NEW ON CD
Om Records stays
on an innovative path
"The United Nations of Future Music Vol. 2"
Various artists
Om Records
As one of America's truly visionary independent labels, Om Records has produced some of the most stimulating and forward-thinking electronic (i.e., sampler-based) music for close to a decade now. From J. Boogie's wondrous experiments in futuristic bossa nova to the quirky techno-isms of Grand Synthe, this compilation is further testament to the label's commitment to innovative 21st-century sounds.
In "Soul Fan," Philly deejay combo Clayton & Fulcrum fashion a wickedly propulsive number by draping a bubbly bass line, spacey keyboards and sparse vocal snippets over a meaty hip-hop beat, while 23-year-old sampler whiz Rithma embellishes the housey "Love + Music" with fluttering trumpets and chunky jazz riffs.
The sugary descanting and four-on-the-floor rhythms of Kaskade's "It's You It's Me" and Late Night Alumni's "Hope" exhibit a marvelous knack for catchy dance floor melodies, while some of Om's traditionally left-of-center outfits like Afro-Mystik and King Kooba appear more intrigued with challenging cadences and the near-infinite possibilities of electronic sound collage.
But it's not all about tomorrow. Andy Caldwell (who was just here this past weekend) pays his respects to underground disco with "I Can't Wait," with its bold, loping bass lines and soulful vocal track. The hip-hop duo known as People Under the Stairs attempts an old-school revival of its own with the decidedly retro party rap "Hang Loose Part 2," in which MCs Thes One and Double K toss about witty, throw-your-hands-in-the-air rhymes like it was 1981.
Om Records understands not only where it's headed, but where it comes from as well.
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MP3 downloads
The most downloaded songs of the week, as listed by MP3.com:
Local
1. "Aloha Oe" / Liam Selwyn
2. "Hawaiian Rain" / Coconut Joe
3. "Jumping Bean" / The Ming Brothers
4. "EMU" / next2nothing
5. "Troy's Bucket" / Olivia
6. "39" / Olivia
7. "Melelana" / Keali'i Reichel
8. "Blessings from Tragedy" / Olivia
9. "New Band" / Braxton Olita
10. "Maui Chimes" / Johnny Ukulele
National
1. "Shake Your Tailfeather" / Nelly, P. Diddy and Murphy Lee (from "Bad Boys II")
2. "Digital" / Matrix
3. "Best of Me" / The Starting Line
4. "Ibiza Megamix 2003" / Antinomie
5. "Natural" / Afro-Mystik
6. "Jaded (These Years) featuring Benji Madden" / Mest
7. "Hotel California" / Contraband
8. "Cute Without the 'E' (Cut from the Team)" / Taking Back Sunday
9. "Your Body Is a Wonderland (Live)" / John Mayer
10. "All of Me" / Watashi Wa
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