Thursday, 6 October 2011
donkey kong
donkey kong by butterburstudios
Want some fun do you? Well listen to this. Firstly theres the 80's clown beat that sounds like Mr Blobby trying to tackle a particularly hap hazard set of stairs in the west wing of Crinkly Bottom. As he's doing so you can imagine Noel, sitting upon a Deal or No Deal box at the top of staircase, goading him with a stupid, wet sounding melody bashed out on a Fisher Price Keyboard.
Suddenly Noel is transformed into that old man pedophile with a Zimmer frame from Family Guy who whistles in a castrati pitch whilst he talks. In that high, suggestive voice that has developed a slight funk twinge to it, he begins to confess his love for another oversized, pathologically violent, ill tempered and mute character; Donkey Kong.
Unable to conceive that there is now another object of Noel's affections, the song enters into high-pitched hysterics as the now blubbering Mr Blobby, who after years of sick torment from Noel has finally broken, emits in despair a hail storm of pink and yellow tears that washes him off his ill-proportioned feet. We can only hope that Noel in an attempt to console his fat, thimble shaped friend, is killed in a Leny-esq fashion by the might and stupidity of a Blobby Hug.
Next time your playing computer games just think of that little paedo Noel, his head rising slowly from behind the screen, narrating the action of the game in that sleazy, high-pitched whistle. You'll be outside in a flash, never to return. When people finally come to realise that Deal or No Deal is a game of chance and Edmond's career is finally over, they should use this reformed Noel in a campaign to encourage/ scare kids to play out more.
There are plenty more tracks of this nature on the butterburstudios's SoundCloud page so check it out; I have added one of my favourites, a poem about a spider, above.
Want some fun do you? Well listen to this. Firstly theres the 80's clown beat that sounds like Mr Blobby trying to tackle a particularly hap hazard set of stairs in the west wing of Crinkly Bottom. As he's doing so you can imagine Noel, sitting upon a Deal or No Deal box at the top of staircase, goading him with a stupid, wet sounding melody bashed out on a Fisher Price Keyboard.
Suddenly Noel is transformed into that old man pedophile with a Zimmer frame from Family Guy who whistles in a castrati pitch whilst he talks. In that high, suggestive voice that has developed a slight funk twinge to it, he begins to confess his love for another oversized, pathologically violent, ill tempered and mute character; Donkey Kong.
Unable to conceive that there is now another object of Noel's affections, the song enters into high-pitched hysterics as the now blubbering Mr Blobby, who after years of sick torment from Noel has finally broken, emits in despair a hail storm of pink and yellow tears that washes him off his ill-proportioned feet. We can only hope that Noel in an attempt to console his fat, thimble shaped friend, is killed in a Leny-esq fashion by the might and stupidity of a Blobby Hug.
Next time your playing computer games just think of that little paedo Noel, his head rising slowly from behind the screen, narrating the action of the game in that sleazy, high-pitched whistle. You'll be outside in a flash, never to return. When people finally come to realise that Deal or No Deal is a game of chance and Edmond's career is finally over, they should use this reformed Noel in a campaign to encourage/ scare kids to play out more.
There are plenty more tracks of this nature on the butterburstudios's SoundCloud page so check it out; I have added one of my favourites, a poem about a spider, above.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Total - Tell Me (Languid Rework)
Total - Tell Me (Languid Rework) by L▲nguⓘd
Check out these two tracks from Languid, who has made these truly soulful beats from a collection of samples. All of his tracks have a distinctive old-skool cut and paste feel to them and the beats are surprisingly smooth considering that it's a mash up of multiple samples.
It is the audio equivalent of throwing the sound from several 80's boom boxes and a couple of soul records into a lawn mower and listening to what collects in the receptive at the back; a lush pile of off-cuts that work together to induce a sweet tasting nostalgia that is based in memories of summer.
Check out these two tracks from Languid, who has made these truly soulful beats from a collection of samples. All of his tracks have a distinctive old-skool cut and paste feel to them and the beats are surprisingly smooth considering that it's a mash up of multiple samples.
It is the audio equivalent of throwing the sound from several 80's boom boxes and a couple of soul records into a lawn mower and listening to what collects in the receptive at the back; a lush pile of off-cuts that work together to induce a sweet tasting nostalgia that is based in memories of summer.
Monday, 3 October 2011
Psyek - Unspoken / Unsigned
Psyek - Unspoken / Unsigned by psyek
Just a little feature on Drum and Bass in recognition of the incredible week that was Sun and Bass 2011. More about the festival in a second but just a quick note on this track, which is the latest offering from Manchester DnB producer Psycek, who's had previous releases on Deafmuted Recordings. (Check out the aptly named No Funky For Old Men bellow)
Psyek's style of Drum and Bass is the just the sort of deep, dark rolling style that I prefer. Fluid yet techy in composition, full of punchy, industrial sounding drums, dark baselines and a fair assortment of unusual sounds. In a recent conversation with a friend we highlighted 'unusual noises' as one of our favourite features of the genre for it's ability, on what we conceded was a basic and infantile level, to make you smile. Psyek music is full of these moments of juvenile bliss, yet at no point does it do damage to the credibility of the track, rather it adds to the metallic framework built around the fluid, dance-friendly body within.
