In part three of ‘Under The Radar‘—a series by Point Blank that details overlooked and affordable pieces of hardware—Sam Willis (a.k.a. Primitive World) and Declan McGlynn take a look at the Casio RZ-1.
A 12-bit sampler that has been described by some as a “poor man’s SP-1200,” the RZ-1’s on board sampling lets you create up to four of your own percussion sounds, all controlled by an easy-to-use and effective sequencer with a unique low-fi sound.
You can watch the video in full via the player below, with more on Point Blank and its course here.
On February 17, Jaime Fennelly will drop the sixth album under his ever-evolving Mind Over Mirrors project.
The album, titled Undying Color, will be released via Paradise of Bachelors and will be the first time the once solo project of Fennelly will be supported with a full band, including Janet Beveridge Bean (Eleventh Dream Day), Jim Becker (Califone), Haley Fohr (Circuit des Yeux), and Jon Mueller (Death Blues).
Undying Color is an album of sprawling beauty, one that traverses through heady swells of moaning synthesizers, pulsing, bent rhythms, and avant-garde instrumentation. At its core, the album “conjures and celebrates the cyclical rhythms of nature: tidal surges, human breathing, and cicadas in the wilderness gloaming,” as Fennelly explains:
“Magicicada nymphs emerge above ground every 17 years to shed their exoskeletons and transform into group chorus centers, where song (and mating) are the only objectives before their short numbered days come to a close as they lay eggs, only to repeat their prime-numbered cycle. Similarly, the circadian-synthesizers in “To the Edges” awaken to call out into the precipices of day folding into night, through the hyperdrive portal summoned by the electronically-harmonized Indian pump organ to transport into a deep visceral place between the then, the now, the next, and everything betwixt & between.”
Undying Color will be available February 17 on 140g virgin vinyl with a heavy-duty matte board jacket, full-color printed inner sleeve, and a download code; as well as a CD edition, which features heavy-duty matte gatefold jacket and LP replica artwork.
Ahead of next month’s release, you can stream hypnotic album cut “To The Edges” in full via the player below.
After experimenting with different monikers and having a break from production, Jon Gurd has resurrected his Primal Rhythm imprint and will soon release a debut LP.
Fans of Gurd’s previous distinctive four-to-the-floor pounding techno sound may be surprised to find that his new eclectic 10-track album takes a sharp turn towards a much more diverse offering.
Tracklisting
01. Solace In The Wheel 02. Invisible Hymn 03. Never Found 04. Phase One 05. Razzal 06. Situe 07. Leeveralon 08. Two 09. Fathoms 10. Since
In advance of the LP’s February 15 release, track “Invisible Hymn” can be downloaded via the WeTransfer button below.
Peter Broderick, the Portland, Oregon-based composer, pianist, singer and violinist, will return with a collaborative, stripped-back full-length featuring newfound musical partner David Allred, entitled Find The Ways, out April 7 on Erased Tapes.
Find The Ways features nothing more than the violin, upright bass and the voices of Allred and Broderick, as the idea was to create an album as minimal as possible. Secluded in Peter’s studio tucked away up the Oregon coast, the duo used solitude to focus on creating something as raw and honest as possible.
The video for “The Ways,” which is streamable below, hopes to spread the LP’s message of unification and shared experience. Directed by label owner Robert Raths and featuring an eclectic group ranging from Rick Rubin, Cillian Murphy, Mary Anne Hobbs, as well as Erased Tapes alums Nils Frahm, Ólafur Arnalds, Rival Consoles and more, “The Ways” unfolds with its lyrics displayed throughout the world in various hand painted cardboard cutouts, intent on sharing its message of empathy and care for the human condition by showing that we are all tied together by a common bond.
Words from Peter and David, January 2017:
“I sensed a truly unique character in David’s own music that is wonderfully heartfelt and sincere. With this recording, David and I set out to make something raw which is an honest document of what we are capable of doing together at once, with just two acoustic instruments and our voices. The entire album was recorded live, with no overdubs and no edits. Just two guys playing together in a room. I have always dreamed of doing a project in which I only use my violin and my voice and David just plays upright bass and sings. It truly is a fifty-fifty collaboration.” Peter Broderick
“It is such a pleasure to work with Peter. I feel that we’re on the same page in more ways than one, both musically and non-musically. The making of this album was an incredibly fun challenge; writing music to be performed and recorded live with only violin, upright bass, and voices. It still amazes me that we managed to make a whole record with only those three elements. Over the years, I have felt a very strong connection to Peter’s music and friendship, and I feel that this collaboration comes from a really good place. I hope this music gives the listeners a feeling of comfort, confusion and understanding.” David Allred
Tracklisting
01. Living On A Wire 02. The Wise One 03. Two Otters 04. Hey Stranger 05. Four Aspens 06. The Ways 07. Hesitation 08. I’m Not Crazy 09. Ode To Angelica 10. Robert, Please
Find The Ways is scheduled for April 7 release via Erased Tapes, with the video for “The Ways” streamable below..
