I'm in the music listening business and let me tell you, business is booming. I've got a veritable honeypot of excellent artists that are long overdue in garnering some praise. So without further ado, let's dive in! (P.S. Next post will be pictures, stay tuned!)
Dennis Coffey_All Your Goodies Are Gone feat. Mayer Hawthorne (Shigeto remix) by SHIGETO
Zach Saginaw, aka Shigeto, is a Michigan-bred electronica genius. Known by his middle name, which means "to grow bigger", he has definitely lived up to his moniker. With a solid library of stunning tracks under his belt Shigeto is a superstar in the field of modern electronica. Characterized by rich, textured beats and powerfully nuanced melodies brought forth through a multitude of mediums and sounds Shigeto stands on a high pillar, his style is unique among his peers. Two EP's and a full-length album, Full Circle , have carried Shigeto to new heights as he continues to shatter the norm. This is an artist you do not want to miss out on.
Shigeto's remix of Dennis Coffey's "All Your Goodies Are Gone" pays homage to his early childhood influences of motown and funk by taking the soul of this smooth heartbreak ballad and catapulting it to new heights. Cascading bass beats and twitching percussion layered atop spacey guitar samples and brass set the atmosphere for this tonal masterpiece. As Dennis Coffey's aching voice enters the aural landscape the mood is finally set, the smooth style of the original piece is preserved yet enhanced by the funky manipulation of Shigeto. Absolutely brilliant.
Amnesia by Handbook
Hanbook, a UK-based beats maker and producer, has been on my list for a long time now. Cranking out new sounds like a madman this avid beat wielder has been developing a sound and following on Soundcloud for quite some time, even collaborating with rappers on a few songs to create absolutely sick tracks.( <a href="http://soundcloud.com/handbook/water-molecules-feat-shuteyes">Water Molecules</a> , I'm looking at you). However with the release of a new track just days ago I figured it is about time to feature him, as the future may be a-changin.
Amnesia is a chance of pace for Handbook. As mentioned in his description it is the first track he has produced in awhile that contains no samples -- original sounds only inquire within. Brimming with waves of electronic sines and heartfelt strings this track takes a different turn from his usual, evoking an nebulaic image that is completed by the presence of eastern-eque string plucking. A refreshing deviation from the norm, I'll be eager to see what else Handbook is cooking up. Stay tuned!
Shell of Light (Shlohmo Remix) - Burial by shlohmo
Next up is Shlohmo, an LA-based trip-hop and electronica producer. With a plethora of tracks behind him and very little bio info to be found, Shlohmo comes off as the kind of artist who focuses on the music, not the publicity. From the wedidit collective of which Shlohmo is a part of ," Wedidit is a collective of dudes and guys, mostly from the LA area, who make shit and want to give you the shit we make.
-Professionally Unprofessional since 1990"
And that just about sums up the intro for Shlohmo, let's let the music do the talking now.
In his remix of the classic "Shell of Light" by Burial Shlohmo takes the already ethereal and minimalist style of Burial and brings it to a new level. Complete with sparse percussion, deep, penetrating bass lines, and a level of reverb reserved for the only best of trip-hop and minimal dubstep Shell of Light is transformed in to a other-worldly, floating abstract of musical euphoria.
Make sure to watch for more Shlohmo soon, his Soundcloud tracks are few, but their quality is immense.
Ghostfunk - 10 - Funky Criminology by Max Tannone
A recurring favorite of mine, Max Tannone is the creative genius behind Mos Dub, a mashup of Mos Def lyrics and fantastic reggae/roots, Dub Kweli, a fusion of Talib Kweli and reggae, and a multitude of other mashups featuring the Beastie Boys, Radiohead, and Selene. Among the mash-up scene Max Tannone stands alone as one of the most innovative and talented in his field. He has a knack for throwing together clashing genres and blending the two in to a work so superbly addictive and surprising you can't help but raise your eyesbrows on every track change.
In his newest project Max combines the forceful rhyming of Ghostface Killah with retro afro-funk and psychedelic rock to forge an high-energy, fantastically spunky jumble of organ solos, cowbell, and heated words. Funky Criminology, the last track on the album, upholds the quality mashing skills Max is so known for and keeps you nodding your head the entire span of the track.
