Google+ Beathearts: 06.2012

6.26.2012

Alexis Davis - The Lift

You gotta love Evan Jones a.ka. Mecca:83. We've been covering him for quite a while now and he's one of very few producers that we know we'll love whenever his new shit drops in our inbox.

His latest project Alexis Davis is no exception. Teaming up with fellow producers Simon S (San Francisco), Spinnerty (San Francisco) and MC Replife (Ohio) they're about to release their debut album "3" on July 13th via Bandcamp.

The first taster of the album is a late night headnod track called The Lift.


Download: Alexis Davis - The lift

6.25.2012

Waajeed - Unreleased beat tape (2008)

Kinda late pass on this but you need to check this previously unreleased beat tape from the man Waajeed. Put together in 2008 some of the beats he has used on released tracks and remixes but most of it are unheard gems. The perfect soundtrack to get you going on your ride to work put out via www.bling47.com. Get side A and B below!  

Download: Waajeed - Beat tape (2008) part 1
Download: Waajeed - Beat tape (2008) part 2

Tracklist part 1:
Track One. Intro 0.00 - 0.20 
Track Two. Fuzzy Watkins 0.21 - 1.28 
Track Three. Jump Off 1.22 - 2.39 
Track Four. Ahhh 2.40 - 3.44 
Track Five. The One 3.45 - 5.19 
Track Six. Neutron Dawg 5.20 - 6.23 
Track Seven. Get This Doe! 6.24 - 7.58 
Track Eight. Shuffler 7.59 - 8.43 
Track Nine. Miss Kole 8.44 - 10.11 
Track Ten. Quick to Bust 10.12 - 11.46



Tracklist part 2:

Track One. Pump it Loud! 0.00 - 1.18 
Track Two. Flowers 1.19 - 2.47 
Track Three. Getting High 2.48 - 3.47 
Track Four. McKinley 3.48 - 5.02 
Track Five. It's Only Money 5.03 - 6.33 
Track Six. Funktrons 6.34 - 7.53 
Track Seven. Webster 7.54 - 9.07

6.20.2012

Karriem Riggins - Alone together


One of our first features, the mighty Karriem Riggins, is about to drop new material. Alone together is a 34 track instrumental album signed to Stones Throw of course. The full release is due for release October 23rd but will be dropped in two parts (Alone & Together) over the summer via Stones Throws digital subscriptions service. We've been chasing Riggins joints for years and this is without a doubt be one of the most anticipated releases of the year.

As that wasn't enough if you buy the album via StonesThrow.com there's a complimentary 45 single with the Riggins classic 12's in 8!

Tracklist:

01.Intro 00:25
02.Round The Outside 01:31
03.From Detroit/Belle Isle 00:47
04.Moogy Foog It 01:37
05.OOOOOOOOOAAAAAAA 00:46
06.Stadium Rock 02:44
07.Alto Flute 02:24
08.Orbitz 00:39
09.Up 01:49
10.Forward Motion 00:14
11.Esperanza 01:24
12.Africa 02:06
13.Harpsichord Session 02:03
14.Water 01:32
15.Double Trouble 01:57
16.A7 Mix 01:16
17.Ding Dong Bells 03:24
18.Belle Isle Reprise 00:20
19.daOOOOOH!! 01:40
20.Tom Toms 01:39
21.Because 01:57
22.Ford Jingle 01:37
23.Boy Is Doin It Right 01:36
24.Summer Maddness S.A. 02:05
25.Back In Brazil 01:00
26.Live At Bert's 02:53
27.No Way 01:15
28.6-4 00:32
29.I Need Love 01:19
30.K Riffins 01:51
31.Voyager/5000 01:44
32.Bring That Beat Back (next time) 02:34
33.Matador 01:25
34.J Dilla The Greatest 01:42

To make the wait a bit easier here's are a few first tasters as free downloads:

Download: Karriem Riggins - Moogy foog it
Download: Karriem Riggins - Summer maddness S.A. 
Download: Karriem Riggins - Matador (New!)

As a bonus here's the latest Stones Throw podcast featuring the man himself:

"Karriem Riggins, hip-hop producer. The list of artists he's produced for and collaborated with read like a who's who of our favorite hip-hop artists over the last decade.  We're releasing a hip-hop album of Karriem's this fall called Alone Together, but before we get to that we're looking back at some of his best productions and collaborations with others. "Karriem Riggins Produced That" mixed by Karriem Riggins."

