Life Aquatic

Kyson // Forest Footsteps Kyson has truly mastered string...

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:30:56 +1100

Kyson // Forest Footsteps

Kyson has truly mastered string sample arrangement. He coaxes the Cello into weeping politely, which reminds me of those tragic Wong Kar Wai films, where the Cello is basically one of the protagonists. Kyson is a Berlin via Brisbane gentleman if you didn’t already know. [photo]

mp3 : Kyson // Forest Footsteps

Polographia // Sunsets (Knxwledge Remix) Pretty stoked to...

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:44:00 +1100

Polographia // Sunsets (Knxwledge Remix)

Pretty stoked to have had the opportunity to share this piece with the world. If you read this blog you’ll probably have already assumed how much of a fan I am of Knxwledge. This is a perfect example of why. Knxwledge has pucked out the bizarre chords that lie in the background of the original and twisted them into something that he could have written himself as well as adding that warm, muffled bassline. The original comes off a great EP by Sydney’s Polographia which you can downlad for free here. Be sure to grab the Hugo Frederick Remix of Righteous Hit over here. The remix EP should be dropping shortly, stay tuned. [photo]

mp3 : Polographia // Sunsets (Knxwledge Remix)

Hoodcats // Streed Fung Another stellar release by one of...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +1100

Hoodcats // Streed Fung

Another stellar release by one of my favourite online label Mapzzz. This one is a stellar release by our darling Shortcircles’ side project Hoodcats (a trio including fellow Oakland Residents James & Evander). They describe their sound as ‘sample-based future-music that owe as much to stoney instrumental hip-hop as they do to bass-minded footwork and house.’ Everyone one of the three tracks on this EP is just as good as the next, containing the most outrageous samples. Download the EP from Mapzzz’ Bandcamp. [photo]

mp3 : Hoodcats // Streed Fung

Charles Murdoch // Ecoiv I don’t think I’ve...

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:44:57 +1100

Charles Murdoch // Ecoiv

I don’t think I’ve heard too much music stemming from Brisbane lately but here is some. His name is Charles Murdoch and this track Evioc is bumping. The beautiful chord progression consisting of those UK style synths and that funky, funky bassline that appears two delicious times should hopefully make this track a hit. I look forward to hearing some more new tunes from this up and comer who says he might add some vocals into the mix, in the meantime check out his other Soundcloud sounds. [photo]

mp3 : Charles Murdoch // Ecoiv

Galapagoose // One Who Can’t Move Our favourite man...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:29:12 +1100

Galapagoose // One Who Can’t Move

Our favourite man Galapagoose has just released his first single from his upcoming album Commitments which is coming out on Daedelus’ label Magical Properties (and Two Bright Lakes for an Australian release). I recall Trent telling me about this Frank Sinatra sampling track he’d started in a bar in Sydney just before we met up for dinner once and here it is. One Who Can’t Move uses the most spine tingling vocal samples I’ve heard in a while. Moulding those melancholic vocals with an upbeat and joyful bass line is a task I’d only trust Galapagoose with pulling off. If all goes to plan Galapagoose should also be releasing a delish 7” vinyl through Life Aquatic Records within the next few months. [photo]

mp3 : Galapagoose // One Who Can’t Move

Life Aquatic Records Release : [LA002] Albatross :...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:45:00 +1100

Life Aquatic Records Release :

[LA002] Albatross : Murder / Casper’s Theme

Its finally time to announce our next 7” vinyl release: Albatross’ Murder / Casper’s Theme double A-side. One of the most exciting acts to emerge from Sydney in the last year has definitely been Albatross.. They take their time perfecting their sounds and hence have not released a great deal of mp3s, so it makes this 7” all the more special. The amazing album art was made by the talented Jacob Ring, who we hope to work with again in the future.

