joeFarr “Bound”

As the year begins to pick up steam and XLR8R continues to discover new and exciting artists (as our Bubblin’ Up Week extensively illustrates), Tiga’s Turbo imprint has also found some of its own fresh talent, and offered an enticing cut from the latest addition to its New Jack Techno crew. As you might remember from the New Jack Techno compilation of last summer, the crew consists of Turbo’s new focus on techno-oriented artists, including the likes of Nautiluss, Gingy & Bordello, Duke Dumont, Locked Groove, and others. Little is known about the newest member of this team, joeFarr, but judging by the evil sounds of his top-notch “Bound” tune, as well as his recent Turbo Promo Mix (you can listen to that after the jump), we expect to hear more from this artist in 2013.

Bound

Uffe Stræss EP

The second record from Amsterdam’s Uffe is not an easy one to pin down. Across three originals, the burgeoning producer seems to have one foot in soulful house and one in the more abstract reaches of electronic pop as he unveils a series of surprises, which seemingly lurk around each of the EP’s many corners.

“Something Wrong” opens Stræss in understandable enough territory, its cool electric-piano chords and funky bassline making for a mellow bit of house. But where many producers would roll a thicker kick or punches of tuned low end beneath the track, Uffe elects to build in the higher region of the sound spectrum, tweaking synth melodies and inserting the occasional shaker shuffle to keep the track moving in an understated fashion. “Turbulence” takes a similar path, but utilizes much different elements, beginning with a lopsided percussion loop and adding Uffe’s own obscured vocals, a few off-kilter hits, and—again—just a touch of bluesy piano chords.

The EP’s final original offering, “Fist Fight,” is perhaps its most unexpected. Looping a swinging drum break, Uffe builds up a driving piece of disco house, on top of which he repeatedly sings the same phrase with a calm and cool delivery. The song’s jumping guitar and popping melodies hint at a more upbeat affair, but the song never seems too outlandish, as its more withheld components—swirling background chords and an almost ambivalent vocal delivery—make it the kind of pop-flecked house tune that someone can really sink their teeth into. Add to all this two impressive and similarly unique remixes from O.P.T. and Brandt (of Brandt Brauer Frick) in collaboration with Emil Margetli Nyholm, and Stræss stacks up as a rather solid EP, one whose strength lies in its ability to be a chameleon of sorts within the current dance-music sphere.

Marcel Dettmann “Linux” b/w “Ellipse”

With its latest single, Modeselektor’s conceptual 50Weapons imprint has reached an important milestone. Marking number 25 in what will ultimately be a series of 50 releases, the label has just made it to the halfway point in its predetermined lifespan. Ringing in the moment is Berghain resident Marcel Dettman, who’s turned in “Linux” b/w “Ellipse,” the sequel to his celebrated “Duel” b/w “Deluge,” which he released on the label in 2011. Yet while much of his past work has been defined by rusted textures and alien tonalities, his latest is a straightforward DJ tool that seems to have been created solely with dancefloor function in mind.

Like its computer-operating-system namesake, a-side “Linux” is utilitarian to an extreme degree. It’s minimalistic, with a subtly filtered bassline and pounding, clap-heavy rhythm that combine to form a skeletal beat track, one best suited for connecting two more eventful songs together. The arrangement is sparse, with a linear drive that leaves the listener with a sense that something climactic will eventually happen in the song’s five minutes. As it turns out, that moment never arrives, and its absence places the appeal of the record in the hands of whoever is playing it. Listening, it’s easy to imagine the possible records that could mix in and follow it in a set.

“Ellipse” provides a similar experience, though instead of building itself around a filtered bassline, the song complements its no-frills rhythm with a mechanical keyboard riff and slippery hi-hats that seem to dissolve into detuning. Just like the a-side, we’re left waiting for something to happen—it’s the kind of music that only comes alive in the context of a larger construction. Nevertheless, “Ellipse” still feels like it could be used to pull a dancefloor towards something eventful. Judged on this merit, its ability to conjure a feeling of anticipation makes the track a worthwhile endeavour. However, while both cuts are effective as tools, they ultimately lack the kind of definition required to make them memorable as anything more.

Daedelus to Tour with Salva, Samo Sound Boy, and More

LA beat-making veteran Daedelus has just announced the dates and details of his fourth Magical Properties tour. The producer born Alfred Darlington has invited a number of top-notch house and bass music producers along for the lengthy tour—including Salva (who is also heading out on tour with Brenmar), Ryan Hemsworth, Samo Sound Boy, and newcomer Two Fresh. The crew plans to make stops in most major US cities, with two dates scheduled in Canada. You can check out the full list of dates before Daedelus’ Magical Properties tour kicks off on February 21 in Chicago, as well as strange sort of mashup called “Magical Properties City Roll Call 2013,” below.

2/21 – Chicago @ Bottom Lounge
2/22 – Cleveland @ Beachland Ballroom
2/23 – Ferndale, MI @ The Loving Touch
2/24 – Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab
2/27 – Toronto, ONT @ Wrongbar*
3/1 – Boston, MA @ Middle East*
3/2 – New York City @ Le Poisson Rouge*
3/3 – Philly @ Underground Arts*
3/6 – Washington DC @ Ustreet $
3/7 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel*
3/8 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West*
3/10 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgeralds*
3/18 – St. Louis, MO @ 2720 Cherokee #
3/19 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada #
3/21 – Breckenridge, CO @ Three20South #
3/22 – Vail, CO @ Avon #
3/23 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater #
3/26 – Tempe, AZ @ Club Red #
3/28 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah #
3/29 – Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theatre #
3/30 – Pomona, CA @ Glass House #
3/31 – San Francisco, CA @ Independent #
4/2 – Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall #
4/3 – Portland, OR @ Branx #
4/4 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile#
4/5 – Vancouver, BC @ Electric Owl#

