Rachel’s Live Flute Set [Jan2007] (Offline)

A very special chillout mix by Rachel (6362 Metaforce, New York).

Live flute improvisation over the first 4 tracks of the compilation “VA – Cosmik Chill-Red [Electrik Dream Records]“

Tracklist -

1. Master Margherita – Schulze Echoes (6:27)
2. Disham – Matter Of Time (9:08)
3. Morphonix – Chai Phone (9:11)
4. Solar Fields – Small Little Green Cubes (8:43)

Length – 33Mins 55Secs, Size – 38.83 MB

MP3 Download Link (Podcast) – Sorry, Mix Offline

VA – Sub Signals Volume 1 [Interchill - Nov2006]

Title – Sub Signals Vol. 1
Label – Interchill, Canada
Format – CD
Genre – Dub, Downtempo Electronic
Release Date – Nov2006

Tracklist –

01. The Kakatsitsi Drummers and Greg Hunter – Gbehee (A New Path) (6:00)
02. High Tone – Replay (6:02)
03. Ashtech – Earth Orbit (4:34)
04. Sub Oslo – Prisoner Of Dub (2:36)
05. Mauxuam – Jahnesh (4:36)
06. Dub Alchemist – MF Rainbow (6:22)
07. Zion Train – Free Heart (4:14)
08. Dubadelic – Secrets Of The Lost Dubplates (5:49)
09. Noiseshaper – Walls Of Silence (Gaudi Dub Remix) (3:58)
10. Creation Rebel – Space Movement – Section Two (4:02)
11. Manasseh – I-Wah (7:48)
12. Almamegretta – Insane Abduction (3:16)

After releasing the massive dub compilation “Dissolving Clouds” in 2005 which still runs in my music system, Interchill Records run by Andrew Ross-Collins hailing from Canada give us their next dubby installment compiled and mixed by the master of dub “Gaudi” who needs no introduction here. I’ve had very high expectations from this compilation, each of which have been fulfilled to the max. The package comes with a warning “WOOFER ADVISORY – EXPLICIT BASS”. I am sure my speakers are in for a low frequency hammering.

Starting the compilation is “Gbehee (A New Path)” by “Greg Hunter” with “Kakatsitsi” who are drummers from Ghana, a mild dub track with excellent drum percussion that keeps evolving slowly but steadily, I call this pure bass therapy. Flowing smoothly into the next track “Replay” by “Hightone” from France, listeners are greeted by insane psychedelic dub in extra large doses; I must have heard this track at least around 50 times by now, a very intelligent dub masterpiece with an fx’ed rasta vocal sample that is going to leave you gasping for more.

Getting our heads deeper into the woofer we have “Ashtech” which is a project by the former bass player of “Almamegretta” a Italian dub band who even contribute the last track on the compilation, once again the primary focus is on the bassline which is layered by highly psychedelic rootsy dub. The bass carries us steadily without noticing into the next track “Prisoner of Dub” by “Sub Oslo” from Texas. My head feels heavy with low frequencies vibrations already. Next track by “Mauxuam” the hard to find globe trotter and the best thing that could happen to dub music numbs my senses with spacy synths that gurgle around ones chakras.

Notching the tempo just a little we have “MF Rainbow” by “Dub Alchemist” which is a project by Gaudi just cannot disappoint anyone with its phat and groovy sound that instantly pulls one into the dub orbit. Next item on the sonic therapy menu is “Zion Train who are dub veterans give us a non hectic straight up shot of a dub cocktail flavoured with Rasta vocal samples and tribal percussion that leaves one with a surreal mental buzz.

“Dubadelic” who are described as “A loose gang of WordSound artist” on discogs present crawling dub groove with a complementing dark atmosphere. Next is a remix to “Noiseshaper – Walls of Silence” by “Gaudi” himself, featuring a voluptuous bassline that justifies the cover warning. As we approach the end of the compilation one is welcomed with nothing but astonishment in the form of live dub by “Creation Rebel” who are very well known in the UK for their contemporary electronic sound. Giving us our final few shots of dub is “Manasseh” who is well know for his fantastic tracks released on earlier Interchill compilations.

