Fans of West Coast style - THC strength character, brainy arrangements, episodic movement, game loving bounce - are put on immediate need-to-know basis with two new releases by Melbourne's Aoi. Available free, source direct from the author, Low Tracks Era and Spotwelders Vol. 1. pack production clout and musicality enough to empty whole shelves of industry-sanctioned hip-hop; both literally - by repurposing the good stuff as samples - and retroactively - by showing up so much conventionally released, Kangaroo-hop as BS.

Hybridizing the dope-chamber nod and sunny rolls of Stones Throw, an ear for nimble electronica and atmospheric, fanboy feel of games and horror movies, Low Tracks Era is 50 minutes of seamless, instrumental jams moving across psych-chug landscapes, dark funk, spaced-out synths, vinyl crackle and dusted beat collage. 'Skruffle' is an MDMA desert drive, 'Decades of Rust' beats Caribou's next move and 'Tin Crown' is gas-masked harpsicord freakbeat.

Spotwelders Vol. 1 is different altogether - a mix disc of known emcees over Aoi beats that's more party-orientated. Checkout both at Aoi's complimentary beats emporium and travel goods. FRESH.

By Mark Gomes