MAY
It's getting warm and it's not just what we've got planned.
Okay, it's been a while, though it's been a period of slow build. As we slowly roll ourselves out of winter and into the gloriousness of a Vancouver spring, the buds on the Konspiracy tree are quietly beginning to bloom.
We can confirm that Kuma's long awaited four track 12" on Greece's Creative Space wlll be going ahead. Look for the ad in The Wire. This one will include the original version of Luminescent, The Coming, Secret Chord and one other fuzz based excursion.
Lady Eve has cut an exclusive ambient mix for our good friends at M:cast Radio. You can download it here
ATL excursions into the Pac-NW are few and far between but we are happy to bring attention to Sharaab's forthcoming appearance here in Vancouver on June 18th at Video-In Studios. Our very own Motomasa will be one of the opening acts at an evening of Om Radio transmissions, desi bass and eastern vibes. It'll be big.
The next TKG Music release is in the works.
TKG004 will be Sharmaji's “Radha Prepares” b/w his remix of Kuma's “Luminescent.” The final track could be Kuma's “Kuroshiro,” it could be something special that Lady Eve has in the works. You'll just have to wait and see.
“Radha Prepares” features the tremendous Samita Sinha on vocals and it's by far the most joyous dubstep tune we can think of. In a day and age of testosterone laden bullshit, Radha Prepares in an invocation of pure joy. Light and effortless, it's a miraculous fusion of East Indian vocal music and East London via New York Bassweight. It's slain dance floors every time we've dropped and we are honored to be helping it come to light.
The flip is Sharmaji's reworking of Kuma's “Luminescent.” Tablas, techno and garage meet in a hellacious fusion of groove oriented dubstep. Where the original (set for release on Creative Space) was a Shoegazing tabla driven piece of melancholy, Sharmaji has cranked up the engine and set the phasers to kill. We love it and hope you will too.
Track three? We'll, you'll just have to wait and see.
TKG005 will be Kuma's “What It's Not.” It's being vocalled. It's being remixed. Just you wait.
The “Of Silence and Secrecy” 12” is out there and doing well. TKG003 is still our heaviest statement of intent to date and you can pick up it up in stores now.
The digital package for TKG003 is set for release soon, the extras will be Flippo's ambient deconstruction of “Of Silence and Secrecy” and Vancouver producer Woodhead's tech-house versioning of Kuma's digital stepper “You Don't.” Until full digital distribution is sorted, you can pick it up here.
Kuma has finished a few remixes which will be out and about shortly. The “Chiming Of Southern Belles” Remix of New York kings Sub Swara. He's also finished a remix of Clubroot for the good people at Portland's LoDubs. Both mixes have been on lockdown but should be making an appearance on Kuma's “Hymns For The Explosive” mix which is out now
Did we mention we'll be at Mutek this year? Come holler, just look for Kuma, he's easy to spot.
Gunshae are slowly ramping back up after a few months of quiet. You can hear brand new tunes “The Fires You Ran From and “Relevos Suicida” on their Myspace. “The Fires You Ran From” was released in its entirety as part of CSAF Record's 10-20-10 download series. You can grab it here.
The 2010 Panambient event is currently being schemed, planned and negotiated. We look forward to announcing it soon, slightly different than the original plans may have pushed us in but it looks to be pretty awesome.
Forward Series? Oh, it's coming.
JANUARY
Well hello there 2010, don't you look all pretty and such.
The Den welcomed in the year in presence of bass and chaos, not a bad way to begin. Followed by quiet, peace and a frolicking through the ways of man 2010 looks to be one of our best years yet.
2009....well, in many ways we could curse 2009 and be deeply thankful it's done with. But we are mindful that these things are part of the natural way of things. One cannot expect perfection in this day and age.
2009 brought us a great many wondrous things that we found ourselves blessed by. The release of the Of Silence and Secrecy 12”. Another successful Panambient show, this time alongside the good people at Seattle's Decibel festival. A great many connections made, collaborations of all kinds begun and a reminder that always, out of darkness comes light.
So, a new year is upon us, let's talk about what's to come.
TKG003 is out there and we'd like to thank everyone that's supported it, played and talked about it. We've been please as punch at the response and if you're not on top of it, you can pick it up at the spots listed below.
Boomkat
Juno
Sounds Of The Universe
Cargo
Redeye
Chemical
We're currently wrapping up the digital package for those of you that prefer your music inna digital style. The TKG003 digital package will include all three tracks from the 12” as well as Flippo's Heat Death remix of “Of Silence and Secrecy” and Woodshed's re-versioning of Kuma's “You Don't.”
TKG004 welcomes New York's Sharmaji of Sub Swara fame with his epic devotional “Radha Prepares” which features the mighty Samita Sinha on vocals. On the flip, Sharmaji wraps his hands around Kuma's tabla driven stormier “Luminescent" and Lady Eve returns with a lush ambient excursion that has yet to be named.
TKG005 we can announce , it will be Kuma's “What It's Not.” This one's another psychedelic garage rhythm but with a special twist. We're going to be having it vocalled by a number of the top voices in International bass music. We're quite excited at the possibilities inherent in the project as well as the fact that we've locked up a remix which should be quite the treat.
