Novation has released the latest firmware update to its popular Circuit Mono Station.
Firmware v1.2 has added a range of interesting features to the sequencer/synth hybrid. The updates include Patch Flip, which turns Circuit Mono Station into a sound designer’s dream, allowing for unique sequences and different presets and automation per step; Modular Gear, which allows users to program notes into the Mod Seq page to independently control your modular and CV gear with pitch and gate control via the CV/GATE output; LFO Sync, which allows you to decouple synced LFOs from key sync, meaning sequences can benefit from longer LFOs staying in sync across several notes; and Envelope Trigger, which lets you choose to have legato or retriggered envelopes.
You can watch a video detailing the features below, with the firmware update here.
Following the release of “The Saga,” SHADES have shared “Guillotine,” the second offering taken from their forthcoming album debut In Praise of Darkness.
SHADES is the collaborative project of Alix Perez (UK) and Eprom (USA). Since their inception four years ago, they have released four EP’s including their self-titled debut Shades EP and 2017’s Night the Dreadless Angel (2017) in which they collaborated with Ivy lab.
We’re told that the track “further sets the tone for the album epitomizing the experimental nature of the project.”
Out on July 13 via Deadbeats Records, the duo’s highly anticipated debut LP is a 12-track “epic of varying sounds and tempos including a vocal feature from Killa P.
Meanwhile, you can stream “Guillotine” in full below—or here for EU readers due to temporary GDPR restrictions.
Titled Cycles, the 13-track album is an exercise in dynamic techno, flowing from deep atmospheric outings to driving percussion workouts, broken-beat grooves, and textural ambience. Cycles is be Kowalski’s fifth solo album and his first since 2006, following on from previous outings on Different/[PIAS] Recordings and Kanzleramt—he also released a collaborative LP on Kanzleramt alongside Dennis DeSantis and Diego Hostettler.
In support of the release, Kowalski has offered up a new mix of album cut “And So I Watch From Afar,” a deep and swinging warehouse-ready track full of twisted sound design and driving percussion.
You can grab the track via WeTransfer below, with the album available here.
Due to temporary issues regarding the GDPR, EU readers can download the track here.
The next release on Hamburg’s Smallville Records comes in the shape of Along The Coast, a three-track EP and label head Julius Steinhoff‘s first solo effort since 2014’s Flocking Behaviour album.
Alongside Just von Ahlefeld, Steinhoff founded Smallville in 2006, and his work has since appeared there and via the likes of Live at Robert Johnson, Geography, White, Mule, Running Back, Underground Quality, and more. Since his album debut, Steinhoff has released a collaborative EP with Moomin on Closer, and an LP on Mule Musiq as part of Tonight Will Be Fine.
Tracklisting
A. Along The Coast
B1. Be Myself
B2. Moondowner
Along The Coast EP will land on July 27, with clips streaming below.
German beat-crafter Simon Hinter has teamed up with dystopian-future obsessed visual artist Rodisiac for the latest Sleep / Walk / Listen artist partnership: SWL008.
Sleep / Walk / Listen’s aim is to elevate the status of visual arts within electronic music. Over the past few years, they’ve released a series of partnerships that have seen music artists and visual artists collaborate—including John Tejada X David Grey (SWL004), Tim Paris X Studio Jimbo (SWL006), and Egokind & Ozean X SnowSkull (SWL005).
We’re told that this latest slice of music and visual arts marks a conscious step towards running as a Creative Commons record label—that will make each part of their artist partnerships available to stream, watch, consume, and download from the Sleep / Walk / Listen pages.
In advance of the full partnership, which can be experienced at www.sleepwalklisten.comfrom July 9, you can download the “Created” audio in full via the WeTransfer button below—or here for EU readers due to temporary GDPR restrictions.
In anticipation of the reissue of Max Richter’s pioneering work The Blue Notebooks–originally released in 2004, and now re-released with bonus tracks on a Super Deluxe Edition due June 29 on Deutsche Grammophon–is a new short film to accompany “On The Nature Of Daylight.”
