Audio: Alphabethead - The All Seeing Hand

The All Seeing Hand “Geronimo”

by alphabethead on 20/12/2011 in TRACKS

My first turntable jam room as a boy was mostly underground save for two meters of windows looking into native bush. During windy Wellington storms the trees would wallop away at the glass threatening to break through. I would duet with the wind, rain and thumping plants – scratching in time or playing drones across the grain of the storm. We went off together!

Well, finally I’ve found a musician to take the role of the thunderstorm. Ben Knight has all of that same sound, fury and unpredictability. Improvising together can be a cacophony with our two entities seldom intersecting. However, when our playing does converge much to my delight Ben seems to know my next move even before I do! The tune Geronimo is one such occasion where we lock in together like an automotive assembly line.

The All Seeing Hand formed as a result of several Camp A Low Hum collaborations between Teen Hygiene and I. Geronimo is the first single of the debut album which documents our first incarnation as a turntable and drum duo. We have since added throat player Noel St Cosmos who brings a third reality into the mix. Please come and hear us play sometime – although different every time we do attempt this tune!

DOWNLOAD: The All Seeing Hand “Geronimo”

x Alphabethead

Audio: Alphabethead - Libra vs Sagittarius

Libra Vs Sagittarius

by alphabethead on 10/10/2011 in MIXTAPES

With Libra Vs Sagittarius I set out to make an entire love mixtape rather than a love song. Put simply, this was a mixtape made for a girl. The selections pertain to the bands we discovered together, gigs witnessed and moments shared. Many of these tracks are now highly evocative touch tones for me; little sonic reminders of those bittersweet times. Should I even be sharing this – I don’t know?

Well, my heart has long since been trampled and looking back at the listing now it’s a motley bunch of tunes. Neither of us had a penchant for pop music so our singalongs and snuggles were most frequently accompanied by Sunn0))) or This Heat! This was compiled December 2009 and stylistically speaking it’s one of my most diverse mixes. Most of the artists featured have entire discographies that warrant a listen. It also features a few of my favourite Wellington acts; Akaname, Thrashing Marling and Leila Adu! A couple of ABC originals in there too.

I hope some of these tunes resonate with you as well. Tracklisting below.

xxAlphabetheadxx -> DOWNLOAD: Libra Vs Sagittarius

Tour: Alphabethead & F in Math / Flying Nun

FLYING NUN RECORDS CELEBRATES 30 YEARS THIS NOVEMBER

Throughout the month of November, Flying Nun Records will celebrate their 30th Anniversary. With over 20 shows throughout New Zealand, the anniversary features both old and new Flying Nun acts, along with some very special guests paying tribute to 30 years of the NZ iconic label.

While, it wouldn’t be a party without live music, Flying Nun Records also have exciting new releases and re-releases on CD, digitally and Vinyl. Plus a handful of new bands signed to the label.

While down south, F IN Math and turntabilist Alphabethead launch their tour which promises to include an interesting mix of Flying Nun covers, having given Alphabethead a bunch of Flying Nun vinyl to cut up, re-mix and re-write.

F in Math and Alphabethead
Nov 4 – Christchurch, The new Dux De Lux
Nov 5 – Dunedin, Chicks Hotel
Nov 11 –Auckland, Golden Dawn
Nov 12 – Wellington, Mighty Mighty

Click here to read more

Audio: Alphabethead - Flying Destar

Flying Destar

by alphabethead on 28/09/2011 in TRACKS

It’s Glitch + Scratching… DOWNLOAD HERE

Video: WOTW Wellington Footage

RECAP: World of the Weird from L E K R M O I on Vimeo.

Video: Alphabethead Interview

World Of The Weird Tour Review

Alphabethead's Wonderful World of the Weird @ Medusa, Wellington - 3 September 2011

04 Sep 2011 // A review by Alistar3000

When I walked into Medusa last night for Alphabethead’s Wonderful World of the Weird tour to find Hamilton’s DJ Indecline mixing and scratching hip hop and punk records, I knew the night was going to be an interesting one.

