The Mackrosoft - Shirts and Skins
The Mackrosoft - Shirts and Skins
(CD) Mackrosoft Records MS0015, 2008
Tracklisting :
01. Shirts and Skins 4:29
02. Two Men Enter 7:42
03. Simulations of God 6:16
04. Cobbham 7:16
05. Imaginums 5:39
06. If It Bleeds 4:11
07. Center of the Cyclone 5:42
08. Vicoden Reality 3:28
Links :
mackrosoft.com
myspace.com/mackrosoft
myspace.com/ajawestcheeba
myspace.com/ajawest
cheebacabra.com
myspace.com/mackrosoft
myspace.com/cheebacabra
youtube.com/user/themackrosoft
Band Members :
Aja West : Synthesizer, Rhodes Electric Piano, Hohner Clavinet D6, Guitaret, Congas, Bongos, Shakers, Triangle, Talking Drum, Timbali, Wood Blocks, Steel Pans, Chimes, Bells, Rain Pan, Duck Calls, Whistles
Steve Moore : Synthesizer, Wurlitzer Piano, Trombone
Cheeba : Synthesizer
Steve Black : Electric Guitar
Dylan Cooper : Bass
Alex Westcoat : Drums
Snakerrhythms : Sax
Dave Carter : Trumpet
Dana Birdsall : Cello
Nick Allison : Piano
All songs composed by Aja West and The Mackrosoft
Produced, engineered and mixed by Aja West at Mackrosoft studios, Seattle, WA
All compositions published by The Lovers, The Dreamers and Me (BMI)
Mastering : Mike Bozzi
Design : Mackenzie Belka
Photos : Mac Cheever
Biography :
Mackrosoft was founded in the year 2000 as an independent record label and multimedia entertainment company. Specializing in hybrids of funk, fusion, soul, jazz and electronic music, the label has received generous accolades from fans and critics alike. Unique artwork, intelligent music and a continuous stream of strong CD and Vinyl releases have flowed since Mackrosoft's inception. Below is a sampling of reviews of Mackrosoft releases:
“The Mackrosoft crew (brothers Cheeba and Aja West) have thus far sailed under the funk radar, but their mythic notoriety will soon become ubiquitous. Like Disney's Electrical Parade on acid.” - Wax Poetics
"The very bridge between the forefathers - Clinton, Stone, Hancock - and something like D'Angelo." - Straight No Chaser
Perfect… a classic 70s keyboard approach to funk! - Dusty Groove
“On an epic project, 27 musicians unite to drop a funky, winding tale of musical freedom. Hip-hop edges frame jazz, house and disco-soul as organic instruments mingle with digital manipulators in a seductive dance. Composer and executive producer Aja West has mad chops!” - URB Magazine
"Minimal drum beats and deconstructed bass lines. Immediate underground funk!" - XLR8R
"The slick, fluid instrumental jams here reside in that juicy, bubble-butted zone between the porn-flick score and the blaxploitation-film soundtrack." - The Stranger
Discography :
Aja West - White Moses (K7, 1998)
Aja West - Trauma...Life In The E.R. (CD, 1999)
The Dust Brothers - Hit Me Again (Cheeba & Mackrosoft Remix) ("Fight Club" Soundtrack CD-single, 2000)
The Mackrosoft (5 cartoons produced for Jerry Bruckheimer & Oliver Stone's now defunct Z.com, 2001)
The Mackrosoft - Straight Outta Rompton (music from the cartoon series CD/LP, 2003)
The Mackrosoft - 1st Mack to the Moon (CD/LP, 2003)
The Mackrosoft - Journey to Vaginus (CD/LP, 2003)
The Mackrosoft - Life Imitates Clouds (CD/LP, 2003)
The Cheebacabra - Metamorphosis (CD/LP, 2004) [**]
The Mackrosoft - The Dawning of the Aja Aquarius (CD, 2004)
Aja West and Cheeba - Flash and Snowball (CD, 2005)
The Mackrosoft - Antonio's Giraffe (CD, 2005) [**]
Aj Chavez - Music To Mack By (CD, 2005)
The Cheebacabra - Exile In The Woods (CD, 2006) [**]
The Mackrosoft - The Olympian (CD, 2006)
Hans & Erik Gustav - The Sensuous Man (12 inch, 2007)
Aja West & Friends - Total Recall 2012 (CD, 2007)
The Mackrosoft - Upgrade (CD, 2008) [**]
The Mackrosoft - Shirts & Skins (CD, 2008) [**]
The Mackrosoft - The Roots of Underground Fusion (tbc)
The Mackrosoft Aja West - Self-Evolving Mechanized Elves (tbc)
[ ** = my 5 favorite Mackrosoft recordings !! ]
Comments
I will admit that I am not an expert music critic but I do know what I like and what pleases the ear. Shirts and skins definitely fits the bill. If you are familiar with the Mackrosoft, you already know about the deep connections to the old school infused with new and experimental beats and effects. If you have not before checked them out, let the previous statement tickle your desire for truly prime new music. Two of my favorites from this offering include "Two Men Enter" and "If It Bleeds", but as I have stated about the other incredible new release "Upgrade", the best thing to do is play it all the way through and let it take you to parts of your mind not often explored and visited.
"the best thing to do is play it all the way through and let it take you to parts of your mind not often explored and visited" that's quite a perfect summary of what I think of those 2 new albums!!