It’s not been a particularly good year in terms of people passing away, the latest tragic addition to which has been the news that J-1 aka The Deer recently died in a car crash in Sweden.

While most people might know him for his recent work as part of Dam Funk’s Master Blazter band – in which he played drums – I remember J-1 from the scratch days. He was one of the first drummers, alongside Gio from Gunkhole, to perform with scratch bands including close friends of ours Four One Funk (Teeko et al) and Mike Boo. In fact I have somewhere a recording of a show they did in 07 I think which Mike had sent me and which I’ll try and hunt down to see if we can maybe put it out to raise more awareness. Point being he was an incredibly talented guy and has left way too young, in tragic circumstances.

What’s worst, is that his family is currently unable to ship his body back to the US and so there has been a round of fundraising events in the US to help raise money for the family, and there will be one such event in London next Thursday, December 22nd, with the likes of Illum Sphere, Alex Nut, Fatima and more all playing. The event is being held at CAMP in Old Street. Suggested donations on the door are £5 – expect good music, good people and good memories to celebrate the life of a talented musician.

Facebook event page is HERE. Should you find yourself unable to attend please consider donating any amount directly to the Coleman family via this page, the only official place online in which to make sure your money goes to the family.

See you there!

If you’re looking for the antidote to Christmas cheer overload then look no further. The homie Lorn has teamed up with Dolor to release a beat tape called Drugs, and it’s available for free.

Soaked in beautiful warmth, Drugs is dark and disturbing featuring not only dope beats but some great cuts and the sort of atmosphere/mood not heard since the glory days of the classic mixtapes from the likes of Dibbs or 1200 Hobos.

There isn’t much else to say other than you need this in your life right about now. Give Christmas the finger and bump some drugs. Do them, abuse them.

Download Drugs from Wednesday Sound here

And of course look out for more from Lorn in the new year.

Our good friends at Equinox Records hit us up about this new EP they’re dropping at the end of the month from J. Baracuz and very kindly offered us a track from it to give away.

Baracuz is a Berlin-based producer who already appeared on the label a few years back on their ‘One Year & A Day’ compilation. He also had an album out in 2006, and this is his second release and first for the Equinox label. The vibes on ‘One Way Ticket’ – the free track we’re giving away – are hazy and deep, with a seriously head nodding groove layered with samples and melodies just as we like it.

Here’s what the press release for his EP, titled A Contemporary Witness, has to say:

Within the big bunch of electronic releases in the field of the world wide spreading new beat maker scene, “A Contemporary Witness” by J. Baracuz could be one of the highlights this year. Baracuz is, which sets him apart from many of his peers, able to combine his sound design skills on controller and mpc with delicate arrangements and a good sense for song structures.

The opening track of the EP, “The Overture”, juggles with string and piano samples while it is underlined by percussive and driving beats. The tune is as much “on point” as the impulsive second track “One Way Ticket”. Regardless of the moderate tempo, the song is straight forward, includes vocal shreds and synth sounds und even manages to switch over to a Sci Fi Dub part in the middle. Next up, “Jazzy Conqueror”, clocking in at 6 minutes, is the longest piece on the EP. In this track, J. Baracuz proves one more time his talent for structure and arrangement. It is primarily based on organic samples, while being equipped with some glitches here and there. The last song, “Everyone’s the Same” concludes the EP in an enjoyable way with its expressive Soul Folk Electronica vibe.

After a creative break Baracuz has spent with studying, travelling and digging for records, “A Contemporary Witness” is a big step forward for him. The whole EP impresses with detailed and meticulous production, while it still seems to be done with the greatest of ease. Being the 5th EP on Equinox.Digital, the sublabel of the Berlin based Electronica label Equinox Records, it successfully follows the previously released works by Deckard, David Vangel and 2econd Class Citizen.

You can stream and/or download the track ‘One Way Ticket’ below as always. And look out for the EP dropping on Equinox October 28 – just check Equinox’s website for details of where to cop, this will be a digital release so no excuse not to get involved if you like what you hear!

Big shouts and thanks to Scientist as always for the music.

Download J. Baracuz – One Way Ticket (right click and save as)

UPDATE – As of December 28, 2011 the Phillip D Kick Footwork Jungle edits are no longer available from Soundcloud, either on the PDK account or Rhythm Incursions’ account. The mediafire links located in this article are still active at the time of writing and will continue to be until they are removed. Volume 3 is not on mediafire. If you missed it, you missed it. The Remark ‘RIP’ edit is still downloadable at the bottom of this post for now.

The “Phillip D Kick” experiment

By Om Unit

The Phillip D Kick experiment was originally conceived as an anonymous alias project of mine. However being useless at keeping secrets I let the cat out of the bag to close friends and musical compadrés shortly after starting it. As it would only be a matter of time before rumours become eye-rolling fact I have decided to end the project 8 months after starting it with volume 3 thus ending my work under this alias on what is, at least to me, a high note.

