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edward-scissortongue

Ocean Wisdom – Freeze Feat. Dirty Dike & Ed Scissor

February 22, 2016 by dylan

Today marks the release of Ocean Wisdom’s highly anticipated debut album ‘Chaos 93’. Check out Freeze – lifted off the album and featuring label mates Dike & Scissortongue. Produced by Dirty Dike, keep an eye out for our review dropping soon

DJ Lok 2015 Podcast part 10

May 19, 2015 by dylan

Lok is back with his free podcasts for 2015, showcasing the best new hip hop from the UK – check out all the 2015, 2014 & 2013 podcasts on his soundcloud page

2015 Podcast Part 10

1. Mystro – The Doo Doo ft MoreOne
2. Defenders Of Style – Smash n Grab
3. Sonnyjim – Live @ The Bonanza
4. The Commodity – Aliens
5. PRofit – Electric Smile ft Serrocee & Mystro
6. MNSR Frites – Numbers
7. Regime – Jack The Strangler
8. Joker Starr – I’m All About Everything
9. MINX – Party And Bullshit
10. Edward Scissortongue – The Prospector

Edward Scissortongue & Lamplighter ‘Chavassian Striking Distance’ – Review

May 18, 2015 by Ashni Dadry

Front CoverAs the first rays of English sunshine slowly begin melting people’s brains, a desire to cease thinking and simply zone out rises, compelling us to flock to overcrowded beaches, eat questionable amounts of junk food, and pay money to watch the latest garbage Hollywood decides to toss our way.  In terms of listening habits, it’s quite easy to get caught up in the the warm glow brought on by the wave of summer jams that have recently begun frying the airwaves. But now, like a quick shot of ice water down the throat, comes Chavassian Striking Distance, the latest EP from Edward Scissortongue and Lamplighter, to remind us how sharp a tool the human mind can really be.

We begin with ‘EFIM’, the first of four instrumental tracks that comprise half of the entire record. On supreme form, Lamplighter steadily builds a deadly electronic melody that encourages listeners to construct their own dark visuals as a sense of menace and suspense gradually bleeds through. With its tragic piano keys ‘The Prospector’ continues to feed our suspicions over the shadowy world we’ve just stepped into. Here, Scissor makes a canvas of our imagination, intricately painting pictures of a world that seems just slightly out of reach. It’s a beautifully crafted song that solidifies his position as one of the best storytellers in the game. Likewise, Lamplighter continues to display tremendous skill with ‘Thorfinn’, a popping glitch beat that illuminates the Glasgow-based producer’s fearless approach to the craft.  ‘Same in the Dark’ however is the most genuine example of the duo’s capabilities as a combined force. It’s an ominous joint that sees Scissor confessing “honest to God, I was honest to God / I swear he wasn’t honest with me” over some tortured strings that will send listeners to a place of despair. As an effective work of poetry it arguably acts as a foundation for the entire EP.

What makes Chavassian Striking Distance unique is that it aims to challenge as much as it does to inspire and entertain. Understanding and acknowledging their fans’ capacity for experimentation and deviation, Scissor and Lamplighter succeed in creating a unified sound that breaks tradition in a very interesting way. Countless artists have employed elements of other genres in their music before and the results are all too familiar. However, in this instance, the electronic persona that the record adopts serves to alter how we interpret hip-hop as a whole. In short, it’s a reminder that hip-hop is a limitless space and is there to be explored, something many artists tend to forget in their efforts to break mainstream charts or capture the streets. No track better expresses this than the EP’s climax, ‘Attic’. Over a peculiar blend of computerised synths and Teddy Riley-esque clicks, Scissor ponders time and existence, spitting “The new you, a mirror image / family trees, branches and leaves, awfully withered”. Even more interesting is the hook which sees the MC flexing his vocal muscles and harmonising. It’s unexpected but a brilliant way of bowing out.

For those seeking a summertime soundtrack boiling with beach bangers look elsewhere as this is not a record to be taken lightly. That’s not to say that it’s not a fun ride but in addition to your time Chavassian Striking Distance requires your concentration and a little imagination. As a lead up to their sophomore album, Scissor and Lamplighter deliver in all departments. The beats are infectious, the rhymes are focused, and the atmosphere is thick. It’s not just music, it’s an experience.

By Ashni Dadry

is out tomorrow on High Focus and available on Limited edition vinyl,  CD and digitally

 

High Focus Records 4th Birthday Party – London

May 15, 2014 by Sara Shipley

hfChoosing a 1,500 capacity venue for your 4th birthday celebration is a ballsy move by anyone’s standards, unless maybe you’re Blu Ivy or North West but the prospect seems less daunting when you’re talking about the UK Hip Hop powerhouse label that is High Focus Records.

