Forest Swords Details Debut LP for Tri Angle, Shares New Track

UK native Matthew Barnes (a.k.a. Forest Swords) teased us with a new gothic-leaning track back in June, and has now shared details of his debut LP along with a stream of another fresh tune. Set to be released on August 26 via Tri Angle, Engravings (artwork above) finds Forest Swords returning to his murky, slo-mo compositions after dealing with a period of debilitating hearing problems following the release of his acclaimedDagger Paths EP. Barnes has refocused his efforts for his return, taking influence from the natural beaches, bark, and soil found around his home peninsula of the Wirral. The 10-track Engravings is said to have been mixed entirely outdoors on a laptop, and sees Forest Swords continuing to narrow in on his idiosyncratic version of dubby, freeform, electro-acoustic jams. Album track “The Weight of Gold,” can be found below, along with the tracklist for Forest Swords’ upcoming LP and his upcoming tour dates.

01. Ljoss
02. Thor’s Stone
03. Irby Tremor
04. Onward
05. The Weight Of Gold
06. Anneka’s Battle
07. An Hour
08. Gathering
09. The Plumes
10. Friend, You Will Never Learn

09.27 – Le Trabendo – Paris, FR
09.28 – Unsound London – London, UK
10.17 – Unsound Festival – Krakow, PL
10.26 – ATP Release The Bats – Melbourne, AU
11.16 – Semibreve Festival – Braga, PT
11.22 – All Tomorrow’s Parties – Camber Sands, UK

Supreems “Do You Love”**

Ever since the UK dancefloor savants of Bicepposted “Do You Love” on their blog, Antwerp-based producer Supreems (a.k.a. Xavier Van Bouwel) has been constantly hounded by friends and fans to hand over his densely atmospheric house cut. And since the track won’t see an official release, Van Bouwel offered us the pleasure of giving away its layers of whirrings synths and strangled vocals, hinting that he also has a record for Jacques Renault‘s Goodnight Moon imprint up his sleeve. He also sent over a remix from fellow Goodnight Moon producer Almost, who equipped the slow-burning original into a bouncing garage track with a croaking bassline. “Do You Love (Almost Remix)” can be found after the jump.

Do You Love

Ghosts on Tape “No Guestlist” b/w “Still Got The Feeling”

San Francisco’s Ghosts on Tape (a.k.a. Ryan Merry) is as good an example as any of the UK bass-gone-house trend. Although he is an American, his 2009 debut Predator Mode did coiled funky-not-funky so well that it earned a remix from Roska and praise from Mary Anne Hobbs, both of who were then in their primes. After three years of relative hiatus, his reemergence on his own Icee Hot label (full disclosure: Icee Hot is independently run in part by XLR8R editor Shawn Reynaldo) has found him paring down the kinetic syncopation into something more linear. “No Guestlist” b/w “Still Got The Feeling” is the second offering since his return, and offers a compromise between these approaches.

If “No Guestlist,” which appears in three versions here, has a defining feature, it is the repeating exclamation that “there is no guestlist tonight!” The original is tough and antsy the whole way through, but its sporadic clave-and-snare polyrhythm and the vocal’s comic touch lend it some light. The track’s “Underground Mix” retains the original’s bouncy energy, but somehow ratchets up the drama, giving frantic chord patterns a more prominent position. Arttu‘s rework, meanwhile, feels derived from old-school house; its rhythm is sparse compared to its predecessors, but there is still a sense of restlessness, as wild FX and booming lows, along with the vocal, are interwoven throughout. Merry’s closer “Still Got the Feeling” falls in line with his recent moves toward linearity. There is a little of Berlin techno in its woody swing, but the way it accumulates percussion puts it closer to the producer’s oeuvre than any kind of Ostgut Ton knockoff. Merry is an interesting case because Predator Mode was such a memorable debut, and while he has yet to surpass that record’s promise, “No Guestlist” b/w “Still Got The Feeling” easily reiterates its energy.

