If robots attended high school and were taught how to make foreboding electro music with synthesizers and bells, it would probably sound just like this song, from New York-based group My Robot Friend. Michael McClendon directed the video.
Winter Gloves “Let Me Drive”
Montreal-based outfit Winter Gloves made a name for itself last year by drumming up frosty pop jams and throwing (literally) copies of its Let Me Drive EP off the stage at performances. Now the band gears up for the release of its debut full-length, About a Girl, with this Casio keyboard-drenched number.
About a Girl is out March 24 via Paper Bag.
New Releases: Konrad Black, Josh Wink
Whether you’re chained to a desk all day and have to rely on digital retailers or you remain one of the rare and commendable types who visits physical record stores, XLR8R has the scoop on some noteworthy new releases about to come your way.
Josh Wink
When a Banana Was Just a Banana
Ovum
Release Date: Out Now
Philly native and electronic music stalwart Josh Wink has finished his fourth full-length via the Ovum imprint he founded with King Britt over a decade ago, and there’s plenty of fine house and techno for dance fans here. On the album’s odd title, Wink has this to say: “In a nutshell, it speaks of the loss of innocence of music. Music was just music when I was growing up. I miss the innocence of how it was… like when you were younger, ‘A Banana Was Just a Banana’.”
Banana:
01. “Airplane Electronique”
02. “Counter Clock 319”
03. “What Used to Be Called Used to Be”
04. “Jus’ Right”
05. “Dolphin Smack”
06. “Minimum 23”
07. “Everybody to the Sun”
08. “Hypnoslave”
09. “Stay Out All Night”
Various
Rekids Revolution
Rekids
Release Date: Out Now
This week, the Rekids crew unveils a three-CD compilation of original tracks and remixes that should educate new fans and function as the equivalent of Christmas morning for longtime enthusiasts. Discs One and Two are unmixed, focusing on original material and remixes, respectively, while Disc Three finds label signee Spencer Parker mixing some of the most popular releases in the Rekids catalog.
Rekids:
Disc One – Originals/Unmixed
01 Radio Slave – “Bell Clap Dance”
02 Kenny Hawkes & David Parr – “Gemini”
03 Mr. G – “U Askin’”
04 Runaway – “Brooklyn Club Jam”
05 Spencer Parker – “Improvised Minotaur”
06 Veinte Tres – “Serpiente Cosmica (Revolution Edit)”
07 Spencer Parker – “YOGOTO”
08 Luke Solomon – “Martin, A Cello & Me”
09 Toby Tobias – “Eleven (Revolution Version)”
Disc Two – Remixes/Unmixed
01 Radio Slave – “Bell Clap Dance (Slam Paragraph Remix)”
02 Luke Solomon – “Space Invaders (Andomat 3000 Remix)”
03 Mr. G – “U Askin’ (Marcel Dettmann Remix)”
04 Jjak Hogan – “Devo (Cristian Vogel’s PMP Engine Remix)”
05 Radio Slave – Grindhouse Feat. Danton Eeprom (Dubfire Terror Planet Remix)”
06 Luke Solomon – “Spirits (Prins Thomas Disko-Tek Miks)”
07 Radio Slave – “Screaming Hands (WINK Interpretation)”
08 Radio Slave – “Tantakatan (Boola Remix)”
09 Toby Tobias – “The Feeling (I:Cube Remix)”
Disc Three – Spencer Parker Mix/Mixed
01 Radio Slave – “Tantakatan”
02 Radio Slave – “Grindhouse Feat. Danton Eeprom (Accapella)”
03 Veinte Tres – “Serpiente Cosmica”
04 Spencer Parker – “Romantic (D’Julz Remix)”
05 Radio Slave – “Bell Clap Dance”
06 Matt O’Brien – “Serotone”
07 Spencer Parker – “YOGOTO”
08 Radio Slave – “Secret Base”
09 Radio Slave – “Grindhouse Feat. Danton Eeprom (Dubfire Terror Planet Remix)”
10 Radio Slave – “My Bleep”
11 Radio Slave – “My Bleep (Roman Flügel Remix)”
12 Toby Tobias – “The Feeling (I:Cube Remix)”
Fidel Nadal
Crucial Cuts
Nacional
Release Date: February 17
A founding member of Argentine rasta-punk outfit Todos Tus Muertos, Fidel Nadal has become known—over the course of 20 albums and countless collaborations—as a Latin reggae star in his own right. Surprisingly then, Crucial Cuts marks his first proper solo full-length to reach the U.S., and, fittingly, introduces the Stateside population to some of his most acclaimed dancehall- and reggae-driven tracks.
