Von Neumann Effect - Gameplay (The Content Label)

8DPromo · Von Neumann Effect - Gameplay (The Content Label)

Prepare to embark on a mesmerizing musical odyssey with Von Neumann Effect's latest album, Gameplay, released in collaboration with the renowned Los Angeles-based imprint, The Content Label. This second chapter in Von Neumann Effect's sonic journey builds upon the success of their previous release, Screenplay. It takes listeners on an immersive voyage through pixelated realms that seamlessly connect the past and the future.

Gameplay is a masterful blend of electronic experimentation and collaborative artistry, showcasing Von Neumann Effect's distinctive fusion of 8-bit and 16-bit retro gaming rhythms with serene elements. The result is a captivating tapestry of sounds that transports listeners to a world where nostalgia and innovation intertwine.

The album's standout track, "Escape Theme," has already garnered widespread acclaim, securing a coveted spot on the YouTube series "Dream's Minecraft Speedrunner VS 3 Hunters GRAND FINALE." This recognition proves Von Neumann Effect's ability to resonate with diverse audiences and capture the essence of gaming experiences.

Other highlights of the album include "AI Assisted Climax," previously featured on a Content Label Sampler, which showcases a flawless fusion of cutting-edge beats and forward-thinking soundscapes. "All Systems Go" crafts a laid-back and mellow ambiance, skillfully blending soulful elements into a futuristic musical palette. "Pheromone Tsunami" captivates with its charming and enchanting composition, effortlessly drawing listeners in with alluring melodies and irresistible grooves.

The album also features a standout collaboration with renowned beatmaker Dday One on "Synthesizers & Drum Machines." This track bewitches listeners with its poly-rhythmic synth symphony, enhancing the overall experience of this beat tape and showcasing the impressive range of talent involved in the project.

Gameplay is a signifier of Von Neumann Effect's innovative approach to the sound of 'Electronic Futurism,' redefining genres one bit at a time. With its immersive soundscapes, nostalgic elements, and forward-thinking production, this album is a must-listen for sonic explorers seeking a fresh and captivating musical experience.

Luca Trevisi (LTJ X-Perience) – “Great synth experience. Love it.”
Jason Merle (4E&A Records) – “So many beautiful sounds throughout the release.”
Spaceotter (Giving some solid old school Boards of Canada vibes, which is a high compliment from here. Love it.”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, Juno Download, Beatport, And Spotify.

Various Artists - The Content Label - Sampler 5 (The Content Label)

The Content Label is a Los Angeles project-based record label and worldwide collective. As the logo illustrates, over the years various elements have combined to produce works that have contributed to the lineage of sample-based music with an emphasis in electronic and hip-hop production. Curated by critically acclaimed recording artist Dday One, the LA-based boutique label’s exclusive catalog is exquisite and experiential.

This fifth label sampler is an overview of The Content Label’s latest exploits and the variance of the artists involved. Parisian producer, visual artist, and MC Lex (de Kalhex) sets the scene with “Solstice,” transforming from a jazzy boom-bap experience to spacier realms partway through the cut. Salty, the accomplished Japanese beat-maker, delivers on “ADSL,” showcasing an introspective hip-hop terminology via phased electric piano vibes, timeless vocal drops, and shimmering atmospheres. Dday One, The Content Label’s guiding force, next drops “Cielo Azul.” The track features layers of intricately assembled sound for a melancholy, worldly take on the sampler’s overall vibe.

The next two artists hail from Russia, underscoring The Content Label as a global affair. With a deft, strings-laden soundscape, Fiji unveils his “Sketch,” a sonic imagining of moodier, distant climes. LTF then shows the funkier side of Moscow with “Soviet Groove Machine,” an upbeat stew of drum beats, plucked guitar rides, and dubbed-out horns. Returning the artist roster to the USA, but inspired by Soviet-era classical music, the duo of Gone Beyond & Mumbles exhibit their poetically constructed “Apropos For The Wet Snow.”

Enigmatic Los Angeles producer Marques Lafelt adds a dreamy four-on-the-floor flavor on “Love Unlimited,” complete with night-scape chord pads and an echoey, bass synth lead. The innovative electronics continue with audio/visual quartet Von Neumann Effect who close out the sampler. “A.I Assisted Climax” is descriptive of its sound, evoking possessed circuitry and sentient rhythm.

Dj Halabi (Reversion Records) “Solid stuff from Dday One on Vol.5 of this label sampler. For me, Lex really shines on this project. Top Stuff.
Mr. Bristow (Subtek) – “Heavy business. Nice work.”
Andrew Emil (Glenview Records) – “So damn good!”
DJ Friction (Bodymovin / Complex) – “Dope beats. Solstice and ADSL are my faves, but all of these are really good.”
Renegades of Jazz (Agogo Records) – “Absolutely love this.”
DJ Wash (Butter Music) - “Nice release, especially feeling the Soviet Groove Machine track.”
Rory Hoy (Howlin’ Records) – “ Absolutely stellar release.”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show) – “Top notch work from all involved.”
Dr. Best (Radio Z, Nuremberg) – “A true 5 star deluxe package.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) – “A real box of musical goodness. They cover all the beats!”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, Beatport, Apple Music, And Spotify.

