Conch Records

Date

May 15 2010

Written By

3

Comments

0 Comments

Upcoming: Kode9 - DJ Kicks 2LP/CD (!K7)

Written By 3 - May 15 2010

UPDATE: This is now available - to buy please contact us at info@conch.co.nz

International release date: 21st June 2010, to pre-order please contact us at info@conch.co.nz Kode9's grasp on the throat of bass music in 2010 is almost unparalleled. His trend setting record label, Hyperdub, is in its sixth year of viral contagion; he's become a published author on the theory of sound abuse and sonic frequencies being used as weaponry in his book 'Sonic Warfare' and his production work has mutated from an almost simplistic marriage of beats and sine waves into a fusion of dancefloor Ebonics and discordant synths. Becoming a figurehead of UK dance music hasn't been a quick process, and Kode9's single-mindedness has contributed in some way to his notoriety, but it's simply his tireless work as a record label boss and A&R that has marked him out as one of the most powerful ears within the scene. Probably best known to the wider global audience as the label that gave birth to two genre defining albums from Burial, Hyperdub has become one of the most reliably testing labels out there. Just as likely to release a glut of two and a half minute beat sketches from American beat maker Samiyam or Zomby as sprawling house opuses from Brixton bass bin temptress Cooly G, the label is at the forefront of innovation and it's something that he has infused into his volume of the DJ-KiCKS series. "Very simply, [the mix is] just a snapshot of my DJ sets at the first half of 2010," he says calmly. "It's definitely not an exploration of my musical heritage, but it's not all new stuff. It probably signifies something about my relationship to dubstep that the mix only has a few dubstep tunes in it, and is instead a mix of UK funky, broken beat, dubstep, grime and some R&B. Unfortunately, I fear some listeners, because of my background, will think that all the tracks are just mutations of dubstep." Starting off in serene fashion with Nottingham producer Lone's upbeat exploration of steel drum snatches on 'Once In A While', Kode9 dives into the percussive textures of Dutch producer Aardvarck before steering the mix into a duo of his own productions: 'Blood Orange' and the specifically tailored exclusive single, 'You Don't Wash (dub) (DJ-KiCKS)'. Jumping off from this point into a journey through current UK funky, Kode9 aligns tracks from Hyperdub artists Cooly G and Ikonika with works by Ill Blu, Sticky, Grievous Angel, Mr Majika, Ikonika and Scratcha DVA, sampling the textures and suitably brutal drum patterns that regularly inject London's dancefloors with such a sustained level of energy. "I find the whole mix pretty danceable in different ways. Some of the stuff is around 8 or 9 years old like the Aaardvark tune 'Revo' which Martyn introduced me to last year," he notes; "And in the early 2000s, I was a big fan of Nubian Mindz as well so it was great to dig up that remix of his for the mix as I feel rhythmically things have swung back round to some of that broken techno stuff, with all its scattered snares, bent synths and maximalist percussion. Also that Maddslinky tune 'Cargo' is an oldie, but I've basically been playing it in practically every set over the last couple of years. The first time I heard that tune played at FWD>> at Plastic People I remember it was like someone had suddenly let the sunshine into this dark basement..." The tracklisting is mostly, but not all London-centric, featuring a selection of big booming riffs and asymmetic percussion possessed by a guttural sense of forcefulness. "Cooly G's 'Phat Si' really is one of those tracks for me; it's just a timeless, mean, deadly roller and is effortlessly a Hyperdub classic. Producers like Lone and Zomby definitely have a magic touch and Mala, for me is like a tropical island in an ocean of dubstep sewage." On this mix Kode9 surfs through those artists and productions that sideswipe you in an unexpected moment of surrealist realisation. Whether it's being brought by a track bringing the sunshine carnival vibe to a Shoreditch basement or by the sheer level of production and temperament that a producer pours into each of their tracks. Veering from the taught and poignant snare snap of Morgan Zarate's 'M.A.B.' he flips from the troubled soul of Rozzi Daime's falsetto on 'Dirty Illusions' to the bruised rhythm of JDaVeY and on into the advanced rhythm science of Terror Danjah and Headhunter's breakout 808 anthem under his Addison Groove alias, 'Footcrab,' distilling some of the more powerful strains of modern UK dance music culminating in the big moody tombstone of The Bug & Flo Dan's 'Run'. "I love the sour R&B tracks of Rozzie Dame and Jay Davey in the middle. If only more pop music sounded like that..." he notes tangentially. "The first and second halves [of the mix] are pretty typical of my sets over the last year. The little 'dream sequence' in the middle, I only get to do when the vibe feels right and people look capable of moving to more downbeat stuff instead of just standing around and nodding their heads." "I started DJing around 19 years ago and I don't know... I just think that every few years I get a musical epiphany from an intense experience in a club or in something I hear that fills me with energy, information and inspiration to produce and DJ. After each one I spend the next few years trying to decipher what happened in that singular moment." And sonically that's what Kode9's DJ-KiCKS does: attempt to decipher the tangled state of UK dance music in 2010. Words: Oli Marlow Kode9 DJ-Kicks tracklisting: 1. Lone  Once In A While 2. Aardvarck  Revo 3. Kode9  Blood Orange 4. Kode9  You Don’t Wash (dub) (DJ-Kicks exclusive) 5. Cooly G  Phat Si 6. Ill Blu  Bellion 7. Ikonika  Heston 8. Scratcha DVA  Jelly Roll 9. Mr Mageeka  Different Lekstrix 10. Grievous Angel  Move Down Low 11. Sticky feat. Natalie Storm  Look Pon Me 12. Sticky  Jumeirah Riddim Sequel 13. Mujava  Pleaze Mugwanti 14. DVA  Natty 15. Aardvaarck  Re Spoken (Nubian Mindz Released Mix) 16. Morgan Zarate feat. Sarah Ann Webb  M.A.B. 17. Rozzi Daime  Dirty Illusions 18. Zomby  Spiralz 19. Kode9  It 20. J*DaVeY  Mr. Mister 21. Digital Mystikz  2 Much Chat 22. Terror Danjah  Stiff 23. Digital Mystikz  Mountain Dread March 24. Zomby  Godzilla 25. Digital Mystikz  Mountain Dread March (Reprise) 26. Addison Groove  Footcrab 27. Kode9 vs. LD  Bad 28. Maddslinky  Cargo 29. Ramadanman  Work Them 30. Terror Danjah  Bruzin (VIP) 31. The Bug  Run (feat. Flo Dan) More Info: www.dj-kicks.com www.kode9-djkicks.com DJ Mix:

