Dilated Choonz

Alboy's Best of 2011: #1

The Mighty Alboy — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:48:00 +0100

Blawan – “Getting Me Down”

###THE GRAND FINALE!!!###

This track is easily the stand-out floor-killer from 2011. I first heard it on Blawan’s mix on FACT magazine- which is a superb and often absurdly deep acid/house workout, linked below- and when this track drops at 26’55” it completely blows up!

Love everything about this track- the grinding muted bass growl, the plucky percussion, and the completely mutated mashing of the original Brandy vocal- even that it was only available as a limited pressing single sided 12” (and I’ve got one!)

Like any self-respecting Yorkshireman Blawan is no one trick pony and isnt tied down to any one style- his releases on Hessle Audio and good old R&S records mark Jamie Roberts out as a man to watch (or listen to, anyway).

Awesome stuff, and no other tune came close to topping it in 2011.

and just for jolly, here’s the original track:

File Download (6:35 min / 6 MB)

Alboy's Best of 2011: #2

The Mighty Alboy — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:52:53 +0100

dBridge – “Inner Disbelief”

I know the suspense must be killing our listeners (both of them), so time I brought this pitifully late list of ten tunes that only have anything to do with 2011 because of my own out of whack listening habits, to a close.

At number 2, a sublime piece of drum n bass from prolific and multi-talented producer- and exit records officianado Darren White aka dBridge. A long time producer, dBridge was one of the three original members of Bad Company back in the mid/late nineties, and before that, part of the production crew on Lennie De Ice’s we are ie. So he goes waaaay back.

This track- which was released on Exit Records in Dec 2009- features dBridge on all aspects of the track- including lyrics and vocals. It’s built for the floor, but it’s got a broad streak of the blues running through it. As you’d expect from a track called inner disbelief. As Mr White says:

“The thing about my lyrics is that they do generally start off quite bleak, but I try to resolve them in some ways. As much as I do write about how much of a prick I am, I do want things to be better; there is hope.”

Not a lot of people know…
Darren’s brother is Steve White aka Steve Spacek, of Spacek Sound System fame.

File Download (6:01 min / 8 MB)

The spunky drummer

The Mighty Alboy — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 22:55:00 +0100

We interrupt my top 10 of 2011, to bring you this video of spunky young chap Baard Kolstad, who has dragged his entire drum kit on the back of his go kart to busk his crazy stuff in front of a small crowd and some unbelievably oblivious-looking passers by- come on! The guy is like a one man samba band!

“the best drummer in Norway”- and as far as I know, the entire Nordic region

Alboy's Best of 2011: #3

The Mighty Alboy — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:48:09 +0100

Ghost Poet – “Survive it”

Just a beautiful track this, from South London (Tooting Bec!) lad Obaro Ejimiwe, aka Ghost Poet.

If you havent got his LP peanut butter blues and melancholy jam, then you’re missing out- like Ghost Poet missed out on the Mercury Prize in 2011. Shoulda been his…

Cool video too:

ghost poet homepage ::
buy it from rough trade ::

File Download (4:23 min / 10 MB)

Alboy's Best of 2011: #4

The Mighty Alboy — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:52:00 +0100

Scottie B – “I’m Ill”

This is from 2008, but Scottie B is from waaaay back. This track is a BMore version on Lil Wayne’s a milli, from Scottie’s Mr International EP and it’s proper lairy.

There’s a great interview on auralstates about how they started out coming up with the BMore club sound, and how they were influenced by the UK hip house and rave scene in the early 90’s. They both worked in record stores in Baltimore and would get UK stuff on import:

SB- Anyway the records from the UK were coming. They were hip house, and we were playing the instrumentals. Eventually we started making records just like the instrumentals. Those were the tablets for what we ended up doing. We mostly used different samples, but they used the Lynn Collins too. They relied on sampling notes from famous records, and we sampled words from hip-hop records. Instead of making the track a minute long and then crazy, which is what they started doing, we made the whole three or four minutes work for what we needed.

SC- It’s exactly the same way hip hop started, when you take into consideration we were playing the breaks of these imported records. It was only hot for about 20 seconds, but that drum pattern in that particular break is what started the whole thing. It was all about the drums. These UK records would start with drums, and that would be hot to us. Then is would get into the rave part, which was the shit that didn’t work for us. All those hoover synths.

