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tree // demons ep

Tree_Drew Grasso
 
   tree // demons ep

 
Santa Cruz artist Tree aka Oliver Nickel is finally getting the recognition, and exposure, he so rightfully deserves with the release of his Demons EP via Apollo Records. It is also good to see the rest of the world finally catching on to what Ive known for quite some time: Oliver Tree Nickel is an adept musical alchemist. Mr. Nickel commingles the sonorous ideas in his head with the innovative beats and rhythms of his heart. 

The Demons EP contains only three tracks, but in this case it is the quality and not so much the quantity. My favorite is Tree’s rendition of Radiohead’s Karma Police. Tree’s version delivers beautifully whilst crawling on it’s bruised hands and bleeding knees, it contains a dour and fragile humanness only hinted at in the original version . This song begs with the mouth of a slightly off-center genius, and the pure unmolested emotions unspooled here replace a former Pop darling of a song with something more raw and stunningly menacing. This is avant garde Pop music at it’s finest carving out  a place all it’s own. Peace. Continue reading “tree // demons ep”

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dr. dre ft. snoop dog // hold up (minnesota vip remix)

Christian Bauhofer is dj/producer Minnesota. While the namesake immediately brings to mind the land of 10,000 lakes, it should be noted that this young Jedi of the hype track has, or so it seems, 10,000 beats running through his head at any given time. Listen to the majesty of his astounding take on the classic “Hold Up” by the groundbreaking Dr. Dre Ft. Snoop Dog. But, this re-imagining of Dre’s is more than just dope, it also showcases Minnesota’s vicious acumen for style and creativity on the wheels. This is one young man who isn’t afraid of a challenge and he delivers marvelously. This is musical madness elevated far out into the farthest reaches of the Milky Way. After the jump, check out DJ Minnesota’s phenomenal track, “Push It,” it is equally affected with a chronic sickness. Peace. Continue reading “dr. dre ft. snoop dog // hold up (minnesota vip remix)”

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Shelf Nunny // Taboo (Ft. Kaka Smitty)

Although many claim it never rains in southern California, obviously they weren’t talking about funky beats and sly rhythms. Welcome to the sticky sounds of Santa Cruz-based producer Shelf Nunny. Sit back and submerge yourself in these tricky audibles, and let them caress you ear palette like the adept fingers of a certified music masseuse. With this latest track “Taboo” Ft. Kaka Smitty it’s raining complex bass galore, interspersed with the mesmeric vocals of Kaka Smitty. If  Shelf Nunny is getting his music making feet wet, then I am impressed.  I can’t wait to hear what he offers up once he dives head-on into the full breadth and width of his infinite universe of possibilities. To delve deeper, explore the sounds of this budding SoCal-based producer by visiting his SoundCloud page and on Facebook. Peace. Continue reading “Shelf Nunny // Taboo (Ft. Kaka Smitty)”