Synapsis Records
Deep in the Chicago Underground.Synapsis-018
1.16.18
Synapsis-018a
Synapsis-018b
Number 018 is a collaboration between Christopher Rau & Hakim Murphy. During the many times that they have met, the topic of politics always came up in conversation. With all the problems in the world, the title of the 12” was formed: Geopolitical Problems Yet to be Solved. This four track EP symbolizes the differences of the world culture’s with its diverse track selection. Liquid synths, bouncing percussion, and variety of feels really describe this project. The problems of the world will never be solved but this is their take on what the problems sound like.
Sad Rain///The sounds of liquid arp lines begin the project, quickly joined by the percussion and gaining steam as the lines continue to evolve. More and more melodies join the synth storm, and slowly a new section makes it way to the front as the percussion drops out. The morphing arp lines continue to modulate until another section of arp lines makes its way to the front. This tune sounds utterly like the forever changing nature of a storm.
The Old Purple One///A heavy kick drum begins the tune in a banging fashion that is quickly joined with percussion. Surprisingly the whole feel of the tune changes into a deep moment in time. Two melodies are rocking with a broken beat style kick drum. The chord progression is longing and dreamy. Meanwhile the percussion is echoing with much reverb. The tune moves in and out of consciousness as the the elements play with each other. This one is for the green tree heads.
Ja Logo///Bouncing rhythms begin the B side with toms that move up and down. The percussion comes in slowly, establishing itself as the heart of the tune. Changes in feels and moods as the tom drum line takes over the focus of the tune. Then later the first acid line joins in the mix and more percussion fills up the arrangement. After an more obvious acid line enters changing the complexion of the tune. The tune rocks until the end with the elements coming and going in a playful manner.
Single Cell Organism///909 percussion begins as the record ends. The tune grooves up and down as it flows forward in motion. The synthed out hits fit nicely around the pumping bass line. All of this is intro for the nitrogen like arp line that serves as the main them of the song. This line modulates grabbing the attention of the ear, letting one to get lost in a daze. With all the elements present, the tune creates an electric feeling that will rock dance floors.
Distributed by DBH
Synapsis-017
2.24.22
Another collaboration is on deck as 017 from Hakim Murphy and HEAR. Dream Scoring is up with a three track 12” titled Cinematic Panoramas. These tunes create different feels; two that are more straight up dance tunes and one with a flipped out disco vibe. This is the second 12”, following up the psychedelic Image of a Myth on Naissance Music as they continue with their moments of time scoring theme.
Discreet Floor///The project begins with a running drum loop with gradually added percussion and suddenly a synth line appears. The modulating line goes up and down, meanwhile a second drum percussion sound joins the fray. The interplay of the elements continue the momentum that kicked off from the start. The tunes continues to keep the groove while subtle changes to the percussion and more obvious synth modulations. The energy of this tune is non-stop like running a race.
Popeyes Spinach///A tripped out baseline, melody, and arpeggiation begins this tune. Reverb is drowning the chords in the background as the percussion moves back in forth. Disco from outer space describes the sound, there are many different things happening in this piece causing sensory overload. The effects keep going as the melody and kick holds it all together. This tune should be used when you or the crowd is on that level of deepness.
Milky Brain///The b side features a 10 minute tune that bumps. The clap and toms delay as the percussion builds up. Really two tracks in one as a synth line repeats and the percussion is the main focus of the tune. Then a true melody line comes in to rock as a baseline pumps in the low frequency register. There is playful interaction between the percussion and the synth lines. Later a vocoder drops in stating “The box will be jacked”, adding to continuous motion that is a relentless onslaught of waveforms that is 10 minutes long.
Synapsis-016
10.14.16
I am catalogue number 016 on Synapsis Records. Four tunes called 4D Mind Sculpting comprise this 12” that fill up the frequency spectrum with its acid lines, chord progressions, and arpeggiation lines. Four dimensions do not exist in our reality but if one could imagine the extra dimensional sense, then these four compositions are what I imagine.
Arp Love Confusion///Strong words of advice begin with a full bass and sparse chords as the percussion strikes in the background. Later an arpeggiation followed by a second arpeggiation happens to create moody and malleable effects. The intensity picks up as the chords swell and the vocals continue, all the elements persist with fluid motion as it slowly descends to a kick at the end.
Leecher///A warm kick and panning arpeggiation begins the composition followed quickly by a melody and then another arpeggiation appears. The percussion is sparse and moving, then an acid line drops that causes counterpoint before becoming the main focus of the tune for a while. The acid line modulates for a bit and leads us back to an arp line. The head bobbing is now in full effect, as all the elements move back in forth and fill up one’s eardrum with waveforms. The acid line makes a break and the journey comes to an end with the arp line.
