Eliot Lipp and Co Pave the Way

As many artists do, Eliot Lipp has now reached a point in his career where he’s ready to dabble in the business of releasing music, and has thusly stepped away from his analog gear arsenal to start Old Tacoma Records, which, despite its name, is a brand-new label operating out of Lipp’s current homebase in New York.

For the first in a series of compilations the label is releasing, Lipp has compiled tracks from five different artists, as well as thrown a couple of his own in, for Way Pavers Vol. 1. The comp features productions from mostly Tacoma-based artists, each unveiling his own beat style. Which is to say, everything from 4/4 house to instrumental hip-hop to disco shows up here.

As far as his own work is concerned, Lipp spotlights a different side of his musical abilities here, with two tracks that shy away from his trademark wobbly hip-hop, focusing instead on a more abstract style of composition.

Way Payers Vol 1will be out digitally on October 7.

01 Alex Anderson “Regal Dream”
02 Alex Anderson “Devils”
03 Jasia 10 “Mindblowin
04 Jasia 10 “Homework”
05 Leo 123 “Silvo”
06 Leo 123 “Maxine”
07 Zachary Marvick “The Police”
08 Zachary Marvick “Keep It”
09 Eliot Lipp “Space Storm”
10 Eliot Lipp “Space Storm”
11 John Robets “Left Mine Left”
12 John Roberts “Bodywork”

Jasia 10 “Mindblowin”

Working out of Tacoma, Washington, Jasia 10 caught the attention of producer Eliot Lipp and is now signed to his Old Tacoma Records imprint (which is actually brand new and based out of New York). “Mindblowin” comes off Way Payers Vol. 1, the first in a new compilation series from the label that’s an all-out buffet of different producers’ beat styles. Funk and soul inform the instrumental hip-hop rhythms here, with warm pianos and MPC melodies finishing things off. Suffice to say, the track calls to mind Lipp’s trademark wobble-hop sound, so it looks like Jasia 10 has found an apt home at Old Tacoma.

Jasia 10 – Mindblowin

eLZhi “Talkin In My Sleep”

Next up off Slum Village member and Detroit veteran eLZhi‘s debut solo album, The Preface is this sleepy, reverb-drenched number that sees production work from Black Milk. The overall message of the track seems to be about living with dreams and nightmares, and it’s easy to picture eLZhi suffering from a severe bout of insomnia here, wandering up some deserted Motor City street in the truly wee hours of the morning. It’s a contrast to the colorfully robust production on this number, but then, anyone longtime player in the Detroit hip-hop pack is bound to be adept in many musical moods. Photo by Jeremy Deputat.

eLZhi – Talking in My Sleep 1

Hercules and Love Affair Plot Tour

What’s fall without a few shades of disco for the sonic palate? Last time we caught Hercules and Love Affair live, the eight-piece band, led by Andy Butler, turned the venue into a room of dance mayhem that DFA head honcho James Murphy would most surely have approved of. With its self-titled debut tearing up charts, the band and its many keyboards are set to hit the road again this fall. Given that some shows on the last round of dates sold out, you’d best not sleep on these performances:

10/03 San Francisco, CA: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts*
10/04 Los Angeles, CA: Detour Festival
10/17 Chicago, IL: Metro
10/18 Toronto, ON: Opera House
10/19 Montreal, QC: Les Saints
10/22 Boston, MA: Middle East Downstairs
10/31 Philadelphia,PA: Transit
11/01 New York, NY: Hammerstein Ballroom ^
11/02 Washington, DC: 9:30 Club

* w/ = Mos Def and Rogue Wave
^ = w/ The B-52s and James Murphy

Feature: “Hit or Myth”
MP3: “Blind”

Photo by Josh McNey.

Top 10: Land of Talk, Telepathe, Eliot Lipp

Land of Talk
“Corner Phone”
Saddle Creek
Release Date: Out now (digital), October 7 (physical)

Singer/songwriter Elizabeth Powell makes dark and cathartic indie rock that’s perfect for a dismal week like this one. We got ahold of this track and its stripped-down, guitar-driven construction speeds along aggressively, reaching an angry mayhem of riffs and chords that finishes out the song. Download the track here. MN

Telepathe
Chrome’s On It
IAMSOUND
Release Date: October 12 (digital), October 14 (physical)

I thought Mad Decent was going to have the stand-out cut on this EP, which features three remixes of Telepathe’s “Chrome’s On It” track. Turns out, L.A.-based noise punks The Mae Shi took the prize for best reworking, turning the avant-garde original into a haunting, synth-heavy number with lots of energy. Elsewhere, Frankmusik presents a collage of breezy electronics, while the aforementioned Mad Decent crew adds dark basslines fit for the netherworld. JM

