April 14, 2005 | Posted by Blair at 5:30 PM

Who's There?

ain't just nobody here...
"Wake Up And Smell The Millennium" by Nobody

Elvin Estella is Nobody, another name for genius, next-level-type production. His previous album, Pacific Drift: Western Water Music Vol. 1 (released in 2003 by Ubiquity Records) took found sounds and psychedelic samples (with song-titles like "Psilo-Cylcing - Trip 'Round the Block" and "The Beaches on Neptune") and fused them with cup up, deep-end hip-hop beats, in a similar vein with Dntel, Prefuse and Shadow. True, those are big names, but Nobody is talented enough to stand next to them.

On Nobody's new album, And Everything Else... he pushes the instrumental hip-hop further, with more developed beat structures and huge drop-bass sounds, while at the same time managing to fuse those rhythms to sweet melodies and psychedelic influences in new and interesting ways. Also, on this album Nobody teams up with more great vocalists: Mia Doi Todd (on "You Can Know Her"), Mexican rapper Xololanxinco (on "Con Un Relampago"), and Chris Gunst and Farmer Dave Scher from Beachwood Sparks, for a cover of the Flaming Lips "What is the Light?" all of which are totally solid. There's also a dope collabo with Prefuse 73 which, in the liner notes, Nobody calls a 'La Correccion' collaboration (background: they've been working together for a while now, and Nobody is actually a touring member of the live Savath & Savalas). I decided to post this particular track because it really showcases Nobody's production - I think its a strikingly beautiful song - the sharpness and delicacy of the musicbox/harpsichord arrangement, the loping, melodic bassline, and the huge crunching drumbeat... it really makes my day.

The new album comes out in mid-May on the (again) amazing LA-based indie Plug Research label - home to more blogger favorites like Daedelus and Ammon Contact - you'll be able to order it direct from the label, here, or from our friends at Insound. Be sure to also check out dublab.com, the label and musical collective, with whom Nobody has been affiliated for a while now, for some more beat-head goodies.

PS: I'm going to the M83 show tonight at Bowery Ballroom - I'm expecting greatness, so let's hope I'm not wrong. Any other robot fans going to be there? Feel free to come up and say hi if so.

Comments

Nice site man. I wish you would evaluate my band, there´s one song at this link.

See ya around.

Posted by: Tandera at April 14, 2005 6:22 PM

I read this site occasionally but I've never felt the urge to post until after listening to this track. It's fucking glorious. Keep up the great work.

Posted by: H.E. Pennypacker at April 14, 2005 6:28 PM

Great music. I won't be surprised if someone rips this and sings over it.

Posted by: JRud00 at April 14, 2005 9:45 PM

Will the rest of the album as good? Similar sounds? I really liked this one. Love your site, a lot of the music and all the posts.

Posted by: Noah at April 14, 2005 10:51 PM

Today is my "Thank-My-Favorite-MP3-Bloggers" Day. So, this is general thanks for finding me bands and songs that I would never hear otherwise.

Posted by: Rob at April 15, 2005 12:48 AM

thanks for the compliments everyone - we do try to bring it, so its nice when someone says so.
Noah, yes, the rest of the album is as good as this track - lots of variation on the different tracks, and the few with vocals are all solid too.
v. highly reccomended

Posted by: robot blair at April 15, 2005 10:24 AM

this is fantastic!
great blog btw

Posted by: ppm at April 15, 2005 4:20 PM

Here's my problem with this song... It's basically one sample, and it's not been modified very much. I actually tried to remix this song as well, it's by a 60's pop group called Millennium, and although I think Nobody did a better job than I would have, I don't see where the skill comes into it. I only listened to the first half, so it could have gotten better, but be aware that it's one of the first few tracks from the Millenium album "Begin." Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.

Posted by: david at April 15, 2005 5:44 PM

elvin (NOBODY) is a good guy and has turned me on to a few AMAZING records (i.e. Les McCann's Layers). regarding this track: it's a decent tune (that doesn't move much) but his remake of Porpoise Song by the Monkees was/is thing of beauty; actually besting the original.

Posted by: schlarb at April 16, 2005 1:08 AM

That was quite solid. As others point out it doesn't really change up much.. but at 3:30 and with so much BOUNCE it's hard to hold it against him..

Thanks!

=darwin

Posted by: Darwin at April 18, 2005 3:25 PM

I think the track is just a bumped up version of a track that is too short in it's original form, extended and bassed up so cats could spin it. It's all in the bump, the actual CD version has got insane bass and the drums knock.

Posted by: kip at April 19, 2005 11:06 AM
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