2011 March Archive at Mashit

Archive for March, 2011

Roots Wreck Remix

Published by Mr. Mashit on March 29, 2011 in Mashit Info, Mashit Releases and Music. 2 Comments

Originally released at the turn of the century, Roots Wreck Remix was my sophomore full-length album recorded under the name Electro Organic Sound System (EOSS). It was the follow-up to my 1996 album, Herbanism which was re-released here in digital format here a couple weeks ago.

Like Herbanism, Roots Wreck Remix has been out of print for years, but today it’s available for the first time in digital download format from Amazon MP3, iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, Napster and other fine online outlets.

On this album, recorded during the late ’90s, I was messing around with ambient-dub, jungle, hip-hop, dancehall and other styles. At the time I called it “wreck-step” which seemed to be an apt description of some of the frenetic beats woven through parts of the album. It mashed genres and styles together, tweaked and recomposed into something eclectic and strange.

Here’s what some of the critics had to say at the time:

Roots Wreck Remix” is “fibrous Jungle and post-Orb dub overlaid with grainy electronics.” – The WIRE Magazine

EOSS is “ground-breaking musical experimentation.” – The Boston Globe

This delightfully hard grinding album, textured with ambient and atmospheric sounds, escapes all genres by pulling pieces from every corner of the underground music scene.” – Deeper Magazine

Up next in this digital download series is a re-release of DJ C’s Sonic Weapons album, followed by a brand new DJ C album called Umami. Stay tuned…

Streaming Music Takeover: What About DJs?

Published by DJ C on March 18, 2011 in Music. 2 Comments

If you follow the signs about the future of music distribution they all seem to be pointing toward streaming and away from downloading actual files. In general this makes a lot of sense. Having an entire music library accessible from anywhere, on any device, at any time is a great idea, especially once social features and sharing become more ubiquitous. It’s why services like Spotify and GrooveShark — and Netflix on the video side — are so popular, and it’s why mega-companies like Apple, Google and Amazon (for movies so far) are working on similar services.

This leaves me wondering about how DJs will adapt. In recent years, DJs media of choice have moved from vinyl and CD to laptop, using tools like Serato Scratch Live and Traktor Scratch which still give the feel of vinyl or CD but allow DJs to carry much more music with them in a compact form. I assume the next generation of DJs, who didn’t grow up using vinyl and CDs, will use a new wave of tools which will be even more portable; iPad apps for example. I’m also pretty sure there’ll be a retro resurgence of DJs who use actual vinyl again at some point, but I digress.

What I’m curious about here is what digital DJs will do when streaming takes over. Will DJs have to use specialized portals that allow actual file downloads? I imagine sites like Juno Download, Beatport, Bleep, Boomkat and TurntableLab won’t stop doing where they’re doing, but they carry very DJ specific music. You can’t go onto those sites and get, say, top 40 tunes for example. Will iTunes and Amazon MP3 continue selling downloads as an option once streaming takes over?

Tools for DJs to use audio streams will inevitably emerge, but as we know, internet connections are fickle which could lead to a very frustrated DJ and audience. That said, I’ve already been to a number of house parties where folks wind up playing YouTube videos or tracks from GrooveShark and it seems to work out OK. The only thing missing is the ability to beat-match, equalize, and mix those streaming tracks into a seamlessly engaging set.

Another very real possibility is that machines will eventually make DJs obsolete. What if IBM’s Watson was stuffed with every conceivable music recording and used The Echo Nest‘s spectral waveform analysis to determine similar tracks? Combine that with Pandora’s music genome info, Amazon and Netflix recommendation algorithms, sensors that could read and predict audience reaction, the ability to seamlessly mix tracks, and you just might have a recipe for a workable DJ replacement.

Mostly though, I’m just curious about what new tools DJs will use in the meantime.

Herbanism & The New Mashit Release Schedule

Published by DJ C on March 15, 2011 in Mashit Info, Mashit Releases and Music. 5 Comments

15 years ago my first CD was released under the name Electro Organic Sound System. The album, called Herbanism, was 6 extended tracks of ambient-dub and breakbeat experiments. It went out of print pretty quickly and has not been in circulation since, but from time to time folks still mention to me how much they like the record. I figure the 15th anniversary is as good a time as any to re-release Herbanism. So starting today it’s available once again from Amazon MP3, iTunes, eMusic, Last.FM, Rhapsody, Napster and other fine online outlets.

This is the first in a series of back-catalog re-leases which hadn’t seen their way into digital distribution before. Next up will be the Electro Organic Sound System album, Roots Wreck Remix, and then the DJ C album, Sonic Weapons. The series will culminate in a brand new DJ C album called Umami.

Stay tuned for all the upcoming releases. In the meantime, enjoy Herbanism.

More on Herbanism

Recorded in 1994 – 1995 & released in 1996, Herbanism has been remastered and re-released for it’s 15th anniversary. Here’s what folks had to say about it when if first surfaced:

It’s great to hear excellent domestic electronic music that covers a lot of ground without sounding forced. Paying respect to electronic-music masters past and present, DJ C (a.k.a. Jake Trussell) Layers his melodic excursions into drum and bass, dub and trance over moody, grayish electronic atmospheres, which imbue his creation with a distinctive voice. This CD falls more on the chillout side of the electronic fence, which may disappoint those looking for more standard dancefloor fare. But with so much attention being given to European and British electronica, DJ C reminds us not to forget those Americans currently mastering the art of noise.”

- Alternative Press magazine

Employing tenets from the spectrum of dance music, herbanism is a cool thing. Exploring ambient, drum and bass, funky breakbeat, electronic, and dub, DJ C, a.k.a., Jake Trussell gives props to the Orb, King Tubby, & Boogie Down all in one breath. It’s nice to see so many influences at work with in a collection that evolves into some pretty funky stuff. Respect.”

- URB magazine