Nonwrestler Blog

Weekly mp3 #63: Moon Unit - Connections (Ewan Pearson Slo NRG Dub)

Again, get it from Spinner.

Swung, appropriately "slo" tech track. Rolling toms, a softly squelching sawtooth bassline, huge pulsing chords that remind me of contemporary Kraftwerk. As with most Ewan Pearson tracks, it's as slowly developing as a tech-house number requires, but is certainly far from a bunch of loops. Lots of nice little dynamics - breakdowns, build ups, sudden stabs to punctuate the mix - and then about 5 minutes in we head off into a new section. The bassline gets tighter, more insistent, and a great riff comes in on top. Nice shift in tone. The Kraftwerky chords come back, but it certainly feels like we're in new territory.

I can't remember when it became OK to have harmonic and melodic progression again in the austere world of techno, but I, for one, welcome our new contrapuntal overlords.

I don't know the original and it appears to be Moon Unit's one and only single, but a bit of snooping on Discogs.com suggests they're the German duo Mogg and Naudascher. Not that I know their music, anyway! This is another case of grabbing the tune because of the remixer. Ewan Pearson is a British producer, who I'd say is most well known for his remixes. I was really into the mixes of Kelley Pollar he did with Al Usher, thoroughly recommend them. He does the mix on one of the stand-out tracks on the latest Junior Boys album. Never checked out his album (EP?) 'Piecework', but guess I should. Anyone heard it?

Labels: music, weekly mp3

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Weekly mp3 #62: Rumpistol - Plutonium2

This is on 5 Little Treasures From The North. The EP is a collection of tracks from artists on Danish label Rump Recordings hosted by German net label Yuki Yaki.

Soft electric piano chords are mirrored by reversed guitar. Lots of crackle and fizz in the high end makes it feel like a radio slightly off station (in the best way). To add a bit of edge to the ultra-mellow, some overblown sax creaks and squawks on top of the mix. Everything falls away and comes back with all manner of bright and buzzing synth textures and we're done in under 3 minutes. It's rool noice.

Rest of the comp is worth a go, especially Acustic (member of System / People Press Play / Future 3).

Rumpistol is a solo act from Copenhagen. I guess he runs Rump Recordings, since he's released all his albums through them and due to the name similarity, etc.

Labels: music, weekly mp3

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Great R&B mix from So Bones

Really enjoying this little mix by Robin from the blogs So Bones / 20 Jazz Funk Greats.

"I’ve always had a mutual appreciation for pop music and experimental sounds and for me r&b/hip hop often encapsulate both of those things with incredible potency. [....] I’m very unapologetic about the fact that there’s room in my heart for Neu and Britney Spears both."

I relate.

I'll admit it's also great because it's short. Guess that's how pop functions, but also that volume wars business... the tracks are all SO LOUD.

Labels: music

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Weekly mp3 #61: Pariah - Detroit Falls

Another download from RCRDLBL .

Big male soul vocal gets abruptly chopped and diced over downtempo, clap-laden beats. Massive stabs. Lots of chopping and changing between the sliced vox and spacious breaks. Should appeal to anyone who enjoyed that Hudson Mohawke track or El Guincho remixing Kuroma, also either of the two (?) fans of J Dilla reading this. ;)

Pariah are a UK trio that have been going since '97, but I have to admit this is the first I've heard from them. They must've been drum'n'bass, judging from their discogs page . Turning down a deal on LTJ Bukem's label cos you're too busy seems a bit craaaaazy.

Labels: music, weekly mp3

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Weekly mp3 #60: Dudley Perkins - Funky Dudley

Been a while since I linked to a tune on Better Propaganda.

A mid-tempo sorta funk, sorta hip-hop track. There's a fairly slow, thudding beat with some heavy sub bass, a swung clavinet lick and some snippets of horns jutting out from time to time. Quiet, tinny soul vocal samples layer up from time to time for texture. Dudley's basically channelling George Clinton all over the track, half-rapping half-singing about the history of funk in his life. "How'd you get so funky, Dudley?" he apparently asks ... himself in the refrain. :)

I think Dudley Perkins is from the West Coast of the US, but not sure where exactly. I first heard him rapping as Declaime over some Madlib beats (as he is again here), Madlib being a thoroughly overrated and often very boring American hip-hop producer. Still, this is a good beat. Likewise, Declaime is quite an awful MC, but under his own name Perkins has done some good tracks...

Labels: music, weekly mp3

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