Photographs: 2 Week tour of Japan

So, at the end of April I went on a tour of Japan, covering Tokyo, Kyoto, Takayama, Hiroshima and a few other day trips out. Its been a long while coming, but I've finally edited all my photos and uploaded. I have to say I absolutely adored Japan, its a strange country, but at the same time not too disimilar to the UK. I definately want to go back, certainly to spend more time in Tokyo. All images were shot on my new Nikon D800 that I bought just before going away, and Japan was the first real test. If it can serve me as well and for as long as my D200 did (well still does, I'm keeping it for festivals etc), than judging from my first experience, I'm really going to love my D800 A couple of shots:

You can find the rest of the images from my trip on in my flickr set by clicking here

The first radio show - Brap.fm

January since my last post? How appalling! The good news is we've started up a monthly show, the first saturday of every month on www.brap.fm, our first show was in may and its now in the archive to listen to here We had a couple of technical hitches, but we're trying to iron those out for the second show on the 3/4/2014 3-5PM BST. I've also just got back from Japan, so I'm sure Ill have some photos to post up soon.

January 2014 160 BPM Juke/Jungle mix

January 160 Mix by B!Shbashbosh on Mixcloud

Albums of the year 2013

Ugh! How rubbish have I been, barely any posts this year let alone the last couple of months.

Anyway, its been that time again to provide my top albums for the urban75 top albums of the year thread, and in the past I've written my selections up.... This year will be no different.

1. By The Rivers - By The Rivers
Been hearing a lot on David Rodigans sunday reggae show on BBC 1xtra. So I decided to take a punt on itunes, and its undoubtedly been my favourite album this year. Nice and summery, reggae vibes, and I've got to admit, I love singing along to it in the car.

2. Death Grips - Government Plates
Death Grips have been at the top of my list before, amazing life, fantastic on album. Back again with a free album, this avant garde rap outfit from Sacramento make some of the filthiest background tracks ever, complete with lyricist and mental drummer for live shows (last seen playing handcuffed).
Well worth checking out, especially when its free. (or just listen to the album mixtape in the youtube video)

P.S. It'll be explicit

 

 

3. Queens of the stone age - Like Clockwork.....

One of thos bands thats grown on me a lot as I've got older. A great stoner rock album with distinctive lyrics and a really nice flow to the album throughout.

 

 

4. Ruby My Dear - Form

With out doubt, one of my favourite breakcore artists of the last few year, this latest album remains on form, but with some crunchier slower tracks. Haven't given it as many plays as I'd like as my iPhone was playing up, but each time I listen I am thoroughly stoked.

 





 

 

5.The Flatliners - Dead Language



One of my freinds went on about this band so much on facebook I had to look them up. On listening to the first tune I found on youtube, it was basically a "YES!". Great punk band.

6. Om Unit - Threads
As far as DJ tunes for me this year, its all be about Juke influences, and none better than Om Unit. One half of Dream Continuum who I think I've written about her before, lots of Jungle influence juke about 160 BPM.

7. Shaggy and others - Out of many, one music
This probably seems like an odd choice for me, but shaggy has always made waves in the reggae scene, really bringing the music to masses worldwide. Again I first heard this on David Rodigans Reggae show on 1xtra, there's some great songs on the album.

8. Gentlemen's Dub Club - FOURtyFOUR
Their first full album, I've been big on these chaps since I first heard them, and I'm glad to see them through to a first album. There's a lot of influences in there, reggae, dubstep and at one point even a trap beat at one point. Well worth a look up.

9. Machinedrum - Vapor City
The other half of Dream Continuum as mentioned in the Om Unit bit above, again more deep jungle juke sound, another one of my DJ faves this year.

10. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
Highly anticipated album this year by many people, I was dissappointed when I first heard it. The more I listened, the more I liked though. Its only really just making it into my top ten, and its got some nice guest appearences, but I certainly wouldn't be forcing my way to the stereo at a party, shouting "listen to this!"

Finally when I submitted my votes, I totally forgot about the brilliant Congo Natty album this year. I've had the joy of seeing them 2 or 3 times, and they smash it every time. Anyway, on a hot junglist tip this year, I would have put this in at about number 4, but it came out ages ago and I totally forgot when I was writing up me votes.

The Filthy Bastard Mix

Its been a while since I've put up a new mix, so here's a smasher I recorded today. Lots of tunes from PRSPCT and some from others like Killing Sheep and Ad-noiseam....... This needs to be played LOUD!

Malice Afterthought - The Enemy + Kid Kryptic

Prayer's End - DJ Hidden

Dying Time    The Enemy

Rivers Of Hades (Lake Of Fire remix by Gore Tech) - Underhill

Ravepit (Original Mix) - SHAKA-ITCHI

Total Confusion - I:GOR

VD Majick - The Panacea

Misbit (with Current Value) - COOH

Fallen Sons [Lowroller Remix] - Bong-Ra

Riget - Limewax

Dubwar - Gore Tech

Mindfuck - Counterstrike

Judgement - C Netik & Erre

Testify - I:GOR

Hope you all like :)

The Filthy Bastard Mix by The Wonkydonkey (Sim) on Mixcloud

Mini Album Review: Queens Of The Stone Age - ..Like Clockwork

So Queens of the Stone Age is a bit of an odd band for me to review compared to my usual suspects of Electronic, Hip Hop and 8 Bit esque stuff, but in all fairness I was very into my rock/metal as a teen.

Queens of the stone age were a band that I got into a bit later into my rock time, probably not until my early twenties. I wouldn't normally by their albums, I'd usually wait until they found me, that said, I've only got one, and heard two in total (Rated R & Songs for the deaf), but I'd heard a song of the new album, and really liked it, and as I was a bit glum today thought I'd buy it for myself.

The album starts of with quite a clunky song, a good opener, but not particularly to my taste, after that it all picks up and leads into a really good album.

"I sat by the ocean" is song number two on the album and has that really distinguishable Queens of the Stone Age balance between vocals and guitars we all know and love, this is a great song, well worth a listen.

My favourite song on the album I still think has to be the one that prompted me to buy it in the first place it reminds of a lighter "First it Giveth" but I can't quite put my finger on why.

Anyway overall I would say that the album is a great addition to the collection of any QOTSA fans, maybe a bit more mature and tame than previous albums I've heard, but then I'm coming back to them after a 2 or 3 album break, and I'm sure they've probably matured a bit since then, are the cock in sock days behind them?

Mini review - Crystal Castles - (III)

Im going to keep this one short and sweet because anyone who knows me knows I'm a big big Crystal Castles fan and have been since they were releasing demo's.

So their newest album is in my opinion their best so far, a very well developed sound which is a lot more chilled out than their earlier stuff, that said the production has really improved. Its not a new album, coming out in 2012 (yeah I've had it a while), but I still listen to one or two tunes of it daily.

First tune I'd recomend trying out is Kerosene, definately my favourite on the album

The second tune I'd recommend is mercenary, its just another one of their songs called sad eyes backwards and slowed down, but it packs a really trippy punch in comparison to their counterpart.

You can find more out about the Crystal Castles here and you'll be able to catch them at Glastonbury festival this year, hopefully they'll tour too.