Album Review: Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol. 2 - Beats By Dweller Side-B Mixed by DJ Simon C

 

Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol. 2

Beats by Dweller

Side-B Mixed by DJ Simon C

 

It was about eighteen months ago when a reviewed the first Golden Ape Beat-Tape from Dweller on the Live From The Groove label. That release featured a collection of some of the UKs finest underground beat makers , plus a B-Side that was seamlessly mixed by the legendary Jazz T.

Now Live From The Groove is back with the second instalment, the Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol 2. This time around the collection of beats all come from label founder Dweller with Side-B being mixed by the labels own DJ Simon C….

That said, let’s get into it…

Each side of the Beat-Tape is nine tracks long and a little under 25 minutes in length. The A-Side kicks off with Misguided Adventure, which has a proper funky head nod vibe that really comes alive with this double bass element that vibrates through your whole body as you groove to the sound. What It Means follows with drums, keys, guitar vibes, flute and more, all coming together to give you a sound that keeps you moving. This one has that kind of vibe that would not see it out of place on a soundtrack of movie or TV series that has an inner city setting or similar. Next up is Chop La Disco which brings this awesome funk fuelled sound that mixes drums, strings, piano and guitars into the kind of sound that has an infectious feel to it. The infectious funk vibe continues on Beam Me Up which has this wicked drum beat over which is this eclectic mix of piano, organ and electronic vibes that picks you up and has you floating off into space. Now you are suitably floating off, its time for North Stars to have you transcending into another dimension with this futuristic beat and electronic vibes. Taking you far away as you allow the sound to permeate your awareness. Without warning the vibe changes with Grubby Luggage, here the sound has a more boom bap feel with a solid beat and funky bass sound that brings back from outer space to get your head nodding once more. Now you suitable grounded once more, Slow Motion Thinking brings a lighter sound with flute, keys, guitars, and a more chilled beat. This one would almost have you chilled right out but for the occasional high paced beat elements that just about keep you in the moment. The penultimate track on this side is the only one to feature a vocal sample thus far as the intro to Pick The Right Way. Here the beat is heavy with electronic elements which seem to fit with the notion that picking the wrong way will take you on a downward spiral to place you don’t want to be. You end this side immersed in a place where you get A Word In Your Ear, one which is full of strings, drums, and cymbals. The sound has this head nod element but, also this vibe that has a more thoughtful edge to it, the kind of sound that fits perfectly when you are in a contemplative mood.

It is now time to flip over to the B-Side where DJ Simon C is about to test the minds of the listener, especially the reviewer who has no idea of track length going into this, with nine beats being perfectly and seamlessly mixed from start to finish. It all kicks off with Cryptwalking, with a heavy beat, bells, keys and more, this one does give you the sense of slowly walking forward, with no real direction and with one eye cast over your shoulder. The beat changes slightly as we move into Flat-tops, where big orchestra horns take the forefront alongside a solid head nod beat. Once more you get that kind of soundtrack vibe before heavy strings join the sound. This carries you into Waterfalls, where the beat and guitar vibes unite with Piano elements to bring this upbeat sound that makes you wonder, what would a waterfall sound like if it had a musical element as is cascaded over your body, and perhaps this is it. The Piano vibes continue with Gut-Wrench which has this Lofi sound that, I have to say, does put you in mind of how you feel having had some gut-wrenching news; carrying you along where you are almost in a daze. Just as you are wondering where this is going, Shot In The Dark drops in with a pulse pounding funk sound that has this awesome uplifting sound with this funky guitar element that puts a grin on your face once more. Sycamore Style kind of drifts into the flow with a drum program and horns that give you a sense being at speed but, also floating at the same time, just like a sycamore seed as it falls to the ground, spinning rapidly while floating slowly on the breeze. Crom’s Lament comes in with a recognisable sample that has that soundtrack vibe to it, alongside heavy drums and cymbals; all of which put you in mind that something big is coming and this is almost the calm before the storm. It is either that or this is the sound of someone coming to terms with their past as their final journey awaits them. Whichever it is there is this emotive edge to this one that conjures up many things for the listener. You won’t be waiting long see what the impending sound was foretelling as The End Of The World is soon upon you. Drums and keys create this deep sound, one that continues that emotive edge, touching you to the very core of your being and making you wonder if there is anything more to this journey; that question is soon answered as Shake The Colours almost explodes into your awareness, instantly pulling you back to the present moment. The upbeat sound of drums, xylophone notes and horns give you an instant adrenaline hit that makes you realise that there is not just a silver lining to the world around you but, that music is the gateway to a brighter future, you just have to let it in…

I have to say that, bringing myself back from this one was a huge task as instrumental music gives me free reign to interpret things however I want and, looking back over my words, I could rewrite this one totally differently if felt like it and even go on for a few more pages yet but, I have to give you some overall impressions, or perhaps I just did…

There are few things that strike you when you have given this a good listen or two, the first of which is the diversity of Dweller’s production across these eighteen tracks. Yes, you can feel that the foundation comes from that boom bap Hip Hop sound but, there are some great elements of other sounds, genre’s and more mixed into each one of these; showing the calibre and an insight into just what he is capable of as a producer. The emotive nature of these tracks really allows you to go anywhere with this one and the fact that it leaves you on a high note means that no matter how you are feeling when you put this one on, it will leave you on a more euphoric note once you get to that last track.

