Archive for June, 2007
Needle Cutting Culture
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In regards to my previous post…
Something sent a little tingle down my spine when I got word of the second installment of Cuts of Culture from Turntable Radio and Eclectic Breaks.
A tingle turned into a shiver when I saw the track listing on Turntable Radio. This album holds a strong list of turntablist talent and is being released by two labels with a strong history of high quality turntablism releases. Cuts of Culture 2 is bound to be a turntablist release of note.
Check out the trailer for the upcoming Cuts of Culture 2:
More info is available at Turntable Radio, Eclectic Breaks as well as Spinscience and DJ 2Tall’s Website.
I will hopefully be posting a review of this album upon its release. I also have a few other turntablism album reviews up my sleeve - so keep an eye out over the next couple of months.
Cuts of Culture II announced
Various Artists: ‘Cuts Of Culture 2′
The Podcasts
Eclectic Breaks and Turntable Radio are proud to announce the much anticipated second edition of ‘Cuts of Culture’, the latest instalment of our forward thinking compilation series aimed at showcasing the musical talents of turntablists worldwide. The highly successful first volume of ‘Cuts of Culture’ was released in 2005. It was the first ever compilation of its kind with a global line-up of musical talent, including A-Trak, C2C and D-Styles amongst many others. The CD is still selling today and has been incredibly well received by the press, DJs and public alike.
‘Cuts of Culture 2’ returns even bigger and better than before, and is packed with extra content such as video footage, scratch beats and bonus tracks. The project was originally planned as a CD/DVD package, however due to unforeseen problems we were forced to switch format and will now be making the majority of the content from this package available, for free, as a series of podcasts starting in July 2007.
These ‘Cuts of Culture ‘2 podcasts will include 6 exclusive videos, bonus tracks, scratch beats, full liner notes and artwork, plus of course the compilation mix from 2tall, featuring more worldwide talent, both known and unknown. This podcast series is the first of its kind and showcases the best of what the turntablist world has to offer in the last few years - from hip hop to glitch, jungle to electronica and house, quality music that just happens to be made using turntables.
The compilation mix features even more worldwide talent than volume 1: from Japan to South Africa, Eastern Europe to the US West Coast. Exclusive tracks come from established and upcoming artists including D-Styles (Third Sight, ex-ISP, ex-Beat Junkies), ieMERG (2xDMC World Champ), Netik (2006 DMC World Champ), DJ Happee, Excess (Styluswars), Dq (Glue) and many more. ‘Cuts of Culture 2’ also highlights the production work of these artists, with established producers including Trash Weston (The Orb), Bichi (Blue Foundation), Exile (Emanon, Mobb Deep), Evil Ed and Bayaka (Japan), all appearing on exclusive collaboration tracks. Finally, following on from volume 1’s ‘Operation Interference’ scratch collaboration project, 2tall delivers ‘Sharpshooters Convention’ featuring Enfoe, Taim, Unkut, Square One, Netik, Captain Cavern and Rafik.
The podcast videos feature DJ Quietstorm (US/Japan), DJ Baku (Japan), Grazzhoppa’s DJ Big Band (Belgium/Holland), 2tall (UK) and Noisy Stylus (Germany). These videos aim to represent the scope of what these artists can do live and in the studio.
Turntable Radio is the world’s only radio show entirely dedicated to the turntablist artform. Since its inception, the show has grown tremendously in popularity, with a worldwide following of some 40,000 listeners tuning in from over 40 countries. Both the radio show and website are focal points for the scene, and have evolved alongside the music and its practitioners. Eclectic Breaks is a multi-faceted music company based in London, specialising in audio productions, club promotions, DJ tuition and street marketing. Eclectic Breaks is widely recognised as the UK’s leading “DJ” company, due to its unwavering commitment to DJ culture. EB also developed the acclaimed Pro X Fade, a high quality, cross-platform, customisable scratch crossfader that has revolutionised the market.
Cuts of Culture 2 is the last instalment in the series – the final statement from Turntable Radio & Eclectic Breaks about the state of things in today’s turntablist world. This is not about DJ battles or who can scratch better than who… this is about the skills and talents of DJs, turntablists and producers worldwide, who are too often overlooked by the media and mainstream radio, and the music they make. The ultimate aim is to show various styles in production and music making from various countries… what they all have in common is the use of the turntable as just another instrument or production tool.
‘Cuts of Culture 2’ is an unmissable multi-media package that represents the true voice and sound of turntablism today!
‘Cuts of Culture 2 – The Podcasts’ tracklisting:
Cuts of Culture mix by 2tall
2tall – ‘Intro’
Eprom aka Base Bizzard – ‘Action Break’
Netik – ‘Synthesiz’
Dq – ‘Strike Part 1’
DJ Baku – ‘Vandalism’
Real Tablist – ‘6 DJs + 1’
DJ Majestik feat. Rizkay – ‘Harmonia’
K-Delight – ‘Scratch Club’ feat. DJ-JS1, J-Red, Woody, Profound & Ironcyde, Universon, Krash Slaughta, Eddie Scratch, Evil Ed & 2tall
DJ Exile & DJ Day – ‘A Day In Exile’
DJ Happee feat. Dinoh – ‘Get My Point’
Lamont – ‘Senses Overloaded’
A.D.S – ‘Cold Mornings’
ie.MERG – ‘Midnight, NYC, July, 90 degrees’
Taim & Faltmeister – ‘Rendez-Vous’
Excess – ‘Ask And I Shall See’
Noisy Stylus – ‘Kindness’
Manipulate & Thrash – ‘Strontium Sleazewave’
Bayaka feat. D-Styles – ‘Edomachen’
Phonomorphia – ‘Planète Cerveau 44-3’
Bungalow Zen – ‘Frequency’
Bichi – ‘Clouds Are Parcelled Out Across My Vision’
2tall – ‘Sharpshooters Convention’ feat. Enfoe, Taim, Unkut, Square One, Rafik, Captain Cavern and Netik
Videos:
Studio Rarekwai Showcase – DJ Quiestorm video - ‘Be Quiet’ ft Twiggy
DJ Baku – Spin Street (live)
Noisy Stylus – Live Showcase
Grazzhoppa’s DJ Big Band – DJ Big Band video
2tall - Live showcase
2tall - DVD extras
Bonus tracks:
African – Hornlife
Tatsuki – Super Sucker Killer
Grazzhoppa – Rockin’ Raw
Scratch beats:
Rudy W – Nonsmokers Are Unattractive
Monkey Hands – Oh Fuck!
