Fred P Curates Compilation for New Label, Readies Techno 12″ as Anomaly

NYC producer Fred P (a.k.a. Black Jazz Consortium) has compiled a new collection of tracks for Selected, the inaugural edition of what will become an ongoing compilation series for the longstanding house artist’s new Boards label. The eight-track collection is said to have been inspired by Fred P’s early days as a DJ, buying compilations because “the value was greater [than buying 12″s] and I was exposed to artists that I might not have known about otherwise.” In that spirit, Selected brings together tracks from some more recognizable artists such as Orion 70 (a.k.a. Aybee), Ryo Murakami, and—of course—Fred P himself, alongside a host of fresh production names which grace the tracklist.

In addition to Selected, Fred P’s techno alias, Anomaly, also has a new record in the works: the three-track Red Clouds EP, which will see a release via the man’s own Soul People imprint sometime next month. Before Anomaly’s vinyl-only EP and the forthcoming Selected compilation (out on January 28) see their official releases, both records’ artwork and tracklists can be found below.

01 DeepJust AQuaBeaT – Interpretation
02 Bassik Grooove – Synthetic Ocean
03 Bobby O’Donnell – The Shards of Our Childhood
04 Ryo Murakami – Midnight Sun
05 Lapien – My Obsession
06 We Are MAM – Roots Underground
07 Orion 70 – Enki
08 Fred P – N.Y. (Selected Dub)

01 Tunnel Vision
02 Dark Room
03 Above Below

The Analogue Cops Readies New EP for Hypercolour; Preview It Now

Italian-born, Berlin-based duo The Analogue Cops (a.k.a. Lucretio and Marieu) has just announced it will soon release a four-track record via the quality Hypercolour label. The In Plain Clothes EP is described as being “raw, distorted, and heavy” as it sees the two producers—with DJ Octopus appearing with Lucretio on closing track “Murales”—diving even further into the brutal techno sounds heard on prior releases like their rollicking Heavy Hands LP and the Five EP’s scrappy, collaborative cuts. The Analogue Cops’ next record will drop on December 16, but before then, its artwork and tracklist can be perused below. Previews of each tune can be heard here.

A1. Lucretio – If We Change
A2. Lucretio – The Way We Do
B1. Marieu – Swamp Fever
B2. Lucretio Ft. DJ Octopus – Murales

Video Premiere: DJ Haus “Addicted 2 Houz”

The man behind London’s unstoppably prolific Unknown to the Unknown label, DJ Haus has unveiled this brand-new video for “Addicted 2 Houz,” a straightforward dancefloor cut set to drop on his forthcoming Thug Houz Anthems Vol. 2: Addicted 2 Houz EP. The clip sees DJ Haus’ throwback house tune soundtracking a carnival of ’90s internet figures. The rigid 3D models of pyramids, large bodies of water, and cars seem ripped from early Playstation games and Windows ’98 screen savers, and give “Addicted 2 Houz” some added momentum as it cruises along on bumping grooves and filtered vocal samples. DJ Haus’ Thug Houz Anthems Vol. 2: Addicted 2 Houz EP is set to drop on December 18 via Hot Haus, but can be streamed in full ahead of the release via the player below.

Certain Creatures “Bosch (James Conduit Remix)”

The name James Conduit might look familiar to some, as the New York producer has logged hours in both Bear in Heaven and School of Seven Bells, bringing with him a focus on sound sculpting and texture. Now, the multi-faceted artist has stepped out on his own with plans for a series of 12″ releases during 2014. Before those records start to appear, Conduit is sharing his remix of “Bosch,” a track by fellow New Yorker and modular synth obsessive Certain Creatures (a.k.a. Oliver Chapoy) which first appeared on a single for the burgeoning Styles Upon Styles label (artwork above). “Bosch (James Conduit Remix)” uses both an acid-indebted lead and a herky-jerky hi-hat pattern as fodder for its muted, stilted groove. And anyone in the New York area who is itching to hear these warped, playful sounds in a live setting is in luck, as Conduit will join Certain Creatures, Black Rain, and special guests for a show on December 14 at La Sala in Brooklyn.

