It's been awhile since any of us have posted any Todd Edwards, and let me tell ya, it's been worth the silence.
Todd has been posting on Facebook about a download site he is working on where you would be able to access his tracks and purchase them. TO tide us over til the actual debut of the site, he has promised that every Tuesday he will upload his unreleased remixes to his Soundcloud for free download.
The first Tuesday was this week, and his Soundcloud yields many Edwards jewels. I recommend you check it out! I'd post some up, but I've had difficulty with downloading from Soundcloud, so none of the files made it. Check it out! Maybe next Tuesday will see a high quality MP3 of his elusive DVNO mix!
I guess that's all for now. I'll get some of my summer jams up in the next couple days. :)
Boba
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Saturday, 19 June 2010
4 AM Lullabies
(Yes, I am currently writing this blog post at 4 in the morning. It'd be called dedication if I hadn't made a post in nearly two weeks.)
About a week ago I received a message in my inbox from someone at Triple Down Records. As their first track on their MySpace page is an indie rock song, I was more than a bit confused. Upon clicking the download link, however, my qualms were immediately soothed.
I haven't been able to find out any information about Adaledge, the enigmatic producer behind Triple Down's latest release, Vintage Feelings. His music is an espresso blend of dubstep and IDM, two genres which are very foreign to little-old-disco-house-producer-me.
Regardless, these tracks are soulful expressions which have broadened my mind to new genres--and, since these are beyond electronic, they merit inclusion in this lovely blog.
On with the show!
'Computer Kaki' is pretty arrhythmic, but has a sort of groove within it. Now, I know next to nothing about dubstep (aside from listening to Hyph Mngo last year and hating every second of it), so I'll assume the offbeat guitar stabs throughout the track are supposed to be there. The rest of the track (electronic beat and chopped-to-hell guitar melody) is fascinating to me; as much as I love chopped samples, I'd like to call this overkill, but it really isn't. It takes a genius to manipulate miniscule samples so much and still make a cohesive track. To make a disco house analogy: there is a fine line between The Phantom's Revenge and Rapid Sound.
The title 'Can You Dig It' evokes images of Isaac Hayes and all 24 Shaft blaxploitation films from the 1970s and, coming from a community of disco sampling, I was almost expecting his sampled baritone voice to open the track. What I got, however, was even more satisfying. A melting pot of synths, electric and acousting guitar and of course that bumbling jungle beat we love, this track is one of my favorites on the EP. The message of the track seems to be "Everything will be alright," or, perhaps, for our American listeners, "Keep calm and carry on." I've listened to the track 3 times in a row whilst writing this blurb--it's infectious in a way that talks to your soul.
He would be proud.
'Make It In Metaphors' immediately caught my attention as it's actually somewhat housey for an IDM track. The cavalcade of synth stabs and bells is a bit overwhelming at some points in the track, but not so much in an ear-raping kind of way. Simply, they kind of bypass your ears and move straight down. There's not much to say about this track, other than I very much like it. It too sends a message; I'm not sure what it is, but the track is awesome, so who really cares?
Closing the album is the lead single 'Telos', but I think the penultimate track 'Quick On Your Feet Head' is a much better end. The track itself seems to say "We're over, now move on with your lives" in a way that's endearing. Rapidly quickening and slowing down, synths and piano fading in and out, beat constantly changing and disappearing, it is a reminder of the sporadicness of life. Adaledge seems to capture a unique human element here. Perhaps I'm reading too much into this, but regardless--I want this track played during my funeral movie scene montage.
Overall 'Vintage Feeling' appropriates a unique sound, shifting and changing itself while still remaining constant in a way that is the opposite of mathematical. All of the tracks on this release could easily go with a scene of someone's life, or death, or time in the interim. Now, I've grayed out the links to these because Adaledge is awesome--and the full release is only $7. Pick this one up and support a great artist--you won't regret it.
Now I'm off to watch the sun rise and then head off to bed. Ah, the life I pretend to lead.
-Wulf
About a week ago I received a message in my inbox from someone at Triple Down Records. As their first track on their MySpace page is an indie rock song, I was more than a bit confused. Upon clicking the download link, however, my qualms were immediately soothed.
I haven't been able to find out any information about Adaledge, the enigmatic producer behind Triple Down's latest release, Vintage Feelings. His music is an espresso blend of dubstep and IDM, two genres which are very foreign to little-old-disco-house-producer-me.
Regardless, these tracks are soulful expressions which have broadened my mind to new genres--and, since these are beyond electronic, they merit inclusion in this lovely blog.
On with the show!
'Computer Kaki' is pretty arrhythmic, but has a sort of groove within it. Now, I know next to nothing about dubstep (aside from listening to Hyph Mngo last year and hating every second of it), so I'll assume the offbeat guitar stabs throughout the track are supposed to be there. The rest of the track (electronic beat and chopped-to-hell guitar melody) is fascinating to me; as much as I love chopped samples, I'd like to call this overkill, but it really isn't. It takes a genius to manipulate miniscule samples so much and still make a cohesive track. To make a disco house analogy: there is a fine line between The Phantom's Revenge and Rapid Sound.