Awakenings by Clear Blue
In a change of pace, instrumental artist Clear Blue sets the stage for a new take on Hip-Hop. Based in New Jersey this creative force and musician-for-hire has been blowing my expectations out of the water for some time now. His style, though backed by standard rolling/off beat percussion so familiar to the instrumental hip-hop genre, presents an element of off-the-beaten-path production that is new, at least to me, for hip-hop. A mix of samples, synths, and targeted, themed continuity to his beats breathe a magic in to his style that keeps me coming back for me.
In his latest release, Awakenings, a wall of unique, droning synths and sitar-style melodies emanate from the background of this mesmerizing intrumental. Along with perfectly inserted bass and a tamborine that constantly unwinds like a toy the atmosphere set in this track is dreamy, yet powerful and very much danceable. The subtlety found in this track keeps me coming back for more, I hope to see great things from Clear Blue in the future. Keep an eye on this one!
Propeller Seeds by imogenheap
Wow. What can I say about this track that doesn't include the word STUNNING? Imogen Heap, known most for her song Hide and Seek, is so much more than that. Since her first album, Speak for Yourself, Imogen Heap has released two albums each trumping the last in creativity and individuality. Now, as she approaches her 4th solo album, she has taken a new approach to sound shaping.
As exhibited in Propeller Seeds, Imogen Heap has developed an incredibly strong sense of sound staging and story telling through her music. Though the concept is not new, her use of these elements is unprecedented in today's mainstream culture. To see a relatively pop-music associated artist change her sound so vastly over the course of her career, and explore such strong concepts is deeply touching to me and greatly deserving of respect. From the ambiance of a restaurant to the perfectly crafted sounds of limbs creaking and leaves rustling, every second of this track, and what I am assuming will be the album, is expertly crafted and painstakingly attended too. This album will be phenomenal.
Showing posts with label instrumental. Show all posts
Showing posts with label instrumental. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Beatstrumental Review #2: Intergalactic Indian Shootout Soundoff
The second in my probably on-going series of posts showcasing fantastic beat artists across the net. Beastrumentals aims to discover fresh and unique hip-hop, instrumental, and experimental beat tracks from bleeding-edge producers from around the world! This week I have way too many artists to share, I might have to make two posts...
p∆n❍r∆m∆ x slamagotchi :: stir fry by p∆n❍r∆m∆
First up this week is Panaorama, an intergalactic traveler who has taken up residence in Australia. Staying true to image, Panaorama's tracks evoke the quintessential atmosphere of an extraterrestrial experience. His beats are strewn with echoing, vast expanses of jumbled bass punches and claps set to an alien cacophony of beeps, whirs and electronic thingamajigs. If you were planning on staying on earth for a listen through of any of his tracks, I suggest you turn around now -- Panorama's style is for deep space aural cosmonauts only.
Keep an eye on his soundcloud as a free digital release of his new EP is due at the end of this year!
Sirkri - Hai (The Beat Inn Chop XVII) by Sirkri
Next up is a contender in the Therapy Chop Chop project over at The Beat Inn. Sirkri, a 17-year-old beat welder from France, has been on my watch list for awhile. With high-energy, on-the-edge-of-your-seat productions he has shown exceptional skill in slicing and dicing the source tracks for the last several Therapy Chop Chop.
In Chop 16, Sirkri takes the layed back, meandering Vytas Brenner - Morrocoy and transforms it into a relentless beast exploding with melodic tension between the perfectly timed chops and beats. For the cherry on top, he tunes down the intro on this beast and lets the sound fade out before blasting you with the drop, blowing away all impressions and expectations. Sirkri is a man with a vision, one I will certainly be watching for in the future.
OffBeatKid X LGWBB - Spanish movie by lame grandma with big bag
Taking a break from the intensity of Sirkri, Lame Grandma with big bag(or LGWBB as he abbreviates) is a humble veteren beat producer from Khabarovsk, Russia. Though he claims that he has no musical talent and that "This music is made by my own bear on his own balalayka under control of the Tesla troopers.", LGWBB is a true master of the beat art. Layed-back thundering claps, cinematic elements, and rich, clean instrumental backtracks characterize the master production of LGWBB work. Whether he uses sampes or creates his own music via Tesla troopers is unknown to me, all I know is m head starts bobbing when his tracks spin up.
Often collaborating with other artists on soundcloud, LGWBB has accumulated a diverse and unique collection of sounds in his repertoire. His latest foray in to collaboration involved another Russian native, OffBeatKid, and has provided some incredible sounds as a result. The track featured, Spanish Movie, feels as if it was pulled right out of a spaghetti western, complete with lonely horn solos and epic soaring vocals fit only for an old fashioned-shootout. With rising crescendos trailed by mournful chords accompanied by some dope percussion beats this is a masterpiece of production. Make sure you check out the rest of LGWBB's collaborations and solo projects on his soundcloud .
