ALBUM REVIEW: Ja$$ - Melodiesinfonie

            Melodiesinfonie makes some remarkably jazzy hip-hop. Ja$$ is a beattape that showcases his talents quite well. The sound he produces is very deep and rich. I have noticed that his beats are always possess that raw feeling. A lot of the album feels dusty and that adds to the charm in a lot of his productions. Another quality that stands out is the bass. The bass is so incredibly low in a  lot of the tracks and it really shows. This is a great album where you can jam out to the bassline itself. The bass adds to that rich and full feeling I get in my ears from listening to Ja$$.
            With not much else to explain the overall album I'll get into some of my favorite beats! I probably won't be going in any order, as I'm enjoying this beautiful and consistent album on shuffle whilst I type.

J A $ $ pt.35: This beat's samples are very relaxing to me. The sax(?) sounds wonderful. I feel it is perfectly mixed into the song and isn't too loud. It leaves room for the piano to be heard throughout. These two elements add a very mellow and rainy day feeling to the track. Definitely a track for cloudy and quiet days.

J A $ $ pt. 37: The sample is elegant and really light on the ears. With squeaky scratching in the distance, the beat has a very happy intro. The beat comes in smoothly, suddenly, and effortlessly. It doesn't feel rough at all; the percussion naturally fits despite contrasting with the lighter tones of the sample. A nice bridge approaches towards the end to change the pace.

J A $ $ pt. 40: This has a night time vibe to it. That "late night creep" as I might call it. That feeling that you are walking under the street lights. There lies a sound in the composition I can't quite describe. It goes back and forth next to the hi hats. Sounds like some kind of screeching. It has my attention. Those sounds go away as the beat is put underwater. The piano goes perfectly with whatever that sound may be, one I fail to describe. Definitely a track for walks on foggy nights.

J A $ $ pt. 44: Oh this beat is a damn favorite! Right away the piano prefaces for the beat; it lets the audience know this is going to be a fun little track. That scratch is so damn perfect, "like an owl-" or whatever he might be cut off from saying haha. The beat is vicious and I'm instantly nodding my head to it.

J A $ $ pt. 41: This track is quite funky. The horns are looped for most of the track. I love love love the hi hats. The vocals thrown in are quite a nice touch, even more so when they are scratched. At one point it all breaks down and the horn loop changes up. The track has a fast pace and carries a lot of energy.

J A $ $ pt. 50: This is a good instance of Melodiesinfonie sampling some jazz guitar. This melody is definitely one that helps me take it slow. The beat feels slower as well. I find that is the case depending on the ways the samples are arranged. Even if the beat itself isn't slower, the vibe changes entirely. I realize that is kind of apparent, it is a pattern in music. The bass on this track is incredibly rich. The snare used on this beat is incredibly interesting. What could it be? Perhaps the sound of glassware clinking together. There is also this fascinating rattle in the background as well. This is a track that possesses many interesting sounds.

J A $ $ pt. 53: This is no doubt my favorite track. The soft female vocal is wonderful. My mind can only think of "how's a kitten" and then "mile's away" as the beat comes in. It is track that is dominated by the bass line and I love it. Yet, towards the end the sample comes back in. It is so catchy and sounds beautiful over the beat.


It is a rainy Friday afternoon and the cold weather has been sweeping in, this music perfectly suits my mood. All these beats mentioned are just a handful of the 22 you can enjoy on, Ja$$, a wonderul beat tape throughout. Its consistency allows the listener to vibe for the whole 40 minutes without so much as a hiccup. The tracks all meet the requirements of a dope checklist. Banging beats, jazzy samples, and creative sounds.

It is free so you have no reason not to treat yourself to this album. Take advantage of this album with the cold weather we have, it enhances the vibe greatly.
Melodiesinfonie - Ja$$

ella - dil withers

          This beat is one that helps you drift off. The piano is warm, the vocals the same but also. When I say eery I mean that in the best possible way. The hum of this woman is unexplainable but its rhythm is never the less soothing. The beat is choppy and it lifts me higher. Everything about this track settles me down.
            I think one effective part of this instrumental is the fact that everything is simple at first. The song creeps in at a steady rate, not too fast, not too slow, just right. As the beat comes in my head doesn't even nod. My mind just slows down and I continue to enjoy the humming and the perfectly placed keys. The birds come in to the picture and it doesn't throw the groove off one bit. Mr. Withers put me in a trance and introducing the disorder of nature didn't disrupt that whatsoever. This dusty tune established isn't getting touched by anything.
           The dialogue comes through at the halfway point, and again fits perfectly. In the same way all the elements of the beat are trippy and unclear so are the vocals. "what we was trying to..." is all I can place. And the conversation comes in.

