Just as various elements continually mix throughout our solar system, London electronic jazz duo ‘Voyager II’ coalesce different sounds and styles into their own unique musical blend. With Eamon Foreman on Guitar and Sergiu Fanica on Drums, the duo take an organic and uncluttered approach to spacey electronica with hints of their jazz roots shining though.
’Falling’ harnesses the spontaneous energy of the duo featuring live takes of both drums and guitar to give the track a kind of natural and unedited energy. With a dynamic and smooth mixdown courtesy of Marcin Cichy, the track really breathes with a kind of coherence while just the right amount of drum saturation keeps the syncopated rhythms up front. It’s the kind of track that achieves that rare balance of technical and musical prowess and reminds us that perhaps it doesn’t take a spaceship to experience moments of weightlessness.
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London's Sleepless finds his Flow state
Enigmatic Jazzy beat producer ‘Sleepless’ swings through the blog once again following up last years release of his album Serene.
And it’s no wonder he keeps popping up on countless blogs, channels and playlists; his sound, aesthetic and consistency in crafting infectious jazzy hip-hop is second to none.
His recent single ‘Flow State’ showcases his own unique take on the genre- forgoing sampling and chopping techniques for a dynamic take of entirely live instrumentation. ‘Flow State’ succinctly expresses that creative headspace that all artists aim to achieve, where logic and rationality give way to instinct and spontaneity. It’s one of those tracks that sounds almost as if it could have written itself, bringing with it an organic groove and natural connectedness of each musical element. But somewhere in between those smooth horns and cascading keys we know there’s a music producer steadily carving out his own air of effortlessness.
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Strolling in street snapshots with KiLLOWEN'S 'Solar'.
There’s no denying that 19 year old London producer and vocalist KiLLOWEN has a certain amount of gravitas to him. Starting a track with a raw vocal with just some reverb is a powerful way to introduce you to his world, it stops you in your tracks and forces you to pay attention. Keeping our attention in music isn’t always easy, but for KiLLOWEN it just comes naturally.
KiLLOWEN has been producing tracks since he was 13 and started his journey with music long before that, as early as 8 or 9 years of age. So it’s then easy to understand why on first impression I thought I was listening to someone more mature, because I was. KiLLOWEN is a very talented young artist who because of his early start in music has developed his production skills to the level of any established producer.
Solar is a polished, street, R&B gem. You can hear influences from similar artists that have come before him such as The Streets, Maverick Sabre and Real Lies to mention a few. KiLLOWEN does what all of these artists do extremely well and that is to allow you into their private lives in a way that is extremely poetic and uplifting even when dealing with the harshest of realities. Solar is a song dedicated to the passing of a close friend, the song was written the day of passing. This kind of poignancy is prevalent throughout and it grounds you in the artists experience, walking in his shoes, sharing for a moment a snap shot of his life.
Although this is heavy lifting for someone so young, you never get the sense of that because the track is sustained in such soulful praise that we are stately elevated throughout. I am very excited to stroll along the streets of this young man’s imagination once again in the future.
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Lake Turner gives lessons in patience on "Prime Mover"
“Prime Mover,” the eponymously titled single from Lake Turner’s brand new EP, is first and foremost a lesson in patience and composition. Eschewing widespread techno tropes like big bass drops and heavily saturated hi hats, the track builds deceptively, with melodic elements that enter the soundscape around a relatively straightforward rhythmic structure. This slow build makes for a surprisingly emotional release, giving the listener just enough air to prepare for a driving climax that confirms, without question, that this is more than just functional 4/4 beat music.
Have a listen for yourself, and enjoy the chromatic abstractions that visually accompanies the track. If you like it, Algebra Records has released a limited edition transparent vinyl edition that’ll look great on the shelf and sound better on the platter. Click the photos to grab a copy from Lake Turner’s Bandcamp.
— review by autonomy
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Cuts addresses our Uncertain Future with 'A Gradual Decline'
Anthony Tombling Jr a.k.a. ‘Cuts’ is a British film maker and composer who approaches his productions with a sense of purpose, which is palpable in his upcoming release ‘A Gradual Decline’ out Nov 30th on Village Green Recordings. Tombling says “We are living in the age of the Anthropocene and it feels like everything is in decline. We’re in a moment where extinction is regular. I wanted this record to reflect these frailties.” It is obvious from this statement that Anthony deeply feels the decline of these corroding landscapes plagued by global warming and industrial pollution. Although Tombling is commenting on dire facts most of us are already aware of, it is his unique, skillful and even hopeful interpretation of this tipping point that really sets this work apart.
Music can bring us to many different places. We can seek comfort in nostalgia, we can seek escape in hedonism, we can seek joy in stories that are told in which we can relate to and sometimes, when we can bare it, we seek truth in music like this. ‘ A Gradual Decline’ is an urgent call to action reflecting all the bleak sobering realities of a contemptuous zeitgeist. It is a record that gives a raw and unfiltered look into the harsh, hard to swallow truths of environmental decay. And in an auditory sense, this is exactly how the album feels. Crushed percussion, a dark driving bassline, harrowing melodies and somber sonic textures sustain a focused feeling of frailty. ‘A Gradual Decline’ is a project of political importance. It is a drop in the ocean of music, with the potential to be powerful, moving and poignant as we stand facing a most uncertain future.
