Eww: It's the Ill Blu Hype Thread

lol

Ill Blu are ace always thought it.

http://www.sonicrouter.com/2011/03/recommended-ill-blu-meltdown-ep-numbers/

p.s. I'll happily go on a hunny moon, if anyone is paying I'm skint and need a holiday. Thanx.

thanx for the shout out rtc I fee lat home now ilm goons are calling me out yay!

ooh, as if i could afford that little minx.

seriously titch i really don't understand how you can be so wrong and bad about the new stuff, it is plainly some of the most exciting music in donkeys. i'm struggling thinking what else to say here!

The only thing I'd say about the new bits is that sometimes its a bit ott and dramatic. Not really in a bad way, I'm splitting hairs really. I've just got to be in the mood for it, they've always had that dramatic edge to them but they're really pushing it to the extream at times now and its a bit much and doesn't get the killer raw rolling groove I dig from funky going as much as older bits. They push more and more epic moments into tracks and its cool but I miss that groove a bit unless I'm in turbo drama mode. They still kill it and are some of the best producers around in the scene right now.

erm where did i say it wasnt good? of course its exciting. just think a few of them were surprisingly 'tudey. and i stand by what i said that if caspa (or d1 even) was playing funky, i can imagine this would be *totally* up their street. its got a lot of shared qualities. i know you guys think that ill blu must live in a bubble and wouldnt pay dubstep guys any mind but hello, theyve been on numbers, hyperdub... its not out of the question to think that they might be thinking it might be cool/nice to do something a bit outside their usual box. or that gasp, it might have just rubbed off on them a bit. yes i know it could of course be inadvertent influence from old house tracks but i dunno, dubstep is so unignorable these days, eg - when they did that mix on 1xtra, it was on (unless im mistaken) of all things mistajams 'daily dose of dubstep'!

jimi, life is all downhill once you fail to get rtcs stamp of approval.

ps - that deep teknologi track around 80 mins on that recent rinse show is stupidly good.

jimi, OTM

if they ramp up this angle too far, itll be close to funky in the wobble zone

or at the very least, they will be doing a roska

i still don't know what there is to bitch about - you're prattling on about dubstep as if invoking it however vaguely has any bearing to anyone on the material's excellence. i've already said a few times actually that ill blu are outgrowing the scene to an extent, but that isn't to say that their tracks have become indigestible in funky terms either; there's never not been a space for this kind of tuffness in the "genre" and if anything the issue as far as there is one currently is whether dj's are articulating it as fully as they could be doing. otherwise you could chide a million funky classics for not singularly encapsulating funky's groove as it were - that's not how it's ever worked.

i suspect the fact that these new tunes have only cropped up in their own barnstormer sets so far has put a distorting emphasis on you lads' view of the bigger picture.

The categorical error here is thinking that ott drama and a rolling groove are somehow mutually exclusive. I can't see how the new material can be faulted from the second perspective. The caspa comparison might make sense if the kineticism of the tunes was falling away and the whole point of the tunes was the drop. In the absence of that happening the comparison is simply trying to tie negative associations around muscularity and drama. You could as easily reference hyper-on experience, total science, black strobe or Danny weed. Each of these would have misleading implications. Analogy isn't destiny.

Quite aside from the fact that their new tunes are no more ott than "time to get nasty" from late 2008 or the "bring it back remix" from 2009. If this was going to cause them to jump the shark it would have happened by now.

Everybody knows and complains about the fact that I'm sensitively attuned to funky producers straying from the one true path. Obv I'd be the first to call out Ill Blu if that actually looked likely.

But it's not as simple as "does this tune sound like dubstep yes/no", when producers fall off it's much more about a dramatic reduction in vibe and (in particular) a self-conscious distancing from their own most pleasurable and cheesy tricks and tactics. Whereas this is the precise thing that Ill Blu are so good at finding new ways to develop.

