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."
Good Monday people, hopefully you will have recovered from this Weekend's festivities in tine for the coming Bank Holdiay weekend, as we are programming an event at Cardiff Arts Institute from Friday to Sunday. Many of the acts playing will be recognisable to our regular readers and if you are anywhere near the vicinity would be great to see you all. Here's the info...
ELECTRIC SHEEP WEEKENDER
Friday 27th - Sunday 29th May 2011 (Bank Holiday Weekend)
Cardiff Arts Institute, 29 Park Place. CF10 3BA
£4 per day (limited £6 passes for all 3 days)
3 SECRET HEADLINERS // DOC DANEEKA + BENJAMIN DAMAGE (LIVE) // MONKY (HOYA HOYA / ROBOX NEOTECH) // DIDZ & CHICO (TEN THOUSAND YEN) // RATCATCHER // TELEGRAM FROM THE QUEEN (JUVENILE SCUM) // MR HEALAN // DAI VERSE (DIVERSE CONCEPTS) // CHROME KIDS // ZWOLF // OWAIN K // STD // DISCORD // KOVAS (64 BARS) // MAXX ROACH //
The Welsh Electronic scene has truly coming into it’s own over the past few years. As musical genres overlap and intertwine, particularly after the Bass music scene in general’s mass migration from formulaic Dubstep, so Wales’ tight knit community of producers and DJs become ever closer, more open and undoubtedly stronger. As celebration of this fact we have brought some of the top artists from the scene together for a long Bank Holiday weekend of showcases, secret sets and a whole lot of drinking and dancing.
We have 3 Secret headliners, all well established acts at the top of their game, plus: Modeselektor’s label signings Doc Daneeka and Ben Damage showcase their new live set ahead of their Melt! Festival debut in Berlin; one of the city’s most forward thinking producers, Monky gets set to show why his future blend of bass heavy beats have been getting so much love across the electronic music world; Cardiff 2 Step tearaways Didz & Chico bring a little ‘something new’ to the table; Chrome Kids drop a rare appearance ahead of shows in Glastonbury and Bestival over the summer; experimental circuit benders Zwolf, STD and Mr Healan step out of the Hip-hop shadows into something altogether more interesting; former CRST member Ratcatcher (Rodski) and Owain K hold it down for the current generation of House producers; whilst Juvenile Scum head honchos and Dirty Sanchez DJs Telegram From The Queen, to quote Redman, ‘come to throw a little mud in this mother**ker’ and make sure proceedings don’t get too serious. With many more up and coming DJs and producers, just starting to cement their reputations as ones to watch also on the bill, this is undoubtedly going to be a great marker on where the scene is now and where it’s heading. There’s plenty more information on each act, as well as free downloads, streaming tracks and videos over at the Cardiff Arts Institute blog http://cardiffartsinstitute.org
More info can be found on the Cardiff Arts Institute Website.
Downloads:
Monky - Hypa Nova (via Robox Neotech)
CHRIS COCO - BUTTERFLY HEART (DIDZ & CHICO REMIX) by chris coco
Crystal Fighters - At Home (Ratcatcher Repercussion) by Ratcatcher
Electric Sheep: Friday 27th May: STD - Nobody Tells Ron Swanson What To Do by cardiffartsinstitute
Electric Sheep: Sunday 29th May: Discord - Sunday Dub by cardiffartsinstitute
Electric Sheep: Saturday 28th May: The Gentle Good - Dawel Disgyn (Zwolf Remix) by cardiffartsinstitute
In our excitement for getting this video out we accidentally posted a password protected version... sorry for that folks, here's the proper version in all it's twisted glory!
Due to my involvement with Cardiff Arts Institute, I probably bang on about it more than you readers from the rest of the world are bothered about. However just as the blog is an extension of my excitement over the wealth of incredible music out there at the moment, so is the CAI a labour of love that gets me pretty damn excited so it shall probably crop up quite a bit (hopefully) for some time still. Also, don't be too quick to disregard these posts, I intend for the venue to be an upto date marker in music as well (not always an easy task in this fair city of ours) so anyone you see playing there, should definitely be in your radar. With this in mind, here's a few of the acts that shall be appearing over the rest of this month.
