Showing posts with label experimental. Show all posts

Once was a time that nearly every exciting electronic release would find it's way to our inboxes weeks, months or sometimes even years in advance. Seems we haven't been quite as in favour of late though, as now we're impatiently waiting like kids at Christmas for 3 albums that will be dropping on 2nd June.

Taylor McFerrin - Early Riser

We already have the 3 tasty morsels already been offered up but we are very much looking forwards to the rest of this debut from the latest member of Flying Lotus' esteemed Brainfeeder family. Guests on the album include Robert Glasper, Thundercat, RYAT and Taylor's poppa, Bobby McFerrin.

Throwing Snow - Mosaic

After a string of EPs that have all found a solid place on our players, this is another stunning debut album. Ross Tones seems to be making himself right at home over at Fabric offshoot label, Houndstooth and what a great place to live.

Moody Good - Moody Good

As gash as you might think something on both OWSLA and MTA Records might be, this sounds like it's actually going to be brilliant. Moody Good used to be in 16bit but now seems to be making... well, it's on our blog so you should probably be able to figure it out. If not then listen to a couple of choice cuts below.

New video from soulful electronic duo, K.Raydio and Psymun, whose beautiful debut album, LucidDreamingSkylines was a late entry for one of last year's best releases. Still fresh so if you haven't caught it yet then peep the video and head over to their Bandcamp.

Well 2014 and we're still here. I'm not sure if there's any of our original readers left but we massively salute you if you've grown along with us. Certainly we've lost a few along the way: after we no longer became inspired by what was happening in Dubstep; after we no longer saw the progression in many of the Glitch hop artists, after we craved soul over aggression, quality over quantity and being fresh over being first. After we nearly lost hope, but realised we could never lose our passion for this music that breathes so much heart, humanity and feeling into the machines that even a Blade Runner would have to admit they were very much alive.

To be honest, we don't care if there are fewer of you out there paying attention over here, so long as there's beautiful electronic music that needs better exposure, we'll be here. We've no doubt this year's going to be great for music and we hope to se you all in 2015.

Here's a few releases from the end of last year that we feel you should hear. We'll post a few more tomorrow.

Pugs Atomz - Bama Pi

Perhaps this Chicago rapper's most accomplished release yet. As smooth, intelligent and thoughtful as ever with the rhymes, whilst the production is first rate with names such as Bobby Tank, Mr Dibiase, SoulParlor and long time sparring partner DJ Vadim. It also credits Moodyman though I think this might be a mistake as one track has Pugs and Cerebral Vortex rhyming over Oliver $'s 'Doing Ya Thang' which samples Moodyman's butter like vocals. If there is a genuine Moodyman production on there though I'd love to know which one it is. As well as that particular foray into the much missed world of Hip-House, the production leans heavily on the Future Funk, as you might expect coming from the Tokyo Dawn label.

K.Raydio & Psymun - LucidDreaming Skylines

Great album for this time of year, complimenting both sunset and sunrise, with lush lullaby vocals, as full of Jazz and dreamlike Soul as the crisp production. Just beautiful.

Goofy Foot - Goofy Foot EP

In my other life I often dip into the world of Electro Blues and this wouldn't be out of place there, though with fantastic forward thinking production, it definitely has a place by the fire here also.

Evan Geesman - Lengua

There's also something of a Blues edge to these decidedly more Indie vocals which never the less massage the beats into soulful submission, after they seem to desire breaking free into a Juke frenzy at times (but never quite do).

Suiting video for this track as it would provide the perfect soundtrack for a night time drive through the city. Why not try it out, and if you don't drive or live in the city then just sit in a friends car, play the video on an iPad and place it on the dashboard. Definitely intend to keep an eye on Tyson McVey (Neneh Cherry's daughter) and Shaun Savage aka PANES.

Been listening to a stunning new album from Débruit, a long time favourite of this blog, and Sudanese-born singer Alsarah. This is a perfect little taster to the kind of delights you might find inside.

Relative new kids on the block, BLDG5 have just released a mighty fine compilation called 'Ground Floor', which includes long time Chrome Kids favourites such as Sun Glitters and Free The Robots as well as a bunch of new guys on our radar who have contributed the best selection of tracks we've heard in a long time. Below are some of our favourites but you can grab the whole album here.

We shall definitely be keeping an eye on this label in the future.

I'm not sure who was behind this mini remix album for Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi, but top marks to them because there are some stunning collaborations. The album came out this week and includes contributions from Starkey, Phaeleh, Steven Siegel and Robert Lippok. You can buy a copy here.

Also, speaking of Phaeleh, he can be found guesting on the new album from our fellow Cardiff lad Lung, which is out now on Hospital off shoot, Med School. You can stream the whole thing below.

I know this won't be popular amongst producers but I'm getting to the stage where I don't have the patience for most laid back instrumentals. Few break particularly new ground so I tend to need a vocal to bring me in a bit further so I can really feel it. Even great beats frustrate me as I can hear vocals for them in my mind generally. However, there are a few that still manage to take me by the eardrums and lead me off somewhere special. This Boperly (pronounced Bah-per-lee) is one of those tracks… although truth be told, in the back of my mind I'd still love to hear a nice jazzy female vocal on it.

Chrome Kids Radio Show - June 2013 by Chrome Kids on Mixcloud

"I still find it hard to understand that anyone could argue that you can't have machines that exhibit consciousness." Iain Banks

Originally broadcast on Radio Cardiff 98.7fm

tracklisting:

Inga Copeland - A World In Danger III (via Gorilla Vs Bear)

When Saints Go Machine - Love And Respect ft. Killer Mike from When Saints Go Machine on Vimeo.

