EP Review: Live at the Guillotine '88 (Remixes)

 

Live at the Guillotine ’88 (Remixes)

By

Chess Moves Junior Disprol and DJ Mada

 

A little while ago I dropped a review for the release of the original single of Live at the Guillotine '88. If you remember back to that review, I described the single as something akin to Death Hop. It was a brutal single that didn’t just not take any prisoners and left the floor littered with heads of those who chose to listen.

So, what could you do to single of this nature in releasing a remix EP? Could you improve on it or even take it to new levels, was this indeed even possible? Well, let’s see…

The EP is made up of four straight remixes of the single. The first is the Executioner Mix, with it’s heavy drums and orchestral notes it almost places you in the role of the executioner. Seeing everything though the eyes of the one behind the blade, this mix puts you in a place where you have just been hung, drawn and now you’re being quartered…

If the feeling of being quartered was not enough, then the Slice of the Blade Mix takes the visceral nature one step further. The violent scratch and violin intro leads to a dark pounding beat that is boom bap Hip Hop. Its dark nature means that you feel every slice of every word and musical note as they cut into your awareness.

As you are reeling from what has just happened the scratch and bass intro opens you up to the Off With His Head Mix. The gritty and raw electronic vibe of this one builds across the length of the track, constantly bringing you focus to the sharp blade that is poised above your neck. This one does not place your head on the chopping block facing away from the blade, oh no, here you just watch and wait till eventually the razor-sharp blade drops…

Finally, as you lay in pieces, a mournful intro leads you into the Gravedigger Mix. As the gravedigger awaits another burial the tone here is more somber with drums, cuts, and a mix of electronic sounds. It is still raw, mirroring the brutal nature of the journey of the body being laid. But soon the rawness and the brutality is just a memory as the spade cuts into the earth to cover the body…

Chess Moves has done a cracking job here of taking this brutal track and giving it four new vibes that are different but, are also linked. They are individual but, also parts of a larger story. The overall vibe here leans far more towards Hip Hop than the original but, having said that, it loses none of its brutal nature and, you could even say, it is now more horrorcore.

These four remixes are raw and unapologetically slice away at your nerves. The distorted nature of Junior Disprol’s vocals claw at your ears and rip into your mind. Together these four tracks reach into your very soul like you are the victim of Pinhead from Hellraiser. There is no where to hide, no place to seek solace for once you open yourself to this EP, you are on you way to a new experience of experimental Hip Hop Horror.

Another aspect to note is the way DJ Mada has totally flipped the cuts on these remixes. On the original the cuts were ferocious and cut through your mind like a chainsaw fuelled by Nitrous. Here he has cut back on the ferocity and taken a more dextrous, even clinical approach.

On a lighter note, once you have given this a listen and dragged yourself back from near oblivion, Chess Moves is now making his boom bap beats available to rappers and DJ’s. If your interested, then check out the link below.

After that little lot, I’m off to get exorcised…

Peace out,

Steve

LINKS

More streaming links etc will be available soon

Check the remixes on Spotify Here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/62ct6pAmNALFb0zTXaomGx?si=RXeKLveaSAW1Xb8H_5S4RA&dl_branch=1&nd=1

Check Here for those Chess Moves beats for your next Project:

https://www.beatstars.com/chessmoves/feed

Album Review: Lead By Example by Ramson Badbonez

 

Lead By Example

By

Ramson Badbonez

 

There will be few of you out there who do not know the name Ramson Badbonez. One of UK Hip Hop’s most prolific emcees has returned but this time he puts down the mic in favour of production duties.

Lead By Example has a stunning line-up of emcees from the UK, USA, and Canada to handle the vocal duties, whilst also featuring turntable trickery from DJ Miracle, Kompoze and DJ Jazz T. With such a wealth of talent being brought to bear on this album, it promises to be as good a debut production for Ransom as it is a departure from his norm.

