Casual Fridays: On the cheap!

Our resident stylist Andrew Porter waxes casual on men’s and women’s must-haves.

Mickey Mouse Watch
Maybe I’m alone on this one, but I think the Mickey Mouse watch is an all-time classic. Sure, I’m 29 years old, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t love a good cartoon mouse. I mean the little guy brought a broom to life in Fantasia. Try that on for size, David Blaine! Back to the point, the Mickey Mouse watch is great—youthful yet classic. A cool grandfather could get away with wearing one of these…as could you! My only recommendation is to get rid of that awful band and replace it with a nice NATO strap.

Vintage Swatch Sunglasses
I’ve said it before: Swatch killed it in the ’80s and ’90s, and they continue to kill it now. The other day, whilst deep in an internet rabbit hole, I noticed that Squiggly’s Watch World has a whole gang of deadstock Swatch sunglasses. These jammers are pretty next level: a 1993 take on classic mountaineering sunglasses. They’ve got purple frames with clear arms, orange detailing, and (removable) wacky-print blinders. What’s not to love? An ideal pair of shades to protect your eyes from the desert dust storms at Burning Man this year. If the Swatch Snowbuck isn’t for you, check out the other options Squiggly offers. Lots of great frames all at super-reasonable prices.

Ralph Lauren Sale Items
So, it’s that awkward time in the season when summer items are on sale and full fall collections haven’t hit the racks yet. Good time to score bizarre items one usually wouldn’t want to pay full price for. I’m quite partial to the Polo digital sale rack. Take this RLX Future Tropic jacket, for example. Most fly for the sale price of $100, yet totally nuts for the retail price of $298. I also suggest checking out the t-shirts. Polo tees like this reversible one are great, and a steal at $27. Two shirts in one!

Monarchy “Maybe I’m Crazy (Azari & III Remix)”

London production duo Monarchy has a new single touching down on August 22 via 100% Records, complete with an array of remixes from the likes of Diskjokke and Azari & III, the latter of which we have for you here. The Canadian house ensemble gets downright dark and dirty on its acid-tinged rework, (thankfully) eschewing just about anything resembling the painfully cheeseball ‘niteclub’ vibes of the original track.

Maybe I’m Crazy (Azari & III Remix)

Klaus Tusk EP

R&S is undoubtedly one of the coolest electronic music labels around these days, but we’re starting to suspect that it might also be a front for some sort of (not-so) covert Fleetwood Mac fanclub. Last month saw the release of the Lostwithiel EP from UK duo The Chain (Hint #1), and now the imprint has signed young Londoner Klaus, whose debut is entitled the Tusk EP. (Hint #2) We’ll admit, this whole Fleetwood Mac theory is dubious at best, but the quality of Klaus’ production is not.

The four-track EP is impeccably assembled, as one gets the sensation while listening that every tiny sonic element was meticulously nestled into place. This is not club music, as Klaus’ borderline-ambient creations are designed for headphones, not the dancefloor. The title track features sharp drums with a familiar stutter, albeit at a tempo that at the very least feels like its been screwed to a crawl. Combined with some bubbly bass notes and airy synth lines that morph and change with the urgency of a snail, “Tusk” is an exquisite listen. “Fens” and “Pim” actually dial things down even further, the former darting about like a Hessle Audio tune on quaaludes while the latter features only a hint of percussion beneath the gradual rise and fall of its constantly evolving ominous melodies. “Cypher” features the thickest low end on the EP, skating along the edge of DMZ-era dubstep while retaining a decidedly abstract vibe.

If the Tusk EP has a weakness, it’s that the songs here do suffer from a lack of memorable songwriting. No matter how proficient Klaus may be as a producer—make no mistake, his beatmaking chops are on-point, and he’s brimming with artistic potential—his tunes are so sparse and so detail-oriented that although each individual moment may be perfectly executed, the complete productions sometimes leave the impression that something is lacking. While it’s unlikely that anyone is going to be upset by listening to the Tusk EP, it’s also a safe bet that not many people will be clamoring for repeated spins, either.

