Mikael Wood talks with George Clinton, Flying Lotus and Thundercat — funk visionaries from different generations — ahead of their joint Sept. 17 concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
Perhaps telling of my taste or opinion of the contemporary music landscape, but this meeting of minds is the thing I’m genuinely most excited about in 2017. Not only are FlyLo and Thundercat relative vanguards of trans-genre impressionistic creative output, but they are carrying on the legacy under the guidance of one of the people who laid the gauntlet down in the first place – which once again singles out GC as a visionary.
Props where props are due! Keeping it locked for the new album.
I really can’t believe it. I think I’m still fully in denial. It hasn’t registered.
I’m not gonna say much, as I haven’t had time to process this info yet, but as you probably know, Prince is probably my biggest influence and musical hero.
The only thing I thought I could do at the moment was share my favourite bootleg, as a testament to the man’s greatness – “Livesexy ’88 Uncut”, taken from the Japanese TV broadcast streamed live at the Westfallenhallen in Dortmund, West Germany 09/09/88.
I uploaded it in 5 parts off the DVD – these things are out there if you really want to look for them, no clues! – and it was watched thoudsands times over 8 months by many people (some heartbroken fam, some of the unconverted or the curious), until I got a takedown notice from NPG Music Publishing at the start of December. Now, normally if the artist in question is no longer with us, I don’t feel as much guilt about acquiring their music without compensating them for it. However, in Prince’s case I think he was so protective over how his music was received by the public, and against the distribution of unreleased material (it was unreleased for a reason I guess!) so I don’t feel so bad, and I took the vids off YouTube.
On deeper reflection on this issue, I’m actually kinda irritated by the NPG takedown notice. NPG Music Publishing was P’s own publishing company, and now he’s gone the trust in charge of his estate is cracking down on the explosion of bootlegged content that surfaced online after His Royal Badness’ untimely demise. Now, I know that one of the main bugbears P had about boots was that someone was cashing in on his unreleased work, but he was quoted as saying that if they don’t make any money and are sharing out of love, then it’s cool. So now the estate are trying to squeeze his ‘assets’ for every penny they can get out of it, I have mixed feelings about it. Unless they release the boots officially (or it’s to generate capital so they can better preserve the man’s legacy) then they should just let the stuff go I reckon.
Anyway, instead, here’s a link to a fantastic little profile made around the same time, directed by Albert Magnoli (Purple Rain). It features a whole heap of admiring luminaries (Miles, George Clinton, Clapton, Little Richard, Q… even Randy Newman!) giving their impression of why Prince is so awesome. Dig it.
Saw him 3 times, the best gigs I’ve ever seen. Never got to meet him, so maybe that’s best – he’ll be remembered the was he always intended, through his work.
My friend Kirk messaged me and reminded me of something. He said “HEY REMEMBER, the time you lost your (Prince symbol) necklace (that I got at the O2 gig in 2007, my first), and it really bugged you?
Just takin’ some time out to sort out my shit, got some plans for a brace of new EPs this year in the pipeline.
In the meantime, a little instrumental I tossed off a while ago (based on a super-slow recording of Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley) has been very kindly featured by music blog blornagain in their January “New & Underexposed” post, after being posted on Soundcloud. The blog has a rather tasty selection of tunage every month from across the board – of great taste, might I add, so not only am I pleasantly surprised to be featured, but also pretty stoked that it’s right next to one of my fav up-and-coming bands, Basildon-based Indie-Rap outfit COURTS who just dropped a new single called Glass Half Empty.
Very appreciative of the kind words, Mr. Blorn. Thank you muchly!
What have we got this month, then? Well, classics (of course) from the likes of P-Funk, Jimi and Bill Withers, some upstanding and outstanding new grooves from Kendrick, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and some more brand new Bowie from the new album (!!). We’ve also got the boom-bap covered with DJ Shadow, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, J5 and some stuff I’d never heard (thanks Huey!) from Japanese producer Matatabi (real Dilla-esque) and Mecca:83. Even got some 2-Tone, Boogie/ Space-Disco…
Give it a spin. And feel free to comment if you’re digging the mixes!
Even with only 2 weeks to go ’till the Santa’s Super-Festive Funtime, Christmas has been getting earlier and earlier every year, wouldn’t you agree?
Pagan tradition and Messianic Birthdays aside, we all know the High Street shops are suffering the effects of the recession and the increasing omnipotence of THE INTERNET undercutting and undervaluing the overpriced goods and services that are so important to the maintenance of supply-and-demand power structures, and so we see advertising as early as September to usher in the season to be spending!
If this is the case – why not have it in July?
I’ve gone done it – I’m cashing in, selling out. ‘Cos that’s what Christmas is all about!
Sarcasm aside, I’m particularly pleased with the B-Side “The Gift That Keeps on Giving Mix” – a properly Prince-esque hard-grooving Sax workout, featuring my main man, the reed-roaster and all round dude that is Caspar Sutton-Jones on Tenor solo. Eric Leeds would be proud.
Please take some time to appreciate the excellent job that Andrew Denholm has done on the artwork. It really is fantastic. Nobody remembered Jesus’s birthday… 😀
And remember – I may seem pretty cynical, but I only highlight these things to try and show people the world as I think it is, in an attempt to change the world into something it should be.
Take the holiday to spend some time with your people, don’t bother with the bullshit!
