1/28/12

ALBUM REVIEW: Day & Night EP - Ta-ku

         

Well a fantastic beat tape, and one of the first that is going into my now massive collection of instrumentals. Ta-Ku brings a concept to this EP as it may be apparent, yes! the theme is indeed following the schedule of a day. Going from the wake up, or perhaps intro to the EP all the way to "Late Night Lurk" this beautiful little project is filled with an array of beats all suited to the concept but branching out in there own direction, having just the right place in your life for that song. What I mean by that is that any mood you are in the song or beat is just there for whatever you need. While I am still figuring out Ta-Ku's style, he makes very elaborate beats in several instances on this tape. Just listen to "Night", so many sick elements. A lot of the beats lean towards a more electronic feel, which is welcomed in my library of hip-hop instrumentals. Didn't know how else to cover this beat album, so I guess I'll break down the tracks for you. There is a lot of messages to me between the tracks so bear with me as I make connections between the beat and the titles they bring.

DAY:: This starts out real classy. Others may be swayed by this opening, but I love that classy instrumentation that is so perfectly matched to the vocals, and the distortion at some points is great!

Wake Up: Gives us that feeling of just coming back from sleep. Then we start to open our eyes to everything, and then we start our day.

Breakfast: We are on a roll now. Ta-Ku gives breakfast a little more flavor (pun most certainly intended) than the previous one. That is because we are more awake for breakfast than having just woken up. Still a nice smooth vibe, and I would also like to add that everytime a song mentions breakfast/food I am always tempted to cook to those songs. See “Ham n’ Eggs – A Tribe Called Quest” ha ha.

Great Start: I can’t for the life of me comprehend the sample, but whatever it is just makes me feel good. Funny enough, that is how some great starts work. Do we always know why we have those good morning? Of course not, we just know we feel great and that is all. Same thing with this beat, don’t know the words, but I cherish the music without question!

Daydream: Oh I could daydream to this track all day. It is the ish, at first the loop doesn’t really strike me. While I do appreciate the strings and the saxophone, when the bass drops and those synths continue to play those extended notes it is awesome. Then you get that hit of vocals, so chill indeed.

Kill Time: Some may daydream during our 9-5, or what have you, but Ta-Ku says we already have enough time before that. So we Kill Time, and just vibe to this beat while doing so.

Nine to Five: This one has a very slow feel to it, despite the pace of the drums. Dragging out the vocals just gives us that affect, which perfectly describes some people’s 9-5s, sadly. And this instrumental is longer than most. Although interestingly enough, Kill Time is longer but seems to go by faster, because of the musical alterations. Which is how we feel, time flies when you are having fun right?


NIGHT:: This is when you work day is over, and these are the beats you rock to when you wanna listen up to something blared way high, not just to daydream or kill time, or even make breakfast to. And this does just that. We already get that mystical electronic feel as soon as the drums hit, and then those vocals! OOOH soul baby! Then it gets really sick as soon as the bass comes in, the vocals and guitar riffs exchange a couple times. Then hot damn, another sick element. The piano is thrown in and damn! They that looping of more piano and guitar compliment everything so well! Before you know it, the beautiful peace cuts out and yet the night has only just started.

Fanfare: This is one is just plain loud instrumental as it should be, the title is nothing more than perfect, as its definition is the music exactly! A loud display indeed.

 House Party: Get ready to have some fun. This is the 1st one I stumbled upon when looking for Rythmatical beats! This one is light upbeat and soulful, just what you want at a house party, good fun! The drums are just addicting, then you here that roll on what I think is the bass guitar? The strings and all are amazing. A nice breakdown into the “movin’ on up!”.

Get Together: After the party you are excited to meet up with people and just go roaming finding something to do, which is kinda when you feel the world is yours. That is why the brass is so suiting, gives that triumph to the beat.

Wild Out: Hu! Ha! This one says it all. You feel Wild, and the instrumentation is sick. Just a good loop right there!

Ladies Night: This one might be the most intense on the whole EP. The exchange of vocals and brass make this beat ridiculous! Then Ta-Ku cuts it up occasionally, with perfect timing. I can’t tell if this was just mastered magically, or the way he cut up the original just fell into place!

Late Night Lurk: After going crazy, the day is over. And now…the strings give it more of a creep feel ha ha but yes lurking is the right word. You just wander and perhaps return to your home, and it gives us that feeling of stayin’ on the d-low and waitin’ for dawn again…

Here you are: 

Bandcamp:

Day & Night EP, Download:

Ta-Ku's Soundcloud:

Enjoy, this guy has some sick projects, and he communicates well with his fans! So you'll never skip a beat (another pun very much intended)

           

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