Spotlight: Tokimonsta

Hailing from California via Korea, Tokimonsta is the leading lady of FlyLo's Brainfeeder label.



A diplomat of the west coast Cali post-hip-hop sound, rolling with big-names such as Flying Lotus, Nosaj Thing and The Gaslamp Killer, and with collabs with such names as Shlohmo, Kid Kanevil and Blue Daisy (who still hasn't turned up for dinner), this girl is going big places, fast. Whilst this sound and scene hasn't quite kicked off in the UK yet, it soon should. As dubstep (or whatever we call it post-dub-minimal-stuff) starts to merge with the hip-hop beats of HudMo, Rustie and the rest of their ilk, these American artists will become more and more prevalent, so jump on the boat before it becomes a bandwagon.

Take - Horizontal Figuration Tokimonsta Remix by TOKiMONSTA

Her second EP, titled Midnight Menu, has just hit the stores, and whilst the first EP, Cosmic Intoxications, was good enough, this piece is even better (if that's possible). A full 12 tracks of rolling, disjointed and paraletic beats fill up your head faster than a Tokyo bullet train, and have forced other would-be producers away shaking their heads.



Having personally caught her live twice, I can add that her live show doesn't dissappoint either. Whilst not the showman (or woman) that The Gaslamp Killer or Débruit might be, she nonetheless pulls out all the stops when it comes to the music: a shifting, wavering tour-de-force of a set that fuses hip-hop, dubstep and funk to full effect. If you get a chance, don't miss her.


Here's a few more tracks to whet the proverbial whistle. Enjoy.

[Preview] Sa Mo Jung 思母亭 (on Midnight Menu LP) by TOKiMONSTA

I nearly forgot.

That a friend of mine, Jayou, has his first release out TODAY(!) on Skint!

Cop it here!

A few tunes.

A few beats to get this new blogging week under way.

First off, Young Montana. A friend of mine (who coincidentally did my banner, check him out) linked me this tune. Expect big things.



This roller from SBTRKT on Young Turks:

Step in Shadows by Young Turks

AND MORE JAMES BLAKE! His new EP is good'un too. And apparently he has a pure piano/vocals EP on its way. Nice.



Not done yet! Bath's album Cerulean isn't great, but this tune is wonderful, especially the child's sample.



Finally, expect big things from Leatherette. Heard this first on 6music, the greatest radio station of all time.



Check back on Wednesday for an edition of "This Week..."!

Slow going.

Sorry, sorry, sorry. So few updates, so much time whittled away playing numerous computer games. Sticking of head in sand. First cigarette of the day. First coffee of the day.

Ok.

The blog is now back on track. I also might make a sister-blog on Tumblr. We'll see. Anyway. It has been slow going so far, but as a certain wise man said:

It does not matter how slow you go, as long as you do not stop.

Thanks Confucius. Here's to not stopping.

Sorry again.

I'd like to say my reasoning for lack of posts was either work, having too much sex, or travelling.

I'm afraid it's not. It's just the new Halo.

Sorry.

(Don't fret; I've nearly completed it.)

This week I've mostly been listening to... #2

Well, I told you it wouldn't quite be every Wednesday! Alas, I've been partying in London/looking for a flat, thus the belatedness of this post, and why there's nothing in between this week's 'mostly listening to' and last week's. Ah well.

So, first simply a song, which has been incessantly buzzing round this Brummy bonce of mine all week. Shown to me by a good friend of mine, who randomly caught them at Coachella (lucky sod), I haven't heard the album yet, entitled Up From Below, but the song 'Home' by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is absolutely blissful. I'll make sure to check out the entire album now I'm back and sort you a review...

Anyway, here it is!



Next up, a band I'd previously only heard one song of, 'Deadwood', a freebee from Communion, a new-folk night in London that progressed into a label, featuring other talents like Laura Marling and Johnny Flynn. However, I caught Matthew and the Atlas at Green Man 2010, and they were fantastic. Upon returning I realised they have released an EP, and all four songs on it are all melancholic masterpieces. Entitled To The North, the angelic guitar and wonderous voice of Matthew has been spinning round my head and iPod for the last few days. I encourage each and everyone of you to buy this EP, only £3 on iTunes, and it goes towards a little-known band making great music, and hopefully keep them going.

