Constipated Monkey Smegma
...Presents...
Above the Clouds - Arrow Root
i n f o
label........: First Word
date ripped..: 2025.07.02
date released: 2025.06.12
url..........: abovetheclouds.bandcamp.com/album/arrow-root
release size.: 9.39 MB
encoder......: Lame 3.100
bitrate......: avg. 273kbps
mode.........: Joint Stereo
tracks.......: 02
source.......: Vinyl
ripper.......: MFD
n o t e s
First Word Records are proud to present the debut single
from Above The Clouds (aka kidkanevil & Magic Manfred)
with their instrumental take on an MF DOOM classic,
'Arrow Root'
One of the original First Word roster, UK Producer/DJ
and all-round laptop music geek kidkanevil has developed
a distinctive and progressive sound over the years,
gleefully exploring the beats and bleeps of the electronic
music universe to international recognition. Leeds born,
sound system bred and raised on a (un)healthy diet of
video games and anime, his solo work inhabits the curious
space between bass frequencies and otaku culture. But as
a devoted teenage backpack rap nerd, somewhere in the back
of kid's mind was a lingering desire to reconnect with
his first love, hip hop.
Not long after moving to Berlin he joined a studio space
in graffiti plastered Kreuzberg, where he met multi
instrumentalist wizard Magic Manfred; a disciple of all
things boogie, disco, funk and soul. Born and raised in
Berlin, and currently a touring musician for many an act,
Manfred's musical map joins the dots from piano lessons
at four, to starting a band with his teenage friends,
leading him to his true calling - the bass - via the
club vibrations of his hometown, which introduced him
to the world of DJing and production, and a stint
studying in the explosive London jazz scene to finalise
his Jedi training.
Bonding over their mutual love of '90s hip hop, a
friendship and musical kinship developed, coupled with a
desire to honour past eras but push things forward, Above
The Clouds was born; named after their joint favourite
DJ Premier beat, with a touch of irony regarding their
basement based studio of a windowless variety.
kidkanevil explains "We did a number of covers to sort
of get warmed up and in the pocket, of which 'Arrow Root'
was one. I actually interviewed DOOM once, mask and all,
and I always regretted I forgot to ask him about the
original sample. It's been one of my favourite DOOM beats
forever and it came up in conversation one day, then
manifested pretty quickly into a session. It came together
with relative ease and quickness, which is usually a good
sign. Manfred worked out the chords and I remade the drums
in about the same time frame. Mario is an exceptional
saxophone player based in Berlin, so a few text messages
later she came by the studio and nailed the entire thing
on her first take. And that was that, our humble tribute
to the supervillain!"
This one is backed up on the flip side with
'Tram Delay Beat'; a low slung neck-snapper teasing more
of what's to come.
This is the first single from the duo, with a long player
now in the works...
Above the crowds, above the clouds, where the sounds
are original, infinite skills create miracles...
d a t a
# t r a c k n a m e t i m e
01- Arrow Root (feat. Mario Quest Blue) [03:09]
02- Tram Delay Beat [01:41]
9.39 m e g s t o t a l [04:50]