Last November, Atomnation released Tunnelvisions‘ latest LP, Midnight Voyage, a lush nine-track album of ambient, house, and electronica. Now, as a follow up to the release, Amsterdam based DJ, producer, and radio host Will Oirson has delivered a remix of “Niyri,” a pensive, beatless cut from the album, as today’s XLR8R download.
Oirson’s remix gives a club-based focus to the original without losing its emotive, dreamy edge, with a five-minute exercise in broken-beat electronics. The introspective vibe crafted on the remix was inspired by records Oirson listened to following his son’s birth, as he explains:
“Music is the expression of my state of mind and lately it’s been more chilled out. I like to experiment with different textures a lot. Besides the music that I play in my club sets, I’ve always listened to more experimental and dubby music. When my son was born it were those records—by artists like Jan Jelinek, Palta, and Terekke—that seemed to make him joyful. This remix was made during that period and those records inspired me a lot.”
You can download the remix below.
Due to temporary issues regarding the GDPR, EU readers can download the track here.
Ivan Smagghe is another one of those exceptionally gifted DJs that tend to slip unnoticed by the masses. It’s a shame because he’s also one of the most accomplished, a dedicated and street-wise DJ who excites and intrigues in equal measure. His sets are intelligently structured, wildly eclectic, and brimming with weird and wonderful cuts that there’s every chance you’ll never hear again. Smagghe has never been just another brick in the wall.
The source of this eclecticism lies in the French capital. Smagghe refined and exercised his musical knowledge working at Paris’ Rough Trade, educating customers as to the various releases, electronic and otherwise, before opting to pursue a career spinning rather than selling records. Alongside Arnaud Rebotini in 1997, Smagghe became instrumental in the rise of electroclash in the UK as part of Black Strobe, before the group’s expansion to a four-piece live band triggered Smagghe’s exit to focus on life as a solo DJ, producer, and remixer.
Collaboration, however, has never been too far away. He’s been working with Tim Pair as It’s A Fine Line since 2006; the pair released their long-awaited album in September 2016 on Kill The DJ, a label Smagghe has co-run for 15 years with his old Paris Le Pulp crew. More recently, he’s been working alongside composer Rupert Cross under the Smagghe & Cross guise, proving once again that genre-boundaries are just lines to be crossed. Since 2013, Smagghe has also been running Les Disques de la Mort, an outlet for his own unique taste in music: new kids and old friends, including Erol Alkan, Zongamin, Manfredas, Golden Bug, Marc Pinõl), and reissues (003 is composed of edits of Israeli cold wave.) The aesthetic, as Smagghe says, is the “style of no style.”
Smagghe’s XLR8R podcast is, well, so…Smagghe. Though removed somewhat from the energetic club sets Smagghe delivers with aplomb each weekend, it’s typically trippy and imaginative with an almost entirely unrecognisable tracklisting. Admittedly, much of the music is unreleased, sourced from Smagghe’s circle of friends, but it’s also indicative of Smagghe’s knack for discovering obscure records and presenting them in new and interesting ways. This particular presentation of music is as similarly versatile as the man behind it, and one that gets better and better on each listen.
What have you been up to recently?
Same as ever really, splitting time between travelling and studio. Smagghe & Cross have finished writing a new album for Offen Music, a few remixes here and there, including one for our friends at Garzen Records, Vladimir Ivkovic’s label, and we’ve been preparing a live set. The latter took a bit of time and thinking, I haven’t done it in years, and it’s a totally different frame of mind than DJing (less freedom in one way, more in others). We’ll be playing at Houghton, the festival curated by Craig Richards, this August, and then take it from there. I also have quite a few good records on Les Disques de La Mort, my label, coming up, although this stays a hobby/matter of love kind of thing.
You often play records that few others do. How do you go about finding new records—do you have a routine/process?
Do I? If I do, it’s probably more my personal filter system than a routine of “purchase.” I don’t think there is one way of getting music anymore, at least not for me. Just a few loops/habits to get into; I very rarely buy disposable club music on 12” anymore (at least I am honest about that), I use Bandcamp quite a lot, I get sent some stuff by friends. I’m also not worried if I have missed a good track/record; I tend to favour random encounters with music these days.
What do you look for in a record?
You mean a record to play out? It really depends… I have a soft spot for murky waters/borderline records, those which sit in between genres but once again, there are no rules here, or just my personal ones. I do like—sometimes—selectors who play one great track after another but I also believe in “actual DJing”, i.e. playing a couple of tracks that will lead to another one. So different records have different functions, different time, and space etc…
What’s one of your favourite records you’re playing out now?
A record was given to me by my friend Manfredas, it’s called Atmosfear by Philipp Melon on his label Talking Machines (It’s not in the podcast btw).
