Sydney based label Free The Beats have consistently been at the forefront of both supporting underground Australian producers, as well as supplying some of the freshest sounds for hungry electronic music fans. Free The Beats Vol. 8, the latest in the label’s compilation series, continues this track record in spectacular fashion. With 15 stellar tracks covering almost an hour, it is a perfect demonstration of both the incredible diversity and immense talent present in the Australian electronic and beat music scene.
Led in by South African, now Melbourne-based producer Durban Poison, the first track delivers with an ominous yet heavy hitting beat. ‘Slipping’ pulls on the same one-bar motif, held together by a gritty beat and scattered voice samples.
Notably prolific Perth native Ta-Ku delivers an ode to Australian blogging royalty with ‘E2WLA’; a homage to the Sydney based blogs East to West and Life Aquatic. Demonstrating his varied style and dedication to quality, Ta-Ku crafts a beat with familiar elements of off kilter percussion and bubbling synth lines, whilst still managing to have the song evolve continually from start to finish.
Sydney visual artist/producer and originator of Free The Beats, Ears, contributes a psych inspired mish mash of sound, folding in and out over three minutes to produce definitely a more intricate track.
The second last song ‘Corner Stop’, a product of head Adelaide honcho Oisima, stands out as a highlight on the compilation. Infusing soul vibes and a classic hip hop rhythm, his use of staccato’d vocal samples gives the track its individuality and its ability to surprise and provoke interest with each consecutive listen.
The importance of compilations such as the Free The Beats series to the promotion and progression of Australian electronic music cannot be overstated, with Free The Beats Vol. 8 being another prime example of the standard of talent housed within our shores.
Joshua Millar
