Yip-Yip Two Kings of the Same Kingdom

This fourth full-length from the two costumed freaks in Yip-Yip sounds as if it came straight from a circus tent. The pair’s quirky, 8-bit compositions of bass-driven electronics border on nerd-dom and bring to mind artists such as Forcefield and Neon Hunk, yet lack the assaulting, drippy kinks of the aforementioned to mingle properly with the Load Records family. While Yip-Yip may outwit itself with digital crescendos or urgent stop-start fills, the most surprising element of the album is the use of actual physical instrumentation–especially the saxophone. The horn gives tracks such as “Human Wanderers” or “Jazz Rats” true character, pulsating strikingly with jazz-waltz enthusiasm. Whatever the case, it’s definitely a weird listen.

Cut Copy Readies In Ghost Colours and Lead Single

Cut Copy is finally releasing a follow-up to 2004’s Bright Like Neon Love. The forthcoming In Ghost Colours finds the Melbourne, Australia-based trio as heavily influenced by the sounds of the ’80s as ever, as well as working under the watchful eye of Tim Goldsworthy, who produced the album. Its lead single, “Lights & Music,” is so heavy on the pounding synths and epic breakdowns it’s almost possible see the neon lights flashing around a dancefloor upon hearing the track.

In Ghost Colours will be out March 8 on Modular. “Lights & Colors” is available digitally now, with remixes by Boyz Noise and Superdiscount. Preview tracks at Cut Copy’s MySpace page, then gear up to see the band at one of the dates below.

03/10 Los Angeles, CA: The Echo
03/12 Austin, TX: SXSW, Modular Showcase at Karma Lounge
03/13 Austin, TX: SXSW, Venue TBA
03/14 Austin, TX: SXSW, Venue TBA
03/15 Brooklyn, NY: Studio B
03/17 New York, NY: Mercury Lounge

Torae “Click feat. Skyzoo”

After working with the producers like DJ Clark Kent, Illmind, and DJ Babu, Torae is ready to release his debut album, Daily Conversation, and the New York-based artist has gathered a sampling of some of hip-hop’s finest for the occasion. 9th Wonder, Black Milk, Khrysis, and Marco Polo enhance the thoughtful lyrics and watertight production here, and none other than the legendary DJ Premier produced the album’s lead single, “Get it Done.” Just another day in the life of Torae.

Torae – Click feat. Skyzoo

Black Mountain In the Future

Vancouver’s Black Mountain knows how to conceive epic, 16-minute odysseys–tunes like “Bright Lights” not only keep listeners’ attention, but allow college-radio DJ a run to the can. What sets them apart from other prog revivalists is the band’s active decision to make their “prog” rock. Not merely “anthemic,” Bic-in-the-air tunes like “Tyrants” are actual anthems, with quiet, folky melodies and heavy orchestral riffs to make fanboys cry in their pints while shaking their fists. Black Mountain made a big splash with its self-titled debut, and for good reason. But check the twin harmonized guitars layered over Italo-horror synths that permeate In the Future and you’ll know: This is what rawk fans have been waiting for.

Sharaab [Evolution]

Whereas Atlanta-based producer Sharaab’s first full-length, Infusion, could be considered a collection of Indian-influenced electronic tracks, his follow-up is much more coherent as a recording. The South Asian focus is still intact; a buzzing sarangi opens the record, while a slightly distorted classical vocal line rides over the beat on “Shankara.” Yet, for the most part, Sharaab turns to rock and dark beat sensibilities to provide cohesion. The sarangi/guitar fusion on “Incomplete” and the pulsing tones of “Poison” show a harder edge to his work. Though those moments are noteworthy, he remains best with the upbeat numbers, as on the Transglobal Underground-imbued “The Awakening.”

Dizzee Rascal’s Maths+English Revamped

Dizzee Rascal has teamed up the folks at Definitive Jux to release a bigger, better version of his 2007 album Maths+English. Two new studio tracks and a remix of “Where Da G’s,” done by none other than Def Jux label boss El-P, will be packaged as bonus material, and U.S. fans–who previously could only get the album in digital format–will also have the option of purchasing this revamped version in CD or digital format. Pick all of this up at your local record store on April 29.

Meanwhile the snarky lyric master will spend the remainder of January and most of February traveling Australia and parts of the U.K.

