Got some of the newest and hottest deep house cuts to come out this frosty (at least in the northern hemisphere) winter.  I’m talking about the kind of music that melts in your ears, not the sort of high energy, gimmicky slop that most associate with today’s house music.  I’m talking about deep house…what you know about deep house?  Like that.

Kasper Bjørke – Alcatraz (Jimpster Remix)

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First up is a remix from the deep house figure probably I respect the most, Jimpster.  If you don’t know Jimpster, or haven’t heard Amoré, his album that bridged the gap between lounge, house, R&B, and electronic, you should give him a look.  Founder of Freerange records, this DJ and producer seems to have his fellow selectors in mind with his remix of Kasper Bjørke, which has been killing it on the Beatport charts recently.  I don’t know what it is about Denmark and deep house, but it sounds like the Danish know how to do it right.  Let the stab kick in after the first drop, it’s a fun track.

Atnarko – Solid Ground feat. Nica Brooke (Atnarko’s Ride)

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Atnarko comes correct with an edit of his own track, which features some very nice vocals from Nica Brooke.  If you’ve been following the deep house around the blog, you might realize by now that all it takes to please me in a house track with a vocal is a soulful black female, there is something so incredibly disarming in tha voice within a track like this.  And if you would like a perfect example of a good drop, the one at 2:50, with enough sub, would have people moving.

Alland Byallo – My City (Alexkid Remix)

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I don’t think I’ve ever heard a remix like this one from Alexkid that incorporates a syncopated rhythm that occupies its peaks, this distorted almost 8-bit-sounding hit.  I am definitely a fan of the low-key vibe the song puts out, sort of creating a vibe of tension that begs for release, but it took me a few plays to get into the breaksy part of it.  I can say now that I’m totally feelin it, it’s new and different and kinda fresh.

Kruse & Nürnberg – Mirrorball

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Here’s another one, it’s by Kruse & Nürnberg, that sort of meanders along with a beat sequence that, while it is definitely 4/4, invokes a different sort of rhythm.  If you think about dancing to it, I’d imagine a different body movement than usual.  If you have found music before (not necessarily this track or any of these tracks), that has just taken control and made you get up and dance, than you understand what I’m talking about.  Just like that.

Posted in Music Posted by Alex on Feb 05 2010

Tags: Alexkid, Allan Byallo, Atnarko, Deep House, Jimpster, Kasper Bjørke, Kruse & Nürnberg

Tuesday, a free Mux Mool EP called Viking Funeral was released on Ghostly International, in anticipation of Minnesota-native Brian Lindgren’s debut full-length, Skulltaste.  The album artwork also represents my Ghostly debut in the catalog, an accomplishment I consider my biggest since my first album cover for Moodgadget.  The straightforward layout combines some of Brian’s incredible sketch work with a halftone treatment I’ve been exploring within the specific context of Mux and Ghostly, a nod to the pulpy vintage threads abound in his music.  Working with Brian’s talent as “an incurable doodler” is a lot of fun, his unique renderings beg for color and texture, in an age where the sketch pad and pencil are waning in the shadow of the tablet.

Mux Mool – Ladies Know (Live edit)

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This track is a live edit from one of Mux’s older beats, Ladies Know, which originally appeared in 2008 with vocals from fellow Minnesotans, Big Quarters.  The way the track gets chopped and literally beaten up is surprisingly reminiscent of his live performance.  It will be especially interesting to hear how his sound has evolved when Skulltaste comes out in March.

Calmer – Angela (Taxi Theme Song) (cover of Bob James)

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The ISO50 2010 covers series is in full effect, with Jakub sharing his birthday presents each week.  This Calmer remix is one of the many standouts so far, an especially challenging song to cover– “Angela,” the theme from the TV show Taxi.  When I crashed at his crib in Brooklyn two weekends ago, he played an early draft of his remix, almost thinking the challenging cover “assignment” was more of a joke, but the response seems to be more love than laughter.

Paul White – Hustle (Bullion Remix)

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So Bullion, one of the musicians who tied for Best New Artist of 2009 here on Blog.H34, has a new EP out on bandcamp.  While I can’t say it has me going like Time For Us All To Love, I can say this remix he did for Paul White is blazing hot.  The snare drum roll at the beginning signals a mollases-thick synth barrage, and the somewhat cheesy vocals have me smiling and shouting responses of cliché hustle rhetoric.

