Rockabilly is apparently the way forward according to Diplo and Drop The Lime. Recently Drop The Lime announced the formation of a new band: Bad Lupo Grande (that’s Big Bad Wolf to you).
The first single ‘Rockabilly Fever’ comes out on August 17th on of Scion. Not sure even with Luca’s backing if rockabilly will really take off but it’s an interesting effort at a time when everyone seems to be playing it pretty safe. Leave it to Drop The Lime to shake things up, keep things wild, and show off some well-versed creativity.
Click here to download the rockabilly mix Drop The Lime made for Dummy magazine.
Sub Philo boss Thrills has a new EP out called ‘Friday’ and it’s been storming the beatport charts recently.
Of the two original tracks on offer it’s the resonating thump of ‘Next Friday’ that impresses most, with retro junglist vibes melded to the punishing bass. Plenty to choose from on the remix front but rising London outfit Tomb Crew impress most.
News of the new Tron movie, or rather its soundtrack, has spilled all over the internet like a burst Um Bongo and as such mp3s are magically available for your aural pleasure. Sexy.
The soundtrack is being made by Daft Punk for those buggers at Disney for the sequel to the 1982 film where a guy gets kidnapped into a computer and has to do loads of challenges to get out and is helped by some trusty anti-virus software or something. Frankly I’m staggered it was ever made, but that was the 80s and they did things differently back then.
In fairness the music is amazing and these two tracks both feature prominently in the trailers. I can’t honestly say if I’ll actually go to see the film but I’m a big Daft Punk fan and I’m still enjoying the soundtrack.
Philadelphia’s very own Starkey has been featured on Mary Anne Hobbs’s new segment “Building The Beat”. Basically, she challenges producers to write and record a track completely from scratch using samples contributed by Radio 1 DJs, artists and listeners. Oh, and they have to do it all in just 2 hours during a live show recorded at BBC Maida Vaile.
Just when I was getting worried Enduser was the only one still making breakcore, so Jason “Bong-Ra” Kohnen knocks me on my arse with embarrassment.
Sitting at the more focused end of the breakcore spectrum, alongside End and Jason Forrest, Bong-Ra’s new EP is a breath of fresh air. The aptly-titled ‘Monster’ incorporates drum and bass, dub, breakcore and electro into a fast and heavy whirlwind of live instrumentation and programmed kicks and snares.
The first track ‘Behemoth’ does exactly what it says on the tin, smashing you square in the trousers with a straightforward ballbreaking wobbly bassline to break up all those loud, nasty snares. If you were a fan of his old productions you’ll enjoy this and you will take note of the step up in production quality. Not that his production was ever poor, but the sound seems cleaner and more focused.
The second track ‘Cyclops’ is a more considered affair, using a playful string section to add a sinister veneer, bringing to mind Venetian Snares’ masterpiece ‘Rossz Csillag Alatt Született’ and even Mr. Bungle. Once again, Bong-Ra demonstrates his ability to chop and change between styles with the minimum of fuss, whilst still retaining a unifying structure within his records.
Stand out tracks: Behemoth, Kraken, Cyclops
Title: Monster (ADN131) Artist: Bong-Ra Out now on Ad Noiseam
Hailing from Sheffield or “da steel city”, Toddla T finally delivers a new original track, featuring the hugely fun vocal talents of Jamaican legend Wayne Marshall. Though he’s been busy hosting his radio show, remixing, creating mixes and pretty much everything aside from recording he’s finally back.
Here’s the story of how the collaboration came about according to Toddla’s website:
“On a recent trip to Jamaica to collaborate with Major Lazer, Mr T found himself alone in the legendary Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston. Who should wander in but the one-and-only Wayne Marshall who asked Toddla to play him some riddims. As soon as he heard the beat which would become ‘Sky Surfing’ the rest was history!”
Though I’m not a fan of auto-tuned vocals, Mr. T keeps it tasteful and manages not to overuse the effect; a notion lost on a lot of today’s producers, particularly in the funky scene. Coupled with the wobbly bassline it actually works pretty well and earns itself a place in the tiny arena of “funky tunes I don’t hate”.
Stay tuned for the remixes which should be up and about in a month or so – the Douster mix is probably going to be the big one…
Head honcho of Generation Bass, Sonido Del Principe has been most people’s window to the world of cumbia, kuduro and pretty much all non-western music for the past couple of years. Their persistence in uncovering lost gems and relative unknowns has made the GB crew one of the more impressive bloggers.
So in light of that sycophancy, Sonido Del Principe has kindly contributed a mix of his favourite beats and pieces. Drawing together elements of cumbia, baile funk, kuduro, hip hop, bassline, dancehall and grime; this upsettingly good mix features everything from 2Pac to Neil Landstrumm.
This wasn’t going to be the next episode of the series but with summer’s being what they are I just had to post it before the sun went away and all the pretty ladies starting wearing their thick duffel coats again. That, I will not stand for.
So tuck in, head over to the Generation Bass blog and show them some of that special lovin’ us bloggers love.
01. Le Freak Selector – Get Hi Cumbia (SDP Refixx) 02. La Verdolaga (SDP Refixx) 03. Sonora – Ciclone (DJ Melo vs. SDP Remix) 04. Sonidero Nacional – Eresparami (SDP Refixx) 05. Orion & DJ Dusty– Mal Creada 06. Negra Navidad – SDP Refixx 07. Lewis Can Cut vs. SDP – CanCumbia 08. O.B. – Steal Ma Flow (SDP Remix) 09. Neil Landstrumm vs. SDP – Por Todos Las Chicas 10. The Peronists – La Haitiana (SDP Remix) 11. Stephan Bodzin – Bremen Ost (SDP Remix) 12. Moodymann vs. SDP – Detroit Riot Cumbia 13. Daniel Peixoto feat. Carol Texeira – Flei (SDP Remix) 14. Tupac Shakur vs. SDP – Dear Mama 15. Sonidero Nacional vs. Jay-Z vs. SDP – Roc Boyz Cumbia
Having recently completed his staggering ‘Year Of Mixtapes’ project, Chrissy Murderbot has begun a new album and is working hard on remixes as part of a contest which could see him playing the legendary Lollapalooza festival!
So why don’t you do him a favour and pay him back for all those joyfully nerdy hours you’ve pissed away pouring over his blog and vote for his remix of Tiga‘s ‘What You Need’? If you don’t I will hunt you down; don’t think this needlessly aggressive tone is in anyway ironic, by the way. Oh, and you can vote for him every day between now and he 20th. See that you do.
To read an interview The Guardian – yes, The Guardian – conducted with Chrissy, go here.
Rockabilly is apparently the way forward according to Diplo and Drop The Lime. Recently Drop The Lime announced the formation of a new band: Bad Lupo Grande (that’s Big Bad Wolf to you).
