Get me my jam!

Nostalgia 77 is Ben Lamdin, a young British cat who's gotten himself into production over the past few years with a handful of solid releases on the amazing British label, Tru Thoughts. His work as Nostalgia 77 is both funky and soulful - two things I truly enjoy. N77 started getting serious attention state-side when he produced a blinding cover of the White Stripes' "7 Nation Army" with Alice Russell on vocal duties (I believe O-dub posted it a while back) - that song appears on his new album, entitled The Garden in a slightly different form.

On the new album, he moves away from hard breaks, utilizing a more live sound to produce something that melds funk, soul, and live jazz, which on some tracks takes on atmospheric qualities, others its got a hard-bop feel, others he takes on an afro-latin vibe. Lamdin himself describes the sound as "a combination of soul and jazz composition with computer based production techniques." It really works and sounds unlike much anything else today.

Some of the songs still have seriously sick breaks and a heavy bottom-end (you know that's how I like it) that just rumbles and swings. For those reasons, I decided to go with this song. It really combines all these elements into a real jam, especially noting the horn section, because it is just rock solid. The funky keys and huge bass really make it just right.

Now Tru Thoughts is a great label and all, but I don't want to pay import-prices for stuff. The good news is we Americans are in luck, because this record was simultaniously released in the US by the equally amazing Ubiquity label. (Further good news: they're gonna be releasing a bunch more Tru Thoughts records over the next year!) The Garden just came out yesterday, so if you're down with this sound, cop your own here!

Highly reccomended.

Oh, also for you UK headz, Nostalgia 77 is playing this Saturday, the 26th, at Phonic Hoop in Brighton with Alice Russell!