Download: Stones Throw Podcast #74 - Karriem Riggins produced that

6.13.2012

The Beat Generation Series #3: Terry Tester (DK)



In our quest to discover new soulful underground music we come across many up and coming producers from all around the world. We thought is was about time to put the spotlight on a few of them that we think are about to blow up. We call it The Beat Generation Series.

The Beat Generation Series #3: Terry Tester (Denmark)

The third producer featured in our Beat Generation series is Thomas Månsson a.k.a. Terry Tester. Hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, he's a part of the country's vivid experimental beat scene. We recently got in touch with Thomas to learn more about his inspirations and music making.

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We discovered you through Buscrates (Beat Generation Series #1) who put us onto your music. How did you hook up with him?

We met in a record store while I was staying with family in Pittsburgh back in 2001. I wasn't producing at that time but I was heavily into crate diggin', however, I was mostly interested in the classic breaks, all those records that had already been sampled to death. Bus taught me how to listen for samples and get into the more untapped sources; to check for which instruments cats used, whether it was a private or major label pressing, the whole science of it. Also, I had no idea what an MPC2000 was before I met him. I would have probably never gotten into beatmaking had it not been for him.

You just dropped your debut album Horses & Diamonds (Mixed Ape Music) that absolutely floored us. Could you give us a track by track how the album came about?

For a few years I had been sending beats to Danish MC Per Vers, who's a major cat on the scene and one that I really wanted to work with. He had reserved some joints but never got around to using them. Instead he suggested that he release them as an instrumental project on his label Mixed Ape Music on which he had already released projects by producers Exampler and Kriswontwo. So Horses & Diamonds is kind of a fragmented affair. It's not like I went into the studio for three months and came out with a record. Some productions date as far back as 2004, like e.g. Sparkle, which Verb Ink then came through and laced with rhymes in the mixing process less than 3 months ago. The e.p.'s most recent productions are Subcrazy, For Her and Learn The Rules which I made last year.




What does the creative process behind an original Terry Tester track look like? Is it a jam session where you pull out the best parts or more straight forward song writing?

It's never straight forward. I never have a masterplan laid out in my head before I start working. Usually what gets me going is a sound or a chord or a drumbreak that I hear on a record. It's a rather unorganized process and sometimes I go for weeks without touching my equipment. I once saw a video clip of how DJ Premier had a stack of records sitting next to his turntable, and he'd go through them one by one, like an assembly line, churning out joint after joint. I could never be that organized. I wish I could, I'd get much more music done that way. I hear something, then I sample it and just act on impulses while I work. Sometimes nothing comes out of it. Sometimes it's the birth of a banger.

Who were your musical heroes when growing up?

I used to be exclusively into Michael Jackson. Public Enemy changed all that around 89 or so....

Public Enemy - Fight the power (Do the right thing OST 1989)

Reading up your discography we realize we already have a few of your productions in our crates without knowing. Jahi's album Souhop the Breakthru on DJ Typhoon's Sonny B music and Marc Mac's Dirty Old Hiphop remixes (BBE). How did you start working with DJ Typhoon?

There's a record store in Copenhagen called CAN. One day when I was shopping for records, I gave the owner a disc of beats. He passed it on to DJ Noize, who is also a Nobody Beats The Beats affiliate, and he passed it on to Typhoon, who was then in the process of collecting beats for the Jahi record. That was actually my first beat to ever be released. And it had Dwele on the hook! I couldn't get my hands down for a minute...




There are so many great Danish producers and acts; Tue Track, Booty Cologne, Abdullah S, Nick Nack, Ashtiani & Baltzer, GrafiskMusik. Any other collaboration in past/future?

I'm working on a few tracks right now with a producer called Kriswontwo, who is also a Mixed Ape Music recording artist. Back in 2009 I released a project together with producer Twelve Beats under the moniker The Works. I'm hoping we'll get back in the studio soon for another project. Also, I have an album in the making with crossover soul outfit Vincent Van Go Go, with whom I've already released two albums. On the new album I'm more deeper involved in the production than on the previous albums.




Your mix of styles unavoidably makes us reminisce over the legendary radio show on Danish National Radio P3 called Det D.U.R. (Danish Underground Radio). That show was so influential in the late 80s and opened our eyes to hiphop, techno, soul and house. It was hosted by Soulshock, DJ Delgado, EziCut and Kenneth Bager. Do you remember that show?