Charles Trees – Exodus

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Finally, I received a transmission from Charles Trees, who is currently living virtually off the grid in the mountains of California.  He gave me an update on a couple new releases on the way, including a new LP under the working title, Capturing Animals.  The meaning of this title is currently a secret, but this dirty sub smasher of a track is not.  Apparently it found its way into the iTunes indie spotlight earlier this month, from the Versus Series, Round 2: Alt Hip Hop.

Posted in Music Posted by Alex on Feb 04 2010

Tags: Alt Hip Hop, Bullion, Calmer, Charles Trees, Covers, Ghostly, Moodgadget, Mux Mool, Paul White

Time to mix things up a little bit today with some hip hop, some 4/4, some two-step and some old freshness refashioned into new freshness.  It amazes me how much of today’s music is derived, sometimes entirely, from music created decades earlier.  Many music junkies have heard, possibly even entertained the debate, as to whether sampled music can still be worthy of the same amount of praise as completely original instrumental performance.  I personally believe that in grey area arguments like this, there are cases of proper and improper use of samples, and there is plenty of unoriginal, downright miserable original material out there, the best sampled music belongs up there with the best original composition.

Wu-Tang Vs. The Beatles – Da Mystery of Chessboxin’ – Enter The Magical Mystery Chambers

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Wu-Tang is one of my absolute favorite hip-hop groups, their eminent 1993 release Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) has been a massive inspiration for many.  I just recently posted Wu-Tang taking on dubstep, but last Friday, I was turned onto this newly released Wu-Tang vs. The Beatles.  You have to at least be curious here, so just press the play button.

Raekwon – New Wu (ft. Ghostface & Method Man) – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt II

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Raekwon, of the Wu-Tang clan, released one of the most well-known solo albums of the Wu-Tang-related catalogue with Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.  Well, late last year he returned to the stage with Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt.II, a hard-hitting star-laden lineup of gangsta music.  I remember driving around Philly one night with my brother and buddy Corey with this track blasting, this is one track that makes you feel 50x tougher.

Trus’me – Put It On Me – In The Red

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Trus’me has a full-length I posted about a while back, called In The Red, which I think gets back at the original debate about sampled music.  His debut, which led to a massive rise in popularity, was primarily sample-based, and happens to be one of my favorite albums ever.  In his newest release, Trus’me has taken an entirely different (but no less enjoyable) approach with a more organic and collaborative sound, and samples are clearly not the focus.  It’s up to you to decide, some prefer his old sound, and others support his new direction.  I enjoy both.

Four Tet – Love Cry (Joy Orbison Remix) – Love Cry 12″

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Joy Orbison has been absolutely killing it recently.  The young producer only has a handful of tracks out on a few EPs, but this newly released remix of Four Tet proves he is just getting started with a relentless assault on the year 2010.  There isn’t much info about Joy Orbison’s plans yet, but I did manage to find this sick video showcasing an unreleased track (haha the vocal is Jamie Foxx), my only response is, “WANT!!!”

Joy Orbison – GR Etiquette (video) – Unreleased

Posted in Music Posted by Alex on Feb 01 2010

Tags: Four Tet, Ghostface, Joy Orbison, Method Man, Raekwon, Tom Caruana, Trus'me, Wu-Tang Vs. Beatles

Apologies for the relative lack of action around here, not only did I want to leave my Green Label mix up for a little while, but I was also very busy working on a freelance contract for a pharma-focused communications agency called Digitas Health.  A fine change of pace for me, it was a completely different world of design, working with some very cool, very hard-working people.  Next week, I start work sessions with a brand new asphalt supply company (I know, whoop-dee-doo, right?) for a complete branding exercise.  I see this as an opportunity to add a really comprehensive new project to my design accumen, and create a stand-out brand identity in a generally very mundane industry, so keep an eye out around the blog if you’re interested.

