Beat Meet: The Combined Forces, Cowboy Gambling, Sex Talking, Boudoir Blunted, Second Introductory Edition

You been getting that jonesin' for some beats, too, lately? Let's scratch that itch, shall we? The good news about delayed Beat Meets is the fact that there's generally more beats to share when we do get together like this. The real question, however, remains: did you bring me my cheez whiz, boy?

It had been almost a minute since we last heard from our favorite label, Project: Mooncircle, and i was beginning to get a tad worried. Turns out they were just putting the finishing touches on Robot Robinson, featuring stellar beats by Robot Koch and tight rhymes by John Robinson. Koch maintains his otherworldly, spaceship soundtrack while Robinson keeps those alien heads bobbing with his lyrical flow. A powerful one-two punch, to say the least. i keep waiting for P:M to drop the ball and put out something less than phenomenal. Fortunately, i have a feeling i'm going to be waiting a long time before that happens.

mp3: Sun RA ft. I.D. 4 Windz (Robot Koch & John Robinson from Robot Robinson)

If oddisee is willing to back your beats, odds are your beats are worth hearing. If you would agree, you're going to want to hear this joint by Maverick. Apparently, oddisee was so impressed with Maverick's stuff that the established producer talked the relative rookie into dropping this debut. All instrumental hip-hop, there are some real gems in here.

mp3: When Speakers Spoke (Maverick from The First Step)

mp3: 'Til Next Rhyme (Maverick from The First Step)

mp3: On the Street (Maverick from The First Step)

Proving that unsolicited submissions from you dirty bastards often yield some of Beat Meet's finest gems, we recently received some great stuff from Lawrence, Kansas-based Say My Name. This stuff is a bit more of the experimental variety; think Shigeto without the obvious Asian overtones or maybe somewhere between Teebs and Baths. Or think something else. Just give it a listen and hear for yourself.

mp3: Say My Lame (Say My Name from his Sound Cloud)

mp3: Stop Snitching (Say My Name from his Sound Cloud)

Just in time for Valentine's, in this corner, weighing it at beats the hell out of me, Star Slinger dropped another beast. Sporting tracks like Slow 'n Wet, this three track EP continues to show that someone's about to take the next step and start hitting the big time. Sure, that may just mean a CD on an obscure label that about 100 of us listen to, but what the hell have you done today, you smarmy bastard?

mp3: Casanova's Jump Off (Star Slinger from Bedroom Joints)

mp3: Baby Mama (Star Slinger from Bedroom Joints)

And finally, a little something from someone whose name you're probably going to hear a fair amount 'round these parts in the coming days and weeks and sometime thereafter i haven't decided yet. Maybe a...fortnight. With a self-described sound falling somewhere between Nosaj Thing and Flying Lotus, i'm of no mind to disagree with oddlogic. His beats are low end heavy, but have that weird blunted, spacey vibe that marks the best work of the genre. oddlogic will be gracing with our very own, FIRST EVER, LET EXCLUSIVE MIX. Suck on that, all you other blogs! To let you know why we're so very excited about this, check out this joint. More, as they say, to follow.

mp3: Intro Redux (oddlogic from his Sound Cloud)

Beat Meet: The Barely Legal, Sore Assed, Mate Devouring, Witchy, Royal Edition

That's right, kids. It's time, too. Beat Meet.

My apologies for the sporadic posts of late. Damn real job, getting in the way of the glamorous life of an unpaid music blogger. If one of you readers wouldn't mind telling my clients to slow the fuck down so that you can get your daily dose of Terribleness, well, that would be just swell.