The colourful circus-like backdrop behind him, and flags hanging around the walls, only added to the atmosphere.

Around 11pm Wellington’s the Shocking and Stunning took to the stage. These guys might like they should be playing hippie folk music but what they churn out is a sort of electronic space funk; all synthesizers, huge drum beats and weird noises. Last time I saw them play they were performing as a two piece but last night they were joined by a bassist and vocalist/odd noise maker, which added another dimension to their sound.

They always manage to get the crowd dancing, and last night was no exception. It’s no surprise; their music just makes you want to move, particularly when the drums get stuck into some funky rhythms.

Shortly after midnight, ringmaster Alphabethead asked for quiet from the crowd and announced to the waiting masses that he was to help us answer three questions: who are we? What are we here for? And, what lies in store for us?

Without further delay he stepped behind his turntables and proceeded to blow our minds with his blend of hip hop, funk and jungle, proving once again that he is without peer in turntablism within New Zealand.

After announcing, through the use of cleverly placed signs within album covers, that he was not alone, he rang a small bell and summoned Auckland MC Tourettes to the stage. After walking out through the colourful backdrop dressed in a bunny costume Tourettes delivered a couple of tracks in his humourous, rapid fire style, covering his usual topics of poverty and general “down and outness”.

He then brought out Christchurch’s Jay Roacher, enquiring about his wellbeing before launching into Jay’s latest single Cheer Up Jay. The two MCs worked well on stage together, interacting throughout their performance, while Alphabethead didn’t stop moving the entire time, racing out from behind his turntables to jump around behind the MCs, getting back just in time to get the next song going.

It was a fantastic night, full of surprises and outstanding performances from everyone. The crowd lapped up every minute of it and didn’t seem to want it to ever end.

source: music. net.nz

Video: Alphabethead - UFO! UFO! UFO!

New video from the bro Alphabethead. He'll be on tour in September w/ Tourettes and Jay Roacher so keep your eyes skinned. Here's what he had to say:

Unrealeased instrumental circa 2009. It’s my take on ESG’s amazing “UFO”. When I lived on Mt Kau Kau I used to frequently see flying saucers knocking about high in the Wellington sky. Unfortunately I haven’t seen a UFO since October that year.

The video features documentary footage from the historical 1956 Washington flying saucer attack.

DOWNLOAD THE TRACK HERE

Video - Alphabethead Trick Mixing

Audio: Alphabethead - Wamp Wamp

By alphabethead on 14/04/2011 in TRACKS

Brothers Pusha T and Malice of Clipse are right up there with Slim Thug and MF Doom as rappers I love first and foremost for their vocal tone and vernacular. Clipse’s shared bloodline mean their voices are almost indistinguishable from one another and mesh beautifully on tracks. In fact, for all the Hip Hop examples that spring to mind it seems that family ties do equate to dope collabs; Rza, Gza and Ol’ Dirty are cousins, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg (RIP) are cousins, Ill Bill and Necro are brothers etc.

To my ears older brother Malice (second verse) has the ‘colder’ monotone flow whilst Pusha T (first verse) is slighty smoother and flowly! It’s a sublte and fascinating difference especially when they double lines. Despite their fiery subject matter they always remain calm and nonchalant to the point where I actually find their songs soothing. In addition to their courageous beat choice Clipse also have a gift for clunky but catchy choruses (possibly due to The Neptunes influence). Slim Thug is on chorus duties here and it’s his prehistoric ‘Wamp Wamp’ that steals the show. My beat was built entirely around a sample of that one word! I wanted to slow the rapping right down and accentuate the simultaneously exciting and lethargic feel I get from their music. Please give it a listen and play loud!

DOWNLOAD: Clipse X Alphabethead “Wamp Wamp”

xAlphabethead

Audio: Alphabethead - Aliceo

by alphabethead on 07/03/2011 in TRACKS

Do tempo changes have a place in Hip Hop?

When I started listening Progressive Rock and Metal and I was amazed at the bands’ ability to expand and contract time and make sudden jumps in tempo. Coming from a Hip Hop DJ background where the beats are fixed, matched and mixed I was intrigued as to how this was done and wondered whether it could be implemented within Hip Hop?