Com Truise “Ether Drift”

The New Jersey synth-whisperer known as Com Truise is about to embark on an absolutely massive tour and has offered up another track from his recently released Galatic Melt LP to help spread the word. As one might expect, “Ether Drift” is an epic synthscape of a beat, complete with retro-sounding drums, glistening arpeggios, electro bass, and an incalculable number of watery delay trails. Drifting from one melancholy theme to another, the first half of the tune moves similarly to the arch of a side-scrolling video game—first enticing you with an inviting melody, then leading you through ever greater struggles. Sounds like somewhere around the two minute mark, we fight the boss (and win), before Com Truise takes us out with a vast, lengthy outro. You can peep the seriously substantial list of international tour dates after the jump.

Tour Dates:
August 30 Tucson AZ – Solar Culture
September 01 Dallas TX – Prophet Bar
September 02 Austin, TX @ Emo’s
September 03 Houston TX – Fitzgerald’s
September 04 Seattle WA – Bumbershoot (Ghostly Label Showcase)
September 05 Atlanta GA – The Earl
September 06 Chapel Hill NC – Local 506
September 07 Washington DC – Black Cat
September 08 Philadelphia PA – First Unitarian Church
September 09 Long Island NY – Quicksilver Pro New York Music
September 10 New York NY – Bowery Ballroom
September 12 Boston MA – Brighton Music Hall
September 13 Montreal QC – Casa de Popolo
September 20 Birmingham AL – Bottletree
September 21 New Orleans LA – One Eyed Jacks
September 22 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
September 27 Solana Beach CA – Belly Up Tavern
September 30 Los Angeles CA – Troubadour
October 01 San Francisco CA – Rickshaw Stop
October 03 Portland OR – Doug Fir Lounge
October 04 Vancouver BC – Venue
October 07 Boise ID – Reef
October 08 Salt Lake City UT – Urban Lounge
October 10 Denver CO – Bluebird Theater
October 12 Kansas City MO – The Record Bar
October 13 Minneapolis MN – 1st Ave
October 14 Chicago IL – Lincoln Hall
October 15 Cleveland OH – Grog Shop
October 16 Detroit MI – Magic Stick
October 18 Toronto ON – Lee’s Palace
November 04 Rome IT – Laficio159
November 05 Foligno IT – Auditorium
November 08 Brighton UK – Green Door Store
November 09 Dublin IE – The Grand Social
November 10 Manchester UK – Now Wave @ Ritz
November 11 London UK – Shackwell Arms
November 12 Stockholm SE – Debaser MEDIS
November 16 Paris FR – Club Folamour
November 18 Berlin DE – Introducing @ Magnet
November 19 Copenhagen DK – Dunkel
November 20 Oslo NO – John Dee
November 23 Gent BE – Charaltan
November 24 Utrecht NL – Guess Who Festival
November 25 Madrid SP – Primavera Club
November 26 Barcelona SP – Primavera Club

Com Truise – Ether Drift

The Rapture “How Deep is Your Love? (Wax Motif & Neoteric Remix)”

As most of you probably know by now, The Rapture is back, and with a hell of a single, too. The “How Deep is Your Love?” tune is just a small taste from the now-trio’s forthcoming In the Grace of Your Love LP (The Rapture is pretty into love, apparently), which is tweaked into a pulsating disco-house cut by Aussie DJ/producer Wax Motif and Berlin/Vancouver-based artist Neoteric on their bootleg remix (that’s the fake label art up top). The pair do away with the original version’s “Thong Song”-reminiscent chorus—keeping the catchy piano riffs, rhetorical vocal hooks, and sultry sax solo to layer over their deep dance rhythms. Check out a slew of upcoming tour dates for The Rapture after the jump.

