Wax Tailor: Tales of Forgotten Melodies (2006)

::: So I haven't written a post in a while now, but lately I've been enjoying a lot of instrumental hip hop. One of my favorite artists from the last couple years is a French hip hop producer named Wax Tailor. He has been around since the early 1990s, but I hadn't heard of him until I came across his album Tales of Forgotten Melodies. What makes this release great is the variety of sound that Wax Tailor combines, everything from hip hop to jazz to soul and all in between. These elements are held together by samples and beats that make you feel like you are in an old 1950s movie. Some have descibed his music as "cinematic hip hop" because he incorporates melodies and vocal samples from films of the past. Though the concept is not new, Wax Tailor does a great job of setting the mood of the album, switching between styles much like a movie changes its scenery, direction, and emotional emphasis. Basically it is just some entertaining instrumental music with dope drum beats, unique samples, and a couple guest rappers and singers. Definitely recommended, along with his newer album Hope & Sorrow.

Tracklist

Alias: Muted (2003)

::: I'll start off by saying that my favorite producer of instrumental hip hop music would have to be Alias of Anticon. Everything that he creates is amazing, but I'll give my two cents on his 2003 album Muted. I first came across Alias when I heard the Anticon Label Sampler a few years back and was blown away by his tracks "Sixes Last" and "Unseen Sights" featuring Markus Acher of The Notwist. I would describe his music as a mixture of ambient electronic and distorted, hard-hitting drum beats, but that is really oversimplifying it. Muted is one of those albums that when you start listening you almost have to play it all the way through because it is so diverse and compelling. The instrumentation is at times airy and beautiful, and others dark and haunting, all composed by Alias on his impressive collection of studio equipment. But this harmony is offset in many cases by his MPC constructed drum beats that are always dope and always distinct. The beats are coated with distortion, varying between rapid hi hats and sharp snare hits, always with a heavy bass line. All of these elements combine to form a dark and beautiful masterpiece of instrumental hip hop that heads and beat enthusiasts are sure to enjoy. If you are a fan of Anticon, or just instrumental hip hop in general, you have to get this album. Muted is one of the dopest releases I have heard in a long, long time. And if you like this album, definitely check out all of his other albums, as they are equally enthralling.

Tracklist

Leaf: Made Into Itself (2005)

::: I came across this album working for KJHK 90.7 in Lawrence, when I was doing the HipHopHyp show. I am a huge fan of instrumental hip hop, and at the time I was constantly searching for new artists to play for my show. I stumbled upon Leaf and decided to check it out. To this day I am amazed that Leaf has managed to fly under the radar in the instrumental scene. Made Into Itself is a downbeat masterpiece in my opinion, where Leaf utilizes unique samples from all genres and some of the dopest drum beats i've heard in a while. This album has a dark overall vibe, but Leaf manages to not make the album feel too dismal or depressing. I guess I would compare their style to DJ Krush (i.e. Jaku, The Message at the Depth) or some of the more recent Anticon releases (Odd Nosdam, Jel, DJ Mayonnaise). Leaf tends to use samples from instruments of other cultures and countries, in addition to the more distorted synth sounds characteristic of some Anticon releases. Perhaps my favorite part about Made Into Itself is the incorporation of spoken word that is both deep and insightful. Leaf doesn't chime in with these words of wisdom too often, but when they do it always makes me stop and pay a little bit more attention to the music. I recommend this to fans of instrumental hip hop, or just anyone who can appreciate good quality music. With this combination of great samples with thumping bass lines and drumbeats, it's hard to go wrong.

Here's a quote from "Lounge Dealers"

Intent of those will not be shown to you. Television has made the planet a global village. Others' trials and tribulations have become my concern and abandon in the same breath. Everyone has their own god, their own carbon-copy religion. You wave a banner that reads "praise the one true god," but standing behind you in the commotion I think you want me to worship a dog. And now I hate you and your views for no apparent reason. All religions are based on factual intent, but we don't know how to apply the religious ideas to contemporary life. Every faction has myths, all myths teach you to go inwards. I watch Star Wars like my mother reads to New Testament. It is the new myth. Faust gives us Mephistopheles, Lucas gives us Lord Vader. He is the embodiment of man struggling with machine. The symbiotic relationship made of constricting circuitry and empowering anonymity. Machines help us fulfill our image of what the Earth is, and what we want it to be. But if the marionette is heavy enough, unexpected movement will carry the puppet-master's hand against his will. Progress without permission. The eternal absolute struggle surfaces. It is said that Eisenhower went into a room full of the first supercomputers, and put a question to the machines. Is there a god? They all start processing, lights flash, magnetic wheels turn... and after a while a voice says... "now there is."

I had to listen to the track and type that as I heard it so... you're welcome.