Hello again.

      So I think we can all agree that it's about damn time for another musically oriented post from the SheepSkins Squad. There have been naught in the past two months but the past two interviews and the Emissions promo (which ended up being a horribly snowed-out fest with destroyed sound systems and no-show acts on Sunday and the god-damned Builder playing on a renegade system, just like every weekend in Santa Cruz). Needless to say, there's been nary a soundcloud player or download in sight. 
     There have been a few heavy happenings of late, but instead of blaming my lack of attention to this particular outlet on that, I will blame it instead on the good things of recent memory. I have substituted effort spent on things such as painting, cultivating personal relationships, being with my family, and going out in the sun. Sauce.
     So I have been absurdly happy, if it's any consolation. Easy to say it has been the best couple months of my life and even easier to say that May-thru-June holds the potential to smash all previous records set in that department. So without further ado, I will key you in to the soundtrack of the time spent away, and I hope you get something out of what I have to say. Above all, I hope y'all stay positive. 
It's about time, friends. 


MIXES
     What a better way to start a post intending to return to the flow of things with the medium that best expresses the physical concept thereof? Mixes and the way they do have always captivated me on a spiritual level. Here are a couple sterling examples from the past few weeks, hope you enjoy. 
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--LOOP STEPWALKER

     Loop has always been a fascination of mine. His dark, large-composition style echoing the constituents of the first 06-08 UK filthy mixes is cleansing to the soul. His ability to stay roots in his saucy broken beat drums and overall aesthetic whilst providing those evil skittering highs and crushing multi-tracked mids reminiscent of Dubsaw Recordings is a hopeful and admirable fact. 
     Also admirable is his ambitious nature. While managing the Dub division of Culture Assault Records and forwarding releases on labels such as Ad Noiseam, Play Me, and Section 8, he is constantly producing. He seriously posts new collabs and pieces so often and methodically you wonder if he's one man or if he's got a team of dirty little elves workin' for him like the allegorical shoemaker. In either case, the sheer precision and dedication of his work leaves nothing to be desired. Enjoy this mix and troll his archival soundcloud pages. 
Loop Stepwalker Guestmix for Filth.fm April 2011 by Loop Stepwalker


 --STYLUST BEATS

     Stylust coming through with a full length mix tape showcasing my favorite skill of his, the mashup. His clean and inventive approach to the mash is anything but contrived. He manages (usually) to avoid clutter while comfortably inserting as many layers as he damn well pleases, which is never something to be ignored. Even if the track listing leaves quite a bit to be desired in that it implements tracks one can predict to be in every dubstep mix one could possibly find on the internet, his approach to using those tracks as tools in a greater composition definitely goes hard. 

SNUBLUCK

     I don't know much about this Snubluck fellow, other than he's a beat machine, he's from Denver, and he's got a release on a free DL label by the name of Amenorea. The label's site is down, but here is a list of their productions, all free, to play around with (Snub's is AMNEP028). The list is long and new to me, so again I don't have much to say about it. The music runs in the vague vein of Experimental electronic, with lotsa Trip-hop and Brainfeeder-esque L.A. Beat goin' on. The sounds borderline Skweee, especially with respect to Snub, and it's all quite tasteful and glitchy enough to satisfy the coldest heart. His end of the world mix, below, is the only sampler you need to sell you. Dig it up, yo.

End Of The World? Mix by Snubluck (Snub)

STICKEM

     Another artist with no info for me to present you. He's from the bay, he produces mad Juke, he mixes like a beast, and he knows his gaddam Skweee, which is something I know you love to hear. Below is THE Skweee mix. If you are for any reason disenchanted with the genre, or if you need somewhere to start, or if you feel like you just want to pick one Skweee mix to listen to for the rest of your life, dis be it.
Let Skweeedom Ring mixed by Stickem by Stickem

GLYPH

     Here you will see Glyph publicly displaying his prodigious taste for Neurofunk. He likes it hard, breaky, dark, and deep, as I think we all do if the subject of discussion is indeed true Neurofunk. His selections are to die for and the mix is tech, despite a few awkwarder transitions. Whatever you feel about it, give it a chance:
Glÿph - Bassfuckers Neurofunk Mixtape by Glÿph [BE]

