A frequent collaborator of James Blake—and member of Blake’s live band—Rob McAndrews has announced plans to issue a new EP under his solo alias, Airhead, next month. Set to appear on the fledgling 1-800-Dinosaur label (which Blake and McAndrews help co-run alongside a few other members), the Believe EP will offer four tracks that are said to be “all about the boom-boom oscillation and hands-in-the-air machine gun parties.”
Streaming below, a radio rip of the upcoming record’s title track gives us a better idea of what we can expect from Airhead’s Believe EP, which sees its official release on July 21. In the meantime, the forthcoming effort’s artwork and tracklist have also been included below.
Following a bout of 12″ efforts (including Lost Myself and his most recent Hush 03) released via his own HUSH label this year, busy Minneapolis-based techno veteran Zak Khutoretsky (a.k.a. DVS1) will maintain momentum with a forthcoming 12″ for Ben Klock’s Klockworks label. Simply titled Klockworks 13, the three-track 12″ will be Khutoretsky’s third outing on Klockworks, and will feature the house-leaning “Black Russian” on its a-side—a cut which is said to be a “favorite closing track for both DVS1 and Ben Klock.” On its b-side, the record will include “Creeping” and “Spying,” which see the Midwestern producer take a darker turn, focusing more on efficient techno productions. Klockworks 13 will see its official release on July 16, but before then, the forthcoming effort’s artwork and tracklist have been included below.
Said to be “ideal for both solo midnight walks and road trips to the beach,” Coral Dreams is the debut release from Croatian producer Marko Vukovi?, who operates under the name Kimekai. Pulled from the 21-year-old artist’s upcoming record is “Le Loyon,” a melodically rich track that actually seems best suited for a midnight drive to a moonlit beach. Anchored by a loose pattern of crisp percussion, “Le Loyon” dives headfirst into water-logged chords, drizzling light melodies and echoed arpeggios into the mix as the patient, introspective track moves along. One of nine productions set to appear on Coral Dreams, Kimekai’s debut effort will drop on June 23 via Seattle’s ever-growing Hush Hush imprint.
After Manchester-based Lone saw the official release of his hip-hop soaked Reality Testing LP for R&S just yesterday (which also coincided with a new mix), the DJ/producer born Matt Cutler has now shared a laid-back video for LP cut “Aurora Northern Quarter.” Directed and edited by Tom Scholefield, the relaxed piece shows Cutler’s own experience exploring Lisbon via skateboard. Featuring various shots of the UK artist in transit, buying a new board, and riding around a skatepark, the clip effortlessly fades from one sun-filled shot to the next, the tangibly carefree tone of the piece effectively complimenting the track’s wandering, synth-streaked run. The video for Lone’s “Aurora Northern Quarter” can be watched in full below.
Berlin-based techno outpost Ostgut Ton has revealed details of two forthcoming 12″s, set to see release alongside Berghain and Panorama Bar resident Ryan Elliott‘s upcoming sixth edition of the Panorama Bar mix series later this summer. The news comes just a few months after Ostgut Ton announced that it would be forgoing future production of CDs, moving instead toward digital and vinyl formats starting with Elliott’s mix. The two records, Panorama Bar 06 – Part I and II, feature exclusive contributions included in Elliott’s mix from the likes of Nick Höppner and Marcel Dettmann, and are set to see official release on August 11, the same day as Elliott’s Panorama Bar Vol. 6. Tracklists have been provided below, and the recording will also be available for free stream and download over at Ostgut Ton around the time of the release.
01 Newworldaquarium – Thousand Oaks 02 Roman Flügel – The Odd Lobster 03 Terrence Dixon – Innocence 04 Borrowed Identity – Leave Me 05 Tuff City Kids – Breacher
01 The Oliverwho Factory – Take It Slow 02 Deadbeat – Woah! 03 Nick Höppner – Track For Eb 04 Makam – Girls Night 05 Marcel Dettmann – Light
After producing a string of EPs over the past few years, Dutch producer Krampfhaft will issue his debut long-player via the Rwina label next week. Included in the upcoming Before We Leave LP is “Veluwe,” a heavy-hitting beat led by a coyly soft-spoken melody. Though its melodic content may be its focus, the track does not lose sight of the rest of the production—its rhythmic elements snapping crisply as long bass notes and delicate atmospheres gather around the tune’s bell-like lead. “Veluwe” will be joined by 15 other new efforts from Krampfhaft when his Before We Leave LP sees its official release on June 23.
Berlin-based producer René Pawlowitz (a.k.a. Shed) has dropped a surprise nine-track EP under his Head High alias entitled Megatrap. His first outing under the rave leaning-guise since May of last year, the record includes three variations of the breaks-laden title track, and revisits the project’s anthemic debut single “It’s A Love Thing.” Out now via the DJ/producer’s own Power House label, previews can be heard via German record store Hard Wax, which has also unveiled a new line of 100% organic cotton Power House merchandise just in time for open air season. The full tracklist and artwork for Megatrap are included below.
