ARP is the one-man cosmic brainchild of artist, writer, and experimental producer Alexis Georgopoulos. Once a key contributor to post-punk percussion outfit Tussle, Georgopoulos has painted a supernatural pop collage with his Smalltown Supersound debut under his new moniker.

Taking inspiration from analog synths, piano and flute scales, and a dense appreciation for ’70s experimentalism, In Light explores the poppier side of ambiance, mixing the introspective feel of Robin Guthrie with the ethereal pop of DFA new agers Delia Gonzalez and Gavin Russom.

Aside from his debut, Georgopoulos, as ARP, has remixes lined up for Norwegian disco sage Lindstrøm (to be released on Feedelity) and Charlotte Gainsbourg (through Vice). Dude also has Animal Collective trendsetter Panda Bear and Kraut-innovator Cluster reworking his hits on a 12″ that will follow the debut album. Minimalism is evidently here to stay.

In Light is out November 6 on Smalltown Supersound.

Tracklisting
1. St. Tropez
2. Potentialities
3. The Rising Sun
4. Fireflies On the Water
5. Premonition of the Sculptor Steiner
6. Odyssey (For Baz Jan Adler)
7. Potentialities 2

Heard that hot new hip-hop joint “Blaze & Destroy” on Domination? How about “Better Man” by Dutchmassive? Okay, so artists like Jazz Addixx, The Heart & The Brain, and Clan Destined aren’t exactly household names yet, but if D.J. Fisher and Mike Parker, co-founders of Orlando, Florida-based Domination Recordings have their way, you’ll be humming these artists’ tracks in the near future.

Fisher says he trusts his instincts and experience in the business (he’s done management and label work with artists such as Count Bass D, MF Doom, J-Zone, Rob Swift, Prophetix, and Styles of Beyond’s DJ Cheapshot) and mostly signs artists based on friendships. “Most of the music that we release is for the fans that love hip-hop from the late-‘80s and early-‘90s,” he explains. Fisher runs the label with Parker, as well as Enrique Diaz and Andrew Venable, who bring decades of experience to the imprint. 

Dutchmassive

He’s got a tight team at his side, but the label also has tight music market to contend with. “Well its no secret the business isn’t as great as it was a few years back,” admits Fisher. “But we have our full focus on making the music available as much as possible. We’re very involved in the digital download side of the business now, I think it’s a great way to introduce a lot of the new artists.”

So what is the sound of Domination? Diverse. While you’ll hear echoes of “Golden Era” acts like Tribe Called Quest, Brand Nubian, De La, and BDP, the label isn’t strictly mining the past for inspiration. This is next generation classic hip-hop. 

Clan Destined

Dreadlocked Atlanta duo Clan Destined’s sound falls somewhere between Black Star and Black Sheep. They trade fast-paced raps on tracks like “Plan B” and “The Language,” plus both AmDex and DT make beats, with a compressed style similar to the late J Dilla’s work with Slum Village. Then there’s Virginia’s boom-bap villains Jazz Addixx, who bring face slappin’ lyrics, in the vein of Beatnuts or Gang Starr, on some “try and step to this” ish! Their track “Dope” is hardly bravado–the jazz guitar-inflected track is laced with smooth wordplay and a catchy chorus. 

Although hip-hop’s current rep is tarnished, Fisher knows he’s on to something: “In 2007 my expectations are not as high as they use to be, we just keep it moving and continue to release fine quality music.”

In three short years, the label has built a healthy roster of a dozen or more artists, including Cadence, Eddie Meeks, and Bilal Bashir–new names mostly, but artists with the talent to blow-up big. Its not like commercial radio will do these cats any favors, but Fisher’s got other plans. You could call them “plans for Domination”: “For the most part our focus is on college radio in the states, internet radio shows, and international radio. Much love to all the DJ’s that show support!”

Domination Soon Come:
Jazz AddixxOxygen Refreshed, in stores now.
The Heart & The Brain’s debut single “Thoughts In Blood,” out this fall.
Check the new release from Amdex of Clan Destined titled The A.D.A.M. Lab Vol. 1., out now.

With guitars prominent on dozens of releases these days, many studio techs are looking for ways to spruce up the old six-stringed instrument, and the Electro-Harmonix HOG guitar synthesizer is the ultimate step toward guitar enlightenment. This polyphonic pedal gives any player the ability to shift between 10 interval pitches, both live and in the studio. But unlike other similar hardware devices, this analog monster doesn’t require any outside pickups, and is entirely latency, glitch, and delay free.

HOG also features six separate expression modes, complete with wha effects, filters, step bends, and volume control, for an entirely customized experience. It also contains a “Freeze Gliss” function that allows a chord to resonate as the player shreds over it. Connectable via USB and bundled with a foot pedal for control, this piece of guitar history is the best thing since the chromatic tuner–even if it retails for nearly $500.00.

If it’s variety you want, look no further than The Octopus Project, a trio that merges distorted guitars, synthesizers, drums, violins, glockenspiels, and a horn section into its tracks with astounding ease. Taken from the forthcoming Hello, Avalanche release, “I Saw the Bright Shinies” is hard evidence of the feats that can be achieved through technology.

Download this song as an MP3, or preview a week’s worth of tracks at the XLR8R Podcast. Subscribe using iTunes, or with an RSS reader of your choice.

Berlin-based label Kitty-Yo‘s foray into electronic music began in 1994, with a few 7″ singles that founder Raik Hoelzel. Many releases, parties, and artists (Christian Mayer, Couch, To Rococo Rot, and Nina Hynes, to name a few) later, the label has made a name for itself among electronic music imprints. 2007 sees Kitty-Yo going completely digital too.

For the latest edition of the XLR8R Podcast DJ Mix Series, Peter Prautzsch (a.k.a. Palac) takes some fresh cuts from the label and mixes them into 50 minutes of techno, IDM, and minimal beats for the ears. Nice.

Tracklisting
1. e.stonji “Protn”
2. Raz Ohara “Hymn (Jahcoozi Remix)”
3. Raz Ohara “Hymn (Litwinenko Remix)”
4. Ed Laliq “Harry Axt (Daniel Sternberg Remix)”
5. Meisterfackt “Down On My Ass”
6. Ed Laliq “Jules Etienne (Microsampling Edit)”
7. Ed Laliq “Pieces”
8. The Tape vs. RQM “7 Hours”
9. Stade “Animal Man Pt. 2 feat. Infinite Livez”
10. e.stonji “Pa-Ca”
11. NQ “Mewq (Spyritual Remix)”