Aussie Mr. Bill’s latest album “Focus” pretty much knocks my socks off. It is so masterfully thought out and crafted. This album embraces a variety of deep yet glitchy, swaggy yet moving, complex yet simple, and aesthetically-pleasing yet entirely unique sounds. I always had Mr. Bill on my radar to an extent, but since hearing this album I am without a doubt interested in what else he has to express through his production.
On a Monday back at work after a raging weekend in the sun, I can definitely say that I could use some cheering up, and this album did it for me. Focus is elaborate and beautiful and allowed me to clear my mind. The album guides listeners through sundry soundscapes with marvelous blips and tasty melodies; it truly pushes the envelope.
I am now kicking myself for passing up the chance to see Mr. Bill live in Nevada City last month where he also hosted an Ableton Live workshop. No doubt that both events would have been inspirational. I’m not sure how many other times I’ll have the opportunity to catch Mr. Bill, but if I do I will not surpass it!
Also, there will be [Re-Focused Part 1] & [Re-Focused Part 2] coming soon – with remixes from Kalya Scintilla, Circuit Bent, Blatwax, Whitebear, Kursa, and more. Pretty psyched for that!
Passionate producer/DJ and homie The Digital Connection (Ricky Shine) is doin’ big things. I kid you not when I say that every time I listen to Ricky’s newest tracks on SoundCloud, I am even more impressed than the last. His latest and greatest all-original Lazer Party Mixtape certainly reflects this sentiment. And he has spoiled us with a free download! With a nice gradual yet enticing build including sparkly notes and deep stunning melody, the principal development of the mix is on point. Then it transitions into a killer beat with ___ samples from Aretha Franklin’s “I Say A Little Prayer for You”. I really can’t wait for that track’s release. The remainder of the mix continues to satisfy my constant craving for mellow yet vibrant electronic frequencies. At a little over halfway through we get some of that nice blappy lazerbass Ricky loves. We later get hints of gangsta bass at around 30:00 which is personally my favorite segment. The bass gets deeper while retaining the unique multidimensional structure of the rest of the mix. Then we get an absolutely beautiful poignant section that makes me want to call my friends and tell them how much I love them J. His remix of Kaskade & Deadmau5’s “I Remember” (while admittedly I dislike most that I hear from both) is a fun way to start the wind-down. The mix ends on a high note with a fun upbeat tempo. Listening to Lazer Party Mixtape all the way through is such a treat and it takes you on a pleasant roller coaster ride; just when I feel a slight lull the next moment I feel myself grooving to the beat. It’s so clean and thought-out. I can tell that Ricky devoted his soul to this music, revealing to each listener a part of it. This is more expressive and sincere than anything I’ve heard from him yet.
Indulge yourself and take a listen to The Digital Connection’s Lazer Party Mixtape! I know you won’t resist downloading.I can’t wait for his upcoming release as well as to hear more of his collaboration with friend One4All (named Connect4)! Those two are crushing it across state lines.
Lucidity Festival, on April 13th-15th, looks to be one of the most spiritually transformative gatherings of 2012. Nestled in Live Oak Camp in the hills outside of Santa Barbara, its location is prime; imagine listening to unparalleled groovy beats while wandering in a forest with family new and old. The experience, however, will not only be pleasing to your eardrums. It will likely cause all-sensory gratification – visual, mental, aromatic, tactic, even your taste buds may do a little dance once or twice. It’s all about connections; all are welcome and participants will transcend any mental boundaries they may have had coming into the festival. Everyone is encouraged to get involved in their respective villages to create a mutually contributive and interwoven community. There are six archetypal villages at the festival: Renegade Outpost, Warrior’s Way, Healing Sanctuary, Family Garden, Lovers Nest, and Lunatic Fringe; each represent what each person may identify with or seek to fulfill in coming to Lucidity. The aim is to co-create something beautiful that will never be forgotten… and surely that will happen.
