Top 10: Flying Lotus, Jay Reatard, Vast Aire

Sami Koivikko
Sapphire
Spectral Sound
Release Date; Out Now

Three tracks of house and techno that find this Finnish producer combining the energy of big-room dance music with intricate and emotionally wrought musical arrangements.

Jay Reatard
Singles: 06-07
In the Red
Release Date: Out Now

Memphis, TN’s prolific garage-rock musician has gathered a collection of his singles from, yup, 2006 and 2007, and shows off his taste for ’60s sensibilities and no-bullshit attitude when it comes to songwriting.

Praveen & Benoit
Songs Spun Simla
Music Related
Release Date: August 19

Gorgeous album that’s a collaboration between songwriters Praveen Sharma and Benoît Pioulard, who have only ever met a handful of times but have managed to arrange a collection of dreamy instrumentals and chillingly pretty vocals. Download “Embers”

Flying Lotus
Los Angeles
Warp
Release Date: Out Now

Still caning this one on a daily basis. FlyLo’s outdone himself on his sophomore full-length, pulling as many drony guitar arrangements, delayed beats, and lush electronics as he can. Download “Dance Floor Stalker”

Plushgun!
Plushgun!
Tommy Boy
Release Date: August 19

Dream-pop time! A rather Postal Service-esque affair from this new Brooklyn-based band, who’ve been garnering attention on the web and will finally release this four-track EP this month. Look for the full-length in ’09.

Steve Bug
Bugnology 3
Poker Flat
Release Date: September 2008

This is the third compilation in Bug’s acclaimed series, and it’s a pretty accurate snapshot of the current minimal dance scene, with tracks from Tigerskin, Adultnapper, Matthias Mayer, and others in the mix.

Vast Aire
Dueces Wild
One
Release Date: Out Now

The second solo full-length from Cannibal Ox MC Vast Aire, packed with samples, beats, production work from Pete Rock and Oh No, guests like Camp Lo’s Gecchi Suede, and a whole lot more indie-rap goodness.

High Places
High Places
Thrill Jockey
Release Date: September 23

Found sound is very important to this Brooklyn-based duo, who, on their debut album, turned everything from crumpled paper to garbage trucks into avant-garde but ultimately digestible melodies drenched in reverb.

Brendan Canning
Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning Something For All of Us…
Arts&Crafts
Release Date: Out Now

It’s erstwhile Broken Social Scene member Brendan Canning’s turn to release a solo project, and he presents a versatile mix of music on this album, with distorted guitars and high, breathy vocals.

From the Readers:

Lil’ Wayne
“Lollipop (Nasty Ways Remix)”
Download

Officially the most popular MP3 to grace XLR8R.com, like, ever. Eprom and Boreta have chopped, spliced, and synthesized the well-known rapper’s hit tune, and you guys can’t seem to get enough of it.

Photo of Flying Lotus by Theo Jemison.

Dance Dance Dance (Live at Bowery Ballroom)

Another one from Sweden’s latest indie-pop export, Lykke Li. Armed with a tambourine, drumstick, and her glassy voice, Miss Li takes her cue from the title of this track and shows off her moves to the audience at New York’s Bowery Ballroom. Much to their delight, judging by the cheering and shouts of “We love you!” rising out of the crowd.

Milosh Readies Third Full-Length

With two solid full-lengths under his belt, Milosh is gearing up to release a third. iii is set for release September 23 via his longtime home at Plug Research and through !K7 in Europe.

The producer has always walked the line between electronic and acoustic instrumentation, pulling from both sides and citing everything from rock to jazz as influences. A similar mix of sounds can be found on the new album, which was recorded during a trip to took to the Thai Island of Koh Samui. The cover art makes up for the release’s somewhat bland title.

iii
01 Awful Game
02 Another Day
03 Gentle Samui
04 Remember the Good Things
05 Warm Waters
06 Hold My Breath
07 Wrapped Round My Ways
08 Leaving Samui
09 The World

Pum Pum

Always the innovator, Lee “Scratch” Perry turned not to any of his fellow reggae producers for help on his new album, Repentance, but to Andrew W.K. The reggae icon and producer with something of a frat boy following met at SXSW in 2006, and, as the story goes, an unlikely partnership was born, resulting in Andrew W.K. co-producing the new album. Repentance will drop on August 19, but to gear fans up, Perry released the sexually charged single, “Pum Pum,” which is currently getting the blog world all hot and bothered. The track’s accompanying video should only add more fuel to the fire.