It was to my delight that this was precisely the style of D&B that was favoured in Sardinia. It was as if there was an unspoken rule, a tacit agreement to unify under one corner of the Drum and Bass umbrella. It is of course something that is influenced by the carefully considered line-up, however I do believe there was another, subtler factor at play; the landscape itself.
Sun and Bass festival slots almost effortlessly into the small town of San Teodoro, Sardinia, with multiple events taking place at separate venues across the town. The venues themselves are breathtaking, I would rate them as some of the best clubs I have ever been to, making you feel as if your an extra in a Timberland Video.
This level of style is in perfect keeping with the surroundings that illuminate, with help from the stunning weather, the gorgeous people within it as if they were a natural feature themselves. This has to have an effect on the mood of the DJ's and as a result the jagged mountains, rolling hills and lolling sea all seem to serve as a reflection of the music being selected.
It is the way in which Sun and Bass blends in so naturally with it's surroundings that impressed me most. For a musical genre that is normally perceived as loud and intrusive, Drum and Bass is part of the scenery in San Teodoro. There were plenty of locals enjoying the festival; the set up permits that once you have a wrist band, you can take and leave, come and go, as much as you like. This just helps to add to the relaxed atmosphere; there is no pressure to do anything but plenty of reason to do everything.
The nights are busy from when they open at 11 in till they close at 6 and despite the late nights, revellers make the effort to attend the pool parties and secret locations that are layed on during the days. These long event times add a social aspect to the festival allowing you to punctuate dancing, with relaxing and chatting. You can head outside and talk to one of your heroes from the scene, buy them a drink, buy yourself a drink, make some friends, burn some bridges, fall in love, fall off podiums, enjoy the German shuffle, laugh at the German shuffle, stalk some girls, write some letters, apologise, be forgiven and do all this whilst never missing the music. I have never had so much fun on a night out.
Highlights from the week for me included sets from Consequence, S.P.Y., Klute, Lynx, Marky, Dom and Roland, I vaguely remember Black Sun Empire being good, although a weeks worth of potent cocktails had caught up with me by this point. There was also a really inspired Hip-hop set from A-sides worth noting; yes, it's not all about the Drum and Bass.
I could not recommend this festival enough in terms of atmosphere and value for money gained from your ticket. There however some drawbacks, namely the cost of the whole holiday. Sardinia is not cheap and this is not a cheap holiday, drinks alone cost 8 euros in the clubs, although they are lethally strong. Flights and accommodation are pretty dear as well but this serves a purpose in itself; it weeds out all the annoying rave kids and rude boys.
What is left is a collection of loving, like minded people looking for a good holiday and some amazing sets. By the end of the week you feel as if you've shared something special with your new extended family and just like every good family you say your loving goodbyes, knowing you won't seem them again for another year.
Just a little feature on Drum and Bass in recognition of the incredible week that was Sun and Bass 2011. More about the festival in a second but just a quick note on this track, which is the latest offering from Manchester DnB producer Psycek, who's had previous releases on Deafmuted Recordings. (Check out the aptly named No Funky For Old Men bellow)
Psyek's style of Drum and Bass is the just the sort of deep, dark rolling style that I prefer. Fluid yet techy in composition, full of punchy, industrial sounding drums, dark baselines and a fair assortment of unusual sounds. In a recent conversation with a friend we highlighted 'unusual noises' as one of our favourite features of the genre for it's ability, on what we conceded was a basic and infantile level, to make you smile. Psyek music is full of these moments of juvenile bliss, yet at no point does it do damage to the credibility of the track, rather it adds to the metallic framework built around the fluid, dance-friendly body within.
It was to my delight that this was precisely the style of D&B that was favoured in Sardinia. It was as if there was an unspoken rule, a tacit agreement to unify under one corner of the Drum and Bass umbrella. It is of course something that is influenced by the carefully considered line-up, however I do believe there was another, subtler factor at play; the landscape itself.
Sun and Bass festival slots almost effortlessly into the small town of San Teodoro, Sardinia, with multiple events taking place at separate venues across the town. The venues themselves are breathtaking, I would rate them as some of the best clubs I have ever been to, making you feel as if your an extra in a Timberland Video.
This level of style is in perfect keeping with the surroundings that illuminate, with help from the stunning weather, the gorgeous people within it as if they were a natural feature themselves. This has to have an effect on the mood of the DJ's and as a result the jagged mountains, rolling hills and lolling sea all seem to serve as a reflection of the music being selected.
