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Cyantific - Empty Streets (2009)

2009-06-15T23:40:00.006+02:00

Matt Whitehead and Jon Stanley, known as Cyantific have recently released this dreamy, minimalistic tune, which can be found on 'Hospital Mix 7' and 'Sick Music'. I instantly noticed resemblance to the work of dubstep producer Burial, yet I must say that I respect Cyantific deeply, for actually creating a piece of music which differs from the average liquid funk sound you would be expecting to hear on Hospital. This tune offers you a techy beat just rollin away with dreamy lyrical samples flawlessly blended together. So simple, yet so powerful - easily among the best hospital releases this year.

Toshinori Kondo and DJ Krush - Ki-Oku(1996)

2009-02-28T17:09:00.029+01:00

Fu-Yu
How does one communicate without words? What happens when you meet a stranger who speaks a different language from yours, but you've got something important to say to them? The Japanese duo of DJ Krush and Toshinori Kondo seem to have the definitve answer with this album. From its beginning to the end, the message weaved into the music is crystal clear: look into the future without forgetting where you came from, and, most importantly, chill out.

Shoh-Ka
DJ Krush's mellow grooves intertwine beautifully with the avant-garde jazz trumpet skills of Toshinori Kondo, creating a mosaic that's both light and deep: below the surface of the tracks, there is an amazing current of ambience, whether it's the trumpet echoing through, or electronic sounds that one would hear on a Boards Of Canada track. The album name, Ki-Oku, means "Memory", and all the track names are Japanese, with the exception of Sun Is Shining, an instrumental cover of a Bob Marley song. The whole album feels almost as though it's a broadcast from another world, simply telling us all to take it easy for a change.

Mu-Chu

Seamill - Matka (2009)

2009-02-23T16:45:00.004+01:00

Seamill is a music project by two friends of mine. Their first production, Matka, is originally a 30 minute track, but was later crafted into this much shorter and listenable 7 minute journey.

Matka has great depth and compositional quality. Give yourself 7 minutes of deep and honest attention, in order to properly perceive the atmospherical layers and structure in this trip.

I'm very glad about participating in the final stages of the production, as well as doing the cover artwork, and I hope to hear more from Seamill in the future.

Tycho - The Daydream

2009-02-18T13:16:00.003+01:00

Being in the same league as Ulrich Schnauss, Scott Hansen widely known as Tycho brings us the warm, optimistic sound.

Bonobo - Days To Come (2006)

2009-02-15T10:12:00.002+01:00

Ketto, track number five on Days To Come

As electronic music grows more popular, there are more and more mediocre artists to sift through and try to find amazing things like this. Days To Come is the latest release from Simon Green, a British DJ who is much more widely known as Bonobo... And what an incredible find it is.

Released on October 31, 2006 on Ninja Tune, this album is pure quality. The tracks are laced with various string instruments, and samples of traditional percussion so acoustic that one could call it something other than electronic music. The breakbeats and bass drops don't seem to agree with that and bring back the hip-hop feel to the tracks, but that's a big part of what makes this album so good. Some of the tracks have vocals by Bajka on them, her earthly style adds a further touch of the past to this perfect balance of past and future, tradition and experimentation.

Walk In The Sky, with vocals from Bajka

Nightmares on Wax - You Wish

2009-02-14T10:11:00.002+01:00

Possibly the strongest track on the album "In A Space Outta Sound" by George Evelyn.

De-Phazz - Steps Ahead

2009-02-13T16:15:00.002+01:00

I was looking through some De-Phazz tracks and really it's all sublime, but this one has more of a dark triphop feel to it. Different, in a good way. Enjoy.

Quantic - Time Is The Enemy

2009-02-11T11:59:00.002+01:00

Today I bring you ...

How can this tune be so good?

And yeah, the lounge is getting damn lazy, stay tuned though, something wicked this way comes!!!

The Cinematic Orchestra

2009-01-18T18:13:00.004+01:00

Another very interesting group signed on Ninja Tune.
The group basically consists of five people playing a variety of instruments, and a turntablist. It's a dreamy and soulful elegance going through their tracks. Inprovisational music weaved together with eletronic samples, modified and rearranged into an inspiring emotional nu-jazz trip. Man, check it out...