Bosch (James Conduit Remix)

Boya Boya

Boya‘s only credit prior to this, his self-titled debut EP, was a track on Opal Tapes’ Cold Holiday compilation from last year. The producer’s sound slots in well with that label’s rough aesthetic, and indeed with the one Mister Saturday Night has been honing lately as well. The three tracks here are perhaps purposefully distorted, but unlike the works of many producers chasing this trend, there are clearly some production chops hidden underneath. This is ultimately what makes the record work.

“That’s Us” manages to cash in on the excessive sidechain-compression trend as well, though its piercing intensity and thudding drums are satisfyingly balanced by a sweet, gauzy, reverberating soul loop. If it wasn’t so hiss-saturated, it could pass for something on the Rush Hour label. “Idler” executes a similar balance; its rhythm rushes with woody bongos and shuffling hi-hats, and is punctuated with edgy but submerged bass stabs. It is more somber and not as ebullient, but again, its well-honed sense of funk counters its erosion. As one might expect from its title, “Valves” is less personable. It has an aggressive stomp, though it’s thicker than the average pounding throwback track, with industrial groans and clipped vocals lending it a churning feeling. It’s the most overtly clubby track here, and moreover shows the artist’s versatility, but it does feel a bit obvious. Hopefully, Boya will lean more toward the other pieces’ sensibilities in the future, as both show promising levels of craftsmanship.

Podcast 323: Axel Boman

Although Axel Boman first put himself on everyone’s radar in 2010 with the breakout release of “Purple Drank” and the launch of his Studio Barnhus label, it really feels like the Swedish producer’s coming-out party took place in 2013. Not only has the notoriously affable artist found himself increasingly on the international DJ circuit, but this year also saw him issuing both the Black Magic Boman EP via Hypercolour and Family Vacation, his debut full-length. Those records showcased Boman’s love for breezy pop, groovy disco, and low-slung deep house. Curious to see how those tendencies would translate in the context of a DJ mix, we invited Boman to put together the latest installment of the XLR8R podcast series. Of course, those who have seen Boman operate behind the decks won’t be surprised by what he’s put together here, but people expecting a high-energy session might be taken aback by the mix’s decidedly slow burn. It’s interesting than an artist with so much personality would tend toward tunes rife with nuance and subtlety, but that’s exactly what Boman does, and does well. Over the course of its 76-minute runtime, his podcast boasts several peaks and valleys, but things never feel rushed and the music does plenty of percolating between its intermittent bursts of energy. Patience is certainly required, but the eventual payoff is more than worth it.

01 Donnie Sò “La Pagliarella (Ulrich Schnauss Remix)” (Karaoke Kalk)
02 Dresvn “A2 (from Acido 014)” (Acido)
03 Boska “Higgs” (Studio Barnhus)
04 Scott Grooves “Bitter Sweet” (Modified Suede)
05 Joe “Slope” (Hessle Audio)
06 Marcellis “Because” (Millions of Moments)
07 Ra.H & Dynamo Dreesen “Spacepops (Donato Dozzy Rework)” (Morphine)
08 Andy Mac “The Rude Sea” (Idle Hands)
09 Boogie Nite “Make Me Hot (Rahaan Sexy Mix)” (Glenview)
10 Bell Boys “B Free” (Discovery)
11 Monday Night “A2 (from Monday Night #3)” (Monday Night)
12 Kornél Kovács “Szikra” (Studio Barnhus)
13 Baba Stiltz “Aches” (Studio Barnhus)
14 Jurny “Only When I’m Dreaming” (No More Hits)
15 Diesel/Jarvis “Big Chill” (Moton)

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XLR8R_Podcast_Axel_Boman_2013_11_26

William Onyeabor “Something You’ll Never Forget (Policy Remix)”

Earlier this month, we shared news of a remix series organized by Luaka Bop and Moog, who issued reworks of songs from pioneering African electronic musician William Onyeabor by the likes of John Talabot, James Holden, Daphni, Optimo, Dâm-Funk, Secret Circuit, and many more. Pulled from the ongoing series is this contribution from New York-based producer Policy, which finds the artist twisting Onyeabor’s “Something You’ll Never Forget” into a wonderfully cacophonous slice of playful house. Laced with an incalculable amount of percussion and a sluggish four-on-the-floor kick, Policy’s remix maintains the adventurous vibe of the synth-streaked original song while still finding a way to fit it into a package much more appropriate for modern dancefloors. Long story short: Another job well done by Policy.