Şımarık///A filtered percussion loop with sparse chords begin the piece. Hi hats come in hot that leads us into acid line which also serves as the melody. Then suddenly a counter melody appears as the chords hit more often. Many modulations occur as the tune moves through time causing great variety due to the decay from the chords. The acid line comes back to do the work and is the focus as the track builds back up just to be deconstructed at the end.
Sensei///The 12” ends with banging percussion complimented with fluttering flute lines. The acid line comes in to add a groove that leads us to a chord progression. The bright chords ride over the top as the acid line modulates. The chords gain steam and the acid line becomes the focus as the synth toms syncopate, the kick also moves around adding additional syncopation. The interplay between the elements continues until the conclusion.
Distributed by DBH
Synapsis-015
1.10.16
Synapsis-015a
Synapsis-015b
Synapsis-015 comes to you from a deep house soldier from Limerick, Ireland. Frawl drops 3 tunes that are slow, deep, and burn like a nicely rolled blunt. The tunes will appeal to the beatdown heads who get into the momentous track flow and maximum sound design. There are plenty of delays, echoes, and reverbs here with subtle arrangement techniques in his release called Randy Spirit EP.
Smash Take///The vinyl begins with some slowed down sounds that lead into a chord progression and pitched down vocals. The house feeling is deep in this one as the kick drops out and the tune begins to gain energy with a crash symbol creating movement before a hihat comes in to create maximum momentum. The slow vocals makes more appearances as the chord progression continues to move its way around accompanied by sparse synth stabs.
Watkins///The B side starts with crunchy deep drums and an erie sparse melody line. The kick drops out and then another percussion instrument comes in and as the melody synth becomes more frequent. The delay effect is helping to rock the beat, as time go by the tune builds and builds, the synth gains more energy and suddenly toms become a bass line. Deeper we go into the rabbit hole as one’s head begins to bounce, then a change in notes bring relief to the tension, and then we are back where we started.
The Treaty Beat///The project ends with some effects, a synth melody, and percussion that beats for a while to get the groove going. The full melody comes in subtly as the back beat continues to hit. Then the melody lines take over the main focus for a while and then a nice B section of chords come in to slightly change the complexion of the tune, and rides out until the A section makes a brief appearance at the end.
Distributed by Crosstalk
Available at Red Eye
synapsis014
3.27.15
Synapsis-014A
Synapsis-014B
CPH Sessions is up next as Synapsis-014, this project was formed in back on the summer of 2012. A collaboration was born, Hakim Murphy & Rev S., Rev S. aka Samuel André Madsen is a Danish producer who has made quite a name for himself and his various aliases since we first started out collaboration with his label Delaphine and releases across a span of European and American labels.
CPH Sessions deep pads, long melodic phrases, and super rhythmic drum program describes what happened from the sessions. Let us get to the music and hear the waveforms:
Booming System///Classic drums begin as a melody line starts as the focus with moving percussion backing it up. Claps become the focus and set up the plush synth stabs, melodies, and harmonies to follow. Slowly the tones began to brighten the tune as time moves forward the tones become more intense. A distinct feel overcomes a listener, who can decide what it is they feel. The tune then breaks down into the percussion and rocks out to the end with playful arrangement.
Tryout///Percussions starts as the kick thuds like someone kicked a sack of potatoes. A clap syncopates and leads into the harmony line. The toms create a bass line followed by a melody line. The tunes joins forces as the chords filter and the melody comes in and out. Liquid sounds is a great adjective as the tune progresses the feel is vast like the loneliness of the ocean. Deepness comes through as the thuds and hits become more complex one may find themselves humming the chord progression.
Sarah Aron Melkisedek///Longing chord melody begin a long chord phrase coupled with percussion. Later a banging bass line with the slightest bit of noise joins in as the melody starts it phrase over. Backup synth lines come to the forefront for a while to change up the emotion, clearing the tune up like fog in the night. Yet the fog of emotions return as the chords end the tune.
Distributed by Crosstalk
Available at:
Hakim Murphy
synapsis013
11.10.14
Synapsis-013a
Synapsis-013b
The term House has undergone many changes since its inception so many years ago. Splintering into many genres, deep house is born, also obscured throughout the years and really the one description should be; music that resonates with a listener’s soul.
