SE2 week 2 – DJ Duct live @ Star Pines cafe
January 31, 2010 by Laurent
Filed under Guest Mixes, Podcast
We continue our Rhythm Incursions and Turntable Radio Japan special with week 2 of exclusive audio from Ken One’s Skratch Evolution 2 event, held in Kichijoji, Tokyo in December 09. If you missed part 1 check it here.
This week we have DJ Duct on Rhythm Incursions, and Naoki over at Turntable Radio. Full schedule for the special, which runs over 4 weeks, is at the bottom of the post.
DJ Duct is a Tokyo turntablist and producer who I first came across a few years ago thanks to Waxfactor and our common obsession with underground Japanese music. When I lived in Tokyo, Ken One introduced me to more of his work and his rather famous live sets performed solely with one turntable and a loop station and effect units. His are no standard turntablist loopstation sets though, the man rocks party sets and the likes with just one turntable reconstructing audio on the fly. The only other person I’ve seen do this on a similar level of both detail and skill is Tayone, who does it using Serato’s Scratch Live.
A bit more on Duct from his official bio:
DJ DUCT’s ‘less is more’ approach to turntablism has led him to establish his current unique style of performing. Using one turntable, a DJ mixer, a sampler, Kaoss-pads and other effectors, he collages and reconstructs the bits and pieces of sounds he captures from the records on the spot. It involves a lot of sampling, real-time editing, effect mixing and scratching all taking place on stage. Since all the sounds come from the records (and no preliminary recorded materials on the sampler), it’s definitely a live performance, and an extension of DJing more than anything else.
Being a fan and friend of his, Ken One invited Duct to perform at Skratch Evolution 2, the audio of which we’re putting out today for everyone to discover and enjoy. It’s a rather short set, just under 30 minutes but with plenty going on in that time with classics and newer tracks from across the musical spectrum chopped up and looped in fine style. If you like what you hear be sure to come back for the last week of our SE2 special when we’ll be podcasting the SE2 mix CD which features Ken One and Duct.
More information on Duct is available at the myspace, alongside links to his releases on labels like Think Rec and Lybrus Music, two of Japan’s most interesting indie labels.
For now though sit back and enjoy 30 minutes of one of Japan’s finest DJs and best kept secret. And don’t forget to check Turntable Radio for more SE2 action which this week features a live set from Naoki, undoubtedly one of the most talented and interesting turntablist from Japan’s new generation.
Download DJ Duct live at Star Pines cafe (right click and save as)
SE2 special line up:
- Week 1
- Rhythm Incursions – Ichiro_ live
- Turntable Radio – Ken One live
- Week 2
- Rhythm Incursions – DJ Duct live
- Turntable Radio – Naoki live
- Week 3
- Rhythm Incursions – XLII + Dolbee&Sibitt (志人） live edits
- Turntable Radio – Skratch Evolution jam session
- Week 4
- Rhythm Incursions – Ken One Skratch Evolution promo mix
- Turntable Radio – DJ Duct Skratch Evolution promo mix
- Week 1
- Rhythm Incursions – Ichiro_ live
- Turntable Radio – Ken One live
- Week 2
- Rhythm Incursions – DJ Duct live
- Turntable Radio – Naoki live
- Week 3
- Rhythm Incursions – XLII + Dolbee&Sibitt (志人） live edits
- Turntable Radio – Skratch Evolution jam session
- Week 4
- Rhythm Incursions – Ken One Skratch Evolution promo mix
- Turntable Radio – DJ Duct Skratch Evolution promo mix
- PUDGE – Intro
- PUDGE – Satta MariJuana
- PUDGE – Blips Ahoy Mate
- PUDGE – Afrilude
- PUDGE – AwnMyDawn
- PUDGE – ArabIncense
- PUDGE & Dibiase – Smoke It Over
- Dibiase – wtf
- Dibiase – Thrilla Time Slime
- Dibiase – Spacely Sprocketts
- Dibiase – I Pity the Fool
- Dibiase – Axel Bop
DDay One – In Session no.8 ‘Think and Grow Rich’
January 29, 2010 by Laurent
Filed under DDay One - In Session series, Podcast
We return to Los Angeles for the first show of the year hosted by our man DDay One. In fine style he’s bringing you fresh sounds arranged around a theme taken from a best-selling book by Napoleon Hill. I’ll let him explain it all…
This session is along the lines of the Blend Meditation mixes in that the music was specifically chosen to create an atmosphere that motivates the listener.
