Tuesday 30 December 2014

LIVE REVIEW: ALEXANDER O'NEAL AT THE 02 ACADEMY, OXFORD



Black music legends active in the 80s and still alive to do be doing it today are in rather short supply, so it tends to be a good idea to catch 'em when you can. So it was with an opportunity to absorb one of the biggest soulful crossover acts of the late 1980s when Alexander O'Neal included Oxford in his UK tour of assorted 02 Academy venues.

An atmosphere of anticipation among the mainly 40 and 50-something crowd had been strategically generated as Alex's imposing figure emerged out of the shadows a fashionable ten minutes late. The spotlights illuminated a few wrinkles - hardly surprising given his 61 years - but otherwise, he was still the same old Alex of his heyday - smart suit, smooth flirtations with the ladies, and a few jovial antics to endear him further to the crowd. 

It was straight into party mode with the uptempo 'What Can I Say To Make You Love Me'. After this came the cordial introduction from the former American footballer and member of legendary Minneapolis funk group The Time, (before he was fired by Prince for reportedly 'looking too black'.) He promised songs from each of his first three albums and introduced his band, most of whom looked far too young to have been around in his own glory years. A couple more numbers from 1987's 'Hearsay' followed, the album which paved his crossover into mainstream recognition. The stage was nicely set for some midway mellowness as a house full of cheers brought in his classic slow jam 'If You Were Here Tonight'. Then, in the absence of Cherelle, (there's never one around when you need one,) one of his youthful backing singers took her place for the duet 'Saturday Love'.

Surprisingly, 'Criticize' didn't close the show. That accolade, (by which time the group had overshot the 11pm curfew due to the late arrival), went to an extended version of the same year's 'Fake'. Ironically, the only big Alex anthem missing besides the other Cherelle duet 'Never Knew Love Like This', was 1986's soul weekender favourite 'What's Missing'.

Sweating profusely throughout, there were moments where the Big Man looked out of breath, and he neglected to hit some of the trickier high notes of his recordings. But this is hardly surprising, given that the rigours of such a hectic schedule would be a challenge even for a man half his age. So respect is due for one of the few big soulful voices of the 1980s still keeping the nostalgia of that wonderful decade alive in the flesh.

THE SOUND OF '14 MIXES



THE SOUND OF '14 MIXES

Here's the full set of my year-end mixes, bringing together many of the favourite tunes that I've busted on my Sound Of Now radio show during 2014 - one House, one Garage, one Underground Hip-Hop. awesome tunes you're not going to hear anywhere else. Download, listen and enjoy!


GARAGE:


LITTLE NIKKI: RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES (DJ SKT VIP MIX)
GRADES: CROCODILE TEARS (EXTENDED MIX) 
RAY FOXX FEAT. RACHEL K COLLIER: CURIOUS (DEVOLUTION REMIX)
MISS COCO BROWN: DESTINY (YLLAVATION DEEP AND SOULFUL MIX) 
OLIVIA SOMERLYN: PARACHUTE (NU BIRTH CLUB MIX)
KELLY PEPPER: KOH SAMUI (DRIFTAS UKG REMIX) 
TWB: DON'T LOOK ANY FURTHER (EXTENDED MIX) 
MARTIN CARR. SONG FOR YOU (JUNIOR UKG REMIX)
MNEK: WROTE A SONG ABOUT YOU (SHIFT K3Y REMIX)
ROSKA FEAT. RKC: MASTER OF PERSUASION
PARADISE 45 FEAT. NALAYA: TO BE IN LOVE (BOBBY TEE/ MARC WILLIAMS REMIX) 
KAREN HARDING: SAY SOMETHING (WOOKIE MAIN REMIX) 
KIESZA. HIDEAWAY (GORGON CITY REMIX) 
HIGH CONTRAST FEAT. CLARE MAGUIRE: WHO'S LOVING YOU (CPS REMIX) 
RAHEEM BAKARE: PORTRAIT OF LOVE (DJ Q MIX) 
FERRECK DAWN & REDONDO: LOVE TOO DEEP (MATT JAM LAMONT CLUB MIX)
STYLO G. MOVE BACK (GRANT NELSON REMIX)
OXIDE & NEUTRINO: MARIMBA (ENERGY MIX) 