I’m not gonna make you wait here but, get straight into it…

Straight out the gate, with On Your Mark, you get an immediate sense as to what this album is gonna be about. A perfect head nod beat with keyboards is the background provided by Ramson over which we are introduced to the album over the course of a couple of minutes and the outstanding cuttin’ and scratching of DJ Miracle. It has your pulse racing from the get-go which is just as well because there is no letting up as heavy drums and jazzed up horns hit for Stay True. If you were wondering where the bar was after the intro then there is no doubt left that it’s been knocked into the atmosphere as Reks, Ruste Juxx and Blacastan drop some incredible bars of lyrical fire to get you even more fired up. The mood chills a little as the piano heavy beat of Rap To The Future hits like a cool breeze to your grill and sees Dizzy Dustin, Mr Hooper and Moka Only take us back over some of raps early days, with cuts from Kompoze, before returning us to the present.

Nonchalant is up next with some heavy drums, bass and guitar vibes that mix together to provide the fuel for Mark Fear and Ramson himself to each drop a verse in sparring fashion. Just to remind you that Ramson Badbonez can easily drop a verse when needed. Strings, piano, and a slightly more laid-back drum vibe are the backdrop for Justo the MC, Johaz of Dag Savage and Sleep Sinatra to drop some deeper more thoughtful words on Bismillah, which is Arabic for ‘In the name of God.’ Drums, piano and a mariachi guitar vibe create the prefect soundscape for spinning tales of the cities underworld and the Wolves who walk those streets. Those street stories are spun by Ramson alongside Cyclonious and Phoenix da Icefire.

Equality for Every is like a breath of fresh air, almost an aural cleanser, with and upbeat drum and guitar vibe over which is a lively brass flavour that drives the track as Ramson and Chima Anya look at the subjects of equal opportunities and racial justice, just as if they are sat at a table musing over current affairs together. Pounding drums and sonic sounds herald the arrival of Tru Trilla, Fly Kwa and Prince AK to the ring. There is nothing pretty here as these guys are here to deliver a flurry of lyrical punches with only one aim, to knockout all those Lame Ducks. Time for Ramson Badbonez to go it alone on Chinchillas. The drums pound over a melodic eastern style vibe and Ramson is clinical here in taking out those fakes. His lyrics are as sharp as a scalpel and as precise as a brain surgeon.

The drums continue to pound alongside flutes and guitars as Az Izz of The Outsidaz, Cymarshall Law, Speed Walton and Quip break out the heavy verbal artillery. This one is high octane and as deadly as any stand off from Reservoir Dogs. The penultimate track here is a posse style cut of epic proportions and one which reads like a ‘who’s who’ of top UK emcees as Ramson is joined by Kashmere, Truemendous, Mysdiggi, Micall Parknsun, Joker Starr, Gee Bag, Confucius, Jehst and Phoenix da Icefire for the Black Hole Cypher. The drums are heavy with a sonic vibe alongside and the lyrics are cerebral, with each bar drawing you further and further into the black hole but, what’s next? Where does it lead? It leads to our final track. A great spoken word intro leads on to solid boom bap beat with cuts by DJ Jazz T. Recognize Ali, Skyzoo and Juxx Diamondz step up to drop breathless flows and straight up knowledge with one main theme, if you wanna be an inspiration, a leader in this game then you have to one thing and that’s Lead By Example…

 

So, what have learnt from this album? What has the last 39 minutes shown us?

We started of by ticking a lot of boxes. We had Ramson Badbonez sidestepping from his usual trademark position as an emcee into the role of producer. We had a whole host of truly talented guest artists who joined Ramson from both sides of the pond, and we also had Ramson Badbonez displaying his mic prowess as well so, expectation was high, but did it deliver?

Did it deliver? The answer is easy, you’re damn right it did…

The album delivered on all levels. Ramson’s production is spot on throughout this album. It creates this perfect flow from start to finish that raises you up and keeps you there, ebbing and flowing, before taking you up a few more notches towards the end and wrapping up the whole thing on a new level of high points. The masterful use of talented guest artists is breath-taking. From legendary figures such as Dizzy Dustin, Moka Only, Micall Parknsun and Jehst to names that might be less well-known in the UK such as Fly Kwa, Justo the MC and Speed Walton, every one of these emcees drop performances worthy of those who are at the top of their game, this shows the sort of respect that Ramson Badbonez has in Hip Hop, that all these emcees and DJ’s are prepared to step up and to work with him at such a high level. It also demonstrates how Hip Hop is one and all those within it are one, breaking down borders to stand together as one.