"Ah sure seems like a long time ago. Funny how time just dance by"

And through other indistinguishable sentences I am only made curious. Part of me is frustrated and wants to know what is it those men are saying? What life experiences could they be reminiscing on? And the other part of me takes over to relax, to sink back into the music, just as the volume starts to sink.

The track fades and so does my consciousness, as a perfect tune to fall asleep to plays along with the afternoon light of a Summer day.

Luna - Breezewax

           This is one of the most beautiful instrumentals I have had the pleasure of listening to. In fact I have known about this song for months, maybe since the beginning of the year. I think it is finally time to write about it. It is a track that lifts me higher and also brings me down. Maybe one way or the other I'm just better after listening to it. It is truly a journey for me. It is funny to think I have only owned the track for a month now. I enjoyed it a great deal in my last week home. It is another piece of music that I cherish and play with reserve. It is the longest track on the album, and it is definitely the sweetest to me.
           Right away the dialogue captures magic. I'll even type it out just because the words make me so happy.

"Where did you get your ideas from?"

"The ideas? Oh man I got a million dreams, that's all I do is dream, all the time"

"I thought you played piano?"

"No! This is not piano, this is dreaming"

Prefacing "Luna" with that was the absolute right thing to do. The mind is instantly on the topic of dreaming. You equate piano to dreaming through the man's words, and so as the piano comes...you dream. 

Beautiful.

         And it'd be right for a beautiful song to come in slowing. The piano followed by Astrud's vocals from her famous "Corcovado". Quiet nights of quiet stars, floating on the silence that surrounds us. That is again another beautiful idea put into our head. Breezewax masterfully picked not only relaxing and thought provoking vocals but the words to match the music. Luna is a track for thinking, dreaming, quiet nights of quiet stars. Luna is a track to float on with the silence that surrounds us.

         The percussion is great too. The beat is there but not too overpowering, boom bip, but not something that takes full control. The piano is the strongest element I feel. Although the bass line is incredible too. I remember how lovely it is. Dah doo doo dah doo doo. Back at home (where the bass could be played loudly) I would sometimes be tranced by just that simple loop.

         This track is really something for dreaming though. As I mentioned above it blessed me that last week in August I had home. This was bumped through several drives in the wee hours of summer nights. I also remember I played this with friends at different times. I'd sit on the floor of my room and dream, just dream, reminisce, hell thinking in any form. What is important is that the music presented my mind for a beautiful canvas with which I could paint my thoughts; my thoughts were all positive because of that. The song makes me incredibly light and happy. It even takes me back to another night, I sat with a girl I love and I layed on the floor; she on the bed. I turned off the lights and let the song play. I was again tranced by the bassline and taken away by the piano and drums, Astrud, all of it! I am still so happy that was one of the last beautiful moments we shared before we left each other for school, the last night.

          I suppose that is something else that comes up. Love. Dreaming involves a lot of thoughts on love for me. It is something I am always gonna want and have. It simply depends on what forms of love I may lack; dreams are shaped by what I lack. After all, a dream is the idea of want, no matter how realistic.

          Thank you Breezewax. I have played this track through all the evening. And I know I'll be happy to enjoy it as I return home, whether in the Winter, or when I am driving around aimlessly in the Berkshires once again, home for the Summer.

