New Music : Aquasky Mixtape

Aquasky have been on my radar for the last couple of years, mainly for some awesome underground breakbeat and dub tunes that came my way. Now their back with a brand new mix, taking a new approach featuring more mainstream bass artists. As such this wicked collection features amongst others; The Count and Sinden, Andy George, Caspa, and Joker. Aswell as showcasing some of Aquasky's own material.

Props to Spread The Noise for the heads up on this!

MP3: Aquasky - June 09 DJ Mix

TRACKLISTING

1 ‘Took the Night’ (Detboi Night remix) – Chelley

2 ‘Dirty Bass’ – Jackamo

3 ‘You Know We Do It Big’ – Aquasky & SliPZ & DaPZ (forthcoming on Passenger)

4 ‘In Da VIP’ (Project Bassline Dub mix) – Wideboys and Majestic

5 ‘Soundboy Massive’ (Herve & Detboi) – Machines Dont Care

6 ‘Outta Control’ – Aquasky & Sporty-O (forthcoming on Passenger)

7 ‘Hardcore Girls’ (Project Bassline instrumental remix) – The Count & Sinden

8 ‘18 Years’ – Jonny L and Horx

9 ‘Ready For War’ – Tonka

10 ‘Check The Blast’ – Black Noise

11 ‘Lush’ (Herve’s Tree & Leaf remix) – Orbital

12 ‘Fuck Work’ (Andy George remix) – Cubic Zirconia

13 ‘You A Star’ – Aquasky & Goldmouf (forthcoming on Passenger)

14 ‘You A Star’ (VIP) – HeavyFeet ft. Bubbz

15 ‘3Klane’ (Dubble Step edit) – Joker & Jakes

16 ‘Where’s My Money’ (Dubble Step edit) – TC & Caspa

17 ‘Wheel It’ – Tonka

18 ‘Handbagger’ (Baobinga remix) edit – ID

http://www.myspace.com/aquaskyuk
http://www.twitter.com/aquaskyuk

Single Review : Great Northern - Houses

When choosing which singles to review, it’s more than a little tempting to pick those that are rather good or conversely, rather awful. It’s just as easy to lampoon the dire as it is to wax lyrical about tunes that have a certain magical something about them. However, Californian three piece Great Northern might have come up with a tune that could frankly, be either.

First the bad. The single ‘Houses’ is bog-standard, American, guitar-driven rock. It might start fantastically with a gothic, bass-thumping intro which wouldn’t sound out of place on a Depeche Mode or Red Lorry Yellow Lorry record, but it descends quickly from there. Enter doubled up vocals (female if you’re asking) accompanied by that annoying call and response cliché that sounds like someone singing through a bloody telephone. Half a minute later, in booms the chorus confirming, like every pop song from America for the last decade, that it’s dripping in over-production. I swear this could be a Kelly Clarkson record.

In the words of their myspace they sound like “your crazy uncle locked in a room with a robot and a marathon runner”. Right. The thing is, to me this record sounds like the closing track of an American teen drama played by a prom band; I can imagine Lindsay Lohan miming to the “it’s not real, it’s not real” chorus. Perhaps then, it’s no surprise that the driving force behind the band is former ‘30 Seconds From Mars’ guitarist Solon Bixler.

So the good? Well, this single should be awful but it isn’t. Somewhere along the line it manages to draw you in against your will; the poppy chorus is almost hypnotic. The phrase “guilty pleasure” was coined in music to describe songs like this. It’s a bit like Nickelback’s ‘How You Remind Me': Overblown, over-polished nonsense that you can’t help but enjoy. In fairness, from what I’ve heard, this is the most out and out formulaic tune ‘Great Northern’ have, perhaps illustrating they are a band worth investigating after all.

Nonetheless, does this single break any boundaries? No. Is it cliché ridden and obvious? Yes. But is it good? Well, probably.

