Kevin McPhee has released a brilliantly colorful new video for “CC-XXX-YY-NNNNN,” the lead cut from the Hypercolour affiliate’s yet-to-be-releasedBoris EP. Starting off small, the four-minute clip piles on texture and mass at the same pace as McPhee’s mechanized production, building walls of dripping paint, their morphing tones accentuated by the slow-drudging rasps and scratches of “CC-XXX-YY-NNNNN.”

The techno-charged Boris EP is set to drop June 9 via Hypercolour, with the video for “CC-XXX-YY-NNNNN” available to watch below in the meantime.

Throughout the week, a whole lot of material gets posted here on XLR8R. And while we know—and love—that some hardcore readers will eagerly pour over every single news story, interview, podcast, video, and MP3 download that appears on the site, we also realize that for most people, it’s impossible to see everything, which means that some quality XLR8R content is likely to get missed in the hustle and bustle of everyone’s daily lives. In the interest of making it easier for everyone to catch up, every Friday we present The Lowdown, a weekly wrap-up of the top 10 tidbits from our site.

1. The Music Nation documentary series from Dazed and Channel 4 has proven to be enormously popular with our readers, and the latest episode—which chronicles the rise of jungle—is possibly the most viewed chapter yet.

2. UK duo Bicep (pictured above) detailed the five most essential pieces of gear from its rapidly expanding studio set-up.

3. Dauwd was the latest producer to take on FACT’s Against the Clock challenge; as always, the resulting video documents him attempting to make a track in 10 minutes.

4. This week’s XLR8R podcast came from Seattle producer Kid Smpl, who assembled a varied session of abstract hip-hop, R&B, and leftfield bass explorations.

5. Red Bull Music Academy’s beat:repeat video series has been exploring the history behind a number of NYC anthems, and one of this week’s new episodes looked at Mtume’s seminal “Juicy Fruit.”

6. Last weekend, Jimmy Edgar was at the helm of BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mix, and audio of the show is currently streaming online.

7. A new video interview with German producer Motor City Drum Ensemble surfaced on the web this week.

8. XLR8R premiered the video for “Spatial Scale,” a new track from Amsterdam producer Akka that also features Portland beatmaker Eprom.

9. The most popular tune in our Downloads section this week was “I Fell in Love,” a lush and emotive track from Swedish duo Gidge.

10. London producer Bobby Tank also contributed a song to our Downloads section, offering up the funk-laced “Learn from You” as a free giveaway.

An expanded version of the The Lowdown is also available via a weekly email newsletter. Those interested in an even more in-depth round-up of XLR8R content, including a complete listing of all the free downloads we’ve offered in the past seven days, should sign up by entering their email address below.

Subscribe to the XLR8R Lowdown

Last fall Montreal talent CFCF (a.k.a. Mike Silver, pictured above) issued his sophomore LP, Outside, via the Paper Bag label. Now, the Canadian musician/producer has revealed plans to release a new remix EP via the imprint next week. Titled Outsiders, the six-track collection will feature reworks from Huerco S., John Roberts, and former Emeralds member Mark McGuire, along with a pair of b-sides from CFCF himself. Set to drop on May 20, Dial affiliate John Roberts’ rework of “The Forest at Night” can be streamed in full below ahead of the record’s release.

01 Windswept
02 Jump Out of the Train (Road Chief Remix by Mark McGuire)
03 The Forest at Night (John Roberts Remix)
04 Transcend (Huerco S. Temple Remix)
05 Strange Form of Life (North Americans Remix)
06 Being With You

In an unfortunate turn of events, Shackleton has been forced to cancel his upcoming US tour dates due to visa issues. After having his visa denied by the USCIS, the Berlin-based producer will no longer be able to fulfill dates in New York, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston. In an official statement, Shackleton expressed genuine regret about the situation, stating, “Please be assured that Surefire Agency and myself have made every effort to make a successful application and that we are really disappointed not only for ourselves but also, and even more so, for the promoters who have planned events for me and for the people who had possibly been planning to attend the shows,” continuing on to say, “I can only express how disappointed I am on behalf of all the people who have made efforts on my behalf.”

Furthermore Surefire, Shackleton’s North American booking agency, expressed its disappointment as well. In a letter addressed to “Shackleton Fans,” the company explained that “Though we have experienced delays before, we have never seen a complete denial of an artist’s entry until now.” Fortunately, for those just north of the US border, Shackleton’s visa denial will not affect his scheduled performance at Canada’s upcoming Mutek Festival, taking place later this month in Montreal.

London producer James Shaw (a.k.a. Sigha) has announced plans to release a new EP under the name Faugust via Avian sub-label Mira next month. Entitled Devotions (1984 – 2006), the four-track effort is described as “emotive and highly personal,” as it shows a strain of Shaw’s production that has remained “largely buried since 2004.” Said to combine the artist’s capabilities as a guitarist along with Shaw’s more established talents as an electronic producer, Devotions (1984 – 2006) will offer “melodic flourishes” and a “pop sensibility not seen in his other work.”

Shaw will debut his Faugust project on June 12. Before then, Devotions (1984 – 2006)‘s artwork and tracklist can be found below, and EP cut “Penitence” can be streamed in full here via Juno Plus, as part of the site’s extended conversation with the UK talent.

A1 Penitence
A2 A New You
B1 Persuasion
B2 Against the Sea

Before his forthcomingWestern Ways EP lands next month, Soo Wavey co-head Vin Sol has shared a new video for the record’s closing cut, “Meltdown.” Directed by Marcus Mixx, the compelling clip for “Meltdown” offers an interesting dynamic—persistently swapping between bleak footage of ominous graveyards and dismal smokestacks, the video comes peppered with bits of overtly carnal and brazen imagery, with the only constant being the bright watermark featured in the videos bottom-left corner. In the end, it all makes for a fitting visual accompaniment to Vin Sol’s hazy production, which drifts softly across hazy synth tones and the steady beat of a hard-edged drum machine. Closing its four-track run with “Meltdown,” Western Ways will see an official release on June 16 via Soo Wavey; in the meantime, Vin Sol’s new video can be watched below.

Singular Russian DJ/producer Nina Kraviz has announced plans to launch her own imprint later this year. Bearing the name ???? (pronounced “trip”), Kraviz’s label will focus on “the trippier, acidic side of electronic music,” with releases coming not just from the label head herself but also a slew of artists who “inspire her and whose music features frequently in her sets.”

The ???? imprint’s first record is slated to drop in September, with more details about the label and its debut release forthcoming in the months ahead. In the meantime, Kraviz has planned a launch event for June 15, bringing together Detroit DJ Luke Hess and others to celebrate the new endeavor with Kraviz at Barcelona’s Sala Instinto club. More information on the upcoming event can be found here.