Represents Vol 1 – Cardiff vs Melbourne out now

Click this to listen on Mixcloud

The latest offering from 64 bar music is a mix of tracks produced from artists based in Cardiff and Melbourne and is the first in the Represents series

The first part of the mix comes from the people of Cardiff, with all tracks at the elected tempo of 114. The second half of the mix is 128bpm, the producers from Melbourne choosing the classic techno tempo for their work.

“The Represents concept was born at a Soundcloud meetup last year”, said Kovas from 64 bar music.

“It’s an extension of the 64barchallenge mixes originally completed by the members of the NinjaTune forum. The only differnence is the locations of the producers. “

Rebecca Coates aka Becy10 co-ordinated the project in Australia. The 10 tracks from Melbourne can loosely be described as progressive, dark techno.

The Cardiff mix is also largely electronic, and features tracks from seven different beatmakers.

An EP of selected tracks will be available from http://64barmusic.bandcamp.com/ on May 1.

Thanks to Bobby Corridor and Melbourne’s unknown DJ for mixing this.

Cleared for landing

A new EP is on the horizon for 64 Bar Music and due to be released this week. It’s a collection of beats, bass and delicate tones that is sure to engage the ears of any fans of the previous 64 bar challenges.

The release has been organised by Kelp and is linked with a previous 64 bar mix. We talked to Kelp to find out more

“The whole thing started off because I really wanted to go back to my track Clear Off that was on the 64 Bar Challenge 5 mix and improve on its sound, work on it some more. Some friends from Soundcloud took a listen to it and asked if they could remix it so I sent some stems out. This then led to me deciding to collect a bunch of remixes to put out there as an official release. I asked some of the previous contributors to 64 bar challenge if they’d like to be involved as well and got positive responses.” said Kelp

The result is an EP containing the original Clear Off track and seven other remixes from some very talented artists. “The range of styles on offer is brilliant, I was surprised by every remix, the way the simple sounds of my original track had been transformed with each remix was amazing. We’ve got a shimmering, very delicate & fragile sounding take from Techniken Defunkus, a grinding noisy grungey remix from Loose Shark Tooth which is a project by Remi/Rough, right through to very heavy beats from Day of Vengeance and KAL”.

The release will be out on Thursday this week via the 64 Bar bandcamp, mastering has been carried out by Christopher Leary at
Melograf Mastering and should hit the right notes for anyone who loves heavy bass and beats.

“Also coming soon is the Ninja Remix Chain project, look out for it in the next month or two,” Kelp said.

Cardiff Repz producers cut loose

Cardiff Representz contributor AudioDriod has been busy crafting bukem-esque beats, and at the second  Feed the  DJ welcomed the peeps from the Cardiff Soundcloud meetup, with Audiodroid and Derek C , aka el loco escosse  becoming guest feeders for DJ Flipside.

Now, bear in mind Flipside had never heard these tracsk before, he had zero preparation time and had to just play from instinct.

Audiodroid’s mix is 100% self produced. It’s a nod to the Logical Progression era of Drum and Bass. Melodic and layered, sparse and broken.

Audiodroid  gave us the back story: “I started this journey when I was 17 – Served Chilled in Bristol and a very good friend – DJ Escher, we used to hang out all the time and then lost touch, it took us a long time to get back in touch!  We don’t write together but the influences I got and the way I went were vital to how I created me as Audiodroid.

“I love the current Electro-House scene, some Dubstep and Drum & Bass but my primary influences are Jungle and Dirty Dutch but to be honest anything goes, hehehe!

To hear my tracks played at the current “FtDJ” was amazing and really eye-opening, I never realised how my tracks would go down in public!”

Check the mix here

Mix no2 of the evening came from Derek C. It’s a ride through house rhythms and can be characterised as Detroit in a suit, very deep – very dapper.  Many  of the beats in the mix are made by Derek, with some of his favourite artists checked in for good measure.

Derek C is at www.soundcloud.com/derekc and he said it’s hard to sum up his sound “ it depends what mood I’m in,” he joked.

“I’m influenced by house and electronica

“I move through IDM through Detroit techno all the way through to traditional jazz. I’ll listen to anything that sounds good, Ill take what I like and work with it.

“I’ve got some latin influences from my Venezuelan wife, so that gives me a  better feeling for rhythms.

“You just have to watch them dance to understand.”

Derek C Fed the DJ a variety of down tempo, house and techno and, “a few tracks of my own,” he said.

His production is tight, but how and what does he use to make the magic?

“The what is easy. I use Logic Pro 9 and ever since I bought the Novation SL2 midi controller, it’s freed up my creativity.

Check his mix here

So two dope mixes expertly put together, on the fly – with no preparation. Not an easy task, and this week is was DJ Flipside who had the challenge.

He said: “The experience was enlightening. I’m a dj who, on a regular basis  plays what the club wants me to play (within reason).

