MCTHFG 'Korean Dub Vol II' Review

Artist: MCTHFG

Title: Korean Dub Volume II

Label: Dubmission Records

Released: 6^th December

In the second instalment of this series places the spotlight on some of the female artists, who are part of Seouls growing underground scene of alternative dj’s and producers.

The first to make an appearance is Itta of Pan-Asian psychedelic drone duo Tennger. In this instance it’s a re-working of ‘Only’a vocal and fx recording (originally released on cassette) re-entitled ‘Deeply alone with everyone dub’. Christopher takes a subtle approach with bleeps and overly familiar loops, that slowly build behind the ethereal vocals to somewhat of a percussive crescendo.

Next up is TheSojuQueen described as a producer, singer and visual artist. Here he re-works a version of ‘Pond’, Re-entitled ‘Empty Pond (your true reflection dub)’. Apparently the original combined a ukelule riff with haunting vocals and from what I can gather he puts the brakes on. To be honest if I hadn’t been informed of the ukelule, then I would have assumed the strings were of an oriental instrument. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there is something about this tune that draws me in.

The final track is by Yetsuby a producer whose work ranges from ambient to groovy electronic and experimental weirdness. Here Christopher takes her ambient piece ‘The Dolphin Song’, re-entitled ‘Dolphin Song (from the depths of lazers dub)’ and weaves her vocal through echo fx whilst applying a deeper bass for a slow chugging dub alternative.

Links

https://dubmission.bandcamp.com/

https://soundcloud.com/mcthfg

Kick Bong 'Take Me Away'

Artist: Kick Bong

Title: Take Me Away

Label: Cosmicleaf

Released: 20^th Nov 

This latest single from Paris based multi-instrumentalist Franck Jousselin A.K.A. Kick Bong commences with a deep rumbling synthbass, before lighter synth voices rise through the sound. The track then settles into a groovy downtempo piece of electronica with subtle melodic vocals float away from the accompanying synth. Whilst the tail end of the piece adds a bit more squelchy grit to see us out.

The flip side ‘Lost in Time’ isn’t a million miles away from the A-Side to say the least, although there are looped sequences that catch your attention and drag your mind along the track. It’s also a piece that in many respects reminds me of tunes from yesteryear but retains a modern touch.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links https://cosmicleaf.bandcamp.com/album/take-me-away

Dr Trippy 'All Cows Eat Grass' Review

Artist: Dr Trippy

Title: All Cows Eat Grass

Label: Disco Gecko Records

Released: 22^nd November

Dr Trippy releases another five tracks of his unique mash up of bhangra, dub reggae and breaks that he calls Punjabi Swamp. On this occasion he strays even further incorporating elements of progressive chill, balkan beats, Russian rapping and Industrial percussion.

The intro to the opening track ‘Kali Hari’ sounds like an early voyage into experimental electronics. However, it doesn’t take long before a dose of eastern flavoured synth is prescribed, alongside gated vocal fx and raggamuffin verses. Whilst the intro to ‘Delysid Dub’ sounds more progressive those familiar reggae keys soon ascend and there’s plenty of dancehall vocal snippets and dub fx peppered throughout.

The reggae vocal sample kicks off ‘Willow’ he then throws in the Indian female vocal amidst a shufflin ska rhythm, horns and eastern flavoured passages. This is followed by ‘Ragga Reel’ where I found myself drawn to the concoction of acid, reggae, Balkan volin and Indian vocal snippets. Last but not least is ‘Swamp Life’ where the intro is more elongated and dark. However, it eventually leads to bamboo flutes, a touch more acid and those expected vocal snippets.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links

https://drtrippy.bandcamp.com/album/all-cows-eat-grass

The Russian Linesman 'Monomyth - The Departure' Review

Artist: The Russian Linesman

Title: Monomyth I – The Departure

Label: Loki Recordings

Released: 8^th November

This E.P. in this series takes you on a journey through field recordings, ambient electronica and vocals, dipping into a myriad of sub genres whilst weaving storytellers talk about their beginnings with tape to tape, thought processes of job rejections, jazz teachings and mis-spent youth. This really is one of those occasions where the story behind the project, will tell you far more about the project than I can and if you find that intriguing enough, then you may as well dip in and take a listen.

One of the electronic scene’s true mavericks returns to unveil the first in a remarkable new six part series of EPs, focused on the art of storytelling. As with his previous 2017 project (‘The Eysenck Suites I-IV) this “modern day composer” has been inspired by psychological theory in the creation of his latest enthralling musical collages. 