HOUSE/ SOULFUL D&B:


SOULUTIONS: LISTEN (BLAZING ENCORE MIX)
FANTASTIQUES. IS THIS LOVE (PARIS BY NIGHT REMIX) 
OLIVER S & JIMI JULES: PUSHING ON (EXTENDED MIX)
RAY FOXX FEAT. RACHEL K COLLIER. CURIOUS (NINETEEN 96 REMIX) 
MK FEAT. ALANA: ALWAYS (GOLDEN BOY REMIX)
CLEAN BANDIT FEAT. JESS GLYNNE: REAL LOVE (SKT MIX) 
LENNY FONTANA. BELIEVE (ORIGINAL MIX) 
DONAE'O FEAT. KAYLA: KODAK
SECOND CITY FEAT. ALI LOVE. WHAT CAN I DO (CLUB MIX)
FRIEND WITHIN. THE HOLIDAY 
SECOND CITY: I WANNA FEEL
LENNY FONTANA. PAY THE PRICE (ORIGINAL MIX) 
MATTHEW BANDY FEAT. DIANE CHARLEMAGNE: PIECES OF MY DREAMS (ORIGINAL) 
HOUSE OF ABI: BEAUTIFUL LIGHT (ORIGINAL)
SHAUN ESCOFFREY. PEOPLE (DJ SPEN/ GARY HUDGINS REMIX) 
KIDNEYZ VS. SOULEMOTION: YOU WILL SMILE
GORGON CITY: HERE FOR YOU (RONI SIZE REMIX)  
BILLON FEAT. MAXINE ASHLEY: SPECIAL (NUTONE REMIX)
BENZEI: WASTED LOVE (SPECTRASOUL REMIX) 


HIP HOP/ SOULFUL R&B:


BUGGS THA ROCKA: BAD HABITS
BISHOP NEHRU: YOU STRESSIN'
ROBERT GLASPER EXPERIMENT FEAT. JILL SCOTT & PHAROAHE MONCH: CALLS (REMIX)
THE NEW ROYALES FEAT. JAY ELECTRONICA: MINUTES OF MOOG
UGLY HEROES: NAYSAYERS & PLAYMAKERS
APOLLO BROWN & RAS KASS: HUMBLE PI
APOLLO BROWN FEAT RAS KASS, PHAROAHE MONCH & RAKAA IRISCIENCE: H20 
NAS. THE SEASON
DIABOLIC: A.M.E.R.I.C.A
ILLA GHEE: 90
SIGNIF FEAT. ELZHI: PLAY 2 WIN 
EDO G FEAT. GUILTY SIMPSON: 16S
RANSOM: FALLING
UGLY HEROES FEAT. MURS: GOOD THING
EDO G & KING MAGNETIC: BACK & FORTH 
RAPSODY: HARD TO CHOOSE 
CORMEGA: INDUSTRY
CORMEGA FEAT. CRAIG G, MASTA ACE & KOOL G RAP. INDUSTRY (JUICE CREW REMIX) 
SAIGON: NUNYA (PROD: BY DJ PREMIER) 
DJ PREMIER FEAT. THE LADY OF RAGE. CHEMICAL BURN  
MC JADE FEAT SI. TIME TO FLY 
TITTWORTH FEAT. Q-TIP, THEOPHILUS LONDON & ALISON CARNEY: AFTER THE DANCE
MARY J. BLIGE FEAT. PHARRELL: SEE THAT BOY AGAIN
GOAPELE: HEY BOY
JENNIFER HUDSON FEAT. R: KELLY: IT’S YOUR WORLD
BEYONCE. BLOW (C JAY SWAYNE EXTENDED MIX / CLUB)







Sunday 28 December 2014

FISH OUT OF WATER CINEMATIC SPECIAL. PLAYLIST & LISTEN AGAIN LINKS


FISH OUT OF WATER CINEMATIC SPECIAL
WITH MARK DEVLIN & DANNY PRINCE
DESTINY 105.1FM, OXFORD
PLAYLIST FOR SUNDAY 28TH DECEMBER 2014


A fascinating eclectic sonic soundscape!  Music from movies. Evocative all the way.

