18 February 2011
Top Tracks of 2011 (so far)
Top tracks of 2011 which made it into the first mixtape for my car this year. Thanks guys!
1. Lower Entrance - Unknown Variation feat. Natalia Grosiak
2. CEX - Trumpetflower (Scrubber Fox Remix)
3. Damscray - Warrior (Lakritze Remix)
4. Virtual Boy - Mass
5. Juakali - Freak you back
6. Th'Mole - I Love Unicorns (Bit-Turner Remix)
7. Gucci Mane - Dollar Sign (Duke Dumont Remix)
8. Demokracy - Zeroth Law
9. GoldRush - SuperSymmetry
10. Damscray - Stay High
11. Take - Begin End Begin (Falty DL Remix)
12. AEED - Electricity pt. 2
13. krojc - Kid 7+8 (PTR1 Remix)
14. Pixelord - Fish Touch
15. Sneaky - Toytown Elegy (Danny Drive Thru Remix)
16. Smokey and Casper - Red Pop
17. Lunice - Freaky
18. Forensics - Midnight Planet
19. krojc - Kid 7+8 (MCQ Remix)
20. Schlachthofbronx - Nasty Bass f. Spoek Mathambo & Bigspace
21. Salva - Icey
22. + verb - Luv U (Extended Heart Mix)
23. Spooky Jones - Starship Ping-Pong.
17 February 2011
Damscray - Make Me Juke
I have ambivalent feelings about the juke (house) as such, never know how to do a proper footwork on the dancefloor - ha ha. The sound patterns used by producers seem to be too repetitious in a longer run. There are of course some interesting artists hailing e.g. from France or Benelux (Moveltraxx family) and I like ghetto house / bastard juke aesthetics when combined with some other form of contemporary IDM music into a more variable music textures (e.g.: Schlachthofbronx, many producers from tigerbeat6). But something changed recently and in 2010 juke sound started gradually leaking into Europe / UK scene adding up another flavor to already twisted underground urban patchwork there (even ending up on some comp released by Planet Mu!!). Will Juke replace another stomping heavy-bass genre which now seems to be dead - I mean Bassline? Will we soon talk and write about UK J as an equal sibling to UK G or UK F? Honestly, I doubt it but trying new avenues in music is always better then copying others, me thinks. There are more and more examples of successful flirts with juke recently. Damscray is one of them definitely.
Damscray (representing 1/2 of my favorite duo of synth slayers from Alfa Centauri ) has just released a super-duper juke EP featuring 6 original tracks and 2 absolutely gorgeous remixes (one of them totally mental!). Just listen to a super fat Stay High sounding like seriously accelerated glitch hop joint with dark, underlying bassline - a dancefloor killer for sure! One of the most powerful and straight-in-yer-face tunes I've heard this year! My personal highlight of the entire release. Clearly, Damscray uses juke aesthetics to experiment with his fancy gear moving from mutant beatz, dubstep and wonky to juke, mixing it all like a devil in one big post-post-something cauldron, like in sick Warriors or Itz Darkness or extremely dubstep'ish - Make Me Juke. A 'cannonical' juke tune - Smellin Feelin has been robo- reslipped by +verb into wobbley affair with amazing crispy synths. TUNE! But the real gut-twisting, totally mental trip awaits the listener in Lakritze's remix of Warriors. Though I heard this tune before it never ceases to grip my neurons and give me creeps! I'll play this tune to my wife next time she pisses me off :) All in all, a very refreshing release, definitely worth checking even if you are not a big fan of ghetto / juke sound. Highly recommended by Doktor Krank.
Damscray - Make Me Juke (bandcamp $3 only!)
15 February 2011
Sneaky - Deeper f. RQM video (Feel Like a Remix LP)
Berlin Bass Maffia attacks again :) A few days ago Sneaky dropped a very nice video of "Deeper" featuring vocalizations by the Berlin-based Polish-born Emcee - RQM.
SNEAKY "Deeper" feat. RQM OFFICIAL VIDEO (taken from "Feel Like A Remix" LP) from Simon Houghton on Vimeo.
In December Sneaky released "Feel Like a Remix" LP, available on e.g. JUNO and other Internet retailers. A remix album of great beauty and very eclectic selection of tunes featuring remixes and reinterpretations from Sneaky's album "Feel Like A King ...Pluck A String" released in 2009. Remixers include Dj High Priest, Peter Parker, Danny Drive Thru, GlueKids, Robot Koch, Paper Tiger, Paddy Steer, Filewile and Sneaky himself . I have been really enchanted by these compositions. Next to Peter Parker's fantastic refix of Deeper, Dj High Priest's laidback, rainy song, Danny Drive Thru's superb refix of Toytown Elegy or Gluekids remix of Dark Joy have been heavily rinsed in my player recently. This music has soul and feelings, offering well-developed, multi-layered music compositions with laidback, sometimes acoustic, jazzy edge moving into more stomping electronic beat and drums. I have been suffering from mild winter depression (which is strange as the sun is shining bright like never before this winter) and this album just attunes so well with my mood :) Totally underrated release in my opinion. This album needs more exposure peeps! Highly recommended by Doktor Krank.
