Tensei & Kramer - ReARTiculations (2023) [Hi-Res]

The Def Pressé label proudly announces 'ReARTiculations’ by Grammy winning duo Tensei; the latest in its Def Pressé Editions - KPM Crate Diggers series in which artists dig deep into the archives of the legendary KPM Sound Library.

London-based label, Def Pressé are very pleased to continue their partnership with legendary Library Music label KPM. Def Pressé and friends, including names like Damu the Fudgemunk, Stro Elliot (The Roots), J-Live, Blockhead, Deca, Chris Dave and many more TBA have been given exclusive access to the KPM Library. These projects will take shape as two types of record. Def Pressé Editions/KPM Crate Diggers are works built around samples from KPM releases amongst other Library Music catalogues. Def Pressé Editions/KPM Originals are brand new pieces of music, free from samples. Both of these series’ include some very special guest vocalists and musicians as well as the Producers/Arrangers themselves. All of this music will be released by Def Pressé and placed into the vaults at KPM Library Music.

Tensei (meaning "Heaven Star" in Japanese) is formed of Chris Kramer and Midas Wells. Hailing from the musical mecca of Chicago, the duo have a vast wealth of influences and history to inform their production including: hip hop, house, soul, jazz, library, and electronic music among others; as a result, they create eclectic compositions that fuse many disparate styles. Although steeped in the tradition of classic hip-hop production, Tensei does not rely on records for samples. They play and compose most musical parts themselves with both real and digital instruments.

‘ReARTiculations’ takes Tensei back to the start of their musical journey. When given the opportunity to rework some songs for the KPM Music Library, Tensei wanted to embrace their sample based musical foundation while expanding on original composition. The result is transformed songs that sound like entirely new compositions. Playing most of the parts themselves, Tensei enlisted a few friends to help articulate the new direction, often reworking MIDI recordings originally created by Tensei and sung to the musicians by Kramer.

The album includes ‘Midnight Ride’, which was inspired by old NFL film scores and other historical documentaries from the 60s-70s. A constantly changing piece, KPM was unable to recognize the sample upon the first submission of ‘Good Morning’, and world class pianist Greg Spero was enlisted on ‘Tranquility’ to create a work based on “What if FlyLo did a happy song?”.

Tensei has released several offerings over the years, including album ‘Constellate’, ‘Walk It Out’ with Georgia Anne Muldrow, producing and composing ‘I Luma’ by A. Billi Free as well as official remixes for artists including Bilal and Tokimonsta//Anderson. Paak. More recently, Tensei produced and composed on J Ivy’s double Grammy album ‘The Poet Who Sat By The Door’.

‘ReARTiculations’ is set for release in Autumn via Def Pressé.