Featuring: Promise One

Though affiliated variously with the Deep Heads and Chord Marauders crews -
Geode, of the latter, in particular, having collaborated on releases for Innamind and now OpenEarz - Promise One still retains a strong sense of independence; moving, refreshingly, at his own pace and away from empty hype and shallow scene building. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it gives his music a sense independence and originality too.

There's a measured approach to his production, marrying the raw edge of a hip hop indebted, sample-based approach with the skintight, minimal rhythmic aesthetic of the proto-dubstep sound peddled by the likes of El-B and Zed Bias. The resultant space is where the groove or, as is becoming a more regular occurrence, vocalist lurks. With the news that Syte is relaunching his OpenEarz imprint with three of Promise One's finest, we caught up with the man behind the monitors for some words and a new mix to add to the series.

Hedmuk: By way of introduction, what's your name, where do you come from, and how would you describe your sound?

Promise One: Hey I'm Nick, I grew up around North Yorkshire and currently live in London. My sound tends to come from the garage roots of dubstep, I guess: rolling tunes around 140. Prefer to let the music speak really, but that's probably a cliché now...

H: When did you first get into making beats? Have you always been involved in writing music, or has Promise One been your first foray?

PO: I started out on Reason, having been introduced to it by a friend; that was about 10 years ago. I work on [Ableton] Live now and used to make instrumental hip hop/breaks stuff under the name Defiant Kinetics - always been a fan of sampling from that respect. I play the drums, started that a little before I got into making beats and have always played in 3 piece bands for some reason, probably just because it's less complicated!

H: There's a skip and swing to your drums that feels reminiscent of garage's period of development into dubstep's early sound - is this somewhere you find yourself taking influence from, or are there other places you feel you draw more from rhythmically? 

PO: I think that era was always really interesting to me, so I'm sure its an influence. I like offbeats and swing, rim shots and all of that El-B and Horsepower goodness. Drumming certainly helps, sometimes I play bits in with an MPD and sometimes I just use a mouse, it depends on the tune.

H: You've got a few releases under your belt already, but your next will be your first on vinyl. When did you first get involved with Syte, and how did the idea of resurrecting the OpenEarz imprint come about? How important is it to you to be putting out music on a physical format?

PO: Jim (Syte) had been planning a re-launch for some time and brought up some ideas to get me involved with a release around the same time I was finishing up the collab with Sparkz. I played him the final version and then we agreed with George (Geode) that 'Chroma' would sit well on the flip side and that was it! I'm really happy about putting out music on vinyl, it's been a goal of mine for a while. Records will never go away, I don't ever see a replacement format coming, so it's the best we have. The HD DVD was the successor to CD but the MP3 took the lead: we've gone backwards, if anything. I've cut most of my earlier tunes to dubplate as I love the process, but it is expensive. I collect and buy vinyl because it's important to me to have physical records. There is an element of quality control which isn't really a consideration in digital, but I don't play vinyl out due to dub cutting costs and a lack of [vinyl] support from most clubs.



H: With the lead track from the forthcoming OpenEarz release and your recent MIK bootleg, you're showing a real knack for working with vocals. Is this something you've always experimented with, or discovered more recently? Can we expect to see more work with vocalists from you in the future?

PO: Coming from a hip hop background I've always been into vocals, but equally I appreciate the instrumental side of the genre. The first tune I ever made with a vocalist was called 'Technicolour', with a guy called Kid Kareem, under Defiant Kinetics. I never really understood grime for a while but some of it is quite interesting to me, especially rhythmically. I wanted to make a track with a grime vocal but which didn't sound like a grime tune, and one that was a bit playful; that's how the MIK tune came about. I haven't got any specific plans to do more vocal stuff at the moment but no doubt something will come along soon.

H: Take us through how you approached the mix you've done for us.

PO: I wanted to play tracks from producers I'm feeling, and also to represent OpenEarz. I'd say it starts off at a comfortable pace and builds up to darker more intense ending - I think there is still a lot of good, interesting music being made around 140. It's great that producers are going in different directions but I'm not seeing any reason to change from around this area, it just naturally resonates with me.

H: Finally, are there any other forthcomings or anything else in the pipeline that you'd like to put the word out on?

