Podcast 581: Black Light Smoke

After years of working, partying, and “searching for meaning” in New York City, Jordan Lieb—professionally known as Black Light Smoke—is now comfortably at home in Nashville, Tennessee. It was a move he’d considered for some time: a deep immersion in the New York party scene had fostered both an urge to explore new pastures and a fear of being forgotten if he were to get up and go. But now settled in the US South, he’s more content than ever, enjoying the open spaces—and with this has come a flurry of new releases. Up first is the City Life EP, a marker of the turning point in his life when his priorities changed, scheduled to land via Francis Harris’ Scissor & Thread label on March 1. 

Originally from Chicago, Lieb studied recording at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, before moving to New York in 2001 to pursue a career in music. He filled his early time there by composing for the soap opera One Life To Live, for which he received two Daytime Emmy nominations and a Daytime Emmy Award, and writing music for television commercials—before a discovery of the city’s underground scene inspired him to begin making electronic music. He crossed paths with Harris who invited him to release on his label; 2011’s Switchback / Black Stripe marked his debut, and it was followed by four more solo EPs of raw, atmospheric house. Included within are some of the imprint’s most recognised works: “Lovework,” with its dusty analog feel, appealed to many, as did “That’s My Yes.” He last appeared on the label in 2014 but now returns with six tracks of affecting deep house vibes that soundtracked his time on the East Coast. 

Lieb’s mix aims to capture the essence of this latest EP. It’s gritty, hissy, and noisy, but with a melancholic undertone, featuring tracks from Mall Grab, Piezo, and many from Lieb himself. It’s 60 minutes of raw, swinging house that’s as fit for a drive as it is an after-hours. Grab it now via the WeTransfer button below. 

What have you been up to recently? 

I’m living in Nashville, TN, which has a small but exciting DIY electronic music scene. I’ve been playing and DJing a bit here, and I recently helped start a monthly party with two other resident DJs—Facsimile (Tyler Jacobsen from Medical Records) and Daniel Holt (who just put out a record with L.I.E.S.). It’s been really cool to be part of a scene that hasn’t yet hardened its ideas or identity. People here are still open-minded and just want to dance and have fun. I’ve been playing house, techno, minimal synth, and Italo disco, and the response has been super positive.

What’s the story behind the City Life EP?

This record is my retrospective on living in New York City for 16 years, and my reflection on why I left. I learned so much about myself in those years. I dove into the techno/party scene, I made a lot of music, I had a lot of adventures that one can only find in New York during the strange hours of the morning. I have immense gratitude for those experiences. But today I need nature and space and family. The lyrics in the title track, “City Life,” are about the artificial lights, the tight spaces, the crowded feelings. In my 20s and 30s I loved these things. Today I’m in a different place in my life.  

When and where was this mix recorded?

I recorded this mix a few weeks ago from the safety and confines of my home studio. 

Is there a particular theme or idea behind it?

The theme is really just the vibe, a sense of cohesion for an hour of music. I also wanted the tracks to compliment the sound of my record. 

How did you choose the tracks that you included?

I start with the music I’ve been loving lately, and then I’ll jump online to search for new music that can help the mix along. As with the City Life EP, the aesthetic of this mix is gritty, hissy, and noisy, but with a melancholic and melodic undertone. The tracks from Mall Grab and Deejay Astral, for example, really exemplify that. The challenge for me when putting together a mix is crafting something the never feels generic or lazy. If I myself don’t feel compelled by each moment in the mix then I won’t feel good about releasing it. 

There’s also a balance to strike as far as the energy level of a mix. If it gets too sleepy than it just disappears. If it gets too epic than it starts to impose itself. I am always conscious of the question: What is the purpose of this mix? What is its utility? In this case, I wanted something laid back but interesting—good for an afternoon drive or an early morning after-hours. 

What’s next on the horizon? 

I feel really excited about the records I’m putting out this year. They represent an honest variety of my musical interests lately. With Scissor & Thread, I explore more of a deep house sound. Stay tuned for my other records on Cut Mistake Music and NEIN Records, which adventure into darker, more synth-laden tracks, even some proper songs, and non-dance music. 

