Artist.......: Hugo Kant
Album........: I Don't Want to Be an Emperor
Label........: Bellring
Genre........: Electronic
Catnr........: BEL11HK1
Source.......: CD (LP)
Rip.date.....: 2011-08-21
Str.date.....: 2011-06-27
Quality......: 244kbps/44.1kHz/Joint Stereo
Url..........: http://www.hugokant.com/
track title time
1. This Old Tune 5:14
2. June 4:21
3. Thou Shalt Not Kill (scratch by Chinese Man's 4:09
ZΘ Mateo)
4. Ranjia (scratch by Chinese Man's ZΘ Mateo) 4:01
5. Awakening 0:49
6. 5 For You And 5 For Me 4:41
7. Leonids 5:44
8. No Jazz 4:17
9. I Don't Want To Be An Emperor 5:24
10. The Chord Cracker 5:03
11. Delirium 3:57
12. Nocturne 1:22
13. So Why ? 4:22
Runtime 53:24
Size 94.81
Release Notes:
It is just one month ago that the very first EP of Mr Quentin Le Roux staring
his solo project under the name 'Hugo Kant' was released. Three tracks EP
'Searching London EP' was well received by the listeners and up to day Hugo Kant
is approaching 20000 listens and 1500 downloads on Soundcloud. Pretty good start
for the beginner, one would say. Honestly, the fact is Mr Le Roux is no beginner
in music scene at all... Who's Hugo Kant then...?
Quentin Le Roux (Hugo Kant) was born on June 15th, 1976 in Marseille, France. At
the age of 5 he started to study piano, guitar and music theory at the national
music school and 13 years later he created his first music band 'Gⁿs Weg
Watergang' together with Simon Fayolle (aka Braka), SΘbastien Smither, Olivier
Dumaine and Richard Rozembaum.
This psychedelic jazz-rock band was already introducing Quentin as a gifted
multi instrumentalist playing keyboards, flute, clarinet and sampler. Since 2002
when he left 'Gⁿs Weg Watergang' he played in many different bands. Currently
he's a part of Samenakoa, Picture Shop and electro-jazz band Nuestra Cosa and
playing even more instruments including drums, flute, clarinet, flugelhorn and
bass guitar.
And, of course, he's also staring his solo project 'Hugo Kant' with debut LP 'I
don't want to be an emperor' that is due to be released on Bellring label on
June 27th, 2011. I was lucky to get a copy of this album from Quentin and listen
to this very fresh stuff already. Curious about what to expect...?
According to Hugo Kant's official web page and official profiles on social
networks, you should be prepared for a big portion of downtempo, nu-jazz,
acoustic music and trip-hop. Frankly spoken, do not believe that.
The portion is even bigger than it could seem and cooked out of much more
ingredients than mentioned above. Hip-hop, breakbeat, nu-jazz, acid jazz,
downtempo as well as uptempo, trip-hop, psychedelic rock influences, electro,
heavy sampling, touch of symphonics, and lots of acoustic music ... All these
genres Hugo Kant mixes together with an ease like if it was the most natural
thing. 13 tracks of the debut album could easily fit into The Herbalizer's or Dj
Shadow's sets as well as into jazz or rock festivals, side by side with music of
Jaga Jazzist, The Cinematic Orchestra or polish Skalpel .
The first listen to 'I don't want to be an emperor' recalled few years old
memories in me. Can you also remember the amazing debut LP of Xploding Plastix
'Amateur Girlfriends Go Proskirt Agents' LP? Than probably you will face this
dejavu the same as I did. Not that there is nothing new on Hugo Kant's release,
but the style and ease of browsing various genres and tempos are very similiar.
Anyway, there's much differences there still and that's only good. Where
Xploding Plastix' debut were going wild and rough, Hugo Kant is keeping a
typical french elegance and groovy flow. The excellent sounds of flute presented
in the album are also definitely not letting you hesitate, that this music has
been born in France and will make you ask yourself "Fuck, how could I forget
about Ludovic Navarre already?".
Le Roux' lots of experiences from other bands (as an instrumentalist as well as
the composer) and his love for technology and solid knowledge of studio work is
relflected in the precise production of all tracks. Each one of them has it's
own particular mood and orchestration but the album is remaining consistent and
keeps listener's attention from the begining till the end providing him with
colourful, dope picture of these days' jazz and electronic music.
With a bit of luck, this album should become really big one day... Do not miss
that.