Latest Posts

Tonight: Sauced

May 24, 2014

As one of Buffalo’s most diverse and creative music scenes, the instrumental hip hop and beat producer community has long needed a continual event to showcase some of the city’s vibrant, unsung talent. Tonight, Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar will host the first installment of Sauced, an event aimed at featuring local as well as touring producers, providing an opportunity for their studio heat to be brought to a live setting. Veterans of the Buffalo hip hop scene, Shuteyes and Tone Atlas, will be rocking live on the MPC with local MC Mad Dukez and DJ Charlie the Butcher hosting the event. Also on the bill tonight are Oakland producer Durazzo, whose jazzy, sample-based tracks have a reflective, soulful feel and New Orleans producer AF The Naysayer as a part of their “Back on the Pads” tour.  Music starts at 10pm. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/87419866″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]    

May 8th

May 8, 2014

Jamie xx & Nicolas Jaar – “Girl vs. Work It” (Nico’s Bluewave Edit) London producer Jamie xx premiered this stunning edit on his second installment of his BBC radio 6 residency series last Friday. The track seamlessly blends the producer’s latest single “Girl” with Nicolas Jaar’s Bluewave edit of Missy Elliot’s “Work It,” a seemingly unlikely pairing, resulting in a hypnotic groove and compelling combination of soul and tenacity. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/147869904″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Matrixxman- “Venetian Mask” Charles McCloud Duff, who records under the name Matrixxman is set to release a new EP, Amulet, on June 9 via Ghostly International imprint Spectral Sound. The lead track from the record, “Venetian Mask,” was created using several pieces of vintage Roland gear and captures a nostalgic, bouncing house vibe with a dynamic and atmospheric sound. With releases on Crosstown Rebels and Jimmy Edgar’s Ultramajic label already to his name, the San Francisco-based[...]

May 2nd

May 2, 2014

Schoolboy Q – “Man of the Year” (Royal-T Bootleg Dub) Southampton, UK producer Royal-T’s dub of  the Chromatics-sampling Schoolboy Q track “Man of the Year” brings a laid back vibe, with a 2-step inspired beat. Impressively blending elements of soul, hip hop and garage, the infectious vocal hooks of the original are dropped in throughout, bringing a sense of urgency to the otherwise smooth, soulful track. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145730761″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Tinashe – Vulnerable (Pomo Remix) Montreal’s Pomo is responsible for one of the funkiest remixes of Tinashe to date. His midtempo rework of “Vulnerable” from the LA r&b singer’s Black Water mixtape, with it’s bright, bouncy feel, contrasts the murky undertones of the original.  The sultry vocals sit perfectly atop the groove, making for a sound that feels somewhere between west coast hip hop and boogie. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/146587000″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Jacques Greene – “Feel What”[...]

Pluto Brady- The Beat Tape

April 28, 2014

Rochester producer Pluto Brady balances hazy, melodic textures with sinister elements of trap, bass, and hip-hop on his self-titled debut beat tape. The 18-year-old artist  has been previously credited for tracks on rapper Donzelly’s DMS mixtape as well as Black Kray’s Goth Luv mixtape and various other MCs. Bringing to mind producers like Clams Casino, Ryan Hemsworth, and Suicideyear, Brady’s instrumentals place emphasis on slow paced, patient melodic builds, making for an immersive experience that reveals new layers with each listen. Throughout the tape’s eight tracks, the vibe ranges from ethereal, reverb-laden hip hop on tracks like “Without You” to futuristic r&b on “I Don’t Know What to Say.” The lush “Alone Forever” starts off the collection with a captivating hybrid of menacing trap -inspired percussion and fluid melodic synth swells behind a soulful piano riff. “Internet Eyes” builds around a similar style of elegant keys, but heads in a slightly darker[...]

April 24th

April 24, 2014

Axel Boman – “It Starts With the Stomach” Stockholm, Sweden based DJ/producer Axel Boman’s latest effort is a near ten-minute jam, with a typically playful groove and subtle texture changes throughout. After a fizzy synth breakdown near the 4 minute mark, the raucous percussion slowly picks up momentum and falls back into the infectious sweet spot that the track is built around. Look for “It Starts With the Stomach” to appear on the latest edition of the Friends Will Carry You Home compilation series from Berlin house duo Catz n Dogz. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/146070535″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Losoul – “Daddy, What’s a Rise?” German techno veteran Losoul’s first release on Hypercolour comes via the two track Slowly Turning, out on May 12. The rigid, funk flavor of “Daddy, What’s a Rise?” is carried by a heavy, unrelenting groove, elusive vocal samples and short disco stabs that span the tracks’ eleven minutes. Listen[...]

Network Releases New “Winter” Single

April 23, 2014

Buffalo experimental hip hop project Network have been hard at work on their latest album, expected out sometime early this summer. In the meantime, the group, who recently added former New York producer/songwriter Jon Bap as a full-time member, has shared a new track titled “Winter.” The wavy instrumental moves with a creeping pace, with sharp percussion and washes of feedback, providing a surreal soundtrack to lyricist Quinton Brock’s stream-of-consciousness delivery. The track is available as a free download and hint’s at more genre-defying, ambitious material from the group in the future. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/144872404″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

April 17th

April 17, 2014

Howson’s Groove – “Shake Up” (Arkist Remix) South London duo Howson’s Groove recently released their latest EP, Body &  Soul which includes two original tracks as well as remixes from Fybe:One and Arkist. The re-work of “Shake Up” by Bristol producer Arkist, provides a clean, smooth house interpretation of the original cut, incorporating industrial elements to make for an inviting, low-key atmosphere. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/144670779″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Blood Orange – “Uncle Ace” (a/jus/ted Remix” “Uncle Ace,” the newest single from Blood Orange’s brilliant LP, Cupid Deluxe, has received a warm, disco treatment from legendary New York DJ Justin Strauss, working with Teddy Stuart under the name a/jus/ted. Spanning nearly nine minutes, the elegant cut contains emotive piano chords and a killer, slow burning groove that give it a dark, 80’s inspired feel. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/144849082″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Deadboy – “Return” UK producer Deadboy’s follow up to his 2013 Blaquewerk EP, titled Return, is out[...]

