Oh No & Percee P - "Oh No vs. Percee P" - 2013
This was created as an alternative version to Percee P's Stones Throw album, "Perseverance", even though Madlib already has his own alternate version of this album, so this makes it 3 versions of these songs out there. This was a promo only release from years ago, that was made available to me through my subscription service with Now Again. Oh No made these beats using all samples from the Now Again Records catalogue, and as usual it sounds great. Lots of lively sounding drum chops. I would say that these beats are so strong sounding they almost overpower the acapellas that are put over them, but not in a bad way. I actually really enjoy the way this album was mixed. Crisp and loud. Check out "Know My Voice", "The Page That Built Me" (featuring Aesop Rock), "A Message", "Verbal Heat Rapid Fire", "Praise", and "No Time" (featuring Chali 2na).
Alias - "Pitch Black Prism" - 2014
Alias is a beatmaker from Portland, Maine, and one of the integral members of Anticon Records. I've enjoyed following his career throughout the years. I always seemed to enjoy the instrumental version of his first album more than the regular version, with his awkward rapping, so him ditching the vocal aspect of his career was undoubtedly a smart move when he made it. Now he's on his 5th proper solo album with this release, and it looks like he's trying to shake up his formula a little bit and try some new things. I'm all for people expanding their horizons and evolving, but this doesn't always translate to great albums. Some good examples of this not working out good for people would be RJD2 with his 3rd album and Sufjan Stevens with his last solo album. This album is nowhere near the extreme departure from his typical style as these albums were for those artists, but I will admit that i'm not feeling this one as much as his last couple. There's something too even about the way everything was mixed, and it makes everything come off drab and uninteresting. No sounds are popping out at you, and maybe that was intentional, but it makes it so these beats seem less engaging and more like background music. Everything is still technically sound, and there's no actual weak music on this album at all, but I probably won't find myself listening to this very often, unfortunately. Check out "Crimson Across It" (featuring Dose One), the only song from this album up on youtube currently, and not much at all indicative of what the rest of the LP sounds like. You can purchase this album here.
Supportive Parents - "Demo 2014" - 2014
This is a demo for a friend's band. This is some melodic hadcore pop punk, for those interested in that type of sound. It sounds good for the type of music it is, but admittedly this type of stuff isn't my bag at all. I wanted to put this up here so that people that are interested might check it out. You can download or listen to the EP here.
Ras G - "Raw Fruit Vol. 2" - 2014
Ras G is a spaced out LA beatmaker, who's been heavy on the output lately, and all of his releases have been super tight. He's breezing through this Raw Fruit series, (there's already an even newer Vol. 3), and it doesn't seem like he's stopping anytime soon. I enjoy the attention deficit nature of the short run times of the tracks and the constant switchups to new ideas. Just some nice raw beats to absorb. Check out "Dynamite Smoke", "Spooky Shit", "Altered States", "Veggie Thugs Anthem", "Pullout!!!", and "GMO Hoes". You can purchase this album here.
Ta-ku - "Re-Twerk Vol. II" - 2013
Ta-ku is a beatmaker from Perth, Australia, who initially gained attention from his "50 Days Of Dilla" series. Nowadays he's pretty much doing his own thing, serving up beats of all different styles, and doing them all well. It's easy to understand why his star has risen in the recent couple years. The Re-Twerk series is where he does his own weird takes on well known songs. Some are closer to conventional remixes and others are vastly different from the originals, becoming their own song entirely. I think I enjoyed the first installment of this series a little better, but this one has some cool and interesting stuff as well. You can download or listen to this here.
Paul White - "Shaker Notes" - 2014
Paul White is a beatmaker/producer from London. I had become familiar with him through his "Paul White & The Purple Brain" album, and have picked up every release he's put out since then. I enjoy his whimsical yet precise, loose yet focused, production. He seems to have a different style to suit any collaborator or mood. What I expected this album to be like was another great album full of beats that resemble hip hop. What this album actually is, is a fuckin masterpiece that is largely undefineable. If I was forced to throw this album in a section at a record store, I would probably put it in the jazz section, but this is not your grandfather's stuffy jazz. The mixing on this album sounds phenomenal on headphones. These songs almost seem to be alive and breathing. A lot of the songs actually have vocals that are performed by Paul himself, but it's usually the same phrases repeated over and over again in a non-annoying and almost soothing way, where it's almost easing it's way into the background of the songs and daring you to follow it down the rabbit hole. This is jazz being assembled with an eclectic electronic and hip hop sensibility. This album could have easily been a total mess with all the sounds that are packed into these songs beating the listener over the head and bombarding them, but instead, everything has it's right place, and all sounds form a unified attack that sounds like perfect harmony to me. This is easily his best album so far, and puts him in a different league now, as a producer and performer. Check out the videos for "Where You Gonna Go?" and "Running On A Rainy Day". Also check out "All We Know", "Numbers Of Change", "Honey Cats", and "Fighting To Dance". You can purchase this album here.
DJ FootMerc presents: "Channel Flippin" - 2014
This is a compilation of juke/footwork versions and interpretations of TV theme songs from throughout history. I'm surprised (or maybe I shouldn't be) at how much I enjoy a lot of these. There's some truly entertaining moments that happen here. Some of the standouts would be Alfred English's "Ducktales", DJ FLP's "Cheers", and Nangdo's "Twin Peaks". This album is available as a free download here.
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