Bashe - Open Up (2013) + Open Up (Slowly) (2014)

If you're a listener to the show the you might recall we were discussing remixes and how we felt about them, and I thought that to be the perfect excuse to share what is my very favorite sort of remix with set of new tracks submitted by Bashe. Bashe is from Denton, Texas and makes electronic pop music that strays close to dance rock at times and more toward dream pop at others. Awesomely they've tagged it as "hypnagogic pop" which might very well be one of the best new generic terms I've heard. Now, what we have here is a short release from last year called Open Up that is an incredibly catchy and smooth electronic EP, and the other as the name suggests is a slowed down version of the very same tracks. This is a not a new concept, nor is it the first time I have featured a re-worked release of an album by the same artist before. Long time Spacerockmountain pilgrims may recall Toronto's Tearjearker did a similarly self-imposed remixing of their 2010 album Strangers with the following year's Strangers Remade. Just as I was throughly impressed by Tearjerker, I found Bashe's releases to be astounding in their own right, but the really magic happens when heard back to back. The juxtaposition of the two versions, noticing the similarities underling and picking up on the alterations is a remarkable insight to the power of tempo and speed in musical theory.

To be had here:

Open Up











Open Up Slowly

Madlib - Shades of Blue (2003)

If you haven't run across him yet, Madlib is a prolific hip-hop artist, releasing under other monikers like Quasimoto and was half of the duo that made up Madvillian (with MF Doom). He does it in what I feel is a more respectable fashion than the televised video-rap industry does. Using myself as an example I dislike the vast majority of hip-hop, but Madlib has undeniable talents. For those like myself disinclined from hip-hop or rap, even better news about this release, it is not really either. The title Shades of Blue is a reference to the fact that this is a set of remixed jazz singles from Blue Note Records. Personally, I find this mixture of the two forms of music to be a match made in heaven, for although there is damned good jazz out there, sometimes it is too mellow for me to sustainably listen to. With Madlib's additional beats and sounds it makes a wonderful album for working, driving or relaxing to. Moreover, there are segues which remind you're listening Shades of Blue by notables connected to Blue Note, somewhat like listening to old Ed Love on the radio. My brother who introduced me to Madlib asked me to remove them, but I feel like give the album a special tone it'd otherwise lack. Definitely check this out if you haven't before, a fan of hip-hop and jazz not required.

To be had here:
Madlib - Shades of Blue [160 kbps]