CNP0010 - Simiah - 7 Steps Of Alchemy (7")
2017 - Cut & paste records
As a follow up to his first release with Cut & Paste Records, Simiah's 7 Steps Of Alchemy acts as both a new single, and as a 7” formatted version of his previous scratch record.
The Bristol-based producer has carved out his own corner of the hip-hop beats scene over many years of bass-driven beats with soulful jazz flavors, dissected over hard hitting drums and a spaced out timeless atmosphere.
Side A contains an instrumental beat called Calcination – named after the first of the 7 steps of Alchemy, according to many spiritual writings on the subject. The theme of Alchemy continues from Simiah's previous release with Cut & Paste Records – The Alchemy Files – and Calcination was thought of as a hidden extra from the EP.
The track is followed by a scratch sentence made up of instrument samples taken from Simiah's MPC. You'll find horns, keys, guitars, bass and drums, perfect for jamming, practice, and especially good for loop-pedal or sample-based composition.
Side B contains some of Cut & Paste's trademark skip-proof vocal samples, for any DJ wanting to stand out with original style and cuts.
They're all arranged at at 83.33 BPM to match to the tempo of beats featured on the entire Alchemy project. This speed works well for regular turntables with +/- 8% pitch. (Many of our other records are specifically aimed at users of turntables with Ultrapitch of +/- 50%).
Another feature of the skip-proof side is that the sounds are configured in loops with 5 beats per rotation, like a 5- point star or a pentagon. When scratching over regular 4/4 beats, this can lead to some interesting results as the irregular patterns are manipulated into new sequences.
There is also a lock-groove tone at the end of each side, designed to be played with the pitch adjustment on a turntable. Both tones are played in the same key for ease of use when switching between them.
“Alchemy” - to purify, mature, and perfect certain objects.
Side A:
01 – Calcination
02 – Bonus Skratch Samples
SIDE B:
Skip-proof Vocal sounds.
Cover art by Simiah
Mastered by Jimmy Penguin