Showing posts with label zwolf. Show all posts

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.

Joining them on the night shall be a long term Chrome Kids favourite in the shape of Zwolf and a relative newcomer to our radar by the name of STD.

Ruby (Recorded Live at Berghain, Berlin) by Anorak London

The Gentle Good_Dawel Disgyn [Zwolf Remix] by zwolf

Eldridge by STD

I think that's probably enough to take in for now. No doubt you shall be hearing me shouting further praises from it's rooftop in the coming weeks. If you are in town, pop in.

bigLOVE,

Kaptin

Tracklisting

Bassnectar - Wildstyle Method / alt link
Shigeto - And We Gonna (Samiyam Chopsticks Remix)
Swede:art - Underpurpled (Dandario Remix)
Babe Terror - A Capital Federal (Appleblim Rework)
Ghostpoet – Longing For The Night / alt link
The Gaslamp Killer – Fun Over 100
Gonjasufi - Love of Reign (zwolf Remix) / Vote For This
Kokayi feat. Substantial & Tonedeff - Ninety 5
Letherette – In July Focus
Pigeon John – The Bomb
Bobmo - Bring It (Hot City Remix)
Sia - Clap Your Hands (Doorly Remix) / alt link
Raffertie - Rank Functions (Ital Tek Remix)
Monky - Mostly Sativa
Diddy & Chico - Sumting New Everyday!!

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

Props to Adam Walton who had us in for a mix a couple of months back. His end of year round up on BBC Radio Wales included some of our favourite tracks from our beloved homeland too, including zwolf's Room For Doom which we gave you on a Fre-Release EP earlier in the year, Metabeat's future soul freebie Fruit Salad, Pete Lawrie's Black and Blue mix with Speech Debelle and Junglebiz from Mr Curtamos. For the full 3 hour Welsh round up you can listen again on the BBC iPlayer for the next week.

Listen: Adam Walton - My 3hr Welsh Music 2009 Mixtape via BBC iPlayer

Some multisensory Monday mixtapes to help you wake up and smell the rest of the week with zest in your eardrums. First some downtempoish glitch speckled mood music from a mix our man zwolf recorded recently for Adam Walton on BBC Radio Wales, easing into a deep melodic Dubstepish orientated journey courtesy of DJ ID then finally, well and truly grab Monday by the bollocks and twist em with High Rankin's set from Jay Cunning's New Breed Stage at Glade Festival, there's a even a video so you can bounce along with the big man himself.




Download: zwolf - function follows form mixtape

Tracklisting:

01. jacaszek – lament
02. bubblegum interlude
03. flying lotus – falafel
04. doom – thank ya
05. j dilla – waves
06. zwolf – room for doom
07. broadcast – pendulum
08. system of a down – soldierside interlude
09. can – oh yeah
10. experimental dental school – basement fever
11. felix kubin – ich sacke hund
12. grandaddy – AM 180
13. felix kubin – hotel supernova
14. zwolf – cry wolf
15. unity gain temple – sahmo
16. xentrix - outro


I.D. Sep09PromoMix192 by bassmusic

Download: DJ ID - Sep09PromoMix

Tracklisting:

Rossi B & Luca - Don't Cry Soundbwoy (I.D. rmx) - Heavy Artillery
I.D. vs Skinnz - The Blues (Earwax)
Gemmy - Rainbow Road (Planet Mu dub)
I.D. - Leaves (Mata Syn dub)
Relocate - Origins (Iberian Records dub)
TRG - New In Town (dub)
F-Word - Death Valley (I.D. remix) (Dusted Breaks dub)
DJ Madd - Wot 2 Play (dub)
DJ Znobia - Me Batem (Baobinga & I.D. remix) (Enchufada)
Baobinga & I.D. - Tongue Riddim (Build dub)
L-Vis1990 - United Groove (Baobinga & I.D. remix) (Mad Decent dub)
I.D. - Clipper (dub)
Viper Corps - Overclocked (I.D. remix) (Lucky Break dub)
I.D. - Tell Ya (dub)
Toasty - Lickable (dub)



Download: High Rankin live at Glade 09

Tracklisting:

