Ropeadope To Launch Digital Download Label

Ropeadope, the trend-setting independent  record label,
clothing company, Internet destination and all around  lifestyle-defining
endeavor, will launch a digital download exclusive label  imprint, Ropeadope Digital,
in February 2007. It will  make its debut with releases from seven artists,
including  Aunt Jessica, DJ Klock, Electric City, The Frequency, Skip
Heller,  Larval and Reminder, offering full length  albums exclusively via
download at Ropeadope.com and all  other major digital music retailers. This will
mark the beginning of  an ongoing series of Ropeadope Digital releases throughout
2007 and, in the  process, establish the way Ropeadope presents new music and 
artists in the future. In addition, all of Ropeadope  Digital’s artists will
maintain ownership of their  masters. Ropeadope will license only the
digital rights  for its releases. Royalties will be based on a complete profit share
basis between the label and its artists.
 
"I haven’t been this excited about anything in the music industry for  years," says
Ropeadope founder Andy Hurwitz. "While we will continue to release 
records, we are completely shifting our priorities by making Ropeadope
Digital our focus. We have over 25 digital releases lined up for next  year."
 
True to Ropeadope’s rich history with artists like Christian McBride, Sex 
Mob, King Britt, Philadelphia Experiment, DJ Logic and Tin Hat,  the
releases on tap to launch Ropeadope Digital will represent a  diverse spectrum of
genre-bending sounds and styles, bridging together  old school jazz,
hip-hop, electronica, prog rock, soul and just about every  other style
imaginable, while running the gamut from well-established  artists to debut releases by new
names who are well on their way  to becoming marquee artists. In the words of
Ropeadope’s Andy Hurwitz, the  first installment of Ropeadope Digital
releases are as follows:
 
Aunt Jessica: "File under:  Electronica-what-what-Hip-Hop-Soul-R&B-Rock-and
shit. The future of all  music can be linked to the past and Aunt Jessica
is well versed in all tenses.  They met as students at Temple University in
Philly where they brought every  possible musical influence into their confluence.
Writing silly descriptions  about music like this really doesn’t do
anyone any good when trying to describe  this band. Simply put, it’s the brand new
flavor in your ears. We were  inspired to bring Aunt Jessica into the RAD dig mix
simply by listening. You should too."
 
DJ Klock: "File Under: Avant Turntablism,  Experimental Hip-Hop, Brain
twisting noise, squiggles and grooves. Klock  emerges from the ferment of
the Tokyo electronica scene.  He’d collaborated with Japanese abstract hip-hop
legend DJ  Krush on the 12-inch/CD for Nike, "DJ Krush feat. DJ Klock / 2001 Cage 
Odyssey," which became an underground classic. Here, he creates
vignettes of sound ranging from looped snare drum patterns to  digital squiggles and
squeaks. Unexpectedly, fairy-tale melodies played on  trumpet, xylophones and toy
guitars can arise out  of minimalist beats. Strange voices float
alongside skeletal  rhythms like previously unheard sounds from deep within the mind’s 
imagination. The album makes clear the arrival of a new producer schooled
 in the art of Krush’s brain-twisting beats, but possessing his own distinct  sense of
composition and sound. He’s a Japanese  turntable visionary."
 
Electric City: "File Under: Philly underground  hip-hop. Electric City
brings it back to the basics, moving forward all the  while.  The duo consisting
of DJ Skipmode’s captivating  turntablism and beat-making, paired with the
energetic lyricism of  Mighty FlipSide Esq., reintroduces the almost
forgotten concept  of MC/DJ/Listener interaction.  Their live show is hailed as
legendary (at  least here in Philly) and the crew boasts the longest running monthly
hip-hop  event in Philadelphia to back up that sentiment. With the
release of their first  studio album, Everything, Everywhere, All the Time,  Electric City
maintains the integrity of their live performance, while paring
intelligent lyricism and freestyle with innovative production; proving they are  not
just another ordinary hip-hop act, but true musicians."
 
