with our feet on the ground and our head in the clouds » MUSIC

Matchstick

the hippo — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:41:42 +0000

This short by Jeff Scher for American Royalty is an audio/visual treat. The animation flows fluidly with the song, and its refreshing to see an art music video. The song is great, and its exciting to see the AR lads develop into such shredding rockers and talented musicians. Their new EP is out on vinyl (ROOTS) 2/7 and digitally 2/14, and if you haven’t yet GO SEE THEM LIVE.

Waves ≠ Raves v. 17

the hippo — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:41:04 +0000

“The waves ≠ raves consists of hand-picked gems that inspire us, tickling and tempting our creative juices. Some are old, some are new, but it is what we are listening to now. They are groovey, flowing, and sun-kissed just like that perfect wave. They are uplifting and guaranteed to put a smile on your face. They sound the best with a babe in one hand, a cold brewski in the other, and the sand beneath your feet. Stay Dreamy.” – Tropicool, GDD/Mindtai

Waves ≠ Raves Vol. 17
• Salvatore Stallone – Heaven (Medellin Remix)
• Miami Horror – Summersun (Cadillac Remix)
• Jamiroquai – Runaway
• Mickey Moonlight – Close to Everything
• Zimmer – Looking At You
• Gigamesh – Red Light (Goldroom Remix)
• Anton Romezz – Marzipan World
• Cadillac – Make You Feel ft. Tesla Boy
• Yuksek – Always On the Run (Villa Remix)
• Walter Sobcek – Miami (Pharao Black Magic)
• Friendly Fires – Hurting (Tensnake Remix)
• Ben Browning – I Can’t Stay (Juan Maclean Remix)
• Late Nite Tuff Guy – Not In Love Anymore (LNTG Remix)
• Lou Teti – Talk About It
• Crazy P – Open For Service

All files zipped HERE

Curated by Tropicool

Art as always, by yours truly.

Garage Froth vol. 3

the hippo — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:25:20 +0000

Volume 3 of our Garage Rock mix tape series, curated by Neutral Features.

DOWNLOAD HERE

1. “Cestlamode” – Annie Philippe
2. “Only Seventeen” – The Beatle-ettes
3. “Venus” – Cold Coffee
4. “Somebody’s Girl” – The Deepest Blue
5. “Buenos Aires Beat” – La Barra De Chocolate
6. “Noite de luar” – Os Dramaticos
7. “I saw that Girl” – Os Ekos
8. “Kicks” – Paul Revere & the Raiders
9. “Hurtin’ All Over” – The Pleazers
10. “The Witch” – The Sonics
11. “Au Secours Aidez-Moi” – Sophie Mansart
12. “Moon Relay” – The Vistas
13. “I’m Gonna Destroy That Boy” – The What Four

This was what @NeutralFeatures said about this mix, and it is pretty much rock n roll/your teen years in a nut shell…

“There is no “musical theme” to this mix. This mix is based on a relationship I had about a year ago. This highs and lows. Each track embodies a different period of our time together.

“The Sonics can pretty much sum up our dalliance:

“Say there’s a girl
Who’s new in town Well,
you better watch out now
Or she´ll put you down
’cause she’s an evil chick
Say she’s the witch.

She got a long black hair
And a big black car
I know what you’re thinking
But you won’t get far
She gonna make you itch
’cause she’s the witch.

Welcome to Garage Froth Vol. 3

Sorry if that’s too cheesy.”

CHECK OUT
Garage Froth v.1
Garage Froth v.2

@PRODIGYMOBBDEEP

the hippo — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:04:15 +0000

The Legend, Prodigy, in a Camo Space Eyez Ampal Snapback.

Shout out to @Qbutta for the shots.

The Gorpals & In a Perfect World

the hippo — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:25:09 +0000

Brainstorming some ideas with Ilan and Eric for a short on the Gorbal’s Chef’s hat.

Coming soon.

This song was in my head all morning.

Guttermouth show @ a Wherehouse Music with a mini pit and horrible POP signs everywhere!!

