29 October 2010

Recent releases reviews pt. 1



I've realized I have no chance to write proper reviews of all the recent releases I really like due to the lack of time. And in blogosphere things become old quite fast, thus I decided to draw the attention of my readers to the bass-heavy / beat music YOU MUST NOT MISS which has been released recently. I'll try to write at least a few words about each of them, while being fully aware these artists deserve much more than that.

Swede:art - Emotional Colors Remixes
DrKrank's rating: 8/10


Let's start from Swede:art and the remix compilation of my personal record of the year, i.e. Emotional Colors. This is still top-3 album of the year next to Lorn's Nothing Else and probably only Lazer Sword's full-length has a chance to beat it. Since the first time I came across the work of Joachim Pruegl at the end of 2009, I really felt his potential, but I've still been surprised with his stellar debut. He has instantly catapulted himself to my personal top German producers league next to the mighty Robot Koch. Tokyo Dawn Records did a right thing and released a fantastic Emotional Colors Remixes featuring a few absolutely fantastic remixes. All in all this is one of the best comps of this type I've heard in ages. Nearly as good as the original. TOKiMONSTA from Brainfeeder's roster delivered the most contagious, addictive and perfect rework, closely followed by Kidkanevil's rainy, downtempo improvisations, Sam Irl's banging, dark neon synth-driven remix of my personal best track by Swede:art, namely Linquistics or Devonwho's deconstructions of Mosambique. I also extremely liked the jazzy remix of Embrace by Waxolutionists and Edizione Crumar's electric refix of A Room of Prayers. Actually, you wouldn't find a weak remix on this compilation. Grab the entire release on Tokyo Dawn site. It's worth every penny.


Listen to my personal-best remix by TOKiMONSTA:

Swede:art - I'm A R.O.B.O.T. feat. Blaktroniks (TOKiMONSTA Remix) by Swede:art

The Great Mundane - This is So You EP
Dr. Krank's rating: 9/10


We remain in a slightly similar area with another release. The Great Mundane is one the Portland's (Oregon) premiere beatsmakers and in his free EP - This is So You he shows the real depth of his talent, which is immense to say the least. He offers super-tight samples, impeccable production skills, great button work and a kind of jazzy, spacey feel to music I like so much recently. Associated with STS9 and 1320 Records, he also has been releasing records and collaborations since 2007 (psymbolic, mush, runriots records). This EP is perfect from the first to the last note. It's even difficult for me to point to some highlights - this is a kind of work that needs to be digested in full. The great news is that we should expect remixes for SPL, Lorn, KiloWatts & Bluetech as well as his next full length in May 2011 on 1320 Records. Can't wait.

The Great Mundane - This is So You (free download via bandcamp)


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Bassnectar - Wildstyle EP
Dr. Krank's rating: 7/10


The last one for today's wrap-up is Bassnectar, the weekend is coming and there is no better tool to pump up your party attitude than to listen to a few ultra bass-heavy tunes from his new EP - Wildstyle. Already the first track - Bassnectar's remix of Hot Right Now will seriously burn your speakers or internal brain circuitry (if you listen to this EP via your headphones - thus beware!). The sonic onslought continues unwavaring with the highlights being: gnashing dubstep bomb of the title track, The 808 Track with baile-funk drums turning into drilling wobbley affair, and a sick, filthy collab with ill-gates in Encore. Kudos go to Lorin for including more experimental stuff (Fun with Synthesizers) on this EP. All in all, the release did not left me jaw-dropped but it's a solid block of your best bass-heavy music doing wonders on any dancefloor across the globe or using the full potential of your sub-woofer. BTW - peeps in Europe should start their preperations already - Bassnectar will visit and old contintent in November. Check Bassnectar's site for details.

Kraddy - Dirty Got Soul Mix



The "Labyrinth" EP by Kraddy is coming (Alpha Pup, Nov 8). Yep, finally! I have been waiting for this quite anxiously, not only to compare his new material to that of his former mates from The Glitch Mob, but to hear some extra bass heavy bombs which I'm sure will be there :) To sweeten up the waiting time for the release Kraddy prepared dirty'n'soul mix full of ill tunes. Highly recommended!

