"LIGHT BEINGS #2" by SMARTBOMB
Put on these perfect late evening beats—the second installment in a hip hop and electronic mixtape series created by and for the Oakland community.
Various Artists
LIGHT BEINGS #2 (2020)
SMARTBOMB
“But aside from the sun, anything that produces light on its own is a source of light.” So says the woman’s voice opening up the mixtape, sounding as warm and fuzzy as a an old public broadcasting videotape sampled by Boards of Canada. The similarities don’t entirely end there, though these ethereal, nostalgic beats sometimes also include vocals, as on album openers “Mind Water” (featuring newer Brainfeeder favorite Salami Rose Joe Louis) and “Bargain Hunt” (with a coolly rapping Spote Breeze). The rest of the mix weaves through light and loving head boppers (“Sometimes I Listen” by heru), dizzying Daedelus-esque productions (“I Miss You” by 4D, “Real Thugs” by RITCHRD), and pulsing ambient pieces (“Sunset 6” by Selim X).
All proceeds from LIGHT BEINGS VOL. 2—the second installment of a SMARTBOMB mixtape series in collaboration with Oakland-based Lower Grand Radio—are being split evenly and donated to the Village in Oakland and the Anti Police-Terror Project.
The cassette is sold out, but you can listen to the album on Bandcamp.