SB- In fact, we used to take Hoovers and Spray Cans and only play the drums in the beginning.

So that’s the beats sorted…

As for the rhymes, apart from the big bass thump, Miami Bass influenced downbeat thing, I don’t really get the whole dirty south thing. But then I found out about Sizzurp (or “that Purple Drank”) and it kind of made a bit more sense:

Sizzurp original formula:

Promethazine w/Codeine syrup
Any fruit flavored soda
A jolly rancher

Put it all in a styrofoam cup and enjoy

Reckon that would you drawl and want to listen to some slowed-down bass-heavy shit!

File Download (4:16 min / 10 MB)

Alboy's Best of 2011: #5

The Mighty Alboy — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:04:00 +0100

Active Minds – Hobsons Choice (Boys Mix)

This one definitely not from 2011- but thanks to the present day interest in bass music, UK Garage has enjoyed a bit of a revival of late.

I was reminded of this belter from 1998 (holy moly- that’s 14 years ago!) by 4tet’s very fine Fabric mix, where it features and stands proud among present day output.

Recorded by west London boy (quite liderally- he was a mere 17 at the time) Jess Jackson and put out on a limited edition 500 copy white label. Proper bit of 2-step/reese bass toughness.

He’s now in Los Angeles and looks to be working with Peter Andre. How the world turns…

brand new second hand ::

File Download (7:01 min / 16 MB)

Alboy's Best of 2011: #6

The Mighty Alboy — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:43:00 +0100

Addison Groove – footcrab

Ok- so back to 2010 (even late 2009) for this release, but being as I dont get out too often these days, it didnt reach me until 2011.

Tony Williams- aka Headhunter and Addison Groove- making a massive contribution to the “post-dubstep” ouevre by taking on the influence of Chicago Juke to create this massive snapping killer tune about crabs that like to nip your toes, and make you dance like this:

Beautiful 808 drums, chic samples and layering make this tune simultaneously a deep, soulful groove and a hyped, pounding, jump-up hype anthem.

My second slab of vinyl of the year…

great review ::
buy it at boomkat ::

File Download (4:42 min / 11 MB)

Alboy's Best of 2011: #7

The Mighty Alboy — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:20:00 +0100

Joy O- “Sicko Cell”

Aha! finally a tune actually released in 2011!
And this was the first track that made me go out to a record shop, seek out and buy an actual freshly minted slab of vinyl. A very nice slab of 180g vinyl it is too.

Awesome tune from Ray Keith’s nephew David O’Grady- formerly and amusingly known as Joy Orbison, now simply Joy O.

Following in the tradition of a long line of tunes about over-indulgence, for which I have always had a soft spot.

Other greats include:

4Hero’s Mr Kirk’s Nightmare

Reprised on Acen’s close your eyes

Adonis Too far gone

Any others????

get your own slab here ::

File Download (5:18 min / 12 MB)

Alboy's Best of 2011: #8

The Mighty Alboy — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:04:00 +0000

Ramadanman- “work them”

So these are the best tunes that I didnt post in 2011. I think pretty much everyone else posted this one (probably in 2010 when it came out), but just for completeness and in case you missed it- a nice bit of “post dub step” goodness from Ramadanman (excellent name!) aka Pearson Sound aka David Kennedy.

Having been for me- as well as every other 30yo+ was-there-back-in-the-day-and-everything-was-better-then commentator- generally (with a few exceptions) dubstep is an undeniably deep, but otherwise poe-faced and joyless genre. 2011 was the year that dubstep- or post dubstep or whatever- thanks to labels like Swamp 81 and Hessle Audio started to become fun, and even fun-ky.

I’ll bang up a couple of others that fall in this category.

buy it here ::

File Download (7:01 min / 16 MB)

Alboy's Best of 2011: #9

The Mighty Alboy — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:00:00 +0000

LCD Soundsystem- “I Can Change” (London Session)

Thought this was from 2011, but dammit, it was released in Nov 2010.

This is just a great tune- James Murphy’s lyrics are splendid, and musically it’s highly reminiscent of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (who are still going, can you believe?). This from the London Sessions recordings, which are particularly fine- found it hard to choose between this and all my friends.