We start things off with a bit of futuristic funk from Bradford, England. Hourglass Sea combines ass wobbling synths and pounding drums with 8-bit goodness. Is that Mario copping some coins as i get my groove on? It just might be, sir.

mp3: Teenager (Hourglass Sea from his Sound Cloud)

Speaking of futuristic funk, i can think of no more apt description for the work of the Philly/LA crew, Bossasaurus. I suppose i could point out that they're boss, which certainly would be better than calling them a bunch of sore asses, but i may be losing my point here. Let me sum it up this way--if George Clinton's Mothership needed a group to play their interstellar, designer drug fuelled space raves, Bossasaurus could have the gig on the strength of their latest, Lacerta, alone.

mp3: Special Deal 4 U (Bossasaurus from Lacerta)

Ye olde submission inbox has not disappointed since our last Beat Meet. Yet another case in point comes from Mantis Power. Potomac, Maryland's own sent us a track, which got me digging around on his Band Camp, which led me to this beast he did sampling Lil' Wayne's "A Milli." By utilizing a slower, less frantic beat, MP showcases both his skills as a producer and sheds new light on the lyrics. Well done, son.

mp3: Sands ft. Lil' Wayne (Mantis Power from his Band Camp)

While we're on the topic of kick ass production making use of existing vocals, how about this Aaliyah remix by Jus' Like Music's Klaar? The groove is slowed and chilled to almost witchhouse proportions, and the end result is syrupy good, assuming, of course, you like syrup.

mp3: One in a Million (Klaar Remix) (Aaliyah from Klaar's Band Camp)

And as a Prince junkie, i would be remiss if i did not include this pretty stellar set by DJ Dredd. Dredd hosts regular Prince parties in DC, and this is in recognition of that. Some nice gems to be heard in this hour-long mix.

mp3: Genius Mixtape (DJ Dredd from his Sound Cloud)

Beat Week: Dubiously Titled Mixtapes

When i think "mixtape," i'm still envisioning a cassette tape of various different artists you put together for someone else, but the definition obviously has expanded to the point where it's a catch-all for any grouping of songs an artist puts together for the masses. Hey, as long as the music is fine, i'm good, so let's get into a couple of these so-called mixtapes, shall we?

Yes, it came out on Christmas Eve, but you're going to hear it today. Some of our favorite Swedes, jj, put out a mixtape of them doing their particular form of rocking out over various hip-hop samples (Dre, 'Ye, M.I.A.). Truth be told, it's one of the best CDs i've heard this year, mixtape or not. Spoiler alert--this one definitely will be making one of my year-end lists, no doubt.

mp3: KILL THEM (jj from Kills Mixtape)

mp3: NEW WORK (jj from Kills Mixtape)

mp3: HIGH END (jj from Kills Mixtape)

WEDIDIT Collective member, Zeroh G7, just pulled a similar feat with his G7 University. Instead of ethereal chick vocals, however, he drops dope verses which he occasionally augments with some vocal distortion over others' beats. Wisely choosing from amongst some of LA's hottest producers (Teebs, Flying Lotus, Juj), Zeroh's skills are enough to add layers to the songs as opposed to simply sounding like somebody with a karaoke machine. OFWGKTA may get all the hype, but i'm telling you, WEDIDIT has even superior skills.

mp3: Almighty Mnd (Zeroh G7 from G7 University)

As long as we're talking mixtapes that make heavy use of sampling, we might as well throw new comer ::M∆DE::IN::HEIGHTS:: into the mix. Interestingly enough, their Winter Pigeons (Songs to Raise Your Dead Spirits) falls perfectly between the two previous, with ghostly female vocals playing over recognizable loops. Is that Sufjan Stevens alongside Tchaikovsky? Yes. Yes, it is.

mp3: Skylark Interabang!? (::M∆DE::IN::HEIGHTS:: from Winter Pigeons (Songs to Raise Your Dead Spirits))

And we'll close today with a mash-up of two of my other favorite CDs this year. Wick-It the Instigator heard Brothers and Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty and decided The Brothers of Chico Dusty must be made. Who am i to argue?

mp3: Everlasting Shine Blockas (Wick-It the Instigator from The Brothers of Chico Dusty)

mp3: Black Bug (Wick-It the Instigator from The Brothers of Chico Dusty)

(Ed. note: Thanks to the always stellar Potholes in My Blog for hipping me to those last two, dude.)

