While Belfast producer T-Polar gears up to drop his new Electric Blue EP via London-based label Reverse, he has sent over “Welcome to the Holocene,” a cut from the forthcoming release. Without going into any concepts about The Holocene itself, the music on this track is full ideas, from its polyrhythmic core to the blooming of its many elements (i.e. an array of airy synths, dusty vocals, slow builds, and a puzzling bassline). T-Polar’s Electric Blue EP follows his recently released Feetwork EP, and will be available on April 29.
Teenage production duo Bondax dropped its Gold EP yesterday via Ultra, following close behind two other singles and some serious online buzz. The UK pair continues its streak today with a slick clip for the new record’s title track. “Gold” is a step back from some of Bondax’s earlier club-ready output, opting instead for a stylish R&B/future-garage hybrid. Those sleek sounds are matched by an equally opulent video, which features a Bondax-brand gold watch melting into liquid gold and running across the marble floor of a hotel room.
The xx‘s exclusive contribution to the Jay-Z-curated soundtrack for Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming film adaptation of The Great Gatsby hit the web today. Called “Together,” the song is a moody, slow-burning duet that, like the best of The xx’s material, strikes a perfect balance between tension and pay-off, thanks in part to a string-filled crescendo arriving in the later half of the track. “Together” can be streamed in the player below.
Seattle producer Kid Smpl‘s remix prowess is not an unfamiliar force in the XLR8R realm—at least three of his recent remixes (both official and unoffical) have made their way into our Downloads feed in the past few months, each finding a way to sink the original tune into Kid Smpl’s glacial textures and ghostly atmospheres. “Unravel,” the most recent effort from London songstress Laura Welsh, is the latest cut to take the plunge. On the Pacific Northwest artist’s rework, Welsh’s powerful vocal performance remains the focal point around which the soundsmith builds a lush and watery production with only bits of miniature percussion and steady snaps representing what one might call a “beat.” Both the original “Unravel” and Kid Smpl’s remix will see an official 7″ release on May 13 via Luv Luv Luv.
After a series of much-hyped singles for Planet Mu and Butterz, grime stalwart Swindle is set to release his second album via Mala’s Deep Medi label. The 13-track album—which features a handful of vocal tunes, including a contribution from Terri Walker—is said to be a typically genre-busting affair, with the South London DJ/producer reportedly taking influence from the likes of George Clinton, Parliament/Funkadelic, and Roy Ayers, as well as using more expected grime and dubstep sounds. Long Live the Jazz is out on June 16; in the meantime, the record’s tracklist and artwork can be found below.
1. Long Live The Jazz (intro) 2. Forest Funk 3. Ignition Ft. Nadia Suliman & Footsie 4. Kick It Ft. The Milk 5. Pledge Allegiance 6. Phone Me 7. Running Cold Ft. Terri Walker 8. Start Me Up 9. Keep Me Warm 10. Last Minute Boogie 11. It Was Nothing Ft. Sam Frank 12. When I Fly Out 13. Do The Jazz
Veteran producer and former resident DJ at Berghain’s heralded Panorama Bar, Prosumer is the lastest artist to be featured as part of Electronic Beat‘s video interview series Slices. The 10-plus-minute mini-doc finds the Berlin artist travelling between record stores and discussing with the camera his appreciation for simplicity in music and DJ technique and what has brought him musical inspiration over the years, as well as explaining his past battle with depression. The video comes just before Prosumer hits the US for sets at Public Works in SF this Friday—a night which happens to also feature Huerco S. and the Icee Hot crew—and at The Bunker in NYC on Saturday. More details for both events can be found here, and Prosumer’s Slices feature can be watched via the player below.
Appearing out of thin air today, “Donell” is a funky bootleg being offered as a free download from the always interesting UK DJ/producer Joy Orbison. The bubbling and soulful techno cut—which, of course, takes its samples from singer Donell Jones—premiered as a one-off track with no word of an official release or any other reason why it’s being given away (though, there is the artist’s upcoming gig at Oval Space in London next week). Joy Orbison’s “Donell” can be streamed and downloaded for free, below.
San Francisco-based producer, multi-instrumentalist, and music technology expert Christopher Willits (who longtime readers may recognize from our What You Talking About Willits? video series circa 2008) has added another video to his ongoing Create YouTube series. This time around, the musical guru shares some insight into developing harmonies and chords using Ableton’s new Push controller (check out our review here). In the quick piece, Willits shows where music theory and Push meet, allowing users to step outside of the traditional piano interface to come up with new chord combinations using shapes and patterns as they appear on the controller’s LEDs. What’s more, the Bay Area artist actually lands on the start of a gorgeous tune as he navigates the new technology. The clip can be watched below.
The fast-growing label arm of UK blog Sonic Router is set to add a new digital EP and two-track 7″ to its catalog next week with a collection of new work from budding Leeds producer Bambooman. Described as a “hip-hop producer at heart,” Bambooman gives a glimpse into his eccentric stylings with “Lamilton,” a cut which folds bright pads, distant melodies, and a restlessly gurgling bassline into steady kicks and snares. While “Lamilton” will not make an appearance on the EP/7″ release, seven other Bambooman originals will, along with remixes from Zach Christ and Eckoclick. The Hollowed EP (artwork above) officially drops on April 29, but can be previewed before then, after the jump.
With the imminent release of his fourth full-length album, Immunity (out on June 4 via Domino), longstanding London producer Jon Hopkins has dropped a stunning new video for early single “Open Eye Signal.” The piece is described by director Aoife McArdle as a city kid who “one day suddenly [decides] to escape his life and see more of the world in the only way he understands… via skateboard.” The result has a distinctly post-apocalyptic feel, seeing our protagonist skate through pristine nature to burnt-out slums, and it’s a perfect fit for the lush techno landscapes crafted by Hopkins’ track, which maintains a tensely ominous undercurrent throughout its eight-minute duration. And for those in the New York area, Hopkins is supporting Four Tet at their RBMA NYC showcase at Webster Hall on May 8 (check out our preview here); the rest of his tour dates can be found below.
Sat. May 4 – Gijon, ES @ LEV Festival Wed. May 8 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall* Sat. May 11 – Geneva, CH @ Mapping Festival Fri. May 31 – Montreal, QC @ Mutek [Metropolis] Wed. June 12 – London, UK @ Village Underground~ Thu. June 13 – Barcelona, ES @ Leisure System Sun. June 23 – Westmeath, IE @ Body & oul Sat. June 29 – Derry, IE @ Celtronic Festival Fri. July 5 – Amsterdam, NL @ Pitch Festival Sat. July 20 – Gente, BE @ 10 Days Off Festival Fri. Aug. 16 – Berlin, DE @ Berghain Sat. Aug. 17 – Wales, UK @ Green Man Festival Fri. Aug. 23 – Katowice, PL @ Nowa Musyka Fri. Sep. 6 – Isle of Wight, UK @ Bstival Thu. Oct. 26 – Munich, DE @ Münchner Kammerspiele
* w/ Four Tet (headline), Koreless (support) ~ w/ The Field (support/solo live show), Nathan Fake (support/DJ set)