I’m also planning some touring gigs for the year in cities like New York, Miami, D.C., Houston, and more. Since I last toured I’ve revamped my live set, adding more hardware, and challenging myself to play in a more improvisational way. It’s important to keep things fresh for myself, and I think that really translates to an audience. 

These days I’m more focused on the quality rather than the quantity of the gigs. Finding the balance between music and life is crucial for me. If something’s not working anymore I let it go. At the same time, I feel compelled to get out there and reconnect with old and new fans. I still get such a charge from people enjoying my music. My intention this year is to bring some new energy and confidence to those situations. 

I’ll also be continuing with my Death Decay Magic podcast series. I’ve had mixes from some really great DJs. I try to stay open to both DJs with some name recognition and to those who are just starting out. That was me once and I was given some great breaks. I try to pass that on in whatever little ways I can. 

Due to issues regarding the GDPR, EU readers can download the podcast here.

We’ve compiled the tracks from the podcast that are available on Bandcamp and listed them on Buy Music Club here.

Tracklisting

01. Black Light Smoke “In Gold” (Scissor & Thread)

02. Infiniti (Juan Atkins) “Skyway” (Tresor Records)

03. Deejay Astral “Duality” (Who’s Susan)

04. Mall Grab “Never” (1080p)

05. Black Light Smoke “City Life” (Scissor & Thread)

06. Lowjac “Hatfield Junk (XDB Goodtimes mix) (BLIQ)

07. DJ Barbo$$a “Make It” (Cactus Traxx)

08. Thingamajicks “Patrick’s Last Trip” (Vernon Felicity Remix) (BLIQ)

09. Betonkust “World of Pain” (9300 Records)

10. Nørbak “Otr” (Edit Select)

11. Piezo “Parrots” (Ansia)

12. Møzaika “T-T-Tool” (Public Possession)

13. Black Light Smoke “Without You” (Scissor & Thread)

Smalltown Supersound Announces Erik Wøllo’s ‘Sources. Early Works 1986 – 1992’

Smalltown Supersound will release an album from 58-year-old Norwegian composer Erik Wøllo, titled Sources. Early Works 1986 – 1992, out March 29. 

Wøllo, who has been a professional artist since 1980, has covered a wide range of styles, from rock and jazz to experimental electronic and classical music. He was one of the first Norwegian composers who adapted a minimalistic style, building a bridge between grand symphonic realms and gentle, serene sounds. His musical statements range from slowly-drifting kaleidoscopic passages to epic soaring guitar melancholy, to upbeat ever-changing sequences and compelling melodies. Wøllo has also been composing and performing music for films, theatre, ballets, and art exhibitions, as well as music for string quartets and large orchestras.

Sources joins Wøllo’s nearly 40-album catalogue. Comprised of 10 previously unreleased tracks, it was originally recorded surrounding the album sessions that spun Dreams Of Pyramids (1984), Traces (1985), and Silver Beach (1986). This was the start of a very fruitful and inspired period for Wøllo, thanks to modernized technology like MIDI and inspiration from music from all over the globe. 

“There was lots of new equipment coming out during these years, and this reflects the music I made at the time,” Wøllo says. “There was also a lot of great electronic music released. I was inspired by artists like Hassell, Eno, and Budd. Also a big influence was Klaus Schulze after seeing him at the legendary Club 7 in 1984.” We’re told that the spacey sounds on Sources show a clear line of cosmic excursions between Wøllo’s early releases to modern day fellow Norwegian travelers Lindstrøm, Bjørn Torske, and Prins Thomas.

Sources remained untouched, transferred from tapes that Wøllo had made years ago, before Helge Sten mastered the material in his Audio Virus Lab. The collection was mostly created with a Roland MSQ 700 sequencer, in real time with several MIDI synths/modules recorded directly to either a two-track stereo recorder or four-track Tascam Portastudio.

“I am very happy that the album feels like one whole. I do not often look back, and I rarely listen to my own releases after they are released,” says Wøllo. “Sometimes I get positively surprised discovering new aspects of my older material. This is music made on impulse and with an eagerness to create. Not much thought was put into how it would be released. At least this is the way I remember it.” — Erik Wøllo

Tracklisting

01. Blooming

02. Swamp Land

03. Soft Journey

04. Under Water

05. The Near Future

06. Big Sky

07. The Movie

08. Luftreise

09. Native Dance

10. Ody At Sea

Sources. Early Works 1986 – 1992 lands March 29, with “Ody to Sea” streaming below. 