This time it’s a tribute to the Great Depression era bestselling book “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. Blended in between classic breaks, atmospheric pulses and world premieres are brief descriptions of the principles of the text, taken from an LP of the same title narrated by Earl Nightingale (circa 1956).
The 13 Principles of “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill:
Desire, Faith, Auto Suggestion, Specialized knowledge, Imagination, Organized Planning, Decision, Persistence, Enthusiasm, Power of the Master Mind Group, The Brain, Subconscious Mind, The Sixth SenseShouts to the artists featured! Sit back and enjoy!
Peace**
Dday One
Don’t forget the following DDay releases are currently available:
- Heavy Migration (2nd run/ 300 worldwide) is available Now at www.samplist.com/content.html. Don’t miss out.
- Mr. Cooper and Dday One “Tribute to The Q4” 7-Inch out now on Project Mooncircle
You can contact DDay on Facebook / Myspace / Twitter
Download DDay One In Session No. 8 (right click and save as)
Tracklist:
1. The Q4 – Look Again (Dday One Remix) – (www.myspace.com/ddayone)
2. Dj Kompack – Seven Eight – (www.myspace.com/kompact)
3. Joe Kickass – Joe Goes Africa – (www.projectmooncircle.com/)
4. Dark Party – Active – (www.myspace.com/drkprty)
5. Sade – Soldier Of Love –( www.sade.com/)
6. Blackalicious – Changes – ( www.blackalicious.com)
Jon of Trueradio Speaks (Live at Breaking Atoms)
7. Robot Koch – Blind feat Grace – (www.projectmooncircle.com/)
8. Equal Beats – Helsinki Go (bang bang) – (www.myspace.com/equalbeats)
9. Om Unit – Lightgrids – (www.myspace.com/omunit)
10. Bonobo – The Keeper – (www.bonobomusic.com/)
11. Mike Slott – Snow Birds – (www.myspace.com/mikeslottbeat)
12. Fat Jon & Sonic Brown- In Between Loves ( www.fivedeez.com/)
13. RJD2 – Space ship now – (rjselectricalconnections.com)
14. Dextah – All I have is Salvation (ww.myspace.com/dextah) ***(World Premier)***
15. Blockhead – It’s Raining Clouds (www.myspace.com/theblockishot)
16. Lyrics Born – Oh Baby – (www.lyricsborn.com/)
17. Nocando – Hurry up and Wait- (www.myspace.com/nocando)
18. Riow Arai – Beat Cast Yourself – ( www.riowarai.com/)
19. Olde Soul & Blak King – The Pot – www.myspace.com/contentlabel ***(World Premier)***
20. Savages & Unifairfly – Blow up Your Box (Demo) (www.myspace.com/unifairfly)
21. Amon Tobin – Meet the Reapers (www.amontobin.com/)
22. Glen Porter – On up 1 (www.glenporter.org) ***(World Premier)***
23. Dday One – Terminal 86 (myspace.com/ddayone)
24. Saukrates – Father Time (www.myspace.com/saukrates)
25. 2econd Class Citizen – A World Without (www.myspace.com/2econdclasscitizen)
26. The Qemists Ft Wiley – Dem Na like Me (www.myspace.com/qemists)
27. People under the Stairs – DQMOT (www.putsonline.co.uk)
SE2 week 1 – Ichiro_ live @ Star Pines cafe
January 24, 2010 by Laurent
Filed under Guest Mixes, Podcast
As mentioned a few weeks back we’re starting a series of weekly podcasts, lasting a month, featuring exclusive live audio from Ken One’s recent ‘Skratch Evolution 2‘ event. Held at Kichijoji’s Star Pines cafe, this musical evening featured a rather interesting mix of Tokyo’s underground music scenes with scratch DJs, producers and MCs coming together for a series of live showcases alongside some live painting. This was Ken’s second such event, up a notch from the first which was a more scratch-centered affair.
