If you're thirsting for some fresh beats to kick off your summer, don't fret. Beat nexus Astro Nautico is here to help clear the stale names out of your library and discover some great new artists with over 40 free tracks on Atlantics, Vol. 2.
Based in Brooklyn and run by Obey City, Kuhn, and Paul Jones (all three make an appearance on the compilation and have had releases on the label), Astro Nautico has been doing it big for three years now – Atlantics, Vol. 1 was released in 2009 with seven tracks, for comparison. The compilation is a tour de force, complete with an intro, an outro, interludes, and bonus tracks so good you'll ask yourself, "Is this all too good to be free, or too good not to be free?".
Atlantics, Vol. 2 spans a mind-boggling array of genres, touching upon Brainfeeder-leaning experimental beats, deep garage sounds, footwork influenced jams, bassed-out club firestarters, and more. There are many names here you don't want to miss out on, so don't sleep. Just head over to their Bandcamp and put in your email in exchange for a surplus of tunage.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1tdxeg6wzo[/youtube]
New York's RAJA is a name that should ring a bell to the astute reader, being featured in the Daily 2% – Chilled and Ready to Serve last year. The man is clearly one of many styles, serving up the chilled, ghetto-tinged house roller "Ice Game" to join an already stellar discography. Definitely a name to watch.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzAN5o_G2WU[/youtube]
By now, Kansas' MΔRRI$ should be a household name in the homestead of any self-respecting head. His video for "Affairs" (also previously covered on EARMILK) captured the ears, eyes, and hearts of many, and for good reason: his self-proclaimed "goombawave" style is unique, refreshing, and powerful. With a forthcoming release on Night Slugs, a label at the forefront of the UK bass/dance music scene, this seems like goombawave's year. On "A New Day" he utilizes his signature blend of trap percussion and 808 bass and chops up a wistful Donell Jones vocal into a sensual, blissed out beat.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/43896866"/]
Label co-founder Obey City seems to have an ever-expanding bag of stellar tunes, and "Radio Rah" is no exception. It showcases his affinity for working vocals into amazing melodies, while the track itself never seems to stop building/evolving. Partly cloudy turned sunny vibes. Don't miss his equally great edit of up-and-comer Baauer couched at the end of the compilation.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/19640846"/]
LA-based Dreams drops an ethereal, fever dreamy number, a perfect follow for the MΔRRI$ joint. A warbling vocal soars over an instrumental reminiscent of chillwave and trap thrown into the 80's. If you like, peep their excellent release on 6 Bit Collective.
For more tracks along this vein, check Djemba Djemba (AKA St. Andrew) on "Get Slow", and Astro Nautico resident Abel's "Virgin Blood", both from California. New Yorker Quam and Californian Spaceghost serve up some deep cuts in a section of the compilation that will satisfy the juke heads (and feet), with Moscow producers OL and Pixelord giving their expert takes on footwork and garage, respectively. Honorable mention goes to Magical Mistakes for a tune out of Japan named "It's Cold and Beautiful" that fully lives up to its description, and then some. The first quarter of Atlantics, Vol. 2 should satisfy any cravings you have for straight, funked up beats, so the message is clear: Astro Nautico has something for everyone, and they want you to hear it. All that goodness for free is a hard bargain to pass up.
