This is some deliciousness from Los Angeles based Tony Watson. Tony is a respected music figure in the Bay Area, as his sonic signature comprising intelligent selections of house, disco, funk, Afrobeat and beyond has left a huge imprint on the L.A. scene.
For now though we present a genuine killer slo-mo house-disco track Moonwalker feat. Roayer. All ASR-10 on this one. Geeet reeeaaaddyyyy!
Popup Cinema was the first track I heard from Tropics ever, so I was really excited to listen to his other productions. It's hard NOT to enjoy his 4 track EP album called Popup Cinema that dropped November 5th. It is like the more you listen to it the more you love it. One of my top finds I have come across this year. No doubt about that.
Even the most obvious tracks can still can reworked w/ a fresh approach. This implies to Sshh Edits, whose fourth 10'' this year odropped recently. Both side are getting a deep house treatment - Pump Up The Jam is on the A-Side, but the B-Side is where the goods are. Inside My Love gives a new perspective on Minnie's classic and incorporates a lovely subdued hook from Jill Scott's Golden. Stricly limited, green 10'', tailormade for all vinyl heads.
Discovered Saneyes while browsing several facebook groups that I joined in the past months. As we've now waited times where conscious listeners are nearly bombarded with new music, we have to pick up ones that stand out amongst "the others". That's the case with hip hop/future soul producer Saneyes. He started producing music in the beginning of the XXI century inspired by such classics as "Like Water For Chocolate" or Slum Village's "Fantastic" sequel. Check out his latest track called State Of Mind, a soulful tune with pulsating bassline. Watch the video below, download HERE. Dope!
Guys at The Very Polish Cut Out's continue the steady stream of 2-track Edit EP's. #8 dropped yesterday and it's the best one yet. Edited by mysterious duo Ptaki (Birds) the original source tracks remain a secret, but the edits ar so so good that it doesn't even matter. Krystyna and Maciek both are classy, beatdown burners and that vocal hook on Krystyna is pure hands in the air stuff. The vinyl will out in March 2013, stay tuned.
This one right here was located and liberated by Soulection while listening to one of Lefto's recent radio shows. It turned out that Left & Right remix was an unreleased gem created by the Leuven (Belgian) duo Alectric and Poldoore who hide behind the name of Moodprint. They are preparing for their first official remix on Tangram Records in early 2013 (February). Stay tuned!
Toro Y Moi never dissappoints as he is no small fish in the world of electronic music. On January 22, he will release a new album called Anything in Return through Carpark. Around some time ago he has shared the first taste of what he describes as "sincere pop music that's not all processed and bubblegum" wit a cut called "So Many Details". This was also released as a 7" single and dropped exactly on Black Fride i.e. November 23, with a B-side remix by Toro himself, featuring Odd Future's Hodgy Beats.
Our man Roux Spana is t1/3 of Private Silence - trio based in Odense and playing some featherlight acoustic soul aided w/ the vocals from Asia Kucharczyk. The 4-track ep is finally out, free of charge. Every track got remixed and all producers involved really delivered the goods. Spisek Jednego gave Half a slow-fast Om-Unit style footwork vibe and Twardowski brought California boogie to Wish on his Ful Thinking Remix. And ofc we can't forget about classy beats from Teielte and Roux Spana himself.
London-based producer and Hotflush affiliate Jack Dixon has just dropped a three-track EP. Since house music have quickly becoming one of my new obsessions, I fell in love with this one right away. The EP is simply titled 1, and is a free download. Artists who give away dope music must simply get mad props. Track "Sequing" that opens the EP is a beautiful bit of swung house, with chopped drums strongly influenced by Burial. "10 Years" adds some trance flavour, whereas "Margo" comes up with something tougher. Eagerly waiting for the "2" EP.