Lead By Example truly is ‘The Real Deal’ and I have no doubt this album will be loved by Hip Hop fans the world over. This is not a UK Hip Hop album this is a straight up Hip Hop album, showing that hip hop is universal. I can also see this album as one of those that will stand the test of time and receive heavy rotation on playlists and radio shows wherever good music is played.

Can I overstate how good this album is? Nope…

Lead By Example is out today on New Dawn Records so, I suggest you find out how good it is yourself.

On that note,

I’m Out, See ya Soon,

Peace.

Steve

LINKS

Get Lead By Example on Bandcamp Here:

https://ramsonbadbones.bandcamp.com/

Check New Dawn Records on Bandcamp Here:

https://newdawnrecords.bandcamp.com/music

New Dawn Records Website:

https://newdawnrecs.com/

Check Ramson Badbonez on Facebook Here:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063495610805

Ramson Badbonez on Instagram Here:

https://www.instagram.com/oscarslouch/

Ramson Badbonez on Twitter Here:

https://twitter.com/ramson_badbonez?lang=en

EP Review: Chalk Alley by Briti$h

 

Chalk Alley

By

Briti$h

 

Following on from the release of his debut EP ‘Stuck In A Bunker’, Ipswich MC Briti$h is back with a brand new release, the Chalk Alley EP.

The Chalk Alley EP is billed as a concept EP looking at the contrast of daytime and night-time life in the back alleys. With a diverse range of beats this one is sure to demonstrate the lyrical abilities of Briti$h. The EP features appearances from Sloth of Indigo Frequency and Kyle Parrish (KP) while production comes from label mate Bunker Beats among others.

So, join me as we take a walk-through Chalk Alley with our guide Briti$h…

We first step foot in Chalk Alley under the light of day and to a jazzy vibe created by the laid-back beat and a mix of keyboards and horns. Here Briti$h gives us a little introduction to where we are, while letting us know just what to expect as we experience the goings-on in both the day and night. The further we venture into the alley; the mood shifts to a mix of sharp drums and nerve tingling electronic organ notes. This darkens our vison allowing it to take on an almost post-apocalyptic feeling. This hard-hitting vibe is apt as it reflects the current state of reality and the fact that you gotta stay Woke to all the lies and false truths. Our minds are under constant pressure of fear-based media that it clouds our thoughts but, don’t close your eyes to this or get lost in a smog that hides the truth.

As the skies darken over the alley a new reality begins to emerge. A grime infused beat and a mix of twisted banjo and tambourine notes carry us to the Red Hammock. This is a place where a new smoke haze feels the air, a place where realities are less defined and where the questioning of the state of society and what is happening around us floats around in hazy clouds of coloured smoke drifting from one mind to the next. Our trip continues but, now in more ways than one, as the smoky haze accompanies us as does a boombap beat and some etheric sonic sounds. Sloth joins Briti$h at this point and it’s time to Watch Out as they treat us to a straight up bars’ session of lyrical freedom. It’s all about saying what you want, how you want, mixing it up with the music and the smoke to take us of to another dimension. It’s been some night in the alley and as the faintest hint of light begins to colour the sky once more Briti$h takes us to meet KP and together they take us through a wealth of different strains, each one blended to help us to Elevate our minds to different places as we relax in what comes, drifting off…

With the sun now high in the sky above Chalk Alley an upbeat piano driven boombap vibe fills the air. With everything we have experienced in the alley it’s time to bring our thoughts back to Who we are and finding your life’s purpose, once you know what that purpose is then you have to pursue that dream with all your heart and make it yours. We end this trip with a mix of keyboards over a grime beat. Keeping our energy up Briti$h gives us something to take away from our trip to the alley. He drops his Thoughts on a whole host of different things, musing on life, the current state of reality and what we do or don’t do as a species in respecting the place we live.

 

So, we have accompanied Briti$h down Chalk Alley through the day and the night, the good and the bad and at times, with some help, and in an envelope of purple smoke we have drifted beyond the material confines of the alley in new realities. We have learnt that Chalk Alley is place you may, or may not want to frequent but, it is well worth checking it out for yourself.