Meant for Eachother - P.SUS

            I have had P.SUS on my radar for awhile. That means I saw his music, played his music, loved his music, but never got around to purchasing it. A couple weeks ago I picked up a handful of his albums off his bandcamp and man!! Awesome stuff.
           This is the opening beat to his tape "Heart Beats". Meant for Eachother. It has a soulful boom bap feel with plenty of synths that add to that dreamy hip-hop vibe. It blends the choppy sampled feel with progressing chords and rhythms. The whole track has a nice build to it. It is already something addicting. What sounds like guitar being chopped up and contrasted is absolutely gorgeous. Then the vocals come in, which I am just in love with. Vocals samples in beats just make for something amazing. They are so soulful and as the drums come in the composition is complete.
           I love the bridge and build. That is where P.SUS adds a lot more heart to the track. It builds and builds with this spacey dreamy chord. It is an incredibly uplifting vibe. This is a beat I would enjoy sunsets too, sunrises, anything that is beautiful in nature really. It is also themed around love of course, not just indicated by the title of the beat, but also the album. It is a warm track about love I feel. Not a track you come back to after a relationship and become sad to. It makes me happy, it warms my ears, and so thus my heart as well.

A beautiful little tune, highly recommend you check his stuff out!

Highfive - Vanilla

         

 Soul Beats.

            Highfive is a wonderful banger that blesses Vanilla's "High Life". The track is some rich warm dream. It is a song I'd play when the sun is at its lowest. The Earth is enriched with an orange glow as the last of our life support kisses the horizon. Dusk. The track fits that time of day perfectly. I feel so high listening to it. Between the warm rhythms and the soulful vocals I'm inspired. With a warm environment and sound everything in life feels better.
            The production has a lot of dope shit pieced together. The damn chords are just fabulous. What seems like a guitar plays under those beautiful notes. Being a hip-hop beat, the percussion is boom bap and made for the bobbing of my head. Even as I type I sit here with the track on repeat, drumming kick and snare with my fingers. The vocals are wonderfully sampled. He uses that lovely chopping to scatter the bits across the piece. While sing singing is more difficult it is so much fun to just spit out those few audible words to the beat.
            At one point the track reaches a break. The drums are muted and we are teased as the loop repeats and then it finally breaks down at the very end. About all you can hear are the hi hats along with the main melody. Then oooh my god the way the track is broken down is so ill.

I can picture so much trough this one instrumental, all themed around that dusky time of day that let's the land glow:

• The drives through the mountains come to mind. Lakes, rivers, fields are wizzed by as I cruise to this beat. 
• I can imagine sitting atop a rooftop in an urban area. The day is over and I can relax. The whole world is bustling down below and I, I am happy and at ease.
• The thoughts of goals and dreams being realized. Envisioning some big success story coming together this is the track that would play. An extreme happiness that is dug up as one realized their goals are about to be realized. As I said, the track glows and inspires me; it grants me such thoughts as a success story in my head.

Thanks Vanilla, Highfive has been a favorite for awhile now. Happy to support you and your endeavours. This track accompanies many a day dream, no matter how foolish or realistic.

ALBUM REVIEW: Head Change - MKSB

          A new tape just out last week from MKSB. Delightfully consistent with his work, Head Change is a great follow up to the Cool 2 Chill beat tape. Matt dishes out a lot of delicious sounds, and the tape holds a lot of variety. With this variety provided there are lots of talents showcased. The beats range from: relaxed and jazzy samples, beautiful vocal flips with tons of soul, and a ton of wonderful synths to add an electric feel. The percussion? All the boom nap you want is there, just with Cool 2 Chill there remains plenty of head nodding. With all this said, I'll get into plenty of specifics with some favorites; this will prove difficult as the consistency of this tape in incredible!
          Some more mellow vibes off the tape to begin... Ups and Downs is the prime beat.

Ups and Downs - This one rollssss, such a clean sound. The keys give it a dusty flavor and the tune of them is so warm. The beat is old school too, and I love the boom bap of the older days. The drums are something to. Really nod your head to an infectious boom bap.

Blue - Holding a simple rhythm, Blue is a perfect night track. While also having a strong beat, the snippets of guitar give me a low light feeling. Really fits a dim room, what I consider perfect for lampin'. I can only imagine what I'd be like to go on a drive with this song.

Majestic - This track is absolutely lovely. The track starts out with some lovely soul. The wub wub that travels across my headphones is hypnotic. My mind starts to daydream and everything is softer. Matt throws in plenty of other great elements as well! That sampled "oahah ooh" is so soulful and calming. Vocals are a wonderful treat to any beat, and this one goes in perfectly with the trance already built by the watery rhythm. The piano added later in the song is another fantastic light element. Majestic is a fabulous track.