Whilst in the Flower Orphans I played alongside Dean Hunter, an insanely good guitarist. He came from a metal background and was all about highly intricate riffs and complicated song structures. I once asked him how he navigated tempo changes with such ease and he gave me the best advice I could ask for; “Just do it…and when you hit the change, play it with conviction!” This encouragement launched my obsession with tempo changes both within my tracks and live sets. Sudden changes in DJ sets are pretty much taboo so this direction certainly resulted in its fair share of drunken-punter feedback; “stop chopping and changing the rhythm” or just straight up “play something we can dance to!” Advice I will never heed; I take it as a healthy challenge to dance to shifting rhythms!

Alterations in tempo can add excitement and shift the momentum and energy like nothing else. Unfortunately, there are very few examples in Hip Hop. A few that come to mind are J-Live “Them That’s Not” which gradually winds up in speed until finally locking onto a constant tempo. Another is the absolutely phenomenal “Chemical Calisthenics” by Blackalicious with multiple tempo changes and percussive stabs which the vocalist accents perfectly. This is such an exhilarating listen for me – Prog Hip Hop at its finest! Please check that song out if you haven’t already. The Blackalicious song “Alphabet Aerobatics” is another beautiful example of acceleration of the beats.

Aliceo is a Hip Hop instrumental where I was also toying with tempo changes. Nothing too dramatic, just alterations of 5-10 BPM’s between the different sections. My hope was that the listener wouldn’t perceive them as tempo adjustments more as slight changes in feel? Also, near the conclusion of the tune the ‘chorus’ speeds up in pitch whilst slowing down in speed. My last album ‘Electricity’ was all sampled-based Hip Hop and had quite a few of these little tempo anomalies. I hope you enjoy…

Download Aliceo

X.ABC

Ps. My bro reckons that the Sitar used here has previously been sampled by Cypress Hill? Please hit me up if you know for which track?

Live: Alphabethead Supporting Lorn

Ex.d Presents…
LORN (Brainfeeder / USA)
with support from....
ALPHABETHEAD / MR MIME / D:UNK LIVE / EXCELLE / FLIPMU
Thursday 3 March// S F B H // Show starts at 9pm
...

Ticket info:
Early Birds.............SOLD OUT
General Admissi.........$23+b.f
Door Sales..............$30.00

Available from www.1-night.co.nz & Real Groovy

Audio: Alphabethead - Escalation

Music for dark days. This is the sequel to Escalation from a few months back. Another dense tone poem for a scene in your mind garden.

Download ESCALATION II

Free Download: Alphabethead Mixtape (60s & 70s Vol II)

Alphabethead says...I’ve been gathering old vinyl since long before I became a DJ. I got my leg up in record collecting through inheriting countless LP’s from relatives and family friends. In 2000 it seemed all the Baby Boomers I knew were spring cleaning, purging records and discovering the Compact Disc. Recording my extended family’s LP’s onto CD was a small price to pay for getting to keep them! In digitizing vinyl I was exposed to bands I normally wouldn’t touch (I was a strictly Hip Hop kid). Most of these records were vibrant mono recordings by 1960’s ‘British Invasion’ bands such as The Beatles, The Yardbirds, The Animals and The Zombies. Every so often a King Crimson, Tangerine Dream or Kraftwerk album would crop up and leave me forever changed. I can still remember the day Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ arrived on my turntable!

Perusing ones records can give such an insight into the psyche of a person. I was consistently surprised in seeing who listened to what. The most straight-edged investment banker could be rocking out to Captain Beefheart (true story)! An uncle of mine was a devout hunter, rugby player, gardener, and ‘good old’ kiwi bloke. When he passed on I was gifted his modest stack of 25 records, all of which were tender female folk singers; Joan Baez, Melanie, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Joni Mitchell et al. What a guy!

