downtempo

Song of the Day: “Friday 13th” by Gorillaz featuring Octavian

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Gorillaz with Octavian (Photo art courtesy Nasty Little Man)

Animated downtempo ensemble Gorillaz has been soundtracking the pandemic lockdown here at Parklife DC, and that’s A-OK.

Gorillaz have turned to virtual studio Song Machine to fill the air with new music and good vibes to counter the coronavirus, and the fourth episode of the band’s new series is called “Friday 13th,” a hypnotic meditation featuring French-British rapper and singer Octavian (winner of the coveted BBC Sound of 2019) along with a video self-filmed at home during lockdown.

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Song of the Day: “Infinite Everywhere” by Eric Hilton

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Eric Hilton (Photo by AliZare)

Montserrat House and Eric Hilton of the legendary duo Thievery Corporation release his forthcoming solo debut album, Infinite Everywhere, on June 19.

While Thievery has hopped across various genres and painted with a broad musical brush over 25 years of albums and live work, Eric’s upcoming solo album is an offering that is much more distilled, focused and personal, and presents itself as an elegant exploration of inner space.

Eric recently presented “Infinite Everywhere,” the title track of the album.

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Song of the Day: “How Far” by Gorillaz featuring Tony Allen and Skepta

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Gorillaz (Photo by Bernard Benant; Art courtesy Nasty Little Man)

Tony Allen died aged 79 of an aortic aneurysm on April 30. He of course was a co-creator of Afrobeat, the fusion of funk, jazz, and African styles that he produced in Nigeria in partnership with Fela Kuti in the late ’60s and ’70s.

Animated downtempo quartet Gorillaz featured Tony on their latest track “How Far,” taken from their new album Song Machine, and it is our Song of the Day.

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Song of the Day: “Aries” by Gorillaz

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Gorillaz with creator Damon Albarn, right (Art by co-creator Jamie Hewlett, left.)

“Aries” is the third episode of Song Machine from Gorillaz. Featuring the legendary Peter Hook on bass, with alt-pop singer and producer Georgia on drums, “Aries” sees our virtual heroes capture much of the current mood with a soaring affirmation of human connection.

If you like the song, tune into Liberation Dance Party tonight for Gorillaz and more new music. Details below!

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Snapshots: Thievery Corporation @ 9:30 Club — 12/21/19

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The Thievery Corporation performs at DC’s 9:30 Club, Dec. 21, 2019. (Photo by Ari Strauss)

Thievery Corporation recently concluded its 10-week Babylon Falling Tour with a weekend pair of hometown shows at DC’s 9:30 Club on Dec. 21 and 22. The tour, which began Oct. 10 at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC, hearkens back to the 2002 album The Richest Man in Babylon and its 2004 reworking, Babylon Rewound.

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Preview: The Cinematic Orchestra @ 9:30 Club, 11/2/19

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The Cinematic Orchestra (Photo by Eddie Alcazar)

The Cinematic Orchestra — led by Jason Swinscoe and Dom Smith — tours with a seven-piece band of virtuosic performers who are all long-standing members of the revered electronic group. The ensemble performs at 9:30 Club on Saturday, Nov. 2.

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Live Review: Ibeyi @ 9:30 Club — 6/9/19

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Ibeyi performs at 9:30 Club on June 9, 2019. (Photo by Will Colbert)

In a modern world, it may be easy to overlook our ancestry, but often these influences cannot be denied — they beat louder than a drum. French-Cuban duo Ibeyi weaved their Afro-Caribbean heritage with hip-hop, electronic music, and soul during a recent show at DC’s 9:30 Club.

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