It has been a pretty complicated few months with Lucas (head of Life Aquatic Records) and I only seeing each other once in the past 6 months, when I just got back from Europe and as he was leaving to Europe. We managed to still hustle up the funds to pay for this wax release and we are pretty proud of it. The mp3s are free but you can pre-order the 7” vinyl from our Bigcartel page. There will only be 250 copies of these bad boys so get in there quick before they run out.

The full release is availible on their Bandcamp long with two incredible remixes by Guerre and Dro Carey.

[LA002] Albatross : Murder

Persona La Ave // Spirits High Its been too long since...

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:19:55 +1100

Persona La Ave // Spirits High

Its been too long since Persona La Ave has graced this blog. He came from lofi live recorded sample based funk hop and has landed here and some more hi fi sounds, but he still keeps his reverb bottle handy to soak things with. This track is a hit. Full of funk. [photo]

mp3 : Persona La Ave // Spirits High

Geoffrey O’Connor // So Sorry (The Townhouses...

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:46:40 +1100

Geoffrey O’Connor // So Sorry (The Townhouses Remix)

The Townhouses gives Melbourne’s Geoffrey O’Connor’s So Sorry an unapologetically tropical redo. The Townhouse’s calling card has got to be those soft keys that he gives all the room in the world to breath before he lathers on some vocal samples and double bass. On Friday this fine remix will find itself among other remixes by Guerre and Oliver Tank as a collaboration between our buddies Yes Please and Chapter Music and will be available from Geoffrey’s Bandcamp. [photo]

mp3 : Geoffrey O’Connor // So Sorry (The Townhouses Remix)

Mattron // Themones Mattron has been one of my favourite...

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:27:08 +1100

Mattron // Themones

Mattron has been one of my favourite beat makers in the last few months. Every time I see a new piece pop up on his cloud I immediately stop everything I’m doing (eating cereal) and take a deep breath. He is more than just a beat maker, he creates dense moods. Mattron makes his samples ooze out of their shells. Download his new tape which everyone has really been itching for called Personaltape / Pants Morgan Money Tape from here. [photo]

mp3 : Mattron // Themones

The-Dream // Fast Car (Exeter Delorean Edit) This edit of...

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:59:00 +1100

The-Dream // Fast Car (Exeter Delorean Edit)

This edit of The-Dream’s pop r&b jam Fast Car exploded in my soundcloud dropbox this morning thanks to Toronto native Exeter. The track uses some harsh and choppy sampling, but it still somehow keeps a smooth flow for maximum head nod. The most satisfying parts of the edit come when it suddenly drops into plain synth chords and the samples slowly build up again. Exeter’s production style reminds me of certain sounds produced by Purity Ring. [photo]

mp3 : The-Dream // Fast Car (Exeter Delorean Edit)

Similar Objects // “a small chord like a spider...

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:04:01 +1100

Similar Objects // “a small chord like a spider web.”

Similar Objects is from the Philippines. He has become one of my favourite ambient experimental artists after his previous album release which I posted about here. This new release still carries his strong attention to percussion, with this strangely titled track being a good example of that. The melodic elements are polite visitors in a kick and snare dominated world. Download the full album Finding Astral Lovers for free from the Philippines Label Number Line Records. [photo]

Kwala // Tobias A month or two ago I started following the...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:16:34 +1100

Kwala // Tobias

A month or two ago I started following the sounds of Kwala and was excited to receive a heads up by Jake Martin, from the delightfully forward thinking blog Speaker Snacks, about a recently released free EP called Projectionss. It was really difficult to find a track off there that I liked more than the others. I finally chose Tobias. With its underlying sound of trickling water it mixes an array of percussion instruments with a soft bass line and crisp powerful vocal samples. The EP was released by FreeForm Records and is downloadable here for a price of your choice. [photo]

mp3 : Kwala // Tobias

Joseph Stallion // How I Won The War A mind boggling...