Crucial:
01 “Puerta de Oro”
02 “Tus Recuerdos”
03 “Emocionado”
04 “Motin Antibabilonia”
05 “Amenazados”
06 “Quiero Ser el Cantante”
07 “Luanda”
08 “La Puerta Negra”
09 “La Balanza”
10 “Te Amo”
11 “Nena Te Amo”
12 “Ikule-leleet”
13 “Brown Skin Girl”
14 “Nobody (Remix)”
15 “Balanza (Dub)”
16 “Te Amo (Dub)”
17 “Combinación”
Spyro
Rinse 07
Rinse
Release Date: Out Now
Spyro is often touted as one of the most technically adept DJs currently making the rounds in the dubstep and grime scenes, and he’s prepped the latest edition of the Rinse series to prove that point. Here, Dizzee Rascal meets Joker, grime, garage, and bass-heavy tracks from the likes of Terror Danja and Ruff Sqwad crop up, and it’s all available now exclusively over at dubplate.net.
Rinse:
01 J Mixer – “Dem Dem Feat. Badness”
02 Lil Silva – “Seasons”
03 Sway – “F Ur X Feat. Stush”
04 Skepta – “D.T.I.”
05 Ruff Sqwad – “RSMD”
06 Reservoir Dogs – “Buddha Fingah”
07 Dizzee Rascal – “I Luv U”
08 Joker – “Retro Racer”
09 JME – “Standard”
10 D.E.A. – “So High”
11 DVA – “I’m Leaving Feat. Alahna”
12 Maniac – “Ouch”
13 Deekline – “I Don’t Smoke”
14 DOK – “PS Feat. Lauren Mason”
15 DND – “I Will Never Leave”
16 DOK – “Rapid Speed”
17 R1 Ryders – “Rubberband Feat. Karnak”
18 Terror Danjah – “Interested Feat. Badness, Bruza, and D.e.velopment”
19 Lost In Vegas – “Some Treat”
20 Tinchy Stryder – “I Wanna Be Your Man (Bless Beats Remix Instrumental)”
21 Lil Silva – “Funky Flex”
22 Most Wanted – “Last Man Standing”
23 Sticky – “Tales From The Hood Feat. Tubby T”
24 D1 – “Ongie Bongie”
25 Menta – “Sounds Of The Future”
26 Teebone – “Fly Bi Feat. Sparks & Kie”
27 P Jam – “Unknown”
28 Terror Danjah – “Scotch Bonnet”
29 Scratchy – “Shangooli”
30 Spyro – “Shadow Boxing”
Featured Artist
Various
Watergate03 – Konrad Black
Watergate
Release Date: March 2009
Wagon Repair label boss Konrad Black (alongside Mathew Jonson) has held a monthly residency at Berlin’s famed Watergate club for some time now, so it only makes sense he would eventually be approached to participate in the Watergate mix series. Watergate03 coincides with Black’s debut U.S. tour, but despite his hectic schedule, the Vancouver-born, Berlin-based electronic musician managed to take a few minutes and chat with XLR8R about the new release.
XLR8R: How did you initially link up with Watergate?
?Initially, it was by going there and playing. Because I live in Berlin, I had the opportunity to play there often and we got to know each other well over the last couple of years, so I was honored when [Watergate] asked me to do the mix for them.
What qualities set Watergate apart as a club?
?
