Maps‘ We Can Create would make a good soundtrack to a science fiction movie, with an epic palate of sound that stretches from space-like folk to whispering, warped vocals and glossy pop melodies accompanied by unpredictable chord progressions. The album is a pretty impressive feat, especially when one considers the fact that the UK-based producer created every layer of sound on a battered, 16-track recorder.

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.

OcdjHooray!Wildfire Wildfire
Wham City’s done it again! Ocdj, a.k.a. Dan Gaeta, makes 8-bit “candy” crunk and Baltimore club that sounds like Tetris and feels like the dirty south. A mix of melodic synth compositions and 8-bit hip-hop remixes (Rich Boy, Young Buck), Hooray! is a blast from start to finish. RH

Luke VibertChicago, Detroit, RedruthPlanet Mu
The veteran producer with a dozen monikers returns, with more of the acid-ridden techno we’ve long-associated his name with. This time around though, Luke’s thrown in some church organs, free-jazz drums, and shades of lounge-oriented disco, tossing the masses yet-another piece of diverse electronic production we’ll be playing for weeks. JM

VariousIssstGlobal Underground
This double-disc, mixed by Kevin Griffiths, was borne of a Tiefschwarz party deep in London’s underground club scene, and features one hard-hitting, booty-shaking track after another from the likes of Mock & Toof, Simian Mobile Disco, Will Saul, and others. It’s a testament to Griffith’s abilities as a DJ that both discs maintain an incredible after-hours energy while never veering too far into cheesy trance territory. JM

TrentemøllerThe Trentemøller ChroniclesAudiomatique
While die-hard fans will most likely be drawn to the new, unreleased material hidden on disc one of this double-disc comp, we went straight to the remixes on disc two for the real heat. With his unique, industrial tech-house style, Anders Trentmøller has reworked everyone from The Knife and Röyksopp to Tomboy and Moby. RH

The Fire EnginesHungry BeatAcute Records
The Fire Engines’ short-lived (18-months!) career in the early ‘80s is finally given its due with this release of the band’s original studio recordings. Post-punk in its purest form, this Edinburgh quartet pummels through its songs with angular, aggressive guitars and wonderfully sloppy rhythms. This should be a classic. RH

VariousTropicalia: A Revolutionary Movement in SoundUniversal
It’s never a bad time for Tropicalia, but when the sun’s out (which is a rare occasion lately here in SF) and you’re hanging with your friends in the park, it becomes the perfect summer soundtrack. Every one of the 12 tracks on this compilation, from Os Mutantes to Gilberto Gil, is thrilling. Bafo! RH

White WilliamsSmokeTigerbeat 6
White Williams makes music that questions the very terms “pop” and “experimental.” His debut release is essentially a bouncy pop-rock album (his voice often even resembles that of Paul McCartney), but the production here sings an entirely different tune. Smoke finds choppy editing and over-pitched voices sounding like they belong in the Top 40. RH

FaustFaust IV (Remastered) Virgin
These Hamburg-based Krautrock dudes started a new electronic music movement in the late-’70s, and for those of you who are too young to remember the group’s avant-garde, experimental classic, Faust IV, Virgin has put together a lovely package that includes a remastered version of the original album, along with some unreleased cuts and remixes. Faust IV inspired an entire generation of new wave bands, and this release might do the same. JM

VariousStrictly TiefschwarzStrictly Rhythm
While Alex and Sebastian Schwarz may have a moniker that means “deep black,” these two producers have a soft spot for the house music of yore, and the proof lies in Strictly Tiefschwarz. Here, the guys cull from the vaults of the empirical club imprint Strictly Rhythm, to show the world some of those tracks that inspired their early career. FM

Ticklah Vs. AxelrodTicklahEasy Star Records
Described as “an epic soundclash between two sides of a musical personality,” Ticklah is the third full-length from the Easy Star Records’ founder of the same name, and this release is a dub-meets-hip-hop party of the best kind. Keyboard maestro Axelrod goes head-to-head with the producer, and the album also sees contributions from Antibalas, the Victor Rice Octet, and Dub Is A Weapon, in addition to reggae re-interpretations of Eddie Palmieri’s salsa classics “Mi Sonsisto” and “Si Hecho Palante.” Damn, son. JM

Jennifer Marston
Ross Holland
Fred Miketa

The runnings are well large this month, so we’ve divided this column into two bite-sized sections, so you can absorb all the bassy nutrients!

