Sunday Morning Tunes

So it's obviously been way too long since I did a music post. But Sweden has been keeping me busy and time for detailed reviews has been far and in between.

Actually I shouldn't even be writing this, I have exams in a few days and I'm just procrastinating.

eh. Whatever.

Too Much by Lofty Labz
Nick Tann out of Vancouver, Canada has blown the LID off of a sweet but way to short career as a producer on Soundcloud. This tune, out for less than a month now, is not getting the attention it deserves -- as is the producer. I will be following Nick very closely, the tracks he is pushing out, though far and in between, are GOLD.

In Too Much, the intro begins with a tinny, sampled soulful tune before exploding into a grandiose shower of punchy bass rhythms accompanied by chopped brass and piano -- all backing up the aching, expertly sampled wailings of a mo'town style singer. This track, too short and sweet for its power, hits you with full force and keeps you flying through its waves of hip-hop brilliance up until its ending beat.

The One Ive Got by ChromadaData

Sticking with the soulful hip-hip theme I'd like to introduce ChromadaData -- Ian Jones of St. Augustine, Florida. A true hands-on producer, ChromadaData creates all his beats using an MPC5000, a music production machine. His music can be described as a balancing act between smooth rnb flavors and the high tension of sampled, complex contemporary beatstrumentals. Truly a producer of high caliber, his beats always carry a melody that sticks in your mind and keep you movin even after the music has stopped.

The One Ive Got showcases the eclectic, funky style that ChromadaData has developed for himself. Sampled screaming crowds, afro-rnb melodies reminiscent of gospel halls and 60's funk layered atop fast-paced, high energy hi-hats and snare drums all built on top of that familiar punchy hip-hop bass beat serve to conjure up a slick, cool-cat beatstrumental unique only to ChromadaData.

LUNOVA LABS - Vieux Nouveau by Lunova Labs

In a change of pace to a slower, more ethereal realm comes Lunova Labs. Based out of Franklin, Tennessee, LL is one of those artists I admire personally for their motivation in making music. Rather than subscribing to a particular genre or style of sound, Lunova Labs' objective in sound production is creating aesthetically pleasing soundscapes. Experimental by nature, radically designed by choice -- artists who aim for this echelon of production have a supreme level of respect in my mind.

Vieux Nouveau has been on repeat in my playlist for some time now. From the start the unique atmosphere of this track sets a precedent few can follow. A crescendo of ethereal noise opens this track leading into a deep, immersive punch of bass that is followed by white noise and vibrant, reverberating chords and tailed by piano. Just as the tone is set for an ambient styled track the bass kicks in and floating, metallic percussion brings out a melody that is set in the same mood as the mysterious piano progressions. An enigmatic, foggy soundscape soon emerges as Lunova Labs continues to tinker and experiment with the visual image produced from this conglomerate of sounds. Absolutely brilliant.

Finally, I'd like to leave with you a podcast I have started listening to. Radio Love Love, a german weekly-or-so podcast of a wide range of artists from hip-hop to trip-hop to classical piano to live performances. It's reall y a grab bag of music, but it's all high quality and excellently chosen. Check out the podcast at http://radiolovelove.blogspot.com/

So that's it for now. I have so much more to share but no time to do it in. Maybe I'll find more time now since it's getting so cold outside!

See you later space cowboy.

Beach of Life, Life On The Beach Part 1

It's been awhile hasn't it! I've got quite the post for you here, pictures, music, praise and musings! Where to start...well it's been three week I believe: I've finished In A Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson, an amusing and thoroughly entertaining travel guide and history of Australia; Traveled to Nova Scotia, Canada with my family for a vacation; caught up on much of the music I've been meaning to listen to; and been working my camera for all it's worth!

Since I'll be linking many tracks from soundcloud to this page I will spare all you visitors the experience of having to scroll through my shoddily produced photography attempts and just start with the music. But where to start??



First come first serve eh? This EP, released by Sirkri whom has been mentioned before is a hidden trove of high-energy, fast-paced chops and cuts that give new meaning to the idea of a beatstrumental. Swirling with barely intangible after-thoughts of the original song, each track on this EP sets itself apart from the last in a unique and subtle style that can only be the work of Sirkri. It's as if each track has a mind of its own, with each track being a different facet of a whole unseen by the listener yet there all along.


