Now that Cannibal Ox has bitten the dust, look out for crews like Automato to take up the mantle of edgy rap. These guys’ advantage: their jumbled lyrical blend of dream imagery and sexual frustration is backed with arrangements by mega-talented dance-punk production duo DFA. So check for la difference: those yearning piano chords in the distance, that skip in the beat, that yelping shred of guitar…and contrast it all against the flipside’s equally impressive, straight-ahead funky space-hop remix by Jumbo of the Lifesavas. Compelling shit.
Wevie Stonder Kenyan Harry EP
These Brit absurdists follow up this year’s Drawing on Other People’s Heads album with this six-track vocal and instrumental mess of found sounds and hilarious, well-executed ideas. Swinging a needed sense of humor into po-faced experimental electronica, Wevie Stonder bounces here between dizzying cut-up techno, grungy and ominous downtempo and silly non-dance pop. Highlights include the poly-perverse folk tune “Stichin” and the loping, Beefheart-ish “Lady’s Leg Licked”: “I saw a lady look the other way when a cat came over and licked her on the leg…” Indeed. Lighten up and get a load of this. “
DJ Presto Breaking Concrete
Presto keeps making his impressions. On this, he flips the script by lacing the A-side with three understated DJ tool-ish loop beats that variously sport distorted guitar, muted vibes and Rhodes riffs over sprightly downtempo beats. Flip it for “Breath Control,” which features smooth mic man Lowd flowing excitable early-’90s jazzy style and DJ Haul cutting it up in fine style.
Madlib Slim’s Return
It turns out that LA’s wunderkind producer wasn’t exactly finished messing around in Blue Note’s vaults when he finished his album of remixes for the label from which “Slim’s Return” originates. This plate finds Madlib juicing up Donald Byrd’s “Steppin Into Tomorrow” with electro, floating some airy shuffle-funk through Horace Silver’s “Dimples,” and running an unreleased Mizell Brothers track, “Young Warrior,” through both down- and uptempo phases. As usual with this guy, we’re talking expertly reinterpreted jazz soul music.
TY Wait A Minute RMXS
Big Dada continues their crusade for quality with two remix discs of this snappy relationship tune inna midtempo style from Ty’s slammin’ sophomore album, Upwards. On his smooth, Rhodes-soaked treatment that comes with the original, Detroit man Dwele replaces the guitar line that accompanies the chorus’s female backing vocals with warm trumpet notes. The other disc brings things back to the UK. Fusion of ‘Big & Bashy” fame strips the tune down and goes murky, bringing in young London MC Microw to present the lady’s point, while the one like Sticky accelerates and chops things up, changing the chorus melody into a hot 2-step rub.
Electric Boogie Ridddim Stopp Riddim
Riding high off of the VP label’s reissue of Tanya Stephens’ “What a Pity” over 2002’s globally acclaimed Doctor’s Darling riddim (now with another set of vocals), German reggae label Germaican comes with two digi-dancehall jams. Alongside his voicing of his own buzzy and chopped-up Stopp riddim, D-Flame hands it to stars like Chico, Alleykat and Spectacular, whose chugging “Move” shares a 45 with Ce’cile’s lovely “Hardcore Lovin.” Meanwhile, Berlin star band Seeed rocks a charging synth bassline for the siren-filled Electric Boogie riddim, over which German MC Nosliw sounds his “Alarm” before letting Kiprich, Ward 21 and Elephant Man each bring their vocal steez. Seven 7″ singles for one riddim in the first round-not bad. At germaican.net, Germaican just don’t stop.
Wanted and Respected A Good Look
Note to the hip-hop distribution industry: please get this damn record out to people. In this follow-up to their underground hit “Fix Your Face,” Brooklyn MCs Potent and Trife Sr. swing a smooth, braggadocious flow over a crackin’ beat by Sin-Bo and Doggie Diamonds. But the highlight here is the way these cats sing the chorus to the catchy-ass string sample. Now that’s a hook. Strangely, the flipside’s drinking tune, “For No Reason,” features some West Coast-style high-register strings. Regardless, the A-side is worth the price alone. Support!
Nathan Drew Larsen Are You Sensitive
Could ya make it hurt just a little more, whisper-chants our man Larsen to potent effect on this EP’s seductively edgy and wonderfully minimalist title tune. Match it up with the android-with-a-sax touches on the similarly stripped down “Made By Hand” on the flipside, and you’ve got some effective ammunition for the adventurous afterhours dance.
Luck & Easy Pimp Soul Blister EP
Mining territory covered previously by acts like Plaid and Boards of Canada, the mysterious Luck & Easy nevertheless bring some new flavor to the home-listening game on their third vinyl release. This three-track EP sees them intertwine warm electronic melodies with beat structures that morph from downtempo to robo-2-step to shuffling techno to bouncy electro and minimal tech. Risky and eclectic in that early-’90s Warp sense, this thing’ll keep you compelled.
4-Zone Bounce
Word has been out on this cat for a little bit, and if this single from his upcoming album, My Turn,/i>, is any indication, we’ve got yet another contender on our hands. Backed by a laidback reggae-ish bassline and shuffling one-drop jazz beat, young 4-Zone flows a seductive club night tableau on the title track, lacing the chorus with the coy line I just wanna know if this is “bangin'”. Flip it over, and the upbeat rocksteady chords on the battle jam “Dippin'” show this kid knows his hip-hop/reggae territory. Bangin’ indeed.