The word from the man himself: I put together something heavy and soulful for you. A few choice tracks from some of my favorite artists. Every track in this mix is a standout to me. These are tracks that aren’t afraid to get grimey with it – tracks that push the envelope and do it with style. Turn it on and turn it up. And don’t be afraid to get dirty, cause dirty got soul.


Kraddy - Dirty Got Soul Mix by KRADDY

TRACKLISTING:
1. MILANESE – BILLY HOLOGRAM
2. BEN SAMPLES – BLOOD ON THE HANDLE
3. TWO DOLLAR HOOKER – BREATH SO NEAR [FINE CUT BODIES PSYCHOSTEP MOD]
4. R/D – TEH REMIX
5. TOM BURBANK – STICKY FUNK
6. MISSILL – INVINCIBLE [MOCHIPET REMIX]
7. ALEX B – AT CHANNEL ONE
8. STAR SLINGER – GIMMIE
9. KRADDY – MONO
10. KRADDY – NO COMPLY

28 October 2010

Mixing it up hard way



I officially declare Autumn The Season of Good Mixes. So many of them sits on my hard-drive, I wish I had at least half of my PC's CPU power to process through all of them. 

Starting from a harsh, ultra-distorted and bass-heavy mix for Mondayjazz by Berliners duo - Jinna and Lakritze (reppin great label Robox Neotech). I really dig this kinda Berlin-unique post-industrial, raw aesthetics applied to bass and beat music. I like the feeling of being totally squashed and sonically assualted by sick synths and out-of-synch beat. Jinna and Lakritze deliver them a planty while not forgetting about some funk factor, blending perfectly glitch-hop / lazer killers from USofA - e.g. NastyNasty, Heyoka, Salva, Freddy Todd - with European, more experimental and glitchy beatsmaking style - e.g. Doshy, Halp, Sduk or Robot Koch, with a strong representation of the fast growing Russian beat scene - like e.g. Pavel Dovgal, Damscray or Demokracy (totally sick Zeroth Law). One of the best mixes I've heard in a while. Highly recommended!

MONDAYJAZZ #156 - WUTSLANG - JINNA & LAKRITZE



Halloween is coming. P-Fang "Hall of Horrors Mixtape" is scarry and uplifting in equal proportions :)) I like the mood and spaciness of the sound, built on ravey beat with ocassional guitar riffs which are more than welcomed by me in any electronic compositions :)) It is a nice follow-up to the previous mix. I was directed to P-Fang via Lazersword site. P-fang is a dude from SF ("a lone composer/producer featuring the dark side of sound" - via his facebook) and I really, really like the 'darkness' of his music. A new name to watch definitely.

p-fang - hall of horrors 2010 mixtape by p-fang



Finally, leave all the concerns behind and let's smack some glitch with Decibel's  "Smack My Glitch Up vol.2" mix. First installment was pure distorted adrenalin kick. The same goes for no. 2 :)) A great selection of who-is-who in the world of glitch hop / sub-bass. My joints are twitching wiiiiiiiiiiildddddddd

Decibel - Smack My Glitch Up! 2.0 by Decibel9M3

TRACKLISTS AFTER THE JUMP

27 October 2010

Speakers on Full Blast!


Not much sleep lately, which is pretty shitty way to spend a day at work. Need high-energy boosters like e.g. Mochipet live recording of his show (f. Rusko) at Mezzanine with Joe Mousepad on the mike and Freddie Future on Scratches Live. Digital basslines, super strong drums and one-of-the-kind pet's glitched-up-to-the max synths is what I am craving for today.





And one more blast from a not-so-long-ago past. Being a big fan of west coast gangsta crew of King Fantastic as well as premiere Canadian glitch-hop duo of Knight Riderz, I somehow missed a fantastic, liquid digital Knight Riderz' remix of King Fantastic's Westcoastsynthesizerbeachbumgangstermusic. This tune is way too good to be missed on my blog. Drop!

