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Cover image for Music Monday — What are you listening to? (Beats Edition)

Music Monday — What are you listening to? (Beats Edition)

Michael Tharrington on December 18, 2023

cover image source: Giphy Beats! I'm talking about the rhythm section. Bass and drums. You get a good low-end kick drum that can rattle your whole...
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Michael Tharrington

When you think of a cool musical performance, you might think of someone effortlessly playing a classical piece on piano or shredding notes on a guitar at ludicrous speeds... you probably don't think of someone pressing buttons on a drum machine as particularly impressive.

Well, prepare to proven otherwise...

This is an absolutely incredible performance by one of the pioneers in techno, Jeff Mills, and it shows just how expressive a drum machine can be in a live performance (i.e. not just used as a production tool). The machine he plays on has been around since the 80's, it’s commonly referred to as a 909 and has a very distinct sound. Hope y’all enjoy this one!

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Fernando

Jeff chose possibly the most uncomfortable position he could think of to perform here 😅

But I'm sure this would tear the roof off a rave. Would be awesome to witness a live set knowing he's been in the game for so many years!

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Michael Tharrington

Lol, I'm glad you pointed that out Fernando. He is squatting down in a white void. It's pretty interesting.

And you're damn right he'd tear the roof off — I would also love to see one of his live sets. We should meet up and make it happen, haha.

By the way, he did an album with Tony Allen (legendary afrobeat drummer who worked with Fela Kuti) that is so freaking cool. It's called Tomorrow Comes the Harvest, check it out:

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Fernando

And you're damn right he'd tear the roof off — I would also love to see one of his live sets. We should meet up and make it happen, haha.

If he's ever touring the US or somewhere near let me know! There's a good chance I won't be able to say no lol

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Garrett / G66

love this kind of stuff

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Michael Tharrington

Glad you're digging it, Garrett! It's pretty freaking cool.

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Bala Madhusoodhanan

Bit of gaming OST theme here as spend some time playing game this weekend..

Tron Legacy - Soundtrack OST - 15 Solar Sailer

Gustavo Santaolalla - The Last of Us (Main Theme)

OST from Uncharted Game

Horizon: Zero Dawn OST- Complete Soundtrack

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Thomas Bnt

Tron Legacy 🕺🏼💚

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Michael Tharrington

Agreed! That Tron Legacy soundtrack is absolutely 🔥

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Fernando

I'm purposely distorting the "bass guitar" & drums prompt to an overpowered subwoofer (for the bass) on a sound system playing dancehall or dub reggae at a music festival that rattles the entire neighborhood and gives chest compressions when standing directly in front of it 😆

I can confirm the chest compressions from watching OBF live a few years ago but I'm sure Eagle would do the trick too lol

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Michael Tharrington

Oh hell yeah!! I like your take. Very much approved. 👍

Soundsystem culture is badass and an overpowered subwoofer is definitely bassy enough for me.

I'm liking these tunes! I can totally imagine getting punched in the chest with these bass waves haha — sounds like a fun time.

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Saurabh Rai

Try this 👇



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Michael Tharrington

Oh heck yeah! I'm glad you brought up "Stayin' Alive"... I think lots of folks know this nowadays, but it's just too perfect that the bpm for "Stayin' Alive" is at the same rate as chest compressions given during CPR.

Your other suggestions are great too, Saurabh. Loving the 80's vibes. Hadn't heard "Leave the World Behind" prior to this but that's a banger... feels very early 90's house, but I can tell it's from later on.

If you wanna take it to the 80's, as far as banger beats go, I got 2 for ya that I'm sure you'll recognize but are worth a mention here.

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Saurabh Rai

These two are the other components besides hemoglobin in my blood.

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Thomas Bnt

Danse

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Michael Tharrington

Ooooo yeah, this is nice and rhythmic. Good one, Thomas! 🙌

The dance in the GIF almost matches up too, haha!

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Dendi Handian • Edited

how about this? make sure to use bassy headphone or speaker.

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Michael Tharrington

Holy crap, this is so cool! I love how the beat really opens up once they step through the elevator door.

That weird muffled nasally bass line, those cool staturated drums, the fuzzy tinkly synth bed everything is laying on — all of it works so well together. This is a jam!

Great suggestion as always, Dendi! Thanks for continuously sharing such cool tunes with me. 🙂

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Dendi Handian

Anytime, Michael. Glad I understood the assignment 😁

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Michal Mazurek
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Michael Tharrington

Wooaaa, dope! I've always enjoyed FFX music and it appears that plenty of tunes from the series made it onto this mix, but they're remixed with a lofi/hip hop (mellow) sound.

Good one, Michal! I dig it.

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Michael Tharrington

Gotta give J Dilla a mention here. Lots of folks love Donuts and it really is an awesome collection of beats.

Recently, I've been enjoying the album he made with Madlib (together they're called Jaylib) Champion Sound. It's cool because the tracklist switches back and forth between the two producers — one song by one, another song by the other, all the way til the end of the album.

I also really like the beats he produced for artists like Common and the Pharcyde. Here's a good familiar one that he made early on in his career for Pharcyde. Listen out for the kick drum — it's all over the place in the best possible wya!