Crucial Material – Best Releases of the Week (August 4th, 2018)

The sheer volume of new material released every Friday is absolutely dizzying, even for people like us.

To make it easier you, we’ve selected what we think are some of the best releases of the week. Hopefully you discover something new!

Dorian Concept “The Nature Of Imitation”

Genres: Electronic / Beats / Jazz
Label: Brainfeeder
Purchase
Another banger from the sureshot Brainfeeder camp, this time from circuit-bender Micro Korg wizard Dorian Concept! Like his last release “Joined Ends” (released on Ninja Tune), “The Nature Of Imitation” follows a similar formula of spastic Electronic jams and gorgeous drumless interludes creating a sine wave-like experience of spikes and build ups. After years of releasing music, Dorian Concept has seemed to retain his love for child-like exploration and experimentation. Definitely for fans of Jameszoo and Rustie or even Waveracer!
-Mike Jones

Dam-Funk “Architecture II”

Genres: Funk / Boogie / House
Label: Glydezone Recordings
Purchase
Dam-Funk is back with his second installment of Architecture tracks to ride it out to. Released on his very own Glydezone Records this EP features all his signature analogue synths and drum sounds. As usual, he just jams the f*** out over super-swung rhythms and provides well, a zone to glide. The level of quality from all of Dam’s releases is actually unprecedented. Get down cause there’s room for everybody!
-Mike Jones

Nuff Pedals “The Second EP”

Genres: Broken Beat
Label: Gutterfunk
Purchase
One for the selectors! In classic Broken Beat fashion this four-tracker keeps things smooth with Jazz inspired chords and horns stabs coupled with a robust rhythm section to get things moving. Hard bodied but still mature and soulful.
-Mike Jones

Sinjin Hawke & Zora Jones “Vicious Minds”

Genres: Future Bass / Experimental Club
Label: Planet Mu
Purchase
One of my favourite Canadian camps gets the nod from Mike Paradinas and releases their first collaborative album on the mighty Planet Mu, which is a fitting home for the wonked out club compositions Sinjin Hawke & Zora Jones have become known for. Nothing but respect goes out to these two, who have been putting in some serious work these last few years! The album checks all the sonic boxes, Bass-fuelled Club Music coming from an artistic and passionately driven angle that hits you where it matters most. Get the heck down.
-Mike Jones

Ratgrave “Ratgrave”

Genres: Funk / Beats / Lo-fi
Label: Apron
Purchase
“Max Graef and Julius Conrad are Ratgrave. Electronic P-Fusion from earth. Recorded over a period of 3 years in different locations. Stop Wars and investors.”

Jonny Drop “The Only Sound”

Genre: Beats / Soul
Label: Albert’s Favorites
Purchase
“Jonny Drop’s debut, Sub Plot, was the very first album release on the fledgling Albert’s Favourites label at the beginning of 2016. The Only Sound sees a huge progression in my writing direction, as I collaborated with multiple vocalists and musicians, instead of the usual ‘one-man band’ approach. The development of these processes make this LP a steady departure from the beat-tape influence of my past releases, and hopefully, showcase the more original sound I’ve been working to achieve over the past few years.”

Helena Hauff “Qualm”

Genre: Techno
Label: Ninja Tune
Purchase
“Qualm” is the new album by Helena Hauff, released via Ninja Tune. The title has a duality that Hauff enjoys – the German word “Qualm” ( kvalm) translates as fumes or smoke, whilst the English meaning refers to an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one’s own conduct. True to form, the record is unapologetically raw and finds her returning to her original modus operandi – jamming on her machines – “trying to create something powerful without using too many instruments and layers”.

Cookin Soul “Polo Ye” (Kanye Remixes)

Genres: Hip Hop / Beats
Label: Self Released
Purchase
“Kanye West’s “Polo Ye” era definitely influenced me and a lot of other producers in the early-mid 2000s with that “chop up the soul” and “high pitching” style that crafted several classics for Jay-Z, Mos Def, Common, Talib Kweli, Kanye himself and many others… Kanye has been making a lot of fuzz in the media lately. We’ve all noticed a lot of changes in his persona throughout the years but especially in the last 2 years. All these events inspired me to create this tape using old Kanye acapella freestyles, interviews and all types of random studio footage and vintage clips I have found on youtube… This is sort of my personal tribute to his legacy”

Kev Brown “Homework”

Genre: Hip Hip
Label: Re-Definition
Purchase
“Hailing from Palmer Park in Landover, Maryland specifically, after a 13 year hiatus, the producer/MC has finally prepared the sophomore sequel to 2005’s influential cult classic, “I Do What I Do.” Entitled, “Homework”, KB and Redefinition Recs have partnered to release an LP the game has been missing for too long. Now 13 years is a long wait, but don’t think Kev has been idle in obscurity. He has been involved with several collaborative projects, garnered tons of production credits and released over a half dozen beat tapes during that time frame. It is also important to note, that he was in no rush to drop another rap album and preferred to compose “Homework” organically and at his own pace, in the comforts of his own home; hence the title.”

Shawty Pimp “Still Comin Real” (Reissue)

Genres: Southside Rap / Chopped And Screwed
Label: Gyptology Records
Purchase
“An impossible-to-find, ’95 Memphis rap tape surfaces on vinyl for the first time via the Gyptology re-issue label. Leading on from Shawty Pimp’s ‘Comin’ Real Wit It’ [1995] – which was dished up by Delroy Edwards’ L.A. Club Resource and sold out within days back in 2014 – its sequel, ‘Still Comin Real’ reprises that woozy slow drawl on 11 slurps of syrupy goodness.”

Travis Scott “ASTROWORLD”

Genre: Hip Hop
Label: Epic Records
Purchase
Travis Scott’s third studio album comes jam packed with major features and writing credits including Tame Impala, Drake, Pharrell, Thundercat, John Mayer and a pile of others. The album takes twists and turns through interludes and switch-ups, interspersed with audio clips and field recordings giving a real feeling of taking a glimpse into the mind of La Flame. Albums built this way (Kanye West’s “Life Of Pablo” is another example) are always fun to listen to because of their unconventional approach to song structure, and it’s always cool to see a major entity bending the rules.

Stay tuned until next week, and enjoy the music!