Beat Week: J Dilla Day

If the cosmos see fit to send me two Dilla-related tracks on the same day, well, who am i to deny the kid a try?

Luminary Youth recently opened for Bonobo and TokiMONSTA, so you should know off the bat the kid has skills. Upon receiving his new EP, Paper Constellations, two things struck me immediately: 1. If remixes by other artists are any indication, this kid keeps good company (read: Boards of Canada, Persona La Ave, and Washed Out, among others) 2. LY knows the Masters, as evidenced by this excellent J Dilla Tribute. i understand he's got a new LP in the works. Based on this bad boy, i can't wait to hear it.

mp3: Cloud Walking (J Dilla Tribute) (Luminary Youth from Paper Constellations)

As i am apt to do, i was checking out some of my fave artist sites yesterday and stumbled across this gem from my beat hero, Alex B. In his own words: "I found the original sample that dilla used on his track 'Players.' For personal enjoyment i remade the track to sound similar to his with my own twist on it. Enjoy!" i think you'll find that last command an easy thing to do.

mp3: Players (J Dilla_SV REMIX) (Alex B from his website)

And this last number came out months ago (early April, to be exact), but for whatever reason, it got lost in the piles of music constantly going through ye ode iPod. i intend to make amends today by sharing this mixtape banger by the Roots putting their instrumental spin on some of Dilla's classics.

mp3: The Stars (The Roots from Dilla Joints)

mp3: Look Into Her Eyes (The Roots from Dilla Joints)

Beat Week: Label Compilation Day

Seriously, i am too slothful this week to be thinking of anything too creative for you cats this week. Fortunately for everyone involved, ye olde inbox has afforded us some stellar new beat music for us all to share, enjoy and then call a slut behind its back. So guess who's getting a full Beat Week this week (at least until i bounce on Friday to head to Pitt for the Outdoor Classic)?

You can tell a lot about a label by the strength of its artist compilations tapes. Denmark Records' roster of Southeastern beat artists on its DenFriends Compilation proves this label is an up and coming force with which to be reckoned. You've already heard the likes of Junk Culture here at LET before, but please allow me to point out that you also need to check out their other acts like, Bambara, C Powers and the Selmanaires. Admittedly, some of the tracks here are about as fringe "beat" as you can get (i'm looking at your closer to pop submissions, NAPS and Heads on Sticks, and your almost soul composition, ArnHao), but i think it's pretty safe to assume anyone who reads the LET Beat Meet is going to find at least a few tracks here to dig. And even if you don't, the price remains the same, which, at free, is kind of hard to beat.

mp3: Drag Hesitation (BUSTED heRobust remix) (Bambara from DenFriends Compilation)

mp3: Dew ft. Graham Stephenson (C Powers from DenFriends Compilation)

1320 Records dropped their Volume II compilation some months ago. Hell, i even posted Alex B's "Dro on the D-Lo" way back when, but for whatever reason, it took me until now to listen to the entire thing. Point being, my mistake for waiting this long. There are tracks here more symphonic in nature, foregoing the staid and stuff live orchestra while creating similar arcs, motifs and flourishes with far simpler electronic toys. Sure, i might have been high and on a treadmill whilst listening to it myself, but check it out yourself and tell me if i'm lying.

mp3: Lo Swagga (STS9 from 1320 Records Volume II)

mp3: Virtual Boy (Threshold of Pain from 132o Records Volume II)

i dig Friends of Friends Music's philosophy--the driving force behind discovering and sharing new music is through friends. The fact that their latest compilation tape features such heavyweights as Shlohmo, Strangeloop and Daedelus “choos(ing) a song from any era of popular culture to be source material of a song for (their)‘Pop Massacre’ compilation” shows that FoF are exactly the kinds of chums you want recommending music to your ear holes.

