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Cache Dump

Diogenes dropped this record in an unassuming way, declaring it simply as “four years worth of random beat and stuff, named by their Ableton file names.” It’s a modesty reminiscent of when Kendrick cast off “untitled unmastered” as some crap taking up space in his junk drawer. Cache Dump is an impressive 37 tracks, humility aside, summing to a lengthy hour an half of new music. In a recent review by The Stranger it was described as “a treasure trove of wonderfully warped instrumentals.” Diogenes is amongst the forefront of Seattle’s beatmakers with an impressive back catalog of transportive, manipulated melodies. Here, extensive crate digging has led to unexpected samples that are then chopped, detuned, reshaped, and reassembled. Each track tells a story, each one a mini-movie soundtrack, ranging from familiar to exotic, sometimes warm, sometimes unsettling, sometimes foggy. There’s a lot here to digest over multiple listening sessions, but let me tell you a few personal highlights: The singalong vibe of the ironically-named “shut up,” the easy-flowing “loopin feilds,” and the religious catharsis found in “earthly days.” Calling all vocalists: apparently, many of these beats were intended to be paired with words. Here’s to hoping some of you reach out to Diogenes, and that later this year he treats us to an EP of Cache Dump remixes with vocals and raps.

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Alchemy Union 4: Gaia

Alchemy Union produce these absolutely killer mix compilation CDs, like AU 4: Gaia, pictured here. They are intimidatingly good. This one explores themes related to climate change. Track two, Alden Lightning‘s enviro-anthem title track, produced by Vaughn, has bass drums pounding down like hydro-fluorocarbons. She sings, “I don’t know why you think this will end well for you.” Some tracks are gorgeously, technically precise, Gershwin… or Classical-even. A few tracks in, your speakers are transformed into tin cans, while Araless raps, “We Can’t See” with verses about all the discarded plastic bottles in the ocean. And moments later, during Carter Wilson‘s “Present Tense,” you’re involuntarily snapping your fingers, and singing along that we’re all “trying to do the right thing.” Mixes like this remind me of the wealth of talent in this city. And damn, this is definitely the place where you’ll find it.

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Goretex and Wool

Opening with samples from Seattle weather reports and the sound of a torrential deluge, Goretex and Wool serves as an ideal soundtrack for PNW winter and for a day like today. Throughout this 2016 beat tape, Diogenes slowly builds up layers of samples and drums and then adds wintertime environmental sounds, and then, equally slowly, peels those layers away again, especially effective on a song like “what love (will do)” that is more than once overtaken by a downpour. Mostly instrumental, there’s extensive and creative use of vocal sampling, and a couple of tracks feature guest vocals from Bishop Gaddafi and STSY. For those with a boom box, this one may still be available for purchase as a limited-edition cassette from Bandcamp.

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