This is my second mix of 1960’s and 70’s music. It’s assembled from vinyl, in various conditions, all of which I inherited – the fuzz, crackle and other spurious record noise are all included! Once again it’s mostly pop and psych although this time a little more hard rocking due to the inclusion of Led Zeppelin, Hendrix and May Blitz, a monstrous band on Vertigo records. I made sure I included some Kiwi groups from the era; The Underdog Blues Band, Human Instinct and The Fourmyula’s quintessential Sixties tune ‘Nature’ all make an appearance. Other tracks of special interest are The Beach Boys lesser known ‘Feel Flows’ which is in my opinion their most psychedelic tune and Spirit’s ‘The Other Song’ which Gonjasufi used as a rhythmic canvas last year. It’s mixed in a Hip Hop style with scratches, drum-breaks and cut-up sample segues! Please give it a spin – I hope you enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: “Music From The 1960’s & 70’s (Volume II)”



DOWNLOAD: “Music From The 1960’s & 70’s (Volume II)”

Audio: Alphabethead - Like A Boss

Alphabethead says...

Slim Thug is one of those rappers who I listen to not so much for what he says but how he says it. His voice is dense and cavernous and I love the way his syrupy flow blurs words. His tone reminds me of a baritone saxophone! Method Man, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and MF Doom are other rappers for whom I can just switch off the brain and let their timbre and cadence wash over me. As far as life and lyrical content goes Slim’s pretty much the polar opposite to me; I certainly don’t “supply all the rocks, sponsor all the spots”. I can only relate to his drug-toting tales filtered through what I’ve experienced second-hand in watching The Wire (an HBO TV series)!

With this tune I was aiming for an industrial, assembly-line feel. The song was originally meant to begin with the machine-talk groove that comes in at 3:10. On hearing the skeleton of this section Slim Thugs archaic flow was the first thing I thought of setting to the beat. I had to slow him down to a sluggish 68 BPM but with Slim Thugga even playing at half speed doesn’t really detract from his drawl! I hope you enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: Slim Thug X Alphabethead “Like A Boss”

EZ,

alph
abet
head

Audio: Alphabethead - Escalation

Alphabethead says...

Not really a composition as such, more a short ‘visual’ vignette. It’s a collaboration between you and me; my intention is that you will conjure up the mental im­ages to accompany the track! I’m not going to divulge what appears when I hear the tune but it’s certainly a scene painted with thick, course brush strokes using predominately crimson, maroon, cobalt ­and byzantium. Anything I make by candle-light at 2am in the morning inevitably ends up with these tonal colours – I hope it’s not too much of a downer!

Download ESCALATION

Audio: Alphabethead - Triangle

and Alphabethead says...

//\

My fascination with vinyl as a recorded medium goes far beyond the music pressed into the plastic. I’m interested in all the other properties of vinyl; the degradation of sound through repeated use, the percussive thumps of heavy turntable hands and of course the glorious fuzz and crackle of an old record. I’ve even purposely thrown my records around and danced on them to produce such artefacts. Many an idea has sprouted from having a record skip or accidently loop on a bit of grit. I’m not going to lie, it’s also all the ethereal aspects of vinyl I love; the worn sleeves, giant album artwork and ritual of playback. These are the primary reasons I’ve not yet fully embraced the digital vinyl systems.

That’s the beautiful thing about sampling from vinyl. You inherit not only the sound held within the grooves but also the life of that particular record. What has that record seen? How did its previous owners treat it? In buying second hand records I’ve found many historical ‘clues’ within the sleeves; love letters, homemade lyric sheets, 70’s pinup flicks, album review clippings, autographs scrawled on napkins and even a few of ‘crumbs’ of something pungent and green…

You’ve probably ascertained from my ramblings that I’m a bit smitten with vinyl. Well, I was. However, over the last few weeks I’ve had the wandering eye! I’ve made a departure from my usual ‘dusty not digital’ aesthetic and been building tunes completely from sounds generated with ‘virtual’ instruments and computer synthesis. Not a single vinyl record in sight! What sent me off on this tangent was a fantastic Soul Jazz compilation entitled “Future Bass”. This is a collection of ‘hyper’ clean, modern beat/bass music made (mostly) inside computers from synthesised sound. Yet, despite being built from layered sine, triangle and square waves, the tunes still sound so organic. The Ginz and Mala tracks especially. Synthesis of sound and this ability to breathe life into computer tones has really intrigued me.

