Having enjoyed the work of Detroit veteran DJ Stingray (pictured above) over the years—we even enlisted the man to turn in a XLR8Rpodcast last fall—we are always happy to see the Underground Resistance affiliate’s talents utilized for remixing duties. True to his usual stripped-down and efficient form here, DJ Stingray has delivered a hard, stomping rework of “B.O.Y.,” the title cut from budding producer Factory Aire‘s recent EP for the Shaddock label. Driven by heavy, industrial drums and a futuristic synthline devoid of melody, this rework isn’t the most accessible piece of audio—but for those who like their electronic music dark, minimal, and with a hint of aggression, DJ Stingray provides plenty to dig into.
Longstanding and immensely influential Detroit techno producer Jeff Mills announced today that he has collaborated with Japanese astronaut Mamoru Mohri on a double LP inspired by Mohri’s first trip to space in 1992 aboard the Endeavour space shuttle. Where Light Ends will be spread across two CDs, with a slew of new original Mills productions joined by remixes from Ken Iishi, DJ QHey, Gonno, and more—although it is unclear what the astronaut Mohri’s exact role on the record will be. In addition to the hefty supply of new and reworked tracks, Mills has also commissioned illustrator Kenny Keil and artist Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca to create a film strip as a visual accompaniment to the album. At this point, there is no confirmed release date set for Where Light Ends, nor is there one for Mills’ other forthcoming LP, Jungle Planet (which is expected to follow the former closely in seeing a release), but both albums will eventually drop on Mills’ own Axis label sometime soon—we hope. (via Resident Advisor)
Following the release of his new LP for R&S, Welcome to Mikrosector-50 (a record which you can stream in full here), adventerous UK producer Space Dimension Controller has turned in a new mix for Clash Magazine. The 80-plus minute set finds the producer covering a large range of sonic territory, working in tracks from Brian Eno, Todd Terry, Aphex Twin, and even Black Sabbath (full tracklist included below). Space Dimension Controller’s Clash podcast can be streamed and download for free here.
01 [National Geographic – From Sun Gods to Science] 02 Brian Eno – From The Same Hill 03 Black Sabbath – Planet Caravan 04 Early CGI Facial Animation 05 Paul Hardcastle – Nineteen (Destruction Mix) 06 Newcleus – Space is the Place 07 Break Machine – Break Dance Party 08 Olav Brekke Mathisen & Sideshow Jøgge – Elektromotor 09 Electrik Funk – On A Journey (Inst) 10 Jungle Wonz – The Jungle 11 Virgo – In A Vision 12 Plus One – It’s Happenin’ (Dub) 13 Nail – Time For Change 14 Todd Terry – Scat Cat 15 Johnny D. & Nicky P. – Roller Palace (Henry Street Mix) 16 Mark Broom – Twenty Nine (Black Mix) 17 Jeff Mills – Changes of Life 18 Aphex Twin – On
Will Saul—the man at the helm of both the Aus and Simple labels—has unveiled a new production alias, Close, which will release its debut full-length through the K7! imprint after dropping its first single next month. Saul appears to have used this new project to venture into a bit of unexplored territory for the producer, saying the tracks still embody a familiar dance music core but, “have been written with an attention to detail and melody that hopefully captivates the listener beyond the dancefloor.” Close’s debut full-length, the aptly titled Getting Closer LP, will see a release sometime in June, while the album’s lead single, “Beam Me Up”—which features Charlene Soraia on vocals and Scuba on production assistance—will drop April 22. The single will also feature reworks from George FitzGerald and Hercules & Love Affair, as well as a “Dub of Doom” version from Scuba himself. The artwork and tracklist for Close’s forthcoming single can be found below.
01 Beam Me Up (feat. Charlene Soraia and Scuba) 02 Beam Me Up (George FitzGerald Remix) 03 Beam Me Up (Scuba’s Dub of Doom) 04 Beam Me Up (Hercules & Love Affair Remix)
Only days after revealing his remix of LV‘s “Livin Up”, Portland-based producer Gulls has sent over the similarly titled track “Real Up.” Plucked from his recent PATTERNS IS LIFE LP (artwork above), the tune meanders atop a tropical groove, which is peppered with an array of percussive elements and layers of modulating synths. The self-released album—which collects sketches, live material, and rejected demos—can be copped now for a name-your-price fee via Gulls’ Bandcamp.
Earlier in the year, German techno producer—and former XLR8Rpodcast contributor—Iron Curtis split one side of a 12″ with Chicago’s Ultrademon resulting in the dynamic Shift 002 EP for Singapore’s Midnight Shift imprint. Now, Iron Curtis has turned in an ambient reworking of that record’s lead cut “Never Give Up,” which he is offering for free download. The new beatless version of “Never Give Up” can be streamed/download via the player below.
For the latest edition of our weekly gear and music tech wrap-up, we take a look at the forthcoming Reason 7 and Komplete 9 programs, introduce our readers to a new modular DJ app, share Ableton’s official Live 9 tutorials, divert readers’ attention to Attack Magazine’s guide to sampled chords, and listen in on a conversation with Dave Smith and Roger Linn.