The EP is a highly enjoyable listen and the differing vibes from Hip Hop to grime show just how far Briti$h can stretch his style and he does so with aplomb. The production and lyrical content fits perfectly together creating vibrant visions for the listener to immerse themselves in. Those visions work so well as they twist reality with some smoked filled dreamscapes and on to more thoughtful spaces for you to create your own.

Everything here balances very well and the narrative flows so well reflecting what could easily be 24 hours in the life of a location that could be based almost anywhere in the world today, depending on where you are listening to this.

Once more we find a talented MC emerging from the UK. One who is not afraid take what he does and push himself mixing up his wordplay and style to bring us some top-notch underground rap. What more do I need to say…?

Chalk Alley is released through DJGT entertainment and is available on Vinyl, CD and also digitally on all major platforms on 26^th August.

I’m off for a lie down,

Peace,

Steve

LINKS

Get Chalk Alley from Bandcamp Here:

https://djgtentertainment.bandcamp.com/album/briti-h-chalk-alley

Get Chalk Alley and more from the DJGT Entertainment Webshop:

https://djgtentertainment.co.uk/shop

DJGT Entertainment on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC83e357s0v31_ZVbQUlamcw

VIDEOS

Chalk Alley

Album Review: Overlooked / Underrated by Drawgs

 

Overlooked / Underrated

By

Drawgs

 

It’s always good to take a slight departure from the norm, once in a while, and Overlooked / Underrated by UK based producer Drawgs aka Connor Metcalfe is just that.

The album is divided into two parts with Over, noted as the more boombap focused part, and Under being a more gritty triphop edge. The dual nature of the project is reflected in both the title and artwork. I Quote “The naming of the project was chosen due to the definition of the words. Overlooked and underrated, as descriptive terms, are essentially very similar in meaning but with opposite connotations; Over and Under. It is a perfect example of the project itself, being cohesive, in the same vein while having two sides to it. The artwork for the project was made to be rotatable by 180 degrees to further emphasise the 2 part nature of the project. The top half is a sunset representing the lighter side of the project, while the bottom half is outer space representing the darker side of the project.”

 

This album is an instrumental project which, for me, is excellent as instrumental albums have a lot less boundaries when you are getting lost in the music. So, let’s get into it…

 

The first part of the album kicks off with the Over (Intro) which immediately brings a chilled boombap vibe. This track brings a sampled meditation introduction which helps prepare us for what is coming, and it may touch us and feed the subconscious. That boombap vibe now switches to a jazz infused sound with keyboards and horns. Like the sun through the trees, it’s time to let your mind be free, Vacant if you will, and just drink in the sounds and let them carry you to wherever you wish to go. From that jazz sound we now morph to more laid-back electronic vibe full of synth notes. You can’t help but, let the sound carry you off to an Evergreen Forest where only these sounds and smell of pine inhabit your senses. As you are drifting away the beat switches once more to more blues sound to the beat mixed with horns and a wealth of layered sounds. The vocal sample seems to indicate we are constantly revolving. This is not a Revolver like a gun, here we are revolving within our own minds. Think of how the mind goes in circles due to indecision, especially when you anxious over something getting you and what that something might be, if, indeed, anything does get you…

 

We now switch into the second part of the album with the Under (Intro), the drums and guitar put me in mind of the UNKLE Main Title Theme from the album Psyence Fiction. The vocal samples direct you to wake up to what’s really going on around you. Now we are looking hard at what’s around us mix of Head nod beat, a sitar vibe, and samples from Casino take us to the rough streets for Nicky’s Revenge. There is duality to the message in this track, just like the dual nature of the album, as visions of the violent nature of the movie’s character and his non-stop thirst for revenge can compare to how we can keep getting up no matter what life throws at us, keeping our focus on our goals and dreams and not on revenge. A mix of heavy drums, Guitar and synth vibes seems to keep us grounded in the dark streets for Don’t Want Me. Here we are drawn into his world where being a part of something, is not always what it seams and when you see something you are not supposed to suddenly puts you in a spot where those you thought were your friends are not what you thought they were. The mood lights to more head nod drums alongside some heavy keyboards, horns, and an orchestral sound. Echoism shows how music so often echo’s real life and here you can easily sit and feel something different each time you listen, be it a darker or more uplifting vibe, it encompasses it all. Some instantly recognisable drums pull us into a guitar heavy sound mixed with multi-layered sounds for a laid-back vibe. It’s time to feel more Rested as this track seems to show that in the midst of chaos there are moments of clarity when you can make so sense of what’s going on. You could also see opposite noting the moments of chaos amidst the calm. The album ends with boombap drums, keyboards, electronic sounds and more on the ! Outro as you receive a thank you for listening to the music and a hope that your experience will bring you back again for another experience.   

