available at Don’t Trust Humans
or BandCamp

No doubt our society is complacent. Is Hollywood’s never ceasing fascination with the walking dead any wonder? Radius’ Sleeping Wide Awake is a call from a reflecting awareness – wake up. In his own words: “people are zombies ”sleepwalking” and so much going on around them is here to awaken them, they just need a change of diet. Mentally, physically and spiritually I feel music is that cure.”. In essence this is what hip hop has been about since the get (despite what clear-channel and mainstream “you are getting sleeeeeeepy” thrust repeats would have the world believe). Knock Knock. Who’s there? Beats with swagger before “swag” became yet another example of how late pop exploitation decides what’s cool. Radius’ tracks capture a certain meditative quality that is neither ambient or new-agey, a something-a-ruther often missed in music of technological mediums. Chopped and pitched samples, vinyl static, classic breaks, steps without quantization, piercing envelopes, – all played and recorded in real time. Raw. Simply put, Sleeping Wide Awake is a hip hop instrumental album from a true head for true heads and beyond. Enjoy.

download complete zip (high quality .mp3)

More about Radius can be found at the following:
http://www.soundcloud.com/radiusetc
http://www.soundcloud.com/radiusone
http://radiusetc.tumblr.com
http://www.myspace.com/radius
http://www.grittygoat.com/radius
http://www.thesecretlifeofsound.com

download zip (high quality .mp3)
(archive mirror)

Kollage, an artist based in Chicago, has been involved with music for years. Personal growth and true expression are key in his process and development of music. Pulling from a wide net of influences across genres and time periods becomes evident in listening to the first few tracks. Here are his personal thoughts on the project…

“This album was conceived and recorded live in the late winter months of 2011 at The Haymarket Lofts in Chicago. This body of work was created and arranged from a variety of synths, drum machines and live looping. I hope the sound enters your soul and awakens something within your mind, because music is truly the way we escape, heal and grow.” – Kollage

This album is not genre specific, it is neither hip hop, downtempo, nor space jazz, perhaps a blend of those elements with psychedelic overtones. It is a nefarious fog that unrolls around you, fuzzy analogue textures, throbbing undulating basslines, gently pummeled with syncopated beats. The synthesizer soundscapes are crafted in progressive washes, while tightly tattered beats full of snares, claps and kicks weave themselves thru the composition, the soft skeleton on which modulated melodies are served.

Album Art and Words by Hachem Hosenbux

Kollage on:
Soundcloud
Twitter

Download Release

Maxwell Stern, also known as Euphorm, is an electronic producer and DJ from Chicago. His passion for experimental electronics developed through his exposure to the midwest rave scene as a teenager. As a DJ, he currently spins dub and downtempo at Lake Forest College’s WMXM 88.9fm radio station.

‘Timedraft’ shows Stern’s subdued, organic approach to ambient and micro-house textures. Colorblind starts things off with an insistent rhythm before a series of drones fade into a gentle rainstorm. The EP’s title track conjures a collage of noir-ish beauty, before Essence Unlock reveals a tense, hypnotic loop that weaves in and out of sync with a pulsing drumbeat. Promises meanders into slow-motion introspection; finally, the soothing warm percussion of Blue Dream pushes through one last dreamscape.

Cover by Timothy Dilich
Words by Patty

Peace and love to Slowerson, dreamlogicc, and of course RTS.FM for making this happen.

You can catch Lokua live every Wednesday for the weekly electronic music night Heartbeats at Morseland in Roger’s Park, Chicago from 10pm-2am.

Recorded at Morseland for Heartbeats
27 October 2010

In anticipation of the impending Halloween, our theme for the night was “Spooky Techno”; also on the bill was Lokua and Trevael. Subtle samples and special effects were layered over dark tracks to enhance the spooky feel. Enjoy!

tracklist:
[intro] Converter: Fallen
Tadeo: Winds Of Glory [Marcel Dettmann remix]
Marc Houle: Seeing In The Dark
Magda: Doom Disco
Plastikman: I Don’t Know
Marcel Dettmann: Motive
Frank Martiniq: Blast Corps
BCR Boys: Personlichkeitstest [Snello remix]
Andy White: Crash
Alex Di Stefano: Multiverse
Alan Fitzpatrick: Face Of Rejection
Luix Spectrum: Seven Deadly Sins [Gaga remix]
Blood & Tears: Falling Down
Speedy J + Chris Liebing: Magnit Express
DJ Pierre: I Am Acid [Loco & Jam remix]
[outro] This Morn’ Omina: Seeker

http://www.djqbot.com/

World of Spirits by slava

cover drawing by gerry mak