I’m a huuuge fan of The Gaslamp Killer, the GLK has released some of the most intense, killer mixtapes in the last few years, starting it all with the self titled mix collaboration with MHE many years ago, reintroducing us all to some of the lost gems of the trip hop generation, truly dirty drums, dusty samples, and on the whole, instrumental… Having released a mix for Obey, a forward thinking clothing design house, reinforcing the dirty drum ethic, numerous podcasts such as We Make It Good incorporating some dubstep just to prop up the bottom end that GLK seems to thrive on, to being let loose on the Finders Keepers/B-Music reissue back catalogue for the All Killer mix that shows more of the GLK influences rather than the future direction of a deranged DJ. His most recent mix for the Hit & Run guerilla live T-Shirt design house, Hell & The Lake Of Fire Are Waiting For You, delivered a feverish mesh of his differing styles, dirty drums, psych gems, dubstep and 8bit bottom end brutality somehow finding a common thread between the disparate styles to create a cohesive mix that seems to sound better on every listen.
For such a respected, original, and crazed DJ, their own productions can either astound or disappoint. The GLK as a producer, we all know he is a wonderous DJ, with a deft selection of killer tunes, but can he cut it as a producer of his own tracks? This is where I have to make some observations, at the end of the day The GLK can nail down a groove like no other. His own productions, that may be a stretch, but what we hear on My Troubled Mind are re-edits, but damn good ones, dragging tunes decades old to now. Being a damn good drummer himself (check youtube for proof), this is where his strength lies, team that with lashings of psychedelic mayhem and experimentation, bottomless crate digging, and some synth noodlings by his good mate Computer Jay, and My Troubled Mind hits home as modernist tripped out re-edits that really do nail a groove.
Released as a private press 10†vinyl EP on the Flying Lotus Brainfeeder imprint, with great packaging and art work, which does make this format an expensive option, especially if you’re getting it from the US, but also available to download digitally, what you get is five tracks and two intro’ of crazed Turkish psych funk breaks blues sludge electronic space age music. Don’ listen to anything you hear about The GLK, its something your ears must hear for themselves. Crazy. More craziness at www.brainfeedersite.com.
Wayne Stronell