Last, though clearly not at all least, is the talented Mr. Ollie Finn. Based in Lewes, Britain Mr. Finn has been chop chopping beats for The Beat Inn for some time now and shows no sign of slowing down in his spectacular production. Sourcing the popular traditional indian track Hai Re Hai Tera by Ghungta Mr. Finn has reconstructed an absolutely brilliant grime-filled beatstrumental that is unbelievably unlike the original. Full of chopped strings, harsh drums, and incomprehensible babble set to support the atmosphere of this indian-influenced chop, the only samples coherently taken straight from the original are the short interspersed vocalizations of a male singer. Mr. Finn has thrown this track into a blender and poured out a delicious beat full of gold quality chops and samples, a truly outstanding feat. And to beat, the music video for this track is wonderfully trippy and abstract, a perfect match for the superbly-mangled, warped style of the song. Bravo!
That's it for this post, I still have 4 artists queued up and waiting for a write-up so check back later in the week for more beats rhymes and rhythms!
p∆n❍r∆m∆ x slamagotchi :: stir fry by p∆n❍r∆m∆
First up this week is Panaorama, an intergalactic traveler who has taken up residence in Australia. Staying true to image, Panaorama's tracks evoke the quintessential atmosphere of an extraterrestrial experience. His beats are strewn with echoing, vast expanses of jumbled bass punches and claps set to an alien cacophony of beeps, whirs and electronic thingamajigs. If you were planning on staying on earth for a listen through of any of his tracks, I suggest you turn around now -- Panorama's style is for deep space aural cosmonauts only.
Keep an eye on his soundcloud as a free digital release of his new EP is due at the end of this year!
Sirkri - Hai (The Beat Inn Chop XVII) by Sirkri
Next up is a contender in the Therapy Chop Chop project over at The Beat Inn. Sirkri, a 17-year-old beat welder from France, has been on my watch list for awhile. With high-energy, on-the-edge-of-your-seat productions he has shown exceptional skill in slicing and dicing the source tracks for the last several Therapy Chop Chop.
In Chop 16, Sirkri takes the layed back, meandering Vytas Brenner - Morrocoy and transforms it into a relentless beast exploding with melodic tension between the perfectly timed chops and beats. For the cherry on top, he tunes down the intro on this beast and lets the sound fade out before blasting you with the drop, blowing away all impressions and expectations. Sirkri is a man with a vision, one I will certainly be watching for in the future.
OffBeatKid X LGWBB - Spanish movie by lame grandma with big bag
Taking a break from the intensity of Sirkri, Lame Grandma with big bag(or LGWBB as he abbreviates) is a humble veteren beat producer from Khabarovsk, Russia. Though he claims that he has no musical talent and that "This music is made by my own bear on his own balalayka under control of the Tesla troopers.", LGWBB is a true master of the beat art. Layed-back thundering claps, cinematic elements, and rich, clean instrumental backtracks characterize the master production of LGWBB work. Whether he uses sampes or creates his own music via Tesla troopers is unknown to me, all I know is m head starts bobbing when his tracks spin up.
Often collaborating with other artists on soundcloud, LGWBB has accumulated a diverse and unique collection of sounds in his repertoire. His latest foray in to collaboration involved another Russian native, OffBeatKid, and has provided some incredible sounds as a result. The track featured, Spanish Movie, feels as if it was pulled right out of a spaghetti western, complete with lonely horn solos and epic soaring vocals fit only for an old fashioned-shootout. With rising crescendos trailed by mournful chords accompanied by some dope percussion beats this is a masterpiece of production. Make sure you check out the rest of LGWBB's collaborations and solo projects on his soundcloud .
Last, though clearly not at all least, is the talented Mr. Ollie Finn. Based in Lewes, Britain Mr. Finn has been chop chopping beats for The Beat Inn for some time now and shows no sign of slowing down in his spectacular production. Sourcing the popular traditional indian track Hai Re Hai Tera by Ghungta Mr. Finn has reconstructed an absolutely brilliant grime-filled beatstrumental that is unbelievably unlike the original. Full of chopped strings, harsh drums, and incomprehensible babble set to support the atmosphere of this indian-influenced chop, the only samples coherently taken straight from the original are the short interspersed vocalizations of a male singer. Mr. Finn has thrown this track into a blender and poured out a delicious beat full of gold quality chops and samples, a truly outstanding feat. And to beat, the music video for this track is wonderfully trippy and abstract, a perfect match for the superbly-mangled, warped style of the song. Bravo!
