Friends of Friends mix series: Kper – My Friends, My Family

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)

Rhythm Incursions – April ’10

After nearly a week of blue, planeless skies here in London I guess we can confidently say that spring has arrived – and hopefully summer isn’t too far behind. So as we do every month let us celebrate with some music and another 2 hours of new, upcoming, old and unreleased bits for discerning ears.

On the show this month we’ve got new and forthcoming music from B-Ju, Ras G, Robot Koch Lando Kal, Lorn, Jahcoozi, FaltyDL, Om Unit, Letherette, Uncle Lew, Alex B, Take, Deru, LV and Quarta330, Shigeto, Skitz, Tokimonsta, Space Invadas, Yosi Horikawa, Dimlite and more alongside some favourites of recent times from RSD, James Blake, Uyama Hiroto, Mount Kimbie, Daisuke Tanabe and Flying Lotus among others.

This month’s mini feature meanwhile looks at the work of Japanese producer O.N.O. Probably best know as the producer for Tha Blue Herb, one of Japan’s most famous rap crews, and hailing from the northern island of Hokkaido, O.N.O has also been releasing under his name as a solo artist for well over ten years now. And it’s his work as a solo artist that’s always fascinated me since I discovered him thanks to Waxfactor about five years ago. This mini feature aims to shine a little light on the man’s incredible production range which runs from hip hop to dub, jungle to house, ambient to abstract and at times crazy electronic music. The constant in a lot of his music is his use of machines to create the sounds, something which really takes meaning when you see his live shows (youtube here and here) where equipped with 2 MPCs, a sequencer and effects units he puts on one of the most fascinating and enjoyable live electronic music shows I’ve ever seen. On the mini feature we’ve got 4 tracks from releases spanning most of his solo career and which as I said gives a nice idea of his diverse output. For more on the man check his website and those of you in/around Tokyo can catch him playing with Flying Lotus for a Tokyo Brainfeeder session soon – hopefully this might help shine some more light on his work outside Japan.

For now though sit back and enjoy another two hours of discerning music for discerning ears. As always you can grab the show directly at the link below, stream at the bottom of this post, or subscribe to our iTunes and/or RSS feed and you won’t even have to click through and read through all this every time we drop a new show. Look out for more guest mixes coming up next and some news regarding the shows. Until then enjoy!

Rhythm Incursions – April 2010 (right click and save as)

Tracklist:
Flying Lotus – I Feel Like Dying – Bootleg, free download
Robot Koch – True – Forthcoming Project Mooncircle
UpHigh Collective – Blend – On Point
Tycho – Adrift (Shigeto’s A Dream Mix) – Ghostly International
Jahcoozi ft. M. Sayyid – Powerdown Blackout – Bpitch Control
Foals – Spanish Sahara (Mount Kimbie Remix) – Free download
Dong – Suzuran (LV and Quarta330 remix) – Forthcoming Hyperdub
RSD – Naked Mario Kart part 2 – Black Box
Sepalcure – Down – Forthcoming Hotflush recordings
Uncle Lew – Little Wolf – Unreleased
Letherette – On Video – Unreleased
Onra – Oper8tor – All City Records
Mini feature starts
O.N.O – KRK – TBHR
O.N.O – Light Velocity – TBHR
O.N.O – Hazed Over – Nike Run
O.N.O – Night Scene – Rambling records
Mini feature ends
Daisuke Tanabe – Artificial Sweetener – Circulations
Tokimonsta – Smoke and Mirrors – Ramp Recordings
Alex B – You and I Both Know – Elm and Oak
Take – Neon Beams – Alpha Pup
James Blake – Harmonimix (Bills, Bills, Bills) – White Label
Mount Kimbie – Serged (FaltyDL remix) – Hotflush recordings
Lazer Sword – Shot In The Nite – Innovative Leisure
Self Says – Same Space (Just Easy) – Self Says (free download)
Uyama Hiroto – Ribbon In The Sea – Hyde Out Recordings
Deru – Cottonmouth Lothario – Mush Records
Lando Kal – Fuzzy Ankles – Numbers
Lorn – Bretagne – Forthcoming Brainfeeder
Vex’d – Fire (Blood 1 remix) – CSM (free download)
B-Ju – Dog Day – Error Broadcast
Skitz – Born Inna System – Forthcoming Dragon Drop
Foreign Beggars – Move Higher (Om Unit’s Lights Down mix) – Forthcoming Dented Records (exclusive premiere)
Portformat ft. Blaktronics – It’s On (Swedeart Remix) – Forthcoming Tokyo Dawn
Yosi Horikawa – Cook From South – Forthcoming Ubeat Records
Dimlite – Elbow Flood – Forthcoming Now Again (free download)
Space Invadas – Imaginist – Invada records
Antipop Consortium – Lift (Audace Remix) – Unreleased
Aquadrop – Strong Vibes – Unreleased (free download)
Ras G – Discipline 1 – Forthcoming Leaving Records

Rhythm Incursions – November 09

We reach the last but one show of the year with yet more exclusives and brand new music for your listening enjoyment. In addition, the mini feature this month is part 1 of a ‘Labels of 2009′ feature as I couldn’t just choose one label this year so instead decided to shine a light on two labels who both deserve it in my opinion.