Here's the first track off their EP, 'I Will Remain', to get those folky juices flowing.



Finally, we go in a different direction. The Roots have been around for a long, long time. Longevity being a most praise-worthy virtue in the hip-hop world. Their breed of live instrumental music has paved the way for many other groups, such as Heiruspecs, yet they still do it best. Yet, most strange of all, their albums just seem to keep on getting better and better. Their latest offering, How I Got Over, is testament to this, as we hear a tour-de-force of lyricism and music-making. Jump on the bandwagon and climb aboard this express train of a record.

Here for your listening pleasure is a song featuring the much acclaimed (and personally admired) Joanna Newsom who, being a fan of the group, re-recorded the hook for her song 'Right On' for The Roots' version, of the same name. Enjoy, and see you soon.

This week I've mostly been listening to... #1

As this blog verges on professionalism (lol), I'd thought now is the time to start adding features. I'm going to do some sporadic album reviews (not sure about an album of the week or anything like that...), but it seems to be appropriate to add a 'Fast Show' inspired "This week..." post, every Wednesday. Or at least most Wednesdays. Or some. I try, I really do.

Anyway, in spirit of the Green Man Festival (which was ace, review on its way), this week I have mostly be listening to the beautiful wiles, hooks and melodies of The Tallest Man on Earth. An ex-bandmate and good friend of the highly esteemed Bon Iver, I heard this chap for the first time properly as I was working back stage. Although I didn't actually see him perform, he sounded wonderful, and a previous act, Mega Faun, came on stage for a fantastic finale. The really nice thing was that afterwards as the band were having their post-show cigarettes and coffees, they seemed genuinly elated at the response they got from the audience. If you've ever worked backstage, you'll understand this is a rare thing. Egos are part and parcel of fame.

So, now I have returned to the shelter of my current Midlands dwelling, I have been tirelessly browsing through their back catalogue, and I have picked out the albim The Wild Hunt as my favourite, with the EP S/T coming a close second. There are a few duff tracks on the former, 'Kids on the Run's attractions being particularly ephemeral. Generally though, all his stuff is ace, and well worth checking out if you not heard him yet.

Here's a couple of choice tracks:







I now have to rush out into the rain with my enstranged friend and two dogs, so I apologise for any typos, I will correct them anon.

Peace and pies.

Mix for frontRoom.

Hey y'all. If you haven't heard the frontRoom podcast yet, featuring a minimix by myself, I've finally been arsed to upload it to Soundcloud. So, here it is in all its orange glory!

MrMrMix for the frontRoom by MrMr onedEck

EDIT: Soundcloud player seems to be bust right now, just click the link below it.
REEDIT: And it seems to be working again...

Tracklisting:

Constructors - Suzuki Keiichi
Blind Night Errand - Mount Kimbie
Filthy Logic - Rudi Zygadlo
Please - Ikonika
Air and a Lack Thereof - James Blake
Blen (remix) - Africa Hitech
Nike - Mosca
Idioteque - Radiohead
Diana Won't - Dimlite

Peace.

Rustie.

So I have muchos stuff to post today. Weird really, considering my usual average post a week is less than one...

Anyway, first off, Rustie is finally dropping his album on Warp sometime in early October. Warp very kindly offered an embed player so you lucky people can preview it right here in the Cafe of the Phresssssh. Holler.

A little test.

Just checking the new Boomkat embed for links. So here's a banging EP from Sepalcure you should hopefully be able to preview (albeit with Boomkat bleeps!)


Read full review of Love Pressure - SEPALCURE on Boomkat.com ©

Bonjour.

Hello, again. I'm freshly back and freshly tanned from the fresher than fresh Soundwave festival. I'm kind of happy noone really reads this because I, selfishly, don't really want anyone to know about Soundwave! The place is insane. A kind of Ibiza for the middle-class, were I to be snobby.

Anyway, on to more music. This blog started out mainly as a general moan point for my life, but as I seem to be meandering into a music journalism career path I guess I'll focus on that stuff. Woop.

So, I'm going to start doing some album and EP reviews, but, as I'm short of time and rather ill, I'll just pop up a few youtunes to keep you (and me) occupied.

First, another banger from the infamous Hudson Mohawke, everyone's favourite nutbag. This tune, along with several others, was free as part of the marketing campaign for Sonar festival in Barcelona, which apparently wasn't great this year... but this tune is!



Next, something I really should have given a proper review when it came out. Regardless, Mount Kimbie's first full LP, Crooks & Lovers, soldiers on. Check out one of my favourite tracks from this absolutely monstrous eater of superlatives, 'Before I Move Off'.



OOooh, Rudiiiii. Yes, yes, Rudi Zygadlo is back with an entire album, featuring the aforementioned 'Resealable Friendship', expertly remixed by Starkey, and the original version of 'Filthy Logic'. Entitled Great Western Laymen, for some indecipherable reason, this album is move of the same post-hiphop, jarred, glitchy beats with a cart full of synths and more drops than you can shake the brok-stick at. Even my dog likes it. Youtube seems shy on Rudi tracks though, lest they be posted twice, as such, here's a mash-up from the man himself, a Milanese track with the vocals of the much admired Joanna Newsom over the top. Enjoy.



Finally, a bloody Four Tet remix! Aren't I good to you? I know little of Caribou, so I'll do some sniffing and get back to you on that, but this is just beautiful. Till next time, god bless, and don't smoke hi-grade.

Soundwave, Petrcane, Hvratska.

Bleep, bleep. Off to the sunny shores of the adorable Adriatic. Pints of Ožujsko, cabonara pizzas and over-priced chips await. Soundwave festival in the remote and beautiful village of Petrcane (of Garden festival fame) is the destination, fat beats is the obligation. Check out the promo vid:



And check out the line-up!



Top billing.

If you're heading there too, I'll be the guy in the tree.

And here's a couple of beats from the festival's headliners to get you in the mood/make you wish you had a ticket:







See you on the beach!

Sugar Minott.

Rest in peace. Another legend has left us at just 54. Sugar was one of the leading Reggae artists from the legendary Studio One, and writer of one of my all time favourite Reggae tracks (see first video below). As a small testament to his career, here's a few of his tracks. God bless.

Hello.

Please look at this:



And this:



Aaaand this:



That is all.

Home again, hoppity hop.

I have finished university! Quite a frightening prospect in fact; I kind of feel rudderless after how many years of education treading a much trod path. Oh well, I'm home. Well, for a week. Time for free cooked dinners, clean sheets and the snuffles of much missed pooches.

It's also my sister's birthday, which brings me onto my first port of call (apart from a happy 25 years of age for Miss Rosemary): Joanna Newsom.



You see, I bought my sister (being an avid vinyl collector) her new album, Have One On Me on triple 12". And it's a bloody great album. I know a lot of people feel let down by the changes in her voice, direction, and less focus on her harp. However, her new(ish) voice is beautiful, at times reminiscent of an early falsetto Joni Mitchell, sometimes she shifts into the powerful ranges of Cat Power and at others she manages to pitch high into the old fairy tale appeal seen in the The Milk-Eyed Mender. It is unfortunate she can't do this often any more, due to the development of vocal chord nodules she suffered from prior to this albums release, but luckily that whimsical charm is there for all to see on two other albums and EP's, especially Ys, often quoted as her most revered work to date.

She is also really hot.

I cannot recommend this album highly enough. In my opinion, at least, it deserves several listen-throughs, don't resort to the nowadays common practice of skipping through or purchasing singular tracks on iTunes. Buy the whole thing, buy it on CD, even better, buy it on vinyl. To give you some idea of the album's quality, here is one of my favourite tracks, 'Good Intentions Paving Company':



And here performing ''81' on Jools Holland:



Other bits of interest now. There's a couple of adverts surfaced recently that caught my attention. Sorry if this is old news, I'm not the biggest watcher of TV...

Firstly, O2 have used Jaylib's (J Dilla and Madlib) first version of 'The Red' in an advert. I say first version, as Jay Dee was sued for the use of a sample he didn't ask permission for, thus the album version differs, and in my opinion suffers. Props there to O2 on two counts. Here's the advert:



Second on the list is the new Nike advert. If you're not excited enough already for the World Cup, this'll do it. I'll be posting more and more footy related bollocks as this we get into June. HD enabled here for its full glory:



My, my, this is a long post. And I've posted next-to-no hip-hop or beats. Well, I'll leave you with some top Brazilian hip-hop from Marcelo D2, featuring his own son, awww. Peas and gravy lovers.

Nearly damn done.

Woah there! One blasted exam left, and it's a doozey. 'Rich and Poor in Roman Society' may sound simple enough, but when faced with an arrogant, useless, post-Mussolini-esque-psuedo hell-wench, well, we get problems.

Anyway, I'm less stressed and blogging is back. On the way: a brand spanking new mix (featuring a remix/mashup by my tender self), my first fully produced tune and extracts from my novel... Maybe. Right now I'll just chat balls and link you some cool stuff ya'know.

MARK DOOLING (lol!) AKA Marshal William Darling, Martial, "The Great Mustache Hope", also my first ever blog follower (check check), though I think Creepy Mr TC is on this shit too (and first). Love you. Anyway, Dooling has a blog too, it's called Viking Massage, god knows why...

Blap blap. Also another universityillayally friend of mine has one too, he goes by the name of Michael, and his is pro. Check out the wonders of Hot Calamari!

None of my other friends are remotely productive, so until they get off their slotherly, sofa burnt backsides they ain't getting no shout out. That's right, not a whiff. Snap.

Treats from me to you:



Who's that fella? Yeah! It's Debruit! Wooh! The genius behind that stomping post hip-hop/electro meets afrofunk badness that only the French do well. Anyway, he's great, and recently had a Fact "download-of-the-day" in the form of the beautiful remix of Grovesnor's Taxi. Unfortunately, due to my tardniess, this way a few weeks ago, so you canee get it off Fact anymore. Help is at hand, however, get the track here!

Check out a snippet from his Heart Beats 4 Haiti EP too! (Old news I know, but what can you do?)

Snippets "heart beats 4 Haiti" produced by débruit by dEbruit

Cracking.



And who's this chap you ask? That's right! It's our old friend, Shafiq Husayn! Recently, I have been playing to death a tune of his latest LP which, admittedly, isn't the greatest record, but this badboy is something else. Chilled vibes with seraphic vocals from the adorable Fatima:



And, that's all folks! I will actually be back soon. Till then, don't eat bloody baked beans!

Apologies.

For not posting anything in absolutely ages. Stuck in dissertation hell. When it's a little less chaotic I'll acquiesce to self-glorifying urges and write some more bullshit. Bis dem, adieu.

You've got water, but he's got holes.

Thus is the eternal battle of rock, paper scissors. And so, regardless of all conceivable efforts, something will always trump your greatest play. What is this in reference to? Well, I don't have tell you that, but it's a motif that is perpetually applicable. The meander through life inextricably leads to competition, and we inevitably can't always win. This seems ill-suited to questions of confidence, but aside from capricious splatterings of emotion, it's also coincidentally true for the coming "job-hunt", a phrase I find rather perterbing, in part due to the fact I hope not to be roasting my future employer over an open campfire with a fork and pot of pepper readily available.

Anyway, now that musing has gone, which may have been interesting for some, but more likely confusing for most, I'll get on to points of interest from my amazing life.

First off, shops. People often wonder where to buy clothes from. For women it's pretty easy, for blokes, not so, especially if you grew up in somewhere with a population less than half a million. Though, if this is the case, you're probably happy with your body warmer, big hair and polo-shirt collar turned-up. A complete generalisation, but if you currently reside in some shit-pot of a so-called "university town" masquarading as a centre of culture (yes, Reading, I'm looking at you), then you'll understand.

Well, fear no more.

Here's a few beauts for you to be going on with: first off, simples. I'm talking kicks. If you haven't heard of Size? by now you've got problems. Probably the best "high-street" store to buy sneeks. You can also find a selection at Urban Industry, which is a generally good all-round clothes shop anyway. For t-shirts check out SP:UK. These guys print the best designs that get sent into them, so you can not only buy cool shirts, but also get your own printed, and paid for, nice eh? Pretty sweet as well is Super Superficial, though you're better off tripping down to their store on Carnaby Street, as the online shop is pretty wank.

My all round favourite shop of the moment though has to be Lazy Oaf, infamous makers of the burger hat. Not only do they sell some fresh to death shit, but they're pretty damn nice people too. I mean, check this e-mail they sent me about the impending arrival of a sweater I ordered:

"Hi Jonathan

Thank you for ordering from Lazy Oaf. We have packaged up your goodies and have sent them out to you today. Most items are sent recorded delivery and will require a signature so please keep an eye out for your postie.

Love Peace and Hair Grease,

Lazy Oaf"

Just great.

Finally, some interesting stuff to wet your whistle.

Trailer for the upcoming HBO mini-series The Pacific, from the creators of the fantastic Band of Brothers.


An unreleased tune from the man of the moment, HudMo.


A video for my favourite song of all time.


Love, peas and gravy.

Onedeck; Mix One.

Woop! Finally finished my first mix. Ableton went a bit spazzy in the middle and messed the tempo up, but apart from that it sounds OK. It will be on Soundcloud soon, but the faulty uploader coupled with my crappy internet is causing all sorts of problems right now.

The tracklisting is as follows:

1) Blue Daisy ft. LaNote: Space Ex
2) Loops Haunt: Joplin
3) Shlohmo: Post Atmosphere
4) Bullion and Paul White: Get Familiar
5) Hudson Mohawke: Star Crackout (intro)
6) Jose James: Blackmagic (Untold Remix)
7) Om Unit: Lightgrids (Illum Sphere Remix)
8) Hudson Mohawke: Star Crackout (exit)

Download or listen to it here!

Something or nothing.

I'm not sure which. Depends on what you think of my capricious ramblings. Anyway, much belated news (you can't blame me, I've already stated I'm a slacker), I have a radio show! With my friend/housemate/personal slave Jim. Just did you second show, which if you listened, you'll know was quite the disaster. Mainly due to technical difficulties, and in part to my caffeine addiction. Regardless we played some bangin' beats as is our style.

You can listen, every Thursday at 11am, here.

Apart from that, I haven't been up to that much. Been dissertation-ing away, improving my culinary skills and generally straight west coasting. Thus, this will be a rather short post, as I am relatively uninspired right now, but I assure you I'll update as soon as the next epiphany strikes me. I was going to write something about my recurring dream of my teeth falling out whilst talking to hot girls, but I think that deserves a topic in it's own right, before I go all Freudian on your ass. So, here's some interesting shit to keep you all entertained:







That is all. Peace and love.

Oh snap, it's 2010.

Yeah, so it's 2010. I forgot/couldn't be arsed to list a load of great things about the past year, or how my birthday was. So here is just a general ramble with little in the way of epiphanies or philosophical thought.

I did however see Hudson Mohawke for the first time at Fabric last Friday, and he literally blew my socks off. I think dubstep is dying; it was a good "stepping" (get it?) stone for a plethora of new genres, but it's pretty lame in comparison to said offspring now. Thus I've been delving deeper and deeper into the realms of the weird; genres that don't even have an official name yet. One such genre is what people are calling autonomic. I don't really wanna DJ this stuff, but wow, it's good. I got bored of D'n'B when my poor ears and braincells were being pilfered by horrendous "jump-up" and that's when the transition to dubstep began. However, this kind of drum and bass, more influenced by techno than Hype and the like, is just plain awesome. Artists like Alix Perez, Spectrasoul and Calibre are really sending this genre places, and if you haven't yet checked it out, do so.

Mainly though I've started spinning, well, I don't know what to call it. Collectives like LuckyMe don't really like giving it a name. It's been called post-hiphop, leftfield hip-hop, and "wonky"...which is a pretty gash name.

Whatever, it's great.

I don't know where it began, I don't know where it'll end. As someone recently asked a quantum physics professor, "How long is a piece of string?", to which said proff responded: "However fucking long you want it to be, to be honest." And that wasn't even a piece of string random in length, it was a certain length, like, 10 inches, but apparently that doesn't matter. It's all perception, like, a blind person can't even see the bloody string, let alone measure it. Well, he could, but then he couldn't see the measurements, so he couldn't. Unless they were in braille. Anyway, I digress.

I'm talking about artists like Hudson Mohawke, Rustie, Slugabed, Jamie Vex'd, Heralds of Change, KenLo Crqnuques, Zomby, maybe like James Blake, FMF, Nosaj Thing. See, I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure it's all J Dilla's fault though. Just go to Numbers in Glasgow and have a look.

In other news, look at this:



Wow. I'll be back with some more hyperbolic bollocks some time next week. Till then, take it easy.