Nightmare Before Christmas Gets Indie

Just in time for the start of Holiday Season madness (which seems to get earlier and earlier every year) is the fifteenth anniversary of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, for which, it’s being reported, Walt Disney Records gathered a collection of recordings inspired by the movie. The resulting compilation, titled Nightmare Revisited, will be released September 30 and features a pretty diverse lineup of artists. As in, Marilyn Manson sharing a tracklisting with The Album Leaf and RJD2 (above), plus an appearance by Korn. Hmmm…

01 DeVotchka “Overture”
02 Danny Elfman “Opening”
03 Marilyn Manson “This Is Halloween”
04 All American Rejects “Jack’s Lament”
05 amiina “Doctor Finkelstein/In The Forest”
06 Flyleaf “What’s This?”
07 Polyphonic Spree “Town Meeting Song”
08 The Vitamin String Quartet “Jack And Sally Montage”
09 Sparklehorse “Jack’s Obsession”
10 Korn “Kidnap The Sandy Claws”
11 Rise Against “Making Christmas”
12 Yoshida Brothers “Nabbed”
13 Amy Lee “Sally’s Song”
14 RJD2 “Christmas Eve Montage”
15 Plain White Ts “Poor Jack”
16 Datarock “To The Rescue”
17 Shiny Toy Guns “Finale/Reprise”
18 Danny Elfman “Closing”
19 The Album Leaf “End Title”
20 Rodrigo y Gabriela “Oogie Boogie’s Song”

Brendan Canning Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning Something For All of Us…

The Toronto collective Broken Social Scene has transformed itself into a franchise. Last fall, co-founder Kevin Drew released a solo album, Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew Spirit If… Now Drew’s partner, Brendan Canning, takes his own solo turn. Unlike Spirit If, though, Canning’s record reads like a sketch for a larger project. While “Hit the Wall” and “Possible Grenade” are a-list brooders–shot through with punchy bass, gauzy guitar, and Canning’s honeyed vocals–much of Something is strewn with discarded melodies and botched ideas. “Chameleon”’s slow burn is so quiet it sounds like a production mistake. Of course, the ramshackle BSS has always traded in mistakes. Canning’s music just needs to integrate them better–so it’s built to spill.

Little Jinder “Polyhedron”

We all know the Trouble & Bass crew for its dirty basslines and grimey rhythms, so it was surprising to throw this track on and find breathy female vocals, sweet melodies that meander at a gentle pace, and some vaguely music box-sounding twinkles. But such is the work of Stockholm-based producer Little Jinder, whose debut EP, Polyhedron, inserts a refreshing dose of purity into the label’s catalog. T&B is currently holding a remix contest for this, the title track. The winner will be featured on a Little Jinder EP set for release in October that already has interpretations from Drop the Lime, Goon & Koyote, and Math Head.

Little Jinder – Polyhedron

Pon Di Wire: Beenie Sizzle, Ce’Cile

Moses Davis’ star-studded Beenie Sizzle concert, held at Jamalca Sports Complex in Clarendon, was reportedly a major success, although the namesake headliner only performed for a little over 14 minutes before the police shut the concert down, just after 6 a.m. The event also featured Vybz Kartel, Chuck Fender, Gyptian, Harry Toddler, Anthony B, Pamputtae, Stacious, and a resplendent Macka Diamond. One notable controversy was Davis’ boycott of Red Stripe beer, after the company pulled sponsorship from most of Jamaica’s larger dancehall events.

The International Caribbean Music Festival returns November 16 to Virginia Key Beach Park in Miami. After bypassing last year’s concert season, festival promoter Delroy Escoffery states, “We are back with a vengeance.” The nine-year old event has previously showcased artists like Sizzla, Machel, Morgan Heritage, Wayne Wonder, and Bunji Garlin. Fans can vote now for artists they wish to appear on the festival website.

