Chillout Single & Video: Raycord - Wurlitzer a Nu

This is a beautiful downtempo song - very chilled for a Saturday morning, almost ambient. The song title, "Wurlitzer a Nu," refers to the Wurlitzer piano, which is the source of the distinct piano sounds that balance this song with the reverberating bass throughout. The Wurlitzer piano is also the subject of the video - which I really enjoy because it puts all the focus on the music and the implement - sometimes videos can distract from the music, but this is a showcase, an homage to the source of the sound.

Here's more about the artist: "Raycord is a Canadian composer who lives and works in the countryside, a lifestyle steeped in the elements that inspires his music and suits his sensitive nature, the warmth of which permeates and humanises the electronic music he channels. Raycord composes vibrant and atmospheric music. After an inconspicuous release of his debut album L’hiver Blanc, Raycord is coming back with a new sound experimentation: Ruban-Ruban on Phonosaurus Records. Raycord patiently crafts his compositions with a great attention to detail. He also occasionally incorporates tracks by other musicians. His upcoming album Ruban-Ruban is a musical experimentation assisted by Steve Cloutier and will be available on iTunes, Amazon, phonosaurus.com and many more on September 12."

Ymbelydredd (Them&Us Remix) - Gwenno

I first heard about beatbox pioneer Killa Kela a few years ago at the Boom Festival in Portugal, and I've been a fan of Basement Jaxx for years. Now, Killa Kela and a former member of Basement Jaxx - vocalist Ami Carmine - have partnered on a new project called "Them & Us." The duo is producing excellent remixes using Killa's beatboxing prowess and Ami's vocals, and just released an original EP. Check out their latest - the amazing remix of Ymbelydredd by Gwenno, plus a new track off their EP.

Ymbelydredd (Them & Us Remix) is also offered as a free download:

Monday Mix #6: TrueNature - J'Aime Le Dubstep Podcast #179

I came across this great site: J'Aime Le Dubstep, founded by basshead DJ Construct, out of Montreal. The site promotes amazing bass music, ranging from Drum&Bass and Breaks to Dubstep and UK Funky. In honor of the anniversary of U.S. dubstep party RECONSTRVCT held this past weekend in NYC, J'Aime le Dubstep handed over its Podcast over to one of the party's founders - Brooklyn DJ True Nature. True Nature delivered an amazingly melodic and dark mix of tribal, dub and bass-themed downtempo. This is not a light mix, and it is not for the faint of heart. But it is for readers of Downbeatscape who continue to appreciate the yin and yang of music and its mystical powers. Check out other great music at J'Aime Le Dubstep - full credit to them and True Nature for this.

New EROK Chill Hop Mix - Odyssia (FREE DOWNLOAD)

My summer goal was to write a lot and compose a mix a month. So far, so good. Here's my latest - Oyssia - a "chill hop" mix with hints of funk, dub, reggae and middle eastern ambiance. The mix art is one of my brother's sketches - check out his website, MJD Artworks!

I've been posting a lot of mixes lately because I've been studying other DJs' 1) mixing techniques and 2) song selection. When I DJ, I focus on mastering these two core components to create an interesting story. I believe a set mixed simply (and technically sound) with great song selection and a bit of style is always superb to a technically complex mix with only OK song selection. As DJs, we must not overcomplicate things, but rather we must create sets where the songs enhance each other and are experienced differently together than they would be alone. Do you think this set achieves this?



Tracklist:
1. State of the Union (Rewound) - Thievery Corporation
2. Pearl - The Deadbeats
3. Deep in the Cut - J Boogie
4. Mr Universe - Mos Def (Max Tannonne Edit)
5. Boomster - Rapscallion
6. Starfall - Michal Menert
7. Bongo Dub - Dub Traffik Control vs. Manu Chao
8. Last Night (J Boogie Remix) - Ancient Astronauts
9. Tangolypto - Heyoka
10. The Others - Second Sky
11. Chez Roger Boite Funk - Troublemakers
12. Kiara - Bonobo
13. Hip Hope - Marzebian
14. Facing East - Thievery Corporation
15. Out of Time - Pretty Lights

Weekend DJ Set: Henry Pope - Early Summer Set

Henry Pope - a producer and DJ from Venice, CA - sent me his latest DJ set this morning and I've been listening to it all day. It's an awesome mix of deep bass, hints of dubstep and great hip hop tracks that combine for a downtempo summer chugger. This is the epitome of how downtempo music can carry so much energy and take a party to the next level. It's got so many great tracks from amazing artists, new and old, including Notorious BIG, Outkast, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Masta Ace, Nosaj Thing, and even originals from Henry Pope himself. 

I couldn't wait to post this as a "Monday Mix" - I had to share it today, it's that good. 

