Flying Lotus will continue his love affair with Los Angeles on the second EP in his L.A. trilogy. L.A. EP 2 X 3 consists of other folks’ remixes of tracks from Flying Lotus’ 2008 full-length Los Angeles. Warp will release the disc on November 24. Pre-order now on Warpmart.
Flying Lotus - Grapesicles (Samiyam Remix) Stream via Wuzz Magazine
Reefer is Nick Thorburn (Islands, The Unicorns, Human Highway) and Los Angeles-based hip-hop producer/engineer Daddy Kev (Busdriver, Freestyle Fellowship, Awol One). Mutual admirers of each other’s work, the two developed a close friendship over the years after being introduced by avant-rapper Giovanni Marks (Subtitle). The idea to create a record together was hatched at SXSW party a few years back where Nick and Kev decided they should take their disparate music backgrounds and create something in an environment much different than their normal lives in Montreal and Los Angeles, respectively. Quite possibly a drunken agreement — as Nick was ejected that evening from the venue for sneaking in booze — they still followed through on their brilliant idea and isolated themselves on the Hawaiian island of Maui to create their vision.
Thorburn has been no stranger to drawing inspiration from hip-hop, as evidenced in much of the work of Islands and especially in the post-Unicorns rap project Th’ Corn Gangg. Differing from MCs rhyming over the eclectic arrangements of Islands, Reefer is Nick crafting his darkly tinted pop over the foundation of Kev’s sweeping, smooth beats crafted from tropical samples with flourishes of steel guitar and ukelele.
Their self-titled mini album (previously entitled The Life Narcotic) contains six sun-dripped songs and three interludes, plus remixes from Dntel and Flying Lotus. The album was composed on the Maui coastline in Makena, and was finished soon after in Los Angeles at Daddy Kev’s studio, the Echo Chamber. Reefer is very much influenced by the beautiful tropical surroundings, the sounds of the ocean, and being far away from their regular daily routines. Not predictably sunny in tone, the minor-key arrangements and Thorburn’s playful wordplay conjures up images of something more sinister than cheeseburgers in paradise. Kev’s subtle, controlled production fits each songs mood nicely and draws from Hawaiian pop influences. Initially considered to be a one-off project, Reefer hopes to make another album when they meet again in a new exotic tropical location.
The Long Lost is a project by Alfred Darlington (Daedelus) and his wife Laura Darlington. At the end of this month their first official release, Woebegone, will be available through Ninja Tune on both 12? vinyl and mp3 download.
Here are a couple of remixes for you from a dear friend of The Long Lost - Monsieur Flying Lotus, no less. Both remixes are for the title track Woebegone. The first is Flying Lotus’ Luckiest Charm, giving the track his distinctive ethereal and slightly tribal edge to the track. Flying Lotus always manages to put a trippy tilt on his work without making it overbearing or all consuming - it’s understated, yet quite exquisite in a way.
The Long Lost - Woebegone (Flying Lotus’ Luckiest Charm)
The second remix of Woebegone is called Fly Lo’s Like Woe. This is slightly more uptempo and encompasses a bit more grit and wonky-wonderment, as witnessed (in awe) on the recent LP by Flying Lotus, Los Angeles. Although the effect is used sparingly, presumably so as not to stray too far from the original emphasis of Woebegone - it’s pretty fresh either way.
The Long Lost - Woebegone (Flying Lotus’ Like Woe)
Two mean pieces of work by the Lotus. You can listen to some of the original tracks at The Long Lost’s MySpace page, and also look out for that 12? and/or the mp3 download when they come out at the end of the month on Ninja Tune. Juslikemusic
September 13th Now On will release their highly anticipated sophomore full-length tentatively titled “Tomorrow Already”. With the Lab Technicians production team at the helm, Now On has pulled themselves up by their lyrical moon-bootstraps to pump out the innovative, post-futuristic soul that has entertainment industry skeptics throwing their hands in the air, screaming “Live for the Now, On to the Future! Check out the first of four music videos.
