New Haven songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/rapper Ceschi Ramos (pronounced chess-key) and Berlin producer DJ Scientist initially connected around 2005 over a mutual adoration of rare 60s/70s psychedelic, prog and folk rock as well as 90s hip hop.  On their first record together, “The One Man Band Broke Up“, both gentlemen evoke their influences creating a completely original sounding, melodic, dark and unabashedly progressive hip hop concept album.

Based around the ever revisited topic of the rise and fall of a musician, in this case one named Julius and The Bearded Saviour, “The One Man Band Broke Up” is as much about Ceschi’s own fear of failure as it is about personal experiences in a dog eat dog music industry.  As Ceschi’s voice moves from meticulous almost mathematical rhythms to aggressive nearly punk howling to scat like rhymes, Scientist layers epic montages of samples, dynamic drums, along with chopped live instruments to compliment the diversity of styles.  The album even slides in two of Ceschi’s acoustic based tunes complete with violins, banjos and ukuleles.  Friends including Sole, Astronautalis, Radical Face (of Electric President), 2econd Class Citizen, Cars & Trains and MiC K!NG also contribute instrumentation and vocals.  The combined outcome is a post-modern hip hop project unlike anything else the two musicians have previously released.

It’s been four years since Ceschi’s last album “They Hate Francisco False” slowly but surely gathered a following around the world because of its honest and unique blend of left field hip hop and indie folk.  During that recording hiatus Ceschi relentlessly toured the US, Canada, Europe and Japan with independent hip hop heroes such as Myka 9, Awol One, Sole and Onry Ozzborn all while starting his own successful record label, Fake Four Inc., and recording his latest album with Equinox Records‘ founder DJ Scientist.

However you take in this music - it is undeniable that “The One Man Band Broke Up” is a powerful new album coming from an indie hip hop world that has largely become stagnant and safe.  This record isn’t afraid of its own intelligence, technicality and sincerity.

Download the free track No New York

(01) The One Man Band Broke Up mp3
(02) Half Mast mp3
(03) No New York mp3
(04) Lament For Captain Julius mp3
(05) Fallen Famous mp3
(06) Bridge mp3
(07) Serious Business
(08) Hangman (feat. Shoshin, Mic King & David Ramos) mp3
(09) Bad Jokes mp3
(10) For My Disappointing Hip Hop Heroes mp3
(11) Long Live The Short Lived (feat. Sole) mp3
(12) Swallowed Salt
(13) Julius’ Final Song mp3

Shop links for vinyl:

hhv.de
Circle Into Square (with Shirt) (US)
Vinylkingz.de
Kudos Records
Rough Trade UK
loop 23.de
Sound-Station.at
deejay.de
chemical-records.co.uk

Shop links digital release:
iTunes
7digital.com
amazon.com

Selected Quotes & Feedback:

“Some of the best examples of alternative hip hop in recent years.”
Stereokill.net (4.5 of 5)

“The One Man Band Broke Up is one of the best conceptual hip hop records to drop in the past decade.”
URB Magazine

“A significant piece of art”
Okayplayer Magazine (89 of 100)

“Ceschi is a supremely talented MC who clearly has his finger on a fresh, new pulse of alternative hip-hop.”
ESM 8/10

“Ceschi’s new album is going to blow people away… it’s a refreshing hip-hop album with all the prog elements you’d expect from a meticulous vinyl collecting German (DJ Scientist) and some of the best hip-hop song writing i’ve heard in ages.”
Sole / soleone.org

“The Ceschi album is AMAZING. Holy shit!”
Buddy Peace / Strange Famous Records

“One of my favourite hip hop albums of recent times”
Laurent Fintoni / Rhythm Incursions / Spin Science

GERMANY

“Stilsicher und eindrucksvoll bewegen sich hier zwei Künstler gemeinsam durch kreative Weiten jenseits jeglicher Form von Einheitsbrei.”
Juice Magazine

