Robot Bodypop 13.10.12

artwork from “Hello, I’m Robot!” by Stanislav Zigunenko (Russian Kids’ Book, 1989)

Flying solo once again with the new format it’s myself Killian selecting from a mixed bag this week. Deep vibes throughout and even taking a small HipHop excursion with Snakehips, Gummy Soul & Fresh as I’ve recently discovered Bandcamp is an absolute goldmine for concept albums from indie producers.
There some deep dub in there, most notably a free track from Djinn, thats a wicked remix of a Numan track so check for that. Some roots vibes in there too from Egoless and Matta checks in with a remix of French producers Niveau Zero & Tambour Battant. Dark and moody vibes from Kode 9 vs Badwai and to fend of the dark theres glorious tracks from our best kept secret, Londy as well as rising talen Es.Tereo. New D&B vibes from Breaks Symmetry label make this show as varied as it’s ever been. Get keen and listen in.

Things She Say – Londy
Den Of Drumz – Kode 9 vs Badwai
Secrets (Djinn RMX) – Numan
Before Dub – Egoless
Big What (Matta RMX) – Niveau Zero & Tambour Battant
Red Sound – Yosi Horikawa & Dorian Concept
Talinn – Kusto
Who We Are – Break
Third Act – Prolix
Pardon Me – Snakehips
Heart – Fresh
4 Better Or 4 Worse – Gummy Soul
Purple Sky – Es.Tereo

IMLTD 1208 – ‘Purple Sky’ EP

French imprint IM:Ltd showcases some of their talent with the new Purple Rain EP reflecting on sounds from a wide open spectrum of deep and forward thinking drum and bass.
Berlin best kept secret Es.Tereo opens up with the soulful ‘Purple Sky’, a textured blend of synths and crisp drums. Gunston’s ‘Transition’ follows with a dark vibe coupled with creeping vocals. Ukrainian lone wolf Hibea steps it up with the menacingly minimal ‘Ellipse’ before its all wrapped up by Nuage taking the vibe up and away soaring through sonic space with ‘Above Time’. Incredible work from this label and theres a couple of bonus tracks in there too. ‘Lonely’ from hot prospect Gerwin and ‘In This Life’ from Belgian producer Atmospherix. Easily in my top 5 EPs for the year so far.

Symmetry presents ‘The Other Side’ LP

Symmetry Recordings drops a brand new LP with cuts from various artists, the CD featuring no less than 12 individual tracks. Drum and bass in abundance here with excellent work from label boss Break joined by Eastcolors, Ulterior Motive & Code 3, Octane & DLR, Prolix, Silent Witness, Need For Mirrors, Fields,Hydro, Mako, Villem and Mikal. An impressive roster and it makes for a fantastic long player. From the deep roller ‘Power Down’ to the more vocal ‘Who We Are’ and also the subtle in ‘Watch Out’, this LP really shows off Symmetry for who they are; A committed label excited by pushing the sounds of solid Drum & Bass.

Symmetry Recordings

Bizarre Tribe: A Quest to the Pharcyde

Thanks to Amerigo Gazaway of Gummy Soul, this free album sees possibly my two favourite rap crews from the East and West Coasts, A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde, join forces for this 14-track project. Mixing and matching vocals and instrumentals from both camps, this makes for ‘gems that never were’ like Pharcyde’s ‘Runnin’ set to the rhythm of Tribe’s ‘Electric Relaxation’. Incredible. Stream, download and embark on the Quest to The Pharcyde.

Download the full album here at Bandcamp with an instrumental release there too.

Not For Sale: Red Bull Music Academy Madrid

This compilation actually now dates back to 2011 but the music far exceeds the time is was concepted. And the 2012 compilation isn’t available yet anyway so bag this.
The annual international music event hosted by Red Bull where up and coming producers, singers, arrangers, DJs and musicians get an opportunity to learn from top industry professionals has been throwing up surprise results year after year.
Incredibly, the compilations are put together and the event in Madrid last years see’s no less than 35 tracks included for free download. In any format I might add for the audiophiles amongst us.
Without going into too much detail theres a rich blend of deep electronica but theres still the core instrument playing musicians there in the fold making this an incredibly varied selection.
Absolutely pushed for standout tracks I might be inclined to say Yosi Horikawa & Dorian Concept with the glorious track ‘Red Sound’ & Jorge Caiado & Mathew Jonson with the deep house vibe on ‘Ecovillage’ are the tracks that led me to seek out the full compilation. Get involved.

Pragmatic Theory Present : Curtis The Beat Tape

Bandcamp has fast become one of my favourite sources of both new and experimental music. The ‘Pragmatic Theory’ cut is one such download available right now on there. The vibe sees a collective of producers, samplers and beat maestros from around the world getting involvoled purely for the love of music. They take elements from Curtis Mayfield cuts and create whatever beats it inspires.

Its a 25 track release and all of them are available straight from the beatsmiths alike. They are bouncy, they push the stereo limit, they make you turn the bass down and right back up again,
Stream it, download it and listen in. Concept albums are rocking my world at the minute and what better way to get involved than this…..Its packed full of soul.