Yeah your last point is a good one rtc - "meltdown" and "chelt" make more sense as funky tunes in the context of a typical funky dj set. And everyone plays them, so I don't get a sense that people within the scene feel alienated by the duo's direction.

this is why i love ilx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsmwPFkv7ko

RIP FUNKY!!!!!!!!!!

oh wait no it's just a banger, my bad

I wouldn't say that drama and groove are exclusive no. I just don't get as much groove from the newer bits as I did before. They're still shit hot at drum programing but the tracks go off on one in other departments and distract from it a bit at times. Time To Get Nasty is pretty ott but its not reaching the hights of bits in the Master Jam set in that department, it swings back into tight hard hitting grooves pretty quick after the big builds. Its not synth rush after build after synth rush... I'm still on board with them I just woudln't be that fussed about hearing their music in one big chunk, it works better broken up and used as a massive dramatic peak. Nowt wrong with that. They pretty much only make anthems, which are always better used sparingly for me, they have more impact then.

nice! loved the mistajam mix when i downloaded it a couple months ago, ill start digging my way through their other new stuff

Building on this discussion, I'd say that arguably Ill Blu takes Caspa-esque dubstep's banger mentality and does it properly, that is: bangers that are for dancing rather than just (head)banging.

And in truth "Bhangra Knights" actually is a dubstep tune, or at any rate close to it, but again: if Caspa actually sounded like (or rather, as good as) this I could totally get on board with yobstep.

I should clarify that my statement on the funky house sceptics thread to the effect that Ill Blu's occasional similarities to dubstep felt inadvertent wasn't meant to suggest that they don't know or like or are influenced by dubstep, but rather that if I had to guess at what they were really reacting to it would be "Pon De Floor" et. al but with the raviness intensified - that is the thread that seems to unite "Bhangra Knights", "Dirty Monkey", "Warp Speed" and "Get Freaky With You". That brings them close to dubstep at times and I'm sure they're well aware of that, but it doesn't feel like an aesthetic they're making a concerted effort to embrace.

Certainly Ill Blu's weakest tracks are their sparer non-dramatic efforts (e.g. "Dragon Pop") so if it's a choice between them veering towards Caspa or them veering towards Scratcha DVA or Mala, I think I'll actually take the former.

I <3 Dragon Pop the bassline is awsome. I've had it in my head since I fist heard it. Such a quality bump to it. Plus it sounds massive on a nice club soundsystem.

ive yet to hear them going more towards mala/dva territory (mala and scratcha dont occupy the same sort of space anyway) so that seems like a false binary to me. the idea of their dramatic stuff vs dragon pop stuff is pointless, as they do both really well, without it sounding like a concession to anyone. ie dragon pop is too funky/percussive for dubstep. dubstep does bongos/percussive stuff but its never very groove-ful. its stiff. the main difference id say is just that their tracks have gotten 'bigger', 'better' produced, whereas the old tracks mostly in general were minimal rollers, and spare, more like grime. they seem to be making more complex (lots of big synth lines, more changes it seems, esp compared to something like that redlight tune posted above, which is a total banger, but a lot more stripped down compared to meltdown etc) stuff now, at the same time as theyre getting more intense and harder, almost abrasive. but then as for timelines, who knows, meltdown is about two years old.

that seems like a false binary to me. the idea of their dramatic stuff vs dragon pop stuff is pointless, as they do both really well, without it sounding like a concession to anyone.

You and jimi started this false binary in the first place by contrasting drama with rhythm. Of course it's a false binary, that was my entire fucking point.

they do both really well, without it sounding like a concession to anyone. ie dragon pop is too funky/percussive for dubstep. dubstep does bongos/percussive stuff but its never very groove-ful. its stiff.

You were the one criticising me upthread for denying that they've gone dubstep.

the binary i was talking about was the choice of them going into dmz or caspa mode. i was never talking about dragon pop being concessionary, or at least, displaying an awareness of dubstep, it was the newer tracks, and a particular sort of dubstep aesthetic which i seem to hear there, ie dominating/maximal inyerface synth blasts. i never really considered DP being a response to dubstep dominance, even though it does nail the hyperdub aesthetic pretty well.

so when it's a direction you do like it's a false binary but a direction you don't like it's a real one?

Tinchy only you could turn a thread about the most banging shit in the entire world into this kind of tedious handwringing.

had a listen to the rinse fm mix while running today (lol the only time i listen to dj mixes now, slightly older man's compartmentalised life etc) and really liked it. tho i was more into the first hour with the vocal stuff than the second hour or so. lots of it is so refreshing tho, just raw energetic dance music with no piousness going on.

Haha, in that case you should just hang out on the funky house skeptics thread ronan.

The first track, carnao's "get out", is a longtime favorite of mine - reminds me of mark bell's "woman cry" and the like.