That's it for this post, I still have 4 artists queued up and waiting for a write-up so check back later in the week for more beats rhymes and rhythms!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Beatstrumental Review #1: Blazin Beats, Rich Rhythms, and Soulful Samples
I have entered the realm of instrumental hip-hop, and judging from the mad outflow of absolutely brilliant tracks I see everyday on soundcloud, I'm going to be stuck here for awhile. If you have been following my other posts you've probably noticed by now they are all chalk full of outstanding beats. Now though, I've decided to dedicated full posts to the amazing beat artists filling my ears with sound everyday.
Opening this post is a Venezuelan artist by the name of Kerusalen Beatz. A 22-year-old raised in the heart of Caracas, his self-described call to music arose from a need to develop a unique sound in his home country, and he has certainly achieved his goal. With his first track uploaded only 3 months ago, Kersualen Beatz is a newcomer to Soundcloud. However, upon listening to any of his tracks it is immediately apparent he lacks no experience in production. The high energy atmosphere of his sound is enhanced by hard-hitting basslines and perfectly sampled string, guitar, and other orchestral instruments that command you to feel the beat, the rhythm of his tracks.
"Este tango habla por mi", his first uploaded track on soundcloud, intros with a mournful accordian and strings followed by the title of the song spoken in a thick south american accent. With controlled immediacy the beat changes to sampled loop of a quite badass accordion accompanied by a powerful bassline and minimal hip-hop beat which, in my opinion, demands head bobbing. Though the track is short, its power is evident.
Check out more of Kerusalen Beatz tracks on his soundcloud.
Belly Beast by ELECTRIC SEA SPIDER
Next up is wonky producer from down under, Electric Sea Spider. Based in Melbourne, Australia, this 20-year-old beat forger throws tradition to the wind in his productions as he melds all sorts of sounds together, ranging from table tennis field recordings to eerie child's chorus samples. Full of lazy, sporadic beats and frequent juxtaposing samples each track by this talented artist is guaranteed to introduce you to a sound unlike anything you've heard before.
In "Belly Beast", a cacophony of pots and pans, humming children, and rolling basslines meshes together to create a strangely mellow atmosphere that I wish would only last longer! Truly unlike any other instrumental I've heard, I could hear the likes of MF Doom or Common laying down some profound lyrics on top of this grade A track.
Crayons by ELECTRIC SEA SPIDER
As a bonus, here is Crayons, a mashup of familiar ambient/analogue synths and tones layered below softly shaking percussion instruments and melodious bass beats. The chopped samples of a youth along with the ringing of bells and clustered drums completes this track and creates an musical image of rolling green fields and lazily passing clouds in my mind. This track is going on a cd for the car for sure.
Dreamy Nods-Therapy Chop Chop XIII by Messenjahmusicproductions
A rare treat, Phillip J Morris (Philey J) is a musician, rapper, and producer from the heart of Britain. Owner of Messenjah Music Productions, Philey J has been honing his skills as a hip-hop artist over the past 10 years, and he definitely has the skills to prove it. A master of hip-hop compositions influenced by jazz, soul, and blues his tracks tell tales of clear summer nights, smoky jazz clubs, and longs nights in front of the piano. Masterfully styled instrumental pieces dominate his sound, and the smooth flavor of hip-hop rhythms only help to enhance the classy, crisp sound of tracks.
Last, but not least, is "Land O Lakes" native mndsgn. With only 3 tracks listed on Soundcloud he's an elusive artist for sure, but his jumpy, airy beats tell a story of a budding talent who(hint hint) is just waiting to burst forth.
Etcetera is a whimsical, fun instrumental strewn with watery sound effects and buzzing basslines that get me thinking more about Yoshi's Island than a backtrack to a rap album. However the impact of mndsgn's style in this track is no less powerful than the cream of the crop on any major record label. If you like what you hear in Etcetera, make sure you listen to Birches , a 26 minute mix of some excellent tunes labelled as "glimpsehop" by mndsgn. It's a doozy, I'll tell you that.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Hurry Up and Wait
Research paper due next week, feature article in the works, and at east three finals ahead of me. How I am finding time for new artists is beyond me! However I do have a few interesting tracks for you this week, along with an album just released! The title of the blog this week feels like it's mirroring my life, and this music, right now. Hurry up and do all my work for classes, then wait a few days for a new load of impossible goals to be doled out. Sigh. Almost there though!
