9.5.2007 von mk.

Second album from Munich based producer Ben Mono! Feat. guest appearances by Capitol A, Killa Kela, Jemini, Studio R, Jason Todd, Shane Fontane, Yo Majesty … “Hit The Bit” is the antithesis the current minimal techno sound, slowing down the tempo and merging stripped down hip hop, techno sounds and booming electro. Ben Mono calls it ‘bit hop’ …
Ben Mono - ambitious multi-player, producer, remixer and in demand DJ from Munich - has built himself a solid reputation in the world of advanced diskotainment during the past years. His debut album “Dual” was praised by critics for being “complex, deep, tight and authentic at the same time” (De:Bug). His tracks can be found constantly on heavy rotation in the playlists of supporters like Dave Clarke, Jazzanova, Funkstörung or Zombie Nation and - not enough name dropping yet - have been remixed by people like John Tejada, Sirius Mo, Landslide, Jean-Paul Bondy and Bell. Finally, after carefully polishing his latest compositions, Ben Mono is about to drop his long awaited sophomore effort: “Hit The Bit”
The new album is a manifestation of a new and unique style labelled by himself as Bit-Hop! While the majority of party people in Germany are attached to minimal techno grooves, Ben Mono draws a deliberately counterdraft to this predominant sound pattern. He slows down the tempo and adds some abundance - bit hop means less beats per minute but more density in sound. Bit hop also means the digital merging of different styles, a symbiosis of stripped down hip hop and booming electro. Remember when in the late 80s hip house was the catalyst for the fusion of rap vocals with electric dance music? It initiated a continuing metamorphose of sound steadily giving birth to new styles like ghetto tech, grime, dubstep, hollertronix or most recently neu rave.
Bit hop is the youngest offspring in this family tree. Based on catchy hooks and old school synth lines it can be described best as an amalgamtion of ingredients Ed Banger or Spank Rock would probably feel tasty too. Just listen to “Don’t Stop”, “Pull Em Down” or the rocking title track “Hit The Bit” for comprehension. Ben Mono creates a new sound aesthetic a bit off from the current minimal affection defining the German electronic music scene. Considering this, Bit hop furthermore represents a break out, a metaphor for movement, progression and aggregation. On this mission he gets support by aspiring artists from all around the world like Bay Area MC Capitol A, the Miami Bass queens from Yo Majesty from Tampa Florida, Weather Girls’ backround singer Kerry L. Dooley, caribbean bred Jemini who is guiding through the album, electro crunk general Shane Fontane, Bliss & Main Flow (of Mood) or British multi vocalist Killa Kela. - new friends and collaborators found while being a globetrotting DJ.
Over 80 DJ bookings during a year take him to cities like Buenos Aires, Taipei, San Francisco, Bangkok, Dubai, Sydney, Beijing or Manila. All those different places have local scenes of their own posing new challenges for Ben Mono. Don’t expect him to play a straight DJ set when he rocks a party. Wherever he spins records he comes up with new variations in tempo and style while not forgetting about the sureshot bangers. But although it gets a little bit adventurous sometimes - like him being shot at with plastic bullets by some American street kids or being attacked by an organ trading taxi driver in Argentina - Ben Mono won’t stop his worldwide quest for the quintessence of sound to embed it into his universal Bit hop formula. All this experiences have been aggregated and transformed into his new album: “Hit the Bit”. So please pump up the volume and enjoy

Label: Compost Records

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9.5.2007 von mk.

Surfing an all watersports action from all around Hawaii and the North Shore mixed with good music and packaged like a surf video. Hawaii Surf Session Report is the first and the best video surf podcast. Visit the website for free photos, daily updates, slideshows and giveaways.

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9.5.2007 von mk.

After a long hiatus, while remixing some local Aussie acts & finding his new sound, REGAL has finally returned to the melting pot, with his debut solo album ‘LOOP DREAMS’. Recorded at Regal’s then ad-hoc home studio (now in limbo), over an intense 4 month period in 2006, ‘Loop Dreams’ is a little gem from the one-time original founding member of both THE WISEGUYS (Wall Of Sound) & BRONX DOGS (Heavenly/Marble Bar), two of the UK’s most revered underground acts of the ’90’s.
Encompassing Regal’s Hip Hop roots and a fresh batch of dusty breaks, this album delivers solid beats with a great blend of Funk-Fusion samples, a dash of Psychedelia, deep grooves & a touch of the Avant-Garde. Focusing on a more reflective sound, which rewards the listener with each new listen, Regal has crafted an original, daring, and beautiful album of B-Boy music as part-homage to the brilliance of the 70’s Jazz-Fusion scene, his major inspiration these last few years.
Tracks like ‘THE VILLAGE CALLING’, ‘KEEP ON’, ‘OLD FRIENDS’ & ‘SEARCHIN’ FOR PEACE’ represent Regal going back to his Wiseguys’ roots & dropping some beautiful downtempo smokers, packed with multiple layers of drums, basslines, strings, electronic effects & each with a distinctly individual theme and sound. ‘POLAR ICE’ is a wistful but funky, uptempo jazz-dance track, with some great live keys from his studio engineer and talented musician JIMI POLAR, while ‘CAPT. AHAB’ & ‘LOOP DREAMS’, deliver looped-up psychedelics and a more free-thinking approach to the Hip Hop Instrumental.
‘Shock Ya’ Mind’ & ‘The Mack’ weigh in with Regal’s more renowned B-Boy funk style, but even here they are deceptive, as each of these rocks the floor with dark Jazz & edgy Funk at their core, that enable them to merge with the rest of the album…
…And this, ultimately, is the beauty of ‘Loop Dreams’ - that such an open palate of Jazz, Funk, Rock & Fusion sounds, with a wide array of B-Boy breaks & individualistic themes, some great old-school studio gear & cutting edge new software - can meld together so well… clocking in at the 45 min mark, ‘Loop Dreams’ is relatively concise by today’s standards, but this only serves to make the album an even more addictive listen - you just wanna keep hittin’ repeat!

Label: unique

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