Listen/ Download links:

Part 1:



Part 2:



TWILIGHT ZONE THEME

RICHARD STRAUSS ORCHESTRA: THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA

GASLAMP KILLER: BREAKTHROUGH

GASLAMP KILLER: VEINS

THE ELECTRIC PRUNES: KYRIE ELEISON

THEME FROM A CLOCKWORK ORANGE

GIORGIO MORODER: THEME FROM SCARFACE

ENNIO MORRICONE: THE MAN WITH THE HARMONICA

SHAUN LEE & PING PONG ORCHESTRA: BOOM WACK

MARVIN GAYE: T PLAYS IT COOL

MARKS & LEBZELTER: OTHER FOUR LETTER WORDS

NANCY SINATRA: YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE

THE DOORS: THE END

LOU REED: PERFECT DAY

GEOFF LOVE & HIS ORCHESTRA: TUBULAR BELLS

JACK NITZSCHE: MEMO FROM TURNER

THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE: IF 6 WAS 9

CROOKLYN DODGERS: RETURN OF THE CROOKLYN DODGERS

PUBLIC ENEMY: FIGHT THE POWER

DISCO EVANGELISTS: DE NIRO

FLYING LOTUS: AUNTY'S HARP

MILES DAVIS: GONE/ PORGY & BESS

SUN RA: BATMAN

DRACULA'S MUSIC CABINET: HELLO MR. HITCHCOCK

BOBBY WOMACK: ACROSS 110TH STREET

JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET: DIRTY HARRY

ANDY G'S ALL STARS: THEME FROM STARSKY & HUTCH

ENNIO MORRICONE: THE ECSTASY OF GOLD

ENNIO MORRICONE: ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST FINALE





THE SOUND OF NOW. PLAYLIST & LISTEN AGAIN LINKS FOR 27/12/14


THE SOUND OF NOW, WITH MARK DEVLIN
DESTINY 105.1FM, OXFORD
PLAYLIST FOR SATURDAY 27TH DECEMBER 2014

2014 RETROSPECTIVE PART 2


Listen/ Download links:

P1:


P2:



SOULUTIONS: LISTEN (BLAZING ENCORE MIX) 

FANTASTIQUES. IS THIS LOVE (PARIS BY NIGHT REMIX) 

OLIVER S & JIMI JULES: PUSHING ON (EXTENDED MIX) 

RAY FOXX FEAT. RACHEL K COLLIER. CURIOUS (NINETEEN 96 REMIX) 

MK FEAT. ALANA: ALWAYS (GOLDEN BOY REMIX)

CLEAN BANDIT FEAT. JESS GLYNNE: REAL LOVE (SKT MIX) 

LENNY FONTANA. BELIEVE (ORIGINAL MIX) 

DONAE'O FEAT. KAYLA: KODAK

SECOND CITY FEAT. ALI LOVE. WHAT CAN I DO (CLUB MIX)

FRIEND WITHIN. THE HOLIDAY 

SECOND CITY: I WANNA FEEL

LENNY FONTANA. PAY THE PRICE (ORIGINAL MIX) 

MATTHEW BANDY FEAT. DIANE CHARLEMAGNE: PIECES OF MY DREAMS (ORIGINAL) 

HOUSE OF ABI: BEAUTIFUL LIGHT (ORIGINAL)

SHAUN ESCOFFREY. PEOPLE (DJ SPEN/ GARY HUDGINS REMIX) 

KIDNEYZ VS. SOULEMOTION: YOU WILL SMILE

GORGON CITY: HERE FOR YOU (RONI SIZE REMIX)  

BILLON FEAT. MAXINE ASHLEY: SPECIAL (NUTONE REMIX)

BENZEI: WASTED LOVE (SPECTRASOUL REMIX) 

DJ PREMIER FEAT. THE LADY OF RAGE. CHEMICAL BURN 

MC JADE FEAT SI. TIME TO FLY 

TITTWORTH FEAT. Q-TIP, THEOPHILUS LONDON & ALISON CARNEY: AFTER THE DANCE

MARY J. BLIGE FEAT. PHARRELL: SEE THAT BOY AGAIN

GOAPELE: HEY BOY

JENNIFER HUDSON FEAT. R: KELLY: IT’S YOUR WORLD

BEYONCE. BLOW (C JAY SWAYNE EXTENDED MIX / CLUB)