Jamaican singjay Ce’Cile, whose provocative new album, Bad Gyal, is filled with sexual exploits, has the first dancehall music CD to be reviewed by the German edition of Playboy. The performer remarked to the Jamaica Observer, “It’s a good feeling, who knows what will follow?”

Sicilian-born Alborosie returns to Europe for a summer tour. The singer has taken the roots reggae scene by storm with a series of universally popular singles, including the much-remixed “Kingston Town,” “Herbalist,” and “Police.” The tour includes stops in Portugal, Spain, Poland, and Italy. His new album, Soul Pirate, drops this month.

A fragile peace treaty among warring factions in Kingston’s eastern suburb August Town neighborhood seems to be holding. Duane Stephenson (pictured) recently immortalized the area in song.

Read what notorious ex-cop and Sting concert promoter has to say about Jamaica’s most famous DJs. Isaiah Laing goes on record with the Gleaner, sharing thoughts about Supercat, Shabba, Ninja, Bounty, Beenie, Capleton, and more. He’s seen it all and more over the years at his popular holiday bash, so his words speak volumes.

Historic British reggae band Steel Pulse is on tour in August throughout the West Coast and America. Dates include August 22 at San Francisco’s Outside Lands festival, August 28 at House of Blues, Anaheim, and August 31 at House of Blues, Los Angeles.

St. Lucia roots singer Taj Weekes drops his anticipated second album, Deidem, August 12 on Jatta. On the album, the gentled-voiced vocalist–who’s been compared to Bob Marley and Garnett Silk–expresses thoughts on climate change, the crisis in Darfur, and devotes an acoustic number to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Nacional Records will release Black Uhuru: Live in London, an important DVD retrospective, on August 19. The concert features Black Uhuru’s classic original lineup of Derrick “Duckie” Simpson, Michael Rose, and Sandra “Puma” Jones backed by Sly & Robbie performing classic tracks “Shine Eye Gal,” “I Love King Selassie,” and “Happiness.”

Stut Records’ new compilation, Calypsoul 70 Caribbean & Calypso Crossover 1969-1979, is out next month and assembles vintage funky, soulful calypso, reggae, Latin, and other styles by 1970s Caribbean and Jamaican bands.

Pon Di Wire Top Ten Reggae Tracks
1. Taj Weekes & Adowa “Dark Clouds” (Jatta)
2. Morgan Heritage & Busy Signal “Run Dem Weh” (Juke Boxx)
3. K-Salaam & Beatnik feat. Trey Songz & Buju Banton “Street Life” (VP)
4. Bugle “What Goes Around” (Daseca)
5. Junior Reid “Never Let You Go” (promo download)
6. Busy Signal “Unknown Number” (VP)
7. Tarrus Riley “Marcus Teaching” (Cannon)
8. Mavado “Money Changer” (Juke Boxx)
9. Camar “She Loves The Flava” (promo download)
10. Mr. Vegas “Mus Come A Road” (Irish & Chin)

Bird Show Untitled

On his third outing as Bird Show, Ben Vida once again falls head over heels for the drone, pleasantly sculpting dream worlds of electronic buzz and empyreal hum for his audience to float around in. Vida’s warm, fuzzy tones of psych-folk and ambient murk coast the album along at a glacial pace, allowing the listener enough time to grasp onto sedative treatments of analogs, ride cymbals, and wooden percussion as they drift in and out of consciousness. During “Clouds and Their Shadows,” Vida and fellow soundscapist Greg Davis embellish a field recording of birds and bugs with subtle washes of bells, gong, keys, and voice. It’s a soothing trip–one that you’ll want to take again and again.

