Jamie XX Essential Mix

Pretty essential listening if you haven't already heard...

http://soundcloud.com/youngturks/jamie-xx-essential-mix


;)

30/08/2011 DJ Rum- Mountains EP

Right, we're back after a huge carnival weekend, and bringing you this new EP from DJ RUM entitled Mountains. This is a pretty varied affair, somehow this record manages to couple both deep, dark atmospheric sounds with the excited bounciness of funky house and garage. Burial with more pills thrown into the mix possibly…

27/08/2011 Shlohmo- Bad Vibes

Been listening over ‘Bad Vibes’ by Shlohmo this week, ‘just another’ one of those LA downbeat producers, as FACT magazine rightly suggests you may mistake them. This album however takes all the things Flying Lotus, Rustie and Co. do; shuffling beats often made out of strange everyday recordings, but adds a secret ingredient. This ingredient is something mystical, something spacious, and something very atmospheric; we can probably track the source of this in his influences, it’s no surprise he has popped out remixes of Burial recently. Some argue that the LA instrumental hip hop beat scene is too crowded at the moment; we disagree, each of these producers is brilliant in their own right. Many seem to agree and Shlohmo features on theFACT mix this week with an eclectic selection. 

EVENTS 27/08/2011 Oscillate Wildly presents George FitzGerald, Objekt, Arkist

Oscillate Wildly leave behind them a trail of solid line ups which stretches back to 2009 and is marked by pillars of the electronic music institution along the way. They have come along way since they first put Rusko on back in 2009. This bank holiday special doesn't fail to deliver either, with quality music from George Fitzgerald, Arkist and Objekt. Find that and much more here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168624866543996

EVENT 28/08/2011 AUDIO DONUTS @CORSICA STUDIOS FT. PINCH BODDIKA

A banging line up brought to you this Sunday by the audiodoughnut boys to mark the release of "What You Do" a new LP from The Fives, with some serious weight from the forefront of bass music on the line up including Pinch and Boddika. Plus, it’s free for the first 100 people. Bargain. Find it here.

23/08/2011 Echo Park- Go (Forthcoming Disfigured Dubz)

Must say Skream’s Disfigured Dubz can’t be attacked for letting their sound grow stagnant, just clocked a new release called 'Go' forthcoming, containing a sample of this. It is about as far from Kito and Phaeleh as it gets, a blend of disco and funk with electronic beats. A release date for a forthcoming album should be surfacing soon, in the meantime check out a guest mix from Echo Park on Solid Steel radio. Forthcoming single 'Fibre Optic Love' features remixes from brosteppers 12th Planet and Finch, and other half of instra:mental Jon Convex.

Solid Steel Radio Show 19/8/2011 Part 3 + 4 - DK + Echo Park by Ninja Tune

23/08/2011 Hackman - Close EP (Greco- Roman)

Today we bring you a release on Greco-Roman, from Hackman. It’s by no means outstandingly new, dropping on the 3^rd July, but its popularity has been soaring, so we felt it was only right you knew. The tune ‘Close’ is an infective garage infused number featuring a vocal sample from Alicia Keys, while the other tunes which accompany it ‘Satisfy’ and ‘Your Face Pulling My Hair’ are absolute rollers. You can also check out his mix for FACT magazine below, so a lot to get through!

FACT MIX: http://www.factmag.com/2011/07/08/fact-mix-263-hackman/

22/08/2011 Rustie - All Nite (Forthcoming Warp)

Last month, Warp records electro hip hop genius Rustie unveiled plans of an October release date for his debut LP, entitled ‘Glass Swords’ along with an impressive promotional video and artwork. Excitingly a forthcoming track, ‘All Nite’ off the album has been revealed and it sets the bar extremely high;

22/08/2011 Hudson Mohawke- Scud Books (Forthcoming?)

This is an absolutely huge tune from a Just Rimming favourite: Hudson Mohawke. Entitled Scud Books, this shit is like Jurassic Park colliding head first into space hip hop. This tune featured in an mix Hudmo pulled together for Benji B’s month of mixes which you can pick a download up for here, and we can only hope it’s forthcoming.

22/08/2011 Kingdom (feat. Naomi Allen) - Take Me (Fools Gold)

Despite having launched his own ‘Fade to Mind,’ Night Slugs’ US sister label, Kingdom has returned to the label that put out his Mindreader EP: A Trak’s Fools Gold imprint. This tune came out end of July and is a real grower and in the label’s words “no one is better at using dance music to explore the emotional textures of R&B and the power of the human voice, even when its chopped into millions of unrecognizable pieces spliced between exploding 808s.” Heard this get some prime BBC1 radio airplay Friday night, courtesy of Annie Mac.

19/08/2011 The Weeknd Release 'Thursday'

Today is an exciting day because it sees the release of a new mixtape from The Weeknd, Thursday (get it here). If you haven’t heard of them I don’t know what you must have been doing, and suggest you go and listen to their free album ‘House of Balloons.’ Hear a track of the new album, and one of the old below, while we listen to the new mixtape and prepare a feature.