2011 was a poignant year for LCD Soundsystem. Frontman James Murphy had turned 40, and he had previously said “I’ll just do this until I’m 40, and then I’ll do something else” which he duly did- so 2011 saw LCD play their last gig- at Madison Square Garden NYC. The place was packed out, and a friend of mine told me he left at the end of the set to beat the rush. This was after the first hour or so- only to find out on the way home that the show had gone on for another two hours. Strictly no re-admissions, unfortunately…

Here’s a live performance of this tune on Jools Holland

OMG, it's OMD! ::

File Download (6:48 min / 8 MB)

Alboy's Best of 2011: #10

The Mighty Alboy — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:47:00 +0000

soz adams- “eyes forlon (original mix)”

Ok- so the first thing to clarify is that this top ten is not necessarily of tunes released in 2011, but of tunes that I first heard in 2011. In some cases, demonstrating quite how out of touch I am, and also my more solipsistic tendencies, but those are the rules.

Which is as well, else I wouldnt be able to start with this- from June 2007.

I know next to nothing about it, except that it’s minimal, bleepy, weird, almost not music, and I like it.

And that’s what matters, really- it is my top ten, after all…

buy at beatport ::
myspace page :: ???

File Download (6:35 min / 15 MB)

Love is Everywhere

The Mighty Alboy — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:00:00 +0000

Pharoah Sanders – “Love is Everywhere”

A beautiful piece of melodic free jazz here from Sun Ra protege Pharoah Sanders, from the 1973 (very good year) love in us all album.

I first heard this on a madlib blue note mix years ago, but only sourced the track thanks to the magic of Shazam. Damned clever stuff.

So I never heard it in its full 19’54” glory. Showing more of the influence of John Coltrane, less of the more difficult Sun Ra- though he’s in there too.

Hope you enjoy.

Next up- my long awaited “best of 2011”. Didn’t want it to get lost in the flurry of retrospectives in January

pharoah sanders homepage :: check 'im out!
wiki entry ::

File Download (19:54 min / 18 MB)

Paul B - 'Blues'

T Pot — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:28:00 +0000

Just found Paul B on Soundcloud. I suggest checking out his stuff.

Loving the really deep & minimal style of this track. Instant hit for me as soon as I heard it – didn’t realise its 3 years old !

Sounds great on the car sub :)

Paul B – Blues by paulbmusic

Happy Birthday Mr Bowie

Hal Berstram — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:12:00 +0000

David Bowie – John I’m Only Dancing (Again) 1975

Sorry for prolonged absence from this blog… I’ve returned to mark the occasion of David Bowie’s 65th birthday with a little tune from 1975, which (I think) was an outtake from the sessions for Young Americans. It’s essentially a funk remake of the 1972 single “John I’m Only Dancing”, and the basic musical structure was used with different lyrics and an additional main two-chord theme as “Stay” on Bowie’s 1976 Station To Station LP.

“John I’m Only Dancing (Again) 1975” was issued as a single in 1979 (in 7” and 12” versions – the version uploaded here is the 7 inch mix, largely because I didn’t have any mp3 copy of the 12 inch mix to hand, and my old 12 inch single of it is in storage at the moment). The 12” version was also an extra track on the early 90s CD reissues of Bowie’s back catalogue on Rykodisc (sadly the newer EMI reissues don’t have any extra tracks on them). I own it on an early 80s compilation called (strangely enough) “Rare Bowie” from which I might post another oddity soon…) Anyway I am to be more active here this year, so see yon soon.

note: the mp3 file begins with about 5 seconds of silence due to poor editing by me. Sorry.

David Bowie's website ::
Buy the track :: on the "Best of Bowie 1974-79" compilation

File Download (3:29 min / 5 MB)

Nexus 21 - Real Love(Obsession) [1990]

T Pot — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:35:00 +0000

Just digging through my old CDs. Found this old one from Network Records 1990. ‘Real Love’ by Nexus 21.

Quite a nice old skool cut. Nice strings.

File Download (5:31 min / 13 MB)

6 Hour SEBA mix !!! Merry X-mas

T Pot — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:08:00 +0000

As the title suggests. A downloadable mix full of tunes by one of my fav all time dnb producers here !

