Jan 01, 2014
…and right on schedule, we’re back. Our traditional New Years Day celebration/compilation is heavy on instrumental tracks and melancholy funk, this time around. This also represents the first compilation that was curated by our new Benevolent Dictator, Lou Mackey.
Apr 12, 2013
“Based on some true stories.” - Humpasaur Jones
Allegedly a preview cut from the eternally forthcoming SQUIDTAPE project, this smooth slice of synth soul is a simple recipe that works: Hump Jones giving sly confessionals over DJ Squid production. If it ain’t broke…
Aug 21, 2012
Zilla Rocca debuted his latest video over at Passion of the Weiss yesterday. From PotW:
The rap game Sam Spade … returns with Has-Lo and Open Mike Eagle for “Full Spectrum 2.” Maybe the best part of the rise of otherground rap is the demise of the mean-mugs that dogged every old video. Not everyone can be Roc Marciano. After all, rap is rooted in the summer jam, and this might be one of the most joyous clips any of these three have released. … Philadelphia in the blazing sun, cold beers, red brick buildings and backyards play the backdrop. Cool as a menthol. Mike Eagle closes with the John Tenta finishing move.
In honor of the video, Zilla compiled the many different versions of “Full Spectrum” into a single release. The Full Spectrum EP includes the original track and its sequel, both produced by Dr. Quandary, along with remixes from Man Mantis and the incredible L’Orange. Even if you’ve heard it all before, it’s definitely worth checking out for the second Man Mantis remix, which was previously unreleased.
The iTunes drop is coming later this week, but for a limited time only you can snag it for free on Bandcamp.
May 05, 2012
Thirtyseven: I spent a long, weird, formative year listening to only two albums: Tool’s Aenema and Alaskan Fishermen’s underground classic, Fire and Ice. I was living outside Asheville, North Carolina — word to Mars Hill! — and walking precisely 2.4 miles every day to get coffee, talk to humans, and steal Internets from the local college.
I’m not entirely insane. Del the Funky Homosapien thought it was a dope album, too. Alaskan Fishermen, that is, not Tool: I have no idea how Del feels about Tool and I don’t need to know, either. Right from the opening track, the album was balls-out, rewind-worthy, non-stop bars.
Meanwhile, I was writing the songs for the first Wombaticus Rex project, Live from Islamabad. The influence is there if you listen for it: the flow patterns, the imagery, and the callous disregard for whether or not the casual listener can follow along.
Years down a tangled & twisted road, and BOY HOWDY: I am one of the only featured guests on the second Alaskan Fishermen album. It matters to me, yet to most folks, it won’t mean a thing. That’s beautiful. I hesitate to offer any Life Lessons based on this small achievement, but the moral of the story is clear…Fuck the Dumb. Focus on what you know is great. Don’t ever stop working.
Also, brush your teeth more often than I did.
Apr 11, 2012
For the latest single in our World Around Wednesday series, we’ve got a jazzy banger from special guest Small Professor. Fresh off the release of his insanely dope debut album, Gigantic, Vol. 1, the workaholic producer is moving faster than ever in 2012.
… not that you could tell from this perfectly paced and lushly orchestrated number.The Old Eleven is a showcase of Small Pro’s best traits: a musical ear, an experimental mind, and everything anchored with drums that BANG, in a caps lock kinda way. Dig it.
You can connect with Small Professor on Twitter, Facebook and Bandcamp. He will never let you down. Also, be sure to check out Gigantic, Vol. 1, available on iTunes and Amazon.
The Old Eleven, of course, is available as a free download on Bandcamp and Soundcloud. We’ll be back with another single in the World Around Wednesday series on April 25th.
Mar 28, 2012
For the 9th installment of our World Around Wednesdays series, Algorhythms return with their first track in a year. Open Ended is a psychedelic slice of conceptual rap from one of our founding acts. As they gear up for a summer of touring and writing, they’ve been back at Vault 46, laying out a new set and a series of singles. Expect things to get stranger from here.
The first Algorhythms EP, one of our most downloaded releases, is still free as could be.
Open Ended is available as a free download on Bandcamp and Soundcloud. We’ll be back with another installment in the World Around Wednesday series on April 11th.
Mar 14, 2012
World Around Wednesday #8 comes to us from Naturetone, who’s been hard at work finishing Turnings of the Sun — the highly-anticipated followup to his 2010 debut album Nihon. The lead-off single features an appearance from emcee from dumate frontman D.L.O. the Iceman, who drops a conceptual narrative from the sun’s point of view. Check out “Stargazing”:
Turnings of the Sun will be available via World Around Records later this Spring.
“Stargazing” is available as a free download on Bandcamp and Soundcloud. We’ll be back with another installment in the World Around Wednesday series on March 28th!
Mar 13, 2012
The latest single from our resident pulp raconteur Zilla Rocca dropped over at Word Is Bond today, and this time around he’s rolled out a remix of Full Spectrum 2 featuring a beat from the homie L’Orange, who recently made a bunch of noise with his album Old Soul. Check it out:
The track is yet another installment in the impromptu Full Spectrum anthology, which will be released as a single collection via iTunes and other channels in the near future. Stay tuned!
And check out more from L’Orange:
Bandcamp / @LOrangeMusic
Mar 05, 2012
Friends of the World Around family PremRock & Willie Green released the Reassembled edition of their self-titled debut album today, featuring new interpretations of songs from the 2011 original by a bunch of producers, including greats like Blockhead, Has-Lo and our very own Man Mantis. Check out his version of Diary of a Dreamer:
The album also includes a few unreleased tracks and a bunch of Willie Green’s original instrumentals. Definitely worth the $5. Grab it over at the duo’s Bandcamp.
And check out more from the fam:
Willie Green: Bandcamp / @WillieGreen1
PremRock: Bandcamp / @PlanetPremRock
Feb 29, 2012
For World Around Wednesday #7, we’ve got a lush, dark banger from IV the Polymath, providing the canvas for Thirtyseven to unload a Dali rant which ultimately veers into 2 minutes of political science. Check it out:
We were honored to have IV aboard for this one. He’s having a stellar year so far, and this track comes on the heels of his latest record, the highly acclaimed New vs. Old.
The Frame is available as a free download on Bandcamp and Soundcloud. We’ll be back with the next installment in the World Around Wednesday series on March 14th.
