The new EP from bayamo. "Slow is Fast" intoxicates with it’s mellow vibes and technical prowess

Experience rich soundscapes and lofi beats in a west coast style

bayamo. is a LA-based producer and multi-instrumentalist. He is a self-taught, and talented performer, cited by great artists such as Thundercat, dimlite and Makaya McCraven.

His debut EP "Slow is Fast" has just been released on German label Jakarta Records. He’s incorporated a variety of musical genres such as breakbeats, jazz, funk, hip hop and electronica to create a rich, mellow sound, the result of hours spent honing in the studio. 

bayamo. slow is fast Jakarta Records

It's a contradictory title, "Slow is Fast," but his organic sound is a chilled out mood that you'll feel in no time. From the opening "First Light", you’ll be drawn into an enthusiastic groove that feels the influence of jazz. Also, the remarkable track "Tailwind" starts with a funky breakbeat followed up with smooth guitar licks. “The Morning on Laurel Canyon”, which has a soft mellow vibe like waking from a good night's sleep, pays homage to Laurel Canyon, the sacred site of West Coast rock created in the 1960s and 1970s. Impressive with the glittering synthesizer sound, "Honey" has a beautiful floating melody, reminiscent of the carefree feeling of young lovers falling for the first time. The emotional sound of the gorgeous "detach" that concludes the end seems to fall deeply into a sweet dream that cannot be escaped. This work, which contains these eight tracks, expands into its own universe when you close your eyes.

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Premiere: Stimulator Jones illuminates jazz rich beats, with fresh soul

Drawing closer to next year’s release, Jones grants us a new taste of what’s to come

The work of Stimulator Jones (aka Samuel Jones) might have found its way to you through his previous label, the esteemed Stones Throw Records. Look forward to the cutting edge of this constantly evolving artist’s discography however, and you’ll find a fresh connection with Nordic label Mutual Intentions, and the promise of an upcoming sophomore LP.

Jones’s style always arrives smooth and polished, but quite how it’s delivered and where it’s sourced from are aspects far less easy to predict. Tracks have been centered around energy from the hip hop scene, then at other times turned to genres such as blues, or R&B. What tends to remain in play within the artist’s process is a soulful, genuine funk groove.

It’s true to say that vibe is present in the tracks released as a precursor to Stimulator Jones’s next LP, titled ‘La Mano’ and set for release in January 2021. How that feeling is encouraged to grow by Jones calls for a more detailed assessment however. It’s best to listen for yourself but the determination to keep production organic, handmade and personal in ‘La Mano’ shines through.

Today we’re introducing the next track to feature on the LP: ‘Drama Time’. Dynamic percussion and rich basslines take hold.

Support the new album on Bandcamp or stream it on Spotify

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With polished single ‘Tangerine Sour’, Emancipator and 9 Theory introduce new work

The two exceptional artists return and rekindle their collaborative fire, producing masterful EP 'A Thousand Clouds'

‘Tangerine Sour’ is a track produced by the flourishing artistic relationship between 9 Theory and Emancipator, producers who each cultivate their own vibrant discographies but share a deep love of music and experimentation.

Amongst other explorations into sound, 9 Theory has claimed ground in instrumental beat making. His sound is fed by a diverse range of inspirations, touching on trip hop, indie, piano and raw talent.

9 Theory’s collaborator in this project, Emancipator, is a standout artist in the electronica community. The Virginia native has been proactive in carving out his own path, while inspiring others to involve themselves in the electronic community, his label Loci Records operating as a platform for artists new and upcoming to the scene.

Together the pair has produced music both technically impressive and unmistakably beautiful. Smooth downtempo and ambient tones have featured in their work, as well as ventures into instrumental beats which strike a perfect balance of organic and edited samples.

Emancipator and 9 Theory are on the point of releasing 'A Thousand Clouds', a fresh EP which follows their previous collection ‘Cheeba Gold’. ‘Tangerine Sour’ leads the upcoming EP, and reintroduces us to the irresistible, effortless world the duo succeeds in bringing to life.