01. High Rankin – Soundboy
02. High Rankin – No Money for guns
03. Krywolf – Mucky (High Rankin Remix)
04. Trevor Lovey and Sinden – Organ Grinder (High Rankin Remix VIP)
05. High Rankin – Occupation: Pimp and Gambler
06. Phonat – Set me free (High Rankin Remix)
07. Black Daniel – Here comes Caeser (High Rankin Remix)
08. High Rankin – The Airloom 2009
09. High Rankin – Requiem for a dream
10. Hérve feat: Marina Gasolina – Baseball Bat (High Rankin Remix)
11. Alex Roots – Don’t stop (High Rankin Remix)
12. High Rankin – Beak Street
13. Barbarix – Bass Rocker
14. Temper D – Wonky Glasses VIP
15. Diplo and Switch – Get Off (Jack Beats Remix)
16. Rusko – Cockney Thug (Scratch Perverts Remix)
17. High Rankin & Gyto – How Many Records
18. Skunk Annansie – Charity (High Rankin Remix)
19. Kevin Rudolf feat: Kid Cuddi- Welcome To The World (High Rankin Remix)
20. High Rankin – VERY METAL
21. Steve Angello & Laidback Luke feat: Robin s – Show me love (AC Slater Remix)

*image removed by request

With both feet an inch off the ground, his back against the curved walls of a cave on the outskirts of a silent town, zwolf is peering out of the darkness, staring directly at the cityscape as it slumbers. as the local children dream of a new day and it’s inherent possibilities, our mottled hero frantically arranges, arranges and rearranges the brittle 12 tones that lay in his hands, each eyeing an escape route, primed for flight… zwolf is a multi-introvertalist from an unknown location. weaving electronic lobeweapons out of old typewriters and plumage, the binary wizard refuses to tuneweld within confines of ‘genre’ or ‘acceptable behaviour’. on the road the combination of improvised beat-meddling and live scoring is a unique experience destined to leave the audience thinking they've just watched a film with your ears.

'The power of zwolf is a curious thing, Make a one man weep, make another man sing. Tougher than diamonds, rich like cream, Stronger and harder than a bad girls dream...'

We are more than pleased to have zwolf’s beautifully endearing Fake Death EP as our third official Chrome Kids Fre-Release. A selection of fine electronic based music that is as hard to pin down as it is to stop listening to. From the opening blues-nodding beats of Room For Doom, which despite the suggested absence of his one-time label mate and masked rhyme marauder is satisfyingly full enough; and the breakcore tinted murkiness of Dead Sea Scrolls, featuring UK Hip-hop stalwart Junior Disprol (Dead Residents); to the rolling glitch bitten beats that underlie the floatatious vocals of Martin Carr (of Boo Radleys / Brave Captain fame, who also has a new album Ye Gods (and little fishes) out on July 13th) on Soundtrack To Imaginary Film; and the jazzy sultriness of Red that sees an appearance from Cardiff Cabaret duo Mr & Mrs Clark (once likened to 'Terry & June on crack'); Fake Death manages to be eclectically polarised without losing its focus at any point and remains perfectly rounded introduction to the world of zwolf.



Tracks from this EP have already had BBC Radio support from Mary Anne Hobbs, Bethan Elfyn (Radio 1) and Adam Walton (BBC Wales) and whatever he might morph into next, expect big things from zwolf.

(SS) zwolf - Fake death EP (zip + covers)

Individual tracks:

(YSI) zwolf - Room For Doom / alt link

(YSI) zwolf ft Mr & Mrs Clark - Red / alt link

(YSI) zwolf - Inmicro Telecom Pt 1 / alt link

(YSI) zwolf ft Junior Disprol - Dead Sea Scrolls / alt link

(YSI) zwolf ft Martin Carr - Soundtrack To Imaginary Film / alt link

Big shout to Zwolf for schooling us on the pathmusick free MP3 label for crazy glitched up technoish experimental music. Have to say though, for us his stuff stands headbutt and shoulder charge above the rest. Have a few tracks which we're sitting tight on for the moment, including killer collaborations with Welsh Hip-hop legend Junior Disprol from Dead Residents and Martin Carr from the Boo Radleys (aka Brave Captain). But for now, check these absolute gems from the Forgotten Mnemonics EP...

Zwolf was once signed to Sound-Ink who released the Viktor Vaughn LP, and MF Doom would indeed sound dope riding on this one. Unfortunately there's been no collaborations just yet.

(YSI) Zwolf - Room for Doom / alt link

This next one features Cardiff Cabaret duo Mr & Mrs Clark who one reviewer once likened to 'Terry and June on crack'.

(YSI) Zwolf ft Mr & Mrs Clark - Red / alt link