The Frequency: "File under: Ultra  funky-organic-electronic-experimental
music reminiscent of AIR, Pink Floyd and  Herbie Hancock with an emphasis
on live playing, feel and groove. The early  roots of the group can be traced years
back to a listening session of the  Beatles’ Abbey Road (Side B when after
several beers and multiple listens,  college band-mates Marc Cazorla and
Alex  Stiff  felt inspired. Years later, the twosome are making  noise on the
LA scene (their music can already be heard on Concord Records’  Bill Crosby and
Quincy Jones: The New Mixes and the  Concord release Explorations featuring
artists like Thievery Corporation, Ozomatli and Mario C. They are  poised to
explode in 2007 with everyone and their mamma wanting a piece of The  Frequency. Get
yours now."
 
Skip Heller: "File Under: Jazz guitar from the Left  Coast. Time Out New
York calls Skip: "an American  guitar hero," while All About Jazz calls him a 
"genius." We just call him whenever we want fantabulous music. This album 
(Skip’s 12th!) is influenced by British calypso, Stevie Wonder, Sergio
Mendes,  Hawaiian guitarists, Jeff Beck, The Band, Hurricane Katrina and his wife.
Skip  covers XTC, Ani DiFranco, Si Kahn (look it up!) and lays down  some Skip
Heller originals. It clearly proves Skip’s place amongst not only the  top jazz
guitarists in this country, but also as one of the deepest  thinkers,
poets and artists out there right now. Get with Skip."
 
Larval: – "File Under: Classical Rock. ‘Bill  Brovold’s Larval
represents one of the most accomplished sounds in music  today, his complex compositions
smash the border of rock and classical to create  a truly original
sound,’ or so said Alternative Press.  Larval is Bill Brovold and Bill Brovold is one
of the most  talented composers, musicians and sound experimenters that you’ve
never heard  of. Long before he and his band, Larval, were signed to John
Zorn’s record label  or compared to King Crimson, Glen Branca and Godspeed You
Black Emperor, Brovold  was building his sound and sensibility, performing and
recording with some of  the most influential artists in modern music in
the 1970s. An integral  part of the New York No Wave scene, it’s hard to believe you
still haven’t  listened to him. Do it. Now."
 
Reminder: "File Under: Chicago underground  jazz/electronica/beat fusion
with yummy vibrations. Reminder is the solo outing  of Chicago scene staple Josh
Abrams, whose bass playing has  held the groove for many artists over the
past ten years. A departure from  the avant and jazz roots of his Town &
County and Sticks & Stones  projects, Abrams takes a cue from his residency as a
member of Prefuse  73’s backing band (if you’ve seen Prefuse live and felt your
body  vibrate, it was more than likely thanks to Josh’s bass). Here, he ventures
into  beat constructions and sample-based compositions, yet his tracks
possess a rich  vocabulary that could only come from a schooled musician. Combining
his upright  and electric bass playing with MPC drums, synths, shakers, bells,
chimes, mbira  and xylophone, Abrams creates an organic palette to color
his loose grooves.  You’ll find subtle influences from J-Dilla or DJ Premier,
while the  inspiration of Sun Ra and Steve Reich loom in the distance."
 
With 25 new releases on Ropeadope Digital planned for 2007, Ropeadope  is
poised to maintain its street credibility as a key tastemaker always
ahead of the curve in the music industry. Plans are already in the  works for a
Ropeadope Digital tour along with complete promotional  campaigns for each artist in
the series. Ropeadope does plan the  release of two new albums through
traditional retail outlets in  2007: The Harlem Experiment (part of the
ongoing  Ropeadope "Experiment" series) and Marco Benevento/Live At  Tonic (part
of the ongoing "Live At Tonic" series), however,  the focus for the year will be
to establish the new imprint, while  continuing to grow its brand identity
through the already existing  Ropeadope music catalog, its various clothing lines and
ever-expanding  Ropeadope.com web presence.

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