Most of you will already know Tomb Crew, however you may not already know Ital Lion or Exotope who shall both be appearing on this night.
Ital Lion is one of the founding fathers of the Welsh Dubstep scene, having first made his way through the Jungle, Garage and Grime scenes first before reaching a unique, almost tribal sound that has always had more than a passing respect for the Dub part of the genre's moniker. This particular track has had alot of play from me recently (sorry no d/l on this as he's still negotiating a release for it).
Friday 15th October: Ital Lion - Free Africa by cardiffartsinstitute
I only recently met Exotope but had already enjoyed his beat for the Astroid Boys tune Party & Bullshit (which was also released on his Juvenile Scum label). His Dubstep outings are straight dutty stinkers for the filth generation but still maintain a fun element. No doubt all these factors have since triplicated since he became the tour DJ for the Dirty Sanchez boys.
Exotope - Violation (Free Download) by EXOTOPE 
Swn Festival is a fantastic multi venue weekend event here in the city curated by John Rostron and BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens. For a full line up check their site, it's not an instantly obvious line up but that's what makes it so great, as it's stacked full of new and exciting acts to discover. We shall be hosting the launch party on Monday but also a few different events over the weekend. Here's a couple of acts playing here that I'm particularly looking forwards to.
Seams (Monday 18th October)
A late addition to the already exciting prospect of Toro Y Moi, Seams caught my ear through his remixes for Gold Panda and Bibio but his solo productions don't disappoint either. This latest offering is inspired by the Brummie producer's time in Berlin and amidst the shuffling, atmospheric Four Tetesque Techno is 'field' recordings made using his phone or an old tape recorder.
Monday 18th October: Seams - Hung Markets ( Sŵn Festival) by cardiffartsinstitute
Download: Seams - Hung Markets
Shake Aletti + Nedry (Thursday 21st October)
Okay so the prospect of yet another Indie / Electro / Disco act hasn't instantly got me moist but Shake Aletti are definitely near the top of the new crop and this remix from their fellow Sheffield musical exponent Toddla T helps as well.
Download: Shake Aletti - The Way He Does (Toddla T Remix feat Serocee) via Vacay Wave
Nedry are one of many bands to have been likened to The xx, but that's just lazy. They're actually like a Portishead for the modern generation. S**t, okay that was even more lazy. Either way they combine dreamy ethereal vocals with deep up to date electronic beats that waver somewhere in the Dubstep region... and they do it very well.
Thursday 21st October: Nedry - A42 (Sŵn Festival) by cardiffartsinstitute 
Dam Mantle + Quinoline Yellow (Friday 22nd October)
The guys from the Electroneg label celebrate the release of a new compilation with their first live outing including: Cian Ciaran from Super Furry Animals and Acid Casuals; Plyci; Quinoline Yellow; and an incredible new producer called Dam Mantle, from that bastion of Avante-Bass, Glasgow. His Purple Arrow EP has been gaining some heavy rotation from us recently and although the whole line up is strong it's these latter two that I'm most looking forwards to.
Friday 22nd October: Dam Mantle - Theatre (Sŵn Festival) by cardiffartsinstitute
Saturday 22nd October: Geraint Ffrancon - Night Remixes (Quinoline Yellow Remix) by cardiffartsinstitute 
The Friday fun doesn't stop with Swn however. Once they close up shop at Midnight, the guys from One Mission (the University D'n'B + Dubstep society) shall be taking over the proceedings for the rest of the evening and have got our good friend Stagga flying in from Berlin for a long awaited set back on home turf. Very much looking forwards to this one.
STAGGA - THATS WHEN I JACKED IT - feat SKAMMA (clip) by stagga
If you haven't picked up a copy of the Staggamuffin EP yet, what have you been waiting for? It's still free.
Download: Stagga - Staggamuffin EP
Although Crooks & Lovers has been on heavy rotation, I'm yet to join the masses of people I've met recently who can say "Oh my God did you Mount Kimbie at (insert Festival here), they were amazing." I figured it was time to put this right and bring them some place where I can't fail to catch them.