“Wichtiges Album voller blutspuckender lyrischer Offenheit und erschreckend mutiger Nacktheit mit einer erfreulich mittelfingerreckenden stilistischen Geradlinigkeit”
Der Digitale Flaneur

„Das was Damon Albarn mit dem letzten Gorillaz Album vorhatte, schütten Ceschi und DJ Scientist mal eben auf den Independent-Markt.“
Raplounge.de

„HipHop trifft Folk, unglaubliche Double-Time Raps treffen Psychedelic-Prog-Rock Melodien. Man kann hören, dass Ceschi und DJ Scientist sich musikalisch blind verstehen.“
DougEgen Blog

„Was da aus den 70ern gesamplet und mit allerlei Instrumenten angereichert wird, ist dermaßen aus einem Guss, musikalisch, treibend, bremsend, abwechslungsreich und fein, dass man sich verwundert die Ohren reibt, wer eigentlich in Deutschland als guter Beatproduzent gilt… eines der besten Alben dieses Jahr.“
ficko Magazin

(Pictures by Sindy Kretzschmar)

Ceschi’s “Postcard Package” is a set of 3 lovely vinyl postcards including 3 completely exclusive songs (not to be released digitally or on any other format) produced by DJ Scientist. The set is limited to 25 hand numbered copies only. The 60s styled artwork was done by The Raincoatman.

The cards were available for pre-order via a hidden link on the Equinox Records website and were sold out quickly. Originally, the set was planned for release in early 2009 (hence the low catalogue number) but due to some manufacturing difficulties and other unfortunate incidents (e.g. the postcards were lost for a couple of weeks on the way from the manufacturer) the release date got pushed back until 2010.

But luckily, everything worked out nicely in the end as you can see on the pictures. And a couple of true fans that found the link on our website and have send us a message are very happy to have already received their copies.

Here is some more info about the titles:

“(My Last) Battle Rap” is simply Ceschi’s battle song against himself. Over a pounding psych-hop beat by Scientist complete with abrasive cuts, the lyricist quickly and technically shits on himself and the indie hip hop world.

“California” is a simple and naked hip hop song with very personal yet mocking lyrics about watching an ex-girlfriend get married to a “born again christian” junkie.

“Hello N.Y.” is a small piece of Ceschi & DJ Scientist’s “The One Man Band Broke Up” story which was finally not used for the album – this little psych/punk/hop song is an observation of Julius (the one man band) in his prime and his clichéd rock star antics complete with cocaine and fellatio at a sold out show in New York City.

Special thanks to Sindy Kretzschmar for the pictures.

“Same Old Love Song”, the A side of Ceschi (pro-nounced Chess-Key) and DJ Scientist’s 12″ picture disc is an upbeat folk tinged hip hop piece which owes as much to OD’s “Beneath The Surface” compilation as it does to Too Short’s “Freaky Tales“. On this track, Ceschi has recruited LA Underground legends 2Mex and Awol One to join in on tackling the always relevant issue of women and love or lack there of. The light hearted nature of these three distinctive emcees’ lyrics blend perfectly with Scientist’s throbbing drums, folk guitars and female vocal samples.

On the B-Side we hear Ceschi team up with one of his hip hop idols and tour mates, Freestyle Fellowship founder, Myka 9 on the track “Objects Are Falling“. Between the trumpet spikes, an infectiously bouncy beat, and a space age melodic chorus lay 3 hard hitting verses covering the topics of religious and political control, communal unity and human symmetry.

While these may be two of Ceschi’s most straight forward hip hop tracks to date, he proves that he can style and flow with the best of the west. With this picture disc Equinox Records may have released one of the strongest underground hip hop singles to come out in years.

