|  | Es-K (Essential Knowledge) was born in Holland, raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and currently lives in Burlington, Vermont. He starting
 seriously making beats as a teenager, with his first release coming
 out on the Cold Busted label in 2011. Es-K is also known for his
 monthly Spontaneous Grooves releases, where a set of instrumental
 tracks are created in one sitting, the result being truly ‘spontaneous’
 and diverse. This exemplifies Es-K’s prolific and workman-like ethos
 of beat-making, with creative and top notch hip hop soundscapes
 constantly pouring out of his Vermont studio.
 Passages is Es-K’s latest release for Cold Busted and it shows
 his growth as a rhythm-obsessed music producer. With guitar
 and occasional keys by friend Max Bronstein-Paritz and a couple
 of crucial studio collaborations with fellow Vermont beat-maker
 Loupo, Passages adds extra depth and musicality to Es-K’s drum
 mechanics. The album opens wistfully with “IEV”, offering a minute
 and a half of instrument textures and snatches of percussion before
 the full beat kicks in. “Monastic” showcases Max’s funky guitar
 contribution, “Elevation” features some deep bass line play, and
 “Mistakes Made” is filled with melodic layers and melancholic moods.
 These are just some of the highlights from this twelve track album …
 Es-K satisfyingly goes beyond the beats throughout.
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