November 11th, 2008 by niwa | posted in albums, beats, compilation, download, downtempo, free music, funk, hiphop, jazz, soul |

Since there are some rumors going around that the once pioneering and trend-setting netlabel Tokyo Dawn Records may or may not have a relaunch (the website states ‘back late 2008′), this would be a good moment to go back in time and take a look at their first ‘real’ release on CD and vinyl: ‘Practice Avoiding Mistakes‘.

vinyl covers

The release saw daylight in 2003 (U.S. 2004) through Groove Attack and features almost the complete TDR artist roster, including:

• Comfort Fit
• Prymer
• Saine
• Looza
• Blaktroniks
• Krii (also known as Resound)
• Anthony Baggette

It’s hiphop, it’s soulful, it’s groovy, it’s musical. It’s for those who want more than just loops on a beat. The whole thing just oozes of intelligence and conciousness, on both the musical and lyrical side. Packed with beautiful samples and played recordings the tracks range from laidback downtempo (’That Day’, ‘The Waves’ and ‘Summer In The Hood’) to dystopian angsty beats (’Pimp Knowledy (Krii remix)’, (A)part From Footsteps’ and ‘Known’).

Even while netlabels have evolved rapidly over the years, in form and quality, this release still holds the #1 spot for me for it is one of the best mixed compilations out there. Making tracks from different artists sound like they belong together is a bitch, but Practice Avoiding Mistakes makes it feel like it was no thing. Being the first ever ‘netlabel’ that saw daylight, Tokyo Dawn placed the bar on a height that has yet been

Download the MP3 package here, or buy the LP here.