Release Date Digital: Oct 26th
Release Date Vinyl: Nov 2nd

For promo inquiries please contact Marie at DaPledge (contact @ dapledge.com).

“For Better, For Worse” is the debut album by DJ Scientist, the founder and head of the Equinox Records label. The music on the album was produced between 2001 and 2006 and offers a unique, fully-sample based instrumental body of work that, even 6 years after its originally scheduled release date, has the power to spellbind and steer the listener into the widespread musical world of one of Germany’s most passionate record collectors and artist.

Some tracks of the album were ‘leaked’ early. In 2006 on the “Journey Goodbye EP” and in the form of the song ‘Raincoatman’ which appeared on the first Equinox Records compilation. These early releases raised excitement levels for the album and fans of Scientist’s unique approach. Unfortunately the album never materialised, partly due to the complexity of some of the songs, consisting of more than 50 layers. Moving from his hometown of Munich to Berlin in that period and coping with the increasing work the label was requiring of him as founder and manager also didn’t help. Scientist then decided to focus on his collaboration with American rapper and multi-instrumentalist Ceschi Ramos in 2007, sealing the album off for a few more years. On the collaboration Scientist proved his skills as a producer across four singles and EPs (featuring popular cuts such as ‘Same Old Love Song’ and ‘Bad Jokes’) and an album, “The One Man Band Broke Up”, released in 2010. The instrumental version of the album acted as Scientist’s official solo debut. Until now…

In 2012 Scientist began to revisit the body of work that made up “For Better, For Worse” and finalised the tracks from the vast archive of finished and unfinished songs. In April he released “The Artless Cuckoo EP” which featured additional tracks from the same early production period that makes up the bulk of the album. The EP introduced the album, catching the attention of fans who had been waiting for quite some time.

“For Better, For Worse” therefore picks up from where “Journey Goodbye” had ended and where “The Artless Cuckoo” had restarted. ‘Ball of Confusion’, the dark and minimalistic album opener, is a deep, psychedelic song based on crashing drums, grunting bass sounds and a suspense-laden build up. ‘World of Stone’ is an equally massive downtempo hip hop song with elements from fusion and jazz, and could already be found – in a slightly different version – on the 2006 EP. ‘The Death of Hip Hop’ is an homage to the old school, despite what its name may imply. ‘Is The Bronx in the house?’ yells the echoed voice at the start of the song. Rap connoisseur Scientist then answers with Krautrock guitars and rushing drums. It’s a furious track that harks back to classics such as RJD2’s ‘Let The Good Times Roll’ and DJ Shadow’s ‘Number Song’. ‘Raincoatman’ slows the tempo again, taking things down a notch and expressing feelings of melancholy and beauty without being corny. The album is completed by meticulously constructed songs such as ‘Nightdrive Memories’, the blues-y ‘Autumn Leaves’ and the epic rock jam ‘Anything About Nothing’, the latter helping to keep the tension up till the very end.

All the tracks on the album show the musical power that resides in the “instrumental hip hop” genre, for lack of a better word. Despite the time it took to make and release, or perhaps precisely because of it, the album defines Scientist’s talent and knowledge as a sample-based musician. Having invested years into the project it wasn’t just the aforementioned reasons which kept “For Better, For Worse” from being released. Scientist also had his doubts about it, saying “I felt like the sound was getting old and I didn’t feel like releasing it anymore.” These doubts may sound absurd upon listen. Even if the crashing drums and melancholic samples which mark the music have now often been replaced by glitches and Dilla-esque drums elsewhere, the music on the album still sounds like little else in hip hop today. The instrumental side of the genre has rarely been purer, more powerful or more uncompromising.

It’s with great pleasure that nearly 10 years after work on the music started Equinox Records finally gives spotlight to the man in the back. The album is part of the Unheard & Recovered series that will also feature another great unreleased album by label-mate Deckard. “For Better, For Worse” is released in late October 2012 on double vinyl and digital formats. Stop, and listen. For better, and for worse.

Feedback & Quotes

CLASHMAGAZINE UK: “DJ Scientist’s ‘For Better, For Worse’ is an instrumental LP of a stately, imperial vibe”

DE-BUG.DE: “Instrumental Hip-Hop with a lot of stories to tell. (…). The most dense album this month in terms of atmosphere.”

DOWN-TEMPO.NET: « Le pire serait d’oublier ce disque. Le meilleur est entre vos mains. » 5 of 5

HHV-MAG GERMANY: „Eine große Verbeugung vor dem Hip Hop.“

DJ FOOD (Ninja Tune): “(I’ve) been giving it a good few listens here and favourites are ‘The Death of Hip-Hop’, ‘Raincoatman’ and ‘Anything About Nothing’. Nice work – there’s plenty of layers to unravel.”

CRAYONBEATS.COM: “The perfect backdrop for a night-time cruise” (re: Nightdrive Memories)

BUDDY PEACE (Strange Famous): “Equinox has managed once again to rearrange and manipulate what we know as instrumental hip hop and drag it into line while marching it directly into the sunlight. DJ Scientist has created an album that amplifies moods, finesses instrumentation and somehow achieves subtlety while being utterly banging. A rare treat for the forward thinking beat-head.”

DJ FORMAT: “Great moody soundscapes and raw heavy drums are the perfect formula from this Scientist!”

SNEAKY (Fingathing): “One for the Headphones! Refreshing to hear such an organic flow in the current digital fever.”

DDAY ONE (Content Label / Project: Mooncircle): “In this age of mass communication it’s definitely “for Better” DJ Scientist is releasing this project to the world. It would only be “For Worse” if this timeless collection remanded hidden.”

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Tracklist

Digital:

(01) Outside Chatter (Intro)
(02) Ball Of Confusion
(03) World Of Stone
(04) The Death Of Hip-Hop (A Dedication)
(05) Raincoatman
(06) Nightdrive Memories
(07) Riding My Nightmare
(08) Chasing Fire (Part I & II)
(09) This Could Be The Last Time
(10) Autumn Leaves
(11) Anything About Nothing (Revised)
(12) Can’t Someone Tell Me My Name? (Outro)

Vinyl:

A |
(01) Outside Chatter (Intro)
(02) Ball Of Confusion
(03) World Of Stone
(04) The Death Of Hip-Hop (A Dedication)

B |
(05) Raincoatman
(06) Nightdrive Memories

C |
(07) Riding My Nightmare
(08) Chasing Fire (Part I & II)
(09) This Could Be The Last Time
(10) Autumn Leaves

D |
(11) Anything About Nothing (Revised)
(12) Can’t Someone Tell Me My Name?
(13) The Death Of Hip-Hop (Instrumental) (Vinyl Bonus Track)

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Shoplinks

Digital:

Equinox Online Shop
iTunes
Juno Download
Beatport
Soul Seduction
Amazon
Musicload
DjShop.de

Vinyl:

Regular Edition:
http://www.hhv.de/item_292476.html
http://www.e-q-x.net/shop/equinox-records/dj-scientist-for-better-for-worse-2lp/

Bundle Edition with limited 7inch featuring Ceschi:
http://www.hhv.de/item_292477.html

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Pictures & Press Info
http://press.e-q-x.net/eqx042/eqx042.htm

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