This guest mix by Mr Beatnick has rather been a long time coming, in fact I think nearly a year (without ribbing him more than I already have about it) when he helped arrange a meet with Take and Architeq in June 2009, which led to this rather lengthy but informative three way interview.

Anyways we originally agreed that he’d do a guest mix for the show and then life being what it is it didn’t happen until now. However good things do come to those who wait and somehow in between celebrating his birthday and releasing a free compilation of his music produced over the last 10 years (see below for more on that) he handed in his guest mix. And boy are you all in for a treat.

I think I first met Nick sometime last year after I just came back from Japan. He was one of the people who introduced me to the pleasures of CDR at Plastic People and who helped linked me with a whole bunch of people, like the aforementioned Take and Architeq but also Alex Chase and a few others. It’s fair to say he’s one of the nicest guys I’ve met on the London ‘scene’ but also one of the most clued up when it comes to not just music (man knows his record history) but also people and scenes. We’ve had lengthy discussions about the whole beat thing over the last year and I always enjoy hearing his take on various things through Twitter and his on and off contributions to FACT magazine.

As a producer he’s maybe not been the most pro-active in a sense, but the few releases he’s had have all been of a high quality and he’s definitely a producer who knows his shit and who you should keep an ear and an eye on, if only because when he does do something it’s almost always worth paying attention. Which leads us nicely to the aforementioned compilation he’s just put out online for free to celebrate his birthday and which features 30 tracks from the last ten years, including releases such as ‘Walk’ and ‘Falling Apples’ but also plenty of unreleased beats and remixes. You can get your fill right here in zip format (sendspace link).

As for the mix, well as it turns out he seems to have taken some degree of inspiration from our chats about beats and the evolution of hip hop production over the last decade, as well as from the mix I put out last year alongside Om Unit and Clockwork, A Boom Bap Continuum. As he puts it himself:

It’s my response in a way to the “boom bap continuum” theory laid out by Kper, 2 Tall/Om Unit and Clockwork. Essentially a bunch of boom bap beats in a classic mid nineties style, next to ideas that stood out for me at the time… and then a left turn in the end to some of the more recent twists on the idea.

Which you could also summarise as an hour of crispy headnod audio delicacies which are sure to leave regular listeners pleased as it takes in many of our own favourites from the last decade or so. As always tracklist, download link and stream are all below.

Much love and thanks to Nick for his contribution, and let me say it right now you’re welcome back anytime you want mate

So sit back and enjoy an hour of quality music to put you in the mood for the weekend, or whenever you get round to downloading it.

Dowload Mr Beatnick – Rhythm Incursions guest mix (right click and save as)

Tracklist:
Rhythm Incursions intro
Danny Breaks – La La
Ultra Magnetic MCs – Raise It Up – Instrumental
Pete Rock – One Mike One Dj – Pete Rock Remix (BBE)
Tranqill – Chips And Cheese (One Handed)
Sa-Ra – Frequencies
1st Down – A Day With The Homies
MF Doom – Galangal Root beat
Slum Village – 5 Ela remix (feat 5 elements)
De La Soul – The Bizness (feat Common)
Dj Dez – Place Where U Stand (UR)
Gangstarr – The Militia (Pete Rock remix)
Wajeed – Fat Asia (Bling 47)
Om Unit – Light Grids (all city)
Jon Phonics – A Dying Breed
Cubic Zirconia – D.F.A.D
Paul White – Synthia Dreams (One Handed)
Clause Four – Afro (We Made This Vol 1)
Midi Mark & Dj Cannon – Aragon
Ghostface Killah – Fish (intro juggle)
Lord Finesse – Ghetto (instrumental)
Grand Agent – Know The Legend (instrumental) (produced by Lord Finesse)
Danny Red – Riddimwize (Dj Muggs remix)
Paul White – untitled beat (beat tape 22)
Sir Real – untitled beat
Tightface – untitled beat
Dredi – untitled beat
Georgia Anne Muldrow – Two Shoes
Respite – Pang
Dot Rotten – Bounce
Loops Haunt – Impact Omnihammer (Fortified)
Alex Nut – Wotberry
Fauxhemian – Spectral Funk
Refuge – Sprayed Sparks
Subeena – Picture (Opit)
Mr Beatnick – Turn Your Back (Dub)
Afrika Hitech – 93 Million Miles
Suite For Ma Dukes Orchestra – Take Notice

