Now, things are complicated

It's a weird thing, I spotted this great track from the excellent Top Billin vol. 13 mix. This is their third anniversary, and for you who don't know, they have risen in these three years to be THE club institution of Finland, who almost everyone is copying, musically and otherwise.

Here's the track in question (from the evergreat DFA):



Now, this dark, relentless and almost bleak track really goes again the grain of the party-breaksy, gun-sampladelic stuff Top Billin rise to fame with. (Of course, anyone who reads their blog knows their musical tastes run much, much deeper than the banger stuff they're famous for). It was also announced that this would be their last Top Billin-club for a while and that they might be looking for something else musically as well.

I don't know. Of course I'm reading much more to this than there really is, but are the clubbing trends changing here from the happy and not-so-serious happy days to something more darker and more disillusioned? Maybe the murky days with growing economic crisis, rising social tensions and corrupted government are changing the mood in the clubs as well?

Now, things really seem to be more complicated. Outside of the club as well.

- P-Funk

Atmosphere leaks

I always forget how much I like rap. Since I've been focusing a lot on the 12 inch dance tunes that work on the dance floor, I haven't had the time to delve into the hiphop domain as much as I would have wanted to. But everytime I bump into the real good shit, I remember how much I love the elements of rap: how a good MC keeps you entertained every second he raps, how he uses language so skillfully and in so many ways, and how a great producer keeps things constantly interested with just a few samples and drums. It just feels a really condensated, demanding art form - it's no wonder that it's definately one of the most competitive ones.

For me, Atmoshpere have always been one of the best storytelling groups around. My last-fm account tells it all, their Strictly Leakage was the most played out record in my mp3-library. So I was real happy to hear that they released another free record. Cop them here: Strictly Leakage and Leak at Will.

If my word don't convince you enough, here's Atmoshpere's take on the classic diss subject:



I do love rap also because it's pretty much only music style where dissing is allowed and every one just isn't "respectin each others work".

- P-Funk