hipsturbed

It’s been another long summer. Between two of us working heavy schedules for the almighty dollar and the other one realizing our dollar isn’t that mighty at all when exchanged for pounds, hipsturbed hasn’t been as lively as we would of liked. The good news is the fruits of a summer spent abroad in London are sitting on a hard drive waiting to be shared with all of you. Until then, here’s our toast to what we hope was an epic summer.

Trust us when we say that once you’ve given our mixtape a run through, it’ll have you hooked all over again. Put it on and don’t let that summer feeling fade away with fall.

Complete tracklist after the jump…

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Meet the hip-hop collective Geek Squad coming out Miami, FL. The group is made up of Acey Ace, M.I.C, Specta, Sub-Konshiss and Wolfman Stylez. Geek Squad have been making music for a little while now, releasing their first project, AlterNative Thinking, in March of 2010 and Press 2 For Spanish EP in September. Fast forward to November and they gave us this gem titled, The Coolest Shade of Uncool (hands down one of the best album titles I’ve heard). That is three projects in the span of seven months. 

I had a chance to experience their chemistry this past June, when they performed at Art N Hustle’s Secrets, Regrets, Joys & Truths art exhibit over at Villa 221. They performed a handful of tracks off their latest work. They were hyped, knew how to work the limited performance space, and sounded exceptional.

The Coolest Shade of Uncool  is a breath of fresh air in this nasty hot Miami hip-hop weather. Their influences range from legendary Wu-Tang to Pink Floyd. The production is just incredible, they really know who to pick great production. The group goes over tracks from the likes of RJD2, Unkle, Mike Snow and Little Dragon, to name a few. They blend pop (“Introducing…”), jazz (“On The Ropes”), soul (Can’t Keep Fighting) and many more sounds with that of hip-hop. Not only is the production amazing, wait until you listen to these guys spit. If I were to choose my favorite tracks of the album they would be, “Coloring Book” (that beat is dopely eerie), ”AirBorne,” “How Unlikely,” and “Can’t Keep Fighting” tied with “Dream Big.”

Another point that Geek Squad gets from me is the fact that they don’t have a group leader; it is more of a battle to see who is the best. Their chemistry and work ethic is sky high. They work together to make great songs instead of forcing to have all five members in a particular track. They are the definition of a group, no I in them.

Make sure you check out last month’s post on their official video for “Introducing…,“ filmed and edited by Hidden Empire Films.

With another project in the works Geek Squad is more than vigorous to have their words in people’s mouths. So go ahead and download their not so geeky mixtape, The Coolest Shade of Uncool, if you want to hear to some great hip-hop. South Florida is being slept on, but we will rise soon enough. Like Ace a.k.a Face said on “Kryptonite (Let’s Go),” “Geek Squad is blowing up like Shadow Moses.” (Yes, that is a Metal Gear reference)

DOWNLOAD: Geek Squad - “The Coolest Shade of Uncool” (Mixtape)

How do you make a good thing better? I have no clue, but the trio behind Washington D.C.’s Columbia Nights do. Taking inspiration from the slightly jaded nu jazz of Little Dragon’s “Stormy Weather”, they’ve spruced it up a bit with shades of neo-soul. They still keep the production sparse, but find a way to fit so much more into the same space. It’s obvious what they mean when they describe their sound as a synthesis. Their debut single starts with an organic shower of static noise, moves into tittering industrial drum patterns, is overtaken by soulful background sounds making their way front and center in an aura of angelic passion, and finally finishes with notes from a horn personified as Yukimi Nagano’s vocal replacement. A look at the cover art reveals that the audio feeds off the visual or vice versa; regardless it’s rainy day music. So if you find yourself seeking shelter with a special someone when it’s wet outside, put this on and make things wet inside. Props to Brother Hayling for the heads up on this project of his.