Yesterday, I picked up BioWare’s newest game, Mass Effect 2.  Now, I’ve never posted around Blog.H34 about videogames, but if you have been through my entire portfolio, you would see videogame design/modding experience in there, I love a good videogame when time permits.  I have an interesting way of playing most games, however, and it involves moving slowly through the game’s environments, admiring the visuals.  Without a doubt, Mass Effect 2 is the most beautiful game I’ve ever laid eyes on.  Screenshots and even HD videos on your computer do it no justice, when you jump into the game for the first time, the opening cinematics have you locked in, pulling you into.  For good reason, the art direction and aesthetics are like something you’d find on Sci-Fi-O-Rama, inspired by everybody’s favorite sci-fi movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Alien, and in this sequel, I’m definitely picking up on both Star Wars and The Fifth Element.  I think all designers should at least see this game if not own it, the entire experience is so fulfilling, it may well prove to be the Avatar of videogames.

Speaking of 2001, I have had this amazing screen saver for a while, and thought it would make a perfect companion to today’s post.  It’s by The HAL Project, the sort of creative project that starts small, and evolves into this wonderfully immersive experience.  I love projects like these, because you can feel the author’s excitement in the work, the absolute zeal with which they assemble this reverant homage to their grandest inspirations.  The screensaver turns your computer into one of the monitors you see in the film, aboard the Discovery One, framing through various infographics representing the various processes taking place board the ship, under the control of HAL 9000, and well…you probably know what happens.

Posted in Branding & Packaging and Design Posted by Alex on Jan 28 2010

Tags: Mass Effect 2, Sci-fi, Screensaver, The HAL Project, Videogame Design

Today, I am releasing my newest mix, Green Label.  A blend of more of the hottest, freshest deep cuts I can find. Each track was chosen carefully, and the mix was recorded a few times before reaching its final state, its production stands in almost complete contrast with my last mix, Crescendo, which was recorded in one take with tracks chosen on the fly.  Still, if you liked any of my mixes to date, you’ll like this one.

As with all my mixes, I try to give the choice of tracks and the feel of the mix an overall theme, and given the tracklist this time around, I felt that Green was an appropriate color to derive a theme out of.  With the recent hot issues of global warming and industries going green, political turmoil in countries like Iran, where the Green movement faces insurmountable odds in their pursuit of justice and freedom, and most recently, the quake in Haiti that has crippled the tiny island nation with a perplexing history, the forces of nature and man seem to be colliding, like waves crashing against rock, or lightening slicing the sky.  We may find ourselves conflicted over many of these issues, but the tracks from this mix seem to speak to our common sense, they demand action, transparency, conscientiousness, and perhaps most importantly, that you dance and have fun.  Without getting too deep into the hidden messages (like realizing the mix is 01:02 hrs long, and came out at 12:00 on 01/20 in 2010), I hope you enjoy my newest mix and think about making the world a better place.

Tracklisting (more detailed version on Soundcloud):

Refused – Worms of the Sense / Faculties of the Skull (HDP Intro Chop)
Stimming – Melodica
The Mountain People – Mountain008.1
Fish Go Deep feat. Tracey K – Final Tide (Vocal)
Colette – Think You Want It (Pezzner Remix)
FreezerRoom – Weapon of Choice (Atjazz Vocal)
Groove Garcia, Edu Imbernon – Missing Berlin From Spain (Hermanez Remix)
Robert Babicz – Astor (Shur-I-Kan Remix)
Timmy Vegas, Leighton Ashcroft – In From The Cold (Stimming Remix)
Imaani Brown ft. Mutabaruka – Dis Poem
Bearweasel – Linoleum
Langenberg – Times (Manuel Tur’s Ground Glass Reflex)
Leoesco – We Can Save It (Harold Heath Re Rub)

PS. As always, if you are on Soundcloud and are feelin the mix, please add me or leave some love!  Also, check out this feature about my previous mixes at Wanken.

Posted in Music Posted by Alex on Jan 20 2010

Tags: Atjazz, Bearweasel, Colette, Fish Go Deep, FreezerRoom, Hermanez, Imaani Brown, Leoesco, Manuel Tur, Mountain People, Pezzner, Shur-I-Kan, Stimming

With 2010 now well-underway, many new releases are coming right out the gate, looking to start the year of strong.  When it comes to deep house, and most types of dancefloor music, I put a sort of bookmark between last year and this year in my mind, and try to look at both as separate entities.  Anyway, here are four deep tracks from artists and labels looking to capture listeners early in the year with.  The photo for today is of the Beatles in 1957 (L-R: George, 14; John, 16; Paul, 15), from this massive collection of rare celebrity photos, very cool find this morning, (RT’ed via @zaffi).

