Phase 3

This is the beginning of another chapter in the life of this blog, and let me tell you the changes coming up are about to change your perception of reality and your thoughts on the meaning of life, forever. So listen up fools, so you know what’s happening and then you can’t be like “oh what’s occurring?”

Basically I’ve moved down to London, which means I’m no longer editing or writing for Champion Up North. For all you readers out there foaming at the mouth to know, there are currently no plans for Champion Down South, so feel free to start something. This means I’m hopefully going to be posting more original material on this blog again (no promises mum), so look out for plenty of funky fresh writing coming your way soon.

Secondly, I’m widening the remit of the blog, because I’ve got plenty of important stuff to say about things other than music, like politics and junk and stuff. So prepare for that, mentally and physically. Or just mentally.

BONUS: Some music. That’s right Adam, stay in your comfort zone.

Boxfresh: Mistafire – Condemnation

There’s not enough political UK hip hop these days, so it’s nice to see Mistafire raising some righteous consciousness on Condemnation. It’s also pretty rare to see an album with less than 10 tracks on a regular basis, and the only sensible and productive course of action seems to be to label Mistafire as lazy. That’s two rarities on one album, exclusive shit. Full review here.

Boxfresh: Cutta Chase & Daryl Donald – The Clock Work LP

I’ve done a a review for Cutta Chase before, on his album with Fredo that was released at the start of this year, so I snapped up the chance to review his newest album sharpish when it arose. It’s on De Facto Entertainment, who I’ve highlighted before as one of the best UK hip-hop labels around at the moment. Basically, this one looked like a sure fire winner…before I listened to it (ooooooooo suspense). Check out the full review over at Wordplay magazine.

Boxfresh: Jesse James Amos – Jesse From SE

There seems to be something about Britain that has the tendency to produce gloomy as fuck rappers, and that’s something I can totally dig, being a moody fucker myself. Jesse James Amos follows the footsteps of Ghostpoet on this particular branch of UK music’s family tree, with a short EP that’s pretty mesmerising. Rejjie Snow can fuck off, cos he’s getting a load of hype for having an American trap rapper sounding voice, but apart from that this EP is just gravy. Full review here.

Featuring: Wastepaper Magazine

It’s time for the next issue of Watepaper Magazine, which I copy edited again. If you’re getting bored of imagining my voice based on my writing style, take a break and imagine what other people’s voices sound like, and instead feel my influence in a more subtle yet all encompassing way, here.

Boxfresh: Primetime – Just Spittin

A new name on the UK scene, Primetime announces his presence with an album/mixtape, featuring him rapping over other people’s beats. It’s not a new trick, but it’s one that he pulls off with style, picking tracks that you wouldn’t necessarily know weren’t his unless you possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of music, or a phone with Shazam on it. Full review here.

Boxfresh: SPD – Myriad EP

SPD has been an underappreciated figure in today’s bass music landscape. Hailing from Liverpool, hardly the epicentre of the current bass music scene but nonetheless not somewhere to write off, SPD is definitely one for taking the time to craft his tunes, making the press release from Slime Recordings which talks of a “developing sense of texture and melody” more than just copywriting fluff.

Myriad is definitely an EP of two halves, the first one being comprised of a couple of lounging house tracks, full of pulsing pads and sumptuous chords, though ‘Jasmine’ drops into a surprisingly dark groove where ‘Tricky’ maintains a feeling of lightness throughout.

‘Nedificate’ is easily the best song on the EP however, a banger of epic proportions, driven almost entirely by some thunderous percussion and a simple melody from a synth that sounds like pure electricity. If you’re lucky enough to hear this out in a club, be sure to go suitably nuts, or purchase it to hear at home from June 16.

http://www.soundcloud.com/shepparddub

http://www.facebook.com/SlimeRecordings

Boxfresh: El-B – Buck & Bury: The Remixes

‘Buck & Bury’ was undoubtedly one of El-B’s most iconic tracks, and highly influential in the dark garage scene of the early 2000s, which eventually morphed into dubstep. On this re-release (out on June 13 on El-B’s own Ghost Recordings), it gets remixed by a whole host of names, all eager to jump on the chance to put their own spin on a classic.

Some remixes have seen the light of day before while others are entirely new. Tunnidge’s up-to-the-time dubstep remix, Caski’s house makeover and Enigma Dubz’  melodic garage remix have been available online for around a year, having been ripped from radio plays and the like, so this release gives fans a chance to hear the tracks in their full glory.

Real surprises come from the two entirely fresh remixes, from Falty DL & Submerse. Submerse reverses his recent trend away from garage by delivering a sumptuous remix, all cinematic strings and flawless 2 step hi hats, while FaltyDL brings forward a 140 bpm jungle version. All the remixes are unique imaginings of the original track, and the strength of the release as a whole is undoubtedly testament to the strength of the original.

Boxfresh: Gi3MO – Gary Guttersnypes One Point Five

Rum Committee have turned themselves into a fully fledged movement, spewing out material left, right and centre. This cheeky free download from keystone member Gi3mo is probably only going to be the most recent thing they’ve done for about half a minute, but it’s definitely worth checking. Full review here.

Boxfresh: Raw Product – Supplying The Demand

De Facto Entertainment are quickly turning into my UK Hip-Hop label of the year. They hooked up the interview with Natural Selection and have been releasing fire all year. Their most current release is from Raw Product, a duo comprised of label boss Stealf, and MC Mista Flix. Their debut album, Supplying The Demand, is out now. Full review over at Wordplay.