Finally released on that EP rtc linked to upthread.

for the bird, for the geezer, introductory funky listener, wicked selecta:

ILL BLU 29th MARCH

Carnao Beats ft Teeboy & Kadey - Get Out
Dakar - I've Got That Feeling
??
Barber Bizzle ft Miss Fire - Do You Feel The Same (Remix)
Funky Twinz ft Angel J - Smile
Roska ft Nikki - Energy
Chang-Sam - Don't Hold Back
Ill Blu - Blu Magic

----- 30 mins
Ill Blu ft Shanique - Say Yes
Bassjackers & Apster - Klambu (Seany B Refix)
Miss Fire - 004FH
DJ Mystery - Room 101
Fingaprint - Night Time (DVA's Hi Emotions Remix)
LR Groove - ?
Ill Blu - Chelt
DJ Eastwood - Oh Yeah
Shay & Sinista - Big Up Yaself
DVA - Flute Tune

----- 60 mins
Ill Blu - Time To Get Nasty
A1 Bassline - Shock Headed
Ill Blu - Get Freaky With You
??
Ill Blu - Monsta
Champion -
Undisputed - Sunglasses
J Bevin - Zulu
??

----- 90 mins
Ill Blu - Funerealness
Toddska - Gal From England
Ill Blu - Good Time (Version)
Ill Blu - Alrite Mate
Bassboy & Marcus Nasty - Next Funky
Ill Blu - ?
DJ Naughty ft Miss Fire - It's You
Black Coffee ft Bucie - Superman
Teedra Moses - Be Your Girl (Perempay n Dee Remix)

Excellent work.

Ill Blu - Funerealness

Do we agree this is them? It doesn't seem as obviously Ill Blu as with, say, "Get Freaky With You". OTOH I couldn't guess at who else it might be.

Damn r|t|c! Thanks for the tracklist. This might be the best set I've heard this year so far.

haha really..? i was just thinking this is the same 7/10 set they always play on a tuesday! it's not like they're really putting their backs into it.

(seem to recall there was one particular ill blu show a few months ago i thought was notably good, and i believe i said so on the funky thread at the time. unfortunately though if i havent already lost it then i won't have access to to for a while, so if anyone would care to oblige...?)

a funky 7/10 is obv better than most of all yalls infinities though so i'm glad people are enjoying it whatever!

Do we agree this is them? It doesn't seem as obviously Ill Blu as with, say, "Get Freaky With You". OTOH I couldn't guess at who else it might be.

it certainly takes shape a little differently than usual but the orchestration at very least is surely unmistakeable. i just can't imagine otherwise. the other thing in favour of it is i think if we'd first heard 'alrite mate' uncredited we'd have had a harder time guessing that was them than this.

Perhaps an overstatement, but I've found it far more exciting than a lot of my other go-to shows lately (Marcus, Smoove Kriminal, etc.), It feels nice, rough, and dirty. A lot of other sets have tended to go a more sophisticated route lately, it seems. I don't like the edges worn off of my funky.

http://soundcloud.com/goochionline/illmana-vs-goochi-bossman

not saying it's remotely on the same level but did you ever hear this other bit of inflationesque drama btw? think handy andy on the other place has also mentioned it. i was thinking mixed over something that rolls it could be a thing. (xp)

can't remember if i mightnt have just been feeling charitable but i quite enjoyed the last marcus show (with depeo); hard to pick out an outstanding radio set this year though i agree.

11th january ill blu set was the one i highlighted if anyone's got that

That Illmana track is lovely. It's not quite "Kiss You", but those strings and flourishes are amazing. I've got to say I love the bassline folks producing this stuff.

it certainly takes shape a little differently than usual but the orchestration at very least is surely unmistakeable. i just can't imagine otherwise. the other thing in favour of it is i think if we'd first heard 'alrite mate' uncredited we'd have had a harder time guessing that was them than this.

This is true. "Bhangra Knights" and "Do That" too probably. They seem to be branching in more different directions than before.

Notwithstanding its recognisable Ill Blu-ness, "Get Freaky With You" is notable for switching up its rhythmic attack several times, like "we have so many beats." There's the stuttery first breakdown, the breakbeaty second breakdown and the snare-overload third breakdown. I can't think of another recent track that is so generous rhythmically.

