Get ready to surf over to Discogs, because this track is The Very Best‘s African pop take on The xx‘s shuffling remix of Florence + the Machine‘s cover of The Source and Candi Staton’s 1986 disco-gospel hit. Luckily, the increased distance from the original doesn’t diminish the quality of this fine reworking, which leaves The xx’s interpretation intact while adding African vocal harmonies, sweaty tropical percussive elements, and a healthy amount of delay. Candi Staton should be proud.
Perhaps best known for his high-profile remixes, the UK’s Paul Woolford‘s latest project is a two-part mix that runs the gamut of electronic music’s many sounds and genres. Aiming to create “a lasting document of my approach to music,” the UK producer’s eclectic Platform mix includes everything from Courtney Tidwell and Tom Taylor to Robert Hood and Suburban Knight, proving that a true sound technician never limits himself to one approach or genre. Check out the full tracklisting after the jump!
Platform comes out March 15 on Renaissance.
Tracklisting:
Surgery One
1. Paul Woolford – Heartbeat Intro
2. Brock Van Wey – Forever A Stranger
3. Lusine – Gravity
4. Rocha – Hands Of Love [Fingers Of Sand] (Gatto Fritto Menorcan Nightmare Version) [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
5. Josh Wink – Counter Clock 319 (Château Flight Remix) [Section]
6. Gui Boratto – Trills (Paul Woolford Reduced Dub)
7. I:Cube – Tunnel Vision [Section]
8. Wireman – Armour (Move D Remix) [Section]
9. Missing Linkx – Who To Call c/w Brock Van Wey – Forever A Stranger [Section]
10. Adryan – The Jazzer (Russ Gabriel Remix)
11. Basic Soul Unit – Things Pass
12. Cortney Tidwell – Watusii (Daphni Remix) [Instrumental & Vocal Sections]
13. Newworldaquarium – The Force (Âme Remix) [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
14 Tensnake – In The End (I Want You To Cry)
15 Marc Antona & Xiki – Hawah
16. Armando – Don’t Take It (Thomos Edit) [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
17. Matthias Tanzmann – Rugby
18. Brendon Moeller – Phazed & Confused
19. Ben Klock – Subzero (Function-Regis Remix) c/w Brock Van Wey – Forever A Stranger [Section]
20. Joy Orbison – The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow
21. Paul Woolford Presents Bobby Peru – Let It Go
Surgery Two
1. Paul Woolford – Salinas Intro
2. Morgan Geist Feat. Jeremy Greenspan Of Junior Boys – The Shore (Paul Woolford’s Bridge End Remix)
3. Morgan Geist Feat. Jeremy Greenspan Of Junior Boys – The Shore (Paul Woolford’s Bridge End Dub)
4. Daniel Stefanik – Like This
5. Brock Van Wey – Forever A Stranger [Section]
6. Quarion – Karasu (Deetron Remix) [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
7. Ben Klock – Subzero (Function-Regis Remix)
8. Reel By Real – Surkit [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
9. Oni Ayhun – OAR003-B [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
10. Cortney Tidwell – Watusii (Daphni Remix) [Vocal Section]
11. Josh Wink – Counter Clock 319 (Château Flight Remix)
12. DVS1 – Running
13. Abe Duque Feat. Blake Baxter – What Happened? [Vocal Sections]
14. Robert Hood – School
15. Sendai – System Policy
16. Kevin Gorman – Alarm (Tool Re-edit)
17. Derrick L. Carter – Legacy [Vocal Section]
18. Paul Woolford – Endgame (Platform Intro Version)
19. Tom Taylor – Theory Of Everything (Kink Remix) [Paul Woolford Re-edit]20. Suburban Knight – The Art Of Stalking
On “Bermuda,” LA’s KISSES deftly combine the clean, synth-driven throwback disco of some Morgan Geist productions and the male vocals that helped define the ’80s New Romantic sound. Vintage synths, bright jangly guitars, and dusty beats ride below a voice that recalls a more full-throated Tony Hadley (of Spandau Ballet). With a sound that sits nicely next to the Smiths as well as Geist’s recent collaborations with Jeremy Greenspan, KISSES’ upcoming full-length just might lead to a new New Romantic revival.