Hamburg based Fauxpas Muisk is celebrating their 3rd anniversary and 10th release in some style. Essáy, labels new recruit put on th 10'' a heart-grabbing melancholic piece of electronica titled Find You, w/ the aid of norwegian singer Ida Dillian on the vocals. Friends from Fauxpas - Nocow & Desolate - contribute also w/ 2 remixes (the latters' Get Together Mix makes it even more multi-layered and dense). The 10'' is limited to 300 copies, I wouldn't hesitate to get one yourself.
Jerome Potter and Markus Garcia are the viral force that is LOL Boys, the Los Angeles via Montreal duo. Their very well acclaimed EP album "Changes" that dropped in July has waited five different versions of its title track including remixes by Star Slinger, CFCF, Groundislava, Todd Edwards and GRANT.
Little round-up on what's Nosaj Thing been up to recently:
1) Jason released the clip for Eclipse/Blu - first single from the upcoming album Home to be released on 22th January 2013. Visuals are provided by Daito Manabe and the visuals react to the dancers movement, not the other way around (how awesome is that?)
2) Just a moment ago a loose track Snap was dropped on the Innovative Leisure soundcloud profile. Besides being awesone it's a freebie.
That's the way to end the year on high, isn't it? Officially Home is the most anticipated electronic album of 2013.
Rekompileret is a DJ collective, a music platform and music blog, created with the aim of delivering well produced and good music to a broad range of Danish music lovers. 6 times a year, Rekompileret releases a new compilation, as a collection of the best remixes found on the Danish "music market". As quality music lovers exist all over, and not only in Denmark, I decided to push it forward. Compilation is definitely worth to go through and have a listen to it. It spans a lot of interesting genres, and if I were to tag them, I'd probably go for #electronica, #wonky, #beats... whatever. If you get puzzled by the title of the compilation - do not despair :) Gløgg is a Scandinavian Christmas punch; "direkte fra hanen" stands for "directly from the faucet. Mandegløgg should indicate that it comes from a man...so just look to the left to see what this little, sweet creature is doing ;)
After a great debut, East Liberty Quarters return w/ The 206 EP and are armed with 6 supreme Modern Funk cuts. Released by Rotating Souls Records, the EP will be available in all good record stores on like Juno orClone on 10th December. Grab your 12'' while listening to the snippets:
This D33J dude is a part of WEDIDIT collective which includes Shlohmo, JonWayne, Groundislava and a bunch of other good folks (in case if you wondered, D33J is pronounced like dijon mustard) . Following up on his free R3MIX3S EP back from early October, just few weeks after, he laced us with another one of his custom remixes. D33J offers up "Vacant Feelings" - his refix of Brandy's "A Capella (Something's Missing)" from her album released 4 years ago. D33J just added: "Just bought a 707 n was like bored or something so i flipped this brandy acapella for u." Well, there is nothing else than say, thank you buddy :)
You can stream and download the "Vacant Feelings" refix below.
A year ago (while writing for another blog) Phil Gerus hit me up w/ a request to check out his tunes. Fast forward to 2012 and Phil finally gets the deserved credit w/ a release on Jazzanova'sSonar Kollectiv as a part Based On Misunderstandings series. The style of production remains the same - analog-warm, pure melodic funkiness based on sampling vintage cassette tapes, but it's in my opinion Phil's best work to date, eastern european chillwave at it's finest. Grab the limited wax pressing HERE (and listen to the rest of the snippets) or HERE.
The first time I heard about Falcons was when Dj Tunes (big ups to WhatAboutTheBeats) played his fantastic warm-up before Teebs & Samiyam in Copenhagen in early 2012. The track that he played during his gig was of course freshly released Nigeria, some banging uptempo juke rythms steeped in the sounds of African nation. I was therefore eagerly waiting for their next releases, and here it is. Recent L.A. transplant/Vancouver BC native (Falcons paired down from duo to just one remaining member Yung Bircall), releases his Remixxes Vol. 2 project, following up on last year's buzzworthy Vol. 1. With its lead track Vroom (this could be in my top3 tunes of the year, yeah, I know that's a big call, but it's so dope), this will be filling dancefloors this winter. As 95% of the music we post here, this is a free download.
