The next destination for Clyde Beats is positively back to the UK. Snapped (feat. Jakka Blades and Manny Marko) is a nod to the 90’s golden age of hip hop and holds within many inspirations, among them, of course, the legendary Detroit producer J Dilla. The result is an enormous-sounding release.
An addictive and hefty tech-bass line and Clyde Beats’ signature wonky rhythm are ridden by twin emcees Jakka Blades and Manny Marko. This tough sound is bound to appeal to beat and bass heads as much as to anyone with access to a capable sound system. The resulting mania will undoubtedly result in a rewind or two.
You’ll hear Clyde Beats’ backing vocals creating chords and textures that back up his fellow Derby, UK, rappers, with Snapped being their second appearance on Clyde Beats’ new album, ‘Hyper Reality 2 (An English Gentleman)’. Add turntable trickery from the brilliant Jabba Tha Kut and Atjazz on the final mixdown and we know you’ll be chomping at the bit to stream and download Clyde Beats – Snapped (feat. Jakka Blades and Manny Marko)
A Chi Huo. I can dress up my interests to look as high-brow as I like, but ultimately, who am I trying to kid? There are a small number of key drivers that ultimately motivate me. Music is one and food is another. So much so that the very first Mandarin phrase I learned was ‘chi huo’. It kind of means foodie, but more so, chow hound.
My days are far simpler now I live in China. Time is divided purely over: Sleep, eating, exercising, teaching, writing, music, and love. On the subject of time, being late is intolerable, similar to a mirror not being straight.
Q3: Why?
There doesn’t always have to be a defined reason. But striving to be genuine, original and a little left-field seem to be good justifications for any efforts I put into stuff, like music.
Q4: Watching?
My attention span has always been…
OK, the last movie I rewatched was Quadrophenia, mainly because it serves as a fascinating time capsule of Britain. But it’s the two accents it features that tickle me. Disenfranchised London youth’s 60s lingo, or the upper class received pronunciation. No in between.
Barbin ili is a Chinese robotic dancer. I watch her quite a lot. Some of her concepts and coordinating dance moves are outstanding and I’d love to have her in a music video one day. This video is her most skilful, IMHO.
I watch way too many podcasts on YouTube, too, namely by these guys
People watching is ‘the best’. I do it all day in China. Always intriguing.
Q5: Hearing?
A lot more detail in my more mature years. Thankfully, this includes music. I appreciate a lot more of the syncopation and tonality in the music I love and this carries through to the music I produce.
It also includes details from people’s points of view.
Q6: Playing?
All roads lead back to the classics. Well, what I view to be the classics. Life’s cycles tend to result in the return to certain moments in music. These often include copious amounts of 90s Hip Hop, The Clash and Stevie Wonder.
Q7: Loving?
I love being able to do just three things in life and they are Music, Writing and Teaching. Of the music, my new album, Clyde Beats – Hyper Reality 2 (An English Gentleman) is available now!
Clyde Beats returns with “Hyper Reality 2: An English Gentleman”, a follow-up to his 2004 debut, bringing his signature wonky beats and disregard for quantization and traditional musicianship. This latest album is more polished, funkier, and deeper than its predecessor, making it a must-listen for fans of the genre.
If you like your beats wonky and enjoyed this album’s predecessor, 2004’s ‘Hyper Reality’, then you’ll love ‘Hyper Reality 2: An English Gentleman’, available on Atjazz Record Company. Clyde Beats (formerly Clyde) is back from the future with his next instalment, only this time it’s more polished, funkier and deeper. But as before, this release shows as much contempt towards quantisation as it does orthodox musicianship throughout.
The mood is set as ‘Hyper Reality 2: An English Gentleman’ opens with ‘See Your True Self’. A Prophet 5 synth line sets the atmosphere, complemented by a cheeky, yet assured Rhodes hook, both elegantly delivered by Atjazz. Clyde Beatses rich vocal moodily saunters over a jerky beat and upright bass hook.
‘It’s True’ sees Clyde Beats reunited with hugely-talented vocalist and co-songwriter, Jane Hamilton, which is closely followed by the album’s house-oriented track, ‘ILVURSND’. ‘Rising Up’ proudly features a vocalist Clyde Beats has eagerly followed for some years through her Tokyo Dawn releases: Amalia sings about a chronicle of ascension over Clyde Beatses somewhat 80s-meets-Boom bap sound. Elegant horns come courtesy of Octavio N. Santos who also contributes similar flava to ‘Better’, ‘Hold Me Back’, and ‘I Quit’: a track he spits on under his Swanky Swagger moniker.
‘Hold Me Back’ was co-written with another long-time collaborator and friend, Peacey. Having recovered from ‘challenging breakups’, they yet again documented their shared experiences and wrote together. ‘Better’ reflects on how toxic partners ultimately contributed towards them being stronger people.
Another single, ‘Hello World feat. OVEOUS’ is a tough, minimalistic, beat-driven joint. It knocks, and on top of it, OVEOUS delivers rhymes as hard as they are spiritual.