Stream the track on Spotify and pre-order the EP on Bandcamp

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Classical strings merge with deep beats: Paul Grant’s ‘Waves'

Paul Grant - Wavesorcd.co/paulgrantPre-order the forthcoming album 'Waves' now:https://paulgrant.bandcamp.com/album/...Follow Paul:https://instagram.com/_paulgr...

Multi-instrumentalist Paul Grant mixes moods of hip hop, jazz and 90’s RnB into a rich blend, stirred up by his talents as a session guitarist to form groove heavy tracks.

Grant himself is based in LA, but his work in electronic music has allowed him to establish international links through collaboration with artists such as Kiefer, Braxton Cook, and Adrienne Indigo.

When taking a more electronica orientated approach to music, Grant creates deep toned and melodic sound which catches the attention of those invested in the genres of chill-hop and jazz-hop, in addition to those simply looking for comfortable beats to settle into.

With support from London independent label DeepMatter Records, Grant has gradually been releasing ‘Waves’, his third solo album. Four of the fifteen tracks are now public, and mark a return to the artist’s instrumental roots. Clear influence from the jazz scene meets heavy beats as the releases take on a more focused direction.

Our featured track is named for the album, and includes work from classically trained harpist Amy Ahn. Melodies drawn out by Ahn flow into a hazy ambience, honey sweet and almost hypnotic in its laidback but deeply rhythmic progression.

Support the album on Bandcamp or stream it on Spotify

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Weightless Synthwave as CLAYRANGE makes his debut

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CLAYRANGE makes an assertive entrance, leading a series of singles with the mellow toned ‘Voyager’

The artist who now goes by the name of CLAYRANGE made his first impact back in 2004, with tracks from his debut EP later being selected as part of a collection for Café Del Mar Music, alongside other downtempo, ambient inclusions.

Still actively producing from his local area of Tokyo, July 2020 saw the birth of a new project and the adoption of the CLAYRANGE alias. The first few tracks have been appearing with rapid succession, music which draws from cosmic synthwave and instrumental hip hop.

The track which CLAYRANGE announced himself with was ‘Voyager’, an ambient mix of twinkling starlight and a heavily softened vocal chorus. Electronica which turns its view to cosmic landscapes can often create a feeling of powerlessness, using broad waves of synth to create contrast between the listener and the open expanse of sound confronting them. With a less overbearing attitude, Voyager encourages mellow relaxation as we drift past vocal harmonies and distant melodies, taking a few moments to float in an atmosphere of peaceful wonder.

Further singles are steadily being added to CLAYRANGE’s discography, taking on influence from areas such as house and hip hop. As the number of tracks increases, CLAYRANGE’s universe is set to expand along with them.

Support the single on Bandcamp or stream it on Spotify

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Explore deeper into the cosmos- with our electronic playlist!

A return to the hazy beats of Nickelman

Yuki Kitano hails from Osaka Japan, where the skateboarding culture helped lead him to the genre of hip-hop and to his first experimentations with the MPC2000XL drum machine. Now creating beat tape and lo-fi sound as Nickelman, Kitano has picked up more than 15 years of experience as an electric artist and remains on track and on task.

Instrumental beats tend to be where Nickelman carves out his place, filling his extensive discography up with tracks which contain both cool vibes and a warm heart. While each release takes on a slightly different style, the mellow mood is consistent throughout, and although many of the artist’s tracks are instrumental, those incorporating vocals and found sound do so with careful consideration, making sure they complement the daydream synth and bring character to the song.

Coming up on the horizon as a follow up to 2019’s ‘Elements’ LP is a 12 track release set for August, titled ‘Butterwax’. It’s from this LP that our featured track ‘Fly’ is taken, an early introduction to the next major collection of beats. It’s what Nickelman does best, thick with soft beats and light with low tempo melodies, finished by vocals to furnish the sound with a touch of humanity.

Pre-order the album on cassette, vinyl or digital on Bandcamp or stream the single on Spotify

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Gathering spirits for samples, Hanses releases ‘Tapete’

Hanses is one of the hip-hop artists out there characterised by their constant scavenging for unique and inspiring samples, uncovering soundbites and cultivating the energy within them to create a soul which the rest of the track can grow around.