08-20 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
08-27 Charlesville Meziere, France – Cabaret Vert Festival
08-28 Vevey, Switzerland – Rocking Chair
08-30 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg
08-31 Antwerp, Belgium – Trix
09-02 Stradbally, Ireland – Electric Picnic Festival
09-04 Trinity, Jersey – Jersey Live Festival
09-05 Paris, France – Maroquinerie
09-07 Manchester, England – Club Academy
09-08 London, England – XOYO
09-09 Berlin, Germany – Berlin Festival
09-22 Boston, MA – Royale
09-23 New York, NY – Webster Hall
09-24 Baltimore, MD – Sonar
09-25 Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall
09-27 Columbus, OH – TBD
09-28 Chicago, IL – Metro
09-29 Minneapolis, MN – The Varsity
10-01 Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
10-03 Scottsdale, AZ – Martini Ranch
10-04 San Diego, CA – Belly Up
10-06 Los Angeles, CA – The Music Box
10-07 Pomona, CA – Glasshouse
10-08 San Francisco, CA – The Sound Factory
10-10 El Paso, TX – Club 101
10-11 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
10-12 Austin, TX – La Zona Rosa
10-13 Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
10-15 Mexico City, Mexico – Corona Capital Festival
10-17 Miami, FL – Grand Central
10-18 Orlando, FL – The Beacham Theatre
10-19 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
10-21 Philadelphia, PA – Voyeur
10-27 Bristol, England – Thekla
10-28 Leeds, England – Cockpit
10-29 Coventry, England – Kasbah
10-30 Glasgow, Scotland – SWG3
11-02 London, England – Koko
11-03 Brighton, England – Coalition
11-05 Cologne, Germany – Werkstatt
11-07 Milan, Italy – Magazzini Generali
11-08 Munich, Germany – 591
11-09 Hamburg, Germany – Knust
11-12 Lille, France – Le Grand Mix
11-15 Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Rockhal
11-16 Caen, France – Cargo
11-20 Heidelberg, Germany – Karlstorbanhof
11-22 Barcelona, Spain – Razzmatazz

How Deep Is Your Love (Wax Motif & Neoteric Remix)

How Deep Is Your Love (Wax Motif & Neoteric Remix)

Numbers Reissues Classic DJ Pierre Single

Chicago acid-house veteran DJ Pierre can now be counted among the crop of dance music pioneers stepping back into the spotlight, thanks to a solid mix he dropped over on FACT this week and a well-deserved reissue of his 1987 cut produced with Felix Da Housecat as Pierre’s Pfantasy Club, “Mystery Girl (Set Me Free).” The 12″ is out now via Glasgow’s Numbers label, along with a rework by UK bassman Seiji. You can check out a preview of the music below.

XLR8R Couldn't find the embed function for type: "soundcloud" and source: "<embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F20420842" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%">".

Seams “Focus Energy” b/w “Motive Order”

Shedding the gritty field recordings and much of the textural soundscapes which characterized his well-regarded debut (2010’s Tourist EP), Seams returns to the Pictures imprint with two songs sharply focused on the dancefloor.

Although composed from virtually the same source material, “Focus Energy” and “Motive Order” are two considerably different songs, not only in the identifiable melodies and movements, but also in their varied tempo and feel. Beginning with a layer of string-like plucks, “Focus Energy” gradually builds to become an immensely dense layering of syncopated synth lines, driven by a 16th-note bass pattern and beautifully chopped female vocal “oohs” and “aahs.” The whole affair is pushed forward by its well-executed arrangement, which results from Seams’ delicate piling and peeling away of elements and subtle tweaking of rhythms as the track moves. “Motive Order” is a much more brooding culmination of Seams’ chosen sound palette, picking up the tempo to 130-plus bpm while revealing more of the UK producer’s penchant for delicate sounds. Lead by an intensely strict arpeggiator, the b-side is also slow to build, but this time a flurry of tiny lo-fi loops pool together below the surface before the track eventually explodes into an inescapable rush of textured techno.

It’s been said that the inspiration for this single came from “a desire to make audiences dance at his live shows,” and with these songs in hand, he is likely to suceed. But it is not simply the fact that “Focus Energy” and “Motive Order” are more dance worthy that makes them impressive, it is also the distinct way in which Seams has expanded his sound, landing these tunes somewhere along the lines of the super-energized works of The Field, or perhaps a more machine-oriented Four Tet, all the while keeping traces of his own style intact.