Without THAT 1 misclick on boomkat site I probably wouldn't find out about this record. I'm a huge fan of spacy synthwave esthetics coming from the likes of Space Dimension Controller and others so the latest LP from Brandon Knocke aka Discoverer titled Tunnels on Digitalis Industries blew my mind from the off.
8 carefully executed compositions will take you on a cinematic journey through eons of galaxies where soft handclaps and feminized vocals glide over eerie, somehow isolated synths and chords. Tunnels are released on turquoise vinyl so cop it on Boomkat. Personal Clone is a freebie on Xlr8r, listen to the whole album here:
The very first track from Twardowski I had the pleasure to listen was Deep Inside, the times when it was just on soundcloud with 100 plays. I've immediately passed it to my co-bloger Krzysiek with a note that the grass is always greener on the other side and it probably the best way to describe A Soundtrack To Growing Up. One of the most interesting releases in U Know Me Records catalogue. Our declared synth freak it dissecting Dreaming for us, read in: Pierwszy numer Twardowskiego jaki miałem okazję usłyszeć to Deep Inside, kiedy jeszcze wisiał na soundcloudzie i miał 100 wyświetleń. Od razu podrzuciłem cynk do co-blogera Krzyśka z dopiskiem "cudze chwalicie, swojego nie znacie" i to chyba najlepiej opisuje Soundtrack To Growing Up. Zdecydowanie jedna z najciekawszych pozycji w katalogu U Know Me Records. Nasz zdeklarowany synth freak wziął dla nas na warsztat Dreaming, miłej lektury:
Drums (Sample)
The sketch for Dreaming was made on samples: the track's beginning had a really nice drum loop w/ a very classic 80's sound. I've recreated it on Electribe, started to work on the tempo/clap repeats, retuned the whole and what was left actualy didn't sound like the original at all.. To give some life to the syntetic drums and trying like usual to aim for the lo-fi sound, I've recorded the tambourine. In my room, with an open window, and quite not evenly. Joking about the window – but it still took me a good few minutes of gating, compressing and equalizing so drums were set.
Szkic "Dreaming" powstał na bazie sampli: na początku utworu-źródła była bardzo fajna pętla bębnów, na klasycznych, często występujących brzmieniach. Odtworzyłem ją w całości na Electribe'ie, zacząłem kombinować z tempem i powtórzeniami clapów, przestroiłem całość i to co zostało nie ma nic wspólnego z oryginałem ale bardziej mi leży. Żeby ożywić miarową, syntetyczną perkusję, dograłem tamburyn: zawsze raczej celuję w brzmienie lo-fi, niż kliniczną czystość dźwięku, więc tamburyn z premedytacją nagrałem w pokoju, przy otwartym oknie i dość nierówno. Z tym otwartym oknem trochę przegiąłem, ale po upojnych kilkudziesięciu minutach bramkowania, kompresowania, equalizowania i cholera wie czego jeszcze, miałem gotowe bębny.
Bass The bass. I was working on Dreaming straight after reading an article about Ultravox of which I remember 2 things – that they had a mind blowing synth collection (every synthfreak's wet dream) and that their sound was about combining the clinical-robotic-elements from sequencers and drum machines w/ imperfect, more human guitars and vocals for a better groove. The idea for Dreaming was quite similar – the bass had to be synthetic. I've plugged my Roland SH-101 to the Doepfer Dark Time sequencer and Electribe. When the whole machinery was in-sync, after a bit of tweaking the sequencer I finally got my bass-line.