I Wonder - Another lovely melody. The piano and percussion come together to put my mind on an easy trip down memory lane. I imagine warm sunsets, beautiful summer days, ease of living, and love. My heart is warmed by this track. Reminiscing gets easier and easier as I discover these light songs to serve as the background to my days of thinking.

         I'd like to now cover some of the more soulful tracks, a lot of great vocal sampling on Matt's part. It is that mood music that moves me.

Intro - Well to start the tape off well, we are given this jam first. This one is an absolutely gorgeous tune. Percussion that bangs, a sweet sunny guitar tune, and plenty of "oohs" and "aahhs". You can sing right along to it, and the vibe given off is so fresh. A beautiful start.

Things In Common - A slower track than the intro, this one is just butter. Altering the vocals we get that sweet chipmunk style, which I have always loved. The loop is addicting and I just get touched each time the voice reaches the word "common". The music itself is nice and light.

Somebody Loves You - Definitely heard this tune elsewhere, and I love Matt's take on it. The feeling is dusty, the beat knocks, and the sample is so light. Giving that watery sound to the sample is a great effect! Another nice little sing-a-along.

Push - Right off the bat you can tell this track packs some serious soul. While the vocals are obviously touching, the chords are fantastic. The strings in the back sound so perfect. I of course enjoy the cut off of the drums where one can really enjoy the vocals. That is just a beautiful part, you can tell the words are really being given some more power as they are dragged out. Fantastic!

Never Too Late - This is where one of Matt's tunes shines, the synths of his that is. A great addition to the track, and the loop is so simple and awesome. A clear tune to sing off key too ha ha.

There are many other tracks that I love, and that I recommend you explore! Be sure to check out his older projects, I know he really appreciates it!
Even just last night I got a friend into his music, and know I think I have him hooked on instrumental hip-hop. It is a cool feeling to consider myself a provider of dope sounds.

The album is up on his bandcamp, go purchase! It is only $6 for 21 fantastic beats!
Head Change Beat Tape

Autumn Rain - Freddie Joachim

          Freddie Joachim. Always high quality sounds and his music carries such an elegant vibe. I suppose what I mean by that is his beats always seem to be more sophisticated than the usual instrumentals I enjoy. This particular track, off of his instrumental album "Midway" is a prime example of that.
          The beat itself is simple. Nice jazzy piano and a sharp beat. With some chords and other elements in there. The beat takes me to a lot of places however. Like you are driving fast during a rainy day. The skies are dark, the rain pitter patters on every surface. Something about this beat takes me to places like that, rainy windows, ocean views, anything in black and white. I love that about Joachim's beats. Everything is relaxed in one way or another. The breaks add for an exciting blip of a pause.
          The album cover is also my favorite album cover ever; of course I could say that about alot of covers, but this one is definitely up there. The beats coincide with every bit of the picture. The idea of sailing itself is a luxury, and the perfect way to escape. And what looks like dawn or dusk is a perfect time to be enjoying the ocean. The sky is beautiful and at times you might feel like the only one out there. Ha I am rambling, but for real, the cover soothes me. If I were to place a track closest with the album cover it would most certainly be "Autumn Rain".

Check out his album Midway though! Plenty of more classy boom bap tracks such as this. And a huge collection I might add. Joachim is brilliant, so go celebrate his works!