Easy by Malefique
As you may very well know by now, I have a soft spot for funky beatsrumentals. Perhaps no artist I have discovered in the past few weeks embodies the spirit of a classic, soulful hip-hop instrumental than Malefique. A beatmaster from the heart of Russia, Malefiques signature sound prescribes an "atmosphere for each, the tracks under which one might think, laugh, mourn."
Easy, which opens with a up-pitched and energetic sample of Linonel Richie's Easy Like Sunday Morning holds the crackling, looped, catchy characteristics of a perfect beatstrumental. Malefique's excellently time chops and superb production provide a grade A example of a quality hip-hop instrumental. One that I will be using as my alarm in the morning for quite awhile!
ramachandran #japan -bugseed's sequel- (Fancy Mike - Sigma Chi Primavera) by bugseed.
Following in the same vein as Malefique, though quite in another direction, is bugseed. More experimental in his technique, Bugseed's sound is imbued with qualities more akin to yahn look picard's lazy beats from my post 2 weeks ago. Making frequent use of dirty signals, such as distorted beats, and compression along with a pleasing array of percussion instruments and modulating synths, Bugseed throws digital paint across his soundscape like it's playtime.
Check out his soundcloud for more smoky sounds and bodacious beats.
Take Care, Take Care, Take Care by Constant Artists
Next up, with a change of scenery, is the new post-rock album by Texas-based band Explosions In The Sky. Traveling back to their roots after a short departure in to multi-instrumental experiments on their last album, So Long, Lonesome, Take Care is a return to the simpler, and earlier, style of Explosions sound. Composed with a few guitars, a drum kit, and a bass guitar, the dynamic crescendo and decrescendos so familiar to Explosions style is fortified on this album and, as always, writes a story of emotion evident from the first track. If you have never heard of post-rock before this post, this is a perfect starting album as it exhibits all the classic, and well-performed, aspects of the genre. Long, drawn-out movements of sonic ether that heave and sigh in perfect unison. Whether you're listening to this album as you fall asleep on a rainy night, or conquering a mountain at daybreak the emotion of this album will lend itself to you.
That's all for this week! I had a few more artists lined up but have decided to wait until next week to showcase them. Quality over quantity, right? Until next time!
Easy by Malefique
As you may very well know by now, I have a soft spot for funky beatsrumentals. Perhaps no artist I have discovered in the past few weeks embodies the spirit of a classic, soulful hip-hop instrumental than Malefique. A beatmaster from the heart of Russia, Malefiques signature sound prescribes an "atmosphere for each, the tracks under which one might think, laugh, mourn."
Easy, which opens with a up-pitched and energetic sample of Linonel Richie's Easy Like Sunday Morning holds the crackling, looped, catchy characteristics of a perfect beatstrumental. Malefique's excellently time chops and superb production provide a grade A example of a quality hip-hop instrumental. One that I will be using as my alarm in the morning for quite awhile!
ramachandran #japan -bugseed's sequel- (Fancy Mike - Sigma Chi Primavera) by bugseed.
Following in the same vein as Malefique, though quite in another direction, is bugseed. More experimental in his technique, Bugseed's sound is imbued with qualities more akin to yahn look picard's lazy beats from my post 2 weeks ago. Making frequent use of dirty signals, such as distorted beats, and compression along with a pleasing array of percussion instruments and modulating synths, Bugseed throws digital paint across his soundscape like it's playtime.
Check out his soundcloud for more smoky sounds and bodacious beats.
Take Care, Take Care, Take Care by Constant Artists
Next up, with a change of scenery, is the new post-rock album by Texas-based band Explosions In The Sky. Traveling back to their roots after a short departure in to multi-instrumental experiments on their last album, So Long, Lonesome, Take Care is a return to the simpler, and earlier, style of Explosions sound. Composed with a few guitars, a drum kit, and a bass guitar, the dynamic crescendo and decrescendos so familiar to Explosions style is fortified on this album and, as always, writes a story of emotion evident from the first track. If you have never heard of post-rock before this post, this is a perfect starting album as it exhibits all the classic, and well-performed, aspects of the genre. Long, drawn-out movements of sonic ether that heave and sigh in perfect unison. Whether you're listening to this album as you fall asleep on a rainy night, or conquering a mountain at daybreak the emotion of this album will lend itself to you.