Being currently trapped in some sort of odd twilight zone-esque real life situation I’m not very inspired for this month’s accompanying text blurb. So instead I’ll get straight down to business. Rhythm Incursions May 2010 rounds off a very busy month for us here at Rhythm Inc towers, possibly the busiest since we started. We’ve had guest mixes from Cafeteria and Monday Jazz, Fulgeance and Donky Pitch, Marques Lafelt and the Content Label, Throwing Snow and Kper and FoF Music. Alongside this we’ve also debuted new regular shows from two new presenters: Primus Luta over in the US who heads the new RIPL monthly show, and Broken Haze and XLII in Tokyo who head the RIRS monthly show. And now this, our regular 2h monthly show. I’ve never been good at maths but I’m pretty sure that’s close to like 20h of music in one month. Not bad eh? Click here to view all this month’s show, download them, stream them, comment etc…

So this month’s show follows our usual format with 2 hours of new and forthcoming music from the likes of Hightone, Breakage, Ceschi, Kraddy, Si Begg, Paul White, The Bug, The Roots, Houseshoes, Machinedrum, Ital Tek, Digital Mystikz, Danny Breaks, Dday One, Charles Trees, Roots Manuva, Foreign Beggars and Dabrye, The Blessings and many more. Alongside this we’ve got a world premier of the EAN remix of Om Unit’s Searching, which is forthcoming on Stretched Records. The mini feature for this month continues our recent Japanese theme (last one for a while promise!) with a look at the work of Olive Oil, a producer we’ve rated for a long time and who was definitely pioneering the whole beats/electronic hip hop thing since 05/06 in his native Japan. As with many other Japanese producers he’s not that well known outside Japan but his work definitely deserves a closer look so we’ve got four tracks from releases over the last 5 years to give you an idea. And if you like what you hear be sure to check his guest mix for us from last summer.

So that’s about it, as always download links and stream players are below alongside the exhaustive tracklist. If you like what you hear go out and support the artists and labels please, and where available download stuff for free even.

We’ll be back next month alongside our two new shows, RIPL and RIRS. You can also expect some very special guest mixes, the next in our Friends of Friends mix series and a site overhaul and relaunch, which should be late June/early July depending on how busy we are. As always feedback is appreciated so hit us up in the comments and enjoy!

Laurent

Download Rhythm Incursions May 2010 (right click and save as)

Tracklist:
The Roots – Stars – Dilla Joints Mixtape, download here
Houseshoes – Newports – All City Records
Eccy – Grease Spot – Troop Records
Charles Trees ft. Shigeto – Gratiot Gowanus – Musique Large
Grace Jones – All For Love (Digital Mystikz Remix) – Wall of Sound
Om Unit – Searching (EAN Remix) – Forthcoming Stretched Records *world premiere*
Rudi Zygadlo – Missa Per Brevis – Planet Mu
LV – Early Mob – Keysound Recordings
The Blessings – Moranis Riding Ants – Nod Navigators
Ital Tek – Subgiant – Planet Mu
Jonny Faith – Crimson Ride – Forthcoming Civil Music
Maga Bo ft. K Libre – Nakhil (Kusha Arora and Bakir remix) – Kusha Arora
Ghost Monkey – Who Wouldn’t – Self released
Q4 – Look Again (DDay One remix) – Project Mooncircle
Guilty Simpson ft. MED – Futuristic (Oh No remix) – Stones Throw promo
Paul White – Ride With Me – Forthcoming One Handed Music / Now Again
Danny Breaks – Space Maidens – Groove Attack (re-issue) / Droppin’ Science
Mini feature – Olive Oil
Olive Oil – Super Star – Oilworks (2005)
Olive Oil vs K Bomb – Town After Town – We Nod Records (2009)
Soloal One aka Olive Oil – Positive = Negative – Romz Records (2006)
Olive Oil – I Change U – Oilworks (2009)
Mini feature ends
Ramadanman – Tumble – Hessle Audio
Throwing Snow – Bring Me Back – Unreleased
TWoc ft. Afrikan Simba – Good Father – All City Records
Hightone ft. Ben Sharpa – Space Rodeo – Jarring Effects
2phast – Output 1-2 – Unreleased
The Bug ft. Flowdan – Run – Swamp81
Andreikelos – Call For The Last Stand – Forthcoming Equinox Records
Praveen and Benoit – Embers (Machinedrum Remix) – Moodgadget
Foreign Beggars ft. Dabrye and 2tall – Gravity – Forthcoming Dented Records
Breakage ft. Roots Manuva – Run Em Out – Digital Soundboy
Kraddy – Android Porn (Si Begg and K-The-I??? Remix) – Forthcoming Equinox Records
Prosoulytes – J’Aime (Instrumental) – Feelin’ Music
Houseshoes – The Makings – Do Over
Numaads – Wanting – Forthcoming Project Mooncircle
Funkineven – Must Move – Eglo Records
Ceschi – Bad Jokes – Forthcoming Equinox Records
Oriol – Memories – Forthcoming Planet Mu

