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I haven’t been listening to a lot of hip-hop instrumentals lately, but this caught my eye when I was scrolling down my SoundCloud feed because I am a long-time fan of Juj . It was his Slack LP that won my heart a few years back. I rinsed “Insomnia”–both parts, “My Room”, and “Sunday Bouncer”.
I would say that this slick new jazzy joint entitled “Midnight” is up to par with those favourites mentioned above.
DJ Shadow has started a new label by the name of Liquid Amber. For its debut release, he has put together a three track EP, which includes a remix from Machinedrum .
In anticipation of Fly Lo’s You’re Dead! LP forthcoming via Warp Records , here is a little teaser …
Pre-order the release in 12″ and digital formats here .
I sincerely apologize for the content blackout over the past week folks. I had my hands full with real-life there for a minute. But now I’m back–
Detroit dj/producer Andr é s took the decks for this week’s edition of Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Family Mixtape:
“Expect latin vibes with a soulful touch.”
In anticipation of Pomo’s The Other Day EP forthcoming on HW&W , the label threw up this slamming shimmering dance pop single entitled “Start Again”.
R&S has made Lone’s new Reality Testing LP available for streaming in its entirety via THUMP:
Seattle-based beat wizard Sango delivers a low-slung heater complete with inspirational grandma phonecall samples.
Montréal-based Pomo’s latest self-released single “Vibrator” can barely contain itself. The kick knocks and rolls. The percussion spits and sprays. Manic chord stabs dance with ecstatic re-pitched diva vox. In some ways it reminds me of Hudson Mohawke .
Montrealers can catch him at the opening night of Melt MTL at Blizzarts on Thursday, March 13th.
tell me about your dreams – i wanna know
Although I have been neglecting to share much hip-hop on Low-Life for the last little while–(only because I’ve been consumed by dance music)–since I’ve been rinsing this new joint from Phirefly and the chorus is still looping in my mind, I decided it deserves to be shared with you.
The production brings together a handful of talented individuals that are connected by the common thread of the city of Vancouver: Nate Drobner, a.k.a. AstroLogical, lays down the funk; Claire Mortifee delivers an undeniably alluring radiant vocal performance; and Ray Black offers up some words of wisdom.
Cop the free download if you’re feelin’ it–
[Claire Mortifee x Ray Black]
Vancouver-born Montreal-based Nick Wiz soulfully mangles Janet Jackson’s “All For You” over top warm pulsing synths and a funky neck-spraining groove.
Vibe to this sweet blend of boom bap sexy-pop disco…
On his latest release for Vancouver’s ASL Singles Club , Nick Wisdom brings his signature funky soulful silky-smooth pyschedelic west-coast hip-hop sensibilities into the four-to-the-floor domain. If I was forced to draw comparisons, I would say Wisdom’s latest cuts remind me in certain ways of some of Kaytranada ‘s or Fly Lo ‘s shuffly neck-spraining hybrid hip-hop disco jams.
“Snoopin’ pt 2″, a collaboration with homie beatmaker/visual artist/ Jellyfish Recs boss Eli Muro , surfaced shortly after the ASL release…
Upon first listen through, “Beam Me Up” jumps out as personal favourite of mine. I reckon it would bang in the club.
Cop the free downloads, if you’re vibing…
And here is the video for “Snoopin’ pt 2″, which is ridiculous…
[Nick Wiz]
see previously:
Nick Wisdom | Big Shiny House EP
Potatohead People | Kosmichemusik EP
Last week Jacques Greene and Joseph Coghill’s label, Vase , released this cloudy rap mix tape by Gorgeous Children . A spacious yet turbulent flight through northwestern skies is provided by your low-flying pilot, Denver’s Gila Monsta , accompanied by Washington’s Face Vega on the PA. This is a confident first stride for Vase into the realm of rap, and is the first free digital release the label has done since it started in 2011.
Grab it
here
.
Nguzunguzu serves up some final-boss showdown vibes on “Mecha”.
Look out for Skycell out November 5th on Fade To Mind .
01. Foam Feathers
02. Harp Bell
03. Vision of Completion
04. Break In
05. Tumultuous
06. Mecha
07. Skycell
HW&W recordings releases two new cuts from the young Kaytranada . At All/Hilarity Duff includes a remix from homie Sango . Kaytra’s No Peer Pressure Tour commences tomorrow in a city near you. Get to know–
“Parallel Jalebi”, Kieran Hebdan’s latest offering, delivers a stripped-down low-slung groove clothed by warm organic sampled textures–layers of velvet R&B falsettos.
The slow-motion feel produced by the rhythmic interplay between the drums and and lead-line are reminiscent for me of certain classic Timbaland productions, such as “ Ayo Technology “.
[Kieran Hebdan a.k.a. Four Tet ]
Wolfey
Forthcoming on HW&W , here is the latest cut from Montreal’s funky soulful undeniable dance-floor murderah’– Kaytranada .
