Author: Big Shot Magazine

Public Enemy to Reissue Classic Albums in Deluxe Packages

Big Shot Magazine Leave a Comment

public-enemy reissue

Where were you the first time you heard Public Enemy? Wherever it was, it was likely you were hearing something from their galvanizing sophomore record, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, or their stunning sequel, Fear of a Black Planet.

Now the twin masterpieces are being reissued in deluxe formats so you can re-bring the noise in some lush packages with tons of extras. For It Takes a Nation, in addition to the classic album, the set will include a second disc of 13 tracks featuring rare mixes and outtakes. It will also include a DVD featuring the out-of-print 1989 Fight the Power…Live, directed by Hart Perry and featuring videos and live performances. The package will also feature liner notes by Roots drummer and noted hip-hop historian, Amir “?uestlove” Thompson.

For Black Planet, there will be a two-CD set with 18 bonus cuts, including outtakes and alternate mixes from the record, as well as liner notes by Wax Poetics’ editor-in-chief, Andre Torres.  Both reissues will include the Do the Right Thing soundtrack version of “Fight the Power,” (the one with the sick sax solo in the end by Branford Marsalis). Black Planet will also feature a brand new vinyl reissue with a 3-D cover image.

All of this is part of Def Jam’s year-long 30th anniversary celebration commemorating Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin’s historic founding of the influential label in 1984. The It Takes a Nation and Fear of a Black Planet reissues will be out on November 25 on Def Jam/Universal.

Read our interview with P.E.’s Chuck D here.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_t13-0Joyc]

Jeff Mills’ ‘Man From Tomorrow’ Set For DVD Release

Big Shot Magazine Leave a Comment
jeff mills man from tomorrow still

jeff mills man from tomorrow still

Detroit techno legend Jeff Mills’ recent future-gazing film Man From Tomorrow will be seeing a DVD release this month. Directed by Jacqueline Caux, the film features extraordinary visuals set to thought-provoking extracts from conversations between Mills and Caux. Caux has previously directed other experimental films such as T­he Prism of Colour, Mechanics of Time, which explores the evolution of music from ‘60s avant-garde to modern techno.

“We wanted to make a film that would have a certain aesthetic quality,” says Caux. “Consequently, I wanted to be able to imagine images that would be inspired as much by his words as his music.”

The soundtrack, which features all original music by Mills, will be included on CD for the home release.

“Understanding what Man From Tomorrow could possibly mean and say to others,” says Mills, “We greatly discussed the ways of how we could go about materializing this in a manner that detaches the subject away from normality…what deep thoughts, dream escapes and unconventional expressions of our future could look, sound and feel like through ever-expanding and dimensional lens of techno.”

Mills has been a busy man this year – in addition to his frequent tour dates and creating a new instrument based on a UFO sighting — he is also readying a new album (Emerging Crystal Universe is set for release later this fall) and a new film, Life to Death and Back, which he wrote, directed and scored.

Man From Tomorrow will be available on DVD/CD on November 24 on Axis. Watch the trailer for the film below.

[vimeo 86218993 w=500 h=375]

Man From Tomorrow Trailer from AxisRecords on Vimeo.

Review: Rennie Foster – ‘Childish Things’ EP (RF Music)

Big Shot Magazine 1 Comment

Rennie Foster - Childish Things

★★★★☆

With the summer (finally) in our sights, it’s high time we banished the winter blues and enter more laid-back times. Say hello, then, to Rennie Foster, who really comes up trumps here with the sumptuous effort that comprises the Childish Things EP, a fascinating jaunt down the more thoughtful and considered side of his production arsenal. Warm, fuzzy and full of good vibes aplenty, the title track leaves the listener basking in a celestial glow, the likes of which will see it perfectly suited to Balearic dance floors especially. A real winner, it’s matched only by “Traders” in the quality stakes. On the latter, Foster calls on the trumpet again, but this time, it’s married with a far more up-tempo sound signature. On paper, that might sound like an odd pairing, but on the ear, it’s a very different story.

“Grass Roots” is the other track on offer, and thanks to its otherworldly twists and turns as well as its many smoldering hues, it too intoxicates the listener, while its title (presumably?) gives us a sneak peak in to Foster’s trail of musical thought. A real delight from the off, this one deserves all the plaudits it can muster.

Swiss Watch: Round Table Knights Are On the Rise

Big Shot Magazine Leave a Comment

Round Table Knights

Round Table Knights are Biru Bee and Marc Hofweber, a Swiss duo who’ve released tracks on labels such as Defected, OFF, Exploited and Made to Play. With a roll call like that, you’d imagine this duo to be one that’s brimming in quality – and you wouldn’t be half wrong either. On that note, theirs is a sound that’s indebted to full-on forces and is very much made with the dance floor in mind. It’s a fact that comes to prominence quite brilliantly on their latest outing, the delectable tale that is the Midnight Spark EP, which is out now on Shur-i-Kan’s always on-point Exploited label. And with this one, it’s no exaggeration to point out that it’s some of their best work yet. Here, we catch up with Biru Bee to find out more.

How are you? What’s on your mind now?
Biru Bee: All good here. We’re just working on some new music in the studio and getting slowly ready for the weekend.

How long have you been involved in music? Are you full-time DJs right now?
We’re involved with music since over ten years. Right now we work as DJs, producers, radio makers and club owners.

How do you find the traveling? Does it still excite you or do you now officially hate airports?
We still love to travel! We are so happy that we have the chance to see so many great countries and meet new people almost every weekend. Of course, sometimes airports can be really annoying but we already have a few tricks to making the waiting time at the airport go by faster. Still, I’m very excited to explore new cities like Seoul a few weeks ago. We often try to stay a bit longer when it’s possible.

So what’s your daily life consist of? Is it just music, music, music? Or what else do you guys get up to?
Mostly our daily life is about music. But like with every business you have to deal with other stuff too. Some paperwork, etc. We try to do as much stuff ourselves as we can.
Continue Reading →