Play Minigolf Not Minimal

I need that shirt. And in other news, I recorded a mix this morning, "Geräusch 1" (named because there is an annoying hum throughout the whole thing that I can't seem to get rid of). If anyone has any ideas as to where I can host it, I could put it up here. Har and I wanted a little place to make our mixes available, so yeah, if anyone knows, tell us.

Ricardo Villalobos - Live at Awakenings

Here you can download a set by Ricardo Villalobos last year at Awakenings. It's a solid set.

...

I'm not gonna say anything.

For the Fatties

Fat not Phat, but Phat nonetheless. There's a trend going on in restaurants around the world, and it just hit Beijing last month. Every good restaurant tries to set an atmosphere of some kind; some try for nice atmospheres, others have themes, but now there are restaurants trying to create an atmosphere of "no atmosphere". These so-called "Dark Restaurants" are completely black and unlit.



The customers enter the restaurant by passing through a room with blindingly bright lights and pass into the main room where they are guided to their seats by waiters decked out in night vision goggles.



The idea behind these restaurants is that by cutting off other senses (vision, if you haven't guessed yet), your sense of taste is heightened and your food tastes better. I have no clue if this is really real, but if Daredevil is any indicator, I wouldn't doubt it. I'll be dining in the dark tonight to see if this is really true. I'll let you all know how it goes.

Ghostface Killah & Jadakiss - Run (Ratatat Remix)
This song is so hot, it'll burn your ears off. I don't know if it's the organ, crisp, cracking drums or Ghostface's urgent voice, but this song has it. Ghostface and Jadakiss rip into the song, detailing their chase from the fuzz and they don't hold back, spitting mad lyrics. The beat is supplied by Ratatat, and though they are a rock group themselves, they know how to do street beats right. This track comes off their remix album appropriately named "Remixes: Vol.1" which has a couple of other great tracks like Dizzee Rascal's "Fix Up" and Beanie Sigel's "When You Hear That". The mix of Ghostface and Jadakiss's voices and Ratatat's backing make this song one of the most thugging, grooving gangster tracks. Pick this track up and you won't be disappointed.

Gaiser - Neural Block

Gaiser
Neural Block
M_nus

It sounds obvious to me that Gaiser has been listening to Sweet 'n Candy's release "Tacky Wakeup", because that familiar ping-pong-ball-or-drop-of-water sound is all over this release, which, luckily for Gaiser, is excellent. His release "And Answer" on M_nus last year was one of the best debut releases in recent memory, and he has since been featured on M_nus label comp min2max, Magda's mix CD "She's a Dancing Machine", Marco Carola's recent Fabric release, as well as numerous other compilations (his remix of Troy Pierce's "25 Bitches" has also seen quite a bit of play).

Neural Block begins with..."Neural Block", a track that begins as most M_nus releases do. A compressed kick drum, bleeps and bloops, minor vocal samples...all of it is here. The track really builds and doesn't dip once throughout its duration. That all familiar sound is pervasive throughout; I'm still not sure if it's a ping pong ball or a drop of water, but whatever it is, it certainly makes this track a hit. Second track "Half Life" comes in with a deeper opening, but soon becomes the more funky of the two. It is, however, extremely intricate in the way it's constructed, which really goes for all the tracks here, making this such an outstanding release.

The B side changes things up quite a bit. At first it doesn't seem like it, but there is definitely a difference between the first two tracks and the last two. Both of these tracks "Seepage" and "Separation" continue with the same level as the first two. "Seepage" evolves throughout, and it is in the last third of the track where it really shines. Intricate production, with great synth patterns, make this track definitely a stand out, but by this time, each track stands out in its own way. Which leads us to "Separation", which is clearly the darkest track on this release. It has a great mood about it, the pulse of the percussion really propels the track along whilst subtle noises in the background become more and more noticeable. All in all, another fantastic release from M_nus.

Ricardo Villalobos - What's Wrong My Friends?

Ricardo Villalobos
What's Wrong My Friends?
Perlon

Perlon has had an amazing year. Early on they released "Joker Family Park Part 2", Matt John's sequel to his first under the same name, cementing him as an extremely hot producer to look out for. "Superloooongevity", Perlon's fourth label comp, presented, as usual, a great assortment of tracks from Perlon all-stars as well as some new people. Plus, STL's "The Early Tracks" and Melchior Production's "Different Places" were massive hits as well. However, it is Ricardo Villalobos' follow up to undisputed-track-of-the-year "Fizheuer Zieheuer" that may have been Perlon's best release last year.

