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.