Tonight: St. Vincent

April 12, 2014

There’s nothing quite like seeing an artist’s bold vision come to fruition as they carve out a space for themselves that feels comfortably unfamiliar, defying traditional genre classification, and most importantly, forcing us to think about music in a novel way. Through four albums as St. Vincent, singer/multi-instrumentalist  Annie Clark has consistently kept listeners guessing, crafting a vividly experimental sound that often juxtaposes celestial arrangements with jarring, manic guitar solos. A supremely talented  musician and visionary, Annie Clark has always had a “future is now” vibe about her, and on St. Vincent’s eponymous current album, she’s never been more daring. St. Vincent returns to Buffalo 2 years after her magnificent show at the Town Ballroom for a hotly anticipated and totally sold out show tonight at Babeville’s Asbury Hall. Doors are at 7 PM, with a mystery opener starting proceedings. See you there.

April 10th

April 10, 2014

André Laos – “Yield” Swedish producer and Red Bull Music Academy graduate André Laos is set to release his debut EP, Roundabout for New York-based label Let’s Play House on April 21st. The b-side, “Yield,” is a radiant slice of classic sounding house with soulful vocals, warm synths, and a conga style rhythm. Boasting one of the more infectious choruses in recent memory, the track, as well as the rest of the EP, bring a sun-soaked vibe and impressive sense of pacin for a debut release. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/142862658″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Dauwd – “Kindlinn” One of the most intriguing producers to emerge from the UK in the past few years, London producer Dauwd continues his gradual transition from a minimal garage inspired sound to a more techno style sound on his latest EP, Kindlinn. The title track is an elegant journey filled with the idiosyncrasies and smooth transitions the producer[...]

Posse – “Shut Up”

April 9, 2014

Seattle trio Posse have described their sound as being inspired by “delay pedals and 27 years of disappointment,” hinting at a bleak, yet sincere sense of humor that comes across on their sophomore album, Soft Opening. Singer Paul Whitmann-Todd’s monotonous delivery is backed by slinking melodic guitar lines and a slow pulsing rhythm on “Shut Up,” as he discusses the banality of a relationship gone stale. Despite the dreary subject matter, a blissfully redemptive guitar solo at the two minute mark gives the track a sense of peaceful resolution. Drawing comparison to bands like Yo La Tengo, Pavement, and Real Estate, Posse occupy a familiar sonic territory that rarely ceases to be affective when purposefully executed in the manner that makes Soft Opening such a confident, rewarding LP. Stream “Shut Up” below.

April 3rd

April 4, 2014

Lone – “2 Is 8” British producer Lone was responsible for one of the most infectious singles of 2013 with “Airglow Fires,” a track that features a hip-hop inspired outro, hinting at a possible new avenue for the artist. “2 is 8,” the latest single from his upcoming album, Reality Testing, is a mesmerizing blend of hip-hop and house, channeling J-Dilla with it’s spry, bouncing feel. The vibe perfectly captures the producers wide array of influences, showing an impressive mastery of texture and movement as the track closes out with a lush, emotive synth breakdown.   Bicep – “Nova” London via Belfast duo Bicep recently shared their latest cut, “Nova,” an exclusive that will appear on Will Saul’s upcoming DJ-Kicks mix. Like many of their tracks, the gritty percussion and soaring vocal samples makes for a 90’s house feel with subtle, yet elegant transitions. Look for the track on Saul’s mix due out June[...]

Cut Copy at Town Ballroom (3/25)

March 26, 2014

From the moment they took the stage with a vocal excerpt of Rhythm Control’s classic track “My House” playing faintly, it became clear that Tuesday night’s Cut Copy show at the Town Ballroom would be yet another memorable and celebratory performance from the Melbourne synthpop band. Touring in support of their latest record, Free Your Mind, co-produced by Fredonia based studio maestro Dave Fridmann, the band showed an effortless ability to incorporate house and Madchester influences into their eclectic, pop oriented sound.  Opting to play the album’s spectacular title track early in the set, “Free Your Mind,” was projected behind the band in Facebook’s signature font before a blue background, making for an interesting juxtaposition and provoking statement on independent thought in the digital era. Given frontman Dan Whitford’s background in graphic design, the show had a strong and concise visual element that ranged from hypnotic black and white spirals during “Let Me[...]

Producer/MC Jon Bap Readies New Album

March 20, 2014

Buffalo based singer/songwriter and producer Jon Bap has an eclectic sound that ranges from experimental rock to soul, jazz and hip-hop. In addition to boasting impressive skills as an MC, the artists remix work which includes tracks from Beyonce, The SEVENth, and an ethereal, spaced out take on 50 Cent’s “What Up Gangsta.” Evident from his diverse Soundcloud uploads, Bap is capable of incorporating countless influences to create a truly unique sound, like on the track “The Best Out” which features a mellow beat and soulful vocals sampled from UK singer Sampha juxtaposed with fiery Drake sample from “Too Much.” In anticipation of his upcoming album, the artist recently shared a collection of demos and studio takes that didn’t make it onto the album. The nearly ten minutes of material includes smooth vocal melodies, a comical impression of Atlanta rap group Migos and an experimental track that borders on noise[...]