Eliot Lipp
Way Pavers Vol. 1
Old Tacoma Records
Release Date: October 7

Wobble-hop’s finest, Eliot Lipp, has gathered five other artists, mostly all from his hometown of Tacoma, WA, and these six producers each contribute a couple of tracks to this compilation. While much of the music is based around funky, sometimes R&B-flavored instrumental numbers, there are a few surprises on here, not the least of which is from Lipp himself, who traded his off-kilter beatmaking for an acoustic guitar and some warped, very leftfield electronics. MN

I am Robot and Proud
Uphill City
Darla
Release Date: September 23

I have to deal with S.F. public transit every morning, so this record, which electronic pop producer Shawn Han-Liem has said is about “struggle and achievements in the big city,” is near and dear to the heart. Those of you bastards not subjected to the headaches of the bus can enjoy the complexly arranged and very catchy array of pianos, electronic keyboards, laptop-generated percussion, and subtle bleeps and blips from your car stereos. JM

Talkdemonic
Eyes at Half Mast
Arena Rock
Release Date: Out Now

Lots of good things coming out of Portland these days, and the duo of Kevin O’Connor and Lisa Molinaro is one of them. In keeping with the theme of this week, which would appear to be gloom and doom, we’re caning this album of soft, melancholy acoustics and electronics. Lots of minor chords, gentle string arrangements, and emotionally wrought vocals here. MN

Sly & Robbie/Amp Fiddler
Inspiration Information
Strut
Release Date: October 2008

Amp Fiddler is near the top of my Favorite Vocalists list, and he doesn’t disappoint on this collaboration with rhythm kings Sly & Robbie. Together, the two parties have crafted an album of funk-driven keyboards, laidback beats, and, of course, the smoothest set of vocals you’ll find this side of Jamie Lidell. This is the first in a new series Strut has begun, which pairs different artists together for joint albums. Stay tuned for Horace Andy, The Heliocentrics, Ashley Beedle, and more. JM

Wunderbugg
Written in Flesh
Self-Released
Release Date: Out Now

It’s tough to craft moving music with lyrics. It’s even harder to do that with a laptop and no words, but that is precisely what this Seattle-based three-piece has done. Written in Flesh travels through an array of programmed rhythms (4/4, shuffle, 2-step, to name a few) and synth-generated melodies, all tightly arranged and hovering over a sense of deep sadness, with nary a word needed to convey the latter. JM

Various Artists
Hallam Foe
Domino
Release Date: Out Now

Hallam Foe is the soundtrack to a film of the same name, which documents a young man (the dude from Billy Elliot) as he travels through a plot of dead mothers, suspect step-parents, and other family troubles. Naturally, the accompanying tracks are mostly on the somber tip, with an eerie electronic number from the Junior Boys, a quiet acoustic cut (with a glockenspiel) by U.N.P.O.C., and soft, breathy vocals from Juana Molina, among other goodies. MN

Her Space Holiday
XOXO, Panda, and the New Kid Revival
Mush
Release Date: October 7

Marc Bianchi’s known for being an indie-tronic master who relies on a computer for sufficient amounts of his songwriting. But the California-born producer took a left turn with this one and tossed the machine aside, choosing instead to rely on folks-style jams and organic percussion. While those who enjoyed Bianchi’s electronic/acoustic blend probably won’t dig this new sound, those who simply know and like him for being an adept songwriter will enjoy visiting another musical side of this artist. MN

David Foster Wallace

He wrote a 1,100-page novel that contained about 400 footnotes and was impossible to put down. He issued witty, insightful commentary on American society in his essays, and he always reminded us to stay conscious in a zoned-out world. If given my choice between having good music and having David Foster Wallace back with the living, I wouldn’t hesitate twice before taking the latter. Rest in Peace. JM

Text by Jennifer Marston and Maverick Newberry.

Pictured: Land of Talk. Photo by Joseph Yarmush.

Pattern is Movement “Sound Of Your Voice (CYNE Remix)”

Cultivating Your New Experience, or CYNE, as the hip-hop collective is more commonly known by, consists of MCs Akin and Cise Star, along with producers Speck and Enoch. With a new album, Pretty Dark Things just about packaged up and ready to drop, the group members took some time out to flex their remix muscles. As seems to be the trend of late, CYNE chose to take on a track by Philadelphia, PA-based indie rockers Pattern is Movement, adding politically charged raps and a hip-hop-style beat to the original.

