Perhaps it’s the sometimes constant mist in the Pacific Northwest of America or possibly its the large amount of forests and mountains, but whatever it is that surrounds them, the Dropping Gems crew all seem to share a love for hazy atmospherics and crinkling drums producing the kind of music that can border on ambience and g funk simultaneously. The collective of Brownbear, Citymouth, Digifid, DJAO, Ghost Feet, Gumar and His Magical Midi Band, Bone Rock, and Rap Class have banded together for the past couple years to present their shared musicial vision through live shows, releases, and podcasts.

This like-minded affinity for sounds was recently demonstrated beautifully on the stellar Gem Drops compilation, released to benefit the American Cancer Society. A startling and cohesive compilation, featuring Dropping Gems artists as well as friends like Devonwho, Shigeto, and Anenon, presented with a pastel loaded abstract cover by Robert Pellicer, the compilation is 21 tracks deep and presents a textural beat heavy collection of some of the best names in underground US electronic production right now. Equal parts hip-hop, jazz, ambient, electronic, classic downtempo and funk; the breadth is astonishing.

In the wake of Gem Drops, a compilation that creeps up on your listening habits, Dropping Gems have stayed busy, hosting friends such as Groundislava and yuk for shows in Seattle and Portland, as well as releasing the new Holodecker EP by crew member Citymouth. With all this activity going on, we knew it was a good time to talk to the crew and find out just where all this creativity comes from. The collective’s General Manager and curator of Gem Drops Aaron Meola graciously provided the low down…

http://www.sonicrouter.com/2011/05/sr-mix-83-dropping-gems-dropping-gems/

1. Citymouth – Singlecycles
2. Brownbear – Pretty Mouth
3. Bone Rock – Chalmers
4. DJAO – Towards The Sun w/ Gumar
5. Brownbear – Empty Jars
6. Brownbear – Wings
7. Bone Rock – First Light
8. Gumar and His Magical Midi Band – Sliding Down Rainbows (Sumsun Remix)
9. DJAO – Pacific City
10. Ghost Feet – Top Papez
11. The Great Mundane – Mustache
12. DJAO – Underbrush
13. Citymouth – Neighborhoodcults
14. Ghost Feet – Bog
15. Hobbes – Telepathic Grasshopper Twins ft. Citymouth
16. Matthewdavid – Dropping Gems
17. Gumar and His Magical Midi Band – Through The Clouds

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