Økapi
"Love Him" (Illegal Art)
On Love Him, Italian turntablist and sampling
artist, Økapi (Filippo Paolini), masterfully conducts a
plundered symphony of more than 100 elements to celebrate
the notorious Kyrgyz composer
Aldo Kapi
(1896-1952). Somewhere in between
record digging, electro-acoustic tomfoolerly and slot-machine soundcards,
lies the break-NOT-core, bubble-gum experimentalism of this
new full-length from Italy's own "Daft Giraffe."
Making his music entirely from pre-existing recordings, Filippo
is very open about his sources and even attempts to contact every living artist
he
samples. He recently commented that, with only one exception, he has always received
positive praise and encouragement, with many of the artists not even recognizing
their own work within
the Økapi mixes.
The previous Økapi full-length, Where's The Beef?, was released in 2003, on the
at-the-time buzzed Inflatabl label run by Matt Haines (aka the Rip-Off Artist). Oddly,
both the label and Haines disappeared completely from the electronic music scene shortly
after the Økapi release (you can still find the occasional used copy on Amazon).
Other notable Økapi material includes a remix for Caprezzo (on EMI), one of the biggest Italian
hip-hop artists.
In addition to his solo work, Filippo has recorded in the duo Metaxu and with the
trio Dogno. He has performed live for national Italian State radio broadcasts
(RAI) with renowned avant-turntablist, Christian Marclay and collaborates with
numerous international artist such as Mike Cooper, Peter Brotzmann, Mike Patton,
Matt Gustafson, Zu, Damo Suzuki, Andy EX, and Metamkine.
For the CD/digital release of Love Him, Illegal Art compiled tracks from
two separate European vinyl releases (on the labels Belligeranza and KLM last year), each focused
on different
years of Aldo Kapi's compostional output (Vol. 1 from 1927-1952 and Vol. 2 from
1914-1926). With this release, Økapi officially joins the Illegal Art label alongside
other sampling-obssessed artists such as Girl Talk, Junk Culture,
The Bran Flakes, Steinski, Oh Astro, People Like Us, Wobbly, etc.
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