ASIO KIDS

For once the beats aren’t just padding: the Asio Kids construct Hip Hop with as much attention to detail as few othersOther production teams face smaller obstacles – if the Asio Kids want to jam together huge files have to be sent across the Atlantic. But that doesn’t stop Bibo and Matt Rock: the duo continues to make music anyways. Friends since childhood: the common denominator back then guitar and skateboard. Bibo works at the world famous “Uphon” studio in Weilheim as sound engineer for bands like Slut and Notwist. While Matt Rock dedicates his life to Hip Hop, spinning records and hosting the Zündfunk radio show – the leading show for dope beats, dope rhymes, dope cuts in the country.2002 the two of them fly to New York to record vocals with 2 For 5, a Rap group from the Bronx. The session with Ace Lover and October results in a 12” record. “On the move from NYC to Weilheim” gets released the same year on the Hong Kong imprint from Hamburg: A true underground classic.Matt Rock fell in love with New York at first sight and moves to the Big Apple in 2004. From there he’s broadcasting his Hip Hop show to Germany and draws inspiration for his production work. Bibo remains in Bavaria where he is working as sound engineer and musician. Hence the internet serves as the essential link to exchange files and to bring the Asio sound to the next level.As on their first record the Asio Kids continue to collaborate with many other artists. With New York’s MC S.U.P.R.E.ME., DJs like the turntablist Iron Faden from the Plastic Jugganots DJ-Crew or musicians from Weilheim like Markus Acher, the lead singer of Notwist, and Christoph Brandner, the drummer of Console. Further the Kids are working with visual artists and movie directors. Through Myspace Bibo and Matt connect with Hatrobot from Utah, who made the first Asio Kids video.The Asio approach is simple: play it yourself, if you can. Over a beat structure the bass, guitar, organ or whatever the Asio Kids feel apt for their songs are played on real instruments. This doesn’t result in some generic Hip Hop hybrid. No, it is Hip Hop in its essence – with heart and soul, as it’s played and recorded live. The Asio Kids pay attention to detail: nothing leaves the studio until it’s perfect. The Asio Kids are no minimalists. Bibo and Matt are producing a Hip Hop Wall of Sound. At times strings are reminiscent of the opulent sounds produced for classic Hollywood cinema. The juxtaposition with raps, scratches and electronic sounds creates an exciting album. There are certainly producers whose beats are more avant-garde than those of the Asio Kids with their old-fashioned love for analog real sounds. But like an old master who had no idea of Hip Hop but of all other things said: The most innovative servants shall be those who know the old and love to transfer it to the new.”