It’s with great pleasure that we kick off a new monthly series of guest mixes in conjuction with the Friends of Friends label. FoF should be no stranger to regular listeners, as we’ve been strong supporters of the label ever since it started in late 08/early 09. We’ve worked with them in supporting the releases and spreading the word, and even hooked them up with Om Unit for a forthcoming release, so when Lazy Brow who runs the label got in touch recently about starting a series of guest mixes and asked me to do the first one it was a no-brainer. Not to mention a real honor and pleasure.

Once the mix was wrapped we got chatting about how best to get it out there to as many heads as possible and so the next logical step was to do a Rhythm Inc/FoF team up. So starting this week, once a month we’ll be dropping an exclusive mix as part of the Friends of Friends mix series – each mix will be brought to you by a friend of the label. The next one in the series is already done, but we won’t give out who it is just yet. Expect to be hearing sounds from worldwide producers who are doing things we love. It’s a friend and family thing really.

Each mix will be podcast on Rhythm Inc and also available via FoF’s Soundcloud page and website.

The artwork for this one comes from a friend of FoF, of course. Photographer Oliver Kish snapped this truly incredible picture and had this story to tell regarding how it came about. It is not staged! (click it for a bigger version)

“This photo was taken during my first tip to the blooming poppy fields in Southern California. Thinking the day was over, I turned a corner and there he was, the tinman. I took a quick snap on my original Russian made LC-A, then headed home. I’ve been to the poppy fields since and have never run into the tinman again. Right place, right time, channeling the Wizard…”

As for the mix when I was asked to do this the idea of a theme for it came pretty quickly – showcase music from friends and family worldwide. People I know and have worked with over the years in various music scenes. In my 8 or so years as a music journalist and in various other roles relating to music I’ve had the pleasure to meet and work with some amazing artists, many of whom I feel lucky and honored to call friends, and quite a few who are close personal friends of mine and continually inspire me and drive me on. This mix aims to represent that by showcasing as much of the talent I feel close to – it covers scratch music, jungle, dubstep, beats, hip hop, electro and much more. The mix also reflects the truly worldwide spread of exciting music today and my own times spent in various countries, including the UK, France, Italy and Japan.

The mix itself is a pretty intense ride with 27 tracks in 45 minutes but I hope people get as much enjoyment from it as I did putting it together and that it leads to them checking out the artists and supporting them. The mix features a heap of exclusives, unreleased tracks and forthcoming releases. I have worked with every artist and/or label featured in this mix, so this is truly a snapshot of my friends and family.

So I won’t blabber on much longer and let you enjoy the music. As always embeds for stream and direct download links are below. Subscribers to the RSS or iTunes feeds will have the mix on their way to them now.

I’d like to just thank all the artists for the music but also their support over the years. It’s been a pleasure working with each and everyone of you in whatever capacity and I hope to continue to do so in years to come. And huge thanks to FoF for asking me to do this. It’s truly a pleasure!

Peace

Laurent aka Kper

Download Kper – My Friends, My Family (right click and save as)

Tracklist:
Ken One – Mind Rain – Unreleased (Japan)
Danny Breaks – Hemisphere – Forthcoming Groove Attack (UK)
Dday One – Contamined Energy – Unreleased (USA)
And – Untitled beat – Unreleased (UK)
Onra – Iron – Forthcomig Ubeat (France)
Uncle Lew – Chop Chop remix – Unreleased (Ireland / Canada)
Lorn – Running Ink – Unreleased (USA)
Tatsuki – Kiyasu Breaks – Original Cultures (Japan)
Ernesto Gonzales – Self Awakening (Take remix) – FoF Music (USA)
Othello Grey – Feeling (BJu remix) – Unreleased (Germany)
Fulgeance – Smartbanging – One Handed Music (France)
2phast – MoynaQ – Unreleased (Italy)
Paul White – Body Spirals pt2 – Forthcoming One Handed Music (UK)
Throwing Snow – Elephant Trees – Unreleased (UK)
Grems ft Foreign Beggars – Brockabilly (Machine Drum remix) – Forthcoming (France/UK/USA)
Skyfish – Heso Cha remix – Unreleased (Japan)
Om Unit – Searching – Forthcoming Stretched Records (UK)
ENA – Drop – Unreleased (Japan)
Foreign Beggars – No Holds Barred (Goth Trad remix) – Forthcoming Dented Records (UK/Japan)
Dong – Suzuran (LV + Quarta330 remix) – Hyperdub (UK/Japan)
Lone Wolf – Badman – Unreleased (UK)
100 Mado – Club Asia – Unreleased (Japan)
Jamie Vex’d – Saturn’s Reply – Planet Mu (UK)
The Bug ft. Flowdan and Killa P – Skeng (Kode 9 remix) – Hyperdub (UK)
XLII – Podgy Swing – Raid System/Fubar (Ukraine/Japan)
Om Unit – The Corridor (Shigeto remix) – Forthcoming Terrorhythm (UK/USA)

