Back to Mine with Josu Mammi

Daft Punk – Discovery

Any Daft Punk (or Bangalter) record would have been appropriate here but this was the first one for me. Absolute classic and all these guys release has this exceptional quality to it. This was the first step into house music for me.

Fuck Buttons – Slow Focus

First time a listened to this record I was running and that time I ran further than ever before and ever since. Very energetic stuff, great harmonies and melodies, and just a huge wall of sound. It very quickly became one of my all time favourites.

Prince – The Rainbow Childen

Any Prince record could be on this list. There is only few of them that I don’t have in some form. This is probably the most gospel album of his and quite underestimated. Not that I’m a gospel guy at all but it has some very funky tracks throughout and some experimental stuff also. Definitely worth checking out if your into Prince or funk or jazz. Or music.

The Mars Volta – Frances The Mute

Prog Rock at it’s best I think. These guys have very unique approach to rock and this record is full of energy and emotion. The drummer John Theodore is a must to check out to any rock drummer. He does very creative things while maintaining a solid groove throughout.

Herbie Hancock – Thrust

Four classic tracks, amazing grooves, futuristic attitude, virtuoso musicians. Can you ask for more? Timeless piece. The cover art speaks for itself.

Radiohead – Kid A

This record has something magical in it and it does a perfect job in fusing electronica and pop. These beautiful hounting melodies on have stayed with me for years. The sister-record Amnesiac is also among one of my favorites.

Jimmy Edgar – Shine

Jimmy Edgar has created his own distinctive sounds and visuals that are instantly recognisable. He manages to take few simple things and make it carry the whole song through. And that is what so much of electronic music, and funk, is about.

Ricardo Villalobos – Dependent And Happy 1 and 2

The tracks on these records all have a very unique groove. There is so much going on but it still stays minimal at the same time. Works very late at night or on a lazy morning. Also Alcachofa from Villalobos is worth checking if you’re into this stuff.

The Prodigy – Music For The Jilted Generation

The Prodigy must be mentioned here since it was a huge thing for me in my teens. I first got to know this band through The Fat Of The Land -album but later I realised I liked this album even better. Liam Howlett’s sampling skills were otherworldly at the time.

John Mayer – Continuum

One of the smoothest and grooviest records I have ever heard. The songs are amazing off course, but the production and the playing set this apart for me. Steve Jordan is a producer and drumming legend and he has got the best out of John Mayers songs here.

Josu Mämmi – Spring/Summer 2016

Josu Mämmi is self releasing a sizzling new five track EP entitled Spring/Summer 2016 through Bandcamp on a pay what you want basis. Mämmi is a musician and producer and “a bossa nova drummer who got bit by a techno-fly” who hails from Helsinki. Here he is putting out his first ever EP and it is one that is already fully formed in terms of sound and style so is sure to assert his position on the global stage. Opening up this fresh EP is the standout ‘Mammas Pojke’, a quick and slick cut of boom bap drums, icy hi hats and bristling vocal samples and rattling perc. It is explosive and party starting and will jolt any ‘floor into action. The compelling ‘Collage’ is another excellently physical affair with barreling broken beats and clever samples and filters that add dynamism to the sounds. Colourful blurts of synth bring warmth and soul to the glitchy groove and really suggest Mämmi is a master producer already. The corrugated drum funk and prying chords of ‘Conflict’ will make for a perfect moment at an outdoor festival at sun down, and ‘Open Your Eyes’ is another urgent and infectious bit of drum programming that is tight and off beat, broken and texturally rich. Last of all comes ‘Si,’ a more spaced out and emotive cut with rolling drums and tender xylophone sounds. Explosive like the rest, it is another inventive affair. All in all this is a high impact EP that is remarkably accomplished and coherent for a first ever full release.

Josu Mämmi – Spring/Summer 2016 Label: Self released (Bandcamp) Release: 1st June 2016