Chuck Fenda

Another Reggae Sumfest has come and gone. Jamaica’s biggest international music festival to emerge since Sunsplash reportedly featured stellar performances by Buju Banton, Morgan Heritage, Shaggy, and Da’Ville.

Chuck Fenda, Anthony B, Cham, Beenie Man, and Bounty Killer all used their Sumfest slots to plead for a peaceful national election in Jamaica, set for August 27. Not to be outdone, Ninja Man expressed his disdain for the political process, remarking, “Dem have whole holiday fi run dem dutty election and a wait til di pickni dem fi go back a school.”

Meanwhile, One876 News reports that dancehall hottie D’Angel actually boycotted Sumfest, stating, “I feel that my career has reached a certain level where I should be treated seriously as a solo act, and people have to realize that I don’t perform with Beenie Man all the time.”

Alborosie

Italian singjay Alborosie’s latest single, “Kingston Town,” is number-five on BBC 1Xtra’s reggae chart this week, and gaining ground in other territories. The auburn-dreadlocked star (real name Alberto D’Ascola) has since unleashed a flurry of singles on the Forward Label, including “Call Up Jah,” “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” (featuring the Black Uhuru song sampled), and “Rastafari Anthem,” plus tracks on the Oneness and Overstand riddims.

One of the better “buzz chart” portals is Reggaesource, and my favorite chart is always the “future hits” list, the R-E TV Top 20 Reggae Chart. It’s all about knowing about the new Ginjah track or discovering an artist like Nesbeth. It’s about getting up on your Cherine Anderson drops and getting with new toaster I-Octane’s “Stab Vampire.” Stale tracks need not apply.

From Sheila Hylton’s forthcoming Steppin

One of the best come-backs in reggae history is about to come to fruition on singer Sheila Hylton’s fantastic new album Steppin, on Platinum Overflow Lab. Hylton’s “Breakfast In Bed” and cover of The Police’s “The Bed’s Too Big Without You” are certified reggae classics, while her cover of soul-disco number “Give Me Your Love” resurfaced on a Soul Jazz comp not too long ago. Hylton’s sexy “grown woman” voice punctuates the album’s title track and “We Are In Love,” a duet with the late Dennis Brown.

Mr. Easy’s song “Big Man Tings,” with Assassin, has been getting spins from lots of tastemaker DJs. With several new tracks recorded, the singer remarked, “It’s just all about working, I keep staying on the grind, that’s what you have to do.”

On July 17, Heartbeat Records released remastered versions of Dennis Alcapone and Lone Ranger’s classic Studio One deejay albums. Produced by Studio One label founder, Clement “Sir Coxsone” Dodd, Alcapone’s Forever Version was originally released in 1971, and Lone Ranger’s On the Other Side of Dub was originally released in 1977. Both feature these pioneering toasters flexing on classic Studio One original riddims. The series will continue this summer and fall with a compilation (When Rhythm Was King, out September 11) and releases by the Gladiators and ska trombonist Don Drummond. Alcapone’s Version includes six bonus tracks; Ranger’s On the Other Side includes five bonus tracks. 

Kompakt’s Total series has become an annual day of reckoning for the techno masses. Now in its eighth edition, Michael Mayer’s celebrated compilation always includes an all-star cast of dance mathematicians. Featuring two discs of minimal tracks from Superpitcher, Gui Boratto, The Rice Twins, and a heap of others, Total 8 is one of the most melodic and peak-time friendly collections from the label yet.

The comp will be available on triple vinyl as well as CD. As with previous comps, one disc features the best from the label’s year of releases, and the other a selection of brand-new, unreleased tracks from the usual suspects. 8 also includes a track from the forthcoming Supermayer (Superpitcher and Michael Mayer) album that is apparently the techno equivalent of The Who’s Tommy.

The compilation release coincides with the Kompakt party at the Pop Festival in Cologne, taking place from August 15-19, 2007. The party features The Field, Jennifer Cardini, Burger/Voigt, and others.

Total 8 is out August 13, 2007 on Kompakt.

