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<------------v^--------A Lovely Collection of Collaborations--------^v------------>

Welcome to the delicious readme file for the first full non-compo album release on
the HEXAWE netlabel. Pretty exciting stuff for us. As usual, you will find all sorts
of goodies in the project folders. Enjoy them. Dig deep into these dats and learn
the ropes from dudes whom I consider true piggy masters. That's what I did. 

So yeah, four times in the past few years I found myself finishing a pretty hot 
collaboration track and asking my collaborator "OK, what do we do with this now?"
After that fourth time, I finally saw the pattern and thought the idea of a duets
album a la Sinatra and the like would be as awesome as it was hilarious, especially
with the 4 heavyweights I was fortunate enough to work with... over the internet.

<----^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v-------->

The first time I met Dakota Clark aka Ovenrake in-real-life was outside of the Bell
House in Brooklyn, NY during Blip Festival 2009. I recognized him from a video he
posted online and I introduced myself as "Brady" because as much as I hate using my
yuppy-ass real name (sorry Mom and Dad, I know you're not yuppies), I hate using my
internet handle more. Also, I thought he knew what my real name was and would have 
recognized me. He did not. And he was a bit freaked out that this stranger knew who
he was. So I ran with it and got freakier and said "I'm Brady. I know you from the 
internet," like 3 times. I told him I was a huge fan (actually true) and that I saw
the video of him playing at a flea market (also true) and I knew he'd be here and
that's why I came to NY (so not true). I eventually fessed up what my screen name 
was and we all got a good laugh, mostly at Dakota's expense. Well, to this day, I 
am very, very, very proud to say that not only do I know Dakota from the internet, 
but we wrote this song over it. 

http://ovenrake.com/

<----^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v-------->

James Curran aka Rhinostrich is one of those people who I couldn't get a clear read 
on over the internet. I wasn't sure if he was a dick, insane or some dark soul who 
hadn't seen the light of day in years. Jamie is none of those things, though I think 
these days that's probably the smartest way to present yourself on the internet. 
There's something to be said about mystique and privacy and here I am totally blowing
it for him. Anyhow, as soon as we were in the same room together, I felt like we were
on the same level. Maybe it was because we were two Yankees in Montreal and everyone 
we were hanging with were speaking French and/or Spanish a-mile-a-minute. That likely
played a part of the bond I felt, but there was more to it than that. Ever since,
Rhino has been a great friend, mentor and invaluable critic of my work. When I sent 
him an early demo of "BLasstEdrOck" he said it "needs more." That's where the nice
double-time outro section came from and if it wasn't for his comment, I probably 
would have been lazy and let the track remain as it was and, in retrospect, terribly
incomplete, just like XC3N's Pandora order.

http://rhinostrich.com/


<----^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v-------->

I've never met KeFF in the physical plane, so I won't even speak his real name here.
That doesn't mean he is anything less than one of my best friends. Pretty crazy since
he's also one of my favorite skweee producers and by far the best logo designer on this
planet. Take a look at the SHRIMPS logo (shrimpstank.com) and tell me he's not. The art
he has done for me and my various music projects has without a doubt inspired me to make
better music, if for no other reason than to try to produce something that is sonically
as badass as his art. I still don't think I've gotten there. KeFF has collaborated with
me twice on this release, visually and musically. I sent him a real rough black and 
white draft of an idea I had for the album cover. He ate it and crapped out a true 
masterpiece of bright colors and dancing lines. As for our song, it started off as a 
one-minute song I wrote for him for his birthday. We decided to elaborate on it
together. Instantly, he took it and made it a classic KeFF whimsical skweee banger.
This direction was completely different than where I had envisioned it going, so after
I threw a small tantrum and made KeFF feel bad (WTF is wrong with me?), we agreed it 
would be best to fork off in different directions, writing two separate songs that
will work together as one longer piece. I can't say enough good things about how 
gracefully KeFF shrugged off my freakout, nor can I say enough good things about his 
finished product presented here. The man is THE man. I cannot wait for the day we get
to share a Koff in the sauna. 

https://soundcloud.com/kephf (music) 
http://konttine.tumblr.com/ (graphics)

<----^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v-------->

WORKING ON A PIGGYTRACKER SONG WITH JORDAN GRAY AKA STARPAUSE IS THE EQUIVALENT OF 
LOSING YOUR VIRGINITY TO YOUR FAVORITE PORNOGRAPHIC MOVIE STAR. YEP.

http://starpause.com/

<----^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v-------->

Bud Melvin is another hero turned friend, which is such a weird dynamic. I think I'm
finally semi-comfortable with our relationship, but I'm sure I'll revert to nervous
fan-boy mode next time I hear a new track from him. Regardless, he mastered this EP and
his mastering skills are second only to his patience, kindness and generosity. 

http://budmelvin.com

<----^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v-------->

Many many thanks to Herr Professor Peter Lewis Swimm, pak-0, XC3N, lazerbeat, Larsby,
wolfer, Connor, n0s aka Papa Pig, and the rest of the #hexawe posse for your support, 
inspiration and brotherhood. Surely there will be a second set of duets with some of
these guys, so be on the lookout!

THE BIGGEST AND MOST THANKS to my wife and kids for being the best beta testers ever. 
If the tracks don't rock out, neither do they. When their heads nod, I know I'm onto 
something. I love you the most. "Keep it real and keep it real and keeep iitt reealll."

<----^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v-------->

Track 1 written by D.Clark & B.Leo
Track 2 written by B.Leo &  V.Konttinen
Track 3 written by B.Leo & J.Gray
Track 4 written by J.Curran & B.Leo

Cover by KeFF & BLEO

Mastered by Bud Melvin

<----^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v-------->

COAXIALLY YOURS,
B.LEO
2013/05/21

http://dummydrome.com

<----^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v--------^v-------->