Winding up is “Insane Abduction” by “Almamegretta” a dub band based in Italy who have crafted a absolute stunner with excellent drumming with a jazzy twist.

Interchill and Gaudi have cooked us a true dub masterpiece that intricately combines acoustic and earthen musical elements with digital grooves while featuring some of the biggest names from the worldwide dub collective. The production and mastering on “Sub Signals” is simply marvelous, I can’t even imagine how nice and powerful this is going to sound on a large sound system. Beware!!! “Sub Signals” is coming to a speaker near you; any attempts to escape the bass will prove futile!

Links –
http://www.interchill.com/

Welder – Vines And Stream [Cyberset - Nov2006]

Promotional Text –

Welder’s debut downtempo album combines organic broken beats with urban and world flavors. Welder has been compared to the likes of Moby and The Orb and in our view brings whole new elements of flavor to the table. This is the kind of album that you’ll grow to love the more you hear it.

Artist Bio. – https://cyberset.cc/artists.php?tr_artist_id=27

Artist – Welder
Title – Vines And Stream
Label – Cyberset, San Francisco
Format – CD
Genre – Downtempo Electronic
Release Date – Nov2006

Tracklist –

01. Rain (6:31)
02. Ants Are Small (3:09)
03. Purple & Orange (7:28)
04. Crosshatch (5:17)
05. Valeez (4:29)
06. In The Park (5:27)
07. Shiva (6:57)
08. Distance (5:05)
09. Find You Here (6:36)
10. Amber Dime (5:36)
11. Isle Of Skye (6:35)
12. The Heart (6:23)

Vines And Stream by Welder who is also know for his House and breaks project “Eskmo” has hit me like a whiff of fresh spring breeze. The album is all about Welder’s unique fusion of world music with downtempo breaks and freestyle electronica with generous doses of psychedelia, somewhat in similar vein to albums by artists like “Flexitones” or “Deviant Electronics”.

The first track “Rain” is a steadfast one with a nice groovy bass with tinkering bell sounds along with a rolling drum beat that sets the mood for rest of the album. Next track “Ants Are Small” has bought about the biggest smiles I have ever seen when I am playing, the playful orchestral sounds that keep evolving along with phat beats and some squeaky bits splattered across, a sure winner. “Purple & Orange” kicks off with a oriental gong and some Chinese instrument with lots of dirty turntable sample loops mapped onto acoustic guitar riffs with a very mystical vocal sample mentioning something about some floating object that bursts into a purple and orange aura, another winner.

“Crosshatch” changes the direction to a more broken beat oriented style and once again its the groove that gets you hooked almost instantly. Next track “Valeez” has a very glitchy hiphop beat with lots of multilayered percussion. “In the park” has a industrial and urban feel with a somewhat darkish atmosphere somewhat similar to sounds by artists like “Moby” or “Enigma”, a great track anyways.

I just don’t believe the quality of sounds on this album, we are half way through and each and every track till now is just pure auditory bliss. lets see what follows.

“Shiva” as the name suggests is a very ethnic influenced track with broken beats that are intertwined with the Indian instrument called sitar. “Distance” maintains the ethnic effort and has a wide range of instruments like tablas, sheenai etc, another lush and exotic world beat influenced track. Nearing the end welder chooses to drop the tempo a bit and give us laid back breaks along with serene and mild atmospheres with “Find You Here”.

Welder explores his experimental side with “Amber Dime” which has a very sharp beat with a cartoonish vocal sample looped over and over, a strange but decent effort. Continuing further we stumble upon “Isle Of Skye” that has a gritty and industrial sound that blends into a melancholic but melodic vibe. The last track “The Heart” has lots of layers with a guitar loop that dominates, not a favourite but I can’t really make up my mind.

Welder is one of the best surprises of 2006, I am simply loving this album. This is an astounding effort for a debut with excellent production quality. All the sounds are playful, organic, very uplifting and danceable. I see many happy faces listening to Welder this summer.