Well, first off, I would say that there are many great clubs in Berlin, all with their own unique qualities. What I would say is special about Watergate is that the room is amazing: The lighting they have in the upstairs is excellent. In the summer, the outside deck on the River Spree and the floor-to-ceiling windows downstairs are also other amazing features. The guys that run the club are also really great to work with.
What sorts of musical styles can we expect to find on the compilation? What inspired you?
?I wanted it to reflect the feeling of Watergate on a Saturday, so it is mostly house and techno, but varying degrees of it.
You’re currently on your first-ever U.S. tour. What are you most excited about with these dates? How do you think Europe compares with U.S. audiences?
I’m mostly excited to play in some cities I haven’t played in or visited yet. It will be interesting to see how they differ to what we’re used to in Europe.
As far as playing here vs. there, in Europe, house and techno clubs are staples, not based on trends or suffering from the back-and-forth of rock vs. electronic that I have seen in my experience in North America. Due to this, you find much bigger clubs that are cool and not commercial and that stay open late with late liquor licenses. As far as the people, well, it all depends on who shows up and why. That’s the same no matter where you are!
Any weekend weapons you’ll be dropping on the tour you care to share with us?
Well, new material from Cobblestone Jazz, Seth Troxler, and Matthew Dear, Mike Shannon, [and] a whole host of bombs. The list of ordinance is long!?
What’s next for Konrad Black?
A solo album and a project I’m doing with Martin Buttrich.
Remaining Dates:
02/26 Atlanta, GA – Bazaar
02/27 Boston, MA – Rise
02/28 New York, NY – Save the Cannibals
Pictured above: Konrad Black.
Asobi Seksu Hush
For those who long for the embrace of shoegaze’s swirling guitar fuzz (or were simply too young to catch it the first time around), it’s easy to lionize revivalist outfits like Asobi Seksu. Unfortunately, Hush actually finds the New York band stripping down its wall of noise. While the guitars still shimmer and Yuki Chikudate’s vocals lightly float throughout the record, turning down the distortion pedal was not the best move, as Hush is simply too clean for its own good. Even when album standouts “Familiar Light” and “Sunshowers” pleasantly recall The Cocteau Twins, one can’t help but wonder how much better they could have been with some ear-splitting noise thrown into the mix.
Various Artists BKLYN: Heavy Sounds from the County of Kings
By the time The Real World comes to town, it’s usually a safe bet that a city has jumped the shark. Yet this compilation proves that not even MTV reality shows can ruin Brooklyn’s music scene. Dispensing with over-hyped indie rock, BKLYN focuses on the borough’s Afro-Latin, soul, funk, and dub sounds. A few big names show up: Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings contribute the love-soaked “How Long Do I Have to Wait;” Nickodemus drops “Conmigo,” pitting Puerto Rican vocalist Sammy Ayala against a deep groove; and reunited ’70s Brazilian soul band Uniao Black even make an appearance. But lesser-known artists also represent, from the excellently named Latin soulsters The Pimps of Joytime to the 13-piece Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble.
Pursuit Grooves “Too Much Time”
Self-proclaimed beatsmith and mistress of ceremonies Vanese Smith (a.k.a. Pursuit Grooves) displays here rhythm skills here, weaving laptop-generated beats with sharp synths on this track off her latest full-length.
Wild Art Forestry is out now on What Rules.
Fire Destroys Gang Gang Dance Gear
Art-rock trio Gang Gang Dance kicked off its European tour this past Friday night in Amsterdam, but unfortunately, for both fans and the band, the handful of scheduled dates were abruptly cancelled when an electrical fire destroyed the majority of GGD’s musical gear.
A post on the Gang Gang Dance MySpace blog states that the band stored its gear in the Paradiso club, where it had played, overnight, then returned to it on Saturday, February 14, in the morning, to find “every piece of equipment scattered out in the parking lot, melted, charred, and still smoldering.”
The post goes on to explain that the majority of the gear is unusable, including samplers and memory cards that contained new material, and that as a result, the remaining dates on this European tour have been cancelled.