Some things in life are pretty straightforward. And this is one of them. Next friday, the 31st of July, Plastic People will host a release party for Beat Dimensions vol2 featuring one half of the Beat Dimension masterminds Cinnaman, Mamiko Motto, the excellent Burntprogress crew (responsible for the CDR night) and Danny Breaks. So that’s around 6 hours of the freshest beats and music around alongside the talents of Danny Breaks, one of the true unsung heroes of this beat thing, on one of the best sound systems in London. See what I was saying about straightforward?

So to recap:
Friday 31st July
Plastic People, London
4 pounds before 11pm, 8 pounds after
Cinnaman, Danny Breaks, Mamiko Motto, Nwachukwu and Gavin Alexander

For those who missed the recent release of Beat Dimensions vol 2, you might want to check this news piece we ran back in May announcing the release of the first of 3 EPs which make up vol 2. And if you still need convincing then go listen to May’s show which features 3 tracks from the Beat Dimensions vol 2 release including Danny’s one.

I’d say see you there but I’ll be on a train going up to Manchester next friday, which is fair to say sucks. Ah well, at least you’ve got no excuses!

Two years ago Beat Dimensions vol1 was released. Compiled by Jay Scarlett and Cinnaman (based in/around the UK, Germany and Holland) it was a particularly accurate and representative snapshot of a growing undercurrent in hip hop toward a return to focus on the beats and the producer. Not only that, it was more than a euro- or american-centric view of this producing renaissance taking in work from across the globe and spotlighting certain producers who in the subsequent years would go on to receive a fair bit of attention and critical acclaim.

In the two years since its release, Beat Dimensions has become a real point of reference and accordingly the follow-up has been quite anticipated. The wait is over as Beat Dimensions vol2 is upon us – split across 3 EPs and both vinyl and digital formats. EP 1 drops this week, while EP 2 will drop next week both on vinyl. The digital releases of each will follow a week later. Following this EP 3 and a 7″ release will be available after the summer, most likely around September, and there is then talk of an album release too. So as you can see the wait has been for a reason with Jay and Cinnaman putting in some serious work to try and ensure the series lives up to the high standards it set itself. All releases are distributed by Rush Hour, full tracklist and details below.

I met Cinnaman in Amsterdam earlier this year and he mentioned how keen both he and Jay were to not rush the release and to ensure that they actually upped the quality of the series rather than just cash in on its previous success and the current trendyness and popularity of the beat scene and the whole hip hop meets electronic music movement. Having heard the first 2 EPs I’d say they’ve definitely managed that; once more their selection is varied, taking in established names as well as upcoming producers from around the globe (including Pakistan, not your first port of call for upcoming producers), and there is a distinct feel of progression from the first volume. The only downside may well be that with the current excess of attention surrounding the beat scene and the resulting copycat mentality that has led to too many people sounding the same in the last few years, the impact of vol2 is unlikely to be anywhere near as ‘powerful’ as vol1 though that was always a given I guess. More importantly the guys are obviously aware of this and have aimed to put together something that can actually show the quality of music being made amid the mass of copycats and throwaway beats.

Beat Dimensions vol2 features quite a few of our own favourites producers of recent times including Nosaj Thing, Mono/Poly and Fulgeance and the return of the one and only Danny Breaks, somebody who we’ve been fans of for years and who is an often forgotten ‘pioneer’ of this whole beat thing. For that reason alone it’s great to see him included on there, alongside Adlib from the Noisy Stylus crew, who should be no stranger to regular listeners of Turntable Radio.

