Archive

Author Archives: Gabe Meier

L-Vis 1990 & Sinjin Hawke Collaborate On “Flash Alert”

By
November 13, 2013
New Music
1 Comment

l-vis 1990

It’s always a treat to receive new audio/visual project from Sinjin Hawke’s Fractal Fantasy video-only imprint and the latest might just be the burgeoning project’s most impressive yet. “Flash Alert” is a collaboration between Sinjin and Night Slugs don L-Vis 1990. It’s all absolute madness. The video is all molten metal and rapidly fluctuating textures, an immersive experience that is at once captivating and visually abrasive. The song is built on sharp edges and high frequencies, piling loads of snares on top of swimming (both real and metaphorical) effects. In a sense, it’s a London-centric update of early Detroit techno, bringing the Motor City’s innate funkiness into the digital age.

New Strict Face – “Forever In Dreams”

By
November 13, 2013
New Music
Leave a comment

strict face

Slackk’s monthly mixes have been a source for fresh, exciting grime since their inception and one of the most exciting artists we’ve discovered is Australia’s own Strict Face. Like many of his contemporaries, Strict Face’s sound is spacious and all-encompassing, but instead of the dark, heaving sound palette many other grime producers utilize, he deploys bright, uplifting melodies. “Forever In Dreams”, his latest sketch, is a meandering journey through breathy synth melodies paced over an orchestral backing. There are occasional whooshing percussive noises, but the song is almost completely devoid of drums. It’s warm and lush, but also slightly disorienting and dreamlike. From the mouth of Strict Face himself:

A disillusioned gangster dreams of the heavens for the final time before embarking on his final voyage through life.

Couldn’t sum it up better.

Shlohmo & Jeremih Reconvene In The Boiler Room

By
November 13, 2013
Live, Mixes
Leave a comment

Earlier this year, Yours Truly got Shlohmo and Jeremih in the studio together as part of their “Songs From Scratch” series. Then “Bo Peep (Do U Right)” came out. Then the two performed on stage together. And then they performed together in the Boiler Room. After Shlohmo laid down a solid 20 minutes of choice Houston cuts, some Andre Nickatina and his signature “Hail Mary” screw at the Wedidit x Boiler Room function a few weeks ago, Jeremih joined yung Henry on stage for a rendition of “Bo Peep” and a medley version of “F U All The Time” the two performed together earlier this calendar year. Jeremih’s performance was choppy at times, but the resonance of the event can still be felt. It’s a testament to institutions like Boiler Room and RBMA that us fans are able to consistently indulge in collaborations like this. Hopefully, Jeremih’s long delayed Thumpy Johnson LP is on the way soon, maybe even featuring some more Shlohmo production.

New Rexx Life Raj – “Mexican Mafia” (Feat. Dave Steezy)

By
November 13, 2013
New Music
Leave a comment

rexx life raj

The Bay Area has always known how to get down, turning out some of the most exciting, innovative party acts in hip hop history. That fact has also lead to a whole vein (largely perpetuated by New Yorkers) of criticism relating to the Bay’s relative lack of seriousness or “value”. The truth is that the Bay has done more for hip hop with regards to flow, slang and breaking down unspoken barriers than just about any other region and has a long, rich history of turning out diverse acts. Which brings us to Rexx Life Raj. Hailing from Berkeley, Rexx is one of the many nimble MCs to come out of the East Bay in recent years and joins the likes of Sage The Gemini and Iamsu! in representing the sunnier side of the Bay. Just take a peek at the Dave Steezy assisted “Mexican Mafia”. The sound is reminiscent of the slumper style utilized by AP-9, Celly Cel and others, but opts for exuberant wordplay over low slung danger. Rexx has a mixtape dropping on Friday so be sure to check back in this space soon.

New Gucci Mane – “Pablo” (Feat. E-40 & Trinidad James)

By
November 13, 2013
New Music
Leave a comment

Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash 14

It’s been quite some time since Gucci Mane has been at his sociopathic best and the past 12 months haven’t treated big Guwop especially well… Nonetheless, Mr. Davis can still wax poetic about the most minute details of the drug trade and depraved violence better than just about anyone else. If you can get past the lackluster chorus on “Pablo”, then you’ll get one of the better cold, methodical Gucci verses we’ve heard in months (or even years). In the end, E-40 is just the cherry on top and even the Lenox munchkin comes in to passably carry the baton home. Maybe I’m reaching, but Gucci still has a roll in 2013 hip hop and maybe even a decent album left. Apparently, “Pablo” is a few months old and the Trinidad verse in the only new addition, but we’ll take it.