K has graciously made “At All” available for free download. Don’t sleep on this one–
Wolfey
Los Angeles-based rapper and producer Jonwayne ‘s latest effort “ Reflection ” – the first single off of his forthcoming rap album Rap Album One – is a morbid gem that reflects Jon’s rickety emotions, lyrical savvy, and masterful production.
The track begins with an eerie account of Jon’s contented childhood, and develops into a weave of laid-back jazz and stabbing vocal comments with respect to the listener’s expectations and the rapper’s current outlook on life. This is a passionate perplexing ballad.
Rap Album One is set to drop on Stones Throw Records October 29th, 2013.
The record cover is a saltine.
Atom
To offer us a taste of Homeboy Sandman ‘s latest All That I Hold Dear LP, Stones Throw Records shared a cut from the album entitled “ The Musician ” …
All That I Hold Dear is available now on vinyl as well as for digital download.
Wolfey
I heard this cut for the first time on the Benji B show a few weeks back – within a few phrases, CAS had me hooked.
London/Essex-based mc CAS rattles off insightful cheeky simultaneously self-deprecating and self-glorifying rhymes over top a bed of warm synths. For me, the vibe of the production is reminiscent of Air’s classic Moon Safari LP and the soundtrack for The Virgin Suicides .
Of the songs I have stumbled upon so far this year, it’s safe to say that this is one of the shiniest gems… If you haven’t heard it yet, “Walkin’” comes
recommended
.
Wolfey
Roots Manuva composed this somber cut for the final episode of Skins , a UK television drama series. “Stolen Youth” is out now on Big Dada .
Wolfey
In anticipation of the release of The Marion Morrison Mixtape via Stones Throw on July 30, Jonwayne recently shared this joint entitled “Altitude” … The track was produced by Mndsgn and Jonwayne and features Jonwayne on the mic as well.
The Marion Morrison Mixtape features collaborations with Captain Murphy, Jeremiah Jae , Zeroh and Oliver the 2nd .
If you happen to be in Texas at the moment, catch Jon tonight in Austin at North Door and tomorrow in Houston at Continuum Headquarters.
Wolfey
Jameszoo ’s Jheronimus EP follows his 2012 release, Faaveelaa, which received nods from The Gaslamp Killer and Mark Pritchard (Warp, Hyperdub, etc…) to name two. Inspired by the fantastical images painted by the Dutch artist from whom his album takes its name, Jheronimus sees Jameszoo experimenting once again with disparate jazz, folk, and electronic elements that somehow, albeit odd, balance each other out. Listen to “Poek,” the standout track, below and if it moves you, experience the entire EP here .
alh
Vancouver’s very own Robin Carnage went to work on Drake’s recent single “The Motions” featuring Sampha. Carnage has slowed the whole groove down, pitched down the vocals and laid them over top of a sparse beat, and thrown in some sonorous regal synth brass for good measure. This is definitely one to consider adding to your current blaze-sesh playlist…
Be sure to cop the free download if you’re feelin’ it.
[Robin Carnage]
And just in case you missed the original version…
Wolfey
It has been two years since HeadSPace dropped his debut Salmagundi LP on Jellyfish . In the interim, he has been wearing other hats… Mr. Muro is one of the prime-movers of Vancouver’s electronic music underground. He is cultivating a deep eclectic catalogue of original compositions from local artists, including Astrological , Nick Wisdom , 8prn , Boha and others, on his web-label Jellyfish Recordings . And he is also a key member Chapel Sound –a colourful collective of laid-back artists who congregate in dimly lit spaces around town to commune with music.
Last week, Muro released his latest EP entitled
Tides
.
He had a few words to share with respect to the thematic direction of the project:
“Tides is about coming and going, things we love that eventually escape us only to return in a new form. The cycles that keep us awake and lull us to sleep.”
Sonically, the title is fitting in the sense that it conveys the ebb and flow of Muro’s morphing synth textures. With the intention of relying more exclusively on his own creativity than he had on some of his earlier sample driven productions, for Tides , Muro more or less abstained from sampling the recorded music of others. That said, the vibe isn’t far removed from his earlier work–Muro offers a selection of smooth chilled-out West-coast flavoured instrumentals. In terms of emotion, Tides feels nostalgic, contemplative, and exploratory. There is also a tinge of youthful innocence or naïveté.
I have selected two of my personal favourite cuts from the record to share with you. If these jams strike your fancy, be sure to cop the album for the very low cost of free .
Clumsy Alligator ‘s bittersweet interlocking plucked nylon-string guitar and whirling synth melodies tug at my heart strings.
To me, Virtual Spirits feels like a warm relaxing afternoon at an under-populated beach with a handful of gorgeous scantily clad women and a handful of joints–(I’ll speak for myself). The fluid cyclic modulation of synth textures simulates a palpable sense of waves washing in and out or the rise and fall of inhalation and exhalation.
Wolfey
