Domingo isn’t exaggerating much when he calls himself “the most underrated.” Despite carrying a production résumé that boasts top-notch singles with KRS-One, Big Pun, Non-Phixion, and others, this NYC native has received very little recognition over the years. Unfortunately, even with his debut, he’s not likely to garner wide acceptance-most of these robust, sample-driven tracks (with Big Daddy Kane, Guru, etc.) sound like they could have been recorded a decade ago. But while Domingo hasn’t conformed to modern production trends, he still delivers East Coast-centric fire nearly every time. Nostalgic hip-hoppers will love this album.
Do Make Say Think You, You’re A History in Rust
Do Make Say Think’s fifth record sounds like a celebration-and it should. Twelve years into their career, the Ontario-based post-rock quintet is more relevant than ever, having established themselves as forerunners of DIY instrumental rock. You, You’re a History in Rust marks a strident new era for the band, with songs like “A With Living” and “In Mind” breaking the mold by including vocals for the first time. Elsewhere, “The Universe!” explodes from the start, abandoning the formulaic crescendos that once defined post-rock. Complete with guest vocals from Akron/Family and warm production from guitarist Ohad Benchetrit, History is a solid listen through and through. As every new record is their best, it’s clear that Do Make Say Think is doing something right.
Electrelane No Shouts, No Calls
Previously, Electrelane’s records reveled in the space between pop accessibility and post-rock experimentation: Yes, there were extended piano solos and noisy distortion, but there were also frontwoman Verity Susman’s soft vocals and catchy harmonies. However, on the band’s fourth album, they tip the scale rather briskly to the pop side, and it’s all for the better. “To the East” sounds like Nico fronting The Strokes, whereas “Five” brings together the best parts of Sonic Youth and Stereolab. It seems like Electrelane has realized what most bands only dream of: the perfect balance.
El-P I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead
Last year, Def Jux barely registered a blip on the hip-hop radar, but if the label’s head honcho El-P can help it, 2007 will tell a different story. On El’s long-overdue sophomore solo shot, his intricate beats and rhymes sound as if they were inspired by an impending apocalypse-like calculated chaos. At times, like on the overly busy, rock-tinged “Dear Sirs,” his sonic angst can get the best of him. But more often his layered synths, dirty drums, and abstract social commentary makes for some quality next shit-just what Def Jux needs to resurface in ’07.
Franz & Shape Acceleration
In 2005, a 2ManyDJs bootleg saw Franz & Shape’s crazed electro-slammer “Countach” bumping uglies with LCD Soundsystem’s “Daft Punk…” so hard that anybody who heard it instantly wanted more. Fast-forward to the Italian twosome’s debut LP, Acceleration, which is both more and less than we bargained for. Acceleration goes past the darkly sexed modulating synths of instrumentals like “Countach” and “Channel One” to slide into outright new-wave fetishism. The dirty backbone is still there, but now comes coquettishly draped in Soft Cell-esque guest vocals-how you’ll take this depends on your opinion of ’80s revivalism in general.
Eluvium Copia
Previously known for his balance of guitar-washed drone and ambient noise, Matthew Cooper’s Eluvium project shows maturation through controlled simplicity on Copia. Without guitars, the record lends a sense of timelessness to Eluvium’s pastoral pieces. At times, as on “Prelude for Time Feelers,” his work surpasses his peers’, achieving a level of sincerity on par with composers like Arvo Pärt. Even less structured tracks, like “Seeing You Off the Edges,” are clear and intentional. By subtracting layers and letting his compositions stand on their own, Matthew Cooper has created a profound and lasting record.
Elektrochemie Mucky Star
Elektrochemie’s “You’re My Kind” was one of our favorite tracks from 2006. We usually play it right when we are about to take the party to the next level. “Mucky Star” has that same feel to it. The instrumental in particular is really driving and just builds and builds.
Dilla Donuts Tribute
Saturday, February 10th, 2007
Rare Form & Stones Throw in association with Miss Nelch, Okayplayer, Dork Mag, Brooklyn Bodega & Wax Poetics Present
Donuts Are Forever
A special tribute to James Yancey a.k.a. J Dilla/Jay Dee
With:
DJ Scratch (legendary producer/DJ, EPMD)
DJ Soul (Lotus NYC)
DJ Akalepse (APT)
DJ Brainchild (Dork Mag)
Bill Sharp (Fat Beats, East Village Radio)
Saucey (NYC / LA)
Pharoahe Monch
Galapagos Art Space, 70 North 6th Street, Brooklyn
10pm, No charge, but donations encouraged
Mike Relm to Tour
San Francisco multimedia turntablist Mike Relm and New York based art group Blue Man Group are slated to visit a whopping 62 cities in the coming months, the finale for which will be Relm’s appearance at Coachella.
Though Relm’s approach to making music is difficult to categorize, there is an obvious hip-hop and turntablism influence in it. What sets him apart from the genre is the incorporation of manipulated visuals, which creates “a soundtrack with a film.” His trio is known for utilizing sophisticated lighting, paper, and even paint in their shows. Not to be side-lined as merely an obscure art act, it is worth noting that Relm has performed with the likes of Common and Echo & the Bunnymen, which speaks to the versatility of his work. He is also collaborating on two other projects: a track for the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie, and the Disney Channel series “Too Many Robots,” in conjunction with Kid Robot.