“To have a selection of tunes made by the audience was really refreshing and inspirational both in a djing and production context.

“It makes you lose any comfort zone you ever had and focus purely on the music which makes for really fresh sounds.”

Flipside put it together with Tracktor scratch pro .Kontrol x1, and Shure carts.

Both Derek C and AudioDroid feature on the forthcoming Cardiff Representz mix from 64barmusic, check here for more details

Another day, another beat

So the 64 bar fam keep themselves extra busy, all day every day. And it’s the task of your loveable blog author to spread and share their activies for all to see. Today, its yet anpther remix from Remi and a new track from Herma Puma,  which 64bar beat maker Stubby Dials is part of.  And finally, there’s a remix from Hint, who was half of the Olympic Cyclone Band from 64:5.

Dowdy – Very wonky indeed

Check this out from forthcoming 64bar producer Dowdy. He’s a Russian cat who makes glitch sound fresh and hip hop feel new.

Henry: Your starter for ten

Thanks to the web, we’re now in contact with a Mr Henry Leo  Duclos of Lemon Grove, California.

His beat below is a breath of fresh air and he’s on board to make his first beat for 64barmusic in the summer.

[audio  http://www.scissornest.com/audio/henry%20leo%20duclos%20-%20wrought.mp3%5D

Digitonal headlines new 64barmusic EP – out now on Bandcamp

Digitonal’s Andy Dobson is the man behind Eighteen, one of the standout tracks on the fifth 64barchallenge mix.

And as one of the more ear-catching tunes in the mix, it has made its way onto the 64barmusic EP5, which is now available here, 64barmusic.bandcamp.com

Digitonal has been alive as a brand since 1997 and have released two albums and a bunch of EP’s during that time. But with life events getting in the way of the important business of writing music, it has been a while since Andy sat down to write a serious track.

The 64barchallenge provided him with a reason to produce again. “Whilst I have been writing bits and pieces I’ve found it hard to focus in on what I needed to do,” he explained. “ I have really appreciated the restrictions and the challenge to do a specific task..

“My production techniques have changed quite a lot over the years.

“I don’t necessarily have one approach, so the only way I can describe it, it that I start fiddling with the equipment I use and I just experiment and play with the kit and the sounds.

“My setup these days is pretty modest. It’s pretty much all computer based out of Abelton Live or Cubase.

“I have my favourite VST‘s – which are mostly Native Instruments but In the past year, the piano has been at the heart of the setup and I haven’t had that for a very long time so the piano has become a driving force for everything.

His 64bar track is a complex piece involving piano, clarinet and violin and he plans to play it live in Prague in the coming weeks.

Andy gave props to the work of Proof of Concept, describing his work as “really interesting.
And he loved the Billions Dead track from 64:4 by his AGT Rave Cru collaborator Miggins “That was blistering,” he said. “And I wouldn’t be surprised if it made it onto an album someday.”

Finally, Andy summed up his feelings . “Its really great to be involved in the project and I’m really proud of the track I’ve made. It’s got me writing again, so thanks very much.”

Eighteen is out  now on Bandcamp here and as part of the fifth 64barchallenge mix, which comes out on March 4 via www.postbocks.com

Bristol headz get super sneaky 64:5 peek

The famed Pipe and Slippers bar in Bristol was the setting for an exclusive reveal of the latest beats from 64barmusic, on February 24.

DJ Moneyshot and Roy Strong host a night each and every Thursday by the name of Flipzilla. It’s an opportunity to showcase their eclectic tastes to a crowd that are open to persuasion.

If you’re not familiar with this location, think of a compact bar with vintage stylings. There’s a mish-mash of clientele, ranging from socially functioning crackheads to asymmetrically hair-cutted hipsters.

Its also a hub for headz who like nothing more than a progressive bassline and a crackling beat.

In fact, the first person to arrive on the scene is Purple Radio‘s Sherlock Ohms, a character whose nu-funk record bag has seen plenty of action in the recent weeks.

He openly describes himself as an “obsessive music nerd since his formative years” on his Soundcloud page.

“Hot.” was his simple assessment of the beats of Cosmo Lopez, just one of the artists showcased during the hour long set.  And Sherlock couldn’t resist a sneaky peep at Kovas’ laptop every time a new beat dropped. He added:  “Sonic lushness from the 64 bar music boys and girls – I’d love to get my hands on a few of these tunes …”

He wont have to wait much longer as the 64:5 mix is now due in March.

“It was good to get a feel of which tunes actually work in a live setting,” said Kovas. “It’s one thing mixing them in the house, but you never really know how the mood will be in a place at a particular time.”

“I was especially pleased with the response to ‘Yellow’, by Cosmo Lopez. Pleased but not surprised. His beats are bang current and expertly crafted.”

The 64barchallenge mix is of course a free download, and will be available on Postbocks and Mixcloud from the first week in March.

There will also  be a high value-lo cost EP available from Bandcamp from March  with six selected slices from the mix.