* w/ Salva as direct support
$ w/ Salva + Shlohmo
# w/ Two Fresh as direct support

Logo feat. eLBee BaD “Give Mo Luv (Aashton & Swift Remix)”

Bristol duo Aashton & Swift has resurfaced with a remix of “Give Mo Luv,” the new single from the Parisian outfit Logo. The former of the two duos presents a fiery take on the original dancefloor tune, applying much of the same classic-house sensibilities—saucy vocals, vintage synth tones, rolling basslines, et al—that we heard in “Covenant” last fall. Logo’s forthcoming Give Mo Luv single also features remixes from fellow Parisian Boston Bun and German producer Matthias Zimmerman, and will be released via Kitsuné on January 14.

Give Mo Luv (Aashton & Swift Remix)

Lapalux Announces Debut LP for Brainfeeder, Shares New Track

The latest offering from Brainfeeder affiliate and XLR8R podcast contributor Lapalux (a.k.a. Stuart Howard) has been announced as the Essex producer’s full-length debut, Nostalchic—an announcement which arrives with a preview of one of its fresh tunes. After last year’s Some Other Time and When You’re Gone EPs, Howard’s 12-track album will be released on March 26, and will feature a handful of guest vocals within the producers almagamation of “R&B and soul [with] elements of house and hip hop.” While you continue to patiently wait for Lapalux’s first proper full-length to hit retailers, you can check out Nostalchic‘s artwork and tracklist, as well as stream album cut “Guuurl,” below.

1. IAMSYS (Tape Intro)
2. Guuurl

3. Kelly Brook
4. One Thing (ft. Jenna Andrews)
5. Flower
6. Swallowing Smoke
7. Without You (ft. Kerry Leatham)
8. Straight Over My Head
9. Dance (ft. Astrid Williamson)
10. The Dead Sea
11. Walking Words
12. O E A (ft. Kerry Leatham) (Tape Outro)

Breach and Dark Sky Announce Collaborative 12″

London heavy hitters Breach (pictured above) and Dark Sky recently joined their production efforts on two tracks which are set to be released via Breach’s Naked Naked imprint. Though each of the outfits’ sounds may explore different regions of the bass music realm, the union of Breach and Dark Sky boasts a seamless blend of old-school house and UK bassline tendencies. There are currently no official previews for “The Click” b/w “The Fallout,” but you can check out a version of that 12″s a-side which was ripped from Breach’s Boiler Room set before the full release drops on February 4, below.

Kompakt to Celebrate 20 Years with European Tour, Documentary, Reissues, and More

The Cologne-based techno aficionados over at Kompakt will begin celebrating 20 succesful years as a record store and label this March, and are set to roll out a slew of events and goodies to mark the occasion. While the exact details have yet to surface, Kompakt tells of plans to bring an anniversary tour through major European cities, which will come accompanied by a mobile, pop-up version of its brick-and-mortar record store. There is also talk of a documentary chronicling the rise of the company, a detailed “fanzine,” and a host of reissues being in the works. (If you’re anything like us, you’ve got your fingers crossed for some vinyl reissues of those classic Closer Musik releaes, among others). And, possibly the best news yet, the label of course still has plans to release new music throughout 2013. While there are no exact release dates, we’re told to expect new records from Justus Köhncke, Coma, The Field, and Gui Boratto before the year is through.

Scuba Plans End of SUB:STANCE

After five years of SUB:STANCE‘s somewhat sporadic Berghain resdiency and worldwide presence, organizers Paul Rose (a.k.a. Scuba, pictured above) and Paul Fowler have announced plans to end their run of events. “One of the things we agreed on when it became clear that the party was going to be a success was that we would quit while we were ahead,” reads a recent post on SUB:STANCE’s Facebook page. “It’s no exaggeration to say there have been some truly special nights, and we never wanted to reach the stage where the vibe faded and lost its shine. So after five years, we have decided that now is the right time to bring SUB:STANCE to an end.” Since 2008, Rose’s and Fowler’s nights have morphed from a haven for forward-thinking dubstep to more recently inviting artists that push the boundaries of techno and bass music. But before SUB:STANCE comes to a close, two more nights at Berghain will go down—the first of which will be on February 15 with names like Pearson Sound, Pinch, Machinedrum, BNJMN, and Khan on the bill alongside Scuba. A final send-off is planned for SUB:STANCE’s fifth birthday in July, though no line-up has been announced as of yet. To read the full statement from Rose and Fowler regarding SUB:STANCE’s close, head here.

Grown Folk Readies New 12″ for Icee Hot; Preview it Now

Extending its roster beyond San Francisco and Berlin, the label division of SF’s Icee Hot crew has signed on Montreal-based duo Grown Folk for its third release. You may remember the Canadian outfit’s remix that appeared on Lando Kal’s solid “Let You in the Sky” b/w “Help Myself” record for Icee Hot, but “The Boat” b/w “Keep Few Near” will mark Grown Folk’s first original productions for the label. The pair, comprised of Drew Kim and Brendan Neal, clearly fit in with the sounds heard so far from the imprint, as the record features a lush and textured brand of house music that will be bolstered by remixes from Icee Hot resident Ghosts on Tape and veteran Dutch producer Gerd. Before “The Boat” b/w “Keep Few Near” drops on February 11, you can preview all four of its tracks below.

A1. The Boat
A2. Keep Few Near
B1. The Boat (Gerd Re-Work)
B2. Keep Few Near (Ghosts On Tape Remix)

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