From today, Monday, December 2 to Monday, December 9, we are offering all new XLR8R+ members a free XLR8R logo tee. All you need to do is subscribe to XLR8R+ and email your size and details to [email protected] with “XLR8R Tee” as the subject.
Becoming a member of XLR8R+ has many privileges. You will get three exclusive tracks every month—sometimes more—by amazing artists that XLR8R has supported over the years, as well as exclusive editorial content, exclusive mixes, FREE passes to music festivals and events, curated music playlists and more.
Tek Genesis will dive headfirst into the world of experimental-bass with his debut album, Temp, out later this week on Noisia’s Division Recordings.
Tek Genesis formerly produced as William., but feelings of creative detachment began to surface. After recalibrating his inspiration and intention, the Sydney-based producer now combines the sounds of bass, acid house, jungle, and hip-hop under his new alias.
Temp follows two Tek Genesis singles, “Amber” and “Ether,” which were enough to catch the attention of Dutch electronic trio Noisia, who went on to sign Temp to Division.
“A riveting combination of massive festival drops and inherently intellectual sound design, this geometric catalog of sounds is set to solidify Tek Genesis as an obvious act to watch,” the label explains.
Tracklisting
01. Scattered Dreams 02. Lost Signal 03. Quiet Bison ft. Petrichor 04. Cloud Kingdom Theme 05. Ether 06. Raid (Interlude) 07. Shift ft. Keenan Mathias 08. Head Kick ft. Halinae 09. Cryostasis 10. 7894
Temp LP is out December 6, with “Ether” streaming below.
Portuguese producer Bruno Silva has put out his first vinyl release, available now under his Ondness alias via SOUK.
Meio Que Sumiu, meaning the “community that disappeared,” alludes to the disappearance of outdoor communities and how it affects the music we listen to and how we listen to it. Silva wanted to release an album less about himself and his inspirations and more about his aspirations about how dance music could be in an era of constant interactivity and information, and also how it fails to be that aspiration.
Sonically, we’re told that it’s obvious Silva’s music has matured following his two releases as Serpente, A Noiva and Parada, plus an Ondness tape, Not Really Now Not Any More.
As with Not Really Now Not Any More, Silva works in the territory of science fiction, investigating the present and future with nostalgia about how things could be and could evolve. Instead of raving nostalgia about dance music from the 1990s, Silva explores the idea of possible futures with different approaches to electronic music in each song.
Tracklisting
01. Off Trail Marvila 02. Scavengers 03. Chance de Turf 04. Bairro as in Concept Haze 05. Ringue ll 06. Crimes de gente 07. Scammers 08. Na Ronda 09. Ringue II 10. On Trial Marvila
Raso arrives in the wake of Adiel’s recent collaboration with Donato Dozzy.
Channeling energies as one, Adiel and the Northern Electronics’ head have shaped and polished a raw, “three-faceted gem” of “hauntingly evocative near-ritual techno obedience.”
“Raso” gets the ball rolling on a hard-wired hypnotic pulse, alternating nostalgia-soaked background sequences with a 909 kick. “Decoro” makes for a more dubby weapon, before EP closer “Punto In Aria” shifts to a more positive state of mind, showing off Adiel and Linell’s knack for assembling powerful lush synth abstraction and full-force functional rhythms into club pieces.
Raso forms the sixth release of Danza Tribale.
Tracklisting
A1 / 1. Raso A2 / 2. Decoro B1 / 3. Punto in Aria
Raso is out February 14, with “Decoro” streaming below.
Gerard Hanson (a.k.a Convextion) will release a new album as E.R.P., titled Exomoon.
As is customary for the Texan-born artist, there’s little information or fanfare about the release. All that’s known is that it’s his second album as E.R.P., following 2018’s Afterimage, also on Forgotten Future. He launched the alias in 1996.
Hanson has previously released two albums as Convextion.
Earlier this year, Hanson contributed a track, “Drawing Machine,” to XLR8R+ alongside DVS1 and Vladislav Delay.
Tracklisting
A1. Searchlight A2. Lost Colony B1. Ice Mine B2. Moon Miner’s Plight C1. Blockade C2. Beacon Monitor System D1. Light Of S.A.M. D2. Rescue
Exomoon LP is coming on December 2. Meanwhile, you can stream clips over at Hardwax.
Calibre has released a new album, Planet Hearth, out today on his own Signature Recordings.
The 13-track album is dedicated to Calibre’s close friend who passed away last year, and is described as the Irish drum & bass producer’s most poignant record to date. It’s been a work in progress for over four years, described by Calibre as “part of a slow metamorphosis that I have wanted to do for a long time.”
