Eww: It's the Ill Blu Hype Thread

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!!!!)

the tracks on the EP are champion/loca moca/piano storm/shocker - all amazing, so much house piano

yeah, 'warrior' is probably the one tune around right now that can son any ill blu number in a epic monster beef

the swing of it once it gets going is just !!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf6o2pg4WJ0&feature=related

never heard this before, is at the end of the march rinse fm set. amazing tune...

Ronan I assume you know "Turn Me On" as well??

no...just listening now.

the above reminds me a lot of elle by dj gregory or the francois k remix of moloko, could imagine the former being played in an in ill blu set. i like the whole set a lot actually, getting more into the more banger type stuff.

i love the track just before the sound cuts off for whatev reason at about 1hr 37 mins...

Driving listening to the weeknd and frank ocean whos with me? 2:07 AM Apr 12th via Twitter for iPhone

Ronan from memory that's an instrumental of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFW9lb1Mr0o

In my private version of reality the "Good Times" and "Green Light" remixes were as big as Guru Josh's "Infinity".

Driving listening to the weeknd and frank ocean whos with me? 2:07 AM Apr 12th via Twitter for iPhone

― Will.Have.Known (Local Garda), Sunday, April 17, 2011 10:17 AM (6 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

:-/

that was ill blu btw...i don't have an active twitter or a car...and have never heard frank ocean. i thought the weekend was okay and i do have an iphone.

ha nah i knew what you meant.

If anyone can see fit to use their expertise to upload "Get Freaky With You" to youtube, I will credit you in a (non-remunerative) piece of internet-writing thereby ensuring you achieve instant and eternal fame.