Labels We Love 2008: Part 4

If you’re reading XLR8R you probably already own ’nuff albums on XL or Domino, Def Jux and Lex artists have repeatedly rocked your headphones, and you know what’s coming out on Minus or Stones Throw before we do. So this year–our seventh time loving on labels–we focus on labels we’ve (mostly) never quizzed before. For the next six weeks, we’ll catch up with brash new dancefloor igniters Fool’s Gold and Dress 2 Sweat, techno champions Mobilee and Traum, and the dubstep damage squad: Hyperdub, Tectonic, Hot Flush. We’ll revel in cosmic disco from Ghent and New Jersey, and applaud local pride from Los Angeles to Dublin. And since some of the labels we love are more obscure than, say, Sub Pop or DFA, we’ll feature a new artist each week from one of the selected labels. This week, we talk to the wasteland-bred wizards of beautiful noise, Indian Jewlery. Vivian Host and Ken Taylor

View more photos here.

Strut
London’s disco-not-disco diggers return with a vengeance.

Founders: Quinton Scott and Sean Langford
Location: East London, U.K., and Berlin (at !K7 Records HQ)
Best-known artists: Grandmaster Flash, August Darnell (a.k.a. Kid Creole), and various compilation series including Disco Not Disco and Nigeria 70.
Funny story: We licensed a track from a U.S. radio DJ called Shad O’Shea. He wrote regular chatty letters to us on massive A3 sheets from his border collie, complete with dog photo letterhead. He signed the contract with a paw print.
Favorite label: Probably ECM
Happy-hour spot: I [Quinton] work at home so, sadly, the local Esso service station for a coffee or outside my front door chatting to neighbors.
Label mascot: Next door’s moody cat often wanders in when there’s music on. It likes Afrobeat, not too keen on disco.
Biggest disaster: I’d say New Year’s Eve at The Rocket in North London, 2002, about 600 capacity. Ten people showed up, we closed the main room and did a DIY party in the small side bar. Witnessed vague foot shuffling at midnight during Chicago’s “Street Player” before throwing in the towel.
Upcoming:Calypsoul 70, a compilation of rare Caribbean soul and calypso fusion, a new DJ-led series digging out original electro and new wave called Disconnection, and the new Grandmaster Flash studio album.

We Are Free
A Baltimore indie shows much promise for 2009.

Founders: Jason Foster and Sir James Winnie
Location: Baltimore, MD
Best-known artists: Yeasayer, Indian Jewelry, and Ponytail. That is all of them!
Funny story: Molly from Ponytail climbed up on stage with two of the Hanson brothers at this “jam session” at last year’s SXSW. She was clanging two beer bottles together and she got so excited that she smashed them to pieces. With a look of fear, a wrangler pulled her from the stage, which is hilarious because Molly is like a cuddly koala bear. That night was really a blast and what really set the tone for We Are Free.
Favorite label: UP Records out of Seattle really inspired me to get into the very expensive hobby of record labeling.
Happy-hour spot: I highly recommend Dizzy Issie’s, the best bar in Baltimore (run by the amazing Elaine), or Rocket to Venus.
Label mascot: Modulok
Biggest disaster: We don’t have disasters, just learning experiences. That was pretty hippie, huh? The label was a struggle in the beginning because I was working 60-plus hours a week on a television show in order to fund it.
Upcoming: Vinyl releases from both Yeasayer and Ponytail plus trying to re-release the first Genesis album, From Genesis to Revelation, here in the States.

Italians Do It Better
Noise label Troubleman Unlimited bows to its founder’s Italo-disco obsession.

Founder: Mike Simonetti and Johnny Jewel
Location: Bayonne, NJ and Portland, OR
Best-known artists: Glass Candy, Chromatics, Farah
Funny story: We recently went to see Ironman together on a day off in Brighton, U.K. That’s not funny, but the fact that the movie was so underwhelming was–and we paid nine pounds to see it (plus snacks). $18 U.S.!
Favorite labels: American Tapes and Hospital Productions
Happy-hour spot: My refrigerator, currently in Jersey City. I [Mike] work during happy hour! I believe Johnny does as well.
Label mascot: Milhouse and Marlon
Biggest disaster: We think every step we take is a learning experience. We don’t consider them disasters.
Upcoming: Vinyl versions of After Dark, Nite Drive, and Beat Box, as well as new 12s from Farah, Mirage, Glass Candy, Chromatics, a new compilation, and some other secret projects.