 

 

Overlooked / Underrated comes in at a little 19 minutes long and I wanted more. Instrumental albums always take me to different places, sometimes quite deep, and I really wanted more time to experience each soundscape. It is one of those albums that I’ll be putting in the car or playing as I write, just so I can experience it over and over.

 

The inferred duality of the album transfers to an actual feeling of duality as you listen. Each aspect of the album (the Over and the Under) can easily give rise to a lighter or darker experience depending on the mood of the listener. This is a credit to what Drawgs created here musically and visually (He also produced the album artwork) as both elements can be rotated through 360 degrees in the awareness of the listener. As you listen to the music and look at the artwork, your own experiences and thoughts are drawn into the mix creating all manor of visions. Even the music itself, with its two-part, light and dark approach seems to morph into each other making you wonder what really the boom bap aspect is and what is the triphop aspect. What you end up with is a two-part urban meditation that gives you time to chill in the Over before the Under grounds you back into the reality of real life but, with enough space for that real life experience to be individually focused just as it was in the Over.

 

Drawgs production is spot on here as he creates these emotive soundscapes that come from his own imagination but gives the listener plenty of space to create their own personal direction. The mix of Hip Hop inspired sound is prevalent throughout the album. There is enough of a change between the two halves of the album to be apparent but, also there is enough of a blurring of sounds and vibes as to make you keep guessing as to the true inspiration.  

The album art also adds another dimension. Designed by Drawgs himself, it can be rotated mirroring the duality of the album and the design and lettering, alongside the music allows you to lose yourself in the image as you listen to the music but, it also has this almost sci-fi aspect allowing you to drift off into the future and back again if you so wish.

 

As I have said plenty of times before, this is one you really have to experience for yourself in order to get your own experience from. So, I urge you to give it a go and let Drawgs sound take you off somewhere new.

 

Overlooked / Underrated is out on 26^th August.

 

On that note,

 

I’m floating of elsewhere…

Steve.

LINKS

Pre-save link for Spotify and iTunes:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/drawgs/overlookedunderrated

 

Album Review: Future Life Progression by O.Love

 

Future Life Progression

By

O.Love

 

With such a wealth of good music being released in 2021, I was excited for the release of the album Future Life Progression from Bristol based and Multitalented artist O.Love (aka Asian Hawk).

I have previously reviewed a couple of the single releases from this album in Embellishment and Controversial. This introduced me to his brand of electronic neo-funk, neo-soul. This was a refreshing sound, and I was looking forward to listening to the album to see what else was instore.

So, lets get right into it…

The albums title track, FLP, is also its intro, with sparce and spaced-out tones providing the backdrop, it really invites you to listen with an open mind because every time you put this on it will bring a new and exciting experience. This is mind expanding, like an introduction to a musical meditative experience. Our first full length track is Controversial which features Matt Owen (Noah and the Whale) and Keno Decosta Medford (Sounds of Harlowe) providing guitars. This track reflects the driving force and desire to leave the DJ world behind and expand to newer, more exciting musical heights, with universal appeal. This is a spaced-out Neo-Funk/Neo-Soul track that has a vibe right out of hyperspace, deep space, or some previously undiscovered alternate reality. It has a funk fuelled beat over which floats that eclectic mix of guitar, synth and melodic vocals. Those vocals bring to your awareness all that is or could be termed controversial. By the end of the track, you are feeling like you have just been dipped into some awesome mix of Prince and Parliament/Funkadelic but, with vibe like it’s all been experienced through your third eye. Now we are floating around just outside of earth’s atmosphere the Galaxy Cruise Briefing provides us with some intergalactic electronic notes with vocals that make us ponder what is about to happen on our journey.