Mike Relm hits the road February 2, 2007.
Tour Dates
02/02 Seattle, WA: Everett Events Center
02/03 Portland, OR: Memorial Coliseum
02/06 Spokane, WA: Spokane Arena
02/07 Boise, ID: Idaho Center
02/09 Sacramento, CA: Arco Arena
02/10 Oakland, CA: Oakland Arena
02/11 Bakersfield, CA: Rabobank Theatre
02/12 Los Angeles, CA: Gibson Amphiteatre
02/13 Phoenix, AZ: US Airways Arena
02/15 Amarillo, TX: Amarillo Civic Center
02/16 Bossier City, LA: Centurytel
02/17 Biloxi, MS: Beau Rivage
02/18 Little Rock, AR: Alltel Arena
02/19 Huntsville, AL: On Braun Civic Center Arena
02/21 Tallahassee, FL: Tallahassee Leon CC
02/22 Orlando, FL: Amway Arena
02/23 Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Bank Atlantic Center
02/24 Tampa, FL: St. Pete Times Forum
02/25 Ft. Myers, FL: Germain Arena
02/27 Miami, FL: Bank United Center
03/01 Columbia, SC: Colonial Center
03/02 Norfolk, VA: Constant Center
03/03 Charlottesville, VA: John Paul Jones Arena
03/04 Knoxville, TN: Thompson Boling Arena
03/06 Richmond, VA: Richmond Coliseum
03/08 Youngstown, OH: Chevrolet Centre
03/09 Washington, DC: Patriot Center
03/10 Atlantic City, NJ: Etess Arena
03/11 Raleigh, NC: RBC Center
03/13 Columbus, GA: Columbus Civic Center Arena
03/15 Evansville, IN: Roberts Stadium
03/16 Memphis, TN: Desoto Civic Center
03/17 Louisville, KY: Freedom Hall
03/18 Dayton, OH: Nutter Center
03/20 Binghamton, NY: Broome County Vem Mem Arena
03/21 Syracuse, NY: Vet Memorial Arena at Oncenter
03/22 Buffalo, NY: HSBC Arena
03/23 Orilla, Ont Can: Casino Rama Entertainment Center
03/24 Detroit, MI: Palace of Auburn Hills
03/25 Grand Rapids, MI: Van Andel Arena
03/27 Green Bay, WI: Resch Center
03/28 Duluth, MN: Decc Arena
03/30 St. Paul, MN: Xcell
03/31 Kansas City, MO: Kemper Arena
04/01 Wichita, KS: Kansas Coliseum
04/03 Peoria, IL: Peoria Civic Center Arena
04/04 Dekalb, IL: Convocation Center of NIU
04/05 Souix City, IA: Tyson Events Center
04/06 Fargo, ND: Fargodome
04/07 Sioux Falls, SD: Sioux Falls Arena
04/09 Rochester, MN: Mayo Civic Center
04/10 Madison, WI: Kohl Center
04/11 Columbia, MO: Mizzou Arena
04/13 Birmingham, AL: BJCC
04/14 New Orleans, LA: New Orleans Arena
04/15 Mobile, AL: Mobile Civic Center Arena
04/17 Greenville, SC: Bi-Lo Center
04/19 Philadelphia, PA: Wachovia Center
04/20 Hershey, PA: Giant Center
04/21 Baltimore, MD: 1st Mariner Center
04/22 Wilkes Barre, PA: Wachovia Arena
Lifesavas Release Gutterfly on Quannum
While considering the approach for their next album, Oregon hip-hop group Lifesavas created a complete fictional work. Gutterfly is inspired by a fictitious character, political activist and writer Baraka Feldman. He nearly completed a blaxploitation film in 1980, but it would be over 25 years before the project saw the light of day. After being diagnosed with cancer, he passed his ideas on to hip-hop producers JUMBO the Garbageman and VURSATYL (a.k.a. Lifesavas) who, in conjunction with their DJ, Rev SHINES, decided to incorporate the characters from Feldman’s unfinished piece into their next album.
Gutterfly sees Bumpy Johnson (VURSATYL), Sleepy Floyd (JUMBO), and Jimmy Slimwater (DJ Rev SHINES) as “a trio of ghetto superheroes for the 00s.” The basic plot of the album doesn’t fall too far from most blaxploitation films, but what gives the project life is synergy between the imagined characters and the lives of the performers. The end result is less a musical adaptation of the film and more a dialogue between the musicians and the story.
Gutterfly is out April 24, 2007 on Quannum Projects.
Tracklisting
1. Intro – “Welcome To Razorblade City”
2. Double Up prod. Oh No
3. Gutterfly feat. Camp Lo
4. No Surprise prod. Vitamin D
5. Shine Language
6. Take me Away
7. A Serpant’s Love feat. Ish
8. Dead Ones feat. Fishbone
9. The Warning
10. Superburn prod. Jake One
11. Night out feat. George Clinton & Meganut
12. The Squeeze feat. Smif ‘N’ Wessun
13. Long Letter feat. Don Blackman
14. Freedom Walk feat. Dead Prez & Vernon Reid
15. Celebrate – Finale
Cameron Octigan