QUARTUS SAUL

     Young Quartus is another Pretention-Filth favorite of mine. He usually comes through with some unique dirty taste on the roof of your mouth that leaves you smiling and simultaneously feeling bad about doing so. His mixing skills are indeed up to par with his level of absolute creation in the production department, and I think you'll agree. Lots of unreleased goodies, and not the same ones yer gonna hear in every other big-gun mix of the spring quarter. Real shit. Real talk. Git it.
Quartus Saul - Detected Mixtape Vol. 1 by Quartus Saul

I was gonna throw up the recentest mixes of Inspector Dubplate, Smash Gordon, and Exish, but c'mon... I know you guys can find those on your own. You're big kids. Troll a lil harder.

....Back to the music...

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ROYAL F*TISH RECORDS

    These sick bastards have been giving me a lot of support in the last few months. From my initial uncovering of Bullwack there sparked a synaptic wave of discoveries and interest on both sides of the blog (me interested in promoting, them interested in being promoted) for which I have been happy and thankful to further. While I have not been giving them as much attention as I feel I should be, I wholly intend to dig deeper into their creative process with promos posted below, analysis of their work, and future interviews. Keep fucking killing it, gents, and I'll keep talkin' nice about ya. 

--FREDERICK OLUFSEN

     If there is one, ONE, thing I want you to absorb on this post it is the work of Frederick Olufsen. Since devouring page after page on his soundcloud I could think of little else but how badly I needed to share this with you. This is the man behind the curtain, founder of the label and dastardly producer to boot. I can scarcely comprehend the amount of flair and straight up swag sauce that go into each and every piece of work. 

     His approach is bright, upbeat, and funky as all hell, bending bitcrushers into slapping gated electro snares, growling clean bass, and a synth I haven't heard around too much that emulates the sound of a fender slap bass with such artistically rambunctious supremacy it's hard to drive from my head  when I'm away from it for too long. The cleanliness of the sampling seen here is absurd as well. Just listen, folks, just listen and you'll know. Words do little justice. 

     "Big ups" is almost offensive here in its inability to summarize the congratulatory sentiments clustered inside me. "Fucking swagger cannon" seems slightly more precise. 

Turboweekend - Into The Pavement (Frederik Olufsen Remix) by Frederik Olufsen Yenn - Unqueer (Frederik Olufsen's Drumstep Bad Ass Bass In Ya Face Remix) by Frederik Olufsen
Rebecca Black - Friday (Sophisticated Killer Dub by Frederik Olufsen) by Frederik Olufsen
Pimp Hand Strong w/ Marc Remillard feat. Messinian by Frederik Olufsen

--KING MINOS/BULLWACK

     These are some of my favorite people in the electronic world, right here. So amiable and sharply conversational, and so. Damn. Talented. From the very first Bullwack track I stumbled across, which inherently led to the discovery of collabs with King Minos and others, the incalculable amount of tightness possessed therein led me to the realization that the group was going to be a goldmine of wonderful, inventive sounds. A goldmine that was destined to hold down solid placement in my list of favorites indefinitely. 

     Each track the guys rock challenge the borders of Electro, crossing into the down and dirty regions of Glitch and Dubstep, the compositions are simultaneously disco-groovy and shit-stomping dirty. The care in each sampling cut, synth filter, and elaborate beat is soulful and immaculate to the nth degree. Below are some swagged out promos we were fortunate enough to receive from the ever monarchical Royal Fetish Recordings, off the fresh King Minos release "Redskin Warrior". The release has a side-A titled after the release, and an AA remix by Fuckin' Telmini that is just pure evil. Get it here.  ...And en-fucking-joy deez:

King Minos-Royal Family

King Minos-Royal Family (Bullwack Remix)

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ARRAN KRAFT

     This guy is another Bullwack-related connection who found me on Soundcloud and asked me, quite polite, to throw some of his stuff up. After listening to his Kotedurone remix, I could scarcely think of another course of action, it simply must be on my blog. Seriously one of the tastiest twisted 8-bit melodies I've heard in the recent world of Dubstep. Very creative approach there. It drops into a scathing, squelching, bass lurch, complete with thick stereo-imaging and sexy bitcrushing flares. Shortly thereafter, it winds back up into breaks and a massive clean electro synth, which then gets the trash treatment as both sound approaches are combined for the final climactic seconds of the track. Ya gonna like this one as much as I do. Also featured is his remix of the stupendous Bullwack/King Minos collab "Vanguard". Lurk his material, folks, you won't be disappointed.
Kotedurone - Oh La La (Arran Kraft Remix) by Arran Kraft
Bullwack - Vanguard (Feat King Minos) [Arran Kraft Remix] by Arran Kraft