"What's Wrong My Friends?" shows Herr Villalobos moving in a different direction. We have horns a la Fizheuer, but the beat has a hint of tribalism that we've not seen in a few years from him. It's a new area, one that could go either way. On its own it's a great track, but it's not the best on the EP. "Gugga Sempa" picks things back up. A throwback to the feel of "Thé Au Harem D'Archimède", here is where things come together. It's not that "What's Wrong My Friends?" is bad, quite the opposite, it's better than most things out there, it's just that I like to see him at his most minimal, which is where "Gugga Sempa" falls.

Next we have "Africolaps", the shortest track on the EP, and one of the best. It starts of promising, and subtle beats quickly build on top of each other while a loop of an (African, I suppose) singer is heard. It's certainly the one here to play when people need to start dancing. Which brings us to "Dummolator". We start out in Fizheuer territory, with Villalobos playing around with the parameters of his drum machines, phasing and manipulating as he goes along with one beat, while keeping a steady one underneath. And, well, not much else happens until around the eight minute mark where we get a deep kick drum that really propels things. And again, this pretty much keeps up for the remainder of the track. It certainly gives those who dislike him plenty to hate on, but for those who love him, it's where he really shines. In my opinion, it's the best on the EP.

None of the tracks here really breathe like his "Achso" release and none are as long-winded and revolutionary as "Fizheuer Zieheuer", but minimal techno really does not get much better than this. I expect great things from both Perlon and Villalobos this year.

The Outsider - DJ Shadow

The music video is no exception to the awesome that Enuff (feat. Q-Tip & Lateef The Truth Speaker) leaves in its wake. Directed by Joe Baar and Francois Roland, the Enuff music video features Q-tip, Lateef and a Cardboard box robot. What more could you ask for? I start with this song for a reason. Enuff is clearly the highlight of the album.

::Faster Download::

Myself, being a long time fan of Shadow was far from disappointed in The Outsider (2006). Shadow's album was released with the help of many contributing hip-hop artists such as Keak Da Sneak, The Federation, and David Banner. Shadow keeps it real paying homage to his hard hip-hop roots with some songs featuring a 'new' 'teched drum machine' feel.


More than often, I find myself wincing at the nasty, crunched up bass sounds. Shadow is a bomb dude, but he seems to have over done it with the sci drum machine licks. The harsh voices of the hardest of h-hoppers just add to the pounding, and not in the best of ways. I love the lyrics and flow of just about every song, but with this...sometimes even disgusting drum tracks, it becomes all too much. As you can imagine.

But, like I started with, Enuff is nothing short of flawless. It's the crunkiest chunk of a thick spitting groover with everything on top. Clearly the glint the eye of this album. If not for the rest of it, pick up The Outsider for Enuff. You will not be disappointed.

(I had the illest article written up when Mr. Bloggyspot goes all Vecsch and I lost my glazzies and I couldn't viddy it any longer. With my rookers tap tap tapping away, I present you the "concise" version. Hoozah.)

What I Need

I want to be this person very badly. But, if you can notice (and I think only Har and James will), the sheets that these hoodies are on were definitely used by Har and James-O at one point. Solid.

Cloth

You guys wear too much cloth. I'd rather be naked.

Couple Phat Tracks

Felt like posting some stuff I've been feeling lately as far as individual tracks go. So here's some hot tunes I've been enjoying lately.

Tunes:

Punkrocker - Teddybears ft. Iggy Pop
This ones been in a car ad apparently, but don't be discouraged! A great track, can't really tell where Iggy plays a part in this one but the singers baritone voice droning over the funky post-punk track sounds great and I like it. Definitely check it out.

My Drug Buddy - The Lemonheads
This is one of my favorite recent finds. An old rock track, kinda sounds like a cross between Tom Petty and the Smashing Pumpkins. One the best I've come across in a while, definitely worth looking into.

Postcards From Italy - Beirut
Jer brought these guys up before, and I think he covered them pretty well. Great sound, cool song. Check it out.

Gamera - Tortoise
Massive fattie from the recent Tortoise box set "A Lazarus Taxon". It's a great one to just listen to, it sprawls out for 15 minutes but with each passing minute something new or exciting is added to the track. Definitely a cool one.

For Reasons Unknown - The Killers
These guys have been getting alot of shit lately for sounding like Bruce Springsteen...and that might be deserved, but i like them and this is a great track that I feel doesn't stray much from the sound you would expect from a good Killer's single. If you get past the comparison talk and listen to this track for the towering pop-rock single it is, I think you'll enjoy it.


So theres 5 fatties I've been feeling lately. Hope you like them if you decide to check them out. Should be posting another review or something soon.

Artysm, Paris

Artysm is one of the many unique “streetwear” brands coming out of Paris. Like so many of their fellow countrymen, Artysm have spat in the eye of the norm, gone into a corner mumbling obscenities, and whipped up something delightfully fresh and eye catching. Case in point: Artysm’s Jack'art woven hoodie.

There are plenty of hoodies out there that break the $300 barrier, but most of them carry the hefty price tag because of exclusivity, and not quality.