BUGGS THA ROCKA FT. DONTE: RELIGIOUSLY 

UMANG FEAT. BENEFICENCE: THE MASTERPLAN 

MOP: NO SHAME

PRHYME FEAT. JAY ELECTRONICA. TO ME, TO YOU 

KINETIK, SOJOURN & IMPERIAL: 12 BARS OF CHRISTMAS 

SNOH AALEGRA FEAT. COMMON: BAD THINGS






Friday 26 December 2014

THE SOUND OF FREEDOM SHOW 35



Newest instalment of TSOF, with a couple of 'Christmas Truth' tunes to set things off!


Listen/ Download link:



BEAST 1333: A CHRISTMAS STORY

RAS KASS: JACK FROST 2 (WHITE CHRISTMAS)

GHETTS FEAT. KOF: FIRE BURNING (JUKKA REMIX) 

DR WRONG & OLD HARRY ROX: BE THIS WAY 

I & IDEAL FEAT. KROPZ & KIRAN: ACT NOW 

MEL BELL-GREY: PARASITES

BUJU BANTON: I RISE

ETANA: NEVER FAIL

TRUTH TRIP:
RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS: THROW AWAY YOUR TELEVISION

DISPOSABLE HEROES OF HIPHOPRISY: TELEVISION, THE DRUG OF THE NATION

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: 57 CHANNELS

JAY ELECTRONICA FEAT. LATONYA GIVENS: BETTER IN TUNE WITH THE INFINITE

GHOSTFACE KILLAH FEAT. MARY J BLIGE: ALL THAT I GOT IS YOU

JAMES INGRAM & MICHAEL MCDONALD: YA MO B THERE

HARDRIVE FEAT. BARABARA TUCKER: DEEP INSIDE

BLACK MASSES: WONDERFUL PERSON (MAW VOCAL)





Wednesday 24 December 2014

FISH OUT OF WATER CINEMATIC SPECIAL, SUNDAY 28TH DECEMBER



Greatly looking forward to doing a cinematic special of Fish Out Of Water on the radio on Sunday, alongside the brother Danny Prince. We'll be selecting two hours of our favourite music from movie soundtracks from through the decades. Should make for a fun, eclectic experience!  Catch it 12-2pm at http://www.destiny105.co.uk, or the download audio here shortly afterwards.



Tuesday 23 December 2014

THE SOUND OF '14 MIXES


THE SOUND OF '14 MIXES

Here's the full set of my year-end mixes, bringing together many of the favourite tunes that I've busted on my Sound Of Now radio show during 2014 - one House, one Garage, one Underground Hip-Hop. awesome tunes you're not going to hear anywhere else. Download, listen and enjoy!


GARAGE:


LITTLE NIKKI: RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES (DJ SKT VIP MIX)
GRADES: CROCODILE TEARS (EXTENDED MIX) 
RAY FOXX FEAT. RACHEL K COLLIER: CURIOUS (DEVOLUTION REMIX)
MISS COCO BROWN: DESTINY (YLLAVATION DEEP AND SOULFUL MIX) 
OLIVIA SOMERLYN: PARACHUTE (NU BIRTH CLUB MIX)
KELLY PEPPER: KOH SAMUI (DRIFTAS UKG REMIX) 
TWB: DON'T LOOK ANY FURTHER (EXTENDED MIX) 
MARTIN CARR. SONG FOR YOU (JUNIOR UKG REMIX)
MNEK: WROTE A SONG ABOUT YOU (SHIFT K3Y REMIX)
ROSKA FEAT. RKC: MASTER OF PERSUASION
PARADISE 45 FEAT. NALAYA: TO BE IN LOVE (BOBBY TEE/ MARC WILLIAMS REMIX) 
KAREN HARDING: SAY SOMETHING (WOOKIE MAIN REMIX) 
KIESZA. HIDEAWAY (GORGON CITY REMIX) 
HIGH CONTRAST FEAT. CLARE MAGUIRE: WHO'S LOVING YOU (CPS REMIX) 
RAHEEM BAKARE: PORTRAIT OF LOVE (DJ Q MIX) 
FERRECK DAWN & REDONDO: LOVE TOO DEEP (MATT JAM LAMONT CLUB MIX)
STYLO G. MOVE BACK (GRANT NELSON REMIX)
OXIDE & NEUTRINO: MARIMBA (ENERGY MIX) 


