Podcast 450 [10 Years]: Seekae

XLR8R’s first ever official podcast was published on August 3, 2006. It came in the form of an exclusive hour-long mix by Plug Research, featuring cuts from Thomas Fehlmann, Flying Lotus, Ammoncontact and many more. In the 10 years that have passed since then—yes, this week marks an entire decade—a whole lot has changed. Firstly, the mix series that started all that time ago is now updated weekly by an artist of our choice; each submission is now shared via our channels every Tuesday of the year—without fail. XLR8R, too, has grown considerably, evolving from a San Francisco-based newsprint ‘zine to a web-only music publication with a more global audience than ever before and offices on both sides of the Atlantic.

Settling on a fitting way to mark this milestone proved to be no easy task. Initial ideas revolved around compiling a list of our favorites from the past decade and sharing these with our readers once again, but we decided against this for two reasons: it didn’t do justice to the occasion, and picking a favorite among such a diverse bunch is either going to lead to a remarkably long list or exclude too many others. After all, there has been no shortage of memorable additions to the series. Gerd Janson’s 2015 submission immediately springs to mind, as do those of Alex Smoke, Nicolas Jaar, Helena Hauff and, more recently Andrew James Gustav—but there really is something in there for everyone. Even mentioning these names leaves out some of the leading pioneers in the global scene, artists like Daniel Bell, Laurent Garnier, Gaslamp Killer and Floorplan, all of whom have submissions that can be checked out if and when you please. Picking favorites just wasn’t going to cut it.

After some careful consideration we also concluded that we wanted to serve up some new music for the occasion—and that sparked the following plan. Beginning today, Monday, August 1, and ending on Saturday, August 6, we are going to share a brand new mix for your listening pleasure. And to reflect XLR8R’s growth into a global media outlet, each of these submissions will be delivered from a different continent; the artists chosen to mark this occasion with us all originate from a different corner of the globe. The task for them was simple: to compile a mix between 90-120 minutes that best represents their musical roots. There will be six mixes, one for each continent (barring Antartica, as this proved beyond challenging).

Up first, on behalf of Australia/Oceania, is Seekae. 

Australian trio Seekae operate with a less-is-more approach—quality over quantity. In the nine years that have passed after 2008’s stunning debut album, The Sound Of Trees Falling on People, they’ve released two more LPs—namely 2011’s +Dome and 2014’s The Worry—three EPs, and a single. It’s certainly not an astounding rate of output by any means, but the quality of those releases is something to behold. The debut, for example, was championed by FBi Radio as one of the albums of the decade, followed up by a lauded sophomore LP that received four Australian Independent Music Award nominations. The latest LP, The Worry, was the first time the band worked with vocals from frontman Alex Cameron, and it resulted in a deeply personal and poignant record that collected a near-perfect score from RA, an Album of the Year nod from the Herald Sun, and an SMAC Award for Song of the Year for single “Test & Recognise.” With every release, the band finds a way to refine its sound presents yet another new way to relay its message.

But to look at the discography is only half the story: long before they released anything official the band members made a name for themselves with a visceral live set that wowed audiences across Australia through a fusion of bass-heavy outings, off-kilter beats, and unexpected live manipulation. Writing those tracks for the live show resulted in their debut album and, now, it is the live show that takes album cuts and morphs them into cascading memories of their former selves.

The podcast, like Seekae’s own music, is a set of loose and organic tunes that read like an autobiography of their combined influences; it’s a cohesive collection of garage, grime, electro, house, and techno that could quite easily pass as the band playing themselves.

Q&A (Answered by George Nicholas from Seekae)

When and where was the set recorded?
Last week, in my studio in Sydney.

What equipment did you use?
Ableton, mouse, and keyboard.

Did you have a specific idea/mood that you wanted to express?
Mostly just a bunch of tracks I’ve been listening to lately.

