Based in Denver, Colorado, Real Cosby will issue his four-track Gold Braid EP later this month via the fledgling Shoeboxx label. Serving as our first taste is “Always,” a soul-washed beat which comes flushed with detailed layers of miniature claps, tuned percussion blips, and tightly rolled snares. As the track’s rhythmic programming evolves, so do its other elements—layers of warm, buzzing chords are joined by subtle vocal adornments, which eventually give way to small bell movements before cycling back around. Coming in at under four minutes, “Always” is a short but memorable introduction to Real Cosby, and one whose sleek production bodes well for the young talent’s forthcoming Gold Braid EP, officially out on July 29.
UK duo Simian Mobile Disco has shared the first single to be taken from Whorl, its upcoming full-length for US label Anti–. Deriving from a recent trip to the Southern California desert, the LP was reportedly made on a portable setup consisting of two modular synths, two sequencers, and a mixer, and took just three days to record. Ahead of its release on September 9, the pair have shared album cut “Tangents,” a track that exhibits the hypnotic, melancholic qualities the outfit have come to be known for.
Released today, “Tangents” is streaming below, with more information on the the making of the album and upcoming tour dates available here.
During the month of June, XLR8R‘s Downloads section was again home to an eclectic mix of electronic productions, with original tracks and remixes coming from an array of international artists. Now, as the calendar turns to July and summer begins to get into full swing, we’ve compiled the top 20 downloads from the past month—a list populated by a handful of more familiar names in Mark E (pictured above), Steve Huerta, Avalon Emerson, Marley Carroll, and TÂCHES, alongside a number of relative newcomers to the XLR8R pages. The full list of our top 20 downloads for the month of June can be peeped below, where we’ve also included a convenient SoundCloud playlist featuring the full collection of impressive tunes.
Following on from his Frequency EP for Sasha’s Last Night On Earth imprint last year, Belfast-based producer Ejeca has detailed a forthcoming four-track effort for the label, due out midway through next month. The XLR8Rpodcast alum, who we also tapped as an artist to watch as part of our Bubblin’ Up series, has kept up a steady output (and steadily rising profile) over the past couple years, with releases for Lokee Musik, 2020 Vision, and Needwant, as well as a hyped collaboration with Bicep on Will Saul’s Aus imprint. The four tracks on his upcoming Contemplation find the young producer drawing from a wide range of influences and have been detailed below, along with a stream of closing cut “City Night.” The EP lands on July 14 in both vinyl and digital formats.
A1. Contemplation A2. Jalek B1. Kettle B2. City Night
Despite his notably low-key persona, William T. Burnett isn’t someone who keeps quiet when it comes to making music. The Texas-born, Brooklyn-based producer initially established himself in the early-’00s NYC club scene under the name Speculator, and later began releasing records with a different alias, Grackle, via Legowelt’s Strange Life Records. However, it was the introduction of a new, house-focused moniker, Willie Burns, that really seemed to light a fire under Burnett. Since the first Willie Burns record appeared in 2011, he’s kept up a blistering pace, adding new aliases (Black Deer, Phobian) while issuing tracks via labels like L.I.E.S., Crème Organization, The Trilogy Tapes, and Not Not Fun. Burnett also heads up his own label, W.T. Records, works at famed Brooklyn record depot The Thing, and holds down a weekly show at Newtown Radio. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s also managed to maintain an avid passion for collaboration, partnering with the likes of Eliot Lipp (as Galaxy Toobin’), Legowelt (as Smackulator), Jon Beall (as Daywalker + CF), actress Krysten Ritter (as Ex Vivian), Secret Circuit and Suzanne Kraft (as Odd Numbers), Jordan GCZ (as Crotocosm), and others too numerous to list. Amidst all of that activity, he’s also found the time to put together an exclusive mix for the XLR8R podcast series.
Burnett has something of a reputation as a digger—especially since his job at The Thing grants him access to an incalculable volume of vintage records—and his mix here certainly reflects that, whether he’s starting things off with an obscure piece of Turkish psych or blending in rare pieces of ’80s dance music. Over the course of 75 minutes, he’s not particularly loyal to any one genre, venturing into house, techno, disco, electro, and various points in between. As such, the podcast has a rather eclectic feel, something which remains intact even when the mix ventures into several tunes that Burnett himself had a hand in creating. Much like his recorded output, Burnett’s podcast may be a bit all over the place, but his ability to deliver quality sounds, regardless of what genre he’s dabbling in, is a testament to his versatility as an artist.
