Justin Martin LP, Ghettos & Gardens, Out Now!

from the press release:

Justin Martin made the very first release on dirtybird records in 2005. Seven years later, he delivers his long awaited debut artist album with the very same smile and fun loving attitude he’s had since the beginning. "Ghettos & Gardens" is exactly as advertised - a tender and tough collection of songs that build you up with sweeping strings, then break you down with earth shattering basslines. It's sunsets vs. cyclones, roses vs. razors, and bunny rabbits vs. wolverines.

Maybe it's the streets of San Francisco that made his music this way - a place where you can see a beautiful woman and a crippled homeless addict on the same city block. Maybe it's the juxtaposition of the famous dirtybird Golden Gate park parties, where Justin's loving parents make tacos and chop fresh salsa while total freaks lose their minds in front of the massive sound system. Not a whole lot of producers are just as influenced by E40 as they are by LTJ Bukem, and even fewer of them played the jazz saxophone in high school.

Whatever is going on, most people would say that Justin is one of the most charismatic likable DJs to walk the earth. In this album Justin demonstrates his unique ability to blur the lines between musical genres, taking us through beautiful melodies, UK basslines, moody funk and devastating drops. You can hear the meticulous production techniques in every track - from the slow Hip-Hop style of Hood Rich to the heavy duty low-end of Molokini. The whole thing is fresh and uplifting like the smell of ozone after a lightning strike. Ghettos & Gardens sounds like nothing else out there – it could not have come from anyone but Justin Martin. Such originality is a formidable achievement, and adds to Justin’s reputation as one of the most talented and exciting electronic music producers of our time.

Ghettos & Gardens tracklist:

1. Hood Rich
2. Don’t Go
3. Ghettoes & Garden
4. Butterflies
5. Goldie – Kemistry (Justin Martin remake)
6. French Kisses
7. Ruff Stuff
8. Molokini
9. Lezgo VIP (Justin Martin vs. Ardalan)
10. The Gurner (Justin Martin vs. Pillow Talk)
11. Night Calling
12. Riding Spaceships (Justin Martin vs. Leroy Peppers)
13. Ladybug

Hard to pick favorites with this album. I really like almost all of the tracks. This album is a great showcase of his talent as a producer. The album starts out in the realm of deep house for the first five songs, with "Don't Go" being my favorite song of the first part of the album. "Ruff Stuff" is more in the tech house realm, with a nice chunky beat. "Molokini" is more chill with a summer vibe to it.

"Lezgo VIP" has more of a broken beat sound, with a Miami bass / 80s electro influence. "The Gurner" sees Justin Martin team up with Pillow Talk for a sensual late night groove. "Riding Spaceships" brings back memories of Atari 2600 gaming with the 8-bit sounds.

Here are streaming preview snippets of every track on the album: