Killamu “Tchilu”

While recent years have seen an flood of third-world dance beats on to first-world dancefloors, the flow of “official” releases remains at a trickle. Yet a few fledgling labels are combating this trend; count among them Akwaaba, whose founder Benjamin Lebrave has spent a significant amount of time in Angola and signed up local kuduro heroes to legitimately release (and get paid for) their infectiously frenetic dance cuts. Today Akwaaba is releasing A Minha Face, a new album from veteran producer Killamu. “Tchilu” skews toward the genre’s electronic side, pairing hyperactive handclaps with lightning-quick verses and an overwhelming sense that Killamu and friends had just as much fun making this track as you will when it’s blaring out of your stereo.

For a more in-depth look at Killamu, Akwaaba has put together a mini-documentary that you can check out here.

07 Tchilu

Robot Koch Death Star Droid

Just a bit darker and more deconstructed than the sounds of Robot Koch‘s high-tech club outfit Jahcoozi, the producer’s debut full-length reveals a gamut of choppy hip-hop compositions straight out of Germany. On Death Star Droid, Koch doesn’t care for simplicity, though when working with vocalists like the striking Graciela Maria on Doors’ cover “People Are Strange,” his crazy collaged synths and robotic sonics are aptly toned down a notch—the sign of a real producer. While his collaborations come across as more focused, it’s fun hearing Koch run wild with the glitchy bass banger “Gorom Sen” or on the broken mechanical soundscape of the title track. Overall, it’s a daring debut.

Preview the New Joy Orbison single

Next month, UK wunderkind Joy Orbison will be releasing The Shrew Would Have Cushioned the Blow EP on the Aus label. The EP will also feature a remix from Actress. Preview the title track in the above video, or go here to give the entire release a listen. The full tracklist is below.

Joy Orbison
The Shrew Would Have Cushioned the Blow EP

01 The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow
02 So Derobe
03 The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow (Actress Neu Hause So-Glo Mix)

Video: Riva Starr “Dance Me”

Playful house producer Riva Starr is getting ready to unveil his new album, If Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade, at the end of the month on Jesse Rose’s Made to Play imprint, but he’s warming things up this week with the release of the “Dance Me” single, which features remixes from Rose, Oliver $, and Payme. But it’s the video we’re especially excited about—who can get mad at chopped-up dance footage of Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer, Mr. T, and Rick Astley? Not us.

Guest Reviews: Tyondai Braxton

As the son of out-jazz composer Anthony Braxton, a member of acclaimed post-rock super-group Battles, and a renowned solo artist, Tyondai Braxton is certainly one of the biggest names in the avant-pop music world. His second solo album, Central Market (Warp), is somewhat of a departure, for after years of strictly solo efforts, the new record sees him collaborating with NYC’s Wordless Music Orchestra. For Braxton, it was an amazing experience “to try out some difficult pieces quickly,” and discover that his loop-based work paired nicely with a Stravinsky influence. Here, the NYC-based composer talks about some of the music he enjoyed the most in 2009.

Dirty Projectors
Bitte Orca
Domino
I’ve seen Dirty Projectors through many different incarnations over the decade, all of them awe-inspiring. Bitte Orca pools all of what Dave Longstreth has been exploring over the years into a powerful, succinct statement. With the unbelievable talent that makes up the band, it’s no wonder this record came out the way it did. Truly masterful.

itsnotyouitsme
Walled Gardens
New Amsterdam
Caleb Burhans and Greg McMurray come out of the gate with a pastoral, all-encompassing sound. Mostly ambient, the sounds continuously subvert a dominant texture with strings, guitar, voice, and electronics falling over each other. Beautiful.

Amarcord Nino Rota
Hannibal
Great movie, great soundtrack. Nino Rota is one of my favorite composers. I cooked a huge Italian dinner to this the other night. I had an apron on and was tasting spaghetti sauce from a large wooden spoon and this huge pot fell to the floor. I started laughing so fucking hard. My girlfriend walked in on me and I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. The music made it so much more funny.

Sunn 0)))
Monoliths and Dimensions
Southern Lord
This is my favorite of the records I’ve heard from Sunn 0))). Epic and patient. When the women’s choir on “Big Church” comes in, you understand the scope of what they’re working with here. One of my faves this year.

Limaçon “Which One”

After dropping a slew of singles on esteemed labels like Poker Flat and Force Inc., this month finds West Coast tech-house producer Limaçon (a.k.a. Christopher T. Lee) releasing his debut album, Tarry Not. If “Which One” is any indication, expect a full-length loaded with precise techno beats and ghostly synths. Luckily, Lee has infused the music with just enough California sunshine to warm up even the chilliest minimal dancefloor.

TLM031_Limacon_Which One

Inbox: Owen Pallett

Owen Pallett, the indie-pop musician formerly known as Final Fantasy, pays a visit to XLR8R’s Inbox this week. The talented Canadian seeks alternative poutines, feels groovy, plays crowd-pleasing renditions of Gershwin, kisses ass, and skips breakfast. Look for Pallett’s new album, Heartland, out January 12 on Domino.

XLR8R: What song is guaranteed to put you in a good mood?
Owen Pallett: “Feelin’ Groovy” by Simon & Garfunkel.

What’s the weirdest story you have ever heard about yourself?
I used to put raisins in the toothpaste. My explanation was, “Oh, I’m just keeping my raisins in the toothpaste.”