A dope mix by Haircut featuring music from Pacific Division, C.R.A.C., U-N-I, Shawn Jackson, Drake, TiRon, Travis McCoy, The Cool Kids, Theo and more. “The New West Movement” thanks to http://theexactly.net.
Brothers Like and Mibbs and longtime friend BeYoung better known as Pacific Division have put together a relatable sound, full of charisma, fun rhymes, and deep ones as well. Their latest blendtape “Role Players” should be out this summer in preparation for their Major Label (Universal) debut, The Grown Kid Syndrome.
The man behind the Pac Div beats is Swiff D. Checkout these vids from The Red Bull Beat Battle in LA. Swiff produced for none other than Snoop Dogg, Nas, Redman, Talib Kweli, Styles P, Anthony Hamilton, & Rick Ross. Swiff’s SWIFFstrumentals Vol.1 will be dropping a few weeks before Pac Div’s debut LP. We will keep you posted on that on MoovmntDotCom.
Swiff D - Summertime
Pac Div - Taste
Seriously good 4 track 12″ from Samiyam on the brilliant Hyperdub label…
Hyperdub’s first US signing, and first hip hop tempo release comes from Flying Lotus sidekick, straight out of LA, Samiyam. With colab releases with Flylo under the name FLYamSAM, a recent selfmade CD ‘Rap Beats’, and a stunning, recent remix for Pattie Blingh for Ramp Recordings, Samiyam is rising fast. All the tunes on the Return E.P. carry Samiyam’s signature synth sound, melancholy melodies, and off-kilter, post-Dilla funk that will make you bump, your brain tingle, while you are simultaneously crying your eyes out. This style is perfected on the track ‘Return’ which has been featured in many a Flylo mix from the last couple of years, and the ultra-lazy grooves of the 8-bit ‘Trick Platform’ which plugs in nicely to recent Hyperdub releases from Quarta 330, Ikonika, Zomby and Rustie. On the flip, ‘Moon Shoes’ and ‘Cheesecake Backslap’, the drums get turned up, and the quantize function thrown out the window. Loose, lop-sided but totally funktional, this release brings a bit of smoggy, toxic West Coast sunshine to stiff old, gloomy UK. Get it on Rushhour. And the lost Luckiest Charm Flylo track. Photo by Theo Jemison.
Samiyam - Moonshoes
Flying Lotus - Luckiest Charm
Armed with an Ensoniq ASR-88, a few records, and a computer, Trackademicks has begun to capture the attention of those who keep their ear to the beat, effectively articulating himself through sound to others. In a climate where producers and artists pride themselves on having a particular sound, he brings a tremendous amount of variety to the table. Hailing from Alameda, an island located off the coast of Oakland, CA, Trackademicks makes music driven by the same philosophy that made him; mix it up. Born to a Filipino father from the Bay Area and a Black mother from Richmond, VA, his cultural diversity inherently translates itself into the music. Like California Cuisine, he takes ingredients and influences from all over to add to our local tastes and create something appealing to everyone.
Taking cue from his parents modest record collection, Trackademicks musical influences have always spanned the musical spectrum. Long before hip-hop became his creative point of reference, artists ranging from Sergio Mendes, The Doors, Sade, Bob James, to Tears For Fears, Wham!, and Cherelle made their impact on this grade school band student. It wouldnt be long, though, before the independent spirit of the thriving mid-90s Bay Areas rap scene would take its hold on Trackademicks. This interest in hip-hop would quickly grow beyond the local scene. With all of these different influences present in his music, Trackademicks is one of many helping to change the soundscape of popular culture by changing the way culture is presented in music.
