Last October, Berlin-based newcomer Perera Elsewhere (a.k.a. Sasha Perera) saw the release of her debut LP Everlast via LA label Friends of Friends, and is now set to drop the revamped deluxe edition on May 6. The record will feature a brand-new original track, as well as remixes from the likes of Prefuse 73, Planningtorock, Antipop Consortium, and Shlohmo, whose syrupy version of “Light Bulb” can be streamed now.
Shlomo’s take on the Perera Elsewhere song finds the beatmaker applying his token slowed-down vocal samples to puncturing arpeggios and other wailing, rhythmic synths, all of which is backed by rumbling low-end frequencies. “Light Bulb (Shlomo Remix)” can be streamed in full below, where the tracklist for Everlast Deluxe Edition can also be found.
1. Schlepperblume (Bonus Track) 2. Drunk Man (Prefuse 73 AA Meditation Mix) 3. Giddy ft Gonjasufi (Planningtorock Remix) 4. Bizarre (Kyson Remix) 5. Light Bulb (Shlohmo Remix) 6. Ebora ft Aremu (Paula Temple Remix) 7. Dreamt That Dream (Tom Demac Remix) 8. Shady ft Springintgut (Moire Remix) 9. Bongoloid (Antipop Consortium Remix) 10. Carousel (Fis Remix) 11. The Zap (Gobby Remix) 12. Lazy (Benjamin Damage Remix) 13. Dimmed Down (Rroxymore Remix)
If one were to make a list of artists whose music sounds great on a purely sonic level, there’s little doubt that Tycho (a.k.a. Scott Hansen) would need to be part of the conversation. Just two weeks ago, Hansen released ‘Awake,’ his latest LP for Ghostly International, and the eight-track effort is unsurprisingly full of the gauzy textures, shimmering melodies, and crisp percussion that have become his trademark. However, there is one key difference between ‘Awake’ and its predecessor, ‘Dive’: the new album relies much more on actual instruments. It’s not that Tycho’s aesthetic has changed, but some of the tools he’s employed most certainly have. Now, we’ve known that Hansen is something a of a wizard behind the boards ever since we visited his production lair for an ‘In the Studio’ piece back in early 2012. Still, we wanted an explanation of how Hansen managed to maintain his signature sound while continuing to press forward with his music. He was kind enough to oblige our request, and put together a basic breakdown of exactly how he finds—and maintains—the gorgeous tones that populate his records.
For this record, we really didn’t use amps. I think there are a couple songs where we used a mic’ed amp, but for the most part, it’s all DI. I run guitars and bass through the DI input on a Universal Audio 6176 channel with some light compression to smooth things out on the way in.
If I’m looking for a more aggressive, harsh tone, I might use a Neve-type solid-state preamp, but the tubes in the 6176 have a nice warmth and smoothing effect that makes for a good starting point. After that, I’ll run through some outboard if the situation calls for it (delay, reverb, EQ), but in general, I do most of the post guitar processing in the box. I use various plug-ins to achieve different effects, but in general, I set it up like this:
1. I’ll put a more aggressive compressor on the front end of the chain to smash things a bit. I like to keep the hardware compression coming in light so I’m not stuck with the sound later. This allows me to make adjustments later as the mix develops. I’ve been using PSP’s Old Timer and Softtube’s CL-1B a lot.
2. Aggressive EQ. Again, I like to keep things light on the way in to stay flexible, so this is where I do a lot of the early tone shaping. At this stage, I’ll use something like Waves’ API 550B. It adds some nice edge in the mid range and you can really crank it without things breaking down.
3. This is where I’ll typically insert the first reverb, something simple like the TC M30 or Lexicon Plate. I’ve also been liking the Valhalla Vintage Verb.
4. In this stage, I’ll use a more effected type of reverb, like a space reverb maybe. I use the Ursa Major SST-282 a lot, but I’ve really been getting a lot of use out of D16’s Toraverb. It has this modulated thing going on that adds adds some distance between the listener and the sound, and takes it to an unfamiliar space.
5. Next, I’ll bring in some delay. If not the Space Echo or the Memory Man, I’ll go with software and use Soundtoy’s Echoboy. Although Echoboy emulates a lot of hardware I have in the studio, I find myself using it more and more, simply because of how flexible it is. And it really nails the sounds—it’s hands-down the best software delay out there.
6. This is where I decided whether or not to insert an amp simulation (if a real one wasn’t used). I like Amplitube and the Control Room Pro module in Guitar Rig 5. If I’m going for a more traditional guitar sound, I’ll put the amp sim here in the chain, as if the guitar was played through all the effects and then run through the amp. Otherwise, I’ll put it earlier to shape the tone before it goes through all the effects.
7. Here, I’ll put some more aggressive compression to bring out the reverb tails and lengthen the sounds. I might also throw in a Pultec-type emulation, like PSP’s NobleQ, to give some life to the high end.
8. Finally, I’ll wrap it up with some precision EQ, PSP Neon usually, and some transparent compression via the Slate VBC stuff. After that, I run it through the Waves NLS to emulate a console channel and give it some final drive.
I take pretty much the same approach for the live show. Instead of the 6176, I use the UA 4-710d as the preamp and I strip down the software effects chain, as it’s just not practical to be running that many plug-ins for a live performance; the latency would make it unplayable. There are some considerations that need to be made for live spaces, as heavy compression can cause feedback and other problems, so I’ll dial that back a little to keep things from getting out of hand.
