Katalyst - Manipulating Agent (2002)

Hi folks,

Believe it or not, I'm terribly missing this place as much as many of you might be bored when you notice the lack of update. So let's stop the stalling and go right to point!

"Katalyst (Ashley Anderson) initially recorded under the name Moonrock with fellow producer Illpickl. After 2001, As Katalyst, he formed experimental record label, Invada Records together with Portishead's Geoff Barrow, for which 2002's Manipulating Agent was the label's first release.

His later (and probably wider known release) "Whats Happening" explores a wider and more mainstream style, wheras this record is a moody DJ Shadow influenced downtempo/instrumental hiphop sound, with a keen sense for digging."(ref.)

It's kind of funky/groovy hiphop beats with undeniable touch of Portishead`s flavor. Somebody described it like that: "add 2 parts Portishead with 1 part DJ Shadow. Shake and serve".

Tracklist:

01. Introductions
02. Race Against Time
03. Out of This World
04. Showtime
05. Whose Reality?
06. Break Up
07. Cycle
08. Combustible [Special DeLivery Remix]
09. Fusion
10. LB on the Cut
11. Time Bomb
12. Passing of Peace
13. Uprocking
14. Compound Interest
15. Mad Scientist

DL 320

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See you!

Freddie Cruger - Just Chillin` In The Spot (2008)

The name Freddie Cruger might be new to most, but for the past several years, Cruger's alter ego, Red Astaire, has been tearing up hip-hop and soul dance floors.

He first got in contact with hip hop when he started out as a break dancer in the early 80s. His electric boogie dancing brother was collecting records at that time, which introduced Freddie to the world of black dance music. Around 85-86 he worked weekends at a legendary import record store in Stockholm called Space (special job cleaning the toilet). At this time he started buying more and more records, mostly electro and rap records but also disco/funk 12"/7"inch classics. After years of work and a great trajectory in important labels (including his own Homegrown label) he became a swedish hip hop legend.

JUST CHILLIN' IN THE SPOT is Cruger's latest album with an eclectic mix of instrumental hip hop/downtempo tracks featuring his signature jazzy and soulful beats. He describes the album simply as “mostly instrumental”, making it a large departure from his vocal driven debut.
But it is bit more than that. It´s a fresh set of instrumental grooves, a nice blend of beats, loads of jazzy elements (horns and vibes), vocal samples, and fantastic rhythms. The beats are always inviting and mixes jazz, Latin, soul and funk without ever falling into one genre trapping or another, always in service of the beats & rhythms. There's a level of warmth here that's lacking in lesser producers, nothing revolutionary just high quality, compelling beatcraft.


Nice work! Nice chilling beats and grooves!

Tracklist:
01. Homegrown
02. Rock That Beat
03. Just Chillin' In the Spot
04. Keep On Knockin'
05. Psycho Cha Cha
06. Wind It Up Baby
07. Jazz Flow
08. Rainy Days (feat. ADL & LINN)
09. Love Like Ours
10. What Ya Sayin' (Nothing)
11. I Got...
12. Take You to El Barrio
13. Ain't Shit

DL 320

BUY IT!

Watch him!
Very short clip but you can fell the vibe of track nº10 at the second half of the video.



Catch da groove!

Flow Dynamics - Flow Dynamics (2007)

Attending resquest of a friend! Let`s funk it up!

Australian project Flow Dynamics has created boogie fever and booty havoc on dancefloors across the globe. Fusing live musicians with a pile of electronics and sampling, multi- instrumentalist and producer Dave McKinney (who also works full-time as a marine biologist with the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences) has proved to be a musical force on the world stage. When the first Flow Dynamics vinyl singles were released the reaction was immediate.

Dave's music has been played by heavy names such as Kenny Dope, Gilles Peterson, Quanti, Mr Scruff, Fort Knox Five, Askillz, Beatfanatic, Nickodemus, Krafty Kuts, All Good Funk Alliance, Freddie Cruger, UFO, Ed Royal, DJ Regal, Adam Freeland, and DJ Spinna.

His debut self-titled Flow Dynamics album brings full of funky jams and block party breaks! The record takes the listener on a journey through the world of funk and soul based beats with lots of uptempo party cuts, chilled downtempo grooves and everything in between. The album digs deep into the traditions of funk and soul, with lots of live musicians, heavy drums, funky basslines, tight horn sections, sharp cuts, and raw funk vocals!

I personally remember the times when it was release, almost got crazy on these nufunk groovy sounds…Highly recommended!

Tracklist:
01. Flow Dynamics - Intro
Written-By, Producer - Dave McKinney
02. Flow Dynamics - Live In The Mix
Flute - Graeme Blevins
Turntables - DJ Pawel
Vocals - Sunny Amorganda
Written-By, Producer, Bass, Drums, Guitar, Horns - Dave McKinney
03. DJ Regal - Shock Ya Mind (Flow Dynamics Remix)
Bass - D. Alderson
Congas - F. Poncin
Drums, Percussion - Dave McKinney
Guitar - Jon Clements
Vocals - Eleanora Tomahu
04. All Good Funk Alliance - Superjam (Flow Dynamics Remix)
Keyboards, Bass, Drums, Turntables - Dave McKinney
05. Flow Dynamics - Up In The Party
Bass, Drums, Turntables - Dave McKinney
Guitar - Howie Morgan
Human Beatbox - Philani Mbana
Saxophone [Tenor], Arranged By [Horns] - Paul Millard
Trombone - Jeremy Grieg
Trumpet - Mark Underwood
06. Manteca - Tremendo Boogaloo (Flow Dynamics Remix)
Drums, Percussion - Dave McKinney
07. Speedometer (2) - At The Speakeasy (Flow Dynamics Remix)
Drums - Dave McKinney
Guitar - Jon Clements
Saxophone - Troy Roberts
Vocals - Sunny Amorganda
08. Flow Dynamics - Just Expressin'
Keyboards, Bass, Drums, Turntables - Dave McKinney
Trumpet - Matt Jodrell
09. Flow Dynamics - Better On Stage
Bass, Drums, Clavinet, Horns - Dave McKinney
Turntables - DJ Selekt
10. Random Heroes - Cmon & Get It (Flow Dynamics Remix)
Bass, Keyboards, Drums, Horns - Dave McKinney
Flute - Paul Millard
Turntables - DJ Finatik
11. Flow Dynamics - Cut Edit
Written-By, Producer - Dave McKinney
12. Flow Dynamics - Straight From The Ground
Written-By, Producer, Drums, Turntables, Bass - Dave McKinney
13. Flow Dynamics - Steady Rockin'
Guitar - Felix Poitier
Vocals - Eleanora Tomahu
Written-By, Producer, Bass, Keyboards, Drums, Turntables, Horns - Dave McKinney

DL 320 (two of the tracks are vbr2. If you can point a better link, please let me know..)

BUY IT!

Check it out! (not the funkiest tracks in the album)

Up in the party

Tremendo boogaloo

Just expressin

Have fun!