Tracklisting
Disc 1
1. Burger/Voigt “Man Lebt Nur Zweimal”
2. Jürgen Paape “We Love (Jürgen Paape / Gesang: Boy Schaufler)”
3. Superpitcher “Rainy Nights in Georgia”
4. Partial Arts “Trauermusik”
5. Rex the Dog “Everyday”
6. Thomas/Mayer “Überwiesen”
7. Jörg Burger “Polyform 1”
8. Supermayer “Two of Us (Geiger Mix)”
9. Steadycam “In the Moog for Love”
10. Nightcats “Inside”
11. The Rice Twins “Can I Say”

Disc 2
1. Hervé AK “The Closer”
2. DJ Koze “Mariposa”
3. Reinhard Voigt “Follow the DJ”
4. Jürgen Paape “Nord”
5. Echo Club “Falter”
6. Aril Brikha “Berghain”
7. Gui Boratto “Mr. Decay (Robert Babicz Disco Universe)”
8. Justus Köhncke “Pickpockets”
9. Broke “Coladancer”
10. Schaeben & Voss (feat. Schad Privat) “Cold Wind”
11. Oxia “Not Sure”

Roots icon, musical innovator, and lover of multicolored hair Lee “Scratch” Perry heads to the West Coast for an eagerly anticipated live performance next week. Born Rainford Hugh Perry, the dub pioneer’s career covers the better part of 50 years and includes collaborations with artists like Bob Marley, Adrian Sherwood, and Mad Professor, as well as his own massive discography.

Saratoga, CA residents (and anyone else who wants to get in the car and drive), will have the opportunity to see Perry sharing the bill with virtuoso and master of the 8-string guitar, Charlie Hunter. Hunter will perform with his band, Charlie Hunter Trio. The double-billed concert takes place on Thursday, August 2 at the Montalvo Arts Center, home to the non-profit arts organization. Students get in for $15. Everyone else has to pay an arm and a leg, but the show ought to be well worth the money.

Event Details
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Lee “Scratch” Perry with Dub Is a Weapon and Charlie Hunter Trio
Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga, CA
Show Starts 7:30 p.m., $40, $15 for students

Unusual Animals is Asthmatic Kitty’s new imprint for conceptual, electronic projects, and on the forthcoming Land of a Thousand Rappers: Vol 1, The Fall of the Pillers, Asthmatic Kitty employee Michahel Kaufman (a.k.a. Future Rapper) collaborates with the likes of The Holy Fool, the Queen of Soft, and Papa Alabaster for an avant hip-hop album that emulates the label’s musical values.

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.

As Australia’s pop forces make their way to the forefront of the once French-dominated electro-house scene, the power has made a continental shift. Modular Records, home to Cut Copy and Van She, has already worked hard to solidify its position. Now, newcomers like Cutters Records (Cut Copy’s imprint), MidnightJuggernauts, and Miami Horror have joined in the struggle. The most recent (ad mysterious) addition is Moustache, who has been blowing up blogs with a remix of Melinda Jackson’s “Magic.” While France bangs alongside hip-hop and indie, Australia grooves a bit closer to Jacques Lu Cont’s big-club, peak-time house.

Cosmo Vitelli 

Cosmo Vitelli, who made a name for himself during French Wave’s first go-around, recently reworked Radio Slave’s “Screaming Hands” into an interstellar journey. San Serac is releasing a full-length that parallels the cosmic movement of Monsieur Vitelli, with a slightly heavier focus on the early ‘80s New York disco scene. The production is brilliant, and diminished only by the unnecessary presence of vocals. However, there are four additional dub versions on the CD that allow the instrumental aspect to breathe freely. 

Kompakt never seems to slow down. Speicher 3 has barely hit the shelves, and the label’s annual Total series is back for the eighth time with Total 8. The comp features tracks by Ewan Pearson as Partial Arts, Hervé Ak, Aril Brikha, and Superpitcher and Michael Mayer as Supermayer. Speaking of Supermayer, the duo has a full-length in the works too. Supermayer Save the World sees the legends incorporating live horns, guitars, and a gong. According to Resident Advisor, the release promises to rival The Who’s Tommy. This, of course, promises to be killer. 

Ricardo Villalobos

While flipping through 12”s you might assume that a project called Social Being is either an out-dated rave anthem or a new trip-hop release, but you would be wrong. Jay Haze and Ricardo Villalobos have teamed up under the moniker, releasing “Free Your Mind,” a shockingly straightforward and heavy house release that promises to blow some speakers. Bruno Ponsato and Sammy Dee have also collaborated on a new 12”, “Mir Nichts,” under the guise of Half Hawaii.

