Jam Baxter & Jon Phonics : Fresh Flesh

Since Jon Phonics dropped his essential Half Past Calm series of mixtapes his musical output hasn’t stopped evolving. His latest collaboration comes in the form of an EP with one of the UK’s most lyrically adept emcees; Jam Baxter, who’s been on a steady rise since penning intricate sixteens on his 2012 HF release The Gruesome Features. Together the pair have created four challenging new tunes, writing and recording Fresh Flesh over the last month with more raw hunger than the carnivorous cover art. After a psychedelic intro, the epic strains of the title track swell into an expansive soundscape for Baxter to traverse with ease; reciting impenetrable bars that require repeated listens to fathom. Rush bumps with a grim bassline punctuated by loose claps as Jon’s recent experiments in electronica inform his current take on boom bap; while Baxter’s sharp tongue slices the beat to ribbons as he circumnavigates the obvious through verses shrouded in metaphor.

 As this short but vast EP reaches it’s conclusion, electronic flourishes bubble from the depths to surf a tide of atmospheric synths on Eating; finding Baxter’s unpredictable bars mirrored by Jon’s volatile snares as the pair continue to push boundaries up until the last note. Uncompromisingly progressive throughout, Fresh Flesh is the perfect jump-off point for new fans looking for something unique, while offering an exciting taste of things to come from two of the country’s most forward-thinking artists.

The EP drops digitally on August the 20th, pre-order it via Itunes here.

Peace.

Lewis Parker : Our Man In Havana

I slept on this one; UK heavyweights SFDB Records, Lewis Parker and L Dolo dropped two killer new tracks a few months back that came enveloped in the dramatic overtones Parker popularised; and unsurprisingly, the man with the golden sound pens nothin’ but heat on both tracks. Gritty drums slap over epic brass stabs on Hard Impact as the rhymes narrate more shadowy spy stories from the world of dusty vinyl; and LP’s lyrical B Boy Antiks bless an atmospheric funk flip on Run To The Sun, making this short release a must-have for fans of the crunchy SP sound.

Get it here.

Bambu Hands : Traditional Process/Authentic Product

After putting in work on his warmly received Lost Soul project, and collaborating with Spider Jaroo on Live From The Archive Vol 1, consumate crate digger Bambu Hands found himself with broken samplers, and a studio in need of refurbishment. To remedy that he collated over ninety of his unused instrumentals and split them into two albums, simultaneously showcasing his beats for MC’s to lease, and dropping another phat batch for the beat-heads.

Traditional Process exhibits his lighter side, while Authentic Product finds him delving into the darkness to bring about balance on this cathartic release; lacing track after track with jazzy samples and heavy breaks straight out the ASR10, SP1200 and MPC2000XL. Each beat can be bought directly from Hands on a first-come, first-served basis; so if you’re an up-and-coming rhymer looking for rugged boom bap, Bambu Hands has got what you need.

Check out the beats and get his contact info here.

184 & Button Eyes : Rag N Bone Man Remixes

Sprawling musical collective Button Eyes have just dropped two fresh versions of Rag N Bone Man’s recent single Lay My Body Down. Taken from the UK Soul singer’s recent Best Laid Plans EP Wolves, the original is a smouldering, melancholy ballad with clean, beautifully sung vocals that just beg for the remix treatment. London producer 184 transforms the tune by opting for a full-scale drum n bass assault with his mix, while the Button Eyes blend selects a more reserved option by adding distorted slide guitar over atmospheric keys and Hip Hop breaks. Both lift the sombre original to new heights without retracting from it’s subtleties, making for uplifting listening from this creative hub.

Check a selection of their tunes here.

Peace!