Eclectic Vibes

by Andrew Frey

Reviews From: Hip Hop
DubFX - Thinking Clear

DubFX - Thinking Clear

DubFX
Thinking Clear
Label: Convoy Unltd

Melbourne born street performer, beat boxer and looping artist extraordinaire Dub FX (aka Ben Stanford) gives us a potent and powerful dose of his unique artistry with Thinking Clear, which shows off his soulful lyrical exploration of social, political and spiritual subjects while injecting the additional live instrumentation of a bass player, pianist, percussionist and a 3 piece horn section to his groovy vibes. Recorded in his own Treetop Studios and offered on his Convoy Unltd label, this release builds on his grassroots busking success that propelled him into selling over 200,000 records and receiving 100 million and counting YouTube views after performing in 40 different countries and at numerous festivals. Bravo!

DubFX WebsiteDubFX FacebookDubFX Wiki

Dutty Moonshine Band - Most Wanted

Dutty Moonshine Band - Most Wanted

Dutty Moonshine Band
Most Wanted
Label: Rocstar Recordings

The electro swing genre keeps heating up and this debut album from Dutty Moonshine Band certainly fuels the fire! Capturing the swing era sound, then embellishing with skits and surprises before blasting it back to our future infused with hip hop, ghetto funk and filthy bass makes for a delicious slurp of manic musical entertainment.  This 14 piece big band from Bristol, UK brings zany amounts of energy and creativity to the stage when they headline festivals around the world. Look for them!

Dutty Moonshine Band WebsiteDutty Moonshine Band Facebook

Dirty Heads - Swim Team

Dirty Heads - Swim Team

Dirty Heads
Swim Team
Label: Seven Five Records

Dirty Heads’ 6th album covers all the bases. Encompassing elements of reggae, hip hop, dubstep, pop, world and alternative while utilizing everything from bongos and banjos to classical piano and synthesizers, these 12 tracks play and experiment with the bands fame at every turn, both lyrically and metaphorically. Benefiting from a bevy of collaborators (Jonas Jeberg, Rome, Blueprint, Oren Yoel, HEAVY and The Score) this release is bound to make it’s mark thanks to experimental approaches and invigorating production.

Appearing live on 11/18 at Orpheum Theater in Madison, WI with The Unlikely Candidates and Tyrone’s Jacket.

Dirty Heads WebsiteDirty Heads FacebookDirty Heads Wiki

Ginkgoa - One Time

Ginkgoa - One Time

Ginkgoa
One Time
Label: Self Released

What happens when invigorating electro swing gets infused with trap, house and future bass sounds? In such a space, a myriad of tempting time tried dance crazes fly together in an explosive experiment of sound and energy. This France-based duo further enhances the mix when vocalist and front-woman Nicolle Rochelle unleashes her talents. Irresistible! Appearing 7/14 & 7/15 at LaFete De Marquette. Appearing 7/14 & 7/15 at LaFete De Marquette.

Ginkgoa WebsiteGinkgoa Facebook

Red Baraat - Sound The People

Red Baraat - Sound The People

Red Baraat
Sound 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 WebsiteRed Baraat Facebook

Twenty One Pilots - Trench

Twenty One Pilots - Trench

Twenty One Pilots
Trench
Label: Fueled By Ramen

Bands with 2 billion+ hit videos are hard to ignore. That being said, this groups bizarre yet amazingly attractive conflagration of alt rock, hip hop, metal, and singer songwriter swings are often as confounding as they are comforting. But it works! Trench definitely captures their signature sound and approach, but simply isn’t quite as high strung as prior releases. It is still lyrically provoking though and offers a bunch of great songs and potential mega hits.

Twenty One Pilots WebsiteTwenty One Pilots FacebookTwenty One Pilots Wiki

SoDown - Jet Black

SoDown - Jet Black

SoDown
Jet 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 WebsiteSoDown Facebook

Gramatik - Re:Coil, Pt. II

Gramatik - Re:Coil, Pt. II

Gramatik
Re:Coil, Pt. II
Label: Lowtemp Music

Exactly two years after the release of the first part of this Re:Coil, electro-funk pioneer Gramatik delivers Pt II. As with the first, these tracks are all collaborations, except the final which is solo. Showing off many faceted styles and approaches to the electronic genre with such luminaries as DeFunk, Big Gigantic, and Beat Fatigue insure many memorable jams. See him do his thing live on 11/15 at the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI with Balkan Bump, Opiuo. 

Gramatik WebsiteGramatik FacebookGramatik Wiki

Dub Fx - Roots

Dub Fx - Roots

Dub Fx
Roots
Label: Convoy Music Group

Ben Stanford is Dub FX, a Melbourne born street performer, beat boxer and looping artist extraordinaire who exhibits strong poetic lyricism while exploring social, political and spiritual topics. Roots is more of an eclectic reggae album than an experimental loopy electronic release like his prior ones. He hits the dub hard, but amid the relentless bubble rhythm, he journeys through hip hop, soca and more on the way to Roots.

Dub Fx WebsiteDub Fx Facebook

Big Gigantic - Free Your Mind

Big Gigantic - Free Your Mind

Big Gigantic
Free Your Mind
Label: Counter Records

Big Gigantic are such musical wizards! Spanning genres ranging from electronic pop and soul to modern jazz and hip hop, this talented Colorado duo knows how to make the party happen. Their first studio album in 3 years offers up 13-tracks focused on providing uplifting, expansive soul vocals while showing off collaborations with artists including Pell, Felly, TOBi, Jennifer Hartswick, Louis Futon, The Funk Hunters and more. Imagine how Free Your Mind will be when you see them live on 4/3 at the Sylvee in Madison, WI.

Big Gigantic WebsiteBig Gigantic FacebookBig Gigantic Wiki

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