Music wise we’ve got some exclusive previews of music from Om Unit, Loops Haunt, Debruit, Leatherette and Ernesto Gonzales, all of which will be dropping in the first quarter of 2010. Alongside these we have the usual fresh music from a host of artists and labels including Hyperdub, Ramp Recordings, Tectonic, Dutty Artz, the amazing Mr Chop release on Now Again/Five Day Weekend, the psychedelic new Edan release, Madlib and Strong Arm Steady, Non+Herrmutt Lobby, SA-RA, DJ Food, Ben Sharpa and many more.

As for the mini feature, well part 1 of the ‘Labels of 2009′ shines a light on One Handed MUsic, the London-based independent headed by Alex Chase (also responsible for Stones Throw in Europe). Despite, or most likely because, its small roster of artists, 2009 has been a good year for the label release wise with the Paul White debut album, another 2 EPs from the prolific London beat-maker, an EP from Bullion the label’s other, hugely promising London artist, and an amazing EP from Fulgeance, the French MPC master who does ‘chopped & screwed house’ (as Mr Trick called it) like no one else can. The releases aren’t just the reason why I choose OHM as a label of the year – it’s everything else, like Alex’s obviously on point A&R and the artwork and attention that has gone into every release, whether physical or digital (anyone who’s seen the hand-sewn pillow cases for the Paul White album will testity). So I’ll let the music do the talking with a selection of five tracks from this year’s releases. Look out for OHM to continue their rise in 2010 with more Paul White, a long-awaited Tranquill EP and more.

Part 2 of the mini-feature will be coming next month, looking at Ramp Recordings, which ironically Alex Chase pointed out was also run by someone from Suffolk, that is Tom@Ramp. So looks like Suffolk had it on lock for ’09 then – who would have thought. The December show will most likely be similar to the one I put together last year, ie. a best of 09 mix with the label mini feature included in there. Look out for details soon, it’ll drop just before xmas in time for the seasonal overload.

For now though, sit back, crank up the volume and enjoy. And remember check the tracklist for full details of websites and where to buy the music and go out and support if you like what you hear!

Download the show (right click and save as)

Tracklist – November 09
2562 – Dinosaur – Tectonic
Jahdan Blackamoor ft Klash77 – She Said – Dutty Artz
Pinch ft Yolanda – Get Up – Tectonic
Dub U – Delia – Unreleased
SA-RA ft Ta’ Raach and Jay Electronica – Love Czars II – Ubiquity/Serato
Touchy Subject – The Kind – Unreleased
Mr Chop – Shut Em Down – Five Day Weekend / Now Again
Dynamites – Kingston Dub Town – Pressure Sounds
Lewis – Mandy’s Uh – Unreleased
Foreign Beggars – Don’t Dhooow It (Machine Drum remix) – Dented Records
Loops Haunt – Huarache – Forthcoming Fortified Audio
Stoney Jackson – Cheeba Cheeba – Stones Throw
Om Unit – Lightgrids – Forthcoming All City Records
Take – Chrome in the Clouds – Powershovel Audio
Mini Feature starts / Labels of 09 pt 1: One Handed Music
Paul White – Synth March – One Handed Music
Bullion – Young Heartache – One Handed Music
Paul White – Vs the BBC – One Handed Music
Paul White – Dream State (Dam Tales) (Extended Version) – One Handed Music
Fulgeance – Ann Arbor – One Handed Music
Mini Feature ends
King Midas Sound – Goodbye Girl – Hyperdub
Debruit – Nigeria What? – Forthcoming Civil Music
Gemmy – Shanti Riddim – Planet Mu
Willie Isz – The Grustle (LV remix) – Unreleased
Alix Perez ft Foreign Beggars – The Cut Deepens – Shogun Audio
Ben Sharpa ft Wordsworth – Why – Jarring Effects
DJ Food ft DK – Sentinel (Shadow Guard) – Ninja Tune
Ernesto Gonzales – Falling Asleep to the Glow of the – Forthcoming Friends of Friends (exclusive premiere)
Ernesto Gonzales – Etchasketch Trees (Yppah Remix) – Friends of Friends
Desto – Disappearing Reappearing – Ramp recordings
Lone – Karen Loves Kate – Werk Discs
Leatherette – Clip Your Wings – Forthcoming Norm Rex
Edan – Echo Party sampler – Five Day Weekend
Mike Slott – 40 Winx – LuckyMe
Non+Hermutt Lobby – Save That Shit – Catune

Rhythm Incursions: February 09

We’ve been quieter than usual this month, but that hasn’t stopped music coming in by the bucket load into our inbox. 2009 already started on a high (see last month’s podcast for more on that) and it’s not showing any signs of stopping with labels and artists gearing up for the first quarter of the year with a lot of interesting projects and releases.