“The term ‘An English Gentleman’ is a proud reference to the UK’s distinctive sounds and it’s a play on the Britishness of characters including James Bond. It’s also how an overseas girlfriend would humorously refer to me in the company of her friends”, mused Clyde Beats.
“Extra! Extra! Read all about it!”. 21 years after his massive broken beat slammer ‘SERVE IT UP (FEAT. CAPITOL A.)’ The Jerk-Beat Master ‘Clyde Beats’ returns with his new long player.
Just when you thought it was safe to play conscientious hip hop, Clyde Beats and ‘Hello World (feat. OVEOUS)’ comes along.
The release is a masterful blend of contrasting elements, with OVEOUS’ spiritual and uplifting lyrics served up over the dark, aggressive beats of Clyde Beats. The result is a sonic experience that’s both powerful and thought-provoking, with the two artists coming together to create a unique sound that’s both hard-hitting and inspiring.
Described by some as a renaissance artist, OVEOUS is a true street poet, singer, rapper, DJ and producer and the superlative rhymes he lays over Clyde Beats’ dark, yet high-end production is going to drive you to visit any leading music streaming or download service now.
Peacey’s debut album ‘Play It By Ear’ is available worldwide on all digital platforms.
It might be his debut album, yet Peacey’s “Play It By Ear” is a body of work crafted as though by a scholar. And where better for this work to emerge from than Derby, UK’s Atjazz Record Company, a label with a rich heritage and many strings to its bow?
This eclectic sonic journal catalogues the evolution of Peacey, documenting his interactions with, and influences from, some of dance music’s notable players. It’s an album that will attract discerning ears and open minds; minds attuned to a multitude of genres as it visits Hip Hop, Nu-Soul, House, Garage, Boogie and Fusion.
As well as the expanse of influences it draws on, “Play It By Ear” presents its distinctive characteristics: accomplished songwriting, skilful production and heartfelt performances from all. The clear drive to propel dance music is evident throughout. Not only are the songwriting and performances legendary, but the whole album drips with rich production, thanks to the use of vintage mics, classic synths, Rhodes Piano and plenty of live instrumentation.
During the profound journey of creating this album, Peacey contemplates how the primary motivation for this work stemmed from a need to find solace from deep emotional upheavals he experienced. “This album will never be finished, but I’ve learnt to let go. And what better way than to start writing and exploring your emotions through songs?” mused Peacey.
The listening experience begins with the eponymously named ‘Play It By Ear’. Like an orchestra tuning its instruments, the mood is set and the production ethic established; the horns are introduced and emotions are ramped. We now embark on our first vocal track: ‘Love in the Forest feat. OVEOUS’ is street poetry exploring the merits of love, bringing along the essence of New York. Peacey is then joined by labelmates Clyde and Atjazz for ‘Hold Me Back’. Co-written and sung by Clyde, it’s an organic yet polished bumpy dancefloor cut, topped and tailed with horns by Toronto-based Octavio N. Santos. It’s also his album debut single, so watch this space!
The album features outstanding vocal talents and Rona Ray is but one. She performs over Peacey’s infectious mid-pace hook for ‘Playground’, another of the album’s singles. Vanessa Hidary’s masterful and sometimes manic spoken word performance is complemented by live percussion that drives the mood of ‘Culture Bandit’. If the drums of ‘Falling Down’ don’t make your day, then the soulfully delivered vocals of labelmate Sarai Jazz will. Relaxed? Well, don’t lose your focus because Sabrina Chyld ushers in another wonderful 4×4 tune, and her soulful delivery yearns us to ‘Find a Way’.
‘Dear Uncle Tim’ pays homage to the inspiration behind this album. This man introduced a young Peacey to electronic music! So sit back and absorb the ethos that radiates from this incredibly expressive piece of music. Although the album is drawing to its close, it’s still ‘Runnin’, thanks once more to Sabrina Chyld. What a vocal, and what a bassline. And over the next offering, lush percussive layers and synths invite Emilie Chick to lay her smooth vocal tone delivery over ‘Don’t Send Us Back’?
“Extra! Extra! Read all about it!”. 21 years after his massive broken beat slammer ‘SERVE IT UP (FEAT. CAPITOL A.)’ The Jerk-Beat Master ‘Clyde Beats’ returns with his new long player.
Stepping back into the future, ‘Rising Up (feat. ‘Amalia’)’ is Clyde Beats’ premier single from his new album ‘Hyper Reality 2 (An English Gentleman)’.
As the title suggests, ‘Rising Up’ documents a quest for positive living. Amalia’s sassy delivery complements Clyde Beats’ somewhat retro hip-hop production incredibly well. The result is a rewarding tune you’ll want to turn up loud and play on repeat.
From a boom-bap-type beat, a TB303 riff and a very 80s-sounding bassline, live horns by Clyde Beats’ long-time collaborator, ‘Octavio N. Santos’, juxtapose this very feel-good tune.
“Having followed Amalia’s astounding career, the opportunity to work with her was an appealing one, to say the least”, mused Clyde Beats. “With many of my musical values hailing from the early 90s, I thought ‘Amalia’ and I could revisit that era together. I’m delighted I invited her because her performance is simply outstanding. This is a tune I’m very proud to release”, he concluded.