'chelt' too i think was quite an unexamined departure for them, despite it having been accepted without question.

as you say though, there's a implacable ease in their turning the screw every which way that belies titchy's fingerpointing, not to mention a variety that makes a mockery of any simple reduction to "dubstep".

in fairness to the little fella however, as absorptive as funky is in itself there is perhaps value yet in loosely trying to corrall whatever vibe it is it's picking up: a kind of mistajamified urban brit frankendance beyond (and largely uninterested in) the crippled ring-the-alarm horizons of dubstep, hyperdub, future garage, factmusic et al. a world of mike delinquent remixes, d double e on dnb, and the crown prince maverick sabre. (was dizzie really as reactive as first seemed with tongue n cheek?)

btw tim i was flabbergasted to find that you'd already just had the exact same dubstep argument from this thread back in january re britney? you bloody love it you slag.

told you it was just a regular set didnt i!

ILL BLU 12th MARCH

Carnao Beats ft Teeboy & Kadey - Get Out
?? [¡levantate! (what is this thing anyway, it's great?)]
Murdz 86 - No Glitches
DJ Eastwood - Oh Yeah
Bassboy & Marcus Nasty - Next Funky
DVA - Flute Tune
Chang-Sam - Don't Hold Back
Cooly G - ?

----- 30 mins
Lil Silva - Cheese & Bun
DJ Mystery - Room 101
Fuzzy Logik ft Myshy - Playground
Bassboy & Marcus Nasty - Stamp
?? [46']
Ill Blu - Get Freaky With You
Mr Tickle - Citrus Oxide
Toddska - Gal From England

----- 60 mins
SP ft Rosita - Right Side
Ill Blu - [mind's gone blank]
DJ Q ft Louise Williams - Over
Roska - ?
Ill Blu - Chelt
Funkystepz - ? [new!]
Ill Blu - Monsta
Selah ft Donaeo - Out My House
Funky Twinz ft Angel J - Smile

----- 90 mins
Ill Blu ft Shanique - Take It Low
Lil Silva - ? [slyly incorporating the 'good life' sound...]
Ill Blu - Meltdown
A1 Bassline - Shock Headed
GuGu - RockAByeBaby
Ill Blu - Alrite Mate
Roska ft Nikki - Energy
Miss Fire - Crazy
Encore - Wind Up (Ill Blu Remix)

MARCH APRIL

I was gonna namecheck frankendance!

who knows about maverick sabre? is anyone in the world really ready to discuss maverick sabre? i think i'm ready to discuss maverick sabre.

in particular i would like to hear the views of a local garda regarding this preposterous pikey.

Tell me about him/her/them.

i saw an awful maverick sabre vid on youtube, awful song too. that's about all i can say.

11th january ill blu set was the one i highlighted if anyone's got that

― r|t|c

here : http://www.mediafire.com/?2mosm2htqj95hhe

OMG! 'get freaky with you' is such a banger. best funky track of the year, so far? most likely.

I'm starting to think so!

a kind of mistajamified urban brit frankendance

This sound is going to be huge but it already overlaps with Rusko and Chase & Status and people as well though doesn't it? Might have been what Tinchy was blindly fumbling towards at to an extent.

best funky track of the year, so far? most likely.

funkystepz' forthcoming face off ep is astonishingly great

there's a track called "piano storm" in particular which is just >>>>>>>

piano storm

This is right in the Ill Blu tradition of "look, we want you to know well in advance that this is going to be amazing" titles.

Yeah "Piano Storm" is great. Was originally the backing music for some remix of a pop tune I think? But was a bit too massive and "look at me!" to work well in that context? Trying to remember back to funkystepz mixes circa Feb 2010.

Funkystepz' "Warrior" also an amazing tune that hopefully will get a release soon (and "Lovers"!!! Please!!!!)

Yeah the interviewer was on some bullshit there too.

She seems a bit hung up on UK Funky being "over." It's quite an uninspiring premise for an interview. I'd rather just hear about their new material tbh.

"In the summers of 2008 and 2009, UK funky was the sound. At Numbers parties in Glasgow, I could barely finish a drink without hearing Jackmaster drop the in-your-face silliness of Piddy Py - 'Giggle Riddim..."

interviewer is clueless, that was a bassline tune, nothing like uk funky

Well if you're basing your understanding of what was going on in UK funky on what Jackmaster was dropping at parties in Glasgow...

But you know, seriously, this is the kind of take that would make sense to a lot of people.

It's almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy:

"I almost view UK funky as a club tool or a series of motifs, rather than a genre or style in itself. Sort of like what Night Slugs now do with Club Constructions - that's why Lil Silva managed to grow with their camp."

People who never really viewed uk funky as a style in its own right are always gonna see it that way.

But I should stop distracting from the greatness of Ill Blu!