Boddika “Spray”

One half of recently featured UK duo Instra:mental, Al Bleek (a.k.a. Boddika), unleashed this MP3 download from his increasingly prolific solo moniker. At a charging pace from the onset, “Spray” feels like its on the edge of some great discovery with an array of blistering arps and a relentlessly pounding four-on-the-floor beat. The production is along the lines of what we’ve come to expect from the likes of both Instra:mental and Boddika as of late, utilizing sharp, detailed sounds while maintaining a raw, rugged feel via the irregular glimpses of overdriven distortion and distant, blurry pops and hisses. The song maintains this adrenaline-rushed voyage for a little over two minutes before climaxing into a melodic breakdown in which a chorus of bells struggle to peek through the vast layers of remaining synths. Abruptly ending with the sound of the finally defeated bells, “Spray” is a nice slice of work, adding dark, futuristic techno to the already genre-filled list of production styles Bleek and his projects are capable of doing well.

Spray

Video Premiere: The Miracles Club “Light of Love (Cut Copy Re-Vision)”

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Portland vintage-house ensemble The Miracles Club just released a 12″ of remixes for its first single from over a year ago, “Light of Love,” which includes a solid rework by Cut Copy, among others. Oddly enough, Honey Owens and Co. decided to put together a music video for that remix, and XLR8R has the pleasure of premiering it today. Director Judah Switzer captured the austere black-and-white footage that makes up his elegant piece, which features an array of characters rendered in monochrome, who strike poses and dance about as if the camera were their bedroom mirror. Owens sings to us placidly in the midst of it all, and occasionally allows her body to groove along to the spacey dance tune. The whole thing looks as perfectly neo-classic as The Miracles Club’s music sounds.

Dauwd “Could it Be”

Another artist recently inducted to the ever-growing Pictures Music roster is Liverpool’s Dauwd, who just shared a two-track digital single before his first EP drops in a few months. “Could it Be” is the most upbeat of the pair, and exhibits the producer’s washed-out style of heartfelt bass music. Evoking the likes of Four Tet and Joy Orbison, Dauwd employs a host of unique synth tones for his soulful melodies, a thick bath of warbling ambiance for his otherworldly moods, and a tasteful bassline to groove along with his bouncing dance beat. Especailly when paired with pitched-down vocal samples, those sounds may not seem terribly novel, but the English artist has a subtle way of making them very much is own. You can also grab the b-side to “Could it Be”—the mellower “Shimmer”—for free, over here.

Could it Be

Download Dan Curtin’s Detroit-Inspired Mix

Detroit’s Movement Festival is just around the corner, and in anticipation of their Mobilee Loves Detroit after-party, Anja Schneider’s Mobilee label has just offered up a Detroit-inspired mix from US expat (and current Berliner) Dan Curtin. The 313 Inspire Mix is by no means an all-Detroit set, but it nicely features a number of D-Town hit men alongside other Motor City-infused tracks. Check out the mix and tracklist below.

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1. Intro – Unknown black label 7″
2. Kenny Larkin – Glob (Kenny Larkin mix) – Planet-e
3. Nina Kraviz – Tanya – Rekids
4. Andre Galluzzi – Freya – Ostgut Ton
5. Mayday – Fantom – Transmat
6. Fade to Black – In Sync – Fragile
7. Rennie Foster feat Moka Only – Connect Like Four (Samuel L. Session remix) – Rebirth
8. The Oliver Who Factory – Galactic Transit (Recall Mix) – Rush Hour
9. Martinez – Mzuzu Chant – Cadenza
10. Orlando Voorn – Unpredictable Love – Polymorph
11. Robert Hood – The Family – M.Plant
12. Marco Bernardi feat. Keith Tucker – Broken Silences – Royal Oak
13. Taras Van De Voorde – The Game (Santos 909 and Piano Roll Remix) – EC Records
14. Agoria feat. Carl Craig – Speechless – Infine Music
15. Moodyman – Dem Young Sconies – Planet-e
16. James Alexander – Reminisce (Dan Curtin remix) – Friends Electric
17. Genius of Time – Houston We Have a Problem – Royal Oak
18. Outro – unknown black label 7″

HaHaHa “Ape Escape”

Glaswegian house producer Frazier Graham is presumably a man of many hats. The guy hits the skins for indie band Vendor Defender, records proggy avant-synth pieces as Alpine Ski Champion, and now he’s making quirky house tunes as HaHaHa. With one EP already under his belt and another on the way, he sent us a teaser of his forthcoming output in the form of “Ape Escape.” Sharing the playful nature of its name, the tune is a shuffling mix of mischievous stabs and chunky synth bass.

Ape Escape (Demo Mix)

Video: Brenmar “Taking it Down”

Our very first taste of the debut EP by Brooklyn DJ/producer Brenmar, At It Again, was the bouncing, Marques Houston-sampling “Taking it Down,” which is also apparently the first of his tracks to get an official music video. This flashy piece was filmed over at the tunesmith’s favorite neighborhood barbershop, Quickcuts, by director Pamela Tietze, and portrays what might possibly be the coolest haircut we’ve ever seen. After walking into the bustling establishment, Brenmar takes a seat in the stool, and proceeds to get a trim and a shave from the lovely dancing barber. Then there’s a mini-rave. All in all, it’s pretty rad, and we expect things to be at least half as fun when the DJ/producer takes his show on the road in Europe during May and June. You can check out that list of dates below.

