SLUGABED BOMBOK

I've not heard something quite like this song before. And I like that. Difference and variation is a very nice part of life - without it, where would we be? Listening to Capital FM all day and struggling to stray from the conventional, and quite annoying, pop that populates (see what I did there?) some of the tackier radio stations in the UK - and probably in the whole world. Yeah, without difference we'd be a pretty boring bunch. Even that kind of samey pop has its own merits - it is different to the things that are different from it.

Don't get me wrong, though: some difference is just too extreme. Can't handle it. Too silly/too much/horrible/etc. - it's not ALL good stuff. However, the unique vibe in Slugabed's new song 'Bombok' is something that, while a little bizarre (perhaps I'm just swayed using that word because of the strange video), should be celebrated wholeheartedly.

Seriously though, be warned: the video is mighty weird - trippy and even a little gross.

You get me? It's strange. So strange. Who is that... monstrosity? Haha. So weird.

In any case, it's the song that I'm more interested in. With a triumphal feel, it whacks you in the face - or more in the gut, or perhaps even more aptly right in the ears - with bombastic bass kicks that reverberate all around while hi-hats flutter above like shredded metal. But the most noticeable thing at first is this great vocal of "Bombok" which is twisted from high to low, jumbled up and chucked into the air like popping candy.

The style is of big bass, of a kind of dirty dancehall style yet with a radical edge that throws in loopy synth sounds and even mixes in a little saxophone for a surprise ska (mmmm and maybe a little jazz) vibe - that saxophone comes courtesy of Dan Berry. In any case, this strange mix of jazz, ska, bass, dancehall is a very British mix. Nearly two years ago I wrote about Slugabed's 'Depth Perception', and it seems that his sound has changed rather a lot, but in a very good way: dynamism and attitude now blasts through his already established experimental urban roots.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Like Slugabed on Facebook
Listen to Slugabed on Soundcloud
Hear more Slugabed on Myspace
Visit Slugabed's official site
Follow Slugabed on Twitter

HANDBOOK DIAMOND RING

Now this is nice, yeah, this is real nice. It's sometimes quite surprising what you find. It's quite difficult to fathom sometimes why some relatively unknown artists remain unknown - maybe it's something to do with PR or promotion in general, or something like that, or maybe there is just a lack of desire to be 'famous' and instead just make good music cause they like doing it. I dunno.

Do you know? If you do know, please enlighten me.

This is a song from York (in the north of England)-based producer Handbook, real name Jake Brown, called 'Diamond Ring'. It's hip hop in essence, an instrumental number - or, as he's tagged it on SoundCloud, a "beatstrumental". And it's very nice. Real nice, as I said earlier. There does seem to be a very sharp incline in the amount of clever, chilled-out hip hop sounds that I'm hearing lately, and in all honesty it could be because I'm clueless, but more likely it is possibly true - either way, it's a great style and I'm very much enjoying it.

One element of these instrumental type songs is a killer sample. 'Diamond Ring' is no different. Ch-ch-check it out.

Above the lush crackling-vinyl beat and the bass which has so much texture fly these thin skateboard-strings - these three elements tie in together to create this perfect chilled backdrop, a piece of musical scenery over which the drama of the sample is played out. It's an altered vocal sample from Joni Mitchell's 'Edith And The Kingpin', lower in tone yet still adding a epic sparkle to the song, something stagelike and soaring.

There's a strangely haunting feel to this song, something very mature and well-polished that gives the listener a little tug at the heart-strings when they hear it. Soz for the melodrama but I do think so. I am looking forward to more people talking about Handbook and his very very decent production in the near future.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Listen to Handbook on Soundcloud
Follow Handbook on Twitter

DAISUKE TANABE INTERVIEW

Mr Daisuke Tanabe, everybody. I have been a fan of this guy for a couple of years now, ever since I stumbled upon some of his old stuff on Spotify I was hooked by his sound. It sometimes sounds like a computer glitching to a hip hop beat, sometimes sounds like a hip hop song painted in a circuit board pattern.

I wrote about a couple of his songs quite a long time ago, 'Cuculus Canorum' (which is no longer available sadly) and 'Ghost', both of which display his glitch-trip-hop style very well indeed. It's the experimental sound, and the resulting pioneering spirit of having an adventure with music that comes through in his songs, which is very enjoyable indeed. He is also one half of the very cool Kidsuke along with Kidkanevil (who answered these same questions two weeks ago).

And here are Daisuke's answers to my lazy interview...

---

Who are you? Where are you from? What do you do?
My name is Daisuke Tanabe and I'm making music.

Why did you decide to start creating music?
I was trying to make some sound with old keyboad when I was a kid and it was fun. And I'm still doing it.

How would you describe your sound? What makes you and your style stand out?
Can't explain. Too much thinking on this question.

Is there a perfect time and place for listening to your music?
Whenever you want is the perfect timing.

What inspires you most when writing a song?
Good things to bad things. Everything around me.

What is your most memorable musical experience?
To travel around and meet interesting people is the best thing.

What are your favourite three songs at the moment?
I just got Nina Simone record from recycle shop last week and it was a great album.

Who do you most admire in the music world?
Can't pick one. Everyone is doing their own thing and it's a great thing about making music.

In your opinion, what is the future of music?
...is what people will be?

What's the future of your music - what do you hope to do next?
Cannot tell my future. I don't plan anything at all. But I will make music.

What, aside from music, is most important to you?
I grew up near nature. Nature is very important for me.

---

Short and sweet. What's the saying? Still waters run deep? Does that apply here? I don't know. Maybe it does. You could say that his answers reflect simple-yet-effective minimalism that is the building blocks for many of his songs - you could also say that his brevity is yet more evidence (along with his musical style) of someone who won't be reigned in by any conventions. Not least my questions! But despite this, you can see that he is an honest person: he certainly doesn't mince his words.

There will be more music from this guy, thankfully. Alongside the Kidsuke stuff (which was confirmed by Kidkanevil in his interview), which Daisuke obviously enjoyed as he said "London is my second home", he also told me that he is "making a new album (finally)" which will be out "hopefully early next year". Looking forward to it! ありがとう！

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Like Daisuke Tanabe on Facebook
Listen to Daisuke Tanabe on Soundcloud
Follow Daisuke Tanabe on Twitter