StressMusik - "Perdido [Low Quality]"

The fix is in.

Forget about getting insurance: the outcome is 100% guaranteed.

Granted, the more sympathetic reader will surely rush to help at the scene. It is important, however, not to mind the older gentleman softly crying in the corner. Resist the urge to call for reinforcements; coach will gain his composure soon enough. Only one look is required to tell that this old ballplayer has seen worse in his day. Plus, if the television is responsible for imparting any useful lesson upon the viewing public it is that tears are not limited to grief. Break from tradition! Accept all possibilities. Every aspect of the evening went according to plan, after all.  Just when it seemed that hope had been lost, the con-man got conned in the final act. All wrongs have been judiciously righted (and with a delightful Harry Anderson cameo to show for it).

Still, a single mystery remains.

Although customer names are well known and oft repeated at this fine drinking establishment, the same cannot be said for the contents of its jukebox. Music, as a matter of fact, is hardly ever heard. Hi-jinks and quick witted retorts are much more likely to arise. But in terms of entertainment the television is, meta-enough, the primary source of amusement for the staff and patrons alike. Alas, a small-screen critic the present the author is not. So, for just such a reason, attention must be shifted back towards the glowing jukebox, restlessly gathering dust..

But tonight, the stereo system will serve as more than just electric furniture.  

The occasion at hand should be celebrated. House rules are that no expense is too steep. Put away the Cliquot & break-out the Dom. Entertainment, at any rate, has essentially been guaranteed by the likes StressMusik and his trademark backwards baseball cap; in spite of orchestrating an elaborate set-up himself. Yes, it is safe to ignore the "low quality" tag. Titled, "Perdido," the number is a natural fit in the Odivelas-based DJ's oeuvre. A slow to mid-tempo song, "Perdido," is built around a kick/snare kizomba verses. The drunken mumbles of an overly-excited hi-hat are heard on the 1/3 beat while claps accent 1/4 beats. On the chorus, djembe carries a more quiet variant as closed hi-hat and tambourine swing. But as on most StressMusik songs, while the rhythm is flawless the melody demands all the attention and "Perdido" as it ventures off into the uncharted territory of gouyomba (kizyad?). An 8-beat, high pitched, overly emotive synth line does not loosen its grip upon listeners for the entirety of the number, even including a second for harmonic purposes.

"Low quality" may apply vaguely, but ultimately misleading. Very, very good effort with an available download.



Notable Mention: Dj Teklas D'cantwo - "Flute-Demo"

The second selection follows a comparable trajectory.

Flight paths diverge, however, somewhere along the flightpath .

Not unlike StressMusik, Dj-teklas released a new track over the weekend with a strong kizomba foundation. Kick/claps keep the tempo moving an an average pace -  though, perhaps, venturing off into a slightly quicker territory - as close-hi-hat provides a hitch a the end of each bar. Suddenly, similarities fall flat as Dj-Teklas brings elements of tarraxo into the mix. Also, while busy, "Flute-Demo" is decidedly more restrained in structure and allocated resources. Alas, such a claim does not take-away from how enjoyable the track ultimately flutes to be. A dual flute attack provide a deep melody while non-continuous synths harmonize throughout. Left-of-center percussion and shouts make clandestine appearances as well, providing a suitable reason for repeated listens.

If the summer has been any indication, D'cantwo that merits being watched closely.




- J.N.

A Noggle Brain Trust, LLP. website

DJ Set I can't Ado Much About - DJ Zulox "Mix Batida Para Dj Marino"

Earth refuses to wait any longer.

Canada must face the consequence of its actions.

Discipline is, after all, essential for a nation patrolled by kilted yaksmen. The nefarious name of the Hague, however, needn't be invoked. Sovereign nations deserve autonomy from their counselors. But while basketball may serve as a decent consolation prize to some, the author remains unsatisfied; which is to say that Mr. Naismith's athletic innovation follows the trajectory of an airball. A simple hoop-based game cannot erase the memories of goal horns past. The hostile take-over of a hamburger kingdom by the principality of coffee is understandable. Business, like hockey strikes, are cold and calculated. Alas, Canada's kitchen crimes are voluminous and varied. From now until eternity, and at every moment in the past, french fries were meant to be consumed with a single condiment - two at most - not bathed in cheese and gravy; a culinary catastrophe capable of being constructed only by off-brand Parisians. Maple syrup has its time and place. Nova Scotia has catered a delightful brunch in its day. But, be that as it may, pork and pork-based products have no business being round.

None of which has dissuaded the beat-maker below.

Much like a gaggle of kids in the hall, Zulox enjoys the feeling of crushing others' heads from a safe distance. A cranial conscience cannot possible be conceived by the independent producer. Instead, what follows is an entity all its own; unique from what listeners have come to expect the great giver-of-headaches to provide. The track is not an original composition. What can be heard is not so much a song as it is a collage. Fast-paced, instrumental and short (clocking in at just past the five minute mark), the most appropriate comparison is a year-old showcase put together by Bebe Poco. Of note, however, is the focus. Rather than highlight the work of an entire crew, Zulox chooses to revisit the recent resurgence of DJ Marino over the past two months in the form of the brincadeira. Most of the mix is made up of afro-house & batida cuts, as the title might suggest, beginning with the unmistakable "Sapo." . None of the softer or more left-field creations rear their head  Transitions are handled mostly through fades. The instrumentation is usually typical; although, as the "BailandoO" remix shows, these are tunes that play well with additional percussive elements (monosyllabic and bisyllabic vocal samples, primarily, which double well as melodic elements).

More than enough to whet the appetite, even after all the Canada talk.



- J.N.

A Noggle Brain Trust, LLP. website

DJ Set I can't Ado Much About - Maréchal K'nibal "Funk do West Indies"

Meditate in the water.

Stare at the long, thick black lines for hours on end.

An answer surely await competitors at the other end of this indoor lagoon. If all else fails, create a reflection pool deep within the crevices of your mind. Silence anything that exists above sea-level and let forward momentum carry the weight of your body. But, most importantly, the author wholeheartedly believes in the importance of a good, earnest stroke. No gold medals are given out at the wading pool; there are perilous depths to be encountered in Olympic competition. Buoyant caterpillars do not turn into world class butterflies over night, after all. Preparation is a task to which only a minority will report. Alas, determination and drive fuel endless meters of freestyle swimming. Some prefer to float under the influence. Others are more partial to the relay.

Just make sure that the water is safe before entering.

So while reports from Rio de Janeiro take a turn toward the positive the mix below is presented. Care of the French based Maréchal K'nibal, what follows is a short (less than ten minutes), fast-tempo, vocal mix of Brazilian funky or funk carioca. In spite of a concise run time, the selection is fairly voluminous. Techno, EDM, and rasteirinha melodies are heard in addition to the irreplaceable vocal rhythm; hints of rasteirinha. Delivery is mostly of a hip-hop and dancehall toasting more so than singing and predictably in portuguese. Transitions are noteworthy because fades are seldom heard and each one appears to vary. Vocals are left to play out while the new beat warms up in one instance while a scratch might work in another; while it might come-off as a playlist the end result is far from amateurish. The most interesting moment, as a matter of fact, occurs just short of six minutes. Two songs are allowed to play simultaneously. As drums become more plentiful the rhythm becomes more diverse.

The download, and repeated spins, are highly recommended.


- J.N.

A Noggle Brain Trust, LLP. website