Music Mondays: Scuba Drops new Mix for FACT Featuring Unreleased Hotflush Recordings Material

Who doesn't love starting the week off with some excellent new music? The fine folks at FACT have delivered a fresh mix with none other than Hotflush Recordings boss (and one of our favorite producers), Scuba!

Featuring plenty of unreleased music from Scuba himself as well as his Hotflush Recordings cohorts, this sublime mix is not to be missed!

You can get the FREE download of Scuba's October FACT mix right HERE

Special Thanks:  Scuba & FACT Magazine for the mix, Giants forcing a game 7 in the NLCS, Cafe Gratitude, Gramatik's beats & warm bagels for breakfast

Free Download: Photek Makes His 2012 Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1 Available Via SoundCloud

Wow, as we get ever closer to Photek's new album, "KU:Palm" dropping later this month...the talented producer stepped up to the plate to deliver his second BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix and it's a real gem! Featuring all sorts of different bass music sounds and some exclusive Photek productions from the new album...this is not to be missed!

You can download Photek's Essential Mix HERE

Special Thanks: SF Giants tying their NLCS series against the St. Louis Cardinals in thrilling fashion, the new Robert Glasper Experiment Black Radio Remix EP, Jazzanova live, UNKLE, DJ Shortkut reggae mixes and delicious veggie burritos

Photek Preps New Album 'Ku:Palm' and Offers Free Download of First Single 'Pyramid'

We at Upperhands couldn't be more excited about the long-awaited new album from acclaimed electronic music producer, Rupert Parkes, aka Photek.

Photek made his mark initially as one of the pioneers in drum and bass, releasing standout singles on LTJ Bukem's Good Looking label as well as Goldie's Metalheadz. 

Never known to stay in one genre for too long, Photek's last solo album, 'Solaris,' came out in 2000, and saw the producer incorporate deep house sounds into his repertoire. In the following years Parkes went on to produce for artists like Nine Inch Nails and then start his own record label. Last year saw a slew of outstanding new Photek EPs from that, which have been building towards finally putting together a proper long-player. The result is the eagerly anticipated 'KU:Palm,' which is coming out on October 23rd. Judging by the early sounds, it looks to be a mixture of all the musical elements that fans have come to love from Photek over the years. 

You can download the first single 'Pyramid' for FREE right here

Special Thanks: SF Giants back in the NLCS, Amon Tobin ISAM 2.0 Tour at Greek Theater, frozen peanut butter cups, Biden sticking it to Ryan in the VP debate, crisp Autumn weekends

S.P.Y. - "What the Future Holds"

S.P.Y. 

"What the Future Holds"

Label: Hospital Records

Genre: Drum and Bass

Nothing better than a great post up spot in a big city. 

Big Ups to grayscale and late nights.

Special Thanks to: Presidential Debates, Playoff Baseball, NHL Lockouts, NFL in general, Beatport allowing me to research and purchase Drum and Bass from even before 1994, Thanks.

What the Future Holds: Watch the Stunning Official Music Video From S.P.Y feat. Ian Shaw

So the debut album from one of our favorite drum and bass producers S.P.Y., was mostly disappointing but there are a few tracks that are instant classics though. The title track, 'What the Future Holds,' is one of them and this official music video is just as beautiful as the song itself.



Special Thanks: S.P.Y for giving us this jam, beach days in October, SF Giants Sunday rebound, Buster Posey, Blue Dream, vintage Tecate and fresh issues of Frank 151 from Upperhands

How Patrick Willis Became One of the NFL's Best

Duke here...

Just came across this great 2 minute video (from Duracell no less) featuring Patrick Willis of my beloved 49ers. Whether you know him or not, his story is very inspiring and as perfrectly illustrated in my previous post...he's become one of the best in the NFL.



Special Thanks: Duracell for making this, Month of Horrors, First Fridays, SF Giants playoff time, Scuba, Photek and Gladkill late night sessions

Big Hits: Watch Patrick Willis of the 49ers Absolutely Level Brad Smith of the Jets

BOOM!



Special Thanks: To the 49ers ferocious defense

On Tour: Get Ready for the New Scuba Live Show

Big news from one of our favorite producers, Scuba! The Hotflush Recordings head honcho is stepping up his game by unveiling his super slick new visual setup for his upcoming live shows.

Check out the cool promo video below and here's hoping he brings this bad boy to the USA for the next tour!



Special Thanks: Scuba's Essential Mix, 'Looper' being an instant classic, Playoff baseball beginning, and cool Venice nights.

Vintage Beats 1999-2003: New DJ CAM Album Out 11/5/12

We at Upperhands have been BIG fans of Paris-born and currently LA-based DJ CAM since the 90's as his beautiful fusion of crisp hip-hop beats and sublime jazz licks always makes for a cinematic soundtrack.

Now DJ CAM is putting out a proper retrospective and the time is certainly right, with peer DJ Shadow recently releasing a greatest hits album of his own, 'Reconstructed.' These pioneers of the 'trip-hop' genre have certainly evolved their sound over the years, but it's in revisiting their back catalog that you realize just how ahead of the times these artists were (and still remain).

'Vintage Beats 1999-2003' will be coming on on CAM's own Inflammable Records on 11/5 but you can check out the cover art below. Also, for you vinyl heads - there's a strict limited number of 500.

Special Thanks: DJ CAM for staying true to his roots, playoff baseball being nearly upon us, big fantasy football wins, Mr. Joseph, scorching LA October heatwave, good friends and big bass.

Kicks #4 - Nike Sb Dunk High - Twin Peaks Edition

Whether or not you are familiar with who FBI Agent Dale Cooper is, 

the slightest idea who killed Laura Palmer, or are aware that the "Owls are not as they seem", 

these kicks are still one of my favorites of all time.

In the same field as the MF Doom Dunk Highs and the De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising Dunk Highs, these kicks represent the rarest of issues and complete homage to some of the 

greatest forms of entertainment of all time. 

For anyone reading this now, if you have a Netflix account, you should add Twin Peaks to your Instant Queue now. You will fall in love with the narrative, the mystery, the laughs the suspense and the down right gangster violence that was unheard of at that time (1990).

Nike has taken various important elements and subjects from the show's cinematography, storylines and opening credits. 

Here is how it all breaks down:

 Featured in this shoe are multiple references to the classic TV show "Twin Peaks".

1. Neon Green Laces to mimic the opening credits to Twin Peaks show. By far the weirdest opening to a show you will ever see, yet brilliant at the same time.

2. Blue Owl print on the ankle. 

As FBI Agent Dale Cooper is trying to solve the mystery of  "who killed Laura Palmer", he begins to realize that there are strong forces working for and against him. 

He is notified by a giant during a vivid dream that, "The Owls Are not As They Seem".

The owl actually represents far more than that, but if I told you, I would be ruining something for you. Just go watch the damn show!

 

3. Red Silk Curtains and Zig Zag Floor print on inner sole.

This is pretty on point here and I salute NIKE. 

Recreating the red silk curtains that Dale Cooper sees in many of his dreams

and upon his journey to the dark side, he encounters a wicked place with zig zag floors.

 

 

Interior of the Dark Side. 

 

 

Definitely on my list of pairs of NIKE shoes that you own, but you don't wear. Ever.

 Retail Price on eBay: Aproximately $250.00

A classic!