You can’t sum up this one without taking a good look at the B-Side too. DJ Simon C expertly mixes these tracks together, keeping the vibe going all the way through until that last explosion of sound and inferred colour. His addition of cuts across the whole thing also adds depth and keeps that foundation of the Hip Hop sound alive while giving you food for thought without pausing to consider just where the music is taking you; it’s just one long journey to enjoy.

For me this a cracking release that shows exactly what Live From The Groove, Dweller and DJ Simon C have to offer. The Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol 2 takes things to a different level from Vol 1 and proves that they are true silver backs of the UK Hip Hop scene.

The Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol 2 is available now and is definitely one not to miss, also make sure you check out the recent review of MNEA ; The Future Introspective EP which is another outstanding release from Live From The Groove

My thanks to Dweller for giving me the chance to bring you this one.

I’ll see you next time,

Steve.

LINKS

Get your copy from one of these links:

https://www.livefromthegroove.com/

https://livefromthegroove.bandcamp.com/album/golden-ape-beat-tape-volume-2

One link for all things LFTG:

https://linktr.ee/livefromthegroove

Live From The Groove Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/livefromthegroove

https://www.instagram.com/livefromthegroove/

VIDEOS

Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol. 2  Side-A

Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol. 2  Side-B Mixed by DJ Simon C

 

 

 

 

EP Review: The Future Introspective EP by MNEA

 

The Future Introspective EP

By

MNEA

 

It was back in July 2023 that I reviewed the debut, and now sold out release ‘End Of Your Era’ by Collective MNEA. Now they are back with the hugely anticipated The Future Introspective EP which keeps the core of the label artists from Live From The Groove but, adds in new features along the way.

The Future Introspective EP sees Dweller on production, mixing and mastering duties. The artwork and design come from Tuff Draft Design alongside artwork concepts by Ethr82. With such a wealth of artists involved in this one, I’ll give you as much information as I can in the review. So, sit back, keep your mind open and join me as I take you through The Future Introspective EP.

As the initial release for the EP is on limited edition vinyl, with streaming coming only once the vinyl is gone, I’m going to refer to side A and B as I go along. The EP kicks off on the A-Side with Look Forward which features King Kashmere, Enlxsh and Dweller, with cuts coming from DJ Cuban Jon and DJ Simon C. The beat is heavy getting your head nodding as soon as it drops; under this beat is an almost eerie sound from keys that grabs your attention enough to keep you focused on the lyrics, while the cuts slice through your awareness with laser like precision. This one looks toward a possible dystopian future for the human race, where we have these dreamscapes put forward by the emcees, each one giving us a bleak look at what’s to come in a future that might be a lot closer that we truly realise. With those bleak thoughts still so raw in our minds, it’s time to Free My Mind with Jess Edie on vocals. The sound eases the anxiety of a bleak future with a vibe that takes you back to the days of Bristol’s Massive Attack or, more recently, the neo-soul of O.Love. Jess brings us a stunning vocal sound that calms the most stressed nerves as she opens up on what she will do to free her mind from all the struggles and strains of life. Now suitably chilled out, its time to join Dweller, Enoch and DJ Simon C for the Rapture. Organ notes and horns mix with an up-tempo drum beat that gets you bouncing once more. This one kind of mixes the definitions of the word rapture in to one track as it brings you that sense of euphoria, teasing you with aspects of looking back at what has  gone before and then looking forward to the start of a new journey; in a way that is uplifting and bringing optimism to the forefront. Side-A is rounded off with Hurt, featuring Laura Vane, this one combines bass and piano as the main elements that give this one a deeply soulful vibe but, with a funky edge. Laura brings this powerfully soulful voice that captures every part of your being as she brings forth the fact that no one can get away from the fact that there are aspects of life that with hurt us. We can do our best to avoid and ignore what’s happening around us but, sooner or later we have to face that facts and it will hurt…

 

