Manifestations is the debut release for the Californian producer, Mono/Poly, on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label. Long hinted at, it follows a slew of varying releases from artists like Jeremiah Jae, Taylor McFerrin and Austin Peralta, the EP marks something of a return for Brainfeeder to those clunky, unpredictable hip hop instrumentals FlyLo specialises in with tracks like ‘Forest Dark’ severely bringing the crush.
The first thing Mono/Poly’s released since his Paramatma album was released on USB by Tastefull Licks, Manifestations accentuates on the themes that made that album and tracks like the Fat City backed ‘Oil Fields’ or ‘Red & Yellow Toys’ so essential. Adept at both hazy synthesized sunsets, and facemelting bass growls he’s a producer for whom subtlety plays a bit part on tracks like ‘Punch The Troll In The Neck’ - which hits in a similarly scruffy way to the work of Free The Robots - but then he’s all about the interplaying nuances on tracks like the enigmatic ‘Glow.’
When we spoke to him back in November 2009, Mono/Poly admitted that his music is “everything from hip hop, drum & bass, fusion, dubstep, electro and more” and it’s a sentiment that this EP only further illustrates. ‘Glow’ for example, stutters through synth progressions, framed by clipped hip hop drums before an almighty bass line, freewheels out of nowhere, nailing the track to the low end frequencies and a track like ‘Needs Deodorant’ blazes keynote electrified boogie and the kind of scything bass synths Skream employs, simultaneously.
Put simply Mono/Poly makes you realise that a lot of other peoples beats are either unimaginative or well... just a bit shit; and Manifestations, in all its super compressed glory, is a great synopsis of his work - one part a colourful, textural explosion and one part brown tone, thunderous-bass-drop club music.
Svetlana Industries, one of the first people to introduce the extended Sonic Router family to 1000Names way back when, are hitting out with their 2nd vinyl release: a collaborative EP between the Brainfeeder aligned Teebs and UK producer Jackhigh, whose name you may have seen gracing the sleeve on Up My Alley's somewhat seminal Beatnicks 12"s. Following on from Filtercutter’s ‘1UP’ and it's accompanying Ramadanman refix, Svetlana are cutting a rougher rug with the Tropics EP, capitalising on the duo’s penchant for cut up sound snatches and beat sketches.
Less of an EP and more a mini album Tropics was built by the producers over an 18 month collaboration, with both parties organically shooting ideas back and forth over the internet. What emerged from the cross Atlantic sessions is potent; a stew of hyper chopped strings and synth stabs, intriguingly awkward stutters and rhythms that confuse as much as they make your neck work. The detail in tracks like 'Comes To Mind' is super-extensive, with the sample grain and static adding another welcome texture, that compliments the beat patterns extremely well. 'Rains' slows the pace a touch with ambient shrills and clomping percussion before the eponymous EP highlight (audio available in SRR008 here) slurps up into earshot with scattergun percussion and a flammed snare crunch that intertwines somewhat emphatically with the ring of the wood chimes.
Words: Oli Marlow Out: Today
As a taster the label is giving away the EP opener ‘Clutch’ which you can grab via their bandcamp site or via the handy widget below...
And they’ve also laced us with an exclusive download of an as yet unreleased Jackhigh track called ‘Turbines,’ which you can download exclusively at our soundcloud profile...
Its impossible to stress how much fun I've had at Brainfeeder parties over the last couple of years. The first one in the Hearne Street carpark in Shoreditch was mental; simultaneous proof that this toxic stew of skewed hip hop has a voice beyond small basement clubs and evidence that whiskey maketh the man crazy. The next one I attended was in Barcelona, a first night pre-cursor to my first Sonar experience... crazy rammed, hot as hell and super super fun... I remember Martyn b2b Pinch.
Damn.
So, this post gives me double the pleasure to be able to give away a pair of tickets to next week's Brainfeeder LDN event at fabric. With the combined pull of Brainfeeder and the Red Bull Music Academy, the incredible initiative currently beginning term 2 today, you can scoop the opportunity to see Flying Lotus, Kode 9, The Mother Fucking Gaslamp Killer, Martyn, J Rocc, Dimlite, Daedelus, Nosaj Thing and TOKiMONSTA all on fabric's custom tweaked soundsystem.