As with January, this month’s show comes with just 2 days left in the month but we reckon the wait’s been worth it. We’ve got lots of new stuff and a few bonus, exclusive treats too. We have new material from Robert Logan, Equinox Records, Bullion, 1000 Names, Mr Scruff, Yppah, Two Fingers, Computer Jay, Uncle Lew, Mr Beatnick and more. And we’ve also got a mini feature on the Warp label, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year with a string of releases including a new Prefuse 73 album and quite a few more which are yet to be officially announced.

So strap up and get comfy for 70 minutes of audio goodness. And stay tuned as March will see the return of fellow presenter Dday One and a few guest mixes including one from Parisian producer Onra and more to be announced soon.

Enjoy!

Click here to download the show!

2tall – Scatterclocks – Bleep
Computer Jay – Distance – Ramp Recordings
Mr Scruff ft Roots Manuva – Nice Up the Function (Remix) – Ninja Tune
Sage Francis, B.Dolan and Sleep ft Buddy Peace – Sea Legs (prod. Aupheus) – Strange Famous Records (free download)
Mobb Deep – G.O.D PtIII (Uncle Lew remix) – Unreleased, Uncle Lew myspace
Two Fingers ft Sway – Straw Men – Big Dada
Robert Logan – Accurate Spit Boy – Slowfoot
Warp Records mini-feature starts
Clark – Growls Garden – Warp, taken from forthcoming ‘Growls Garden’ EP
Harmonic 313 – Don’t Panic – Warp, taken from ‘When Machines Exceed Human Intelligence’ LP
Prefuse – Regalo – Warp, taken from forthcoming ‘Everything She Touched Turned Ampexian’ LP
Warp Records mini-feature ends
Letherette – In July Focus Rite – Normrex
Floating Points – I Wait For You – Eglo Records
Bullion – Time For Us All to Love – One Handed music
1000 Names – Rhythmatic Train Behaviour – Eklektik records
Yppah – They Know What Ghost Know – Ninja Tune
Mr Beatnick – Daily Bread – Unreleased
Kero One – On and On – Plug Research
Deckard – Surgery – Equinox Records
Pangaea – Bear Witness – Hotflush Recordings

2tall – The Space Race

A deep space transmission reached us at Rhythm Incursions this week, coming from somewhere familiar and signed by none other than 2tall, universal astronaut, extended Rhythm Inc family member and producer at large. The sounds of the transmission are warm and comforting, much needed in these cold and snowy times. Once we decoded the transmission, the result was an hour of the latest sounds from across the planet beamed straight into your speakers.

So we suggest you turn it up to 11 and strap up for a race across the universe carried by basslines and some of the finest beats, new and old.

Also look out for 2tall‘s forthcoming release under his Om Unit moniker, which should be incoming on Terrorhythm records in the coming months. It’s been getting support from Benji B on BBC 1xtra and Alexander Nut on Rinse FM and having heard it we can tell you it’s well worth the wait.

Download the show here!

2tall – The Space Race
Architeq – Sleeping Bear (Take Remix)
Onra feat Hazel – Super Genesis
Floating Points – Love me like this
Harmonic 313 – Flaash
010 – Beatdatazz
Daniel Savio – Flogsta Danshall
Beem – The future
Jay Dee – B.B.E (instrumental)
Mr Scruff – Hold The Dub
2tall – Grazing On Empty (King Knut’s 80′s Dub)
Uncle Lew – Mandy’s Uh
Om Unit – Ether
Bullion – Young Hearache
Saul Williams – Coded Language (live at def comedy jam)
Ras G – Sloooooow Doooooowm
Tranquil – Payroll (paul white’s clean dub)
Dr Who Dat – Ghetto Dreaming
Madlib – Left On Silverlake
Sugoisounds – Many Grams
Actress – Hazylude
Afta 1 – The Time In Between
Afta 1 – Honey Dip
Lukid – Time Doing So Mean
Dwilt Sharpp – Will You Tell Me Where You Are

2tall – Rebirth Of The Beat

This week’s podcast comes to you from another member of the Rhythm Incursions extended family. 2tall should need no introduction to regular listeners, but just in case I’ll leave it to him to do the introductions: “long time TTR/RI musical contributor, ex-DMC battler/turntablist, performer/showboater/nervous white guy with the correct arm movements and limited knowledge of music”. When you put it like that, what else is there to say?

Seriously though, those of you new to the show should check out the exclusive track from 2tall’s latest album, ‘The Softer Diagram’, which we featured a couple of weeks back. The album is out now, in physical and digital stores.

Read more

Rhythm Incursions: September 08

We return to the more ‘regular’ Rhythm Incursions shows this week, and with both Trick and Waxfactor unfortunately otherwise engaged and unable to step up as they normally do (real life’s crazy like that!) I’m strapping on my presenter goggles and bringing you an hour of fresh new music. Considering it’s been about 2 months since the last show, there’s quite a few bits to get stuck into from the likes of Mochipet, Mighty Joseph, Uncle Lew, Nosaj Thing, Mweslee, Dilla, Samiyam and Free The Robots. Oh and we’ve got a mini-feature on the excellent Various Production too. Read more