I’ll be airing a couple of cuts from the first 2 volumes on the May show which goes live next week. In the meantime though get your pre-order/order on via Rush Hour or any reputable physical or online shop (UK people may want to try Juno or Boomkat for example). More info about the other releases on the Beat Dimensions myspace page.

Beat Dimensions vol 2 EP 1
Dalt Wisney – R2FUX
Danny Breaks and Dj Adlib – The Sound
Kenlo Craqnuques – Zoed
Mono/Poly – Distant From
Nosaj Thing – FWD

Beat Dimensions vol 2 EP 2
Dimlite – Ravemond’s Young Problems
Dizz1 – Konotakosuke Yaro
Dorian Concept – Be Tween
Fulgeance – Haggis
Samiyam – Swamp Tarts

We continue to roll out the guest mixes this month, with our latest offering coming from Touchy Subject. Now, while his name may not be one you’re familiar with yet it’s quite likely you’ll hear more from him in the coming year as some of his tracks are already being picked up and supported by the likes of Hudson Mohawke and Daedelus.

We hooked up with him after he sent some of the tracks for the show on myspace, and that’s when we decided to ask him to do a guest mix. He dully obliged and delivered with ‘Clever Headache’ a 45 mins ride that takes you through some of his own work alongside newer releases and some Rhythm Incursions favourites, spanning genres and tempo in a fairly effortless manner. Which also fits nicely with how we do things on Rhythm Inc normally, as regulars listeners no doubt know!

Not a man of many words, he described the mix as follows:

There’s some things you just can’t talk about. A variety of sound cheaper than a pound.

You can find out more about the man on his myspaces, here and here. And look out for some more exclusive tracks from him in my forthcoming regular podcast which will be going out before the end of the month.

For now though, strap up and crank the volume.

Download the show here!

CLEVER HEADACHE | Touchy Subject – Tracklisting

Quantic soul orchestra – interlude
Marc Rapson – mystery of a man (white)
Natural Self – the love theme
Savath and savalas – paths in soft focus
Cardboardboss- A tickle if you yawn (live)
Madlib the Beat conducter – chop style (Suey Blast)
Bullion – Get Familiar
Mode Selektor – Dark side of the sun
Baron Zen – BZ theme(danny breaks remix)
Bass nectar – Heads up (california style)
Harmonic 313 – Dirtbox
Touchy Subject – Red Lights (dubplate)
Screaming Soul – Warefare (Ruckpin & Planas Remix)
Modeselektor – Let your love grow (Ft. Paul St. Hilaire)
Toucy Subject – Wicked Acts (dubplate)
Synkro – BITZ
Bar 9 – Bakin Bred
Stenchman – Master Blaster
Nero – This way
Benny Page & Zero G – Panpipes
16 Bit – In the death car
BasQuan – Mind over matter
Unkown – Ready or Not
Touchy Subject – Sister town (white)
Deezul – What you dont do

The Waxolutionists with DJ Vadim – Wild Elephants (wAx bruised and beaten edit) [Universal/unreleased]
Dabrye with AG – My Life [Ghostly International]
Danny Breaks – Window Wiper [Alphabet Zoo]
Hifana – Hitaro (feat Kentaro) [Warner Japan]
J-Treds – Praise Due (Indopepsychics remix) [Mary Joy]
Wu-Tang Clan – Reunited (Funkstorung remix) [Loud]
MHE – 003 [Sound In Color]
Daddy Kev and The Grouch – Opening Spit [Alpha Pup]
Rob Swift with Toadstyle & Ricci Rucker – Military Scratch [Coup de Grace]
Organized Konfusion – Bring It On (Buckwild remix) [Hollywood Basic]
Larvae with Nongenetic of Shadowhuntaz – Nation of Bling [Ad Noiseam]
edIT – Crashes []
El-P – extract from Bomb the System score
Ill Suono – Doll (Riow Arai remix [Soup-Disk]
7l & Esoteric – Def Rhymes [Brick]
Madvillain – Figaro (Madlib remix) [Stones Throw]
Airborn Audio – Freestyle
Six Vicious – Salle Torturée [Bully Records]
Conrad Newholmes – Arctic Robots Demise [Couchblip]
Eddie Def vs. Ingrid de Lambre – Poesies, Scene 1 [Om-Records]
Waxfactor – Beat Meld [Needlework]
Ludacris – Stand Up (wAx’n'n’relaxin mix) [unreleased]
Waxfactor & Sacred Hoop – Float Yer Kegs [unreleased]
Waxfactor – The Huston Rockets [unreleased]

ENJOY!