Just email us the answer to the below question.
Q: Flying Lotus' debut album on the Plug Research label was called:
After twitter ruminations and rogue facebook updates broke the news of an imminent 2010 Brainfeeder LDN showcase - the two previous events were held at a warehouse location in Shoreditch - we're happy to be able to confirm that, yes, the Flying Lotus helmed Brainfeeder family is traversing the oceans and once again coming to London this March.
With the presence of the Red Bull Music Academy weighing heavy on our nation's capital this month, FlyLo has teamed up with the RBMA crew to bring his label's party to fabric on the 10th March.
Featuring a factual whos who in instrumental hip hop, the line up is hands down, jawdropping. Dimlite - the originator - alongside the only man alive capable of playing a micro korg with a shoe and making it sound beautiful, Dorian Concept, alongside future dubstep masters Kode 9 and Martyn, plus the bountiful energetics of Gaslamp Killer, Daedelus and J Rocc. Topped and tailed by Warp's wonderboy Flying Lotus (whose 2nd LP for the label, 'Cosmogramma,' is due around Easter time) and former Sonic Router mix giver (thats the official title of all SR featured artists), Tokimonsta.
Ahead of his first release for Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder label, an 8 track mini album called 'Righteous Fists Of Harmony' which'll be out on the 22nd March, the Victorian dressing gentlefellow, Daedelus, has eeped out a promo video for the record...
Illum Sphere - Psycho (Fat City) Flying Lotus - Data Entry (CDR) Mike Slott - Six AM (LuckyMe) Eccy - Silver (CDR) Samiyam - It`s Not a Fluke (CDR) Flying Lotus - Vicodin (CDR) Ras_G - Raw Fruit (CDR) O.J. Simpson (Madlib/Guilty Simpson) - The Paper (Stones Throw) Samiyam - Zombie (CDR) TokiMonsta/Blue Daisy - USD (CDR) Quasimoto - Main Girl (Stones Throw) Sluggabed - Get The Fuck Up!!! (CDR) Otto Von Schirach - End Of The World 16 Bit - Chainsaw Calligraphy Foreign Beggers - 7 Figure Swagga (CDR) Excision & Datsik - Swagga Back (CDR)
Following up his 'Let Them Sing' 12" on Planet Mu, Eskmo has dropped a mix for the Brainfeeder site comprised completely of his own tunes, ahead of his appearance at the sessions of the same name over in LA.
Flying Lotus just upped his refixes of Lil Wayne. Includes vocal versions and instrumentals ("for the heads") of 'Robo Tussin,' his 'A Milli' rework and the new one 'I Feel Like Dying.'
A brand new project from Bleep, photographer Shaun Bloodworth and designer Stuart Hammersly, 'N/S/E/W,' is a musical and visual journey around differing regions of the world. Anyone who's followed Bloodworth's work will have seen his striking figures adorn the covers and booklets of the Rinse CD series along with Mary Anne Hobb's compilations on Planet Mu, and keen followers should know that recently he visited the US to document the - and I use this for the lack of a better adjective - 'beats' scene out there; and 'N/S/E/W' combines his stark potraits of these international artists with - in 9 out of 12 cases - exclusive tracks from opposite spectrums of the globe.
Skream, Headhunter and Geeneus rep for Southern England, Rustie, Hudson Mohawke and Taz Buckfaster hold it down for the North (i.e. Scotland), Flying Lotus, Matthew David and Daedelus shed light on the West Coast of the US whilst Mike Slott, Kotchy and FaltyDL give us a little insight into the East Coast.
Gumpf:
"Available as two editions, both made in limited quantities. Astandard edition with 14 high quality photographic prints and a 12 track CD compilation anddeluxe edition, hand numbered with a limited poster. Both editions are beautifully packaged in a custom made box."