Something You’ll Never Forget (Policy Remix)

Teengirl Fantasy Nun

Former art-school duo Teengirl Fantasy (a.k.a. Nick Weiss and Logan Takahashi) has laid fairly low since the 2012 release of its second full-length record, Tracer. Nun, a new four-track EP for London/LA collective This Is Music, finds the pair continuing to pull inspiration from a range of sources and exploring a diverse palette of instrumental sounds.

Whereas many tracks on Tracer felt somewhat loosely constructed, the first half of Nun shows a invigoratingly detailed sense of arrangement. The leading title track expertly contrasts interweaving vintage and modern synth timbres while utilizing a palette of dark, R&B-like percussive sounds. Next up is “Eric,” which shifts between a soft-focus arpeggio and a brisk, drum & bass-referencing loop in a quick-cutting arrangement that is as exciting as it is disorienting. Weiss and Takahashi have never been shy about experimenting with a variety of reference points, but both “Nun” and “Eric” represent a focused energy in assimilating these diverse sounds into a greater whole.

Nun‘s final two efforts are less ambitious, though each is mesmerizing in its own way. “Platinum” finds the producers returning to familiar ’90s rave pads and resonant kick hits to create a sinewy, dark tune that stews more than erupts, while “Nun Beat” reworks the title track at a syrupy tempo. Despite clocking in at under 15 minutes, the plethora of ideas Teengirl Fantasy displays on Nun shows that the pair is unwilling to rest on its laurels and ultimately represents a bold step forward.

Ian G. “About You”

With a name meant to trip up even the most alert of SoundCloud users, Ian G. is in fact a production pair consisting of Spanish beatsmiths Edoc and Pheeltek. Together, the two create lush compositions that situate themselves snuggly between textural ambience, cold-rinsed R&B, and the dense chug of slow-motion techno. Pulled from Ian G.’s forthcoming Meet You at 10 AM EP for the Avantroots imprint (out later this month), “About You” is a fine example of the hybrid formula the outfit is after, spending the first two minutes of the song swimming in a collage of grainy loops and distant vocals before laying a slightly off-kilter, bass-heavy rhythm under the procession—one which is only eventually pushed underneath even more layers of digital haze before the tune finishes its run.

About You

Ben La Desh Wondering What We Are

Ben La Desh may reside half a world away from Young Adults’ LA offices, but musically, the Rotterdam-based producer occupies a space that’s right at home with the breezy house sound the label has been championing since it launched last year. Propulsive, deep, and jazzy, La Desh’s “Let Us Down” was a natural fit for the balmy bonhomie of Young Adults’ House Slippers compilation from this past spring. And now, with his first EP for the imprint, Wondering What We Are, La Desh both strengthens this bond and shows that he’s broadening his musical palette a bit along the way.

The richly textured disco funk of “Afrodesia” cozies up closest to La Desh’s sweet spot. Wrapped up in sheets of rhythmic guitar and synth tones, and thick with the residue of soulful strings, the track draws inspiration from the same place as G-funk era Dr. Dre—he’s just swapped out the chronic-laced boom-bap for a house beat. As La Desh’s most fully realized composition here, the song is confidently maximal—it’s the house-music equivalent of cruising the strip at dusk with the top back. The low-slung Cali-disco motif carries on with a distinct tempo shift on “Your Love.” Adopting a Latin-tinged, halftime slink, it ebbs and flows with muted brass, delicate rimshots, and a slow succession of laidback disco loops. The track shares the slow burn of early Mark E or The Revenge, nailing the hypnotizing quality of the those artists’ rolling groovers. At the same time, it never delivers the unexpected twist, turn, or vocal release that often makes those edits so compelling.

B-side cuts “We Are” and “Why Don’t You” go straight for the late-night, deep-house vibe. The fluid drum riffs and simple flute melody of “We Are” give off a cosmic jazz-dance feeling as they unspool over billowy puffs of soothing synth tones, and they make for what could be a pristine entry in Gilles Peterson’s wheelhouse. “Why Don’t You” reinvigorates the EP in its final turn with clamoring percussion, the quick clip of synth stabs, and a bulbous bassline that burrows its way through the track, lending a touch of edginess and offsetting the more easygoing moments here. If one takes the EP’s title literally, the music on Wondering What We Are does seem to indicate that he’s actively exploring the question. He may not have the answer just yet, but he’s certainly working with confidence.

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