Westcoastsynthesizerbeachbumgangstermusic (Knight Riderz Remix) by Knight Riderz

26 October 2010

Montgomery Clunk - HEAT (Error Broadcast forthcoming release)


Error Broadcast can do no wrong. Seriously, for me this is definitely one of the best, most forward-looking, eclectic and fresh labels on the future mutant beat / neon front. They have found another, absolutely amazing 22-year old youngster. Again! His name is Montgomery Clunk, and he hails from Bucharest, Romania in Eastern Euroope. The first track I've heard from him - You Neon Night - was great but Heat from the forthcoming debut Superb EP on Error Broadcast (14th Nov - can't wait!!) - literally blew my mind off.  Just listen to these synths - it's a work of ART. This boy will be huuuge.

Montgomery Clunk - HEAT by Error Broadcast

You can also download You Neon Night by this Romanian Wunderkind:

Montgomery Clunk - You Neon Kinght by Gimme5

Friends of Friends Mix series: Darkhouse Family - Pump That In Your 4x4


Friends of Friends label / portal / creative center attracting super talented beatmakers has just released a funkstatic, twisted, mutant beat mixtape by Don Leisure & Metabeats a.k.a. Darkhouse Family, the duo hailing from Cardiff (check their Family Trees EP released a few months ago on Fat City). Fat beats indeed all across the board with every single name and track in the selection fitting perfectly well, as a result creating an uniterrupted flow of head-nodding bliss with occasional taste of sick weirdness (like Slugabed vs. Eprom. Oh my oh my oh my!!) I f...g demand Eprom's Psycho to be released IMMEDIATELY! Great mix from the 1st to the last second, highly recommended by your humble Doktor!

FoF Mix #5 Darkhouse Family - "Pump That In Your 4×4" by FoFMusic

Tracklist:
DHF – INTRO
MADLIB – SLAPPED UP [SLAP N CLAP] – STONES THROW
EXILE – POPULATION CONTROL [SAMIYAM MIX] – PLUG RESEARCH
DARKHOUSE FAMILY – DE LA GHETTO – CDR
DAM FUNK x BIGGIE – GOING BACK TO CALI – CDR
LLOYD BANKS – BEAMER, BENZ OR BENTLEY (INST) – EMI
LAZER SWORD – WEB SWAG – INNOVATIVE LEISURE
DARKHOUSE FAMILY – RED LEATHER – CDR
J DILLA – DON’T NOBODY – HOUSE SHOES RECORDINGS
DEVONWHO – WINDMILSHIRE – CDR
DON LEISURE – PUNTA SKALA – CDR
LAKRITZE – TROPICAL MEAT – ROBOX NEOTECH
SLUGABED – BREADCRUMBS & BUTTERBEANS – CDR
EPROM – PSYCHO – CDR
JOHN WAYNE – A BANGER – CDR
SHIGETO – AND WE GONNA [SAMIYAM RMX] – GHOSTLY INTERNATIONAL
DIBIA$E – DUNGEON DUST – CDR
METABEATS – OPA BEAT – CDR
ILLUM SPHERE – ONE FOR DIMLITE – CDR
BUSTA RHYMES – GENESIS – FLIPMODE

25 October 2010

Earth, do you hear me? Cosmos speaking. I've got a few mixes for you


The best radio show in Polish radio - Kosmos, hosted by Maceo Wyro - vol. 31 of 16.10.2010.
QUALITY as USUAL! Mutant beatz, hip-hop, glitch, lazers and neons in top selection plus a free Polish lesson for all the international listeners :) not to be missed. New hot shit from The Gaslamp Killer, Lazersword, Dimlite, Swede:art, The Bug & more plus some hip-hop bombs (Nottz!) is enough!Just check the tracklist after the jump.

KOSMOS 2010 VOL.31 by KosmoS



New super label has been born. Donky Pitch is the name and Donky Stomp is the first release, featuring one of my top-3 producers atm - i.e. Slugabed and Ghost Mutt. Killing release to say the least. Check this minimix.

