Universal Studios Florida “Branss”

Yes, Universal Studios Florida is a pretty awesome band name, but names alone won’t get you very far. We need the music to make us move, and the two Seattle residents in U.S.F. make the kind of blissful, summery synth-pop that we’ve been moving to for some time now. Like a slow-grooving Delorean tune, “Branss” offers a thick wash of hazy atmosphere and lilting melodic elements alongside the slow bounce of its island-inspired rhythm. It’s the aural equivalent of a bright afternoon spent alone on a white-sand beach, throwing a colorful beach ball into the surf and watching it bob up and down in the warm water as you swim towards it lazily—completely content in the day’s relaxing simplicity. And if you yearn for more musical goodness from the production duo, check out a preview of U.S.F’s forthcoming new album, The Spray, over on Bandcamp. (via 20 Jazz Funk Greats)

01 Branss

Modeselektor to Launch New Compilation Series, Tour U.S.

Though a new album from Berlin’s next-level bass dons, Modeselektor, is still nowhere in sight, we do have news of the duo kicking off a fresh compilation series. Entitled Modeselektion Vol. 1, the 18-track disc is said to showcase “the progression of dubstep’s offsprings and related, or unrelated but similar sounding, techno producers in London, Berlin, or elsewhere.” So, basically, the release has whatever the hell music Modeselektor wants it to have. Vol. 1 is scheduled for release on November 5 via the production outfit’s own label, Monkeytown, and will be preceded by a short stint in the U.S. this September. You can find those dates, along with the compilation’s artwork and tracklist, below.

01 Siriusmo “Das Geheimnis”
02 SBTRKT “The Unspoken”
03 Feadz “The Assistant Manager”
04 Tadd Mulinix & Daniel Meteo “The Good Star”
05 Robag Wruhme “Bierholer”
06 2562 “The Wind Up”
07 eLan “Pussy Posse”
08 Cosmin TRG “Space Station Love Affair”
09 Shed “With Bag And Baggage”
10 Apparat “King Of Clubs”
11 Marcel Dettmann “Lyrate”
12 Ikonika & Optimum “Hum”
13 Modeselektor “VW Jetta”
14 Ramadanman “Pitter”
15 Digital Mystikz-Mala “Explorer”
16 Bok Bok “Say Stupid Things”
17 Housemeister “Kristall”
18 Cylob “Pepper Spray” (Capsicum Edit)

Thursday, September 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theater
Friday, September 24 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos (Decibel Festival)
Saturday, September 25 – Washington, D.C. @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
Sunday, September 26 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Wiliamsburg

Christopher Willits Unveils Secrets Behind Latest Album

If you’re only familiar with Christopher Willits as the man behind our XLR8R TV series What You Talkin’ Bout Willits?, you should also know he puts those same Ableton, Max/MSP, and other live-electronics skills to excellent use as a solo producer signed to the illustrious Ghostly International label. Willits released his latest opus, Tiger Flower Circle Sun, just about a month ago, and interest in the hows and whys of his new batch of lush soundscapes is still running strong. Recently, the Create Digital Music website got in touch with Willits to talk to him about the inspirations behind his music, the technical ins and outs of his setup, and how he translates it all to a live setting. You can read that whole interview here.

Goldie and Prince Harry to Look For Young Music Talent on BBC TV Show

Recently, BBC News reported that veteran drum & bass icon Goldie will be featured in a new television series setting its sights on finding youngsters with “raw musical talent.” The program, called Goldie’s Band – By Royal Appointment, will follow Goldie as he looks for the musicians, helps them receive mentoring from established artists, and, finally, gets them a live show at Buckingham Palace in front of Prince Harry. On the upcoming show, Goldie says, “It’s all about unearthing musical talent that’s under the radar in Britain, finding young people who’ve faced huge challenges and have never had the opportunities that they deserve.” Goldie’s Band has yet to be scheduled to air.

Darkstar to Release Debut Album This October

Following a series of well-received singles and one-off compilation tracks, London-based production team Darkstar is set to release its first full-length album on October 19 via Hyperdub. The forthcoming record is called North, and finds the duo expanding its ranks to include vocalist James Buttery. “Gold,” which is actually a cover of a more obscure Human League song, is set to be the first single from Darkstar’s new, 10-track album, and will also be the album’s first music video. On the upcoming LP, the press release states, “Elegant, downbeat, breezy, sometimes melancholy and bleak, sometimes optimistic, North will surprise many, a classic record for short days and long nights.” You can check out the full tracklist below.

01 In The Wings
02 Gold
03 Deadness
04 Aidy’s Girl Is A Computer
05 Under One Roof
06 Two Chords
07 North
08 Ostkreuz
09 Dear Heartbeat
10 When Its Gone

Podcast 157: Alex B

LA might get all the shine for the burgeoning beat scene, but a few states over in Colorado, producer Alex B (a.k.a. Alex Botwin) has been quietly setting up an abstract, instrumental fiefdom of his own. (That’s why we recently tapped him to host the Denver edition of our ongoing City Guide series for XLR8R TV.) As head of Elm and Oak, which functions as a record label, design shop, and clothing line, Botwin’s talents aren’t limited to just beatmaking, although his debut album, Moments, certainly garnered plenty of attention when it dropped earlier this year. Next week, he’ll be setting off on a massive US tour—check the litany of dates here—and as a little preview, he’s assembled this exclusive mix for the XLR8R podcast. It’s a layered, at times psychedelic, journey through hip-hop beats, dubstep brawn, and bedroom-studio skronk that nicely showcases Botwin’s talents; as it happens, he either produced or remixed half the songs here. Throw in some unreleased gems from like-minded beat producers, and this podcast is poised to get any beat freak salivating.