That's all for this week! I had a few more artists lined up but have decided to wait until next week to showcase them. Quality over quantity, right? Until next time!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Bright Lights and Sunny Skies
Anybody care to tell me where spring went?? It was 93 F today in Milledgeville and the rest of the week looks like it's going to be just as bad. Oh well, that mild weather didn't last long...
A quick note before I get in to this week's artist: I went to Microcenter yesterday and saw the most awesome novelty CD's of all time. Take a look at these bad boys.
That's right. Digital Vinyl. Unnecessary, yes. Retro(hipster?) magnificence, absolutely. Will I buy more? God willing.
Starting this week out I have a diamond in the rough for you, a local gem that can do nothing but rocket skyward from here.
Bright Lights by J.Goods
Based in Austin, Texas Josh Gonzales "J. Goods" is leading the local hip-hop scene in Austin. Armed with a background as a solo and lead drummer in high school, J. Goods has developed his musical talents and lyrics prowess from an early age and is now taking his career as a rapper, artist, and producer to new heights. With several hits already circulating locally in his hometown you'll be sure to see this young star making waves soon.
Brights Lights, though not one of his touted one-hit wonders, is an excellent example of J. Goods creative talent in the realm of hip-hop. Produced and sung by Russell Lee and co-written by J.Goods the intelligent rhymes and catchy melody forged in Bright Lights is sure to please your ears for weeks to come.
Check out the rest of J. Goods lineup on his soundcloud.
Washing Line Wheel And The Old Mangle by Roof Light
Lulworth Pebbles by Roof Light
In an abrupt change of tune(I always seem to do this...) I present you with Roof Light. Little info is available on who, or what Roof Light, exactly is, but this actually plays better to his vast, eclectic span of musical production. Self-described as "Advanced Soul/Psychedelic Folk/Rhythm And Blues/Field Recordings", Roof Light's sounds range from ambient synth productions to dark, grungy garage beats to decayed, analogue electronica complete with atmospheric "field recordings". Roof Light has been on my radar for awhile but not until the last several weeks as he as released more Board of Canada-esque material have I had a chance to show off this musician's true talent.
Washing Line Wheel and Lulworth Pebbles bring a warm, fuzzy sounds to a down-tempo style atmosphere that I have not heard since Boards of Canada's album Campfire Headcase. Wavering analogue generators, scratchy vinyl sound effects and floating melodies dominate the sounds of both of these tracks and bring a refreshing, old school sound to the table I haven't heard in years. I commend Roof Light for steering his work in this direction and hope it leads him to more undiscovered bounds of musical creative that I, as a listener, can only wait in anticipation for.
Pron__St∆rr (quickie) by yahnLOOKEpicard
Bare with me as a deviate yet again (though not as severely this time!) in to the world of hip-hop. Y∆HN LøÔK∑ PIc∆RD of Minneapolis, Minnesota is an intrumental hip-hop artist that has been experimenting with beats, rhythms, and sounds in a way I didn't think it was possible. If you have ever wondered what a bleeding-edge pioneer of hip-hop sounds like, look no further. His combination of lazy beats and spacey samples meshed with his out-of-the-box line of thinking and production provides for an aural experience unlike anything I've ever heard.
Leave It All Behind feat. The Rebirth & Aima the Dreamer by jboogie dubtronic
Cumbia Dubbin by jboogie dubtronic
Finishing out this post with a smooth and drinkable flavour is J-Boogie, a world-renown DJ and producer influenced by latin soul, hip-hop, electronica and many many more sounds. Leave It All Behind, an r'n'b track influenced by down-tempo beats and a soulful, female vox accompanied by chorus bring me back to the 90's and all their smooth, funky glory. Cumbia Dubbin, a mix by J-Boogie created after a trip to South Africa, showcases classic cumbia and a house sounds and clearly demonstrates J-Boogie's exceptional DJ'ing ability. Be sure to check out his entire library of world sounds on his soundcloud.
A quick note before I get in to this week's artist: I went to Microcenter yesterday and saw the most awesome novelty CD's of all time. Take a look at these bad boys.
That's right. Digital Vinyl. Unnecessary, yes. Retro(hipster?) magnificence, absolutely. Will I buy more? God willing.
Starting this week out I have a diamond in the rough for you, a local gem that can do nothing but rocket skyward from here.
Bright Lights by J.Goods
Based in Austin, Texas Josh Gonzales "J. Goods" is leading the local hip-hop scene in Austin. Armed with a background as a solo and lead drummer in high school, J. Goods has developed his musical talents and lyrics prowess from an early age and is now taking his career as a rapper, artist, and producer to new heights. With several hits already circulating locally in his hometown you'll be sure to see this young star making waves soon.