DKY001minimix by Donky Pitch

Mweslee, a producer from Spain, who played alongside Slugabed, Ghost Mutt, Alexander Nut at the Donky Pitch  label release party last Saturday,  has released an interesting Donky Pitch Mix via Rhythm Incursions, a fine tool for serious office head-nodding fitness. Classic, funky and proper mutant beatz / hip-hop without all these shitty artificial and horrible top-40 losers. TIP!

MWESLEE - DONKY PITCH MIX



Talking about Rhythm Incursions, here is another super dope and heavy guest mix for RI from the Tokyo-based Raid System aka RIRS, i.e. Broken Haze and XLII. Oh boy, these guys know how to kick ass dropping banger after banger featuring several of my favorite artists, like e.g. Slugabed, Mochipet, edIT, Machinedrum, FlyLo, Rustie, +verb or Diplo. Jump, jump madaf***s!

PS: Bart B's - Brap made me leave my workplace (which is a near-crime in my corposlavery) cause there was no way I could sit on my ass listening to this!

RAID SYSTEM - RHYTHM INCURSIONS MIX OCT'10 

ALL TRACKLISTS AFTER THE JUMP

20 October 2010

From Russia with Love: Myown - Zipdubs [GNL 011]


Russia seems to breed more and more world-class beat producers. Myown from Moscow is definitely one of them. Twisted electronic psychedelia is the name that comes into mind immediately after hearing a few broken bleeps and pieces in his weird compositions of craftily controlled chaos. I really like such trips, I hope you also will. Grab Myown's 3 ZIP's released on the Gergaz Netlabel [GNL] and go for a fast sonic deconstruction.

Myown - Zipdubs [GNL 011]

ZIP01
01 Myown - Your heart is not open to feel acid love
02 Myown - Desert kiss the rain
03 Myown - Komnata otdiha (vip vip 777 dub)
04 Myown - Nas zvezdi zhdut
05 Myown - Stop arguing with your lsd essensses

ZIP02
01 Myown - Plain Tussin (Internet Club Dub)
02 Myown - Pevci na Otdihe
03 Myown - Vladika Dub
04 Myown - Vladislav Kovac
05 Myown - Slow (slow-shit)

ZIP03
01 Myown - Zarubonchik
02 Myown - Ozero dub
03 Myown - Girlfriend
04 Myown - Vesna refix
05 Flying Lotus - Tealeafdancers (Myown remix)
06 Myown & Pixelord - Pechal’
07 Myown vs Lokiboi vs Woodycalypso - Maryannehobbs tribute
08 Myown - Crush

In Bass I Trust (with occasional neons)



I'm back to reality after a super duper cool off-site drinking / swimming / sightseeing week at Tenerife and La Gomera. Reality sucks, but at least tons of great music awaited me after returning to cold Poland.

Let's start from a new collaboration between two super talented producers from USofA Stephan Jacobs and + Verb whose tracks have been featured on my blog regularly. Super distorted bassline and superb synth work = quality. Want more :)

Stephan Jacobs & +Verb - Blind Dreams (Unreleased) by Stephan Jacobs


And here is a short promo mix of the most eagerly anticipated release this year - Lazer Sword LP dropping on November, 2.

Holy Flying Spaghetti Monsters from Hell, these guys are on a completely different level already. Can't wait! (Dolphins sample rulez!!!!)


LAZER SWORD ALBUM *PROMO MIX* - AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 2 by LAZER SWORD


I'm a big fan of Stereoheroes who are unrivaled creators of sick bangers. Listen to their flirt with dubstep and heavy bass :)) Me likes a lot!

A word from them: The Lost Generation is what remains of a computer crash while StereoHeroes were last touring the USA. Originally meant to be a hip hop EP with some high level MCs from France, all they could save is two wav files. Effigy & Pixie, two Hip-Hop / Dubstep tracks, will never change or evolve, but here it is for you. ALL THE MCs OUT THERE SEND US YOUR VOCAL VERSION OF THE TRACK !!