Unified by a passion for bass music, the artists are now forever conjoined by Bloodworth's photography, presented in unanimous fashion by Hammersly and Bleep, its a project that's going some way to prove that the world isn't that huge a place after all...
If you've listened to Mary Anne Hobbs' Radio 1 show of late you'll have more likely than not heard the beats of Tokimonsta, her productions have littered the tracklists since the West Coast Rocks special back in January. An affiliate of the Brainfeeder camp, she's a big part of the LA beat scene and kindly offered to put together a mix for us in exchange for a few words ahead of her UK tour later this month...
Sonic Router: Can you provide those who may not know you with a bit of background info?
Tokimonsta: In short, I’m a female beat maker repping Brainfeeder and all my LA-liens.
Outside of music who are you? What do you do on the daily?
I have a strange obsession with cooking shows, documentaries, and cartoons. I wake up in the afternoon because I go to sleep at 6-7 in the morning... I have a tendency to work on music late at night, or would that be early in the morning...? Clothes, shoes, clever music gear and sick vinyl are my weaknesses.
How did you first get into making music? What was it that infected you to do produce?
I was always a purveyor of music—you know, a bit of a music snob. One day a friend suggested I tried making beats of my own, so I did. BAM! That’s how I ended up where I am today. Now I get to create music I enjoy that other people can enjoy with me.
What’s your production set up like?
Messy! I have my monitors, mixer, 1200s, handytrax, sp 404, computer, various midi controllers... etc etc. I can’t give all my secrets away :)
How would you describe your sound to someone zoning in for the first time?
It’s strongly hip hop influenced, spiked with electronic sounds and a lot of spacey Asiatic/Latin jungle vibes.
What’s your take on being part of the LA beat scene? I bet it gets the creative juices flowing with so many quality producers in the community, is there a sort of friendly rivalry between you all?
I love it! I don’t believe there is any rivalry because we’re all so different. Though we might have similar roots, we have branched out into our own unique sound. I always get to hear something fresh from my LA music fam.
Being picked up by Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label is very cool indeed, what do you have in store on that label for us all and what’s it like being the first lady of Brainfeeder? Do you get a crown or anything cool like that?
No crown for me... I’m fine just knowing I’m associated with great people. I will have something out on BF, but not quite yet. I want that project to be personal and something special, so I will be taking my time. In the meantime, I will have other releases that will be out sooner and the rest of the BF fam will be putting their albums out - it’s going to be sick!
How did your live show come about, what’s the set-up like and what do you like about the freedom of having controllers to tweak as apposed to turn tables and all that?
My set up varies, but most times it includes my laptop, a midi controller, audio interface, footswitch, and every now and then my SP404. I feel as though it’s not just the controllers that give me freedom, but the software as well. You can literally create new music on stage verses just mixing songs on a turntable.
What music are you feeling at the moment from inside and outside the scene?
I love the new Kings of Convenience album. I have a thing for very spacey, soulful, and romantically-twinged music.
What other releases have you got dropping soon; I spy a Ramp Recordings plate on your myspace?
Yes! I have an EP coming out on Ramp very very soon—maybe this month or the beginning of next month. Then I have a shared 10” on All City. There’s also the collab project with Suzi Analogue which will be on Jazzy Sport (JP) and I have another solo album in with Art Union (JP). Of course, I have my BF project as well, the date of that is TBA though.
You’ve got a UK & Europe tour coming soon, have you been to the UK before and what are you looking forward to the most? Apart from playing loads of awesome music of course…
Actually, I have never been to any part of Europe at all. I’m looking forward to the eats, people, architecture and culture. It’ll be great to see more of the world that has a richer history than the US, which is more an infant compared to other places.
Tell us a little bit about the mix you’ve done for us, what tracks did you just have to play?
I threw in the type of joints I love... grimey, bangin’, dark, funky, dancey, soulful, nerdy, all of it! I just had to make sure I mixed them in a way that made sense. What’s the fun of only liking one type of music right? Plus, I actually want to see if people can manage to recognize the songs (so no playlist). Of course, I stuck my tunes in there as well.