It is the way in which Sun and Bass blends in so naturally with it's surroundings that impressed me most. For a musical genre that is normally perceived as loud and intrusive, Drum and Bass is part of the scenery in San Teodoro. There were plenty of locals enjoying the festival; the set up permits that once you have a wrist band, you can take and leave, come and go, as much as you like. This just helps to add to the relaxed atmosphere; there is no pressure to do anything but plenty of reason to do everything.
The nights are busy from when they open at 11 in till they close at 6 and despite the late nights, revellers make the effort to attend the pool parties and secret locations that are layed on during the days. These long event times add a social aspect to the festival allowing you to punctuate dancing, with relaxing and chatting. You can head outside and talk to one of your heroes from the scene, buy them a drink, buy yourself a drink, make some friends, burn some bridges, fall in love, fall off podiums, enjoy the German shuffle, laugh at the German shuffle, stalk some girls, write some letters, apologise, be forgiven and do all this whilst never missing the music. I have never had so much fun on a night out.
Highlights from the week for me included sets from Consequence, S.P.Y., Klute, Lynx, Marky, Dom and Roland, I vaguely remember Black Sun Empire being good, although a weeks worth of potent cocktails had caught up with me by this point. There was also a really inspired Hip-hop set from A-sides worth noting; yes, it's not all about the Drum and Bass.
I could not recommend this festival enough in terms of atmosphere and value for money gained from your ticket. There however some drawbacks, namely the cost of the whole holiday. Sardinia is not cheap and this is not a cheap holiday, drinks alone cost 8 euros in the clubs, although they are lethally strong. Flights and accommodation are pretty dear as well but this serves a purpose in itself; it weeds out all the annoying rave kids and rude boys.
What is left is a collection of loving, like minded people looking for a good holiday and some amazing sets. By the end of the week you feel as if you've shared something special with your new extended family and just like every good family you say your loving goodbyes, knowing you won't seem them again for another year.
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Article for fotorater.com (friend of CloudToy)
The world is in the midst of a revolution. No, we’re not talking about the Arab spring. Fans of music are celebrating the removal of their very own tyrannical dictator. The evil despot in this story can be seen as the record companies. And its liberator? The internet – armed with it’s finest and most effective foot soldier; SoundCloud.
In an almost unimaginable time before the internet, music fans were confined to the record shops and the radio in order to source new music. Although there was and still is, a vast selection made available to the consumer, we must understand that these releases are carefully controlled; we have a choice but only within the parameters set by the record companies.
Although it is sales, which ultimately defines success and popularity, a record can only sell if it’s made available for sale. It is the record companies that decide who gets record deals, so they are therefore intrinsic and necessary in denoting what becomes popular and what doesn’t.
Although popularity is also quantified from radio airplay, this too is restricted to the releases made available to the stations and as a result we have seen them begin to play to the record companies agendas.
With the horrible feature that is the playlist, radio stations provide the record companies with a constant daylong advert for their most profitable signings. It has now reached a point where new releases from certain labels seem to get position on the playlist with seemingly no vetting what so ever.
Please don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of radio and I love the experience of trawling through record shops looking for deserving releases. However this is all done with the uneasy feeling of having accepted the influence of a necessary evil.
I do herald it as a great shame that in recent years there has been a huge demise in record shop culture but I see this as an obligatory sacrifice required in order to secure our musical freedom.
We have in so many ways been liberated by the internet and this is no more true than with music. With sites such as SoundCloud we are able to circumvent the influence of the record companies, gaining access to never before audible demos and an almost endless supply of new music.
For those not familiar with SoundCloud, it serves as an audio platform on which users can upload sounds for free (or a very modest fee, depending on data requirements) to be listened to by anyone who wishes. The sound is displayed in a neat or ‘pretty’ waveform on which the site has functionality to leave comments at appropriate sections along its length.
What we have now is an intuitive and easy to use platform that provides artists with an inexpensive medium on which to gain global, 24hr exposure. The interactive social media aspect of the site, provides those artists with immediate feedback, directly from the fans and it is this feedback that fuels that movement of power from the man, to the people.
Although we are still reliant upon the record companies for physical releases, the process of release selection has begun to be pried from their hands. Getting hits and listens on SoundCloud, which now boats over 7 million ‘creators’, is by and far the best way of gauging an artist’s possible success. This constitutes a shift in influence, from the dictatorial opinion’s of a handful of men to a democracy of millions.
Music fans are seizing control over the whole record process, by popularizing and appreciating independent artists online, they directly influence the record deals themselves. If the record companies fail to register the mood and opinion of the online masses, then they could well loose a potentially lucrative signing to another label, or the evermore popular, independent digital release.
As music fans we have never been freer. I urge you not to waste this freedom but to exercise you diplomatic right, whist harnessing the fantastic resource that is SoundCloud to expand your music library.
To get you started I have posted some of my best finds on SoundCloud so far. If you’d like to discover more, please visit the Cloud Toy Blog, (http://cloudtoy.blogspot.com/) which will be updated regularly with fresh and exciting new tracks.
Happy hunting and viva la revolution!
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