Sampler mix:
Check the entire release on Juno:
11 February 2011
Demokracy - Double Star EP
A few weeks ago, I already wrote a short review of the absolutely smashing new Double Star EP by Demokracy from Siberia (Russia). But, as the release drops today exclusively on Beatport. (8th of March in the rest of the virtuality), and I would really really like you to check this ultra contemporary music, hear me once more and check these beautiful and kinky beats and twisted synth extravaganza. Woth every penny!
The title track Double Star is the essence of Demokracy for me, showing their trademark, fluid and 'talking' synths and great rhytmic sections with analog drums and pads! And the melody! Well, they know how to tell 'stories' with their music, how to build full-fledged compositions or cut voice samples. The music you will never be bored with, eclectic, following its own path and what is equally important - with serious banger potential. When I listen to Demokracy in my car I nod and swerve my head like crazy ha ha. Double Star also features the mighty Searchlight which was in top-5 of my tracks in 2010, but this time with added great vocals by Didjelirium (whom you might remember from collaborations with Doshy). WOW! And I thought this tune could not have been better. There is also another, fat, dark and enchanting roller I heard before - Zeroth Law. I simply love these synths, smacking you across the ears with raw power, yet at the same time spreading strange warmth on your synapses. Fuck, I know I am starting to sound bombastic but this is how I respond and evaluate this type of music - on a visceral rather than cerebral level. Deadhead shows the most Skwee face of Demokracy with a totally amazing intro and siiiiiiiiiiick drops. I don't know what are their drinking or eating habits over there in Siberia, but I want the same. Pronto! Then, the artists take the listeners to the Zone full of 8-bit bleeps, crazy button improvisations, cut-up voice samples and drilling bass in a kind of broken beat frenzy. Voight Kampff is a pure mechanical beauty and the beast, lots of spacey synths and ultra heavy bass - the Daft Punk of the future. Awesome!
Double Star EP is the type of contemporary, mutant electronic music I wish to hear more in 2011. Don't sleep on Demokracy peeps. The new star is being born ... What is more, this will be followed by Double Star EP Remixes, incl. rmxes by Zet., Coco Bryce, Bass Science, Montgomery Clunk, Doshy, Stagga and more. Can't wait! .
09 February 2011
New beats new kicks (U Know Me, ptr1, pixelord, robot koch, schlachthofbronx)
Corporation is squeezing the last juices from me, my blog suffers, but I shall never surrender he he he. I present a few tunes worth checking out of the mass of music that accumulated over the last few weeks. I would like to apologize to all the great artists and promoters out there sending their stuff to me but the time is a scarce commodity in Dr Krank's mansion recently. Trust me, I hear ya and I hear your stuff. Keep up the good work guys - I love you! (Dr Krank's waving a hand in late Michael Jackson's manner).
I am really proud to post a couple of tunes coming from Poland. U Know Me Records, a new sibling labal of JuNouMi Rec (releasing polish hip-hop since 2002) is definitely at the forefront of new beatz movement made in Poland right now. After a fantastic release of Teielte's Homeworkz (read my review here) and an interesting LP Digital Gaden by Kixnare last year, they have new tunes in the pipeline.
The first release from U Know Me in 2011 is a laidback, jazzy and twisted funky stuff from Daniel Drumz available on 10" vinyl or in digital format (e.g. on Juno) Here is the preview of the title track "Lay Low On The Treble" reminding me of the music released on Tokyo Dawn Records. Really good quality and nice work Daniel!
The next release on this label will be even better!! Let me take you for an absolutely mesmerizing and enchanting trip with Lower Entrance featuring oneiric vocals of Natalia Grosiak. This tune made my day and really helped to drop out at least for a few minutes. Longish intro leads to the great, trippy beat with a nice use of delays and Natalia singing in a manner of Oriental divas. She bought me instantly.Unknown Variation is the first single from forthcoming Lower Entrance's EP [UKM 004]. Can't wait to hear the rest of the stuff.
ptr1 from PÅ‚ock (Poland) released one of the best EP's of 2010 (Above the Structures), and his Cold has been haunting me for months. His new tune Warmth posted to soundcloud is equally good. ptr1 again creates the moody sonic excursion into the barren land. Beautiful!
Robot Koch is a great producer but equally good remixer. What he did to Kraddy's Let Go, as a part of the Labirynth Remix Project , is simply 'osom!! Lush vocals of Juice Aleem and Justice and heavy bass, dubby beat make this tune an instant crowd-pleaser. I wish I was now at the dancefloor in some club with sweaty bodies dancing and jumping around me to this groovy robotic rhythm. TIP!
More twisted stuff from Pixelord, a free download of Tropical VIP refix of his Fish Touch from the recent EP on Error Broadcast, also posted on xlr8r site yesterday. Properly UK basssed tune. I LIKE!
Finally, the carnival butchers from Bavaria, Schlachthofbrox, in a preview of their forthcoming Nasty Bass EP dropping 15 Feb on Mad Decent. Ghetto Bass mixed with Cumbia, occasionally going into the extremes of Juke House frenzy. I love these crazy bassterds.