We've told you before about the Astroid Boys and their new single Jungle Booku, well the 'B Side' to that is a track called Party & Bulls**t, produced by Exotope out of Telegram From The Queen, also head of Juvenile Scum records who released the single (got a few of his tracks to post up soon so keep an eye out for them). Here's a video for the track which was filmed at the launch of the single at Cardiff Arts Institute last Friday. Gives you a little insight into how crazy their shows get.
Exotope Ft. Astroid Boys - Party and Bullshit (VIDEO ON YOUTUBE NOW!) by EXOTOPE
The boys will be returning to CAI on Friday 22nd October alongside Stagga who is making a trip to play back home for the first time in a while. Our Chrome compadre has just signed up a few tracks to Starkey's Slit Jockey label. Genik Riddim is due out next month on digital release with remixes from CRST and Starkey, whilst Wild For The Night and Be The Generals are planned as a vinyl / digital single later in the year. Caught Gaslamp Killer dropping Wild For The Night on the Arcadia rig at Bestival, place went off!
STAGGA - WILD FOR THE NIGHT (clip) by STAGGAMUFFIN
STAGGA - BE THE GENERALS (clip) by STAGGAMUFFIN
STAGGA - GENIK RIDDIM feat SKAMMA & JOE BLOW - Seclusiasis Radio Starkey 02 Aug 2010 Sub FM by STAGGAMUFFIN
Big thanks to everyone who made it down to our 2nd Birthday Party at Cardiff Arts Institute on Friday especially Mr Healan, Benjamin One, Blue Daisy and Monky for rocking some killer sets (and extra special props to Monky for taking it that extra mile). We also had a Squid Ninjaz invasion briefly as both Skamma and Joe Blow jumped up to do a couple of tunes, including their firing new Genik Riddim track and OK Luv, both with Stagga (OK Luv is a reworking of the Starkey track using the Stagga remix instrumental, should be dropping sometime in the future).
Also from Barry we had a newcomer to the scene, Beatbox Major jump up and smash it on the vocal instrumentation tip. Here's a couple of vids from the night, Genik Riddim and a little jam sessino from outside the club with Beatbox Major and Traxx from the Astroid Boys crew.
Following on from his Drunkerdz single, our man Monky has a new EP out on Robox Neotech called A Thought which is the proverbial piss that rains down on anybody who attempts to make tunes without first processing their thought pattern through a quantum head space like our Chrome compadre... in other words this is the business! And so to celebrate Monky is giving away this free non-EP track, which Radio 1 new music Guru and Bestival Head Honcho, Rob Da Bank quite rightly said is "friggin' wicked."
Monky - Hypa Nova by Chrome Kids
Monky has also been chatting to Baobinga over at Bass Music Blog about music and other general madness. Plus he's provided them with a cracking new mix as well.
Bass Music Mix 22 - Monky by bassmusic
Tracklisting:
Monky - French Vanilla (dub)
Albert - Crosseyed (dub)
Mount Kimbe - Blind Night Erand (Hot Flush)
IVXX - Back In Business
Superrisk - Find Your Way (forthcoming on Punch Drunk)
Monky - Hey Miss (dub)
Ty - Heart Is Breaking (Che + Diverse Concepts RMX) (dub)
Monky - Hipster (dub)
C.R.S.T. - Forever After (dub)
Monky - Drunkerdz (Rodox NeoTech)
Monky - Train Wreck (dub)
IVXX - P the 3 (dub)
Dan Marshal - Monster tune (dub)
Stagga ft Skamma + Joe Blow - Genik Riddim (dub)
Hudson Mowhawke - Snap Dragon (warp)
2000f + J Kamata - You Don't Know What Love Is (Don Leisure Rmx) (dub)
Monky - Badman Nigiri (Robox NeoTech)
Proper Villains - Music Takes Me Up (C.R.S.T. RMX) (dub)
Lung - Broken V.I.P. (dub)
Doshy - Chip (Monky RMX) (dub)
Mr Healan - Turned Master (dub)
Things seem to be busy in Cardiff this summer and we've had a number of various gems from our home town which we keep meaning to post. Here's a selection of some and we shall post a bunch more on Tuesday. Hopefully you would have already caught the new Monky, Paul B and Dead Residents mixes we posted recently. If not grab them here.