When and where was this mix recorded?
At home. I usually do them in the morning (I know weird, right?).
How did you select the records you included?
I asked a few friends to send me unreleased/upcoming stuff for this, so a lot of it can’t be bought yet. Let’s not fool ourselves, a podcast also is “the selfie of the DJ,” an image you want to project of yourself. It misses the main piece of equipment: the crowd and your relation to it. I, for instance, almost find impossible to make an uptempo club mix if I’m not in a club. I tend not to overthink and just play tracks. I still see the “shining the light on” artists/labels I respect as one of the functions of podcasting but without “pats on the back” or favours given, of course.
Was there a particular idea you were looking to convey?
Hmmmm… Nothing new or conceptual really, just be open-minded.
What else do you have coming up this year?
More of the same. I’m not the best at making long-term plans, I got into this when “job” or “career” were exactly what we were trying to run away from. I’ll try and enjoy life as I see it and not care too much about things I don’t want to participate with.
Due to temporary issues regarding the GDPR, EU readers can download the podcast here.
Tracklisting
01. Front de Cadeaux “C’est Bon” (Acapella) (Unreleased)
02. Shit & Cheap “Shadowlands” (Shipwrec)
03. Golden Bug “Hippie Friends” (La Belle)
04. Wav Fuzz “Hi Lite” (EYMS)
05. Sacha Mambo “Beau” (Acid Psychedelic Mix) (Bar)
06. River Yarra “Respiration Alternée avec Elen Hyunh” (Antinote)
07. Marco Passarani “Coldrain” (Offen)
08. Mr TC and Lo Kindre “The Storm (Heap Ambient Trance Mix) (Neubau)
09. Death in Vegas “Witchdance Dub” (Drone)
10 Naduve “Back To Work” (Les Disques de la Mort)
11. JD Twitch “The Ecstasy of Saint Therese” (RDF)
12. Leonie Pernet feat. Hanna Ouassim (Auaati) (Acid Arab remix)-(Crybaby/Infine)
13. Golden Bug & Fields “Cracks (Les Disques de la Mort)
14. Xen” Pere Adam” (Garzen)
Smagghe will perform at this year’s Neopop Festival, taking place from on August 9, 10, and 11, set across two stages in the northern Portuguese coastal town of Viana do Castelo—a half hour’s drive from Porto airport. Also on the bill are Jeff Mills, Ben Klock, Nastia, Josh Wink, and more. More information can be found here.
Heavee will release an album on Teklife, titled WFM and scheduled for September 7 release.
Having been influenced by Chicago juke and footwork culture early on in his teen years, Heavee began experimenting with music and some of his earliest productions appeared on throwback video games like PS2’s Digital Hitz Factory. He connected with the likes of DJ Rashad and DJ Spinn in 2009 and made collaboration with the Teklife collective his primary focus. Since joining the crew, he’s landed “It’s Wack”—a collaboration with DJ Rashad— on Grand Theft Auto V‘s Flylo FM, and appeared on last year’s On Life Teklife compilation as well as the Fractal Fantasy compilation Visceral Minds 2.
This debut album sees appearances from fellow Teklife members DJ Phil, Gant-Man, DJ Paypal, and Sirr Tmo. “It’s Wack,” which was previously only available via the GTA V‘s Flying Lotus-curated radio station, is also included.
It will be Teklife’s eighth release.
Tracklisting
01. Heavee “WFM” feat. Gant-Man, DJ Paypal, DJ Phil, Sirr Tmo
02. Heavee “Move Back” feat. DJ Phil
03. DJ Rashad and Heavee “It’s Wack”
04. Heavee “Big Body Bass”
05. Heavee “Cloud Ride” feat. Dj Phil
06. Heavee “What U Waiting For” feat. Sirr Tmo
07. Heavee “So High” feat. DJ Paypal
08. Heavee “Scream At Me” feat. Gant-Man, DJ Paypal, Sirr Tmo
WFM LP will land on September 7, with the title track streaming in full below.
Emil Abramyan will release a debut album on Francis Harris’ Kingdoms imprint, titled Movement.
Abramyan is a Brooklyn based composer, musician, and producer, whose work traverses various styles and disciplines. He last appeared on Kingdoms last year with a collaborative EP with Brandon Wolcott, and he’s played the cello on every Francis Harris album. He now expands his repertoire by playing every instrument, including cello, piano, and electronics.
We’re told that the release sees Abramyan sharing his “unique perspective” by bringing together his conservatory training as a cellist and his love of electronic music and sound design.
The fourth release of Another Earth, a small Dutch vinyl-only label, will once again be presented as a limited pressing of 300 copies, with distribution by Clone Rotterdam. The record will feature two tracks by Dave Simon on the a-side, with Anders Ilar and John H presenting two cuts on the b-side.