- Austen Vanderbleek

Everybody Out of the Water!, our weekly dip at my pleasant neighbors from Williams Street. Ten weeks of Walkman exchanges in a kitschy backyard of plastic flamingo’s and teal lawn chairs. We’re praying for clean forecasts and even cleaner hits that dirty bong of ‘78. 

This week we’re revisited by the R&B crooning ghost that is How to Dress Well, who materialized earlier last week with the release of his Transmissions From a Wistful Place mix and Just Once EP.  The cheap, lo-fi quality of Tom Krell’s musings are reminiscent to that of earlier dubstep from Burial: lyrics charged with emotion yet seemingly distant from the receiving line.  

DOWNLOAD: HOW TO DRESS WELL - LOVE REMAINS

- Arturo Macias

What would a summer be if the Prince of Chillwave, Earnest Greene, wasn’t treating us to singles from the highly anticipated followup to Life of Leisure - EP. Scheduled for release on July 12, Within and Without already houses the reverberant opening track “Eyes Be Closed,” which remains true to Greene’s signature sun spritzer, cassette tape quality.  Where “Eyes Be Closed” mimics the same austerity of commanding single “You and I,” first featured in the Adult Swim Singles Program, and now the 7th track off Within and Without, “Amor Fati” has an older and more playful quality to it.  With yesterday’s mark of the summer solstice, isn’t it time for a new ”Feel It All Around” queue your vacation video’s and television programs. 

Washed Out - Amor Fati by Hypetrak

- Arturo Macias

Your weekend just might be extended by a couple of minutes. The Weeknd has released yet another hybrid-R&B single from his anticipated followup to House of Balloons, the speculated Thursday. 

And yes, the compassionate and sultry foul language can still be found in “The Birds (Part 1).”

- Arturo Macias

A somber opening harkening Cocteau Twins’ dreampop, and a video rivaling The Cure in moodiness… am I the only one left scratching my head as to Bon Iver’s new approach to folk music in his self-titled sophomore album, due for release next Tuesday.

Though I seemed to be absent when Kanye West was passing out “the Kool-Aid” to promote “Lost in the World,” I cannot ignore the stunning visuals that seem out of place in the current displays of heat waves of summer. 

PREORDER/DOWNLOAD: BON IVER - BON IVER 

- Arturo Macias

Everybody Out of the Water!, our weekly dip at my pleasant neighbors from Williams Street. Ten weeks of Walkman exchanges in a kitschy backyard of plastic flamingo’s and teal lawn chairs. We’re praying for clean forecasts and even cleaner hits that dirty bong of ‘78. 

This week I’m double-dipping to make up for last week’s absence. Ford & Lopatin, formally Games and one-half of Oneohtrix Point Never, is the Jan Hammer worshipping duo who recreate VHS muddled 80s yacht rock and synth pop worthy of Miami Vice cameos. Taking cue’s from fellow chillwave guru, Neon Indian, their newest single mimics the AM radio-eque production of “Terminally Chill” with far more production quality and reducing the sun-soaked lo-fi sounds from last years That We Can Play. 

DOWNLOAD: FORD & LOPATIN - CHANNEL PRESSURE 

Remember when Phil Spector was recognized for his monumental “Wall of Sound” production, rather than the Chia Pet growing from his scalp and murdering barbarian queen Lana Clarkson? Four words: Beach Boys Pet Sounds… by the way, the P S in Pet Soundsstands for Phil Spector.

At a minuscule 2:30 mark, Best Coast uncovers that audible chamber echo that permeated faulty mono-speakers in living rooms and beach parties of the 60s. With the growing return of lo-fi musicians: Wavves and No Age; everyone seems to be going the route of SoCal ambience. In “Gone Again,” vocalist Bethany Cosentino captures the mysticism of Brian Wilson and the voice of a frequent toking, less conservative Lesley Gore. All we’re missing at this beach blanket bingo is a B-movie cameo from Gill-man, Sandra Dee and Frankie Avalon. 

DOWNLOAD: BEST COAST - CRAZY FOR YOU 

- Arturo Macias