With Side-A ending on such an emotive note, it gets you wondering as what Side-B is going to bring. You don’t have wait long as Life’s Many Questions brings a feature from Scrabble and sound that this jazzy funk vibe to it with this mix of drums, keys, guitars and more. Scrabble goes off on this one juxtaposing everything you think might be the answer and whisking your thoughts into a whirlwind, all in the space of a single verse. Still leaving with no real answer to life’s many questions. Next up we find MNEA reworking the track Loose Tongues by indie funk band The Stash Collective. This one features SimpleSamples and Kansul with cuts from DJ Simon C. The sound is heavy with a pounding bassline that gives this one a head banger vibe that will likely have you punching the air. The title of this one describes the track perfectly as its all about letting their tongues loose and spitting forth the kind of bars that have you buzzing from top to bottom. The midpoint of the B-Side brings you The Most Wonderous Part Of Your Life as Conbel Evrence, on co-production, helps bring you this chilled out interlude of laid-back beat and organ notes that takes you to the point of being so relaxed you just want to float off to this one for the rest of the day but, this is MNEA and you know that is not about to happen. The penultimate track of the EP is the Free Your Mind (Extended Mix) which features guest appearances from enlxsh and UK DMC finalist 2024 DJ Rasp alongside Jess Edie. That same neo-soul vibe is here once more, only this time you get a lot more of it and you really feel how that deep bass vibrates your entire body. Enlxsh adds this deep verse that mirrors the sentiments of Jess and is all about looking deep inside to unlock what will truly set you free. DJ Rasp brings the kind of cuts that take your breath away, adding another element to superb extended version. The final track on the EP is the Hurt (Algo Remix). Here we find that Laura Vane’s stunningly powerful vocals and message remain the same, but the huge change here is the DnB sound of the remix. This one turns the tempo up a few notches, which you might think would change the vibe of this one far too much but, the increase in tempo is just enough to keep the message working while taking the track to the kind of level that could well make it a huge club banger. While DnB is not my cup of tea normally, this one actually sounds quite good and does work very well.

 

Now, I’ve kept the descriptions relatively short here but, there is a lot more that you could say about these tracks but, sometimes it’s just not needed. MNEA and Live From The Groove have done a cracking job of dropping an EP that, firstly, is as long as some albums can be these days; secondly, they have experimented with a host of different vibes and sounds that take you on a true audible rollercoaster ride. What this shows is that MNEA are not just your normal run of the mill Hip Hop collective, but they are here to bring good music from whatever genre fits the bill. So, the foundations of the sound might be in Hip Hop but, what you do get from this one is that MNEA are a collective that truly want to stretch the boundaries of their musical influences and by doing that they are going to open the listener up to a sound that you can never anticipate one hundred percent. That is especially apparent when you consider that outside of the core label artists, you will never know who might feature and the vibe they could bring.

It is actually very hard to sit here and know exactly what more I can say about this EP. It is one of those things that kind of speaks for itself and you are just going to have to listen yourself to know what feelings it is going to elicit within you.

Every feature on The Future Introspective EP brings their own energy and a diverse range of styles, flows and vocal dexterity. From Rap vocals to Soulful sounds, this one has something for everyone to enjoy and I have to say that I enjoyed every minute of it.

With all that talk of new paths to follow and new beginnings on The Future Introspection EP, has made me feel I’ve said enough here and so it’s over to you give it a listen and see how it speaks to you.

This one is out soon on a limited run of 100 vinyl copies. One randomly selected pre-order customer will also win a USB stick with the entire back catalog from Live From The Groove and some exclusives too. There will also be CD, Cassettes and a couple of concept canvases available too that are hand painted by Ethr82.

Digital release will follow once the vinyl is sold out. So, don’t sleep on this one.

My humble thanks to Dweller and all at Live From The Groove for giving me the chance to drop this exclusive look at the EP.

 

Enjoy and I’ll see you next time.

Steve

LINKS

Live From The Groove Website and Bandcamp:

https://www.livefromthegroove.com/

https://livefromthegroove.bandcamp.com/

Live From The Groove Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/livefromthegroove

https://www.instagram.com/livefromthegroove

https://www.youtube.com/livefromthegroove

  

 

 

EP Review: The Red Nebula EP by Mazzini

 

Red Nebula EP

By

Mazzini

 

Dropping today on Live From The Groove is the latest offering from Mazzini, the Red Nebula EP. Mazzini is described as a Hip Hop producer who draws inspiration and influence from the world of television and film. Obsessed by vintage cinema, giving an insane attention to detail when crafting his often complex and meticulous projects. A keen purveyor of the obscure, flipping from the screen to the MPC; Mazzini builds soundscapes with running themes exploring everything from space travel to the escapades of the New Jersey Mafia. 

As with anything from the Live From The Groove label, we can expect some high grade Hip Hop vibes mixed with whatever Mazzini chooses to bring to the table, and to give you an idea of what to expect at this juncture, the EP is described, in part, as a futuristic trip, a spaced-out beats odyssey that journeys light years through soulful loops, edgy electronic elements and raw organic drums. Cinematic in the extreme, Mazzini experiments with effects from home-made guitar pedals and painstakingly carves samples from forgotten film and tv soundtracks, 90s computer games and a plethora of his own nostalgia to create a cosmic soundscape.

Not only that but, the EP also features appearances from Dweller, Scrabble and Kansul, guitar and bass from Rolly and cuts by DJ Simon C. So, this one really ramps up the expectation of something different and possibly way out there?