Filmed in Toronto, Canada in March 2018 by director George Belfield, with Steve Annis as Director of Photography, the six-and-a-half minute short stars Elisabeth Moss, a recent winner of, among other prizes, Golden Globe and Emmy Awards as Executive Producer of and Lead Actress in The Handmaid’s Tale. Moss—who calls herself Richter’s “biggest fan”—also produced the film, alongside Richter’s creative partner Yulia Mahr, Stefan Demetriou, Tarquin Glass, and Max Brook.
We’re told that the film is a response to themes raised by Richter’s original composition, which he’s described as “a meditation on violence and its repercussions, inspired both by the Iraq war— which was looming—and my own experiences.” He talks in the reissue’s liner notes of how, as “a very sensitive child, I reacted to the violence around me by internalising everything. I closed all the shutters, built up walls, became as perfect as I could be.”
“When I was asked to do this project,” Moss reveals of her decision to participate in the film despite her currently hectic schedule, “it was a dream come true. My work has been inspired by his music for so many years and not a day goes by on set where I don’t have Max’ music playing in my ears before a take. His music and my acting have gone hand in hand for a long time. So for me, the opportunity to act to one of his most prolific pieces was such an incredible honor. Working with George and this entire team was so artistically fulfilling and an experience I will never forget.”
“Lizzie perfectly understood what I was trying to communicate,” director Belfield says, “and brought a lot more to the role besides. She and I spent a lot of time developing her character together before the shoot, building her backstory and writing inner monologues for what she would be feeling at different points of her journey. Despite being incredibly busy on The Handmaid’s Tale and her upcoming feature projects, she invested a lot of herself into her character. It was amazing to work with her.”
The Blue Notebooks is set for June 29 reissue and will feature bonus tracks and come available as a super deluxe edition. Meanwhile, you can stream the video below—or here for EU readers due to temporary GDPR restrictions.
Brighton-born, Berlin-based artist BEC will release her latest EP, Sines & Breaks, via Voight on June 29.
The EP introduces listeners to BEC’s more experimental side, presenting three spacey techno weapons of varying intensity. Bleep techno is an obvious touchstone for the record, as seen in its name and the three tracks, which range from the trippy gallop of “Sines & Breaks 1” to the more spacey and emotive “Sines & Breaks 2” and the closing cut’s sinister melodies and swinging groove. Sines & Breaks is an impressive notch in the belts for both BEC and Voight and one that will surely find its way into the record bags of techno jocks the world over.
Ahead of the release, BEC has shared a full stream of “Sines & Breaks 2,” available via the player below. You can pre-order the EP here.
With July just around the corner, the festival season is in full swing—and this roundup is once again particularly strong with some of the world’s most decorated events in the diary. Those in Europe can enjoy the likes of Freerotation, a highly intimate and exclusive UK affair; Sacred Ground, a similarly small event curated by Frank Wiedemann and Ry X; Waha, featuring the leading lights of the Bucharest minimal scene, and more. Melt Festival will return, as will Belgium’s Dour for its 30th edition, and also Farr in the UK countryside. But July does not only consist of established or iconic events: Electrico, a brand new event, is set to take place in Parque da Pasteleira near the coast in the historic city of Porto, featuring one of the finest lineups you’re likely to see this summer. Unfortunately, the other side of the Atlantic is a little dry in terms of standout events in July. Besides Bass Coast, taking place in Vancouver, Canada, there is little more to report. Read below for more info.
Freerotation—July 6 to 8, Baskerville Hall, Hereford, United Kingdom
Iconic UK festival Freerotation has been delivering quality music, visuals, and a friendly, communal vibe since 2004. With this being the festival’s 14th year, the team has scheduled a huge lineup, including Mathew Jonson, Blawan, Ben UFO, Surgeon, DJ Python, Jane Fitz, Cosmin TRG and the ever-present Freerotation-loving Move-D. All the DJs get the same fee, which creates an atmosphere more akin to a group of mates going to a festival together—it’s also regularly described as a family affair. With only 200 tickets on sale due to its member’s policy and a strict 1000-person capacity, including everyone helping set up and working there, its always an intimate event. Set in a big house in the beautiful Welsh countryside of Baskerville Hall, this is an experience you won’t forget.
