MUTE - Seven 12
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MUTE - Pavement Politics XE
If you've been following what we do for long enough, you might have first heard MUTE's "Is It Too Late For US All" when it made an appearance on "netBloc Vol. 15: this album won't eat your gas money" back in mid-2008. A little over a year later, we brought you the great release by one half of MUTE... UNknown aka Formula's "The Overcast Project" and then a little under another year, the other half of MUTE... Tha Silent Partner made his blocSonic release debut with "Tha Complete Platters Sessions XE" and it's two singles "P Pulsar" and "Starksy". As you see, MUTE has long been part of the blocSonic story and with MUTE month the connection grows. After what has been a long gestation period, I'm very happy to present to you this remastered re-release of what I consider to be a netaudio classic! I hope you enjoy it and the bonus disc of previously unreleased goodies from the "Pavement Politics, Vol. 1" sessions.
Thanks once again for your interest in the art we present to you. Remember... everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving... share it... blog it... podcast it! If you're in radio... support independent music and broadcast it!
MUTE - 10 A.M.
Did you know that on January 16th, blocSonic will be 5 years old? Can you believe that it's already been five years since we first released our premiere netBloc volume? To commemorate this, we've made January 2012, MUTE month and we're packing the month with free releases!
So who is MUTE, you ask? MUTE is a project by Tha Silent Partner and Unknown (aka Formula). A project begun back in 2007 when they released their incredible collection "Pavement Politics, Vol. 1". There's never been a follow up release, but now they're back in a big way! First with this one, "10 A.M.", then an Xtended Edition re-release of Pavement Politics with a 2nd disc of bonus material on January 17th, next will be the proper follow-up to "Pavement Politics" on January 24th and finally on January 31st will be "UNkilling Time"!
If that's not enough for you, in the midst of all the MUTE, on the 27th, we've got the 37th volume of our netBloc series!
Thanks again for listening! We hope you enjoy the tasty audio bits we've got for you. Remember... everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving... share it... blog it... podcast it!
Grab your free copy! http://blocsonic.com/releases/<wbr>show/10-am
Tha Silent Partner - Tha Complete Platters Sessions XE
Get ready for this funky & soulful 3CD / 68 track Xtended Edition release!
To understand what the Platters Sessions are all about, here's a bit of background. Back in 2007, TSP began releasing a series of "Platters" releases via Jamendo and under his label, Me, Life & Music. The Platters series were an exploration of vinyl samples based on particular themes. The first installment, "Platters Act. 1 (Lounge Music And Exotica)" featured lush orchestration and smooth rhythms. Then in 2008, the second installment, "Platters Act. 2 (The Untouchables)", went sort of unreleased (more about that in the official XE liner-notes). It featured an episode of the TV show "The Untouchables" infused into a sonic world of funky hip-hop beats and jazzy melodies. Finally, in 2009, TSP dropped the third and final act of the series "Platters Act. 3 (Tape Deck)", a sort of beat tape, but with a completely unique TSP vibe.
For the first time, "Tha Complete Platters Sessions XE" collects all 3 acts together along with a bonus disc of outtakes from the period, making for an incredible 3CD set of sonic treats!
The free download will be available at http://blocsonic.com in 4 high-quality audio formats — Lossless FLAC, OGG, 320kbs MP3 & 192kbs MP3! Be sure to download the complete album art and the PDF booklet containing EXTENSIVE liner-notes.
Just Plain Ant - Songs About Something XE
We set things off in 2007 with our premiere release, netBloc Vol. 1: The Opening Salvo. Even at that early stage, I knew that I wanted blocSonic to be a bit more than your standard netlabel. I didnt want blocSonic to be completely self-serving it was to be a promotional vehicle for netlabels, artists and the netaudio culture. However, what I didnt know was if artists and netlabels were going to be supportive of the compilation idea and send me lossless versions of their music to be included. Happily my worries were for naught. Everyone involved has been extremely supportive over the years and my positive experience with the netBloc series got me thinking about original releases. Our first original release was back in February 2009, Just Plain Ants Dig Deep. Well here we are nearly a year later and Ive got another premiere release for you to enjoy and its the talented Just Plain Ant bringing it once again!