The music lineup for Lucidity Festival is extraordinary. The focus seems to be on relatively chill, downtempo electronic vibes that will resonate throughout the forest. Including some of the world’s most talented live DJs among the likes of Random Rab, Love & Light, Govinda, William & The Earth Harp (the longest stringed instrument in the world), Heyoka, Thriftworks, Phutureprimitive, Bird of Prey, Nicoluminous, and Russ Liquid, the bill is stacked and sure to please. There will be plenty of other unique and quality sounds surrounding you, including elements of dub, IDM, shamanistic, percussion, ambient, beatboxing, wind instruments, strings, lyricists… the list goes on. I really think that each of the musical acts will be stunning, thought-provoking, and the flowing lifeblood of the festival.
Another awe-inspiring aspect of Lucidity Festival will be the live art and art installations. Everywhere you look there will be artists at work in tune with the rhythm of the gathering, as well as intricate yet vast installations open to interaction and interpretation. I am particularly excited to see what Bamboo DNA brings to the plate as I saw some of their remarkable structures at Lightning in a Bottle 2011 and they seem to be boundless in their creations. Walkabout Woods looks to be intriguing as well – it’s a large three-part interactive installation for exploring.
I am looking more and more forward to Lucidity Festival each day. I know it will be life-changing in more than one way and am excited to open my senses to new possibilities!
Check out the Lucidity Festival website for more details and to purchase tickets, and get ready to drink some delicious liquid sunshine in the woods with us!
Just under their new alias for about a month, Crushendo (formerly Slim Thugz) is already crushing it! They’ve brought their sound to a whole new level with the Drop Logic EP. I have heard multiple listeners express how impressed they are with the EP, and producers tell me that they love playing out some of the tracks to get a crowd moving. It’s impossible not to move while listening in to this rhythmic, booty shakin’ bass. My favorite off the EP is “Nickel$ and Dimes”; it has a catchy harmony along with a vivacious bassline – sounds just right!
While I loved the gentle pleasing melodies that Slim Thugz produced, I might even prefer the direction that Crushendo is going in thus far. I feel more bounciness, depth, and thought put into their tunes. Having followed Cody and Julian’s music from the start, I’m stoked to watch their evolution; there is notable improvement and enthusiasm coming from the two. They self-proclaim their music as “jazz-step”. I love it!
The Chinese calendar indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year, thus Chinese New Year is often referred to as the “Lunar New Year”. This event is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar; the origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone. It’s also supposed to mark the end of the winter season. Man, I hope that’s a lie because there is essentially no snow in Tahoe right now. Is everyone else feeling the suffering that is this winter, damnit? That means I am out of here on a journey to the incredible Chinese New Year of the Dragon Celebration!
This Friday, February 10th, Raindance and An-Ten-Nae are throwing an event of EPIC proportions in San Francisco. Of course, I am most looking forward to the top-notch music lineup that will bless our eardrums all night long. We’ve got a solo ediT set; this in itself is enough to make me want to go. If anyone, this guy is THE pioneer of bass. Perhaps overshadowed by his fellow Glitch Mobbers, the extremely talented Ed sometimes goes underrated. What a privilege to get to see him solo – can’t wait for that one! Another set I just can’t wait for is Nasty Ways, comprised of EPROM and Boreta from The Glitch Mob. These are two of the most talented producers/DJs joining forces… yes please! I experienced their live debut at a SnowGlobe afterparty and it was mind-blowing – definitely the highlight of the weekend for me. The rest of the bill is just as exciting, featuring four rooms of first-rate DJs including Loefah, Govinda, JPOD (also caught him live recently and was amazed), Lowriderz, Ana Sia, Wick-It, Mochipet, David Satori, NANDA (killed it in the wee morning hours of Freaker’s Ball), Little John, & El Papa Chango. Not only are they bringing in an insane lineup, but they’re also providing entertainment in the form of a parade, dragon dance, stilt circus, dancers, dragon mask making, instillations, tea, and rad visuals. I can’t wait to see 1015 Folsom transformed into an eclectic environment with some of the most marvelous talent! Anyone who can make it should get their ass to Raindance & An-Ten-Nae’s Chinese New Year Celebration!