If you really want to get an idea of what’s in store for your ears, then join me as I take you on a journey through the EP as it comes through my ears and then filters through my consciousness…

 

As the sound of drums, electronic vibes and sonic sounds, of Lazers envelopes you, you find yourself on a launchpad with a brief sensation of expectation before being launched into the vast reaches of space, surrounded by some intricate lo-fi vibes carry you past the point of no return and on into orbit around the earth; you catch your breath as the beauty of home planet comes into full view, lit by the light of the sun. It’s not long before your attention is drawn to the cosmos beyond the earth and for a brief moment the thoughts of the universe merge with the image before you on the computer screen, brought to you by Lines In A Code. The electronic vibes and heavy drums make the veil between realities blur and the voice of crew mate Scrabble invade your scrambled awareness, his words bring thoughts of the digital age and how computer code seems to rule our lives, making it harder to distinguish just what reality we live in, is it a 3-D world or just a simulation that is generated by the lines of code in the matrix…

As your mind whirls, almost out of control, you blink hard and suddenly realise that the pounding drums, electronic vibes and sampled sounds have taken you beyond the earth’s orbit further into the galaxy beyond, and as you head ever onward you wonder just what comes After Earth? It’s not long before a head nod drum beat clears your vision, with guitar notes and some sampled sounds take you back to 80’s with electro vibe. The sound comes from crew member Dweller, a Robot, as his words seem to drift in and out of your awareness, you begin to question you existence once more; this time his words seem to twist your mind to the point where you consider the fact that you yourself may be a robotic entity, programmed to journey beyond earth, looking for a safe haven for those left on that, and in spite of its beauty, dying planet you just left.

Leaving the orbit of earth, you have seen much already, your head nods to the beat, guitar, electronic and sampled sounds of Satellites. These things come in many forms, from the manmade mechanical devices that surround the earth to the moons and space rock that orbit other planets. Your journey gives you time to think and you realise how the satellites and space junk that orbit earth and slowly becoming such a danger to the planet but, this is a passing though as your mind is drawn away from that dark thought to the wonderous visions of the satellite moons that you pass by. The sounds of piano notes draw you back to your journey and the realisation that your parabolic trajectory has brought you Intra-Venus and as things heat up, you are joined by crewman Kansul as the beat kicks in with horns and a multi-layered sound that makes you marvel at the sight before you. The extra-terrestrial vocals take you into hyperspace, beyond the confines of our solar system and on into the galaxy beyond. The final track of the EP takes us to a place that was only thought to exist in the computer game ‘Half-Life’, the borderland, which is a meeting place of dimensions, XEN, and now we find ourselves Walking on XEN. Pounding drums echo your foot falls as the electronic and sonic vibes mirror the strange sights before you on XEN and the mind bending thoughts that have you questioning, one last time, am I really in this 3-D reality or have I transcended reality and become with the digital universe, as those questions float by your consciousness, you wonder if they will be answered or perhaps an answer is now inconsequential…

 

I have said it many times before and will probably do so again but, instrumental music really does allow your consciousness to drift off into places that the world beyond, just does not allow you to go to. Red Nebula is no exception, even the three tracks with vocals from Scrabble, Dweller and Kansul, still have that element that allows you to find new worlds to explore.

What Mazzini does with Red Nebula is to blend so many elements seamlessly into a Hip Hop based journey that opens your mind to an almost infinite number of alternate realities, each of which can blend the borders of reality into a something new, even interstellar, and yet at the same time, strangely familiar.

The use of live instruments alongside a plethora of forgotten, and some not so forgotten, samples is stunning, as it brings a blank canvas to your imagination, taking you anywhere you want to go. The appearance of Scrabble, Dweller and Kansul, adds an extra dimension to thing as their vocals bring a focus for your mind to be guided to as you create your own visions upon the canvas that Mazzini places before you. The other thing about Red Nebula is that Mazzini seems to bring you a sound that not only spans across space but, also time as you are transported back to the eighties from the present and on into the future in the space of less than 25 minutes, it is a journey that is like no other, or is it?

Red Nebula is one of those EP’s that has to be heard to know where it will take you and Mazzini has done an absolutely stellar, or is that Interstellar, job here. It is definitely one I’m gonna enjoy for a long time to come.

Red Nebula by Mazzini is out on Live From The Groove today so, grab a copy (the digital version comes with an additional track, Keep Lookin' Up) and drift off beyond spacetime.

I’m gone,

Hopefully I’ll be back for next time…

Steve.

LINKS

To get you copy of the EP and all LFTG links:

https://linktr.ee/livefromthegroove

VIDEOs

The Red Nebula EP YouTube Video (Full EP):

 

 

 

 

Album Review: Kansul Everything by Kansul Culture

 

Kansul Everything

By

Kansul Culture

 

Many of you will be familiar with Dweller, Kansul and the Live from the Groove label. You might also be familiar with the Kansul Culture EP which dropped back in September of 2022; this album is the follow to that EP and expands on their creative flow.