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:37:24 +1100

Joseph Stallion // How I Won The War

A mind boggling submission arrived this morning from Joseph Stallion (Max Petrek). His already incredible production ability comes second to his taste and arrangement in vocal samples. Joseph Stallion has managed to create a haunting maximalist journey using stunning female vocals and a great set of percussion samples which get screwed and reversed at points. It feels like its a large rich painting where you dont know where to look. I can’t figure out where to listen. [photo]

mp3 : Joseph Stallion // How I Won The War

Sloslylove // Adore I’ve just stumbled upon this...

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:56:00 +1100

Sloslylove // Adore

I’ve just stumbled upon this terrific slow motion dance funk album by Wisconsin’s Sloslylove. The album consists of dreamy muffled out samples on top of crisp quantised percussion and one of the best bass sounds I’ve heard in a while. He uses that bass patch in a lot of his tracks, I can’t get enough. Download the album for free from his Bandcamp. [photo]

mp3 : Sloslylove // Adore

Gonzo // Timepiece Going on a semi regular procrastinating...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:01:27 +1100

Gonzo // Timepiece

Going on a semi regular procrastinating comb of Soundcloud I bumped into Gonzo from Melbourne. Having some righteous clean cut beatstrumentals on his cloud I picked this 3 month old banger called Timepiece. Its sensual vocals and pornographic muted guitar hook made me match it up with a photo of a girl. I’m a sucker for these simple sounds. [photo]

mp3 : Gonzo // Timepiece

Mosis // Outwash This dark misty track begins with...

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:03:42 +1100

Mosis // Outwash

This dark misty track begins with trickling water and octave changing samples and moves into trancy synth hits and clock ticking percussion. Check out Mosis’ soundcloud for more cool sounds. [photo]

mp3 : Mosis // Outwash

Galapagoose // Ploy Melbourne resident Trent Gill aka...

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:33:00 +1100

Galapagoose // Ploy

Melbourne resident Trent Gill aka Galapagoose (his legs pictured above) has just delivered this vocal containing piece to the //This Thing// website as a free mp3 off his upcoming tape Nuance. Trent was a cripple for a bit with a horrible broken collarbone but that doesn’t stop him from making instant classics or stop him from supporting Matthewdavid (from Brainfeeder) at FBi Social in Sydney on the 20th of November (fb event). Download the track free from //This Thang//. Shazam. [photo]

mp3 : Galapagoose // Ploy

Bones // Always Falling Besides speculating that his name...

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:30:44 +1100

Bones // Always Falling

Besides speculating that his name is Ed Carroll and he has two stunning pieces on Soundcloud I have no idea who Bones is or where he is from. I like it that way. In front of a soft laminar curtain of rhode-like chords he has pretty little vocal samples perform their little hearts out as he hits a soft kick and clap. Eventually scary synth patterns appear and then they fade away to weak fiddle sounds. Always Falling is now my favourite song. [photo]

mp3 : Bones // Always Falling

Oliver Tank // What Have I Become (Flash Forest...

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 06:12:06 +1100

Oliver Tank // What Have I Become (Flash Forest Remix)

Melbourne’s Flash Forest puts a new spin on a track by Australia’s up and coming new sweetheart Oliver Tank, who has just returned from a musical Icelandic adventure. Flash Forest takes a small piece of Oliver Tank’s soft falsetto and spreading it across a steady danceable hip hop beat and a subtly throbbing bass line, which I believe will become his deserved calling card. [photo]

mp3 : Oliver Tank // What Have I Become (Flash Forest Remix)

Jezus Million // New Heart Joseph Zucco previously known as...

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 05:06:11 +1100

Jezus Million // New Heart

Joseph Zucco previously known as Teenage Reverb has reappeared with this clean cut soul sampling hip hop track under his new moniker Jezus Million. Seamlessy chopped soul samples combined with crisp percussion samples and sparkling hi hats, this teen has shown a whole new level of musical maturity. I found this one on my routine browse of flashlight tag. [photo]

mp3 : Jezus Million // New Heart