On the beat scene with Proximal Records

With Flying Lotus soaring on the back of his acclaimed recent album Cosmogramma, and the likes of Nosaj Thing and Shlohmo getting good notices, not to mention the continued exalted status of fellow producer Madlib, the LA/south California “beat scene” – fusing hip hop and electronica, soul samples and beats – is on something of a roll right now.

Proximal Records is a label set up by two native LA producers, Carl Madison Burgin – who goes by the name Sahy Uhns – and Jeff Elmassian, seeking to bring attention to the music of more artists in the thriving local scene. Last year they put out two mixtapes at proximalrecords. com. They’re planning a new compilation LP, grandly titled, Proximity One: Narrative Of A City, but before that there’s another sampler of their efforts with a free mixtape featuring numerous artists working with the label free to download from xlr8r.com.

At times this underground/indie hip hop (“undie rap” as Simon Reynolds calls it) can seem a little too obtuse and perhaps overly pleased with itself but there is still plenty too admire and many interesting sounds to be heard among the beats.

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