I seem to be playing more DJ sets at the moment so that is taking up more of my time, which is fun. I suppose I consider myself more a producer than a DJ, though. I need to get back on the beats, it takes me a long time to come up with a finished idea; I'm not one of these people who writes three tracks a week: it's more like one tune every couple of months! The 'See We Roll EP' is forthcoming on OpenEarz on vinyl and digital formats (with 'Ghost Note' as a digi exclusive) and should be available mid-to-end of February.


Download: Promise One - Hedmuk Exclusive Mix


Tracklist:

Indigo - Premonition [EARZ002]
Gunston - Danger Again [Dub]
Lefty - Wise Guy [Dub]
Lack - 432 [Dub]
Congi & Geode - Flow One [Forthcoming Chord Marauders]
Piezo - Antelope Swing [Dub]
Promise One & Geode - Chroma [Forthcoming EARZ004]
Ago - Backlash [Dub]
Baitface - Disrobe [Dub]
D-Operation Drop - Justice [Dub]
Promise One - Ghost Note [Forthcoming EARZ004]
Subreachers - Spitfire [Dub]
Promise One - See We Roll (feat. Sparkz) [Forthcoming EARZ004]
Elemental - Spring Dub [RUNTIMECD001]
Promise One - M.I. [Dub]
Clearlight - No Rules [Dub]
Argo, Karnage & MarkIV - Unforeseen [Dub]
Mikael - Blessed [Dub]
Nanobyte - Impartial [Dub]
Sub Basics - Untitles [Dub]
Facta - Poliwhirl [Dub]

Promise One - HEDMUK Exclusive Mix by Hedmuk on Mixcloud

W.

Review: Congi - Tidal Fragments LP

Words: Silas Howison-Waughray

In the last couple of years, the Chord Marauders have captured the attention of the underground dubstep scene with their melodic and soulful take on a sound that has been through countless reincarnations and reinventions. Congi’s debut LP ‘Tidal Fragments’ on the developing imprint is exemplary of the Marauders' ethos.

With a number of impressive releases and tracks already under their belts, Congi have acquired a substantial following in recent years and 'Tidal Fragments' eloquently highlights their exceptional capabilities at every level of production. The LP opens with ‘Clouds’, a mysterious, swung and sample-based quasi-soundscape that sets the tone for the rest of the album. From then on in the LP moves seamlessly between rolling percussive tracks like ‘LOTP’ to melancholic, stripped back head-nodders like ‘Attenuation’ - the latter providing one of the album's real highlights.

Aspects of the album are heavily reminiscent of illustrious days past but the forward-thinking vision of Congi stamps a unique picture across the LP and pushes their sound in a new and exciting direction. There are a number of collaborations with eminent CM teammates, Geode, B9 and Jafu. Geode’s contribution to ‘Flow One’ is obvious, with his signature dark sound scattered across an addictive drum beat, ominous melodic intervals and subs. The album sits roughly around 140bpm with two really interesting exceptions, ‘Spoken Word’ and ‘Transparent’, which draw attention to Congi’s as yet largely-unexhibited versatility.

To be honest, every track on this LP is worth a mention and it’s truly difficult to fault. With this release in tow the Chord Marauders will undoubtedly continue to develop and expand.

Congi - Tidal Fragments will be released on limited edition CD from the Chord Marauders website on Friday the 14th 2014, with the main digital release following on the 28th.

Silas has written for Gottwood, Urban Nerds, Mavrik, and MisDigest, is one half (guess which) Silas & Snare Surgeon, and a resident DJ for the Leeds-based Brotherhood Soundsystem.

Shop: Hedmuk X Generic Greeting #2 - Tee #006 - Pre-orders

Call it one for the heads, or a meeting of minds - here's the latest T-shirt design, and our second collaboration (or face off, even) with Manchester-based illustrator Will Berry, of the Generic Greeting Collective.

This collaboration will be available to pre-order at a discounted price for one week, ending on the 18th of February; printing of the received T-shirt orders will begin after that time. All pre-order customers will be kept up-to-date with the status of their order - for example, when the shirts are being printed, packaged, posted etcetera - via email. As ever, the print run will be strictly limited.

As usual, prices for UK customers include postage and packing whilst those ordering from elsewhere around the world can expect to pay a small additional cost for delivery.