Date

May 15 2010

Written By

3

Comments

0 Comments

New In At Conch!!

Written By 3 - May 15 2010

Greetings,

A whole bunch of new bits in this week, check links below for more info... Also a few details of a couple of upcoming releases with sound clips, to preorder contact us at info@conch.co.nz UPCOMING RELEASES: Bulljun - Bulljun & Funky Presidents 2029 2LP (Flatrock) Onra - Long Distance CD/LP (ALL CITY)

NEW BITS IN AT CONCH

COMPACT DISCS: SOUL / FUNK / LATIN / JAZZ Sunlightsquare Latin Combo - Havana Central CD (Sunlightsquare) Various - Movements 3 CD (Tramp) Roy Brooks & the Artistic Truth - Ethnic Expressions DOWNTEMPO: Gonjasufi - A Sufi And A Killer CD (Warp) Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma CD (Warp) LOCAL PEEPS: The Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo CD Coast - Coast EP CD (Loop) REGGAE / DUB Madlib - Madlib Medicine Show #3: 420 Chalice Allstars CD (Stonesthrow) NU SKOOL JAZZ Koop - Coup De Grace (1997 - 2007) CD (!K7) VINYL: SOUL / FUNK / LATIN / JAZZ Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra - Crosstown Traffic 7" (First Word) Killer Funk Allstars - Killer Funk Disco Vol.3 12" (Killer Funk) Various - Movements 3 LP (Tramp) Roy Brooks & the Artistic Truth - Ethnic Expressions LP (Jazzman) DOWNTEMPO: Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma 2LP (Warp) Andreya Triana - Lost Where I Belong 12" (Warp) Gonjasufi - A Sufi And A Killer 2LP (Warp) Chickenwings Allstars - Celestial Blues 7" (Heavenly Sweetness) DJ Shepdog - Heard It Through The Grapevine 7" (Digga Please?) RnB / URBAN SOUL: Stac - All Or Nothing 7" (Wah Wah) HOUSE: Kay Suzuki - The Bipolar EP 12" Funkineven - She's Acid / We Must Move 12" (EGLO) https://www.conch.co.nz/product.php?productid=21210&cat=0&page=1

