Ear 2012

El-P, aka El Producto, is one of hip-hop's most obstinate and adventurous pioneers, combining a lo-fi old-school aesthetic with a progressive rock musician's inclination to push boundaries. He has never succumbed to the demands of corporate rap, instead choosing to pursue his own decidedly non-commercial direction. In the mid-'90s, he developed a strong reputation with the groundbreaking trio Company Flow, a band whose achievements include El-P-produced LP Funcrusher Plus on Rawkus Records, a label considered by many one of the best for intelligent hip-hop. Over the group's auspicious stint together, he proved he was himself capable of intense lyricism as well as sonic production so powerful it could stand on its own.

A Rock Oaklanders Inner Ear Brigade were founded in 2005 as a quartet by a guitarist / frontman Bill Wolter and his fellow musicians. Although their lineup has not been settled, basically they've utilized Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes, Moog synthesizer, voices, vibes or a viola for their music experimentalism, obviously influenced by Sun Ra, Ruins, and especially Magma. Since 2009 they've expanded their formation into a septet, featuring voices, guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, saxophone, and vibraphone. In January 2012, Inner Ear Brigade released their first full length album "Rainbro" via an Italian independent label AltrOck Records and upon their bandcamp (as a downloadable material).