A Wonder of the Modern Age is a slightly more laid-back vibe with synths and piano notes. There are plenty of wonderous things in our modern age with technological advances and so on but, is there anything more wonderous that watching someone you love just do the things they do, being themselves. Embellishment continues our journey and see’s O.Love’s voice bring an almost dreamy quality that perfectly contrasts yet compliments the track. As you listen you are drawn into this parallel dimension of electric funk which lifts you up and carries you, floating in an alternate colourful realisation of space. As you float along the vocals reach into your mind and create this almost trippy vision of the duality of lives and everything around us. Where things are not always what they seam and those you trust often have an ulterior motive for doing or saying certain things. We venture further into the cosmos with an upbeat extra-terrestrial Rhythm which is infused with drums, bass, rain sticks and Rhodes piano (played by Jackson). It is all about the rhythm here and how it makes you feel and move.

We venture beyond our solar system on an electronic, futuristic jazz vibe and boom bap drums, alongside vocals and a rap from Press 1. All this combines to transport your awareness In To The Parallel dimensions. Feel free to stay here, especially if you consider you own dimension and are not happy with what is looking back at you. We spend a short interlude suspended between one dimension and the next. The music is unplugged with just a piano to accompany the vocals. This short moment says so much, O.Love says Before I Leave there is still time to reflect on all those individual times you ponder on life and who you would like to spend it with. Guitar and drums accompany the organ notes on Instascam as O.Love looks at the world of social media. There is a value in keeping touch with friends and family. There is also value in making new connections but, with all the fun you can experience comes many pitfalls, especially the addiction of valuing ‘likes’ above all else.

Dumbface hits with a percussion vibes and bass over the organ notes. The message here seems to reflect the ups and downs of everyday life. Especially those time we lose control of our conscious thought when tired and exhausted. We just need to maintain ourselves with poise and positive focus and not throw it back in one’s face, no matter the situation. There are times in life where we meet someone and there is that instant energy, The Spark, between you. These times you just have to act on that impulse because something special is to come. This is reflected in the energetic mix of musical notes here from guitars, bells and syth. From one kind of energy to another. A drum and synth heavy vibe takes us back to the 3-D world where Time Is Money, working hard and exhausting our mind and bodies. We do this all for money, a created concept that has no real value, except that which we put on it…

Pre-Wind has a melodic backdrop of bells as we realise that noise is a winding mechanism tightening, increasing the tension for what is to come. Our anticipation is carried forward with that winding sound alongside drums and guitar as we continue to Wind Up. What we are winding up to is an increase in sexual tension. The visions created here are x-rated to the maximum as you and your partner engage in all manor of fore play to increase the pleasure. That pleasure and the experience of love and making love is explored further as we groove to some smooth electronic vibes and guitar notes. Here it is all about taking that love to the next level, a universal experience that takes you both to the Finish Line.

We end the album with some smooth mix of drums, guitar, and synth vibes on SMHL. The sound carries us to the moments of true deep love. When it so strong for that special someone you just want the universe to do one thing, Send Me Her Love…

 

For me listening to Future Life Progression echoed the passion, the energy, and the spirit of Prince. Having been a huge fan of the purple one for many years, I was truly taken aback at how this album captured the essence of the late musical genius. I do not know if this was intentional or not but, it honestly felt spooky, just as if Prince was sat on the shoulder of O.Love who channelled that musical genius through once more. That might be a huge statement to make and, if you agree or not, that was what my initial feels were as I listened, and they have not changed.

You can truly feel O.Love’s love of music here and creating an album that will uplift you but, at the same time will allow the listener to transport themselves to different spiritual and emotional experiences each time they listen.

Although I have mentioned Prince here as a major influence, in my view, you can easily feel different influences from funk, jazz and soul to Hip Hop and more modern musical vibes, there is something for everyone to feel on this album. Through all these multi-genre influences there is still something that O.Love imprints on this album that is truly his own and for me it is his passion for creating something different that people can feel on many levels that speaks out. In a true departure from the DJ that people know him as, he has reinvented himself and in doing so has created a piece of music that truly does touch you on many levels.

What can I say except, experience Future Life Progression for yourself and see where it takes you?

The album is out now and at only a fiver, it's an absolute bargain.

Peace,

Steve.

LINKS

Get the album on Bandcamp Here:

https://olove001.bandcamp.com/album/future-life-progression