A few regular readers may remember previous tracks from Cardiff based duo Shadow Law (aka Lex Umbra). Well producer / rapper Ming from the pair has just released a grimey Dubstep EP through Italian label Young NRG Productions that you can pick up now on Juno, Beatport, Dogs On Acid and Track It Down.
C.R.S.T. are fast becoming the number one Future Garage crew of choice, okay so the majority come from Barry rather than Cardiff but for arguments sake we’ll claim a 10 mile radius for our own. They have adorned many a recent mix including the opening track of Doorly’s new Reclaim The Dancefloor CD. They’ve also provided bubblin hot remix of the new Count & Sinden track featuring the Mystery Jets that Annie Mac recently posted on her site as a free download. Here’s that tune along with their latest mix and a few extra bits and pieces. Make sure you look out for their forthcoming releases on Car Crash Set, Well Rounded and Ten Thousand Yen.
Download: C.R.S.T - Dubplates 2 Mix
Tracklisting:
1. 1 4 Byron - C.R.S.T (Dubplate)
2. It's Like That (C.R.S.T. Remix) - Tuff Wheelz (Dead Speaker Office)
3. Music Takes Me Up (C.R.S.T. Remix) - Proper Villains (Nightshifters)
4. Redeye - C.R.S.T (Forthcoming Catapult Records)
5. Baduka - Chesus and Diverse Concepts (Forthcoming 10,000 Yen)
6. Ultra 64 - C.R.S.T (Forthcoming No hats No Hoods)
7. Dial The Operator - C.R.S.T (Forthcoming Well Rounded)
8. Bump - C.R.S.T (Forthcoming 10,000 Yen)
9. Turn Away - C.R.S.T (Bigger Than Barry)
10. May Not Be Real - C.R.S.T (Forthcoming Well Rounded)
11. Need You - C.R.S.T (Forthcoming Well Rounded)
12. Roulette - C.R.S.T (Forthcoming 10,000 Yen)
13. Shelter (C.R.S.T. Remix) - The XX (forthcoming ???)
Download: Lil Silva - Funky Flex (C.R.S.T. Remix)
After Dark (C.R.S.T Rmx) - Count and Sinden feat. Mystery Jets by C.R.S.T
Bonus Level - C.R.S.T. by C.R.S.T
Download: C.R.S.T. - Bonus Level
1 4 BYRON - C.R.S.T by C.R.S.T
Download: C.R.S.T. - Byron 
Undoubtedly one of our favourite rappers from the scene, Blaktrix is due to drop his long awaited album Some People Never Go Crazy at the end of this year. As a warm up he has compiled a selection of unreleased and previously vinyl only tracks into a kind of story so far ‘mixtape’ called The Houdini Footprints of Some People Never Go Crazy. These tracks include a couple of Monky and Stagga’s earlier productions and the Monky ones in particular still bang hard, have a listen for yourself then grab the whole lot from the Blaktrix Website.
Download: Blaktrix - Tek Time (produced by Monky) / alt link
Download: Blaktrix feat Vocal Recall - Trouble Trouble (produced by Monky) / alt link / video
Finally for now, although Stagga has since relocated to Berlin he still has his hands and heart deep in the area as this new killer Grime / Dubstep / Hip-hop track featuring Skamma and Joe Blow from the Squid Ninjaz shows. This is ridiculously beastly.
Stagga feat Skamma + Joe Blow - Genik Riddim by Chrome Kids
If you happen to be in San Diego you may have caught Monky doing his thing over the weekend already but he's not done with the West Coast of the USA just yet. He will be playing out above Paradise Lounge in San Francisco tomorrow (Wednesday 9th)and The Airliner in LA on Saturday 12th. It's his first trip out there to DJ so if you're any place close make sure you reach out and show him some love.
In true exchange student fashion, back here in Chrome Mansions we've been listening to two of our favourite West Coast amigos. Bassnectar and Troublemaker (or rather his crew King Fantastic and their new album which is....erm... fantastic).
Just had some good news that we shall be rocking the massive Bassline Circus dome again at Glastonbury Festival (in the Shangri La area). We loved it last year we had stage invasions the lot it was sheer mentalism, however Stagga couldn't make it and was sorely missed. This time around we shall be rocking with full crew plus a few special guests at 1am on Friday night / Saturday morning so if you happen to be in a Somerset field nearby drop in and see us. Also Stagga will be rocking a solo set a few hours later so expect to be out all night / weekend.