So what is the Xtended Edition (XE) series? Before answering that question, let me start by explaining why the XE series. In the first 3 years of putting together the netBloc series, Ive seen netlabels come and go. Some of those netlabels whove gone inactive had some very talented artists among their rosters and those artists releases have languished since the apparent demise of their labels. That got me thinking about re-releases and what form a re-release would take on blocSonic. I began to think about the many ways that the mainstream music industry have handled it. One particular re-release format that Ive liked (when Universal has done it with classic albums) is the Deluxe Edition series. Universals series usually consists of the first disc being the original release and a second disc containing perviously unreleased material demos, outtakes & alternate versions. Well our XE series is quite similar, though in the future wont be limited to two discs. Each release in this series will feature the originally released album and at least one other disc containing demos, outtakes, alternate versions & remixes. Where we stray from the Deluxe Edition model is that each of ours will also feature completely new album art. As with all our releases, each is made available in three high-quality audio formats — FLAC, 320kbs MP3 & 192kbs MP3.
After deciding to go forward with our own special format of re-releases it was time to approach the artists. Among the releases that got me thinking about re-releases in the first place was Just Plain Ants Fly. An excellent release he released via Jamendo that I felt was worth more shine. Unfortunately that was not to be. As happens often, artists sometimes grow weary of early releases that they feel no longer represent their sound to the fullest. I could respect that. However, Ant was interested in seeing his terrific Just Plain Sounds release Songs About Something re-released in this format. At first I was hesitant, only because my original plan was to resurrect releases from netlabels whove shut down. That hesitation didnt last long though. I quickly adapted the plan to include releases of living and breathing netlabels. However way you look at it, the goal of the Xtended Edition series is to bring more exposure to releases.
With the release of Songs About Something XE the evolution of blocSonic continues. This edition of Just Plain Ants foray into the world of trip-hop and downtempo delivers over two hours of soulful, chilled beats! Disc one is the original album in its entirety and disc two is packed with new Just Plain Ant songs and remixes by RVA (Richmond, Virginia) talents such as Annu, Oh.Bliv, Sleaze and Rowan. So, thanks again for downloading and listening. I hope you enjoy this premiere XE release, there are more on the way! As always, if you dig this release spread it around share with friends share with strangers share it with anyone.
http://blocsonic.com/releases/<wbr>show/songs-about-something-xe
ETHX - Boom To Bloom
This fantastic release has been in the works since ETHX first contacted blocSonic back in May. In it youll find a few high-profile peeps hes managed to connect with folks like Boots Riley who you may know from The Coup, Zumbi from Zion-I and Myron Glasper whos sung background vocals for everyone from MC Lyte to Blackalicious to Lyrics Born. Among the names you may know, youll also find incredibly talented MCs and vocalists who you may not know. One of those talented MCs is Nate Mezmer whos presence plays an integral part in making this collection feel like more than just a producer's showcase. Once again, blocSonic brings you real hip-hop with a touch of R&B this fresh sound comes to you straight out of Northern California.
I want to say thanks to ETHX for approaching blocSonic in the first place and his guests for being part of whats become Boom To Bloom. Welcome to the blocSonic fam!
We hope you enjoy this release and it gets heavy rotation in all your portable devices, CD players and computers. If you dig it, dont forget to spread the word share it with anyone and everyone you can.