Następnym elementem jest bas. Obmyślałem ten utwór świeżo po lekturze i pod wrażeniem jakiegoś wywiadu z zespołem Ultravox, z którego utkwiły mi w głowie dwie rzeczy - że mieli naprawdę mega kolekcję synthów (ale tak totalnie mokry sen każdego synthfreaka) i że czynnikiem definiującym ich muzykę było połączenie elementów robotycznie równych, pochodzących z sekwencerów i drum-maszyn z żywymi gitarami i wokalem, które ludzką niedoskonałością miały ożywiać całość. No więc kontynuowałem tworzenie "Dreaming" w tym duchu - bas miał być syntetyczny. Brzmienie, które chciałem, wykręciłem na Rolandzie SH-101, który ma to do siebie, że w departamencie basów niewiele trzeba z nim dalej robić. Pozostała sekwencja: Rolanda podłączyłem do sekwencera krokowego (Doepfer Dark Time), który połączyłem z Electribe'em. Wszystko działało więc w pełnej synchronizacji i po paru minutach kręcenia sekwencerem, miałem linię basu.
Rhodes As we know, electronic music is all about the groove, so having done the bass and drums, the song desperately needed some hints of a melody. I still had in my mind the original piano sound, sampled it and put on the almost lo-fi effect. I always tried to avoid the hip-hop zero release problems and to gain that organic feelin' looped the whole sequence to able to play with loops of any length.
Skoro bas i perkusja jest, czas na jakąś szczątkową melodię. Wiadomo,że muzyka elektroniczna to przede wszystkim jak to się ładnie mówigroove, ale coś musi być co się da zanucić. Przypomniałem sobiepianino elektryczne z pierwotnego sampla, zsamplowałem to w moimtajemnym systemie saturacyjnym, który daje bezczelne brzmienie ouproszczonym przebiegu (żeby znów nie powiedzieć lo-fi). Podzieliłemna pojedyncze próbki, potraktowałem trochę efektami i ułożyłem. Zawszedążyłem do tego, żeby układając melodię z sampli, unikać brutalnegozakończenia brzmień (albo jak kto woli - zerowego release), znanegoprzede wszystkim z hip-hopu. Pod tym względem, chciałem, żeby byłoorganicznie, więc zapętliłem wybrzmiewanie każdej próbki pianina,dzięki czemu mogłem mieć akordy dowolnej długości.
Vocal
While I was sampling the rhodes piano, the vocal caught my ear. After a little work, the sample got a really nice, deep vibe. Then was time for chopping and arranging to fit to the existing loop.
Przy okazji samplowania piana, zwróciłem uwagę na wokal, który nabrał bardzo fajnego, głębszego brzmienia po przestrojeniu. Znowu podzieliłem na pojedyncze próbki i ułożyłem do wcześniej zrobionej pętli.
I laid down the arp on the Electribe, but the Korg sound didn't fit with the overall vibe - the track needed something more German. So I turned to my trusty MFB Synth II which I bought having had read it has all the sounds you'd expect from a Moog. Well, it sounds nowhere near a Moog, but it's a pretty darn useful tool in it's own right. Got the job done in the arp department.
The last thing I needed to complete the track was a deep-drone-like-and-grainy pad, so after a quick glance at my room it looked like Poly-800 had what takes to make it happen (although people dissmiss it as s shadow of the Polysix). But I still have the belief, the 800 still has a couple of good cheesy sounds in the locker. Furthermore we have an emotional connection – I had to wait 2 weeks for it's delivery, the flood hit Dolny Śląsk so first week the owner was busy making raising dikes, the 2nd weekend UPS was scared of driving there. All in all – Poly-800 has a great synth-bass, I played it low filtered , so it started to sound like the desired pad. And that's how it ends, I've ran out of free cables and inputs on the sound card.
