macedonia (FMA Admin)

If you like your hip-hop rough, rugged, and real, make sure to keep tabs on Diamond District.  Based in Washington, D.C., their debut album In The Ruff has been catching the ears of those that lean towards the '90s production style of the genre.  Longtime producer Oddisee is joined by X.O. and YU on the microphone, each spitting gritty rhymes over grimy beats reflective of present-day D.C.

Back in May of 2010, Diamond District visited the studios of KEXP for a live session.  "The Shining" is a good representation of what you can expect from their album.  As for Oddisee, his work ethic is tireless, constantly creating instrumentals you can't help but snap your neck to.  For further proof, make sure to stop by his Bandcamp page and take a listen to his Odd Season EPs and particularly his Traveling Man album...

To date, there are now over 25,000 tracks available from the Free Music Archive.  Between you and me, I felt like I got lost in the shuffle some 5,000 tracks ago.  If 2010 has taught me anything, it let me know in no uncertain terms that, as much as I may want to leave my digital footprints all over the place, my real feet had better keep day job and family life responsibilities in constant view.  It was life's way of telling me to keep the main thing the main thing.  In addition, whether it's Creative Commons releases or otherwise, I will be playing catch-up with music for the rest of my life...and I'm fine with that.  Thank goodness for those who make it their business to post regularly here, highlighting their favorites and uncovering those hidden gems scattered throughout this glorious resource.

I figured if I was going to ease my way back into this, I really should start with a somewhat familiar face to get myself motivated.  A few weeks ago, I came across the Dance Audit Hour compilation on Uncharted Audio and was pleasantly surprised to see a contribution from Cursor Miner.  I was first introduced to him in 2001 through the Fresh Fruit compilation on Lo Recordings.  He had a song on that called "Never Been Seen," which was aptly described as a cross between Beck and David Bowie.  He has recorded several albums for Lo Recordings and also remixed artists such as Fischerspooner and The Chap along the way.

Today's featured cut is "Leave It Out," which features pounding techno rhythms underlying synth-pop style songwriting and Miner's understated yet captivating vocals.  You may find yourself under the same spell that it puts me under whenever I listen to it, immediately moving your mouse towards the play button the moment the song comes to an end...

Simon Green has recorded several albums under the name Bonobo, but none that have been as well received as his latest full-length, Black Sands.  He's at his most symphonic with this one, the swell of strings and the arrangement of chopped-up jazz drum solos adding to the cinematic feel of the release.  Much has been made of his collaborations with the sole vocalist on the album, the captivating Andreya Triana.  It's easy to see why once you hear "The Keeper."  It's a bittersweet and melancholy tune, one that's dressed with xylophone riffs, rhythm guitar, and a languid hip-hop backbeat in its original version.

Stripped down to Triana's amazing vocals and some guitar work, this live version from the KEXP studios is a special one, indeed.  Even without the extra elements featured on the album, this song still delivers and exceeds the emotion felt in the original.  Make sure to check out the video featuring the album version of the song after the jump...

I have long since given up on any ambitions to become a WFMU DJ.  Time and logic continue to be enemies in that regard.  However, I can console myself through this resource by letting others know about music that excites me with every blog post and mix that I create.  For that, I want to take this moment to thank the people at WFMU who have worked so hard to make this archive a reality and for allowing the rest of us out there a space to talk about and champion the sounds that make life on earth bearable.

This mix is dedicated to all those who have a need to offset their reality.  Thank you for listening.

Those who dig through Creative Commons crates on the regular probably are familiar with blocSonic releases, all of which have been hip-hop or downtempo up until now.  However, to get hung up on that fact is to ignore their genre-busting netBloc series, which has consistently schooled us on choice netaudio selections from around the world, no matter what musical category they get filed under.  It is this series that sets the stage for blocSonic's latest release, the self-titled debut album from Friends or Whatever.

Clearly something wonderful is happening in Richmond, Virginia.  It's from out of this region that producer Just Plain Ant was called upon to deliver blocSonic's first original release, the sensational Dig Deep album.  Guitarist/producer Mark Herbkersman is another product of Richmond and the sole member of Friends or Whatever, writing and performing all the songs.  Both singles, "The Burns We Earn" and "Stuck In My Soul," have already seen remix support from the likes of Just Plain Ant, Tha Silent Partner, and a host of others.

If you like the rock/electronica hybrid that Phantogram presented us with last year, you're sure to appreciate this album.  The abrasive guitars and jaded lyrical contemplations of "Piss Test" and "Shattered" ride alongside the synth-driven hypnosis of "Everybody Stopped Calling Me," its percussive accents sounding like digital cicadas.  There's even a brief moment set aside for the futuristic beats of "Smoke Floats" and the ironic lounge of "Richmond Is Killing Us All."  It's an auspicious debut that wouldn't sound out of place on Warp Records or Ghostly International. 

Respect is due to Mark for sharing his FoW album with the world through Creative Commons means and thanks to blocSonic for making this one available through the Free Music Archive.  The attached songs below, "If Everybody Here Knew Me" and "The Terminal Replies," further explore the guitar-driven and keyboard-laden terrain that this release resides within...