Disclosure, Four Tet, Hackman, and More to Feature on First Greco-Roman Compilation

Greco-Roman, the label owned in part by Hot Chip‘s Joe Goddard, has announced that its first ever label compilation is set to arrive on August 19. Run by Goddard, Alexander Waldron, and Dom Mentsh, Greco-Roman started out as a rotating, back-to-back DJ partnership, before quickly spawning unofficial parties in both London and Berlin and eventually releasing records from artlists like Disclosure, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Vampire Weekend’s Baio, Hackman, and Goddard himself. The 24-track We Make Colourful Music Because We Dance In The Dark compilation is split into two-discs, with originals on the first disc and remixes on the second, while always maintaining the label’s self-described ethos of “popular music with one foot on the dancefloor, or club tracks with an ear for melody.” The tracklist and artwork for Greco-Roman’s upcoming comp can be found below.

Disc 1 – Colourful Music
1. Joe Goddard feat. Valentina ‘Gabriel’
2. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs ‘Garden’
3. Disclosure ‘Boiling’
4. Hackman ‘Close’
5. Baio ‘Sunburn Modern’
6. Roosevelt ‘Sea’
7. Joe Goddard & Boris Dlugosch ‘Step Together’
8. Grovesnor ‘Drive Your Car’
9. Micachu & Tirzah ‘Not Dancing’
10. Enchante ‘Swaynes Lane’
11. Valentina ‘Ladders’
12. Joe Goddard ‘Lemon & Lime (Home Time)’

Disc 2 – Dancing In The Dark
1. Millennium ‘ICU’
2. Valentina ‘Wolves’ (Roman Fluegel remix)
3. Joe Goddard ‘Apple Bobbing’ (Four Tet remix)
4. Baio ‘Sunburn Modern’ (Session Victim remix)
5. Disclosure ‘What’s In Your Head’
6. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs ‘Move On’
7. Joe Goddard feat. Valentina ‘Gabriel’ (Soulwax remix)
8. Disclosure ‘Boiling’ (Dixon remix)
9. Joe Goddard feat. Mara Carlyle ‘She Burns’ (The Invisible remix)
10. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs ‘Waulking Song’ (Lone remix)
11. Hackman ‘Satisfy’
12. Valentina ‘Ladders’ (David E Sugar remix)

T. Williams Details Next EP for PMR, Shares Another Track

After hinting at his next release for PMR with a stream of his “Three Letters” single, London DJ/producer T. Williams has emerged with the full details of that record, as well as another fresh tune. The four-track Feelings Within is slated to appear sometime next month, and is preceded by “On My Own,” the EP’s slinky opening track with a vocal turn from fellow Londoner Tala. Williams’ new tune can be streamed below, where the tracklist for his forthcoming release can also be found.

1. On My Own ft. TALA
2. Mobb
3. Smile ft. Tendai
4. Three Letters

Omar Souleyman Details Upcoming Four Tet-Produced LP

Syrian musician Omar Souleyman has been slowly releasing his Middle Eastern-indebted music for more than a decade, and now, he’s poised to break into a whole new audience with his most recent full-length, which was produced by long-time Souleyman admirer Four Tet. Entitled Wenu Wenu and set for release on October 22 via Ribbon Music, the seven-track LP is actually Souleyman’s first studio album, and was recorded in Brooklyn with long time collaborator Rizan Sa’id. Wenu Wenu is said to find Souleyman combining aspects of “Middle Eastern dabke dance music and traditional songs with his own contemporary style.” The album trailer, as well as its tracklist and Souleyman’s upcoming tour dates, can be found below.

1. Wenu Wenu
2. Ya Yumma
3. Nahy
4. Khattaba
5. Warni Warni
6. Mawal Jamar
7. Yagbuni

08-02 Stockholm, SE – Stockholm Music and Arts Festival
08-24 Katowice, PL – Nowa Musyka Festival
08-25 Los Angeles, CA – FYF Festival
08-29 Austin, TX – Red 7
08-31 Brooklyn, NY – Issue Project Room
11-01 Reykjavik, IS – Iceland Airwaves
11-02 Paris, FR – Pitchfork Festival Paris
12-01 Tokyo, JP – Hostess Club Weekender

Hi, Doctor Nick! – The Importance of Setting Goals and the Doctor Gets Some Things Off His Chest

Nick Hook isn’t technically a doctor, but the guy definitely has enough wisdom rolling around in his brain to fill a book or two. Every Thursday, our resident advice columnist pops in to answer readers’ questions about music, production, touring, gear, DJing, travel, romance, and, well, just about anything they need to know. Want to get in on all the knowledge the good doctor has to offer? Drop him a line at [email protected] and let the street shaman make your life better.

Ayeee. I hope everyone’s well. I’m still hot as fugg. It’s like a million degrees here in NYC.