I:Cube – Falling

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Many of us will not remember much of I:Cube since the French producer’s hit debut Disco Cubizm, but who said a new year isn’t the perfect time for a comeback, this was just released on his Versatile imprint.  I would have associated him with french house before hearing this newer, slower, deeper track.  It definitely sounds like Chaix’s style is evolving, or at least staying current by incorporating elements that mix well with other tracks and avoids sounding dated.  I’m excited to hear what comes from I:Cube this year after hearing this brand new track.

S.Elezi, Sabb – Sax on Wax

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A new year can also be an artist’s take-off year, it is already shaping up to be that way for Danish label Noir, which just released this wicked little roller from Sabb & S.Elezi, two new producers I’ve never heard of, but now expect to hear more from this year.  Label boss, René “Noir” Kristensen, has been hard at work getting plays and garnering support for new releases, which have been charting, even chart-topping on Beatport’s deep house and tech house sections.  For good reason, the bump this track puts on your subs, and the frosty dubbed out stabs are just priceless.

Andrés -Step To The Side

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I woke up at 6am naturally yesterday morning with the beginning of this song stuck in my head.  It’s off Mahogani music’s newest from Andrés, titled simply, II.  This Detroit producer, who has aligned himself with the likes of Moodymann and Theo Parrish, is doing his city proud with a wildly varied album that plays out much like J Dilla’s Donuts, but with house music, with bite-size tracks, and woven-in samples and influences from all over the place, you might have noticed Yes’ Roundabout in there by now.  Very cool release, well worth checking out.

Rene Breitbarth – Bit’n'Soul

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You have seen Rene Breitbarth on Blog.H34 a few times, and I thought I was keeping up to date on his newest releases and remixes, but apparently not.  He’s released a couple solid new EP’s on Deep Data, this newest one, Soul Bytes, and With Or Without Doris, along with a flurry of remixes and other EPs.  I like the rides in this one, and the way this song seems to melt slowly the entire time.  Definitely on a more laid back sort of tip, less hype and Sax on Wax, for example, but definitely more upbeat than the other two tracks posted today.

Posted in Music Posted by Alex on Jan 19 2010

Tags: Andrés, Deep Data, Deep House, I:Cube, Mahogani, Noir Music, René Breitbarth, Sabb & Elezi, Tech House, Versatile

Got some pretty wild picks together for today, some cool and strange sounds from all over the place, most of which can only be discovered by chance encounter.  I’ve discovered all of these picks by tuning in to Percussion Lab Radio on Radio23.org, they’re on every Monday from 9-11 EST (including tonight), and each week since the show started last month, more and more people have been listening, hanging in the chat room, and it’s gotten to be a lot of fun.  The random pic above is from my Aunt Tina and Uncle Chris’ wedding this past October, a very small but no less enjoyable affair.

Joy Orbison – Wet Look

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Joy Orbison isn’t a typo, nor does the music sound even remotely like the Orbison the name plays on, but fans of two-step should find their ears perk way up when they hear a track like this.  Bordering on a heavier, yet-more ambient/atmospheric (less grimey), and slightly more emotional sound, a movement is building.  PL Radio’s host Praveen, who along with Machinedrum forms Sepalcure, uses the term lovestep to describe the sound. If you’re in love with lovestep, you’ll be keeping an eye on Joy Orbison and Sepalcure.

Obey City – All My Love

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Eliot Lipp was on the show last week, with Mux Mool, and while on the air, he played some material he was going to be putting out on his label, from Obey City.  This stuff completely caught me off guard.  It’s the sort of frenetic, vintage fun that straddles the line between videogame soundtrack and cheesy 80s teen made-for-TV-movie, but damned if it doesn’t make you smile and remember how much fun life can be if you just relax and take it as it comes your way.  OK maybe I’m reading too deeply into this track, but I’ll definitely look forward to hearing more from Obey City and Astro Nautico.