mp3: La Bamba (Ritchie Valens) (Mexicans with Guns from Pop Massacre)

mp3: Wouldn't It Be Nice (Beach Boys) (Strangeloop from Pop Massacre)

Beat Meet: A Charlie Brown Christmas Edition

So The Missus has undertaken the Xmas decorating at Chez Terrible, and we've got one of my "non-traditional" holiday mixes on ye olde iPod docking station. Whilst listening, i just realized i've got a couple of beats sampling A Charlie Brown Christmas, thereby providing a perfect way to launch the holiday season 'round these parts AND furthering my promise to make LET the world's premier source of beat music of a questionably legal nature sampling your favorite kiddie shows of yesterday. 'Tis truly the most magical time of year. Black Dynamite bless us, everyone!

Ho, ho, ho, you ho, ho, hos!

mp3: X-Mas Dub Time (Fort Knox Five from X-Mas Dub Time)

mp3: The Christmas Massacre of Charlie Brown (DJ John from Santastic: Holiday Boots For Your Stockings)

Beat Meet: The Embarassment of Riches Edition

Since the holidays screwed up my blog week last week, ye olde inbox received a horn o' plenty's worth of stellar beats. And because i'm such a helluva guy, i'm going to share them with you.

Ah, Project: Mooncircle, how i love thee and thy dopish ways. Continuing with their kick ass Finest Ego series, this time up, the label features some of today's hottest Russian beatmakers doing their thing. Now, i know what you're thinking about Russian DJs, but, c'mon, man, that's racist. Allow me to confirm the fact that P:M yet again knocks this one out of the park, particularly on tracks by Pavel Dovgal and Shawalski. Here's what i'm trippin' on, though--how come all these foreign compilations only use English language samples? i'm just asking. Regardless, here's a little mini-mix to prove my point about just how good this bad boy is.

mp3: Finest Ego Russian Beatmakers Compiliation Mini-Mix

i can't tell you much about the Cutler beyond what you can read on their website yourself, other than that their latest, The Best Things in Life Aren't Things, is a stone cold groove, baby. Jazzy/funky instruments, cymbal-ic percussion and Charlie Brown sounding vocal samples? Yes, please.

mp3: PAYR (The Cutler from The Best Things in Life Aren't Things)

mp3: Sync Estate (The Cutler from The Best Things in Life Aren't Things)

You didn't think i was going to allow LET to falter in its goal of maintaining its place as THE leading source for heavily and probably illegally sampled children's movie beats, did you? Hells no, i'm not. So let's check out Pogo's latest update to his already classic take on Alice in Wonderland.

mp3: Alice (Extended) (Pogo from Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole)

mp3: Oyster Dreamland (Pogo from Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole)

i'm normally not a huge remix fan, but when one of my fave up and coming beatmakers is behind the board, what can i do? Here's oOoOO's take on Marina & the Diamond's "Obsessions." i've got to be honest, i'm not at all familiar with the original, but i sure as hell am digging the remix.

mp3: Obsessions (oOoOO Remix) (Marina & the Diamonds from Soundcloud)

If the cats at the WEDIDIT Collective give a song props, i'm going to have to give it a listen. So far, they have yet to let me down. And they maintain that streak with this Juj-recommended track by Ackryte. i'm assuming the instrumental is NOT about Ackryte's problems with the Alabama Police Department, but what the hell do i know?

mp3: Ackryte_x_AL_PD_-_Untitled (Ackryte from Soundcloud)

Is there anything better than "re-released" Dilla? Maybe "re-released" Dilla remixed by Madlib? OK, i'll buy that.

mp3: The $ (Madlib Remix) (J Dilla from Hella International)

Beat Meet: The Grown Folks, Younger Sister, Local, Remixed, Kills Less Porpoises Edition