Now, the easiest way for me to set up the review is to drop Dwellers own words on this project:

Kansul Culture is a concept born in lockdown by Dweller and Kansul. Following the Kansul Culture EP this LP presents a walk through the mind of Kansul, an anonymous M.C. who keeps his identity hidden behind a mask. Unplugging from modern society where social media followers are currency and algorithms impute value to art, Kansul Culture is the antithesis and antihero. As fiercely individual and unique as it is rebellious and creative, this album refuses to be pigeonholed. Switching lanes between genres as easily as Kansul switches from spoken words and rhyming to singing, you should sit back and prepare for a journey into the souls and minds of these two immense talents. Recorded in lockdown, Dweller would patiently craft the beats in isolation and await Kansul to send down vocal files which were slotted into each track as the album came together. Then DJ Simon C and TMB would record cuts and fire them over to be layered on top as the collective worked together remotely but connected by the creative project. When restrictions finally ended and in-person collaboration was possible, A. Lofthouse visited Dweller’s home studio to play Brass sections over selected tracks and the project was complete.

All that considered, there is only one way to truly feel this project, and that is to dive into the album. So, please join me as we look to Kansul Everything…

 

The first thing that you get a sense of is the multi-layered sound and all the elements that come together to on this album. Anymore kicks things off with a soulful sounding vibe that has drum, guitar, strings, keys, and cuts, all combined bring that soulful sound but, still with the Hip Hop roots. The static sound that crackles in the background gives the impression that you are immersing yourself in a vinyl release. Kansul switches between slick rap vocals and a sung hook as he introduces us to who he now is, not question things anymore but, more living in the moment and making that a statement. Bad D.N.A has this emotive sound that comes from a melodic beat over which is this organ sound, which has an almost eerie quality, while this ticking cymbal sound cycles through your awareness, keeping you from drifting too far.  The emotive aspect works so well as Kansul speaks on misspent youth, where the focus is on power and money, and the choices made in that pursuit so often take people down the wrong path. A head nod beat mixed with keys, xylophone, horns, and bass are the foundation for Lessons, which creates an uplifting vibe. Kansul’s cleaver lyrics, even switching to a ragga sound on the hook, to deliver a message, line by line, that relates to each lesson as it is detailed, bringing each lesson alive in your mind, and making you realise that you never stop learning on your life’s journey as every person and situation has something to teach you.

Not Listening brings more xylophone, bass, and horns that brings this chilled jazzy vibe sound. This is one of those you wanna sit back, close your eyes, and relax to. Kansul, once more, switches from sharp rap vocals to a more soulful sung hook. This one is very much a look at those people who have much to say but have never really listened throughout their life. To have an opinion on anything, you have to be some level of understanding and, or be prepared to listen and learn, don’t allow the lessons that life teaches you to fall on deaf ears; be openminded and ready to take the message onboard and grow, if you do not you will end up hollow and without a real voice. Next up is the short Kansul Culture (Interlude), a proper head nod beat with organ notes that looks at what the Kansul Culture is. Strings form the background to No Rest before the beat drops in giving you a laid-back head nod vibe. There is deep message here that really says that not matter how you seem to that closest to you, if you spend too much time dabbling in a dark life there will be no rest for you. There also seems to be a deeper message that asks you to question and look at who you truly are, because only by doing that can you express and receive positiveness in your live.

Nobody brings a sound that puts you in mind of summer days and jams, with chilled drums and keys there is a laid-back funk vine to this one. As you listen to this one you really get the sense that this one speaks to you on another lever, telling you that we are all equal, no one is better than anyone else. We might have different skills but, we all do our best to live our lives the best we can and that is what makes us equals. Heavy drums and piano vibes give a heavy sound for Lost Soul, making you want to punch the air as you listen, until the sung hook brings a slight melodic break. Here Kansul is able to go in full in full lyrical flow; bringing the soul back to the music where it is so often missing. There is the sense that the commercial music scene and making money is what really stole the soul and now it’s all about bringing that soul back. A chilled drum beat, keys and strings bring a nice mellow sound that puts back into a kick back vibe on Revolving Door. Kansul once more mixes his sharp rap vocals with a sung hook. Here he looks at how so many of the experiences we go through seem to have a similar cause and effect, giving us this feeling like we’ve been through this before but, maybe not with the sample people, it’s just the way things play out seems so similar, just like we occasionally get stuck in a revolver door, just for a while before moving on…

The penultimate track, which begins the process of bringing the album to a close is All Said And Done, a looped music box melody alongside soft strings, horns, and sparce beat creates an emotive sound that seems to touch your heart. Kansul mixes his rap vocals and sung elements to great effect here, creating a vocal vibe that emulates the music. The message here comes with this reflective air that speaks on life, how we live it and all those challenges we experience along the way; how we see our life and the choices we make is so important too. This track has an almost counselling effect to it, touching the very depths of your soul and reminding you just who you truly are and to always be that best expression of yourself. The album ends with No Place To Go, a jazzy sounding outro of horns, strings, guitar, and an upbeat drum sound. The sampled vocals hint that this is the end of the road and there is no place to go now but, it’s only a hint because this is only the end of the album and not the end of everything; I guess that where you go from here depends on your experience of what you just heard, you can put more music on or just sit and muse over what you just heard, It’s all up to you…

 

An album like Kansul Everything, gives you much to ponder as you reflect on what you just heard. On one side you have the fact that this is a journey into the mind of Kansul who brings his experiences and his own thoughts on life, to bear on this album, taking the listener to many different places and allowing them to experience many emotions along the way but, on the other hand, what Kansul does is to give you enough information to also look inside yourself too so, as much as this is an album about Kansul, it is also an invitation to look into a mirror that reflects you own life back at you.