Coyote Clean Up – Can’t Shake Naw Full Moon

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How I came across this track by Coyote Clean Up was completely by chance.  I had Radio23 on after the show was over, and the DJ after played a track by this guy, I googled the track (never found it), and found a bunch of free tracks on Last.fm.  Really a strange mix of genres, but also sort of catchy.  It’s like a mix of lo-fi, chillwave, dub and pop, and while it may sound a bit rough around the edges, I hope something comes of it and this dude surfaces a little more.

Cornelius – Drop

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Finally, a classic from Cornelius, and another track I heard when I left Radio23 on, I guess I missed this one from 2002’s Point. This was the track that fueled the Japanese recording artist’s take off, an interesting sort of blend mixing pop and alternative with obvious Japanese overtones, together with a slightly IDM feel.  It’s refreshing and appealing, even if you have no idea what the song is about, unless you speak Japanese.

Posted in Music Posted by Alex on Jan 18 2010

Tags: Astro Nautico, Cornelius, Coyote Clean Up, Joy Orbison, Lovestep, Obey City, Sepalcure

Today, my friend Jay Bodley, an occasional contributor around Blog.H34, and Moodgadget veteran recording artist, A Setting Sun, releases his newest EP, Flower Garden of Doom.  Also, in anticipation of the EP, Jay released the forth and final installment of his Men and Women ambient/low level mix series, which I created the artwork for back in 2008.  So, in light of all this, we’ll do a slightly different format for today’s post and focus on a few things surrounding this release, my involvement, and our goals at Moodgadget with this type of music.

A Setting Sun – Raspberry

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First up, perhaps most appropriately, the newest A Setting Sun release, Flower Garden of Doom.  While the title may initially seem like some kind of playful joke, it is actually a meticulously constructed meditation on the extremes inherent in the rich singularity of existence.  From Jay’s perspective, one cannot exist without the other, like the lotus flower rising from the filthy mud of the swamp, beauty and darkness coexist in perfect balance in the Flower Garden of Doom.  The music mirrors the message of the title and the the imagery of the cover, balancing texture and noise with blankets of pristine melody, and incorporating more guitar and field recordings than ever before.  Tipping the cap to many of Jay’s primary influences, from David Lynch films to doom metal acts like Ulver, the result is wrought with the sort of emotion and vision that places certain ambient releases above countless others in terms of timeless quality.  By no means is A Setting Sun the sort of easy listening, ethereal new age slop, many unfamiliar listeners associate with the genre.  Instead he chooses to stand among the badasses of ambient, crafting soundscapes that could score a film, or help you see hope and clarity in even some of the most complicated and hopeless of times.

A Setting Sun – Men and Women Seek Happiness (mix)

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I am fortunate to have collaborated with Jay on quite a few occasions, to create a visual side to accompany the music, and the message therein.  After his last release, a collaborative split EP with Shigeto called Table for Two, Jay asked me if I was interested in working with him on a series of album covers for a collection of four mixes he had planned to record and release over the course of a year.  We wanted to keep things simple, without being sparse, with a focus on color, and an absence of type, sort of a balance between a minimalist layout and a maximalist attention to color and texture.  The visual side of things I created is meant to evoke a feeling of abstract context, imagery which anyone can relate to.  It is astounding that it wasn’t much more than a year ago that these covers were completed, back in the end of 2008, it’s interesting to look at my work since then.  These covers are like a time capsule of some sort, which has only now been released as a whole, with the release of these forth and final mix, Men and Women Seek Happiness.  While the titles once again might have some folks scratching their head (like me, when I first heard about the series), they can rest assured, that there is meaning behind the titles, and it is explained in detail on Jay’s blog Sun Hammer Pounding, which you can read while you listen… Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

An Ambient Moodcast – Presented by Moodgadget – Hosted and Mixed by Alex / HeadUp