To co uzyskałem do tego momentu było już całkiem satysfakcjonujące (postawiłem sobie wyzwanie, żeby przestać robić 30-ścieżkowe uber-busy numery), ale czegoś jeszcze mi brakowało, więc klasycznie uciekłem w arpeggiator, który jest najlepszym przyjacielem człowieka. Zostałem naElectribe'ie: na nim "ułożyłem" arpa, ale brzmienia z Korga w ogóle mi tu nie pasowały. Potrzebne było coś zdecydowanie bardziej niemieckiego. Odpowiedzią okazał się MFB Synth II, którego kupiłem dawno temu, przeczytawszy, że brzmi jak Moog. Otóż nie brzmi, ale nie zmienia to faktu, że się przydaje, jako MFB sam w sobie, nie zaś emulator czegoś, czego nie próbuje nawet emulować. Arp wyszedł całkiem przyzwoity, więc nie ma co narzekać.
Na koniec potrzebowałem jeszcze jakiegoś wypełnienia przestrzeni, żeby zaznaczyć, że numer już zbliża się do szczęśliwego końca. Zawsze byłem fanem nisko zagranych, dronujących, ziarnistych padów, więc znów zacząłem się rozglądać po pokoju, który grat najlepiej się do tego nada. Padło na Poly-800 - bardzo lubię ten syntezator, mimo że wiele osób go z miejsca odrzuca jako mizerny cień po wspomnieniu Polysixa. Ja jednak zawsze wierzyłem, że to sensowny klawisz z kilkoma naprawdę użytecznymi cheesy brzmieniami na pokładzie. Tym bardziej, że przywiązałem się do tego syntha emocjonalnie, głównie ze względu na fakt, że po tym jak go kupiłem, czekałem na dostarczenie ponad dwa tygodnie, bo było to w czasach powodzi na Dolnym Śląsku i przez jeden tydzień sprzedający był zajęty ustawianiem wałów, zaś przez następny tydzień firmy kurierskie odmawiały przyjazdu na te potencjalnie niebezpieczne tereny. W każdym razie Poly-800 ma bardzo fajny synth-brass, który, zagrany odpowiednio nisko i przefiltrowany, zaczął brzmieć jak ten ziarnisty pad, o który mi chodziło. Na tym etapie skończyły mi się sprawne kable audio i wejścia w karcie, więc już nie mogłem nic dodać i tym samym pracę nad numerem uznałem za zakończoną.
Let's pull it back together and see how it sounds:
There has been a lot of hype about the first EP on Sleazy Beats parent lable Black Ops (Ben La Desh - Stop That Groove Girl EP). With Black Ops sophomore release it is not hard to see why the hype was there. The new EP from Frank BookerBeat Down & Out offers up a variety of quality deep house flavors, all with just the weak hint of loose-limbed disco funk. Mr. Booker has previously delivered a monstrous 12" for the final Sleazy Beats series, as well as great EP's on Untracked, Japan's Wonderful Noise, all of which sold out in week one. Don't sleep on the new EP!
Japanese labels don't dissapoint and this time it's the same. Wonderful Noise, home to Funkommunity, Julien Dyne, EWH and others will drop a strictly deep house EP from sauce81 (cosmopolyphonic crew) at the beginning of next year (January 13th to be exact). There's nothing more on Fade Away EP than jazzy chilled out vibes, but never below a certain level. Here's the promomix and watch out for the 12'' in 2013:
Just watch when Londons 22 year old Maths TimeJoy is snapped by a big label. Hideaway EPis just the thing I'm looking in electronic music now. Each of the 3 tracks start slow, but builds on w/ their momentum to unravel absolutely beautiful, eerie soundscapes and.. well they're just like the cover on the left (w/ the added soulful vocals). The EP is a free download HERE. and staff pick for today is:
12'' from Turquoise Summers is the first release on the newly founded, Portland based, modern Funk label Omega Supreme Records. Although Never Can Get Enuff was released on the Sunrise Blend comp, but I'm still glad it out on vinyl. Break You Down on the flipside is just pure modern funk - from the chords, the bass, drums and 80's synths. Does this fella's sound remind you of anyone? If yes, he's the cousin of the 1 you're thinking :) As I got told there's more to come from Turquoise, fingers crossed.