Tracklisting
1. World Outside
2. Pussyole (Old Skool)
3. Sirens
4. Where’s Da G’s
5. Paranoid
6. Suk My Dick
7. Flex
8. Da Feelin’
9. Bubbles
10. Excuse Me Please
11. Hard Back (Industry)
12. Temptation
13. Wanna Be
14. U Can’t Tell Me Nuffin’
15. G.H.E.T.T.O*
16. Driving*
17. Where’s Da G’s (El-P Remix)*

*= new

Tour Dates
01/23 Byron Bay, AUS: Great Northern
01/24 Sydney, AUS: The Metro
01/25 Sydney, AUS:
01/28 Melbourne, AUS:
01/30 Melbourne, AUS: The Prince
02/01 Adelaide, AUS
02/03 Perth, AUS
02/15 Preston, UK: 53 Degrees
02/16 Newcastle, UK: Newcastle Academy
02/17 London, UK: Sheperds Bush
02/18 Sheffield, UK: Leadmill
02/19 Manchester, UK: Manchester Academy
02/23 Portsmouth, UK: Portsmouth Pyramid

Samiyam “Moon Shoes”

Sam Baker, known to fans as Samiyam, has made leaps and bounds as an artist, considering the fact that he doesn’t even have an album out yet. He performs with Flying Lotus, also his mentor, under the FLYamSAM name, has gained the attention of heavyweight DJs like Benji B and Andrew Meza, and none other than Daedelus has given this youngster his seal of approval. “Moon Shoes” is a bangin’ unreleased track Baker recently made that is hopefully a hint of the instrumental EP rumored to drop in the near future.

Samiyam – Moon Shoes

The Mixdown: Goya Reborn, Nusrat Remixed, Owens and Zero dB Are Back

Legendary Chicago house singer Robert Owens’s new album, Night Time Stories (Compost Records), is out February 22. Owens is backed by an all-star production cast that includes Charles Webster, Jimpster, Atjazz, Wahoo, Marc Romboy, Kirk DeGiorgio, and Kid Massive.

The recently relaunched Strictly Rhythm label has new singles from Quentin Harris, Todd Terry, and Osunlade available as downloads or vinyl at its new site.

The influential broken-beat and future-funk outlet Goya Music has been reconstituted… sort of. New digital store Adela Street has opened for online business and carries a complete line of funk, house, Latin, and broken-beat releases in digital format from Afronaught, Sinbad, Colonel Red, I.G. Culture, Domu, Phil Asher, Bugz In The Attic, and more.

Speaking of broken vibes, London’s bass-heavy Latin lovers Zero dB release their new “Heavyweight Gringos” EP on Ninja Tune this month. Remixes on the single come from Stockholm’s Dibaba, plus the U.K.’s Goetz and A.F.T.C.

Richard E of Solar Apple Quarktette, along with Further Out Recordings, will be active on the DJ and release front in 2008. He promises new tracks on FO from Bossa Futura, DJ Saturn, and K-Scope (feat Jennifer Moore) plus remixes from Nu Tropic, Sidewinder, Aaron Jerome, Flowriders, and more.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Pakistan’s greatest Sufi devotional singer who passed away in 1997, lives on with new interpretations of 2007’s Gaudi album Dub Qawwali on Six Degrees. Dub Qawwali Remixes drops February 19 (digital download only) and features reworks by Bristol dubstep innovator Pinch, Cheb i Sabbah, Pathaan, and Gaudi himself.

The Mixdown recommends the following recent and new release singles burning up our music folders and record crates:

Austria-based Dorian Concept‘s “Two Hour Power” EP (TrebleO) is killer, with Flying Lotus or Dilla-style headnod beats; dreamy and dope.

4hero‘s “Morning Child Remixes” contains deep reworks from Landau Orchestra and Massive Attack’s Daddy G.

Chieko Kinbara’s house single “Time To Love” (Nitegrooves) is produced by Louie Vega and Blaze, with gorgeous vocals and violin solos; a Shelter classic in the making.

Bill Dixon with Exploding Star Orchestra

Free jazz performers rely on unspoken understanding when performing, so it’s hardly noteworthy that these horn players–’60s icon Bill Dixon and Brazil-based Chicago expat Rob Mazurek–come together seamlessly. What makes this 2007 live recording stand out is the way two generations fused into something truly powerful. Mazurek’s Exploding Star Orchestra–who mix the slinky guitar lines, ethereal flute, effects-laden horns, and echoing xylophones perfected on previous albums–compliment Dixon’s voice, a lyrical style born in the era of Ornette Coleman and Don Cherry. While it’s more of an intriguing meeting than a monumental summit, it’s an exciting set filled with rumbling rhythms, transcendent drones, ethereal chants, and cathartic releases.

Various Real Roots Reggae: A Canadian Story

Finally! A compilation featuring some of the best artists and musicians from the great white north from coast to coast has hit the streets. CanadianReggaeWorld.com has been giving artists their own web pages for three years now, but now we can play their songs in our cars and on our iPods with much less work. Stalwarts like Leroy Sibbles and Jojo Bennett rub shoulders with talented newbies like Souljah Fyah (“the supreme leaders of the Edmonton reggae scene”), and it sure sounds wicked.

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