Strips of fabric are woven together to form this amazing sweatshirt. Its one thing to put a print on a cotton hoodie and mark it up several hundred dollars because its "exclusive", but this is something totally different. The whole Artysm collection is at Le Bouclard, and is well worth a look through.

Phat?
Phat.

AF1

Nike is celebrating the twenty-fifth year of Air Force Ones this year and they've already started with some exclusive shit. A while ago they had an invite-only party for the shoe with Kanye as a musical guest and all that. They also announced six new limited styles designed to reflect the "Original 6" players of the Air Force One team.

Calvin Natt

Moses Malone

Bobby Jones

Michael Cooper

Jamaal Wilkes

Mychal Thompson


Phat?
Phat.

Check the text on the back paneling. EPIC. LEGENDARY.
All of them are way too hot, but I've got my eyes on the Mychal Thompsons. Fuck it, I want em all.

Takin ova

Hey Everybody.

Its James O here, Ill prolly be takin over the reigns in the kicks department and some clothing aswell. Should be good.

Adidas Materials of the World 2007

So unless you've been under a rock the past few years, you know of Adidas' Materials of the World series. Well, here is their lineup for 2007. First is England.

Solid Track Top, but that's mill's. The shoes are pretty cool as well, but in my opinion the track top takes it. We have Africa next...
Again, awesome all around. Both the kicks and TT are sweet. Clearly, adidas are not slacking this time around (not like they did last time with the Tibet, Indonesia and Turkey...) And last is Japan...

Awesome. Not a huge fan of the TT, but the kicks are solid. I really have to get something from this series. It's just far too phat to ignore.

Loco Dice - Harissa

Loco Dice
Harissa
Cadenza

Coming months after his summer hit "Seeing Through Shadows", Loco Dice releases "Harissa" on Luciano's label Cadenza. Cadenza, which earlier this year released both Ricardo Villalobos' celebrated "Achso" as well as Thomas Melchior and Luciano's stunning "Solomon's Prayer/Father", has quickly become an extremely hot label. "Harissa" is much like "Achso" in that both contained four tracks each around 12-13 minutes, and both take minimal techno to great heights.

"Harissa" begins with "Raindrops on My Window", which opens the record nicely with subtle beats and some mumbling vocals. It proceeds quickly but its length allows it plenty of room to breathe. The next track, "Paradiso", is the most immediate of the four. It's a straightforward minimal track, slightly in vein of "Seeing Through Shadows". Good, but not as important as the others on the EP.

Up next is "Vamos a Cali", which, like the first track, experiments with minimal techno. It begins directionless, but soon comes together to a cohesive whole. The last track, "A Chico A Rytmico", may be the best on the EP. It, like its bretheren, excels in the subtle building of the track, but it has something about it that sets it apart from the others.

"Harissa" presents a kind of minimal that is becoming very popular. It's clear that the length of tracks are changing, and with these longer tracks producers are really attempting to explore the soundscapes with which they are working. If "Fizheuer Zieheuer" was any indication, longwinded minimal is here to stay.

Quick Music Things

Beirut
There isn't any new young band right now doing anything like Beirut. When first listening to Beirut, you wouldn't guess that the music would be coming from a twenty-year-old from New Mexico. The music is inspired by Eastern European folk music and is led by the trumpet playing of Zach Condon, the band leader. This isn't music for dancing or rocking out or really anything much. It's just terrific listening music. Definetly give the debut album, Gulag Orkestar, a listen. A personal favorite from that album is "Scenic World", which is just such a fantastically happy song.

Peaches
Ah, Peaches. Haters say what you want, Peaches is great. Sure, she may be a bit lewd, possibly crude and a little crass, but that only adds so much more to the whole experience that is Peaches. Peaches' tracks have a great minimal beat to groove to and a certain element that brings me back constantly. Peaches' filthy lyrics might make you want to take a shower while listening to them, but who can resist such gems as "Rock the Shocker" or "Fuck the Pain Away". This music is loud, abrasive and aggressive and absolutely fantastic. For new listeners, you might want to sample a few choice tracks before jumping straight into her music. I'd reccomend "Fuck the Pain Away", "Downtown", "Kick It", and "Rock Show".

Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart is nowhere near normal, and if his appearance doesn't show that, his lyrics are definite proof. He sings about strange things such as his experiences of being born, his Chinese children in foreign countries and other stuff that I don't really want to bother with at the moment. Banhart's music has a very folksy feel to it, and he often uses a large assortment of instruments for his songs, something which I am glad to see in modern music where bands are gravitating towards using only guitars, basses and drums. Banhart has a wonderful, soothing singing voice and his musical orchestrations are interesting and are just simply pleasing to listen to. Songs like "Little Boys", while sounding just a tad paedophilic, have so much happy about them it is impossible to be soured and dissatisfied while listening to them. I found his earlier album, "Oh Me Oh My", a bit hard to get into in the beginning, partly because of the poor production quality but mostly because it just sounded so strange at first. I would reccomend trying "Cripple Crow" or "Rejoicing in the Hands" to get into his stuff first.

