Purple Brain

As far as UK hip hop goes, Alex Chase and his One Handed Music camp are absolutely killing it right now. Bullion, Tranquill and Fulgeance have all had quality releases recently, and now Paul White joins the fray with his second long player for the label. You can listen to previews of the album in full and buy the mp3's for only £6 from the bandcamp site here.

You can also cop album track Organ Therapy for free from the bandcamp, so head over there and grab that if you need further convincing! As ever with Paul White, The Purple Brain goes above and beyond simply good music - this album flows like any classic beat tape - although the Purple Brain is much more than just a beat tape. Every single note is taken from the obscure Swedish musician, S.T. Mikael, whose weird and wonderful take on pysch rock is a perfect compliment to White's beats.

In addition to mp3 downloads, OHM are offering two physical options, and as ever with the label the physical packages are the pick of the release, much like Factory Records famous Blue Monday 12" they eschew budgets for quality artwork and concepts:

The CD comes in an environmentally-friendly Arigato Pak. It's 100% recyclable card, uses vegetable-based inks, and looks great too. More pics below. That's just £10 and includes an immediate hi-res download.

The first press of the 2LP comes with a bonus 12" featuring 3 versions of Ancient Treasure ft Guilty Simpson and all instrumentals. OHM are making just 1000 of these. It's £15 from the bandcamp and you get the download today and OHM will ship the vinyl as soon as they have it (in the next 7-10 days).

You can check out one more track from the album, Pride below - Katherine Extance has put together a video for the track - bringing together OHM's three favourite music video devices: "9th century Russian peasants, mysterious wizards and flying boats made of ice".

New video for 'Pride', taken from the Purple Brain

Kode 9 - DJ Kicks + New K9 House production

As many of you by now know, Hyperdub label boss and all round good guy (he produces, DJs, teaches at a university level, lectures all over the world and has written a book... Hands/Pies.) has just completed the latest DJ Kicks compilation, and it is a treat - kicking off with some nice mellower house bits and moving up into more energetic funky and finally finishing off with some serious Terror Danjah/DMZ/Zomby heat (the mix from Stiff >> Mountain Dread March >> Godzilla = woiiiii).


The Burial DJ Kicks was famously never completed, but this more than satistfiies me - I highly recommend you pick that up from your local retailer, or here online on it's release date (June 22nd). In the meantime, DJ Kicks have released an exclusive new production from the man himself, a classic house production from the Hyperdub don, moving into altogether mellower and less broken beat territory for the producer. Also worth mentioning is his new mix from Fact, showcasing the man's enthusiasm for '94-'96 era jungle. Check that out over at the Fact site here.

Kode 9 - You Don't Wash Dub (Right Click, Save as)

It would be silly to mention the DJ Kicks compilation without making a big deal out of the launch party - it's hosted by London and Brighton clubnight Deadly Rhythm.
If you don't know about this night, get to know - they just hosted a Hotflush party for Mount Kimbie's album launch that blew the head off Plan B in Brixton. Deadly Rhythm soundsystem plays all over and Deadly Rhythm Soundsystem's Paste will be putting together the next mix in our Squeaky Bleeps mix series (apparently anyway... if he ever gets round to it).

The launch party takes place at Plan B on the 25th June - Kode 9 headlines the affair, with HudMo, Rustie and Paul White supporting him in Room 1, and Room 2 shifting from hiphop vibes to more of a funky/bashment vibe with Lil Silva, The Heatwave, Hardhouse Banton and Lego (Bricks).

The facebook event is over here, and if you don't click attending then you must be maaaad. Or even better, grab an £8 advanced ticket here.