Is there anything else you would like to tell us? Have you got any words of wisdom for our readers?
Don’t let society tell you what you should or shouldn’t be listening to. If you dig something, just stick with it. Another good tip bit, a good dose vitamin B helps prevent or alleviate a hangover from too much boozing... just thought a few people might appreciate that. ;)
::
UK residents can catch Toki at the Ramp Recordings showcase at the Lightbox in Vauxhall, LDN on the 25th November, Donky Pitch in Brighton on the 26th, New Bohemia in Leeds on the 27th and Hoya Hoya in Manchester on 28th.
Mono/Poly's music has made a huge impact on us over the past few months, merging the unquantizable patter of slumped hip hop with aggresive bass lines and an inpeccably natural swing. Keeping his online presence minimal, quietly running things from his California base, he's played at Low End Theory, is an associate of Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder label, has featured on a split 7" with Illum Sphere on Fat City and also appeared on Mary Anne Hobb's 'Wild Angels' compilation.
With a European tour in the works (someone needs to bring him to London...) and his 'George Machine' 12" just out on the Tastefullicks label we pinned down his IP address and digitised him some questions.
Sonic Router: Can you provide those who may not know you with a bit of background info?
Mono/Poly: I'm a 22 year old electronic musician from a nice sized town in California called Bakersfield which is about an 1 hr and 30 minutes away from LA. I've been making music from my home since 2001 and started playing live since 2008.
Outside of music who are you? What do you do on the daily?
I'm just a big music fan but if its not music that I'm creating or listening to I'm home reading various things on metaphysics.
How did you first get into making music? What was it that infected you to do produce?
I was influenced a lot by Timbaland and the Neptunes and it got me interested and curious about the process of making beats. It had to be the way they created drum samples and synth sounds that really infected me to produce... I love freedom and being able to create sounds however I want is what brings the creative spark.
What’s your production set up like?
Ableton Live, Access Virus, Roland Xv5050, MPC 2000XL for the most part.
How would you describe your sound to someone zoning in for the first time?
I don't know what to call it... I try not to worry to much about labeling it since things change. Its everything from Hip Hop, Drum & Bass, Fusion, Dubstep, Electro and more.
You’re based on the West Coast of the US. What is it about those sun drenched climes do you think, that’s spawned such a solidly unique underground beat making scene?
Well its probably because California is such a diverse place... You can find just about anything here so I'd say the reason why its such a unique underground beat scene is because there are so many unique people and places around.
Obviously a lot of the music stems from Daddy Kev’s club night, can you tell us about your first experience of Low End Theory? MAH describes it as ‘positively biblical,’ how would you describe it to someone that hasn’t been before?
My first time at Low End Theory was when I played at a Beat Invitational in 2008 and it blew my fucking mind! After the first experience I would drive 2 hours from my hometown to get to Low End every week... Its like the church of beats =).
Is there a friendly rivalry between a lot of the LA producers to try and out do each other in the studio and in the dance?
I can't speak for everyone else since I'm not sure on everyone's mindset but for myself I'd say yeah but in a different way... I'm constantly trying to out do myself. I think that's a good way to work.
What music are you feeling at the moment from inside and outside the scene?
A lot of Darkstep Drum and Bass, dubstep and some french electro mostly the Ed banger crew. Outside of the scene I listen to a lot of Jazz Fusion and Progressive rock.
Tell us about the mix you’ve made for us, what are the tracks and blends that you just had to include?
Its a mix of hard beats from Dubstep to forward thinking Hip-hop. This is a mix of stuff from several producers including myself.
You’ve got the European tour coming soon what are you looking forward to the most about that?
All of it! It's gonna be my first time out of the country so its gonna be a good experience for me.
What’s coming up for you in the near future?
I'll be releasing an EP on Brainfeeder and a full album on Tastefullicks Records in early 2010.
Are there any words of advice you can depart to our readers?
Listen to what you like... Don't believe the hype!