Even (especially?) if it's a shortened week, gotta have a Beat Meet, right? This week's installment, for the most part, features a number of winner albums. Plus, we've got a couple of extra treats, too. Let's be honest, for our U.S. readers, you're going to need a soundtrack for the self-induced coma you're going to put yourself into come Turkey Day. Fortunately for you, this can be it.

i'm constantly bemoaning (bragging about?) the fact that we get a LOT of submissions here at LET. And as good a job as we try to do listening to everything, well, things are going to fall through the cracks, plain and simple. Sometimes, though, the Fates realize this will not stand. Such is the case with Durojaiye Versatile's The Fermented Sessions. When DV sent a follow-up email earlier asking what we thought of the album, i had to scramble, but i'm glad i took the time to listen the second time around. The wine label CD art pretty much sums up the experience--grown folks' grooves just right for a dinner party mentality. Don't be fooled into thinking this is NPR-approved, light stuff, though--while i'm sure they'd dig it, too, this is for beat heads.

mp3: Bree (Durojaiye Versatile from The Fermented Sessions)

If the Powers-That-Be had their way, we wouldn't be talking about Caroline here at the Beat Meet. The Mice Parade member and younger sister of J-Pop sensation Olivia Lufkin originally was signed as the next J-Popper sensation, but walked away from a huge contract to make the music she wanted to make. What we've got here is ethereal vocals over dreamy beats and occasional, crisp percussion. i calls 'em likes i sees 'em, and this is one to keep an ear open for when it drops on January 25, 2011.

mp3: Swimmer (Caroline from Verdugo Hills)

Oddisee is blowing up the world over, but as a Prince George's County native, well, we DC-area bloggers take special pride in this hometown talent. Were you a fan of his work with Trek Life on Everything Changed Nothing? Were you more interested in the grooves than the raps? Well, are you in luck today then, kiddo, as we've got the instrumentals here for your listening pleasure.

mp3: Ready to Live Instro (Oddisee from Everything Changed Nothing Instros)

mp3: Still Never Rains Instrumental (Oddisee from Everything Changed Nothing Instros)

Sure, that's all good and well, but where's your Glitch Mob fix? Well, i do happen to have the latest DJ Vadim remix of Fortune Days featuring Yarah Bravo & Pugs Atomz. So eat, eat, you jackals. When the album DownloadToDonate.org on January 12, 2011, all proceeds go towards Haiti relief programs, so enjoy this sample, and then do the right thing when the time comes.

mp3: Fortune Days (DJ Vadim RMX ft Yarah Bravo & Pugs Atomz) (The Glitch Mob from Drink The Sea - The Remixes Vol. 2)

And since it is a feast week for we fat assed Americans, what better way to close things out than with another Simple Recipe from our beloved Pro~Ef? Answer: there isn't one. Tell me i'm wrong when i tell you that all recipes are better when read over stellar beats. Can't do it, can you? Don't question your Uncle Terrible, kids. Just trust me on this one.

mp3: Dolphin Friendly Tuna Quesadilla (Pro~Ef from Simple Recipes Series)

Beat Meet: The Small Cookie, 24-hour, Baby Noises Edition

Another good week for all things free in the world of beats, as spelunked by yours truly.

i'm thinking it's about time for the cats at Project: Mooncircle to start their own hedge fund, as they're clearly incapable of making a bad choice when it comes to picking the next hot thing. If it pleases the jury, i'd like to point to evidence item #437, the upcoming EP from fLako, Mini Tollbooth. Whereas his label mates like Robot Koch tend to focus more on the percussive end of the beat spectrum, fLako makes greater use of bass lines, affected vocals and dissonant synths to create his soundscapes. The overall effect proves that P:M is no one trick pony, but continues to have one of the hottest stables in the world of beat music. Wow, i can't believe i took that metaphor to those lengths. My apologies to readers, but, trust me, the album is worth your time and your ducats. Here's a mini-mix to prove i'm right yet again (as if LET hadn't proven my supremacy as mixmaster and trend setter a million times over, but in the name of humility, i do what i must. It ain't EZ being TC.).