Speaking of our prodigal bredren, here's a video he put together for his new tune. Plus this week you can finally pick up a copy of Timewarp thanks to the forward thinjing fellas at Robox Neotech (digital only but Vinyl coming throgh Sonic Lodge soon).
Stagga - The Dragon by Chrome Kids
We already loved this Mumdance track enough to put it in our Knowledge mix but then he told us it was inspired by our old skool Cardiff amigo DJ Oddz (who sadly gave up Grime for God a while back) which made us love it even more, then the final icing on the cake was him letting us pass it to you guys in advance of his forthcoming EPs on Mad Decent and Trouble & Bass this Summer... it is now the best 'Kerplunk' tune we've ever heard (okay so it's the only one so far but let's not squibble on details).
Download: Mumdance - Kerplunk! Part 1 / alt link
Speaking of Cardiff, here's a sneak preview of a new tune from another of the city's lost sons you might just recognise (okay so he's not quite lost, just gone AWOL in Berlin).
STAGGA - THATS WHEN I JACKED IT - feat SKAMMA (clip) by stagga
For those of you loving the new Stagga video, a special treat indeed as we bring you a whole mix (including Dirty Sydney) from the mini Malkovich himself with plenty of his own productions and remixes plus some family and friends also; also another of our Cardiff bredrens Ill Diddy from Brothahood has been in our radar for a while but has been sadly under represnted up on here. However it wasn't until a recent party scorched early morning session that we experienced the full magic of his mixes... twice. We have his latest hyper-chilled Future garage / Dubstep outing for you, unfortunately no tracklist so you're just gonna have to sit and wonder what the hell those tunes are; lastly to follow on from their killer new mash up earlier we have a new HavocNDeed mix that is seriously weighty business indeed and stomps around the spectrum from Dubstep to Hulk Hop, Old Skool Rave to Old Skool Garage...HUGE.
Rather apt that it took us til St David's Day to upload our Welsh bass music mix for BBC 1Xtra to Mixcloud. If you haven't downloaded it yet take 20 minutes to go have a listen. Nearly alll the artists are from our home town of Cardiff and this scene is buzzing right now. There's no 'sound' to our city as such, but that diversity is what makes it so good. We shall all be back in the motherland next Monday for a gig at Buffalo with Rusko so if you're in the area make sure you reach.
Check our latest mix that was originally broadcast on BBC 1Xtra last week. More info and tracklisting below.
Download: Pyjama Ban (BBC 1xtra) Mix
From conception to birth, we have to admit we always feel rather like proud parents when we finish a mix, however with this latest in the series there’s a different kind of family pride. Aside from the obvious patriotism that swells from the fully Welsh line up, the fondness with which we regard out peers and the quality of music they have provided here hits the heart like a sibling football team winning the world cup.
When we were approached by 1Xtra to represent our motherland we were asked if we could possibly include some Welsh tracks. When we told them that we planned for the whole mix to be made up of artists from Wales they were surprised that such a feat was possible. Such misplaced surprise and ignorance is the reason why this mix is so important to us.
Not that we particularly mind being overlooked and mistaken for a nation whose musical output doesn’t stretch far beyond Guitar based Rock and Male Voice Choirs, we’re well used to that by now and our own media have always been more than supportive of the Hip-hop, Dubstep and Drum N Bass scenes here. There is a limit however as to just how much incredible music we can keep to ourselves. Let’s face it, it’s just not fair to the rest of you. So here is a quick fire tour of friends and family, mainly Dubstep with a nod to the Hip-hop and post-Hip-hop output of artists such as Squid Ninjaz and the Associated Minds crew.
The mix is meant as more of a showcase than a straight up seamless blend so keep the tracklisting at hand and make sure you look up the artists you’re feeling the most and if you reckon we’ve missed someone out, then make yourself heard so that we don’t make the same mistake next time.
Thanks for listening and don’t forget, if you’re enjoying it, someone else might too…
Pass it on.