Brights Lights, though not one of his touted one-hit wonders, is an excellent example of J. Goods creative talent in the realm of hip-hop. Produced and sung by Russell Lee and co-written by J.Goods the intelligent rhymes and catchy melody forged in Bright Lights is sure to please your ears for weeks to come.
Check out the rest of J. Goods lineup on his soundcloud.
Washing Line Wheel And The Old Mangle by Roof Light
Lulworth Pebbles by Roof Light
In an abrupt change of tune(I always seem to do this...) I present you with Roof Light. Little info is available on who, or what Roof Light, exactly is, but this actually plays better to his vast, eclectic span of musical production. Self-described as "Advanced Soul/Psychedelic Folk/Rhythm And Blues/Field Recordings", Roof Light's sounds range from ambient synth productions to dark, grungy garage beats to decayed, analogue electronica complete with atmospheric "field recordings". Roof Light has been on my radar for awhile but not until the last several weeks as he as released more Board of Canada-esque material have I had a chance to show off this musician's true talent.
Washing Line Wheel and Lulworth Pebbles bring a warm, fuzzy sounds to a down-tempo style atmosphere that I have not heard since Boards of Canada's album Campfire Headcase. Wavering analogue generators, scratchy vinyl sound effects and floating melodies dominate the sounds of both of these tracks and bring a refreshing, old school sound to the table I haven't heard in years. I commend Roof Light for steering his work in this direction and hope it leads him to more undiscovered bounds of musical creative that I, as a listener, can only wait in anticipation for.
Pron__St∆rr (quickie) by yahnLOOKEpicard
Bare with me as a deviate yet again (though not as severely this time!) in to the world of hip-hop. Y∆HN LøÔK∑ PIc∆RD of Minneapolis, Minnesota is an intrumental hip-hop artist that has been experimenting with beats, rhythms, and sounds in a way I didn't think it was possible. If you have ever wondered what a bleeding-edge pioneer of hip-hop sounds like, look no further. His combination of lazy beats and spacey samples meshed with his out-of-the-box line of thinking and production provides for an aural experience unlike anything I've ever heard.
Leave It All Behind feat. The Rebirth & Aima the Dreamer by jboogie dubtronic
Cumbia Dubbin by jboogie dubtronic
Finishing out this post with a smooth and drinkable flavour is J-Boogie, a world-renown DJ and producer influenced by latin soul, hip-hop, electronica and many many more sounds. Leave It All Behind, an r'n'b track influenced by down-tempo beats and a soulful, female vox accompanied by chorus bring me back to the 90's and all their smooth, funky glory. Cumbia Dubbin, a mix by J-Boogie created after a trip to South Africa, showcases classic cumbia and a house sounds and clearly demonstrates J-Boogie's exceptional DJ'ing ability. Be sure to check out his entire library of world sounds on his soundcloud.
Monday, February 14, 2011
It's this kind of funky, swinging thing...
The past week has been busy for me both academically and musically! As is probably apparent by now, I am an enthusiastic user of Soundcloud. How could I not though? As a electronic music lover Soundcloud is THE place to be right now. Every week I follow more and more incredibly talented artists and continue to expand my knowledge and horizons on the frontier of experimental music. Sometimes it's overwhelming!
Leave The Light On (Stumbleine Remix) preview by Asa.
Starting out is an artist I have just recently discovered, Asa. Although I have stumbled upon this musical mastermind, Asa has been carving out a groundbreaking career since early 2010. The track I bring to you today is a remix of the original track, Leave The Light On, released by Asa about 5 months ago. This remix transforms the dub-centric original into a post-rock reminiscent soul-jerker filled with haunting electric guitar overtones and ghostly, fleeting vocals filled with melancholy lyrics.
With his first release on Screwloose Records Asa has been turning heads, don't miss what this budding artist will be bringing to the table in the coming months.
Old Fashioned by ŤЭKSŤ
My next artist for today, in a change of pace, is San Francisco based hip-hop artist by the name of Tekst. Still attending university, Tekst has been releasing instrumental, hip-hop tracks for a little over half a year now and has seen a following of avid fans grow steadily with his style. Chops, samples, and clever manipulation of the beat are just a few of the tools Tekst uses to produce high-quality(and incredibly catchy, if I say so myself) tunes that are practically begging for some fresh lyrics.