All That You Give (ft. Fontella Bass)

To Build a Home

Horizon

Free The Robots - Lonely Traveller(2007)

2009-01-13T22:46:00.007+01:00

Free the Robots, a hip-hop/jazz/electronica duo from Santa Ana, California, bring the sound of decades of jazz together with an intelligent and introspective hip-hop sound. This is one of the tracks off the self-titled EP that the project released in 2007. Cool scratches, obscure voice samples and soft jazz-influenced melodies topped with a hefty beat, it doesn't get much better than this.

"Goin' to a realm you've never been in" is an incredibly accurate description of their style. Highly recommended. This song takes you places.

The Herbaliser - Something Wicked This Way Comes (2002)

2009-01-10T22:25:00.006+01:00

"The Hard Stuff"

"Battle of Bongo Hill"

"Time 2 Built"

The Herbaliser is a very consistent duo - try any of their albums, and you'll find quality. And that's probably what makes them one of the greatest names on the Ninja Tune label today. With loads of successful albums and EP's right in the bag, this group has got consistency and experience. I love when the style in music seems so confident in itself, when artists stay true to themselves, instead of trying to alter their intentional, original sound with the purpose of reaching a wider audience.

What is the album all about? I think it's about simplicity. It doesn't really need more than jazzy samples, basslines and well-crafted hip-hop beats to make successful chillout tracks. Half of the tracks or so has lyrics in them, I chose two tracks without, but that's just me. Go check the album out - check out their other albums, it's all good...

Nomak - Recalm (2008)

2009-01-08T17:17:00.002+01:00

Intro and Outro on "Recalm"

Onepeace - Nomak ft. Aaron Phiri

His first album "Calm" earned him a position among very similar artists such as the japanese nu-jazz artist Nujabes, as well as hip-hop producers Fat Jon and Kero One. While not being even nearly as known as Nujabes, his sound is actually very unique, and different from Nujabes, if one listens closely. Traditional hip-hop beats layered with soulful jazz atmosphere and vocals. Jazz or hip-hop - these soulful pieces incorporates elements from both worlds.

The Winter Chill at Subway Lounge

2008-12-24T21:03:00.030+01:00

What's up everybody, Stan here. It doesn't matter whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or any other winter holiday, we all know nothing beats listening to some damn good tunes on a lazy winter day. This is what this post is all about, just a few (ch)ill tracks to make you feel good this holiday season.

DJ Shadow - Six Days, on The Private Press

Riton - Put That On My Mama, on Beats Du Jour

DJ Krush & Mos Def - Shinjiro, on Milight

Symbion Project - Soft Tempest, on Immortal Game

Kruder & Dorfmeister - 1st of tha Month, on The K&D Sessions

Hope you like these. Take it easy, keep it real, happy holidays!

Quincy Jones - Summer In The City (1973)

2008-12-23T19:54:00.006+01:00

It surprises me how far you can go past in time and still get those crispy, jazzy breaks. A sound that emerged back then, but today breathes through the airways of trip-hop, lounge and nu-jazz.

With samples that were later used by Nightmares On Wax and The Pharcyde, this is a great example of the root, the foundation of todays breaks and jazz-influenced electronic music.

Despite the name, I think this music fits nicely to the quiet relaxed winter days.

Does this remind you of something? Well try:

Massive Attack - Exchange

Nightmares on Wax - Les Nuits

The Pharcyde - Passin Me By

Merry Christmas, happy holidays - and enjoy the vibes.

Ulrich Schnauss - A Strangely Isolated Place (2003)

2008-12-17T04:13:00.009+01:00

Monday - Paracetamol, the fourth track on A Strangely Isolated Place
When one thinks of Germany, one hardly thinks of happy electronic music. Darker genres like industrial, trance, and drum'n'bass are the first things that come to mind. Enter Ulrich Schnauss, breaking this mold with some of the happiest and laid back tracks I have ever heard. Ambient soundscapes and chill broken beats are commonplace, in fact the whole release seems to be permeated with what seems to be infinite optimism. It's an incredibly epic and powerful sound that has a certain energy to it - it calms, it inspires and it motivates. It opens your eyes to the endless possibilities of our world, and reminds you of all the amazing things you can find if you just take a good look around.

