Straight to the Bank Remixes

What is a 'by the numbers' remix? Remixes that, regardless of quality, clearly have signs that a lack of care or control was taken in the creation of said track.

The first example I have is this brand new mix by Jakwob of a Kid Sister track. I am a huge follower of Jakwob, I've got my grubby little hands on every track that I can find bearing his plate. However, the predictability and consistency with which he has taken previous templates and just showered the (great) original track with it nigh on patronising. (I hasten to add that another new Jakwob remix has surfaced of the new Audio Bullys track. It is indeed a lot better than this :)

Kid Sister - Daydreaming (Jakwob Remix)

The second is probably the most obviously laxadasical effort that I have ever come across in dubstep. It is a very high profile track, indeed coming from one of dubstep's forefathers, Benga. His remix of Prodigy's Warrior's Dance to be precise. It's just so damn lazy! The same crescendo as the original with just dubstepped drum beats that lead into the same drop that features onBenga's 'Crunked Up'.

If the previous track was unreleased, ie the incredible similarities between Skream's 0800 duband Midnight Request Line, it'd be OK, but Crunked Up is a dubstep classic, and is one of Benga's best original productions. The fact that Prodigy paid Benga as an official remixer on the trackjust gives me the impression that Mr Benga, as they say, laughed all the way to the bank.

Prodigy - Warrior's Dance (Benga Remix)

Brand New MIA vs Rusko. Again!

Despite a horrible piece of misleading advertising - "make sure you get here at 10 so you don't miss out", even though Rusko wasn't playing til 2am?! - Rusko was excellent last night, playing new tracks from his forthcoming OMG LP along with a few other tasty surprises.

One of these surprises, which was a genuine one, was the playing of a BRAND NEW MIA TRACK. Rusko announced that this had never been played before last night, AbandonSilence recorded it on our communal mobile phone and it's now on YouTube...

The track is untitled, and the video isn't the best quality, but from what we can remember the track had a tribal feel and was incredibly bassy.

Sounded good to us, see for yourself here...

Flying Lotus vs Lil Wayne

The don of glitch and instrumental hip hop, Flying Lotus, has returned with a new remix of Lil Wayne's track 'I Feel Like Dying'. The track comes from Weezy's new album, the long gestated 'Rebirth', his rock-rap album. The album has been lambasted universally in every review I have read of it, but this remix can restore some of my faith in the man. Well, we can at least pretend that this is an original cut.

The track is very different to the original, with glitchy steps following by drawn out bass that adds layers and depth to Wayne's rap, which is restricted here to just a few bars. The track is brilliant and I really beg you, if you like this, which you will, to check out Flying Lotus' back catalogue, he is peerless in his field.

Lil Wayne - I Feel Like Dying (Flying Lotus Remix)

Four Tet: There is Love in You

2009 was an interesting year for London based producer Four Tet, aka Kieran Hebden; from his obsession with remixing Madlib tracks to his (fantastic) collaboration with dubstep producer Burial. Now at the beginning of a new decade, we are greeted with Four Tet's first LP of original work in five years.

Four Tet has progressively driven electronic musics lighter side away from the cliched 'chill out' furore that sprung from 90s success stories like Portishead. That scene lead to the illumination of such bore-tronica like Zero 7. In this LP, titled 'There is Love in You', Four Tet moves up and away from this image, by drawing influence from other artists that he has collaborated with and remixed.

The most obvious influence upon 'There is Love in You' appear to be that of his collaborator, Burial, and his remixer, Joy Orbison, their restrained strands of dubstep have markings across the LP. Urban disillusion and sparse landscapes are Burial's calling cards, and within this LP there are signs that Four Tet has drawn upon these points and attempted to recreate them on his own original work.

The best track on the LP is (in my opinion) undoubtedly Love Cry, which is an epic nine minutes long. However, the time flies by. We are greeted by the trademark turning cymbals and fervently individual bleeps and synths. The track crescendos several minutes in with a devilishly subtle acid bassline that is extremely easy to miss without the bass on your stereo pumped up.

Around five minutes into the track, when the bassline does enter, the feel of the whole track is altered. The listener is suddenly transported to an echoey dark place where the female vocals take on a whole new personality. This switch in mood and ambience are quite large, but the length of time taken to fully complete the ‘switch over’ is so long that the listener has enough time to adapt without being surprised

Another track, Angel Echoes, is also subtly brilliant. from the chopped vocals to the simplistic drum roll that leads the track towards it's beautiful climax involving, of all things, a xylophone riff. It recalls Bloc Party's Biko, not just for the use of xylophone, but the sparseness involved in combining simple instruments and a repeated vocals to great effect.

