Soundtrack to Week 43

Raleigh Moncrief - Cast Out For Days

New video from Raleigh Moncrief who just released his album Watered Lawn on anticon.

Bunraku

Bunraku

Review: Bunraku felt like a cool interesting movie for a couple of minutes. Kind of like a choreographed stage production of Kill Bill mixed with Sin City. Unfortunately the movie was 124 minutes long so quite soon it shows that surface is the only thing this movie got. Poor script and bad acting.

Sadistik & Kristoff Krane - Higher Brain

From Sadistik and Kristoff Krane's upcoming album Prey for Paralysis comes the first video Higher Brain. The album drops November 22.

Waiting for Superman

Waiting for Superman

Review: Waiting for Superman is a documentary that deals with, and analyzes the failures of American public education. It is an interesting movie that shows that even though money usually the reason why many schools fail, other reasons are also teacher's unions, contracts and bureaucracy. But most of all what makes this an interesting watch is how it shows that even though there's no easy sollutions, many people out there have ideas that might in the end save the education system.

The Garthim-Master & DJ Extend - Ghosts of Nostalgia

Selfhelp's album Old Friends was a real gem when it surfaced in 2009. On that album we got a taste for the nerdier side of the emcee on a couple of tracks. And as a bit of a nerd myself when it comes to sci-fi, action figures and geeky television I'm thrilled to listen to Ghosts of Nostalgia. Here he, under the new moniker The Garthim-Master, hooks up with German producer DJ Extend to go all out on those themes. Here we get 14 songs dealing with everything from Heroes, Gremlins and Star Wars to World of Warcraft, The Dark Crystal and Watchmen. When doing something like this there is always a big risk that it all comes across as some kind of a big joke. But fortunately these guys have not forgot that what makes any record good is great production, a wicked delivery, clever lyrics and melodies that makes your head bop. And Ghosts of Nostalgia is filled with that. I think you should go here and download the album for free. If you like it as much as I do, you will also put your money on the upcoming limited 12" color vinyl that drops in November.

Rating: 3.5/5

Joel Siméus & Smokey131 - No Rules No Frames

You know those long boring rides to work? It can be in a car, on a tram or on a train. You want nothing more than to escape from reality for a short while, just to feel that you're actually still living. My solution to that problem is to download No Rules No Frames. It's about 50 minutes of the finest escapism courtesy of Joel Siméus and Smokey131. These two guys serve up a dreamy industrial landscape which lets your mind wander to those special little places that we go to when reality is a bit too much to handle. And thanks to these guys, together with postrap, this little trip is free. Go here to download it and enjoy those little moments when you can still fantasize.

Rating: 3/5

Soundtrack to Week 42

Kay the Aquanaut & Factor - Theme Song

Here comes the first video from Kay the Aquanaut and Factor's upcoming album.

Hanna

Hanna

Review: Hanna is the movie of an 16 year old assassin trained by her father with one goal, to kill her mother's killer. The cast is good, especially Saoirse Ronan and Cate Blanchett. It wants to be some cool Euro thriller with a bit of a different angle. Unfortunately the movie don't quite manage to pull it off. It justs ends up as a too long trailer with many promises, but no real result. Nice soundstrack by The Chemical Brothers though.

A Heavy Feather - You're the Lotion On Darkness Knuckles as It Punches Light in the Face

A Heavy Feather is the latest project from David Sandström. Reviewing an album by him is a bit scary for me since I am, yes I admit it, quite obsessed with him. He is after all the man from Refused, Final Exit, AC4 and also the one responsible for the best Swedish album ever when he released Om Det Inte Händer Nåt Innan Imorgon Så Kommer Jag. A Heavy Feather is David embracing his electronic side and I must say that when I first heard of it I was a bit sceptical and after hearing the single Hannover I was far from convinced. The album however grew a bit after a few listens and after watching him perform a couple of the tracks last week. It's all quite beautiful, but unfortunatly the album feels too unfocused, as if he's not quite sure what he wants to convey to the listener. I also found some of the productions too lightweight for my personal taste. Problem for example is too much Pet Shop Boys for me to feel entirely comfortable. All in all though, the album is all David Sandström with it's up and downs. And that's what I love about him. He follows his own heart all the time, no matter if it's hardcore punk, rock or electronica.

Rating: 3.5/5

Babel Fishh - Eyeless Terror

Babel Fishh is one of those guys who don't seem to be able to put one foot wrong. Whether he's working with people like oskar ohlson, filkoe, edison or AbSUrd or releases stuff on his own, it all comes out amazing. And so it also the case with Eyeless Terror, the tape that he recently released on I had An Accident Records. 32 minutes of noise, fucked up beats, a wicked flow and an all together evil and dark feeling that makes me smile like a child at Christmas. Support good struggling artists, buy their stuff. The world needs people like Babel Fishh.

Rating: 4/5

DJ Vajra - 2011 DMC World Champion

Not the routine that gave DJ Vajra the title, but it still shows that he deserved it. My personal favourite part of it starts at 2.47 into the routine.

Joel Siméus & Smokey131 - No Rules No Frames

Spanking new mix by Joel Siméus & Smokey131. Review coming up soon. And please also check out the beautiful cover art from Linakim Champagne.

