Ronin’s brilliant debut album “Best Laid Plans” was a big favourite here at the Labs and he swiftly followed that up with two EPs for Nerve Breaks, now to complete the picture he unleashes his second album “Remixes From The Field”. Featuring a whole host of sampled vocalists including Portishead, Zack De La Rocha and many more, it’s a journey into dark downtempo beats, ranging from full on heavier moments to more laid back excursions.

Ronin had this to say:

I’ve had this album in mind for a long time now, some of the tracks on here have been around in one form or another since i started work on Best Laid Plans.

Up until the first BattleDrums EP, I’d tried to steer clear of releasing a straight up remix – it was always something I did for myself, to experiment and improve my techniques or whatever. I think that’s what makes this album work as well as I hope it does.

Although I never know it until I hear it, I definitely look for something specific in music, the remixes here are of a handful of tracks that seemed to me to have that certain vibe that I try to achieve in my own stuff. in some cases, that’s all that relates the tracks; some (probably imaginary) indefinable common factor, despite being quite distant from each other in terms of genre or whatever.

I think there’s definitely something in that; when you’re digging for samples, you don’t know exactly what your looking for until you hear it, and these tracks really epitomise that sentiment for me. That’s what this album as a whole is trying to get at.

Download Ronin – Remixes From The Field (ZIP file)

This is the latest release on my Nerve Breaks imprint, it’s a dark wee dubstep number from Edinburgh live act The Setup. As well as the original version, the package includes a tougher dubstep remix from Edinburgh’s Tactus and a brilliantly bonkers breaksy/housey type remix from Phuturelabs fave Ronin.

More info on release on the official Nerve site.

All available to download, so get em down the pipes!

The Setup – “Lizard”

The Setup – “Lizard (Ronin Reconstruction)”

The Setup – Lizard (Tactus rmx)”

Not more than 2 weeks ago we brought you a superb free LP “Best Laid Plans” from Glasgow based producer/turntablist Ronin. Well we have done it again with access to the free “Battledrums” EP just brought out on Nerve Breaks label.

After rave reviews it didn’t take long for Paul Reset, label boss of resurgent Scottish imprint Nerve to snap him up. Here is what Paul had to say about this excellent new exclusive free EP. (yes I did say free!!)

I was delighted when he agreed to put together an EP for Nerve Breaks and off to work he went! I’m very very proud to present “The Battledrums EP”. Taking a harder route than his debut album but keeping up the epic factor, this serves as a taster for his second album “Remixes From The Field”

1: “Quarantine”

2: “If You Fear Dying”

3: “Vicious Tradition”

4: “My Own Summer”

5: “The Battledrums EP (Seamless Mix)”

We thought the best thing would be to allow the man himself to give us the lowdown on “Battledrums” EP and its influences…..

These tracks are a taste of things to come, they represent the harder edge of the album. Trying to show as much variation in style as possible to reflect my range of influence, so the album ranges from the downtempo ways of the first LP to 190bpm efforts like the My Own Summer remix. Composition is a big part of what I’m doing so I like to think some songs span the whole spectrum within the same track.

The song choices for this EP are amongst the heaviest on the album to contrast with my previous stuff.

In making this new effort I set out to make what I was feeling, regardless of what genre any given track might then fall into. With any luck they’re still all very much “Ronin” tracks, so not to fret – there’s still all the dreamy, cinematic stuff pulling these tracks together. The tripped out, spaghetti western shit is still very much a part of my M.O, I just like to think I’ve got a bit more in there aswell now!

So down to the specifics, Quarantine samples primarily “In a Heartbeat” from the 28 days later soundtrack, the vocals are scratched and cut from a Thom Yorke acapella. On “If You Fear Dying” that is indeed Zach De La Rocha (RATM being one of my all time favourite bands) The track remixed is from his One Day As A Lion EP. Vicious Traditions is a rework of a track by The Veils, and My Own Summer I assume speaks for itself, that track just deserved a remix that took it in the opposite direction from the downtempo NIN remix!

I’d also like to add that although in places it might not sound it, I think this is very much a hip hop album, using “old school” hip hop techniques. 99% of it is still MPC work, filters & turntablism, its just used to different effect in parts.

In my (humble) opinion, the original hip hop of old sampled and remixed soul & funk records because that was the music of the time. I’m just doing the same thing with the music that I love from MY era. It just comes down to trying to be as honest as possible with the music I create.

Now that we have heard from him we thought you might also want to see him in action.

I recently stumbled across Ronin’s Myspace page (thanks to Venkman from Iller for the tip) and was absolutely blown away by his productions. Blending crisp, clean hip hop beats with epic instrumentation and amazing turntablism, this young Glasgow producer is one of the best I’ve heard in a long time. With an ear for a catchy hook and a mind for atmosphere and space within his productions that guarantees each track will be roaming around in your head for a long time after listening.

If you’re a fan of the likes of Dj Shadow and early Ninja Tune and Mo’ Wax then this album will be right up your street. 47 minutes of brilliant instrumental hip hop and downtempo goodness.

He’s giving away his debut album “Best Laid Plans” for free and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Get this down the pipes and on your media player of choice asap.

Download Ronin – Best Laid Plans LP

And here’s a coupla clips from it to give you an idea of what to expect.

Ronin – Ghost of Progress

Ronin – Oishi

Ronin – Out of Luck