| DJ Day — Land of 1000 Chances (2013) |
DJ Day — Land of 1000 Chances
Δ "modern psychedelic funk on peyote".
Δ "Although he’s pretty prolific, I suspect DJ Day might not be an immediately familiar name to the average “underground listener”.
Location: Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Album release: February 2nd 2013
Record Label: Piecelock 70 Music
Duration: 43:06
Tracks:
01 – VQ 3:37
02 – Chinaski’s Theme 3:03
03 – Mama Shelter 4:31
04 – Quaalude 0:52
05 – Daddy’s Home 2:25
06 – FML 0:52
07 – Boots in the Pool 3:05
08 – Ode to a Fiend 1:39
09 – Land of 1000 Chances 4:54
10 – Adu 2:01
11 – Partir 4:50
12 – Sushi in Fresno 2:05
13 – Hopefully 2:14
14 – Green Fin 5:07
15 – W-E-L-O-V-E 1:51
Producer: DJ Day (Producer), Thes One (Executive Producer)
Album description:
Δ Cali producer/remixer Day (a/k/a DJ Day) has been doing quality work for years – as anyone familiar with mid-’00s sample collage singles like “What Planet What Station” and “Gone Bad” or his unofficial remix of Erykah Badu’s “Honey” knows. With “Mama Shelter,” a track from his forthcoming Land of 1000 Chances LP, Day shows his skills at pairing disparate sampled sources undiminished. But here the emphasis isn’t on b-boy friendly break-age but shifting moods, as a lilting French vocal gives way to a philosophical refrain (“Once you begin to make it/The harder it is to take it…”) and a sparse final section.
Artist description:
Δ Championed by the likes of Gilles Peterson and Jazzy Jeff, DJ Day is a producer, DJ and musician from Palm Springs, California and one of the founding members of the Innernational crew. Having worked with artists such as Aloe Blacc (Stones Throw), Clutchy Hopkins (Ubiquity), and doing extensive remix work for the likes of Quantic, Alice Russell and People Under the Stairs, Day has always shown musical diversity while bringing a style all his own. He has played the world over at venues such as The Rub, The Do-Over, APT, SXSW, WMC, Choice Cuts, The Dour Festival and shared the stage with artists from Amy Winehouse to Eminem.
Δ DJ Day was nominated for both a Pazz & Jop award in the Village Voice and Song of the Year for Gilles Pererson’s Worldwide show on BBC/Radio1. His music has been used in ad campaigns for DC Shoes, feature films and appeared on numerous compilations such as Brazilectro, Bazoo Bajou’s Juke Joint II and Brownswood Bubblers. Day has also been featured in XXL, The Fader, URB Magazine, XLR8R, Stealth Magazine (Australia), Hidden Magazine (Japan), Juice Magazine (Germany) and more.
REVIEW
Written by Hardeep; January 14th, 2013
Δ Although he’s pretty prolific, I suspect DJ Day might not be an immediately familiar name to the average “underground listener”. A very brief roll call of his previous affiliations would include the likes of Emanon duo Aloe Blacc and Exile, and Melting Pot Music’s roster over in Germany – pretty diverse, but you get an idea of where to peg him on your mental Hip-Hop taxonomy map if nothing else.
Δ DJDay wordisbond. It was amongst his works on the later that my own ears pricked up to DJ Day’s uniquely chilled sound. For example, 2007’s The Day Before is a joint that I strictly only break out in the summer because it embodies all that’s good about the season; it’s as close as you’ll likely get to having sunshine itself burned onto polycarbonate plastic.
Δ There are many similar moments on Land Of 1000 Chances too. Weaving between its infectious drum breaks resides a wealth of samples and live instrumentation brought together for headphone excursions and dance floors alike. Where “VQ” conjures up the dry humidity of a desert road trip, tracks like “Boots In The Pool” and “W-E-L-O-V-E” could easily rock a beachfront condo party, or whatever goes on out in LA.
