Mixing HSCP1 with French producer Zdar

[Top 10]

Beasties have asked Philippe Zdar to work on the (re)mixing of their album.
Zdar is a member of electro band Cassius, and has produced the latest Phoenix record, among many others.
Exciting!!!

[mca64]

wow, source?

[Top 10]

wow, source?

moi :)

[acamus]

moi :)

thank you, Top 10.

[Brother McDuff]

yeah, would love a source on that one. sounds as though the gears are turning though. :)

[M|X|Y]

He just said he is the source! Maybe shoulda left them to say it themselves, but its pretty promising to have a dude like that working on it (y)

[Tomtomtom]

C'est bon ça!

[Kid Presentable]

Anything's better than Duro. Edit: that said I still enjoy TT5B. Hopefully this Zdar dude can channel his hip-hop days. It sucked that the Radio 1 rip of Too Many Rappers sounded infinitely better compressed and (good) fucked up than the flat version I paid for.

[senbei]

Can't go wrong with Zdar. This guy has enough balls and vision to challenge the boys a bit (which is clearly what was missing from TT5B)

That being said, they really have to hook up with Mario C again someday.

[SpacemanSpliff]

they really have to hook up with Mario C again someday.

+1 ... Mario C rocks

[dave790]

Can't go wrong with Zdar. This guy has enough balls and vision to challenge the boys a bit (which is clearly what was missing from TT5B)

That being said, they really have to hook up with Mario C again someday.

Regardless, there's only so much 'challenging' you can do when mixing/tweaking. The album is done, after all.

[Kid Presentable]

Some of what has been heard is a bit long in the tooth now, though. There is a rare opportunity here, since it's not 2009 and it doesn't have to sound like it would in 2009.

[Top 10]

Some of what has been heard is a bit long in the tooth now, though. There is a rare opportunity here, since it's not 2009 and it doesn't have to sound like it would in 2009.

huh?

[acamus]

BIULCRLBIELUSQP ... this is a fun conversation. this can only get better. i hope there are some non-sounds on there.

[dave790]

Some of what has been heard is a bit long in the tooth now, though. There is a rare opportunity here, since it's not 2009 and it doesn't have to sound like it would in 2009.

I know what you're getting at, but what do you think sounds 2009 about what we've heard so far? To me it very much sounds like they're just doing whatever, regardless of trends of what's going on around them. I guess what I'm saying is the album could've come out at any point in the last 5 years, or the next. But that's just me. Having said that, I think Hello Nasty sounds very end of the 90's, so maybe in a few years I'll agree with you.

[cj hood]

remix one of the leaked trax....add it as a bonus track. record a new track....add that ish. redo 'TMR.'

done!

[Brother McDuff]

http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/video-archive/transcript/philippe_zdar__vive_la_resistance!/transcript

[Kid Presentable]

I know what you're getting at, but what do you think sounds 2009 about what we've heard so far? To me it very much sounds like they're just doing whatever, regardless of trends of what's going on around them. I guess what I'm saying is the album could've come out at any point in the last 5 years, or the next. But that's just me. Having said that, I think Hello Nasty sounds very end of the 90's, so maybe in a few years I'll agree with you.

Nah you're reading into it. I mean exactly what I said - it's not 2009 so it doesn't have to sound the way it sounded in 2009.

I'm not going to offer suggestions though, since there isn't much point in harking for a time that only exists in my head when I can't make good music myself :\ I'm just going to stick to using phrases like 'social media' with a straight face. Like this :|

[dave790]

Nah you're reading into it. I mean exactly what I said - it's not 2009 so it doesn't have to sound the way it sounded in 2009.

I'm not going to offer suggestions though, since there isn't much point in harking for a time that only exists in my head when I can't make good music myself :\ I'm just going to stick to using phrases like 'social media' with a straight face. Like this :|

Ohhhhhhh. I see clearly now. Corrected.

[Kid Presentable]

I wasn't real clear. Just saying, the opportunity to do shit to it is one of the positives to come out of this, they're already doing something to it if this dude is actually on board. He makes shit sound good; Mario whom?

EDIT: that's not a boastful remark - nobody should be sent off the deep end of despair if someone makes a smart arse remark about Mario C.