New Ghost Mutt – “3310”

By
November 12, 2013
New Music
3 Comments

ghost mutt

Ghost Mutt is an enigma in our books, often brilliant, but seemingly without the ability to put forth a cohesive release. The Sasquatch and Sweat Mode EPs both had their highlights, but neither performs especially well as an individual document. On November 18, the Brighton-based producer will attempt to prove us wrong with his second EP on Donky Pitch, titled Rumble Pak. Sonic kin of producers like Jimmy Edgar and Lockah (who’s also released on Donky Pitch), Ghost Mutt takes a manic, maximalist approach to funk, hip hop and Joker’s purple realm of dubstep, melding the three into an intensely fun experience. Take “3010”, our first taste of Rumble Pak. It’s a commanding, synth-oriented track that has too many elements to count. There’s that chord progression reminiscent of Lex Luger, pounding, off-kilter kick drums, bright synth washes and a number of female vocal samples. There are bed spring, kiss and male soul samples. It’s a beautiful, captivating mess reminiscent of Rustie’s best work. Stream “3310” below and look out for the EP on the 18th.

New Jerome LOL – “Always” (Feat. Sarah Z)

By
November 12, 2013
New Music
1 Comment

jerome lol

Leeor Brown’s Friends of Friends imprint has been one of our favorite musical institutions since our founding at the beginning of 2012 and their continued partnership with Jerome Potter aka Jerome LOL has made us endlessly happy over the past 23 months. In February of next year, Jerome will release the Deleted/Fool EP through FoF Music, an affair that will surely feature his signature live sounding percussion and beatific harmonies, as well as two female vocalists. While two and a half months is a long time to wait for the EP, Jerome and FoF have gifted us with “Always”, the melancholic opening track from Delete/Fool. Stream below and start scratching off the days until February 4, 2014.

New Dubbel Dutch – “Deepa (Vocal Blend)”

By
November 12, 2013
New Music
Leave a comment

dubbel dutch

If ridiculously catchy Caribbean melodies, expansive, always changing rhythmic structures and female patois vocals are your thing, then Dubbel Dutch is your man. Having imprinted his name on the American club scene years ago, Dubbel Dutch’s third EP on Dre Skull’s Mixpak imprint, titled Cloud Club, sees the Brooklyn-based producer fully realizing the sound he laid out on the Self Help Riddim and Hymn EPs. There’s a little something for everyone here, whether it’s a challenging take on soca, dancehall or a Caribbean bend on Jersey club. The vocal mix of “Deepa” is arguably the EP’s standout, matching lung compressing sub bass with entrancing patois vocals and a reverb heavy melody that will be stuck in your head for days. Like all Dubbel Dutch songs, “Deepa” is wonderfully paced and subtle,  yet replete with relatable pop tropes. The Cloud Club EP is out now on Mixpak. Hit the jump to stream it in its entirety.

Read More

Neana Mix For The Astral Plane (plus Favorite Drum Tracks)

By
November 12, 2013
Interviews, Mixes
2 Comments

neana art FINALDrum tracks are simultaneously primitive and futuristic, drawing on both history and an admirable refusal to kowtow to the past. Modern drum tracks often utilize breaks that are decades old, but sound like nothing ever heard before. Over the past few years, labels like Night Slugs, Hessle Audio and Keysound Recordings have been delving into the realm of drum tracks, their respective artists massaging the ‘nuum sounds of grime, jungle and techno into a whole new beast. Peverelist, Pearson Sound, Objekt and more have set the pace for this fresh, percussive sound, but lately a new crop of producers, Akito, Visionist and Helix to name a few, have taken the torch and ran with it. Today we’re focusing on London-based Neana who’s garnered quite a bit of attention in recent months as a constant fixture in Bok Bok’s Rinse.FM mixes.

Drawing on a wide range of influences including noise act the Fuck Buttons and jazz drummer Roy Brooks, Neana has honed his ultra-percussive sound through a series of bootlegs, taking on the likes of Kingdom, Dizzee Rascal and Kanye West. As for Neana’s guest mix, it’s a 45+ minute exhibition through kicks, snares and breakbeat science, broken up with Jersey club and ballroom. Neana draws from American and British producers equally, amalgamating the wildly popular sounds of London with the still relatively insular sounds of Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New Jersey. Check out and download the mix below and hit the jump for the track list and Neana’s favorite drum tracks. We bet they’ll surprise you in the best way possible.

Read More

Ryan Hemsworth & Starlito Collaborate On “Can’t Get Over You”

By
November 11, 2013
New Music
Leave a comment

starlito hemsworth

Yours Truly’s “Songs From Scratch” collaboration series is seemingly flawless, bringing together artists from different spheres into a single room to flex their respective skill sets. The latest effort isn’t necessarily the most out there as the two artists have collaborated in the past, but the quality is definitely up to par. Sir Hemsworth and Nashville’s finest put on a feel fest on “Can’t Get Over You” and mumble through the video portion. The music and heartfelt and a more substantive collaboration between these two is surely not out of the picture. Check out the video below and be sure to cop ‘Lito and Don Trip’s excellent Step Brothers 2 tape.