Whether he’s remixing artists across the international dateline or doing tracks for artists across the Bay Bridge, Trackademicks represents a progressive school of thought that is not held captive to preexisting musical boundaries. And in that school, Trackademicks is a star student. As member of the Honor Roll, an East Bay Area-based collective, he and his peers are building upon the foundation that was laid by artists such as the Neptunes, Andre 3000, and Kanye West, whove expanded the definition of what hip-hop can be on a mainstream level. In an industry where the streets are gridlocked with artists, Trackademicks has decided to take the freeway… and there seems to be no traffic at all.
Trackademicks - Topsidin’
Download Trackademicks The [RE] Mixtape Vol2
Buy the new PPP single “On a Cloud” with the Trackademicks Remix on it… Now!! And try to win the Remix contest!!
L.A.-based producer Nosaj Thing (Jason Chung) is a sound innovator. He’s a sweet kid with a sinister musical agenda. His electronic soundscapes and wild beat tectonics play like vignettes that affect the listener’s mind as deeply as he hits their soul. Without a doubt, Nosaj Thing is among L.A.’s finest musical modulators.
Jason’s early work came awkwardly but not at all haphazardly. At age 13, he took his first computer from his father, an archaic PC that struggled even with word documents. In the hands of Nosaj Thing, it became an Intel Celeron home studio. With a “donated” copy of Reason, a demo version of Ableton Live and a computer mouse (he couldn’t afford a MIDI controller), Nosaj Thing began making music. He built his first productions note for note on the electronic staff of his Frankenstein studio. When your focus is strong, all you really need is a machine that works.
In high school, Jason picked up a day job at a local music store, focusing his efforts on the arduous task of saving up for his first Mac. But Destiny had become fond of Nosaj Thing’s resolve. In a contest, Jason won a favored producer tool: his own honest copy of Logic Pro. Wild circumstances? Perhaps. But he’s still using it, winning beat battles, remix contests, gigging and DJing within his network of like-minded musical vigilantes. Now 22, Nosaj Thing creates nothing less than the sound mastery of beat driven, experimental electronics from a gifted noise constructor.
Nosaj Thing has received Artist-to-Watch accolades from XLR8R, remixed Daedelus and Elliot Lipp, won Plastic Little/Turntable Lab’s remix contest featuring MF Doom, and won L.A.’s prestigious Project Blowed beat battle. He has shared the stage with the likes of Sixtoo, Architecture in Helsinki, DJ Krush, Z-Trip, Free the Robots, Eliott Lipp, D-Styles, Edit, and Daedelus. He’s a staple and a crowd pleaser at L.A.’s underground hip-hop good time, Low End Theory. Comparisons run along with Ratatat, DJ Shadow, and Boards of Canada. A survey of his own record collection will turn up pieces from Aphex Twin, Stereolab, Radiohead, Daft Punk and Eric Satie. In so little time, he’s accomplished so much. With his first full-length in the works, be prepared to hear a lot more noise from Nosaj Thing. 1685 will be on the Stussy X Turntable Lab Beats Compilation (gaslamp killer, lukid, free the robots, flying lotus, strategy, climber)
Nosaj Thing - Coat of Arms
The Hawthorne Headhunters is a project made up of the individuals; Stoney Rock, Ced No and Proh Mic. The project was conceived in Ced’s Studio in that special place between Long Beach and Los Angeles - Hawthorne, California. The St. Louis natives Ced and Veto, and Seattle transplant, Proh Mic locked it down under the shine of Hollywood Park and created some sounds in the great traditions of musical heavyweight projects such as Funkadelic, Headhunters, Soulquarians, Native Tongues Posse and Bloomfield, Kooper, Stills’ Super Session. Crossing the lines between the Southern influenced tastes of the producer/singer/rapper Stoney Rock, keyboard and studio controller Ced No, fused with the next level northern bounce of rapper/producer Proh Mic, the HH’s is at the crossroads of funk, soul, jazz and hip hop from players already years deep into the game. Look for the album to drop later this year on the new HVW8 records imprint.
The Hawthorne Headhunters - She Wanna
Moovmnt shouts out to Sa-Ra, Kissey, A.Cain, &Dam Funk for this one..