Finally came round to installing a download counter on this website. Also added a ‘top downloads’ list in the menu on the far right. I was so caught up in getting all these really good mp3 releases out, that I realized a bit too late how essential counting downloads is, when you’re offering them for free… so if the download count all over this site seems low to you at this point (you can mouseover a download link to see the count), that’s the reason.
Three high quality free esc.rec. mp3 releases especially for you! Just in before the end of the year…
slo-fi - ’s loot (esc.rec.17)
Yoshimi! - II aka The Cheshire Rat (esc.rec.18)
Toxic Chicken - Make My Day (esc.rec.19)
Thank you slo-fi, Yoshimi and Toxic Chicken for doing such a good job (again) and for providing these superb releases for free! Oh, and of course three new (or renewed) esc.rec. microsites go with these releases:
www.escrec.com/slo-fi
www.escrec.com/yoshimi
www.escrec.com/toxic-chicken
I guess esc.rec.’s New Year’s resolution for 2008 will be to offer more free mp3 releases like this. I will try to focus more on a better balance between limited (cd-r) releases with unique artwork, ‘regular’ cd-r releases, online sales (which don’t exist yet for esc.rec. releases), free releases and maybe some ’specials’ for my esc.rec. subscribers.
I’m also starting with the ‘ass-crack stage-hack‘ events in 2008 (more info soonish). Basically these events can be anything that involves a stage, but mainly they will be more or less esc.rec. related performances or events initiated by esc.rec. Most of them will probably take place in Havenkwartier Deventer. I have some nice things lined up for this already, but suggestions are always welcome.
Anyway, hope all keeps going well for esc.rec. in 2008! And best wishes to you ofcourse!
Title: Make My Day
Artist: Toxic Chicken
Format: MP3
Catalog#: esc.rec.19
Price: free!
Click on image to view/download artwork
Click here to download this release (42,6MB)
01 Sleep (2.52) mp3
02 The Way Your Body Rocks (1.57) mp3
03 Just A Nice Day (3.03) mp3
04 Why Can’t We Be Free? (4.55) mp3
05 Boybestfriendrockstar (3.22) mp3
06 If You Love Someone (3.04) mp3
07 Make My Day (3.00) mp3
All music and artwork by Toxic Chicken
Click here to view the Creative Commons License (BY/NC/SA) that applies to this work.
‘Lo Fi’ (esc.rec.16), Toxic Chicken’s debut on esc.rec. is still ‘kakelvers’ (as we say in the Netherlands), only to be followed swiftly by ‘Make My Day’, a free mp3 release! ‘Make My Day’ sounds somewhat more subtle than ‘Lo Fi’. But most of all it sounds still unmistakably Toxic Chicken-ish all over again. Because you’re probably downloading or listening to this (high quality!) free mp3 release right now, making up your own mind is faster, easier and more reliable than reading this press release, so I’ll leave it at this.
Trivial Pursuit: Some of the sounds on ‘Make My Day’ originate from the knitting needles of Grannittin, on which Toxic Chicken also contributed two tracks.
Dare to be chicken, very pok!
If you feel compelled to share your opinion after listening to this release, please feel free to leave your review in the comments below.
Title: II aka The Cheshire Rat
Artist: Yoshimi!
Format: MP3
Catalog#: esc.rec.18
Price: free!
Click on image to view/download artwork
Click here to download this release (46,2MB)
01 Hot Stuff (3.49) mp3
02 Skelton (4.07) mp3
03 I Shatter (Magnetic Fields cover) (1.04) mp3
04 Far From (3.42) mp3
05 A Building (2.44) mp3
06 D.I.S. (Drowned In Sound) (4.23) mp3
07 Bye… (4.15) mp3
All the instruments, vocals, lyrics, artwork and mixing by Yoshimi!, except for:
01 - Trombone + backing vox by my brother.
03 - This is a cover of a song by The Magnetic Fields! Extra vocals by my brother again.
05 - High Ha’s by Ashley.