These podcasts also form the first joint Rhythm Incursions and Turntable Radio series, something I’ve been wanting to do for a while but hadn’t yet been able to. Every weekend for the next month we’ll be airing two exclusive live sets from the event, one on Turntable Radio and one on Rhythm Incursions showcasing the majority of the acts that appeared on the night. The schedule goes something like this:
So as you can see plenty to get stuck into, from the laid-back beats of Ichiro_ to the electronic hip hop of XLII via some of the best scratchers on the Tokyo underground.
We start on Rhythm Incursions with Ichiro_, a producer based in Tokyo’s Nerima district who I first came across via Twitter (hat tip to Scaloni) and then started to see appear in various other places, including Monday Jazz and most recently on a series of 7″s alongside producer Yoggyone (check our Jan 2010 show for that). Ichiro_ has primarily released on and works with Olive Oil’s excellent Oil Works label. While his approach to the whole beat thing may not be the freshest, he has a certain quality to his beats that I find really interesting, verging on ‘narcotic’ but in a good way. The more I listen to his stuff the more it grows on me, I guess you could say it’s rewarding in its own special way.
This live set he performed at Skratch Evolution is the perfect example of this and serves as a great introduction to his work for those that don’t know him yet, featuring primarily his Oil Works material alongside other bits.
For more on him be sure to check the myspace as well as the recent joint release with Yoggyone. His Oil Works EP is still available, and I believe Juno still has copies for non-Japan buyers. He also has stuff available on iTunes and a brand new single dropping on Oil Works. Be sure to check the myspace for full link details.
Look out for more from him this year, as we’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on his output. And if you like what you hear be sure to head over to Turntable Radio for Ken One’s live session!
Massive thanks go to Ken One and all the artists for making this possible. It’s a real pleasure to be able to showcase more of the Tokyo underground to the rest of the world like this.
We’ll be back next week with part 2, featuring the rather incredible DJ Duct and Naoki. Till then crank up the volume and 聞いてください！
Download Ichiro_ live at Star Pines cafe (right click and save as)
Rhythm Incursions – January 2010
January 21, 2010 by Laurent
Filed under Podcast, Presented by Laurent
We return to the regular broadcasts with our first show of the year, and we are starting 2010 as we intend to continue with 2 hours of fresh new music and forthcoming releases alongside some recent favourites.
It seems 2010 is starting rather well, with a slew of new releases and announced albums for the first quarter of the year. With this in mind I decided to make the mini feature a look forward at what 2010 has in stock both from artists and labels I am personally looking forward to. So I selected 10 tracks for 2010 which I think highlight this nicely. In no particular order we’ve got Om Unit, Illum Sphere, Slugabed, Shlomo, Instra:mental, Dizz1, GOD and Loops Haunt, Teebs and Jackhigh, Letherette, Lorn and labels like All City Records, Svetlana Industries, FoF and Nod Navigators.
Though to be honest pretty much the whole show is a look forward to the new year and most of the artists are worthy of being ones to watch for 2010. Alongside this we’ve got new music from the likes of Mr Chop & CL Smooth, Ernest Gonzales, Bullion, Aquadrop, Jose James, Hyperdub, Lone, Robot Koch, Greymatter and more.
As usual you can download the show directly at the link below. If you want to make your life easier than make sure to subscribe and never miss a show. You can do so via email, RSS or our iTunes feed all of which are easily accessible with the fancy little icons on the right hand side.
So that’s it for this month, I’ll let you to sit back and crank up the stereo to 11. Look out for a series of guest mixes and live shows from Japan starting this weekend. And I’ll be back with another show next month with more of the same. Until then enjoy the music and if you like what you hear than be sure to go out there and support the music and artists.