Quotes (to be updated soon):
“sick music from underground legends”
Omid / Beneath The Surface

Shop links for vinyl edition:
HHV.de
Vinylkingz.de
Kudos Records
Rough Trade UK
loop 23.de
Sound-Station.at

Shop links for digital:
iTunes
Juno Download
soulseduction.com
musicload.de
finetunes.net
djdownload.com
amazon.com

A|
(01) Same Old Love Song feat. 2Mex & Awol One (Original Version) mp3
(02) Same Old Love Song feat. 2Mex & Awol One (DJ Scientist Alternate Mix) mp3

B|
(03) Objects Are Falling feat. Myka 9 mp3
(04) Same Old Love Song feat. 2Mex & Awol One (Snatchatec Remix) mp3
(05) Same Old Love Song feat. 2Mex & Awol One (Backdraft Remix) mp3

Note: Digital Release includes additional instrumental versions!

This 7inch single is the first introduction to Ceschi (pronounced Chess-key) and DJ Scientist’s new full length album to be released in early 2009.

“Count On It” is a powerful hip hop anthem sparked by DJ Scientist’s epic string and drum arrangement, written just weeks before the Fall 2007 Equinox Records European tour. During this time period Ceschi’s band Toca had recently fallen apart only months after the release of their full length album. On top of this, Ceschi severely broke his arm and was taking 90 mg of morphine every day to nullify the pain all while his Grandmother fell seriously ill and ended up spending 2 months in the hospital. “Count On It” was written after one of Ceschi’s every day/all day visits to the hospital and is an in depth self-analysis of a struggling musician trying to maintain a life outside of society’s normalcy.

“Bad Jokes”, is one of the key tracks making up Ceschi’s semi-fictional story of a one-man-band who went by the name of “Julius and The Bearded Savior”. This song is only a single part of an ongoing tale of stardom, deception and failure within an unappreciative music industry. Although “Bad Jokes” is the first story you will hear about “The One Man Band” - it is one of the last stories about his life that is featured on the album which is littered with references to this same story.

The digital version additionally contains a remix of “Bad Jokes” by Misanthrop and an instrumental version of “Count On It”.

A|
(01) Count On It mp3

B|
(02) Bad Jokes mp3

+ Bonus Tracks with Download Code:
(03) Bad Jokes (Misanthrop Remix) mp3
(04) Count On It (Instrumental) mp3

Following the success of the teaser mini-album “One Year & A Day – The 5inch Files” that gained worldwide attention despite its limited pressing (a hand-numbered limited edition vinyl release, and the first ever 5inch series!), Equinox Records finally drops its second full length album, the second part of the sound exposure compilation series: “One Year & A Day – A Sound Exposure Vol.2”.

„This album is one of the biggest projects in my career. I have put together everything that defines my work for the label as well as what defines me as a DJ and a record collector. I am more than happy with the final result!” (DJ Scientist)

Handpicked from a motley stack of demos and promotional CDs, Günter Stöppel (aka DJ Scientist), the founder of Equinox Records, assembled a product that features 14 outstanding tracks by some of today’s most cutting-edge artists and producers. Spanning various genres and aesthetics, the compilation is as breathtaking in its breadth as it is in its execution. Whether it be a folk-rock inspired breakbeat banger such as 2econd Class Citizen’s “Wishing Well,” the forward-thinking electronic prog-rock tune “Times Like This” by Free The Robots, the original post-instrumental Hip-Hop track “Tibetisches Gutenachtlied” by Aqua Luminus III., or the thrilling “Octobre” by electro/IDM-wunderkind Geste, the second volume of the series succeeds in representing the pioneering ethos Equinox strives to uphold. Likewise, Arcsin’s rock ballad “Scarlet Fever” juxtaposed with the bitter-sweet lyrics of Deadpan Darling’s pop song “Laugh Track,” Emynd’s inexorable electro tune “Identity Through Alterity,” or the classical cinematic introduction by the famous 60s rock group The Peddlers, the “One Year & A Day” compilation covers a diverse range of styles and genres, illustrating the amalgam of sound Equinox is known for, resulting in nothing if not one of the most distinct and forceful collections of songs within the past several years.

The Peddlers – A Year And A Day (Metamorphosis)

This is the song that gave this compilation its name. Recorded in 1972 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and released on the Album “Suite London” it was sung by the legendary composer and lyricist Roy Phillips. His unique and inimitable voice makes it the perfect intro for “A Sound Exposure Vol.2”.

