9 years… 9 long years. The fact that I – like so many people – have counted the years says enough.

2 years ago I had the same experience. After a long long wait I finally read the news that Maxwell would tour again and release the first part of his trilogy A Black Summer’s Night. I was lucky that his second tour-date was in Amsterdam… and I saw him.

And now. This is – as Maxwell would say – “The Highest of the High”. Well, not just the news… She is. Sade.
This is news that makes me quiver, excites me, warms me and makes me impatient. And I am a very patient person. But the need for information, news, the album and above all: Tour dates, it’s like “I’ve a bug in my head… and a jumping heart”.

First released track, Soldier of Love (the title track) is hitting you gently… with the definite sound of Sade. I am amazed how good Sade looks at the age of 50… check for yourself: Soldier of Love video on Amazon

Beginning next month we’ll be able to listen the whole album and I really hope that already before that moment, tour dates will become available.

It’s been a long wait, but I trust it was worth it and I hope and pray that seeing Sade perform live will become reality.

Just a list… with some great albums that fill my head with great sounds at the moment.

Just a few quick notes:

Kanye West – Graduation

You can say what you want, but this guy knows how to make an album… Ever since The College Dropout, he has been able to tell a story. Whether you like it or not, these albums are complete.

Kanye West – 808′s and Heartbreak

At the second track, I was like “Enough with the voice transformer!”. At the last track, I was totally amazed by how strong this album is… darn good!

John Legend – Evolver

Damnnn! An instant classic with some grrrreat songs. “Goodmorning” has replace my alarm clock already and “If you’re out there” was and is indeed a great statement of support for Obama. The bonus Teddy Riley remix of “It’s over” is totally sweet.

Raphael Saadiq – The Way I See It

Unexpected and genius. This album has the amazing gift of capturing the period in which some of the best music in history was made. How this album is produced and how well it all fits that period, perfectly shows the genius and possibilities of the great Raphael Saadiq. Total respect.

Q-Tip – The Renaissance

What can i say… the man has an addictive voice… Simply cannot get enough of it.

Dwele – Sketches of a Man

Hmmm… hard to say. I think I need to hear the album a few times more. For now I have the feeling that it is too much of the same, without any tracks that really excel. Am a bit disappointed I must say.

A growing music community with nothing but oldskool music that you can listen to freely.

Close to 800 songs with artist such as New Edition (Candy Girl, Cool It Now, etc.), Isley Brothers (For the Love of You, etc.), Cameo (Candy), Timex Social Club (Thinking About You), EU (Taste of Your Love) and many many others.

Throwback Songs

Nice initiative and very tempting to have on all day… nothing but sweet memories with most of these oldies. On the other hand you notice there is always new old music to discover…

Feel free to stop by and see what it’s all about.

No explanation needed, just listen to Smooth Beats [stream].

This is what hiphop is:

[youtube WwT_aSfTOXU Common ft Dwele - The People]

On Sophia Darcell’s Soul Eclectic SOULBROTHER wrote:

Very nice smooth and sultry album from Miami songstress, that reminds me of both Sade and the Kuh Ledesma album from a few years back. The full band play well throughout and the soft horns and acoustic guitar interspersing with Sophia’s sophisticated voice gives the album a nice feel, that is familiar but refreshingly different, which will appeal to both soul and smooth jazz fans.

Listening to here voice over at sophiadarcell.com and her MySpace site, I think I can not really put it in better words. Being a passionate fan of Sade, that was exactly what first came to mind when I listened to Sophia.

On her MySpace site:

Some smooth funky jazz-alicious soul music spiced with Afro-Cuban flavas’.
A sensual soundscape of urban grit and tropical vibes; songs to kick back and relax to… make love to… mood music…Think Brand New Heavies, Incognito, Sade, Sweetback. Jill Scott, etc.

So, do not hesitate, get over there, listen and show your love.

Yet another R&B / Soul / Funk band brought to my attention through the contactform: THRESHOLD

Influenced by Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Me’Shell NdegeOCello and Sly & The Family Stone, Threshold is sweet formation L.A., California.
With the dark and warm voice of Angela Carole Brown, the band provides an easy and firm sound, sharing conscious lyrics (composed by Linda Taylor), as well as some sweet up-tempo hipshakeable songs.

Linda Taylor is solo-ing on one of the videos on the site by the way, and she is a verocious and enthusiastic guitar player.
Threshold has some special guest that are musical treats themselves:

• Keb’ Mo’ – Guitars
• David Patterson – Sax
• Darrell Crooks – Guitars
• Patryce “Choc’Let” Banks – Background Vocals

To check out more of Threshold, visit their website, listen to their tracks and watch their videos.

If you have a description on your website that states:

Rap Hip Hop Samples – Free hip hop drums loops kits, beats, instrumentals, original samples, breaks, samplers, crate digging, Reason, Fruity Loops

… Then every music lover’s attention is drawn.

I received note from the owner of cratekings.com : DJ Semantik (my apologies for the late mention!) and I must say that this online resource of hiphop goodies is a pleasure for eye, ear and soul!

For me this site gives splendid insight in what happens behind the curtain at some very hot producers’ studios.
Watching and reading how certain beats and loops are being created generates a lot of extra appreciation for what these people do.

Example of a nice post is “J Dilla Interview: Beats, MC’ing & Style“, where J Dilla (R.I.P., you were a genius Jay and your death is a terrible loss) teaches some nice lessons. Or the post were Kanye West shows what happens in the studio.

See for yourself: Visit CRATEKINGS and show some love!

Just got notice of this new video website with some very interesting music channels:

• SOHH (SO HipHop)
• The Artist Lounge
• Barrio 305
• Berklee Music
• Cesoul Music TV
• T.B.E. a visionay urban experience

And much more… that will keep you busy for the weekend!

Big in the UK, slowly taking over Europe and most probably soonly the USA too… Corinne Bailey Rae is the new sensation. Only 26 years old, this girl from Leeds, UK, is a fresh breeze in current music streams with a nostalgic hint of Billy Holiday and the likes.

Her selftitled album has been received with big enthusiasm by even the bigger critics.

As is being said on Amazon:

It becomes self-evident the moment you hear her sing the very first note on the first track ‘Like A Star’, that it showcases a slice of sublime Billie Holiday blues delivered with a voice that pins you, in the softest but most persuasive of ways, to the wall; a voice that floats up effortlessly, full of caress, subtlety and the very purest quality. It is wonderful, this voice, and surely a discovery to treasure, but it belongs to a young woman not from somewhere musically exotic, say Mississippi or even Manhattan, but just East of the M1: Leeds. Her name is Corinne Bailey Rae, and she was born to do this.

Visit her website to hear some fragments and then hush to your (online) recordstore to buy this year’s summer album [clicking image gets you straight to the album on Amazon].