Date

May 15 2010

Written By

3

Comments

0 Comments

GIG: Rhombus In Dub: 6 June @ Leigh Sawmill

Written By 3 - May 15 2010

Rhombus in Dub: Volume 1 Tour

An alternative version of Rhombus Live Band, Rhombus in Dub sees key band members Thomas, Simon and Koa performing on a mixture of MPC, live dubbing, laptop performance and turntables/cd-j – essentially recreating the Rhombus production studio live on stage! Touring to support their new sampler CD Rhombus in Dub: Volume 1 (featuring collaborations with Optimus Gryme, Rodney P (UK) and more), Rhombus in Dub will be performing material from the sampler, unreleased originals/remixes as well as classics from their back catalogue – all mashed up live –  Rhombus in Dub style! Rhombus has been performing in the Rhombus in Dub format since late 2008.. During this period of time they have performed nationwide, and made appearances in Australia and Japan – often to sold-out crowds! Auckland based producer Dub Terminator will be playing support. The party awaits; people are you ready? "Heavy beats and dope collaborations. More of the same please" – Dylan C (Base FM) on Rhombus in Dub: Volume 1 Tickets available from Conch, 115A Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby $20 + BF More Info: www.rhombus.co.nz www.myspace.com/rhombusmusic Search for “Rhombus” on facebook Releases: Rhombus - Rhombus CD

Date

May 11 2010

Written By

3

Comments

0 Comments

Upcoming: Bulljun - Bulljun & Funky Presidents 2029 2LP (Flatrock)

Written By 3 - May 11 2010

This album is due for release in June, for pre-orders please contact us at info@conch.co.nz

Check track listing with sound clips below.

Bulljun is a member of Japanese hip hop / breakbeat creator team, A.Y.B. Force. His 17-track 2nd album was created entirely on the MPC 2000 XL with plenty of his impressions of the connection between the Japanese hip hop scene and NYC, and the respect they show to 90s US hip hop.

We all know that the Japanese are some of the top record nerds in the world, so expect 17 instrumentals of mellow, galactic beats, devoted to 90s hip hop / breakbeats, and composed by using only sampling sources from his personal record collection.

SIDE-A

1. World War Intro 2. 2nd Ep Outro 3. New President 2009 4. Cold Stone Jazz

SIDE-B 1. Soul Bound 2. Party & Bullsh*t 3. Daddy’s Old Same Black Diamond Soul Bossa Song 4. The Frogman 5. Kill The Darkness

SIDE-C 1. B.B.B. (Brooklyn Baddest B*tch) 2. To The Cali 3. Gun 4 Pee 4. Radio Skit

SIDE-D 1. Bolivian Express 2. HAYAO 3. Edogawa River Drive 4. Outro

Date

May 09 2010

Written By

3

Comments

0 Comments

GIG: Dam Funk - Thurs 13th May @ Fu Bar

Written By 3 - May 09 2010

Dam Funk (Stones Throw L.A.)
with support from Recloose, Frank Booker, Isaac Aesili
Fu Bar, 4 Wolfe Street, Auckland City
Tickets available from Conch & www.iticketexpress.co.nz
Dam Funk DJ Set @ Benji B's Deviation 1st Birthday

Recent Articles

Tags