Vangel – A Different Direction

It’s time for a change and we’re back: bigger, better, and louder. Equinox 2008. “A Different Direction” is the wake-up-call of this album.

Free The Robots – Times Like This

“Times Like This“ is an insatiable drum inferno that leaves you begging for more. Taken from the very limited Free The Robots debut-cd “The Prototype”, this track is THE electronic progressive rock song for the year 2008 and beyond. The vocals are sung by Phil Nisco.

2econd Class Citizen – Wishing Well (Re-Wyred Mix)

2econd Class Citizen is the master of contemporary electronic folk rock, and “Wishing Well“ is the genre’s prototypical hymn. In true postmodern fashion, because of a harddisk crash, the final version of this seemed to be lost forever. Now, one year after the release of an unmixed version on his EP „Wyred Folk“, we finally get the official version of this classic. Descry or rediscover: “Wishing Well“ is one of these songs, that won’t let you pass by unaffected.

Arcsin – Scarlet Fever

Since the label’s early days, the music of New York’s Arcsin accompanied me and Equinox. Who said he was too progressive and dark? His most recent album “Oculus Fang“ is a paragon of perfection, and though the noteworthy anthem “Scarlet Fever“ might be more accessible than most of his other work, the song still reflects the cold, brazen sound of post-9/11 New York. This is this album’s love song.

Brenmar – Cavernous

“Cavernous“ is not a merely skit, but an awe-inspiring and fascinating fragment of sound–full of tension and energy, blazing with anger and stirring your blood to just let you return back into a fair and beautiful dream.

Deadpan Darling – Laugh Track

Deadpan Darling is the music of Kingston and Ian Taggart a.k.a Blue Sky Black Death with the vocals of Ceschi Ramos of Toca and Anonymous Inc.. Ceschi travelled with Equinoix on the 2007 Tour and “Laugh Track” finally solidifies him as a recorded part of the label, making him the first vocal artist on Equinox. The bitter-sweet lyrics and the dallying-minimalistic production make it one of the album’s centerpieces. “Laugh Track” tells the story of somebody trying to escape reality; a story about battling the monotony of life. Wouldn’t it be nice to be constantly followed by laughing or a soundtrack in your head – something that nobody else could hear – a little push to get you through our often mundane reality?

Aqua Luminus III. – Tibetisches Gutenachtlied

Aqua Luminus III., producer of the obscure 88:Komaflash, is one of the most challenging composers of the German abstract hip-hop and electronic scene. Who is layering ancient rap heroes’ vocals on brutal beats better than him? “You try to run away but you can’t!”

Deckard – Dignity Of Men

With “Dignity of Men“ Deckard takes his sound to the next level. His typical sequential drums, a pulsing, hummy bass, an energetic guitar sample and a perfect arrangement make it one of the most barnstorming tracks ever made out of a breakbeat.

Geste - Octobre

„Octobre“ was the last track chosen for this compilation and was the first track ever made by the electo/IDM wunderkind Geste out of Paris. To me, it kind of symbolizes the work on this album: the calm before the storm and the storm itself. A story within the story…

DJ Sept - Morning Comes (Revised)

The original version of this track is found on the first DJ Sept demo that I received from a mutual friend. Finishing the revisited version for his EP “A Promise Never Given” was a long, hard endeavour, but it was certainly worth it. In my opinion, “Morning Comes (Revised)“ is a perfectly composed instrumental masterpiece. It has tension, energy, and emotion, all combined in a way that only Sept is capable of producing, fitting complexity with minimalism flawlessly.

Emynd – Identity Through Alterity

Emynd’s quest for the perfect beat isn’t over yet. “Identity Through Alterity” is five action packed minutes, garnished with breaks and 808-claps. This is the grand finale.

2econd Class Citizen – Change & Motion (Outro)

It’s like a movie’s end at the cinema: you don’t want to get up from your cozy seat.