Δ This illustrative quality to the tracks can be attributed to DJ Day’s approach to production on this album. He uses less to say more, not in the instrumental-haiku sense of something like Dilla’s Donuts, but more in the stripped down construction of the tracks. An avoidance of over-production forces one to be more creative with what is there; less flash makes room for more sentiment. Tracks like “Partir” and the title track “Land Of 1000 Chances” achieve this by savouring the samples and instrumentation making the most of everything they have to offer. However, I found that this didn’t always work and a couple of the tracks passed by a little uneventfully. Then there’s that one majestic segment halfway through the title track where DJ Day does the opposite, and cuts it short all too abruptly – but this a minor gripe from a fan who essentially just wanted more.
Δ At the centre of all of this lays an undeniably “Hip-Hop” DJ, evident to listeners throughout but most overtly perhaps with “Ode To A Fiend” which employs that instantly recognisable bass line and sleigh bell combo. But the strongest quality of the album is in its dexterity; DJ Day hits the right notes outside of the usual palette of Hip-Hop sounds, showcasing the wide-ranging competency of any great producer. Although it may seem like an uninspired comparison on my part, I can’t help but draw loose parallels to DJ Shadow, not in terms of technique or style, but in spirit. More specifically, Land Of 1000 Chances challenges the perceptions of what a DJ may traditionally be considered capable of. It’s progressive and unpredictable, and if you recently enjoyed Shadow’s The Less You Know The Better, you’ll definitely appreciate this record.
Production: ****
Δ Well Crafted And Diverse, I Could Easily Recommend This To Hip-Hop Heads As Much As I Could To Fans Of Any Other Genre.
Originality: ****
Δ There’s Few DJ’s Who Are Putting Out Records That Sound Similar To This.
Replayability: ***
Δ Diverse And Refreshing. Although It May Be A Little Uneventful For Some At Parts, There Are A Handful Of Undeniably Infectious Tracks And Segments That’ll Have You Pressing Play Over And Over Again.
Overall: ***½
Fortaken: http://www.thewordisbond.com/
Label: http://pl70.net/landof1000chances/
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Δ Had I known what I was getting us into, I would have never set foot in the studio…
Δ The old maxim “suffering for your art” was taken to new heights in the making of Land Of 1000 Chances. Not only was the inspiration for the album soaked in personal turmoil, but seeing it to fruition would take Thes and I to the brink of insanity. I want to say there were a lot of great moments and experiences I will never forget, but if I had to weigh it all out, it would be a tough call to ever re-live it again.
Δ The idea for all of this was to go back to my roots and encapsulate the last few years of what was going on in my life. I needed to get away from the clean, over-produced music I was making that had slowly put me in a creative corner cover the last 5 years. I was stuck. It’s not in me to make electronic music (I suck at it to be honest) and I didn’t want to re-hash the cut and paste stuff I had done before, so what the fuck do I do now? I go back. Back to the first album I ever made in a bedroom in Palm Springs with an EPS, my cousins drum kit and some records. I had to get back to where I came from in order to harness where I was now. Fuck layering and smothering songs to oblivion. These needed to breathe. Keep it intentionally sparse and simple. It had to be about creating a vibe and sticking to it. Not throwing in a random dance cut or having it cluttered with guests. It had to be honest and real. Somewhere along the way, I ended up drinking way too much, traveling and hanging out way too much and on the precipice of divorce. They say write what you know, so I did. — Day
PRESS:
Δ “Something in the energy of the desert, a magical and funky energy, just permeates through the veins of DJ Day. And you hear that in his music – it’s beautiful and thoughtful and spiritual and it’s a aural window into the soul of this dude. Decidedly 21st Century yet still harkens back to all the decades of history and influence of everything that came before it. Truly gorgeous music, and it strikes me to my core each time I listen to it.” — Cosmo Baker (The Rub)
Δ “Introspective yet candid. In Day’s ‘Land Of 1000 Chances’, there’s a sincerity that bares itself in every beat and live instrument throughout this masterwork, as crisp and vast as a desert night. In the current climate of over-enhanced production, Day refreshingly strips it down, leaving the natural beauty of his arrangements with no makeup – no overstating of themes, rather implying or alluding in a way that reveals itself in multiple listens. While produced in essence from a b-boy approach, there’s a maturity and bravery that glows from this record down the shady and sunny paths of his life.” — Jeremy Sole (89.9 KCRW, LA)
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| DJ Day — Land of 1000 Chances (2013) |
DJ Day — Land of 1000 Chances
Δ "modern psychedelic funk on peyote".