Tracklisting:
Magenta – Gutwrencher (White)
Ital Lion – Bullet Dodger (White)
Skamma – Nuff Deep (Accapella)
Stagga feat Skamma – Sick As Sin (Ultra VIP) (Rag & Bone)
Stagga & Don Leisure – On Horse (White)
Superisk – Find Your Way (White)
Stagga Vs Joe Blow – Move In Acidicts (Accapella)
Stagga – Timewarp (forthcoming on Sonic Lodge)
Ill Diddy – The Drop Out (White)
Lung – Mari Celeste (White)
Monkey – Bubblin’ (MASK & Dank Remix) (White)
P Dubz – Cabbage (White)
Curtamos – Stormtroop (forthcoming on Subdepth)
Mr Healan – Bloody Target (White)
Don Leisure – 1X1 (White)
Dan Marshall – Footsteps (White)
Diverse Concepts – Dolphin Dance (forthcoming on www.chromekids.com)
Monkey & Stagga – Glass Bong (forthcoming on Sonic Lodge)
Monkey – Poor You (White)
CRST – Turn Away (forthcoming on Bigger Than Barry)
Beatbox Fozzy Skit
Magenta – Forces (forthcoming on Sonic Lodge)
Monkey – Cygnas X1 (Pesky Plates)
Curtamos – Drop (White)
Ralph Rip S**t - Ralph Rip Rising (Hudson Mohawke Dub)
Darkhouse Family – Darkhouse Number 43 (forthcoming on Fat City)
Metabeats & Diverse Concepts - Embossed (forthcoming on Sonic Lodge)
Foot Clan – Most Real (White)
It's amazing what you find whilst floating through the Soundclouds.
Chew Lips - Salt Air (Plastician Remix) by plastician
Snoop Dogg - Snoop Dogg Millionaire (Plastician Remix) by plastician
STAGGA & MONKEY - Glass Bong (Don Leisure Remix) by Don Leisure
Subfocus Rockit (Biscope Boot) by biscope 
And one of our favourites from the excellent new Bassnectar remix package (which you can grab here)
Teleport Massive (Robot Koch Remix) by robot koch
In his first official mix for 2 years, Bassnectar comes at us from every direction firing proton pack funk into the speakers and not giving a f**k whether he crosses the streams and lets some big marshmallow bass into the arena. Actually marshmallow makes it sound alot fluffier than it is, this is pure filth with influences flying in from Dubstep, Hip-hop, Drum N Bass, Reggae and that Carnival full of Gypsies that rode into town when you were young. There's some original Bassnectar tracks, some re-edits and some friends along too. So steal a tank, strap a stack of speakers to the side and roll into town blasting for a full force 44 minutes and 25 seconds of heavyweight fun.
Seems that things have been kinda quiet in the Welsh capital recently but there's always a lava pool of talent bubbling under the surface ready to erupt in a volcanic explosion of sound. If it eveer does happen these folks should definitely be part of Cardiff smoke cloud set to bury the unexpected.
We've got a big bag of dubz courtesy of Curtamos whose sound is ever developing and now bridges the Dubstep borders between deep and dirty perfectly. Look out for Drop and Stormtroop in particular, both have been snapped up for release. He also hit us up with this Reel 2 Real bootleg which returns a certain amount of credibility to the dope but rather cheese stained club classic.
Download: Curtamos - I Like To Move It / alt link
We first heard of the L.D.P. (previously L.D.G. - Lock Down Generals from what we can understand) from Stagga's Face Get Splat track which featured JBone and Y Dot from the crew (which also includes Ability). Yesterday we posted a preview to the Cardiff Grime crew's new DVD but then after hunting them down we got hold of this track as well, only 128kbps but well worth a listen.
Download: L.D.G - Showa Session 2 / alt link
Speaking of Stagga, we previewed his remix of Hour Glass by Squid Ninjaz soldier Joe Blow a while back. Well Joe just hit us up with the original to the track which is going to be the first single from his new album Dead Man Smoking.
Download: Joe Blow - Hour Glass / alt link
Bonus Download: Starkey - OK Luv (Stagga Remix Instrumental) / alt link
Chrome Kids - Knowledge Me
Mix recorded for Adam Walton's Mystery Tour on BBC Radio Wales (Oct 2009)
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