Don’t confuse Danish electronic experimentalist Mikkel Meyer with German techno producer Michael Mayer. Whereas Kompakt artist Mayer makes taught and cohesive digital music, Denmark’s Meyer takes a scattershod approach to avant-bass tracks. On Bacon, spacious dubstep numbers like “Kotelet” seem on the verge of collapse, crackling with static, brittle rimshots, and unstable sub-bass notes. MCs Non from Shadowhuntaz and Tanzanians Lufu and Chidi Benz add random vocals to a few tunes, but instrumental works such as “Ostetaerte” are far more mysterious and potent. The highlight is also the finale: “Jordbærkage” veers smoothly into 2562’s dubtech territory. If you fancy a varied approach to electronics with an artful twist, then grab a slab of Bacon.
Who:Jubilee
Where: Brooklyn, NY
South Florida native Jessica Gentile grew up loving Latin beats and Miami bass, raving at electro and drum & bass parties, and worshipping local heroes like DJ Laz. After college she moved to NY with dreams of a career in TV or radio, but somehow ended up working as a makeup artist and DJing parties. These days she puts on the monthly Flashing Lights party—which goes down in a Chinatown dim sum restaurant—with Nick Catchdubs and DJ Ayres, and also runs the online Nightshifters label with Jason Forrest (a.k.a. DJ Donna Summer), which recently released her Paypur EP that she co-produced with fellow NYC artist Udachi.
Listen: Udachi and Jubilee “Paypur”
Listen/Download: Jubilee XLR8R Podcast
After more than 10 years in the DJ game, Mike Monday offered his latest single, “Your Body,” to frequent DJ-partner-in-crime and Veryverywrongindeed label head Tim Sheridan. Sheridan’s beat takes a more motorik approach than Monday’s original, though his warbling bass and reverb-laden vocal samples sound straight out of the dubstep playbook. It all abruptly cuts out around the halfway point—giving Sheridan a chance to rebuild the song’s subtle energy into a flourish before retreating back to the initial beat.
German techno vet, Oliver Huntemann delivers one of his trademark reworkings on this single from Abe Duque‘s ’09 full-length, Don’t Be So Mean. The original version of “Following My Heart” was centered around the guest vocal from diva Virginia Nascimento, a slow-pulsing bass tone, and loads of delayed synths. Huntemann pitches Virginia’s vocal down, just about doubles the BPM, and trades in melody for all sorts of dark, industrial-sounding percussion on his interpretation—the final chapter in Duque’s Don’t Be So Mean remix series.
Apparently, the dapper B-boy, who long ago spent his prom night charming Peanut Butter Wolf, now wants to start a doomsday cult. But never mind Seven Seals‘ tacky, occultist artwork—James Pants is still a charmer. He holes himself deep into a scuzzy, ramshackle noise and his mess is simply immaculate. Pants oddly clashes punk thrash with medieval Kraftwerk synth riffs on “Beyond Time,” while “Wash to Sea” finds him cleverly revising Joy Division as a lounge act. Everything clicks on hazy R&B numbers “A Chip in the Hand” and “Aqua Sun,” where genuine psychdelica arises from echo-fried vocals, lysergic-electro keyboard riffs, and gritty, ka-thunking beats—it’s fine music for ceremonially sacrificing lambs.
People love to throw out the word “schizophrenic” to describe musicians, but in the case of Kenneth James Gibson, it might actually be true. By his own estimation, the prolific LA-based techno producer has recorded under approximately 12 different monikers. His latest effort, “Something in the Way,” on the rapidly up-and-coming Culprit label, was actually made under his own name and was released just today. Although those songs remain under lock and key (unless you actually buy them—what a novel idea), Mr. Gibson has passed along “Painted Eyes,” a sultry vocal techno cut on par with his already stuffed volume of work. Watch for a Kenneth James Gibson LP later this year.
Last week we reported on the potential troubles looming for famed London nightspot Plastic People, home to numerous boundary-pushing parties, including legendary dubstep/grime night FWD. While the club’s future remains up in the air for now, in recent days an online petition entitled “Keep Plastic People Alive” has surfaced. Supporters are encouraged to add their name, as the petition will be presented to the local Hackney town council alongside letters from supporters and official materials from the club’s management.
Those looking to keep tabs on further developments should also consider joining the “Keep Plastic People Alive” Facebook group.