mp3: Mini Tollbooth Snippet (fLako from Mini Tollbooth)

Mash-up Maestro Girl Talk is back at it yet again with his latest freebie pastiche, All Day. Yes, this came out yesterday, but if you had the same luck as i did, you couldn't get your hands on it any earlier, either. Hell, you may not have had as much luck as i did. Whatever the case, the "best" part of a Girl Talk CD is playing "name that sample." A list is said to be forthcoming at GT's website in the days to follow. In the interim, who do you hear here?

mp3: Jump on Stage (Girl Talk from All Day)

mp3: Triple Double (Girl Talk from All Day)

mp3: Every Day (Girl Talk from All Day)

The folks over at Wah Wah 45s are throwing some shindig this Saturday, November 27th in London at Scala. To encourage people to give a shit, they've put together a rather stellar mini-mix comprised of some of the night's performers. For reasons we cannot begin to fathom here at LET, even though we claim to be a DC-centric blog, our readers really tend to be of a far more international bent. It probably has to do with us being the blogoverse's number one source of Nigerian speed rap AND questionably legal beats sampling arguably inappropriate children's music, but who can say for sure? Anyway, if you're one of our London readers, swing by the show, as it's only 12 quid (assuming a quid is a pound; you kids and your crazy across the pond lingo, i tell you what). If you're one of our Estonian readers, well, you're shit out of luck, chum, but it's still a damn fine mix. As you can hear for yourself, Hackney Colliery Band put together a funk-jazz romp worthy of The Cinematic Orchestra, and the Resonators put together a blissful romp with reggae overtones. Trust me, you'll likey.

mp3: What's the Time, Mr. Wasp? (Hackney Colliery Band from The Great Wah Wah Giveaway EP Vol. 1)

mp3: Sweet Dub Affair (Resonators from The Great Wah Wah Giveaway EP Vol. 1)

Beat Meet: The Endlessly Repeating, Hungry, E.T. Instructional Version

Well, kids, we've got a bit of everything today--recipes, instrumental jams and Pogo-like cut beats. All in all, a pretty good haul, if i do say so my damn self.

Even though i gave him a full post, seriously, people go back and DL all that Pogo stuff. After repeated listens, it only gets better. His beats using classic cartoon and movie samples are not only intricate and melodic, but head nodders you can share with the toddler set, too. Never too soon to start today's youth down the appropriate musical path. And, clearly, i'm not the only cat who digs Mr. Pogo's stuff, as this awesome mix from Skye dedicated to the Australian wonder attests. For his source material, Skye goes Groundhog Day on your ass. The results speak for themselves. Hell, y'all seemed to like the "Wishery" video, so try this one on for size.

mp3: Bing (Skye from Groundhog Day & Pogo Tribute)

Here's a first--a recipe for a tasty treat laid over dope beats. Now, i haven't had a chance to make this myself yet, but i have grooved to it, so i feel like i'm halfway there. Get some for yourself.

mp3: Epic Pumpkin Ice Cream (Pro~Ef from Simple Recipes)

Now, one of these things is not like the other, but that doesn't automatically mean it does not belong. Whereas Beat Meet typically is for electronic instrumental, i see no reason why we can't include a maximalist instrumental jam, heaving on the keys and skins, that has a decidedly electro vibe to my ears. And, hey, if i'm wrong, what do you care? The music's good, and that's the real point of you being here anyway, right? Damn kids, here i am bringing you all this fine, fine tuneage, and that's the thanks i get? Get the hell off my lawn! Oh, and enjoy.

mp3: Meds (Phone Home from Phone Home)

Beat Meat: Beat Your Woman 'til You Get Satisfied

A little of this, a little of that for this week's beat meat.

