The Agenda

by (the infamous) Eric Smith

Slouch — Viva

iTunes | Emusic | Napster | Beatport | Rhapsody

On this impressive debut from one of the younger members of the Cozy roster, Slouch (a.k.a. Ian Bradley) creates a smoky, cinematic landscape for the stoned listener. Dark beats and acoustic instruments color the tracks but leave enough space for them to breathe. This is crucial for trip hop. DJ Shadow perfected the form, but albums like this remind us that there is still life in the genre, and there are still avenues to explore. The jazzy urban break and piano of “Love On Main Street” conjures images of ’60s New York but gives it a worldly tint. African drums, something that sounds like a Jew’s harp, lots of congas; it’s a rich percussive tapestry that Slouch weaves. This album positively oozes youthful confidence.

Mike Hoska — Hoska EP

Mike Hoska would be a Providence legend, where it not for his constant traveling and touring and his growing popularity just about everywhere else but here. Mr. Hoska has spent the better part of the last decade becoming one of the rising stars of the acid/electro/house revival (not that it ever went anywhere) in cities where dance music matters, like Miami, Toronto and New York, and his latest release for Cozy flaunts the goods like a motherfucker. Hard acid beats, druggy squiggles, rocked-up bass and guitar — this is good stuff for the peak hour, and reminiscent of the kind of records that he was scratching over back in his Liquid Lounge days. Providence is a city that has never paid attention to cutting edge house music in a big way, and it’s a shame. They’re missing out on our city’s finest producer.

DJ C — Traced Milk

iTunes | Emusic | Napster | Beatport | Rhapsody

This record is fucked-up and funky. Although no expert in current grime, bashment, or junglist genres, to my anglophile ears this shit sounds like the better parts of Massive Attack run through a more expansive, sampledelic soundscore. Call it trip-crunk, or grime-step (that’s probably taken), but wherever you unfairly pigeonhole this excellent music, recognize its sublime style. I can’t even get into the semantics anymore. This is some seriously fucked up stuff — go get it!