When I first heard that pioneer of bass Stephan Jacobs was putting together a remix album of Mad Era and In the Vortex I was beyond stoked; those two EPs bring back some of my favorite music memories of 2011. Then when I saw the list of producers behind the remixes I became even more pumped! The compilation includes banger tracks from the likes of Mr. Bill, jOBOT, Freddy Todd, Psymbionic, Ruff Hauser, Jupit3r, Knowa Knowone, and more. The album did not disappoint – these remixes are hot and I will definitely be bangin’ them in my headphones for quite a while. I have been following Stephan Jacobs’ music for years and it is a pleasure to hear some of my other favorites throw a spin on his already excellent tunes. The 12-track album starts off with a bang with One4All’s remix of Tatter which is also my favorite of the release. It’s upbeat, catchy, and melodious with just the right amount of bass, providing every component necessary for a memorable track. Another favorite is ChrisB.’s remix of Izzo feat. Smash LeFunk… it has some very nice brass instrumentals paired with crunk samples and a nice steady beat. Although I haven’t heard much about Dubvirus, I also found his remix to pop out to me; it’s beautiful in an odd and heavy way. Stephan Jacobs certainly provided an expressive and agreeable canvas for the remixers to work with!
Seeing Stephan live is an awe-inspiring experience that I recommend to all. His set at Lightning in a Bottle 2011 was legendary and I would say one of the best of the entire weekend. He also crushed it at SnowGlobe 2011. He has never let me down during a live set; his contagious energy and sincere passion for bass music are undeniable and compelling. He will be playing at SnowBall in CO in the beginning of March so be sure to catch him play if you’re there! I know that he is a huge influence on many other electronic musicians as he is a master of his craft, and I’m always looking forward to hearing more from the man!
Thriftworks (Jake Atlas) may be the most underrated producer these days. Given the bona fide quality of his production, not enough people know who I am talking about when I bring his name up. His newest release, Rainmaker, encompasses the perfect combination of eclectic sounds with stunning harmony and satisfying bass. It is my, and a few others’ who I have discussed the matter with, favorite bass album of 2012 thus far. I have no qualms listening to it all the way through and soaking up every second of it; the name is fitting as the album is perfect for a chill rainy day. Infiltrated with gorgeous strings, swanky bass, and some peculiar sounds that I honestly can’t even identify, the 14-track album is thorough and gratifying. Just as I feel myself falling into a state of relaxation the next track will be a gentle pick-me-up. I especially dig Teach Me How To Camelot; it’s more on the glitchy side than the others and I love the assortment of pitches. I have yet to see Thriftworks live but would love to… I hope to catch him at the Naughty Yaught: Valentine’s Day Party in San Francisco that Afro Monk is playing at as well. That looks to be one rockin’ party!
Ever since I heard their pleasant sound on the Bass From Above Volume 1 compilation, I have been tuning into Colorado pair Slim Thugz, comprised of Cody Yozipovic (Frequent C) and Julian Garland (The Candyman). Well Slim Thugz are no more – welcome their new alias, Crushendo! Today they released a dazzling minimix that showcases their project under this new alias; it is a glimpse at their upcoming debut EP, Drop Logic, which will drop on February 15th. The mix, which is up for free download, incorporates a tasteful amalgamation of melodic strings, “intelligent bass”, fresh hip hop samples, and assorted tempos. It starts off with a bang with their collaboration with rhyme master Kruza Kid, who has been featured in a lot of the Mile High Sound Movement guys’ production. The whole mix masterfully blends playful audio delights with a touch of gangsta elements, which I find to be irresistible. I have always loved Frequent C and Candyman’s signature flowy yet upbeat synth patterns; I like that whenever a track of theirs comes on my iPod I know right away who it is and know that I will enjoy it.