How did you approach this mix in comparison to a regular DJ set?
Because it’s not necessarily for the club, things are a little more dynamic than usual. I also popped quite a few tracks by Sydney-based/Australian artists in there.

What have you got coming up this year?
Should be a single coming out through Future Classic later this year 😀

Tracklisting:

01. Corin “Wave Systems” [Speaker Footage]
02.Tom Ellard “Anthem 82” [Dark Entries]
03. Huerco S. “Battery Tunnel” [Purple Trax]
04. Rhythmic Theory “Shores of Caladan” [Ancient Monarchy]
05. Beat Spacek “I Wanna Know” (Seven Davis Jr. Midnight Remix) [Defected Records]
06. Caribou “Mars” [City Slang]
07. Mickey Pearce “Jersey” [81]
08. Simo Cell “Piste jaune” [Livity Sound Recordings]
09. Autechre “Montreal” [Warp Records]
10. Strict Face “Alice” (Peace Edit) [Gobstopper Records]
11. Skee Mask “Shady Jibing” [Ilian Tape]
12. Horizontal Ground “Ghosts on Acid” [Horizontal Ground]
14. Conqueror “Highest Order” [Lobster Boy]
15. Anthony Rother “Destroy Him My Robots” [Data Punk]
16.Bambounou “Deepstaria” [50 WEAPONS]
17. Cliques x Dro Carey “Knave” [Unreleased]
18. Bandshell “Rise Em” [Hessle Audio]
19. Grievous Angel feat. Rubi Dan “Move Down (VIP)” [Sonic Dragon]
20. Cop Envy “Klatter 2” [Unreleased]
21. Pangaea “Fatalist” [Hemlock Recordings]
22. Pinch “Qawwall” [Planet Mu]
23. Mark Pritchard “Where Do They Go, The Butterflies” [Warp Records]

XLR8R Podcast 450 [10 Years] – Seekae

Sandboards ‘Duneboys Theme’

Sandboards are a rising house duo from Dunedin, New Zealand, who focus on “making groovy music for groovy people.” Although the pair resides in an oft-forgotten corner of the world, they managed to catch the attention of Feel My Bicep after opening for them last year. Following the gig, Sandboards contributed a killer mix to the FMB Mixtape series and have new music due to land on the imprint later in the year.

The latest single from the duo is “Duneboys Theme,” which will land on New Zealand house and techno label MARGINS with b-side cut “Sandboard Dream” (69 Club Mix) and a remix of “Duneboys Theme” from fellow New Zealand artist k2k.

In support of the release, XLR8R has been gifted the title cut as today’s download. The track centres around a thumping kick and enticing bassline, topped off with smooth-as-silk chords and various percussion. It’s a sun-tinged feel-good house cut that will surely do damage on the dancefloor this summer.

You can download “Duneboys Theme” via the WeTransfer button below.

Duneboys Theme

Bonobo, Julia Holter, Braids, and Hundred Waters Feature in New Series WeTalkMusic

WeTransfer‘s latest venture is WeTalkMusic, an interesting take on the interview format that, so far, has featured Bonobo, Hundred Waters, Julia Holter and Braids.

The series focused on unexpected questions around a set of tracks selected by each artist in advance. Hosted by Boiler Room co-founder Thris Tian, and in collaboration with Gilles Peterson, the series is about showing listeners a different side to the artists through the music that has inspired and surprised them.

You can listen to both episodes via the players below, with more on the series here.

Jensen Interceptor Releases EP with Boysnoize Records

Sydney-based Mikey Melas has released a new EP with Boyznoize Records, scheduled for July 29. The three-tracker, entitled Memorial Park Tapes Vol. 1., comes under his solo Jensen Interceptor moniker.

Although the release isn’t the first between Melas and BNR—he dropped one EP as part of the Light Year duo and also track in the label’s annual Miami Noize compilation—it’s the first since the Australian launched his own venture.

