CMU Playlists

Playlist: Jneiro Jarel

By | Published on Thursday 23 August 2012

JJ DOOM

Hip hop producer Jneiro Jarel is known for his eclectic style, which has led him to collaborate with the likes of Damon Albarn, TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek, King Britt, Jazzanova and many others. His latest release is an album with masked rapper DOOM, under the name JJ DOOM.

Entitled ‘Keys To The Kuffs’, the album is out this week via Lex Records and features guest appearances from Albarn, Portishead’s Beth Gibbons and rapper Khujo Goodie (one half of another of Jarel’s projects, Willie Isz). Over Jarel’s beats, DOOM explores his British roots (he was born in London), referencing everything from Cockney rhyming slang to ‘My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding’.

We asked Jarel to put together a playlist for us, and here’s what he said of his selections: “This is an eclectic mix of what I’ve been diggin lately. Some high in energy, and some will put you in chill mode. I get bored easily so my list changes many times a year, but I narrowed it down to only ten gems out of many that I clean my house or drive to!”

JNEIRO JANEL’S TEN
Click here to listen to Jneiro’s playlist in Spotify, and then read on to find out more about his choices.

01 Portishead – The Rip
I’m really glad to have collaborated with Beth Gibbons on my current project. This song starts off so mellow, then rises into an intense sonic landscape. I love how her vocals have been looped and become part of the instrumentation once the synths come in. Beautiful, beautiful song.

02 Public Enemy – Welcome To The Terrordome
I’ve always loved the production on all the early PE albums. And all the samples throughout the song. This track sounds so intense. I love it.

03 David Bowie – Ricochet
I really like the African influence in this track mixed in with Bowie’s usual gothic sound! Bowie and Nile Rogers did this track justice. Digging the 3/4 time beat. Such an epic song.

04 The Family – The Screams Of Passion
At least once a month I go on a Prince listening marathon. I include his production on other albums as well. Like his contributions on ‘The Screams Of Passion’. I love the abstract loops and strings on this track. He was the first to do it so well, if you ask me!

05 JJ DOOM – Winter Blues
I was honoured to collaborate with my fellow Viberian DOOM. This is one of my favourite songs on ‘Key To The Kuffs’. This song was made from the heart and soul. It’s like a love letter to DOOM’s wife across the pond. I provided the sonic paper and he provided the heartfelt words. That was a first for DOOM. I’m glad to have brought that out of him.

06 Shabazz Palaces – Are You… Can You… Were You? (Felt)
Gotta put my friend Ishmael of Shabazz Palaces in the mix! I really dig how he approached this track. The introduction almost sounds like some spaced-out Marvin Gaye production. Then it goes off into the cosmos with the piano stabs on the kick, with strings to grace melody. “It’s a feeling!” One of my faves.

07 Pharoah Sanders – Astral Traveling
This is one of the most beautiful jazz arrangements you will ever hear. I say that with confidence! If you are in that chill mode this is the record to play, especially during sunset.

08 Fiona Apple – Jonathan
I’m really feeling how Fiona is trying out new things. This is a more stripped down version of what she has done in the past but I love the minimal folk/jazz approach. I never really checked her out until this last album and I’m sorry I wasn’t aware of her rare talent earlier. This is my favourite off of her new record.

09 Björk – Hollow
This song is so haunting yet beautiful. It kind of reminds me of her approach on ‘Dancer In The Dark’. Such a great experimental piece.

10 Lydia Lunch – The Closet
I love how demented and off-kilter this song is. Horns flying all over the place but so structured – words can’t really explain it, it’s just a bugged out cool song really.



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