New products from Propellerhead and Native Instruments plus a modular DJ app:
– Earlier this week, Propellerhead announced the forthcoming release of Reason 7, the next generation of its popular production software. The video above highlights some of updates to the program, including new MIDI-out capabilities, automatic beat slicing and audio quantize, enhanced mixer tools, a more comprehensive sound library, and a new virtual-vintage effect, the “The Audiomatic Retro Transformer.”
– Berlin’s Native Instruments announced it would release the lastest generation of its comprehensive sound and virtual instruments resource, Komplete 9, in the weeks to come. Offering two different versions, Komplete 9 and the more substantial Komplete 9 Ultimate, the software package incorporates almost all of NI’s soft synths (including the new Monark instrument), virtual FX, samplers, and sound libraries into a single package. Both Komplete 9 and Komplete 9 Ultimate are set to hit shelves on March 27. More info can be found here.
– Presenting itself as the first-ever modular DJ app for iOS, d(–)b debuted in the iTunes store this week. The new app allows iPad DJs to build their own custom interfaces using up to six decks and choosing which tools—three-band EQ, cue points, pitch shift, etc.—they want at their fingertips. Best yet, the app is only $9.99.
Official Ableton 9 tutorials, a guide to using sampled chords, and a conversation with David Smith and Roger Linn:
– Following the release of Live 9 last week, Ableton uploaded a series of tutorials to get users started using and familiar with the basics of the new program. All eight videos can be watched using the player above.
– Attack Magazine has added another useful tutorial to its website, explaining the technique and use of sampled chords by analyzing songs from Bicep, Theo Parrish, and more. The full article can be read here.
– DJ Tech Tools‘ Ean Golden recently sat down with pioneering electronic instrument designers Dave Smith and Roger Linn to discuss a number of topics, including the pair’s separate careers, the benefits of analog hardware, the impetus for creating MIDI, and much more. Ironically, the audio portion of the video is not of the highest quality, but it’s still not poor enough to detract from the joy true synth nerds are bound to get from listening in on the discussion.
Shooting Horses and Spokes are two thirds of the Brixton-based Loose Synths, a blog, DJ residency, and newborn imprint run in tandem with fellow Briton DLVRY. Here, we have Spokes’ remix of upcoming Shooting Horses single “Think of You,” which hinges itself on an earworm chord progression that stalks in the background throughout the garage-flavored track. Spokes’ production is deliberately skeletal, walking a line between dancefloor euphoria and somber introspection, letting only a lone vocal sample and increasingly busy synthwork rise above the song’s punchy rhythm. The remix will be released along with the original “Think of You” on April 1.
After somewhat quietly releasing two impressive EPs in 2011, Heat Division marks the first release from Dauwd in over 14 months. As the four-track EP proves though, this period of laying low has clearly benefitted the producer’s craft, and on his first record of 2013—which is also his first to come with the Ghostly seal of approval—the UK producer delivers an effort that greatly expands on the promise of his earlier work.
From the sound of this EP, it seems safe to say that Dauwd was not too confused or too distracted to make music during his off period, but rather spent the time considering his art and tinkering with where exactly it could go next. His pair of releases for Pictures (“Could it Be” b/w “Shimmer” and the What’s There EP) were undoubtedly well crafted, but when compared with the four cuts of Heat Division, they lack a certain distinctiveness. On his previous EPs, one could easily trace Dauwd’s direct influences, but on this outing, he makes a grand step into his own form.
Despite its title, Heat Division prefers to rest cool chords atop the songs’ full-bodied low end and airy drums, which usually come enhanced by layers of crisp, percussive textures. There is a slightly cleaner quality to Dauwd’s work here, an extra dose of detail that has been added to the carefully placed drum samples and rich array of synth sounds. Still, Heat Division proves most unique in its sense of arrangement. Sections don’t start and end—they fold into each other, taking clever twists or gradually shifting into new shapes.
Each track on the EP is strong in its own particular way, but “Silverse” is likely the record’s standout. Of all the songs on Heat Division, it packs in the most memorable melodic content, thanks to the summer-tinged chords which occupy the track’s first push and a delightfully jumpy synth line that leads the charge during the song’s latter half. “Silverse” also nicely displays Dauwd’s proficiency with arrangement, turning into unexpected corners constantly while never disturbing the groove. This restlessness may make the track a little less appropriate for club use than its counterparts on the EP, but renders it much stronger as a standalone composition.
In the end, Heat Divisions‘s 20-plus-minute run is respectably solid from beginning to end. Dauwd’s proven knack for crafting enveloping chord progressions and melodic patterns has remained intact as his sonic dexterity and attention to detail has improved, making this his strongest outing to date and one that speaks well for an eventual full-length that—considering Ghostly’s involvement—seems very likely to be in the works.
Last summer, UK trio Rounds (a.k.a. Andrew Chapman, Robert Cooper, and Ashley Kent, pictured above) offered up “Sideways,” a cut from its debut moun10 release, Escapist. Now, the group has made plans to return with a remix EP, and is giving away this edit of “Furnace” by fellow Brit Microburst. The rework deals in mechanical sighs and breaths of bass that seesaw with an off-kilter beat and clicking percussion. There’s no word of a specific release date yet, so keep an eye out for the record. The full tracklist can be viewed after the jump.