[dave790]

Yeah. It can't be that common for a major band to have time where they don't really have a choice but to think about else they can do with a piece of work once-considered done. Definitely an opportunity.

On Mario C, who knows, I think their time together is done. They both seemed to bring the best out of each other in the old-school recording sense, but then again I don't really know what I'm talking about. I've always wandered how those 90's records would sound without his input.

[Kid Presentable]

Possibly like the Mix-up? Mario seemed to embiggen the instruments in an almost cromulent fashion. I think this french bloke could do similarly weird stuff. Dude produced for Solaar a ways back, but that aside he seems good at what he does. I don't know.

[acamus]

remix one of the leaked trax....add it as a bonus track. record a new track....add that ish. redo 'TMR.'

done!

check what Tommy Lee did with his latest album.

[Kid Presentable]

^^^Technically it happened with Lee Majors Come Again, and that was a winner. Maybe we quit while we're ahead (of lettuce)?

[TAFKASB]

I'll take what I get - I'm a sucka like that! lol

[mca64]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eLYBjRX7wc
here is what can we expect;)

[Kid Presentable]

Not really.

The mixing aside, I'm more interested in whether or not they'll be rehearsing, because it seems like it would be a challenge given the current situation. One because of the lyrics in the new hip-hop songs (obviously), two because of the existing suite of songs (lyrics, instros, band arrangements) and three the relatively complex new songs (Lee Majors and I presume Long Burn the Fire if it is played live - playing and vocals) and how to merge all that into a setlist given how long it's been between drinks.

When last they were mixing and readying for release, weren't they playing shows also? I'd hate for all that pressure to be on right at this point, but then releasing the album and not playing shows would seem kinda odd. Let them worry about it, yes, yes I know.

[Brother McDuff]

Not really.

The mixing aside, I'm more interested in whether or not they'll be rehearsing, because it seems like it would be a challenge given the current situation. One because of the lyrics in the new hip-hop songs (obviously), two because of the existing suite of songs (lyrics, instros, band arrangements) and three the relatively complex new songs (Lee Majors and I presume Long Burn the Fire if it is played live - playing and vocals) and how to merge all that into a setlist given how long it's been between drinks.

When last they were mixing and readying for release, weren't they playing shows also? I'd hate for all that pressure to be on right at this point, but then releasing the album and not playing shows would seem kinda odd. Let them worry about it, yes, yes I know.

From what we've heard thus far, HSC doesn't seem like it would be too complex of a record to prepare for in a live setting. I mean, aside from Lee Majors, the other joints don't seem as though they be would much more than memorizing and rehearsing lyrics. Obviously we don't know what the rest of the record has in store, but I couldn't imagine it would be as heavy an undertaking as prepping for example a record like HN or TMU for tour.

The biggest variable is of course Yauch's health, but I have zero doubts they would move forward with live shows before he is long able and willing. After all, there's no reason to hurry at this stage in their career.

If moves such as rehearsing are being made then you can bet the time is calculated and right. That said, just because they're mixing right now doesn't guarantee a release and/or tour is necessarily close to the horizon, for sitting in a studio is far less extrenuating than carousing over the globe performing every other night. They could just be getting at the mixing because it's something Yauch is fit to endure, even if the hiatus is still undetermined.

[Kid Presentable]

The complexity remains - it's not just memorising lyrics, it's fitting those songs alongside existing songs, including all the playing stuff. It would be at least as complex as the Hello Nasty show. Many of the same songs, very similar format. The new songs where they apparently (according to Top 10) interweave the raps? Couple that with the existing songs where they interweave the raps. That shit takes mad practice at the best of times. Lee Majors could be a bastard to pick and start doing again. And again, pretty sure Long Burn is a playing and vocals jawn (based on Drowned in Sound so I could be wrong, but pretty sure). Add in the 2 or 3 or so Mix Up instros they would likely do, the 1 or 2 older instros, Heart Attack Man, Remote Control, Sabotage, Gratitude.

Not my concern, I know. Just chucking it out there. The timeline is probably suitable for MCA's recovery, you are right.