DJ Chillz “Lost Myself”

London producer and songwriter DJ Chillz has followed up the seductive “Spoil Me With Loyalty” single with her chilled out, house-tinged single “Lost Myself.”

Opening with a buoyant, afrobeat-inspired percussion pattern, the single shines a light on DJ Chillz’ love for her African heritage. The vocal hook, provided by Sarai Young, embodies the track’s sensual narrative. “Whilst ‘Spoil Me with Loyalty’ shined a light on the seductive side of a relationship, ‘Lost Myself’ feels purer in its form, a dance between two lovers celebrating into the night,” DJ Chillz explains. 

DJ Chillz’ debut EP will arrive soon, with “Lost Myself” available to download below, or here for EU readers due to GDPR restrictions. 

Herbie Hancock’s Pivotal Warner Bros Output Set for Reissue via Superior Viaduct

Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

San Francisco’s Superior Viaduct and their sub-imprint Antarctica Starts Here have announced vinyl reissues of Herbie Hancock’s pivotal output for Warner Bros. Records. The entire catalog from his transitional phase between 1969-72 with Warner is present, namely new high-quality vinyl prints of Fat Albert Rotunda, Mwandishi, and Crossings. All three releases will land on March 29.

Herbie Hancock signed with Warner after close to a decade of releases with Blue Note and guest work with Miles Davis and others through the ’60s.

1969’s Fat Albert Rotunda presented a unique blend of post-bop jazz, R&B, soul, and funk. His large ensemble comprised an all-star lineup of talent of the ’60s jazz era, including Joe Henderson, Joe Farrel, Buster Williams, Eric Gale, Joe Newman, Ernie Royal, Albert “Tootie” Heath, and more. 

Over the course of 1970 and 1971, Hancock transformed his group and made a seismic shift in his aesthetic, creating the Mwandishi Band. Replacing all but one of the members that existed on Fat Alberta Rotunda, his new lineup included Billy Hart (Jabali), Eddie Henderson (Mganga), Bennie Maupin (Mwile), Buster Williams (Mchezaji), and Julian Priester (Pepo Mtoto). Adopting Swahili names, the group began to center around vamps, complex polyrhythms, and innovative chord structuring, while also utilizing post-production studio techniques. The new lineup created Mwandishi in this context at the Wally Heider Recording Studios in San Francisco, California during January of 1971. 

1972’s Crossings from the Mwandishi Band was just as much of a leap forward in post-production treatment and fusions of contemporary music. It was recorded in February of 1972 at Pacific Recording Studios, San Mateo and Different Fur Trading Company, San Francisco, with Patrick Gleeson added on the Moog synthesizer, Victor Pantoja on congas, and a unique vocal section comprising Candy Love, Sandra Stevens, Della Horne, Victoria Domagalski, and Scott Breach. 

These reissues are an important snapshot into Hancock’s shift through sound as technology flourished through the early ’70s and his efforts to unearth more elevated sounds continued. 

Pre-order for the three high-grade vinyl reissues can be found here. 

Tracklisting, Fat Albert Rotunda 

01. Wiggle-Waggle

02. Fat Mama

03. Tell Me A Bedtime Story

04. Oh! Oh! Here He Comes

05. Jessica

06. Fat Albert Rotunda

07. Lil’ Brother

Tracklisting, Mwandishi 

01. Ostinato (Suite For Angela)

02. You’ll Know When You Get There

03. Wandering Spirit Song

Tracklisting, Crossings

01. Sleeping Giant

02. Quasar

03. Water Torture

Lenny De Luca “Apollo”

Cascade Records will celebrate its 10-year anniversary on March 1 with the release of Meek Silk, an 11-track VA.

The compilation is, as the label explains, “an intoxicating intimate listening experience that transcends musical codes,” and features a collection of forward-thinking beat cuts from the label’s sprawling crew of producers, including Lenny De Luca, Kuna Maze, Fulgeance, Handbook, Nikitch, and Cvd, among others. Opening with Kuna Maze’s intricate “Grey Pattern,” the compilation flows through smooth jazz-tinged beats (Lenny De Luca’s “Apollo”), warped deep house (Fulgeance’s “Swimking”), and beat-driven soul (Cvd’s “Getting Busy”). Meek Silk is a gorgeous collection that puts a bow on 10 years of inspired music from Cascade. 