I sure do! I used to tape it. Det D.U.R. was such a huge influence on me. I was 9 years old when it was on the air, and although I tuned in mostly for the hip hop, every once in a while there'd be a house or techno joint that got under my skin. In that respect, I think it broadened my musical horizon in a major way, and it's certainly something I still carry with me. Today, I'm a regular listener to the Benji B show which I think is kinda similar in its range of styles. Hip hop is definitely my language but I'm also heavily inspired by cats like 4 Hero, Theo Parrish, Marcellus Pittman, Actress, Floating Points etc.

Download: Det D.U.R. - Top selections 1991 (The final show Dec 27th 1991)
A short comment on this download. Sorry non-scandinavians this show is in Danish but we're pretty sure you'll enjoy to reminisce over the epic selection of tunes. Just as for Thomas it definitely broadened our view of music and inspired us to push boundries. Tracklist is available here.

What are your inspirations today? Could you drop three albums or tunes that have recently blown your mind?

In heavy rotation right now is Nas Daughters, Marcellus Pitmann Untitled and Widows Widows EP.

   

The last couple of years crews like The Robert Glasper Experiment, BadBadNotGood, El Michels Affair and Will sessions have literally blown up with their live sessions. Is there a live Terry Tester experience? If so what's your live set-up like? DJ-set? Jam sessions? Invited guests?

There is a Terry Tester live experience but it's really basic. It's just me, a laptop and a midi controller, but it gets the job done. I recently performed Sparkle off the Horses & Diamonds EP with Verb Ink live on the mic. I wanna get into that kinda stuff more...

Finally, which other up and coming producer do you think deserves more attention?

The big homie Twelve Beats.




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Is there an old/new track, mixtape or live session you would consider sharing exclusively with Beathearts' readers?

Sure! Back in the good old MySpace days I posted a couple of Little Brother remixes that Phonte would comment on and I'd be proud as hell. I made this remix of The Way You Do It in 2008 and it hasn't been shared since. Enjoy!

Download: Little Brother - The way you do it (Terry Tester remix)


Terry Tester's Horses & Diamonds is available now via Amazon, HHV, Spotify and other outlets.

As bonus here's a chance to win a vinyl copy + download of his album!

Thomas was gracious enough to hand us a vinyl edition and digital download of his Horses & Diamond album. All you have to do to win the package is to:

  • Comment, like, + or tweet this post and give us your view on which other up and coming producer/beatmaker you think we should feature in the Beat Generation Series?

Mail your answer, name and physical address to: beatheartsblog@gmail.com. Best suggestion/hook-up wins the package.

6.06.2012

Terry Tester - Horses & Diamonds



Our fellow crate digger in Pittsburgh, Buscrates, recently put us on to this great Danish producer Thomas Månsson a.k.a. Terry Tester. As it turns out he just put out his debut album. If features a wide range of styles from the dark electronic grooves on the first track The neck snap to the Quasimoto inspired Sparkle ft Verb Ink and the Buscrates featured headnodder Three variations of Onaje.

We got in touch with Thomas to learn more about his music making, inspirations and the album. Coming up very soon is feature on him as the 3rd installment of our Beat Generation Series. Here's a taster where he talks about the new album:

You just dropped your debut album Horses & Diamonds (Mixed Ape Music) that absolutely floored us. Could you give us a run down of how the album came about?


For a few years I had been sending beats to Danish MC Per Vers, who's a major cat on the scene and one that I really wanted to work with. He had reserved some joints but never got around to using them. Instead he suggested that he release them as an instrumental project on his label Mixed Ape Music on which he had already released projects by producers Exampler and Kriswontwo. 

So "Horses & Diamonds" is kind of a fragmented affair. It's not like I went into the studio for three months and came out with a record. Some productions date as far back as 2004, like e.g. "Sparkle", which Verb Ink then came through and laced with rhymes in the mixing process less than 3 months ago. The e.p.'s most recent productions are "Subcrazy", "For Her" and "Learn The Rules" which I made last year.



Terry Tester's Horses & Diamonds is available now via Amazon, HHV, Spotify and other outlets.

Beathearts presents the Horses & Diamonds competition:
Thomas was gracious enough to hand us a vinyl edition and digital download of his Horses & Diamond album. All you have to do to win the package is to:
  • Comment, like, + or tweet this post and
  • Give us your view on which other up and coming producer/beatmaker you think we should feature in the Beat Generation Series?
Mail your answer, name and physical address to: beatheartsblog (@) gmail.com. Best suggestion/hook-up wins the package.