Track List:
1. Phutureprimative - High Rez
2. Wyatt Lamond - Shadows End
3. Sugarpill - Bomp
4. Outcast - I Love Way You Move
5. Deathsar - Wiz RMX
6. Wick it the Instigator - The Weatherman
7. ???? - Space Dub
8. Bruza - Cock Back
9. Wick it the Instigator - Future Crunk
10. Painty Raid vs. D.Veloped - Iz You Rollin
11. Notorious B.I.G. - Notorious Thugs
12. Paper Diamond - Power RMX
13. Beats Antique - Cat Skills (Inspired Flight RMX feat. Scarub)
14. illesha - Smoke and Mirrors (Ample Mammal RMX)
15. Nasty Nasty - Sweaty Bodies
16. Lana Del Rey - National Anthem (Tennsnake RMX)
17. Gorillaz - Stylo
18. Tango In The Attic - Easy Bones (Inspired Flight RMX)
19. Polish Ambassador - Bust a Move RMX
18. Nirvana - Molly's Lips
19. Henry Pope - Delirium
20. RLS - Teu Sorriso
21. Lunice - The Name Dunnit (Henry Pope RMX)
22. Masta Ace - Born to Roll
23. Bassnectar - When I Grow Up
24. Nosaj -Empires (STS9 RMX)
25. Heyoka - Thingamabob
26. Nate Dogg - Regulate (Polish Ambassador RMX)
27. 9th Wonder & Pete Rock
28. Nosaj Thing - Coat of Arms
29. Nas - The Message
30. Getto Boys - Mind Playin Trick on Me
31. Minnesota - Oakland Baby Master
32. NastyNasty - Dirty Dirty
33. J. Atlas - Rainmaker

Album Review: Rapping with Paul White - The Room Below Versions

UK producer Paul White is often included in the same conversation as Flying Lotus and Diplo for his experimental and other-worldly music production. His latest album "Rapping with Paul White" (One Handed Music label) ventures into hip hop, working with underground rappers such as Guilty Simpson, Tranqill, Moe Pope and more. The album was released this year and recently received a really cool electronic make-over by producer Henry Keen, aka The Room Below. This re-edit/total success is a wandering electronic hip hop odyssey that showcases really creative production and hip hop talent. The Room Below took the entire "Rapping with Paul White" album and re-did everything using drum machines and synths. His interpretation is amazing and worth many listens. You can stream and download the "Room Below" Versions below, plus listen to the originals - compare for yourself and enjoy!

My two fav songs on the album are "Stampeding Elephants" and "One of Life's Pleasures."

Monday Mix #5 + Label to Watch: Bohemian Club Soundtrack (Episode 7) + Future Dub

The Bohemian Club is a new music label I've been following since its inception. Alistairr - the man behind the Bohemian Club - does a great job showcasing downtempo talent via his mix series The Bohemian Club Soundtrack.

In Episode 7 of the Bohemian Club Soundtrack, Alistairr ties fantastic tracks together from artists and producers around the world. This is certainly a chillout mix, with ambient elements and atmospheric lead-ins to rewarding, jazzy drum breaks and cool melodic synths. Definitely listen for a chilled evening - you won't be disappointed. Plus, check out two other dub songs I'm particularly enjoying right now from The Bohemian Club, called FUTURE DUB:



Track List for "Bohemian Club Soundtrack - Episode 7":
1,Rykard - North Cormorant Obscurity
2,Conrad Schnitzler- Ballet Statique
3,Mister 1-2-3-4 - The bones will stay
4,Jon Brooks- Regie
5,Mordant Music - Pissing in Sinks
6, Walls-Raw Umber/Twilight
6,Oneothrix point Never- Sand Partina
7,Hyph mngo- Joy Orbison
8,The Advisory Circle- As the crow files
9,Theo Parrish- Summertime is Here
10, Raiders of the Lost Arp- Night time (Rude 66 Forever Darkness Remix)

Plus, here's the FUTURE DUB tracks that I'm really grooving to. I connected with Alistairr about these songs and this is what he shared: "Modern dub and reggae producers usually fall into 2 categories: either very traditional and follow the King Tubby route or they are dubstep influenced. Future Dub is centered around the main trumpet/sax/organ interaction which is a key feature of most of my dub productions, and is highlighted here. The sound I tried to create uses the traditional template - combining edgy samples and effects, to create an atmosphere of mystery and surprise." Keep up the mystery and surprise - its working!

Mostly Robot - Behind the Scenes - Native Instruments Showcase

Native Instruments is my DJ brand of choice. I use both Traktor Pro and Maschine in my setup, combined with Hercules RMX midi and some Ableton integration when I'm teaching myself/learning more basic production skills. This video showcases a lot of NI tools and techniques in a really cool way - by creating an "electronic super group" of DJs, artists and producers. Mostly Robot is DJ Shiftee, Jamie Lidell, Jeremy Ellis, Mr. Jimmy and Tim Exile. Each artist has their own specialty that is showcased with a different Native Instruments tool or functionality. Check it out: