Articles in: Music Review
Presentation Laid Back
Laid Back is an internet media mixing radio and magazine. We host a weekly radio show on FM Brussel (Wednesday 10-11pm - 98.8FM or www.fmbrussel.be) and use our website (www.laid-back.be) in order to provide our listeners with playlists, downloads and all kind of additional information about our activities.
Amongst those is the newly created LDBK online radio.
By the way, here is my latest mix for the Laid Back Show (broadcasted on the 3rd of December 2008)
Playlist and liner notes - http://www.laid-back.be/
Listen or download - http://laidbackradio.podomatic.com/
In March 2008, willing to celebrate the 6th anniversary of our project, we organized the Belgikolor (http://belgikolor.be) event mixing music with our passion for street art. This was the opportunity to showcase a light graffiti performance on stage.
Knight Light Illuminati Belgikolor Trailer
INFINITSKILLS
When asked by IYB to collaborate on their project, my idea was to introduce you to some of the djs / beatmakers sharing the "Laid Back" vibe ... So lets start with the family ...
Infinitskills is a trio of beatmakers (Eric P., Pat Gonzales and LuiGI).
I met them in 2004 and since then they helped me take care of the radio show.
They released numerous underground tapes and beat CD's in the last years. in 2008, they released NINE (see below) while LuiGI also produced three track for Baloji's album "Hotel Impala" (http://baloji.com).
During the summer they also attended the Dour festival as part of the Beat Community.
Beat Community at Dour Festival
Download Infinitskills latest tracks:
Infinitskills - Los marijuana (prod by Eric P.)
Infinitskills - Take ya time (prod by Eric P.)
Infinitskills - Ortille (prod. by Pat Gonzales)
More about Infinitskills >> http://www.myspace.com/infinitskillsrecords
NINE
NINE is a project initiated by Infinitskills, a compilation gathering nine of the finest Belgian producers, beat makers and nonstopbeatbuilders.
This full length vinyl record (12″ ) has been released in December 2007 on Citywurl records (http://citywurl.com) and distributed by Rush Hour (http://rushhour.nl).
As most physical copies of this release have been sold, we thought it was time to put this compilation online and just offer it.
Download - http://www.laid-back.be/
Trailer for the NINE Compilation
Cream of 2008 by Lefto
LEFTO 2008 TOP 10 (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
1. Menahan Street Band: Make The Road By Walking (Dunham Records)
Probably the best album in it's genre; funky as hell and with a typical sound, it's Funk at its best!
Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/dunhamrecords
2. Q-Tip: The Renaissance (Motown)
What better come back for Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest; this album is a beautiful piece of music, soulful and conscious. Q-Tip takes it back to the essence.
Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/qtip
3. Illa J: Yancey Boys (Delicious)
We've been fan of Slum Village since their first album came out. Well, this album by J Dilla's brother and produced by J Dilla gives you the similar feeling as the first listen to the first Slum Village album, it's fan-tas-tic!
Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/illajmusic
4. Miles Davis 50th Anniversary Boxset - Kind Of Blue (Blue Note)
Just a classic jazz album in an amazing box with exclusive material and dvd and book. Need I say more?
Myspace : http:/myspace.com
5. Benga: Diary Of an Afro Warrior (Tempa)
Probably the best dubstep album of 2008, a trendsetter, a musical genius called Benga.
Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/bengabeats
6. Esperanza Spalding: Esperanza (Esperanza)
She takes Jazz to another level and I've been happy to see her perform this year. She plays contra-bass and sings at the same time, beautiful (and she is too).
Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/esperanzaspalding
7. V/A Circulations & Jay Scarlett Present: New Worlds (Circulations)
Jay Scarlett is known for his radioshow and for showing the world new talent; here he is compiling for Japan's Circulations label, a nice compilation with nice producers i've never heard off and some we all know.
Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/bassboulevard
8. Kaidi Tatham: In Search Of Hope (Freedom-School)
A beautiful, musical, soulful album produced by the man from Bugz In The Attic and so many other projects. He's the past, present and future.
Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/kaiditatham
9. Tettory Bad: Unite (Jazzy Sport)
Japan does great stuff, we all know that! Tettory Bad are good at what they do and this album is just a beautiful piece of modern hiphop & soul joints. Jazzy Sport ichiban!
Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/tettorybad
10. The Cool Kids: The Bake Sale (Chocolate Industries)
They brought the 80's sound back to the kids; it's the Cool Kids, music & fashion in full effect! And they are tight mc's too.
Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/thecoolkids
LOWUP Dangerous nightclubbing Featuring DJ Edgar
This evening certainly remains engraved in the nighthistory of Brussels and the memories of the clubbers who were present, a bass culture and party-electro crowd. This all contributes to the future success of the LOWUP parties, that start to consist out of a growing community of nightclubbers who are in search of alternative musical eclecticism with a consistent quality.
For almost a year now, the LOWUP parties offer a monthly night, oriented towards the dancefloor sounds consisting out of Breaks, Booty, Bailefunk, 2step, UK Garage, Dubstep, Grime, B-More, Kuduro, Tropical tech etc...
With a combination of our residents DJ Mellow, 319 aka Excyta, Dave Luxe, Red Ant, Kyulo, Mr Orange, and Belgian guests like Mate, Kwistax, Tupolev SoundCrash and of course foreign guests Flore [FR], DJ Rideon [FIN], Joyce Muniz [BRA/AUS], DJ Edgar [BRA], DJ Manaia [POR], combined with a soft touch and the groovy flow of 1POSS MC.
Dj Edger felt immediately at home in the warm settings of LOWUP. Just like the hot, happy and bouncy crowd, that stayed until dawn at Momo's. They were clearly hit by the groove and fire of Rio de Janeiiiiroooooooooooo!
Next meeting is saturday the 13th of decembre with DJ Manaia of Lisbon, Kwistax, DJ Mellox & 1POSS MC!
Listen to the Manaia promo mix
www.myspace.com/lowup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQLuq7igQtA
http://www.vimeo.com/2374500
Steel Pulse heating up VK (25/11/2008)
It was a tuesday night and it was cold in Brussels, not to say freezing cold with a sharp northern east wind. Only solution was to get quick inside the Vaartkapoen, where it was already sultry so early on the evening.
A lot of people standing close together, nodding on some reggea beats. Just like a summer festival, if it weren't for the scarves and hats.But quickly the scarves and hats changed into t-shirts with sweaty armpits. It turned hot when the English reggae formation Steel Pulse arose on stage. That's where they stayed for exactly half an hour, and surprisingly only one pull up. You know that. Pumping up the crowd with a famous tune, especially a couple of times the same one, and all of a sudden call it too an end and waiting for the cheers. "Wouldn't it be better if you would just finish that tune" is what I'm often thinking, "I will cheer if I like the song". But enough preaching, back to the crowd and Steel Pulse. They played a lot of hits: African Holocaust, Global Warming, Taxi Driver, Pan Africans Unite....like a big chocolate cake. A calorie bomb that'll manifest itself on your thighs. But the ladies an gentlemen weren't finished yet, it just needed a bit of whipped cream with a cherry on top. And then BOOM, abracadabra, open Sesame!!! There were the rastamen. With a solid piece of Steppin' out. Perfect midweek evening. That's all we need on a cold winter night, except for a fresh beer afterwards, to flush it all and to stop the sweat, that by now already expanded itself till navel height.
WLIB AM: The Return Of The Wigflip (BBE)
I've always been a fan of BBE's Beat Generation (producers) Serie of albums. We know that J Dilla probably did his best job for that serie, and so did DJ Spinna & Pete Rock. Will.I.Am and Marley Marl also did their thing for BBE but I never really got into it; Anyway, for the next one, I actually knew it was coming (for a while) and finally it's here, in my hands. I am talking about Madlib's:
I was really excited to hear the album, but when I heard the first track (it leaked) on the internet I wasn't convinced yet.
