Music what got SOUL

It's been a while since I had several tracks I could group together under a "theme"; we start with three soul-derived tracks and then go off into a different kind of fun.

http://audioporncentral.com/2010/01/bullion-say-goodbye-to-what.html
If you want to attract my attention to a piece of music there are few better phrases than "hook-laden psychedelic funk". P-Funk is the proper heir to soul and this odd warbly vocal mix done over classic funk beats is a great piece from Bullion (http://www.myspace.com/bullionness)

http://audioporncentral.com/2010/01/soul-ii-soul-back-to-life-the-rules-remix.html
Soul II Soul (http://www.soul2soul.co.uk/startpage/) are a funky English soul/jazz/RnB outfit that was popular in the 80s. Here we get their "Back to Life" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvC1ijiyv1c) redone by someone calling himself "The Rules" - no idea who that is, but it's a really good mix.

http://hypem.com/#/track/1021122/Marlena+Shaw+-+California+Soul+Diplo+Mad+Decent+Remix+
Marlena Shaw is a name you probably haven't heard (I hadn't). She mostly recorded in the 60s and her stuff showed up in various blacksploitation films in the 70s then was heavily sampled by early rappers in the 80s. Diplo's remix does a good job of keeping her soulful voice clear against both a decent horn background and some dancier beats.

http://www.mashuptown.com/2010/01/boo.html
This promo page for Bootie's recent concert has some really amazing tracks, of which I really want you to hear The Kleptones' "Welcome Back." Like their Uptime set mix this one builds off a number of 80s/90s favorites and is a lot of fun. The other mixes on that page are good but this one is the best.

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Groove_Armada/track/Pull_Up_Crank_It_Up_Mad_Decent_Remix
Groove Armada are probably best known in America for their "This is the house that funk built" from the track "I See You Baby" which was popularized by Fatboy Slim. Their natural sound, though, is much more funky and features some smooth electro-house vocals. For example, listen to their live performance of "Easy" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kF1ZaRs-iY) which starts off with orchestral violins and segues into some serious funk beats.

What then, to make of this remix? It's taking some of the pure essence and infusing it into a reggeaton rhythic get-up-and-dance driving track. I would not have known it was Groove Armada if not for the labeling, but that's OK. It's fully excellent on its own.

Music what got SOUL

It's been a while since I had several tracks I could group together under a "theme"; we start with three soul-derived tracks and then go off into a different kind of fun.

http://audioporncentral.com/2010/01/bullion-say-goodbye-to-what.html
If you want to attract my attention to a piece of music there are few better phrases than "hook-laden psychedelic funk". P-Funk is the proper heir to soul and this odd warbly vocal mix done over classic funk beats is a great piece from Bullion (http://www.myspace.com/bullionness)

http://audioporncentral.com/2010/01/soul-ii-soul-back-to-life-the-rules-remix.html
Soul II Soul (http://www.soul2soul.co.uk/startpage/) are a funky English soul/jazz/RnB outfit that was popular in the 80s. Here we get their "Back to Life" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvC1ijiyv1c) redone by someone calling himself "The Rules" - no idea who that is, but it's a really good mix.

http://hypem.com/#/track/1021122/Marlena+Shaw+-+California+Soul+Diplo+Mad+Decent+Remix+
Marlena Shaw is a name you probably haven't heard (I hadn't). She mostly recorded in the 60s and her stuff showed up in various blacksploitation films in the 70s then was heavily sampled by early rappers in the 80s. Diplo's remix does a good job of keeping her soulful voice clear against both a decent horn background and some dancier beats.

http://www.mashuptown.com/2010/01/boo.html
This promo page for Bootie's recent concert has some really amazing tracks, of which I really want you to hear The Kleptones' "Welcome Back." Like their Uptime set mix this one builds off a number of 80s/90s favorites and is a lot of fun. The other mixes on that page are good but this one is the best.

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Groove_Armada/track/Pull_Up_Crank_It_Up_Mad_Decent_Remix
Groove Armada are probably best known in America for their "This is the house that funk built" from the track "I See You Baby" which was popularized by Fatboy Slim. Their natural sound, though, is much more funky and features some smooth electro-house vocals. For example, listen to their live performance of "Easy" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kF1ZaRs-iY) which starts off with orchestral violins and segues into some serious funk beats.

What then, to make of this remix? It's taking some of the pure essence and infusing it into a reggeaton rhythic get-up-and-dance driving track. I would not have known it was Groove Armada if not for the labeling, but that's OK. It's fully excellent on its own.

A gift to you, icon-lovers

I have a picture, from which this icon was taken. When I look at it, all I can think is "I've had days like that, too." And it occurs to me that someone out there needs to make an I'm Having a Day Like That post.

For which you should use this:

A gift to you, icon-lovers

I have a picture, from which this icon was taken. When I look at it, all I can think is "I've had days like that, too." And it occurs to me that someone out there needs to make an I'm Having a Day Like That post.

For which you should use this:

Anticipation - Montreal Worldcon photos

http://picasaweb.google.com/awexelblat/AnticipationMontreal#

Hard to take pictures of people on panels when the seats aren't raked. Some photos of the city taken on the walking tours. Really a shame the Haunted House restaurant was closed (best I could make out was that it had been closed for failure to pay taxes) - I would have liked to see its interior decor.

Montreal has some interesting architecture but with the narrow streets and large groups of people it wasn't easy to get shots of much of it. There's an old city, an "asia city", and a modern city all sort of cheek-by-jowl with each other. It reminded me a little of New Orleans, which will probably not make sense to anyone who hasn't spent time in both places; I'm not sure if I can explain it.

Anticipation - Montreal Worldcon photos

http://picasaweb.google.com/awexelblat/AnticipationMontreal#

Hard to take pictures of people on panels when the seats aren't raked. Some photos of the city taken on the walking tours. Really a shame the Haunted House restaurant was closed (best I could make out was that it had been closed for failure to pay taxes) - I would have liked to see its interior decor.

Montreal has some interesting architecture but with the narrow streets and large groups of people it wasn't easy to get shots of much of it. There's an old city, an "asia city", and a modern city all sort of cheek-by-jowl with each other. It reminded me a little of New Orleans, which will probably not make sense to anyone who hasn't spent time in both places; I'm not sure if I can explain it.