Track number three, A Letter From Home

Zero 7 - Simple Things (2001)

2008-12-16T23:11:00.002+01:00

The opening track, "I Have Seen"

Zero 7 consists of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker from the UK. The style is tricky to describe, but I'd say it's a mixture of downtempo and pop. "Simple Things" is a great little bunch of music. About half of the tracks has vocals, with some great fillers inbetween. The fillers aren't boring - actually it all fits together, and seems very well-crafted. What you get on this album is indeed simple, as the title implies - but it is brilliant nonetheless! Mostly recommended!

Destiny, featuring the vocals of Sia Furler and Sophie Barker

I hope you like what you hear

2008-12-11T10:15:00.009+01:00

Now, this project is still new, and there aren't a lot of readers yet, but we really want to keep on going with it.

Taken from RJD2's album Deadringer - "Some of the stuff I like very much, some of the stuff I quite like, and I don't hate any of it. I can't decide which piece to start with, so I wont start with any of the pieces, I've already started. I hope you like what you hear."

We would just like to say thanks to the readers. Every single reader makes it a whole lot more meaningful for us to write and share. Keep listening to good music, and help us spread the word! Take care.

Oh I forgot something you can listen to...

A Forest Mighty Black - Rebirth
A Forest Mighty Black - Tides

Martin

Fingathing - And The Big Red Nebula Band (2004)

2008-12-07T16:20:00.009+01:00

The first track of the album, Walk In Space

Fingathing is quite an interesting duo - Sneaky, a double bass player, and a DJ/turntablist named Peter Parker. The sounds they create are very funky and immediately catchy, there's something in this music from everyone, from hardcore hip-hop heads to people who can't stand hip-hop. The album has a bit of a retro sound to it, and themes of space travel are predominant in the samples that the group uses, creating the warm feeling of reading a vintage 60's comic book while listening to an old tube radio that, let's face it, probably has wood paneling on it.

LTJ Bukem - Journey Inwards (2000)

2008-12-06T23:41:00.009+01:00

Danny Williamson is undoubtedly the greatest pioneer of intelligent drum & bass, a style known for its special ambient dreamy atmosphere. This musical journey takes the listener through 14 tracks of continuous jazz-influeced vibes. This quality mixture of raw, heavy basslines and the distinctive sound of a Rhodes keyboard, creates a quite simple but lethal cocktail.

The CD version is split in two, with the LP version being quadruple. Essentially, the first CD relies on the typical uptempo d&b pace, while the second is characterized by downtempo breakbeats and even vocals in the track "Sunrain". I have chosen two tracks here. Journey Inwards, which is the first track on the album, and Inner Guidance - a relaxed downtempo track from disc two.

Journey Inwards

Inner Guidance

Bentley Rhythm Ace - Bentley's Gonna Sort You Out! (1997)

2008-12-06T17:33:00.007+01:00

Bentley Rhythm Ace is a lesser known electronica group. Most known for this one track "Bentley's Gonna Sort You Out!", which came with their first album. To be honest, I don't think their albums are worth digging too much into, but this one track made it through, and became a very popular single. Funky big-beat style, very similar to Propellerheads.

Secret Frequency Crew - Forest Of The Echo Downs (2007)

2008-12-05T23:22:00.017+01:00

The second track on the album, Neon Bridge
The name Secret Frequency Crew is only appropriate for this band, they are quite obscure. It's a shame, really, since this project weaves one of the most intricate and balanced sounds that I've ever heard. Somewhere in between ambient, hip-hop, and IDM, these guys manage to produce a very organic style that's both catchy and thought-provoking. Everything in these songs seems to be alive and talking to the listener as songs transition seamlessly through the album; robotic clicks and whirrs communicate some message that might already be forgotten, or indeed not yet found out, scratches echo and fade out into obscurity shortly after they appear. All of this results in an atmosphere that almost feels like listening to the sounds of a mechanical jungle, with analogue bird calls and the metallic bark of cybernetic dogs.

If Boards Of Canada is something that brings back memories of the past, I would say Secret Frequency Crew is definitely music that brings upon thoughts about the future.

Kruder & Dorfmeister - G-Stoned EP (1993)

2008-12-04T23:26:00.004+01:00

High Noon

This 4-track EP was Kruder & Dorfmeister's first production back in 1993, and it is recognized as being one of those albums that defined the whole downtempo/lounge genre back then.