Hailing from Lodz in Poland, SLG or Lukasz Seliga, is a producer, live act performer and DJ rooted in both techno and house music with a strong funk flavor. Luckily I managed to pick up my copy of Potop EP at O.Y.E. Records in Berlin, and I say "luckily", because I know this will sell out. Potop droped on Swedish Studio Barnhus, and they describe this release as SLG's finest work to date. The EP delivers five perfect tracks ranging from sample flipping modernist house to 808-laced lullabies and back. Guest artists are equally Polish superstars Catz 'N Dogs and Dj Mo. Tracks off this EP will no doubt take over club dancefloors in Poland and beyond its borders. Listen to snippets below.
Some of you might have stubmled upon this one before (since it was released early summer this year). I knew that Atlantics, Vol. 2 was eventually going to end up here on Beatscapes, because this shit is simply amazing. Astro Nautico is run by Brooklyn based Obey City, Kuhn, and Paul Jones (all three make an appearance on the compilation). If you want to broaden your music library and discover some great new artists, Atlantics Vol. 2 features over 40 tracks, so there are plenty of cats to check for. The compilation spans an amazing array of genres, touching upon experimental beats, juke, footwork influenced jams, deep garage sounds, bassed-out club bangers and more. The compilation is all for free, so make sure you get that essential DOWNLOAD.
Zackey Force Funk - Nite Flite (off Atlantics, Vol. 2)
Supa Soul Sh*t is a collabo between Vienna based producer Brenk and lubmberjack soul singer Miles Bonny from Kansas City in US. Together, these two soul gorillas are S3. The work they have done together as S3 is a strike of jazz, but with what seems to have a bit more of a modern "bass polish", as opposed to other projects Bonny has released in the past. Album dropped 10 days ago and is an instant, future classic, or as Suff Daddy says "super serious shit".
Watch the video promo created while on their travels in Europe.
Massive "big ups" to Daniel Drumz, Sleepless State Of Mind is now named the most anticipated electronic release of the remaining 2012. U Know Me Records representative takes the best of trap, bass music, analog synths and hip-hop background to create a really unique sound of his own. 12'' (300 copies) will be available worldwide late November. Here's the promomix:
Lovely! Freebie Saturday! This remix is lifted from the "Get Started Remix EP". Our favorite dutch producer and DJ from Amsterdam Full Crate (22 Tracks) brings a fresh, energetic remix to "Get Started" with a screwed down vocal sample, hand claps, booming bass tones and a series rhythm that hits really deep. The EP highlights the second single from Mark de Cilve-Lowe's noted "Renegades" album. The EP with original cuts and a handful of eclectic remixes will be out October 30th on Tru Thoughts. Don't miss this, and make sure you download!
At the very beginning of the summer we wrote about Groundislava's TV Dream EP, as planned Jasper's sophomore album came out in September and the WEDIDIT Collective member certainly delivered. Chiptune-ish feel is still there, as well as the nostalgia and heavy , yet subtle textures. Actually that's our definition what beatscapes are about, not the dull post-dilla 80bpm shit from knxwledge's and 1KT's of this world. The LP is ofc available in most good record stores.
After the release of Feel Me an obligatory XLR8R mix followed - in my humble opinion one of the best this year, essantial download. Featuring many dope Groundislava cool mixes for label friends.. of Friendsand LA cats like Benedek the mix has a relaxed feel but surely would work on the dancefloor.
There are a lot of new, thrilling ways of creating pop music to be discovered, no question about that. South London's Sarah Williams White (abbreviated to SWW) is one of those artists who have taken a lot of risk on the single Your Silence Is Killing Me, but this risk pays off in the creation of one of the dopest pop tracks I've heard since ages. Killer, classic, quirky blend of boom bap & pop. The single was released as a 7" with a remix on the b-side from her brother Paul White. Check it and get your own 7" HERE.