With all of the shine that Chicago gets for its role in bringing house music to the world, some tend to overlook its involvement within other genres.  On that note, look who blew in from the Windy City to the FMA:  MC/Producer St. LaRok. 

A member of the Miami Beat Wave Productions crew, LaRok leans heavily on the lessons learned from late '80s/early '90s hip-hop, bringing his own intricate instrumentals and lively wordplay to the rap game.  If there's any truth to 2010 ushering in a second "Golden Age" for hip-hop, his Leap Year EP could certainly be used as evidence for that argument.  To get better acquainted with this artist's work, here's a double shot of LaRok to showcase his talents on the mic and behind the drum machine.

Intro tracks don't get much better than "TIME/Leap," featuring the St. flowing fluidly over a shoulder-hunching beat that allows hip-hop to flirt with bossa nova patterns.  Meanwhile, "Archetype" focuses solely on LaRok's production, which pits rolling, sharp snares against a cloud of inviting chords.  Consider him one to watch as this new decade gets underway...

You know why I like Vosotros?  Because it's a record label that doesn't really feel like one.  Their imprint is more of this open-ended philosophy towards music.  They release and champion what they like and one project doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the next.  Sometimes songs lie next to each other on the same EP that are as different as night and day, the only connecting factor being the circumstances that brought a particular collection of musicians together.  That and the fact that Vosotros believes in the music they want to expose others to, and that alone makes their releases intriguing.

The Rhoda EP is a great example, consisting of five songs that were each released on a weekly basis until the EP was complete.  Spaced-out Brazilian numbers peacefully coexist with experiments in dubstep and even prog-rock/gospel fusion.  Week one resulted in a lush folk song entitled "New Farmer," featuring the always engaging vocals of Mia Doi Todd.  The accomplished team of musicians behind her include Miguel-Atwood Ferguson on viola (who was partially responsible for the Suite For Ma Dukes in J Dilla's honor), Rob Hardt on flutes, and Nat Mcintosh making his presence felt on the tuba.  Gabe Noel is the gentleman you can thank for writing, mixing, programming, and recording the tune.

Now that you know all of that, push play and enjoy the next three and a half minutes of aural tranquility...

I still can't get used to using the term "wonky" as it pertains to leftfield beats, be it unstable hip-hop instrumentals, dubstep or some derivative thereof.  I always feel somewhat silly whenever it crosses my lips.  However, I recently heard someone use the term "future motion" to describe this constant mutation of bass and rhythm.  While I'm not one for blanket terms, there's something about that one that I like.  It suggests that the post-Dilla generation of beatmakers aren't sitting still.  Even while some continue to champion the energetic sounds of drum and bass, sonic inbalances force other hybrids to show up, from grime to dubstep to whatever's coming next.

I would like to think that the Error Broadcast netlabel had something to do with this momentum when they dropped their Bag of Nothingness compilation last year.  Showcasing a collection of beatmakers from across the globe, it gave you a glimpse of the shift that was taking place when it came to hip-hop production.  Taking cues from the dons that came before them (Dilla, Prefuse 73, Dabrye, and others), boom bap is wrapped up in synthesizer sheen and pushed towards experimental territory.  The compilation made Error Broadcast a must-watch netlabel for 2009 and they show no signs of stopping now that a new decade is here.

You don't need to look any further than the title track to convince you that this compilation is worth the space on your MP3 player.  Produced by Comfort Fit, it's an intriguing meld of rubbery synth and bass riffs caressing a slightly out-of-sync percussive slap.  It sounds just as fresh now as the day it premiered, and you can't help but get excited about the rhythmic possibilities of what lies ahead...

Remember that Simpsons Christmas episode where Bart burns down the Christmas tree and then lied about it, bringing lots of wanted media attention on himself and his family?  If you've seen it, you might recall Gary Coleman voicing himself, except he was a security guard for a television station.  At one point, he's on the phone with a Chinese restaurant complaining about his order:

"I ordered a galaxy of prawns.  Three prawns is hardly a galaxy."  I'm going somewhere with this, I promise.  Just stay with me...

Someone far wiser than myself once suggested to always pay attention to that which comes in threes.  Earlier this month, an unexpected package arrived at my home.  It turned out to be a vinyl copy of Everybody, the debut album from Ja Prawn.  One week later, songs from the album showed up over at Promonet.  Not too long after that, I'm track digging through the latest uploads here at the Free Music Archive and there they are again.  While three prawns may be short of a galaxy, the significance of Ja Prawn showing up in my life three times is not lost on me.  It was a no-brainer in terms of which artist I was supposed to feature today.

It just so happens that Ja Prawn is a trio consisting of musicians John Kirby, Bram Inscore, and Pete Mcneal.  They've played with a number of notable artists, including Beck, Money Mark, and DJ Z-Trip.  The attached track is the album's opening cut, "Soulja Boi," which should give you a good idea of what to expect from the album.  It's got a hip-hop lean, but it's subtle and clearly takes a backseat to the synths and the bass.  It's sleek, but lo-fi at the same time.  It tries to exude a certain sexiness, but there's this endearing video game geekiness that gets in the way.  It's a fun cut and one that deserves a home here at the Archive.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a drop card to redeem...