MP3: Great Northern - Houses

Featured Artist : Dufraine

Based out of Swansea, Wales come Rock and Roll supremo's Dufraine. Following this band couldn't be any easier, simply take your first name and add Dufraine as a surname. Hence i become Sid Dufraine, joining Tom, Jimi, and Jack Dufraine in the band. But enough of this sillyness, lets get down to the music.

The bands newest cut "Ditto" grabbed me straight away as being something fresh and exciting that could help ignite an often stagnant British rock scene. The tracks kicks in with some frenetic drumming and head nodding guitar licks, alongside the repetitive chant of "Ditto!". From here its taken down to an ultra cool level for a second or two before once again being revamped in both attitude and tempo. This is pretty much the pattern for this track, lots of time and tempo changes, with different styles and ideas being thrown in all over the place. Comparisons could be made with anyone from Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, Rocket From The Crypt, Led Zeppelin, and The Datsuns alongside many more.

It would be interesting to see what direction Dufraine could take on an album, with so many influences it could be difficult for them to forge their own unique sound. However this is an exciting young British band who deserves your attention, and will no doubt be very entertaining live, so head to their myspace and say hello!

MP3: Dufraine - Ditto

New Music : Killa Kela (Dave Spoon Remix) / Emma / Foxes!

MP3: Killa Kela - Built Like An Amplifier (Dave Spoon Remix) (Link 2)

One of the hottest new artists in the electro rock field is Killa Kela. His debut single "Built Like An Amplifier" will be released June 29th, with his full length album "Amplified" out at the tail end of the Summer. There are clear comparisons with The Prodigy, Does It Offend You Yeah? and Hadouken with his music, with plenty of mashed up guitars with beats and beatbox style vocals thrown all over the place. Check out this heavy Dave Spoon remix which gives the track a harder edge and faster beat. Killa Kela Myspace

MP3: Emma - Couch Potato (Link 2)

A while ago we featured a track by Leg No which features vocals from Emma, well this time she is back with some tracks of his own. She has recently put out "Emma Not" on vinyl with "Couch Potato" as a b side. Her music is stripped down, with a heavy chugging bassline accompanied by Emma's low-fi vocals which are difficult to ignore or not get swayed by. I think it's pretty interesting music, fusing Bjork like vocals with Santogold or MIA beats. Emma Myspace

MP3: Foxes! - Albania (Link 2)

One of the most consistent labels out there, CatCutter Records, has once again delivered by putting out Foxes! new single "Who Killed Rob?". They have kindly allowed us to host the b side to that single "Albania". It is a delightful song that is instantly likeable as soon as Kayla Bell's vocals hit your ears. The music is joyful yet powerful, and given great depth with the dual male/female vocals from Kayla and Adam Bell. The single is out this week so check that out as well as this wicked b side. Foxes! myspace

Featured Artist : The Upset Victory

Compared to other music genres, I've always felt that the heavier end of the rock spectrum endures a pretty raw deal when it comes to the blogging community. A visit to the Hype Machine generally shows top lists dominated by electronic and indie tunes, with little attention given to the alternative posse. But why is this? Is this due to the quality not being there and so therefore PR companies and labels are not willing to promote the artists? Are people done with Rock bands dominating the internet ala Myspace? Is it merely due to the other genres being more popular and hence there being more blogs covering those? Well to be honest i think it's a mixture of all of those things and more, and certainly worth a debate at some point. However once in a while a band will break through and stand out to me from the mass crowd. Today that band is The Upset Victory.

Cincinnati punk rockers The Upset Victory (Frank Hammonds (vocals/guitar), Jeremiah Kramer (guitar/vocals), Stephen Campbell (guitar/vocals), Spencer VanDerzee (bass/vocals), have been together since 2006. They have recently put out their second E.P "Between The Walls And The Worlds That Sleep", and have also began work on the first full length offering. Their sound oozes energy and is tight, with frentic drums littering most tracks, melodic yet not over the top vocals, and a nice balance of guitars blending from crushing riffs to small but perfectly formed solos. Stateside comparisons can be made with Thursday, Thrice and early Aiden, whereas us Brits are reminded of a young Funeral For A Friend.

