POST CATEGORY : Grime/Dubstep/Drum n Bass

Alexandros Kilias – ‘My Idea’

Alexandros Kilias is a Greece born, London-based producer who’s music is marked by a diversity of sound, existing as it does in hinterland somewhere between trip-hop, dubstep and electronica.

Killas’ latest single is ‘My Idea’ encapsulates his musical mantra perfectly. It is a beat-driven, deep, bassy sound, with a dark, subterranean vibe; crafted with subtly and a deft touch. Propelled along a slowly swaggering deep bass groove and rumble, its dark and sunken sounds are joined by flourishes of drums, bass and glitchy mastery, with chinks of light and flickers of electronics, and floaty dub tones. While peppered with specks of light, ‘My Idea’ is cloaked with a predominately chilling subterranean vibe, due in no small part to the eerie whispering vocal sample.

Listen to ‘My Idea’ below now.

BarryGruff’s May 2015 Playlist

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A regular monthly feature to the blog; a nice, neat and handy playlist of tracks featured during the month.

May was another fine month for new music. We had an exclusive premier of The Expert’s new tune, ‘Da Wha?’, the lead single from his forthcoming LP. There were new tunes from Sleaford Mods, Girlpool, Applescal & Tame Impala, ahead of their respective, forthcoming albums. There were excellent new singles from Tomorrows, Telegram, SertOne, Roots Manuva, Foreign/National, The Adventures of Bert & Henry and PANKHABILLI.

Also featuring on the playlist are: GEM_DOS, The North Sea, Disconcerting P, Sweet Baboo, Heaters & Faith Healer. Yeah, so, May was pretty damn good.

Listen to BarryGruff’s May 2015 playlist below.

Roots Manuva – ‘Facety 2:11′

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Arguably the finest rapper to emerge from British shores, Roots Manuva has been quiet for far too long.

You can never keep a good man down. Earlier this month, Roots decided the time was right to emerge from this slumber, teaming up Four Tet,and Machinedrum for double A-side single, ‘Facety 2:11′ / ‘Like A Drum’. Facety 2:11′ is an absolutely stunning single. Four Tet provides the infectious stuttering, propelling beat, with Roots delivering rhyme upon rhyme in his trademark style for what is a wonky tune with a sort of off-kilter vibe. An outstanding return to the fold from Roots Manuva, he’s sounding re-invigorated and as vital as ever! Perhaps it’s a just a one off? Hopefully there is an album to come sometime soon but either way, welcome back, Roots.

‘Facety 2:11′ / ‘Like A Drum’ is out now. You can purchase it here & check out the single, below.

Akala – ‘Murder Runs The Globe’

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Over the past few years, London MC, Akala has been without a doubt, one of the finest voices in UK hip hop.

Always relevant, challenging, thought provoking and a deliverer of great tunes, Akala makes a welcome return with ‘Murder Runs The Globe’. Taken from the MC’s forthcoming fifth album Knowledge Is Power Vol .2, it sees him being usual indomitable self. The message is powerful and passionate as always, as is the delivery, which is a barbed attack on the murder and killing throughout the world by elites to maintain their positions of power and privilege. Akala has consistently proven his calibre over the years, and he would appear to keeping the tradition going. Consequently if you have the time, it is definitely worth checking out his previous four albums – It’s Not A Rumour (2006) and Freedom Lasso (2007), DoubleThink (2010) & The Thieves Banquet (2013).

Akala’s new record is penned for release on March 30th but for now? ‘Murder Runs The Globe’ is below. He’s also headed out on tour across the UK & there’s a full list of dates here.

 

The Bug – ‘Void’ & ‘Function’

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The Bug is set to release his first new album in six years, the forthcoming Angels & Devils is due out August 29th on Ninja Tune, and follows 2008’s unforgettable, London Zoo (and last year’s superb Filthy EP notwithstanding).

