New Ninja Tuners

Two of Ninja Tune's (check out the website, it's sick) heaviest hitters, Blockhead and Sixtoo just released new albums last week. Both albums are solo releases that show off the sampling and instrumental production work of these two studio mavericks, usually hidden behind MCs.

Uncle Tony's Coloring Book is a great upbeat collection of traditional Blockhead jazz and funk that you can just imagine Aesop Rock or Murs lyricizing over. It's great to hear his work out in the open like this with focus on the great instrumentals and catchy melodies and heavy drum grooves--everything that you've always heard as background music is here all by itself, and sounds delicious. NYC Bounce is extra savory for anyone feeling a little homesick for some grays papaya tonight.

Blockhead - Coloring Book (zshare)
Blockhead - Duke of Hazzard (zshare)
Blockhead - NYC Bounce (zshare)

Jackals and Vipers in Envy of Man follows the same idea, but due to Sixtoo's nature in general, is a little grimier, a little darker, and a little more industrial. Not that that's a bad thing. This entire collection of 13 untitled tracks takes the listener on a ride through some of Ninja Tune's premium club-grunge and reminds you why Sixtoo is on this label, and why Ninja Tune is still one of the best, most diverse, and ever-evolving record labels out there right now. When I grow up, I want to be Sixtoo.

Sixtoo - Track 7 (zshare)
Sixtoo - Track 10 (zshare)

New Ninja Tune mix by Darko

Yesterday we got the new Scion CD Sampler v.18 Ninja Tune mix, all remixed by Darko from Spankrock. This shit's the dankitty dankest. With samples from all the Ninja Tune heavy-hitters like Kid Koala, Blockhead, Hexstatic, Bonobo and even Spankrock themselves (as well as some couler de TTC), this 44 minute long mix is undeniable. A lot of the tracks have recognizable bits from Zentertainment samplers from over the last couple years, but Darko manages to make it sound even fresher the second time around. These two tracks are some of the highlights, but I would recommend the entire sampler to anyone who follows arguably one of the best independent electronica record labels ever.

Coldcut - True Skool (Sound Mirrors, ZEN115) (mp3)
TTC - Une Bande de Mecs Sympas (36 15 TTC) (mp3)