It all starts with Guilty Simpson, one of the tightest Detroit emcee I know in the game these days. The beat by Madlib has horn samples which gives the track another dimension. Guilty always comes hard when it comes to rhymes and it's not different on this one "Blow The Horns On 'Em".
Next, Georgia Anne Muldrow, producer & her typical style on the mic makes me think this track will be a grower; you see, with Georgia Anne it's always a question of time. You might think her stuff is weird in the beginning but after a while you just get into it and you can't leave (rewind please) this track. "The Plan" (Part 1) is like a trip in space.
What's also nice on this album are the instrumentals/interludes, they always come when you need 'em.
Defari, part of the Likwit Family, remember The Alkaholiks? Well, let me tell you that Madlib was deejay for them back in the days and that Lootpack were also part of the Likwit Fam. Defari "Gamble On Ya Boy" here explains a bit of himself on a funky beat (with a little trumpet sample); It's like this beat was made to bump in the car; pure Defari style.
What would be a Madlib album without having M.E.D. on it, well, here he is with partner Poke. It's probably one of the tightest beats on the album. I can't really explain the samples, I don't even know what kind of instrument it could be but I love it. And when Medaphoar drops his verses it sounds so gangsta. Damn "The Ox (805)" is hard!
J.Rocc is also part of the album and delivers nice scratch patterns on "Blindfold Test #10", a whole story scratched up by one of the best deejays around (if you ask me).
"The Thang" is a track with Prince Po, formerly known as the partner of Pharoahe Monch in the group Organized Konfusion. It's a typical hiphop song, beats & rhymes with a scratched up chorus. But damn it feels good to hear Prince Po again.
Friend of J Dilla, Karriem Riggins does a nice job on "The Life" talking with a few words about negativity & positivity over a chill Madlib production. I like this one because what he says goes from bad to good and it's like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. (kind of)
Ok, let's talk about the next "Yo Yo Affair" featuring the beautiful voice of Frezna. Some might know this track from a Madlib set two years ago and it blew everyone's mind back then. Finally he decided to put it on this album and I know some people might just buy this album for this particular track. It's a chill song but definitely something for the clubs (good clubs), nice sample, microKorg sample in it; it's dope!
Then we must check the group The Professionals; It's actually Madlib and his brother Oh No. "I Want It Back" contains a very nice sample of classic violins. It's a beat that would definitely inspire every/any rapper to write on. It's actually a solo by Oh No on this one;
Talib Kweli & Madlib aka Liberation, remember the Ep they dropped a while ago? Well, "What It Do" is dope like that too, a violin sample (again) on a chill, downtempo beat and Talib Kweli rhyming over it; what more can you expect, it's fire.
"Drinks Up!" features Detroit's finest Frank N Dank; the beat is actually quiet old to me, with basic bumping drums and the main sample are vocals that follow the rhythm of the beat...it's actually a funny beat to some serious rhymes.
Another beautiful track for Stacy Epps; that sample makes me think of an old Gil Scott-Heron or Roy Ayers, I think I can almost recognise it. "The Way That I Live" has something that grabs me. Nice.
On of the best west coast rappers I know, Murs from the Living Legends comes over a 808 old skool type of beat. "Ratrace"; a story about women, the kinda stories we are used to hear from Murs. Haha.
It ends with another Guilty Simpson track "Go!"; it's actually the one that leaked on the internet. It's hard, dark and has that continuous sample that rolls over the beat, it's like a horn that never stops and there a bass that comes in from time to time. Guilty rips it again on this grimey track.
Overall a good album but I expected more recent tracks. This album was done in 2007 or even earlier and I can hear it (as a big Madlib fan); If you're a fan there's also another release that came out a couple of weeks ago called "The Beat Konducta: The Dill Cosby Suite"; It's a tribute to J Dilla. It's a must have, go get it.
AUDIO: Go! featuring Guilty Simpson
VIDEO: Preview Madlib album