Very much excited at the prospect of a Mo Kolours album. His tracks are little slices of sunshine that keep pulling me in. Just pre-ordered a digital copy, though love the artwork (by Miju Lee) so sorely tempted to go back for the vinyl / tshirt option. Order yourself a copy here, it drops on 24th March.
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).
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.
Some beautiful heartfelt pop with a lovely crisp static glitch ridden beat from singer / multi instrumentalist To Be Frank from Suffolk, who comes from a long line of musicians (his great grandfather was taught to play piano by Chopin) and has been getting a fair amount of well deserved props from all over since his first track 'If You Love Her'. If you missed out on that (as we did admittedly) then it's definitely worth a play too.
You may well have noticed but things have changed around here some what, so despite being one of my favourite dance music labels, it's been a while since we posted anything from Sweat It Out on the blog. This new single from RÜFÜS feels like something of a change for them too however. Early morning / late night vocal House that's making me pine for an Ibiza sunrise and a nice villa veranda from which to watch it.
It's always a gamble going to see electronic music artists, even more so than rappers (I've walked out of the last 4 Hip-hop shows due to poor quality, Young Fathers excluded as they were awesome and their music goes beyond the traditional boundaries... way beyond), for every FlyLo or Daedelus there's... well let's not name names, everyone's allowed their off days and don't want to start calling people out, though you'd have probably caught a few if you follow me on Twitter.
With that in mind I just caught some of Shigeto's show at Start The Bus and thankfully he's the right side of engaging. It's not just the beautifully produced music, or the fact he jumps on the drums and jams along, both these help, but the main factor I've noticed that makes for a watchable show along that ilk, is simply the energy that the artists give out. Even though the gremlins reared their ugly heads, causing a few technical difficulties, Shigeto glowed positivity, a lot of grumbling diva-esque artists could certainly take note.
I think the first tune we played of his was this sublime remix for Sufjan Stevens, though there have been a number of releases of note, mostly on the Ghostly label, who have just dropped the first 2 singles from his 3rd long player for them, 'No Better Time Than Now' which is due out in August. I haven't even given them enough time to comment, but his show tonight has pushed me to give them a proper airing. So let's have a listen together shall we.
We also have to mention the incredible artwork from Michael Cina! Props to Ghostly International for always having incredible covers.
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/
Chrome Kids Radio Show (Mar - April 2013) by Chrome Kids on Mixcloud
I still struggle when trying to describe what it is we play on the show, but as we step into spring whilst still in the grip of a bitter winter it starts to make ever more sense. For those non commital types amongst you, here's a selection of tracks from the show. If you dig them, chances are the show was made just for you.
Well looks like we've got a load of catching up to do in regards to the Bodhi boys, can't keep up with them! So just in case you haven't been keeping an eye, here's a few things they've been up to recently.
First of all is their new single 'Culture / Deliquesce' on Sinden's 'Grizzly' label which dropped this week along with this video for 'Culture'. The video is a collaboration with Chrome Kids resident artiste, Snowskull and the EP itself has been getting some major love from the likes of Skream, FaltyDL, Giles Peterson, Machinedrum and Rob Da Bank (who has booked them for his incredible Bestival festival which we rocked a Chrome Kids set at a couple of years back).
Then of course there's this free download from XLR8R of the Bambanou remix. There's also a wicked Ifan Dafydd remix which you might have caught on our last Radio Show.
Finally there's this mix they cooked up for Mixmag, who gave a glowing review to the EP (big ups to Joe Muggs).
I'm sure there's something we've missed but that should keep you lot busy for now.
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.
From Chrome Kids and the oddball MC who taught us 'How To Be Cool' last year, Th' Mole's 'I Love Unicorns' is an unlikely rap song withheart, guaranteed to make anyone crack at least a small smile.
Setting himself apart from the slew of 'hipster hop' Th' Mole is a truly unique individual, as he proves irrevocably with the b-side track 'Shocky Guy Go' which features Asian strings, symphonic arrangements and lyrics rapped in an imaginary language.