The Novation Bass Station II is super tite. Everyone should keep a lookout for that thing when it drops. Novation killed it.

I had a few things I wanted to write about that have nothing to do with questions since they’ve been on my mind this week. I hope that’s okay. I think they are relevant to all of us here.

1. When it comes to experimenting or being creative, don’t let anyone tell you there is a right way or a wrong way. I don’t care if you went to school for 20 years and learned every single rule about every single thing, or someone just gave you a laptop with a program and you have no idea. Both approaches are so important and lend things to each other, so don’t let anyone make you feel bad for “not knowing.” I happen to be self-taught and I think the balance of learning after the fact and being hungry to learn over the years is perhaps why I’m a little different than someone else. Just do you and don’t worry about how to do things right. Some of the greatest music we’ve ever heard comes from one mic in the corner of the room that captured energy by dudes who had no idea about technique.

2. Don’t be afraid to walk away from anything. Listen. I’m all for doing ANYTHING for free. It’s not a money thing, but just make sure people are accepting your value. Even if something is a good opportunity, if it doesn’t quite suit you, don’t be afraid to say no. Keep aware that you create your own value, so if you DJ six times a week for 50 dollars per gig to pay your rent, you may be backing yourself into a corner. Everyone knows they can come see you “tomorrow” and that tomorrow might actually be tomorrow or in six months. If you play one or two good shows a month, people will know that they have to come out and see you, cuz you are gonna try and keep things special.

Anyways, I’ve just been needing to get that off my chest this week.

Eternal shoutout to the god Sergio Vega from Quicksand and Deftones. We made a tight beat last night and had a lot of fun.

Now on to the questions. Keep them coming. [email protected].

Hi Doctor Nick,
Making electronic music has been my passion for a few years already. I would be making music 24 hours a day if I could.

The problem is that I can’t seem to get my dose of music that I need. With school, the job, friends, a girlfriend, and my tiny home studio that can only hold one person, making music is often a second option and I feel like the life I lead is not what is supposed to be. I have some friends who have the same passion as me. They drop sick tracks every week, keep improving, and are enlarging their audience, while I’m here with a normal and boring life, waking up and going to work and not being productive at all because music has invaded my thoughts. I think it’s a question of time management, but I don’t know how to deal with this problem, and what to do to have an happy producer life with regular music sessions.

So please Dr. Nick, tell me the path I should take.
Sim

Your life is your life. You have to manifest what you want. Set some goals. I don’t know exactly how long Rome was built in, but it definitely wasn’t a day.

Why don’t you think about your goals in three ways: now, semi-future, and long-term future.

Now: this month
Semi: six months to a year
Long-term: one year or more

These are all tied together, so I think you need to think long-term first. What is your ultimate goal? Dream big. If you don’t dream, how can you ever get there? (Mine was to have a studio, play and create music with people I admired, and to see the world.) Then, after some of those become reality, you can reassess your goals again and see how they fall in line with the now/semi/long-term and keep going.

I really feel like every year it’s important to cut things out of your life. I used to DJ at the Diesel store for like eight hours a time and at first it was cool, but then I fucking hated it cuz it ate my soul alive and I left. It was pretty good money, but I just didn’t feel good about it. The next year was the Sake Bar. It had its time and its place, but I was like, “Yo, I can’t be working at a bar until I’m 50,” even though it was pretty tite. The same goes with music. Don’t be complacent. Fear and hunger can bring out results.

You should figure out what is becoming inefficient time in your life. Maybe when school is done, you will have that time and everything else can stay. Maybe a job that pays a little more might help you work less, and maybe going out five nights a week drinking with your friends is taking up time. Look at all of that.

Next thing—think about the next month. Can you take one month to make one song, the best song of your life? Can you focus on your Facebook and your SoundCloud and all that stuff?

I think some of that will get you on the right path. My mantra has been that as long as you’re making strides forward everyday, whether they are small or big, you are always moving forward. It sounds corny, but life is long. I didn’t put out my first real piece of music until I was 24, and I feel like I’m still just getting started now. So it’s all good. Don’t trip.

Also, don’t look at this as a competition with your friends. Use them as inspiration. They are your friends and we all work differently, so don’t try and be them. Try and get their feedback on tracks and have them help you improve, or try and get in the studio with them and see what they are doing that you aren’t. Be a student always.

