R.I.P. Nujabes

This post is a shout out to Nujabes, a talented Japanese hip hop producer that passed away recently. He was 36 years old and died in a motor vehicle accident, needless to say unfortunate. Really diggin' this one album I found of his, but I'm sure the rest of his work is pretty decent too. Overall relaxing, smooth, jazzy vibes on each track with gifted MC's providing counterpoint. R.I.P., respect.

Metaphorical Music (2003)

Xploding Plastix - "Amateur Girlfriends go Proskirt Models"

Crazy, crazy stuff here. A duo from Norway, these guys make some seriously cool and futuristic electronic jazz compositions. A typical Xploding Plastix song may feature dusty horns samples, mellow keyboard licks, a walking double-bass line, and complex drum rhythms. However, there is no typical song from them, as they have a wide range of variety. Some tracks have a pulsing, fast, upbeat tempo while others are strictly downtempo and chilled. There are some artists in the "acid jazz" category that make music that could easily also be classified as "easy listening" aka "elevator music", but not these guys. Extremely interesting, inventive compositions, well worth a listen.


"Amateur Girlfriends go Proskirt Models"

TM Juke - "Maps to the Wilderness"

This is some nice, loungy jazz type jams comin' from over in the UK. Associated with the Tru Thoughts label, with a bunch of artists that i dig putting out modern jazz/electronic sounds. I'm gonna get around to posting some of these others (i.e. Nostalgia 77, Natural Self, etc..)

Downtempo, really chilled out stuff. "Just for a day (Sunday)" is totally relaxing with a perfectly mellow guitar line floating over jazz saxophone licks and a head-nodding, shuffling beat. "Fast Asleep" is another smoky, dusty, jazzy hip hop lounger that just flows oh so smoothly. Also features guest appearances from a few rappers and singer Alice Russell, rounding out the album. Dude has really got his shit together. Mixes soul with hip hop with jazz - the whole album is really chill, check it out.


get it

Guizado - "Punx"

Seriously insane but awesome music here. This is new, crazy jazz from Sao Paulo, Brazil, inspired by the bustling metropolis and with a unique feel. Last.fm says "In Guizado, the musician searches (and thinks) his own stamp on a mixture of harmonic inks of his instrument with the textures found in experiments with several electronic paraphernalia." This album is at times jarring, with bursts of electronic noise and glitches, but also beautiful and melodic at times.

The track "Coloridos" is a good example of this, a simple guitar part coming in over a glitchy electronic beat, followed by a beautifully simple and elegant trumpet line. This album really is pretty fucking cool, I listened to it tons when I first copped it, definitely a non-traditional work but as mentioned has enough melody and funk to keep the repeat button going. Standout tracks to me were "Coloridos", "Orbitas", and "Rinkisha" (ROCKS OUT by the end of that one man), sick stuff...

dont sleep on this!
Last.fm profile

The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble - "The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble"

Haha yeah, I know that image is nuts right? This band is pretty crazy, it's a bunch of German art students making avant-garde jazz music with electronic elements. It's definitely an interesting album, although perhaps not accessible to everyone or right away. It has moments where it sounds like trip hop, but also dark, ambient noise passages, tinged with electronic flourishes. I liked "Adaptation of the Koto Song", "Pearls for Swine", and "Lobby", check it out. Definitely an interesting listen.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2LI2C805
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Kilimanjaro+Darkjazz+Ensemble