Two weeks ago the Brit band Cornershop dropped its latest, “Wop the Groove.” The album accompanies a movie of the same name:
Written for the film of the same name by Mr Cornershop himself, Tjinder Singh, about London’s independent music industry, Wop The Groove had several musical makeovers before the finished composition. Rowetta, ex Happy Mondays and X Factor fame recorded her distinct vocals before her brush with tv fame, and the groove is built around her all powering voice. Cornershop’s first release in four years, it’s structure doesn’t deviate much from being one long chorus but it has enough chirpy funk and drive to keep the limbs twitching for several minutes. [Link]
The album features some notable collaborations and I think it includes a 2004 promo single titled “Topknot” with MIA.
…There’s no beating around the bush with this one, a quality track with a heavy duty riff, featuring Rowetta (ex Happy Mondays) on top form – written & produced by Tjinder Singh, also known as the national debt – recorded at Sassi P. Studio, Vatican City. The Factory Records stable have always given solid support to the Cornershop firmament, and it was this connection that led to this collaboration.
Cornershop were personally invited onto the Rough Trade label by Geoff Travis, on which they have released Topknot featuring Bubbley Kaur (“So good it sounds like Singh has found a fitting heir to Asha Bhosle” 4/5 The Mirror) & the much sought after promo mix featuring M.I.A. In between time they have been turning down TV & Film acting requests including some from Bollywood, and refusing international live gig appearances. They did do a remix for Quincy Jones called Valeurs Personnelles, a political track about value judgements, in the French language.After immersing themselves in the deep gospel of Savoy Records and the sitar strength of Rai Gupta the band have spent the last six months airing a Sunday morning, cross denominational, religious radio programme, over the WorldWideWeb. A new Cornershop album is shaping up as another corker. In addition work has begun on a full album featuring Bubbley Kaur and also expected to drop this year.[Link]
Here are two more tracks:
Battle of New Orleans (Peel Show)
Hot Rocks (w/Rowetta)
whohooo! the first word that comes to mind is our friend brimful in SF:) whohooo! (yes off topic, but not really, no?)
Whoa, that first line fooled me this time Abhi. I were sure it were Maneeeesh.
Topknot was with originally with just Bubbley Kaur, and I was apparently alone in thinking it was utter rubbish. The new MIA version is about the same quality in my eyes.
Well it’s good to see some brown people in England are making music that doesn’t hurt your ears.
Alot better then that crap like Jazzy B and Apache Indian.
PearlJamFan, England (and don’t forget Scotland – Northern Lights, Tigerstyle) have plenty of brown people who make good music. Jazzy B is the dregs. To be honest, I put many of them above Cornershop in terms of consistency.
Hey hey now PJF, “Arranged Marriage” by Apache is a classic =)
Yay Cornershop, finally!
Bong Breaker: Oooo, do give some suggestions to my impoverished Canuck self. I don’t hear much new desi stuff coming from the Isles except when I go wandering My Space. And that site is ridiculously tedious to hunt through. I’ll listen to anything that makes an honest effort.
Neha, you realise you conveniently side-stepped my question the other day. I even called you dahling.
Well I’m sure you know most of the musicians I would name, I’m not desperately up to date as I’ve been so busy for the last few months I haven’t been out anywhere or even listened to much music. Some of the people I like a lot are down the right hand side of my blog (plug!) I don’t know who you already know so I’ll assume no one! Limiting it to Brits:
State of Bengal, Swami, Badmarsh & Shri (who are no more), Tigerstyle, Northern Lights, Kray Twinz (last three are bhangra, the only bhangra artists I particularly like), Visionary Underground, Shiva Soundsystem (don’t have a lot of their own stuff though), Jnas (occasionally), Navdeep (hang on, is he Canadian?), Fusing Naked Beats, Nitin Sawhney, Skorpio the nemesis, mc Riz, The Punkwallahs…
And no roundup can be complete without plugging my good mate Yam Boy!
Italics = newer/less known people I recommend.
Actually, I don’t think the Punk Wallahs are British. And I forgot older people like ADF. In fact, I think Chandrasonic’s opera project thing is coming out soon. Was something written about it on here? I can’t remember and the search bar is so far up there ^
Here’s something about it.
