The hotly tipped NYC duo Blondes has been continually impressing us with its brand of loose, analog techno since its debut EP, Touched, was released last year. Now it comes as no suprise that the group has been selected for a new 12″ series on fellow NYC label RVNG. The 12″, vinyl-only series will see its first release March 15 with “Lover” b/w “Hater” on which the duo is said to “explore the dichotomy of love and hate as hypnotic chords pulse in dense layered textures over shimmering house rhythms.” The series will be presented as three seperate 12″s throughout the year, culminating in the fall with a CD/digital album compiling the three 12″s and some added bonus tracks. Sounds like we’ll be hearing from Blondes all year, but we’re not complaining. The duo also has an extensive two months of touring ahead with most of February finding them playing throughout Europe and then acting as support for Simian Mobile Disco and The Juan MacLean around the US in March. To get all their European fans hyped for the coming performances, Blondes have thrown an excellent mixtape up on their Soundcloud containing a host of subdued-techno and house tracks from the likes of Armando, Black Jazz Consortium, and Dave Aju as well as a few originals. You can stream/download the mix and check out Blondes’ upcoming tour dates below.

Blondes – KUNSTHAUS EU Tour Mixtape by BLONDES
(For a full tracklist head to Blondes’ Soundcloud)

European Tour Dates:
2/5 Berlin, Germany – Picknick
2/11 London, UK – Durrr at XOYO
2/17 Nantes, France – Lieu Unique
2/18 Antwerp, Belgium – Karveel
2/19 Glasgow, UK – Death Disco at The Arches
2/24 London, UK – Sup Magazine Release Party
2/25 Helsinki, Finland – YK
2/26 Copenhagen, Denmark – Dunkel Club

US Tour Dates (With Simian Mobile Disco and The Juan MacLean):
3/8 Vancouver, BC – Venue
3/9 Seattle, WA – Neumos
3/10 Portland, OR – Roseland Theatre
3/11 Oakland, CA – Fox Theatre (HARD)
3/12 Los Angeles, CA – Club Nokia (HARD)
3/14 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theatre
3/16 Chicago, IL – The Mid
3/17 Toronto, ON – Phoenix Theatre
3/18 Montreal, QC – SAT
3/19 New York, NY – Terminal 5 (HARD)
3/22 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
3/24 Miami, FL – White Room, SMD “Delicatessen” Party
3/25 Miami, FL – Vagabond, Fixed Party

The dark, infectious whatchamacallit-wave tunes of NYC-via-Philly band Cold Cave will soon be another album strong. On April 5, the outfit will release its second studio LP, called Cherish the Light Years, via Matador. Cold Cave’s new record, which is purportedly a love letter to lead singer Wes Eisold’s adopted hometown of Philadelphia, will feature nine songs, as well as guest appearances from the likes of Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner and members of hardcore bands Glassjaw, Hatebreed, and Moss Icon, among others. Light Years was recorded with producer Chris Coady, who is responsible for such illustrious albums as Teen Dream by Beach House, TV on the Radio’s Dear Science, Gang Gang Dance’s Saint Dymphna, and 23 by Blonde Redhead. You can check out the tracklist and artwork for Cold Cave’s forthcoming album below, and head over here to pre-order Light Years.

1. The Great Pan Is Dead
2. Pacing Around The Church
3. Confetti
4. Catacombs
5. Underworld USA
6. Icons Of Summer
7. Alchemy And You
8. Burning Sage
9. Villains Of The Moon

Under a handful of various monikers DJ/producer/label head/activist Terre Thaemlitz has released a number excellent albums, EPs, and singles, some better known and more available than others. Enter Skylax Records, a “company focused on releasing original and obscure dance classics,” and now we have news of the forthcoming re-release of Thaemlitz’s 2006 album recorded under the K-S.H.E. moniker, Routes Not Roots. With fresh artwork and a 12-page booklet full of annotations from the artist, the 12-track LP will drop on March 28 for the first time in Europe and North America. You can check out the completely NSFW artwork and tracklist for Routes Not Roots below.

1 Down Home Kami-Sakunobe
2 Saki-chan (Pt.1)
3 Hobo Train
4 Fuck the Down-Low
5 B2B
6 Stand Up
7 Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair
8 Double Secret (Dub)
9 Saki-chan (Pt.2)
10 Crosstown
11 Head (In My Private Lounge, My Pad)
12 Infected

More often than not, Illinois-based culture hub Daytrotter places its focus directly on indie-friendly pop artists and the like, but in this refreshing change of pace, the Baltimore-via-San Francisco outfit Matmos (pictured above), along with fellow Baltimorean Dan Deacon, recorded an impromptu session in Asheville, North Carolina, while in town for the Moog Fest. The lengthy piece is split into two sections of improvisational music, one of which is more airy and piano-driven while the other is more percussive and rhythmic. This isn’t what we’d call “typical” Matmos fare, but rather something better resembling what jazz might sound like if horns and guitars had never been invented. You can stream or download the recordings (after signing up for the service) over on the Daytrotter website, here. (via Altered Zones)

This summer in Petrcane, Croatia, a large number of dance music’s most lauded and loved DJs and producers will come together for the sixth annual Garden Festival. The week-long party will take place between Wednesday, July 6, and the following Wednesday, July 13, and feature live performances from the likes of Commix, Art Department, Tensnake (pictured above), Soul Clap, Larry Heard, Greg Wilson, and Motor City Drum Ensemble, among many others. All performances will be split between five unique venues throughout Petrcane, including a handful of parties on the Argonaughty Boat. You can get further details on the Garden Festival here, and purchase tickets for the event here.

Last year, UK producer Doc Daneeka launched his own label, Ten Thousand Yen, and began releasing a five-part series of limited-edition 10″ singles from acts like Venom & Damage, C.R.S.T., and Julio Bashmore. Next week, the final chapter of that series will arrive, courtesy of Manchester-based beatmaker xxxy. The record officially drops on January 24 and is available for preorder now, but for the curious/impatient folks out there, both tracks from the single are streaming below. Both “You Always Start It” and “Ordinary Things” find xxxy playing with pitch-shifted vocals, washy synths, and videogame-esque blips to glorious effect. Give them a listen below, and also take a look at the artwork.

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