In addition to remixes of the title track by Robot Koch (Kitty Yo/K7), The Flying Skulls (1320/Daly City), and up-and-coming producer Frietboer, there is also a printable Th' Mole paper doll included in the download!
Pick up a copy from Bandcamp now.
Th' Mole: I Love Unicorns maxi-single - 01. I Love Unicorns (Robot Koch Remix) by magicalbass
Even Radio 1 music supremo and Bestival overlord had to agree that "This is immense". We believe the Robot Koch mix is due to be his tune of the day today, however he is knee deep in Bestival line up announcements (The Cure, Primal Scream, Brian Wilson, Magnetic Man, Crystal Castles, DJ Shadow, Grandmaster Flash, Norman Jay, LFO, Omar Souleyman, A Trak, Katy B, 65 Days Of Static and Pantha Du Prince so far... blimey!) so may have slipped by for today.
Our boy Mikee Woo has been putting in work on the Cardiff club scene for time now and has just set up a new Tuesday night at Buffalo called Signature that is set to make us very happy. This Tuesday coming (1st June) he's got New York Future Garage master Falty DL in the place so we've been busting out his tracks full volume here at Chrome Mansions to get us over hyped. Plus there's support from Don Leisure, Mr Healan and Paul B so looks like the Bank Holiday weekend has just been extended to Wednesday.
COMPUTER JAY - MAINTAIN [FaltyDL Remix] RAMP028 by FaltyDL
Download: The xx - Islands (Falty DL Remix) / alt link
Don Leisure x Mr Healan - You got more v1 by Don Leisure
Download: Don Leisure - May 2010 Mixtape
Mikee's mash up crew Astrosnooze have also just dropped a new selection of hybrid floor fillers. We gave you their fantastic Martyn / Empire Of The Sun blend a while back but here's a couple of our favourites, or you can grab the whole album here.
Download: Astrosnooze - Sunshower Focus (MIA V Sub Focus) / alt link
Download: Astrosnooze - Beethoven Flex (Dizze Rascal V Soulwax) / alt link
Download: Astrosnooze - Cuzzy Warp (Sub Focus V Vampire Weekend) / alt link
Only 2 more weeks to the World Cup and already football fans are bravely sporting their Engish Football tops here in the Welsh Capital. Whilst on the other side of the world where kick off is due to take place.... this is happening!
Jam Jar - Sync into the Sun by baka
and this...
Download: Liver - Lethargy / alt link
We're involved in a great new venue in Cardiff called Cardiff Arts Institute . Some real incredible acts coming up on their new Fridays and Saturday nights from May but before then even there's a couple of beauties. On Friday 30th April the big man himself High Rankin will be dropping by, whilst the day before Kruger Magazine are bringing Bass Clef back to the city for some more One Man Bass antics. One of the new Friday residents and Kruger stalwart Adam Corner caught up with Bass Clef for some wordage before he arrrives.
Put the date in your diary – on Thursday April 29th at the Cardiff Arts Institute on Park Place, the one-man-band-like-no-other Bass Clef will be in town. Following a late-afternoon performance in the lobby of the Cardiff Museum (part of the Artes Mundi celebrations, and quite possibly the first time live dubstep has been played in a museum), zwolf, Kruger DJs (Adam & Phoenix) and Mr Healan will be warming up the crowd from 9pm in the Arts Institute, before Bass Clef takes to the stage at around 11.00pm.
I caught up with Bass Clef – AKA Ralf Cumbers – and found him waxing lyrical about the joys of playing in Cardiff. “I think I've done Cardiff three times, and each one has been a cracker, especially the last Swn show (in 2009), it was one of my all time favourites!”
A visit by Bass Clef is any city’s gain – and back in 2007, when Ralf played The Point as part of Mary Anne Hobbes’ Warrior Dubz tour, Cardiff knew he was something special. “I love the Cardiff crowd”, said Ralf, “if they're in to it they will really let you know!”