Graffiti on a Monday Night - Neat Beats

            Superb in every way. This is pure headphone music. Music that bounces back from ear to ear. Music that never ceases to carry you in a new direction. Music that is pretty much indescribable. This has been one of my most favorite compositions. Neat Beats has introduced me to some fantastic instrumental hip-hop. A completely different side as a matter of fact; one that is ambient and elegant. Beats that are: soft, quiet, fluent, elaborate, and of course powerful. This is a song that holds all those qualities. "Graffiti on a Monday Night" being the 1st track to the free EP "Science is My Girlfriend"; is an excellent introduction to Neat Beats. The two producers (A. Fenner & R. Haynes) have delivered unto me a fantastic journey through audio. Once again, the random find of the internet has blessed me.
           I remember skipping over this song when first listening to the album. That guitar is always so uneasy; the purpose being to perhaps paint the rest of the beat. The song has its ups and downs in intensity, and like any good story it reaches a climax. The beat is certainly there and you got a nice melody to take you off and then the strings are introduced. You reach a bit of a stall and the next elements are brought in. The guitar is brought in and with such affects! The job they do of panning sounds is incredible. The drums are brought back in and it gets very "neat". A erry sample is brought, yet it is so lovely. You hear the hums, indecipherable for my ears, but it is amazing. Something about it is so soothing. Then a voice comes through, and it is very harsh, and the character starts asking having a conversation, with whom was perhaps concerned as to why they yelled, "fuckin' die!". We don't know of this character but I feel we have all been in this situation, and on both sides of the conversation. People might wonder what is up when you let out some stress, a prime example being when parents wonder what you are yelling about in your room. Not wanting to cause distress, you play it off. On the receiving end of these yells you wonder if that person was really okay or not, it really depends on how well you are convinced. They my favorite and most powerful sample in the song, when one man yells, "COME BACK HERE! COME BACK HERE!!!". The voice carries so much energy, chills everytime. Then the pace of everything really picks up! I can't affectively describe what actually happens basically the sounds are looped extremely fast and the producers jump around with the sounds. Then an end...

The beats are superb. The stories are engaging. The composition is unique. I myself ended up buying their album, "Cosmis Surgery", and on vinyl at that. Beautiful artwork, and again, another fantastic journey.

ALBUM REVIEW: Neckbreakers Beat Tape: The Expert

         Well before the month passes, I'd just like to get a post up, maybe for the sake of a post getting up. I'd like to put something up before October, and I finally went back to one of my requests, if you can call it one of those. A couple months back, the Expert sent me his tape through e-mail, and I wasn't sure what to do at first. However, through all the corny twitter rappers that follow me, countless video shares of the "hottest" underground rapper, and other artists that e-mail me, this and a few others have surprised me. Not only because this guy actually knows what I like, I of course only assuming that because of the enjoyment I got from this tape, but because it is really the first good submission I have ever gotten. I have gotten some others submissions that might be good, but those haven't been revisited yet. This is the one I have come to revisit and have had in my library for a few weeks now.

       The actual beat tape? Yes it is great. 7 seven solid instrumental tracks, with a consistent sound that makes the album a pleasant listen. Drums have that light shaky feel to it, which is always a good area in hip-hop. Through the samples, the Expert shows you he knows what to do funk and soul. A lot of that good down-to-earth soul feel. Unlike most of my instrumental albums, most being of the hip-hop genre, this one doesn't feel too chopped. Where as listening to artists such as 9th Wonder, Foner, Ta-ku, you know everything has been rearranged. Don't quote me on that ha ha, but when listening to, "another journey" there is no pause, no nothing. Very easy to zone out to.

And of course some blurbs for the beats!

1. Apollo - Starting off with that big band sound. Then oooh it slips right into that late night lurk vibe. With that chop in the background adding a nice touch, you become immersed into the night. And then that elegant night club kinda piano slips in there to take things up another notch. You can tell the beats from here on out are going to have many surprises and change ups.

2. What's Going On Today - Very familiar tune at the start. Then picks right up with that dirty boom-bap, of a fast pace. I really like the vocals on this one, nice to sing along to as you bob your head. Just-- just-- just-- don't understand. Ooh very easy to roll to. Then that ba ba ba takes you out with the sax, a successful jam concluded.

3. Alan Alda - This one is killer. Perhaps the heaviest beat on here. Then a nice melody is constructed with the strings and that slippery feel of the keys. The bass line in the back is just so damn good too. Really one of those beats that works so well at night time, when passing the streets under the yellow street lights. Paints an eery feel that would gladly join other late night instrumentals.

4. Dynamite - Solid loop right off the bat. The little vocal and the change ups of the guitar are quite nice. A pretty simple song working well with just a few different patterns.

5. Another Journey- Swear I have heard that guitar tune somewhere before, in fact I have, but I can't place it. This one is quite relaxing despite the stress I have of not placing the sample. And with some pretty keys attached he throws in some soulful oohs. And I believe that cut is from Common, but I can't be a 100% sure. Another favorite bit is right in the middle when it breaks down for a split second, man that part had me like, oh wow!

