As part of NPR's 'First Listen' series, they have posted stream links for every track on Ghostly International's new compilation "We'll Never Stop Living This Way." You should check it out - its a great overview of the label's talent, from indie pop to ambient beatmaking. To lure you, there are tracks from Mux Mool, Shigeto, Tycho, Gold Panda and Cepia, plus much more. Great stuff!
"Hip-hop is alive and well, and Flying Lotus is a big reason why. Of all of the records I heard in 2010, none took as many chances, or broke as many conventions, asCosmogramma. Listen to "Do the Astral Plane": Driven by a looping bass riff, the piece uses samples to not only add texture to the beat, but also provide focal points for the listener. Throughout Cosmogramma, Flying Lotus stretches the palette from which most beat makers work, fitting jazz and dub-step into unconventional nooks and crannies. By leading with synths, saxes, harps and strings, he's moving focus from the MC to the beat maker. Hip-hop is moving in many directions, but it's safe say that Cosmogramma offers a glimpse into the genre's future by championing a sound that celebrates its founder, the DJ." (Sami Yenigun)
yeeea.
Bonus: Hootenanny - Cepia More from the newest addition to Ghostly International Records.
A tribute to my hometown. Ripped this from a live set Ben did for All Songs Considered over at NPR. An amazing live set, it's online for free, download it on iTunes from the All Songs Considered Podcast if you're a fan, even if you've renounced Death Cab (especially after they sold a song to the Twilight soundtrack...). (also grab this)
ON TO THE REAL STORY TODAY, FOLKS:
This EP was posted about two and a half months ago at the WEDIDIT Collective (arguably one of the most "with it" places on the interwebs), and I've returned to it regularly since then. LandLord is a collab between GroundIsLava, a badass producer and WEDIDIT homie, and Jake Weary (credited here as just "Weary," I think) who I have yet to research but I promise a post at some point. As far as I can tell, GroundIsLava produces and Weary sings, but don't quote me on that.
Anyway, some of my favorite beat music jams are vocal tracks (RobertaFlack by Flying Lotus, Ooops by Hudson Mohawke [a more mainstream song than most beat music but similar vibe to LandLord] and everything 0. does), so to hear these guys on this EP combining all the glitchy, hip-hoppy production of the beat music movement with really killer, soulful vocals, really makes me happy about music nowadays. These guys have said that "future r&b" is pretty much what they're going for here, and I think they NAIL it.
My personal favorite track. Great synths, thick beat, and AWESOME vocal production (the same can be said for pretty much the whole album). PLUS it comes with a catchy chorus, guilt-free! "I'm so down for you, down, til the ceiling's the ground..."
The other tracks on here are great too. "Animal" is fierce and ominous, another killer chorus with nasty-ass vocals. "The Upset" has this awesome 8-bit feel over a stuttering beat and bassline, and these wobbly square synths that these guys seem to love so much. And there's instrumentals too, for those of you who like your boom-bap without too much vocal saturation ("Airport Security Sabbatical" and "Bluetooh Narcotics"), though I'm all for it.
P.S. All Songs Considered has an awesome series called "You've Never Heard....[album name]?" where they ask young interns to review classic albums. Pretty neat to hear fresh perspectives. God I love NPR. Check it.
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