Phillip D Kick is an idea I had at the beginning of 2011 during a discussion about how fun it had been to mix Juke and Jungle tracks together at shows. The idea, very simply put, was that both genres were basically the same thing – frenetic syncopation at 160bpm or thereabouts.

Taking this idea a little further, I came up with a simple concept: take classic Jungle tracks and make edits of them with a footwork aesthetic. But rather than do this under my own name I would release them anonymously as a social experiment. The ‘story’ would be that Phillip D Kick was in fact an old jungle producer mate of mine who had fallen in love with footwork beats and had sent me the edits to put out.

For those unaware, the name Phillip D Kick is a flip on Phillip K Dick, a highly influential science fiction author whose work has been the basis of many classic sci fi movies such as Blade Runner (based on his “Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep” short story).

Something worth noting at this point is the principle of a “Shared Social Consciousness”, or put more simply: no idea is original. The theory goes that if you’re having an idea someone else is either having the same idea at the same time or has already completed that process.

Ergo the same day that I started working on the first volume of PDK edits back in February I saw Machinedrum mention on Twitter that he was making Jungle edits. In my excitement I contacted him asking if he was making footwork edits of Jungle tracks. His response: “yep!” – Machinedrum’s edits can be found on his Ecstasy Boom EP which was given away for free to people who bought his recent ‘Rooms’ LP on Planet Mu.

This really highlights to me the concept of a shared social consciousness, especially as this particular idea of blending footwork and Jungle together is likely quite obvious to any DJ who enjoys both genres. As far as I know however Machinedrum and I were the first to actually bring this idea into the real world.

Rough drafts of the first edits were sent out to great response and support came almost immediately from footwork and Jungle enthusiasts such as Mark Pritchard, Kode 9 and Machinedrum himself. In the weeks before and after Footwork Jungle vol.1 was released in March the edits had been played to audiences in Europe, America and Japan.

Download Footwork Jungle vol 1

With assistance from Laurent Fintoni the idea and music was spread further. It was even picked up on by Mike Paradinas from Planet Mu who in turn sent them to Simon Reynolds (author of the book “Retromania”). Reynolds then posted volume 1 on his blog referencing a comment made by Marcus from Hyperdub that footwork was in a way the “son of ardkore”.

The tracks were initially released as a download by Laurent Fintoni via Rhythm Incursions’ Soundcloud with a limit of 100 downloads. Rumours spread about the edits, and some of the more astute blogs began to pick up on the idea, with a few sharing some of the work on their own sites.

Within a few weeks of finishing volume 1 I had already completed volume 2, helping to solidify the idea further in my head. As I prepared to release volume 2 I decided to create a Soundcloud for Phillip feeling the need to centralize the work. I also created a twitter account and began posting links. Volume 2 was released on both Phillip’s and Rhythm Incursions’ Soundcloud pages.

The Adam F edit from volume 2 is a personal favourite.

Download Footwork Jungle vol. 2

At this point the buzz around the edits grew bigger, inevitably attracting disgust from Jungle and drum n bass purists over at the Dogs On Acid forum.

This forum thread shows the love/hate potential of such an idea, especially when it is so perpendicular to what people “know”. One of the reasons I chose anonymity originally was to solidify the idea before exposing myself and potentially attracting negative attention from the purists. This was always inevitable though, and so be it.

My younger self would have never wanted to hear someone man-handle my precious anthems but being a slightly less precious 31 years old I feel that life is too short to hold the past as a precious, unchangeable artifact. I had also said from the start that these would remain 100% free to download, take it or leave it, being conscious that not doing so would potentially involve some nasty encounters with the jungle police. They have remained as such despite having had several offers to release them on white label.

One of the initial principles I had employed to create a buzz around the releases was to limit them to 100 downloads. I’d hoped that by doing so people might watch closely for further new material. However cunning this might have seemed at the time I soon realised that ultimately it was limiting in terms of access and would only serve to frustrate those that might want to actually play and enjoy the music. I therefore uploaded both volumes to mediafire and included links in the comments section of the tracks to allow the music to continue being shared and enjoyed.

Following volume 2, further support began to come in from various radio stations and blogs. Via Soundcloud the response was in fact incredible. Various drum n bass and dance luminaries began to get in touch asking for the tracks post the 100 download max-out. Thanks to those who did get in touch for the support!

Enter Grace Wood from Lilac PR. Grace had been a regular listener of the Ustream show “Maisonette Electronique” Laurent and I had started in late 2010 and where the first edits were aired and tested to a small and curious audience. She got in touch asking about PDK and after meeting in person I shared the story with her. From this meeting came the opportunity to remix a London-based rapper called Louis Blaze as PDK. This in turn put me in touch with Lemon D who happened to be the mix engineer for Louis and who was very much into the sound.

