Free Album Download: The Pharmers Guide to Higher Ground

Shot by Kevin Cayuca

ALBUM LINK FREE DOWNLOAD

The Pharmer’s Guide to Higher Ground is a hip-hop project conceptualized by MC’s Liquid, Skarm, Flexx and Lloyd. In this age where visual illustrations and juxtaposed figures of speech maintain a certain vital role in crafting modern underground hip-hop music, the Pharm introduce themselves as such group utilizing these elements. The 14-track album is a sketchpad of lyrical approaches stylized by each member’s own characteristics in spitting out mind-trip bars that reveal their own animated worlds, cryptic messages and bizarre thoughts. Backed up by hazardous headnod beats from 3 of the Pharm’s members (along with production from producers, Ill Primitivo and DJ Fresh-Lee) and surreal album art designed by abstract visual artist Sloj, this album promises a rejuvenating feeling in Philippine underground hip-hop; simply put, it is something fresh and relevant to look forward to. New Perspectives is here to introduce new gutter science for essential underground listeners in 2012. Meet..The Pharm.

Getting in a Groove: Bent Lynchpin (Sneak Peek)

Bent Lynchpin was already featured here on New Perspectives a few months back, and they’ll all be on hand tomorrow at Sarten Cafe.  Expect another amazing jam from this group when they get on stage; for now, a preview.

Still Sounds: Auspicious Family (Sneak Peek)

Auspicious Family is a sample-based, cross synesthetic experiment featuring low-fi soundscapes with music, and a live, animated collage.  They’ll be bringing their laptops to Sarten Cafe for Spoken Herb, coming next Saturday!  Here’s a short preview of their collaborative efforts.

Playing off the Bass: Bent Lynchpin

Recorded over a whirlwind, 2-day session, Fred Sandoval (guitar), Mark Zero (bass), Malek Lopez (Keys) and Caliph8 (MPC) put together material for their upcoming album.  In this video, the quartet’s sound is driven by Mark Zero, which culminates in an otherworldly break by Caliph8 at about the 3:30 mark.  Malek and Fred perfectly compliment the group to produce a sound wholly unique unto themselves.

Coming Soon: Nyko Maca

A preview of Nyko Maca‘s performance for New Perspectives.  Coming next week!

Since We Last Spoke: Moon Fear Moon

It’s amazing how a few emails can bring people together sometimes.  We mentioned earlier that IDM pioneer Moon Fear Moon had been part of our wish list, and he soon informed us that he would be closing Fete de la WSK for the second straight year.  We headed straight to the event, watched him do his thing, and had a few words (and drinks) with him afterwards.  In this video, he opens up on evolving as an artist, the importance of choosing where you perform, and plans for 2012.  Happy New Year everyone!

Rubber Inc.: Malek

A quick glance inside Sweet Spot Studios and you see all the thing you’d expect to find: guitars, keyboards (lots of them!) mixers, computers and any other instrument a studio should have.  In this video, Malek runs down some of his current gear obsessions.  A preview of some new material him and Noel de Brackinghe (collectively known as Rubber Inc.) is also included, and was a product of a recent out-of-town excursion that saw them finish enough material for a new album.  Press play to listen in.

Logical Progressions: Malek

In this video, Malek Lopez opens up on what he thinks is missing in the local electronic music scene: the need to advance our art to the rest of the world.  This is the next step, a kind of logical progression in keeping up with the digitized world that is gradually becoming smaller and more accessible.   The piece Malek shares with us here is something that he played in Indonesia recently.  The track on its own is, by all merits, fantastic.  But the added layer of piano into the composition (coming at the 3 minute mark), while subtle and unassuming, completes this musical puzzle.  As Malek said so himself, electronic music delivers its message through beats and instruments, and rarely words.

Message received.

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Truth in Essence: Skarm

Sometimes the best way to know about an artist is to ask; simple as it may sound, not all of us get an opportunity to do so.  Consider us a part of the chosen few.  In this clip,  Skarm opens up on his influences, The Pharm, and the state of Hip-Hop.   Listen to the essence, absorb the ingenuity, and applaud the music.

Improvisations: Sloj and Fred (Part 2)

More dusted beats coming your way from Sloj and Fred.  As you can see in the video, everyone in the room could hardly contain their excitement in witnessing the collaboration begin to truly take form.  Fred’s bluesy guitar solos meshed seamlessly with Sloj’s sliced up and addictive droning beats; it was great to see our performers enjoy the session as much as we enjoyed documenting it.  While there are some things worth bitching about and debating on (our antiquated NAIA Terminal 1 Airport, the way Manny Pacquiao defeated Juan Manuel Marquez yesterday), there’s no questioning the quality of sound this duo has produced for all of us to watch and listen to.  This wicked collaboration is also available for you to download in case you want to hear the full, 14-minute version as well as the video edit; either choice, we highly recommend it.

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DOWNLOAD (EXTENDED VERSION)