Kansul does not do this alone however, and Dweller crafts some soulful and emotive soundscapes that, not only provide the perfect platform for Kansul’s words but, these are musical emotions that help create that audible mirror for you look into and to feel everything as you progress from track to track. The fact that this was all put together during the lockdown period and only finished off later, makes you realise just how amazing music is and how it can bring out the best in people, during the process of writing and recording, even though Kansul and Dweller were miles apart, and how they, by putting their heart and soul into this, are able to have such an effect on the listener.

Kansul Everything might seem like a jazzy, funky, conscious Hip Hop album but, it is more than that, it  is a genre and vibe breaking album that erases the borders between genres, time and space; bringing a sound and narrative created by two that is so easily associated and enjoyed by the many.  

My thanks Dweller for allowing me the chance to bring you this one.

Kansul Everything is out today, digital only, on Live From The Groove and when you download the album from Bandcamp you will receive the bonus remixes: Revolving Door (Kista Remix), Anymore and No Rest (Remixed by Kuartz) and Bad D.N.A (DJ OP1 Remix), so what more of an incentive do you need to grab a copy…

 

On that note,

I’m out, see ya…

Steve.

LINKS

Get you copy from Bandcamp Here:

https://livefromthegroove.bandcamp.com/album/kansul-everything

Live From The Groove Website:

https://www.livefromthegroove.com/

Live From The Groove Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/livefromthegroove/

Kansul Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/kansul_music/

Live From The Groove Linktr.ee:

https://linktr.ee/livefromthegroove

 

VIDEOS

Kansul Everything (Full Album)

 

 

Single Review: End Of Your Era by MNEA

 

End Of Your Era

By

MNEA

 

End Of Your Era is the latest release on the awesome UK Hip Hop Label Live From The Groove. The Debut release comes from the artist collective know as MNEA, who are based across the UK and collaborate remotely to produce their own take on Hip Hop. Production comes from Conbel Evrence, with co-production, mixing and mastering from Dweller, Vocals by Dweller and Scrabbleshots, cuts by DL Simon C and Artwork from Tuff Draft Design. The flip side of this single release is a remix from dope producer Djar One, out of France.

So, I’m not gonna keep you waiting around, let’s get into this…

 

The first thing that hits you about End Of Your Era is how the beat, keys, bass, multi-layered sounds and cuts combine to bring this head nod vibe that immediately takes over your whole body. It just seems that your whole body assimilates the sound and vibe making you both one for the duration of the track. Once the beat has you hooked you are able to listen and feel the words that form the basis of the message within. The message comes across in the form of this emotive tale of looking back at life and how far we have come and realising that the innocent outlook we had on life as children never really prepare us for what’s to come on the journey of life. We progress thorough life understanding that the road in front of us never becomes clearer but, is littered with decisions to make and hurdles to be overcome that will help us walk forward and grow as individuals, constantly moving and pushing on until we reach the End of Your Era. The message here really seems to be that life is all about making the most of what inspires us and helps us to grow along the way, it’s not always an easy journey but, if we make the most of every opportunity, we will always that we have done our very best in live.

So, the flip side of the single is the remix from Djar One which keeps the vocal message and its emotive context but takes the sound scape to another level. Djar One keeps the reflective vibe of the original single while giving it a slightly more mellow, upbeat sound. With this remix, Djar One helps you to imagine yourself chilling on a warm summer’s eve in a group of friends, musing over life’s journey to date; the ups and downs, the challenges and the crossroads life has put in front of you, all the while speaking from the heart, realising just how far you’ve come and that you are still here, walking forward with purpose.

Sometimes its difficult to come up with words that express the overall feel of single, EP or album and that is exactly how I’m feeling now as I sit here, ready to sum up this single but, and I’ve said this before, this single and the remix are perfect representations of just how powerful music can be. Here we have a Hip Hop single, that puts in to music, how we can so often reflect back over our lives and how those trials, tribulations and inspirations, have shaped who we are in that moment and it comes across in such a way as to be relevant to any one of us; and because it is so relatable it can’t help but, stir those deep down emotions within you, regardless of your musical tastes.

What MNEA have here is a single of which you can play either side in the car, club, on the radio, at the BBQ and so on and it will get people moving and speaking on heir own experiences. For me, this is essential listening for the summer and beyond, it’s just never gonna get old.