What bands or musicians did you listen to when you were 15?
Jean Michel-Jarre, Björk, Russian classical music, local punk bands.

What has been your most unusual live show experience?
I played an incredible set at the Montreal Jazz Festival one year. The tension in the room was incredible; people were on the edges of their seats. At the end of the last song, I started playing a melody from “Rhapsody In Blue.” I put pregnant pauses between the final few notes. Just before I hit the last note, somebody on the balcony yelled, as loud as he could, “You fucking suckkkkkkk!” The crowd erupted in the loudest applause I’ve ever heard.

If you could play a song using only three instruments, which would you choose?
ARP 2600, Minimoog, Nord Lead 2X.

Where do you go for killer poutine?
I like poutine Italienne, where they replace the gravy with marinara sauce.

When was the last time you told a lie?
Such personal questions!

What is your favorite item of clothing?
I splurged on this beautiful nylon Ann Demeulemeester hoodie, and I wear it every day. I even sleep in it.

If you could reduce your music to a single word, what would it be?
Bups.

Which musical are you the most like: Starlight Express, Phantom of the Opera, 42nd Street, Rent, or Avenue Q?
None of the above. I’m South Pacific all the way.

What did you eat this morning for breakfast?
Nothing.

Which other artist would you most like to work with next?
Gus Van Sant.

What’s the last book you read?
I just finished a book of Foucault essays, but it wasn’t very good. I’m reading the new book by Tracy Kidder right now.

Complete this sentence: In the future…
We will run out of LOLs.

When was the last time you kissed someone?
I kiss ass all day. What about you?

What’s next?
Our tour bus has just arrived. I’m going to take my first shower in three days.

Om Unit “Lightgrids”

We can’t pinpoint exactly why it’s happening, but London is on a serious roll right now. Just go ahead and add Om Unit (who used to operate under the name 2Tall) to the list of camera-shy UK artists making infectiously wonky beats. “Lightgrids” is the a-side to his new 45 on the Irish All-City imprint, which has previously released tunes from like-minded producers like Mike Slott and Hudson Mohawke, and sounds like the kind of sultry retro-futurism that the Nite Funk collaboration might cook up. Om Unit has previously worked with outer-space soul pioneers Dudley Perkins and Georgia Anne Muldrow, so maybe Dam-Funk and Nite Jewel should give him a call.

Lightgrids

Lightgrids

Chef/Ramadanman Dubstep Allstars: Vol. 7

This double mix CD sorts out the differences—some glaring, others more subtle—of dubstep’s multidirectional past, present and future. Disc One finds South London DJ Chef juggling what might be called the scene’s “foundation” sound based around clear-cut D&B, jungle, and UK garage influences, leading to a 34-track hardcore maelstrom full of crunch-time wobblers by Benga, Cyrus, Distance, and D1. Ramadanman‘s mix on Disc Two veers toward funkier, house-inspired territory, with highlights by Hessle Audio labelmates Pangaea, Untold, and Ramadanman himself, not to mention Peverelist, Scuba, and wonky-shoegaze-dub specialists Mount Kimbie, who close the impressive set with the sublime “50 Mile View.”

Daedelus, Nosaj Thing, and Jogger Conjure Magical Tour

Everyone’s favorite debonair, beat-making maestro, Daedelus, has ventured into new territory with the launch of his own label, Magical Properties. After releasing the debut album for LA-based duo Jogger, entitled This Great Pressure, the label is now hitting the road. Daedelus, along with labelmates Jogger and fellow LA beatsmith Nosaj Thing, will be touring all over the US and Canada in the appropriately titled Magical Properties Tour. Watch the video promoting the upcoming escapades here, and peep the tour info below.

Thursday – Feb 4th – Space 120 – Palm Springs, California
Friday – Feb 5th – Echoplex – Los Angeles, California*
Saturday – Feb 6th – Mighty – San Francisco, California*
Sunday – Feb 7th – Jambalaya – Arcata, California
Monday – Feb 8th – Rotture – Portland, Oregon*
Tuesday – Feb 9th – Fortune Sound Club – Vancouver, British Columbia
Wednesday – Feb 10th – Neumos – Seattle, Washington
Friday – Feb 12th – Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, Colorado
Saturday – Feb 13th – Gothic Theater – Englewood, Colorado
Sunday – Feb 14th – Mad Planet – Milwaukee, Wisconson
Monday – Feb 15th – Majestic Theater – Madison, Wisconsin
Tuesday – Feb 16th – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, Illinois*
Wednesday – Feb 17th – Grog Shop – Cleveland, Ohio*
Thursday – Feb 18th – Wrong Bar – Toronto, Ontario
Friday – Feb 19th – Le Belmont – Montreal, Quebec
Saturday – Feb 20th – Le Poisson Rouge – New York, New York*
Monday – Feb 22st – Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania*
Tuesday – Feb 23rd – Bourbon Street – Baltimore, Maryland
Wednesday – Feb 24th – Xscape Lounge – Richmond, Virginia
Thursday – Feb 25th – Club R2 – Charlottesville, Virginia
Friday – Feb 26th – Club 828 – Asheville, North Carolina
Saturday Feb 27th – New Earth Music Hall – Athens, Georgia

* Sponsored by Scion Sessions

pictured Daedelus

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