The album’s story begins in 2015, as Calibre escaped to Valentia on the west coast of Ireland, where he sought solace away from the grind of modern living to write music and draw inspiration from his surroundings. He made “Planet Hearth” in Belfast a few weeks before losing his close friend, and this formed an “emotional narrative that will make even the hardest of hearts shed a tear upon listening,” we’re told.
The album is largely ambient, but there is a nod to Calibre’s drum & bass roots with “Walking in Circles,” a track that can and has been played in one of his sets. “A somewhat melancholic and atmospheric piece of work, it still has that signature Calibre sound, attesting to incredible diversity of the man,” the label adds.
Tracklisting
01. Hills 02. Colby Park 03. Eratik 04. Five Minute Flame 05. Planet Hearth 06. Walking In Circles 07. Sheven 08. Thought Fields 09. Error 10. Waiting For Reasons 11. Chasm 12. Pine 13. Down That Road
Planet Hearth LP is available now on Signature Recordings. You can order it over at Bandcamp, and stream “Walking In Circles” below.
After taking a break in 2019, Comunité festival will return on January 11 for its fourth edition, relocating to the Puerto Escondido beach on the Oaxacan coast of Mexico.
Puerto Escondido is one of the best surf beaches in the world, and a paradise that’s managed to remain mostly under the mainstream tourist radar. The local town, established in 1930, is a low-key destination with plenty of amazing spots to stay and delicious food.
The new location also ushers in a new musical formula. This year’s edition sees Comunité focus more heavily on the bass-heavy sides of cutting-edge club music. With Yu Yu club as a collaborative partner, Mexico’s vital underground club scene is well represented. The groundbreaking NAAFI label are there in full force, with Mexican Jihad and Fausto Bahia both on hand. After a performance an Mutek Mexico, Tomás Urquieta is a highlight to watch, while DJ Hotmale brings rowdy acid flair. Nico (f.k.a White Visitation) will also bring his uniquely gritty techno sound, joined by rising CDMX DJs MNTY and Phaedra.
Heading up the rest of the lineup are dubstep legend Mala and Hyperdub boss Kode 9. Madam X is on hand to represent younger strains of bass music, as well as Berlin’s Darwin. Miami’s Nick León brings his experimental flair to the beach, and Kiev’s Raw Unkut will provide a unique ravey, breaks-driven energy. More artists will be announced soon.
This year, the festival has teamed up with sustainability initiative Impact0 to ensure that all steps are in place to make it a green event. Locally sourced food and production materials, a circular cup scheme, a waste management programme, and carbon offsetting are all part of the programme.
Paul “PBDY” Preston’s debut album arrives in a particularly difficult moment for the Los Angeles musician. Careworn, a 10-track long-player brimming with guest spots—Jeff Parker (of pioneering post-rock outfit Tortoise), Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (violin), and drummer Justin Brown—is out now on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder, where he’s been a resident DJ for the best part of eight years, hosting radio shows, building DJ mixes, and rocking label showcases, having relocated to the California coastline from Phoenix, Arizona upon FlyLo’s recommendation.
A self-confessed music fanatic, PBDY’s seemingly inexhaustible passion for new sounds is infectious, but this enthusiasm is contrasted by a sadness that pervades the album, the result of an unprecedented heartbreak in his life: he lost his mother to cancer while working on the record, and views it as a sort of sonic documentation of his feelings during this four-year period.
Before Careworn, PBDY’s discography consisted of just one track: “Bring Me Down,” included on Brainfeeder’s 10th anniversary compilation last year. He only began producing in 2017, linking up with Jeremiah Jaeas as JP Moregun for a moody, psych-heavy rap mixtape, and he’s spent much of the period since then working on a long-form outing. In the wake of the album’s release, we caught up with PBDY to learn more about it, as he catches his breath after a 35-date tour across the USA with Flying Lotus.
01. What have you been up to recently?
Recently, I’ve been touring a ton! I was on a 35-date North American tour with Flying Lotus alongside Brainfeeder label mates Brandon Coleman and Salami Rose Joe Louis, and now I’m on tour with The Cinematic Orchestra for another 22 shows across America. I’m super blessed to have been on the road so much recently.
02. What’s the last thing that made you laugh, and why?
Thundercat and I always send each other stupid memes and weirdo shit. He’s my big bro so it’s just dumb laughs always. Between that and my newly found “Soprano’s out of context” memes, I’m a happy guy.
03. What’s the last thing that made you cry, and why?
The song “8:48 PM” on my record has a sample of a voicemail from my mother. It was the last voicemail I had saved after I lost them all when she passed away. It’s basically her telling me she can’t make it to my show in Phoenix because she was too sick. That was the last show she would have ever been able to see me play at. She never got to see me perform. I played that song in Montreal to a sold out crowd and I just started to get super teary. I love my mom and miss her so much, and I know she heard that one.
04. How would you describe your debut album in three words?
Perseverance, heartache, rebirth.