Δ "Although he’s pretty prolific, I suspect DJ Day might not be an immediately familiar name to the average “underground listener”.
Location: Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Album release: February 2nd 2013
Record Label: Piecelock 70 Music
Duration: 43:06
Tracks:
01 – VQ 3:37
02 – Chinaski’s Theme 3:03
03 – Mama Shelter 4:31
04 – Quaalude 0:52
05 – Daddy’s Home 2:25
06 – FML 0:52
07 – Boots in the Pool 3:05
08 – Ode to a Fiend 1:39
09 – Land of 1000 Chances 4:54
10 – Adu 2:01
11 – Partir 4:50
12 – Sushi in Fresno 2:05
13 – Hopefully 2:14
14 – Green Fin 5:07
15 – W-E-L-O-V-E 1:51
Producer: DJ Day (Producer), Thes One (Executive Producer)
Album description:
Δ Cali producer/remixer Day (a/k/a DJ Day) has been doing quality work for years – as anyone familiar with mid-’00s sample collage singles like “What Planet What Station” and “Gone Bad” or his unofficial remix of Erykah Badu’s “Honey” knows. With “Mama Shelter,” a track from his forthcoming Land of 1000 Chances LP, Day shows his skills at pairing disparate sampled sources undiminished. But here the emphasis isn’t on b-boy friendly break-age but shifting moods, as a lilting French vocal gives way to a philosophical refrain (“Once you begin to make it/The harder it is to take it…”) and a sparse final section.
Artist description:
Δ Championed by the likes of Gilles Peterson and Jazzy Jeff, DJ Day is a producer, DJ and musician from Palm Springs, California and one of the founding members of the Innernational crew. Having worked with artists such as Aloe Blacc (Stones Throw), Clutchy Hopkins (Ubiquity), and doing extensive remix work for the likes of Quantic, Alice Russell and People Under the Stairs, Day has always shown musical diversity while bringing a style all his own. He has played the world over at venues such as The Rub, The Do-Over, APT, SXSW, WMC, Choice Cuts, The Dour Festival and shared the stage with artists from Amy Winehouse to Eminem.
Δ DJ Day was nominated for both a Pazz & Jop award in the Village Voice and Song of the Year for Gilles Pererson’s Worldwide show on BBC/Radio1. His music has been used in ad campaigns for DC Shoes, feature films and appeared on numerous compilations such as Brazilectro, Bazoo Bajou’s Juke Joint II and Brownswood Bubblers. Day has also been featured in XXL, The Fader, URB Magazine, XLR8R, Stealth Magazine (Australia), Hidden Magazine (Japan), Juice Magazine (Germany) and more.
REVIEW
Written by Hardeep; January 14th, 2013
Δ Although he’s pretty prolific, I suspect DJ Day might not be an immediately familiar name to the average “underground listener”. A very brief roll call of his previous affiliations would include the likes of Emanon duo Aloe Blacc and Exile, and Melting Pot Music’s roster over in Germany – pretty diverse, but you get an idea of where to peg him on your mental Hip-Hop taxonomy map if nothing else.
Δ DJDay wordisbond. It was amongst his works on the later that my own ears pricked up to DJ Day’s uniquely chilled sound. For example, 2007’s The Day Before is a joint that I strictly only break out in the summer because it embodies all that’s good about the season; it’s as close as you’ll likely get to having sunshine itself burned onto polycarbonate plastic.
Δ There are many similar moments on Land Of 1000 Chances too. Weaving between its infectious drum breaks resides a wealth of samples and live instrumentation brought together for headphone excursions and dance floors alike. Where “VQ” conjures up the dry humidity of a desert road trip, tracks like “Boots In The Pool” and “W-E-L-O-V-E” could easily rock a beachfront condo party, or whatever goes on out in LA.
