Rainman – Bigger Pictures

9 04 2012

Mention Rainman amongst the initiated and the respect attributed to his name is palpable. Recognised nationally as one of Queensland’s finest, Rainman’s list of collaborations, support slots and guest appearances reads like a who’s who of Australian hip hop.

Rainman is poised to drop his second album Bigger Pictures, in stores Friday 4 May through Obese distribution. The album sees Sammsonite (The Optimen) return for the lion’s share of the production but also features some of Australia’s finest beat – smiths including the APRA and AIR Award winning, ARIA nominated Count Bounce (TZU/Urthboy), DJ Bonez, Mangohig (Sietta), Chasm (Astronomy Class), Cam Bluff (Spit Syndicate/The Tongue/Vegas Aces) and Calski. Guest MCs on the record include Muph, Tommy Illfigga, Yuin Huzami (The Coalition Crew), and many more, while Laneous (Laneous & The Family Yah) and Kel on Earth (Bankrupt Billionaires) lend soulful vocals across the album.

Tracklist:
01. Welcome (Intro) Production: Cam Bluff
02. Can’t See You (Feat. Laneous) Production: by Chasm
03. A 1000 Words (Feat. Muph) Production: Rainman & Sammsonite
04. WTF (Feat. Kel on Earth & Yuin Huzami) Production: Sammsonite & Rainman
05. Duck Face (Feat. Kel on Earth) Production: Rainman & Sammsonite
06. Muse Sick (Feat. Laneous) Production: Sammsonite
07. Big Night (Feat. Tommy Illfigga) Production: Rainman & Sammsonite
08. The Valley Production: Rainman & Sammsonite, Cuts: DJ Butcher
09. Everything Ain’t (Feat. Leah Carr) Production: Chasm, Cuts: DJ Butcher
10. Count Blessings Production: Count Bounce
11. The Buzz (Feat. pear) Production: Cam Bluff
12. Darlin’ (Feat. Calski) Production: Calski
13. Move! (Feat. Seven & 4TH) Production: Calski
14. Too Much (Feat. Youka) Production: Mangohig
15. The Bigger Picture Cuts & Production: DJ Bonez

Rainman is also proud to release the brand new film clip for the single The Valley. An ode to Brisbane’s notorious night spot of the same name, the tune and clip were inspired by and filmed amongst the grit and circumstance found in abundance on any seedy inner-city nighttime adventure. In Rainman’s own words: ‘It’s a pretty jaded and sarcastic portrait of the epicentre of Brisbane’s nightlife that is Fortitude Valley. It’s a place I definitely have a love/hate relationship with, having had some of the best times in my life there, along with the worst – and a whole heap in between.’

The release also comes with the announcement that Rainman has officially become a newly minted member of the Born Fresh Records family, joining label mates and album co-conspirators including producer Cam Bluff and MC’s Tommy Illfigga, Yuin Huzami, Seven, Mr Hill and more. The Valley follows on the success of recently released first single Darlin’ which was received strongly across the country; receiving triple j airplay, FBI Radio (Sydney) rotation and widespread praise for what critics are calling a “classic slice of hip-hop” (Sherlock Ohms.org).

Catch Rainman launching the clip at the following dates:
Calski (feat. Rainman) supporting Joelistics (TZU) and Diafrix for the ‘Running to Shine’ Tour:
Thursday April 12 Beach Hotel Byron Bay 18+ Free Show
Friday April 13 Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane 18+
Saturday April 14 Sol Bar, Maroochydore 18+

Calski (feat. Rainman) supporting Dialectrix for the ‘New Generation’ Tour:
Friday April 27 The Annandale, Sydney 18+ with Ellesquire
Saturday April 28 Great Northern, Newcastle 18+ with Ellesquire
Thursday May 3, Juicy, Brisbane 18+

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The Optimen Announce New Single – Fire Fighters

16 12 2009

With the release of their sophomore album The Out of Money Experience just around the corner, Brisbane’s The Optimen are proud to present the first single to be lifted from it, Fire Fighters. For a limited time Fire Fighters is available for free streaming and download at:

·Album version only
·Album & Clean versions

The Optimen are also proud to announce they have signed an exclusive distribution deal for the forthcoming album with Inertia. The Out of Money Experience is due for release early 2010.

Fire Fighters
In writing the new album, Fire Fighters was the first track that didn’t take much convincing on any part. Already introduced as a staple to their live set, with its infectious hook and ground-moving bass groove, it set the standard early and in many ways served as an indicator to the direction the album was heading. Starting with a breathy drum break lifted from a mysterious Japanese LP that Kristoff purchased for 100 yen in Shibuya, Sammsonite didn’t waste any time in building a track around it. When DATS suggested the minimal vocal flourishing sounded like an exclamation of “Fire! Fire!” the theme took shape. DJ Damage laid his cuts in the break and so the album began – in the true co-operative nature of the group. As a side note, Kristoff admits “We actually don’t know where this record is, or even who it is! It went missing from the studio before we could translate the kanji from the cover!”

In turning a small sample from a 7” into the first single, The Optimen added their own layers, including a rich coating of horns, live drums and breaks from Myka Wallace (Laneous & The Family Yah), backing vocals from Laneous himself and keys from Greg Arnott.

Fire Fighters
is the first taste of The Optimen’s sophomore album The Out of Money Experience which is scheduled for release March 2010 through Inertia.








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