Caught in the Net - Take that, just the once

A new music video has been getting some attention on the web recently and it really requires viewing: The rapper Nyle (left) (www.nyleraps. com), got together with director Chadd Harbold and Last Pictures (www.last-pictures .com) to create a video for his re-imagining of Lil Wayne's already excellent track "Let the Beat Build". In the resulting clip, the audio and visuals were recorded in one miraculous rolling single take: it starts with a conductor offering instruction to an assembled group of people in a recording studio. Two females in the group begin singing a vocal line, then Nyle, sitting between them, is handed a microphone as he begins rapping. Next he strolls through the studio encountering his backing players: a bassist, pianist and a drummer pick up the tune, then a horn section kicks in, followed by a string section followed by a guitarist and a banjo player. Finally, more vocalists and a dancer arrive to round things off. In one take... My eyes may have been deceived. It might sound unremarkable but watch for yourself and see – tinyurl.com/dmnuj2.

Phoenix rises

'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix', the well-received album of artful pop rock by the French band Phoenix, may have only been released a minute or two ago, but already they are offering alternative takes. On the band's website is a selection of demos and acoustic tracks recorded during sessions for the new album. They can be found at www.weare phoenix.com/banquedefrance. To access them though, you will need a password and between you, me and the internet, it's CONCORDE. The band have also released the various elements of infectious opening track "Lisztomania" as separate MP3s so anyone can create their own remix of the song; tinyurl.com/nmaqk7.

All that Afro-jazz

"Spiritual Jazz: Esoteric, Modal and Deep Jazz from the Underground, 1968-77" (tinyurl.com/n8qecp) isn't a title that screams "buy me" from the rooftops but, judging by one track from it getting attention on music blogs lately, the compilation might well be worth investing in. "Ayo Ayo Nene", by Sengalese musician Mor Thiam (father of r&B star Akon), from his legendary 1973 album "Drums of Fire", is a stunning piece of Afro-jazz. Download it at tinyurl.com/n3bco3.

To the chimes of African guitars

There is sparse information around for London-based outfit Aj Holmes & The Hackney Empire, which is strange given the brilliance of the Africa-meets-Europe-meets-London-sounding music on their MySpace page, tinyurl.com /n88xv6, a gorgeous chiming African guitar style leads proceedings. They have, however, been getting attention from online radio station Diesel:U:Music (tinyurl.com/kq7zar) and they play at Notting Hill Arts Club in London tonight.

Bobbing along

Two weeks ago Bob Dylan celebrated his 68th birthday. One man who has been marking the date for at last half those years, is Lou Majaw, an eccentric 62-year-old Indian musician fond of wearing "skimpy sawn-off denim shorts, a shiny blue necklace and bright white sneakers". Thirty-seven years ago in northeastern India, Majaw began honouring Dylan's birthday with an annual concert celebrating his music, featuring the musical stylings of Majaw and whoever else was inclined to turn up. NPR reported from this year's installment of the unusual event and the enjoyable outcome, including Majaw's rendition of "Buckets Of Rain" (with Indian Dylanesque vocal twang), can be heard at tinyurl.com/qxqt3w