Grafonola

AFTA 1 - Aftathoughts Vol 1 (Circulations Japan) Comentários: California’s Manuel Moran, aka Afta-1 , makes the kind of hip-hop beats that don’t need the slightest bit of vocals to draw listeners in. That’s because Afta-1 is a true production artist, the kind who looks at instrumental hip-hop beats in the same way that a classical musician looks at his symphony. On AFTATHOUGHTS Vol. 1, Afta-1 isn’t interested in simply creating loops for a rapper to chime in on. He wants to tell a story though music alone. AFTATHOUGHTS Vol. 1 is a beautiful amalgamation of blunted hip-hop beats, world music textures, and electronic effects. The tracks vary from bass heavy head nodders like album opener “Quest” and percussion-laden “Honey Dip” to more downtempo psychedelic fare like “Pluto Moon.” Taken as a whole the album works as a complete album, seamlessly swimming through several different vibes. But even the tracks themselves are complete journeys, utilizing different sonic themes and suites to t...

ONRA - 7x7 ( All City Ireland) Comentários: The awesome Allcity 7" series brings itself to a close with this brilliant installment from french beat maker Onra laying down two tracks of typically esoteric yet devastating club joints. Onra is probably best known for his instrumental travelogue 'Chinioseries' last year for Favourite recordings, a masterful trip into the art of keen eared sampling with a heavy lean on South Asian and Vietnamese music. Crafted for the A-side, 'My Comet' is a neat nugget of scuzzy instro grindbeats with a psychy wooze that has been shot through the best tracks from this series. But our favourite has to be 'Shhhhhhh' on the flip, craftily utilising the same sample as the first Thriller 12" and almost acting as an another alternative edit to one of our favourite tracks of the year, by applying head swimming FX to a double dope and as yet unknown electro soul sample, saving some extra funked synth noodling for this version ...

EPPS, Stacy - The Awakening (Japanubia) Comentários: Best known for lending her soulful vocals to artists like MF Doom, Madlib, Oh No, and John Robinson, singer/emcee Stacy Epps steps out on her own with the full-length debut "The Awakening" Short and sweet, this 11-track long player features production and guest appearances from Flying Lotus, Muhsinah, Nick Speed, S1, Apex, Bilal Salaam, and Finale. Even with these notable producers and guest artists, she shines best on the lead single, "Floatin." Check! in rushhour [ Para Ouvir/Samples ]

[ Download Here ] [ Download With Media Fire ]

HIFANA are breakbeats duo KEIZOmachine! & JUICY since 1998. HIFANA have always been known for original and creative live performance, during which they cut beats with realtime sampler (MPC) and incorporating scratch and percussion, without using programmed sequences. On the other hand, in their tracks on CDs and records, they heavily use programmed sounds and sequences to make HIFANA sounds. Their first full album "FRESH PUSH BREAKIN'" was released on November 19th, 2003 and created a buzz in music reviews. Their music video "FATBROS", which is included in this album, won the Best CG / Animation Video Awards in the SPACE SHOWER TV MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 04. And in July 0f 2005, HIFANA has released their 2nd full Album "Channel H"(CD+DVD) which includes 15 songs and 13 music videos. Music video "WAMONO" won Japan Media Arts Festival's Excellence Prize. Then HIFANA and Space Shower TV released a DVD called "ZAMURAI TV" together w...

As the Cro-Magnon sound gets progressively more heavily textured and atmospheric on their successive and still stellar LPs, the trio scales it back a bit for the Mellow Out & Acoustic -- a groovy batch of jazz funk covers and originals! The vibe is actually often electric, cut from cloth of the cosmos, with tight rhythms -- the mellowness is more in the easygoing mood. And speaking of mood, the Cro-Magnon crew covers two tracks by Moodymann -- "Black Mahogani" and "Technologystolemyvinyle" -- plus a keyboard lounge take on the Jackson 5's "Never Can Say Goodbye", a similarly easy grooving take on the Roy Ayers classic "Mystic Voyage", the originals "Silent Wave", "Beyond The Summer" and "After All That" -- plus "Mysterious Vibes" and "Love Bite". 10 tracks in all. © 1996-2008, Dusty Groove America, Inc. [ Para Ouvir/Samples1 ] [ Para Ouvir/Samples2 ]

McKAY, Stephanie - Tell It Like It Is ( Muthas Of Invention ) Comentários: STEPHANIE MCKAY’s new album ‘Tell It Like It Is’ sees the Bronx-born singer/songwriter work with local musicians to produce an album that wraps up classic soul, seventies funk-rock and old-school hip hop influences into one vibrant outpouring. Sometimes romantic and at others acutely topical, ‘Tell It Like It Is’ is an album full of strong performances and great song-writing.The album is packed with classic gems from the feel-good joy of the KATAYST produced lead single “Jackson Avenue”, to the outrageously funky, hornfired groove of “Kinky”. The hip hop influenced “Oh Yeah” is a wind-in-the hair celebration with a cool groove, while a newly-incarnated version of the KATALYST co-written “Say What You Feel” appears in all its glory. R&B sensation ANTHONY HAMILTON appears on the smooth but perfectly pitched duet “Where Did Our Love Go?” resulting in an absolute gem of a ballad, while the album finishes with ...