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As a big fan of ambient sounds, who overcame insomnia and stress with music, I have jumped on any opportunity Moodgadget has offered me to get involved with the label’s unique brand of ambient music, low levels.  I find ambient and low level music not only to be very conducive to my workflow, but also very harmonious with my aesthetic style.  Famed for its diverse (yet selective) catalog, which transcends the notion of “electronic music” as a genre, Moodgadget instead positions it as a means of production that manifests within many genres.  The unique ambient cross-section of the catalog known as low levels includes A Setting Sun, Kyle Bobby Dunn, Viul, with contributions from Casino Versus Japan, Praveen, Shigeto, Tstewart, Calmer, and many others.  Inspired by efforts like Kompakt’s annual Pop Ambient series, the sounds of low levels are often (but not always) more lo-fi, more textured, and sometimes more repetitive and gradual.  Those interested in hearing more, check out the compilation Expanse at Low Levels, or you can always check out An Ambient Moodcast, which is hosted here on Blog.H34 and on Percussion Lab.  Also, Thursday January 21st, there will be a special slightly more ambient installment of the Moodgadget Monthly at Coco66, with hosts A Setting Sun & Shigeto and special guest this month, Kyle Bobby Dunn.  I have seen KBD live at Coco66 before, the venue has amazing sound and space that gets comfortable and low-key for these types of performances.

Posted in Design and Moodgadget and Music Posted by Alex on Jan 12 2010

Tags: A Setting Sun, Ambient, Flower Garden of Doom, Low Levels, Men and Women, Moodgadget

I have been thinking recently about musicians of the decade, with features like the Ghostly 110 list, and countless best-of posts across music blogs, the conversation is definitely taking place.  Many musicians, producers, and bands have made indelible marks on music history, but from what I’ve seen, few have captivated more creatives (ie. designers, other musicians, or musical explorers at large) than J Dilla.  Myself included, I have delved deep into his catalog, and while listening to it, created my newest submission to Typcut, shown above.  Sort of a movie poster or book cover I wish I would find somewhere.

Slum Village – The Look of Love – Fantastic Vol 1 & 2

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This prolific producer rose to prominence from the Detroit underground with Slum Village in the mid- and late-nineties, and in the new century, he built a staggering catalog of productions both on a solo tip, and working with artists like Common, Madlib, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Black Thought and the Roots, and many, many more.  His influence has found its way into the music of favorites of mine, like Flying Lotus, Prefuse 73, Dabrye, Trus’me, Bibio, Bullion, Paul White, Mike Slott, Shigeto, Charles Trees, and countless others.

Common – Love – Beat CD ‘05 #1

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However, Dilla’s gifted life was, as it is in so many cases of genius, not without challenge– he fought the rare blood disease TTP, a battle that consumed him just as he was starting to really catch on in 2006.  Now, had this been just the story of some musician who was taken from the world too soon, it might have been a tragedy, but it would have passed in memory, and music would have continued to take its natural course.  But that isn’t what happened with James Yancey…at all.

DJ Wally West ft. Avei – One for Jay Dee (Don’t Cry Pt. 2) – YouTube (link)

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What makes J Dilla such a viable candidate for musician of the decade, in my mind, is just as much about his life as it is about his afterlife.  While he was alive, this man worked relentlessly, slowly building up a solid accumen, and pioneering a unique production style, a mainstream-independent musical aesthetic, that exploded in posthumous popularity over the last few years.  Musicians from across genres, from the obvious scenes like underground hip hop, to much less likely ones like deep house and tech house, even lo-fi and indie rock, have all paid homage to what Dilla was communicating.

J Dilla – Bye. – Donuts

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Even more importantly, so many new musicians and producers have made their efforts to pick up the torch, or at least still-burning splinters of it, and said production style is beginning to proliferate, fashioning itself into a genre of it’s own.  From mashups and remixes, to original productions, abstract hip hop is forming under the example Jay Dee has set, blurring hip hop, idm, dub music, and anything else that sounds funky.  Busta Rhymes, who befriended and worked with Dilla for many years, had difficulty finding words to describe “the zone” Yancey would get into with his beats, other than to say it felt like, “it was always right, and it could never be wrong.”

My Melody (Feat. Mf Doom) (DJ Nu Mark & Porno My Melody) – J Dilla Blends

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The reason Dilla belongs up on the top of the list is simple: no artist, alive or dead, has manifested the energy to contribute to music, and to the future of music, like he has.  While so many others have built their careers based on scenes, or precedents set by others, or worst of all, on what the mainstream wants, he had something unique in his mind, and he set about sharing it with the world.  And guess what?  It was still blazin’ hot, it was still popular, it kept Jay paid.  The myriad of material released since his passing has given form to the energy I’m referring to.  It illustrates and defines the same type of energy that allowed Dilla to rock mics on stage from a wheelchair, battling lupus and an uncurable blood disease.  He stared death in its empty eyes and prepared a musical haymaker that had a follow through to give form to Jay Dee’s spirit, allowing him to communicate with listeners even after his material form ceased to be.