http://blocsonic.com/releases/<wbr>show/boom-to-bloom
CM aka Creative - Classic Material Vol. 3: UI Radio
2009 release, CM aka Creative release "Classic Material Vol. 3: UI Radio". The complete album is available for free download here: http://blocsonic.com/releases/<wbr>show/classic-material-vol-3-ui<wbr>-radio
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License: http://creativecommons.org/lic<wbr>enses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
Luck & Ripps - The Catastrophic Connection
Back in February, Joey Ripps approached me about releasing one of his projects through blocSonic. One of the projects, a collaboration with 13aDLucK produced by Catastrophe, turned out to be quite a strong set. After hearing the drafts Ripps sent, blocSonic was officially down for a release! What youre about to listen to is a fantastic collection of raw, NYC style, boom-bap hip-hop. Its packed with smooth soul-drenched beats, classic B-Boy braggadocio and introspective rhymes. Luck & Ripps vocal styles are both quite compatible, so their collaboration on this project feels natural and unforced. Catastrophes production throughout serves as the perfect bed for their verses to rest. Once again, we feel that we, blocSonic, have dropped another solid contribution to the world of independent hip-hop. Check it out and remember share this with everyone you connect with. Thanks goes out to Luck, Ripps and Catastrophe for being part of the blocSonic fam. Thanks also to you for taking the time to download!
http://blocsonic.com/releases/<wbr>show/the-catastrophic-connecti<wbr>on
Formula - The Overcast Project
Ladies and gents, allow me to introduce to you the latest member of the blocSonic family, Formula. A producer extraordinaire hailing from London. This here is his premiere solo release and our second original. If youve been following our netBloc series for a while, youve most-likely heard Is It Too Late For Us All? from the collaborative project that he was part of (along with Bostons own Tha Silent Partner), MUTE. It was featured on netBloc Vol. 15: this album wont eat your gas money. Welcome him back with what Im quite confident youll think is one fantastic release. Hip-Hop on another plain from another perspective but real boom bap hip-hop none-the-less. From the introduction Ebony Shards to X Man, theres not a boring or weak moment to be found.
To me The Overcast Project feels like the perfect follow-up to Just Plain Ants Dig Deep. Formula seems to share a similar desire to expand the definition of hip-hop. With Formula at its core and a talented group of musicians and emcees, Overcast gels into a superbly cohesive unit (much like Ants release before it). There IS a Formula sound and each of the guest musicians and emcees lend their distinctive touches in such a way as to make the unit stronger.
Sit back and get ready for the journey the sky may be overcast, but no rain is in the forecast so enjoy the journey!
Thanks to Formula for allowing blocSonic to handle the release of this gem!
As always, thanks to you for visiting blocSonic and listening to our releases remember share this with friends, enemies, parents, siblings, politicians, zombies and aliens oh and the rain gods
Just Plain Ant - Dig Deep
Its always exciting when I come across an artist who delivers an album that can be enjoyed from beginning to end. Its even more enjoyable when that artist is completely independent. Theres something to be said for music independence in these days of packaged and repackaged mainstream music product. Independent music isnt held back by labels and expectations to fit a certain mold.
When I first heard Ants Fly, I was very impressed by the fact that it had that classic hip-hop vibe that only a few netaudio hip-hop releases have. That vibe is present even while a modern undercurrent is heard throughout, so what you end up with is a modern hip-hop album that hasnt forgotten the lessons of the pioneers and innovators.
After absorbing Fly, I was eager for more. Around that same time I announced that blocSonic was considering original releases and that we were inviting artists to approach us about releasing their material. Ant was the first artist to do so and a perfect fit at that. Since our dedication to quality over quantity was being carried over to our original releases, Ant was indeed the best artist we could have hoped for to help us impress that attitude on our premier release.
So here you have it Dig Deep, a shining example of what the independent music world has to offer. It's also an authentic and innovative hip-hop album that refuses to be boxed in by quick and simple comparisons. With this album, Ant has brought together a terrific bunch of co-producers, vocalists and emcees that have all added their own touch in such a way that doesnt make this producer-driven album feel like a compilation. Conceptually, theres no doubt that this album is a whole.
Thanks to Just Plain Ant for his interest in having blocSonic release Dig Deep. Also, thanks to Sleaze, EENJ, Jay Slim, Alex Murphy, Elijah, Joey Ripps, Brad Oblivion, Caitlin Meissner and Yarrow Lutz for being a part of this fantastic album. Finally, thanks to Christine Lockerby for her fantastic photographic work.
Thanks for downloading! Enjoy the album! Burn copies of it give copies to friends give them to strangers
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