06 February 2011
Sector 7g - 2010 Bleep Mix
2010 was absolutely awesome music-wise. Heavy bass, wonky, mutant future beatz and every f..g genre squeezed in between erupted into eclectic and very fresh neon frenzy which many times left my jaw opened low low low. Just check this fantastic mix by Sector 7g hailing from Athens, Ohio, to catch the great vibe of past year in a super tight selection including 99% of my favorite artistis. We have nearly identical music taste Mr. Sector 7g! West Coast - eg. Teebs, Nosaj Thing, Jon Wayne, Lorn, Gaslamp Killer, Gonjasufi meets thriving UK scene represented by - e.g. Slugabed, Loops Haunt, Redinho or Rudi Zygadlo and Continential Europe champions of synthetic improvisations , like Demokracy, Robot Koch, Doshy, DZA or Slow Hand Mothem. Plus Tokimonsta, Dimlite, Letherette, Shigeto and tons of other big names. This is a hit parade. Don't sleep on this mix. A super concise look at the best (if niche) music world of 2010.
...READ MOREThis is Sector 7g's mix for Bleep's best of 2010 mix contest.If you like what you hear please go over to mixcloud and listen to AND favorite this mix. I'm not asking for any favor, this mix is simply too good not to be promoted!!!!
Tracklist:
Teebs - Double Fifths
Nosaj Thing - Quest (Low Limit rmx)
JonWayne - Gumbo Baby
JonWayne - Calling to Me
Letherette - In July Focus
Tokimonsta - Park Walks
Dimlite - Elbow Flood
Eskamon - Fine Objects
Gonjasufi - Kowboyz and Indians
Free the Robots - Turkish Voodoo
Dibiase - Clocked Out
Redinho - Bare Blips
JonWayne - 1 for Kutmah
Slugabed - Clunk Clunk
Loops Haunt - Huarache
Loops Haunt - Joplin
Lorn x Samiyam - Brainwaves
Tokimonsta - Cheese Smoothie
Demokracy - Searchlight
Exile - Mega Mix (Mike Gao rmx)
JuJ - My Room
Shigeto - Ann Arbor part 1
Gold Panda - You
James Pants - Driftwood
Robot Koch - Gorom Sen (Shlohmo rmx)
Gaslamp Killer - Carpool Dummy ft. Mophono
Killing Skills - Van Dijick Brown
Danny Drive Thru -Ante Up
DZA - Fireball
Limonious - Degenerator
Computer Jay - You've Known
Slow Hand Motem - Love is the New Evil
Mothboy - Cala Nova (w/ Ted Parsons)
Jneiro Jarel -Gosohaurd
Rudi Zygadlo - Something About Faith
Lorn - Void part 1
Eprom - Dirty Diamonds ft. Sleepyhead
DJ Nate - My Heart
Robot Koch - Verbal Bruises ft. Portable Morla
Doshy - Chip
Lakritze - Adama (Doshy rmx)
NastyNasty - Dead Star
02 February 2011
Isaiah Toothtaker - Illuminati Thug Mafia
Machina Muerte label in cooperation with Alpha Pup Records released a few days ago the notoriously good bass-heavy, devilish hip hop album Illuminati Thug Mafia by Isaiah Toothtaker - a rapper, tatoo master, street fighter (among other things) from Tuscon. Straight-in-yer face rhyming, foul language, brave beat mixed to create a powerful music shot for any music junkie looking for a quality fix. The legion of collaborators on this brilliant album ensures the variety and eclectic selection, you have no chance to be bored during the rough trip with your scary toothtaking host. Illuminati Thug Mafia is one of the best and interesting albums of 'canonical' hip hop I've heard for months. My personal highlights include: Intruder, WTF You Say, Tantamout, Self Control (crazy synths!!! though Pink Floyd fans might have mixed feelings about this one ha ha), Unheard/Unseen (great beat and drums!), but the entire release is of top-notch quality. Highly recommended by Doktor Krank!
... READ MORE
Grab this haunting taster featuring, apart from Isaiah's, tasty vocals by MURS:
Isaiah Toothtaker - "WTF You Say" (free download)
Then check iTunes or bandcamp to get the whole load of dirty rotten rap from Isaiah Toothtaker. It's absolutely worth your monies.
Isaiah Toothtaker - Illuminati Thug Mafia (iTunes)
Isaiah Toothtaker - Illuminati Thug Mafia (bandcamp)
Collaborators on Illuminati Thug Mafia include: MURS, Mestizo, HUMANSUIT, Zackey Force Funk, Lucky.I.Am, CRIME KILLZ, Lush One, Cadalack Ron, Rheteric, Alex Pathetic, and SerpDot and the production side was handled by Mainframe (Johnson&Johnson), Jacob Safari (Wavves), CRIME KILLZ, Eligh (Living Legends), Kid Static, LouisahHH, Masque Anonymous, The Briefcase, and Nick Sena.
Bonus: sick video of Intruder:
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