From a top-down view Hanses is notable for establishing the label Fennek Records with fellow beat producer ‘Shaga’. Founded in early 2019 and based in Mannheim, Germany, this slowly expanding label represents the drive for online community and cooperation within the electronic scene.

The discography presented by Hanses is largely represented by one off singles which orbit around ‘Poltergeist’; a solid 24 track compilation with a central Japanese theme. The 2019 LP uses found sound from old interviews and TV shows, meaning that the atmosphere that Hanses raises up is decidedly lo-fi, bringing back to life that static second hand nostalgia of times and places already in the past. There’s a little Japanese city pop here, a smooth sound softened by the drop in fidelity to blend into a nu-jazz flavour.

‘Tapete’ (wallpaper) is the latest track from Hanses, instrumental hip-hop that incorporates light percussion and muted electro-acoustic. It’s non-conformative, expressive, and music that rolls in like a breeze.

Stream it on Spotify

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Red The Chef does lofi a little different on 'Is This It?'

It would be easy to throw Connecticut producer Red The Chef’s latest EP into the catch-all “lo-fi hip hop beats to chill/study to” bin, because it certainly fits the aesthetic. But that listening environment, of filling the background with something to keep your mind on anything but the music itself, tends to mute subtleties and flatten differentiation. Yes, the beats on this EP, titled ‘Is This It?’, have the same warm, vintage processing that has come to define the genre, and yes the melodic samples are fuzzy and pitched around in the same way, but there are also elements that are squarely Red’s. Most notably, his tendency to drench every element in dreamy reverb creates a unique space for the tracks to sit in, as well as the presence of detuned acoustic instruments that float in and out of each track. The effect is something like listening to music blasted distantly in the park on a warm summer day, instilling a feeling of limitless boundaries, inspiring those nights of aimless exploration. It’s liberating to move about without knowing where you’re going, and this EP might just be the perfect soundtrack to make it happen.

Stream the title track ‘Is This It?’ above, and hop over to Spotify to hear the full EP.

— review by autonomy

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Sample, soul, sincerity in Anthony Bailey's 'Don't want you to go'.

Don't Want You to Go, a song by Anthony Bailey on Spotify

We covered a release from Anthony for his ‘Maelstrom of Thoughts’ Ep back in February when we talked about higher values within a hip-hop collective and how Bailey distanced himself from the lime-light instead always putting his peers front and centre stage. Not much has changed in that regard where you will still find blank bio’s on all of his socials and music platforms which is extremely refreshing. Remember the days when there was such a thing as mystery/privacy! When all you got was a few random interviews and some accompanying stills. In an age where all abstruseness can be banished with one click it’s gratifying to see an artist still holding it down and applying a rare, ethical code to his craft. 

Speaking of craft ‘Don’t want you to go’ is a track built entirely around a vocal hook that is unapologetically omnipresent throughout, showing a reverence for sample flare and technique. What this creates is something nostalgic, warm and sincere while being celebratory about the trade of hip-hop. Perfect summer, lo-fi listening. 

Catch more from Anthony here: Apple Music, Spotify, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram

Moshuss and Hanses take inspiration from Japanese pop culture for their beat album 'Poltergeist'

If there was ever any doubt that music styles in our current age are a global phenomenon, let Moshuss & Hanses put that to rest. The German duo’s debut release, ‘Poltergeist’, is classic American west coast beat scene, but produced entirely with Japanese samples. As is common with the style, Poltergeist is composed of 24 rapid-fire beats, none longer than 1:49. But there’s a wide variety of moods and feelings presented here, giving the release weight and texture that pull you in at the start of every new beat. There’s some Dilla-style sampling, some Q-Tip jazziness, classic Madlib texture, and a bit of Knxwledge whimsy to boot.

On the stand-out track ‘Sidmidak’, which you can stream above, Moshuss & Hanses deftly meld a heart-tugging orchestral arrangement with a classic rap beat that dances around the lush string harmonies. Label Fennek Records has pressed a small run of 10” vinyl, with 5 different woodcut-style illustration album covers, which match the timeless mood of the album well.

Slink on over to Bandcamp to hear the album in full, and pick up the vinyl release if you’re really feeling it.

— review by Autonomy

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