CIRCUITBORED

      Stumbled across this one in a post be Royal Fetish featuring remixes of Rebecca Black's "Friday"... Yeah. It may have been the belligerent nature of the moment of discovery that makes this particular remix so great, but I think you'll agree that it is quite slamming, and at least very interesting. Fat oscillating metallic sound, extremely bouncy and churning. Like Danejah meets JRabbit, or something, I don't even know. Then there's this random Hardstyle influenced monstrosity, very very interesting one there. He's definitely pushing a few envelopes. My favorite bit is where is drops Hardstyle whilst retaining the bitcrusher line from the down-tempo section. Ominous siren and ghetto ass snares are mad sexy. All in all, a young producer with mad budding talent and a ways to go to greatness. Can't wait to hear more.
Rebecca Black - Friday (Anal Filth Remix) by circuitbored
Demon Boar (Circuitbored Vs. Dreameater) by circuitbored

KOMBATANT

     I don't know much about Kombatant. I know he makes vile art-filth tunes and has 45 followers and makes chill conversation. Dig it.
Kombatant - Rigor Mortis (2011 Original Dubstep) by Kombatant
Kombatant - The Sign (2011 Original Dubstep) by Kombatant

SUBVIBE

     This Surrey based Dubsteppa has drifted through the relative realms of goodness and mediocrity both, as far as I'm concerned, and prior to this post would not have been a consideration for the blog. Clearly, though, he should keep making Drumstep because of this monstrosity:
SubVibe - Damage by SubVibe

SUB ANTIX

     Sub Antix has lead me to many a debate in the domestic community, but I've always always loved his work. He sticks to a roughly purist format, but that's not to say he changes up beat and sound within those parameters. The works posses some wonderful flares, too, entirely possible to overlook if you aren't indeed looking. Super rootsy percussion, super atmospheric. Check out this here set of Lost Dubs (the DnB bit is my favorite):
Lost Dubs by Sub Antix

LOVE & LIGHT

     The homies from Reno have put out a few bootleggers and remixes since last we posted, so here they are. You already know how much I have to say about these folks, so I'll keep it simple for the purposes of today: "Really good music", you'll either have to listen to find out specifics, or take my word for it.
"Load" by David Starfire (Love and Light Remix) by Love and Light
Dr. Dre-Let Me Ride (SplataLighT RemiX) Splatinum and Love and Light by Love and Light
OUTKAST "The Rooster" Love and Light Remix by Love and Light
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Can't Stop" LOVE AND LIGHT REMIX d/l in song description!!! by Love and Light

ASA + SCREWLOOSE RECORDS

    Asa is a very dear artist, emphasizing a creative new take to the respective styles of Garage and 2-Step. His first release on Screwloose records just dropped, though collabs with Koan Sound have been floating around for quite some time, and he has a wealth of scattered releases and unreleased business. His work with Culprate is some of my all time favorite as well, so it's only fitting that Asa, Koan, and Culprate all find a place in this here release. Screwloose records has given me, through this and other forthcomings, hope and consolidated location for my favorite Dubsaw artists. Hope you find as much stokage:
SCREWD001 ASA - SWEETER THINGS EP by SCREWLOOSE RECORDS

KOAN SOUND

     KOAN Sound... My all time favorite Art-Steppa next to Culprate. The sheer brilliance of the music, the volume of the nuances and originality in the pieces, always leaves one pondering what the fuck the next piece is gonna sound like. This forthcoming bit on Inspected, marking their second release, is a good example. Super saucy tunes here, deep and churning, but highly emotive. As they do.
INSP002 by KOAN Sound