Kota Motomura's a Tokyo based DJ and producer and Sun is his first release on belgian label. King Kung Foo. Deep & soulful slo-mo disco killer, Sun really delivers when the bass kicks in and then smoothly glides under the jazzy chords and keys. The 12'' (available in most stores) has a more uptempo Tony Watson remix on the flipside, but I guess I'll stick w/ the classy original mix.
I've spotted this killer tune on so far one of my favorite music blogs - Gluttony Is The New Black, big ups Dre! Thanks to her, I was introduced to Romania's Vali Dragomir, also known as producer VILLΛGE. A name that didn't ring a bell, serves up a bass driven tune that completly knocked my socks off upon first listen. Takover is dominated by skittering drums of future UK Garage fused with sexy R&B vocals have been sliced into pieces and carefully laid over a classy instrumental. Free download!!!
After the Donut Shop, Serato teams up w/ Stones Throw 1nce again. Two slipmats, 2 discs - 2 control tone sides & 8 exclusive tracks from ST roster on the remaning. My personal highlights are those featuring Steve Arrington - Privacy from M.E.D.'sClassic full length, and Tap That from collabo album with Dam-Funk which just can't get released (3 year running), nonetheless, they're straight up bangers.
There is a rumor that the final instalment in Mo Kolours' trilogy of EPs for OHM (One Handed Music), EP3: Tusk Dance, will be out early 2013. Keep an eye on this release, as OHM we'll be revealing more details and music very soon. Before that, we get a hand-stamped and numbered white label 7"with the A-side track called Brave, available for free download. B-side is exclusive to the 7" and not available digitally. If you want your copy, you gotta act very quick, as bandcamp copies were sold out within 24h. You can still grab a copy here: Rush Hour, Sounds Of The Universe, Chemical Records, and Bookmat.
Project Mooncircle continues their steady stream of quality releases - this time it's UK's Kidkanevil and Japan's Daisuke Tanabe who make an collaborative effort under the aliasKidsuke. Distorted effects, heavy-pulsating bass and lots of unsuspected sound layer combinations work together w/ great effect, but the little details of bleeps, childhood melodies and toy sounds make the LP so intriguing. It's out on November 2nd, on orange wax.
"Second Time Around" is Andrés' sophomore release on his own label La Vida. For some of you Andrés is probably one that really needs no introduction, but for some of you this name could be completly unfamiliar. Andrés, aka DJ Dez, is one of Detroit's veterans, and unsung heros of underground music. He's got extremely respectable catalog of records released during 90's, most notably his releases on KDJ and Mahogani. We can't forget, that DJ Dez is also Slum Village's DJ, and has released a couple of hip hop instrumentals on Hipnotech Records. Nuff said. Releases like "Second Time Around" tells us why Detroit is such a mecca for modern dance music. Check the track Hart Plaza below and enjoy an impressive collage of samples that merge into killing groove.
Niewidzialna Nerka is a milestone for the polish beat scene. We've said that when it came out and still stick to it (after a long summer of intense listening). Scene, which was out there, growing fast and getting lots of buzz thanks to U Know Me Records and ofc S1 Warsaw aiding the capital crowds with world-class bookings, but didn't have a sampler to show "this is us and our sound is heading into a new direction". Most producers who appeared on the comp have a hip-hop background, so nostalgia for the good 'ol times didn't dissappear. Kilkaset Słów Prawdy is one of biggest jams, we have the pleasure to know the author so it didn't took long to hook up for a little dissection exclusive for Beastcapes:
Niewidzialna Nerka to kamień milowy dla polskej sceny nowo-bitowej. Mówiliśmy to jak NN wyszła i trzymamy się dalej (po całym lecie intesywnego słuchania). Scena na fali wznoszącej, w szczególności dzięki UKM Records i S1 Warsaw (ogarniające dla warszawskiej publiki konkretne bookingi), ale nie mająca jednego wydawnictwa, które by dało jasny przekaz "to my i nasze brzmienie, idziemy w tym kierunku". Większość producentów z NN zjadła zęby na rapie jak Wilku, więc wraz z nowym brzmieniem nostalgia dla starych czasów na pewno nie zniknęła. Kilkaset Słów Prawdy to jeden z największych sztosów, mamy przyjemność znać autora, więc nie trwało długo nim się umówiliśmy na małe dissection aka 'jak to jest zrobione', prawie jak na discovery:
Main Sample In the original DJ 600 Volt sampled quite a long loop from the beginning of 1975 Best of Your Heart by Rufus & Chaka Khan. I decided to create a totally new one using different shots from the whole composition.
