Holy Other “Touch”

UK dark-pop hub Tri Angle has its fourth release scheduled to drop on June 6 by Manchester’s Holy Other, a five-song EP called With U (pictured above). Following the producer’s first “Yr Love” single (check out the Magick Mountain remix of that here), “Touch” is the latest tune to leak from Holy Other’s debut, and follows suit with those deep, brooding soundscapes and vocal-sample soul pitched down to perfection. But while this track doesn’t stray too far from the familiar palette of sullen moods and somber melodies, it somehow manages to let in a bit of light through the cracks of its isolation chamber. Bright flashes of electronics cut through the dense sub tones and slow-grooving beat work that make up most of “Touch” to join the ethereal reverb washes dripping from the Burial-esque sample play, and effectively give Holy Other’s jam just the slightest shimmer in the midst of an otherwise murky atmosphere.

Touch

Touch

Touch

Stream the New 2562 Album Now

Dutch techno/dubstep producer and recent XLR8Rpodcast contributor 2562 releases his third LP, called Fever (pictured above), under that moniker next week, but thanks to FACT, you can stream that 11-song record in full today. Interestingly enough, the artist born Dave Huismans carved out every solitary sound on his new record from ‘70s and ‘80s disco records, and even though the musicmaker didn’t use a single other instrument or sample source for his tunes, Fever doesn’t sound the least bit disco. You can find out exactly what it does sound like before 2562 releases the record on April 4 via his own When In Doubt imprint, below.

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Wav Dwgs “Age (Roche Remix)”

Last summer, we heard from the duo of Greg Zifack (formerly of the hyper-ravey Eats Tapes duo) and Bobby Browser, who were jointly operating as Global Warning. Now the duo has resurfaced under a new guise, Wav Dwgs, and have unveiled a handful of new tracks, including this remix from fellow San Francisco-based producer Roche. Where the original version of “Age” weaves elements in and out of its repeated synth stabs, Roche sends those stabs to the back of the line, instead focusing on a barrage of overdriven percussion, and bouncing, syncopated synth lines. Throw in a mechanically precise drum machine driving the whole affair and this one is sure to prove satisfying for even the most yearning of hardware-based techno fiends.

Age (Roche remix)

Mary Anne Hobbs to Host New Radio Show on XFM

It was late August of last year when beloved DJ and radio host Mary Anne Hobbs shared the news that she was resigning from her position at BBC Radio 1 to pursue an advisory job at the University of Sheffield, but less than a year later, the revered tastemaker has announced her return to the airwaves. Starting on July 9, Hobbs will once again take over her old broadcasting home, XFM, every Saturday night during primetime. The DJ says of her homecoming, “Every week I’ll be bringing future sounds and guest mixes from some of the most forward-thinking artists on earth. It’s going to be a no-holds-barred blitz of new music personally selected by me with a focus on pushing the frontiers and breaking new boundaries.” Hobbs will start gearing up for her weekly spot on April 13 with intermittent broadcasts of so-called Audio Postcards from her festival stops and forthcoming American tour in April. You can check out the list of those upcoming dates below.

April 13th // Seattle WA // Decibel & Mary Anne Hobbs Present @ The Baltic Room #
April 15th // San Francisco CA // Mary Anne Hobbs & Friends @ 1015 with Kode9, Joy O, Roska and Terror Danjah
April 16th // Indio CA // Coachella #
April 20th // Los Angeles CA // Low End Theory @ The Airliner with Jamie XX
April 21st // New Orleans LA // The Service Company & Mary Anne Hobbs Present @ The Hookah with Gonja Sufi, Lorn & special Killer guest
April 22nd // Miami FL // The Vagabond #
April 24th // Boston MA // Together Festival @ Paradise with Lorn, Take & Mike Slott
April 25th // New York NY // Deep Space @ Cielo*
April 26th // Philadelphia PA // Saturn Never Sleeps @ Silk City*
April 27th // Toronto ON // Wrong Bar *
April 29th // Montreal QC // Club Lambi *

# w/ Gonja Sufi, Lorn, Take, and Strangeloop
* Solo

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Luke Solomon and Derrick Carter Relaunch Classic Music Label

Veteran house giants Luke Solomon and Derrick Carter (pictured above) had let their collaborative imprint, Classic Music Company, ostensibly lay dormant since last releasing material back in 2005. Now, citing a resurgence of quality house music, the two have decided to resurrect the imprint from its “mini-hiatus,” starting off by rereleasing the label’s entire back catalogue in three spurts of remastered digital glory. That back catalogue, mind you, is no trivial matter, comprised of classic material from the likes of Isolee, Ewan Pearson, Iz & Diz, Tiefschwarz, Freedom Five, and, of course, Mr. Carter himself, among others. In order to not overwhelm us with too much material, the remastered back catalogue will be available digitally in three separate batches on April 4, April 25, and May 16. Each batch is said to consist of over 30 original EPs as well as a host of remixes and unreleased material. Quite a lot of tunes to dive into, so below we’ve posted a stream of a tune from Carter’s classic Squaredancing In a Roundhouse to get you started on the right track.

