Theophilus London

Fact: You will hear a lot more from Theophilus London next year.

“Always”

“TNT”

 

36 Chambers of Chambers St.

It was on Chambers St. of all places, the street that I call home, on which my Wu-Tang knowledge was tested. I had seen this day coming for a while now, I just hadn’t expected it to come in such a drunken verbal delivery. I own a Wu-Tang t-shirt, you see, and given the warm weather last Saturday, I decided to wear it to brunch. I am, it should also be noted, by virtue of my dear mom and dad, a skinny, pasty white dude. On the way home, as me and my group of friends stopped obediently at the crosswalk on Church & Chambers, I overheard someone say, “Watchuknowaboutwutang?” Naturally assuming I was being called out, I searched the crowd for my inquisitor. Standing in front of me was a guy who looked to be in pretty rough shape. He held a brown-bagged brew and as my buddy later noted, the film on his teeth made it look as though he had one big horizontal tooth. He had those funky ass finger nails too.

“What?” I said.

“Watchuknowaboutwutang? Namefivemembasfuhmerighnow.”

The funny thing is, I welcomed the challenge to my fandom. I wanted to prove that despite by goofy white-ness, I have every right to be a fan and wear a sweet t-shirt as the next dude.

So I said, “RZA, GZA, ODB, Masta Killah and U-God. Want me to keep going?” I surprised myself with Masta Killah and even second guessed that he was, in fact, a member. Not just some affiliate like Cappadonna or Killah Priest. But it didn’t matter. Dude was immediately taken aback, looking like he even sobered up for a second.

“Hahathasscoolman. Thasscool. You from the Isle?”

“Nah, not from Staten man, just a fan.”

He then proceeded to tell me that ODB has a new record of unreleased material coming out soon. Which appears to be true. Turns out A Son Unique, which was supposed to be released in 2005, is now set for release next week. I traded info about the new ODB doc that screens in Harlem next Tuesday.

As we neared my apartment, I could tell he wanted to keep talking. But I had to go.

“Okman. MaybeIseeyouaround.”

“Yea man,” I said. “Maybe.”

Then we gave each other dap and went on our separate ways. Wu-Tang forever.

New Air France

Just in time for cold weather, Air France is back with a breezy electronic track that makes you yearn for the beach. This time it’s a remix of St. Etienne’s “Spring.” Get out the sunblock:

Drake

Yeah, dude is everywhere now, but he can spit. I mean, he sold 73,000 copies of a mixtape first week. That’s retarded in today’s climate. This song is ill. I love the blackberry line.

“Say What’s Real”

Akron/Family

I just really like this song.

“River”

Camera Obscura

If you should ever find yourself scoring an independent film and need a love song or two, look no further than Camera Obscura’s latest, My Maudlin Career. Maybe it’s the slight Scottish tinge to lead singer Tracyanne Campbell’s vocals, but her voice is crazy appealing and the way she sings about relationships and all that jazz is endearing, perhaps overly so, as indie films often are. I feel like all the songs on the new record should accompany a black and white photo album or some shit. But in a good way. If you dig Belle & Sebastian and/or Jenny Lewis, check it.

“French Navy”

On the leeeeeaaaaaaan

DJ Screw – Warning (BIG)

DJ Screw – High til I Die (2pac)

Raekwon – House of Flying Daggers

The Wu is back on September 8th, led by Raekwon, on the forthcoming album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II. It’s about time this new generation is reminded of how hip hop was and should be. Below is a track from the album.

Sick video, sick song, going be a sick album.

“House of Flying Daggers”

Au Revoir Simone

I’d always been interested in Au Revoir Simone. Maybe it was the sexy sounding name. Maybe it was the sultry, endearingly heartfelt vocals I heard on several tracks. Whatever the magnetism, it wasn’t until today that I actually spent time with an entire record of their material. I gotta say, I’m into it. Yea, it might be subdued, or even, dare I say girlie at times, but shit if the music isn’t incredibly listenable. The subtle electronic textures that accompany the melancholy vocal accents (even if the lyrics aren’t meant to be so), remind me of the Postal Service. Yea, I went there. I honestly have no idea what these girls look like, but I can see them craned over their Moogs, hair cascading over their domes, clad in plaid shirts and tights. That may not even be cool garb for chicks, but it sounds hot to me. So do the two songs below from their latest album “Still Night, Still Light”:

“Knight of Wands”

“Shadows”

Memory Cassette, Weird Tapes, Memory Tapes

So there’s this dude in South Jersey named Dayve Hawk making blissed out yet subtle electronic jams under the monikers Memory Cassette, Weird Tapes and Memory Tapes. I’m super into his shit, namely because it calls to mind one of my favorite acts of the moment: Air France (Acephale Records label mates to boot). I was lucky enough to pick up the Memory Cassette EP before it sold out, but dude posts a bunch of MP3s on his blog, so you might be able to find the songs there: http://weirdtapes.blogspot.com/

Check out a couple tunes. Try not to geek out to “Bicycle” in your headphones Seriously, just try.

Memory Tapes – “Bicycle”

Memory Cassette – “Sleep on the Roof”

Memory Cassette – “Asleep at a Party”