Pedestrian & Jasperdrum - Origins

Lil- Jabba - SKKiMM RiDDiM

Rival Consoles - Recovery

Tapes - Where Is The Time

Test Pressing Editions 001

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Bruce - Just Getting Started/ Tilikum (Livity Sound)

Clap! Clap! - Conqueror ( action / assault / conquest ) - (Black Acre)

raudive - furniture

Andrea Parker

Dark Sky - imagin

Funkineven Feat Jay Daniel - Abyss

Al Dobson Jr. 'Kirton Street (Ruffy's 3AM Canavan's Special)' (Rhythm S...

Wow. You know when someone takes something that it is difficult to improve and does just that. Case in point.

Ptaki and Ruf Dug remixes of Al Dobson from the back end of summer!

Rhythm Section is on this Saturday with Beautiful Swimmers!

Shanti Celeste - RA Podcast

Been a bit quiet lately- got a new job, one where I'm allowed to listen to music during the day! Shanti Celeste's RA podcast has been doing the job for me so far, wanted to highlight a couple of tunes.

Firstly this jacking, D'angelo sampling, tune from Jitterbug released on Berlin's UZURI.

But also this diamond-of-a-closer, the Axel Boman remix of Ata Kak's Bayaya off the second African Shakedown compilation. Just checked noema's website and it looks like a new compilation 'Brazilian Shakedown' is on the way - cant wait for that- preview a track here.

Of course get a listen to the Shanti Celeste RA mix here.

 

Axel remix from 5:40

Planetary Assault Systems - GT (James Ruskin Remix)

Malinga Five - Malinga (Diesel & Jarvis Edit)

Can Soundcloud take back the power?

Streaming service Soundcloud has today announced their decision to adopt a Spotify-esque advertisement program. After 7 years of run time the company is yet to turn a profit and accounts returned in Britain indicate they were subject to $20 million net losses this accounting year.

The opprobrium has already been fierce, and the decision styled as the death knell for its reputation for accessibility, which some would argue has made Soundcloud so popular. For me there is just one initial thought:

Can Soundcloud place itself back in a position of power? 

All sources suggest it is the power of the major labels which has forced the company’s hand into this decision. The heavyweight players have become disgruntled with the amount of attention their content is attracting to the service, for which they are seeing no return.  But this seems a bit rich. Soundcloud was always conceived as a service for the promotion of new music, not a service for streaming established artists. After all the labels have the ‘choice’ whether to upload their material.  

The key change here has come with the whole shift of the ‘streaming’ eco-system. Whereas before a stream of a track might have been seen as an act of ‘promotion,’ in the hope that the proliferation of the track on the internet would lead to physical and digital sales, the goalposts have completely changed and thanks to the surge in popularity of pay-per-play streaming services elsewhere the ‘stream’ itself is actually the valuable product!

The current Soundcloud business model is still anchored in the era of the ‘stream as promotion’ and is only really effective when the balance of power is in Soundcloud's favour. Emerging and middle-tier artists and labels were/are happy to use the service and see no return in exchange for the increase in profile and popularity that usually accompanies uploading a track.

On the basis of it then surely Soundcloud still has the power? The major labels are still choosing to upload their material onto the site which suggests they value the massive user network Soundcloud has developed otherwise why would they bother - there are plenty of other streaming services? Is Soundcloud having its business model dictated to it then (couched in terms of threats concerning copyright and mixes etc.), or does the company itself recognise the necessity of having major labels, and the massive traffic and advertising revenue they bring, on side. It seems a conspiring mix of both.

One thing is for sure this is massive news and a departure point into a completely new business model with consequences that are difficult to predict for the service.

Is there any other option? By definitively tightening up their copyright protection and making a stand against the big money of course. By banning mixes – surely these can be relinquished to Mixcloud with its already established royalty system, and getting on top of any other violating content (this is a topic for another article altogether) Soundcloud could put itself back in a squeaky clean position of power. Soundcloud’s main asset is its massive user base and attention-seeking brand which major labels would have to chose to either take advantage of or miss out on if they no longer had leverage. The fact that Soundcloud hasn’t gone this way  is telling and probably highlights the amount of revenue brought in by the labels in question.

In reality the ad based system, although probably an extremely annoying hindrance, will at least pacify the majors and see a bargain struck which will secure Soundcloud as the natural home for that esoteric Chaka Khan footwork mix which could do with a few more ears. But is it even worth it being there if you have to listen to an advert for toothpaste to reach it!?

