo stage name Santogold.
Her self-titled debut album was released in 2008.

Santogold cites her influences as New Wave, reggae and Blondie amongst others. Despite critics comparring her to M.I.A it is only really her debut single Creator that is reminiscent of M.I.A’s choppy, experimental sound. The rest of the album is much more melodic with harks back to the more darker, electro eras of 80’s pop and Ska (and much better than M.I.A, in my oh-so humble opinion!)

www.myspace.com/santogold 

Promo video for 'To Eternity' the album by Parker

www.myspace.com/djparker

This new compilation from Stones Throw collects together the work of west coast Electro pioneer Arabian Prince. An early member of NWA his track Panic Zone appears on the N.W.A and the Posse LP. However, as with most of the group he ran into issues with getting paid, and with Dre and Yella already holding key production roles, he parted ways with the group before the seminal Straight Out Of Compton album.

A contemporary of Egyption Lover and, of course, Dre, Yella and Cli-N-Tel's World Class Wreckin' Cru, La Dream Team and others, he was one of the innovaters who embraced the technology of the period and created the high-energy electro funk which dominated the LA scene in the days before the rise of the now classic west coast Gangsta sound. 

With the electro sound of the 80's influencing many modern bedroom producers as well as the likes of Flo Rida and will.i.am. (Fergie's "Fergalicious"), there's never been a better time to revisit the work of one of the original Innovaters.

Innovative Life: The Anthology is available on CD from amazon.com /.co.uk (see links below) and as a download from amazon.com, itunes etc. Personally, I try and buy music from the artist or record label's own website if they offer the chance, so I got the download from the Stones Throw store.

www.stonesthrow.com/arabianprince 

You might also want to check out the articles at The Los Angeles Times and Hip Hop Dx 

www.myspace.com/wilsonprojects

www.myspace.com/dieonspectrum

Short but rather cool music video featuring the Monome.

The Video is by Mike Landry and the music is by Edison

You can find out more about the Monome controller / interface seen in the video at www.monome.org

Edison's Myspace: www.myspace.com/bearless

Edison on Vimeo, you can watch a better quality version of the video here