Tag: free

20XXビート, by WTCHDCTR

Reviews

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Tonight I am listening to some haunting and beautiful beats by WTCHDCTR, his latest EP titled “20XXビート” is 4 tracks of luscious and spaced out beats, soaked in reverb, dripping with style.

This project has a relaxed warmth to it that is quite pleasing to the ears. Swelling synthesizers rest behind the action in each song perfectly, creating quite the cosmic-soundscape to paint beats and melodies on top of. WTCHDCTR does this by means of intriguing vocal samples, tracks being motivated by trap style drums. There is minimal urgency in these tunes, and thats exactly what you want from something like this, perfect beats for a warm summer night. Slightly melancholy, whether by nostalgia or situation, only enhances the beauty.

The tracks maintain a fairly chill vibe, On My Mind being the obvious acception. However, even so the relaxed and spacey attitude is still there, in whispering synths paired with eerie vocal cuts. The deep bass lulls you inward, while the haunting melodies keep you hypnotized.

For what it is, “20XXビート” is a great little release. I feel like theres nothing I havent heard going on here, but in this instance it’s done so well! Though its only 4 tracks, you can pick this one up on Cassette via the bandcamp page. Also available for digital download, or stream it above! Whatever you do, enjoy!

SKY念仏, by Sanmi

Reviews

Time for a brief recommendation! This is Sanmi. I discovered this producer some years ago on soundcloud, maybe late 2009, through his electronic noodling and waveshaping. The music he creates runs the spectrum from ambient noodling to deep house and electro. His latest EP from HZ Recordings titled “Diaspora” was a wonderful little piece of fantastic electronic tracks, and also a highly recommended listen!

His personal page coins himself as “Japan based experimentalist Kyo Yanagi describes his alter ego as an experimental unit since 1998. He uses algorithmic and process based electronic composition techniques, creating textures which fluctuate from warm and delicate to visceral and abrasive.” Which is the perfect description for his sonic creations. So his latest project SKY念仏 showed up in my feed, I was excited what I would be hearing! 

Only 2 tracks, this EP is apparently an experiment in “Vocal work with bottles and rice”, which is abundantly clear upon the beginning of the first track! Pulsing full tones accompany steady shakers (I can only guess that this is where the bottles and rice comes into play!), layered with interesting vocal chanting. This is a great window into the mind of this producer, using such sparse and acoustic instrumentation, we see the style stripped down to the very base level. Within the instrumentation and natural rhythms of this release I can hear the direct connection to his sine-wave experiments and other electronic projects, feeling ties between the improvised melodies and slow growth formula.

All in all, its a strange and enjoyable little release for someone like me, and it can serve as a fantastic introduction to this producers material. If you are looking for something off the beatin’ path, look no further than Sanmi’s extensive catalog, you’ll be sure to find something you can enjoy!