And what’s not to be into? The Bass Clef sound is visceral but sophisticated – a blend of dancehall rhythms, trombone flourishes and electronic production that never fails to blow the roof off. Most people’s introduction to him was through the stunning single ‘Cannot be Straightened’, lifted from his debut album ‘A Smile is a Curve that Straightens Most Things”. Operating in the same anthemic bass territory as Roots Manuva’s ‘Witness (1 Hope)’ or Dead Prez ‘Hip Hop’, dropping ‘Cannot Be Straightened’ is a shortcut to a skanking dance floor.
The new album – titled May the Bridges I Burn Light My Way and released earlier in the year on Blank Tapes – keeps up the pressure, although there’s a little more depth to the songs. “I had a few lovely reviews, but if one person out there gets it and loves it then brilliant” says Ralf humbly. “I’ve been gigging a load, plus writing a ton of stuff, some of which may or may not be the start of album three…I’m currently based in London and most of my music is recorded at home. But with the latest album I took my home recorded tracks to a fantastic south London studio called Snorkel, to add the stuff I can't do at home: brass, percussion, drums. It's something I'd like to build on, the blending of electronic and acoustic is the exciting thing for me these days.”
Bass Clef is only on his second album, but given the speed that electronic music seems to move at, it feels like he’s something of a veteran of the dubstep scene. “I guess in these accelerated times, having released records in 2006 would qualify me as the 2nd wave of old skool or something! God knows, ask someone who cares about the hardcore continuum thingy.”
It’s a refreshingly self-effacing attitude from a man who has done as much rummaging around under the engine of the dubstep-mobile as any of the more consciously cooler Hypedub crowd. While refusing to be pigeon-holed by lazy journalistic clichés is the prerogative of any underground artist, the acts that make up the prism of styles that dubstep has splintered into are sensitive about the way their music is labelled and described. It’s probably a sign of a scene filled with healthy self-confidence, but Bass Clef has a slightly different perspective: “I think I started on the outside edge of dubstep, now I've moved farther out and the egdes of dubstep have moved waaaay closer to the centre. I haven't ever thought about where I stand really. I just try and make tunes I think are good and true, and then whatever anyone wants to call it is fine with me.”
Whatever we do-or-don’t call it, 2010 is a ridiculously exciting time for electronic bass music with new acts and labels popping up everywhere, and Ralf is right in the mix: “Hell yeah, there's a ton of stuff going on. The new Mr Majeika tune on Numbers is absolutely rocking my world. 'Because of you' by Panagea is an amazing record. Geiom is kicking it as always. There's a new act called Raime that will release their debut 12" this year and it's absolutely stunning. I'm deep in to Kenyan Benga music from the 70's too. It's really stripped down, but so funky.”
With such an eclectic bag of influences, its no surprise that Bass Clef is such a unique artist. What other dubstep artist could play a museum lobby and the Scala in London in the space of a week? “I think the weirdest gig I’ve done would have to be at a Cambridge May ball. I played at 4am, after a Take That tribute band, in the courtyard of a beautiful old historic college, to a lot of drunk people in tuxedos and ballgowns. Good times! Well I say a lot. There were about 7 people.”
We’ve all been there…drunk in a tuxedo that is, not playing a trombone and Theremin at 4am in the morning at a Cambridge ball. But what next for the Clef-monster? “There should be a 12" of 'Promises' (single from his new album) with an absolutely beautiful Appleblim & Peverlist remix, then not one but two shows with the almighty Konono No.1, plus my first trips to Malta and Tel Aviv...and of course my return to wonderful Cardiffland!”
And wonderful Cardiffland is looking forward to his arrival…
Download: Bass Clef - Kiss Me
plus here's some listening material from the night's other guests.
Mr Healan Spaced out by Mr Healan
zwolf_doubt {remix} by zwolf
Chrome Kids - Knowledge Me
Mix recorded for Adam Walton's Mystery Tour on BBC Radio Wales (Oct 2009)
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