Download the show (right click and save as)
Tracklist – January 2010
Freddy Todd – Cant Fathom This (Om Unit remix) – Forthcoming Car Crash Set
Lone – Once In A While – Forthcoming Werk Discs
Mayer Hawthorne – Green Eyed Love (Aquadrop remix) – Unreleased
B Ju – Soja Extra (Benny B Blanco remix) – Forthcoming Error Broadcast
aDaD – Sky (prod. Exile) – All Natural Inc
Ghost Monkey – Octopedia Dub – Unreleased
The Q4 – One of these days – Project Mooncircle
Mr Chop and CL Smooth – T.R.O.Y (The Resurrection) – Five Day Weekend/Now Again Records
Drake – Forever (Nosaj Thing remix) – Unreleased, download free
Sun Circle – Stars Fall Down (Mr Beatnick dub) – Futuristica Music
Tapes – Hackney Dub – Jahtari
Robot Koch ft Grace – Blind – Forthcoming Project Mooncircle
Oh No vs Oneness of Juju – Juju March – Stones Throw
Analog Jones – Smog – Burntprogress
Mini Feature – 10 to watch for 2010
G.O.D & Loops Haunt – Drum Whip Collider – Forthcoming NozL records
Dizz1 – Frazzled – Nod Navigators
Teebs and Jackhigh – Rains – Forthcoming Svetlana Industries
Illum Sphere – Shadowman – Fat City recordings
Machinedrum – Late Night Operation (Leatherette Remix) – Norm Rex
Lorn – Running Ink (Om Unit remix) – Unreleased
Slugabed – Skyfire – Forthcoming Planet Mu
Shlomo – Hot Boxing the Cockpit – Friends of Friends
Dibiase – I Pity The Fool – All City Records
Instra:mental – Forbidden – Applepips
Mini feature ends
DVA – Natty – Forthcoming Hyperdub
Terror Danjah – Acid – Forthcoming Hyperdub
Rustie – Keesha Resmack – Free download
Reverse Engineering – Instant Art – Forthcoming Jarring Effects
Ernest Gonzales – Untitled Love Song – Forthcoming Friends of Friends
Ichiro_ – 66 – Eklektik records
Nocando – Hurry Up and Wait – Alpha Pup records
Freeway – Know What I Mean – Rhymesayers, free download
Greymatter – Mind Over Matter – Forthcoming Greymatter Beats
Bullion – Say Goodbye to What – One Handed Music
Jose James – Promise In Love – Forthcoming Brownswood Recordings
Ernest Gonzales – Been Meaning To Mix This
January 16, 2010 by Laurent
Filed under Guest Mixes, Podcast
It seems the first time we posted this the file got corrupted and wouldn’t download. It’s now been updated and resent to our RSS and iTunes. Apologies for the inconvenience.
We return to the Friends Of Friends label with our latest guest mix, this time taking in the work and forthcoming release of Texas-based producer Ernest Gonzales. The label and the man should be no strangers to regular listeners – ever since FoF started hitting us back in 09 when they launched we’ve been firm fans of their fresh approach to music and packaging and Ernest’s music has featured in the last few shows ever since his EP dropped in the autumn of 09 and the label kindly sent us a preview of the album which hasn’t left the daily rotation in 3 months. It’s that good.
With all this in mind I decided that this was the perfect occasion to get the label, and Ernest, in for a guest mix. A few email exchanges and weeks later and they duly delivered with a beautiful guest mix that serves as the perfect appetizer for the album, ‘Been Meaning To Tell You’.
This album, Ernest’s second, is for me already one of the early contenders for albums of the year – and this is not the kind of thing I’d say (or type) lightly. It’s a dreamy excursion into the mind of its maker, combining hip hop, electronic and folk sensitivities into a mix that transports the listener away into his or hers own imagination and taps into whatever they might be feeling. Or at least that’s how it’s made me feel. The ’story’ behind the album is explained briefly by Ernest on the website:
Dear Devyn,
Ok, so I’m not the best person when it comes to expressing myself and how I feel for you but I want you to know that this album is for you. These songs are all the things I’ve been meaning to tell you…all the words, thoughts, and emotions that are so hard for me to express. The pages in this book serves as a map to help you find your way back home in case you are lost…and this website will let other people also say the things that they have been meaning to tell someone.With love,
Ernest
In true FoF fashion the release itself comes as a mighty package bringing together 30 artists alongside Ernest, both on remix and art duties. The album will be available alongside a full-colour book featuring original works inspired by each of the songs. And alongside this will be 16 remixes. Here’s the official blurb regarding what is available, and how:
The album wouldn’t be a Friends of Friends project if it weren’t something special so Ernest and FoF invited over 30 people to the mix! The final collaboration includes 16 tracks from the likes of Daedelus, CYNE, Faunts, Yppah, matthewdavid, & Copy and is accompanied by a full-color art book featuring original works from 14 visual artists. The book will be available in physical form from FoF Music as well as in the digital bundle in all formats (as a .pdf) including as a download with the 180g white vinyl released by Tall Corn Music.