Synapsis-013 holds true, in my opinion Miltiades laced up four tracks in whole named Outermost Sensitive Paranoia that combine textures of pads, rhythms, and arrangement that you will feel deep within your belly button.
d0.5u///The journey begins through a chord progression combined with shuffling percussion as the beats pulsates. More percussion joins, and the bass line comes to fill up the rhythm. Deep and warm the tune comes to life as the bass slowly modulates, the chords sing, and the kick drops out to introduce the synth stabs that rock as the last added element to the tune. Super deep!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkPIvQwVl6Q
outermost sensitive paranoia///Track two starts with more shuffling drums and syncopated pad lines. The broken beat creates and irregular feel that is equaled out when the bass line comes in. Later more synths lines join as the droning pad pulsates in the background. Creating a paranoia effect, causing heads bouncing and subtle twitches of the ear drums that feels most sensitive.
outpostofmercy///Side b starts with low frequency syncopated chord strikes and a crunchy kick drum. The kick drum takes over the attention and the rhythm commences to build with the percussion. More synths surprise the melee, and continue to beat as the synths sound until the end.
parrhesia///Ending the project, jumping kick patterns quickly begin as a chord progression strikes with deep intent. Intent that slightly changes as the the progressions opens up with more notes, meanwhile the track picks up intensity, staying steady and later an additional synth line comes in to modulate and pulsate over the top of the chords. Solid deepness is a great adjective for this tune.
Number 013…
Distributed by Crosstalk
hakim murphy
synapsis012
8.26.14
synapsis-012 a side
synapsis-012 b side
Jazz and house newcomer Kareem Ali laces up Synapsis-012, at times some trumpet, some samples, but always solid beats and melodies as Synapsis Records presents his debut 12″; Nocturnal Respiration. Hailing from the NYC, Kareem composes eight tunes that show off his imaginative composing skills.
Can you feel it///The experience begins with jazzy chords and Kareem on the trumpet. The jazzy feelings continue as the trumpet sounds over the 7th chords.
Sands of Time///Synth melodies rain out as the beat drops and builds. A bassline appears for a second to provide a groovy intermission.
Flavor///Bouncing melodies begin as percussion strikes that leads into chords. Later voices filter into the background as another melody line sneaks into the mix.
Deep Space///Flowing arpeggiations begin as a bass line and other synth lines appear to cause a mystical swelling of sounds. No beats all heart.
In Orbit///The b side begins with crunchy beats and 7th chords. Trumpet notes ring out and flow, an B section quickly appears, and then right back to the A section.
Heart///Fast jazzy sample appears as the bpm is pushed up to give a nice flavor and variety to the vinyl. Short and sweet tune for the heads.
Solid///Classic drums start the action, quickly followed by arpeggiations and pulsating bass sound. Head knotting tune.
Portal///To end this this release, a bass sound begins and quickly joined by drums. The bass melody continues to ride in the forefront meanwhile supported by a vocal sample. Later a chord progression comes in and takes it deep.
Distributed by Crosstalk.
Hakim Murphy
synapsis011
4.16.14
synapsis-011a
synapsis011b
Synapsis rocks next with a full ep from G. Marcell called The Coming (Future). In this four tune project G. Marcell shows off his melodic skills with many nice melody and bass line phrases. The dance energy is non stop and as the ep progresses so does the deepness. Perhaps the future is all ready here, let’s listen to the the sonic waveforms.
Barbarix///A stuttering bassline begins the ep as the beat drops, melodic notes appear that starts to vary in note length. Percussion beats as toms hit in between the quarter notes. Sounding like the name with the rough and taking no prisoners textures.
Silent Rush///Next up is a tune where the tones stay in the higher note registers. The bass line is sneaky as the note timbre begin low and tail off to higher tones. Syncopation everywhere as the beat drops after a few intro phrases. Droning notes help to fill out the tune, later a chord progression opens up with new melody notes added, causing a nice B section. Banging percussion all the way through.
Warped Mind Structure (People)///Though the beat is 4/4 the elusion of a break beat is perceived as the toms syncopate. A deep bassline kicks in to anchor the beat. Even deeper chords come in afterward to emote feelings of the past. People can you feel this? The bassline subtly becomes more complex as time floats by.
DirtyAsDistortion///Ending this 12″ with another grimey bassline is very fitting, a manic bass rides as the kick hits. Notes drone at the top, then suddenly a string melody line comes in, adding feelings to the mix. But the melody only last a moment as the bass line beats only to re-appear again. Yeah work it out.
