ARTIST: David Ramos
TITLE: This Up Here
LABEL: Fake Four Inc
GENRE: Hip-Hop
BITRATE: 191kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 35m total
RELEASE DATE: 2008-00-00
RIP DATE: 2008-06-19
Track List
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1. Pulse 2:19
2. Count 0:32
3. Kings and Queens 3:03
4. One Last Stop 1:44
5. Breathe 1:32
6. Don't Exist 3:21
7. Looked At 2:10
8. From Your Cup 1:58
9. Face Full 3:42
10. Satelite 2:08
11. Sober Sunday 0:33
12. How The Night Turned Cold 3:11
13. Fate Of 1:53
14. Watchtower 2:33
15. Wax Fingers 1:10
16. Long Road Ahead 1:52
17. Island Song 1:50
Release Notes:
First things first. David Ramos' name is pronounced Dah-veed (in Spanish). Since
childhood, nobody has called him David (in English) other than telemarketers and
police officers. At age 10 he started cracking drum heads. By 15 he was studying
Latin-jazz polyrhythms and recording what would be Anonymous Inc's debut CD. And
by age 24, David was named one of Modern Drummer magazine's Top 10 Progressive
Drummers of Today. As part of bands Toca and Anonymous Inc. with brother Ceschi,
David has been the source of backing beats for collaborations with a range of
acclaimed artists -- including everyone from Aceyalone and Busdriver to Sole and
Dose One. On tours David has performed as part of "Little Wings" with Kyle Field
(who also provided David his new album's artwork) and even as part of hardcore
metal band "Dead By Wednesday," opening up for bands such as Hatebreed and Sick
of it All.
David's smorgasbord of past work has little to do with his new album, "This Up
Here." At first listen, "This Up Here" sounds something like a
synthesizer-injected lo-fi indie folk record, complete with occasionally
dramatic shaky vocals, layers of Casios, shitty drum machines, glockenspiels,
acoustic guitars, and melodicas. Upon closer examination, however, the musical
quality is apparent. The album sounds much more like an ensemble of unlikely
instruments becoming good friends, while David Ramos' creative use of percussion
undoubtedly surges through the Casio static. His acrobatic rap-vocal abilities
only complement the concoction. By the last track we come to realize that "This
Up Here" is simply a beautifully self-produced pop record crafted by a talented
young songwriter using a basement full of toys and old instruments to shape a
subtly emotional story filled with nostalgia, humor, and honesty.