6. Buttery Gold - Same start as Apollo. Big band sound again! However, leading in a new direction to give us something powerful and boastful. The brass arrangement samples is very nicely used.

7. Acting the Maggot - Yet another tune I can't place. I have almost definitely heard this. This one is probably my favorite beat off the album though, it is so good. The cutoffs are so hip-hop, and I imagine off an MPC, and are just so great! The tune from Frankie on the guitar is just amazing, as well as Moschops on the cuts. Everything is fused so perfectly and the multiple breakdowns has me looking for something every second on this beat! In the back with the Twiddler you hear that slick bass. OOOH and that end breakdown is so good. Man I just feel every note so much. Woo I absolutely am in love with the whole piece. While at first the cuts seemed to break things too much, I came to absolutely love them. Then the Mr. Pollard just carries you on the home-coming stretch.

I absolutely have come to love this beat tape since taking the time to listen to it. In fact when he sent that e-mail he told me how big a fan he was of the page, I owe it to the guy. And as avid listeners of music that my followers are, you owe it to yourself to try out this tape.

Here is the link!
http://theexpert.bandcamp.com/album/the-expert-neckbreakers-beat-tape

He tells me he has worked with R2 although I am not sure on what, I'll be hitting up Kid Abstrakt about that, I am sure he could tell me. I am now really excited to see what other projects he has coming for me!

ALBUM REVIEW: Synth You've Been Gone - Ta-ku & Roughsoul: Love Child

            When first getting this album I didn't think it was my style. But I always gotta ask myself, 'what is your style?' Well it consists of many: genres, sounds, vibes, and talents. If all the music I listen to is good, then I should like this album! After all, I already knew who Ta-ku was at the time so I knew there would be some definite talent flooding my speakers. Getting comfortable with the idea of this album, I soon embarked upon something epic.
            As the album's title fully suggests, we are hear to enjoy synthesizers!

Every track on hear does something magical, having a library neglect of synthesizers I knew this work would be special to me. The experience would be that much more powerful.

1. We Are - This one starts it off slow and starts that sparking. Then you get that dancing sound of the keys. More elements are slowly introduced, which is an absolute blessing for instrumental music. You get to see how all the pieces blend themselves together, almost as if watching the two producers making it in front of you. An elegant soundscape that pulled me in to the rest of the album!

2. Go! - More boom bip than the last track. This track you can really appreciate the work on the drums! Just a lot of elements that blend together!

4. Here - This one has a slow start much like "We Are". Then it just explodes, crazy fan fare! A real banger on the album.

5. Dip Lower - Carries this incredibly dark vibe in the beginning. Then dropping into a nice tasty jam.

6. Waves - This is another track that holds a dark and creepy tone. The reason I love this one definitely has to be that feel of the rain and those creepy chimes, going perfectly with that dark tone of the piano. Quite the smash!

7. Digital Spit - Titled perfectly, this track picks the album back up and lets us roll on a fast soundscape, that is so flavorful. Packed with various tunes, the main segment has two perfectly working synths, complementing another oh so nicely.

8. Robin Fly - I really like this song that other synth comes in around midway. So perfect, I absolutely love that track, turns so beautiful after starting out to sound like another dark track.

9. Faster - All about going faster, different pieces come back and forth through the song. The segment of keys midway add such a light touch to the song, and their is so much going on. The stuff is quite magical.

12. Ladies - An amazing song to go out on, the synths carry that boastful brass sound, and that bass is way down low and funky. Woo, what a ride this was.

You & Me - Potatohead People

           A nice jam for some more relaxing today. Really love how this one came together, covered Snow Problem some months back and this was also another 5 star track. A nice light tune with an easy sing-a-long quality. A strong boom-bip going into it. Then some not so decipherable vocals, but they sound so nice. Then that great touch of keys, and synths for a little more flavor. Through some more background noise and a little more variety you got a perfect little tune. Just a short post, hoping you could use some more instrumentals.