Head to the bands myspace for more information and check out the tracks below for a taster.

MP3: The Upset Victory - Signals (LINK 2)

MP3: The Upset Victory - The Will (LINK 2)

Single Review : Speech Debelle - Searching

According to the Guardian, Speech Debelle is the “the box-fresh hip-hop sound of south London”; and trust me she’s a Guardian reader’s wet dream. Urban lyrics about a tough South London life set to radio friendly jazz, with little swearing rapped by an innocent sounding young girl. Instantly I can see a thousand Islington dinner parties where her debut album ‘Speech Therapy’ punctuates the consumption of sushi and strong cheeses. However this isn’t Speech Debelle’s fault. She said she wants to be the “hip-hop Tracy Chapman” but she’s in danger of becoming the hip-hop Lily Allen: Tossing Facebook references into her songs and writing LDN on her myspace.

But forget all that because unlike Allen, Speech Debelle is actually good. In fact, it’s impossible not to warm to her voice. On her single ‘Searching’, she raps about a former life consisting of sleeping in hostels, living in hunger and being generally miserable. All the while she’s accompanied by soft piano, acoustic guitar and drums played with brushes. It’s almost twee, it‘s almost a too radio friendly, it’s almost throw away, but it works. You sympathise with her struggles and you can’t help but listen what she’s got to say. She reminds me of Plan B or the lesser-known Gideon Conn, two more rappers who‘ve skilfully turned a genre on it’s head.

Similarly, to classify Speech Debelle as hip-hop isn’t exactly fair. She’s more than that; rapping alone does not a hip-hop record make. However, I worry that the more she branches out into “coffee table” music, the more she’s in danger of diluting her fan base. What at the moment is her uniqueness could easily become her burden when fans resent her for attempting to change. Nonetheless, Coffee table or not, there’s no debate that she’s talented or much more importantly, likeable. Worth a listen.

MP3: Speech Debelle - Searching (Link 2)

New Writer : Moker (Single Review : Break Of Reality - Spectrum of the Sky)

Time to introduce another new writer to the Music Liberation team. Everyone please welcome, Moker!

Hello. Sid’s let me write some reviews and generally lower the tone of Music Liberation as I inflict my misguided opinions about music onto you all. My qualifications for such a task are few and far between, other than the fact I listen to and play music avidly.

Without wanting to use the word eclectic, my musical tastes began with metal, moved onto grunge and alternative rock, art-rock, post-rock (in fact, anything that prefixes “rock” it seems) and I've also got a taste for house and ambience dance. Furthermore, I somehow have a secret shame of major chord, poppy tunes that I pretend not to like. I pretty much believe all bands have some merit to them, and music is to be enjoyed without pretence or fashion getting in the way.

Someone told me recently that “post rock is so over”. Not that I agreed in the first place but he had a point. How many more bands can we all stand that sound a sub-standard Explosions in the Sky or God is an Astronaut? So step up New York based instrumental band Break of Reality. This four piece (three cellos and a drummer – oh yeah) have managed to sound fresh and original in a genre that’s tired and overdone. They are simply brilliant.

When I first played ‘Spectrum of the Sky’, the first single off their second album of the same name, I was immediately pulled in. In a genre where the music is positively encouraged to be audio wallpaper, wallpaper this ‘aint.

The track starts with groaning notes played over hectically plucked strings, before crashing into a booming drumbeat over a minute later. Am I making it sound a bit dramatic? Well it is. 

What’s more, the listener is led through the many crescendos of the track without a distortion pedal in sight; Breaks of Reality create contrasts in their music with an ease that would make other bands blush. More importantly, this track sounds personal, heartfelt, as if it’s being played to you and you alone; there’s not a whiff of over production or mass marketing here. The nearest comparisons I can draw are Mogwai or Red Snapper but this doesn’t really do Break of Reality’s uniqueness much justice.