Four jams moving in unison to bang the box!
hakim murphy
Distributed by Crosstalk
synapsis010
4.16.14
Synapsis-010
The album Astral Traveling by Innerspace Halflife is among us with 9 tunes straight from the universal psyche, yet articulated with the tools of human perception through waveforms. Deeper and deeper the tunes take a listener on a journey of spacey pads, longing melodies, electronic bass notes, and jacking drum programming.
In terms of human understanding, the universe is infinite which makes any scenario one can think of possible. With this in mind, Astral Traveling was composed and explores the deepness of creativity as Innerspace Halflife reaches down to pull out sounds using various techniques.
The story begins with Teardrop from Nebula 1122+22. Straight from a far away point in space which can serve as the beginning or end of a journey. Deep chord pads and flurrying synths twinkle around while the bassline follows suit, sounding like aliens talking, definitely a conversation of sonic verbs, adjectives, and nouns.
After experiencing an assault of melodies, Particle Burst takes command with its chunky beats, rich chords, and many synth lines. Like when scientists found how to split atoms into particles, the bass melody line dances around sounding different with each phrase iteration. The chords here are emotive.
So it is only natural that Breaking Lights would follow as the percussion flows, hand claps serge and lead us into a electronic bass line. Swinging hi hats appear and break through the beat like lights followed by a string melody line.
Next the deep jack comes to light with the electric sounds from the ionic sphere. Ionic Transport begins with deep chords which lead to nasty rhythms that electrify speaker cones. The syncopated beat keeps jacking, later the action gets busier and a bassline appears to relieve the tension like lightning striking that increases one’s heart rate.
Starfields is next and this tune focuses on the melodies and rhythms, moving around like twinkling starts. The kick bumps as a bassline flows. After a long time on one chord the tune opens up into a progression causing great relief to the listener’s ears. Looking out at starfields, this piece sounds like stars having interstellar conversations through tones.
An intermission ensues and a poem about Galaxy Dreaming appears, like most far off galaxies the language is indercipherable to humans ears with the delaying synth lines moving around.
Meanwhile between the interstellar talk, the transmission are intercepted by planets. Magical Rings sounds as the bass synth drops, going round and round the melody as the bass chase each other while the sparse percussion moves. The celestial melody comes back and speaks more later in the tune.
From these rings dust is generated due to gravitational pulls but not just any dust but Acid Dust. Banging kick drums and multiple acid lines appear to create the groove. Melody lines materilize and swell into great soundscapes, the percussion changes nicely augmenting the acid line changes. Then the end of this cosmic adventure comes in on the micro level with Escape System.
Atoms being broken down into the finest pieces possible, even the basis of jump technology sounds off with banging kick drums and percussion that moves fast. The bassline arrives first, steadily pulsating, and the deep pads come out to sing several melodies. Balancing between bass and pads equal emotive interstellar astral traveling.
Enjoy the ride as Innerspace Halflife shows you one way of Astral Traveling through sonic tones.
hakim murphy
a1.Teardrop from Teardrop from Nebula 1122+22
a2.Particle Burst
b1.Breaking Lights
b2.Ionic Transport
c1.Starfields
c2.Galaxy Dreaming
d1.Acid Dust
d2.Escape System
Distributed by Crosstalk
synapsis009
1.4.14
Synapsis-009
Murph Tone Jack Session Remixes have come up, I was planning to do a remix vinyl for at least a year. And finally the opportunity came up for me to get four reinterpretations from Chicago producers Chicago Skyway, G. Marcell, Ike Release, and Steven Tang. Their contributions expand the Jack Session with deep and rhythmic tunes that will rock from warehouse to boats.
Chicago Head (Chicago Skyway Remix)///The remix 12″ begins with hihats, melodies, and a train trip that explores the jack. Bouncing melodies accompany a story about life perceptions. The subtlies of the beats showcases Skyway’s drum programming.
Tender B (G. Marcell Tender Touch Remix)///The A side ends with classic G. Marcell percussion and drowning pads. Meanwhile the chords move in the background as a secondary broken kick pattern comes forth. The tune slowly builds and breaks as the kick drum pulsates.
Technicals (Ike Release Remix)///The B side begins with squelchy bass lines and some Murph Tone percussion sounds. Re-triggered percussion move around as the bass line continues to to tap the frequency spectrum to emotive rawness.
Tender B (Steven Tang Remix)///Ending the 12″ is a deep house jam that has the chord sound changed with a new bassline and string melody. Nice and deep is this tune.
Subtleties in music inspired the jack session album as the remixes follow this same ethos. This is the conclusion of the Murph Tone Jack Session.
Distributed by Crosstalk.
hakim murphy
Synapsis Records 