I like Simbad. He used to roll through the old office in the Cargo arches all the time, asking questions about what was on the stereo and linking promos,;so when he unassumingly hit me with a link to his new mix for Brainfeeder I was understandably impressed.
Engrained in the beats movement that truly exploded this time last year with the release of Flying Lotus’ ‘Los Angeles’ on Warp Records, LA native, TAKE, has been steadily cranking out high quality musical product over numerous labels since 1999. His 12” for Eat Concrete, ‘The Dirty Decibels of Thomas 2000,’ was the first time his particular strain of low slung beat drawls hit our ear pieces, but his back catalogue is confidently harbouring gems including collaborative work with Lukid and Domu and a slew of incredible remixes.
With a European tour commencing in mid June we persuaded him to stay at his computer long enough to answer us some questions, giving us a peek into his world and clarifying the mystery behind the Sweatson Klank moniker.
Sonic Router: Can you provide those who may not know you with a bit of background info?
TAKE: I was born in Paris, France and moved to Los Angeles when I was 5 years old. Since then I have travelled a ton and lived in various places like New York, Seattle, Portland, Hawaii, and Paris, but Los Angeles has always felt like home base. I've been doing music for about 12 years now. I started dj'ing when I was 18 and from there my interest in production just grew. I got a drum machine and tried to recreate drum beats on my favorite hip hop records. Little did I know that my little Boss drum machine wasn't going to replicate the dusty crunchy drum sounds of my favorite producers.
Soon after that, I got an ASR-10 sampler keyboard and just learned from there. I worked in record stores for years to collect vinyl and learn about all the music that had preceded and influenced hip hop, house, techno, electro and all the early forms of electronic music. I’m really thankful to some of the older cats I worked with who schooled me on the record game and taught me a lot about the past. I try to share that with the youth of today if they are interested. I’m not a secret keeper kind of guy. To me it’s all about sharing the knowledge and interacting together.
My name, TAKE, it doesn’t mean that I take things and don’t give back… Rather, it’s my ‘take’ on things, music coming through my life filter. I have always been involved with music in one way or another; it’s just my biggest passion. As an artist, I try to push myself and the boundaries of the music genres we all seem to be limited by.
Outside of music who are you? What do you do on the daily?
Lately, I've been making great effort to not sit in front of the computer all day and make music. Too many people are forgetting that the world is outside… not inside your computer. The internet is great yes, but go out and have some experiences in the real world… beyond the cyber world… haha. So when I’m not doing music, I’m probably going for a walk in the hills, cooking up some crazy meals for friends, or hitting thrift stores and searching for records and mid century modern furniture.
How did you get into recording music?
After dj'ing for a couple years I just got the itch to make my own shit. So like I said got a drum machine and it all snowballed from there… That was 1995
What’s your production set up like? Do you use software most of the time while producing or do you have a nice stash of synths and all that to play with?
I still work with my trusted ASR-10 sampler because the analogue sound is just great… but I use it sparingly. I use Abelton Live, Digital Performer and have a bunch of analogue synths as well as digital ones. Percussion instruments, rhodes, casios, you name it… the lab is littered with records and toys.
TAKE - Slouched Over
I first got up on you thanks to Eat Concrete and that Thomas 2000 release with that Dimlite remix on. How did you hook up that release and what made you want to work with (or be worked over by) Dimlite?
Dim and I have been talking for a long time. I've always been a fan of his music and think he's just one of the illest producers out there. He actually did the art work for one of my older record on Poobah records. So a remix collaboration seemed inevitable.
Can you give us a rundown on the labels you’ve released on and how you hooked up albums with them?
You know what the best thing might be to just check my myspace page and see the discography…
Usually labels I work with are either run by friends or people approach me and it goes from there. Currently, I’m doing records for All City, Eat Concrete, and Circulations. I’m hoping to get some attention from some bigger labels this year.
2009 is the year for me to step out of the shadows.
Sweatson Klank. Who and why?
Sweatson Klank is just an alias for TAKE... really its only because the name TAKE is impossible to google search... haha. Sweatson Klank is gonna help with that. Theres only one Sweatson and its ME!!!