FORGOTTEN FUNK TUNES WHICH ARE SICK #004: Gimme Some More - The JB's

Not as forgotten as some as it's the james brownmeister but definately warrants the sick part.

08/08/2011 Dark Sky- Radius EP (50 Weapons)

After being hooked on Dark Sky’s previous EP I was so excited for this release which dropped the beginning of August on Modeselektors imprint 50 weapons. Was I disappointed? Yes and No: The tracks are still fresh which is good, they definitely haven’t gone stale or ran out of ideas, however they just aren’t as good as the likes of Leave or their remix of Crystalised.

This EP is closer to the funkyish houseyish minimal more experimental sound that the Frames EP featured, however there is a bigger appearance of 808/9 drums. I like this sound however I really also like their straight accessible garage feel they had going on; it felt better and accessible, but not to the extent it could drift into the mainstream.

My favourite tracks of this release are Neon, and Be Myself, which are more interesting than the other two, Speeding Blue and The Lick which are well produced but so-so.
So this album is good for that Dark Sky sound, some innovative and fresh production, but not for absolute bangers that we know Dark Sky are capable of.

 

EVENTS: Momentum Audio Launch Party: Hidden 19/08/2011

 

Yet another event this weekend we need to tell you about. Momentum audio are launching their new 2-monthly club night. Our tip is Synkro, absolutely quality burial-garage-esque producer who never fails to impress. 

Find it here: Momentum Audio Launch Party: Hidden 

Stage Collapses: Pukkelpop and Indiana State Fair :(

An awful, awful week for festivals has now seen two stage collapses due to freak weather killing innocent festivals goers at the Indiana State Fair in the US, and Pukkelpop festival Belgium. I can’t believe this still happens in this technological age we live in. It really is tragic to be killed at a festival where you would only be expecting to enjoy music and have a good time.

Reports here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14520194
http://www.spinner.com/2011/08/18/smith-westerns-pukkelpop-stage-collapse/ 

 

@marieke_h at http://twitpic.com/680uys

18/08/2011 Jai Paul - Genevieve (demo)

" I want to go and get a haircut but I ain't got enough money. I want to go out and get pissed but I ain't got enough money. I want to go out for a nice meal but I ain't got enough money."

"It's crazy how good 1 minute of Jai Paul can be. SNM." -RYANFRODD18

Although it’s only about a minute long a new Jai Paul demo uploaded to youtube is already one of our most anticipated future releases. Jai Paul is close to this blog’s heart as we are based in North-West London just down the road from Rayners Lane, Jai’s hometown.

We can hardly call Jai prolific yet; a youtube search returns his cult hit BTSTU the amazing neo-hip hop beat which was used by Drake on the tune ‘Dreams Money Can Buy;’ a remix of Emiliana Torrini’s ‘Jungle Drum’, and unreleased track called ‘Baby Beat’ and this new demo. It is obvious Jai has a tendency for quality rather than quantity, thus we are expecting huge things from any new material. Genevieve looks sure not to disappoint, with insanely catchy funky modulated guitars. It is already catching serious backing from the likes of oneman, he was featured in the BBC's 'Sound of 2011' series, and we can’t contain our excitement. Check out some tracks here, and find the elusive artist (living back in 2001) on his myspace.

 

FORGOTTEN FUNK TUNES WHICH ARE SICK #003: Shakatak- Feels Like The Right Time

Proud members of a long line of funk bands with weird names (Shalamar etc.) Watch that piano riff it will knock your hat off your head. Includes vocoder, what more does anybody want.

Happenings in the Night Slugs world...

Very excited to have got my tickets for the Night Slugs room 2 takeover at fabric on the 9th September. This lineup is perfect and am considering getting there at 10 because I don't want to miss anything!

Launched on the night will be L-Vis 1990 forthcoming LP Neon Dreams, the second longplay to drop on Night Slugs after Egyptrixx's Bible Eye's. The album will be performed live which is gonna be interesting, because everyone in electronic music has a different opinion of what a live electronic music performance is. As for the music the first single has been unveiled entitled Lost in Love featuring vocals from Javeon McCarthy. It is a complete depature from his previous sound, a disco-house-cheese number. I've given it a few listens and I think I'm going to reserve judgement until I've heard the rest of the album, so I understand what the full direction he has taken is. There is also a less risque Night Slug allstars remix courtesy of Bok Bok and Jam City, which sounds exactley like you think it will: good. Here are both tracks with a classic from L-Vis 1990 to really underscore the differences. 

18/08/2011 Submotion Orchestra- Finest Hour (Exceptional)

This is a band we have been talking about for a very long time, and an album we will be listening to for a lot longer. We literally can not shut up about them; they are everything we want in a band, fusing musicianship, attitude, dancibility and originality. The band itself features a few heavyweights from the dubstep world; Ruckspin (here) is on the buttons, and Gentleman’s Dub Club drummer Tom lays down the beats (here). The album takes a few listens for everything to set into place, but when it does you will be so thankful you gave it the time of day.