Triumphant Flow (feat. Divine Victory) by Handbook

Next up is Handbook , a beatstrumental maestro from York, United Kingdom. This master of chill has been throwing up tracks for quite awhile now and, to be honest, I'm not sure why it's taken me this long to sling him some praise. Exquisitely produced, full of soul AND body I can't stop my head from bobbing regardless of the track I'm listening to. Powerful basslines and soaring strings, accompanied by expertly executed vocal samples characterize the essence of Handbook's style, though there is a hidden shine always present between the beats that give me the sense that an outpouring of emotion crafted each song in to the remarkable production it is today.

In Triumphant Flow a rollin, flowin clash of grandiose brass and strings layer on top of the powerfully literary sermons of Divine Victory, an intelligent rap group from the U.S. Broiling seas of hip-hop soul and sick lyrical musings culminate to form a track that is top-notch on all fronts: production, dialogue, mastering, riddim -- it's all there.

Fall by Handbook

In an earlier work from Handbook the funky bassline and beat play from the bass and cymbals smooth together with the rich female vocal samples and background strings in a perfectly sublime mix that leaves me grasping for more. If only it wasn't so short!

Mor & Far - Tekst + LilErik by tёķšt

Dear God, it keeps getting better?! In this mashup of Old Fashioned from previously showcased Tekst and Swedish rapper Erik Johnsson an already perfect beatstrumental is catapulted to stratospheric excellence with absolutely stunning vocal skills of Johnsson. Folk, this is what I like to hear. This might as well be gold to my ears. An achingly funky beat and string melody, masterfully cut to perfection, matched with the dictation of an grade A vocalist. In perfectly complimented synchronicity this dynamic duo manage to pull off a stellar performance with the grace and ease of sleeping. It's absolutely fantastic!


Sweet Love prod by Fuso & Q3000 by Q3000

Time to chill with Q3000, a Berlin-based producer who puts brings new meaning to the word "cosmic". Smooth like a well aged scotch Q3000 showcases the slower side of jazz hip-hop, sending this track hurling in to outer space in what I can only assuming is a sleek, stylish spaceship headed for the planet Cool. Powered by gliding cymbals and a sauntering bassline, the sampled vocals and cosmic background reverbs floating throughout this track give it a spacey vibe sorely needed in the realm of jazzy hip-hop.

Keter by proflogik

Finally, on the other end of the chill jazz sector is the venerable proflogik. A guru of jazzy, spacey beats proflogik has been churning out dazed gems for quite some time now and his style of trippy, cosmic echolations shows no signs of stopping. This track, Keter, exhibits scratchy, analogue melodies lofted by bouncing basslines and ethereal synths that fly through space at, what I'm hoping, is the speed of light on their way to greet aliens in another galaxy. This track is perfect if you are flying high or back down on earth just trying to chill. Make sure you check out the rest of his cosmic beats on his soundcloud page.

This is Part 1, Part 2 is pictures and Part 3 is more music, make sure you check them all out! 

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.

Spring Cleaning

Hello folks! It seems spring has awoken the musical world. I'm seeing labels release singles left and right, as well as festivals pop up out of the woodwork. Spring fever is invading and that means tons of new music! As well as tons of homework...only a few weeks of school left so the heat's on(as well as the pollen, nasty allergies).

Anyway, this week I have a split down the middle on new artists. First up, two incredible artists outside my regular realm of electronica. These come courtesy of one of my favorite music blogs, aurgasm.us. If you are a fan of music, which I hope you are considering the context of this site, you will love aurgasm. Their tagline is "you're favorite music you've never heard" and that basically sums them up. Check em out.


Sweet Louise by The Belle Brigade

Starting this post I bring you The Belle Brigade, a young brother-sister duo from Los Angeles. Their style embodies a grass-roots, airy style of pop music with passionate lyrics and voices that have a hankering for harmonies. Slide, acoustic, and electric guitar, strings, and melancholy chords that hint at a slight country influence dominate the sound of The Belle Brigade, but their sound is far from stale. A fresh take on old country pop, this harmonious duo will have you singing along in no time.



Based out of Paname, France, ZAZ is a 5-piece nu-jazz band full of explosive soul. With a voice brimming over with passion Isabelle Geoffroy belts out a melody full of bluesy intent and exuberant energy that reaches out to you and lifts your heart. I don't even understand French and I can feel the emotion in her work! On tour now in France, this nu-skool band of soul searchers will be making waves for sure.