Just to add a bit to BB’s post–
Jnas is DJ Sanj, and he is Canadian.
Navdeep was part of NYCs famed Mutiny nights that ended a couple of years ago. Once named NY’s best DJ by New York Press magazine, I believe he is now a doctor. His album Yaathra is quite political and really good, and he is able to add a dirrrty DnB vibe to many Bhangra tracks (just listen to his remix of Bikram Singh’s Taakre)
MC Riz is part of the British hip-hop collective, the Sona Family, who have released another mixtape, the 100 rupee cd. I think Mr. Riz is one of the better Asian MCs out there right now.
Ahem…ah yes, let me answer that without further delay…I was totally taking the currylingus. I am not affiliated with any agency, unless by agency you mean ‘blog’ and in that case yes I own it and please to be sending pictures, heh.
I JUST got added to Yam Boy & Goonda Raj’s my space list and I like their stuff, must try to listen to some more. The production is quite good, I’m holding out my verdict on the rhymes till I can hear some better quality mp3s feeds.
Thanks for all the tips, I’ll be sure to check out your bloggy for more of the good stuff. My experience in the ethno side of brit electronic is formed around Sawhney, SoB, and B & S but I’ve lost touch in the past few years. I think Navdeep is from NY, I’ve heard a couple of his older mixes (around 02) but no albums. Damn, I’ve no idea about Tigerstyle or Fusing Naked Beats or anyone else so it might just be well past time to get learned!
Yeah Saj…indeed I forgot that sanj/jnas was Canadian, which is rather amusing when you look at this! I could make the excuse that he was born in Brum…
The two Rizes always makes things confusing, but to clarify, I meant MC Riz. I ain’t a big fan of Sona Family, but Hard Kaur’s too cool. Don’t like her music though!
One degree of separation: It’s funny, several of these people have all battled in an ‘Asian 8 Mile’ held at a regular night in London (next one is tomorrow). In fact ALL people mentioned have been there at some point. Which is a nice segue to the people I was going to write about and forgot – Sunit and Raxstar. They’re pretty new and it’s promising so far. Nice boys, Mummyji would approve. And they’re managed by a friend of mine, so another plug I’m contractually obliged to make.
Get yerself learned C-Ling.
Is Navdeep definitely now a doc Sajit? I know Anju is.
I think you meant Anjali. She is still spinning at the Brig in Venice, CA just down the street.
Crap! And Nasha. Look what you started Neha. I’ve done three frikking comments in a row. You’ve made me look like some mateless chump. YOU did this.
And Saj, I’ve had my question answered, he is a doc – last I know in the er no less.
Thank you Abhi, thank you for breaking up the three Bong Breakers in a row on the recent comments list.
No, I mean Anju ya stinker. You are aware people have nicknames? :p
A girl you may know, the Midwestern Eastender who snarkily comments on here from time to time is trapped behind firewall and can’t comment (know the feeling) and says this via email:
Bongsie, I’ve been out less than you in the past year and I at least know Shri’s got a solo album out. 😉 (I apologize, I have that and others all burned for you but keep forgetting to give them to you) You’re also probably thinking of Punka-Wallah, which I gather is some project of Pathaan‘s but have never heard. But otherwise, uh, yeah. What Bong said, as far as Brits go. 😉 Can I also add Bong Breaker is a beautiful man. Beautiful.
I guarantee she said that all. But young lady I am still right – Badmarsh AND Shri are no more. I’m not a big fan of Shri’s solo efforts. Now I am not going to put anything more in this thread for at least, oooh a comment or two.
Bong Breaker…more like Blog Breaker! I’m taking notes…ME TOO I have no friends, ha!
I have another Anjali to add to the fold, the only one I know and also love/lust, Magical Anjali.
I think Sangra Vibes is good too, but it may hurt PearlJamFan’s delicate ears.
If you listen to BBC asian network, specially Adil Ray show, you would be able to keep update with all the latest desi stuff happening. Be it Brit or North America (US/Canada). Lately, I haven’t been able to take time-out but its a good source.
Wow, that Yamboy stuff is great- where do I find more tracks like that? How do I start my collection? I live in OREGON! Help me folks!