Joseph Campbell’s ‘A Hero with a Thousand Faces’ is an analysis of centuries of human storytelling, based around the anthropological theories of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, and this fascinating book provided the blueprint for the new Russian Linesman project – an artistic abstraction of the concept of the ‘Monomyth’ – a formula we are all familiar with in modern day films and books.

In narratology and comparative mythology, the ‘Monomyth’, or the Hero's Journey, is the common template of a broad category of storytelling that involves a hero who goes on an adventure, and in a decisive crisis wins a victory, then comes home changed or transformed.

Each song within the Russian Linesman’s ‘Monomyth’ episodes (the project will be released in its entirety over the next year at bi-monthly intervals) is named after the relevant part of the hero’s journey and has been accompanied by unique, complex compositions that combine a multitude of diverse collected instrumentation and field recordings to fit the mood of the storytelling. Most storytellers remain anonymous, retaining an abstract element to the process and allowing the listener’s curiosity to be uniquely aroused and be drawn into each different story as it unfolds.

“This project quickly developed a life of its own and all the individual stories twisted into a patchwork of yarns that tell an even greater story than I could have ever told on my own. In ‘Star Wars’, the droids make all the space opera weirdness accessible. My droids are my storytellers, my narrators. Placing some of the stranger musical moments within reach of the more casual listener. A hero is only as great as their villain. This project is a proper human interest story.” – Russian Linesman

Links
Beatport: https://www.beatport.com/label/loki-recordings/15992



All Stores:https://lnkfi.re/Monomyth-I

Liquid Bloom, Porangui & Spice Trader 'Ayé Yewo' Review

Artist: Liquid Bloom, Porangui & Spice Trader

Title: Ayé Yewo

Label: Desert Trax

Released: 22^nd November

Liquid Bloom is a project formed by Amani Friend (Desert Dwellers) which places focus on inner growth through ancient and spiritual soundscapes, whether paired with meditation, yoga, bodywork, dance or artistic creation.

This single incorporates vocals and instrumentation from Porangui, with additional instrumentation and production from Spice Trader to form a blend of African music and deep house. Which is paired alongside an ethereal mix from neo-western producer Tone Ranger.

The single shuffles along nicely with an acoustic loop, vocal chants and tribal rhythms before adopting an afro-beat feel with the added horns. It slows down a tad and employs delay before the vocal verses takes hold. Whilst the Tone Ranger version initially seems to accentuate the drums overall it’s a smoother mellower take on the original piece.

Reviewed by Woodzee

https://liquidbloom.bandcamp.com/

Orenda 'Reverie' Review

Artist: Orenda

Title: Reverie

Label: Gravitas Music

Released: 15^th November

Orenda is an unknown entity to me. Perhaps it’s a new face or perhaps a side project released under a pseudonym from a producer I already know? What I do know is the aim is a marriage of ethereal voices and aggressive bass, a battle between light and dark within bass music, what could loosely be labelled as melodic dub-step.

The journey begins with the title track where you escorted in by airy synths, harmonic female ethereal vocals and sparse bleeps. A minute in and the low frequency bass is dropped. Personally, I didn’t find it too harsh, in fact it worked just right for me. This is followed by a collaboration with Equanimous on ‘Mystic Descent’, this piece initally moves a touch faster with looped sequences and tribal chants, the track slows down into dub-step and then shuffles in and out perfectly.

Next on the agenda is ‘Numinous’ which works a little bit more like I anticipated. With the lighter melodic passages contrasting against the heavier and harsher breaks. Whilst ‘Marmoris’ begins in a style I would compare to the Deepheads label, melodic synths and vocals slowly unfurling ripples of harsher electronics and bass. That impression remains with me on ‘Fracture’ and I’m feeling like I’ve settled into the Orenda sound nicely.

Heading towards the close of the album and I’m still drawing comparisons to the deepheads label, especially with the way the soulful vocals stabs are toyed with over the track. Finally to see us out alongside DTO is ‘Gayatri’ where the bamboo flute intro leads us into similar territory with an eastern edge.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links

100th Monkey 'Space Dubs and Other Miscellany - 1992 to 2017' Review

Artist: 100^th Monkey

Title: Space Dubs and 

Other  Miscellany 

(1992-2017)

Label: Disco Gecko Recordings

Released: 15^th November

 

This album release is nicely timed for anyone whose attendig the Coventry leg of Pitch Black's tour, as 100th Monkey is kicking off the proceedings alongside Dr. Trippy. I knew relatively little about this project other than the man behind the name is Andy Guthrie who was initially in Banco de Gaia alongside Toby Marks.