Dreamy - J Dilla

           J Dilla. Not gonna lie, I don't really listen to him. It should also be noted I haven't had many good opportunities to pick up any of his works. This album I got off some site, and have loved. I will be honest I hated Donuts, none of it made sense to me. I also recently got Ruff Draft, which I also felt wasn't very good, but then again probably just me. However, Vintage, a collection of unreleased instrumentals is awesome. I remember stumbling on this specific track through YouTube, I must have played that for several hours, it is mesmerizing. This and a bunch of his beats are superb, as everyone knows.



         SO I finally took the time to download some of his work, and I knew I would want this instrumental. It is perfect in just about every way. I believe somebody summed up their love for beats something like this, "hard and soft at the same time". Which is a perfect way to put some of my favorite songs together. Light music, backed with a hard beat, makes for something perfect. That is how this song becomes a masterpiece. Those notes carry you ever so easily. The drums are just oh my goodness, then you hear that little wobble every now and then. I lose myself so easily in this song, if I just lie down put some headphones on, I am gone. Perfect track for enjoying the summer, enjoy it to its fullest. 

Hold On Soul - 9th Wonder

          This has got to be one of my favorite loops ever. The way the samples are so in touch with the drums, giving us that light feel with that boom-bap that hip-hop beat-heads love. Those high keys are so damn soulful and just put a smile on my face. The vocal sample of course is just as beautiful. There is not much you can say. Visions of sun sets, clear skies, beautiful light coming through my windows on a long summer day. This beat is so feel good not much tops it, you are just lifted from it. An unexplainable feel good vibe makes my mind and body instantly loosen. Another one of those hip-hop beats that helps you fall in love with just about anything. Lacing this with many experiences in life can increase its potential, unearthing good memories to blend with dreams you have in the future. The more I listen to it the more I remember in the past, and it is great. The older my music library gets, the more it will preserve for me. Damn, I love beats.

 And there you have it! A quick soul loop from one of the master's. 9th has an awesome touch, and if you like this, and aren't familiar with 9th's work, I got like over 200 hundred of these in my library. 1 from a mass download, the rest hand picked and dug for in the dusty bottom of Youtube. So if you want any you know how to reach me!

ALBUM REVIEW: Beattape vol.1 - Foner

           I downloaded this about a week ago. And this is one of my all time favorite beat tapes now. I absolutely love Foner, and I only had Lost and Found for awhile, I got One Love, and then this. This was by far my favorite, although I am not sure why. This tape has absolutely got me in its grip, from its mellow grooves to its goose-bump samples, everything about this is simply epic.
           I won't lie, I can't really tell too much difference in style from producer to producer, yet there are some things I can sorta pick out. With Foner he just uses some awesome samples. All his beats hardly feel like loops, as I may have mentioned before, that is the problem I have with getting 9th beats. When I get those they are usually looped by some guy and uploaded to YouTube, but life goes on. Foner is from the motherland, and he samples Russian commentaries and throws them onto his songs. I don't know why but I just love the Russian language. However, he usually samples American music, which may seem weird, but in terms of soul I think it all happened in the USA, but I can't say I am certain of it.
           I can't really get over how much I am in love with this tape. Every damn song got a 5 star rating within a couple of days, which I usually don't go about doing till I know I really think the song is that good. This has been listened straight through all week, about 17 times. Every beat brings absolute beauty and we got some tear-jerkers in their. You know, that hit of soul you get that is just so powerful it just shakes you up. I'll cover some of my favorites, which is hard to decide. And I might be doing some beats justice with an entire post.

Hi!:  Possesses that very smooth rhythm with that taste of funk, absolutely amazing to listen to!

Roads: This one is near perfect, it starts so slow and elegantly. Then as your progress through the music, you are just brought into something more intense.

Open Up Your Heart: The first very prominent vocal sample we listen to. Just a nice rhythm to it, with that loop of guitar notes and keys laying the background. Then oooh! We get that outro of jazz that I will always love. It holds the same useful jazz tone that "Life's a Bitch" cornet piece held.

Not Over: Great intro from a source that remains still unidentified to me. Nice loop of jazz and wandering vocals. The affect of rain and a couple arguing, and they may have mended their problems right after the music starts, but we'll never know. Those elements sorta set the mood for the piece. It really is nice to listen to on a rainy day, as you might imagine.