01 Logika Otkrica “Pusti Me Da Letim” 02 Cosmic Hoffman “Space Disco” (Emotional Rescue) 03 Chase Smith “Always Coming Down” 04 Luke Wyatt “It’s Hard to Find” 05 Frieder Butzmann & Thomas Kapielski “Do the VoPo” (Emotional Rescue) 06 Newclear Waves “Death Move #2” (Haunted Attic) 07 Chase Smith “You Should Have Died in 89” 08 DJ Guy “20” (All Caps) 09 Daywalker + CF “Take Me to Your Leader” (Emotional Response) 10 Pink and Black “Sometimes I Wish” (Emotional Rescue) 11 Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons “Lovers’ Eyes (Willie Burns Remix)” (Crosstown Rebels) 12 Odd Numbers “Piper’s Delight” (No ‘Label’)
Slugabed‘s upcoming Coolest EP is in some ways the most unconventional effort the gifted UK producer has put together. The six-track EP will be available to grab for free on July 7, but before then, Slugabed is offering an early download of the record to those who purchase a beach towel bearing the artwork of the record. Before the full record becomes available via Slugabed’s Activia Benz label, he has elected to let loose the EP’s closing track, a juicy remix from Tuff Wax label head Lockah. Here, the recent Bubblin’ Up artist dissects the track’s lush synth work with alternating rhythmic sections, which come filled with vintage drum breaks, space-age percussion, and a just the right snapping touch.
Crypic Swedish techno duo SHXCXCHCXSH has revealed details for its sophomore album, due out later this summer on Shifted and Ventress’ Avian. The pair emerged just two years ago and have seemingly found a home at the label, with three EPs to date and an esteemed debut full-length, STRGTHS, which dropped last year.
Up until now, SHXCXCHCXSH has maintained a shadowy, abstract image, avoiding even the use of full words in track titles. This new effort, however, marks a shift in approach, “pulling focus from the more grinding, brutalistic elements of their distinct sound to reveal the more melodic, almost optimistic, elements that had previously remained in the shadows of the productions until now.” Linear S Decoded is due out on August 11, and artwork and a tracklist can be found below.
1. Entering The S-Cloud 2. Drain This Lord 3. Wading Guise 4. The Roots 5. Elocution 6. Helical Dialog 7. The Under Shore 8. The Repelling Of The Quantitative Invasion 9. A Sunny Day In Ostrogothia 10. Rudimental Retreat 11. This Hmming Raverie 12. Sub Mission – The Atlantic Vision 13. Monolithic Conclusion
London-based producer Leon Vynehall has shared clips for a surprise single on Clone’s Royal Oak series. Since starting out on labels such as Brighton’s Well Rounded, the XLR8Rpodcast alum (who we also profiled as part of our Bubblin’ Up series in 2012), has made a real name for himself with subsequent singles on Will Saul’s Aus outfit and a recent full-length for Martyn’s 3024 label. In typical style, this new record is heavy on groove, constructed as a collage of organic timbres that are no doubt influenced by his often-voiced love of hip-hop, jazz, and more.
Both the piano-led a-side cut “Butterflies” and “This Is The Place,” on the flip, can be previewed below. The 12″ is out today, and a digital version will be made available next week.
The lead cut from the inaugural release on Cosmin TRG‘s new Fizic label, the Romanian producer’s “Repetitiv” track has received a darkly textured video treatment. Directed by Cosmin himself in collaboration with Tony Fiori of Romanian production studio SloMoments, the four-plus-minute clip focuses on extremely detailed shots which capture slow-motion waves as they ripple through dark liquids as well as the dramatic turns of shadowy models and other pieces of hi-fi footage.
Cosmin TRG’s new video can be watched in full below while the first record from his newly launched label, simply titled Fizic 01, is out now.
Set to drop in August via Ninja Tune, a new track from FaltyDL‘s forthcomingIn the Wild LP has surfaced along with a peculiarly placed new video teaser. First, the New York artist has shared a full stream of album cut “Some Jazz Shit,” an appropriately titled production which utilizes lush string and delicate piano samples to craft a mellow, loose-swung dancefloor affair.
Along with the new cut, FaltyDL has also shared the second video in his collaboration with visual artist Chris Shen. Featuring an empty bed and a steady stream of projected clouds, the teaser gives a brief glimpse of In the Wild‘s dreamy closing cut, “Greater Antillies Part 2.” Uploaded to the web via—of all places—PornHub (though it should be noted that there is nothing NSFW about the video), the clip for “Greater Antillies Part 2” can be watched below, where a full stream of “Some Jazz Shit” can also be found. Furthermore, as part of the ongoing In the Wild visual project, fans are being asked to film their own screens playing the videos, and then sending those clips over to FaltyDL to create a larger video project. More information on that effort can be found here, while the NYC producer’s In the Wild LP is set to drop on August 12.
