Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Brownout - Fear of a Brown Planet
BrownoutFear of a Brown Planet
Label: Fat Beats Records
After two awesome retooled Black Sabbath themed releases, this 9-piece award winning Austin, TX offshoot of Grupo Fantasma, brings us a heavy Latin funk and soul tapestry of blazing grooves and horn filled rhythms in this play on Public Enemy’s 1990 hip-hop classic Fear of a Black Planet. Woot!
• Brownout Website • Brownout FacebookRed Baraat - Sound The People
Red BaraatSound The People
Label: Rhyme & Reason Records
Bhangra beat music has many avenues to choose from and the crazy twists and turns that this now 6-piece outfit infuses it with is undeniably spectacular. Their brassy global perspective and experimentation continues to push the musical boundaries of psychedelic, jazz, hip-hop as well as what can be accomplished on individual instruments. (9) Appearing with Tribu Aharu and Charanga Agoza’ on 8/16 at Central Park in Madison, WI.
• Red Baraat Website • Red Baraat FacebookYellow Claw - New Blood
Yellow ClawNew Blood
Label: Barong Family
Thanks to their famed bass-heavy productions and riotous performances, this Dutch producer/DJ duo known as Yellow Claw (Jim Taihuttu and Nils Rondhuis) have moved to headlining festivals around the world this year. Released on their own Barong Family label, this 14 track release offers a full musical palette ranging from hip hop blasters to frenzied anthemic ragers to moody downtempo offerings, all with special guests. Although bouncing all around the world, you can catch em live on 9/2 at North Coast Music Festival in Chicago, IL
• Yellow Claw FacebookOpiuo - Opiuo X Syzygy Orchestra Live at Red Rocks
OpiuoOpiuo X Syzygy Orchestra Live at Red Rocks
Label: Slurp Music
I am not aware of any other electronic musicians that have added a live orchestra to their future funk compositions, but that is exactly what the New Zealand DJ known as Opiuo did at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater on 4/21/18, and results were/are amazing! Re-Interpreting and then respinning his songs so they blossomed into 7 wonderful movements that conjoined with the 20 piece Syzygy Orchestra is unique, invigorating and inspiring to hear and behold! Lucky for you he is performing a solo DJ set at the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI 10/18 with Sodown
• Opiuo Website • Opiuo FacebookTurkuaz - Life In The City
TurkuazLife In The City
Label: Electric Habitat Music
Expressive and fun, this nonet from Brooklyn will blow your socks off with their energy poppin’ horns, strong jams and catchy rhythms. Dripping with splashes of funk, rock, alternative and R&B this group brings momentous energy and presence to Life In The City as well as their live shows wherever they may be found. Find em nearby on 11/15 at High Noon Saloon in Madison, WI
• Turkuaz Website • Turkuaz FacebookSoDown - Jet Black
SoDownJet Black
Label: GetDown Records
This EP is smokin hot! Establishing a menacing synth ambiance before introducing slick slices of glitch amid strong casts of electro bass and funky beat breakdowns makes for an entrancing listening experience. Chest pumping, hip hopping electronica doesn’t get much better than this.
• SoDown Website • SoDown FacebookKojo - Guide My Soul
KojoGuide My Soul
Label: Random Records
Guide My Soul is the first full length psybass release from KOJO (aka Alexander Green). It is filled with a multitude of quirky samples, fat, plucky bass lines and upbeat rhythms. Time spent experimenting with styles and techniques over the past years pay off throughout the 14 tracks offered here by making this a grand adventure through many sonic landscapes distant dimensions.
• Kojo Website • Kojo FacebookAndy Frasco & The UN - Change of Pace
Andy Frasco & The UNChange of Pace
Label: Fun Machine Records
Super fun and party forward, Andy Frasco & The UN have toured through 10 countries, average 250 shows per year and have somehow managed to output 10,000+ hours playing music. Change of Pace adds more soul to their fabulous freaky funk, showing off their natural evolution as a band, while not losing their edge or originality.
• Andy Frasco & The UN Website • Andy Frasco & The UN FacebookSunsquabi - Instinct
SunsquabiInstinct
Label: Sunsquabi
This Colorado based hydro funk trio really takes flight on their newest release. Each track instinctively takes on the name of a different animal or insect, led by a three-track series of singles “Caterpillar,” “Chrysalis,” and “Night Moth.” Technical wizardry shines on each track, propelled by signature wailing guitars, slithering synths and slap happy improvisational jams. Another blissful display of stunning sonic glory! Become part of their metamorphosis when you go see them (with Defunk) on 4/11 at Miramar Theater in Milwaukee, WI and 4/13 at the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI.
• Sunsquabi Website • Sunsquabi FacebookGriz - Ride Waves
GrizRide Waves
Label: Griz
Some of the fattest, most exciting beats I have heard in a while! Griz’ 5th studio album is riding BIG! Bigger beats, bigger sounds, and bigger collaborators (Snoop Dog, Wiz Khalifa, Bootsy Collins). While the vibes are high, the grooves are deep and the beats are blasting, Griz covers a lot of other territory too, reflecting his immersion into societal influences, culture amid a pleasant variety of soundscapes and musical approaches. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see him on May 17 at Armory in Minneapolis, MN
• Griz Website • Griz FacebookWolf Tech - Weird World
Wolf TechWeird World
Label: Shanti Planti
UK producer Wolf Tech (aka Tom Chant) embarks on a sonic adventure of great depth and magnitude. The psybass rhythms pulse and propel listeners to psychedelic worlds with cinematic vision, while melodic yet dynamic and driving dubstep delivers hi-tech trajectories into distant lands filled with spaced out ambiance and modern musical eruptions. Immerse yourself!
• Wolf Tech Website • Wolf Tech FacebookFreekbass - All the way this. All the way that.
FreekbassAll the way this. All the way that.
Label: Color Red
With his backing group, The Bump Assembly, Freekbass’ seventh full length album harnesses the funk forward Cincinnati sound and merges it with universal influences from the 70s through tomorrow. This gyrational groove goodness not only shows off the innovative styling of Freekbass including his signature double thumb strumming technique and driving rhythms, but gives him plenty of room to show off wild costumes and vigorous live show. (9)
• Freekbass Website • Freekbass FacebookView More
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