Yoshimi! would like to thank his brother, his father, his mother, his computer, his Ashley, Ron, Arie, Sofie, Coen, Bram, Fei-Fan, Henk, Laurie Anderson, Talking Heads, The Magnetic Fields, anyone nice, that guy that held the lamp, Trixie and YOU!
Click here to view the Creative Commons License (BY/NC/SA) that applies to this work.
“Hello! My name is Niek Hilkmann but sometimes I’m also called Yoshimi! I was born about 18 years ago in my parents house under my regular name, but after some long years of playing classical cello I decided another identity wouldn’t be such a bad idea! This is how Yoshimi! was born!
Yoshimi! is not a band, it’s just one person, me! I usually make music, alone, with my trusty computer and instruments. I don’t want to brag, but I play a lot of instruments. Here are some in which I am more qualified: Cello, Conga, Guitar, Synth, Bass, Bongo, Tarbuka, Rababa, Harmonium, Trumpet, Accordeon, Euphonium, Drums, Ukulele and some other small things… Every instrument, or better said, everything you hear on my songs is played, sung, yelled or squeezed by myself. I also do my own vocals, production and artwork. What I don’t do is using samples by other artists.
Oh… Yeah! And I also make videos!!! Besides that, I would really like to point out that I’m not one of those dusty guys who only record in their bedrooms or garrets. I honestly play live with a band, which include my grandfather and a laptop! And besides that, I actually record in an attic…
Everyone should ask themselfs why he or she makes music, so… I do too! And the answer comes the closest to ‘ehhmmm… I don’t know…’ It just feels like the natural thing to do for me… Yeah… ehmm… it perhaps sounds a bit Billy Elliot… But it’s true… Not my favorite film by the way… Far From… But I’m Wandering off!!! Thanks for listening in! Hope you like the stuff! ‘Till next time! Bye!”
Yoshimi!
If you feel compelled to share your opinion after listening to this release, please feel free to leave your review in the comments below.
Title: ’s loot
Artist: slo-fi
Format: MP3
Catalog#: esc.rec.17
Price: free!
Click on image to view/download artwork
Click here to download this release (61,1MB)
01 (8.44) (mp3)
02 (3.43) (mp3)
03 (4.13) (mp3)
04 (8.46) (mp3)
All music by slo-fi
Design by Harco Rutgers
Click here to view the Creative Commons License (BY/NC/SA) that applies to this work.
Slo-fi does it again. It’s the perfect sequel to the ’slo-fi’s latest hits’ release. High quality, subtle, layered techno, released through esc.rec. as freely downloadable mp3’s, encoded in the highest possible quality for your listening pleasure.
If you feel compelled to share your opinion after listening to this release, please feel free to leave your review in the comments below.
Best wishes! I have a small surprise in the making for you all. I’m in the process of preparing three new esc.rec. releases, scheduled to be released before the end of this year. Call it a Christmas present or just a good start of 2008, but all three releases will be totally free to download for everyone!!!
Coming up are:
1. slo-fi - ’s loot (esc.rec.17)
2. Yoshimi! - II aka The Cheshire Rat (esc.rec.18)
3. Toxic Chicken - Make My Day (esc.rec.19)
You can expect them any day now!
On Friday the 7th of December, the movie Chant Down Babylon will be shown at Off Screen in Zaal de Unie, Rotterdam.
Chant down Babylon is a 52 minute surreal collage, bringing back memories of the history of cinema, in the spirit of the work of Meliès, Rene Clair, Man Ray and Jan Svankmajer. It tells the story of a magician, new in town, who falls in love with an unusual pianist, then finds himself facing his fears and doubts embodied by a puppeteer with a wicked sense of humour. An encounter with a peculiar character, leading to a remarkable dream, give him the strength to challenge his opponent.
The film was made in 9 months by Serafina Ouistiti, and is narrated by the beautiful compositions of Bubu, whom also stars as Palmiro, the magician. Kai Nobuko, also known as Toxic Chicken (check out Lo Fi, his esc.rec. release!), assisted with animations and post production and plays the Fool, Tom Fogg brings to life the marvellous Malocchio and Conil (a brilliant singer-songwriter) features as Pagliocchio. And Lola plays the piano! Miao!
You can view a scene from this movie overhere.
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