         

Still Pee & Ru - Still Pee & Ru

Rusiak, Pee Wee & DJ Viet-Naam. For anyone who listened to hip hop in Sweden during the late 90's, these are classic names. As a part of Sherlock, the first two are responsible for Made to Measure, one of the best hip hop in this country. After the break up, Rusiak went solo and won 3 Grammys back in 2000 for his debut Magic Villa. After a less successful follow up, it's been kind of silent from these guys. Now they have returned though, and in real good form.  More mature, but still classic hip hop that holds a high standard. For us who has followed these guys through out the years, it's nice both to hear the references to Sherlock and Magic Villa, but also to hear people like Chapee N Chess and Speedknock guest on some tracks. 16 years after their first release, Rusiak and Pee Wee still are amongst the finest Sweden have to offer.

Rating: 3.5/5

Son of a Bricklayer - Moose Without Antlers

Son of a Bricklayer is a really interesting producer coming out of Denmark. I discovered him a few years back when he released the 7"inch Esoteric Tone Poem together with idepthz. Now he has just released this tape with 24 minutes of beats on the very interesting label I Had an Accident Records. I really enjoy his sparse productions, but at the same time I often feel like something's missing when I listen to his music. I can't really put my finger on it. Perhaps it is the movie that this music would be a great soundtrack to that I'm missing here. I definitely liked Moose Without Antlers though, and I think that we all need to keep our eyes on this Scandinavian beat maker in the future.

Rating: 3/5

Backburner - Heatwave

People that know of my love for Canadian hiphop, and my deep respect for the label Hand’Solo Records, might understand that I got really excited when this CD came with the mailman the other day. Backburner is nothing more than a so-called super crew consisting of some of Canada's finest. Or what else can one say when it's members include amongst others Fresh Kils, Wordburglar, Timbuktu, More Or Les, Uncle Fes, Ghettosocks, Jesse Dangerously, Thesis Sahib and Johnny Hardcore. But I was also a bit wary since albums like this rarely works all the way. This album might not end up as a classic, or even something that I will return to often in the future. But I know that whenever I will listen to it, I will appreciate it for what it is. A solid compilation of bangers that got me bumping my head all through the 14 tracks. And that can't be said of every album out there. Hand'Solo Records might not drop albums often, but when they do it's always good. And Heatwave can hold it's head high next to the other classic releases.

Rating: 3/5

The Fox Heads - Gooogle It

Spanking new video from the guys in The Fox Heads. Can't wait for the upcoming album that drops next week.


THE FOX HEADS - GOOOGLE IT from Funken on Vimeo.

Soundtrack to Week 41

Gel Roc - Beautiful Tragedy feat. Abstract Rude

From Gel Roc's latest album Beautiful Tragedy comes the video for the title track featuring Abstract Rude.

The Fox Heads - Some Kind of Animal

Finally a video from The Fox Heads (Ira Lee & Funken). A really beautiful video and a great version of Some Kind of Animal. The only thing that I have to say that I think is a bit of a shame is that the guys didn't choose an entire new song to present for the video. Instead they choose this new version of the Little Eskimo Jesus track. But it is however a good version, and I can't wait for the full length We Want to Be Numb that drops in a few weeks.

The Fox Heads - 'Some Kind of Animal' from ira lee on Vimeo.

Soundtrack to Week 40

Time 4 Sum Comics

Virtue & Emoh Betta - EitherOar

Brand new video from Virtue & DJ Emoh Betta from their great album Following Wild.

Dust on Snow - You Were Murdered as a Kid

Earlier this year when I did an interview with Brad Hamers, he mentioned this upcoming EP that he was working on with Netherlands based producer Frietboer under the name Dust on Snow. And now it's finally here, and it was definitely worth the wait. I've always been a huge fan of Brad so I was already sure that his lyrics and work would be amazing, but the discovery of Frietboer is definitely a nice one. I love his dirty industrial beats which goes perfectly with Brads poetic observations. The EP consists of 8 tracks and they together create yet another masterpiece from Brad who has made one of this year's best albums already with Post No Dreams. Support the real artists out there. Buy You Were Murdered as a Kid!

Rating: 4/5

BRZOWSKI @ Dead Magazine

I recently did an interview with BRZOWSKI for the German based DEAD Magazine. Please feel free to check it out here:
http://www.deadmagazine.de/2011/09/29/en_brzowski-a-diverse-musical-craftsman/

Soundtrack to Week 39

Astronautalis - This is Our Science

Ever since I first heard the album The Mighty Ocean and Nine Dark Theaters back in 2006, I have kept my eyes on Astronautalis. He has always somehow worked a bit in the shadows, never making much noise while at the same time creating great music. When Pomegranate was released in 2008 he began to get his well earned attention and since then he has just gone from strength to strength. And to see him release This is Our Science on Fake Four Inc. feels more or less like something that was meant to be ever since that label formed back in 2008. The kind of honest, down to earth hip hop that Astronautalis produces comes from the same place as what the brothers Ramos is doing, and throw in a bit of Kristoff Krane in the mix and what we get is a multi talented musician that can not only outrap most people out there, but also creates beautiful and strong pictures with harmonies and instrumentation. Next to David Ramos That Down There, this is definietly the best release from Fake Four Inc. that year, and that is not a small feat considering that label's rooster.

Rating: 4/5