“While we did entertain the thought of just renting or borrowing a bunch of random gear and somehow continuing the tour, it just doesn’t seem like it’s going to work out,” the post says.
One date on the tour remains scheduled, for March 4 in New York, and GGD has said it will attempt to make up the shows in Europe “as soon as possible.”
Cancelled Dates:
02/16 Leipzig, Germany – Schauspielhaus
02/17 Berlin, Germany – Volksbuhne
02/18 Germany, Heidelberg Karlstorbahnof
02/19 Dijon, France – Generiq Fesitval
02/20 Paris, France – Point Ephemere
02/21 St Malo, France – Route du Rock
02/22 Tourcoing, France – Grand Mix
02/23 London, England – Rough Trade East (in-store)
02/25 Manchester, England – Roadhouse
02/26 London, England – Dingwalls
02/27 Bristol, England – Fleece
02/28 Brighton, England – Audio
Remaining Dates:
03/04 New York, NY – Museum of Modern Art
04/18 Indio, CA – Coachella
04/30 Bergen, Norway – Bergenfest
05/30 Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound Festival
Photo by Andy Eisberg.
Baggy Bottom Boys
XLR8R proclaimed Jokers of the Scene‘s track “Baggy Bottom Boys,” when it was first released last year, to be “a strobe-and-lasers rave up whose summer-of-’92 breakdown is full of Ecstasy pianos and crowds cheering.”
The track’s video, however, contains not rave footage, but clips from a certain well-known film from the ’80s, in which a certain someone visits a fortune-telling machine and consequently grows up a little too quickly.
Dntel “Loneliness is Having No One To Miss”
As a producer, Jimmy Tamborello has involved himself in everything from bleep-driven electronics as James Figurine to dream-pop as one half of The Postal Service. For his latest project under his Dntel guise, he’ll release a three-CD set entitled Early Works for Me if it Works For You II, which finds him inspired by the likes of Aphex Twin, Mu-Ziq, and other sample-based electronic music.
Early Works for Me if it Works For You II will be released April 14.
Inbox: Her Space Holiday
Sure, we’re always curious to know about an artist’s upcoming release, most recent tour, or arsenal of analog gear, but XLR8R‘s also got a curiosity for quirk. Thus, each week, we email a different artist and find out what makes them tick, in the studio and in life. This week, XLR8R caught up with Marc Bianchi, the man behind San Francisco-based project Her Space Holiday, who discussed snakes and spiders, the quieting of the planet, and projectile purple vomit, among other things.
What are you listening to right now?
Marc Bianchi: The unreleased Sugao album.
What’s the weirdest story you ever heard about yourself?
MB: That I may have superpowers from the Japanese spider bite that hospitalized me.
What band did you want to be in when you were 15?
MB: Guns N’ Roses.
Worst live show experience?
MB: We played a show in Matsumoto, Japan once. I hadn’t slept in two days [and] there were some technical difficulties that led [me] to have a shameful little meltdown on stage.
Favorite city to play in?
MB New York.
What is the greatest length you’ve gone to in order to impress someone?
MB: I pretended I could do no wrong.
What is your favorite thing you own?
MB: My banjo.
Name one item of clothing you can’t live without.
MB: I suppose that would be my green parka. But I am pretty confident if I lost it, I would somehow survive.
Which of the following is the most frightening: snakes, the dark, food additives, or sponges?
MB: Snakes. As my friend Hanni once said, “Even snakes are afraid of snakes.”
What did you always get in trouble for when you were little?
MB: Not following direction.
What other artist would you most like to work with?
MB: Lou Reed.
What’s the last thing you read?
MB:Tearing Down the Wall of Sound: The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector by Mick Brown
Complete this sentence: In the future…
MB: The earth will be quiet again.
Stupidest thing you’ve done in the last 12 months?
MB: I put two pomegranates in my juicer with the husks still on, which led me to projectile vomit purple streams all over the bathroom. I guess I am allergic to the skin.
What’s next?
MB: I’m finishing up the new album and getting ready for a tour.
MP3: “Just Another Day”
