It’s been a few years, several singles, and even more remixes since James Flavour and Break 3000 (collectively working as Dirt Crew) emerged as innovators in the house/electro/techno scene, but all this time a proper artist album has been the missing element. A peek into the near-future (this fall), sees that fact change, as the duo is set to drop Raw, its debut album.

Take a hint from the album’s title–this is house music stripped down to its barest form, with dark, heavy tracks pounding and pulverizing the dancefloor, then building it up a few minutes later. The album is said to be both a look at the kind of music Dirt Crew has championed since its inception, as well as a hint of what’s to come in the future.

The boys were also nice enough to include a bonus disc with this release, featuring favorites from their remix resume over the past few years, with the likes of M.A.N.D.Y. Jimpster, and Gomma’s Who Made Who getting in the mix.

Raw is out September 10, 2007 on Dirt Crew Recordings.

Raw Tracklisting
1. Coming for You
2. Big Bad City
3. Deep We Are (Dub)
4. Boogie Down
5. Places
6. How Does It Feel
7. In the Park
8. Get Raw
9. Manoeuvres

Bonus CD Tracklisting
1. Metrika “Time (Dirt Crew Acid Mix)”
2. Marc Romboy “Jack is Back (Dirt Crew Remix)”
3. M.A.N.D.Y. “Naomi (Dirt Crew Ghetto Mix)”
4. Hoel James “Maurris Light (Dirt Crew Remix)”
5. Who Made Who “Space for Rent (Dirt Crew Remix)”
6. Linus Loves “Night Music (Dirt Crew Remix)”
7. 2020 Soundsystem “Tape (Dirt Crew Remix)”
8. Freestyle Man “Juna (Dirt Crew Rework)”
9. Jimpster “Seventh Wave (Dirt Crew Rework)”

Sizzla Kalonji (born Miguel Collins) unleashes a new album just seven months after releasing The Overstanding on Dame Dash’s imprint. But unlike that album, Sizzla’s latest, I-Space (Greensleeves), hasn’t a hint of crossover or R&B-flavored material. Instead, Byron Murray–of In The Streetz Records, and one of Jamaica’s premier reggae riddim masters–is the primary producer for many of I-Space’s tracks.

Murray’s roots productions fit Sizzla like a tightly rolled dread turban. I-Space opens with “Really and Truly” (which recently spent weeks in BBC 1-Xtra’s influential Top Ten), a tune that rides a new version of Bob Marley’s “Natural Mystic.” Linford “Fatta” Marshall (Fat Eyes Records) and Shane Brown (Juke Boxx Records) also contribute productions, including Brown’s massive Statement riddim for “Irresistible.” Other familiar riddims used on the album include I Shall Be Released (the classic Dylan song), Jamdown, Carpenter, and rocksteady-ear hit Desperate Lover.

Sizzla covers familiar subject matter–praising Jah, bigging-up his black empresses, instructions on how to live righteously–but that’s his creative comfort zone, thus each song sounds confident and is delivered with lots of vocal fluctuations and Kalonji’s patented high notes. If you’re looking for a social, erm, musical networking experience with reggae’s most prolific singjay, log onto I-Space (album available now). 

Tracklisting
1. Really And Truly
2. Irresistible
3. Long Live The King of Kings
4. Make Me Yours
5. Chant Dem Down
6. Show Some Love
7. Talk About
8. Stop The Violence
9. Only Jah Alone
10. The Woman In My Life
11. Jah Protect My Life
12. Rock My World
13. Be Careful
14. Nothing But Love
15. Put The People First 

Photo By Martei Korley.

With Serato, Traktor, and Xponent combining both traditional DJ capabilities and all the perks of digital DJing, the only thing that’s missing is an interface that can bring in the high-end audiophile part of the equation. Enter the Native Instruments Audio 8 DJinterface, a sturdy, compact rack-style box with eight inputs, eight outputs, a separate mic and headphone input, and the ability to connect to any of the above digital DJ operating systems.