Events
Hey world, better check those last minute British Airways and Virgin flights to London–you’ll wanna be there this Friday, August 17. That’s when FWD and Rinse FM present The Sound of Urban London at The End, with N-Type, Hatcha vs. Benga, Appleblim, Chef, Scientist, Headhunter vs. D1, Kode 9, and emcees like Mighty Mo, Flo Dan, Riko, Double D, and Crazy D. To quote N-Type, “It’s a sick bad bwoy line-up.” 

The Ruffnek Diskotek crew.

Also in the UK, Bristol’s Ruffnek Diskotek celebrates its second anniversary Friday, September 7 (at The Croft, Stokes Croft, Bristol) in style with appearances by Hatcha, Monkey Steak, Octopussy and Lady Yolanda, Shanti Sound, plus resident DJs, Dub Boy, Forensics, Henry Heatwave, Star Delta, and more.

Dub War leads East Coast US dubstep club pressure. August 18 sees its “dubstep history” event feature ragga-electronic producer David Last and Houston, TX’s DJ Southern join residents Joe Nice, Dave Q, and emcee Juakali. 

On the West Coast, S.F. has it locked with weekly/biweekly events like BrapDem, Wednesdays at The Transfer Bar, Argon Dubstep, Sundays at Club Six, NarcoHz, monthly Fridays at Underground SF, and Grime City, monthly Fridays at Anu. The crazy thing is most of these events are free or $5. That’s value (and more drink money), my friend. 

Luke Envoy

Bigger upcoming Bay events include: Sept 5–A Brapdem one-off with Tempa Recordings/Rinse FM’s DJ Youngsta at Shine on Mission Street. On Sept 7, get Freaky with Luke Envoy and MRK1, and on Sept 14, with Headhunter (Hench Recordings) at NarcoHz. SF steps lively in September! 

Down south in L.A., a sleeping dubstep Godzilla has come alive, in the form of a growing number of weekly and monthly events. Check JAM (at Charlie O’s, 501 S Spring St.), August 31, featuring respected producer Timeblind and DJs Pawn and Mike Haggar alongside residents Staypuft, Ricky Def, Kidlogic, and MC LD.

Also in Los Angeles, established event Smog celebrates a year of dubstep, Saturday, September 1 (at The Echo, 1822 W. Sunset), with the UK’s Youngsta, Argon’s Matty G and Nick Argon, plus the Smog Crew’s back-to-back mixologists: Knife Dreams & Dlx, DJ Unit & Emu, Subcode & Showguns, and emcees like Kemst & Bypass. Nuff’ niceness from a veteran crew down deh so. 

Releases
Here’s XLR8R’s big beats ‘pon road–new tunes in the shops that we can’t get enough of: Skream + Cluekid “Sandsnake” (Disfigured Dubs), Uncle Sam + Tes La Rok “Round The World Girls“ (Argon), Distance Vs Skream “Political Warfare” (Chestplate), Coki “Red Eye” (Big Apple), and Djunya “Uprising” (Mode).

Skream

Speaking of the kid-wonder, Mr. “What’s up planet Earth” Skream, Cultured Recordings links actual blood brothers Hijak and Skream on their latest 12-inch “Retro,” backed with “Wake Up” (available end of August). According to our sources, both tracks have been “tearing it up on dubplate for the past few months” and mashing up heads on Dubstepforum.