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London based hip-hop producer Big-O drops new album 'Instability'
We’re all looking for our own little slice of peace in this world aren’t we? American-born, London- based, hip-hop producer- Orlando Turner certainly thinks so. The first single ‘My place in this world’ from his recently dropped full length album ‘Instability’ explores his own definition of peace and the album as a whole touches on the larger concepts of belonging, uncertainty, and sense of purpose.
Turner has been making beats since the age of 13, and in a way the album explores his own personal journey having moved from Alabama to Florida and Miami to LA, before finally finding his niche in London.
The album features 16 tracks spanning a variety of sounds and production techniques. From the sample-heavy beats of ‘Imperfect Voyage’ to the built from scratch style of ‘Cryin’ Clouds’ the album covers everything from soulful hip-hop to jazzy beats and electronica to break heavy funk.
It’s a journey definitely worth documenting, and reminds us that despite life’s ups and downs and moments of instability, finding that sense of peace through music makes it all right in the end.
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Serenity now with London's Sleepless
The classic downtempo, acid jazz sound is alive and thriving throughout Sleepless's 4th album, Serene.
While there isn't much info to be found on the man behind the beats, the music speaks for itself. It harks back to a simple time of bass heavy, laid back bobbers, with crisp snare snaps and the odd jazzy instrumental. I've been missing music like this. Sleepless recalls genre pioneers like DJ Cam, Dilla, Amon Tobin and more.
Serene, which dropped late last week is Sleepless's fourth album in five years. Each of his releases provide the lo-fi vibes which drew many of us into acid jazz and instrumental hip hop from the beginning. Serene, as an album is a pleasure. It's filled with smokey, back room sizzlers to help us fade into the night and early morning risers to bring us back. In our hard pounding, technological, unrelenting world, a little serenity is necessary to keep sane amidst the daily madness.
Stand outs from the 16 track album include 'Process' which features guitar work from Rax Beheshti, 'Don't Forget' which features smooth muted horns and the dreamy 'Where You At?'.
Don’t sleep on this release, go grab Serene on Bandcamp now.
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New Soulful Hip-Hop from Big-O and P-Rawb
The American producer / MC duo of Orlando Turner, aka 'Big O', and Patrick Roberts, aka 'P-Rawb' come correct with their new single 'Good Company.'
Forgoing the usual trappings of cash, women and expensive cars for a more soulful take on the genre, the two describe the new track as "a song about finding peace within yourself and surrounding yourself with the company of good people to help you move forward in life."
With P-Rawb lacing the A side with a skillful, feel-good flow, the collab comes together like a backyard BBQ on a chill summer day. The B side instrumental version of the track enters with profound strings and keys setting up for something special. With a rolling, percussion-rich beat, the track contains just the right amount of weight and finesse. With mixing and mastering coming from Portland based audio engineer, Kevin Carafa, not only is the beat infectious but the whole track sounds crisp, clear and well balanced.
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New ambient album from Manchester producer- Twin Complex
Oliver Hardingham aka Twin Complex is an electronic producer, composer and filmmaker based in Manchester, UK. Although writing and performing in mostly hardcore bands throughout his teens, Oliver always kept small electronic side projects on the go. But it wasn't until early 2017, when his electronic productions started to become more the focus of his creative output, that he began to develop his own unique style and sound.
As Hardingam shaped and sculpted his early ideas, over time more and more refined forms and structures emerged. Ideas turned to concepts, and concepts to arranged tracks, until gradually he was compiling a number of completed pieces.
Released just over a week ago, Twin Complex 'Permanence' represents not only the coalescence of these various creative narratives into a debut album, but also a turning of the page in the young producers aesthetic progression. The album is 6 tracks of brooding ambient soundscapes, entrancing arpeggiation, and just the right about of percussive framework.
'Remnants' is a swelling ambient piece from the album, exhibiting a tasteful mix of minimalism and tonal hypnotism. Cascading synths enter quietly only to bloom into full blown firework-like analog expressions.
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London producer 'Big O' brings the big chill
Orlando Turner, better known as 'Big O', is an American hip hop producer, mixing engineer, and DJ representing the UK. Starting to make beats at the young age of 13, this experienced producer has been influenced by his American roots and UK surroundings.
Now based in London, Turner continues his musical journey and maintains his steady output of beats and collaborations. He's worked with artists such as 'Slimkid3' (founding member of Pharcyde), Brooklyn rapper 'Skyzoo', and Portland-based beatmaker Maze Rockwell.
Big O's production style incorporates smooth and soulful elements alongside dusty beats and urban atmospheres. Turner utilizes drum machines, turntables, keyboards and samplers to make his ideas come to life.
'Summer in the Park' is one such production where these studio elements come together to bring his sound to life. The track is a 3 minute head-nodder featuring soulful chords, relaxed keys and laid back bumpin' beat.
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