Saturday 30 July 2011

2nd Drop 013 & 014: DjRUM Mountains EP

DjRUM
Mountains EP

2nd Drop 013
A: Undercoat
AA: Mountains Part 1

2nd Drop 014
A: Mountains Parts 2&3
AA: Turiya


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Release date:
29/08/2011

A main player behind the seminal Yardcore nights in London and with previous releases with On The Edge and Smokin Sessions, DjRUM has always existed on the alternative edge of a number of scenes, but after producing a stunning remix of LV and Message To Bears ft Zaki Ibrahim "Explode" for 2nd Drop's last release, which got widespread acclaim, his talent is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

Now 2nd Drop are proud to present a full EP of original material.

Mountains EP part 1:

Undercoat leads the first part in typical DjRUM style; multiple layers of gravelly, heavily charged atmosphere, ever shifting beat patterns, murky pockets of drums and percussion, and his trademark use of epic strings. This moody, cinematic cut builds and builds throughout and before you know it the beats have jumped into sultry techno.

DjRUM - Undercoat (Mountains EP) - CLIP by 2ndDropRecords

Mountains pt 1 on the flip picks up from where Undercoat left off, dropping straight into pulsing techno drums that gallop away and build into sheets of shifting, emotive synths, accompanied with haunting vocals snippets. Packed with detail and nuance, this track keep on giving with every listen.

DjRUM - Mountains Part 1(Mountains EP) - CLIP by 2ndDropRecords


Mountains EP part 2:

Mountains pts 2&3
The second and third parts of the Mountains suite nestle snugly together. Dissolving from the lush techno of Mountains pt 1, RUM lightens the pressure accenting the melodic motifs of pt 1 adding an almost lilting, percussively funky rhythm, only to be broken with a galloping
gabba style beat washed over by his trademark string and synth blanket. However, the pressure is short lived, as once again the track gives way to a verdant and lush pasture of classic RUM ambiance.

DjRUM - Mountains part 2 & 3 (Mountains EP) CLIP by 2ndDropRecords

Turiya
Turiya on the flip pays subtle homage to Alice Coltrane by using her later adopted spiritual name. And you can hear her ethereal jazz and harp qualities evoked through his use of melody, before dropping into a broken 2-step bump with a nicely chopped up vocal. This track really brings out RUM’s penchant for amazing strings once again as he drifts them in gently towards the later half of the track, creating further layers of lush melodic bliss.

DjRUM -Turiya (Mountains EP) - CLIP by 2ndDropRecords

The illustrator on this release is the incredibly talented Matt Taylor from Brighton. We instantly fell in love with his furry and feathery skulls, and had to have them spinning around on a record. Check more of his work at www.matttaylor.co.uk

The Mountains EP will be released in two parts on vinyl and as a bundle in MP3/ FLAC at all good record shops and online retailers.

Saturday 23 July 2011

Catch 2nd Drop Records' Acronym play at Subplate, Reading

Catch 2nd Drop Records' Acronym play at Subplate, Reading:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118923798201340&ref=ts


Main Room:

SLUM DOGZ (Circus Records/Maximum Boost)
BENNY PAGE (Digital Soundboy)
SERIAL KILLAZ (Congo Natty) b2b DJ PRESSURE
BOWLER b2b ELMORE
MAJOR KAOS b2b MBLAZE
SIKTION

MCs:
KRAFTY MC (Slum Dogz) - JJ:MC (Nu Era Hq) - YOUNGA FOXY (Inovation/MadManArmy) - FLEWID (Adjusted Audio) - G.DOT MAN (SubPlate)

Garden:

JAY INFO
ACRONYM (2nd Drop Records)
UNDERHAND TACTICS b2b AUTOPILOT: ON
BAKER
EVASION

Tickets £6 in advance from www.wegottickets.com or £8 on the door
2-4-1 on all drinks before 11pm!!
Doors 10pm - 4am

Check: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002498292661
and join the Subplate page.

Email: info@2nddroprecords.com for guestlist.

Thursday 14 July 2011

The Kort interview: DjRum


The Kort blog www.thekort.com recently interviewed 2nd Drop Records' DjRum.
Read all about it below:

The musical compositions of London’s Felix Manuel first came to our attention by way of a remix for enigmatic dub-kwaito experimentalists, LV. Having enjoyed their wild card catalogue for quite some time, it was with delight we discovered DjRum’s remix of their recent minimalist beauty, “Explode”. Orchestral string arrangements, twinkling chimes, and a classicist sense of structure gave Zaki’s sublime vocals the perfect complement, creating a gorgeous piece that stood out from the rest.

LV feat. Message To Bears and Zaki - Explode (DjRUM’s remix) teaser clip by DjRum

The Kort chased down Mr. Manuel as we were eager to learn more about this mysterious artist; it’s not every day you come across a seasoned, old school composer in the world of bass music…

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The Kort: So to begin, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? How’d you get into music?