The title 'Can You Dig It' evokes images of Isaac Hayes and all 24 Shaft blaxploitation films from the 1970s and, coming from a community of disco sampling, I was almost expecting his sampled baritone voice to open the track. What I got, however, was even more satisfying. A melting pot of synths, electric and acousting guitar and of course that bumbling jungle beat we love, this track is one of my favorites on the EP. The message of the track seems to be "Everything will be alright," or, perhaps, for our American listeners, "Keep calm and carry on." I've listened to the track 3 times in a row whilst writing this blurb--it's infectious in a way that talks to your soul.
'Make It In Metaphors' immediately caught my attention as it's actually somewhat housey for an IDM track. The cavalcade of synth stabs and bells is a bit overwhelming at some points in the track, but not so much in an ear-raping kind of way. Simply, they kind of bypass your ears and move straight down. There's not much to say about this track, other than I very much like it. It too sends a message; I'm not sure what it is, but the track is awesome, so who really cares?
Closing the album is the lead single 'Telos', but I think the penultimate track 'Quick On Your Feet Head' is a much better end. The track itself seems to say "We're over, now move on with your lives" in a way that's endearing. Rapidly quickening and slowing down, synths and piano fading in and out, beat constantly changing and disappearing, it is a reminder of the sporadicness of life. Adaledge seems to capture a unique human element here. Perhaps I'm reading too much into this, but regardless--I want this track played during my funeral movie scene montage.
Overall 'Vintage Feeling' appropriates a unique sound, shifting and changing itself while still remaining constant in a way that is the opposite of mathematical. All of the tracks on this release could easily go with a scene of someone's life, or death, or time in the interim. Now, I've grayed out the links to these because Adaledge is awesome--and the full release is only $7. Pick this one up and support a great artist--you won't regret it.
Now I'm off to watch the sun rise and then head off to bed. Ah, the life I pretend to lead.
-Wulf
Sunday, 13 June 2010
Hometown Hijinks
My hometown, a quaint little city in the Midwest of England known as Leeds. Nothing special really aside from being a coal mining hub in the past. I'm trying to produce my own work, and let's just say Leeds isn't the Electro center of the UK. However, Leeds has more than just some old industrial relics and Victorian architecture, Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Nightmares On Wax
George Evelyn, or Nightmares On Wax, a DJ from a hip-hop background (think DJ Mehdi, but English) was one of the first releases on the now legendary Warp Records, however I'm not here to bore you with backstory. instead I'll let the music do the talkin' and focus on not one, but two of my favourite albums from him I recently dragged out again. any time I've played it, either as backing music or just for social listening, by the end, EVERYONE has their groove on and it's seen me through some tough times what with these final exams and whatnot, it's nice to just take it eeaaaassy for a while. they're among my favourite albums ever, so enjoy, kick back and feel the funk
Now, I love me some bangin' electro or wobbly dubstep, but Nightmares creates those chill, dub-flavoured tracks that DEMAND you listen to them. Not the Royksopp kind of chilled either, something much more, more like the kind that has so much funk you just have to getchya groove on. And what better track to back up this point with than this?
the opener from his charmingly named album Smokers Delight from 1995 (which has amazing artwork, see above),and despite the album's title, you don't need any substances to enjoy this fusion of Hip-Hop and Jamaican style Dub (with bonus Quincy Jones sample) that sets up perfectly the musical journey that lies ahead. Speaking of which...
(feel the funk about 56 seconds in!) Starts with a sample, but that soon gives way to heavy beats, and follows it all up with those groovy synths. as with many of the tracks on Smokers Delight, it sounds boring if you don't have a sub or headphones. normal speakers just don't pick up the subtle-yet-heavy basslines that are a trademark of N.O.W
the final of my selections from SD is Stars, which combines all elements from previous tracks into one, featuring excellent sample work, subtle basslines and even some Bongos, this is the soul of the entire album condensed into a seven minute chunk
and now, some tracks from the follow up, Carboot Soul. The album shows off how his style has evolved in the 4 years since Smokers Delight, it's quite different compared to the Hip Hop rooted SD, featuring more Bass Guitars, real drums and even full vocals on some tracks, but it still retains that trademark Nightmares Funk.
Morse was one of the first N.O.W tracks I ever heard, and I instantly loved it, it's a major highlight of the album. it also shows off the change in style, with plenty of guitars and a heavenly vocal sample. again, listen till about 1:45 when the groove hits, trust me :D
The vocal tracks are also a high point, featuring underground soul singer Sarah Winton, the collaboration is a match made in heaven. the backing for these tracks is simple and doesn't have the groove of Morse but that's not a problem due to Ms. Wintons great vocal work
and to top it all off, one final guitar heavy track, Fire In The Middle, It's in a similar vein to Morse, but slower paced. it almost never gets old, and if it comes up on shuffle I have to listen to it :). Definitely one for you people stressed out from a hard days work, or just laying back and chilling out
And with that final slice of homebrew for you (can you brew sound?) I'm signing off, let me know what ya think in the comments as usual.
Sunday is the day of rest, after all :)
-Claude Van Foxbat
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
Ooooh, shiny.
"Thony Ritz - Night City !!!
Album Dispo le 12 Juillet et en digital le 5"
Album Dispo le 12 Juillet et en digital le 5"
Key word: ALBUM.
That is all.
-Boba
That is all.
-Boba
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