[Brother McDuff]

The complexity remains - it's not just memorising lyrics, it's fitting those songs alongside existing songs, including all the playing stuff. It would be at least as complex as the Hello Nasty show. Many of the same songs, very similar format. The new songs where they apparently (according to Top 10) interweave the raps? Couple that with the existing songs where they interweave the raps. That shit takes mad practice at the best of times. Lee Majors could be a bastard to pick and start doing again. And again, pretty sure Long Burn is a playing and vocals jawn (based on Drowned in Sound so I could be wrong, but pretty sure). Add in the 2 or 3 or so Mix Up instros they would likely do, the 1 or 2 older instros, Heart Attack Man, Remote Control, Sabotage, Gratitude.

Not my concern, I know. Just chucking it out there. The timeline is probably suitable for MCA's recovery, you are right.

Yeah, I suppose I didn't take into account the insertion of the new jams into the existing catalogue. While one would imagine most of the setlist would consist of jams they could do in their sleep by now, it's certainly a sprawling gamut of different styles and sides of the brain to incorporate into harmony, especially when you're tossing a few new wrenches into the machine.

Honestly, I couldn't imagine any tour prep being a walk in the park. Even if the material were relatively simple, the mental and physical factors of trying to give it your all every performance and still remain refreshed at the 67th tour date in Toledo, Ohio could certainly mash anyone down.

[Darko]

I think this is a great idea, I've liked the songs we've heard from the album so far but an extra layer of polish in the mixing could definitely make them even better.

[camo]

I just hope he sorts out the vocals. I think the 'sound quality' in their voices hasn't been great since HN. It all seems a little flat and (with the odd) echo here and there.

Is this something done in the mixing process? I'm not really familar with studio stuff...

[pesto pizza]

well I still love too many rappers(I hope they don't muck about with that one too much)
I think rap these days has a good mash with house/dance music.there are many good uk acts that do that.
I think anything they do will grow on me, it always does,I've only really started liking "the mix up" this year.

[Brother McDuff]

This is very exciting news. Mixing can make a huge difference. It can make a good record bad and a bad record good. Or it can make a good record sound great.

I think the mixes on the previously leaked/released tracks were kinda mediocre (sans Lee Majors, because the song requires it's dirty lo-fi sound). I suspect the bboys were simply engineering and mixing themselves to this point for HSC, considering they got the main credit on TMU (even ahead of Weiner) for the soundwork. It seems like the natural evolution. I can't confirm this though, of course.

Either way, what I've heard from this dude is pretty impressive. Really psyched knowing the boys are allowing outside ears, even if it is on a mixing level (plus this guy's a producer too, so perhaps he'll offer some opinions as well in accordance with the arrangements of the music). Who knows, BBITC may even come out the other end a sufficient track.

[acamus]

i just hope they'll give a lot of details on the entire HSC process at some point in the future. hopefully they've video taped it. yeah, i like process.

[Darko]

I just hope he sorts out the vocals. I think the 'sound quality' in their voices hasn't been great since HN. It all seems a little flat and (with the odd) echo here and there.


Yeah, the way the Beasties record and mix their vocals is weird. You can notice the huge difference in sound quality between their verses and Nas' in Too Many Rappers. I think it worked on the lo-fi sound of To the 5 Boroughs but I definitely think Zadar could beef it up for the new album.

[Kid Presentable]

Even just sounding unlike any of the recent stuff we've heard, with a dynamism all its own. Fuck I've really got to start this assignment...:(

[cj hood]

i think the preshows are gonna be all hiphop to get their feet wet....wouldn't be surprised if they rapped over the instrument trax (ie LM) via wax!

[Rodie]

Yeah didn't they rap over Lee Majors when they played it before? I think they do that with all their instrument based rap songs they all MC on (ala Skills To Pay The Bills).

[Kid Presentable]

Nah they played it. It couldn't really be done any other way.

[Brother McDuff]

Did we ever officially pinpoint where this tip came from in the first place? Did Zdar mention something about his work on HSC somewhere or what?

[acamus]

Did we ever officially pinpoint where this tip came from in the first place? Did Zdar mention something about his work on HSC somewhere or what?

Yes, McDuff, it came from a reliable source: Top 10. Do some research, dood.