Δ This illustrative quality to the tracks can be attributed to DJ Day’s approach to production on this album. He uses less to say more, not in the instrumental-haiku sense of something like Dilla’s Donuts, but more in the stripped down construction of the tracks. An avoidance of over-production forces one to be more creative with what is there; less flash makes room for more sentiment. Tracks like “Partir” and the title track “Land Of 1000 Chances” achieve this by savouring the samples and instrumentation making the most of everything they have to offer. However, I found that this didn’t always work and a couple of the tracks passed by a little uneventfully. Then there’s that one majestic segment halfway through the title track where DJ Day does the opposite, and cuts it short all too abruptly – but this a minor gripe from a fan who essentially just wanted more.
Δ At the centre of all of this lays an undeniably “Hip-Hop” DJ, evident to listeners throughout but most overtly perhaps with “Ode To A Fiend” which employs that instantly recognisable bass line and sleigh bell combo. But the strongest quality of the album is in its dexterity; DJ Day hits the right notes outside of the usual palette of Hip-Hop sounds, showcasing the wide-ranging competency of any great producer. Although it may seem like an uninspired comparison on my part, I can’t help but draw loose parallels to DJ Shadow, not in terms of technique or style, but in spirit. More specifically, Land Of 1000 Chances challenges the perceptions of what a DJ may traditionally be considered capable of. It’s progressive and unpredictable, and if you recently enjoyed Shadow’s The Less You Know The Better, you’ll definitely appreciate this record.
Production: ****
Δ Well Crafted And Diverse, I Could Easily Recommend This To Hip-Hop Heads As Much As I Could To Fans Of Any Other Genre.
Originality: ****
Δ There’s Few DJ’s Who Are Putting Out Records That Sound Similar To This.
Replayability: ***
Δ Diverse And Refreshing. Although It May Be A Little Uneventful For Some At Parts, There Are A Handful Of Undeniably Infectious Tracks And Segments That’ll Have You Pressing Play Over And Over Again.
Overall: ***½
Fortaken: http://www.thewordisbond.com/
Label: http://pl70.net/landof1000chances/
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Δ Had I known what I was getting us into, I would have never set foot in the studio…
Δ The old maxim “suffering for your art” was taken to new heights in the making of Land Of 1000 Chances. Not only was the inspiration for the album soaked in personal turmoil, but seeing it to fruition would take Thes and I to the brink of insanity. I want to say there were a lot of great moments and experiences I will never forget, but if I had to weigh it all out, it would be a tough call to ever re-live it again.
Δ The idea for all of this was to go back to my roots and encapsulate the last few years of what was going on in my life. I needed to get away from the clean, over-produced music I was making that had slowly put me in a creative corner cover the last 5 years. I was stuck. It’s not in me to make electronic music (I suck at it to be honest) and I didn’t want to re-hash the cut and paste stuff I had done before, so what the fuck do I do now? I go back. Back to the first album I ever made in a bedroom in Palm Springs with an EPS, my cousins drum kit and some records. I had to get back to where I came from in order to harness where I was now. Fuck layering and smothering songs to oblivion. These needed to breathe. Keep it intentionally sparse and simple. It had to be about creating a vibe and sticking to it. Not throwing in a random dance cut or having it cluttered with guests. It had to be honest and real. Somewhere along the way, I ended up drinking way too much, traveling and hanging out way too much and on the precipice of divorce. They say write what you know, so I did. — Day
PRESS:
Δ “Something in the energy of the desert, a magical and funky energy, just permeates through the veins of DJ Day. And you hear that in his music – it’s beautiful and thoughtful and spiritual and it’s a aural window into the soul of this dude. Decidedly 21st Century yet still harkens back to all the decades of history and influence of everything that came before it. Truly gorgeous music, and it strikes me to my core each time I listen to it.” — Cosmo Baker (The Rub)
Δ “Introspective yet candid. In Day’s ‘Land Of 1000 Chances’, there’s a sincerity that bares itself in every beat and live instrument throughout this masterwork, as crisp and vast as a desert night. In the current climate of over-enhanced production, Day refreshingly strips it down, leaving the natural beauty of his arrangements with no makeup – no overstating of themes, rather implying or alluding in a way that reveals itself in multiple listens. While produced in essence from a b-boy approach, there’s a maturity and bravery that glows from this record down the shady and sunny paths of his life.” — Jeremy Sole (89.9 KCRW, LA)
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::