HOUSE/ SOULFUL D&B:


SOULUTIONS: LISTEN (BLAZING ENCORE MIX)
FANTASTIQUES. IS THIS LOVE (PARIS BY NIGHT REMIX) 
OLIVER S & JIMI JULES: PUSHING ON (EXTENDED MIX)
RAY FOXX FEAT. RACHEL K COLLIER. CURIOUS (NINETEEN 96 REMIX) 
MK FEAT. ALANA: ALWAYS (GOLDEN BOY REMIX)
CLEAN BANDIT FEAT. JESS GLYNNE: REAL LOVE (SKT MIX) 
LENNY FONTANA. BELIEVE (ORIGINAL MIX) 
DONAE'O FEAT. KAYLA: KODAK
SECOND CITY FEAT. ALI LOVE. WHAT CAN I DO (CLUB MIX)
FRIEND WITHIN. THE HOLIDAY 
SECOND CITY: I WANNA FEEL
LENNY FONTANA. PAY THE PRICE (ORIGINAL MIX) 
MATTHEW BANDY FEAT. DIANE CHARLEMAGNE: PIECES OF MY DREAMS (ORIGINAL) 
HOUSE OF ABI: BEAUTIFUL LIGHT (ORIGINAL)
SHAUN ESCOFFREY. PEOPLE (DJ SPEN/ GARY HUDGINS REMIX) 
KIDNEYZ VS. SOULEMOTION: YOU WILL SMILE
GORGON CITY: HERE FOR YOU (RONI SIZE REMIX)  
BILLON FEAT. MAXINE ASHLEY: SPECIAL (NUTONE REMIX)
BENZEI: WASTED LOVE (SPECTRASOUL REMIX) 


HIP HOP/ SOULFUL R&B:


BUGGS THA ROCKA: BAD HABITS
BISHOP NEHRU: YOU STRESSIN'
ROBERT GLASPER EXPERIMENT FEAT. JILL SCOTT & PHAROAHE MONCH: CALLS (REMIX)
THE NEW ROYALES FEAT. JAY ELECTRONICA: MINUTES OF MOOG
UGLY HEROES: NAYSAYERS & PLAYMAKERS
APOLLO BROWN & RAS KASS: HUMBLE PI
APOLLO BROWN FEAT RAS KASS, PHAROAHE MONCH & RAKAA IRISCIENCE: H20 
NAS. THE SEASON
DIABOLIC: A.M.E.R.I.C.A
ILLA GHEE: 90
SIGNIF FEAT. ELZHI: PLAY 2 WIN 
EDO G FEAT. GUILTY SIMPSON: 16S
RANSOM: FALLING
UGLY HEROES FEAT. MURS: GOOD THING
EDO G & KING MAGNETIC: BACK & FORTH 
RAPSODY: HARD TO CHOOSE 
CORMEGA: INDUSTRY
CORMEGA FEAT. CRAIG G, MASTA ACE & KOOL G RAP. INDUSTRY (JUICE CREW REMIX) 
SAIGON: NUNYA (PROD: BY DJ PREMIER) 
DJ PREMIER FEAT. THE LADY OF RAGE. CHEMICAL BURN  
MC JADE FEAT SI. TIME TO FLY 
TITTWORTH FEAT. Q-TIP, THEOPHILUS LONDON & ALISON CARNEY: AFTER THE DANCE
MARY J. BLIGE FEAT. PHARRELL: SEE THAT BOY AGAIN
GOAPELE: HEY BOY
JENNIFER HUDSON FEAT. R: KELLY: IT’S YOUR WORLD
BEYONCE. BLOW (C JAY SWAYNE EXTENDED MIX / CLUB)