The fifth episode of the Dutch event is set to take place in August, running for a day longer than previous editions (beginning on a Wednesday rather than the usual Thursday). This year’s expansive bill is headed up by Jeff Mills & Tony Allen, minimalist Max Reich, Larry Heard, a Wolfgang Voigt live set as GAS, Masters At Work, and Brazlian musician Marcos Valle.
The two-tracker is set to drop on the vinyl-only Innervisions sub-label at the end of the month. This time round, the German producer has chosen original material by Sting‘s daughter Eliot Sumner, plus a Revenge remix of Auntie Flo, to give the edit treatment. The forthcoming EP will be the first time that Dixon has contributed to the imprint since his 2012 remix of Bodi Bill‘s version of the Hundreds track “Machine.”
After Dark (Dixon Edit) / Waiting for A (Woman) (Revenge Rework Dixon Beat Edit) is due out January 27. Pre-order it and stream snippets over at Deejay.de.
Tracklisting:
A. Eliot Sumner “After Dark” (Dixon Edit) B. Auntie Flo “Waiting for A (Woman)” (Revenge Rework Dixon Beat Edit)
CRSSD Festival has announced the phase two artist additions to its Spring 2017 lineup.
Returning to Downtown San Diego, CRSSD will host a massive lineup that includes the already announced Bob Moses, Jackmaster, HVOB, Âme, Midland, Josh Wink, Damian Lazarus, Rodhad, 2manydjs, Dusky, Horse Meat Disco, and Recondite; alongside the phase two artists announced today, including Cassy, Heidi, Claude VonStroke, Latmun, and Point Point.
Check out the announced artist lineup in full below, with tickets and more information on the festival available here.
Lineup:
2manyDJs AlunaGeorge Ame (DJ) Amtrac Billie Eilish Blood Orange Bob Moses Boys Don’t Disco Cassy Claude Vonstroke Cut Snake Damian Lazarus Darius Detlef Duke Dumont Dusky (live) Elderbrook Flume Fritz Carlton Giraffage Heidi Horse Meat Disco H.V.O.B. Jackmaster Jason Bentley Jerry Folk Josh Wink Justin Martin Kasbo Lane 8 Latmun Lauren Lane Lee K Lost Frequencies Louis Futon Martin Jensen Midland Mija Moon Boots Paul Najera Peggy Gou Point Point Rad Cat Recondite (live) Rodhad Seth Troxler b2b Eats Everything Skream Sonny Fodera Snakehips Tensnake Wax Motif Wingtip Yotto
Earlier this month, via Western Vinyl, Spencer Stephenson (a.k.a. Botany) released Raw Light II, a collection of cuts meant to accompany his 2015 long-player, Dimming Awe, the Light Is Raw—a wide-release vinyl reissue of Dimming Awe, the Light is Raw is due on January 20. Although it was meant to be an accompaniment to its predecessor, Raw Light II is a brilliant album in its own right, its 10 playful cuts undoubtedly carve a cinematic journey of their own. Whereas Dimming Awe featured a set of guests (Milo, Ryat, Matthewdavid), Raw Light II places Stephenson’s classy instrumentals front and center.
With Raw Light II now on the shelves and ahead of the vinyl reissue of Dimming Awe, The Light Is Raw, Stephenson and Western Vinyl have offered up LP cut “Janis Joplin” as one of today’s XLR8R downloads, available via WeTransfer below.
Following his brilliant 2014 debut, Shelter—released via Werk Discs and Ninja Tune—No Future features guest spots from MC DRS and James Massiah and is a statement on our current societal climate and the implications of the growing hateful path outlined by recent political events, as he explains:
“It’s not just about the West, either,” explains the London-based producer. “It’s the way the whole world thinks. It’s almost like we’re in this mad cycle. In a way, we have no choice—we either adapt to the situation or we’re dead. That’s it.”
With the album approaching, and a fresh Dekmantel mix out in the internet ether, Moiré has shared a new single and its video. “Jupiter” contains all of the hallmarks that make Moiré’s music exhilirating—namely, warped rhythms, inspired sampling, and hazy synths.
You can stream both “Jupiter” and Moiré’s Dekmantel mix in full below.
On January 27, Gioele Giacopelli (a.k.a. JWL) and Giovanni Ferretti (a.k.a. INNO) will land on Soundscapes Records with Escape Series 003.
The third in the series follows outings from Felipe Valenzuela & Argenis Brito, Yapacc, Cesare vs. Disorder & Weg, Jeff Milligan, Elbee Bad, Dürerstuben, Rising Sun, and Freund der Familie with four deep cuts that run the gamut from deep house to dub techno and more experimentally inclined pastures—Giacopelli and Ferretti each have an original and a remix included on the EP.
Escape Series 003 will be released on vinyl and digitally at the end of this month—you can pre-order the record via Juno—and ahead of that release, you can stream INNO’s meticulously produced cut “The Lake” in full via the player above.