Taking a step up from their humble roots in Brixton Jamm and Plan B, the pioneering UK Hip Hop collective will be celebrating their fourth year of existence at the famous Brixton Electric in the same unapologetically confident and truly original manner that we have come to expect from High Focus Records.

Boasting a roster full of fresh and innovative trail blazers like Edward Scissortongue and the labels founder Fliptrix, High Focus Records have stood out as a beacon of hope in what has previously considered by some as a dying scene, and they have definitely been putting in the hard graft over the past four years with over 20 albums released to date.

Exemplifying the slightly more artistically surreal side of High Focus on Friday night, will be Fliptrix joined by fellow label mates Verb T, BVA MC and Leaf Dog who form the avant-garde concept group, The Four Owls. It’s with this diverse and progressive range of acts that High Focus nights always promise satisfy the full spectrum of UK Hip Hop fans and they continually prove they are definitely not lacking style or substance.

Not only will the full line-up of High Focus artists be representing on the night but they will also be sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in UK Hip Hop including the legendary Klashnekoff, Jehst and the man credited with reviving afro futurism, Onoe Caponoe.

This will be a truly fitting way to celebrate four years of consistently high quality output from the label that continues to push the boundaries and challenge preconceived notions of the UK Hip Hop scene.

Full line-up and event details:

  • FLIPTRIX
  • VERB T
  • LEAF DOG
  • BVA
  • CONTACT PLAY
  • DIRTY DIKE
  • JAM BAXTER
  • EDWARD SCISSORTONGUE
  • MR KEY
  • RONNIE BOSH
  • THE FOUR OWLS
  • RAG N BONE MAN
  • RAMSON BADBONEZ
  • MAB & CHARLIE MAC
  • DEAD PLAYERS
  • DJ MADNICE
  • DJ SAMMY B-SIDE
  • DJ FINGERFOOD

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS:

  • JEHST
  • KLASHNEKOFF
  • CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED
  • KASHMERE
  • BUGGSY
  • ONOE CAPONOE
  • CONFUCIOUS MC
  • PETE CANNON & DJ JIVES (JUNGLE SET)

Friday 16th May – 10pm-6am

Tickets:

Super Early Birds/Early Birds/1st Release – SOLD OUT!

£12 2nd Release

M.O.T.D

Available from:

Ticket Arena | Resident Advisor | Fatsoma

18+ I.D Required // R.O.A.R

Edward Scissortongue – The Theremin EP review

April 28, 2014 by Louise Brisbane

Front_coverBar fleeting appearances on other artist’s records the last time we heard from Edward Scissortongue was at the end of 2012 with his artfully fancy debut Better. Luck. Next. Life. The success of the album propelled him further into the public eye, thus giving him a well-deserved platform to tease a legion of fans with cryptic glimpses of his future work. Over a year and a half later High Focus are almost ready to push the Theremin EP onto a gaggle of patient listeners. Has the wait been worth it? A resounding yes.

The Theremin EP is less of a quintessential record and more of a sonic novel. Each of the seven tracks come together to form a rich metaphorical tapestry deftly interlocked by a labyrinthine of language. The release seems to confront the complexities of the human condition and possibly flirts with the idea of existing beyond a linear time period. But who knows if this is correct? Much of the Theremin EP is subjective, more of a reason to engulf yourself into the deep mind of Edward Scissortongue.

The opening instrumental, Take Readings, lays down a delicate blanket for the rest of the EP to build upon, soothingly calm and beautifully crafted it ends as peacefully as it begins. In stark contrast Teeth constructs a more sombre, moody atmosphere centred around a stomping drum beat which skilfully transitions into an ethereal cacophony of flutes and chimes.

The EP consistently changes throughout, no two tracks are akin exemplifying Scissortongue’s strong creative grasp on the project. The most prized track comes in the form of Wipeout which is riddled with a sense of urgency complemented by Toyface’s gloriously saccharine vocals.

WHITE_7

One thing to take away from the EP is that Scissortongue truly is a connoisseur of combining wild imagery with transient flickers of reality. The release plunges the listener into an ever evolving journey drenched in stylish complexity. However it’s not just the power of words which assists the EP in achieving soaring heights. It is aided by an incredible array of production talent which has been called upon to sculpt the release. Each track features a different producer giving the record a varied yet well defined musical shape.
An overall mind-blowing, striking performance throughout, cementing Edward Scissortongue’s place at the top of the hip hop hierarchy.

The Theremin EP is out now on High Focus and available on limited edition vinyl, CD, or digitally

Review by Louise Brisbane

Dirty Dike – Future Posse Cut One Thousand Feat.

August 3, 2013 by dylan

New official video for Dirty Dike – Future Posse Cut One Thousand Feat. Stig Of The Dump, Dr Syntax, BVA, DatKid, Verb T,Jam Baxter, Edward Scissortongue, Mr. Key, Fliptrix & Leaf Dog. Produced by Pete Cannon.
From ‘Return of The Twat’

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