Following a pilot episode that followed French 8-Bit masters DAT Politics and took a glance inside the studio of Zion I, XLR8R launches the second installment of XLR8R TV. In conjunction with the folks over at Revision 3 (yes, the same people responsible for digg.com), we’re taking you on the quintessential shopping experience with the legendary (and well-versed) techno audiophile, Carl Craig.

For this week’s edition, Craig ventures into a world far removed from his familiar techno empire–one imbued with black metal, spiritual jazz, and all things experimental, namely, the S.F. underground’s favorite record store, Aquarius Records. Unsurprisingly, old C2 has got tons to say on everything from 8-Bit-metalcore, to pygmy chanting, to Bloc Party.

Check back weekly for new installments of XLR8R TV, including interviews, tour stories, live performances, and maybe even our latest venture into the land of debauchery (South by Southwest, duh). Watch it now!

Thrill Jockey is working its bands to the bone this summer, with a healthy heap of tours from Adult., Trans Am, Tortoise, and now, The Sea and Cake–and that happens to rule.

For over a decade, the Chicago-based four-piece has set the standard for all music that’s completely rocking, yet delicately poppy. On their seventh venture, Everybody, the boys (men, rather) stay the course. “Crossing Line,” for instance, finds the same fuzzy guitars humming alongside introspective basslines, and vocalist Sam Prekop’s lush, lyrical vocals.

These busy vets are giving both coasts a taste of their return, and also plotting a nationwide tour this fall, with more dates soon to follow. In the meantime, audiences from N.Y. to S.F. should be stoked to see fellow Chicago minimal-pop rockers The Zincs supporting their new gem, Black Pompadour, alongside the pop-masters.

Everybody is out May 8, 2007 on Thrill Jockey.

Tourdates
5/14 Vancouver, BC: Richard’s on Richards w/ The Zincs
5/15 Seattle, WA: Neumo’s w/ The Zincs
5/16 Portland, OR: Crystal Ballroom w/ The Zincs
5/18 San Francisco, CA: Bimbo’s w/ The Zincs
5/19 Los Angeles, CA: Troubadour w/ The Zincs
5/20 Los Angeles, CA: Troubadour w/ The Zincs
5/21 Solana Beach, CA: Belly Up w/ The Zincs
5/31 Chicago, IL: Empty Bottle (2 shows)
6/2 Toronto, ON: Mod Club w/ The Zincs
6/3 Montreal, QC: La Sala Rossa w/ The Zincs
6/5 Boston, MA: Paradise w/ Loney, Dear, The Zincs
6/7 New York, NY: Webster Hall w/ Loney, Dear, The Zincs
6/8 Philadelphia, PA: Theatre of Living Arts w/ Loney, Dear, The Zincs
6/9 Washington, DC: Black Cat w/ Loney, Dear, The Zincs

On April 20, 2007, San Francisco’s 111 Minna Gallery will host The Werks, an event designed to showcase emerging electronic artists from San Francisco and its surrounding areas. Bay Area Beatdrop–founders of Fukwerk Fridays, Low End Saturdays, and a new monthly called Filter SF–is the promotional force behind the event, whose previous guests include Pheek, Miskate, and Butane. Co-producing The Werks will be Compression LA, a monthly techno party and DJ residency of John Tejada.

Pokerflat’s Limacon, Ruoho Ruotsi of De’fchild Productions, and Jason Emsley of Platzhirsch will bump the electronic goodness for this installment of The Werks, which takes place beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets are $5 before 9 p.m. and $10 after.

The nearly impossible-to-categorize Finnish artist Sasu Ripatti returns next month with the latest release under his Vladislav Delay moniker, Whistleblower, a musical reworking and repackaging of the concepts behind ambient music, house, and techno. But whereas other artists involved or influenced by dance music seem content to fill the dancefloor, Ripatti happily gleans from the elements of the club after-hours.

Whistleblower’s emphasis on politics stands in contrast to Ripatti’s previous work, the focus of which was process-oriented, the human fused with machine. Today’s tense, dark political climate has, according to the press release, resonated with Ripatti, and in the last few years “it’s been impossible for him to not let some current global events sneak into the work, as an underlying influence shaping his creative atmosphere.” While certainly not aspiring to lead a movement, his work deals with the current state of the world and modes of being, an implicitly political engagement.

Whistleblower is out May 15, 2007 on Huume.