Moving away from releases, plans for this years Forward Sound and Panambient shows are under way as well. We expect FWDSND005 at some point this spring. The 2010 edition of the Panambient series is currently being negotiated, discussions point in directions as far east as Hong Kong and as far south as Mexico. You'll just have to wait and see.
In more specifics:
KUMA
Kuma has completed a pair of remixes which should see the light in 2010. One is for a nice group of lads from New York whose work we've admired for ages. The other is for a West Coast label who are a slam dunk in terms of forward thinking material in the sound system culture vein. We'll leave it to them to make the official announcements but it should be coming soon.
We've also licensed Kuma's “Of Silence and Secrecy” and “Secret Chord” for a compilation that will be dropping on a label we've loved and admired for a looooooong time. Ears to the ground on that one.
We're also very pleased to announce the beginning of Kuma's Ursa Major project. The biggest thing the fuzzy dancing one has ever bitten into, we look forward to presenting it to you in its full glory this year.
Oh yeah, he's now playing live too.
GUNSHAE
The Gun remains stalwart in its meshing of acoustic and electronic hybrids. A recent live set with good people of Accordion Noir can be downloaded herefor your listening pleasure.
Gunshae is currently at work on their second record. Currently entitled “This Collected Twilight”, it's Gunshae best work yet. Completely improvised ambient excursions into the Ultraworld, we love it and you will too.
Somewhere within space and time lies a collaborative project we'll simply refer as the Way Of The Gun. We're reaching out to people, they're firing back. It's the Gun at its essence.
Gunshae's “A History Of Invocations” will debut as part of the Symbiosis Episode 42 podcast at Overlap.org.You want a taste of the new album, this is it.
You can also download Gunshae's remix of the Watersons' “Hal-an-tow” as part of the Bubblegumcage's Acid Folk Remix project here
MOTOMASA
Ears to the ground, Motomasa is on some serious studio business in 2010.
LADY EVE
Is off making field recordings.
AND THEN...
Something else is stirring. It's working title is “My Black Eye Casts No Shadow” and it's unlike anything that has ever come out our confines. Expect slow leakage over time but this will be very exciting. Strong style songs with bass, vocal and soul.
It doesn't stop in 2010, keep watching the skies and your bassbins.
December 2009
The end of the year is upon us, but that's never stopped us before and won't stop us now. We don't sleep people and nether should you as some of our biggest projects yet have come to fruition.
We are proud to let everyone know that our first vinyl release is now in stores. TKG003 is Kuma's Of Silence and Secrecy 12" and it's now in stores. As of today it's available from the following retailers.
Boomkat
Juno
Sounds Of The Universe
Cargo
Redeye
Chemical
a) Kuma- Of Silence and Secrecy
aa1) Kuma- Of Silence and Secrecy (Flippo's Omega Point Remix)
aa2) Abunaii- Angels (Motomasamix)
The digital package for the release will launch on January with a bonus remix from Flippo and Woodhead's remix of Kuma's You Don't. Don't forget to check the review in the November issue of DJ Mag.
We are currently in the midsts of expanding our digital sales presence. The first step in that process is to launch the official Gunshae digital sales page. Wanna get the Gunshae album? Other bits and pieces? Click here.
Gunshae have finished a piece called A History Of Invocations which will be featured on Symbiosis Radio, the legendary weekly podcast hosted at Christopher Willits' Overlap.org.
We've begun to update the Panambient Cascadia web page with photos from the day. There's a bunch of shots from Lady Eve up there now and we'll be updating it soon.
The feedback has been paticularly positive, with Dave Segal of the Seattle's the Stranger having some lovely words for Jonah Sharp and Resident Advisor, giving us the thumbs up.
November 2009
Well hello...
Yay for database crashes! Bare with us while we make the website gods happy again, we appear to back and running at full strength but lord knows there may be a few smaller things that aren't looking right.
We are currently in the midsts of expanding our digital sales presence as we get closer to the official launch of the release of TKG003 aka Kuma's Of Silence and Secrecy 12". The first step in that process is to launch the official Gunshae digital sales page. Wanna get the Gunshae album? Other bits and pieces? Click here.
We are currently in recovery from this year's Panambient show. We'd like to extend a great deal of thanks to everyone at the Decibel Festival in Seattle for being such a pleasure to work with (out to Sean, Ben, Erica, Travis, et all), Sole Repair for being such wonder hosts (kudos and thanks to Grace), to everyone who laid down the sonic wonder for us this year (Spacetime Continuum, Gel Sol, X41, Connct_icut and Seiche) and to all of you who showed up and helped to make it what felt like the best Panambient show yet.
We've begun to update the Panambient Cascadia website with photos from the day. There's a bunch of shots from Lady Eve up there now and we'll be updating with more in the days to come.
The feedback has been paticularly positive, with Dave Segal of the Seattle's the Stranger having some lovely words for Jonah Sharp and Resident Advisor, giving us the thumbs up.
