Chalk
Dirt EP
(Dubporn Records)
You need look no further than Crossfade's picks for Miami's Ten Best Local Albums, EPs, and Mixtapes of 2011 to see that the 305 is rife with diverse homegrown sounds.
But it's not often that we hear the kind of eclectic electronic fusion offered by local production duo Chalk on their new Dirt EP.
Chalk are masters of the sample first and foremost. Deep Dilla-esque jazz bites and slow mo hip-hop breaks dominate the record throughout, especially on numbers like "Tricks" and "Dirty Strings". But the chopped-up pitch-shifted vocals on "SoulWax" and fuzzy sub-bass on "Like Glass" hint at the post-dubstep and UK garage flavors championed by Miami's Dubporn Records.
Chalk.: SoulWax by Dubporn Records
"We wanted [the EP] to be gritty and soulful," Chalk's Joshua Gomez told Crossfade. "We pride ourselves on being able to make different kinds of music, whether it be dubstep or hip-hop. We love pushing ourselves and seeing what we can come up with."
With its chill hypnotic grooves and deep soul-warming vibes, this definitely the kind of home-listening record you'll want to roll a fatty and space out to on a Sunday afternoon. And it certainly establishes Chalk as one of the many talented local acts to keep an eye on in 2012.
Chalk's Dirt EP is out on Monday, January 16 and can be purchased at select online retailers and record stores.
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