5-24-11 Thekla (Bristol)
5-27-11 Muffin Muffin @ Meet Factory (Prague)
5-28-11 Stealth VS Rescue Rooms (Nottingham)
5-29-11 Get Me @ Shacklewell Arms (London)
5-31-11 Bigger than Barry @ Mint (Leeds)
6-01-11 Get Wavey @ Magnet (Berlin)
6-02-11 Social Club (Paris)
6-03-11 Fugazi (Oslo)
6-04-11 The Tube (Brighton)
6-08-11 Sneaky Pete’s (Edinburgh)
6-09-11 Deadly @ TBA (London)
6-10-11 RAUW @ Trouw (Amsterdam)
6-11-11 RAUW @ Tivoli (Utrecht)
6-12-11 Club 3001 (Dusseldorf)

Blue Microphones’ Yeti Pro

A higher-end sibling to Blue‘s standard-issue Yeti, the USB Yeti Pro’s (MSRP: $249) most significant bullet point is adding 24-bit recording to the equation. Physically, it certainly maintains its presence: When attached to the included stand, it stands nearly a foot tall inside its metal casing. This isn’t merely for show, as the weight helps dampen vibration (alternatively, the mic itself attaches easily to any standard threaded mount). In terms of performance, recorded vocals were smooth and accurate, and in omni mode it did a great job capturing a room full of instruments. The built-in 1/8″ headphone output doubles as a zero-latency monitoring device and audio output, and you can also plug the Yeti Pro directly into any preamp that provides phantom power with the included stereo XLR cable. It’s not the most portable mic around, but the versatility (read: four mic patterns), plug-and-play simplicity, and sheer fidelity of this beast are tough to ignore.

Guest Reviews: Rick Wilhite

Techno holds in the top spot in Detroit’s fabled dance-music history, but Rick Wilhite has been holding down the house end of the equation for more than two decades. Previously the owner of the Motor City’s storied Vibes New and Rare Music record shop, Wilhite also has an extensive resume as a party promoter, DJ, and producer. Often referred to as The Godson, in the mid-’90s Wilhite first released a few records under his own name. During that same era, he also helped launch the 3 Chairs project with Theo Parrish, Kenny Dixon Jr., and Malik Pittman. Following the closure of his store, Wilhite has increased his production output, compiling last year’s Vibes New and Rare Music compilation for Rush Hour, and this month he’ll be releasing his debut full-length album, Analog Aquarium, via the Still Music imprint. We caught up with Wilhite, fresh off the plane from a DJ tour in Japan, and asked him what new tunes have been perking up his veteran ears.

Jovonn “A Definition of a Track” (Late Night Audio)
Jovonn has done it again. He’s giving us the true sound of late-night house music on his new Revivial EP. Just like always, the first song—the original version of “A Definition of a Track”—is real right off the top. This is going into my rotation right now.

Andrestitle TBA (Mahogani)
Andres is coming again. He’s a raw Detroit talent who is known for his production skills. This full, four-track release will leave you mesmerized and stunned. Although Andres is viewed as a hip-hop producer, his talent for making house music way exceeds his reputation.

Moody “Freeki Muthaf cker (All I Need Is U)” (KDJ)
Once again, Moodymann has grabbed our spirit and soul. This 12″ also features remixes by two of electronic music’s great producers: Juan Atkins and Egyptian Lover. Egyptian Lover takes you back to the ’80s with his authentic 808 style, and Juan amazes us with his mid-’80s classic touch.

Stevie Wonder “Race Babbling (Rondenion Edit)” white label
“Race Babbling” is dope and sick! More than that, it’s a song for whoever is aware. This was given to me directly in Japan by Rondenion. Much love and blessings from The Godson. Keep Japan alive.

Video: James Blake “Lindisfarne”

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James Blake has teamed up with director Martin de Thurah to create a video for Blake’s track “Lindisfarne.” De Thurah, who also directed the video for Blake’s “Limit To Your Love,” creates a remarkably unsettling and yet intriguing atmosphere. The video combines both the tracks “Lindisfarne I” and “Lindisfarne II,” and evokes a sense of introspection and loss. The new combined edit of “Lindisfarne” will see a single release on June 20. (via Pitchfork)

Migrant “Limbic Sistim”

The seventh release set to drop from upstart dance imprint Iberian (named appropriately for its owners’ Spanish and Portuguese homebases) is a three-track 12″ by label co-founder Migrant, called the Exit Plan EP. That record precedes a forthcoming full-length album of the same name (release date TBA), also from which all three of the featured tracks are taken. As heard on “Limbic Sistim,” Migrant’s music is an especially booming brand of UK funky-slanted house that boasts non-stop dancefloor grooves, massive sub-bass tones, and a deft application of micro-samples—all reminding us a bit of Bassment Jaxx, or even Warp producer Clark when he’s trying his hand at more straightforward beats. You can stream the rest of the Exit Plan EP before it’s released on June 27, here.

Limbic Sistim

Limbic Sistim

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