Music Reviews

Shadow Masters

Various Artists

Shadow

If Shadow Records is not the premier American (if not the world’s) downtempo label, I don’t know who is. The label also has a knack for repackaging their catalogue to further highlight their roster of artists. So, when this two-disc set arrived, I was expecting the morose, back-shattering bass that downtempo’s known for (like in the Blunted series). Well, Shadow Masters actually shies a bit away from the music Shadow Records specializes in. Yes, most of the music here is from their catalogue, however most of the music is not the stereotypical stuff (which demonstrates just the level of talent and ingenuity they have on the label).

The set is split into a vocal disc and an instrumental one. The vocal compilation is filled with great stuff from Marschmellows (you’ve got to check out this Jazzanova remix), DJ Krush, Sayma, and my girl Anthea. The second disc has a lot of interesting tracks that are danceable, deep, and genre-defying. Goo, DJ Cam, DJ Part, BMF, and the ubiquitous Shinju Gumi bless this bad boy. Though the music is not stereotypical of Shadow, the quality of the music definitely is. This is great stuff.

Shadow Records: http://www.shadowrecords.com


Recently on Ink 19...

A.J. Croce

A.J. Croce

Interviews

Concert addict Jeremy Glazier talked with A.J. Croce near the beginning of his year-long Croce Plays Croce tour about embracing his father’s music and his own while honoring both their familial bond and shared influences.

Best of Film 2023

Best of Film 2023

Screen Reviews

For Lily and Generoso, 2023 was a fantastic year at the cinema! They select and review their ten favorite films, six supplemental features, and one extraordinary repertory release seen at microcinemas, archives, and festivals.

Ani DiFranco

Ani DiFranco

Event Reviews

This fall, Ani DiFranco brought new Righteous Babe labelmate Kristen Ford to Iowa City, where Jeremy Glazier enjoyed an incredible evening of artistry.

Garage Sale Vinyl: Ian Hunter

Garage Sale Vinyl: Ian Hunter

Garage Sale Vinyl

This week Christopher Long grabs a bag of bargain vinyl from a flea market in Mount Dora, Florida — including You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic, the classic 1979 LP from Ian Hunter.

Archive Archaeology

Archive Archaeology

Archive Archaeology

Bob Pomeroy gets into four Radio Rarities from producer Zev Feldman for Record Store Day with great jazz recordings from Wes Montgomery, Les McCann, Cal Tjader, and Ahmad Jamal.

Archive Archaeology: Phil Alvin

Archive Archaeology: Phil Alvin

Archive Archaeology

Bob Pomeroy digs into Un “Sung Stories” (1986, Liberation Hall), Blasters’ frontman Phil Alvin’s American Roots collaboration with Sun Ra and his Arkestra, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and New Orleans saxman Lee Allen.

A Darker Shade of Noir

A Darker Shade of Noir

Print Reviews

Roi J. Tamkin reviews A Darker Shade of Noir, fifteen new stories from women writers completely familiar with the horrors of owning a body in a patriarchal society, edited by Joyce Carol Oates.

Garage Sale Vinyl: The Time

Garage Sale Vinyl: The Time

Garage Sale Vinyl

Feeling funky this week, Christopher Long gets his groove on while discovering a well-cared-for used vinyl copy of one of his all-time R&B faves: Ice Cream Castle, the classic 1984 LP from The Time, for just a couple of bucks.

Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir

Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir

Interviews

During AFI Fest 2023, Lily and Generoso interviewed director Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir, whose impressive debut feature, City of Wind, carefully examines the juxtaposition between the identity of place and tradition against the powers of modernity in contemporary Mongolia.

%d bloggers like this: