DOWNLOAD: The Matthew Herbert Big Band - The Story
When making music, producer/composer Matthew Herbert seems most at home when bound to an album-length concept. Turning unlikely, conceptual samples into palatable sounds is Herbert's M.O., which dates back to his days producing house and techno music which included samples of kitchen tools, body parts and foods. He adopted a big band to help fill out his sound on 2006's Scale and again on this year's forthcoming There's Me and There's You, although both are filigreed with samples, such as credit cards being cut up, nails being hammered into a coffin, and condoms being scraped on the floor of the British Museum. There's Me... is Herbert's statement on power and how it relates to the common man, but you don't need a philosophicaly degree to enjoy tunes like "The Story." The incredibly talented singer Eska drapes her versatile vocals over dusky piano chords, bright horn charts and humble drumming. If you're intrigued, make sure to stay tuned for his album to drop October 28th on K7.
Sounds like: Matmos, Mr. Scruff, Lemon Jelly
Download: The Matthew Herbert Big Band - The Story (Demo Edit)
The Matthew Herbert Big Band on RCRD LBL
DOWNLOAD: Bomb the Bass - So Special
It's been 13 years since Bomb the Bass released a record, but Tim Simenon, the project's driving force, is content to leave those years behind him. Still, his past is hard to ignore, as the first single from Bomb the Bass, "Beat Dis," pushed breakbeat into the British pop charts and hit #2. Simenon is also renowned for producing Seal's bombastic hit "Crazy" and and Ultra-era Depeche Mode. But enough about the past; the new Bomb the Bass is all about Future Chaos. Already a prolific collaborator, Simenon recruited a wide cast of vocalists, including Mark Lanegan, Fujiya and Miyagi, John Spencer and Paul Conboy, to flesh out his compositions. Conboy is featured the most, notably on the album's first single, "So Special," which fits nicely into the creepily romantic vibe first explored with Depeche Mode. As Conboy warbles through heavy eyelids, Simenon sends disco ripples through edgy electronic beats powered by a buzzsaw bass line. Welcome back, Tim.
Sounds like: Depeche Mode, Coldcut, David Bowie
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