It opens up with "Definition", a very chillout mix of piano and flute. Just before it fades out, and you almost fall asleep, "Deep Shit" comes in, and in my opinion, it really is deep shit. I usually skip it. Then, "High Noon", so simple, so timeless and yet so unique. The album ends with the funky "Original Bedroom Rockers", which ends the album in a good way.

I like G-Stoned because of its simplicity. There is nothing to think about, just switch off and let the delicate, harmonic sound flow through your mind.

Boards Of Canada - Trans Canada Highway EP (2006)

2008-12-04T01:29:00.016+01:00

Left Side Drive, the second track on the EP and arguably one of the best things in the world.

For their most recent release, Boards of Canada decided to go with an EP instead of a full album, but this EP is amazing beyond belief. Released in June 2006, it's only appropriate that it's full of warm and mellow tones that while sounding completely natural and fluid, also give off an aura of a crunchy old radio broadcast, tinged with secrets of the past as well as memories of the sunniest, most laid back days that you've ever had.

Blockhead - Music by Cavelight (album 2004)

2008-12-03T12:32:00.005+01:00

Third track on Music by Cavelight - "Sunday Seance", also released as a single 12"

So, the last couple of days I've been sitting in the bus listening to Blockheads debut album "Music by Cavelight". Blockhead is mostly known for his background compositions on Aesop Rock tracks, but then he was asked to do a solo album, and it became very successful. Overall, I must say I like this album, and I think most people would agree that it is also his best of three albums.

I find that the highlights on this album would probably be "Carnivores Unite", "Sunday Seance", "Breath and Start", "Triptych Pt. 3" as well as "Daylight". Another track that apparently got quite popular is "Insomniac Olympics", but I think it's pretty much the worst track on the entire album, but still without being an absolute throwaway.

"Carnivores Unite"

It's really nothing over the top, but it gives you what you would expect, and perhaps a little more. Funky breakbeats and blippy background elements and speech samples that actually blend together quite well through most of the tracks. Sadly, it doesn't work out all the way through, and I hate when I just want to skip a track because it's just plain annoying. This is a well-crafted album overall - not flawless, but definitely worth buying.

The Opus - Breathing Lessons(2004)

2008-12-02T04:24:00.000+01:00

Isis, the 7th track on the album with lyrics from Lord 360

Dramatic, dark, and introspective, those are only three of many words that can describe this album by Mr. Echoes and The Isle of Weight, a group that calls themselves The Opus. Grim at some points, calm and thoughtful at others, it has deep atmospheric melodies and catchy hip-hop beats.

The album is mostly instrumental, with only two tracks having lyrics on them, Fanum's Organs with lyrics by Big B, and the masterpiece Isis, with incredible lyrics coming from Lord 360. Despite the scarcity of lyrics, there is a sense of completeness about the album, and all the samples, voice and otherwise, feel like they've been a part of every given song for eternity. It almost feels like it was nature that sampled the sounds of the songs, as opposed to the other way around.

Q-Project - Credit Crunch (2008)

2008-11-30T00:29:00.000+01:00

Brand new Hospital release. Wicked bassdrops and trippy jungle beats, yeah... What can I say - The guys on at Hospital never fails to bring us good drum&bass. Not really a spectacular track in my opinion, but q-project shows that he is up there with the more known acts in liquid funk.

Boards of Canada - Aquarius (1999)

2008-11-25T22:29:00.000+01:00

BoC track "Aquarius" backed up with a fan-made video

The picture below shows the Scottish electronic duo known as Boards of Canada, They are known for their deep ambient one-of-a-kind sound. It might at first seem repetetive, synthetic and just plain weird - but it's much, much more than that.

Old television samples and random speech mixed with exotic warm background layers creates the unique ambience that Boards of Canada is known for. The child laughs takes us back to the perfect childhood, and the perfection that Michael and Marcus always strives to acquire in their albums.

This admittedly isn't your regular dancefloor bomb, but it takes you away like nothing else. Or to be precise, it takes you absolutely nowhere. It portraits the simplicity of life and nature, as being the basic and most near thing of all. And it makes you feel united with this perfection in life. People may not like electronic music, and claim that it's not real or skillful. But Boards of Canada proves that the mathematical beauty in nature can be expressed through electronic music, and possibly with more success than in any other genre.