Apropos of nothing, i happened to stumble across too kick-ass beat tapes that essentially take the catalogues of two heavy weight performers, drop the vocals and ratchet up the funkification. One highlight's Cyndi Lauper, the other Bjork, two of my 80s/90s/00s/10s faves. The DJs involved on both projects have created nice soundscapes that pay homage without being too heavily indebted to the originals. Neither of these are particularly new, but i just found them myself, and since you don't listen to anything i don't tell you to, well, it's new to us, right? Right.

mp3: Gimme, Gimme (Fresh Nerd from The Cyndi Lauper Beat Tape)

mp3: Funky New World (Dert from Talk Strange: A Beat Tape Inspired by Bjork)

Probably realizing that more material means more traffic, the folks at Svetlana Industries continue an impressive outpouring of recent freebies with their latest shortcast. For this round, Brainfeeder impresario Lukid steps back to the turntables for this impressive mix including everyone from Ariel Pink to Sun Araw.

mp3: Shortcast #3 (Lukid from Svetlana Industries Podcast)

Rustie drops his Warp debut with his Sunburst EP, a six-tracker high on dance floor energy. To help free your mind in hopes of your ass following, he's put this single out their for your auditory pleasure.

mp3: Hyperthrust (Rustie from Sunburst EP)

Beat Meet: The Galloping, 24-Hour, Throttled Edition

With the weather in D.C. today being of the stay-indoor variety, today's beat tracks seem particularly apropos. Drop the following onto your mp3 player of choice, take two, and funk me in the morning.

First off, can i once again declare my love for XLR8R? This recurring post would have a lot less material if those cats weren't surfacing some of the best stuff out there for nerdish collectors such as myself to devour, and this week is no different.

i meant to post this earlier, but Mt. Kimbie dropped a full podcast for XLR8R, and, as you'd expect, it's a laid back chill trip of the finest degree. Of course, there's ample booty shaking grooves on this roughly 45 minute mix, with tracks from Zomby, Dam-Funk and Kode 9, amongst others, so there's something for head nodders of all shades here.

mp3: XLR8R Mix (Mt. Kimbie on XLR8R Podcast)

i figured Baths would take the crown as the Brainfeeder champion for 2010, but Teebs continues to make his push to snatch the royal dome for himself. While i anxiously await the October 9 release of his Ardour, he continues to be the gift that keeps on giving with tracks like this for the latest in the on-going LA Series by All-City (the other side of this release shared with none other than Daedelus).

mp3: Anchor Steam (Teebs from LA Series 6)

My aural equivalent of Ju-On, Shigeto is back in the mix. In anticipation of his Full Circle hitting shelves November 9 by way of Ghostly, he's dropped the single, "Relentless Drag." It starts off with droning Asian strings before settling into a groove before kicking up the freak factor in the closing minute. This kid continues to grow on me.

mp3: Relentless Drag (Shigeto from Full Circle)

To close things out and simultaneously show that i do read more than just XLR8R, Caribou recently posted a Daytrotter set. i've had tickets to see the former Manitoba twice now, but keep getting called out of town for work when he does show. Here's a taste of what i keep missing.

mp3: Bowls (Caribou from Daytrotter Session, 9-16-10)

Beat Meet: The Back Up Edition

Can we get a round of applause for Ms. Megan's brilliant effort last week? While i was enjoying the 111 degree beauty of Phoenix and flying through thunderstorms with enough turbulence to have me grabbing the leg of a stranger sitting next to me (OK, she was a cute, blonde, Canadian nurse, but still), she was getting it done for you here at LET. At the very least, you should offer her a kiss on the cheek at the next show you see her attending. She likes that. Of course, who doesn't like getting kissed on the cheek? Nobody. Not even your grandfather.

The one good thing that came of my overly busy work week last week was the amount of time i spent on a plane. More specifically and importantly, the amount of time that afforded me to catch up on some excellent beat tapes making the rounds.