His Jensen Interceptor project, as illustrated by everything from his 2012 debut in Interception to his recent M EP, seeks to tap into his own brand of dark, dingy European club sounds. His first Memorial Park Tapes release continues this trajectory, serving up the relentless, Berlin-inspired techno that has garnered him acclaim throughout his career.

Tracklisting: 

01. Collect Those Ends

02. UK Storage Unit

03. X

Memorial Park Tapes Vol. 1 is now.

Ben Klock, DVS1, Etapp Kyle and DJ Nobu to Play Klockworks’ ADE Showcase

Ben Klock‘s Klockworks imprint has announced a showcase at this year’s Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).

The 14-hour event is scheduled to take place on October 23 at the intimate H7 Warehouse in Amsterdam. Locked in are Ben Klock, DVS1 and Etapp Kyle who have been touring with Klock around the globe as well as releasing a handful of records on the imprint. Klockworks will be supported by DJ Nobu and LET resident JP Enfant.

Live visuals will be supplied by Heleen Blanken.

For more information and tickets, please visit the event’s Facebook page.

Hear a Gritty Techno Cut from New Numbers Signee Bryan Kessler

Cologne-based Bryan Kessler has just made “Super Boo” available to stream, the first cut off his forthcoming 10,000 Suns EP. The release will mark the first with Jackmaster‘s Numbers imprint.

The track solidifies the German producer’s reputation as a master of fusion, capable of melding techno, electro, and post-punk elements into a single finished product. Kessler’s eclecticism has landed him on one of the most celebrated electronic labels, joining a musically diverse roster of Denis Sulta, Sophie, Lory D and more.

Stream the track from the player above, and stay posted on the Numbers site for its September 2 release in a variety of formats.

Tracklisting

01. Super Boo
02. Hi, How Are You
03. 10,000 Suns
04. Power Flower

Will Saul Compiles Continuous Mix of Aus Compilation

The Aus Music label is now into its tenth year, and with that, fittingly enough, came its landmark 100th release. For this occasion, the label put together a comprehensive 24-track quadruple vinyl, triple CD and vast digital compilation, released on July 8, 2016. Founder Will Saul has now put together a continuous mix of the release which is available to stream via the player below.

Will Saul:

“This was a really fun mix to put together as there was a huge range of styles to work with. From the beatless ambience of Bwana to the jacking acid of Deetron via the electro of Bicep and the sample heavy house of Marquis Hawkes. This mix is great representation of one of my DJ sets in term of content and flow (albeit condensed) but more importantly I hope it showcases what a wonderfully diverse range of artists we are privileged to work with on Aus.”

Note: This mix is CD one on the triple CD album. CDs two and three feature all the tracks featured in this mix as individual tracks.

Tracklisting:

01. Bwana “VVedding”
02. Komon “Euclidean”
03. Cottam “Brand New Dub”
04. FOLD “All City”
05. Marquis Hawkes “No Rush”
06. Timothy Blake “Soul Without Shame”
07. Shenoda “Minute”
08. DJ October “Drama Queen”
09. Pearson Sound “Standoff”
10. Nick Höppner “Pneuma”
11. Appleblim “Twinkle”
12. Midland “Decompression Suite”
13. Huxley “Bisto Inferno”
14. Sei A “Wan Hunner”
15. Bicep & Hammer “ARACARI”
16. Sideshow “Yek Do”
17. Youandewan “Sicko”
18. Breach & DJ Dust “Win Ugly”
19. DJ T. “Under The Radar”
20. Deetron “Cycle”
21. Will Saul & October “Dimension One”
22. Trevino “Shimmer”
23. Komon & Will Saul “Circadian”
24. Lee Jones “Nocturne”

The full compilation is available now to purchase here.

