Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon from Staten Island, New York, made 2009’s best hip-hop album. His Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II was released in September. The critically acclaimed debut album by the duo Girls from San Francisco, simply called Album, also ranked high on most best of the year-lists. Last but not least, Los Angeles-based Fool’s Gold plays an eclectic mix of music from different corners of the world, just perfect for dancing in the sun. Ah, now we’re really looking forward to the summer!

RAEKWON (US)
His mother calls him Corey, last name Woods, but most people know him as Raekwon, one ninth of the world’s coolest rap collective, the one and only Wu-Tang Clan. His latest release, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II, is also last year’s best hip-hop album.

Raekwon played a vital part in the renewal of hip-hop and the revival of the east coast rap scene when he released the masterpiece Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in 1993, together with [long inhalation] RZA, GZA, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and now diseased Ol’ Dirty Bastard (R.I.P). The album includes bangers such as Protect Ya Neck and C.R.E.A.M., and is still considered one of the genre’s best.

Two years later Raekwon released his solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, another indisputable classic. The lyrics revolve around cocaine, criminal activity and the hierarchy of the underworld, themes that were later adopted and explored by for example The Clipse and Rick Ross. Two more LPs followed, in 1999 and 2003 respectively, but we won’t linger on mediocrities here – we jump straight to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II, the debut’s real follow up, both thematically and quality-wise.

Pitchfork gave it 8.8 out of 10 and wrote that the album was just as good as fans had wished and hoped for. Drowned in Sound claimed that it lived up to all the hype. What more can a rap fan ask? To experience Raekwon live, perhaps? And whaddya know, he’ll perform at The Øya Festival in August!
MYSPACE

GIRLS (US)
There are no girls in Girls, the San Francisco-duo comprised by front man and vocalist Christopher Owens and Chet JR White. Girls are, however, a recurring theme throughout their debut album, simply called Album. Two songs are even named after Girls.

Owens’ tragic childhood (google it) is very much present on Album, albeit between the lines and below the surface. The music, power pop, is at times stripped down and minimalistic, other times like a wall of guitar feedback and sound, always melodic. The tunes are mostly up-tempo and sunny, but the clever lyrics and emotional delivery reveal vulnerability in a direct and honest way. Bittersweet nostalgia permeates Owens’ tales of love, breakups and loneliness.

Girls have been compared to Elvis Costello, Beach Boys, Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison among others. It’s true, to a certain extent. Owens and White do recycle elements from the last four decades in pop music, but the result is neither calculated nor fake. The heartfelt album definitely belongs to right here, right now. Girls will perform live at The Øya Festival on the 13th of August.
MYSPACE

FOOL’S GOLD (US)
The Øya booking team saw then unknown Fool’s Gold play an amazing set to an ecstatic crowd in a dark and sweaty basement in Brooklyn last year, and was convinced immediately. The Los Angeles-based band is fronted by songwriter/guitarist Lewis Pesacov and vocalist Luke Top, but also features ten other musicians from bands such as We Are Scientists, The Fall, Glasser and Foreign Born.

Together they make music influenced by Ghanian highlife, Nigerian afrobeat, quawwali, krautrock, soul, pop and rock, and are often compared to the equally eclectic Talking Heads. Israeli-born Top sings in both Hebrew and English, while the band playfully adds polyrhythmic percussion, jangly guitars, feisty horns and thumping bass to the mix.

Their self-titled debut is currently import-only here in Norway. It was just released in the UK however, to great reviews in BBC, Uncut, Time Out and The Guardian. The latter described the album as “a brilliant, euphoric, universally transcendent amalgam of global sounds". Rough Trade called Fool’s Gold “the first great album of 2010” when they named it record of the week.

Fool’s Gold are going on an American tour with Tinariwen this winter, and have previously shared stages with Cat Power and Fujiya & Miyagi. Don’t miss their first Norwegian show at The Oya Festival this summer!
MYSPACE