I hope some of that helps. Let’s goooo.

Hi, Doctor Nick! appears every Thursday on XLR8R. Do you have a question for Doctor Nick? Please submit your inquires to [email protected]. Nick Hook can help you.

rRoxymore “FltNordf”*Human Level*

After first appearing last year on a split 12″ for DFA alongside fearless producer (and The Knife collaborator) Planningtorock, Berlin’s rRoxymore will release her debut EP, Precarious/Precious (artwork above), next month. The scattered “FltNordf” is our first taste of rRoxymore’s forthcoming release, a single which finds the budding artist traversing through eight-plus minutes of loose grooves, atmospheric synth work, and a host of refracted samples. While it doesn’t all quite fit together in a perfectly squared-off package, there is a rush and urgency underlining rRoxymore’s production style that makes “FltNordf”—and, conceivably, the rest of her debut outing—enchantingly unpredictable. The four-track Precarious/Precious EP is slated to drop on August 19 via Planningtorock’s Human Level imprint.

FltNordf

DJ Hell Kern Vol. 2

Tresor’s new Kern mix series focuses on bringing together classic and contemporary tracks. Appropriately enough, the second installment is in DJ Hell‘s experienced and vinyl-calloused hands. As DJ Deep did on the series’ inaugural mix, Hell weaves through a chronologically and stylistically diverse selection without belaboring the point. Unspectacular quality is the guiding principle here, and the surprises come from the DJ maneuvering into strange corners of the dancefloor rather than sticking to any particular mood.

Though it’s not instantly apparent when listening to the mix, Hell (a.k.a. Helmut Geier) leans heavily on tracks from the early ’90s. The German producer started releasing records in the mid ’90s, but it hardly feels like he’s raiding his early influences or following the current obsession with dry jack tracks. Instead, Hell has targeted selections that could pass—in terms of style, anyway—for something from the past five years, only the songs here are animated by organically rough edges that are often lacking from the various waves of Detroit and Chicago revivalism. Within its first ten minutes, Kern Vol. 2 establishes a seamless dynamic, leaping between 1991 and 2005 and letting the implications slowly settle in as the listener fidget-dances on their couch.

Kern Vol. 2 also goes out of its way to deflate certain pieties. Most DJs tapped to do a commercial mix wouldn’t touch the mutant club-kid vocals on The Horrorist’s “Wet & Shiny” with a 10-foot tonearm. Hell’s rework—one of three created for the mix—doesn’t try to cast a new light on the song itself, nor does it part the mists of the recent past to remind us how electroclash could have sounded vital. But The Horrorist’s nasally drug zombie is a welcome reminder that this is music for partying, not an academic exercise. Recondite’s “DRGN” appears on the other end of the mix, and it works especially well because Hell has already made a solid point about the tedium of consistency. Sometimes Recondite’s ticking hi-hats sound like the second hand of a clock, a moody measure of time. Hell squeezes them in unexpectedly, allowing the track to live up to the hugeness of its name. This sort of occasional, felicitous excess makes tracks like “DRGN” and Halogen’s “Bliss” sound raw and potent, and we’re happy to sit through the rare lulls to scale those higher heights.

Kern Vol. 2‘s mission is to make connections between the past and the present, but that’s an obvious conceit—it’s something almost all DJs do as a matter of course, consciously or not. In the context of the label and club Tresor, though, it’s part of a broader reboot that also brought Juan Atkins and Moritz von Oswald together for an album that similarly set out to span time and ultimately ended up pointing a way forward. If done carelessly, asking established figures to ruminate on the breadth of house and techno could easily lead to fogeyism. Kern Vol. 2 doesn’t care about roots, though. It treads lightly, and Hell is satisfied to put his deep stacks to work telling a story that’s both made of time and mercifully free from it.

Jack the Hustler “11th Street (5AM Dub)”**

Finnish house duo Jack the Hustler has been relatively quiet since the release of its Run Up EP via Overcooked last year. However, the pair has just dropped two tracks available for free download, allegedly “made with summer in mind.” “11th Street (5AM Dub)” certainly succeeds in its ambition; the tune is a nicely crafted, tense slice of shimmering, garage-slanted house, with bright, chopped-up vocals providing an expert counterpoint to the track’s heavy sub-bass. Jack the Hustler’s other summery tune, “One Minute,” can also be downloaded for free, here.

11th Street (5AM Dub)

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