So to recap the album, and book, will be available in both physical and digital formats. An early digital release of the album is currently available on the site, though I believe it doesn’t include the remixes yet. If you missed it you can also purchase the EP which preceded the album, ‘Self Awakening’, and which features 5 of the album remixes from people such as Take, Mexicans with Guns and Yppah to name a few.
To say we’re hyped about this release is a bit of an understatement, and if you’ve read until now you’ve probably already figured that out. We’ve seen the book (well its digital counterpart anyways) and the art is great – a perfect addition to the music. Combined with the remixes, you’ve got the sort of package that should have maximum appeal to music fans. The amount of thought and effort that has gone into it shines through the art.
With the release in early February, this mix is an introduction to the influences and friends that make the record including show favourites like Yppah, Nosaj Thing and Daedelus. I’ll let Ernest explain how he approached it:
This mix is a little bit of friends, mixed with artists/friends that helped with the remix album, plus music that I feel influenced Been Meaning To Tell You and a bit of newer stuff I like.
So without further ado, get stuck in and when you’re done I recommend you head over to the album site and get your ordering on, you won’t regret it. Look out for more previews of the album in forthcoming shows.
Download Ernest Gonzales – Been Meaning To Mix This (right click and save as)
Tracklist
1. Bibio – Haikuesque (When She Laughs)
2. Nosaj Thing – Fog
3. Aether – Caparra
4. Ocuban – H. RATNANI
5. Architeq – Sleeping Bear Lament (Take Remix)
6. Adventure Time – Water Plop
7. Caribou – Hammerheads
8. Yppah – Gumball Machine Weekend
9. Faux Pas – Changes
10. The Beatles – Tomorrow Never Knows
11. Four Tet – Smile Around the Face
12. Shinichi Osawa – Star Guitar
13. New Order – Ceremony
14. Cars and Trains – Some Lonesome Street Corner (Ernest Gonzales Remix)
15. Upon the 49th Day
16. Daedelus – Rabbit Ears
Dibiase & PUDGE – Smoke It Over
We’ve been waiting for this one for a while now. The excellent Dublin-based All City Records are starting a new series of vinyl releases for 2010, following from their acclaimed 7×7 series back in 08 which saw them release 7 (well actually 8 as they did an extra one in 09) 7″s featuring tracks from producers that had been bubbling under and a few of which went on to receive greater acclaim and fame in 09. These included Hudson Mohawke, Onra, Mike Slott and Fulgeance to name a few.
For 2010 the label returns with a similar concept this time the 10×10 LA Series. The concept couldn’t be simpler: 10 10″s from LA producers featuring one producer on each side and artwork from the mighty B+ of Mochilla fame. Simple concept maybe but packing an almighty punch especially when it’s that well executed.
First up are two producers who we’ve been following keenly for a while – Dibiase and PUDGE. I saw PUDGE in November when he played the Ramp party in London, and must admit his set was a pleasure. I’d known of him but not that well and the live set was a perfect introduction. As for Dibiase, he’s someone whose music, or more accurately beats, I’ve been hunting over the last year ever since I discovered him on a video with Ras G back in 08. As Take, another LA producer, put it when I saw him in the summer, Dibiase is a sort of unsung producing hero on the LA beat scene, a local Dilla with an incredible knack for the most catchy headnodders.
To celebrate the launch of the series, All City have given out one track from the first 10″ entitled ‘Smoke It Over’ and featuring both producers. See below for download link and stream.
Here’s some blurb from the press release regarding both and also tracklist for the first 10″.
Dibiase – Representing HollyWatts in South LA, Dibiase has been making a name for himself beneath the surface over the last few years. Now coming overground he’s recently dropped 45s on Detroits OTW label plus Fat City.
