Tape Files #3) Hieroglyphics Crew

HA...The early days of the Hiero Imperium.I am not going to front.Back in those days(and still do), I used every bit of access I could to get new music.(and online was a good...and also bad way of getting new stuff).Almost every other week, I spent my weekends in The Bay(S.F.),East Bay(Oakland & Berkley) and Other surrounding cities looking for new music. Mainly found myself in the East Bay, Used to go to Leopold's,Rasputin's,Amoeba's and all the cats dirt hustling(Mainly in those days on Telegraph, you'd see all the Hobo,Psytoplasim and Mystic cats out there)and I'd spend most of my checks there and whatever(at the time) to the guys slanging their product, fun times.

Anyways, back to my main subject, Hiero..I had so many 3rd to 4th generation copies of all their unreleased material and It would bug me to hear that hiss.As much as I can stand the hiss and the low-fi, there comes a time, where you just want to hear the song(s), clearly. So hearing that they were rumored to release these recordings,I was just looking forward to when!!I got two copies when it came out.I recently got a sealed cassette from my homie Kye(again, word up homie!).They never came with any cover.Just a blank clear case, the tape said "Hiero Oldies" and a page typed with all the songs in order (who,what year,etc and a brief synopsis).I was just happy to hear "Cab Fare"(but it was not the version I had from back in the day, but a remixed and new version of it), "Can I Kill Em" and the "Souls of Mischief" self titled track (made famous from the ever so killer first Plan-B Skate video).Thanks again to the Hiero crew for putting these track out for all to enjoy and also thanks for putting that Atban Klan tape up for sale too(which is another post in the near future)

So I present to you, in it's entire form (from the tape) is, Hiero Oldies Vol #1. So sit back and listen to the whole 86:24 of it!

Peace,
Adrian(age)

Hiero Oldies Vol #1

1)Cab Fare (95 Remix)
2)Me-O-Mi-O (Domino Remix)
3)Neighborhood
4)Let It Ride
5)Can I Kill'em?
6)Souls Of Mischief
7)Where They At?
8)Crazy Del Song w/ Beyond the Cloak of Darkness
9)Weak Shit
10)Can U Feel It?
11)It Get's No Better
12)Our Secret
13)Untitled Del Song
14)Souls Of Mischief On WKCR,NY(STretch & Bobbito Show) 92'
15)Captain America
16)Batting Practice(Orig. Version)
17)Feeling The Flow
18)Whta Do You Say?
19)Rippers
20)Reckless w/ Hush
21)Chaos & Turmoil

Awkward : When Gravity Fails (us release)

This is Matt Fryer. Known as "Awkward". Matt's a homie & fellow crew member (well, mastermind) of the Vertebrae Crew.

This is the cassette release that I passed out to people and put in some shops.The response on the tape was actually really overwhelming and had an excellent response(considering most pass on it, cause it's not from the states). I only made 30 to 50 copies of the tape (mainly passed to friends and folks at shows).It is composed of a couple releases he did back in the U.K.(Bristol) and some other non-released 4-track songs.He was nice enough to let me just re-dub these tracks I had on Mini-disc(Which I recovered awhile back, but the disc was "corrupted") Damn!!!!

I did not even have a personal copy till recently (Thanks Kye) I gave him the first tape out of the batch back then and was nice enough to give it back.

In an age where people really don't sample much anymore.It's pretty comforting to hear this tape again. There is power in this music. Rough ass drums, dirty ass samples and tough lyrics to compliment.

All production was the man himself except for the last track (and I apologize to Steve aka Sir Beans O.B.E.) That was my bad not to credit you on the cover back then.

I hope you enjoy it and here it is in it's entirety.

Awkward:When Gravity Fails (U.S. Release)


Track List,
Start
5,000 Corpses
Midnight Sun
Human (Feat. Fono-Veins)
Loop & Fade
Last Breath (Robotman)
We Like Scratching (Feat. D-Swift)
So Anyways (Feat. Marshy & Fono Veins)
When Gravity Fails
Interlude
Diss Feast
The Freestyle Song
Intro
Here 2 Interfere
Vertebrae Pt. 1 (Feat.Rola of Numskulls)
Ignite
**Focus ('98) Feat. Sir Beans O.B.E.

Produced, Scratched & Rhymed by Awkward
(Except "**" By Sir Beans O.B.E.)

Sounds of the Library : A small look and listen into the soundscapes of the public domain.

We'll probably agree that most library records (which I'm sure most of you know) are a good 80% maybe 90%, crap. But considering the main use for these records, it's was for commercial and public domain use so it's a feasible excuse. Also it was a good way for aspiring film producers,directors, advertisers or whoever to use for movies,PSA,Commercials,etc.Then, making it cheap and with out having to hire some one like John Williams, Lalo Schifrin, or random studio band, etc. All these "lame" songs served a purpose and more than likely, were all used. A small set fee for all..nice!

But this type of music will forever remain under as the "One Tracker" genre. One thing I find fascinating about this music that you have the major players like Keith Mansfield, Alan Hawkshaw, Nick Ingman, Janko Nilovic and countless of other composers, making this really well composed pieces of music. Tracks ranging from anywhere from 30 seconds to over 5 minutes.
It can be as lounge/exotic as Martin Denny, as soulful as E,W & F and as raw as Food(the psych group).

Below are some tracks I posted on the "Strut" to glorify and give justice to this genre. Love or Hate, these are some of my favorite tracks below.I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Much Peace and Respect,
Adrian(age)

(Note...I forgot to edit out the first 25 seconds of the Andy Loore track. But, it starts over again:)

Santany-Trama Nella Metropoli


The Heaven Blues-Sweet Mornings


Piero Umiliani-Suoni Della Citta



Janko Nilovic-Shaking Pop.



Clive Hicks-On The Wild Side



Sam Fonteyn-Freakout



David Lindup-Action Stations



Raymond Guiot-Basse Duetting



John Hawksworth-This Way Up



Bob Donovan-Luau Cookout


and...

Andy Loore(a.k.a. Janko Nilovic)-Mixed Drums