Sourface - The Anxiety LP

Sourface is the alias of Adam Bramwell, an upcoming beatmaker from Manchester, England.
As half the Late Night Fruit duo, Bramwell decided to take a solo-venture under the Sourface name, creating a beat-tape that would become 'The Anxiety LP'. His music draws heavy influences from producers like 9th Wonder, Dilla, Black Milk, DJ Premier and RZA.

Probably one of the best releases I've heard this year -- fresh beats, inventive remixes, good song/sample choice with his production style, all around an enjoyable album.
Keep tabs.

1. Intro (The Sourface)
2. If Only
3. Nas - Made You Look (Remix)
4. Thru' It All
5. She Disappeared
6. So Far
7. CL Smooth & Skyzoo - Perfect Timing (Remix)
8. Slidin'
9. The Call
10. Walk On
11. Ghostface Killah - Save Me Dear (Remix)
12. Mind Over Matter
13. One Day
14. Leavin'
15. Nas - Shootouts (Remix)
16. Remember Me
17. Strange Feeling
18. Little Brother, Skillz & Carlitta Durand - Life Of The Party (Remix)
19. Wasting Time
20. Picture This
21. Jay-Z - Song Cry (Remix)
22. An Ending (Outro)

The Anxiety LP
+++++++++++
mind the graves

The Tape vs. RQM - Autoreverse

RQM, Robot Koch

The Tape vs. RQM is the collaboration between Berlin producers Robot Koch and Walera Goodman, with spoken-word/flows by New York's MC RQM.
Walera ended up leaving after the Tape's second release, 'Perpetual Dubbing' (though still contributed "Lonely Planet Revisited" to 'Autoreverse'), to pursue other projects.
This led to Robot Koch recruiting RQM, re-working old material for the intent on performing it live as a new duo, blending the already concrete IDM/post-rock influence with RQM's unique rhymes (comparison I'll draw is to Saul Williams, if just the voice...).

'Autoreverse' was the first album made exclusively between Robot Koch/RQM, a sort of free-form hip-hop release that's as beat-focused as it is mutated electronic experimentation; a mash-up that flows less like a mash-up and more like a long-conceived blossoming of ideas.

This album hit me as a stepping stone, all the more interesting that it came out in 2005 (featuring tracks like "Hip Hop Is Dead" pre-Nas HHID) and still sounds so undiscovered.
Another solid project from Robot Koch, def recommended.

"Rainy Summer"

+++++++++++

Matt Stevens - Echo

Matt Stevens is a one-man wall of sound who specializes in looping dynamic acoustic-guitar melodies.
Hailing from North London, Stevens has garnered connections to artists such as John McLaughlin and Sigur Rós, and continues to expand on his word of mouth success with his live shows.

His latest album 'Echo' was released as a 'pay what you want' throughout this month, and after finally getting some listens with the album I feel he deserves some more spotlight...
There's usually three to four things going on in any song with his loops, and it's really impressive how much they meld together as much as they stand on their own; simple melodic builds become seemingly complex structures once Stevens has all the pieces in place.

Talented guitarist/composer no doubt.
Keep tabs.

Echo
+++++++++++
mind the graves

Crime in Choir - s/t

Crime in Choir is a now-quintet from California.
The band plays a cascade of instrumental, synth-driven math-prog (especially onward from their third full length, 'Trumpery Metier'), featuring ex-members of At the Drive-In (pianist Kenny Hopper and guitarist Jarrett Wrenn), The Fucking Champs (current 1/2 drummers Tim Soete), The Mass (saxophonist Matt Waters), as well as many talented past-members like the octopus-drumming Zach Hill.

Zach Hill was featured on the first two full lengths, 2002's 'Crime in Choir' and 2004's 'The Hoop'. His drumming gives the first two records a distinct sound (also the smaller member line-up), a sort of collision between the ethereal melodic keys and Hill's dynamic drumming that cements every track in your head. His work on 'The Hoop' still might be my favorite Zach Hill recording, out of his myriad of projects.

Absolute recommendation if unfamiliar with the album, and definitely worth checking out their other releases.

Crime in Choir
+++++++++++
mind the graves

Rome - L'Assassin

New EP from Luxembourg's apocalyptic-folk act Rome. This EP features two brand new songs and two old songs from 'Masse Mensch Material', re-worked with the new violin player.

Really great stuff -- the new violinist does a lot to fill out their already dense sound, and the two new tracks with him seem a promising step for later works.
Recommended.

L'Assassin
+++++++++++
mind the graves

Robot Koch - Death Star Droid

Robot Koch is a producer from Berlin, who makes interesting electronic/trip-hop -- some instrumental, some featuring vocals from himself and contributors. He's also a DJ, composes film scores, and part of the group Jahcoozi, as well as post-rock/hip hop (you read that right) group The Tape vs RQM.

Been digging his 2009 'Death Star Droid' release after multiple listens... womp bass, ping-pong electronics, nice and light complementary vocals, and overall just a nice hit track to track.

+++++++++++

Messer Chups - Zombie Shopping

Messer Chups are an experimental surf band from St. Petersburg, Russia.
Bass player Oleg Gitarkin is the only remaining founding member, switching to guitar with the inclusion of ZombieGirl in 2005. Messer Chups has since operated as a duo of sorts, with a number of contributing vocalists/drummers, as well as renowned theremin player Lydia Kavina.

2007's 'Zombie Shopping' is something of a surf/sample wonderment, interjecting samples of circus music, jazz, and a large amount of film-influence -- like obscure animated works and B-movie horror films -- into upbeat and often devious sounding surf elements.

I'll admit that a large chunk of these songs blend together, but in terms of the overall sound it seems to work in their favor...really just a cool mix of dark samples with lighter sounds that should please either side of the fence.

Zombie Shopping
+++++++++++
mind the graves