If you have been paying attention to the happenings over at Minus and Plus 8, you should have noticed two names: JPLS and Skoozbot. The former has a profound understanding of sound dynamics, and, while there are ragers, he makes no attempt to take truly environmental pieces out of the headphones and into the club. Skoozbot finds a more accessible median point that emphasizes and borrows from contemporary minimal techno. Check out his outstanding new 12” on Plus 8, “Next to Monchhichi.” 

Definitive Jux’s prolific superhero Aesop Rock is poised for a massive, two-month North American tour with Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz. Cage, Blockhead, Black Moth Super Rainbow, and The Octopus Project will also also be present for some dates.

Aesop’s been busy with a lot more than just rhyming over backpack-friendly beats. Within the last year he has released a 45-minute mix for Nike, collaborated with visual artist Jeremy Fish on a short story, and scored two short films. Now he’s touring with psych-pop outfits and headlining gigantic venues. If you’ve missed the Rock before, now’s your chance.

Tour Dates
07/28 Seattle, WA: Capitol Hill Party
09/06 Portland, OR: Northwest Music Festival

With Cage, Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz, and Blockhead
09/08 Philadelphia, PA: Starlight Ballroom
09/09 New York, NY: Irving Plaza
09/10 Washington, DC: 9:30 Club
09/11 Pittsburg, PA: Rex Theatre

With The Octopus Project, Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz, and Blockhead
09/13 Chicago, IL: Metro
09/14 Madison, WI: Barrymore
09/15 Milwaukee, WI: Pabst Theatre
09/16 Minneapolis, MN: First Avenue
09/18 Detroit, MI: Magic Stick
09/19 Cleveland, OH: Grog Shop
09/21 Baltimore, MD: Ottobar
09/22 Providence, RI: Living Room
09/23 Boston, MA: Middle East
09/25 Northampton, MA: Iron Horse
09/26 Burlington, VT: High Ground

With Black Moth Super Rainbow, Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz, and Blockhead
10/10 San Francisco, CA: Fillmore
10/12 Los Angeles, CA: Henry Fonda Theatre
10/13 Phoenix, AZ: Clubhouse
10/15 Albuquerque, NM: Sunshine Theatre
10/16 Durango, CO: Abbey Theatre
10/18 Denver, CO: Cervantes
10/19 Boulder, CO: Fox Theatre
10/20 Ft. Collins, CO: Aggie Theatre
10/22 Salt Lake City, UT: In the Venue
10/25 Portland, OR: Wonder Ballroom
10/26 Vancouver, BC: Commodore
10/27 Bellingham, WA: Nightlight
10/30 Eugene, OR: Wow Hall
11/07 Asheville, NC: Orange Peel
11/09 Orlando, FL: Club Firestone
11/10 Miami, FL: Studio A
11/12 New Orleans, LA: House of Blues
11/13 Baton Rouge, LA: Spanish Moon
11/15 Dallas, TX: The Loft
11/16 Houston, TX: Warehouse Live
11/17 Austin, TX: Emo’s
11/19 Nashville, TN: Exit In
11/20 Atlanta, GA: MJQ Concourse

For the latest installment of Monty “ML Tronik” Luke’s “Bubble Metropolis” podcast series, XLR8R’s resident techno columnist has compiled the hits that have no trouble getting the kids on their feet. Taken directly from his magazine column, with a few exclusive bonus cuts thrown in, this mix is what future crate-digging is made of. Our man incorporates tracks from Stephen Bodzin, Carl Craig, DJ Bone, and others, revealing the key to one very late night.

Download this podcast using iTunes, or with an RSS reader of your choice.

Tracklisting
1. DJ Bone “Changeapella” (Subject Detroit)
2. Mihai Popoviciu “First Contact” (Level Non Zero)
3. Flinsch ‘n’ Nielson “Wundertute 1” (Kiddaz.fm)
4. Cari Lekebusch “Space Suite” (Railyard)
5.Oliver Huntemann and Stephen Bodzin “Rekorder 09” (Rekorder)
6. BONUS CUT: Tanner Ross & Kilo Watts “Kruger’s Fingers” (Dirty Bird)
7. Heckmann & Kauffelt “Affenstall” (Karton)
8. BONUS CUT: Carl Craig “Drumbreak3” (CD-R)
9. Jambi “Circular Motion” (Olmeto Records)
10. Robert Babicz “Losing Memories” (Systematic)