The tune I bring to you today, Old Fashioned, harnesses a multitude of sampled strings and funky beats to get your feet tapping. Uplifting lyrics complete the picture to create a fresh, soulful sound that brings you back to an earlier time when things weren't as complicated. I'd advise all listeners to take a walk on a sunny day while listening to this musical treat!
Cumbia colombiana (y otras delicias locales) by DJ Andres Leguizamon
Now for an artist I have been overdue in showcasing. Two weeks ago on my radio show I featured DJ Andres Leguizamon, a colombia-native deeply immersed in the sound and culture of cumbia and latin jazz. With his early beginnings rooted in house DJ Leguizamon has developed into a global producer, exploring sounds that defy regional and genre borders. His musical scope jumps from nu jazz bullerengue and everything in between.
Cumbia Colombiana, mixed solely for the victims of the flooding in colombia, is a tribute to its inhabitants perseverance and diversity. Look forward to jumping beats, twisted melodies, and far-out latin sounds sure to please your ears.
Wrapping up this post is a more mainstream artist I have been following for some time. Fever Ray, also know as Karin Andersson from the electric dynamo The Knife, released her solo debut album self-entitled "Fever Ray" in 2009. Known for her vocal style of sharp contrasts in pitch and volume, Fever Ray has been performing experimental electronic music on tour for some time now. Along with her unique musical style, Fever Ray is known for her colorful and wild theatrical aesthetics as is apparent from the music video for "When I Grow Up".
More of Fever Ray's music can be found on her soundcloud page.
Before I get started on tracks for this week, I'd like to take a moment and make a quick note of some conflict I am experiencing with this blog...In school right now I am taking a journalism class and I have found that as I write these entries I tend to use a more informal, casual style of writing. More like what my speech would be like in conversation. But, I find myself stopping, deleting, and rewriting sentences with a more formal style because of my class. What should I do? Do I keep it professional and lay back and stay casual? Which do you prefer?
Anyways, in to the music.
Leave The Light On (Stumbleine Remix) preview by Asa.
Starting out is an artist I have just recently discovered, Asa. Although I have stumbled upon this musical mastermind, Asa has been carving out a groundbreaking career since early 2010. The track I bring to you today is a remix of the original track, Leave The Light On, released by Asa about 5 months ago. This remix transforms the dub-centric original into a post-rock reminiscent soul-jerker filled with haunting electric guitar overtones and ghostly, fleeting vocals filled with melancholy lyrics.
With his first release on Screwloose Records Asa has been turning heads, don't miss what this budding artist will be bringing to the table in the coming months.
Old Fashioned by ŤЭKSŤ
My next artist for today, in a change of pace, is San Francisco based hip-hop artist by the name of Tekst. Still attending university, Tekst has been releasing instrumental, hip-hop tracks for a little over half a year now and has seen a following of avid fans grow steadily with his style. Chops, samples, and clever manipulation of the beat are just a few of the tools Tekst uses to produce high-quality(and incredibly catchy, if I say so myself) tunes that are practically begging for some fresh lyrics.
The tune I bring to you today, Old Fashioned, harnesses a multitude of sampled strings and funky beats to get your feet tapping. Uplifting lyrics complete the picture to create a fresh, soulful sound that brings you back to an earlier time when things weren't as complicated. I'd advise all listeners to take a walk on a sunny day while listening to this musical treat!
Cumbia colombiana (y otras delicias locales) by DJ Andres Leguizamon
Now for an artist I have been overdue in showcasing. Two weeks ago on my radio show I featured DJ Andres Leguizamon, a colombia-native deeply immersed in the sound and culture of cumbia and latin jazz. With his early beginnings rooted in house DJ Leguizamon has developed into a global producer, exploring sounds that defy regional and genre borders. His musical scope jumps from nu jazz bullerengue and everything in between.
Cumbia Colombiana, mixed solely for the victims of the flooding in colombia, is a tribute to its inhabitants perseverance and diversity. Look forward to jumping beats, twisted melodies, and far-out latin sounds sure to please your ears.
Wrapping up this post is a more mainstream artist I have been following for some time. Fever Ray, also know as Karin Andersson from the electric dynamo The Knife, released her solo debut album self-entitled "Fever Ray" in 2009. Known for her vocal style of sharp contrasts in pitch and volume, Fever Ray has been performing experimental electronic music on tour for some time now. Along with her unique musical style, Fever Ray is known for her colorful and wild theatrical aesthetics as is apparent from the music video for "When I Grow Up".
More of Fever Ray's music can be found on her soundcloud page.
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