In support of the release, Cascade has offered up Lenny De Luca’s “Apollo” as today’s XLR8R download, available below.

You can pre-order the release here.

Due to issues regarding the GDPR, EU readers can download the track here.

Premiere: Hear a Deep Cinematic Track by Lewis Fautzi

Portuguese producer Lewis Fautzi will drop his fourth album, Insanity Department, on his own Faut Section imprint on February 25.

While Fautzi may be most known for club-focused techno on imprints such as Suara, Bpitch, Figure, PoleGroup, and Soma, his new album goes down a deeper and more introspective path, focusing on a cinematic downtempo sound. Beats are mostly eschewed altogether or buried under expertly crafted textures, affecting melodies, and cavernous atmospheres that all meld together to create a haunting whole.

Ahead of next week’s release, Fautzi has shared a full stream of “Determination Of Insanity,” an eerie slice of dubbed-out electronics, available via the player below.

You can pre-order the LP here.

Tracklisting: 

1. Insane

2. Conspiracy

3. Physicians

4. Determination Of Insanity

5. Wounds Of Deadly Hate

6. The Science Behind

7. Obscenity

Hear a Tender Piece of Electronic Ambience from Isorinne

Up next on Vaagner is The Warmest Hum, a various artist compilation that embraces the cassette’s sonic attributes, showcasing a wealth of individuals who have embraced the medium through their creative output.

One such individual is Michel Isorinne, who has always been a purveyor of the cassette, releasing his first three solo albums as well as most of his collaborative releases with Varg as D.A.R.F.D.H.S. on the medium. “Septembermorgon” displays his talent for composing tender compositions that are imbedded in the tape’s sonic characteristics, elevating the work’s fragile nature while adding warmth to the work.

This will be Vaagner’s 10th release. The Berlin label aims to track down illusive cassette releases and work with the artists behind the music to have it remastered and released on vinyl, making the music available to a new audience that may not normally have come into contact with the cassette release. The reissues feature full cover artwork, a printed insert, and a download code—which often marks the first proper digital edition for the release.

The Warmest Hum is out today, available physically as a triple cassette and digitally as a free download here, with “Septembermorgon” streaming below. 

Tracklisting

A1. Isorinne “Septembermorgon”

A2. Thet Liturgiske Owäsendet “Varsel

A3. øjeRum “Grenen På Traeet, Traeet På Bjerget” 

B1. Korea Undok Group “The Spur”

B2. SPRRW “Find Me in the Pond at Night”

B3. Mor “Untitled”

C1. Machinefabriek “Became”

C2. Fortunes Brine “Grytviken”

C3. Moss Harvest “Copper Arc”

C4. Crisis Actor “Untitled”

D1. Crosspolar “Intermission 4: Tundra” (Ambient Version)

D2. Sequences “Molten Magnetic Material”

D3. Venetian Roses “And I Will Not Tire You” (Feat. Alethe)

D4. Burning Pyre “Perfume”

E1. Autumn Pool “First Recital”

E2. Anthéne “Replacing The Memories”

E3. Stijn Hüwels “Badkamerlicht”

F1. Theodore Cale Schaefer “Midwest”

F2. White Stains “Illusions of Safety”

F3. Vera Dvale “Võttev” 

Weval Next on Kompakt for Sophomore Album

Weval will release a new album on Kompakt next month, titled The Weight.

The Amsterdam duo released their eponymous debut LP via the German label in 2016, and this new album sees them breaking their pop-mellow, nostalgia-friendly facet further out in the open as they arrive “at this place again where everything felt spontaneous, new, and exciting, like we had in the beginning.” 

Orbiting around that luminous yet wistful melodic halo that surrounds their music, this second full-length effort sweeps an extra-wide and languidly woven palette of emotions and moods, making for an “ambitious and generously coloured mosaic of sound,” the label explains.

The album is the fruit of a whole new working process—more playful and unpredictable—which saw them switch from “guitars lying around to piano, onto our own synths and the most cheap quirky toys synths you can imagine,” and involved “recording all of our own samples, voice and almost every instrument out of the box—which for us was a totally new way of working,” they explain. 

