LET EXCLUSIVE Mix by oddlogic

In the first of what i hope to be many such posts, i couldn't be prouder to present our very first EXCLUSIVE beat mix!!! From none other than a name you're sure to hear a lot more of in the near future, oddlogic. And not only did the mad genius grace us with the mix, he also took the time to answer a few questions so we all could get to know him a bit better.

1. Name, rank and serial number?

My real name is Alex Gohorel. I'm a producer/songwriter/DJ based in Brooklyn, NY. I also play guitar and sing in a folktronica group called Half Rational Animal.

2. What toys (equipment, programs, etc.) do you use to make your music?

I mostly use FL studio 7 and a bunch of free plug-ins. But lately, I've been getting into using random recordings around my apartment for sound sources, and I occasionally record piano or guitar. Also, I sometimes use the effects in Traktor Pro to further tweak and destroy sounds.

3. While we're discussing your particular brand of music, into what obscure sub-genre of beat music would you classify yours?

I've been talking to my roommate and fellow producer WIE (soundlcoud.com/w-i-e) about this question lately. It's becoming increasingly difficult to describe a lot of the work producers in the so-called "beat scene" are making, because the formula for what was hip hop has gone out the window. There are now so many derivations of derivations that the rules are starting to wear thin, and people are starting to come up with really original stuff. The result? More genre typifications than anyone can possibly keep track of. How does this relate to the question? We've come up with a new genre name to describe our beats: Sub-Hop. It's low end heavy, very syncopated, usually down-tempo (or half timed at a higher tempo), and often lo-fi or otherwise distorted and mangled to bits. Salt and pepper to taste.

4. Who are your heroes/influencers right now?

Some of my biggest musical inspirations include (in chronological order) Elton John, Refused, Bright Eyes, Converge, NIN, Between the Buried and Me, El-P, Nathan Fake, Jon Hopkins. Pretty disparate. However, as of late, I've been really inspired by a lot of the producers I've been finding on Soundcloud. Producers like Rumle, Zack Christ, Danaet, Muramic, Soosh, and Antitune. (Dear reader: search for these guys on Soundcloud!)

5. What CDs are you listening to these days?

Album-wise, I've been listening to Eskmo's self titled debut on Ninja Tune, Lorn's debut LP for Brainfeeder, Luke Abbott's Holkham Drones, and a bit of this James Blake album everyone's raving about. Also, I can't seem to get over Moderat's album. That shit is remarkable.

6. What's the one album that every beat head should own?

Damn, this is a tricky one. I'm not gonna say Dilla (sorry, guys!) because everyone already knows about Dilla, and that would just be redundant. I'm gonna have to say Drift by Nosaj Thing 'cause that album really inspired me to branch out beyond the standard format samples + bass hip hop beats into making beats that are more about soundscapes and evolving timbres.

7. Other than yourself, of course, who's the best in the game right now?

If I have to pick just one person, I'm gonna have to say Zack Christ. This dude just makes the most wicked, alien sounding beats I've heard in a while. Definitely a big inspiration.

8. Is there anything you'd like to say to the parents of any ex's who didn't think you'd be doing anything with your life only to have you be featured on a random music blog?

Haha!

9. Anything we haven't asked?

Well, you haven't asked me about any releases, so here goes. I've got a few upcoming releases on my label (OUTLIER RECORDINGS)- a collab single with our Spanish artist, XTRNGR, called "To Grains," a single called "Shimmer/Smother" (which is some 130-140 half time spacey shit), and my first full-length called Systems, which has a lot more pianos, guitars, and field recordings than a lot of my previous work. Also, I recently made two remixes for Danaet (TALL PRAWN COLLECTIVE), and one will be featured on his upcoming EP on Gergaz. No release dates yet, but if you check our blog (sinusoidexe.blogspot.com), we'll post 'em when we know 'em.

mp3: LET Exclusive Mix by oddlogic

Tracklist:

1. oddlogic - intro redux

2. WAKE - Marsha Brady (oddlogic edit)

3. oddlogic - lines

4. oddlogic - musht

5. Ben Kruse - Waterfall (oddlogic remix)

6. Jared Mitchell - Nocturne (oddlogic remix)

Megan's Top 70 of 2010: #22b - Arcade Fire

Why I Decree it to Be So:

I was a little slow to initially jump on the ole Arcade Fire way back a few years ago, when they released the absolutely beauteous and amazing Funeral. I still don't quite know why I was so resistant. I've learned my lesson, thankfully. New record The Suburbs is, well, beauteous and amazing. There's a new wrinkle in Arcade Fire-land, though, and I'll go ahead and quote my friend Henry because I think he hit the nail on the head: "When did Arcade Fire decide to stop moping and just rock?" When, indeed. It was a good move on their part, the whole rocking thing, because it turns out they can successfully do more than just mope and get their gloom on. I can't even fathom how much I love "Ready To Start" with that dark, hypnotic rhythm and, yes, much rock. They also retained a little of their Springsteen love from Neon Bible, which I definitely approve of (see: "Modern Man"). I was blown away from start to finish of The Suburbs. Odds are, you pick this thing up (the few of you that don't own it already), and you'll be pretty dang blown away yourself.

mp3: Rococo (Arcade Fire from The Suburbs)

Megan's Top 70 of 2010: #22a - Local Natives

Why I Decree it to Be So:

I’m beginning to wish they all could be California bands. No, really. The latest conglomeration of Californios I’m currently salivating over is Local Natives. They’ve arisen from the hipster haven of Silver Lake (though technically hail from elsewhere) and shot me through with many Cupidian arrows of musical amour. Gorilla Manor, their new full length, is at this very minute making my heart go pitter-patter, and quite possibly might induce swooning at any moment. Gorilla Manor takes its name from the house the band once shared, and in which substantial portions of the record were written. A friend of mine once lived in a house dubbed The Rape Cave, in Richmond, but that’s neither here nor there, really. I’m not holding my breath for an album of the same name. Digressions aside, Gorilla Manor, the record, is choc full of loveliness in many forms. Gorilla Manor. A name definitely not giving anything away in terms of the depths of golden beauty to be found in the album’s twelve songs. But it’s a name you should definitely make yourself familiar with, if you haven’t already. And go ahead and just accept the fact that it’s one of the best records of the year. (SEE MORE)

mp3: Sun Hands (Local Natives from Gorilla Manor)

Megan's Top 70 of 2010: #23 - Friendo

Why I Decree it to Be So:

Me oh my, I sure do love me some Friendo. Cold Toads, this fantastic little record of theirs, came out of seemingly nowhere to take over my affection with an aggressive campaign of brutal, authoritative artsy punkish reckless rapscallionism with a counter attack of blissed out, outlandish dreaminess. It's fuzzy, it's loud, it can be a bit jarring, and it. Is. Fabulous. With ties to Women, the droll, slightly bored vocals and proclivity towards divine dissonance are to be expected (such as on the sublime, spy theme-esque "Oversees"), but warm guitar licks and all that fearsome fuzz makes Friendo their own very special animal. Winner winner chicken dinner.

mp3: Oversees (Friendo from Cold Toads)

Megan's Top 70 of 2010: #24 - Ceremony

Why I Decree it to Be So:

I’d like you to meet Ceremony. They’re from Fredericksburg, they’re nouveau gaze in its finest of fine fettle, and they’re going to do nothing short of fry your little brains. Rocket Fire is the sweat equity of two Fredericksburgers, Paul Baker and John Fedowitz. The noise these two make as Ceremony is both beautiful and terrifying, full of snarling ferocity as well as dazzling rays of sweetness and light. Rocket Fire could be straight outta 1981, but in the way that only the most modern and on-point music can be. It will quite possibly make you yen for My Bloody Valentine, but also make you hanker for Ceremony themselves. “Stars Fall”, the album opener, exhibits both elements of Ceremony, the sugary sweetness and the liquefying oblivion. Crunching, jagged guitar cuts through the fabulous fuzz and the kick of the drum machine, while honeyed vocals offer respite from the attack of the instrumentation. Even better things await the further you wade into the intense mess of sound that is Rocket Fire. “Breaking Up” is simply blistering, fierce layers of fuzz creating a blinding backdrop for lovelorn vocals. “Marianne” is another favorite, scorching guitar and still more fuzzery playing off the lovesickness of the lyrics. “You’re killing my soul, Marianne,” goes the lament, while the wall of noise undulates every which way. “Silhouette” has rapidly turned into quite possibly my favorite of favorites on Rocket Fire, darkly sinister as it is and with that fantastic rapid fire drum machine action. The heady, scathing swirl of the guitar and bass also add to the intense appeal of said song (and, to a greater extent, said record). And if you don’t make it a point to add this record to your collection, well, I fear there might not be any hope for you, ladies and gents. (SEE MORE)

mp3: Marianne (Ceremony from Rocket Fire) (ta, Tale of The Tape)

Megan's Top 70 of 2010: #25 - Thieving Irons

Why I Decree it to Be So:

Say you're in a really, really great band. But that really, really great band breaks up. What do you do? Well, friends, if you're Nate Martinez, you keep making really, really great music. And that's precisely what Martinez did post-Pela under the guise of Thieving Irons. This Midnight Hum, the first Thieving Irons LP, is one of the most honest records I've heard in quite a while, crackling with heartfelt emotion like you wouldn't believe. To me, it's a record in the vein of vintage Americana, as interpreted by Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp (when he rocked the Cougar in there, just so we're clear). The song composition is ace, intricate and lovely, and Martinez proves a more than able frontman, exhibiting a voice lacking in pretense, stripped of everything but tons of stories. Along with partner in crime Mike Brown and other friends, This Midnight Hum is an impressive collection of stories and beautiful moments in time. Ever so highly recommended.

mp3: Tow The Line (Thieving Irons from This Midnight Hum) (big ups to Rollo & Grady)

But Not Dick

i imagine by this point in time in the man's career, white whale jokes are superfluous at best, but if i have the chance for a cheap "dick" joke, by gum, i'm going to take it. Hell, any bald and bespectacled beat producer is A-OK in my book right off the bat, but, c'mon, guy...

That's right, Moby has a new CD/book combo entitled Destroyed set to drop May 17, 2011. To get the people juiced, he just put a three track EP, Be The One, that contains songs from Destroyed. Does that make it an EP or a sampler?

Truth be told, who cares, particularly in light of the fact that these three are beasts? According to the accompanying press release, the album "takes us behind the scenes on an international journey with Moby, introducing us to the strange and disconcerting life of touring that is often not exposed; the time spent isolated in anonymous, mundane spaces like hotel rooms, airports, and backstage waiting areas."

Of particular local interest, events will be held in select cities to debut music and exhibit prints from the affair. As luck would have it, the first one is May 9 at National Geographic. Entitled "Music on...Photography," it's part of the National Geographic Music Live multi-media series featuring renowned personalities in the music world as they share their view on the planet from behind the camera lens. i'm trying to get a press pass myself, so hopefully we'll be doing a bit more reporting on this one, as well.

With songs written in the wee hours of too late/too early, it looks like Moby is back with the perfect soundtrack for insomniacs.

mp3: Be The One (Moby from Be The One EP)

mp3: Victoria Lucas (Moby from Be The One EP)