Pop Lock

March 15th 2011

Side Brain - On The Second Moon Of Earth

Side Brain, aka Juda Baduda (ace name!), a very talented 25y.o. Israeli beatscraft now residing in L.A., beat capital of the world, released his debut album a bit more than a week ago on Bunny On Acid’s Holy Dubs Recordings.

Took my time with posting about this album, since it isn’t as easily digestible, or categorized to be more precise, like most other beat tapes and albums out lately. Side Brain moves freely (sometimes on the same track) from smooth melodies to edgier, dubstep influenced, bass driven beats, covering a lot of ground inbetween. He does however manage to define a sound of his own, showing a lot of musicality and all the while demonstrating top notch production skills.

L.A. should give a warm welcome to this new guy in town, and beatheads round the world digging the sounds of Maverick, Alex B, Devonwho, Elaquent and the likes definitely ought to give this one a spin.

The album is up for free grabs (but you might consider paying if you like it!) over at bandcamp.

Yeuda (that’s his real name) is also quite a music tech freak, enjoying beating in new ways, and you should really also check out his beat making vids on his youtube page, like this one, where he plays around with an arcade-like controller and monome to make a mean live beat.

April 16th 2011

Don’t Fake The Funk

Although it’s by far one of my favorite albums lately, I hadn’t written anything about Frite Nite’s label head Salva and his Complex Housing album. But now that Mike Gao’s new LP is out, I think I can try and merge these two into one post.

The beat scene is still very fresh, but it’s no longer so young, it’s borders have basically been set, and it’s time to start messing with them. It hit me when listening to both these talented Californians who in their debut albums are pushing the scene’s limits into the funky outer space. Call it future boogie, or give it any other new made up name, either way I truly enjoy what they’re doing. Finding it really hard to put these guys’ sound into a box - Dirty synths and fat basslines, somewhat wonky beats, a vocalist here and there and more than a dash of experimentalism make these two albums sound different from each other and more diverse with each track, yet somehow maintaining a very specific feel. Guess I need to move to Cali to get the full picture.

Anyways - more proof of the common ground these two producers share comes with them both collaborating with Zackey Force Funk and his distinct vocals. Check it:

Mike Gao - Dont Fake the Funk feat. Zackey Force Funk and Eddy Funkster by mikegao

BTW - Sun Shadows’ album cover was done by yet another LA Beatmaker, Teebs. Just so you know.

April 19th 2012

Cohenbeats @ Boiler Room L.A.

I been bad as usual, not finding the time to post stuff I want to. For instance, the lateset The Cleanup beats EP Cohen sent my way some two months ago almost. But now comes this recording of his 20min set at the newly born L.A. Boiler Room edition, and it’s clear it’s time to get typing.

So, Cohenbeats aka Michael Cohen, a super talented beat maker hailing from my home town of Tel Aviv has been at it for quite a few years. As part of the local hip hop crew Cohen @ Mushon he spits some rhymes and cooks some beats looking more towards the airwaves, and getting lots of local love for that. At the rest of the time he’s hard at work on some serious further out there beats, of the kind I love to love. RBMA spotted his talent way back in 2008, and the dude has been moving from strength to strength ever since.

On a recent long visit to L.A. he played this 20min set of strictly original beats at the Boiler Room, alongside some big beatheadz such as Samiyam, Computer Jay, Jonwayne and more, representing Tel Aviv with much much respect. Big Up!

Listen to, watch or grab his set right here (honestly, I tried as best as I can to embed it, but found that imposibble as it doesn’t seem to exist anywhere besides the boiler room site. What’s up with that?!).

Also be sure to check his bandcamp for lots of freebies, and most important, keep an ear on the man, since it seems to me he’s been keeping his best beats close at bay, and will have to unleash them eventually. And you want to be there when that happens.

Posts tagged "L.A."

Side Brain - On The Second Moon Of Earth

Don’t Fake The Funk

Cohenbeats @ Boiler Room L.A.

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