Farr Festival—July 5 to 8, Bygrave Wood, Baldock, United Kingdom
Launched as a small gathering in 2009, Farr Festival has since grown to be an internationally recognized festival, bringing an eclectic array of talent to an uninhabited forest in Hertfordshire, England. Kicking off on July 5 and running until July 8, Farr Festival will host headline sets from Jacques Greene, Mount Kimbie, Daphni, Hunee, Antal, Maribou State, and Zip. You can also catch sets from, among others, Tama Sumo, Willow, DVS1, Mr. G, Moodymann, Benji B, Laylla Dane, Lakuti, Call Super, DJ Stingray, Roman Flügel, and Shanti Celeste. With a focus on an intimate, inclusive atmosphere—not to mention its gorgeous forest locale—Farr Festival is also not one to be missed.
Dour Festival—July 11 to 15, Plaine de la Machine à Feu, Dour, Belgium
Taking place from July 11 to 15, Belgium’s Dour Festival celebrates its 30th edition this year, once again presenting a five-day campout at Plaine de la Machine à Feu. This year’s lineup pulls from the worlds of rock, indie, reggae, hip-hop, and electronic music for one of the biggest and most diverse lineups in recent memory—a startling 224 acts are scheduled to perform. Spread across seven stages will be performances by Mogwai, alt-J, Jon Hopkins, Modeselektor, BADBADNOTGOOD, The Black Madonna, Daniel Avery, Floating Points, The Chemical Brothers, Kim Ann Foxman, Soulwax, Dax J, Booba, Mura Masa, Tyler, the Creator, Nekfeu, Ben UFO, Amelie Lens, and Belgium’s Le Motel, Veence Hanao, DC Salas, Mugwump, and many more.
Sacred Ground Festival is held in Uckermark, a small 13th-century village approximately 90 minutes from Berlin, on a beautiful 100-year old farm property in the middle of a 36-house village—all of the village residents are actively involved in the festival, too. The organizers, Ry X and Frank Wiedemann, describe the gathering as one where “guests, artists, high-quality food, and drinks, as well as a lush and comfortable surrounding, are at the center.” Split over three stages—a daytime stage, an Ambient Area, and an evening stage focussing on dance and electronic music—this year’s lineup includes Roman Flügel, ÄTNA, Gerd Janson, marsmobil, RY X, Trikk, Âme (DJ), Howling, Robag Wruhme, Schwarzmann, Alex.do, Fort Romeau, and Hannah Epperson, to name a few.
Waha Festival—July 12 to 16, Batanii Mari, Covasna, Romania
The seventh edition of Waha Festival goes down from the July 12 to 16 in the beautiful surroundings of Batanii Mari, Covasna, Romania. With a thick, deep forest as the backdrop, you can expect to hear minimal grooves from the likes of Rhadoo, Priku, Petre Inspirescu, Praslesh, Dan Andrei, Sedee, Alexandra, Cezar, Kozo, and Amorf (live) at the Deep Stage. Elsewhere, on the ALT Stage, artists such as Dengue Dengue Dengue (live), Markus Henriksson (a.k.a. Minilogue), Khidja, Manfredas, and Vasile are set to perform. Finally, the Chill in Space area is set for relaxing sets from Sublee, Sin-Drone, Briain, and Niki K. Acknowledged for its atmosphere where people are encouraged to be a community and “share this playground where each one of you is a co-creator of the now,” Waha offers a great opportunity to get deeper into awareness and self-development practices, with guided meditations and yoga sessions available at The Luminish area. As the host country becomes more widely known for throwing special festivals focused solely on never-ending dancefloor sounds, Waha looks to provide a diverse and thoughtful alternative focused on a more holistic experience.