Silkie Embarks on North American Tour

While in the midst of some rather ambitious release plans set for this year (including four two-song singles and his sophomore LP, City Limits Volume 2, for Deep Medi), another name from London’s talented pool of dubstep producers, Silkie, is set to hop over the pond and descend on North American audiences for the month of August. Making his way from coast to coast with stops in Canada and even Puerto Rico, Silkie has a busy month ahead of him, beginning tonight at The Works in Detroit. You can check the full list of dates below.

Silkie Tour Dates:
August 11 Detroit MI – The Works
August 12 Boston MA – Goodlife
August 13 San Juan PR – Red Shield Music Hall
August 16 Denver CO – The Other Side
August 18 Chicago IL – Smartbar
August 19 Vancouver BC – W2 Media Cafe
August 20 Los Angeles CA – Musicbox
August 21 Austin TX – Barcelona
August 22 New York City NY – One Last Shag
August 23 Buffalo NY – Broadway Joe’s
August 25 Miami FL – The Vagabond
August 26 San Francisco CA – 103 Harriet
August 27 Atlant GA – The Sound Table Underground

Strut to Release Factory Records Retrospective

The legend of Factory Records should be known far and wide within the electronic music community, but, without a doubt, a more detailed audio history of the Manchester label is certainly welcome. The people at London’s Strut imprint seem to agree, and are prepared to deliver a double-disc compilation featuring a comprehensive collection of Factory’s early output. Compiled by noted DJ/dance music writer Bill Brewster, the 24-track endeavor, entitled FAC. DANCE, chronicles the early days of Factory-style dance music and even the larger spectrum of music the label was originally involved with, including “jazz funk, British soul, and even reggae.” No artwork has surfaced for now, but you can check the entire tracklist for the unmixed compilation below. FAC. DANCE is set to be released October 10. (via Resident Advisor)

Tracklist
CD 1
01 Section 25 “Looking From A Hilltop (Megamix”
02 A Certain Ratio “Wild Party”
03 Quando Quango “Love Tempo”
04 52nd Street “Express”
05 Swamp Children “Little Voices”
06 Biting Tongues “Boss Toyota Trouble”
07 The Durutti Column “For Belgian Friends (Valuable Passages Version)”
08 Royal Family & The Poor “Art On 45”
09 A Certain Ratio “Knife Slits Water (12″ Version)”
10 Section 25 “Dirty Disco”
11 Blurt “Puppeteer”
12 X-O-Dus “See Them-A-Come”

CD 2
01 New Order “Confusion (Original 12” Mix)”
02 Shark Vegas “Pretenders Of Love”
03 52nd Street “Cool As Ice (Jellybean Mix)”
04 Streetlife “Act On Instinct (Hot Swedish Mix)”
05 The Hood “Salvation! (Nitromix)”
06 Abecedarians “Smiling Monarchs”
07 Quando Quango “Atom Rock (Mark Kamins Mix)”
08 Marcel King “Reach For Love (New York Remix)”
09 52nd Street “Look Into My Eyes”
10 Quando Quango “Genius”
11 Swamp Children “You’ve Got Me Beat”
12 The Durutti Column “Madeleine”

Digital Only
01 Minny Pops “Time”
02 Kalima “Black Water”
03 Royal Family & The Poor “Motherland”

Contakt & Mayster “Korak (Matt Shadetek 3Ball NYC Remix)”

Two of the mixmasters behind the monthly Brooklyn-based and XLR8R-sponsored TURRBOTAX® party, Contakt and Mayster, have a joint EP ready to drop via NYC world-bass hub Dutty Artz on August 23. The four-track release includes two originals, a remix by Doc Daneeka, and this massive effort by Dutty Artz label head Matt Shadetek, who puts his own spin on Mexico’s tribal guarachero sound and builds upon the punchy bounce of “Korak” with an extra-large helping of pattering percussion and other tropical sounds.

Korak (Matt Shadetek 3ball NYC Remix)

Page 2231 of 3781
1 … 2,229 2,230 2,231 2,232 2,233 … 3,781