DjRum: Well I started out Djing, and production came later…actually I started out playing jazz piano. I was really serious about that, but then I got my first pair of decks when I was like 18 and that was it. I started producing at around the same time, really lo-fi sample based hip hop. I began getting technical with my production maybe like 5 years ago, but I still feel like my production is pretty lo-fi.

K: We first heard of your work through the recent remix you did of LV’s “Explode”, how did that come about?

D: Hmm…well Second Drop Records got in contact through a mutual friend, wanting to work with me and it just sort of fell into place! I’ve been a big LV fan since their first Hyperdub release so i was honored…plus Zaki’s vocal is unreal! There’s no way I could turn that down.

DjRUM - Plead with me by DjRum

K: Your use of a thumping electronic beat with more organic samples and textures is what drew me in, do you really strive to bring some human element into your productions?

D: I don’t use synths at all…well maybe for bass sometimes. I’ve never been that keen on really electronic sounding instruments, brash synths, etc. All of the synth-like sounds you hear in my music are made by layering heavily treated samples. I wish i knew how to use synths well but I’ve never been interested enough to get to grips properly! I spend far too much time crate digging for that…

K: Definitely feel you on that one, it can be infintely more fun to sample cheap vinyl than tinkering with a software synth! Do you use a 404 or any sampler for your work, or sample directly to computer? Any particular programs you stick to?

D: ABLETON IS THE DADDY. It’s very quick and easy, which means ideas can flow out much more quickly. I find this really important, I made my first tune on a 4 track with a Dr. Sample and a belt drive turntable. I’ve used lots of different software though, I used Cubase for a while but I’d much rather use something that keeps it simple.

K: That’s a good way of looking at it, I have Ableton but haven’t cracked at it yet…much more a Record/Reason diehard, for better or worse.

D: Give it a go! I’ve never come across anything better for manipulating audio.

DjRUM - Bucky (lo-fi mix) by DjRum

K: So what are your thoughts on DJing, are you a vinyl devotee or are you willing to DJ with mp3 programs, and/or Serato?

D: Having spent 10 years working on turntablism techniques, I’ll never turn my back on vinyl Djing. I’m much more accomplished behind the wheels than I am doing an Ableton live set, but for practical reasons I do find my self playing out on Ableton. I do most of my mixing on my radio show on Ableton as well. I think that certain genres of music suit different platforms… hip hop needs turntables, techno needs digital precision. If you wanna use turntables to delicately blend tunes, you should probably fuck off and get yourself on a laptop. Turntables like to be pushed around!

K: That’s a valuable distinction between genres and DJ styles, I like that a lot! Who are some of your favorite DJs?

D: Strictly Kev is probably the best Dj I’ve ever seen, absolutely amazing style, proper showmanship, acute taste and obviously a wicked crate digger. He just drops pure knowledge. Most of my favourite producers I wouldn’t really rate as Djs particularly…

K: True that…who are some of your favorite producers then?

D: Scuba, Murcof, Andy Stott, Svarte Greiner, Madlib…oof and Rockwell!!!

K: Yeah, that Andy Stott record is nuts, the recent one…

D: I’m not so keen on the recent one if i’m honest…

K: Oh really?

D: Yeah i hated it at first, then it kind of grew on me…but for me the Daphne records stuff, Hate, and his more solidly dub-techno stuff is where it’s at. BIG fan.

K: For sure, Modern Love knows what’s up…and so you live in London, whereabouts exactly?

D: SOUTH London, love it down here!

K: How long have you lived there?

D: Hmmm don’t really know, maybe 5 years or something like that…I first moved to London maybe 9 years ago, but south London for like 5 years. It’s nice, you should visit! I think Peckham might be the center of the world…

demo by DjRum

K: Haha, yes indeed…I’ve been to Brixton and Clapham, went to a DMZ night at Mass in 2009…speaking of, you got a favorite venue in the city?

D: To be honest, I generally prefer squat parties to clubs, but clubs do tend to book better lineups. I like unpretentious venues: a room with some speakers in it, that’s it. Corsica Studios is good. They’ve got an AMAZING sound system!

K: I’ve heard good things about Corsica…

D: Yeah, they got a nice Funktion One rig set up well by people who know what they’re doing and care, and it shows. And again, it’s just a room with some speakers in it…job done! I think that really struck me when I first went to DMZ actually…lights off, music up, no mucking about!

K: Yeah, they’re serious there. All about the tunes, the way it should be…

D: I’m all for having a party, but sometimes you do just want to find a space to skank out!

K: Eyes down, ears up…

D: That’s it!

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DjRum’s remix of LV’s “Explode” is available on vinyl and digital now, and his two digital releases from 2010 can be found here. You can also tune in to his monthly show on Sub.fm, Yardcore, by clicking here. Cheers to Felix for the interview, we’ll be keeping an eye on this like-minded producer’s stellar work for a good, long while…and we strongly recommend you do too!

http://thekort.com/post/7542299873/djruminterview