Oryginalnie Volt wysamplował stosunkowo długą pętle z początku numeru "Best of Your Heart" Rufusa & Chaka Khan z 1975. Ja postawiłem przeszukać całą kompozycje i z poszczególnych „strzałów” ułożyć całkowicie nowego loopa.
Drums
When I had the loop done I started to look for some drums selected from different sound banks. When the pattern was finished I've pushed up mid and high tones and compressed the whole mix.
Kiedy już miałem główną pętlę, zacząłem szukać odpowiednich bębnów. Sample perkusyjne pochodzą z różnych banków. Po ułożeniu głównego loopa, dodałem trochę środka oraz wysokich częstotliwości. Na końcu ułożyłem kompresora.
Bass The bass was made using a Mikro Korg. Got the sound I wanted after a few touches, so only a bit of knob tweaking was required. Bas pochodzi z Mikro Korga. Od początku brzmienie mi bardzo odpowiedało, więc tylko troszeczkę pokręciłem knobami.
Main Synth
The main synth's a Moog bass sample played in a higher register. Delay and reverb was added for a deeper and richer soundscape and I've cut the low frequencies. Główny syntetyzator to bass sampel z Mooga grany w wyższym rejestrze. Do tego dodałem delay oraz reverb, tworząc tym samym większą głębie i przestrzeń, oraz uciąłem niskich częstotliwości.
Synth #2
The last synth sound was found in Reason. Again I've used the reverb, but not a too long one.
Na ostatni synth składa się brzmienie znalezione w Reasonie. Ponownie dodałem reverb, ale tym razem zdecydowanie krótszy.
Let’s put this all back together and see how it sounds.
Next time we'll be hosting an obsessed 'synth freak', stay tuned!
I had the pleasure to watch fLako live not so long ago during Up2d8 Festival in Białystok and have to say that this ep stands totally opposite to the live act (but ofc it doesn't mean it's bad or sth). Production-wise Honey Drips reminds me of Yosi Horikawa w/ the added vocals. Dirg Gerner makes the guest appareance again on 1 of Eclosure's. The 12'' released by Five Easy Pieces will be available on November 5th.
Luv N' Haight lable (one of Ubiquity Records' imprint), home for re-issue of rare groove gems is preparing to drop a complete full-length album of the Circle City Band, including unreleased
tracks. If you have never heard of this group before, Circle City Band is fondly remembered by roller skaters and and by their devastating funk groove of the early 1980s. First issue of these boogie kings from Indiana, was a massive 12" called Magic, that despite of its age (it's been 30 years!) would still rock the danceflors. So all you boogie funk freaks, don't sleep on this album, that will be released on Luv N' Haight!
This time around we've got something from back in the day for you, and perhaps you could've been sleeping on this as well. Marc Mac, one half of the mighty 4Hero (a legendary and pioneer duo that helped change the face of current electronic music), teamed up with heavyweight music allrounder Erik Rico from Los Angeles for a beautiful single called Direct Soul. EP by the same name was released back in 2010, and after two years is still fresh as fuck, being a real modern day fusion of many musical styles. Purchase the album via iTunesand enjoy the beautiful video. Have a nice weekend!