StereoHeroes - The Lost Generation EP by stereoheroes



Uber-label Numbers introduces heavy-weight Purple_Neon_Light_Bringer from Scotland - Taz Buckfaster in an absolutely smashing EP - Gold Tooth Grin. Robogrime is the best riddim I've heard in a while. Sooo sick! And at the same time a great name to describe the type of music produced by Taz. Numbers 33rd release will hit the jackpot again (Nov, 15).

Taz - Gold Tooth Grin (Previews of NMBRS3 Numbers) by Numbers




On 21st October, VibeSquaD will release a new full length album - The Fire. Judging by the first single - Funk Wear - which you can grab for free from bandcamp below - this record will be even better than the previous ones which I liked a lot!

VibeSquaD - The Fire (via bandcamp)

08 October 2010

Glitch.FM Station ID-Contest



Glitch.fm, the best glitch hop / mutant bass station in the Internet is on the hunt to add some cool new Station IDs to Glitch.FM's archive system. To encourage the creative output from the listeners, they decided to make a competition out of it with some WICKED prizes to boot!

Dear bedroom / boardroom / ballroom / stadium DJ's and producers that's a great opportunity for you to contribute your skills for the extremely good cause of spreading heavy-bass vibe across the planet, while earning some nice prizes and boosting YOUR ego afterwards when hearing your Station ID's being played on air many times a day :) 

Read carefully all the details below and GET TO WORK!!

"What's a station ID? It's one of those short audio snippets, which radio stations play every-so-often that say something to the effect of "You're listening to Glitch.FM"

On to the prizes!

Grandprize Winner: A fresh copy of Reaktor 5, courtesy of the prolific music tech blogger Binary Ally, a choice of an item from our spreadshirt store, some Glitch.FM stickers, a GlitchHopForum.com t-shirt, and GlitchHopForum.com stickers!

1st Runner-up: A free item of choice from our spreadshirt store, glitch.fm stickers, a GlitchHopForum.com t-shirt, andGlitchHopForum.com stickers!

2nd Runner-up: Glitch.FM and GlitchHopForum.com STICKERS!

... and introducing your supreme panel of judges! We have:

Mochipet (Daly City Records) - producer & performer extraordinaire -
Ana Sia (Muti Music Daly City Records) - producer & performer extraordinaire 
mymanhenri - Mini blog writer/editor for 92bpm, curator, bon vivant -
Binary Ally - Music Production Blogger Mastermind -
Great Scott (Muti Music, Scarcity Records Olaris Records) - producer, performer, and Glitch.FM founder

IDs will be judged by the following criteria:

- Originality

- Technical-Skills (how much effort / detail work / etc)

- Clarity of the ID (could be obfuscated too much)

- Length of ID (could be too long or too short)

HOW TO ENTER & ELIGIBILITY:

- Anyone of any age who is not a judge may enter

- Entries must be posted on soundcloud

- To submit an entry, fill out the following: FORM

- Limit 1 entry per individual

- Entries are due by October 15th, 2010, 11:59pm US Central Time

- Winners will be announced at a TBD date, but before December 1st, 2010

06 October 2010

Made in Poland: Kosmos vol. 29 vs. glitch-hop.pl podcast vol. 1 - Lakritze


Kosmos is the radio show hosted by Maceo Wyro in Radio Roxy.  You may remember a great show from two weeks ago posted on my blog. And you know what - vol.29 is even better! It offers absolutely top-notch selection of future mutant beatz, heavy bass, hip hop, funky, you-name-it head-nodding shit. Lazer Sword, NastyNasty, Slugabed, or absolutely mind-boggling Lorn's remix of Eskmo's Come Back (to be released on Ninja Tune soon) accompanied by other talented beatmakers like e.g. Kidkanevil, Daisuke Tanabe, Kenlo Craqnuques, Jneiro Jarel (!!!!), Bilal or Flako with a strong representation of more 'canonical' hip hop and a few interesting newcomers (RAD from Russia!!) again proves Kosmos to be the best radio show for new beat / hip hop / mutant music in Poland. And the real fucking, banging highlight of vol. 29 is Blast That by Nottz (f. Black Milk). I'm not an expert in hip-hop as such, but this tune really blasted me with its sheer raw power! Can't wait for Nottz album droping already in October.