So what’s the catch? Well there isn’t one really. They even manage to overlay falling rain onto the track without it sounding remotely clichéd. The only question would be how much can this format survive before it get’s repetitive? Listening to the other tunes available on their MySpace  I felt a bit cello’d out, but as a stand alone single, Spectrum in the Sky is superb. Caught between classical, post-rock and I don’t know what, this band deserve your attention.

MP3: Break Of Reality - Spectrum in the Sky (Link 2)

Featured Artist : Skilf

I recently came across a fresh Hip Hop artist by the name of Skilf. This dude is Brighton/London based and has been holding the mic for well over six years, spitting lyrics over Garage, Drum and Bass, Funk, and more recently traditional Hip Hop. 

What really stands out for me about Skilf is that he is constantly evolving and challenging himself. A look at his back catalogue reveals a real depth of different beats and musical ideas, as well as honest lyrics that you can relate with and really get into. He has a real ear for catching the right moment when to throw his vocals over the beat, something which can't really be taught.

He has an extensive gig schedule over the coming Summer months so make sure you check his myspace for more information, and while your there check out the wicked video for "Slow Me Down", which you can also download below.

MP3: Skilf - Slow Me Down (Feat. Michelle Ericsson)

MP3: Skilf - Raw LINK 2

New Music : Wolfmother / Hitchcock / Twiggy Frostbite

MP3: Wolfmother - Back Round

This Australian group are seemingly one of those love them or loathe bands, particuarly taking note of the press coverage their self titled debut album got. Rock purists insist Wolfmother are merely imitating legends such as Zeppelin and Sabbath with no creative input of their own, where as i personally think they are building upon the platform those bands created. Either way the band returns this year with album number two, and this is the first offering "Black Round". Love to know what you think! (In support of this track please donate to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal) Wolfmother

MP3: Hitchcock - Blame

Hitchcock are a brand new electronic rock crossover band who are fronted by Matt 'Droog' Terry, who has produced bands such as The Enemy and Boy Kill Boy. Now he is stepping upto the mike himself to give rock and roll a go. "Blame" is a twirling track which nods as much to 80's pyscadelic pop to modern stylists such as Passion Pit. Lead single "Smack Boom" is released on 18th May which should generate a fair amount of attention for the group. Hitchcock

MP3: Twiggy Frostbite - Thrown In Two

Those legends at Despotz Records have kindly given us the 2nd single from Swedish threesome Twiggy Frostbite, titled "Thrown In Two" taken from the groups debut album "Through Fire". The track demonstrates the effortless ability of the band to float you away with their bleak yet alluring pop music. It might not grab you straight away but trust me it's worth it when you get there. Twiggy Frostbite

New Music : Hostage / Trash Yourself / Avian X / Dead Confederate

So it's May already, how we feeling? Things have been a little quiet for Music Liberation so far this year, but we've recently got a couple of new faces on board so hopefully we'll be heavily involved this Summer. In the meantime hunt down these awesome new cuts!

Hostage - Massive

It's cliche but this track really is MASSIVE! Big sweeping bassline with an assortment of hand claps and the repeating line of "massive, massive, massive" is sure to get everyone raving this Summer. Big thanks to www.noiseporn.com for hitting us up with some Hostage action.

Trash Yourself and The Toxic Avenger - Die

We've been big followers of Trash Yourself since we first heard their cover of Blur's Song 2 back in 2007. Once again they are collaberating with The Toxic Avenger as they present us with "Die". It's a typically mashed up electro affair but in a seemingly co-ordinated way, that said it still rips your head off.

Avian X - Dark Circles

Previously from St. Petersburg, Russia but now working out of New York City comes Natalia Ivachkevitch aka Avian X. The beginning of this track instantly reminds me of Tekken Tag Tournament for the weird vocal. From here the track demonstrates the interesting darker edge that Pop music can take.

Dead Confederate - Start Me Laughing

Despite a heavy dosing of electronic music with this post, i'd like to say i haven't forgotten my roots. Rock. Dead Confederate are rock through and through if the sounds of this track are anything to go by. It's unforgiving on the eardrums and full of attitude from start to finish.