I have since done another two official remixes as PDK, one for Kuhn – forthcoming on an EP for Civil Music – and one for the hotly-tipped producer Cadenza on Dummy Magazine’s label. The latter is available on Dummy’s website here.

Interest also began to come in from people asking for original and exclusive tracks, something I turned down immediately as my goal with Phillip was purely one thing: edits/remixes in a set style. I am however grateful for the interest and thank those that did get in touch.

The PDK project was only ever meant to be fun. I wanted to see this idea through, share it and play it out. In addition I do not see myself as a part of footwork culture. One thing I learned about being a hip-hop DJ desperately trying to “keep it real” back around the turn of the millennium is that UK culture isn’t suited to rap culture. Rap culture is ultimately an American cultural product and I didn’t want to waste my time trying to become part of a culture I know little about.

Recently I’ve had offers to DJ as Phillip and when this happened I realised that the idea had run its course. I probably could have charged good money straight off the bat, maybe even made a completely new career off the back of this but that would have gone against the purpose of the idea. Rather than to give over to some small but welcome industry demand, I am calling it quits. That isn’t to say that having an idea and following it through right to the point of making a career is bad, it was just never my intention with Phillip.

Phillip D Kick is a small demonstration of how an idea can become something of worth. I hope that you find the story behind it informative and perhaps useful, even if you don’t like the music.

And so I leave you with Footwork Jungle volume 3, which contains an edit of Remarc’s “R.I.P”, an apt way to finish this project.

Enjoy.

J. Coles (Om Unit)

Download Remarc – RIP (Phillip D Kick’s footwork jungle edit) (right click and save as)

Bit of event news for you to announce that Rhythm Incursions will be repping at an amazing event next Friday, September 23rd, in London at the Corsica Studios in Elephant Castle. The event is organised by Tempo Clash who have recently established themselves as fine purveyors of beats and bass in London with some great free parties at the Rhythm Factory with the likes of Om Unit, Kid Kanevil, King Cannibal and more.

The guys are stepping up their act with their first paying party at Corsica next Friday featuring two rooms of the finest electronic sounds London has to provide and we’re very honoured that we’ve been asked to do a set in room 2 for the occasion, alongside the mighty Seiji and Offshore!

The line up includes Kromestar, Kid Kanevil, Blue Daisy, Slugabed and Naive Machine in room 1 alongside Seiji, Offshore and Laurent in room 2 – you know this is going to be a party to remember.

Full details are below including links to advance tickets which are still available for £7. Regular listeners will be no stranger to any of these artists as we’ve aired and supported their music regularly over the last few years and you can expect to hear some seriously amazing live shows and DJ sets on the night. And if you do come down come say hello!

Big thanks to Open Sauce (who are hosting room 2) and Tempo Clash for the invite!

When: Friday 23rd September, 2011
Where: Corsica Studios
Tickets: www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?282307
FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=266984313315131

Line Up
Room 1 [beats/bass]

► KROMESTAR (Bass & Love)
► SLUGABED (Ninja Tune)
► KIDKANEVIL (First Word)
► BLUE DAISY (Black Acre)
► NAIVE MACHINE (Hit & Hope)

Room 2 – [house/bass]
(hosted by Open Sauce – www.opensauce.co)

► SEIJI (Seiji Music)
► OFFSHORE (Big Dada)
► LAURENT FINTONI (Rhythm Incursions)

The homie Om Unit has been busy of late putting the finishing touches to his new label, Cosmic Bridge recordings. We’ve been lucky to get the early info on it and we can confidently say that the first release, a collaborative 12″ between Om Unit and dubstep veteran Kromestar, is going to be making a lot of noise and turning a lot of heads.

Ahead of the 12″ release, Om Unit is giving away a dub of the B-side, Merkabah, by French producer Moresounds. The catch? By downloading it you enter yourself into a prizedraw to win a signed copy of Cosmic Bridge 001 test press. The winners of the competition will be announced on Wednesday next week.

Cosmic Bridge 001 goes on sale monday via the Sirus shop and everywhere else on July 25. You’ll be able to find all relevant purchase links and info on the label site which goes live on monday too.

We’ll be airing tracks from the label on this month’s show and stay tuned for more info on the man and label very soon. For now enjoy!

So last night we took our regular Ustream show, La Maisonette Electronique, on the road so to speak with a live session broadcast from London’s Vibe Bar. The session was made possible thanks to Kid Kanevil who organised the first (of hopefully many!) Keroro Platoon Soundclash sunday session at the Brick Lane venue. He invited Mr Beatnick, Om Unit and myself along and so we thought this would be the perfect occasion to broadcast the show live from the venue.

