Tom Middleton

Chris at Slackline just turned me on to Tom Middleton, a 15+ year veteran in the downtempo scene. I always find it interesting how you can love music so much, and be into so many artists, but miss some of the veterans that have made this genre what it is. Oh well, so here's to Tom Middleton!

Tom recently release Lifetracks, his most recent (of only a few) full length albums. He's been all over the place though, composing tracks for commercials, TV, and for many compilation albums and singles.

After a few listens, I really like the second half of Lifetracks. It's very relaxed, quintessential lounge music. Its perfect for a lazy day or ambient party tracks - hence "Lifetracks." The first tracks on the album -- Prana, Beginning of the Middle, Shinkansen -- are more electronic driven, with deeper bass, bleeps and cosmic sounds that resontate from ear to ear, but are fun to listen to. Prana particularly has a very cool, dramatic undertone of moody strings. After these first few tracks, the tunes become slightly more organic, pushing forward pianos and string instruments, and even (what I think are) wind instruments. I particularly like Seredipity and Sea of Glass, two songs that (as the titles suggest) have fantastic flowing melodies that soothe and relax.

Daft Punk - Alive 2007

November 20, 2007 was the day Daft Punk blew us away with Alive 2007 - the most amazing Daft Punk album I've listened to yet. And its LIVE! I don't immediately think a live electronica album will be good, but this completely shut me up.

Daft Punk mashes up its biggest hits, mixes them while keeping true to original form, and loops other hits on top of it! (Think "Around the World" mashed with "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger") Screaming fans are not overwhelming on this live album, they make you wish you were there but help you appreciate that Daft Punk recorded this truly amazing set.

Recorded live at Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, an 18,000-capacity sports arena in Paris, on June 14th, 2007, Daft Punk "redefines" the live electronica experience. I dont know for sure if they did, but I damn well believe it listening to this album.

You can listen to the entire album (every track is full length) at Download.com.

Must Watch Video

"Now why'd you want to go and put starz in their eyes?"

Go to YouTube. Click this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K72tfYdYROo Watch Just Jacks' "Starz in their Eyes" Think about all the wannabes and one hit wonders this song applies to. Think about how Just Jack can't just have one hit - he's too good. The song is too good...and its going to be playing on my iPod for many many moons.

Stay tuned for more about Just Jack. A review of his newest album, "Overtones," will be posted to ProperlyChilled.com in late December/early January, written by yours truly - my next foray into the music I love.

MORE

I find myself wanting to write about more - more music, beyond the "chillout" parameters I set for this blog. So i'm going to expand what I write about, its my blog damnit!

Downbeatscape will continue to peruse the world sounds of downtempo, but I'm also going to write about dancehall, funk and tunes that just generally make me move! Close your eyes and think about your favorite summer soundtrack, the one you put on before going for martinis and tequila shots - yeah, i'm going to write about that groove too.