Wednesday 30 March 2011

In search of GOOD music? Check out www.bandcamp.com

I'm always in search of good music. What is good music you ask? Not sure what it means to you. To me, there's no formula that makes a song or artist grab my attention. I just know what I like when it hits my ear.

I can tell what I don't like and that is about 90 percent of the music that is played over and over until I sometimes think about ejecting myself from my car into oncoming traffic.

Enter Bandcamp




This site is packed with independent, unsigned geniuses hiding safely away from the wack, soul-draining Pop radio stations. I don't hate Pop, I just can't stand how stations play songs over and over again. If Rihanna's "S&M" song were a human it would be a beaten, cracked-out, violated, shell-of-a-man laying on an abandon street.

Type in whatever you are thinking... Go ahead -> "hip-hop", "Reggae", "Rock", "DubStep", etc. Whatever you type results in an endless list of shit-you've-never-heard-before wicked music. HEAVEN!

I typed in "MPC beats"... I randomly picked an artist by the name Admin PaYne. Next thing I know I was banging my head to his beat tape titled "20 Beats in 20 Days!"

Check out www.bandcamp.com - it's beautiful.

Saturday 12 March 2011

Traktor Kontrol S4 Case Review

You should check out this video if you own a Traktor Kontrol S4 and don't have a case or bag to help transport it safely (like me).



Tuesday 8 March 2011

Breakfast of Champions - Qbert, Shiftee and Rafik

Check out a few of the world's best scratch DJs play on some fresh Native Instruments gear.





Description from the Native Instruments
See the world's scratch elite devour the new generation of Traktor DJ gear in this spectacular performance.

Traktor was on the menu at a Breakfast of Champions recently, hosted at Qbert's crib in San Francisco. Witness a three-way jam session with DMC Champs Qbert, Shiftee and Rafik performing on 4 turntables with just one Traktor Scratch Pro 2 system in this video, making full use of the 10 inputs and outputs of the included Traktor Audio 10 interface.

Native Instruments Maschine is used as a MIDI controller for Traktor. All Traktor generation 2 products like Traktor Scratch Pro 2 or its included Traktor Audio 10 interface (also available separately) will hit stores worldwide on April 1st.

You can see the full Traktor range and preorder products at http://www.native-instruments.com/traktor

The Limited Edition Thud Rumble Skratchy Seal vinyl used in this video can be pre-ordered here: http://www.djqbert.com/product/skratchy-seal-traktor-scratch.html

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Another fallen beat master. Nujabes.

I discovered Nujabes about six months ago surfing around soundcloud.  You need to educate yourself if you haven't heard any of his beats. I have included some of my favourite tunes below.

Unfortunately, Nujabes is no longer with us. However, I know I will be playing his tunes until I'm old and grey. I love hip hop.

Please visit the following links to learn more about him.
http://e22.com/nujabes/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nujabes
http://steelcloset.com/2010/03/18/legendary-hip-hop-producer-nujabes-dies-death-is-announced-a-month-later/


Some of my favourites...