TAKE/Lukid - Navigators
You’re definitely part of the new beat generation/movement that’s happening across the globe. Some have labelled it ‘wonky’. How do you feel about the genre tag? Does it represent you and your music well?
I don’t even know man, wonky, wobble, whatever... I rather not be categorized to tell you the truth. Once it’s a genre, I think the name just limits the music and keeps it constrained in boundaries.
What would you rather have it called?
I used to call is SLUMP... but you know what, these days in LA we just say BEATS.
I see you’ve been remixed by Fly Lo and I seem to remember you played at the Brainfeeder festival in London. For me it felt like that night was an epiphany of sorts, like proof the music has got a huge audience that WILL pay to see it played all night. What’s your experience of playing live? How do people respond to your music?
Actually, I remixed Lotus too... but yeah
Yeah I mean the Brainfeeder parties are amazing!!! I love playing live, sometimes it can be a bit stressful, but I’m trying to just have fun with it. That is the most important lesson for me... not to take things too seriously and to have fun, try new things, and just rock out!
What releases can we expect from you in the near future?
Split 10" release with Nosaj Thing on ALL CITY Untitled EP for Eat Concrete DUBLAB-Future Roots mix CD 7" release for Poobah records Untitled and as of yet Unsigned Full Length Flying Lotus - LA EP 3 remix + Exclusive Compilation Tracks: Beat Dimensions 2/3 Marry Anne Hobbs Compilation Powershovel Audio Compilation Circuit Tree Records Compilation
Got any top tips of producers we should be keeping eyes out for?
Well, all my LA compadres are - to me - the ones making noise!
Top 3 current releases?
Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavillion Ras G - Brother from Another Planet Dimlite- Prismic Valuta Rising
Got any wisdom you’d like to instill on the whole of the interweb?
June 13th @ Gramaphone in London, UK with Mike Slott and Architeq June 20th Secret Surprise show , London, UK June 27th @ Glitch in Augsburg, Germany July 3rd @Heads High, London, UK with Architeq, July 4th @Stall 6 Zurich, Switzerland , with J- Sayne, July 16th @ Paris, France (Venue to be announced) w/ Onra July 18th, @ Loud Minority, Vienna Austria w/ Loud Minority Soundsystem, Architeq
TAKE has put together a heavier than heavyweight mix for the Brainfeeder site, available to download now for the amount of trouble it'll take you to click this link:
Tracklist:
Whole Earth Rainbow Band- My Lady Floating Points- KGBeat Martyn - Feel Me Kalbata feat. Clapper Preist- Solution Paul White- Hustle (Bullion rmx) 2tall- Ritual Mr. Beatnick- Fill me Jesus Wally- Nolan Jack Wilkins- Red Clay Mort Garson- 3500 Horace Silver- Open up your Senses Ramp Recordings - Maintain (Mike Slott Reewerk) 2tall- Ether TURF DAY Profisee x Eprom - What it seems Griffi - Obsceno Jack Dejohnette - Picture 4 (SWEATSON KLANK MIX) Solar Plexus- Lace Giorgio Gardini - Plagal Jan Hammer- Earth Flying Lotus- Galactagon Starkey- Miracles (Jamie Vex’d Rmx) Flying Lotus - Riot ( TAKE aka SWEATSON KLANK Rmx ) Architeq- Oddessy Fulgeance - Sour Soca ( SWEATSON KLANK Snake Charmer mix) Paul White- Alien Nature Little Dragon- After (Floating Points Rmx) Teebs -My Whole Life Eddie Kendricks - Intimate Friends TAKE aka SWEATSON KLANK - Soul Particles
Flying Lotus might have been a bit quiet of late over on our fair/rainy/fair/rainy shores, but after announcing a show in London's brand new Lightbox venue next week he's unleashed the first podcast from his Brainfeeder label.
In the words of Fly Lo himself: "Here’s the first of many to come…This mix was put together by Ras_G, SAMIYAM and myself. Some time last year. We originally gave these out on CD at the Brainfeeder event in LA, but here it is, just for you."
