The Brotherhood - "Nothing in Particular"

The Brotherhood were a London hip-hop band that started as a collective of rappers, graffiti artists, dancers and DJ's. Known as the Brotherhood VIP when they got together in the 80's and by 1990 they became The Brotherhood. They released EP's, 12" singles etc. until they peaked in 1996 with the 'Elementalz' album. It was their magnum opus and without a doubt, one of my all-time favourite hip-hop albums. I still go back to it regularly now and have playlisted all the tracks on Bitter FM. It was from the 'House of Pain' and 'Cypress Hill' era and that can be heard. The album contains some interesting samples, which include Iron Butterfly, Soft Machine and Black Moon. "Nothing In Particular" features a sample from Gravediggaz.
Elementalz was possibly when British hip-hop came of age.

Don Cavalli - "Me and My Baby"

French artist Don Cavalli is hard to pigeon hole, musically. There is definitely some Rockabilly from his past and a mixture of blues, RnB, Soul, psychedelic rock and the old hip crooner is only a cardigan away. That takes me to the one word that could define all his music, a kind of constant theme - and that is vintage. There is an old-time sound throughout his 2013 album 'Temperamental' in style and production. "Me and My Baby" is a hypnotic slice of good old RnB that is as much crooner as it is soulful.

Sex On Toast - "Oh Loretta!"

I have to thank good old public radio for this little discovery. RNZ National were talking to the organiser of the Coastella Festival, where Sex on Toast will be performing. He was raving on about this 10 piece band from across the ditch. Now I'm asking myself, how the hell have I not heard of this Australian band before today?
"Oh Loretta!" sounds like a Flight of the Conchords song at first..... but instead of a folk duo we get a full on 80's funk soul band and with five times as much fun as well.
It would be worth a trip down to the Kapiti Coast for this song alone.

Bernie Griffen and the Grifters - "Put Your Hand In Mine"

Here is a little taster ahead of the Bernie Griffen concert at the Taupo Museum on Friday the 18th of March. A classic example of the dark swampy country/folk/blues sound of Bernie and his band. Pure class!