Although I did love the old alias I can see why they wanted to change their name; whenever I talked about Slim Thugz, a lot of my friends would be like, “Oh Slim Thug is rapping on Friday?”. No people. Slim ThugZ is playing, who I would rather see live any day to be honest. And I was blessed to see them twice when they came out to the Tahoe area – they absolutely crushed it! I really love the new Crushendo alias and think it is very fitting. Catch them live if you get the chance; they will be playing at the upcoming SnowBall Music Festival in Colorado in March which is sure to be an epic weekend. Check out the minimix below and be sure to grab Crushendo’s Drop Logic EP on February 15th!
Along with the New Year, I wanted to bring somewhat of a twist into the standard electronic approach of the blog. I thus introduce to you Colorado duo Bedrockk, comprised of producer/guitarist/vocalist Dave Marquess and live drummer/percussionist Phil Swain. Dave proclaims their composition style to embrace “a blend of r&b, dubstep, electro blues, and chopped and screwed rap”, and all of the above can undeniably be heard in Bedrockk’s debut album release, Get Born. As a consequence of their wide range of influences, the 12-track album has a lot of unique sounds and moods including swooning vocals, plunging basslines, striking drumbeats, rock-influenced guitar, lounge vibes, and chopped and screwed bits (have you ever even imagined all of that in one album?). Me being me, I personally love the mainly electronic-based tracks such as Streets are Shinin’, in which guitar, soulful vocals, and alluring frequencies intermingle effortlessly. I am also a big fan of Fuzzy Things which has a provocative feel with its incorporation of that deeper-delving yet downtempo bass. I also really enjoy Future Child. Download Get Born for free, you won’t regret it!
Bedrockk’s 1/1/12 debut release also marks the commencement of their record label/artist collective based out of Denver called Dirty//Clean, through which Dave claims they are “striving to push the bar with experimental and yet sexual/danceable music.” They have started off well as the release seems to accomplish just that with its lush sounds to move and groove to! Keep an eye out for Bedrockk – I foresee even more big things coming from them.
First I want to express how honored I am to have begun writing for Afro Monk in 2011. I had been wanting to write for the site for a long while and am psyched to finally have the opportunity. It’s been a great year of music!
Top 5 Best Releases
1. Minnesota – Ancient Machine
2. Ill.gates – The Ill Methodology
3. Paper Diamond – Levitate
4. Phutureprimitive – Kinetik
5. The Weeknd – House of Balloons
For starters, I love where Minnesota’s sound has been going in the past year – very melodic and synthy but still sprinkled with some nice bass. The Ancient Machine EP is truly satisfying to me, and I particularly enjoyed Hold Up’s epic feel. Bass pioneer ill.Gates made me a happy camper with his solid ill.Methodology album – it is diverse, interesting, and deliberate. I particularly LOVE Never Alone with MiMOSA, Live and Learn, and My Special Place. Paper Diamond’s Levitate was in my headphones a lot when it came out and I was cruising around South America. It’s easy and soothing listening. He definitely has a distinguishable sound, yet each track is different, both of which I think are extremely important in successful production. Phutureprimitive blessed us with a miraculous album in 2011, Kinetik. Drippy bassy downtempo is what I really love to listen to when not raging at an event, and this LP did it for me. It is a stunning and emotive compilation that embraces what I love about electronic music. Personal favorites are Ripple Effect, Cryogenic Dreams, and Kinetik. And last but not least, I have to agree with Afro Monk that The Weeknd’s House of Balloons is most definitely top 5 material. The Weeknd’s voice is undeniably sexy and I love his ingenuous lyrics along with pleasant basslines. Wicked Games is stunning – I can’t get enough of it.
