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Vinyl Floor Release “The Swan Of Eileen Lake”
“The Swan of Eileen Lake” by Vinyl Floor has arrived, and it’s one of those tracks that ended up somewhere different from where it started. Thomas Charlie Pedersen initially wanted to write about overwhelming beauty, but the song had its own ideas. What emerged instead is messier and more interesting: a meditation on joy, worry, and envy all wrapped around the image of a young woman about to take on the world. There’s something compelling about how the band lets these contradictory feelings sit together without trying to resolve them into something tidier. The honesty in that approach gives the track its emotional weight, even if the concept occasionally feels like it’s reaching for something just beyond its grasp.
Musically, Vinyl Floor made smart choices here. The foundation is piano and layered vocal harmonies, with Sara Andreasen’s voice adding depth that keeps things from feeling too sparse. Also, the drums and bass provide momentum without overpowering the more delicate elements. It’s a restrained arrangement that mostly works, though there are moments where you wonder if a bit more dynamic range might have pushed certain sections further. Emil Isaksson and Daniel Pedersen’s production at Studio Möllan in Malmö feels intentional, and Søren Vestergaard’s mix at the Shelter keeps everything balanced. The technical execution is solid throughout.
Where the song succeeds is in capturing that specific feeling of watching someone else’s potential unfold while knowing they’ll probably leave some wreckage behind. It’s not trying to be a grand statement, and that modesty serves it well. The track doesn’t reinvent anything, but it does what it sets out to do with enough craft and feeling to make it worth returning to. Vinyl Floor seems to be finding their footing in this territory between admiration and apprehension, and “The Swan of Eileen Lake” suggests there’s more to explore there.
You can listen here.
The Devil’s Violinist returns!West Coast beat-boss / rhyme capo Dios Negasi finally drops the long-awaited LP, Black Violin 2. Out now via streaming courtesy of Chamber Music Ent / Reagan Era Records this edition tops the grit factor and guest roster of the 2023 first edition.
The project is named after legendary composer Niccolo Paginini (1782-1840) who was nicknamed “The Devil’s Violinist” for his supernatural ability on the instrument and adherence to wearing all black. Negasi also has a similar mastery of dark boom-bap sounds, creating some of the roughest tracks of this century.
Reagan Era Records cohort Skrillz Dior makes multiple appearances on the project and Los Angeles homies also appear including Dyverse, Killa Kali, K-Borne and Chamber Music’s Ominous also guest. However, the guest list on this project also taps a litany of mic legends including Ghostface Killah, Young Zee (Da Outsidaz), Conway The Machine, RJ Payne, Blu and Fredro Starr (Onyx).
Stream Black Violin 2: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/chambermusicentpresents/black-violin-2-2
Speaking on working with legends Negasi said “Ominous was dead set on topping Black Violins 1 plus I think he just likes seeing me under pressure. Of course when you are dealing with artists of this caliber, the end product takes longer to complete but I love this album!”
Additional props must be given to M-s BEATZ THE MAD KID from Colombia who produced “Black Scrolls” ft RJ Payne, Chris Scott who sprinkled keys on “Gods Wallabee Clarks” ft Ghostface Killah and “Only God Can Save You” ft Conway The Machine and finally the UK’s Too Nasty who engineered the album.
(rings in the holidays with a blast! Enlisting Onyx’s Fredro Starr for new single “Bust Back” the Dios produced banger combines two of the grittiest lyricists of the West and East coasts.
Listen to “Bust Back” ft Fredro Starr: https://youtu.be/4j0hFml5ly0?si=aBxxuYruhdjq2403
Listen to “God’s Walabee Clarks” ft Ghostface Killah: https://youtu.be/_9e-6RgHQ40?si=bXQRrDDcd9eu2O0i
Listen to “Black Scrolls” ft. RJ Payne:
Listen to “Domingre Gang” ft Young Zee:
Listen to “Only God Can Save You” ft. Conway The Machine:
More Info: https://www.instagram.com/diosnegasi/