Connecting via USB, the moderately priced interface (MSRP: $449.00) also comes bundled with Traktor 3 software, so those without any digital applications can get into the revolution instantly. Audio 8 also has a MIDI in/out, so performance DJs and producers can weave an array of live magic through Native Instruments’ new tech angel. This is officially the best thing since Super Nintendo. 

Native Instruments Audio 8 DJ is available now.

The name says it all. “Acid Taste,” from the forthcoming A release, is post-Italo psychedelia with analog in mind. Not unlike Faust or Can, Turzi and his band write tripped-out live music that’s as intricate as any piece of sequenced electronic wizardry. If there was ever a time for acid, it’s now.

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.

Jamaica’s general elections, taking place Monday, August 27 between current Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s Peoples National Party and Bruce Golding’s Jamaican Labor Party, have caused the Curefest showcase, which marks the release of artist Jah Cure (pictured left) from prison, to be postponed. The new dates for Curefest are Friday, October 12 to Sunday, October 14 at The Ruins At The Falls and James Bond Beach.

Speaking of Jah Cure’s release, Students Expressing Truth Foundation, an organization that works with inmates in Kingston prisons, will sponsor a recording session in July. The sessions will feature guest artists from outside the prison, plus Cure and incarcerated singer Serrano. The foundation is planning a DVD and audio CD of the event, to be sold in support the SET project (an inmate-driven program that grew out of an inmate literacy program.), which aims to spread its work to the other prisons. Funds will benefit SET’s computer labs, software, and recording training sessions, as well as an inmate-run radio station. 

Rumors (not confirmed as of this post) are flying around that reggae music’s premier roots reissue label, England’s Blood & Fire has gone out of business. The label is known for its lovingly packaged re-releases of rare and out-of-print albums by King Tubby (pictured left), Glen Brown, Horace Andy, I-Roy, and many others. 

YardFlex repots that two of the most monumental sounds in reggae music, Stereograph and Killamanjaro, came together for the first time ever on July 7, for a night called “History Bash.” The astounding line up of guest artists included DJs like Daddy U-Roy, General Trees, Jose Wales, Little Twitch, Jr. Cat, Burro Banton, Barry Parker, Little Larry, Daddy Shark, Rankin Trevor, and more.

A recent dance in Jamaica titled Sevens Clash, held in honor of Claude ‘Big Stone’ Sinclair, who was celebrating his 50th birthday, featured no less than Cutty Ranks, Paul Elliot, Nitty Kutchie, and Pinchers. Sinclair arrived in expansive style, pipe in mouth, walking stick in his right hand, and a cream suit over his stocky figure, and was set off by four lasses in tight red bottoms with bustier tops, along with red and black hats. Sinclair knows how to party! 

British breakbeat remix producer Norman Cook, a.k.a. Fatboy Slim (pictured left), is taking on a Trojan Records skinhead classic by Lloyd Chamers (Hippy Boys, The Uniques). Fatboy Slim’s vocal heavy mix of The Charmers’ “Skinhead Train” (out August 3) is a stripped down, bare-knuckle hip-hop gem.

Los Angeles’ 10th annual Caribbean Sea Breeze Festival, Sunday July 22 at The Queen Mary Park in Long Beach, CA, adds a new dimension to its already killer line up. The Sound Tent DJ Showcase will feature soundsystems, including Firgo Digital, Tazmania Sound, Jamaican Gold Sound, Positive Rhythm Sound, Black Star, Danger Zone, and GT International. The Sound Tent arena is poised to encourage unity amongst Los Angeles sound systems, and DJ’s and will feature nationally recognized talent. Meanwhile, on the concert’s main stage–oh nothing–just performances by Shaggy, Buju Banton, Elephant Man, and more!

This week, prog-disco pusher Prins Thomas is making some stops in Europe before heading to the West Coast in September. San Francisco-based Numbers will head across the States, while Thrill jockey’s newest folk-sensation Tunng makes some headway in the UK. Last, the Bay Area hip-hop supergroup Souls of Mischief is slated to start trouble in the South and Canada.