01 MNDSGN “***reversefootsteps”
02 Toro Y Moi “Fax Shadow” (Carpark)
03 Robot Koch “Devil Drums (Alex B Remix)” (Friends of Friends)
04 Adam Deitch “Fat Boyyy”
05 Leonard Dstroy “Hypnotized feat. Brother of Moses and Reggie B.” (Bloom Bap)
06 Alex B “At Channel One/Mr. Me Too Remix”
07 Alex B “Chip Chop” (Elm and Oak)
08 Leonard Dstroy “Sunbeams”
09 Alex B “Getting to Know You” (Elm and Oak)
10 Alex B feat. Quiz “Fuss”
11 Alex B feat. Quiz “Yea Girl”
12 Alex B “Dehydration”
13 Jonwayne “Pondwater” (Wedidit)
14 Devonwho “untitled”

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XLR8R_Podcast_Alex_B_2010_08_24

Mahjongg The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger

Mahjongg‘s lead vocalist, Hunter Husar, was once quoted as saying, “When you’re in your early 20s, you want to take on the world and take over a city.” The Chicago band appears to have been successful in achieving their objective, which they continue to cement on their third LP, The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger. Honing their own particular brand of hybridized post-punk dance music and dub-electronic to a near-OCD level, Mahjongg’s tone on their latest disc is intricately planned, genre-splicing, and dance hall-ready.

True to form, Paper Tiger doesn’t waste a moment in moving through seven mixed and remixed tracks that feature a rotating, yet talented, cast of guest musicians and friends, including Mbulu, Suddenly Susan, and Jeanine O’Toole. In fact, one of Paper Tiger‘s finest qualities is its ability to include a diverse list of contributors who provide just the right formula of loops, dub beats, and samples to the album without making it seem bloated. Kicking off with the messy-sounding, yet finely tuned “Gobble,” Mahjongg manages to stuff at least five different styles into one track, roughly pairing Husar’s gritty, frayed vocals with a satisfyingly urgent ruckus of guitar and blooping electronics. Other standout tracks include the electro-heavy “La Beat,” the synth-laced “Miami Knights,” and the considerably groovier “Devry.” In short, each cut on Paper Tiger seethes with energy, boasts complex, layered production, and a unique manner of delivery. But would you expect anything else from Mahjongg?

Jargon V.A “Crime Scene feat. Killa P”

The first release from Cheese on Bread’s fresh new record label is a two-track single by UK grime production duo Jargon V.A. The burgeoning outfit enlisted Roll Deep MC Killa P to contribute his fervent flow to their bassline-flavored track, and the results are pure soundsystem fire. Through the wobbly low-end of “Crime Scene”‘s energetic bass, head-smashing dance beats cut the wall of sound with Killa P’s omnipresent vocal work riding atop it with a speed and tenacity that quickly justifies his connections to icons like Wiley and Dizzee Rascal. You can also check out the video for “Crime Scene” here, and keep your eyes peeled for more magic from Jargon V.A with a forthcoming Tinie Tempah collaboration and a full-length album, entitled It’s All On Top.

01 Crime Scene feat. Killa P

Watch Martyn’s Touching Short Film, ‘Great Lengths’

You’ve been warned: This isn’t your average music video. The man responsible for what easily stands as one of our favorite albums from last year, Dutch-born producer Martyn, recently worked with director Ramón Gieling on this heartbreakingly gorgeous short film, which presents a Fellini-esque interpretation of the 2003 death of Martyn’s father, pro footballer Gerrie Deijkers. Black-and-white footage accompanied by Great Lengths album cut “Bridge” portrays Martyn reenacting the event of Deijkers’ heart attack in a dreamy setting on a snow-covered field before the director gradually cuts to a representation of what might follow the tragic happening: a colorful-but-bittersweet celebration soundtracked by the upbeat “Right?Star!” number (which, incidentally, is uncredited). (via Resident Advisor)

Roska “Play Gamez”

Wow—RinseFM is having another birthday. Seems like just yesterday the next-level bass music hub was celebrating the procurement of its official broadcast credentials, and now it’s ready to celebrate its Sweet 16. That party is getting ready to jump off at London’s illustrious Fabric club, along with an unbelievable lineup that includes Skream, Benga, Joker, Oneman, Zinc, Ben UFO, Elijah & Skillam, and Roska, who passed along this exclusive track. “Play Gamez” comes to us straight from the UK funky DJ/producer’s harddrive as a gift to fans preceding the upcoming massive party; it’s an even-tempered dancefloor track with a sharp, shuffling beat, a bulbous bassline, and plenty of warbling sound effects. We’re sure you’ll be hearing more lengthy club-friendly productions like this from the army of mixmasters ready to take over Fabric on September 10.

Play Gamez

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