Alpha Pup
Weird-hop, kicks, and glitches in the club.

Founders: Danyell Jariel and Daddy Kev
Location: Downtown Los Angeles, 5th and Spring, The Nickel.
Best-known artists: edIT, Daedelus, AWOL One
Funny story: Recently, edIT’s laptop was stolen in Denver (not funny). It was recovered a few days later after he paid a $1,000 ransom (not funny either). What’s funny is that the idiot who stole the laptop used Firefox for a few days and didn’t clear the browser cache, so edIT had access to the thief’s Gmail account, which in turn revealed his name, home address, and phone number.
Favorite label: Red Rocket Entertainment
Happy-hour spot: Mt. Washington Compassionate Caregivers. We’re not big drinkers, but we do inhale.
Label mascot: Izzy, our golden brown dachshund/chihuahua pup.
Biggest disaster: That we still press up CDs in 2008.
Upcoming: Reefer (the Nick Thorburn and Daddy Kev super-duo) in September, followed by full-lengths from Nocando and Existereo by the end of the year.

Dress 2 Sweat
A Scottish newcomer pairs European dancefloor upstarts with ghetto bass legends.

Founder: Jack “Jackmaster” Revill
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Best-known artists: Rustie, DJ Deeon, Kazey & Bulldog
Funny story: Me and Rustie were DJing in Zaragoza and the hotel room smelt 100% like burnt pubic hair. It was unreal. Guys can front if they like, but if a dude says he’s never tried burning his pubes… he is lying.
Favorite labels: Warner Brothers (for Prince), Underground Resistance (for Drexciya), and Unruly for the B-more stuff.
Happy-hour spot: All of the Rubadub fam go to Macsorley’s to get drunk almost every night. Glaswegians love beer. One time I dropped a double cheeseburger off of the balcony. It was like the scene from Trainspotting where Begbie throws a pint over the balcony, but much more embarrassing because I had to go pick it up.
Label mascot: STD (a.k.a. Skud the Dug)
Biggest disaster: DJ Ayres got upset because our first release looked a little like one of his releases he did with Ammo Records. That wasn’t good.
Upcoming: Debonair Samir’s Next Level Club EP plus new joints from Kazey & Bulldog and DJ Deeon.

Featured Artist
Indian Jewelry

“Houston is a concrete wasteland,” says Brandon Davidson, guitarist for Indian Jewelry. “It’s a good place to be from–as in, not living there anymore.” Davidson is standing with the rest of Indian Jewelry, Erika Thrasher and Tex Kerschen, in the stinking alley outside of San Francisco’s Hemlock Tavern after a recent show. They’ve moved around in the past few years, to Los Angeles, Queens, and even the van that Erika and Tex currently call home, but all three are originally from the oil-drenched Texas metropolis.

Free Gold!, Indian Jewelry’s latest album (and its first for Baltimore label We Are Free), almost sounds like the product of a wasteland–ferocious, distorted synths and guitars growl over propulsive, tribal beats–except that it’s threaded with blissful vocals and peaceful moments. “We really are trying to create something beautiful,” says Kerschen, the mustachioed, sort-of-frontman of the group. His confidence in that statement is so unflinching that, even at the band’s noisiest moments, it’s hard not to believe him.

A lot of that beauty comes from the most soft-spoken member of the group, Erika Thrasher, whose vocals seem to float above the sometimes messy, crashing tunes. Her stage presence is equally incongruous; her long, blonde locks undulate meditatively over a table of sequencers and MIDI controllers while Tex and Brandon wield swinging guitars and pound rhythms along with her programmed beats. The tension between these two elements makes for a mesmerizing show and a killer new album.

You never know who might have played on an Indian Jewelry jam–Free Gold! credits the talents of Ronnie Rodriguez, and the band says 20 or so people have played with them at one time or another. When pressed to clear this up, Thrasher coyly says, “Whoever is with us at the time is the core of Indian Jewelry.” Wyatt Williams

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