Desert Sky Gaia

Before now, you would be hard pushed to really detail the differences between Gilles Aiken’s Edward and Desert Sky aliases. The output of both—variously on labels like Geigling, PAL SL and Assemble Music in both EP and LP format—is spacious and serene, whimsical and unhurried. Drums are never really the focal point, but a seductive sense of rhythm comes from the gentle unfurling of percussion or a passing melodic breeze. But with the arrival of Gaia, a curious first full-length as Desert Sky, the German artist indulges his love of psyched out sounds and occult oriental moods more than ever before.

Sometimes it works, and works really well. “Syrax” for example, is a mystical affair with film noir oboes, wisps of smoke and zoned out melodies fading in and out like your own consciousness on a druggy 5am dancefloor. “Paul Athmo Third,” too, is eight-and-a-half captivating minutes of cinematic minimalism with paddy drums, haunting glass triangles and bubbling water sounds. Unsettling crescendos straight out of a Hitchcock movie also pepper the groove, and the result is definitely not club music per se, but it would certainly work in the right club.

Throughout this most supernatural of albums, Aiken mixes up broad, sweeping synth stokes, blissful drones and circling UFO sounds with more pointillist and organic details. It means you really need to pay attention from start to finish for much of the music to make sense: these are not background tracks by any means. They are high fidelity affairs that require your full attention; when they have it, they tie your mind in knots and take you to imaginary worlds that seem utterly real.

Occasionally, though, Aiken’s unbridled style ends up being a little too cluttered and discordant, suitable for neither the club nor a more focussed listening environment. When he does leave the drums out all together (see “Skit”), you can tell something is missing: without the persuasive push of his kicks—however soft or plinky-plonky they may be—his gong strikes, bell tinkles and guitar twangs seem a little too aimless. Essentially, though, Gaia proves that Ricardo Villalobos is not the only one who can make elongated, intricate and left-of-centre sounds seem wholly absorbing.

Tracklisting:

A1 Intro
A2 Paul Athmo
A3 Paul Athmo Third
B1 Pale
B2 Skit
C1 Syrax
C2 Loop 1
C3 Loop 2
C4 Loop 3
D1 But I Like To Say

Gaia is scheduled for July 31 release via Aiken’s own Gaia imprint, while a mixed version of the LP is available to stream here.

Hear a Beautifully Poignant New Track from Roger Goula

Today, Roger Goula released his latest EP, Something About Silence, via new imprint Cognitive Shift.

The EP is somewhat of a primer for his forthcoming LP, Overview Effect, which is due out in November. Featuring four tracks—the title track, “Awe,” and two remixes from Phaeleh and Christian Löffler—Something About Silence is a perfect introduction to rising talent in the neo-classical realm.

The title for his forthcoming LP comes from a term used to describe the cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts and cosmonauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from orbit. The EP also shares this theme, as Goula explains:

“”Awe” represents that unique and overwhelming feeling that comes from looking into the unknown, into the physical and psychological universes still to explore. It is about a desire to explore beyond our understanding. Meanwhile, “Something About Silence” tells the story of the return to earth with a completely new perspective on life. Silence is the only companion of this intimate journey back. It’s a quiet inner reflexion on what we have become.”

With the release out today, Goula has offered up a full stream of “Something About Silence,” which you can hear via the player above.

Brothers Black ‘Coding’

Brothers Black—the collaborative project between Bade Records co-founders James Sison and Edward Antonio—represents the third studio effort from the established industry figures. After a number of well-received individual efforts and two recent EPs together, Timerunner and Annexe, that looked to moody, emotive corners of four-on-the-floor derivatives, their latest offering takes a step in an intriguing new direction. Entitled Trials—out on Berlin label voxnox Records—the five-tracker doles out driving techno that balances the immediacy of its club sensibilities with a refreshing emphasis on engaging melodies.

“Coding,” the final original composition on the release, matches the uniquely melodic preceding tracks with percussive elements that display an enticing sense of adventure.

Download via WeTransfer below, purchase from Juno here, or listen to more snippets here.

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