There is Love In You was released this past Monday and I recommend any readers to go out and buy the album. For now I will just give you 'Love Cry', though if you like what you hear, please get it, it is brilliant.

Four Tet - Love Cry

Fortnightly Mix 01

We at AbandonSilence have decreed that due to the mass of songs we receive weekly, we need an outlet to insure that every track reaches your precious eardrums. Thus, we have devised the idea of a fortnightly mix to get every track in.

This series will run alongside current concoctions like the monthly chilled mix and normal posts. Don't worry, all it is is even more music for the masses! Enjoy the inaugral AbandonSilence fortnightly mix here.

AbandonSilence - FortnightlyMix 12 - 26 Jan '10

Tracklist (Under 'Lyrics' if uploaded to iTunes)

Numan - Light

Untold - Never Went Away

Sub Focus - This Could be Real (Joker remix)

Calvin Harris - You Used to Hold Me (Nero Remix)

Flux Pavilion - Got 2 Know

Foreign Beggars & Noisia - Contact (Excision & Datsik remix)

Skream - Listening to the Records on my Wall

These tracks may be reviewed individually in the future, if you would like to see any in particular, comment below and we'll do that for you coz were nice like that.

DO THE DISHES

After a long few days I'm back with a set of new tunes for your pleasure.

Firstly, I have a new tune from Flux Pavilion, titled 'Digital Controller'. This track is similar to Chase and Status' White Lies remix and the works of Mt Eden Dubstep. The lyrical content is piss-poor, but the music is uplifting and wobbly. The whole rap can be summed up by the line, "Up on your profile page, how many hits can you get today." I am suprised that I would give it the time of day, but the track is so happy and just plain 'nice' that I can't ignore it.

Flux Pavilion - Digital Controller

Joining Flux Pavilion in this countdown will be one of the funniest tracks I've heard in a long time. The track in question is Borgore's 'Act Like a Ho'. The track rolls around with jumping synths accompanied by a light rap by a guy to his girl, and his demands for the bedroom. Then, from nowhere, the track breaks down and it is announced, "But first.. Do The Dishes!" Seriously funny, and also followed by a ridiculously heavy breakdown, which is becoming Borgore's trademark, after tracks like 'Cry me a River' and 'Ice Cream'

Borgore - Act Like a Ho

So now I will leave this post, not for today, just for now. The final track will be Emalkay's 'Angie Got Stoned'. This track is just another feather to Emalkay's very birdlike cap. It takes things a few notches down from 'When I Look At You' and 'Heroics' to a pulsating beat with some beautiful vocals. Give it a go, maybe partake in some activities similar to what happened to 'Angie', nice.

Emalkay - Angie Got Stoned

Potent Clunge

No, this isn't a vitriolic anti-feminist post, but instead a heavily bass-riddled post. I'm sure most of you will agree that that's for the best.

This track comes from SDUK, who first came to AbandonSilence's attention after remixing Emalkay's 'When I Look at You', possibly the original track of 2009. That remix included Ibiza steam guns and added gloss and sheen to a previously dirty and grimey track.

The track at hand is indeed called 'Clunge', I presume named after the Inbetweeners joke. Though without any vocals, it could be called anything I guess.

The track begins slowly, with house style jabbing synths leading off with hard hitting drums. After around a minute the track picks up pace and begins rolling around not too disimilar to Emalkay's track.

This is the first original SDUK track that I have come across and I must say I am quite nonplussed. SDUK clearly where's his influences on his sleeve, which isn't always a bad thing, but the lack of any individuality or anything new forces me to just feel the need to shrug at this track.

However, you may love this track, and you most definitely will enjoy the Emalkay remix (find the original if you don't already have it) so take these on the house, after finding SDUK on Beatport or iTunes of course...

Emalkay - When I Look at You (SDUK Remix)

SDUK - Clunge

Dubstep in HD

If youve ever been interested as to what a real dubstep night is like, check these videos. These videos are from nights in Toronto, and have been filmed by a genius named Matt. Filmed in what looks like HD, these videos have the best sound and video quality I have seen anywhere.

There are more videos on mattmtoronto's Youtube site, including Joker, Caspa, Rusko, Bassnectar and Skream. Please do yourself a favour and check them ALL out.

mattmtoronto's Youtube page

Th Hngvr

Just been spending my morning recovering from a rather horrific hangover, so thought I'd take it down a few notches and give you lucky people a few new tunes designed for mornings like my current one...

Sbtrkt. No, it's not a typo, though he should really tell someone that some knob's robbed all his vowels. Anyway, this producer is crafting their own unique sound using old half-step, almost garage styles (a contradiction in terms, but stay with me). Their epic 7 minute remix of Goldie's Timeless has been on repeat for me throughout this painful morning.

The indispersed chopped vocal track recalls the works of the anonymous Burial for there sparse nature, and the drumtrack is also quite similar. However, Timeless is most unashamedly old school that this could've easily come out on an old garage dubplate in the late '90s, such is it's, ahem, Timeless nature.

Keeping it at 140bpm, Sbtrkt has created something that could be played at any time. The song is strikingly beautiful yet intimidatingly dark all at the same time, the vocal track gives extra dimensions to what is a quite simple but always evolving drum track.

I must send all my gratitude to Sbtrkt for helping to soothe my hellish headache ahead of a fun-filled day of lectures followed by a spontaneously planned but nevertheless sure-to-be-great trip into Wales later tonight.

(apologies for any made up words in this post, I really do have a horrible hangover and not really in the mood for spellchecking or dictionary searching.)

Sbtrkt - Timeless Edit

Chibuku Tickets Released

Just ordered Chibuku 10th Birthday tickets.

Despite the fact that no one has been announced I am relying solely upon past experiences.

I severely recommend anyone within walking, driving or flying distance of Liverpool on March 13th to head to www.chibuku.com/shop and get your cheaper Early Bird Ticket while they're available.

Artist Profile: Eskmo

As we approach a new decade, it is important to analyse which new artists and producers will be taking a stake of the limelight over the coming months and years.

Eskmo, aka Brendan Angelides, hails from San Francisco and is a glitch and dubstep producer.

Eskmo’s rise to musical peerdom has taken a very similar path to that of the UK’s most popular dubstep demon; Skream. Both have been producing for just over 10 years and have inexhaustibly spread their musical wings over many different genres and styles before both falling into dubstep.

Eskmo's most high profile releases, as with most electronic music producers, is his collection of remixes. A body of work including mixes for Radiohead, Bar9 and Gella have helped to raise Eskmo’s profile.

Though, to really see the man’s personal style, you must experience his own original works. He has released four EP’s to date, with each release garnering more and more recognition. His most recent release, the “Let Them Sing” EP, is a fantastic summation of all that is fantastic about this young producer.

On the title track, a childish keyboard intro leads skilfully via an auto-tuned vocal into a distorted rumbling tribal beat. Eskmo’s influences are instantly recognisable, you could easily see this track fitting comfortably in the surroundings of “Los Angeles” or “Butter.”

Other Eskmo tracks such as “Agnus Dei” contain ruthless Bass distortions that spitfire along the low ends until you are feeling numb. However, light and fluorescence is abundant throughout Eskmo’s output, with vocals, synths and tribal patterns used to add depth and colour to his music.

Eskmo is available at www.myspace.com/eskmo and iTunes. Below are a few tracks for your listening pleasure. AbandonSilence severely recommend that you check out this producer while he’s still fresh.

Eskmo - Let Them Sing

Eskmo - Agnus Dei

Bar 9 - Murda Sound (Bar9 remix)

Zomby vs Skream... Finally?!

Ever since hearing this back in November when I saw Skream at Chibuku I have been scouring the web for this track. Finally through the magic of a 'Free mp3s but please buy a Ringtone' website, AbandonSilence have been able to bring this to you.

The combination of Skream and Zomby is just too good to be true. I absolutely love the original track, Float, and Skream's remix track record is unrivalled in the dubstep world. Skream's remix of La Roux's 'In For The Kill' went platinum, and fully rubber-stamped dubstep in the consciousness of the UK masses.

The original track, Float, is one of the highlights of Zomby's "Where Were U in '92" LP, so the task of adding to the song through a remix certainly is a tall one. Skream, at over 6 feet, is a tall man, so few worries. He adds even more piano, even more synths, even more high hats and adds a little extra tempo. There really is so much going on, but I guess you would call it Controlled Chaos.

I know this track was first heard in 2009, but at AbandonSilence it is our track of 2010 so far.

Zomby - Float
Zomby - Float (Skreamix) .. 128kbps sorry

Mad Decent vs Gucci Mane

Diplo has used his power as boss of fast-growing label Mad Decent to create a free mixtape of Gucci Mane remixes, called Free Gucci: Best of the Cold War Mixtapes.

Artists ranging from average at best (DZ, SALEM) to the truly genius (FlyLo, Zomby) appear to give Gucci's tracks an electronic jolt.

The competition for the mixtape's greatest contribution is a straight tie between remixes by Zomby and Flying Lotus.

Zomby is an artist that I rate very highly, "Where Were You in '92" was one of the best albums released in 2009. He will come under the AbandonSilence spotlight in a future post. His track features suppressed vocals partnered with trademark high hats and skittling synths. It really is an excellent creation that does seem out of place surrounded by these run-of-the-mill remixes.

Photo Shoot is a very average Flying Lotus track, but in this habitat, it stands out like a sore thumb.

I've actually met FlyLo on a particularly messy night, all I could muster was a stuttered "I loved Los Angeles mate, favourite album of the year," Then got the really embarassing picture below.

You can tell that this is a mixtape, however, as you get further along the tracklist. The final three tracks feature some rather patchwork sampling and some lyrical nightmares. "I'm The Shit" is a useful piece of evidence for anyone arguing why people in their right mind should give gangster hip-hop a very wide berth. Some terrible lyrics, the worst hookline, the worst chorus, "I'm the Shit bitch, I'm the Shit bitch, look at my bitch, damn." Yeah, that is the chorus.

Overall, this is an excellent publicity stunt, with some great tracks being created as a result. However, it is so blatant from the first listen that this is just a mixtape.

The album is available to download in it's entirety from the Mad Decent website, but if you just want the good stuff, take these on the house.

Boi (Zomby Mixtape) - Gucci Mane

Photo Shoot (Flying Lotus Remix) - Gucci Mane


Abandon Silence

Gorestep

This is a new area of dubstep that I am quite intrigued by. It has come under several other terms, deathstep and transformerstep to name a couple.

It could easily be seen the same to Electronic music that Rage Against the Machine are to Rock. The extreme violence of Rage's lyrics are here translated to brooding bass and their furious guitar riffs are translated to lashings of heavy wobbles. Due to these similarities Gorestep has become a popular area of dubstep as metal and rock fans can relate to it.

However, it does have some big problems. The tracks are, as previously suggested, chaos. Due to this lack of rules and boundaries it appears that anyone with Ableton or Fruity Loops has decided that they can do it. Some tracks I have heard from this genre are literally painful to listen to. The problem I see is that these pretenders could potentially ruin the reputation of the genre.

Artists such as Excision, Datsik and Trolley Snatcha are commanders of this area. Their heavy music is a new area of dubstep that is slowly gaining momentum and recognition.

Trolley Snatcha - We Rock the Forest 

Excision & Datsik - Invaders

Joker - City Hopper 12"

Bristolian Dubstep Icon Joker returns with the release of a new double A side, City Hopper/ Output 1-2.

City Hopper is another track to go alongside Digidesign, Grimey Princess and Purple City as Joker's best work. The steppin' drum beat is complemented by a trademark synth roll that is ridiculously infectious.

Output 1-2 is the Brother of an older Joker track, Zariak. For over a minute and a half the song seems to be going no where. A simple dubstep drumbeat is complemented by playfully spontaneous synths. Then from nowhere a subtly introduced extra synth rolls in, flitting in and out of the constant heavy bass synth-drumbeat to crescendo towards a the huge climax.

The songs on here are undoubtedly top quality, there is no doubting. Joker is one young producer to keep your eyes on, with rumours of an LP in the works, AbandonSilence predicts a very bright 2010 for this man.

AbandonSilence

AbandonSilence Jan '10 mix

Hello there,

As we see the never ending 'Big Freeze' take hold of the UK, I have created AbandonSilence to share my music and views with you.

Unless you hadn't noticed, this is AbandonSilence's first ever post. To set the ball rolling I'll share with you my own personal mix.

This mix was created last week for a personal project, though I have received such positive feedback that I felt it was right to share it with you.

AbandonSilence Chilled Mix Jan '10

Tracklist
Nosaj Thing - Fog
The XX - Intro (Quix remix)
Burial - Fostercare
Joy Orbison - Wet Look
Nosaj Thing - Forever (Drake Remix)
Pariah - Under the Sheets (Ellie Goulding Remix)
Burial - U Hurt Me
Joy Orbison - Hyph Mngo