Pattern Is Movement – Sound Of Your Voice (CYNE Remix) 1

Raglani Of Sirens Born

Having self-released a string of experimental electronic recordings, Keith Fullerton Whitman protégé Joseph Raglani signed to Kranky–home to all that is good and droney–for Of Sirens Born, a majestic-sounding concept piece. The record follows closely to a seafaring theme (ie. “Rivers In” and “Perilous Straits”) and like a traveler washed ashore (also immortalized in a track name) in a foreign land, it explores the wonder and terror of unfamiliar territory. Songs swell and expand, revealing fresh layers as they progress; “Washed Ashore” toys with heavy distortion before returning to ambient textures. The album’s centerpiece is the 10-minute epic “The Promise of Wood and Water,” an intoxicated haze that brings to mind the far-off voices of distant cultures. Delicate and surreal.

Wiley and Beenie Man “Rolex It Up (The Heatwave Remix)”

Any fan of grime, electro, and all genres in between likely spent the summer mouthing the lyrics of Wiley’s “Wearing My Rolex” to their friends. London/Bristol collective Heatwave have now gotten their hands on the track and have turned it into a dancehall-rave anthem by pitting it against Beenie Man’s voice, and we can’t understand a word that either artist is saying. Doesn’t matter though. Once this track is thrown into Serato, no one’s going to care about anything besides tearing a hole in the dancefloor.

Wiley & Beenie Man – Rolex It Up (The Heatwave Refix)

Mobile Planet: “Jesus Phone” Gaming

With Apple launching a cheaper, faster, and better iPhone in July, along with quick, easy, and–most importantly–legal development software for the platform, many are touting the “Jesus Phone” as the next great portable gaming machine. XLR8R takes a look at the best bets for the little giant.

Cro-Mag Rally (Pangea)
While rumors of various kart-racing games for the iPhone swirl around (Crash Nitro Kart chief among them), Cro-Mag Rally remains the forerunner in mini-motor vehicle racing for the platform. As two caveman brothers, you use all manner of prehistoric tech to race through the epochs of time using the iPhone’s built-in tilt-measuring accelerometer to steer.

Super Monkey Ball (Sega)
Released for the GameCube nearly seven years ago, Super Monkey Ball sees a surprising (yet natural) rebirth on Apple’s machine. The tilt-sensitive iPhone lends itself perfectly to the cheeky simian-rolling, banana-collecting mechanics that have made the game a hit for so long.

Peggle (PopCap Games)
Among the most popular games already available on various platforms is Peggle. The 2D strategic puzzler has universally been praised as one of the most addictive games since Tetris, and the inclusion of Peggle into the iPhone library will ensure a loyal fanbase ready for more colored-peg-on-ball action.

Spore (EA)
By far one of the most anticipated games of the year for PC and Mac owners, Spore is likely the iPhone’s best chance at mainstream gaming acceptance. The creature-building, evolution-emulating title by Sims creator Will Wright looks to break down the barrier between technology and God in the most innovative way since stem-cell research.

No-Mac Jac
No iPhone? You can still get these awesome games for any handset.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge
of the Warlords (THQ)
Mixing elements of puzzle games and classic RPGs, Puzzle Quest has become known as a game that both the hardcore and the casual fan can get into with simple gameplay and attractive visuals.

Diner Dash 2: Restaurant Rescue (Glu Mobile)
Among the most popular mobile titles, Diner Dash 2: Restaurant Rescue is essentially a strategy title that involves the successful operation of a restaurant, from seating customers to delivering orders, all for the purposes of saving a suffering diner from the landlord’s bulldozer. Mel’s Diner meets Electric Boogaloo?

Oregon Trail (Gameloft)
As one of the few videogames you were actually allowed to play in school back in the day, Oregon Trail, the learning game that had you travelling by wagon to Oregon in the 1800s, left quite an impression on many children of the 1980s. This mobile version keeps the themes and updates the graphics for a mobile audience. Dying of cholera still sucks.

Battle Rapper (Longtail Studios)
Like Guitar Hero for the hip-hop set, Battle Rapper uses rhythm-based controls to tell the story of a fallen superstar who tries to make his way back to the top. One of the best ways to keep it semi-real while on the subway.

Johnny Osbourne Truths and Rights Deluxe Edition

One of the great things about reggae’s continual riddim recycling is that it gives new life to vintage material. Such is the case with Johnny Osbourne’s “Truths and Rights,” re-licked by Massive B for Richie Spice’s “Youths Dem Cold” in 2005. The original version kicks off this remastered reissue (featuring six extra tracks), and it’s just as inspirational today as it was in 1979. “Children, run come to truth and rights/That’s what I’m about,” Osbourne proclaims; tracks like “Sing Jay Stylee” and “Nah Skin Up” sound equally classic. Produced by Sir Coxsone Dodd and featuring Studio One’s stellar cast of musicians (including Jackie Mittoo, Ernest Ranglin, and Roland Alphonso), Truth and Rights reminds reggae lovers of just how foundational the proto-dancehall era was.

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