In The Imaginary Gestures Of A World Unscathed By Virtues & Vices

Artwork/Decorative Painting by Jean-Luc Sable of Paris: This is a small section of a larger incomplete fantasy faux marble piece I shot of his at International Salon of Decorative Painters in Chicago, May 2008.

In The Imaginary Gestures Of A World Unscathed By Virtues & Vices Track Listing:

    1.    DJ Krush "Transition" Intro - DJ Krush behind the vocals providing a nice Transition, as the track is rightfully named, to the Busdriver's eccentric, out-of-this-world rap...
    2.    Busdriver: "Imaginary Places" - Another Project Blowedian (remember Aceyalone, Mikah 9, Abstract Rude/Freestyle Fellowship???) that is from another planet.  His precision in jazzy rhythms and ability to rap over and fluctuate between straight and swung 16th notes, triplets/sextuplets, 32nds and everything else in-tune is better than anybody other than the aforementioned Mikah 9 (no, not Twista or any of those YouTube artists that are FAST...they just aren't jazzy).  This one is from TEMPORARY FOREVER, but a couple years ago he was signed to Epitaph, and along with Sage Francis and The Coup, is one of the very few rappers to be signed by the indie-alternative rock label.  Please support these Project Blowedians - they are truly talented and are promoting art instead of gangs in the roughest of hoods in the US in South Central Los Angeles.
    3.    DJ Kentaro: "One Hand Blizzard" - Hailed as the Best DJ on the planet in 2002 and in 2003.  This man is the perfect accompaniment to the Busdriver's wicked flow with his quick scratches, but his ability to break a beat down by 1/4 notes, 8ths, triplets, 16ths, and 32nds and to be able to manipulate the beat, make it swing, all without headphones and only with minimal cues, makes him quite special in the DJ world. 
    4.    Sixtoo: "Jackals And Vipers In Envy Of Man" - Prolific DJ/Producer now signed with Ninja Tune.  In the late 90's, he was a part of that super-group, Anticon (Dose One, Jel, etc.) and was signed by them until he moved on to Mush records.  It seems this man puts out nearly 2 albums a year, or he is at least responsible for that amount with all his collaborations/remixes.
    5.    Ghislain Poirier: "Don't Smile, It's Post-Modern" - Look!  Another Ninja Tune artist!  What a surprise!  That is because they keep an eclectic bunch and solid artists and only release around 4 albums a year through the label.  This DJ/producer hails from Montreal, and if you're in the area,  you might want to check out his 'parties' called BOUNCE LE GROS, "where hip-hop, dub and baile funk collide."
    6.    Tinariwen: "Soixante Trois" - The Rolling Stones of the Touareg rebellion against the central government of Mali.  Sound funny?  Well, I think they share a number of bullet wounds to prove otherwise.  This is probably the most influential band of the Sahara region, and it is said in a recent interview with Coldplay that their newest album, VIVA LA VIDA, is heavily influenced by Tinariwen (I find that hard to believe, personally, for obvious reasons...).  The name itself is apparently the plural of 'tenere' (add accents over all the 'e's), which means "desert, land, or empty place."  They are truly a fascinating story, and you can read about them on their website: http://www.tinariwen.com/about.php.  
    7.    Ali Farka Toure: "Savane" - Another track from Malian blues guru, and in fact, the title track for his Swan Song. 
    8.    Amadou & Mariam: "M Bife" - Another band/duo from Mali that has shaken the world music art scene.  This 2004 release, DIMANCHE A BAMAKO, had help from Manu Chao (perhaps an influence for many, but someone you will not hear on Funky Soul Burner, due to personal, egotistical reasons). 
    9.    DJ Food: "The Crow" - Prolific Ninja Tune alias for group of DJs, producers, and musicians.  It IS NOT a single person, like many believe, but at any given time can be a host of artists from Ninja Tune.  Matt Black and Jonathan More (COLDCUT) began the Jazz Breaks series in the 90s, and it has grown, mainly because Coldcut and DJ Food couldn't perform a 2-set evening when touring, so they handed the reins to like-minded Strictly Kev or Patrick Carpenter, or Issac Elliston.
    10.    Kid Koala: "Skanky Panky" - The fourth Ninja Tune artist on this mix.  Another DJ/turntablist from Canada, this time from the western regions in Vancouver.  You can also find him as a member of the jam band, Bullfrog, and the hip-hop supergroup, Deltron 3030 (featuring the legend, Del the Funkee Homo Sapien).  He is also an illustrator, and released a full length graphic novel, NUFONIA MUST FALL, which includes his own soundtrack, respectfully.
    11.    Solomon Burke: "None Of Us Are Free" - American grammy winner, who draws from gospel, soul, and the blues as influences to his style of singing/music.  Started as a preacher, then a gospel radio DJ, then signed in the 60s to Atlantic Records.  Never was big in the 60s as Otis Redding or Sam Cooke, but wrote the massive hit "EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY TO LOVE," covered by The Rolling Stones and Wilson Pickett amongst many others.  According the article in Wikipedia, he will be performing at this years Glastonbury Festival, the massive eclectic group of musicians in the UK. 
    12.    Sly & Robbie Meet the Large Professor: "Freedom Dub"
    13.    Lamb: "Open Up" - Massive electronic group from Manchester, England.  Comprised of producer Andy Barlow, the "HIPOPTIMIST," and singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes.  Later they added bassist Jon Thorne, Icelandic guitarist Oddur Mar Runnarson, and Danish drummer Nikolaj Bjerre. 
    14.    Issa Bagayogo: "Diama Don" - More Malian music, but this man is now called "Techno Issa," because of his use of electronic music within his sound.  Some compare him to likes of Ali Farka Toure, due to his heavy influence in Mali.  This is from his album, TASSOUMAKAN.
    15.    Rokia Traore: "Souba" - This beautiful Malian voice has the world of music flocking to her side, including the amazing Kronos Quartet, who recorded 2 tracks off her 2003 album, BOWMBOI, which earned BBC 3's World Music Award.  This song is from her second album, WANITA, which she wrote and arranged the whole album on her own - the New York Times nominated it as one of the critics' albums of the year.
    16.    Fila Brazillia: "July 23" - Steve Cobby & David McSherry of England, together produce a consortium of music under the electronic variety.  Good stuff.