Jack J - Take it to the Edge

Abstract Truth - Get Another Plan (Trumpet Jam)

Martin Iveson - Too Many

Less than 10 is a refreshing new label venture from Atjazz's Martin Iveson rooted in a nostalgia for early production methodology. When samplers and sequencers were the weapon of choice, processing power was more often the creative barrier composers came up against. The new series, already with contributions from big-hitters such as Osunlade, goes to prove that sometimes less is indeed more - what is more satisfying than the meticulously perfected rhythms on this garage bubbler below? As they summarise;

'Writing and producing dance music in “Less Than Ten” running processes? Indeed this sounds a little out of the norm especially for today’s DAW abilities. But where have the ideas gone?… Well, Martin Iveson also know as Atjazz has been tinkering with this idea for some time as he genuinely misses writing and producing music with limitations.

His first album “That Something” released back in1998 was written on Cubase using an Akai S3000xl sampler with 2MB of ram, 2 effects units, a Fender Rhodes and a Korg O1W, then mixed on a 12 channel mixer straight to DAT. The running processes varied in numbers but were low and these memories are the one thing that really still gets him excited today, “The energy and ideas were the strengths and not having limitless option of sound was key to strong character-full music” states Martin. “It was how much energy, hard work and feeling went into making those productions that made them memorable”'

Gunnar Haslam - Discouraged

Cosmic tribal business on Mister Saturday Night. This one didn't pick up too much attention when it dropped in June.

King Errisson - Back From The Dead

I was watching the classic James Bond movie 'Thunderball' today when I noticed that the congo player in the Kiss Kiss nightclub scene is actually none other than the legendary King Errisson! When I say legendary, not only has this guy been described as 'the unsung hero of Motown' but he also played the skins on the Incredible Bongo Band's cut 'Apache' which became a cornerstone of Hip Hop. I originally got turned onto his music via this tune below from a 'Joe' mix, its ridiculous!

Syclops - Blink of An Eye (2013)

Motor City Drum Ensemble dropped 'Jump Bugs' by Syclops off his seminal album 'A Blink Of An Eye' during his set for Boiler Room at Dekmantal Festival on Sunday. It tore the place apart and I had to take the time to revisit the album. Scylops is a Maurice Fulton alias and the album epitomises the classic Fultonion infusion of raw analog-electronic drum and synth sounds layered against natural, organic percussive hits. Tracks range from the dance floor focused such as 'Unmatched' below, to the avantgarde jazz fusion piano madness of tunes like 'Raj and Claire.'



Definitely worth a re-visit!

Mu - Let's Get Sick

Opening highlight from Objekt's Freerotation 2014 set!

Monty Luke-Through the Galaxies (Original Mix)

Tune off the 4th Black catalogue release straight out of Detroit!

Randomer - Huh

Serious highlight of the trans-Atlantic connection which is Randomer's L.I.E.S. EP

Shackleton - Vor Und Zuruck

Sandman & Riverside - Into Your Story (feat. Jeremy Ellis) (Kai Alce Dis...

General Ludd - Brothers and Sisters

Red Axes - Candela Viva

Sculpture - Polymorphic Operator

Mikos Da Gawd feat. Tele-Freso - Japanese Bucket Hat (2014)

Burlish - LMcDIAT (Modern Urban Jazz 2013)

Children of Planet Earth - Fly Away (Roy's Chi Town Dub)

Al Dobson Jr. - RYE LANE Vol. 1 (Rhythm Section International)

‘…it’s getting played by all the right DJ’s.’

Starting a label – it’s all about that first release. Bradley Zero has added a record label to the flowering Rhythm Section party/radio brand and it seems no one expected anything less than special from the inaugural cut.

The forthcoming material from Al Dobson Jr certainly doesn't disappoint and as Bradley says himself: ‘…it’s getting played by all the right DJ’s.’ That’s surely an understatement given the tunes have had support by Giles Peterson- but it wouldn't be the first time the godfather has had his eye on Rye Lane’s finest he’s already been welcome guest to the Brownswood basement.

Crisp tribal drum textures, tightly packed rhythms and washy Rhodes pads seem to be Dobson’s hallmarks and we await news of the release with anticipation.

Check out ‘Cameroun Central’ in the latest Giles show and the latest Rhythm Section NTS.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03zxqqq

And an enticing preview of 'Muscavado Sounds' on Zero's soundcloud.

Also worth checking the man's previous release on 22A!

Claro Intelecto - Peace Of Mind

What this blog was built for.