The 12″ follows a recent solo release from Duijin on Dubai’s KitchenSync Records, released digitally earlier this month—you can pick up the EP, titled Human Behaviour, here.
The record, titled Hard To Please, drops on Friday, featuring the previously shared title track and the B-side, “My Other Voice”—a cover of Sparks’ 1979 symphonic disco track—which is shared today and can be heard via the player below. Both tracks are otherworldly deconstructions of pop music, signaling a new voice in contemporary experimental music.
Hard To Please is SPELLLING’s first new music since her 2017 debut album, Pantheon of Me. Her forthcoming full-length is due out early 2019.
You can hear both singles below, with the 7″ available for pre-order here.
Decibel Festival and Listed Productions have announced Family Funktion, a 40+ hour party running from September 21 to 23 at Union Club in Los Angeles.
The party is set to feature over 40 artists, including Omar S, Lena Willikens, DJ Three, Sebastian Mullaert, Cassy, Nico Stojan, Daniel Bell, Doc Martin, Sandrino, John Tejada, Mr. C, Holmar, Jon Charnis, Tara Brooks, and many more. Party crews and promoters such as Hallucienda, Dig Deeper, Sublevel, Subtract Music, and SBCLTR LA have been invited to host the artists across four stages all fitted with Funktion One Sound, with vendors, food options, and visual art featured throughout the event.
Early bird tickets are now sold out, with first release currently on sale. You can find more information and tickets here, with the announced lineup below.
Lineup:
Omar S Cassy Danny Howells Sebastian Mullaert Nico Stojan Lena Willikens Atish Kate Simko Doc Martin / Sublevel live DJ Three Daniel Bell Sandrino John Tejada Jozif Hoj Holmar Mr. C Sunshine Jones Dance Spirit Jon Charnis Tara Brooks Ricoshëi Mozhgan Chris Cruse Droog Jeniluv MD Anton Tumas Masha Zach Walker Whitney Day Nordic Soul Tal Ohana Mr. Koolaid Abi Getto Dax Lee Bryant Jensen Kash Kingsley + more TBA
Several mysterious 3-D Aphex Twin logos have appeared at London’s Elephant & Castle underground train station.
Naturally, the appearance has sparked rumours that the pioneering British producer, real name Richard D. James, is preparing a new release. Speculation would appear to be well-founded given that Aphex Twin announced his last album—2014’s Syro, his first LP in 13 years—with a flying blimp above London as well as logo stencils in US cities.
Warp, the label behind Aphex Twin, confirmed to the Guardian newspaper that the campaign is official.
Nonetheless, it remains difficult to fathom why these logos have appeared at Elephant & Castle. There are rumours that Aphex Twin resided in a former bank vault in the area following his seminal Come To Daddy EP, but these have since been widely debunked. Their significance also remains unclear, but hold tight for more news.
Real Lies are a three-piece London-based electronic group formed in 2012. They release their debut album, titled Real Life, in 2015; while more recently they shared “The Checks,”—”a gritty, rave-empowered return” according to Clash Magazine—via their own Unreal imprint. Up next is a collaboration with Tom Demac on Kompakt, scheduled for September release.
Ahead of this, the trio have shared an “UNREAL” remix of “The Checks,” available to download now via the WeTransfer button below—or here for EU readers due to temporary GDPR restrictions.
“Every tune we make goes through several different versions before we settle on the anointed one we decide to actually release. “The Checks” was our first new tune for two-and-a-half years, since our debut album came out, and in the interests of not wanting to wait till the long, hot winter of 2021 before releasing more music, we’ve decided to be less militant with what we let people hear. This remix of “The Checks” is a version that got released in a parallel universe. It bangs in a different way to the original and we didn’t want to hold it back.”— Real Lies
Over the years, Hush Hush Records has undoubtedly proved to be an XLR8R favorite, with countless releases and label artists featured on our pages via premieres and downloads from artists such as Klunks, Kid Smpl, Chants, Secret School, and many more.
Earlier this month, the label announced a massive milestone with its approaching 100th release, a sprawling VA that will feature collaborative tracks from label artists past, present, and future across styles in line with the Hush Hush aesthetic—think ambient, downtempo, bass, techno, dream-pop, and post-dubstep.
In support of the release, the label has offered up a gorgeous and shimmering beat cut from Shortcircles, Parks Burton, and Klunks, as one of today’s XLR8R download. Across a near-three-minute runtime, the trio deliver dreamy synth lines and intricate drum programming that coalesce into a beautiful crescendo.
You can pick up the track via WeTransfer below, with the release available here.
Due to temporary issues regarding the GDPR, EU readers can download the track here.