+ full liner notes and artwork
More info is available at Eclectic Breaks and Turntable Radio.
Comments(1)UK DMC Finals 2007
While I’m here wallowing in the DMC Championships of the past - the 2007 Championships are well on the way. This week brings the UK finals to the Shepherds Bush Empire. The best turntablists from around the UK have fought it out in the regional heats and will be battling for the title of UK DMC Champion and a chance at taking the coveted World DMC Title. The regional heat winners from Bristol to Birmingham and Liverpool to London include X-Rated, Rasp, Mr Eclipse, Andy H, Furious P and JFB. Which one will be representing the UK in the Worlds this year? I know I’ll be there to find out.
The night is hosted by Cutmaster Swift, Trip and DJ Billy Biznizz, and will feature performances from DJ Netik (Defending World DMC Champion), DJ Tigerstyle (2003 Battle for World Supremacy Champion), DJ Troubl’ and Beardyman. With a line up like this and many bloodthirsty DJ’s it is sure to be a huge night.
Tickets are £12.50 available from DMCWorld.com , www.ticketweb.co.uk and www.ticketmaster.co.uk
See you there!
DJ Kentaro - World DMC 2001
A couple of days ago I posted DJ Plus One’s routine from the 2001 World DMC’s. I decided it would only be appropriate to link you to Kentaro’s full set for 2001. The previous Kentaro video I posted wasn’t necessarily the best part of his set (actually I think it was…) His whole set is very solid, showing excellent beat juggling skills, nice clean cuts and good beat selection. His drumming skills, though, seem to be lacking a bit compared to Plus One.
Make sure you check out Kentaro’s World DMC 2001 set on YouTube. Pay great attention after the sample “We’re gonna do a song that you never heard before…”. That stuff is gold, thoroughly deserved second place.
There will still be more Kentaro to come soon, as promised. Also some timely news on the World DMC Championships which are well into the heats across the globe. View the DMC World DJ Championships website for more.
Dedicated Beatheads Unite!
I was over at the old turntable radio site today, and to my pleasure they have posted a new podcast. This month it has been taken over by DJ Scientist & DJ Snatchatec AKA The Dedicated Beatheads. The podcast features a smooth new Turntable Radio intro thanks to DJ Baku, I personally quite like the dark beat with the layered melodic sounds - nice work on that one Baku and TTR.
The rest of the podcast that follows definitely excites, with beats & shards of scratches that encompass a newer sound of turntablism production that grabs you. In some ways it reminds me of a style that is something similar to Ninja Tune thrown into a blender with Q-Berts Wave Twisters. A fair portion of the cast is an excerpt from The Dedicated Beatheads album Sound Convention Volume 1 but also contains tracks from the archives of DJ Scientist & DJ Snatchatec’s combined work.
Make sure you check out The Dedicated Beatheads podcast on Turntable Radio. Check out The Dedicated Beatheads website for more info on and to buy Sound Conventions Vol 1. Also check out the DJ Scientist & DJ Snatchatec individual websites for more of their work.
DJ Plus One - World DMC 2001
In my last post Kentaro tore up part of his routine from the 2001 World DMC Championships. That year he place second to Plus One who pulled off his infamous ‘Still Number One’ routine. I thought it appropriate to let you see the routine that won it that year. Here is DJ Plus One’s winning routine on YouTube. He performs excellently under pressure, coming out with pure confidence and style - “I will not lose” - a big statement that proved to be true. Pulling off some nicely crafted faderless drums, he later creates creates some really unique sounds by almost tearing the needle from the cartridge and finishes up with those still number one cuts and juggles that I will never forget.
For all those who are curious, he is sampling is I’m Still #1 by Boogie Down Productions. BDP are still number one in my book too.
You really gotta check it out. DJ Plus One’s 2001 World DMC Routine. Once you’ve finished watching that, come back and check out the post on Kentaro’s second place routine.
Golden sounds from Kentaro
This is a portion of the set DJ Kentaro performed in the 2001 World DMC final, in which he placed second to DJ Plus One. Kentaro went on to win in 2002, which is when he got the gold Technics he is smashing in this routine.
I really love the originality of the carefully placed lines of tape on the record to create the broken tone sound. He uses the EQ excellently to create a wide variety of sounds. Notice the tape goes all the way to the centre hole of the vinyl to create the broken distorted broken tone sound when he puts the needle on the sticker (at the start). I love those double handed channel fades - so damn fast (I forget what they are called? Anyone know?).
I really love Kentaro’s style, I will be posting more videos of his soon, be sure of that.
On another note, that room that he is in is amazing!! All mirrors? I wonder if this is in his house or what, but a good effect for the video.
