Francesco Tristano “Mambo”

In the initial seconds of Francesco Tristano‘s “Mambo,” a flighty series of piano notes trickle out, setting a deceptively tender mood. The rest of this Julliard graduate’s acoustic-electronic production features interloping drum-machine stutters while ominous piano arpeggios maintain a precarious semblance of consistency. Taken from his recently released album Idiosynkrasia, “Mambo” is as fragile as it is steely and austere. His previous solo albums were produced by the likes of pioneering artist Moritz Von Oswald (he’s also been known to collaborate with Murcof), and Idiosynkrasia has similarly legendary affiliations, as it was recorded at Carl Craig’s Planet E studios in Detroit. Released in Europe on French/German label Infiné, Tristano uses the album to continue exploring the sonic breadth of his classical piano compositions by working with electronic music’s most lauded. Idiosynkrasia will hit the US next year on January 15.

Mambo

Mambo

Mambo

Mambo

Every Rinse DJ to Play Boxing Day Party at FWD>>

Yes, you read that right: Every single Rinse FM DJ will be playing at FWD>> on Boxing Day, December 26 at Fabric. For over nine hours, DJs ranging from Skream to dancehall experts The Heatwave will rotate through what will likely be extremely short sets of music and an epic night for London club-goers. Rinse FM recently celebrated 16 years of pirate radio, and was finally granted an official radio license, but even the epic birthday party they threw then was clearly not enough. Check out the full list of the Rinse FM DJs who will be in attendance after the jump.

Skream + Benga, Katy B, Boy Better Know, Geeneus, Roll Deep, Heartless Crew, Marcus Nasty + Rankin, Scratcha, Oneman, Kumfy, Newham Generals, Lighter, Spyro, Good Vibe Clive, Plastician, Reflex, Ill Blu, Braiden, L-vis 1990 + Bok Bok, Fingaprint, Roska, N-Type, Zinc, Dappa, SK Vibemaker, JJ, Flight, Score Five, Teddy Music, Big Beatz, Smasher, Marco Del Horno, Supa D, Youngsta, Ben UFO, Elijah + Skilliam, Hermit, Funkystepz, Jamie George, Shox, Teaser, Musik Man, Funk Butcher, Kismet, Wonder, Jay Diamond, Allbury, Alexander Nut, Angie B + Dogtaniun, MA1, Perempay + Cure, A Plus, Daniel Ward, Mr Cook, Clairvoyants, Wildlife, Sian + Julie, Able, Vectra, Antisocial, Crises, The Heatwave, Crazy D, P Money + more

Banana Clipz “Afro Latino feat. Los Rakas”

One week away from releasing their debut self-titled EP as a free download, Oro11 (of the Bersa Discos imprint) and Cheif Boima (of the Ghetto Bassquake blog) give us this early taste of their collaborative production work as Banana Clipz. Most of the bass-centric, tropically inspired dance jams on the Banana Clipz EP feature vocal contributions from a wide cast of MCs and singers, including the fellas of Los Rakas, heard here on the energetic “Afro Latino.” While Oro11 and Boima work out their bouncing 808 riddims and red-hot equatorial instrumentation, Los Rakas spit equally incendiary verbiage with a relaxed fervor indicative of the tune’s overall vibe. You can nab Banana Clipz’s whole seven-track release when it’s posted online on November 29, but if you can’t wait, head over to the Ghetto Bassquake blog and check out a teaser mix Boima made for the EP, here.

Afro Latino feat. Los Rakas

Joy Orbison Releases New 12″ This Week on Doldrums

In case this week’s Doldrums release of Braiden‘s “The Alps” wasn’t enough to get you spending your hard-earned cash, label owner Joy Orbison is releasing a new 12″, too. Titled BB, the release also features the b-side “Ladywell,” and is already available (along with “The Alps”) in a limited vinyl run over at Honest Jon’s. Short preview clips of the two tracks are over there as well, both of which are a departure from J.O.’s more broken house and UK garage interpretations, instead opting for more faithful renditions of early Detroit and Chicago styles. In case you haven’t done so already, check out Braiden’s great video companion to “The Alps” after the jump. (via FACT.)

Tour Stockholm With Skweee’s Key Players

Earlier this year, we paid a visit to Sweden, where we had an XLR8R TV sit-down with Studio side-project The Crepes in Gothenburg, and got the goods on all things skweee in Stockholm. The main players in the skweee scene—those being Daniel Savio, Frans Carlqvist (a.k.a. Pavan and Limonious, and head of the Flogsta Danshall label), Henrik Von Euler (a.k.a. Rigas Den Andre), and Baba Stiltz (a.k.a. Mrs. Qeada)—also took us for a tour of their Södermalm neighborhood, where we checked out their favorite record shops, kebab huts, and places to chill.

Myrorna Second Hand Store
Hornsgatan 96
This thrift store is called Myrorna, and it’s run by the Salvation Army. They have lots of stores all over town and lots of ridicoulus one-dollar-type records (10 kronor, in Sweden). There are a few different ones around. Another good one is called Stadsmissionen, and they are run by a homeless shelter. Most of the time, it’s just a pleasant way to waste time, but sometimes you can really strike gold. I buy all my records at thriftshops, except for skweee. It’s very time-consuming. I go record hunting everyday. Maybe in 20 years, you’ll find old Flogsta Danshall records there. [laughs] Daniel Savio

from left: Baba Stiltz, Daniel Savio, Frans Carlqvist, Henrik Von Euler

Systembolaget
Various locations
Systembolaget is the Sweden’s only supplier of alcohol. Thus, it’s kind of important. If you go in the morning, you meet the winos. Around lunch, you get the old folks. And in the evening, you get the fine winos and binge drinkers. I try to go at all times. It’s such a nice place. Henrik Von Euler