“Triangle” is one of my attempts at an entirely digital production. It’s all made from my own computer generated sounds, the process of which has certainly given me a renewed respect for all those producing tracks this way. Wow – it can take so long to make all those sine/triangle/square waves dance! LFO (low frequency oscillators), automated filter sweeps, distortion and, of course, reverb were my little helpers.

I’m not sure if this track works of not? Omitting samples was fearful prospect! Never fear – I think it’s just a short foray away from the crates.

Download TRIANGLE

\/\/\/\/\/\\

//\/\//\/\/\\

ALPHABETHEAD

/\/\/\//\//

[source=http://alphabethead.blog.com/2010/10/triangle/]

Live: Sage Francis, Tourettes, Alphabethead

Free Download: N37 Modulation Mixtape

and Alphabethead says...

G’Day buds,

Whenever I bring a stray piece of vinyl home my fervent hope, aside from it being good music, is to use it as source material in something. Unfortunately, due to my ‘habit’ it’s very hard to assimilate the relentless inflow of records. This recording was a conscious effort to utilize all the random records that had slipped through the cracks. I’d grab any unused LP in arms length of the turntable and set the goal of making a beat from it. This is certainly not a unique approach; many beat-makers set themselves such exercises as a challenge and to breakdown any preconceived notions of what ‘should’ be sampled. In sampling unconventional records I learnt about filtering songs to isolate bass and create muffled drones, amplify and affect record pops to make percussion and stretching and layering notes for textures.

Over 60 LP’s went into this one – mostly Sally Army or junk shop finds. Sample sources include; Frank Sinatra, Uriah Heep, Fiddler on the Roof, Gong, 3 Hur-El, Bach, Donovan, Silver Apples, Ravi Shankar, Santana, Stockhausen… Although it’s my fifth beat-tape, it’s the first I’ve presented in mixtape form with transitions, miscellaneous tit-bits of sound and segues between tracks. This one also includes some Hip Hop cutting!

I’m tickle pink with both ‘Tibetan Glitch Beat’ and ‘Two-Zero-One-Zero’. Both of these beats transcend their source material; I’ve no recollection of what records I sampled? They’ve been mangled and affected beyond recognition! When making sample-based music I feel I’ve succeeded when, rather than the old ‘Oh, he just slightly tweaked Kraftwerk’ type of response I elicit more of a ‘What the hell was that? Was it Frank Sinatra or Frank Zappa?’ The further removed my piece is from the original the better. This kinda sums up my thoughts on sampling. I have absolutely no qualms about using another artist’s work just as long as:

(a) The ‘sample’ of another piece of work is a ‘component’ or ‘element’ in the new work rather than the ‘crux’.

(b) The work can be viewed as a new composition in its own right and doesn’t decrease the artistic merit or impinge on the viability of the existing piece.

Of course what defines a ‘new composition’ or constitutes an ‘element’ is certainly a contentious issue. I’ve found that proving a piece of sample-based music is (at least) equal to the sum of its parts can be an uphill battle…

I’m glad to have finally weaved that classic Kiwi bloke Fred Dagg into a mix. I have a crate of lectures, theatre, advertisement and comedy records which I draw on as the garnishes for my mixes. Next stop for spoken-word samples Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Sam Hunt! The other track I was pleased with was ‘One-Nine-Eight-One’. In the second half all the samples (excluding drums) were pitched up an octave creating a dreamy vocoder effect (thank you Rza)! Please give it whirl…

For those still rocking a discman, hardcopies with covers and disc art are available for 8 NZ bucks.

Alphabethead – N37 Modulations

2Much!

x alphabethead

ps. If you rap feel free to jump on any of these tracks.

Video: 2003 Alphbethead Battle Footage

Old school battle footage of a 19-year-old Alphabethead.

A few of his 90-second, head-to-head sets from the 2003 Wellington DJ Battle held Saturday 8 March, 2003 @ Subnine.

Filmed by DJ Goosh.