TKG003, Kuma's Of Silence and Secrecy 12" has been mastered for vinyl by the legends at Transition in London and will be on store shelves October 19th, or thereabouts. Test pressings sounded excellent and we're stoked to finally be able to make this happen. We are truly stoked to not only be putting out what we feel is the best dubstep that Kuma has ever written but to be making it a proper package with Flippo's epic demolishing of a remix and Motomasa's 808 workout on his remix of Abunaii. We're also working out the digital package which will likely have a few bonus bits including the ambient version of Flippo's remix so keep your ears to the ground. There's audio on the TKG003 page or on our myspace.
September 2009
Well hello...
The end of summer brings new horizons, changes and lord knows, a lot of good stuff. Come join us, won't you?
In conjunction with the Decibel Festival, the Konspiracy Group proudly presents the fifth edition of the traveling experience that is the Panambient Series. After getting seriously ambient in Tokyo, Vancouver, San Francisco and Atlanta, TKG thought it would only be appropriate to bring the downbeat back to the Pacific Northwest for our fifth anniversary.
It's time for the Panambient Cascadia. Lie down, be counted, let your Northwest flag fly.
In partnership with Seattle's legendary Decibel Festival, we are proud to bring together some of Cascadia's finest in the form of Gel-Sol, Seiche, Connect_icut, X-41 and TKG's own cosmic orchestra, Gunshae. Top this off with a headlining set from Spacetime Continuum and it's an afternoon of food, art and ambience in one of the most unique spaces in the Pacific Northwest. In other words, another Panambient Session.
Mark the calendar, September 26th, Sole Repair, Seattle. Further details to be announced shortly.
On a slightly more rhythmic tip, TKG003, Kuma's Of Silence and Secrecy 12" has been mastered for vinyl by the legends at Transition in London and should see the light of day very soon. Test pressings are on their way and we are looking at an early fall release. We are truly stoked to not only be putting out what we feel is the best dubstep that Kuma has ever written but to be making it a proper package with Flippo's epic demolishing of a remix and Motomasa's 808 workout on his remix of Abunaii. We're also working out the digital package which will likely have a few bonus bits so keep your ears to the ground. There's audio on the TKG00 page or on our myspace.
Summer 2009
Well hello...
We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to everyone that made it out to FWDSNDWAV on July 10th and to everyone we had the pleasure seeing an working with at Soundwave this year. We can testify for a fact that you will likely never see Move D in Vancouver in as intimate a setting ever again. There may be recordings as well. There will be photos shortly.
It has always been a pleasure to work with the gents behind Soundwave and this year was no exception. All praise need to get to T&T, who truly are the lifeblood of that event. Much love to Reagenz, Hataken Machines for amazing sets repping the family and out to all the crew, sound people that kept that thing running. You're all awesome.
So, this begs the question...what's next?
TKG003, Kuma's Of Silence and Secrecy 12" has been mastered for vinyl by the legends at Transition in London and should see the light of day very soon. We are truly stoked to not only be putting out what we feel is the best thing that Kuma has ever written but to making it a proper proper package with Flippo's epic demolishing of a remix and Motomasa's 808 workout on his remix of Abunaii. We're also working out the digital package which will likely have a few bonus bits.
Then, there's the 2009 edition of the Panambient series. We're calling it the Pamabient Cascade and it'll be in Seattle very soon. More details to come but needless to say, we're going to blow your minds.
Change, ladies and gentlemen, remains afoot.
To quote a force of nature I know, "Change Is In The Air."
Bruises and scars not withstanding, you will note that the good ship TKG is perhaps heading in a new direction. Despite changing winds, names leaving, names joining, names evaporating, we continue along the same path we have always forged.. We haven't stopped honouring the same things that made us start doing this all those years ago, so dont expect anything less.
We have secured the long rumoured distro deal for vinyl and pending the time that comes with being dependent on the ways of others, we look forward to cementing our legacy in 12" format relatively soon. TKG003 remains in essence, the proper raised fist/middle finger that we have always hoped it would be. We do not call ourselves North American dubstep pioneers because it looks good on paper, we do it because we were there risking rent and rep long before most others.
Summer 2009 brings a great many intriging projects to the fore. We look forward to making our presence known at this year's edition of the Soundwave Music Festival in Uculet, BC. Not only will our dear friend Hataken be returning to spread Nihon no analogue virus; Kuma, Lady Eve and Motomasa will be there as will Gunshae, sailing the flagship into Mussel Beach for some serious live panambience. Soundwave remains one of our fave places to play and we are once again honoured for the third year in a row to be working with the family.
We are also hopefully bringing together some friends for Soundwave that may get you moving deep across that double fine zone, but that's to be announced once everything comes together.
In the meantime...
Kuma has 12"s due on Creative Space and TKG Music. Keep an eye out for the live pa, it's finally coming together.
Have you heard Kuma's new downtempo mix?
Lady Eve will be making an appearance on TKG004, her first vinyl release. We just need her to curb her wanderlust and actually get sampling kyudo seminars.
Gunshae will put out album number two when they are good and ready. In the emantime, prepare for alchemy.
Motomasa? Wouldn't you like to know. Remember what the Jungle Brothers said. "Girl, you in my hut now..."
The Konspiracy continues...watch the skies and your bassbins.