Jay Weed “On the Nile (BFlecha Remix)”

It’s been over a year since we last heard from BFlecha (pictured above), when she surprised us with her wonky, pop-tinged “Ceja De Carnival” track. Now the Spanish producer has popped up again, this time with a remix for Jay Weed‘s Egyptian-themed “On the Nile,” the latest release from Sinden’s Grizzly imprint. There’s not much wonk present on this latest production, which trades in the fuzzy synths of “Ceja De Carnival” for a bouncing house organ bass and twinkling, bell-like tones. And just as you think the remix is nothing more than a clever, bubbling house rearrangement of the original tune (which we’d certainly be happy with), BFlecha flips the beat into an inescapably lopsided two-steppin’ affair. Another pleasant surprise from the young producer, someone who we hope that we don’t have to wait another year to hear more of. (via Discobelle)

On The Nile (BFlecha Remix)

FaltyDL You Stand Uncertain

To be honest, it has been difficult to write about FaltyDL‘s second full-length record, but not because it disappoints—on the contrary, You Stand Uncertain might be one of the most exciting records to come out this year. The New York resident (a.k.a. Drew Lustman), whose earliest productions were classified as IDM and dubstep, has been expanding his sound effortlessly since the release of his 2009 debut full-length, Love Is a Liability, and nowhere is this sonic widening more evident than on this latest effort.

In more ways than one, Lustman seems to be following in the footsteps of Cornwall’s most famous son, Richard D. James; perhaps one of the only differences is that Lustman eschews James’ tactic of using many aural aliases. For example, a piece like “Lucky Luciano,” with its rapid-fire changes in rhythm and tone, is very much in line with James’ work as The Tuss. The record’s title track, with its Detroit-meets-garage framework, sounds like a long-lost slice from James’ early days or the Analord series, and “It’s All Good” is an IDM offering of moody bass wobblings, washed-out high-frequency samples, and lush notes drawn out to blissful ends. Sure, pieces like the skittery “Brazil” most definitely fall under the rubric of dubstep, but they’re preceded by the distorted funk of “Open Spaces,” and often followed by the Theo Parrish-like slow-motion techno of “Voyager.” What’s more, the record doesn’t feel like a cobbling together of disparate styles—it flows beautifully.

In short, it is rare to find a producer who can craft many types of tracks so consistently well, but with You Stand Uncertain, FaltyDL has cemented himself as such.

YACHT to Release Fifth Album Via DFA This June, Tour North America

Portland’s disco-influenced synth-pop outfit/quasi-cult YACHT just announced it will release its fifth LP, called Shangri-La, this summer via DFA. The duo’s concept-heavy record deals with the idea of personal utopias, putting forth the idea that “paradise is kinetic potential, a latency within us that has been eaten alive by time,” and that this album “literally is YACHT’s Utopia, a place made of songs.” We’ll be able to find out what Jona Bechtolt’s and Claire L. Evans’ perfect world looks and sounds like when it’s made available to the public on June 21. Before then, preview Shangri-La‘s first single, “Dystopia (The Earth Is on Fire),” and check out some upcoming US tour dates, below.

“Dystopia (The Earth Is on Fire)”

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04/13/11 San Francisco, CA – Bimbo’s 365 Club
04/15/11 Indio, CA – Coachella
04/17/11 Marfa, TX – Padre’s
04/19/11 Austin, TX – Emo’s
04/20/11 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s Downstairs
04/22/11 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
04/23/11 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
04/24/11 Richmond, VA – The National
04/25/11 Washington, DC – Black Cat
04/26/11 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
04/27/11 New York, NY – Webster Hall
04/29/11 Providence, RI – The Met Cafe
04/30/11 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
05/01/11 Montreal, QC – Cabaret Du Mile End
05/02/11 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
05/04/11 Columbus, OH – Wexner Center
05/05/11 Chicago, IL – Metro
05/06/11 Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall
05/07/11 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
05/09/11 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
05/10/11 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
05/12/11 Seattle, WA – Neumo’s
05/13/11 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
05/14/11 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
05/15/11 Astoria, OR – Fort George Brewery

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Dirt Crew “Deep Love”

Berlin’s Dirt Crew imprint have been solidly releasing deep, soulful house for the better part of six years now and today sees the release of the label’s 50th offering, a comp entitled Deep Love (artwork above) where you’ll find this tune of the same name. The Dirt Crew duo, consisting of producers/label founders Break 3000 and James Flavour, kick things off in usual deep house fashion, implementing a pounding drum beat, dark bass, and a washy chopped chord to drive the song’s first two-plus minutes. That’s when things start to get interesting as the duo drops in a jazzy electric piano riff that glides effortlessly atop a fresh, skittering beat. The two sections go back and forth, coaxing various elements to the foreground as they traverse the eight-minute track without disturbing the essential groove maintained by the steady, low bass. This gem of Berlin house can be found amongst 14 other exclusive tracks from seasoned Dirt Crew-associated producers such as Chymera, Mano Le Tough, and a few of the imprint’s newest roster additions.

Deep Love

Crimea X “Varvara”

If the above image wasn’t a dead give away, you’re in for a bit of a galactic voyage with this track from Italian duo Crimea X. “Varvara,” from the duo’s debut LP, Prospective, is a culmination of a number of vintage-tinged sensibilities. Sure, you’re likely to find a hint of Krautrock, a touch of ’80s synth-wave, and even the slightest whisper of ’90s house, but make no mistake, “Varvara” is not simply an homage to all things retro. Instead, it’s a contemporary slice of nu-disco, one in which constant arpeggios move in unison with a steady bass guitar and the driving force of a possibly live (more likely sampled) drummer, leaving ample room for Crimea X to throw one soaring melody after another into the fold. We’re not sure what news channel these guys have been watching lately, but it sounds like they’re preparing for a future where we’ll all be dancing in space. Let’s hope they’re on to something.

Varvara

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