Tagged: jazz

[Nice In The Headphones] Mecca:83

alexis davis roy ayers project

There’s always something so lush and soulful coming off the fingertips of the English beat-maestro, Mecca:83. Mean on the raw drum machine with stacks of old vinyl just waiting to be sampled, this Manchester-based artist has such a great flow going on.

It’s been awhile since I’ve wandered over to his Soundcloud page, so here’s some of my recent favorites to smooth out your mid-week. Throw the headphones on and enjoy.

Also be sure to check out his newer project, Alexis Davis, which just dropped an incredibly fluid track dedicated to the master, Roy Ayers.

[Music Video] The Game of Poverty – Blocktreat

I’ve written in the past about the complex beat-maker, Blocktreat, and how original his album, Traditionals, sounded.

Now feast your eyes on the visual pairing for track, “The Game of Poverty,” that was created by Moonroom Studio. It’s absolutely trippy on the mind and a lot of fun to watch. Catch it below and be sure to grab your copy of the album here.

The Game of Poverty – Blocktreat

Right-click and enjoy.

Sunday Listening: Sketchbook Pieces

Mecca:83 and his collaborative crew are in the process of coming up with something brand new for you guys and while working, he had time to round up some of his favorite tracks for a free download.

I’m at the beach this weekend enjoying some rays and the laid-back nature of a seasonal town and this track listing bumps ever so nicely. Kick back and listen to the downtempo beats, nu-jazz flavor, and various samples and remixes all featured in this 12-track compilation.

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Songs For Your Weekend Moods: Vanish edition.

If this set doesn’t get you moving, then I don’t know what will.

10 bumping dance tracks from Denver’s Vanish to get you on through the weekend. And, they’re all free to download. Enjoy.

 

Until The Break – L’Orange

20′s noir-styled hip hop, what else can beat that? I’ve written about North Carolina’s L’Orange before and I’ve been kicking myself for weeks for not getting his latest gem up on the site.

I fell in love with his previous mixtape of clever Billie Holiday samples and he’s kept up with the same sound for his new single, “Until The Break.” There’s a pounding piano that gets sliced into pieces while analog fuzz warmly wraps itself around everything within reach. If this is a preview into what this talented producer is working on, I’m beyond excited.

Until The Break - L’Orange

Right-click and enjoy.

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Summer Jams.

I really have come to love the jazzy instrumentals that Mecca:83 and his international crew come out with on the regular. They’re vintage and fresh all rolled into one, he boasts one talented group of artists.

His label FreeForm Records has undergone a facelift with a new message under the name Expansions Collective. Just a reorganization for image sake, I believe these guys were already operating as a passionate collective to begin with. Anyways, check out Mecca:83′s latest mix, Summer Jams, which takes our ears on a journey through his extensive record collection. It’s perfect for this break of our extreme heat lately. Sit back and enjoy, download the entire mix here.

Back to the boom-bap.

It’s the collaborative nature that I love the most and the UK’s Mecca:83 is certainly no stranger to that. In fact, I think it runs in his veins. That’s why it didn’t surprise me to hear of his new project, Alexis Davis.

Two countries. Two time zones. Three DJ/producers. One MC.

The group Alexis Davis is not all about simple mathematics. It is a collaboration of four fans of one another’s music that decided to come together at a time when coming together is of the essence.

Absolutely solid from start to finish, be sure to grab your copy below.

The Lift – Alexis Davis

Right-click and enjoy.

Record Label Spotlight: BlueBottle Records

Over the next couple of days I’m going to be diving into Australia’s music scene. There’s no way I’ll be able to cover this entire continent’s talent pool but, even being able to take a quick dip will prove there’s a lot more happening on that side of the world.

Based out of Sydney, BlueBottle Records aims to fill a void they believe their culture is missing out on. What truly intrigues me is that their lineup is mostly hip-hop acts and producers who all truly bring their own hard-hitting style.

Last May the label put out a sampler of their current squad which ranges in many different moods. There’s plenty of laid-back tracks with astounding vocals, hip hop beats, nu-jazz sampling, and lots of rhythmic flow.

I also want to include my favorite release of their’s (which is also free), Long Hot Summer, by Soulchef which dropped last winter. I’m a sucker for downtempo hip-hop instrumentals and this collection of originals is more than fantastic. Listen for his clever samples, the entire thing is a gem.

For more information on BlueBottle Records be sure to head on over to their official website.

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Sunday Listening: The Walk On – Hashbrown

Hashbrown makes sampling an art form.

He takes old soul hooks, classic dub clips, guitar licks from here, smooth hip hop beats from there, and literally throws it all in the neatly arranged 32-track album titled The Walk On, the companion piece to the previously released album, The Walk Off. 

Each track is carefully manipulated, retaining some sort of notion of a complete song yet, completely disassembled into something entirely new and different. Hashbrown has a complex ear for this sort of creative work and you can see this with his control over his samples and flow.

Take a nice, long listen to The Walk Off and completely absorb yourself in all of it’s pieced-together glory.

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Thick Soul – AstroLogical

The best of everything is in this smooth and gliding track from Jellyfish Recordings’ very own AstroLogical.

A downtempo delight, his new track, “Thick Soul,” manages to relax every muscle in your body and put your mind completely at ease the second you press play. Grab the track below to hold you until AstroLogical drops his next album this summer.

Thick Soul - AstroLogical

Right-click and enjoy.

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