Hudson Mohawke - Butter (Warp) - Out October 2009

Tracklisting:

Album out October - to reserve a copy contact at info@conch.co.nz

It appears that the likes of Drake and Keri Hilson might have a new name on their respective speed-dials very soon. Hudson Mohawke has delivered his debut album ‘Butter’, which with its glossy, hyper-real pop production may sound as if it was cooked up in palm fringed LA and not homegrown Glasgow and is as influenced by 90’s UK dance music as it is by golden era hip-hop.

Megawatt R’n’B stars won’t be the only ones to take note of Butter, as the ever-growing global network of  bass-craving music fans have been clamouring for new material since his lauded Polyfolk Dance EP earlier this year. On that record, HudMo’s hyper melodic drum-and-synth sidewinders only hinted at the panoramic pop magic that was to come and with it he found himself name checked by the likes of  Rihanna, Goldie, Sa Ra, Busy P, Flying Lotus, Mars Volta & Crookers.

Explaining his unique, super catchy sound -  “I have always been into mainstream hip-hop and R’n’B as well as loads of golden age and modern underground hip hop, and a lot of other stuff like early jungle/rave, techno, house whatever. I think it comes from my background as a DJ and turn-tablist, manipulating different styles into one.”

Making his 1st mix tapes at 10, beats on a Playstation at 12 and U.K. DMC finalist at 14, this precocious 23 year old has wasted no time in translating those skills into proper productions which might just see him becoming the first Glaswegian to command the airwaves currently reserved for Danja, The Dream, and Swizz Beatz.

By enlisting a select crew of vocalists for the Butter sessions, Hudson Mohawke has painted his own version of twenty-first century smash hits. From the USA’s East Coast comes Olivier Daysoul while Glasgow’s buzzed-about Nadsroic adds her haunted brothel flow to “Allhot”. Lest one think Butter revolves exclusively around this impressive vocal spread, Hudson Mohawke also flexes his twisted pop genius for the beat-heads on the drunken drum barrage of “Gluetooth” and the feel good swagger of “Trykk”. This is an album for the heart over the head, a genuinely positive, intriguing record set to win over dancefloors and bedrooms simultaneously.

Explaining why the album is called Butter, Hudson says  “the Butter idea, as well as just wanting to give the album a simple striking name, also came from my attempt at a sort of prog rock meets vintage soul meets sleazy R’n’B aesthetic - Isaac Hayes ‘hot buttered soul’. I really wanted the title to somehow emphasise the arrangements on the record, how I’ve tried to create songs as opposed to just computer driven arrangements, how the record flows. I think compared to some of my earlier production it’s smoother in some ways as well, like butter for the eardrums.”

Links:

Podcast: Hudson Mohawke On Future Vintage Radio

Bleep Interviews Hudson Mohawke

Hudson Mohawke MySpace

Hudson Mohawke On Warp Records