ZEN DEATH SQUAD

       The ZDS release is finally here, and it is brilliant shit to say the least. If you've listened to the Original Stealth mix-tape, then you've already heard half of the EP and know how good it is. This is little but confirmation of the skill set possessed by the producers at hand. The sounds are very high quality; they'd almost be overproduced if the music lacked the structural intricacy that it has. The structure could be passed off as Glitch Mobbish, with epic refrains and mashing melodic builds, but that would be overstating the goodness of the Glitch Mob's songwriting. This takes a bit of their style and rigorously improves on the format, offering those glitchy atmospheric nuances we all love to a magical extent. Endless composition geek-out-ability, y'all. Check it.
Cyber Dojo Lazer Training EP by Zen Death Squad

SITRUS

     This kid's 18 and making music with FL studio. While that gets cred, in and of itself, it's also quite credible that he's making music like this:
Zap! (CLIP) by Sitrus


APATHY

This Kelowna, Canada based artist was a recent find for me. His music pretty consistently blows me away, with really tech and crunchy leads that are viciously interwoven into the thunderous sub-bass composition, like all good filth should. His filter work is quite interesting, and he likes to play around a lot with organ synths which I can get behind. He's also got quite a handle on the fuzzy/epic rave-synth chords and the electro-sensible chopping necessary to get the most out of such sounds. The drums leave a bit to be desired sometimes, but the genre does lamentably tend to do that a lot. Sometimes it sucks to like filth, but hey. Artists like Apathy console me.
Latest EP:
Forthcoming EP With Total label Management(ElektriK Beatz UK) by ApathY Dubstep

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SKWEEE CORNER

     Skweee has been popping off of late, if not picking up steam. For instance, Niño has a new release on the recently reinvigorgated Donky Pitch (yuss) and up to 24 hours post-release there were still an average of FIFTEEN plays per track, no comments on most, no favorites. Skweee's populism, or lack thereof, is a love hate thing for me. While I don't want to see it blow up, which I would theorize is almost impossible (don't hold me to that, see also: Dubstep), I would very much like to see it get more legitimate recognition. I suppose that's what I'm doing here, so without further banter I give you the three lrgst drops of the recent Skweee world, et al.

>>NIñO
Sampler>
DKY002 Niño - Clase de 1984 EP tasty taster by Donky Pitch
Full title track>
Clase de 1984 [DKY002] by Niño

Purchase Vinyl! Save your Soul!

 
>>HALP
Gazzilliaan Yeers ep by HALP.

>>SLUGABED
MOONBEAM RIDER EP TICKLER by SLUGABED

And one more who fits in here somewhere...
BOSSASAURUS

      This crew hit me up monthssssss ago solely on the basis that they liked some comment I left on a Shigeto track. This is hardly your usual soundcloud spam, though at the time I dismissed it as such. Since then, the Philly based bunch has worked their way into a solid place of permanent fondness within me. Their eclectic style leads to much variation, so I suggest you troll through their Soundcloud to get the full taster, but I can tell you this much: they rock heavy old school Skweee vibes, know what's up with the DnB, destroy the face of Trip-Hop, and dabble in down-to-midtempo glitch. Consume, enjoy:
7. Bossasaurus-Lacerta by Bossasaurus
Bossasaurus-R U Ready Now by Bossasaurus
16 A Tribe Called Quest - 1nce Again(Bossasaurus Remix) by Bossasaurus

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LOCAL LOVE

     My friends, whom I've neglected most of all, are who the entirety of this post goes out to. Watching these people progress, if even from afar, has been a serious highlight of my music listening career. There's a certain interpersonal sense of commitment to their evolution as artists that I feel, the classic Nationalist sentiment of rooting hard for the home team I guess, and I wish they knew how much the tunes mean to me. Gives me hope, in many senses of the word. Big big ups, Cruz Crew, to all that yew do...

>>KRYPH

     To keep with the lovey dovey sentiment of the section's intro, I can safely say that Oliver Nickel aka Kryph consistently the happiest kid I ever see in passing. Always has something positive to contribute, and always brings one's day up in this way. I've always been fond of his tunes, but these here are somethin' else. I feel that with whatever recent style (or recent to me at least) that he's found, he has created a perfect conduit for his obvious songwriting merit. His sensible melodies, thoroughly interesting compositions, and painful/gogeous words find perfect symbiosis in these tracks, and I very much implore you to see how it all goes down firsthand. Chhhhek it!
Kryph - revival (ft. Kirsten Rosenberg) by KRYPH

(Family Affair Fun-Fact: This is a collab with Superman Fast, and both tracks feat. Kirsten Rosenberg who happens to be the Cogito's younger sis. Classic SC interconnectedness.)

