Body Riddle – Chris Clark

 

sometimes known as Aphex Twin's next disciple

Probably one of the greatest influences for my music recently has to be Chris Clark of Warp Records. With about 6 LP’s released, his sound grows tremendously with each release and has become one of the driving forces for this new style of IDM. I’ve listened to almost every single one of his albums and have been blown away each time by his meticulous sound design and production value, two things that are generally unappreciated but — when done right — can create soundscapes of epic proportions.

In his 2nd to recent album, Body Riddle, Chris Clark employs the use of his own homemade samples and an MPC to generate his complicated beats. As much as it is to say that Flying Lotus‘ beats are just as crazy, Clark’s style is just that much different. He started off producing in his dorm, but his style stays very archaic using his own samples, tape machines, and an old computer to work it all out (Squarepusher-esque ain’t it?). He loves to dabble with samples, usually taking a 1-2 second clip and mangling it until he doesn’t even recognize it anymore. In an interview, he mentions that he’ll dabble with a sample he can’t even remember how he got there in the first place…but it still sounds good!

Body Riddle (he shortened his name to Clark since this album)

Take songs like “Night Knuckles” or “The Autumnal Crash” for example…the sheer audio soundscape that he creates as you put your headphones on to these two songs just take you for a ride on its own. In songs like “Ted”, the nice jingling melody over a jazz-infused percussive rhythm — not to mention listen to that kick THUMP in contrast to the melodies!

As a quick taste for his style…I’ve included an awesome music video of one of his songs, “Ted”, below. Please try and use headphones (and don’t skip ahead of the song, you impatient fucks ;))!!

Hoping to give you guy another great album this week. Here is Body Riddle. Enjoy.

Chris Clark MYSPACE

Download Body Riddle

His newest album, Totem’s Flare, is tripper if not MORE than this album and I highly suggest it to anyone into this kind of music, but please let me know what you guys think of this album so I can upload more to your guys’ liking in the future!

–Tomio

Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton

I just recently found this gem and I know a few of you classic rock lovers on here will really appreciate this…

In 1963, John Mayall — one of the most influential blues singer/composer/instrumentalist in history — decided to form John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, a talented group that included John Mayall on…more than one instrument, John McVie on bass, and Hughie Flint on drums. What made this group great though was when legendary Eric Clapton decided to leave the Yardbirds for his love of blues, and thus this album: Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton.

“Apart from being one of the most overall influential albums in blues-rock history, it was likely the first time anyone had heard a Gibson Les Paul guitar through an overdriven Marshall amplifier; this unique sound would become particularly influential. The re-introduction of the Les Paul by Gibson was largely fueled by the blues boom that so often featured it. Clapton’s incendiary playing inspired graffiti saying “Clapton is God” on the streets of London around the time of the album’s release.” – wiki 🙂

Not to mention if you like this album, then check out the rest of this band’s discography as well. After Clapton left, Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac joined in, then Mick Taylor of Rolling Stones to name a couple.

Hope you all enjoy this classic. It’s got such songs as “All Your Love”, “Hideaway”, “Another Man”.

aka "The Beano Album"

Download Here

–Tomio

Flying Lotus – Los Angeles

If you haven’t heard of this man, then perhaps you’ve watched Adult Swim on Cartoon Network– ever listen to the weird background music when they flash bad punny jokes on the screen? That’s probably Flying Lotus.

Flying Lotus — née Steven Ellison — is the grandnephew of Alice Coltrane: a convenient and eye-catching association that will follow Ellison’s career each step of the way. In fact, it was Coltrane’s gentle nudging that pushed Ellison’s career ambitions from filmmaking into musicmaking. Flylo’s been producing music for nearly a decade, but lend your ears to his defining sound and character: Los Angeles. Although this album has only been released since 2008, it’s been getting nationwide recognition for its spacey, floaty, and yet hiphoppy textures. His mastery over an organic beat rather than a typical 4 on the floor dance track is just something to really appreciate about this album as well.

It’s really hard to explain this entire concept album into words but it’s something you definitely have to listen to in one go and not skip around tracks. Throw on some headphones, close your eyes, maybe take a toke, and just get lost in the ebb and flow of this hazey new atmosphere that Flylo’s pioneered in the electronic music world…a genre that I dub “spacehop”.

Here’s a youtube for a quick taste of his sound…notice how full yet minimalist his sound is..

Download Los Angeles Album Here

Flying Lotus Website :: Myspace

Please support him and buy his next album on 4/20 (haaaa) May 4, 2010 : Cosmogramma…it even has Thom Yorke on one of the tracks, now you HAVE to buy it!

-Tomio