The largely unparalleled pace with which DJ Haus’ Unknown to the Unkown label unleashes new releases continues keeping up to speed, with London transplants Chaos in the CBD (pictured above) set to drop its DeLorean Dreams EP via the imprint. Before that effort officially arrives on April 10 with a remix from Dutch techno impresario Legowelt, the entire forthcoming affair can now be streamed exclusively on XLR8R.
Chaos in the CBD offers two new original productions on DeLorean Dreams, both of which hunker down into driving drum-machine rhythms and crisp, hardware-born synth lines. Legowelt’s remix of the title track ventures into the longstanding producer’s familiar brand of druggy, space-age dancefloor fair. All three tunes from the forthcoming DeLorean Dreams EP are streaming in full below.
With a fascination for “re-sampling, chopping, and screwing sounds from ancient synths and 21st century machines,” Dutch DJ/producer Julian Edwardes is able to craft unique sounds from familiar devices. On his forthcoming Rapalje EP, Edwardes fashions bright electric piano compositions, with its title track leading a vast range of smooth and glitchy sonics. Opening with a funky key arrangement, “Rapalje” slowly dissolves as high-frequency shrieks and blips take over the production. It seems to be constantly changing form, alternating between beautiful arpeggiations and orchestral strings, with touches of computerized noise giving Edwardes’ tune its smart and distinctive blend of flavors. The Rapalje EP will drop via Fremdtunes on April 28.
Bristol stalwart Pinch is set to release a new compilation via his fledgling Cold imprint next week. In anticipation of CO.LD‘s release, Pinch has shared a full stream of his icy contribution to the compilation, “Down.” One of two new Pinch productions set to appear on the collection, “Down” is a darkly focused track which pairs sparse percussion with appropriately cold-brewed textures and some harrowing bass. Pinch’s new tune can be streamed in full below before the 12-track CO.LD drops on April 11.
Legendary house DJ and producer Frankie Knuckles reportedly passed away earlier today at the age of 59. This extremely sad news is yet to be officially confirmed by the Knuckles camp, but was first reported by 5Chicago and has since been partially confirmed by Paul Johnson and DJ Deeon, who have already paid their respects to the “Godfather of House.”
We will share further details when they come to light. In the meantime, Knuckles’ recently unearthed classic mix from 1990, which debuted just last week as part of XLR8R‘s podcast series, can be revisited here.
Update: April 1, 2014 Since this post went up, Knuckles death has been confirmed by a number of news publications and Knuckles’ longtime business partner, Frederick Dunson, who told the Chicago Tribune that the celebrated house pioneer had “died unexpectedly at home.”
Following his Gettin’ Hott EP, veteran DJ/producer Mr. G (a.k.a. Colin McBean) is set to expand his already colossal repertoire of releases with his The Tutonic EP. As Juno Plus reports, the record finds Mr. G unleashing his carefully cultivated techno abilities across three productions, including a “Plantation Dub” of “Last Chance Saloon” form McBean’s Mango Boy alias. The Tutonic EP is set for release on April 28 via Don’t Be Afraid‘s DBA Special Editions series, and its artwork and tracklist are available to peruse below.
A1. Tutonic B1. Last Chance Saloon (Mango Boy’s Plantation Dub) B2. Rum Trip UP
A member of Portland’s Miracles Club outfit, DJ Rafael is breaking out on his own with the Hard Hat Traxx EP. Leading the charge is “Hard Hat Area,” an appropriately titled, acid-fueled workout which leaves it all out on the dancefloor, using the five-plus-minute run to tweak a continually growing number of restless synths atop the tune’s jacking drum-machine core. “Hard Hat Area” is joined by three other original DJ Rafael productions on the full Hard Hat Traxx, which is out now via On the Prowl.
London DJ/producer/label boss Bob Bhamra (a.k.a. West Norwood Cassette Library) will release a new EP via his eponymous imprint in May, and has shared a preview of its four cuts to hear beforehand. Deemed the Missing You EP, Bhamra’s latest effort pieces together some sample-heavy house tracks, with the record’s accompanying press release revealing only that the forthcoming endeavor announces, “It’s soul time down at the Cassette Library.”
West Norwood Cassette Library’s Missing You EP drops in vinyl form on May 5, with a digital release set to appear on the following week. In the meantime, a preview stream of the entire record and its accompanying tracklist are included below.
01 Missing You 02 Queen Bee 03 What’s That Sound 04 Clavichords
Following last year’s Interiors LP, New York artist Glasser (a.k.a. Cameron Mesirow) is readying the release of her Shape Remix EP, which will feature remixes from the likes of Hyetal, Kowton, recent XLR8R podcast contributor Visionist, and Deetron, whose take on “Shape” is available to stream before its release next week. Deetron’s techno-influenced spin on “Shape” imbues the resonate mix with a four-to-the-floor pulse and cascading lucent blips. Patiently preserving Glasser’s sultry vocals at the beginning of his production, Deetron ultimately revamps them into a flurry of monosyllabic tones by the time its emotive climax arrives. The rest of Glasser’s Shape Remix EP is set to drop via True Panther Sounds on April 7.