KOSMOS 2010 VOL.29 (special web edition) by KosmoS



A recently established Polish glitch-hop.pl forum started the podcast series. Vol. 1 was cooked by a Berlin-based producer Lakritze representing Robox Neotech label (releasing  music by e.g. Stagga, Doshy, Monky, NastyNasty). Podcast is a 'mixture of errrorgenous fluoro-neoneonic-synth beats and gangsta wonky style' I couldn't write it better ha ha ha. The tracklist includes forthcoming releases on Robox Neotech from Lakritze by him self and few other fresh dopness like Halp, Demokracy, Heyoka or Splatinum. Banging mix !!

Glitch-Hop.pl Podcast #01 by Lakritze by lakritze

READ THE REST OF THE ENTRY FOR TRACKLISTS

05 October 2010

Pagen Elypsis - One Hit Away (Zarkov Remix)



Let me please introduce mutant glitch hop par excellence. A f****g banger, I tell you. Zarkov -a homie from Glitch Hop Forum and a part of new, interesting collective of beatmakers Tape Death hailing from Australia - remixed the first single of the debut release One Way Ticket by Adelaide's leading hip-hop crew Pagan Elypsis. Zarkov created a banging monster of midtempo bass heaven. I can't wait to feed this beast to my car's sound system and cruise the streets with subs pumped up full turning my car into one big boombox on wheels :)) Ride ooooooon!

Pagen Elypsis - One Hit Away (Zarkov Remix) by Zarkov

04 October 2010

Emergency Broadcast System Compilation: This is not a test


New, hot, Canadian label Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) has released a dope compilation including tracks by leading Western Canadian glitch-hop, bass-heavy producers, featuring stomping music by the mighty crew of Knight Riderz, as well as Dewey DB & Ill-Esha - founders of the hub of glitch hop community: Glitch Hop Forum, and other pioneering producers already mentioned on my blog, like JmeJ or Jay Wikid plus new names for me (but definitely not for the Canadian headz) - Sharps, Mat the Alien or Audited Beats.

According to the label's statement "Emergency.Broadcast.System set out with a mission to release not only music that bangs in the clubs, festivals and streets but also is simultaneously essential music for your headphones and home listening" This compilation delivers as promised, offering not only decent whomp & stomp beat and super glitchy bass, but also full-fledged, well-developed and consistent music compositions. Knight Riderz lead the gang of merry bassterds with their two super fat productions- an instant classic Play and Glitch-Mobesque - Key to the City. Mat the Alien drops  sick bass hop banger called simply Lazerbass - for me the highlight of the entire release next to Knight Riderz' Play - while another newcomer (?) Sharps evokes quite a different emotions in his beautiful deep sub-bass meditation The Vast Expanse. Add to this JmeJ's or Jay Wikid's bass improvisations, funky bass in The Grand Slam Dunk by Ill-Esha and heavy-bass cinematic score in Dewey DB's - The Adventures of Albert the Giraffe and you'll get a full picture of the versatile, eclectic compilation which stands out from the sea of booooring distortions, wobbles, drills, weak production skills and monochromatic tunes with single patterns repeated all over which have flooded the bass scene for some time already. I highly recommend you 'saturate your ears with all those delectable details' (to shamelessly borrow the mottoe of glitch.fm Internet radio) - I guarantee you'll be satisfied!

Listen to the preview below
and buy the entire set on Addictech.

Latest tracks by EmergencyBroadcastSystem

As a teaster, grab for free a fantastic glitch hop anthem by one of the best crews out there Knight Riderz!!!  (also don't forget to check their recent Screw Up EP (Made in Glitch) - via addictech) - one of the heaviest and consistently ass-kicking releases this year)

PLAY - Knight Riderz by EmergencyBroadcastSystem