Tully - Kryph & Superman Fast (ft. Kirsten Rosenberg) by KRYPH

>>SUPERMAN FAST


      Superman Fast has been a consisitent feature on our little thingthing here for quite sometime. His enthusiasm for the blog and its writers is quite commendable, and our enthusiasm for his ambling lyrical sense and trip-hop infused beats cannot be overstated keep it ripping, Christian. Dig the new tracks, people:
Ooly cooly . A POIntless SUPERMAN DUMB production :-) by Superman Fast Always!!!!. PRod. By DOEO by Superman Fast
Wut'Z s0 FUnnY? (Prod. by ME) by Superman Fast

<3 TRICKS (FORMERLY SIRR PAUL)  

     Signature wackiness emanating from this one. Never a dissappointment, always a head turner. Hard system to pull off, lemme tell ya. Get behind deez:
Beauty 'n the Beast by <3 tricks
Tiger Dreams by <3 tricks

>>DOEO

    (^Doeo tossin' tracks under the XXL Chalupa moniker beside Noc Ems)

Another sterling human being in addition to supremely savvy mixist, right here. His creation of a disticnt mixing style and articulation has been one of my many firmly followed local endeavors. Each mix upstages the last (as they should) with flow and double drops to boot. His production follows the vein of sampling dominance championed by Superman Fast and the like. Quite natural, in that they are each others' key collaborator it would seem. Here lies his latest artful mix, and an LP with Fast:
PROMO by DOEO

EMISSIONS

     Our thoroughly local production crew of the underground West Coast Bass variety, Camp Question Mark, has thrown down once again to bring us Emissions, an expose of Glitch, Dubstep, and other sub-fueled music. As if you, the constituency, were not already aware, the lineup is absurd. We have Ill-Gates, Vaski, SPL, The Widdler, Love and Light, Roomie, NastyNasty, and literal horde of others including your favorite (and least favorite) local acts from out very own SC renegade circuit.
     The company is all love, with a very accommodating staff that is positively rife with good people. I made a mistake in not going last year, and I intend to be blown away by the setting, which is assuredly gorgeous, and the music which is assuredly groovin'. I'll be volunteering, and will thus be in an accessible position for interviews of the headliner variety. I already have my eye on a couple, and I think Gestate might as well, but leave comments concerning who you'd like to have verbally dissected and we will take them into consideration. Make sure to check out the event page here, and follow the men women behind the curtain here.
Stay classy, fools.

LOVE AND LIGHT

   The emotive musical dynamo that is Love and Light made their entree into my musical repertoire in August of 2010; the second Headband Fest at Harding Ranch in Santa Cruz (pictured above). Needless to say, the intimacy with which these artists command the crowd held a profound impact. 
  The inherent care in it all is unmissable. It's almost as if they get the people psyched vicariously through their own enjoyment of the work they do. They get psyched,the people feel it, they get more psyched, and et cetera. Of course this all makes for a very familial show-going experience and I've been attached to their music at the hip ever since – charting every release, posting every soundcloud player within hours of its respective unveiling, and keeping a loose correspondence with the artists. 
  Hence, and some time later, the result of these correspondences have payed off in a most productive and exciting manner. I have just now, this very now, received the answered questions of an interview I shot over a while back. 
For you today, another dialogue. 
I hope you enjoy, hope it makes ya think, and I hope it makes you smile. 
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So you guys come out of Reno, just north of the legendary Black Rock city. What's the scene like out there in terms of being fresh and supportive? 

The Scene is Reno is absolutely incredible! It is by FAR one of our favorites. Burning Man has had an incredible impact on both Reno's music scene and conscious culture. Any and all quality bass music acts have come through Reno, and gratitude and kudos go out to Fresh Bakin' Production Company for making it all happen. We are happy to call Reno Home.

 

Would you say burning man spiked the Reno scene, or did Reno eccentricity play a role in the birth of burning man?