If the pic's too small to read, click on it to enlarge.

Top marks to these guys, I think this is an excellent move and shall definitely be down there. Fantastic selection of acts including family, friends and favourites such as Clark (AV Show), Martyn, Pinch, DJ Die, Close (aka Will Saul), Arkist & Komon, Skudge, Indigo, Also (Appleblim & Al Tourettes), Bass Clef, Cheeba, Behling & Simpson, Eliphino, Typesun and Face & Heel.

For the full line up or to buy tickets head over to http://www.arcfestival.co.uk/

Those of you who actually read these posts may remember us mentioning one of our family members called elmono the other day. Well we can now let you know that his 'debut' outing will be the first release on Pinch's new Cold Recordings label and that he shall be playing in the Tectonic hosted Room 2 at Fabric this Friday. For a taster of what to expect, check out his Fabriclive Promo mix below and a mini interview with him over on the Fabric site.

Individually, our boys Stagga & Monky are two of the country's finest producers. Together they're insane... literally. Before Monky finally drops his lifelong moniker to become elmono, the pair have released a new 4 track EP of bass heavy, glitched up goodness. In Stagga's words "its a bit mental but does have its more soft and romantic moments."

He might be the silent partner on the Chrome Kids Radio Show but as well as being a damn fine artist, Snowskull is one of the family's true musical connoisseurs. Here he compiles his Top 10 Tunes for 2012.

John Talabot - So Will Be Now

Session Victim - The Haunted House

Bwana - Baby Let Me Finish(Black Orange Juice Remix)

Rumpistol & Red Baron - Anywhere

Theo Bass - Mr Stellakis

Tropics - Pop Up Cinema

Miniature Tigers - Sex On The Regular (Chrome Sparks Remix)

Midland- Arthur Beatrice (Bwana Remix)

Belleruche- Wasted Time (Ross PTH Remix)

Benjamin Damage & Doc Daneeka feat Abigail Wyles - Halo

Also, if you missed Kaptin's end of year Reflection Selection, check it here.

Kaptin Is Dead - Reflections 2012 by Kaptinisdead on Mixcloud

We haven't done any 'best of' this year but Kaptin has put together a 'reflection selection' for 2012. Here's what he said about it.

"As I enter the final stages of the roller coaster ride that was 2012 I've left little time to consider a 'best of mix' really, with such a good year for music it might possibly last til 2014 anyway. However whilst in Studio 2 of Radio Cardiff I put together this selection of tunes that owe more to the reflective nature of the year's end. No fancy mixing or tricks just some incredible tunes from 2012 played pretty much in their entirety. Hope you enjoy them as much as I have."

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?skjb71rthba32d9

Actually the Tensnake remix of Ritual Union came out in 2011 but we'll let him off this once because it was still a great tune in 2012.

Tracklisting:

Metabeats feat. Dubbledge - EyeSeeYou

As always, there were a few tracks put aside for the show which we just couldn't fit into the final 58mins. We never like to keep tracks til the next fortnight as there's always so many to choose from anyway, so here's a selection of those that we had to miss.

Some warm and jazzy autumnal Soul from Canadian singer Claire Mortifee, produced by Nick Wisdom & AstroLogical aka Potatohead People. This track also features on their excellent 3rd EP out on Jellyfish Recordings, whose other guests include rappers Moka Only and Frank Nitt (Frank N Dank).

Some more soulful vibes from Canada. This track by Vlooper is taken from his recent 'Snowloops' album and also features his wife Modlee. You can grab the album for any price you feel is right below.

Actually now listening back to this Breezy Lovejoy album, it's even more surprising that we didn't play anything from it. Again we're very much still on the Neo-Soul vibe but with that extra kick that keeps it fresh and exciting. You can also pick up the LA based singer / rapper / drummer's first album for free here.

We were possibly judging the whole Chief Navaho album by some of it's dodgier singing excursions so unfairly overlooked this one until it was too late. The rest of the album has some other golden moments but some of the sung vocals do come off rather sketchy at times.

Despite the fact it didn't quite initially grab us we did keep on getting pulled back to this one. It's a track whose charm grows with each listen too.

As well as these gems, FACT Magazine have also posted a free download for this little gem which we did actually play on the show.

If you missed the show entirely, then make sure you go back and check it out.

Lulu James - Be Safe / Maribou State feat. Saint Saviour - Scarlett Groove / Polkadot Feat. Wonda - We Got History / Alt-J - Something Good (Chesslo Junior Remix) / Amin Payne feat. K-SABA - Extraordinary / Heems feat. Safe - Medium Green Eyes / The Guild - The Calling (Xaphoon Jones Rework) / Mowgli - Carbon / Apollo Campbell & David Vangel - Forgetting to Remember / We Sink feat. Andrea - Inside / Little Dragon Sunshine (Shlohmo Remix) / Deech - (Slugabed Remix) / Kuhn - I Quit (Pixelord Remix) / Starkey - G V Star (Part 2) / Brandy - Do U Know.. (ill-esha Remix) / DELS - Bird Milk

Jesse Boykins III & MeLo-X - Broken Wings / Low Leaf - Paradise II / KRTS feat. Jon Hairston - Something New / Stubborn Heart - Starting Block (Something New Remix) / Capeface - Drownin / A. Chal - Roses On Your Silhouette / Tropics - Popup Cinema / Staygold featuring Style Of Eye and Pow - Wallpaper (Video) / The xx - Fiction (Druid Cloak Blood Magick Remix) / Julien Mier - When Will They Wake Up? (Jauge Remix) / Chris Malinchak - So Good To Me / My Dry Wet Mess - Clappin' Ears / Ossie feat Tilz - Ignore (Yes I Did)