I spent a huge chunk of my early teens listening to Bob Marley. On my 17th birthday Marley’s box set, Songs of Freedom was in my gift pile. The last song on disk 1 is “Mr. Brown,” and this was the first time I ever heard it. Darker and maybe the only song in Marley’s catalog that can be described as “moody,” to this day it remains one of my favorite songs. In 2007 Dj Spooky, an artist I spent the majority of my early twenties listening to, turns out this moody, dance-y, funky remix.
“Mr. Brown (Remix)“ (play/download mp3)
Bassnectar is a rockstar. When the intern at my office — who looks like he stepped off a Scorpions record cover — comes up to my desk asking if I like Bassnectar, you’ve reached ‘rockstar’ status. “Cozza Frenzy (Mega-Bass Remix)” is the quintessential Bassnectar sound: time-stretched vocals, massive basslines, warped horn samples, all laid on a foundation of chunky beats. You know a Bassnectar song is playing because his sound doesn’t tickle you, it engulfs you.
“Cozza Frenzy (Mega Bass Remix)“ (play/download mp3)
Dub Gabriel‘s influence must be from growing up in a record store his father owned in Chicago. Think Bill Laswell meets Peanut Butter Wolf and you might get an idea of where this cat is coming from. Bare, simple, but never boring production. Crisp drums with a world flare on his sample and percussion choices, “Dis Song” may not be up to speed with the bass centered dance scene, but it’s a refreshing siesta anytime of day.
“Dis Song“ (play/download mp3)
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Mikey Murka blesses the Mic on this release from German digital reggae crew Jahtari. The concept behind Jahtari is simple: they create DUB but with laptops. The result is what they call: Digital Laptop Reggae (DLR). Since 2004 this group has worked with MCs in Europe and all over the world. “Sensi Addict” showcases how proper digital rhythms works with traditional island-vocal stylings.
“Sensi Addict“ (play/download mp3)
A mainstay of the Bay Area music scene for over a decade, J-Boogie has influenced and worked with artists both locally and globally. This smoothed out downtempo number opens with a bassline that would make James Brown happy, and it only gets funkier from there!
“La Sangre” (play/download mp3)
