ALBUM REVIEW: Abstrakt Idea

Celebrating DILLA

.:DILLA MONTH - All Things J Dilla

To Celebrate J Dilla month, we thought we'd put together all previous posts on this master beatmaker. Click below to find all the Dilla goodness we posted through out the year. There's 10 pages worth of Dilla content for all hardcore fans.

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REVIEW: Dewey Decibel

.:ALBUM REVIEW: Dewey Decibel -- #BOOMBOXBOOKWORM

After I discovered Dewey Decibel with the tracks Met Her in L.A. and Hello Hello, I have to admit I was quite curious about this mixtape but didn't really know what to expect, apart from a constantly crazy flow and witty wordplay, which seem to be some of the MC's trademarks.

It turns out I was not disappointed as #BOOMBOXBOOKWORM is a way for him to showcase his lyrical and technical skills. Nevertheless, despite this curiosity and interest in Dewey Decibel's talent, I was slightly taken aback after the first listen and didn't really know what to make of the project. I persevered though and listened to it again, and again, and again.

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INTERVIEW: Eric Lau Exclusive

.:INTERVIEW: Eric Lau -- Word Is Bond Exclusive Interview

After Moka Only and Chief last week, it is now time for London producer Eric Lau to be featured here with a very interesting video interview we recorded at the end of 2011.

First of all, we would like to thank the owner of Guanabana, a wonderful restaurant in Camden, London, for lending his space for the time of the interview and providing such a lovely setting. Not to mention, the food is delicious there! It was also a great pleasure to catch up with Eric and get to meet Simon from Kilawatt, and we are very grateful to both of them for taking some time to chill with us and answer our questions....

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MIX: DJ FYO – Beats To The Vibes 2

.:MIX: DJ FYO - Beats To The Vibes 2 -another side- (WIB EXCLUSIVE)

Japanese DJ and Word Is Bond affiliate DJ FYO has once again blessed us with an exclusive mix. You should know the deal by now from his previous mixes; 40 tracks blended with some additional gems showcasing the sounds of WIB and DJ FYO's own musical palette.

Previous Beats To The Vibes mixtapes have now become available for download, you can find them via the link...

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17Jan/110

ALBUM REVIEW: Abstrakt Idea – Sincere Sunset

Abstrakt Idea is a solo instrumental artist from Iceland. With 'Sincere Sunset' he brings a fresh 10 track concept to the notion of circadian rhythm by bringing some jazzy beats for your body clock to resonate with. From the artists name you can gather that what follows is very open to interpretation, but 'Sincere Sunset' generally reflects the structure of a day as evident by its alliterated track names.

The album starts off in nature, with trickling water and birdsong giving way to a piano and drum based track that is 'Mellow Morning'. Like many other artists in the similar field, Abstrakt Idea blends the two well and the result is a harmonious vibe that would be perfect to bring you into a new day.

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By the time we get to midday however, the music seems to occupy a new scenary as deep bass lines and heavy drums come into play. 'Abstrakt Afternoon' comes over as an ominous cloud of sorts with drums beating in an eerie void. 'Erratic Evening' brings another change of tone as stoic drums bang over a mellow bass with a sprinkle of piano keys. This is where Abstrakt Idea hands down shows himself as a high calibre, soulful beat producer.

Abstrakt Idea - Erratic Evening

'Sincere Sunset' brings back those uplifting sounds that started off our day before Abstrakt Idea takes us into 'Melodic Midnight', a tranquil track that begins to bring the day to an end.

The album comes full circle with 'Sensual Sunrise', the final track. The beat picks up with renewed vigour and optimism and looks at the new day with bright eyes. A solid end to a solid album.

Abstrakt Idea - Sensual Sunrise

Buy the album on iTunes Japan

Buy the album on iTunes USA

Buy the album on Amazon.com

soulquarian14

Word Is Bond Rating
Production
Solid throughout, although some tracks shine brighter than others

Originality
Familiar territory for those who listen to a lot of soulful/jazzy instrumental hip-hop, but a unique style is present which prevents it from merging into the crowd

Replayability
A lot of these tracks have a long life ahead of them