 Tracklisting 

 01. The Weight

02. Roll Together

03. Are You Even Real

04. False State of Mind

05. Someday

06. Heaven, Listen

07. Couldn’t Do It Better

08. Same Little Thing

09. Silence On The Wall

10. Look Around

11. Doesn’t Do Anything

12. Heartbreak Television

13. Who’s Running Who

The Weight LP lands March 8, with “Are You Even Real” and “Heaven, Listen” streaming below. 

Hear a New Track from Madlib & Oh No

Gangster Doodles has shared “Big Whips” from Madlib and his younger brother, Oh No, taken from the upcoming Gangster Doodles Vol. 1 compilation, out March 1 on All City Records.

The track arrives after the Dublin label shared Quelle Chris’ “Brain Of The Ape” and two new tunes from Kaytranada and Kojaque.  The compilation also features exclusive new music from MNDSGN, Chester Watson, House Shoes, and more, with each track featuring an exclusive drawing from Gangster Doodle. 

According to a recent interview with Complex, “Big Whips” came into existence after Gangster Doodles reached out asking if Madlib would contribute something to the compilation, and he replied saying he liked the idea but had only instrumentals. So the idea arose to have Oh No on the track. 

The video, directed by David James, aims to “achieve maximum levels of nostalgia,” as The Pink Panther mobs through old clips from Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Birdman.

Tracklisting

01. EETS “Savage”

02. Father “Cruel”

03. Max B “Flash Dance”

04. Caleb Stone “Slayer Cake Bounce”

05. Budgie On My Shit ft. Traffic

06. JayAllDay – 1-800 Killer Whale

07. Jonwayne “Welch’s Grape”

08. LoVibe “Lemonwater”

09. Naeem “Shiraz”

10. MNDSGN “Noodles”

11. FIFTH “And I Swear” ft. Squadda B

12. Madchild “Cold Blooded”

13. Nahh G “Mo Ma”

14. Kaytranada “Well I Bet Ya”

15. Kojaque + Kean Kavanagh “Whitney”

16. House Shoes “Intergalactic”

17. Quelle Chris “Brain Of The Ape”

18. Chester Watson “Time Moves Slower Here” 

Gangster Music Vol. 1 lands March 1 on All City Records with “Big Whips” streaming below, and pre-order here. 

Hear a New Track from Madlib & Oh No

Gangster Doodles has shared “Big Whips” from Madlib and his younger brother, Oh No, taken from the upcoming Gangster Doodles Vol. 1 compilation, out March 1 on All City Records.

The track arrives after the Dublin label shared Quelle Chris’ “Brain Of The Ape” and two new tunes from Kaytranada and Kojaque.  The compilation also features exclusive new music from MNDSGN, Chester Watson, House Shoes, and more, with each track featuring an exclusive drawing from Gangster Doodle. 

According to a recent interview with Complex, “Big Whips” came into existence after Gangster Doodles reached out asking if Madlib would contribute something to the compilation, and he replied saying he liked the idea but had only instrumentals. So the idea arose to have Oh No on the track. 

The video, directed by David James, aims to “achieve maximum levels of nostalgia,” as The Pink Panther mobs through old clips from Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Birdman.

Tracklisting

01. EETS “Savage”

02. Father “Cruel”

03. Max B “Flash Dance”

04. Caleb Stone “Slayer Cake Bounce”

05. Budgie On My Shit ft. Traffic

06. JayAllDay – 1-800 Killer Whale

07. Jonwayne “Welch’s Grape”

08. LoVibe “Lemonwater”

09. Naeem “Shiraz”

10. MNDSGN “Noodles”

11. FIFTH “And I Swear” ft. Squadda B

12. Madchild “Cold Blooded”

13. Nahh G “Mo Ma”

14. Kaytranada “Well I Bet Ya”

15. Kojaque + Kean Kavanagh “Whitney”

16. House Shoes “Intergalactic”

17. Quelle Chris “Brain Of The Ape”

18. Chester Watson “Time Moves Slower Here” 

Gangster Music Vol. 1 lands March 1 on All City Records with “Big Whips” streaming below, and pre-order here. 

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