Propellerheads - Big Dog (1997)

2008-11-24T22:36:00.000+01:00

Alex Gifford and Will White also know as the Propellerheads was probably who got me into electronic music. Their album Decksandrumsandrockandroll is just fantastic, everyone should own it. Most people know Propellerheads cause of their track "Spybreak" which was used in The Matrix, but I'm probably their biggest fan ever, so of course I've been digging deeper than that. Actually, I decided to bring a track by Propellerheads, which pretty much doesn't even exist on the internet, and probably isn't known by most people who claim that they've heard stuff by The Props. It's called "Ron's Theory", and it's just super groovy. I only had this track on my Dive EP LP, but luckily I googled down some ancient torrent and got the track down after waiting for an hour with 2-3 kb/s - just so I could share it with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Alright, so Ron's Theory was somehow removed from the ftp. This one is Big Dog, another super rare B side on an old 12'' Take California release.

Hijak - Tears (2007)

2008-11-24T21:41:00.000+01:00

Tears - Hijak

I simply need to get the 12'' of this. I'm not a big fan of dubstep, but this one is just so god damn funky. It appears on Dubstep Allstars: Vol.05, but I think I heard it for the first time at an event held in Nørrebro, Copenhagen where the danish DJ Revealomatic, among others, was spinning the records. Most people who knows just a tiny bit of dubstep can tell that it opens up with Benga - Crunked Up, and then fades into Hijak - Tears at around 0:40. I guess I have to be drunk to listen to most dubstep, but this stuff actually works out at any occasion.

Check his myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thehijak

dZihan & Kamien - Homebase (2001)

2008-11-24T16:13:00.000+01:00

This one is probably a little different. These two guys from Austria do this triphop future jazz thing with house beats and incorporates elements of traditional arabic music. It's not the style I would usually prefer, but some of their tracks on albums like "Refreaked" and "Gran Riserva" are actually quite catchy with a special sound that you wont find anywhere else.

DJ Krush - Kemuri (1994)

2008-11-23T20:15:00.000+01:00

When you mention Shadow, you also mention Krush. These dudes are pretty much the core of modern turntablism. Probably Krush' most notable piece - Kemuri on his first album Strictly Turntablized released on Mo' Wax. The beat basically rips everything up, and the samples fit in amazingly well. A big hit on an album that pretty much was the first trip-hop album ever released.

Jazzanova - Behold These Days (2006)

2008-11-23T10:25:00.000+01:00

I'll just be honest here, I don't know a whole lot about Jazzanova. But what seems obvious to me is how they manage to create nu-jazz with a very original, true and harmonic feel, while still having the capability to bring us the more dancefloor oriented jazz-house sound. They've done a bunch of albums and remixes, but always with a slightly different style and feel. The result ïs music that works out for a majority of people and fits in almost everywhere.

Prefuse 73 - Preverted Undertones (2003)

2008-11-22T09:58:00.000+01:00

Guillermo Scott Herren has several aliases, but the most notable one still remains Prefuse 73. Laid back downtempo with a catchy sound. Off the album "One Word Extinguisher" - worth checking out, by the way.

Logistics - Cosmonaut (2008)

2008-11-21T14:37:00.001+01:00

Drum and Bass producer Matt Gresham under the stage name "Logistics" has always been one of my absolute favorites in the world of Liquid Funk. When I need a break from those deep blasting d&b tunes, this music seems to be the perfect cross between the atmospheric uplifting sound, and the more danceable rough basslines. Cosmonaut - one of his newest tracks, and definitely a great example of his unique sound.

Also, the album "Reality Checkpoint" is DEFINITELY worth checking out - it's just immense. In general, so much stuff on Hospital Records is just good.

http://www.myspace.com/logisticsnmte
http://hospitalrecords.com

DJ Shadow - Midnight in a Perfect World (1996)

2008-11-20T21:14:00.000+01:00

Josh Davis also known as DJ Shadow. First of all, "dj shadow", when I saw the name I was like... couldn't he have been a little more creative? But when I heard some of his music I really didn't care too much. Even though this is released on FFRR as far as I know, Mo' Wax is the more widely known triphop label behind most of Davis' work - and just the fact that they got their artwork done by the legendary old graffiti writer Futura 2000 makes Mo' Wax plain awesome. Midnight in a Perfect World is my favorite track on the album "Endtroducing".