Dday One - Journal | Extended (The Content Label)

Dday One’s Journal project originated as a limited self released CD-R sold exclusively at his live shows. The project consisted of four fully sample-based compositions created solely with a hardware sampler and a turntable. Soon after its release and due to broader demand The Content Label reissued the Journal EP in digital and CD format. Now Dday One revisits the project with a ten track extended version entitled Journal | Extended. The release features remastered versions of the original four tracks accompanied by six previously unreleased cuts.

The tracks on Journal | Extended date from the same period, as the prolific Dday One was realizing a spectrum of sample-based experiments. Influenced by personal entries from Dday One’s studio journals (one of which is pictured in the cover art), the music shows the producer constructing new sonic possibilities within his unique style. Flipped beats and layered samples abound, placed in compelling arrangements that affirm Dday One’s pensive attention to detail. Tracks like “Heiwa”, evoking the melancholia of a traveller’s search for inner truth, “Meaning”, characterized by otherworldly tones and textures, and “Rhythm Section”, with its playful introduction to the cut’s instrumentation elements, are just a few highlights of this skillful selection.

Jon Fugler (XLNT radio show / Fluke) – “Quite bonkers, with is no bad thing. Always heartwarming to hear something that breaks a few rules.”
Poldoore (Cold Busted) – “Loving the rawness of the drums and the sample section. Definitely bouncing to these grooves.”
DJ Firefly (WRCT 88.3 FM – Pittsburgh) – “Super clever and creative – love it!”
Belabouche (Midnight Riot) – “Wow, this is amazing.”
Renegades Of Jazz (Agogo Records) – “Been a Dday One fan since the first release. Still love his unique, melancholic sound.”
Graham Mandroules (Catalyst Recordings) – “Love the moody soundscapes.”
Stickybuds (Goodgroove Records) - “Cool stuff. Sounds like old Shadow.”
Aja Allsop (Ketch A Vibe Radio Show) – “It’s epic and eclectic. I love it.”
DJ Osric (Black and Blue Show) – “Dday really knows a thing or two about sampling and production. Every track is so evocative. I lost all track of time listening to this promo.”
Jamie Topham (CD Pool / Summer Soulstice) – “Nice mix of downtempo beats, classical styles & jazz vibes. Soundtracks for some lazy Summer Sundays.”

Available Now From: Bandcamp, Juno Download, iTunes, AND Spotify.

Dday One On His New Album 'Gathered Between'

Dday One's fifth album Gathered Between has a fascinating backstory that helped shape its captivating instrumental hip hop soundscapes. It was meant to be his second long-player, but a hard drive crash destroyed songs, files, and ideas necessary to complete the project. Eventually Dday One revisited the lost album, reconstructing the beats and sample arrangements from memory, giving Gathered Between an unintended but connecting theme of recollection and retrieving things presumed to be forgotten.

We caught up with Dday One to ask him about the curious origins of Gathered Between and what it was like to work on such a compelling project.

How long did you work on the original album before the hard drive crash? How far along to completion were you? What was your reaction to discovering it was gone, and how did you cope?

Dday One: I started working on the original version of Gathered Between in 2010 and worked on it for about a year and a half before the hard drive crash occurred. At the time of the crash I would say I was about halfway done with the album. I was so focused on the process that I forgot to back up the files during the recording and unfortunately I erased the disc that contained the source files.

When it first happened I was devastated but looking back now I believe it occurred for a reason because immediately after the crash, while searching for samples on disc, I ended up finding the sole surviving audio tape of my unofficial debut Mood Algorithms which up till that point was nowhere to be found. So I ended up digitizing and remastering Mood Algorithms which was released instead of Gathered Between. The whole experience got me in the habit of digitizing and archiving a lot of material that I forgot about which ended up becoming the foundation for the album that followed plus some remixes. So in hindsight it all kind of worked out.

What made you decide to reconstruct this album, rather than just working on a new one? Why do it now, rather than right after the first version was lost?

Dday One: Well, right after the first version was lost I switched gears and channeled my energy into remastering Mood Algorithms and working on a live set so the idea of completing the album got put on the back burner. Then about a year and a half ago I stumbled across notes I wrote while working on the first version of Gathered Between and thought it would be great to revisit the project by creating a totally new album inspired by the initial concept.

What exactly did you have left to work with when you set about creating this album? Can you describe the process?

Dday One: About half of tracks were already done, so my work was to reconstruct the remaining tracks. This process involved going over rough sketches from the initial recording that were on tapes and then relying on memory to find the samples from mostly vinyl that I previously used. Since my record collection had grown and my workflow changed since the first time around, the process was quite laborious but also rewarding. In some cases with tracks like "Years Ago" and "Out of the Shadows" the only thing I had to work with as a reference was the original track listing written down on paper. So in those cases I had to reflect on why I picked the specific title, and of course I could not think that far back so I ended up recreating the tracks based on what the song title meant to me while recording for this time of around.

The album has a very ‘deep’ vibe to it. Are there any particular meanings or stories behind any of the tracks on Gathered Between?

Dday One: The tracks came from a deep personal place so I am thankful that the overall vibe was preserved and was able to carry over to the listening experience. As far as stories, well besides the already known back story and overall concept I'd rather keep the specific meanings open. I would much rather the listener derive their own personal meanings without my influence.

Is there a sort of feeling of closure to getting Gathered Between recorded and released? Now, what is next for Dday One?

Dday One: Yes, releasing Gathered Between has brought about enormous closure and personal satisfaction. Definitely thankful to finally be able to close this chapter and looking forward to starting the next. Stay updated at ddayone.com.

Dday One's Gathered Between is out now on The Content Label.