Snickars Records
Heleneborgsgatan 5A
Snickars is a great record store where you can find everything from Swedish prog, skweee, hip-hop, disco, and electro. I have worked at Snickars as an intern, and I know that Daniel has worked there, too. It’s one of the best finds in Stockholm when it comes to good music and inspiring people. If you’re in Stockholm, definitely drop by Snickars to get a glimpse of the freshness! Baba Stiltz

And also I did my internship at Snickars records when I was Baba’s age. The owner, Mika Snickars, is, in my opinion, the best disco DJ in the world. Daniel Savio

Folkets Kebab
Folkungagatan 63
Eat as much you want for eight euros in daytime, or get your weekend night snack at 4:00 in the morning. I used to hang out here a lot, a couple of years ago. In fact, it’s where I met [skweee producer] Uday. Frans Carlqvist

Folkoperan Café & Restaurant
Hornsgatan 72
A decent lunch place with white tablecloths and traditional Swedish food. Some nights you can hang out in the bar an listen to Kool DJ Dust (a.k.a. Daniel Savio) play unreleased material and abnormal disco. Frans Carlqvist

Maria Magdalena Church and Graveyard
Sankt Paulsgatan 10
This is a graveyard close to my office. It’s kind of dead. (Sorry!) I enjoy walking here, feeling the atmosphere. At least I’m alive, you know. Not dead like you… Henrik Von Euler

James Blake Officially Announces Self-Titled Debut Album

Surely the UK’s youngest highly revered singer/musician/composer/producer/DJ, 22-year-old James Blake has been brewing his unique style of R&B-infused bass music (or is it bass-infused R&B?) for years now, releasing a small number of EPs and singles to an ever-growing mass of fans. Now, more than a year after his first EP dropped, Blake has announced his forthcoming debut full-length, simply titled James Blake. The record will be a joint release between A&M (parent company to Interscope) and Blake’s own ATLAS label, and will feature early singles like “Limit to Your Love” and “I Never Learnt to Share” within its tracklist. You can check out the cover art for Blake’s self-titled record below, before it comes out on February 7.

Azari & III “Into the Night (Nicolas Jaar Remix)”

A few weeks back, we premiered the video for “Into the Night” from Toronto’s Azari & III, and now we’ve got our hands on a remix of the song from New York prodigy Nicolas Jaar (pictured above). Jaar strips down the glammed-out house and funk of the original tune (which you can download over at Pitchfork) in favor of a more sparse and dark creation lead by moody piano chords. He also expands the track to almost double its original length, playfully building up and breaking down the elements a few times, never letting it fully hit for too long. As far as dance music goes, it’s a remarkably rewarding exercise in patience and one we’re happy to undertake. The remix and original track will be available as part of the Into the Night EP on November 22. Fans of Jaar should also take note that his debut full-length will be dropping on his own Clown and Sunset imprint in early 2011.

Into The Night (Nicolas Jaar Remix)

Stream the New Lone Album

Over the past year, Nottingham-based producer Lone (a.k.a. Matt Cutler) has undertaken quite the reinvention, leaving behind the hip-hop flavored abstraction of his past efforts for something much better suited for the dancefloor. Last summer’s “Pineapple Crush” single was the first demonstration of Cutler’s new-found love affair with Detroit techno and classic rave, but with his new album, Emerald Fantasy Tracks, coming out next week on his own Magic Wire label, the transformation just might be complete. The record has plenty of upbeat vibes, warm synths, and hands-in-the-air moments, so prepare yourself before listening. The entire album is streaming below, and we’ve also posted the artwork if you want to take a gander at that.

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Bubblin’: Nicolas Jaar

Who:Nicolas Jaar
Where: New York, New York

In 2004, Nicolas Jaar—who was all of 14 years old at the time—received a Villalobos album for Christmas from his father. So yes, one could say that he was on the right track pretty early on, at least as far as dance music was concerned. Born in NY, Jaar actually spent much of his childhood in Chile before returning to the Big Apple at age 11 and delving into house and techno production as a teenager. By the time he was 17, Jaar had his first proper release, 2008’s The Student EP on Wolf + Lamb. Subsequent records and remixes have appeared on Circus Company, Get Physical, and his own Clown and Sunset imprint, which is currently set to release a couple of Jaar tunes as part of a special collaborative LP called Inés, to be released via a custom USB. When he’s not putting the finishing touches on his debut album, which is slated to drop next February, Jaar also finds the time to study comparative literature at Brown University, where’s he currently a junior.

Superisk “Find Your Way VIP”

Amidst dubstep’s move into the pop sphere, it’s tempting to write off the genre, yet it’s important to remember that many of dubstep’s formative players continue to re-imagine and re-invent dubstep’s familiar structure. Among these few pioneers is Bristol’s Peverelist, both an influential producer and curator as the owner of the Punch Drunk label. Just last week, the imprint released Worth the Weight, a two-disc compilation featuring early dubstep pioneers like Pinch and Appleblim alongside more current influentials like Shorstuff, Hyetal, and Joker. Looking to PD’s next generation of artists, the Bristol-based Superisk is someone who has already stood out—we streamed his Find Your Way EP back in September—and now he’s offered up a VIP version of the EP’s title track to Poland-based blog BBQ. For this version, Superisk exchanged the sparse drums of the original and filled the space with an urgent bassline while adding a new layer of purple fuzz to the synths.

Find Your Way VIP Instrumental

Find Your Way VIP

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