Tracklisting
1. Whistleblower
2. Wanted to (Kill)
3. Stop talking
4. I Saw a Polysexual
5. Lumi
6. He Lived Deeply
7. Recovery Idea

Listen to Elijah Prophet’s heartfelt 2006 single “Piece of Ganja” (Irievibrations) and you’ll hear what sounds like voice of a lion. Stout and growling, with a measured, sophisticated timbre, Prophet (born Devon St. Patrick Hoggart) transforms the roots riddim into a spiritual ode. Such a blessed vibe is hardly surprising, as Prophet was born in the country parish of Westmoreland, Jamaica, and studied music with guidance from roots singing legends Utan Green and Garnet Silk.

Singing since 1991 and recording since ’96, Prophet scored early hits like “Burn Down the Walls of Babylon” and “War A Gwaan” after winning the Best New Artist award in the Stone Love star search contest. From there he began attracting international ears with singles for Germany’s Rootdown, Austria’s Irievibrations, and Jamaica’s Kennedy International.

Prophet eventually linked up with German imprint Pow Pow Movement and forged a strong relationship with the label, followed by dubplates and tours throughout Europe. The crew and label, responsible for big riddims such as Blaze, Superior, and First Sight, had previously worked with reggae artists like Gentleman, Jah Mason, and Anthony B. The German-Jamaican partnership between Pow Pow and Prophet lead to the 2006 album King of Kings, produced by the talented Ingo Rheinbay. 

Although Prophet’s career is now moving apace, with regular singles on a clutch of labels, his remarks to Germany’s Reggae News prove that he’s still a humble country soul: “Reggae is really expanding to another level. Believe me; the music itself is bigger than us. What I’m doing is only a fraction.” 

Various Rvng Prsnts Mx5: Justine DRVNG
If you ever went through a goth phase, this record will take you straight back to your days as a cape-clad lone dancer. Justine D (best known for starting the Motherfucker party in New York) offers up a killer mix with tracks from Christian Death, to Death in June, to Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom. We recommend popping this in when getting into extreme-rage mode.

AcrnymFlowersSublight
Acrnym is a 20-year-old, Scotland-based artist named Calum Gunn, and he creates scattery, buzz-heavy, speed-freak breakcore that’s completely shredding. How do these youngsters do it?

A-PlusMy Last Good DeedHiero Imperium
A-Plus is a founding member of both Souls of Mischief and Hieroglyphics–which says loads about this dude’s talent. On My Last Good Deed, Plus offers a potent, soulful, lyrically uplifting LP (see anti-bling references, et al.) that features production from RA the Rugged Man, AAGEE, and Lil Fame. This is destined-to-be-classic hip-hop.

Terminal 11 Fractured SunshineHymen
Terminal 11’s sixth record slays. After releasing a bunch of jams on Cock Rock Disco and Phthalo, this guy’s established himself as an experimental, post-drum & bass icon. Imagine flurries of data making their way through a fax machine linked to hell.

SoftwarS/TDigitalis
Not unlike Lichens or Andrew Rothbard, Softwar carries on the tradition of hazy psychedelia. Delicate vocals, lots of chimes, and humming feedback dominate this stellar release from these four visionaries (one of whom is XLR8R‘s own Kerry McLaughlin). It’s time to trip out, man.

Yacht I Believe in You. Your Magic is RealMarriage
Yacht is a one-man new-wave machine. Coming straight out of Portland, this guy blends power-pop melodies, ’50s harmonies, and a little electro-punk to create I Believe in You. Your Magic is Real. He’s also one-half of K Records’ The Blow, who is equally radical.

Sa-RaThe Hollywood RecordingsBabygrande
The Sa-Ra collective is insane. Members have collaborated with Ice T, Dr. Dre, Jurassic 5, and Kanye, yet the group sounds nothing like its contemporaries. If spiritual soul-hop exists (without being religious) this is it.

Omar Rodriguez-LopezSe Dice Bisonte, No BufaloGSL
We’ve been waiting for this moment. One-half of power-duo The Mars Volta, Rodriguez-Lopez displays his lust for delay and passion for minimal prog-rock on Se Dice Bisonte, No Bufalo. Punks, guitar nerds, and other weirdos are so pumped (and they should be).

Young BuckBuck the WorldG-Unit
With tracks like “Say It to My Face” and “Buss Yo Head,” you know Young Buck is hella hostile. Although he’s affiliated with G-Unit, there’s no typical 50 Cent production here. Buck the World thumps out dirty south beats, evil choruses, and a whole lot of swear words.

OOIOOOOEYEOO (Eye Remix)Thrill Jockey
OOIOO makes Japanese noise-pop that’s not annoying, sparse, or mellow. And when Eye from Boredoms has his way with these tracks, the once-minimal percussion becomes an onslaught of scattered drum mayhem. Between Yoshimi’s (also a member of Boredoms) cheerleader-chants and Eye’s scratchy production, people are going to trip.

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