Blue Sky Black Death: Noir (Fake Four Inc., 4/26/11)
Blue Sky Black Death: “And Stars, Ringed”
[audio:https://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/03-And-Stars-Ringed.mp3|titles=Blue Sky Black Death: “And Stars Ringed”]Hip-hop production duo Blue Sky Black Death comprises Kingston (Kingston Maguire) and Young God (Ian Taggart). Its first release in 2006, A Heap of Broken Images, was an ambitious double-disc album with lyrical contributions from Rob Sonic, Mike Ladd, and members of Jedi Mind Tricks, Hieroglyphics, and Army of the Pharaohs.
Though the producers frequently collaborate with rappers, they’ve also released numerous, more experimental instrumentals and teamed with Yes Alexander of The Casual Lust to release Slow Burning Lights, a record that’s more indie pop than hip hop, in 2008. Its newest album, Noir, is 14 tracks of grand-scale, instrumental electronica, full of soulful vocal samples, dramatic and twinkling piano, and washes of sweeping, emotional synthesizer. Imagine your favorite hip-hop production run through a mellow, shoegaze-pop filter.
Fill out the form below, and you’ll be entered to win a CD copy of Noir, courtesy of Fake Four Inc.
Update: Contest has ended.