We’ve probably all caught ourselves doing it at one point or another: staring blankly at a snowy TV screen, wondering if anything might eventually emerge from the fuzz. And of course, nothing does appear, but then, we weren’t watching this entrancing music video from teen producer Balam Acab. On this piece for a new mix of Acab’s beautiful “See Birds (Sun)” song, which closed out his See Birds EP for Tri Angle Records, a flurry of television static vibrates on screen and slowly forms subtle patterns and images in its mess. You’ll find it hard not to let your mind go and blur your focus, as you would a Magic Eye image, which we assume is the intended affect. For one reason or another, Acab’s video isn’t available to embed or stream, opting instead for the old-school Quicktime download option. Head over here to get either the low-res or high-res version.

One of the best holiday gifts for the family music lover is a box set. Not only do they look big and well-proportioned in wrapping paper, they’re a great way to give a lot in just one gift. One November 23, Strut will release two timely compilations, one being a limited-edition box set of Strut’s three Next Stop… Soweto volumes from the ’60s and ’70s, and the other a two-CD compilation of rare 45s and b-sides of Christmas-themed soul music from the same era. Each of these comps are for the true digger, and both contain extensive liner notes and production details that offer unique insights into their geneses. To reader further about each comp and listen to samples, check Strut’s microsites for the Next Stop…Soweto comp here, and the In the Christmas Groove comp here. The artwork is below.

Brooklyn based Laurel Halo‘s formerly self-released EP, King Felix, will be getting the reissue treatment thanks to the Hippos In Tanks imprint. All the intricate melodies, vocal harmonies, and baths of reverb from the original EP have been remastered for the reissue (album artwork above), which will be available digitally and on 12″ vinyl. The new version will also come with a beautifully sparkling ambient remix of the track “Metal Confection” thanks to Oneohtrix Point Never. The reissue isn’t available until November 30, but here’s two tracks to whet your appetite: first, a track from the King Felix EP, “Metal Confection,” and second, a Laurel Halo remix of the Sebastien Tellier tune “Look.”

Metal Confection

METAL CONFECTION – KING FELIX EP – 2010 by Laurel Halo

Sebastien Tellier – Look (Laurel Halo Remix)

SEBASTIEN TELLIER – LOOK (LAUREL HALO REMIX) – 2010 by Laurel Halo

Berlin label-mates and techno masterminds Magda (pictured above) and Marc Houle will be spreading their minimal techno goodness throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico on their upcoming tour in December. Both artists released records on Richie Hawtin’s Minus imprint last month and will be sure to keep the dancefloors packed with their dark, majestic techno beats wherever they go. Only 11 shows are booked for their North American tour so check the dates below and cross your fingers that they’ll be somewhere near your town.

Magda and Marc Houle Tour Dates:
Thurs. 12/02 – Toronto, ON, CA, Cobra
Fri. 12/03 – New York, NY, District 36
Sat. 12/04 – San Francisco, CA, The End Up (Kontrol)
Sun. 12/05 – Guadalajara, MX, Rabid Festival
Fri. 12/10 – El Paso, TX, Club 101
Sat. 12/11 – San Juan, PR, The Warehouse
Sun. 12/12 – Miami, FL, Electric Pickle
Wed. 12/15 – Madison, WI, The Cardinal
Thurs. 12/16 – Milwaukee, WI, Moct
Fri. 12/17 – Chicago, IL, Spy Bar
Sat. 12/18 – Detroit, MI, The Works

All the way from Sweden comes this frantic video for the track “Lord of the Flies” off of Daniel Savio‘s newest LP, Nekropolis. The video, directed and edited by Lucien Garin, features a host of shapes, colors, some jagged dancing, and even Savio himself setting up some quirky-looking synths and modules on a ledge. Pretty heavy stuff. For those of you not familiar with the simple and silly sounds that shape the genre known as skweee, then you should check out last month’s XLR8R TVepisode in which we got the inside scoop on the genre from its most important players (including Daniel Savio). Savio’s newest LP is out now on the Losonfono label and features some amazingly destructive-looking album artwork, which you can check out below.

Daniel Savio – Nekropolis

XLR8R TV Episode 149 – In Space No One Can Hear You Skweee

Apparently the people over at Ninja Tune aren’t just going to sit back on their laurels while celebrating 20 years as a pioneering UK label. They also have a slew of new releases coming out this month including one from legendary producer The Bug. The Infected EP will be released as a double 12″ vinyl with two new tracks (well, one is a re-working of “Poison Dart”) and two remixes from Autechre and Scratcha DVA. Both of the new tracks feature guest vocalists, Hitomi can be found singing on the track “Catch a Fire” (you can watch the video here), and Roots Manuva can be found on the aforementioned re-working of “Poison Dart” entitled “Tune In.” The EP will be available on November 15 in both its physical and digital formats. Check the tracklist below:

Tracklist:
1) Catch A Fire feat Hitomi
2) Tune In feat Roots Manuva
3) Skeng (Autechre Remix)
4) Poison Dart (Scratcha DVA Remix)