P.U.D.G.E – Originally from Jamaica, Queens now residing in L.A producer and MC P.U.D.G.E has released on Ramp and most recently on the Beat Dimensions 2 LP.
LA Series 1 – Dibiase & PUDGE – BUY IT HERE
Download Dibiase & PUDGE – Smoke It Over (right click and save as)
Alongside this new series All City are also starting 2010 with a 7″ from Om Unit, who regular listeners of the show will know by now. The release, Lavender b/w Lightgrids, has been on rotation in our shows for a few months now as we’ve been lucky enough to get the early heads up on it and we’re very happy to see it finally come out. For my money, Lightgrids is the joint and it’s been getting some serious support from the likes of Martyn, Benji B and Mark Pritchard as well as being featured on XLR8R’s website.
The 7″ is out now, and you can buy it here. Comes with some beautiful artwork too.
Lastly Om Unit has also done a 30 min mix of All City material past, present and future. It’s the perfect addition to both releases and a great way to catch up with the label’s output, or if you aren’t new to it, reminisce on the good stuff. You can download the mix here.
LV – Aural Winter Blanket
January 9, 2010 by Laurent
Filed under Guest Mixes, Podcast
Our second guest mix of the year comes courtesy of a London-based trio little of which is known apart from the most important thing – their music is good. LV is the name, and I first heard of them a few years back when Steve Goodman aka Kode 9 released a track of theirs (afaik their first release) on his Hyperdub label. A sweet, dub-tinged ballad called ‘Globetrotting’ it was love at first hearing you could say.
Since then I’ve kept an ear out for them, notably coming across their remix of Willie Isz earlier last year (which we featured on the November 09 show). They’ve released on a variety of other labels, including Ramp, primarily remixes. After all that I bumped into one of the trio, Simon, at the Hyperdub 5 party in November, and the following week once more at the Ramp party. We got chatting, exchanged emails and I mentioned a guest mix would be a welcome addition to the Rhythm Inc catalogue not least because I was a fan and because following our chats I could tell they would fit right at home with our ethos and listeners.
As I returned to the world of the internet this week I thought of hitting Simon back up for the guest mix when, great minds thinking alike, an email popped in with a link and tracklist. I instantly downloaded it, fired it up and as we chatted by email it occurred to me that this was a truly great guest mix and perfect addition to our series – it goes deep, treading territories we don’t often explore with a dubby vibe we absolutely love.
Think back to the beginnings of the show (some 5+ years ago) when Trick and Waxfactor put forward their love of people like Wordsound and the Agriculture as the basis for Rhythm Inc’s birth and you might start to be close to what the guys have delivered. I am well and truly stoked and cannot thank them enough.
Featuring primarily music from other people, including favourites of ours such as Untold and Pole, they’ve also put in an unofficial (but approved) remix they did for Klaus Roeder, and it’s an absolute corker.
The name of the mix comes from Simon, as I asked him for some words for the post he didn’t give me anything but mentioned that the mix was the ‘aural equivalent of a blanket, useful for the winter days’ – and well that’s the perfect description.
For more on LV be sure to check their myspace where you can purchase all previous releases, all of which we heartily recommend especially their Hyperdub plates. Look out for more from them in 2010 on Hyperdub as well as Soul Jazz and Keysound recordings among others. We’ll be sure to let you know and air the new music as it comes. They were also talking about a session they did with Tokyo’s Quarta330 when he was town last November, and I really hope something comes of that as it would be a thoroughly entertaining combo.
So without further ado, grab the mix, sit back, wrap up and prepare to go in deep – this one is a trip.
Download ‘LV – Aural Winter Blanket’ (right click and save as)
Tracklist:
Biosphere – From a solid to a liquid
Pole – Taxi
Hieronymus – Honeydrops
Conjoint – Earprints
Oskar Sala – Klangfarben Caprice [V]
Burnt Friedman and the New Dub Players – Cassock Attack
Klaus Roeder (LV mix) – Kristalisation 9
Sigha – Prayer
Asusu – Taurean
Untold – Yukon (FMF remix)
Flying Lotus – Auntie’s Lock/Infinitum
Zomby – Digital Flora
FaltyDL – To London