Elétrico—July 20 to 22, Parque da Pasteleira, Porto, Portugal
Elétrico is a brand new dance music festival set to take place in Parque da Pasteleira near the coast in the historic city of Porto. Portugal’s electronic scene has been on the rise for a while now and Elétrico looks to further cement the reputation with a three-day festival that runs from July 20 to 22 and features a cast of great talent. DJs such as Call Super, Delano Smith, DeWalta, Fumiya Tanaka, Honey Dijon, Joao Maria, João Semedo, João Tenreiro, Larry Heard (a.k.a. Mr Fingers), Nicolas Lutz, Nightmares On Wax, Peggy Gou, Rhadoo, SIT, Sonja Moonear, and Zip are all set to play. Expect everything from jazz to techno, soul, funk, disco, and house with the beautiful city of Porto around you.
Crossroads XRDS—July 8, Parc des Etangs/Vijverspark, Anderlecht, Belgium
On July 8, Crossroads will host its second edition, taking place under a motorway with two stages. Crossroads is the product of Fuse, the legendary Brussels club that celebrated its 24th anniversary this year, continuing the club’s reputation for hosting iconic DJs with a seamless and laidback organization. This year, the institution has enlisted a huge headliner in techno legend Jeff Mills, along with other special talents such DJ Nobu, Helena Hauff, Praslesh, Tornado Wallace, Vlada, A. Brehme, Alfred Anders, Aroh, Massimo Mephisto, Nathan Oye B2B Issa Maiga, and Pierre. With a no-frills approach and an emphasis on great music in an industrial location, this is one to add to your summer list.
Bass Coast—July 6 to 9, Nicola Valley, British Colombia.
Founded in 2009 by Andrea Graham and Liz Thomson, Canada’s Bass Coast runs from July 6 to 9 in the stunning Nicola Valley in British Colombia. Bass Coast prides itself on an inclusive atmosphere, bringing a diverse group of people from different backgrounds together to experience a selection of innovative music and art. This ethos flows through to the lineup, which includes Ikonika, Mndsgn, Nadia Rose, Moomin, Nosaj thing, Ouri, Pender Street Steppers, Prosumer, dBridge, Jimmy Edgar, Mike Dehnert, Roza Terenzi, and many more.
Later this month, All Inn Records will return for its second release of 2018, Laylla Dane‘s debut EP, Tropical Dar.
Tropical Dar solidifies Laylla Dane’s sonic signature with three originals and an edit by All Inn label head Pola. Keen readers of XLR8R may have noticed the EP’s title track in Laylla Dane’s XLR8R podcast, appearing at the 40-minute mark of the mix. Musically, the EP falls in line with the groove-laced melancholia presented on her podcast, from acid house to more beat-driven outings.
In support of the release, All Inn has offered up a full stream of the EP’s title track, available via the player below.
The four-track release contains remixes/reworks of various singles from his debut album Theory of Colours, which was released last summer via Ninja Tune.
The Berlin-based artist has previously released on Ghostly International and Kompakt. Dauwd also makes up one-third of the Berlin collective, party, and radio show African Acid Is The Future alongside fellow producers Rouge Mécanique / WolfOnAcid and MaryIsOnAcid. The collective also now have a permanent show on WorldWide FM.
The EP opens with a piano rework of “Analogische Memories,” recorded at his studio in Berlin and the result of countless hours work—“it took some time, as I had to learn to play piano,” Dauwd explains. We’re told that it builds on the core of the original track with the introduction of swirling improvised keys and subtle percussion.
Fellow producer and African Acid Is The Future partner Romain Azzaro (a.k.a Rouge Mécanique) provides two remixes of “Murmure” (one “Walking”, the other “Running”). Finally, Ukrainian music producer and Leleka label boss Vakula provides a remix of “Macadam Therapy.”
Tracklisting
01. Analogische Memories (Piano)
02. Murmure (Rouge Mécanique Walking Remix)
03. Macadam Therapy (Vakula Remix)
04. Murmure (Rouge Mécanique Running Remix)
Theory of Colours—Versions EP will land on July 13 via Technicolour, with Vakula’s remix of “Macadam Therapy” streaming in full below.