The Kabukistep (Original Mix) by H3 (We Are Mutants)

As always, the segue. Though I have done my best to avoid the dubstep genre so far, I have finally taken the fall and present you now with The Kabukistep. A huge drop, the familiar 2-step beat, and massive bass permeate this track as they do any other from the genre, but the presence of a unique old-style japanese melody is what makes this song stand out for me. With a traditional plucked string instrument fronting the main melody and several samples of japanese speech strung throughout the track the mood set here is rather unique among the dubstep world.


Sweet spring nights by Zenit Incompatible

Ending on a note more appropriate for the tone of this post is Sweet Spring Nights. Produced by Hungarian mashup artist and producer Zenit Incompatible, Sweet Spring Nights is a wonderful mix of drum and bass elements with the chilled out 60's lounge track It Is Such A Good Night. Rarely can you find a sampled dnb track that uses the majority of the track it as based on and Zenit Incompatible manages this feat not only with great skill but a flourish of aural candy. When I heard this track all I wanted to do was get up and dance, either that or sit in my car at a red light with sunglasses on and look super-cool.

Hiatus No More!

Well, it's been a month since my last post. Mid-terms, projects, and Spring Break have all contributed to my laziness and this post is long over-due. However, the artists I bring for you today do not lack in the same quality I seem to have no grasp for :)

I'll start this post with the electro front.

Speak because I can - Laura Marling - (Engine-EarZ Experiment Refix) FREE DOWNLOAD by Engine-EarZ Experiment

Mixes of ethnic electronica, dubstep, and a taste for blending world sounds only just begin to characterize the collective known as Engine-Earz. A quick perusing of their soundcloud page will introduce you to sounds ranging from indian sitar backed rave anthems to hip-hop mashups crossed with alternative rock and Michael Jackson staples, all the while containing a beat and flow that lends itself only to the style of the band. Though you could argue they are not trailblazers of the musical frontier, the melting pot Engine-Earz creates is one truly unique to the scene.

Speak Because I Can by Laura Marling is remixed in to a prime example of Engine-Earz creativity and genre-bending sound in this ode to an untouched tract of musical fusion, Electronic Folk. Engine-Earz manages to retain the spirit and emotion of Laura Marling's soulful melody while at the same time completely transforming the image of the track. This one's been on repeat for me for awhile now!

Inspirations Mix BBC Radio 1 2008- C22/Engine-EarZ by Engine-EarZ Experiment

As an added bonus, this is a mashup/mix Engine-Earz performed on BBC radio back in their infancy. The familiar sound of mashup artists such as Girl Talk come to mind when listening-- Mashing hip-hop lyrics with other genres is nothing new. However, I believe the production and selection of music Engine-Earz works with(in particular the hints of eastern influence) in this mix make a listen-through more than worth the time.


Sorrow - Summer of Love by Sorrow.

Sorrow - Nostalgia by Sorrow.

Next up is a Garage/Ambient artist by the name of Sorrow. A true gem in his genre, Sorrow has been producing grade A Deep Garage and Dubstep for over a year now. Though not particularly innovative, he is a shining example of how this genre of music should be done. Complex, multi-layered drum lines, ethereal floating melodies and an atmosphere of deep, quality soundscapes -- Sorrow is a talented producer and upholder of high standards for his sound.


Fool's Gold by Fool's Gold

This next band is a large segue from the world of electronica. Fool's Gold is a Los Angeles based collective that meshes together sounds from the African continent with tropical and funky influences into a groovy, danceable smoothie of world sounds that will always leaves a smile on your lips after just a taste. Saxaphones, wind-instruments, and percussion out the wazoo party together in to create an organic, almost tribal sound that is complemented perfectly by the wavering and energetic voice of Luke Top, vocalist and bassist for the band.

Their self-titled debut album is definitely no fool's gold, each song is just as catchy and unique as the last. This album is truly a piece of musical genius. Just take a listen for yourself.

Menahan Street Band - Montego Sunset by Johnny Strychnine

For the cherry on the top of the cake, I bring you Menahan Street Band. Perfect for a summer's day cruise, MSB combines jazz, funk, and ska sounds to create a layed-back medley of summer sounds. Sax, trumpets, and reggae-esque guitar rhythms permeate their intrumental debute album Make The Road By Walking.