6.04.2012

Jesse Futerman - Fuse the witches EP

Jesse Futerman is back! To us his Superbasement EP was one of the best releases of last year and was hence featured in our Top Selection 2011.

”With Fuse The Witches I am attempting to keep the sound of Super Basement while creating a more varied listening experience; I’ve sampled from a wider array of sources such as records from my father’s collection as well as numerous film soundtracks. Despite this, I think I’ve managed to retain a strong jazzy sound while perhaps creating a more cohesive release overall."

An interesting observation is that the EP apparently is mastered by long time favourite Moonstarr who put out crazy hype electronic remixes about ten years ago. Alice Dufay is still responsible for the beautifully original cover art. We just love when an artist put in that extra effort.

And better yet, just as the Superbasement EP it's available as a free download. Give it a listen then get it below!

Download: Jesse Futerman - Fuse the witches EP

6.03.2012

Tall Black Guy presents Tempo Dreams

Terell Wallace better known as Tall Black guy has had a great year so far. His amazing reworks of classics from Stevie Wonder, Fela Kuti and James Brown has stirred up a lot of dust. Several of those reworks were put out via Brooklyn based BSTRD Boots. The mother label Bastard Jazz continues to tap into that golden touch by letting him compile exclusive tunes from some of the finest up and coming beatmakers from around the world.

Last month in our Beats Generation series we gave you the heads up that Buscrates would feature a dope track called Horizons. Other Beathearts favourites who contribute are Applejac (Jazzy Tofu), Ta-Ku and of course Tall Black Guy himself.

Download: Tall Black Guy - Sparkling adventure

Our take away tracks are from new discoveries Chief (Switzerland) and Monkey Robot (Belgium). Both tracks are amazingly twisted, dark electronic grooves that we put on intant repeat. We'll definitely keep our eyes out for more music from them.

Tempo Dreams is available now via Boomkat



Tracklisting
1. Teru – “Time To Reinvent” (France)
2. Chief – “Scanner Resurecction” (Switzerland)
3. Tensei – “Space Colony” (Chicago)
4. Jeriko Jackson – “Only Just” (Australia)
5. Monkey Robot – “Basement Infusion” (Belgium)
6. Buscrates – “Horizons” (Pittsburgh)
7. FloydCheung – “Pain” (HongKong)
8. Doc Illingsworth – “Snooze Bar” (Detroit)
9. Evil Needle – “Mood Music” (France)
10. Ta-Ku – “Smile” (Australia)
11. Tall Black Guy – “Sparking Adventure” (Detroit)
12. Schecky’s Jazzy Tofu – “Butterfly” (Atlanta)

As a bonus here are three more dope downloads from MonkeyRobot.

Download: MonkeyRobot - Neverending Rhodes
Download: MonkeyRobot - Rosé girls
Download: MonkeyRobot - Brick stomach

Xperiment Synt - Night & Day

We gave you the heads up the other week in our Beat Generation Denom feature. The next installment of Xperiment Synt entitled Night and day just dropped. Experimental beats from an online collective of South American producers featuring Denom, Delos, Unek and others. We're especially pleased to hear a new track from MarvinMarlyn who we featured about a year ago.

Two new discoveries for us are Brazilian beat makers Paks and Ras Tuna both from Florianópolis, Brazil. Their contributions Go and Dia are twisted subbass broken tracks with contrasting smooth harmonies. Just the way we like it. The whole compilation is available as a free download right now:

Download: Xperiment Synt - Night & Day

Download: Paks - Go

Download: Ras Tuna - Dia

As a bonus here's mixtape from Paks featuring Opolopo, Dâm-Funk, Madlib and other Beathearts favourites:

Download: Paks - Whatafunk?-mixtape

Tracklist:
James Brown - Intro
Opolopo - Twenty-Second Thoughts
Opolopo & Amalia - Sweater Funk NYE Jam
Matt Miller - Too Much For Me
KutiMan - No Groove Where I Come From
Arp 101 -- True
Miditrip - necta
Arp 11 - Mystery Man
Sweater Beats - Caught Up (ft. Lumi B)
Brass Construction - Dance
Dâm-Funk - Forever
Vanilla - Sure
Erykah Badu - Gone baby dont be long
Evil Needle - Summer Blap
Jaylib - Stars