01 Hex Factor 02 It’s A Love Thing (The XXX Mono Mix) 03 Megatrap (Real Mix) 04 Megatrap (4F Mix) 05 Hex Pad 06 Megatrap (Mix Mix) 07 Power Seat 08 Think It 09 The Higher (V2014)
Veteran electronic producer Matthew Herbert has announced plans to return to his house alias (simply, Herbert) with a four-track EP which will see a release via the artist’s own Accidental imprint later this month. Entitled Part 6, the new EP will be the first to appear simply under the “Herbert” moniker in eight years, and is said to in some ways to signal a continuation of the producer’s Parts 1-5 releases, which first began appearing under his surname in 1995.
Herbert’s Part 6 is set to see its official release in vinyl form on June 23, with a digital edition set to drop the following week. In the meantime, the EP’s lead cut, “One Two Three,” can be streamed in full below, where the complete tracklist for Herbert’s forthcoming effort has also been included.
01 One Two Three 02 Manny 03 My DJ 04 Grab That Bottle
We’ve been charting the progression of Welsh beatmaker Doc Daneeka (a.k.a. Mial Watkins) for quite some time—he first was singled out as one to watch in our Bubblin’ Up series in 2010, and delivered an exclusive XLR8R podcast shortly thereafter. Back then, Watkins was turning out a particularly percussive brand of UK funky-leaning house, but in the years that have followed, he’s shifted his sound toward propulsive, club-centric sounds. (He’s also founded his own label, Ten Thousand Yen, joined up with the 50Weapons camp, and relocated to Paris following a stint in Berlin.) Last year’s anthemic “Walk On In” single for Glasgow’s Numbers imprint was one of XLR8R‘s best tracks of 2013, and its follow-up, “Treptow” b/w “Paname (Piano Vers),” which dropped on Numbers last week, prompted us to enlist Watkins for the latest installment of our Hi-Five series. Both of Doc Daneeka’s new tracks prominently feature the piano, so we asked him to dig through his archives and select a few of his favorite tunes that highlight the iconic instrument.
Olivia “I Need Love (A Deep Need For Love Remix)”
This was the first tune on a Lil’ Louis mix from ’91 that had such a massive influence over me. Rupert (xxxy) passed it to me in 2010 and I listened to it religiously. Although my girlfriend at the time said it sounded like the music her mate’s mum, who was a pro, listened to when they were kids, I loved it. When that piano comes in, you just need to be wide-eyed in a crowd, pumping it!
Arthur Verocai “Dedicada A Ela”
This is not such a straight piano tune, but somehow, it’s pulled through by the piano. The way he hits those offbeat chords on the second verse kill me every time. I must have listened to this track 5000 times by now.
Bill Evans Trio “Re: Person I Knew”
One of the greatest gifts my father gave me. Bill Evans: jazz demi-god. Something about him completely runs true for me. I don’t know whether it’s the fact that his dad was a Welsh choir leader, but I kind of feel he has those somber, male voice/choir-type cadences running through his work, which still gives me a strong connection to home and to our singing culture. On a side note, the intro to this is just insane.
Change “Angel in My Pocket (Extended)”
Piano-led banger. I’ve never heard this in a club, but if I did, there’s a high chance I’d throw my drink over my shoulder and go nuts. It’s a pure drink spiller.
Alice Smith “Love Endeavor (Maurice Fulton Remix)”
Possibly a bit played out by now, and indeed I’ve finished many a set with it, but damn… I challenge anyone to still not be excited by that end break with the PIANOS.
This list is in part dedicated to one of the finest—Ocean—who I believe shares pretty much this same view!
UK duo Simian Mobile Disco has shared full details of its new album and live project, Whorl, resulting from recent experiments in Southern California. This past April, James Ford and Jas Shaw reportedly spent three days out in the desert with a hardware rig, consisting of two modular synths, two sequencers, and a mixer. The recordings from those live sessions make up the material on their forthcoming full-length Whorl, set for release through Anti–, a label that has previously put forward artists like Tom Waits and Kate Bush. The release follows last year’s Live album for Delicacies, and 2012’s Unpatterns LP for Wichita, which got high marks here at XLR8R.
Whorl officially lands on September 9, and album cut “Tangents,” available to preview below along with a full tracklist, will see release as a single on July 1. Future live performances of the album are also in the works, with each show recreating the original process involved in making the album.
1. Redshift 2. Dandelion Spheres 3. Sun Dogs 4. Hypnick Jerk 5. Dervish 6. Z Space 7. Nazard 8. Calyx 9. Jam Side Up 10. Tangents 11. Iron Henge 12. Casiopeia