The album occupies the middle space between jazz and dub perfectly, however is easily listenable and packed full of hooks even the instrumental tracks are accessible. This album is a perfect blend of rigorous musical performance and tight production on tracks like Back Chat and Pop & Lock coupled with beautiful, memorable, emotional melodic tracks like Finest Hour, All Yours and Hymn for Him. Where these two styles combine most perfectly is on Always; a personal favourite. Jazz chord progressions, driving beats, and mixing deck magic, are a combination the ears cannot help but love. Singer Ruby Wood's voice is full of delicate character.

The band are a force to be reckoned with live, I saw them last month at Proud in Camden, and they are flying off to a load of festivals this summer including Outlook which I am gutted not to be attending. The sound is so full and tight, another combination of the thrill and awe of an exquisite live music performance, coupled with the energy of a club night. They have also just announced a new UK tour here.  And the lead singer is the most beautiful thing I have ever to come out of Leeds.

EVENTS: Vagabondz Fundraiser 19/08/2011, The Garage,

This is looking like a serious lineup for only a £5 donation, and what's more it is all in aid of charity. Been wanting to see Gentleman's Dub Club for too long, incase your not switched onto them here's why you should be;

Party Boy by Gentleman's Dub Club by Gentleman's Dub Club

Gentleman's Sleng Ft. Bongo Chilli by Gentleman's Dub Club by Gentleman's Dub Club

Rest of the lineup has plenty to offer, soundsystem legend Earl Gateshead, and dubstep institutions Hatcha, Tunnidge, Chef.

Find it here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=230870390288378
 

FORGOTTEN FUNK TUNES WHICH ARE SICK #002: David Bendeth - Feel The Real (12" Mix)

This bass on this one would turn Hari Krishna into a badboy. There's this version aswell, its good but inferior to the above one.

18/08/2011 Arkist - Fill Your Coffee/ Rendezvous (Apple Pips)

Just starting to realise how good this release is right now. Fill Your Coffee has been floating about for the best part of a year, and this track is pure joy an absolute gem. It’s somewhere undefinable between dubstep and hip hop and that muted keys sound James Blake adopted. Rendezvous appears to be a new production an intersting, slightly more orthadox vocal sample track.

FORTHCOMING Boddika - Basement (Swamp 81)

I cannot wait for this tune to come out so I can get a hold of it at 320. This was the tune that first turned me onto Boddika and my head has been knodding since. Acid bass is definately coming back into vogue. Can’t find a release date for it anywhere though unfortunately…

FORTHCOMING: Mosca - Done Wrong/Bax (Numbers) 12/09/2011

These two tunes may aswell have dropped straight from 1998. Mosca showing he can take on any genre and destroy it; this is relentless Garage. September release date announced on Jackmaster’s Numbers imprint.

The vocal hook on Done Me Wrong is insanely catchy, and Bax seems a fairly solid tune. Dropping 12th September!

FORGOTTEN FUNK TUNES WHICH ARE SICK #001: Endgames- Ecstasy

This tune is absolutely relentless serious funk. The subject of a remix by Jam City, which we don't really feel deserves the hype it got last year, appearing in countless Best Of's. The original is definately where the shits at.

17/08/2011 Hudson Mohawke- Satin Panthers EP (Warp EPs)

Every so often an artist comes along who is so good that they make everything you’ve ever listened to before seem stale and boring, and force you to reconsider what it is you actually look for in music. Hudson Mohawke is one of them.

I have fallen in love with everything he has put out, the PolyfolkDance EP, Butter, and the countless numbers of absolutely sick vocal remixes he has banged out including the anthem Ooops The production is flawless and innovative, the ideas are inspired and the melodies are always killer. Before readers confuse this with an unabashed open love letter to the man himself, the reason I am singing his praises so highly is because his latest EP is so good that if you didn’t listen to it I would feel personally guilty.  

It goes by the name of Satin Panthers, and Hudson explains it’s an attempt at more of a dancefloor project (less “quote-unquote headphone music.”) It achieves this and so much more; every track bar shorter yet impressive intro-soundscape Octan is worthy of a single release. Thunderbay is a full on belter crossing the hip hop aesthetic with the energy and attitude of dubstep. If you were to puncture a hole in Cbat I have no doubt liquid swagger would drip onto your shoe it is so sleek. All Your Love is my personal favourite, uncontrollably catchy and with mad groove. Thank You again switches it up completely with energetic electro come RnB. When you get an artist this innovative, it is genuinely hard to conjure the words to describe this EP, you just need to listen to it.

The thing which impresses us most about Hudson though, is the pure diversity and versatility of his music. One minute he is being name checked by Rhianna and Just Blaze (producer behind Jay-Z) whilst Chris Brown records over his instrumentals, the next tunes like Thunderbay are receiving massive airplay in the underground scene. The new EP is getting huge backing from Benji B, and is slotting into DJ sets alongside dubstep and house on a Friday night in London; I heard it twice at Basslaced @ Cable a few weeks back. It is a record that finds itself at home in sticky-floored basement raves as easily as the dizzying heights of the music industry.

Get hold of it, you won’t regret it…

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Guardian

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