Huge props to MNEA and Djar One for crafting such a great audible experience.

End Of Your Era is available on Live From The Groove today on strictly limited 7” vinyl and digital.

My Thanks to Dweller for sending this one my way.

 

On that note…

Yeah, I’m outta here,

See Ya.

Steve.

LINKS

Get your copy of the Vinyl from the LFTG Website Here:

https://www.livefromthegroove.com/product/m-n-e-a-end-of-your-era-7-vinyl-single-45rpm

Grab a copy from the LFTG Bandcamp Here:

https://livefromthegroove.bandcamp.com/album/end-of-your-era-djar-one-remix

Everything Live From The Groove Here:

https://linktr.ee/livefromthegroove

Beat-Tape Review: Golden Ape Beat-Tape by Live From The Groove

 

Golden Ape Beat-Tape

By

Live From The Groove

 

The Golden Ape Beat-Tape is the latest release from one of the UKs newest Hip Hop labels. Originally started back in hazy days of 2020, Live From The Groove was an online platform dedicated to radio shows and online performances during those painful lockdown pandemic days. Things grew quickly for the guys who decided to start a label alongside the online shows, and they released their first single this year the dope and very funky 23 ‘til Infinity by Dweller and featuring Nilla (Canada).

Dweller aka Al English is no stranger to Infinite Sounds as I reviewed his album ‘Record Of Achievement’ back in January of 2020. Firstly, let me introduce you to the guys who form Live From The Groove: Dweller aka Al English from Manchester is an emcee/producer, Dave Taylor aka TMB from Worthing handles art plus behind the scenes stuff and Simon Canon aka DJ Simon C also from Worthing is the turntable trickster. They are also part of a DJ collective known as the Get It Together DJ’s alongside fellow  DJ Trick.

What the guys have done with Live From The Groove, is to create a label that does everything or as much as possible in house. So, all the recording, mixing, and mastering, the artwork and design, even down to the shrink wrapping, is done internally. Something that really goes back to the independent record label mentality and very Hip Hop in one sense too.

Back to the Golden Ape  Beat Tape which is a hand selected line-up of producers that Al English has had the pleasure of working with over the years. Side A has been compiled and arranged by himself while the B-Side has been mixed by the legendary DJ Jazz T (Jehst, Fliptrix, Ramson Badbones DJ)  of Boot Records. It promises to have a slightly different feel to each side and Dweller promises me that the A-Side will be a bit more on the chilled side But, the B-Side will have a more upbeat vibe with Jazz T doing all the mixing live on the turntables.

With all that said, there is only one more thing to do and that is for me to take you through the album. So, let’s go…

The Golden Ape Intro has the of walking  down the street and passing a venue when you hear the sound of a DJ cutting up some Hip Hop inside and your instantly draw to head in and see what’s going on. The first track to grab your attention is Speedboat by Gadget & GrandHuit, this is mellow sound created out of guitar, sparse drums, and a mixture of organ vibes that you just kinda want to sit back and nod your head to. Next up is Decadent by Kuartz, which has that lo-fi vibe of keys, drums and assorted background sounds that is really mellow but, has an uplifting feeling too. Backseat Drivin’ by D_Piff sees the drums take a backseat to this melodic sound which almost takes the feeling of being the open air that puts this kind of industrial vibe on it but, it’s still mellow and still laid-back. The sound then lightens up with the piano in Working by Conbel Evrence, which softens the drum element almost to the point it is barely audible, creating this fresh sounding vibe that puts you in mind of standing on the seashore on a bright early summer morning and that feeling continues with the sound of gulls, soft drums and organ notes on Apterlude, another track from Conbel Evrence that keeps you drinking in that feeling of a fresh sea breeze blowing away the cobwebs. No compilation of this nature would be complete without at least one beat from the man himself and here Dweller gives us On The Grass, complete with the uplifting sound of guitars, flute and drums which have you floating of into the wide blue yonder feeling as free as the birds.

From floating in the sky, we glide gently back to earth with the sound of Last Man Standing by Chilla Ninja, the soft sounds, drums and cuts, really makes you feel you’re standing on a street, bathed in light of a setting sun and listening to the music  floating to into your awareness from all around you. Those sounds begin to merge into one sound, electronic vibes and acoustic guitar that is Three Paths by Mazzini.  Via a vocal sample we are presented with the notion of three paths to one God, which in this moment feels like  three paths to one sound, that sound is the music  that uplifts us and takes us wherever we want to go, perhaps music is our god?

With that thought in mind, piano notes draw us into Take A Cyde by Chills Myth. Drums drop in alongside the piano notes and once more we find ourselves being overtaken by the music which expands our consciousness to new levels as we allow it to do so, simply by the art of listening. The final track of Side-A is Runny Colours by Orange Feel, The perfect way to end this side as the sounds of harps, soft drums and vocals have you feeling like you just awoke from a meditative music dream and the sights and sounds of the world are just beginning to become a part of your awareness once more.

