Myuzyk is a net-label I have raved about in the past, only up to its twelfth release, but wielding a couple of great compilations, and some outstanding ep’ from artists such as Remdog (Reptiles) and Sil-X. Twisting The Frame is the new compilation on the emerging label, and hip-hop is the underlying thread, albeit a loose thread, allowing deviation from the mainstay, but this is what this label is all about… This compilation delves into the leftfield, the abstract, the electronic, different interpretations on what hip-hop is all about, both vocally and instrumentally. Taking over two years to put together, artists conscripted from various forums and online music communities, it overflows with fresh sounds that should make any label sit up and take notice, because this is the competition, with one distinct advantage, its available for free download from their website www.myuzyk.net. As with most Myuzyk releases, they are free, so you have no excuse not to check the label out, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Dave Graham opens the compilation with I Have Come To Wound The Autumnal City, a plodding beat, militaristic high hats, and soaring synth washes instill dread. 2econd Class Citizen with For This We’ll Find No End featuring Reindeer, Honey & Blackbird on vocal delivery bring folk tinged dirty drums with monotonous flows, a modern day dirge with blue sky far in the distance… This track has been lifted from a forthcoming release on Equinox, another emerging label of notable talent. Golden Rod by Herma Puma is one of the standouts for me, more dusty breaks sitting atop a psychedelic guitar god shredding from the grave. Tin Foil Hat by Mr Hood delves into more motorik influences and dub inflections, while The Painter With The Dead Painter by Remdog taps straight into your brain with a straight up pulsating electro track. Gone Out Back by sasQwax (aka Waxfactor) shines as another standout, and acts as a teaser for a new sound in development, one to watch with its psych influences, yet modern production, firmly rooted in all things hip-hop. Sayin Nathen by Awkward is more straight up beats, riding on a grime bassline, featuring a quick paced rap by Douchebaggalo. Petrol Lips by Kondor brings to mind the more hip-hop moments of Autechre and Gescom, intricate electronic passages ever decaying with despondent beats. Another Place by 2Tall sounds like nothing else, almost tribal, the bastard child of 23 Skidoo. Take It Down by WrongTom is heavily funk influenced, with an urgency subdued by the fantastic vocal talents of Sarah Wayne, another newcomer to keep an eye on. Weed Pharma by File With Interpol oozes warm organic electronica, while One by Ambulance Chasers (another Waxfactor project) covers similar territory, with heavily edited rhythmic pulses and bleeps. Broken Heart Beats by English Bore brings back the dirge with sluggish beats and chiming synth lines, sounding other-worldly. Rounding out the compilation is Septuhseemeeuh by Buddy Peace, dragging folk melodies and druggy spoken word to the fore, altering into a different beast of cut-up old school hip-hop slowly reabsorbing the folk intro.
An absolutely fantastic compilation, and there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’ find this out for yourself, I can’ recommend this highly enough. So download it now from www.myuzyk.net.
Wayne Stronell
