October 8th, 2008 by niwa | posted in .nl, beats, download, downtempo, free music, hiphop, jazz, soul, triphop |

It seems I’ve slept on another great little gem, and it’s even by a fellow countryman. Ouch!

19/76 is one hell of a melancholic piece by Dutch producer Crookram. Released on the Hungarian Budabeats netlabel, this 6-track EP goes from downtempo breaks-driven soundscapes to dramatic boom-bap hiphop beats.

After listening to the tracks it becomes apparent Crookram hasn’t only done research in the field of sample origins, but he’s also one not to take the easy way out. Layering samples from different (somewhat obscure) sources seems to be as easy as tying shoelaces to him, that’s how smooth everything blends together.

The EP starts of with 2 dragging and moody tracks (Hostile and Tomorrow All Right), laden with movie excerpts that only strengthen the atmosphere. The third track (Biggles) keeps the melancholic vibe going but on a more uptempo tip, perfectly utilizing the chord-changes in the sample to build up breaks. Accompanied by a well-known synth sweep and highspeed effects, this song sounds like a car chase to freedom.

Slowing down a little bit on the 4th track (Balboa) a perfect blend of strings and piano prepares the listener for the 5th track, which goes back to the initial mood of the release, although now accompanied by a steady beat in stead of a heavy break. It also features concious lyrics performed by INC which fit the track perfectly.

The whole thing ends with a little after-hours outro that’ll probably keep the fans fiending for more.

Get the EP here