Top 5 Best Songs
1. Emancipator – Ares (Big Gigantic Remix)
2. ProJect Aspect ft. Kruza Kid – Let Me See Ya Sneakers Work
Making a top 5 list of tracks was really difficult for me; I started by writing down all of my favorites and was facing a list of 20 solid tracks. I have narrowed it down to 5 yet still feel like there are a lot of others that deserve recognition. The tracks I chose are the ones that I consistently listened to this year, as opposed to ones that I enjoyed hearing live most. By listening through it is apparent that my tastes have evolved from heart-pounding dubstep to harmonious bass music. Anywho, I’ll start off with one of the tracks that I never get tired of regardless of playing it all the time: Big Gigantic’s remix of Ares by Emancipator. When I hear it I am elevated into a state of nirvana; it makes me reminisce about past life-changing music memories and stirs up some inexplicable emotion in me. ProJect Aspect’s contribution to Bass from Above Volume 2 (which is overall an exceptional compilation) is like a breath of fresh air that gives me a burst of energy. This guy seriously crushed it this year, as did a lot of the other Mile High Sound Movement kids. They’ve really got something good going on over there in CO, I hope to visit this winter and check out the scene. GRiZ made me stoked with Chasin Galaxies. It has a nice slow buildup, gradually adding in new elements like some lazerbass, subtle rap samples (Method Man), and effervescent high notes. I have been listening to GRiZ since his GK days and it’s pretty cool to see him hit the ground running; he has consistently brought the fire all year! Minnesota’s Sun Burst is SO dope – another track that is slow to build up but then digs deep and sweeps me off my feet. Sun Burst is brilliant, bold, and blissful; I really love how Christian draws out his notes. Cryptex’s Reset really speaks to me. Its pulsating and glitchy vibes are both innovative and profound. This track is on the Virtus In Sonus compilation brought to you by Gravitas Recordings – another phenomenal album!
Top 5 Events:
1.The Bounce Festival
2. Lightning in a Bottle
3. Emissions
4. Earthdance
5. Boom Boom Lagoon(s)
It didn’t take me much thought to figure out the best event I went to in 2011. The Bounce Festival (as well as The Big Bounce 2010) was just too magical to surpass. Nestled in the woods in the Feather River in Northern California, the venue at Belden Town is breathtaking. Add in some of the most talented DJs, forward-thinking artists and vendors, and all-around remarkable people and there you have a perfect 3 days. I think I have to say that my best musical experiences were spent there (namely Tipper, Emancipator sunrise set, and unbelievable sets from Love & Light and EPROM). Lightning in a Bottle comes in at a very close second; Oak Canyon Ranch just feels like home. Camping with all of your best friends at such an event is nearly impossible to beat. The Bamboo Stage was amazeballs (yes, I said it), thus where I spent most of my time there. The Do LaB always does an incredible job of incorporating awe-inspiring interactive art, yoga, speeches, and workshops. There is just a warmth about it – and lots of insanely beautiful people everywhere you look. Emissions was a super heady, intimate festival in Tuolomne. It was definitely fun feeling like everyone was mingling and getting to know each other. As Afro Monk mentioned, it SNOWED on us – definitely took people by surprise and added an interesting element. Kids were still goin strong at a renegade setup haha. Earthdance was a super fun experience, and the lineup was incredible. Although the acoustics in the Temple of Electronica were subpar (they downgraded from Funktion Ones) DJs still brought it, and the Geodome as well as the Headtron pool party takeover were rockin’. I doubt that many of you have heard of Boom Boom Lagoon. For the past few summers in Lake Tahoe, my friends Zach and Zeb have thrown some bitchin’ parties on the East shore of the lake. You hike in about a mile to get there or boat in. The beach fills up with Tahoe’s party people and this summer they brought in Love & Light for the first party, and B Bravo & Ill-Esha for the second party (who has quoted it as being one of her favorite events of the summer). When I think of summer in Lake Tahoe, I think of Boom Boom Lagoon. Although it didn’t make the list, Freaker’s Ball in San Francisco on Halloween was another great party with a dope lineup and unlimited fun!
Thanks for listening, & I’m looking forward to another excellent year of music – bring it on 2012! I’ll be at SnowGlobe to bring in the New Year, so if you know me & you’re going, hit me up!
Afro Monk
April 30th by Taradactyl 
Tags: Adapted Records, Focus, Mr. Bill
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