05. The album explores “love, loss and death.” What do you mean by this?
During the process of recording this record, I lost my mother to cancer, fell in love, and lost love. This record was made throughout the span of close to four years so through that time I went through some pretty life-shaping experiences that have forever changed me. I’m still dealing with these feelings and I used the recording process as a cathartic means to keep going forward.
06. Careworn is the first part of a trilogy. What can we expect from the next two instalments?
So Careworn is the first in the trilogy of the human condition. The second record will be titled Heartsore, and this which explores the feeling of even more grief. As I started working on new music after completion of Careworn, I realized the feelings I was going through still remained, and they were even getting slightly worse. My music was getting darker and more cinematic so the second record explores the concept that maybe the feelings that I thought were resolved remained. The third record will be titled Betterment, and it is the sort of light at the end of the tunnel. Things have to get better, but it takes time.
07. How much of an impact has Flying Lotus had on your work, and also on Careworn?
Flylo has had a huge impact on my work, I think. Not in the sense of what it sounds like but in the sense that I’ve taken music so seriously because I know it’s important to do so. It’s pretty trippy and intimidating to be surrounded by such incredible musicians. That’s partly the reason why I’ve never released music really until now. I’ve always thought that the point is to make complete and genuine music. Not something half-assed. There is so much good music in the world that for the longest time I was okay with not releasing music because I didn’t think I had much to bring to the table yet. I’ve always wanted to add to the dialogue rather than be another sonic that gets lost or in the way. FlyLo was the first person to tell me to stop sampling so much and to try to work with musicians, which is maybe the main reason Careworn happened. I set out to make something with no samples at all, just purely original sounds from myself and my friends involved. It ended up creating the most personal work I’ve made to date. He pushes me hard and I fucking love him for that. He’s like my Goku. He just wants to see people succeed and I appreciate him endlessly.
08. Where are your favorite places to look for new music?
I’m still a Soundcloud searcher; a lot of the music I find on Soundcloud. I also get a ton of unreleased stuff sent to me all the time, because I’m running TAR so I get demos all the time. Of course iTunes and Spotify for more popular things, but I’ve been just digging random spots and also just hollering at the people whose sounds I love asking them to send me their new stuff.
09. What are the best and worst things about living in Los Angeles?
I’ll be honest, the tacos, weed, weather are the best things about Los Angeles. Also, I have so many friends here so I couldn’t imagine living elsewhere. The worst things about Los Angeles are the traffic and the fact that it does feel like everyone is just trying to one-up everyone else. This can be a good thing if it’s friendly competition but it can also be deadly if it’s ego-based. I also do wish I could have more variety nowadays in the live shows being played in LA. It’s a mellow time, I think, in LA which is great for creation but it does keep me staying inside more than I used to.
10.If you could go B2B with anyone alive or dead, who would it be?
Shiiit, I thought about this for a long time and the name that kept coming to mind was DJ Rashad. I still love DJing footwork music and I think that would have been the best shit ever. I love the fast pace of footwork, it truly does feel like a battle or video game when you’re doing B2B with those sounds. Straight up Co-Op mode. I just love how many songs you can mix so quickly and DJ Rashad was truly a pioneer. I played a house party once right before him and I’ll never forget that shit!
11. If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, who would it be?
Another tough one! I think Alejandro Jodorowsky. He’s one of my all-time favorite people in the world. Between his beliefs and philosophies, his films, music, his writings, he’s easily one of the most interesting people in the world. Plus, I’m sure he’s got some wild food tastes. I would also want him to read my tarot during the dinner. That would be too next level! “The Holy Mountain” changed my life when I was younger so I would love to pick his brain and have him explore why my brain processes the way it does.
12. What would be your perfect day, and why?
I’m a pretty simple guy when it comes to my “perfect day.” I do live by a saying I heard years ago that touches on the fact that people get really caught up in the thought that everyday should be some huge experience and should do this and that, and how boring the average day is. Well, the truth is, one day all we will want is an average day. When the shit hits the fan, all we will ask for is normality. When things get really bad, all you want is that basic day with nothing going on, and just being okay with that is important.
So to answer the question, my perfect day would start with a super hot shower including essential oils—eucalyptus, lemongrass, tea tree—then I’d cook a proper breakfast, go to a gym session, come home, throw on some music and explore sounds, do my emails, work on more music, watch some good/bad movies, and go see my homies (Lotus, Thundercat, etc..). Come home to cook a huge dinner, invite some friends to join, and smoke a bunch of weed to end the day. This sounds super basic but again, not everyday can be extravagant. We would lose the aspect of excitement if every day was crazy important!
