The Weeknd - "What you need"

Yeah I know it's a little late, these guys have been all over the Net and rightly so for the last few months, but in case you missed it check these guys out. Soooo smooth. Perfect for playin late at night with your lady..

Free album download at http://the-weeknd.com/

Bit1 - "Bits and Peace"

Simple, minimalist, hip hop inspired beats here. Definitely enjoying it, free download. Bit crushed, chippy distorted sounds, mellow vibe to this project overall.

http://bit1.bandcamp.com/

Marina Faib - "Whisper of Trees"

Somethin' really relaxing and calming about this video, I like the vocals I guess. Some really down-tempo, mellow dubstep.

Bluetech - "Elementary Particles"

Had the pleasure of seeing this guy perform live recently, at the Wonder Bar in Allston as part of Boston's Together Electronic Festival. Dude put on a pretty solid live set, as well as rockin' some killer visuals on the projecter. Even got a chance to ask him a few questions while we were both standing outside catching a smoke, although I didn't really have much prepared. Note to self: prepare more questions next time I'm at a show. He told me that he's been making music for over 10 years, and has released work under a couple different monikers, Bluetech being the most used. He didn't really explain it in-depth, but he's using a custom-made MIDI controller running into Ableton Live for his live sets. In case you've been living under a rock, Ableton Live is more or less the industry standard these days for live DJing and an extremely powerful tool that pretty much everyone seems to be using.

His music is chilled out, electronic dub with psy elements. "Psydub" is another tag used to describe his music. I really enjoyed his 2004 album, "Elementary Particles", that I am posting here. It's got some crazy ethnic vocal samples, swirling synths, and glitchy/dubby beats to keep things moving. Check out "Alchemie Dub".

Elementary Particles (2004)

TM Juke - "Maps to the Wilderness"

This is some nice, loungy jazz type jams comin' from over in the UK. Associated with the Tru Thoughts label, with a bunch of artists that i dig putting out modern jazz/electronic sounds. I'm gonna get around to posting some of these others (i.e. Nostalgia 77, Natural Self, etc..)

Downtempo, really chilled out stuff. "Just for a day (Sunday)" is totally relaxing with a perfectly mellow guitar line floating over jazz saxophone licks and a head-nodding, shuffling beat. "Fast Asleep" is another smoky, dusty, jazzy hip hop lounger that just flows oh so smoothly. Also features guest appearances from a few rappers and singer Alice Russell, rounding out the album. Dude has really got his shit together. Mixes soul with hip hop with jazz - the whole album is really chill, check it out.


get it

Rae Davis - "Positive Thinking!"

Rae Davis is one chilled out dude. This album is deeply mellow and organic, moving through an alternative jazz/electronic universe of sounds. Dude is nasty like that. Really relaxing listen, nice jazzy sounds. Check out "This I Dig of You" and "Shook"


"Positive Thinking!"

Tycho - "Past is Prologue"

This is a pretty chilled out, mellow ambient album from Tycho, an upcoming producer from the San Francisco area. It's definitely more of a background album then something you wanna blast loud, but it's definitely a nice listen. It's got tons of warm, synthy melodic parts, and the drums are a nice, kinda jazz-brush tone. The mix is real nice, especially on "Send and Receive" and "Past is Prologue."


get it

Gotan Project - "La Revencha del Tango"

So yeah, I spent a couple months down in South America this last summer. One of the definite highlights of my 5000 miles of traveling was the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, a city of European influences, strong culture, and a booming night life. Hollywoodincambodia is actually an art gallery in San Telmo, one of the neighborhoods. In between clubbing, exploring the city, checking out art museums and galleries, I got a chance to catch a tango show one night as well, one of the most famous legacies of Buenos Aires. Amazing stuff...

After I got back, I started to listen to a lot of the CD's I bought down there. Gotan Project is basically the best of the artists that I found, on a compilation album of electronic tango. They are actually based out of Paris, but one of the members is Argentine. It's got the accordion flourishes that I enjoyed out authentic tango, but with a nice mix of electronic and modern touches. Some of the tracks have Spanish-speaking singers, so it's definitely different, but I highly enjoy it anyways. Standout tracks include "Queremos Paz" and "Epoca", which have been used in movies and ads actually, so you might recognize them. Check it out if it sounds interesting, very relaxing listen.

http://www.filestube.com/9f5e2f2f5302e5f403e9/details.html

Dextro - "Winded"

This is another album I find myself frequently playing and then having to tell people what it is. My one friend even played it for one of his students in home room before school and the kid was really diggin' it. Dextro is a dude from Scotland who makes really beautiful, ambient, vaguely trip hop sounds. I read a review of the album somewhere that likened the new album "Winded" to a Van Gogh painting, in that layers are revealed upon deeper appreciation and contemplation of the work. He heavily uses ambient noise textures, reverberated piano loops, and chilled out down tempo beats as well as acoustic guitars and vocal passages that culminate in a work that is profoundly relaxing and uplifting at the same time. The first track "Closer" I am so so on actually, a little too Boards of Canada for me, but the album quickly gets amazing. Sososo good, I can't recommend this one highly enough.

http://www.mediafire.com/?uz3xmjwymzk

El Segundo..Aether vs. Blue Sky Black Death

Alright, get to the music already. Just wanted to say, if you really like the tunes, you should buy the albums and support the artist. It's just tough, since you can find everything free online. Better then buy their album, make an effort to go to their show if they're playing, grab a T-shirt - show your support somehow!

These are a couple of the albums that prompted me to start this blog, I've had several friends thank me profoundly for introducing me to them. They are both amazing, incredible works of art that appreciate upon each listening.

Aether is an upcoming hip hop producer from Texas, who in his words, makes beats that "soak into your soul" Its such a chill, relaxing listen, it's one of those albums that, no matter who you play it for, they would have to admit it's pretty damn good...It's composed of extremely well placed vocal samples, beautiful piano loops, crisp hip hop beats, warm synth tones, and just flows oh so damn well...You gotta listen to this shit man, seriously, it's that damn good....

http://www.mediafire.com/?2mjkegwzmkw

http://www.last.fm/music/Æther

Blue Sky Blue Death is the name of a talented production duo of two producers named Kingston and Young God. They have a knack for creating epic, intricate instrumental hip hop beats that have many depths. Also produced an album with Hell Razah, Wu Tang affiliate. Their 2008 album, "Late Night Cinema", is a hugely powerful work composed using live string, horn, choir arrangements plus a vast library of digital sound that these guys combine into one of the most diverse and varied hip hop albums I have ever listened to. I played this shit over and over when I got it, there is so much going on that it is almost impossible to completely soak up after only a single listen or two. My favorite track was a "Private Death", but the whole album is great. This is definitely an album that grows on you, yet tremendously powerful each listen, moments of beauty juxtaposed with dark, gritty beats. Get it.

http://www.mediafire.com/?kgl2yz1admn

http://www.last.fm/music/Blue+Sky+Black+Death