“Damscray” (Used 4 times)

In 2010, the Error-Broadcast label joined forces with Siberian music blog Gimme5 to curate Fly Russia, a compilation featuring some of Russia's finest beatsmiths. Drawing inspiration from hip-hop, bass-heavy dubstep, and a full spectrum of headphone-pleasing electronic sounds, these artists are on to something big and this comp is a perfect introduction. Fly Russia has already inspired an in-depth Pitchfork feature with special guest mixes from the 8bit-infused Pixelord and 80s/punk-inspired DZA, and an LA Times profile.

One of my favorite artists from this compilation is Damscray, aka Albert Khasanov from Orenburg. Human Workshop first introduced us to Your Rainbow Color Changer, with its intoxicating grooves and Middle Eastern-inspired analogue sounds. But Damscray's been at it since age twelve, and he's a real chameleon, appearing as half of Demokracy, Planet Terror, and Original fools and evolving with every release. So far this year, Damscray's already released Make Me Juke, an EP of Chicago-style juke music on Pixelord's Hyperboloid label (Russia's own Hyperdub?), as well as the Blot Method EP on Gimme5's new imprint.

If you have yet to dig into the virtual crates of Error-Broadcast label, they've also released music by the likes of Shlohmo, Comfort Fit, and KenLo Craqnuques, along with brand new releases from Fly Russia's own Pixelord, DZA, and OL. There's also some nice overlap with the new Jumble branch of Russia's FUSElab -- check out their debut compilation here.

As their Octopus logo implies, Human Workshop has many tentacles. They are at once a commercial CD label, a free netlabel, an E-Zine, and a sound design company. Based out of the Netherlands but with core crew members also living in Germany and the UK, HWS is a team of sound designers, music producers, web developers, and composers operating in a range of electronic and organic sound.

On the one hand, HWS has done original sound design and production for companies like Nike and the BBC, and their site offers a mix of quality stock music for commercial companies. On the other hand (the left one), Human Workshop offer gigabytes worth of their catalog for free under Creative Commons licenses. This allows noncommercial producers to make creative interpretations of HWS releases and encourages other promotional use. On yet another hand (or octopus tentacle), HWS keeps an E-Zine for fellow producers, sound designers, musicians, and "intellectual gangsters" -- like Free VST Plug-Ins and a nice article about the FMA.