13. What are the secrets to running a successful label?
I think a key thing is constant contact and communication with the artists on the label. It’s very important to chat with your artists often, even if there is nothing to catch up on, that’s still catching up. The more connected the artists feel to the people running the label the more there will be a real family feeling. When you feel like a family, it’s a lot easier to work and feel honest and open with what’s going on. No one has to beat around the bush or feel awkward; it’s just openness and communication.
I also think having your ear to the street is incredibly important. Knowing everything that’s going on, even if not interested in it, it’s very important to be all-knowing with what’s happening in the world. There are so many things that go into running a successful label but I do think those two things are sorta major keys. Also, just not being afraid to holler at folks or try to connect with new people; whether it be a new artist or a visual artist you want to work with or anyone, just find the contact and make it happen. Worst thing that happens is no reply or they say no. And even then, you just have to keep going!
14. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?
Teleportation would be a pretty rad ability to have, if we are going the super power route or whatever. A lot of the things in life we wish we could do are limited by transportation and distance. Imagine wanting to work with someone or see someone you love instantly. Endless bonds could be created. I think a lot of people should wake up with the quality of more empathy though, that would help the world immensely.
15. What three tracks can you not stop listening to right now, and why?
“Ocean of Tears” by Caroline Polachek. This song has been on REPEAT. I think it’s pretty much a perfect pop song, the beat is so subtle but banging, and her vocals and cadence are just fantastic. She’s legit killing it right now.
“Kuytu” by Kit Sebastian. This is easily one of my favorite new bands I’ve found this year. Such amazing sounds and freshness that I’ve been looking for.
“Free The Frail” by JPEGMAFIA. This song is so beautiful. It’s the type of track that makes you just need to keep going. When you feel like you’ve lost hope, this is one to bring you back up and find your way.
16. What hobbies do have outside of music?
I love to cook and write. I’ve cooked most my whole life, learning from my parents since I was about eight years old. I’ve been writing short films and stories for just as long. I love throwing on a good movie score and just writing all sorts of short ideas and brainstorming. I’ve been a huge film buff for as long as I can remember so film is very important to me. I’m going to finally try and shoot my first short film(s) in 2020.
17. What was the last film you watched that really amazed you?
“Monos.” This was easily the best film I’ve seen in the last five-plus years. The best movie I’ve seen in theatres since “Moonlight” and “The Revenant.” Utterly mysterious and beautiful. It’s truly incredible and I’ve told everyone I know to go see it immediately. I’ve never seen a movie that throws you into the world without much explanation and at the end you’re still left wondering even more. It gives you just enough to feel satisfied and I love a movie that keeps you thinking for days after. Not to mention the amazing score by Mica Levi.
18. What would you want to be if you hadn’t become a full-time musician?
I would definitely still be working in the record industry. I have always had a huge passion for working at record labels and such so I would continue doing that for sure. When I was a kid though I almost went to culinary college!
19. What are your long-term ambitions with music?
I would love to continue working with Brainfeeder and grow in that world of the biz side of things. But musically I would love to start working on movie scores. It’s sort of naturally happening but I would really love to work properly in that field soon. After these few records, I’m working on i do plan on starting to score films.
20. What’s the first thing you’re going to do after you’ve finished these questions?
Planted is an EP of ice cold mutations of afro-beats, footwork, and jungle. Where the London duo’s 2018 EP We Can’t Be That Far From The Beginning, their RR debut, evoked a meditative mood, Planted rejoins the dance with four tracks that acknowledge strong influence from Latin American and Chicago footwork styles in a mutation of hardcore British dance music.
The EP continues with the same conceptual theme as their earlier work by exploring the digital subconscious with persistently invasive, alien ambient shrapnel—expect “half-heard voices, aleatoric prangs, and tag-covered signposts,” all woven into their tightly coiled and reflexive drum programming.
Raime’s latest EP, Am I Using Content Or Is Content Using Me?, came last year on Mumdance and Logo’s Different Circles.
Pressings of the EP are limited to 500 copies.
Tracklisting
01. Num 02. Ripli 03. Kella 04. Belly
Planted EP is out today, with “Num” streaming below.
Off Week will return next year, taking place across June 19 and 20 at Parc del Fòrum in Barcelona, Spain.
The organizers of the event already hold eight editions to their name, the first six as Off at Forum. After a record edition in 2019, where around 30,000 people congregated, Off Week Festival has become a stand-out date in Barcelona’s party calendar.
Next year’s Off Week takes place over two days rather than three. The lineups are still to be announced but there will be showcases from Afterlife, [A:rpia:r], and Solid Grooves on Friday, June 19, before Diynamic, Secretsundaze, and Ricardo Villalobos X FRRC step up on Saturday, June 20.
Sónar Festival, which takes place nearby, pushed back its dates to July last year meaning there was no clash, but returns to its regular June slot in 2020.
More information will be announced soon, but you can find tickets and travel details here.
