In a world of crystal clear digital sound, remastering, re-edits and HD visuals its easy to get carried away … Often I find it’s the imperfections in the detail that make something special, in the words of some french disco freaks we are human after all, aren’t we? We all make mistakes, nothing is perfect and even if you think it is, it doesn’t take long to have a closer look and realize everything and everyone is flawed in there own little way, but that’s what makes us special. Right?
…continue reading Lofi chaotic melodramatics

With digital midi controllers and CDJs becoming the norm in the DJ world and Technics officially stating that there stopping the mass production of their iconic turntables you’d think record stores would be all boarded up by now but as the “Diggin’ for wax” crew prove there ha never been a better time to go hunting for some dusty gems. With less turntables on the market that’s got to mean people are trading in their bundles of wax to move on over to the digital side leaving plenty more hidden treasures to find in your local bargin bin!
 
Below is the first installment of an exciting new series thought up by a collective of DJs based in London and Sydney. Basically the concept a £20 budget, one afternoon “diggin’ for wax” and a one hour mixtape to share with the world.
 
Check out their blog here for the full story on their mixes and for your general dose of vinyl culture. Also I’ve been told to keep an ear out for their next dancefloor banger mixtape out soon!! But for Volume 001 you can expect a relaxing mix of classic and obscure hip hop, funk and soul. Enjoy
…continue reading Diggin’ for wax

To celebrate 20 years of Ninja Tune over the past 2 weeks Ninja have been giving away free tracks from an all star showcase of their signed artists, and you still have times to get your hands on the remaining 7 tracks at Ninja Tune XX . Black Dog Publishing have also just released a paperback in their Unlimited Labels series named “Ninja Tune: 20 Years of Beats & Pieces” with a London exhibition to compliment it showing off the last 20 years of paintings, posters, cover art, 3D models, LPs and promotional art some never before seen outside Ninja Tune’s office space.
 
The Herbaliser – Something Wicked (Roots Manuva’s Haunted House Dub Mix)
 
 

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…continue reading Ninja Tuning

I’ve been meaning to post about this stunning video and soundtrack for quite sometime, but it has been left on the back burner, so here goes. Another outstanding Los Angeles experimental hip hop producer Dr Strangeloop recently had a mix featured on Mary Anne Hobbs experimental show on the BBC Radio 1 a few months back, Strangeloop has also released an outstanding video project called “2010: [or] How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Technological Singularity” to accompany it, memorizing stuff!! You can still grab a limited edition signed DVD from the Institue for cinema Studies for only $15.

Rumour has it that Dr Strangeloop was actually the first artist to teach Flying lotus how to make electronic music on a computer back in art school and was a huge influence in his early works. He’s currently working on an album under the Brainfeeder stamp too so expect some more amazing stuff from Strangeloop soon.

…continue reading Technological Singularity

Much has been written about Kyle Hall in recent months, and with good reason. After his debut single on FXHE garnered support from the likes of Theo Parrish and Omar S, the Detroit native’s breakthrough came in the form of his brilliant remix of Darkstar’s “Aidy’s girl is a computer” on Hyperdub last year. Kyle has followed this up with a solid EP on the same label as well as a few on his own, cheekily named Wild Oats (geddit? Hall, Oats? ah nevermind). It is his unconventional, almost naive take on making music that gives one the sense that Kyle has thrown out the template and makes his own rules in the studio. Warm, noodly keys layered on top of drunken drum patterns shows the rest of us that electronic music needn’t always be about perfectly sequenced patterns and rhythms. This loose approach gives his music a somewhat live, DIY feel. Stomping all over the definition of what might be considered UK Funky, Dubstep, Deep House or Techno, Hall’s broken rhythms are a breath of fresh air into the world of pre-packaged beats and throwaway grooves. Oh and did i mention he’s only 18! …continue reading Omar says yeS

Now I might be a bit slow off the bat with this one but I’ve been hearing this track on quite few mixtapes over the past few months Hudson Mohawke’s Essential and Debruit’s FACT mix to name a couple….. so I thought I’d investigate it a bit further and it turns out there’s an amazing story behind the funky beat your about to hear.

This is the story of Red a homeless beatboxer from Los Angeles who was discovered practicing his unique talents in the car park of HVW8 Gallery a design and photography studio.
…continue reading Might just sick a hobo on ya