Dreams Come True: I really love this one, simply because I know I have heard that tune before. Whether the original sample or another song I don't know where I have heard it, but damn it is nice. Has those sincere strings paired with some soulful lyrics. Very  nice.

Cuz I Luv U: This tune has no vocals, so it is solely for vibing, and damn you can do that. The bass line is ill, and that piano loop does magic to the beat. This song holds a nice uplifting rhythm for the whole time. Then that sharp section of piano just adds to it, a little variation goes a long way.

There's Nothing...: Boy if you don't recognize this sample you are crazy. You almost instantly pick it up from Jay-Z's "Girls, Girls, Girls" right when the beat drops and that beautiful humming comes pouring through the speakers. Before long you break out into a touching song, with those strings again, paired just right to the sample. Then the sampled singer really let's it rip and man do I fall in love with it! Sweet song, Foner really kills it, bringing a new sound to a sample already well known.

Distance: Oh this one is just a loop that I can't resist. Dropping right into the beat with that elegant touch of strings. And the sample is chopped so perfectly, what can I say I am a sucker for soul samples. I just can't help love that singing.

Bye?!: When I mentioned tear-jerkers. This one did it. My god that tune just pulls all the beauty from my head, and the only way it can flow is from my eyes. This one makes me reminisce of all the beautiful things I have ever known in life. This one brings me back to my childhood, while I may be young, there is already so much behind me. It is hard not to like this track, no matter what I am doing, I just get so lost in thought and have an incredible attack of nostalgia, the memories flow on this one, what more can I say. Foner places this track perfectly, leaving me with maybe my favorite just because of how much it affects me. Then I am just left as the beat breaks out, all those memories dug up fade out with the music.

Your link:
http://foner.bandcamp.com/album/beattape-vol-1

Snow Problem - Potatohead People

           Today I type from the same location I always write my stories, but today this one will feel more in celebration to an event. This year's winter has been pretty much non-existent, it has made a season for a skier hard as hell. And there have been no snow days, making the term harder as a student. However, today I awake for my inevitable snow day, excitement started earlier this week and on Wednesday night I found myself planning for school, but oh how bad I wanted this one. But this morning, on the 1st of March 2012 in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, we got our day off for once. After going to bed then awaking at a nice 10 o'clock I am ready to enjoy my day. Noticing I haven't blogged for a minute, I thought of this track I recently started loving. And how perfect this jam suits the situation.

Snow Problems for once!

         

           Anyways about the music. This in an instrumental, in fact the first instrumental I'll be reviewing by itself in a single post, cause the occasion is oh so glorious. This is pulled from a little album called Tomatos, produced by the Potatohead People. Which if you don't know is the marvelous duo of Nick Wisdom and Astrological.
            Right from the start the track just pulls me in, heavily synthesized on the keyboards! Then after a few notes that little ringing comes in and the drums come down, and the claps sound superb! That hit of jazz is also perfect timing, coming right in for a pleasant surprise each moment. Then you have a slower tune also carried out by a keyboard that adds another layer to this super-sonic super-smooth rhythm. And then they add one last sick thing! The nice vocal sample carried out through a low murmur that fits right in. These guys know what they are doing!
            And while it is an instrumental, this does give me some thoughts. I find it interesting how changed a track becomes just through a simple title. This always makes me think of snow, and having a slow morning vibing, just getting ready to work, plowing the driveway, eatin' yo breakfast, what have you ha ha. And this just fits the soft rhythm we set ourselves in everyday with the winter, everything around is just dead and silent and nature, but we keep on with our lives, and this tune was made to keep us going. Something about it just fits into snow days, once you give it the title "Snow Problem". An illmatic beat today, and I hope to bring you more in the future.

Check out Jellyfish Recordings for more details/downloads/dopeness.
http://jellyfishrecordings.com/
And this specific album will get you started!
http://jellyfishrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/tomatos

I am off to enjoy my day, and I hope only the same for you!

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:

http://ta-ku.me/

Day & Night EP, Download:

http://dayandnight.bandcamp.com/ 

Ta-Ku's Soundcloud:

http://soundcloud.com/takugotbeats 

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)