Slit Jockey Records presents El Carnicero’s “The Butcher EP,” a six-track, digital-only release available Monday, August 14, with tunes like “Next Kingdom (featuring Warrior Queen),” “Northgate Riddim (featuring Tiny Bee),” and “Mosquito Riddim (featuring Faction G– Starkey remix).” Sounds like some bouncy-bass jump off!

My man Cyrus of Random Trio tipped us off about Random trio Productions’ third release in shops now, “Red Rum” by Cyrus, and “Vengeance” by Omen. Gwaan ya dutty soldiers!

Speaking of murky bizzle, Rottun Recordings aims to represent the dark side of dubstep. They’ve apparently have 19 tunes available in MP3 format now, from names like Innasekt, Threnody, Tyrant, Sully, Lone Wolf, RUF, RAkoon, Goldfinger, Stenchman, and Excision. Excision “No Escape” and Innasekt’s “Bug Powdah” share sides on the label’s first vinyl offering.

Bay Area Dubstep Volume 01

The Bay Area Dubstep Volume 01 comp is available now at Addictech. You can preview high-quality clips there and can save money if you purchase the entire package. A year in the making, the release contains 14 unmixed, DJ-friendly tracks by San Francisco Bay Area dubstep and grime figures like Djunya, JuJu, and D Program, the twisted tech-dub of Eskmo and The Antiserum, and rootical stylings courtesy of Matty G and Roommate. Local night Grime City, Friday, August 17, will feature BADS compilers DJ Ripple and The Antiserum.

Finally, some crucial linkage: Sub FM, Bare Files, BM Soho, Dubstepforum, Blackdown, Rinse FM, Get Darker, Dubstep FM, Streamizm. Oi! And check back next month for some underground radio listings we couldn’t fit in this month. Keep stepping.

Get past the atrocious name of this six-day event and you’ll discover there’s a hell of a lot to get excited about if you’re in Chicago at the end of September for the Estrojam Festival.

First and foremost, ESG will play what is supposedly the punk-funk group’s last show ever at the festival. A quick hunt around the band’s MySpace page wielded no further explanation, so this may very well be your last time to check one of the most sampled bands in the history of music. 

Estrojam 2007 will also feature a wide lineup of predominately African American women artists, furthering its mission statement of fostering the women’s arts community. The 2007 edition sees the fest partnering with the Women’s Equity in Access to Care and Treatment (WEACTx), an organization for women with HIV/AIDS in Africa. Each show will provide information about how to get involved with this organization, and an art exhibit entitled “From Rwanda to Sudan” will be on display.

Commendable social responsibility aside, the festival also features a killer music lineup, which includes Yo Majesty, The Noisettes, Bettye Lavette, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Psalm One, and many others joining the aforementioned ESG. Head over to the festival website for ticket info. 

Estrojam takes place Tuesday, September 18 – Sunday, September 23, 2007, in Chicago.

ESG is slated to appear at the festival, for its last show ever.

It seems most artists make a “back to basics” album at some point in their careers, and in the case of North Carolina-based hip-hop group Little Brother, the time for that record has arrived with its forthcoming third long-player, Getback.

“I think this is the closest we could get to the feeling and energy we had when we made our first records,” says Big Pooh of the new album, which sees the group return to ABB Records, who released 2003’s The Listening. “When I sat down to write my first rhyme, I didn’t say, ‘Maybe if I write this, the people at Clear Channel will love me… So when I saw myself caring about that, I knew it was a problem, and I had gotten away from the original reasons why I started making music.”

Getback embodies its namesake, with the kind of tight beats, soulful flavor, and personal lyrics that had fans sitting up and taking note in the days when Little Brother was still chugging through the indie battlefields. And though the trio has become a duo since the last time we saw these guys (producer 9th Wonder left the group before Getback was recorded), the message remains the same–making dope music and having fun while you’re doing it.

Getback is out September 25, 2007 on ABB.