Frank Ski - Tony's Bitch Track (K.O.'s Ultimate Bitch Mix)

Ynfynyt Scroll - Envidia

Amnesia Scanner

Amnesia Scanner. A lot to be interested in here. Forward thinking trap-indebted tunes, an intensely cerebral website and community 'meet ups.'

With a tune featured in Evian Christs recent RA mix, and productions for Mykki Blanco under his belt definitely a corner of the music web to keep an eye on.

Check out more here.

Dauwd - Lydia

Phlash - 1471

Hits the spot.

Un-tracklisted highlight of Jay Daniel's mix for Hyponik which is also a must listen.

Kai Alce- The 48

Mix: Force Placement - Unrequited Mix

Wanted to throw a few words together about this mix which ended up on my phone by complete chance, but has managed to stand its ground in my listening schedule long after it was first uploaded a month ago. 

I don't know much about it's author Force Placement other than they hail from Santa Barbara, stateside and they was formerly known as JMES - not much to go on!

If he carries on putting out such healthily balanced and textured mixes I am positive you will be hearing the name more in the future.

The first point of interest is the consistent and often brave focus on texture, the author is a DJ not afraid of throwing more subdued and emotive electrical soundscapes into the mix, and with great effect. Tunes like Jus Ed's Maryland Jam are weaved alongside more conventional 'trax' with a skill that leaves you pining to have them wash over you at 5am in a club. 

But it is the tune selection which makes this mix watertight- its all there. Stone cold mega classics such as Paul Hardcastle's Rain Forest and forward-looking Detroit cuts off NDATL(Norm Talley's Beats on Broadway) all put in appearances. However, it is the 'no mans land' between classics and contemporary where this mix excels, scouring the scorched battlefield that time left behind and picking out the tunes that continue to hold their own but never really had a chance to swing the sword. There is nothing sweeter than a record from 2009 with a handful of views on youtube that bangs hard and there are more than a couple in this mix. Here's one to get you started (hint: there's another below):

Move D - Aspiration (2010)

Criminally overlooked builder from 2010

Songdrop

Been really excited lately by an iPhone app I’ve recently discovered and put to good use. Songdrop has the potential to reshape the online musical terrain and enhance both listening and purchasing habits.

Songdrop exists as a platform for organising stream-able music content from sites such as YouTube and Soundcloud. The music from these different websites, usually strewn across separate corners of the web, can be consolidated under one system allowing users to interact with them like any conventional collection of ‘tracks.’

Music can be added to the collection either by searching directly for it on the phone, or via a browser extension which syncs tracks straight from a web page into the Songdrop library.

Nowadays finding a track which doesn't exist in some kind of stream-able form is becoming increasingly rare, but there are plenty of tracks which though you can find on YouTube, getting your hands on a quality copy takes some graft. Whether we are talking dusty old vinyl that even discogs isn't bearing fruits on or simply the latest vinyl only (or even digital for that matter) release that you simply don’t have the money for at the moment but wish were a part of your life. Indeed sourcing music takes more time than anyone ever anticipates so for this problem I devised the ‘Need’ playlist.

Any tunes which I know I want but I can’t get immediately for any reason get thrown in this playlist. Not only have I got a record of what I want, but I can revisit the tunes and enjoy them wherever. Ever written tune names down and gone back to a list a week later and had to listen to everything again anyway – this way its immediately available to remind you. Listening to a mix and I hear a tune I really need? Scour the track list, source the tune online and get it in the ‘Need’ playlist. When I get some spare time I revisit this list and go on a downloading/purchasing spree.

In the same spirit if a label uploads the promos of a forthcoming release to soundcloud which is an unavoidable purchase I sling them in my ‘Forthcoming’ playlist which I can then review periodically to check I've not forgotten about any gems that have been released.

  

Songdrop provides a fluid and accessible way to both keep track of music I really want to get my hands on but also lets me enjoy it while I’m out and about while I wait, often intensifying the desire to get hold of the track in the process.

The app’s functionality even extends to a social element where other users can share tracks with you. The most interesting feature however charts which tracks are being ‘dropped’ most often and hints that there has never been greater potential for the disparate ways in which people listen to music in the internet age to be integrated into one environment, the pulse of which can be taken. Songdrop looks set to formalise and facilitate for mobile users what is a reality of the internet: that ‘tracks’ as we understand them exist outside the boundaries of media players and dedicated streaming software; they run free on the internet. 

Check it out:

https://songdrop.com/

@songdrop