A Brunette, a Motorcycle & Coffee

the hippo — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:57:27 +0000

Wow. Brunette Myrt, Motorcylces & Coffee, an amazing trifecta of goodness. This holiday the Bixel Collection
has really stepped it up, with a custom blend Don Medardo coffee by local LA coffee legends – Handsome Boy Roasters. Bixel Boys curated a soundtrack to compliment the Honduran coffee and together they shot a lookbook that has coffee looking sexier than ever.

Available here.

More Myrts & Coffee Here

Westcoast 2.0

the hippo — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:31:08 +0000

I got to cruise to the Kendrick Lamar/DJ Green Latern show at the Music Box on Friday. I had heard the hype about Kendrick – endorsements from Dre and Snoop as the torchbearer of Westcoast Hip Hop etc. – and listened to a few mixtapes and tracks, but seeing it in person, I’m now a believer. Kendrick’s from Compton and his music is part classic West Coast gangsta rap, but with a lot of other influences and a flow that emerges as uniquely his own.

Fellow Compton/TDE artist Schoolboy Q, was on right before Kendrick and put on a great show as well. We were stoked to see him come on stage wearing a REMINGTON snapback – I’ve never seen the winter pin-up girls looking so hard.

Going into the show I was excited to see the legendary evil genius DJ Green Lantern do a set. I’ve been listening to his mixtapes forever so it was great to meet him and I was pumped he was feeling our new hats.

After the show the good doctor, DRE!!!! came backstage to introduce the fam to Kendrick, I was going to ask him about Detox, but had second thoughts when his security locked down the hall.

Summer’s Encore

the hippo — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:52:45 +0000

Well Summer came back this week – Downtown is 94 and its not even lunch.

Longtime Ampal collaborator Tropicool – the twisted mind behind our Waves ≠ Raves mixes – has released his first mixtape:

“Tropicool : Gooch Tape Vol 1.”

Gooch Tape #1 by Tropicool (official)

“On a sunday night, in a beach-town not so far away from you, i cracked open a Pacifico and began to ponder what i would do as the elusive evening drew closer and city lights began to flicker on. I decided to soul-search and ate a few silver-striped mushrooms out of an old embroidered chinese box I had hidden beneath the dock. As I walked along the beach, the sand softly tickled my toes and the waves crashing in a perfect symphony. Just then, poseidon’s froth had washed something hard up onto my foot. It was a glistening whiskey bottle; Jamison’s own to be exact. I opened it up, expecting a rich carmel liquid to engulf my soul and warm it from the inside out. However, out fell a flash drive where the words “Gooch-Tape #1″ were engraved. It was a sign; a sign that good things were coming. A sign that the warmth and sun-kissed poolside jams of summer would flow into the colorful world autumn had to offer. Warm your soul and paint your walls gold!”

Prodigy X Shaka Zulu

the hippo — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 07:11:59 +0000

The straight legend, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, rocking our Shaka Zulu snap back in his new video with Ferg Brim – TOP SHOTTAS.

Thanks to our former super intern Neutral Features for sending the vid this way.

Waves ≠ Raves vol 15

the hippo — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:43:00 +0000

We present Waves ≠ Raves vol 15, curated as always by Tropicool, for your listening pleasure.

“As the seasons are slowly shifting, the music follows suit. Light and cheerful riffs are slowly paving the way for deeper disco sounds. Sounds that will resinate throughout a nighttime hideout and keep the kids dancing. Steel drums and synth are still there, just down-tempo and with a heavier groove. Peel the paint off the walls and lets bogey.”

Waves ≠ Raves Vol. 15
• Fred Falke – 808 PM at the Beach
• Hannulelauri – Zombie Tropicana
• Paul Weller – Starlight (Drop Out Orchestra Remix)
• The Drums – Money (Chad Valley Remix)
• Fabian – Last Flight
• Doctor Dru & Adana Twins – Juicy Fruit
• Runaway – Indoor Pool (Slow Hands Half Full Remix)
• Tycho – Hours
• Hypnolove – Holiday Reverie
• Pony Pony Run Run – Hey You (Copacabana Club Remix)
• Poolside – Harvest Moon
• Flight Facilities – Feelin’
• All the Lights – Chasing Colours (Plastic Plates Remix)
• Acid Washed – Change (Anteros & Thanaton Remix)
• Kamp! – Cairo

All files Zipped —–> HERE <—–