You have to take into consideration that some of these pieces go back to 1992 and you can tell. The first few tracks of the album is what would have been termed as ambient dub. On the one hand if I were to hear them on a compilation in the 90’s (which you may well have) I wouldn’t lift the needle to skip the track. On the other hand I wouldn’t look back at them as memorable classics.

The album does get interesting on the fourth track ‘Moonchild’ which I would say leans more to trip-hop with jazzy touches and a mellow female vocal from Angèle. My interest is held on the latter section of ‘Until the Dawn’ due to the angelic vocals of Neera. This is followed by the Icescape Secret Beats Remix of ‘The Inuit Snow Song’ a piece I’ve always had a soft spot for and this version really places the emphasis on the vocal and is super laid back.

The remainder of the album returns to instrumental pieces and lifts the pace a tad. However, aside from the last track ‘Marakch’ which I was drawn to it left a similar impression on me as the first few tracks.

Reviewed by Woodzee.

Links

https://discogecko.bandcamp.com/album/space-dubs-and-other-miscellany-1992-2017

Eguana 'Destiny' Review

Artist: Eguana

Title: Destiny

Label: Cosmicleaf Records

Released: 11^th November

The latest release from Russian artist Sergey Severin a.k.a. Eguana. Who surprisingly (considering he has had numerous albums released on a few labels since 2010) has only arrived to my ears this year.

The album begins with ‘Germind’ (quite possibly a nod of respect to his fellow Russian label mate) a lovely combination of chilled out space music and twitchy drum patterns that verge on breaking into drum and bass. The lush angelic voices employed in the elongated intro of ‘Galaxy Noodles’ is pure space ambient, although the drum patterns he’s created are similar to the opener, there’s a few guitar licks and piano notes that add to the piece … wonderful stuff. While ‘Orbital Station’ continues the theme creating an atmosphere where you can imagine you are floating out there.

As the album progresses the drums pay less of a part but the beauty transcends at times in these pieces. Now I was pretty impressed with the last Eguana album that I reviewed but here I am totally hooked. When Cosmicleaf advertised this album as he needs no introduction I can see why. If you are a fan of the space ambient style and familiar with this artist you’re probably already purchasing. On the other hand if your a fan of the space ambient style and unfamiliar with this artist I’d highly recommend you give this a listen.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links

https://cosmicleaf.bandcamp.com/album/destiny-2

Triptone 'Around Me Remixes E.P.' Review

Artist: Triptone

Title: Around Me Remixes E.P.

Label: Cosmicleaf Records

Released: 4^th November 2019

Triptone is Franck Jousselin’s (better known as Kick Bong) trip-hop side project. This re-mix places focus on the collaboration with SR ‘Around Me’, which featured on the album ‘My Life’ released in April this year.

First up on remix duties is Tunisian Obsqure. Who creates a perfect balance of eastern flutes and electronica which lovingly cushion the vocal and provides a cinematic feel to the piece.

Next up is label head honcho Sideliner whose approach is far more of a plodding four by four downtempo techno affair. It’s an interesting enough alternative but doesn’t work as well for me as Obsqure’s take.

To complete the E.P. Franck dons the Kick Bong thinking cap. Here the vocal takes centre stage for the intro slowly trickling in the melodic keys and it takes a while before the bassline is employed. As with the Sideliner re-mix it’s interesting enough but didn’t work quite as well for me as Obsqure’s take.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links

https://cosmicleaf.bandcamp.com/album/around-me-remixes

Pitch Black 'One Ton Skank'

Artist: Pitch Black

Title: One Ton Skank

Label: Dubmission Records

Released: 8^th November

The second single to be released from their highly recommended recent album ‘Third Light’ and features re-mixes from Tor.Ma in Dub and Robot Riddims.

Now as you can probably gather from the title of this track it was made with heavy bass in mind and I was intrigued as to how these re-mixes would fare. Tor.Ma immediately drops a heavy bass line and eases in the aspects of the original piece. utilising subtle echoes and fx that rise and fall as the journey progresses. For me he’s nailed it I’d even go as far to say I prefer it.

Now the 10K Skank Remix by South London’s Robot Riddims totally flips the script. Initially they up the pace and take the piece into a ska number, then surprisingly apply the brakes in the interludes with low-frequency dub-step, and it works.

So if you’re questioning is it worth buying the single and the album in my humble opinion if your a fan of Pitch Blacks sound then without a shadow of a doubt.

Review by Woodzee

Links

https://smarturl.it/onetonskank