Pre-orders can be made from the Hedmuk BigCartel store here:

http://hedmuk.bigcartel.com/product/hedmuk-x-generic-greeting-2-tee-006

W.

Premiere: L-Wiz - Girl From Codeine City (Official Video)

Another video premiere dropped today over on the Hedmuk YouTube channel, this one re-imagining some classic L-Wiz material from Dub Police's back catalogue. Many will have first encountered this tune on Caspa & Rusko's game-changing 'FabricLive.37' mix CD, but now a whole new generation of listeners can be introduced, again through a compilation, on Dub Police's 'Past Present Future', which is available now on CD, digital, and vinyl.

W.

Shop: Hedmuk X Generic Greeting #2 Preview

Following on from the rapid sellout success of our last collaboration T-shirt, we're linking up for a second time with Manchester's Generic Greeting Collective. Call it one for the heads or a meeting of minds, the latest hand-drawn print sees the Hedmuk head pitched up alongside our collaborators' pipe-smoking gent and will appear, as ever, as a limited run of 100% cotton tees. Depending on demand, pre-orders may be made available for those not wanting to miss out on getting their arms in one. For more info, keep an eye on the usual spots, and on the Hedmuk BigCartel store.

W.

Free Download: Ming Da Mercilus - Paimei

We first came across Ming Da Mercilus after hearing his collaborative efforts with fellow Isle Of Wight resident, and Hedmuk mainstay, Sepia. Whilst arguably yet to pin down a specific sound and call it his own, the young producer shows promise with his willingness to try on different styles, rotating tempos and rhythmic approaches with abandon. On 'Paimei' he's struck gold, digging into the proto-dubstep sound that emerged from garage's early-noughties fling with breakbeat. Reminiscent of the likes of Toasty, Horespower Productions and Search & Destroy, the tune revels in its drums, making way only for a rolling sub-bass and occasional - though equally percussive - kung fu samples.

Download: Ming Da Mercilus - Paimei [WAV]
                      Ming Da Mercilus - Paimei [320kbps mp3]



W.

Review: Gantz - Spry Sinister / Rising [MEDI078]

Despite a general mantra of valuing quality over quantity, the latter can sometimes fall out of sync with the number of words-worthy releases pouring out of the scene. This, then, is the first of an ongoing series of guest contributions from Silas Howison-Waughray, and what better way to cut your teeth here on Hedmuk than on a landmark release in the burgeoning career of one of our favourite artists? - W.

Words: Silas Howison-Waughray

With previous releases on Box Clever, Innamind and more, Gantz is a name already well-established in the scene and has been supported by a myriad of influential DJs. The Turkish producer's debut release for Mala's increasingly-pioneering imprint - the first 12" of the year for the label - is a unique combination of what fans have come to expect from both Medi and from Gantz himself. The A-side, ‘Spry Sinister’, opens with a scattered vocal sample mirrored tightly in a triplet percussion arrangement and pitched rim shots before the track moves effortlessly into a head-nodding, mood-swinging sub-bass pattern. Undoubtedly the off-kilter feel of the track will have bedroom DJs scratching their heads and Serato fans reinstalling their software, however producing something slightly off-centre is normal for Gantz, who tends to shy away from any conventional approach to production.

The flip side, ‘Rising’ with El Mahdy Jr, is reminiscent of Digital Mystikz’ 2004 release for Big Apple, ‘Pathwayz’, taking influence from past greats and then moving off in a completely different direction. Once again the drum pattern is original and slightly unusual, with a heavily syncopated rhythm dressed with exotic vocals and eerie instrumental sections. This side of the release really draws attention to Gantz’ ability to produce something out of the ordinary but within roughly the same parameters that we know and love.

This, simply put, is yet another fine example of Gantz’ unrivalled abilities and Deep Medi’s forward-thinking take on 140bpm music.





Gantz - 'Spry Sinister' / 'Rising' will be released on January the 13th 2014, and is available to pre-order from the Deep Medi Surus store now.

Silas has written for Gottwood, Urban Nerds, Mavrik, and MisDigest, is one half (guess which) of Silas & Snare Surgeon, and a resident DJ for the Leeds-based Brotherhood Soundsystem.