So-Cal beat head and Wedidit Collective member Groundislava steps a little bit outside his usual fare of crafting stony, bit-crushed head-nodders and takes Clive Tanaka Y Su Orquestra‘s bedroom funk for a spin. Stripping back and subduing the original track, Groundislava presents “I Want You (So Bad)” (from Tanaka’s excellent Jet Set Siempre No. 1 LP, artwork above) as a sort of melancholy, contemporary piece of electro hip-hop where post-whatever soundscapes and Afrika Bambaattaa-esque breaks are enhanced with just the lightest touch of g-funk. Apparently the two producers have engaged in a remix swap of sorts, as we’re told Clive Tanaka Y Su Orquestra has a remix of Groundislava that is due to appear on a forthcoming 7″. If the remix talents go both ways in this exchange (which we’re pretty sure they do), then the Clive Tanaka remix should be something to look forward to, but we’re perfectly happy to stick with Groundislava’s contribution to the swap for the time being.
Gomma label head Mathias Modica has a new LP under his Munk handle, which has been released today on his own imprint. The forthcoming album features twelve female guest vocalists from around the globe (for the most part singing in English) and fourteen tracks that hop through a variety of cosmic genres, at times exploring funky grooves or euro-glam epicness while always keeping a firm footing in the disco/house-revivalist side of things. The Bird and Beat is out now and you can check the artwork and tracklist below. To preview a good chunk of the record, head over to Gomma’s site.
Tracklist: 1. Can I Have Your Attention 2. La Musica 3. No Moon Over Kuala Lumpur 4. Violent Love 5. Keep My Secret 6. Kitchen Call 7. Mira Excuse Me 8. Mis Labios 9. Tipsy 10. Marseille Macheta 11. Rue De Rome 12. So Close 13. A Bored Heart 14. Dort
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Man of the moment Nicolas Jaar continues to exhibit his deft usage of space and noise on this heart-wrenching remix of “Fail Forever,” the new single by Danish outfit When Saints Go Machine. (We’ve previously posted the original song and a remix by burgeoning techno outfit dOP, too.) The Brooklyn-based producer spends the first quarter or so of his track tweaking poignant harp plucks before gradually adding a few more sparse elements; steel drums, bass, violins, down-pitched vocals, and a soft, kick-clap rhythm make up just about the whole of it. Obviously, Jaar relies heavily on restraint and subtlety when composing his music, and here, he transforms what was more or less a navel-gazing dance-pop song into a sort of otherworldly lament, one sung by celestial beings who’ve since found themselves lost in a bleak, unfamiliar reality. (via FACT)
Minimal techno pioneer Moritz Von Oswald has been steadily continuing his adventurous outings with his electro-acoustic ensemble, the Moritz Von Oswald Trio, since its first LP, Vertical Ascent appeared in 2009. Despite adding two members to the group in the form of double bassist Marc Muellbauer (of ECM lineage) and guitarist Paul St. Hilaire (better known as Tikiman and a contributing member of Rhythm & Sound), the original trio of Oswald, Max Loderbauer, and Sasu Ripatti are not updating the name, preferring to still refer to the now five-piece ensemble as a trio on its latest full-length, Horizontal Structures. This, the trio’s thrid LP, finds Oswald leading his cohorts through songs of rich sonic aesthetics where electronic and acoustic sound sources are melded together, at times becoming completely indistinguishable from each other in a most fascinating way. The four-track album (which comes with a digital-only fifth track) is currently available from London’s distinguished record store/label Honest Jon’s (which we profiled in our November/December issue) and will then see a full release in two weeks. You can check out the album artwork and tracklist below and head over to the Honest Jon’s site to hear a preview of the record as well. (via FACT)
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Earlier this week, writer/producer Martin Clark profiled FaltyDL and his forthcoming LP, You Stand Uncertain, in his monthly Grime/Dubstep column for Pitchfork and has since posted the entire (and we mean entire, it’s quite a lengthy endeavor) interview for the piece over at his blog, Blackdown. In the course of the interview, FaltyDL shares some incredible insights into his creative process, frustrations, and his attempt to forge new sonic territory and create “timeless” music. You can read the full transcript here. And for those who are struck curious while reading the interview, you can head over to Planet-Mu‘s site and listen to a preview of the forthcoming LP before it drops on March 14.
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One half of Brooklyn/Chicago duo Dark Party, producer Leo123 will soon release Ponies, a new EP on Eliot Lipp‘s Old Tacoma label (pictured above). We have the title track here, a sort of mission statement in the form of acid-y synth tones, smooth pad stabs, and angular electro (proper electro, mind you) rhythms that sets the tone for the remainder of the producer’s five-song affair. “Ponies” is certainly a production informed by the whole array of dance music hubs—Chicago, Miami, NY, and London—and an early ’80s aesthetic, but Leo123 still uses those touchstones to look forward, into a bright future where Afrika Bambaataa, Egyptian Lover, and Mantronix still rule the stereo in your neon-decaled Delorean. You can hear more of what that future could hold, and preview the Ponies EP, here, or score your own copy when it drops on March 1.