Angels & Devils is said to be split into two distinct themes, exploring light and dark, and boasts a rather large list of collaborators – including Liz Harris of Grouper, Death Grips, Flowdan, Warrior Queen, and Manga among others. To get us even more in the mood The Bug has released two tracks from the new record, called ‘Void’ and ‘Function’. On ‘Void’, Grouper’s Liz Harris provides the angelic side, whose ethereal abstract vocals drift over an unusually restrained, almost ambient instrumental Bug backing. Uncharacteristic as it maybe, it works decidedly well. If ‘Void’ is the admittedly softer side to The Bug’s psyche, ‘Function’ is diametrically opposed, as we head into more familiar territory. ‘Function’ is an absolute beast. A brash, bruising beast of uncompromising rawness complete with huge distorted horns, hard-hitting drums and slick and frantic rapping from Manga. Together, the two songs demonstrate the diversity we can can expect from the Bug’s upcoming LP. Effortless originality and attitude, as ever from one of the most exciting producers on the planet.

Angels & Devils is out through Ninja Tune on August 25. Till then? Cast your eyes (and ears) below to stream ‘Void’ & ‘Function’.

Akala – ‘Lose Myself’ feat. Josh Osho

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London MC, Akala has been without doubt one of the finest voices to emerge in UK hip hop over the past number of years.

Always honest, challenging and thought provoking, Akala makes a welcome return with the release of a brand new video for his single ‘Lose Myself’ featuring Josh Osho. Akala is in indomitable form once again, dropping rhymes with help of Josh Osho against a rocking backdrop.  The single is out on May 20, a week before the release of his forthcoming fourth album, The Thieves Banquet, which is out on 27th of May. Akala has consistently proven his talent over the years, consequently it is worth checking out his previous three albums – It’s Not A Rumour (2006) and Freedom Lasso (2007) & DoubleThink (2010) – if you haven’t done so already that is.

You can check out  ‘Lose Myself’ feat. Josh Osho below & maybe, just maybe, this time we might see Akala grace our shores with his presence. Finger crossed.

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(Video) Akala – A Message (feat. Selah)

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Rapper, poet, call him what you like but Akala is undoubtedly one of the most talented MC’s on the planet.

Anyway Akala is back with a brand new record of articulate, intelligent and insightful hip-hop, Knowledge Is Power Mixtape Vol. 1. The first single ‘A Message (feat. Selah)’ offers an honest and insightful snapshot into problems and effects that one parent families can have specifically if theirs no father around. 

Introducing: Byron | Articulate & Witty UK MC

Raised in grey, British suburbia of his hometown of Slough, MC and lyricist Byron, has been bubbling under the surface for a while releasing numerous mix-tapes and tracks. Fueled by a passion for poetry, a diet of UK Grime and Garage and a desire to have his say, he has turned his insight and frustration into something terrific.

His frustration, story-telling abilities and articulation culminate in intelligent and informed stories of what he sees all around him, lyrics are delivered with razor-sharp wit, humour and sometimes aggression and anger. The music has a very Garage and Grime feel to it. ‘Don’t Hate, Work Harder’ is a perfect example of this, while ‘All Part Of The Magic’ and ‘Don’t Judge A Book’ display his story-telling abilities.

Byron is a talent and a very promising one at that. There is no reason why we shan’t be hearing much more about him in the future. 

You can spin a few tracks below or dowload his latest release, Deep Lyrics Dirty Beats Part II for free.

Download: Byron – All Part Of The Magic

Download: Byron – Don’t Hate, Work Harder

Download: Byron – Check This Out (Freestyle)

Coki – ‘Tree Trunk’ | Dark distorted saw-toothed Dubstep

This latest offering from London producer Coki should refresh a few memories of how Dubstep is supposed to sound.

‘Tree Trunk’ is an absolute whopper of a track and the standout from the Don’t Get It Twisted EP without doubt. It’s dark and menacing, lurking in the shadows, waiting to unleash a barrage of distorted serrated sawtooth bass, reverb and brute force.

You can listen to it below or but it from here.

 Coki – Tree Trunk via Prodygy

Ghostpoet feat. The D.O.T. – ‘Trouble’

Ghostpoet has already left his mark on 2011 with his rather unique debut, Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam.

Not content with that he has teamed up with one of his biggest fans, Mike Skinner and Rob Harvey (The D.O.T.)  to collaborate on a new track ‘Trouble’ for the latest Rizlab’s project. Fans of the contributing artists will, like me, be delighted with this development and even more so when they hear the result which is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Damu’s rework is fantastic too adding steel drums, a hard edged sound and a general freshening up.

Don’t just take my word for it, give them a spin below and make up your own mind.

 Ghostpoet – featuring THE D.O.T. – Trouble

 Ghostpoet – featuring THE D.O.T. – Trouble (Damu Remix)