Prins Thomas
07/14 Glasgow, UK: Indian Summer Festival
07/23 Athens, GR: Synch Festival
07/28 Oslo, NO: Blå
08/04 Cornwall, UK: Big Chill Festival
08/05 Dublin, UK: Space Camp
08/14 Lisbon, PT: TBA
08/15 Paris, FR: Respect Is Burning
08/16 Berlin, DE: TBA
09/09 Isle of Wight, UK: Bestival

Numbers
08/25 San Francisco, CA: Elbo Room
08/31 Brooklyn, NY: Death By Audio
09/02 Durham, NC: Duke Coffeehouse
09/03 Atlanta, GA: MJQ
09/04 Birmingham, AL: The Bottle Tree Cafe
09/05 Lexington, KY: Arts Place
09/06 Chicago, IL: Empty Bottle
09/07 St. Paul, MN: Turf Club
09/08 Madison, WI: High Noon Saloon
09/10 Cleveland, OH: Beachland
09/11 Buffalo, NY: Soundlab
09/12 Toronto, ON: Sneaky Dee’s
09/13 Montreal, QC: Zoo Bizarre
09/14 Jamaica Plain, NY: Milky Way
09/15 Brooklyn, NY: TBA
09/28 Portland, OR: Someday Lounge
09/29 Seattle, WA: Sunset Tavern
10/01 Salt Lake City, UT: Urban Lounge
10/02 Denver, CO: Hi-Dive
10/03 Kansas City, KS: The Record Bar
10/04 Dallas, TX: The Public Trust
10/05 Houston, TX: Rudyard’s Pub
10/06 Austin, TX: Mohawk
10/08 Flagstaff, AZ: TBA
10/09 Phoenix, AZ: Modified Arts
10/10 Mexicali, MX: TBA
10/11 San Diego, CA: TBA
10/12 North Hollywood, CA: The Smell

Tunng
07/14 Birmingham, UK: Custard Factory
07/19 Florence, IT: Italia Wave Love Festival
07/22 London, UK: Victoria Park
08/02 Haldern, DE: Haldern Pop Festival
08/03 Dranouter, BE: Dranouter Festival
08/04 Ledbury, UK: Eastnor Castle Deer Park
08/10 Inverness, UK: Belladrum Festival
08/17 Crickhowell, UK: Glanusk Estate
09/01 Birmingham, UK: Moseley Park
09/09 Isle of Wight, UK: Robin Hill Country Park
09/21 Matlock Bath, UK: The Fishpond

Souls of Mischief
07/08 Johnson City, TN: The Hideaway
07/09 Atlanta, GA: Vinyl
07/10 Charleston, GA: The Pour House
07/11 Lexington, KY: The Dame
07/12 Pittsburgh, PA: Shadow Lounge
07/13 Philadelphia, PA: Johnny Brenda’s
07/14 Baltimore, MD: Sonar
07/15 Charlottesville, VA: Starr Hill Music Hall
07/16 Washington, DC: The Black Cat
07/18 Montreal, QB: Fou Founes Electriques
07/19 Burlington, VT: Club Metronome
07/20 Boston, MA: Paradise Lounge

The Week In Tours, July 5

The Week In Tours, June 28

Musicfest NW is Portland, OR’s foray into the festival world, and this four-day extravaganza will see everyone from Clipse to Roky Erikson to The Fucking Champs to Girl Talk descend on various clubs around the city from Thursday, September 6 – Sunday, September 9, 2007.

Last year’s Musicfest NW featured mostly rock-oriented acts like The Melvins, Jeremy Engik, and The Dandy Warhols. While 2007 will see some of those artists returning, this year boasts a wider range of performers–Copy, Lifesavas, YACHT, Panther, Aesop Rock, Grizzly Bear–that should please fans of every genre. Portland is the new Austin–at least this autumn.

Thus far, artists appearing include Aesop Rock, Wolf Parade, Girl Talk, Grizzly Bear, Deerhunter, Lifesavas, Dan Deacon, YACHT, Bobby Conn, Panther, Copy, ATLAS, Balkan Beat Box, and many, many more. Check the fest’s site for a complete list of performers and venue details.

Local hero Copy will make an appearance at the festival.