Mav @ Scientific Radio – Show 023, 024 & 025 – Through The Eyes Of.. Seba (Full 6 hour mix) by Mav

Wicked man in Madenabena!

The Double K — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:12:00 +0100

DJ Dextrous & Rude Boy Keith – Wicked

Here’s one from the golden age of Jungle, 1994 to be precise. It comes from an EP called “The Kings of the Jungle Part One” on Suburban Base, but at the time I had this track on a mixtape bought from a man with a suitcase full of tapes outside Brixon tube station with nothing written on it except “Noodles – Razor Jungle Dub”.

The tune kicks off with the familiar “Ring the Alarm” reggae bassline and horns combined here with absoulutely tearing distorted and chopped breakbeats. The reggae then gives way to some absolutely devastating pure dark jungle bass with snippets of various vocal samples. The relentless beats carry on, there are a couple of great breakdowns and some spacey off-key synths add to the ruffness. Eventually the Ring The Alarm b-line and horns return as the tune draws to a close.

Pure ruffness – razor jungle dub indeed.

File Download (5:24 min / 8 MB)

Completely awesome

The Mighty Alboy — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:20:00 +0100

Tune Yards – “Lions”

Am at a bit of a loss selecting the genre categories on this one, so I’ve just gone for “completely awesome”.

The Tune Yards- Merrill Garbus.

Kind of hard to describe, so you’ll just have to listen to it. Drums, bass, vocals- she has the most incredibly dynamic range, a voice of amazing subtlety and power- and of course, ukelele’s.

Not usual fare for DC but I stumbled across this on the weekend, and I’ve been listening to everything i can get my hands on all week, and it’s been a brilliant melange of lo fi pop, hip hop, indie, funk, african (and usually I instinctively mislike anything that could be described as “fusion”). Guess you’d have to say challenging too, cos it’s pretty in your face, a lot of it.

This is from the first album Bird Brains, released in 2008 originally recorded on cassette via a dicatphone (seriously), but then remastered still lo fi via a single mike and using top quality open source recording software Audacity when Tune Yards signed to 4AD- good to see they still have their ears out for great new music (even in DC’s appear to be 3 years out of date). New album who kill came out in April and is equally awesome.

So I thought it was all rather nicely produced in a garagey studio, in a lo-fi sounding kind of way, but there’s no chance it could be done live, with all the overdubbing and complicated progness of some of the tracks.

But lord was I wrong about that…

Just looked up some of the tracks on YouTube, and it’s live- the overdubbing and looping is all done ingeniously live, and the performance is draw-dropping. Just being able to sing and play the drums at the same time (see J Live below) is amazing, but- and it’s not so surprising, as she was formerly and may well still be a puppeteer- Merrill Garbus is something else.

[And that’s not to mention the bass player (Jermaine- sorry, Nate Brenner- also amazing)]

Check the performances below.

Seriously.

A puppeteer pulling strings of a different kind out there.

Absolutely no idea where the lyrics or the melodies come from, but sure it’s all way deep. And it’s Jazz, man…it really is!

File Download (5:00 min / 11 MB)

Really creepy electro

The Mighty Alboy — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:37:00 +0100

Instra:mental – “Voyeur”

Been out a while but only just crossed my ears- and shortly after my turntables. This is an understated, sinister, belter of a tune.

The duo behind it- Alex Green and Damon Kirkham- have been producing quality electronic music for a good long while now, and have a bunch of strings to their musical bows, releasing electro, acid, dnb and non-classifiable things that get filed under “post dubstep” (whatever that is) going by a variety of pseudonyms and project names, including Boddika (Al Green), Jon Convex (D Kirkham).

It’s all well worth checking out, but this tune stands out cos it’s so thoroughly moody and not a little creepy.

File Download (5:15 min / 6 MB)

Samooo - Wreckd

Big J — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:00:00 +0100

Bassline.

ahem…
How is everyone?
I’ve been buried knee deep in fatherhood and work.

Glad to report Hurricane Irene wasn’t angry with us here in Brooklyn.

Remix by Samooo on G.A.M.M. an extremely reliable label…

G.A.M.M Myspace ::
Turntable Lab MP3 store :: Buy pretty much anything by G.A.M.M Enterprises

File Download (6:02 min / 14 MB)