With our awareness now squarely back in the room, we flip the tape over to side B, both wondering and preparing ourselves for what’s to come, already knowing that DJ Jazz T is about to be live in the mix. Welcome To Side B finds Jazz T cutting up some chillers, tweaking those adrenaline levels a bit and creating anticipation for what’s coming. First track to get the full-on treatment is No Perps by Chills Myth, a synth heavy sound with various drums and cymbal sounds that begin to elevate those upbeat, head-nod vibes. Full Court by Lone Apostrophe almost takes us back into that Lo-Fi vibe with its chilled horns But, the drums elevate this one alongside the initial cuts from Jazz T.

The piano notes and orchestral vibes of Lost Potential elevate the upbeat vibe  once more as Jazz T raises things up just a few notches before raising it up again with the heavy piano vibes of Who I Hang With by Chills Myth. This one has some nice drums and bells too that give this a sweet Hip Hop undertone but the piano notes take the forefront, making this one perfect for a summers drive. The drums and multi-layered sound of Big Slacker (WYCypher Theme) by ExP, has this upbeat electronic jazz vibe that just continues that summer drive chill-out cruise. From there we break into a more  traditional Hip Hop sounding drum vibe of Downrock (Breaktime Pt 3) by Gadget, which has some almost far eastern elements to the sound while also being one of those tracks that maintains a certain b-boy element to it as well, especially when you add in some cuts from Jazz T.

Woah by Conbel Evrence brings a drum and synth infused sound that seems to continuously get you ready for something  but also keeps you waiting….. and what you are waiting for is an Interlude that is this upbeat xylophone heavy sound over some vocal samples, it kind of raises you up into the stratosphere once more. The interlude takes us into the penultimate track On My Knees by V, which has this solid Hip Hop sound with piano notes and drums with some guitar notes and vocal samples which really elevate the upbeat vibes getting those heads nodding. An explosion of sound and some deft cuts catapult us into the final track Spirit Levels by Dusty Methods, which has drums, guitar sounds and much more that give this one an almost nerve-jangling sound with a jazzy vibe.

 

This is definitely a Beat-Tape of two halves and all the tracks are seamlessly mixed into each other. Creating this Lo-Fi Hip Hop sound that you can float, nod, bounce, or simply just kick back and chill to.

Let’s take the A-Side with its eleven tracks of goodness that says ‘you don’t have to have more bounce to the ounce’ to be Hip Hop, you can also be chill and still be Hip Hop.

It also shows how Hip Hop vibes have influenced and given rise to such genres as Lo-Fi, Trip Hop and Chill Hop. Here Dweller has chosen nine tracks by ten producers, plus one from his own repertoire (two if you count the Intro) to show the calibre of those who produce a more chilled out form of Hip Hop. All mixed in a way that creates this beautiful, relaxed flow that allows you to kick back, close your eyes and let the music take you wherever you want to go.

Now, the B-Side also has that Lo-Fi, lazy summer days kinda feel to the music but, here DJ Jazz T adds his own stamp to proceedings by seamlessly cutting and mixing the entire twelve tracks all in one live session. That addition of cuts, scratches and mixing adds an extra dimension that does the job of raising vibe enough as to give you the perfect soundtrack to a warm summer’s afternoon drive to nowhere in particular, except into the heart and soul of the music.

I have always loved instrumental music such as this because you can listen to it over and over again and it always takes you somewhere different and the Golden Ape Beat-Tape does just that. I have listened to this a few times but sitting and being more focused on the tracks for the review had it sounding entirely different to when I first heard it. That first listen had a certain anticipation attached to it as I was literally the first person outside of the label to hear it, which meant I was hearing something fresh and new, and I’m still amazed how I remember something totally different to what I heard today. That is the power of good music.

There is nothing for it but, for you to give this one a go and I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed. The Golden Ape Beat-Tape will have a strictly limited run of good old fashioned cassette tapes for all of you who love that retro feel. There will also be some limited CDs too and remember all those tapes and CDs are done in house with one of a kind artwork. I mean, what more do you want? Seriously.

The Golden Ape Beat-Tape shows exactly what independent labels are capable of, in their desire to bring you the best music and best in limited physical releases. Live From The Groove have produced something that is a little different perhaps,  but still has it roots in the foundation of Hip Hop music.

Pre-release orders will be up on Bandcamp and streaming on 28^th April with the full release exclusive to Bandcamp on 15^th May. Full streaming release will follow.

My huge thanks to Dweller for asking me to review this one.

One that note,

I’ll see ya next time.

Steve

LINKS

Live From The Groove Bandcamp for the April 28th Pre-Release and much more:

https://livefromthegroove.bandcamp.com/music

Live From The Groove on Mixcloud:

https://www.mixcloud.com/livefromthegroove/

Live From The Groove YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@LiveFromTheGroove

Live From The Groove on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/livefromthegroove/

Live From The Groove on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/livefromthegroove