Gogol Bordello
If you haven't listened to this stuff yet, you're doing yourself a disservice. This shit is way too amazing to let up. GYPSY PUNK. It's like Joe Strummer met up with a bunch of nomads in the middle of eastern Europe and decided to rob people of their minds through pure awesome. This stuff is seriously some of the best stuff I've ever heard. If it doesn't get you dancing, you are either a scrooge or a middle-aged suburban dad who listens to Euge Groove and thinks a "good time" is reading a book or going for a Sunday drive. Sunday drives are shit. Gogol Bordello has an interesting blend of instruments and backgrounds, with bandmembers coming from everywhere between Russia and America. The leader himself, Eugene Hutz, was actually displaced by the Chernobyl disaster and spent many years going from country to country before finally coming to New York City. He plays acoustic guitar and is joined by an accordian player, a violin player, bassist and drummer. The band also has two additional singers/dancers who assist mostly in the live shows but also provide backup vocals. Anyone who is alive should check out their newest album, "Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike".

Professor Murder - Professor Murder Rides the Subway EP

So, I enjoy this band alot. They are a relatively recent band to come out of New York. A four piece consisting of Vocals, Bass, Drums, and Keyboards. Over the past few months they have been garnering much hype and anticipation for a full length which has yet to come out. Where did this hype come from? This debut EP. Already this young group has developed a unique sound.
"Professor Murder Rides the Subway" is a short (only 16 mins long) but satisfying EP. It is immediately ear catching with the first track "Champion", Which instantly shows off their unique style. The vocals are direct, the bass is loud, the keyboards drone, while the drummer makes it funky. This great sound does not change throughout the record, it is only expanded upon. After a short quirky interlude of "Pedigree", a 22 second long vocal experiment of shorts, the tunes keep coming. "The Mountain" is next, it is here that the bassist and drummer really start going and the record heats up as this song begins to show off the balance this band can maintain between mellow and dancey. The next track "Cam'ron's New Color (Pt. 3)" continues in the same fashion.
The final track of the EP, is in my opinion, the best and one that I've been rolling for weeks. "Free Stress Test" is a phattie. A groove is started and stopped as the singer comes in and out, all eventually breaking down with the drummer laying down some good grooves (including some with cowbell) for a phat keyboard riff that rolls over the whole track.
Throughout all the distorted vocals, swirling harmonics, and syncopated rhythms the thing that makes this band work is the original sound of their drummer and bassist whom consistently lock in with one another's groove and make everything danceable and fun.
This band is definitely one I will be watching. They certainly can and should go further with their sound, but for an EP this certainly satisfies me.

(Its a pitchforky go, but let it roll)

Next, I beleive Har will be posting something tune-influenced.

Seemless

Chinchilla fur. Reversible. Enough said.
Want it? Be ready to cough up a phat $675. This is super limited edition, 1 in 3!

Yo, Langer's Rollin'

Yup. I'm on board here. Probably just gonna be talking about some phat tunes that I'm feeling and possibly a few reviews similar to minimills below. Should be posting something significant soon.

Yes, sir

Thats right mill.

And Harry's here too. I'll be covering mostly minimal, and dabbling in a bit of tech house.

Its phat, its a pheed.

Its the phat pheed.

The Knife - Silent Shout

The Knife
Silent Shout
Rabid Records

Lately, people still associate electronic music with the antiquated raves of old (which some still hold on to), but there are many who realize that one need not actually play instruments to produce quality music. Enter The Knife. After getting a particularly helpful boost from the Sony BRAVIA commercial and José González' cover of 'Heartbeats', 'Silent Shout' was released amidst a ton of hype. And luckily it all paid off, for 'Silent Shout' is undoubtedly one of the greatest releases of 2006.

'Silent Shout' opens with a bang, as the title track sets the stage for the whole album. It's creepy, unsettling, and brilliant. Karin Dreijer's voice is heavily distorted, but it is on the next track 'Neverland' where we hear her voice shine. It's probably The Knife's signature, for her voice truly sounds like nothing else out there. 'We Share Our Mothers' Health', 'Like a Pen' and 'Marble House' are all highlights, but the album flows together so well that there is really no low point.

Phat Pheed

Here it is. It's going to be mainly music reviews and clothing reviews for now, but in the near future we will probably add more things.

So here I am, minimill, and I will be doing mostly music reviews. I'll be reviewing all of the latest releases in the techno world, and also some releases that i am just now getting to. Enjoy.