The kids over at the WEDIDIT Collective have been busy. Long timer Earnest Blount posted his work with yet another collective, this one called NOVA (i guess your collective needs to be in all caps to be taken seriously these days). The result is Illumination!, with contributions by Chris Adams and (waves:delicious), to name a few. The great thing about these groups/guys-who-get-together-to-assumedly-smoke-a-shitload-of-weed-and-play-beats is that each one has a distinct sound. These cats make music for long distance UFO runs between intergalactic convenience stores, particularly apropos if your alien captain has the munchies. Separately, WEDIDIT posted the latest from Juj, who may or may not actually be the guys in the collective itself. Regardless, the beats are fresh and crisp, not unlike good lettuce. And i'm talking romaine, motherfuckers. None of that cheap Iceberg shit here.

mp3: Golden_Dawn (Chris Adams: A Human Expressing Experience from Illumination!)

mp3: howlamme (Earnest Blount from Illumination!)

mp3: Manners (Juj from Slack)

In a world of beat production, crate diggers increasingly are getting left behind in the discussion of what's popping on the scene these days. Proving that Madlib isn't the only one out there making strides on the wheels of steel, Left Channel are back with a new one, Food and Entertainment. Sampling everything from old cartoons to "Waiting for Guffman," the boys continue to perfect their craft, building loopy beats for a madhouse world. Well done again, lads.

mp3: FOOD (Left Channel from Food and Entertainment)

mp3: Eunuch with a Hammer (Left Channel from Food and Entertainment)

Who needs to have friends in a collective when you know the cats at the label? Svetlana Industries has dropped a new mixtape featuring such roster stars as Prohor and Teebs, all for the low, low price of whatever you feel like spending. You can't beat that with a stick, and these beats are bumping, so whether you go cheap bastard or Medici with your patronage, you're still not spending enough for what this beast is worth.

mp3: Eye 2 (Prohor from Come On Let's Go)

mp3: Everyone Alive Wants Answers (Teebs from Come On Let's Go)

And finally, i've inadvertently been sitting on this one for a few weeks now, not entirely sure where to place it. Probably more trip-hop than anything else (think instrumental Zero 7), it's a haunting piece with underlying beat sensibilities. Perfect way to end the day, perfect way to end this post.

mp3: Cats in the Flat (Franklin from Wool Recordings)

Beat Meet: DJ, Mix Me a Mix Edition

Lots of LOOOONG mixes for this installation of the Beat Meet, so i hope you've got some time mapped out for all this noise i'm bringing your way.

To get things rolling, however, let's start with the thin mint goodness of "Why Like This?," another track from Teebs' forthcoming Ardour. If the first two tracks are any indication, the latest Brainfeeder uber-beat-maestro is going to have his own entry in the "Top 10 Beat Albums of 2010" like so many of his other label mates seem to be doing this year.

mp3: Why Like This? (Teebs from Ardour)

To help Mary Anne Hobbs close out her final show on BBC Radio 1, Burial and Kode9 put together the following mix. If you don't know who MAH is, you probably have no business reading this particular column. Regardless, this mix does not disappoint.

mp3: MAH Mix (Burial & Kode9 from MAH Show)

i keep trying to spread the love for Andreya Triana, but i'm not sure if the message has been well received. Perhaps this mix from the good folks over at The Couch Sessions, highlighting far more of her career than i have, will help to prove my point.

mp3: The Dream Suite Featuring Andreya Triana (JConda from The Couch Sessions Presents...)

If Flying Lotus says to check out a mix, well, you check out a mix. You can decide for yourself whether or not he's on spot this time with the latest from Lukid. Personally, i say the Floating Flower remains on the money with this banger filled with new and exclusive material from the extended Brainfeeder family, but you're big kids now. You can make your own decisions. Hopefully, we've been raising you right, so it's all good.

mp3: brainfeeder mix (Lukid from Brainfeeder Website)

Ed. Note: i don't normally comment on the accompanying post pictures, but is it just me or is the Buddha totally scoping out that DJ's ass? Good on you, Fat Buddha!