Jazz Spastiks
VS Cut Beetlez
Right now, in this very moment, when you think of jazz and
Hip Hop fusion sounds, two names come immediately to mind, the Jazz Spastiks
(Edinburgh,UK) and the Cut Beetlez (Finland).
Both are beat makers, DJs and producers who bring their own
twist to mixing up classic boom bap Hip Hop with Jazzy vibes. Both are also
duos with the Jazz Spastiks consisting of Coconut Delight and Mr Manyana, while
the Cut Beetlez are DJ J-Man and HP Lovescratch. There is no doubt that they
both have their own distinctive sound which they use to great effect on
instrumental cuts as well as those featuring a whole host of guest artists from
the golden era of Hip Hop right up to some up and coming artists hungry to show
their pedigree.
Jazz Spastiks VS Cut Beetlez is the third release
from Worthing UK based Hip Hop label Deuce Deuce, who are one of the premier up
and coming labels in the UK. Only available on Vinyl and digital this release
is obviously one that is made for vinyl as it consists of two sides, with the A
Side coming from the Jazz Spastiks and the B Side from the Cut Beetlez, each
duo dropping seven tracks showcasing their own brand of experimental,
instrumental, jazzy Hip Hop niceness.
So, let me get into this and break it down for you…
The Jazz Spastiks kick of Side A with The Doctor, a proper feel-good mix with the jazzy sounds
of horns, keys mixed in with a nice funky drumbeat, cuts and some samples that
describe a trip to go see the doctor. There are not many of us who like a trip
to the doctor but, if every trip to your doc was this good, who’d want to
leave? After, regrettably leaving the doctors office we move on to Anka
Banka where the listener is treated to a head nod beat that overlays this
jazzy sound scape of cymbals, keys, bells, and bass which allows your mind to
wander as you listen. I checked a few means of the title and ones which stuck
with me were Merciful (Anka) Brave (Banka), this idea of being compassionate,
whilst still being strong stuck with me as I listened as it fit with the two
parts of the music. From that laid-back thoughtful moment, it’s time to switch
it up a notch with Usin’ and Confusin’, an almost cut n paste style
sound with some classic samples, a solid boom bap beat and razor-sharp cuts,
all of which is backed up by some chilled organ vibes. This one really speaks
on the basics of what the Jazz Spastiks do, in taking the beats and sounds then
working their magic to produce something brand new. From getting that basic
idea of what the Jazz Spastiks do, we are then treated to a basic explanation
of what jazz music is, the Master Fundamentals if you will, all courtesy
of a sampled vocal. The track is relaxed mix of cymbals, drums and electric
organ notes which is enough to carry you along while focusing on the words.
Static, drums, electronic sounds, and organ notes merge to
bring a chilled-out vibe of The Boss. This track brings the atmosphere
of listening to old vinyl records to the digital age, even if you’re listening
to this on digital. It still keeps you moving your head too, so no matter the
mood this has the flow. The now switches once more as cymbals, keys, electronic
sounds, and a heavy drumbeat create a more spaced-out vibe. This is perfect for
the Spirit Molecule as you feel you are transcending the current dimension
and moving to a place where the normal laws of physics don’t apply. Moving to
the final piece on this side we are treated to a slick vibe of drums, horns
bass and organ notes. There is a sampled conversation taking place and the
sounds of the city, making you feel like you are sitting in a booth in a jazz
café where people are musing over The Good Life and the complexities
that come with it, albeit on a deep existential level…
Flipping to Side B, it now the turn of the Cut Beetlez who
open up with their Intro, which is an up-tempo piece of drums, horns,
organ notes which switches mid-way through, and we lose the jazz and hear a
slightly down-tempo voice who directs his request to the Cut Beetlez for some
more boom bap for the Hip Hop headz, you know that sound they are known for…
Horns and drums bring us into Ready For Battle but,
those horns and drums are closely followed by sampled vocals and frantic cuts
and more classic samples with a sound that is almost like using the cross fader
between turntables, giving you the feeling these guys are ready for anything.
More percussion, and organ notes seem to switch the tempo up a notch or two
giving a sound that tweaks your nerves. Some slick cuts give your nerves a
break on a couple of occasions making you wonder just what’s coming next as you
say Gimme A Break. That break is about to come with some laid-back
double bass and classic Hip Hop samples But, soon some organ notes come in
bouncing of our nerves once more as the Cut Beetlez seem to invite us into Channeling
this experimental vibe into our minds and opening up a new understanding of
music. Laid-back horns lead us into You Need To Quit, before sparse
drums and cut up samples allow us to relax for a minute and just simply enjoy
the sounds of horns and keys alongside those chilled drums.
Straight Up Dope Boom Bap does exactly what is says
as some slick turntableism, classic samples and dope cuts serve as the backdrop
while a heavy boom bap beat and some jazzy horns slip in to carry us along as we
can’t help but, nod our heads to this as it embodies what we all love about Hip
Hop. The final track on this side is Last Jazztics, the drums pound, the
horns blow and the keys sound out, all this as cuts slice through your
awareness and you detect more than little turntable trickery along the way as
this one just eases us out of the album in style, Cut Beetlez style that is…
After all that what can you truly say in order to sum this
one up…
I don’t, for one minute, say that I know much about the many
types of jazz sound there are, as I am sure there are many and the roots of
these go back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries
when jazz grew out of the influences of ragtime, blues, gospel, and military
big band music. There has been a huge jazz influence within Hip Hop over the
years with the likes Gang Starr, Digable
Planets, A Tribe Called Quest and the Roots, to name just a few. The Jazz
Spastiks and Cut Beetlez have brought a new spotlight back to the jazz
influence within Hip Hop.
I found that on Jazz Spastiks VS Cut Beetlez there were two
kinda vibes going on. The Jazz Spastiks showed a great balance with a more
classic Hip Hop musical approach to there offerings, creating flowing tracks
that often allowed you to read more into the music that was first apparent. The
Cut Beetlez however, showed a more experimental approach creating a sound that
showed what can be achieved when you think a little bit outside the box when
fusing two genres of music and without that experimental aspect, things would never
move forward.
For me this was far less of a versus battle situation and
more of a stage for each to simply showcase their sounds and what they are
capable of producing, when given the space to do so. The only winner here is
the listener who gets treated to some of the most exciting Hip Hop/Jazz fusion
music out there and from two of the most exciting Hip Hop beat
maker/production/DJ duos out there right now.
I have rated both the Jazz Spastiks and Cut Beetlez for some
time now. The Cut Beetles have featured in my reviews on several occasions but,
not so with the Jazz Spastiks. So, it is a pleasure to be able to review such
an outstanding release by both and huge respect to Deuce Deuce for putting this
one out.
I just want to finish by saying a huge thank you to DJ J-Man
from the Cut Beetles for sending this one my way.
This is definitely one to have in your collection,
especially if there are some vinyl copies still out there.
Links to get the album are below and don't forget to follow Jazz Spastiks, Cut Beetlez and Deuce Deuce Records on all the usual social media.
On that note, it’s time for me to Be Bop outta here,
See ya,
Steve
LINKS
Get your copy from Deuce Deuce Records on Bandcamp:
https://deucedeucerecords.bandcamp.com/merch
Jazz Spastiks on Bandcamp:
https://jazzspastiks.bandcamp.com/
Cut Beetlez on Bandcamp:
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