I would say a little bit of both, but the majoirty of it was burning man being a catalyst in Reno's growth... at least for Bass Music. 

Did the fest/the city play a role in you two meeting? How and where did that go down?

Matt and I have been friends for about eight years, since 2002. We went to the same high school, but never hung out until after we graduated. We met through a mutual friend and have been kicking it ever since. 

You each had an artistic identity prior to your collaboration. What led you two to work together? Did you feel a need for change of sound, or partnership...?

I think the main thing that led us to work together was our intention behind what we wanted to accomplish with our music. Making music that is both uplifting and inspiring  was a necessity for us both... the most important thing of all. There aren't a lot of artists who truly hold that reason as their own for creating sound, or understand the importance of it... We do, and in my opinion, it shows greatly in our music.

Is there a silent influence in the mix, such as an intention or a life event, or would you say the act of collaborating changed each of your initial sounds?

Yes the act of collaborating definitely changed our sound. Some of our favorite artists over the years have been Vibesquad, Tipper, Opiuo, Bassnectar, Desert Dwellers, Ott, and Bluetech. Listening to these amazing artists for so many years we have come to understand the ideas and concepts in their music, and fuse the best parts of them with our own original creativity to form Love and Light.

<What is the beginning of the creative process? Is it a sound, a conversation, a concept?
<How does the collaboration work? Who does what in the mix?

The creative process is different EVERYTIME. we do not have a set way that we do things. Sometimes we start out with a melody, other times a drum beat, other times recording vocals or samples. We just kind of go with the flow of how we are feeling. Anything can spark creativity. It depends on the moment. Our collaboration together is awesome though. Trust is by far the main thing that makes it flow so well. I am 100% confident that is matt takes a song I am writing another direction that is is going to be great... and Vice Versa. 

What are you most proud of as a result of the joint project?

We are most proud of our ability to create music that moves people in a positive way. for all of the people who come up to us or email us about how great they feel when they listen to or dance to our tunes. That is by far the thing we are most proud of.

Where would you say your music comes from? Like, does it arrive from thoughts, feelings, the outside world, the soul, people, et cetera...?

ALL OF THE ABOVE... All five senses, and beyond. 

How do you handle promotion, how do you get your sound out in the community?

We do a lot of our promoting through various social networks. Soundcloud has been one of the biggest tools for us. With out soundcloud we would not be where we are today. THANK YOU SOUNDCLOUD 

What are your comments/feelings about Simplify? 

We couldn't not say enough about Simplify. In particular Aaron Simpson!!!  We love him so much. He has so much love to give. We couldn't be happier with Simplify as a record label. Simplify makes things happen. FAST. Nothing but love for Simplify Recordings! 

<What fellow artists on the label do you admire most, which ones, if any, do you work with?

To avoid leaving anybody out we wont get into favorites. We have only directly worked with Stephan Jacobs and thoroughly enjoy doing so!!! 

Who in this world would be most evoking to do a collab with, and why?

It would be awesome to get together with all the guys and gals from the 60's and 70's dead/alive to show them whats up with technology.  So they could show us whats up with live instruments and rocking out. Making the fusion of OG hippie and New School Hippie would be phenomenal!! 

How does your touring system break down, how do you decide where to play, when, et cetera?

We don't exactly decide where we play. The fans decide that...  The more people that find out about us and like our music, the more promoters from certain areas are likely to book us... All the technicalities of where, when, and et cetera are worked out between our booking agent and the promoter. 

 

Is there anywhere in particular you'd like to play that you haven't hit yet?

We would really like to take our music and spread it to the hearts and minds of people across the planet. Everywhere!!! Brazil, Italy, Japan, Australia...   EVERYWHERE 

We all know about the new EP, but do you have any other forthcoming efforts or big shows that the people should know about?

 

The summer festival season is definitely what is on our plate right now :-) You'll be able to catch us us Lightning in a Bottle, Emissions,  Conscious Culture, Raindance, The Bounce, Sonic Bloom, and Earthdance.

Troll: http://simplifyrecordings.com/

Buy:http://www.addictech.com/store/index.php?atech_id=53021b76d424c3f1c3c6d15c30ca4ebc&keywords=love+and+light&usetags=true&x=0&y=0&type=all

Listen: http://soundcloud.com/love-and-light

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