The globe-trotting Akwaaba imprint has announced the release of a new remix compilation, Perfect Loosers Present: Akwaaba Remixed (artwork above), gathering songs from the label’s discography and placing them in the hands of some up-and-coming producers. On this particular release, the label has assembled an impressive slate of artists to take songs from a few of the label’s West African artists (hailing from Mali, Ghana, Nigeria, and Gambia) and reinterpret them for the modern, progressive club culture. The diverse list of remixers includes Germany’s Hat+Hoodie (whose contribution to the comp we posted a few months back) and Schlachthofbronx, Canada’s Jokers of the Scene, Portugal’s Diamond Bass, and US beatmaker Chief Boima, amongst others. The compilation’s presenters, French trio Perfect Loosers, have put together a 20-plus-minute megamix with a few choice cuts from the record which you can stream/download below before the comp is released on March 9. You can check the LP’s complete tracklist down below as well.
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01. Onyenze “Onwa Nna Na Nwa” (Sabbo Remix) 02. Onyenze “I Go Pay” (Perfect Loosers Remix) 03. Onyenze “Ogidi Inwelu” (Lazy Flow Remix) 04. Jali Bakary Konteh “Combination” (Hatnhoodie Remix) 05. Ahmed Fofana “Don Kano” (Jokers of the Scene Remix) 06. Onyenze “Onwa Nna Na Nwa” (Max le Daron Remix) 07. DJ Djeff “Elegom Bounsa” feat Maskarado (Filipe Narciso Deepduro Mix) 08. Onyenze “Akachukwu” (Diamond Bass Remix) 09. Onyenze “Ogidi Inwelu” (Djeff & Silyvi Remix) 10. Onyenze “Onwa Nna Na Nwa” (Schlachthofbronx Remix) 11. X-Pensive Nframa “Aunty Adoley” (Chief Boima Remix) 12. 4×4 “Miss Doctor” (Dance Kill Move Remix) 13. Ahmed Fofana “Balani” (Perfect Loosers Remix)
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Our resident stylist Andrew Porter waxes casual on men’s and women’s must-haves.
Clarks x Laura Ashley UK Desert Boots I was walking down Broadway the other day and noticed that Clarks had released the classic desert boot in a few new colorways. While trying to find them in cyberspace, I stumbled across Clarks’ UK website. Holy cannoli! As a long-time Clarks lover, I don’t know how I ever missed this. They offer some nice men’s options, but the women’s desert boots really steal the show. The Laura Ashley models are so spot-on, as the print brings a nice sense of femininity to this classic boot. While Laura Ashley dresses were quintessentially ’90s (in a bad way), Clarks brings back the brand in the best way by placing prints on the foot. For added spring inspiration, I recommend checking out the floral desert boot as well.
Norse Projects x ELKA Raincoat I own a lot of Gore-Tex coats, but the problem with a waterproof breathable fabric is that at some point, water is going to sneak its way in. The only real way to stay dry in a downpour is to wear a slicker. This means throwing on a bright yellow piece of rubber and hitting the town looking like the Gorton’s Fisherman… until now. Norse Projects has teamed up with fellow Danes ELKA to bring us this functional, yet fashionable, raincoat. With heat-taped seams and 90% PVC construction, this jammer is going to keep you dry as a bone. Added bonus: Wear this coat through a New York summer and you’ll never need to hit the jacuzzi again. #PERMAPRUNED
Wintercheck Lizzie Sunglasses Wintercheck sunglasses are a great option for those who want a unique pair of frames at an affordable price. These grey frames look great and the red tips really make them pop. Additionally, Winterchecks are made in the USA and come with a neat waterproof carrying case. The built-in blinders are not for everybody; they have a bit of a mad-scientist/super-villain feel to them, but I’m okay with that. Heck, at $60, it’s hard to turn these down.
The latest iteration of M-Audio‘s mid-range Axiom 49 (MSRP: $439) features the decidedly high-end feature that is semi-weighted keys. Eight rubberized trigger pads (think M-Audio’s own Trigger Finger) provide an alternative input mechanism, as do the nine mixer-style faders and eight rotary knobs dotting the device. The company’s homespun DirectLink mode, which is built to automagically work with Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Live, and Reason, includes transport, mixer, track pan, and virtual instrument parameters. Likewise, the dedicated Instrument button instantly maps the controls to whatever virtual instrument you’re using (as with all auto-mapping software, however, mileage may vary). An LCD screen atop an angled top panel makes for nice ergonomics, and USB bus power rounds out the package. Nothing groundbreaking here, but a solid keyboard controller for both stage and studio.
The title “World Music (Dub)” can bring with it some rather groan-inducing connotations, but don’t be scared away, as this track from DC duo Protect-U is not some lame world-fusion track. Did you really think we’d do that to you? With its slow-moving, methodical beat and hazy, bubbling synths, it seems the only world this song might call home is one that exists inside a decades-old arcade game that can only be played at half speed. In contrast to the more noise-oriented ambient outings that seem to be popping up everywhere, “World Music (Dub)” explores the more melodic possibilities of instrumental synth music, building the track around one main melody that sluggishly moves as far-off sounds blast and gurgle in the background. The much more uptempo a-side to the dub can be found on Protect-U’s recently released ‘World Music” 12″ (artwork above) along with the track “U-Uno,” a song for which director Aurora Halal has crafted an enchantingly psychedelic video. Check it out after the jump.