Illa J – Alien Family (By Frank Nitty) – Yancey Boys

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It’s been speculated by many of those who knew James Dewitt Yancey, that young Dilla was actually an alien in disguise.  Wherever he is now, be it heaven, or outerspace, or wherever fans can feel the energy of his presence in music, he has reason to smile as wide and bright as he does above.  If you feel me, please, leave some love in the comments.  I also found this awesome tee shirt by Parra on Stones Throw, the label that re-released and helped popularize J Dilla, it says “Raise It Up For Ma Dukes,” and money from the shirts go to help Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey’s own personal battle with lupus, the same disease that claimed her son.  While she, along with Dilla’s idol Pete Rock released J$P this summer, Dilla’s younger brother John also made waves with his debut release, Yancey Boys as Illa J.

Posted in Design and Music Posted by Alex on Jan 05 2010

Tags: Alt Hip Hop, Design, Detroit, Hip-Hop, J Dilla, James Dewitt Yancey, Jay Dee, Stones Throw, Typcut

Spent a little time on Beatport upon returning from xmas in Mount Vision…unfortunately, I wasn’t really feeling the way the ambient set I attempted to record ended up, although the atmosphere while recording was as enthralling as the original mix.  I might patch it up and still release, along with the few photos I managed to grab.  What has really been coming together recently, is a new deep house set, and many of these tracks might find their way in.  Fresh deep house sets are a little tough to put together, they are like a puzzle, sometimes you need to wait for all the pieces to be released in order to fall into place.  The  exciting part is discovering how incredibly well some tracks go together.  Anyway, here are some of my picks this week.

Timmy Vegas, Leighton Ashcroft – In From The Cold (Stimming Remix)

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Stimming is absolutely killing it right now, his release of Gaensebluemchen EP earlier this month has me obsessed with the B-side, Melodica.  This new remix he did for Timmy Vegas & Leighton Ashcroft is completely nasty, but it doesn’t peak until more than half way through, so be patient.  Martin Stimming has demonstrated better control of the individual instruments within his beats, especially the kicks and in this remix, the snares, than the majority of other producers out there.  If I had a strongest finish of 2009 category in my Best of 2009 Music post, Stimming would have been the pick.

Bearweasel – Linoleum

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This deep thumper from Bearweasel came out on an awesome compilation from No.19 Music called I Live In London earlier this month.  I first caught wind of it on the Freerange podcast, and was instantly drawn to the crazy woosh of the stabs.  This male & female production duo from the UK have crafted a unique dubbed-out approach to deep house that pairs hazy resonance with intricate drum sequencing.  The result is undeniably catchy, I’m excited to see what comes next from these two.

FreezerRoom – Weapon of Choice (Atjazz Vocal)

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FreezerRoom is this wild Irish lounge band that came out with a very cool single called Weapon of Choice, sort of this upbeat, jazzy tune that you would find in the Chillout section.  Well, Irish deep house production duo Fish Go Deep, along with English producer Atjazz, contributed deep house remixes and dubs to the EP, released on a label called Go Deep.  I might be a little more receptive to vocals in house music than some, but the way Atjazz pairs the beautiful female vocals of the original track with a percolating beat and slightly epic strings, it’s just too much fun for me to pass up.

Flori – July’s Barley

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Ethyl & Flori recently released The Trimley EP on Freerange, but there’s a track by just Flori on there that I really liked.  The pea-soup-thick synth backing is really appealing, while the simple beat induces head nodding without throwing everything but the kitcken sink through your speakers.  Sort of plays on a classic deep house tip, I think fans of that sound will like this track, while those looking for something a little more maximal might not find enough to pay attention to.  Even still, I think this track is really enjoyable.

Posted in Music Posted by Alex on Dec 28 2009

Tags: Atjazz, Bearweasel, Deep House, Flori, Freerange, Go Deep, No.19, Stimming