Premiere of The Last Skeptik’s Be There Video

Exclusive to Aesthetica, The Last Skeptik releases his newest music video for Be There, which is a short horror film. Released on BBE, the song will be available from 6 May on the album Thanks for Trying. Following in a long line of BBE‘s hip-hop honed instrumental classics by the likes of Pete Rock, Madlib and J Dilla, DJ and producer The Last Skeptik takes instrumental hip-hop one hundred steps or so to the left. This video is directed by the upcoming short film director Cara Barry, who brings the image of a haunting fallen angel to life in this harrowing and beautifully shot music video.

This album sounds like a tormented journey through a Tim Burton film, Thanks For Trying dips and nosedives through emotive live orchestration and banging, true-to-form hip-hop drums. Composed entirely by Skeptik, this is undoubtedly his most personal release to date. The opener Those Ones starts proceedings with live flute and shaking synths. The chops of The Best Part nods to the heads, but where this album comes alive is on truly unique songs like Hero Mask where cello ekes out drama on top of jaggedly crisp drums. The closer Well Well sees a live horn section go back to back with violin and electric guitar on a storyboard epic of a track.

Equally as influenced by the soundtrack sounds of Mark Mothersburgh, Jon Brion and Ennio Morricone, as he is DJ Premier and J Dilla, Skeptik has created a modern masterpiece honouring the legacy of beats based albums like Donuts and meeting it with the live musicality of the movie music he grew up in awe of.

While one vocal track appears on the album, Lullaby featuring rapper Jehst, the album remains cohesive and structured to build to a point and drive listeners to be patient with their music consumption. You are rewarded with every extra second you spend focused on this record.

Lauded for 2012’s collaborative album with rapper Rewd Adams, Skeptik was critically heralded across the board for his eclectic production, with BBC Radio One, The Metro, and Q Magazine among the many supporters. Add to that scene stealing DJ sets around the globe, from touring the Middle East, and DJaying for Lowkey, Jehst and Guru from Gangstarr. Guest DJ mixes for everyone from BBC 1xtra, & BBC 6 Music, to Fabric, Clash and Vice Magazine, and opening up shows for 2Chainz, Childish Gambino, Method Man, Zero 7, Just Blaze, Raekwon and host of others then followed. As a producer, to date, Skeptik has worked with everyone from Sway, S.A.S and Lowkey to The King Blues to name a few. As a DJ and host, Skeptik has shared performed with an eclectic selection of modern greats such as Damon Albarn, Flea (Red Hot Chill Peppers), Hudson Mohawke, DOOM, Wu Tang Clan, Danny Brown, Babyshambles and Tony Allen among many others, and hosts London’s Best hip-hop night Livin Proof monthly at XOYO.

The Last Skeptik: Be There, from Thanks for Trying, 6 May, BBE, www.thelastskeptik.com

Credits
Video courtesy of The Last Skeptik, BBE Records and YouTube.