We managed to record about 3h of it, as the wifi kept cutting out unfortunately. Above you can see the first 45 mins and below are embeds for the last two hours including 1h30 of back to back business between the four of us.

Enjoy and tune into our Ustream show every two weeks (more or less) on a Sunday – though we’ve been known to change it to a wednesday so best keep an eye on our twitter for up to date info.

Enjoy!

Part 2

Part 3

So in between the constant aftershocks we’ve been getting here in Tokyo (nearly 1,000 earthquakes and shocks since March 11), organising the Nihon Kizuna release and parties and trying to actually have a holiday, I got chatting to Nasty Nasty on Twitter a few weeks back. I think it all started because Planet Mu are about to release a new single of his called ‘No Names’, which I thoroughly recommend you check out.

So we got chatting and the man kindly sent us some newer material to go alongside this new single – more on that in coming shows (or if you catch me DJing in Tokyo this weekend). Alongside this, he also sent a couple of club edits the other day – a totally tripped out Chopped n Screwed job and this one, a stadium-sized footwork edit of The Weeknd which he made for a recent Frite Nite party – the SF label/crew he works with. It’s pretty effin’ good, in fact it went down a treat when I dropped it last saturday in Tokyo and it seems to have turned into a crowd favourite overall, leading the man to kindly allow us to put it online for posterity. Don’t let the edit title fool you either, this is one of the nicest takes on the footwork sound I’ve heard in a while.

You can stream and/or download it below as a 320 mp3.

For more on Nasty Nasty have a listen on Soundcloud, and like I said look out for the Planet Mu 12 and more coming soon which we’ll be airing on the show for sure.

Download The Weeknd – High For This (Nasty Nasty Stadium Footwork edit) (right click and save as)

A couple of weeks ago an email came in with a track attached of a footwork remix of Omni Trio’s classic Jungle track ‘Renegade Snares’. This was followed this week by a four track EP that took four classics from the Jungle era and flipped them in a footwork style. The only information I was given was a name, Phillip D Kick, and the fact that he was an old jungle fan and wanted the tracks put out as they are, nothing more.

So here you have Footwork Jungle vol.1 featuring Omni Trio, Q Project, Krome + Time and Leviticus all rather amazingly re-imagined in the style of Chicago’s Footwork music. Whether you a fan of the old or the new elements, each of these is a surefire winner.

As per the artist’s request we are releasing this as a set via Soundcloud, 100 downloads of each track only. Then they’re gone.

Click on the set tracks below to download. Turn up the volume, enjoy.

Phillip D Kick – Footwork Jungle vol.1 by laurentfintoni

Somehow I never quite thought I’d ever write something like this. But hey it’s happening, I’ll be doing a little tour of Japan and Tokyo in March and April representing Rhythm Incursions and taking in 5 dates across 4 weeks, with 4 shows in the capital and one outside.

Those that have been following us for a while, and over at our sister site Turntable Radio, will know that I lived in Japan in 2007/8 and that we’ve always had strong links to the country’s underground scenes – manifested through some pretty killer guest mixes over the last few years by the likes of Ichiro_, Himuro Yoshiteru, Olive Oil, Ken One and Yosi Horikawa among others as well as our regular Raid System podcast presented by XLII and Broken Haze from Tokyo.

Dates for the shows are below – if you are in area or know anyone that is please do come down and say hello or spread the word. Japan is now our third biggest listener base so it’d be great to meet some of the listeners whilst having a good time. I’ll be playing alongside some very dope people too including close friends of ours like Raid System, Ken One, Goth Trad, and ENA as well as Japanese beat maker RLP and Exodus from Leeds.

All dates are DJ sets and you can expect the same wide ranging approach as the shows but with the dancefloor in mind of course. I should also be doing a special beats set for the In Dope Like This party – a short promo mix for which you can stream/download above – and potentially a 2006/7 dubstep set at BTC as I’ll be recovering all my dubstep vinyl which has been left in storage in Tokyo for the last 3 years.

Also the March 25 gig with Raid System will be broadcast live on their Ustream channel so no excuse not to join us if you’re online at the same time – that should be a very special party.

Rhythm Incursions Japan tour 2011:

12/03 | Gnarbeats @ Q-tips | Hakuba, Nagano-ken, Japan | Facebook event page
18/03 | In Dope Like This vol.3 @ Harajuku U | Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan | Facebook page
25/03 | Raid System Radio vol. 15 @ Heavy Sick Zero | Nakano, Tokyo, Japan | Website + streamed live
07/04 | Back To Chill @ Club Asia | Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan | Website
09/04 | Mo’ Fun vol.12 @ Heavy Sick Zero | Nakano, Tokyo, Japan | Facebook page

A massive thank you to all the people who made this possible (in no special order): Goth Trad, XLII, Broken Haze, Asa, Keijiro and Dopement. And a special thank you to Serato and Rane for their support.