Kontra-Musik Celebrates 10 Years in Operation With X

To celebrate the 10-year mark, Kontra-Musik label founder Ulf Eriksson has put together a collection of some of the imprint’s best cuts. Tracks by Silent Servant, former XLR8R podcast contributor Shed, TM404, and Russian producer Anton Zap are among the ones hand-picked by Eriksson in order to commemorate the occasion.

According to the imprint, the eclectic selection has been intended to portray Kontra-Musik’s many facets, stating “being open to a broad variety of sounds and rhythms—judging them not solely by their functionality but rather by their personality—has been the Kontra-Musik way from day one,” adding, “we feel the chosen tracks represent the label’s musical point of view of variation, substance and charisma.”

X will be split into 3 full-lenghts and will be available in both vinyl and digital formats. Hear the compilation’s track previews in the player below.

TRACKLISTING:

A1 The Durian Brothers – Weggeputscht
A2 TM404 – 202/202/303/303/606
B1 Mokira – Time Track (Silent Servant remix)
B2 Fishermen – Black Haze
C1 Luke Hess – Believe and Receive (Shedsdeepanddubbydub remix)
C2 Frak – 666
D1 Mass Prod – Focaccina (Jus-Ed Soul Stir mix)
D2 Jason Fine – Workin’ it out
E1 Jonsson & Alter – Brevet Hem (Instrumental)
E2 Jason Fine – Half (Anton Zap remix)
F Gunnar Jonsson – Massagerutin 1

X will land via Kontra-Musik on March 29, 2016.

Watch a New Video from Thug Entrancer

Colorado-based producer Thug Entrancer (a.k.a. Ryan McRyhew) has dropped a new video for “Ronin,” the lead single from his upcoming album, Arcology. Slated for release on March 4 via Daniel Lopatin’s Software imprint, the LP reportedly deviates from the footwork and related Chicago styles that defined McRyhew’s debut effort, expanding on “themes of isolation and displacement by envisioning how similar emotions would play out in a fantastical environment,” according to a press release. The new video, which was animated by visual collaborator MMCIII, trades in bold, black-and-white graphics; watch it in full below. (via Resident Advisor)

Fumiya Tanaka Relaunches Untitled Records

Japanese techno producer Fumiya Tanaka is set to relaunch Untitled Records, the label he initially founded back in 1995 as a sub-label of Torema Records. The imprint will make its return after a 15 year hiatus with a 12-inch from newcomer Mikio Kaminakamura, which is expected to land in the coming months.

As stated by the imprint: “Mikio has been listening to the wide range of various music including house music and started to produce his own music from 2012,” adding that the three tracks were “made after eight years playing the drums in a band with his listening habit as borderless as possible.”

You can preview samples of the upcoming 12-inch on the player, below.

Tracklisting:

A1 Black Gate Town
B1 Room Samplythums
B2 No Output

Untitled Records 009 is set to land via Untitled Records in the coming months.

Stream Kobosil’s Debut Album in Full

Ostgut Ton have made the young gun’s debut album We Grow, You Decline available to stream from their Soundcloud.

Following his first release on his own RK imprint back in 2013, Max Kobosil was quickly picked up by Ostgut sub-label Unterton, Marcel Dettmann‘s MDR, and eventually Ostgut Ton itself for last year’s 91 EP. According to the label, his first full-length shifts away from the more club-oriented tracks present on those records, expressing his “fondness for more abstract, non-dancefloor rhythms, discomforting sounds and mindful listening.” In our recent conversation with the Berliner, he explained the album’s title as a reference to the growth in popularity of the new generation of electronic producers, relative to other genres. Check out that story for more information on the LP, as well as his brisk ascendancy to the position of Berghain resident.

We Grow, You Decline will be available as a double LP, CD, and to download at the Ostgut Ton store, from January 29. For the collectors, a limited edition vinyl of 100 numbered copies is now available to pre-order. The full stream can be listened to below.

In celebration of the release, Kobosil kicks off his album tour with a special party at Berghain on January 30, before making stops at clubs across the globe over the next few months.

Watch Flying Lotus’ Sinister Short Film, FUCKKKKYOUUU

Directed by Eddie Alcazar, the eerie eight-minute short film titled FUCKKKYOUUU, scored entirely by the almighty Flying Lotus and currently showing at the Sundance Film Festival, can now be watched in full via YouTube.

Plot Synopsis: “With the ability to travel in time, a lonely girl finds love and comfort by connecting with her past self. Eventually faced with rejection she struggles with her identity and gender, and as time folds onto itself only one of them can remain.”

The bugged out black-and-white film is very much NSFW, so viewers be warned. You can check out more works from Eddie Alcazar by visiting his website here.

FUCKKKYOUUU Festival Selections:
*Official Selection Sundance 2016
*World Premiere Sundance Next Fest 2015
*Official Selection AFI Fest 2015
*Official Selection Fantastic Fest 2015
*Winner Zubroffka International Short Film Fest 2015
*Official Selection Zinema Zombie Fest 2015
*Official Selection Shivers Genre Film Festival 2015
*Official Selection Bogotá Short Film Festival 2015
*Official Selection HollyShorts 2016
*Official Selection Twister Alley Film Festival 2015
*Official Selection Madeira Micro Film Festival 2015

Archivist “Pathfinder”

Seattle-based producer Alex Markey (a.k.a Archivist) is the type of artist whose sounds delves into the aphotic and embraces the solemn, subtle rhythms that all so often result in unsung dancefloor bliss. Following his debut EP, Migration, Archivists sophomore release, Pathfinder, is slated to drop on February 19 via Brooklyn-based label Blankstairs. The emotional techno coming from Markey’s productions are focused on atmospheric dancefloor sustainability—leading to live sets with a dreamy stamina and showcasing a vibe that allows people to “shake off all the stress of city life through the shared experience of music.”

Ahead of his forthcoming release, Archivist is graciously handing out the title track of his Pathfinder EP as today’s XLR8R download. The track utilizes rolling rhythms and raucous, engulfing chords that showcase the producers ability to “temper a peak time tune.”

You can download the track in the player below and be sure to check out more from Archivist by visiting his SoundCloud page here.

Pathfinder

More Artists Confirmed for Into The Valley Festival

Sweden’s Into The Valley has added a host of new artists to the line up for its second edition this summer.

Set in a former limestone quarry located in Dalarna, northwest of Stockholm, the festival boasts one of the most unique locations on the European circuit. Expanding their line up (which already included heavyweights like Ben UFO, Levon Vincent and Marcel Dettmann), its organisers have just confirmed Sonja Moonear, Nina Kraviz, Roman Flügel, KiNK, Young Marco and Move D will all play.

Attendees should also be aware of this year’s opening party, taking place on Thursday July 28, which has been incorporated into the festival’s program, and will feature Mano Le Tough, Motor City Drum Ensemble and Fred P, amongst others. For those who couldn’t wait that long, the festival are also offering a warm up tour, hosting events in different cities. The first of said events will take place in Stockholm (with Ricardo Villalobos, Axel Boman and Umho billed), and has already sold out.

For more information and the full line up, head to the Into The Valley site. Tickets are available here.

Podcast 423: Shenoda

We’ve been on a roll with hot mixes lately—check out last week’s sophisticated, muted chugger from Livio & Roby, for instance, or the previous week’s near-abstract dancefloor moves from Buttechno, or…well, you get the idea. And we’re not letting up, with this week’s January-ending podcast coming courtesy of London’s Shenoda. Both as a producer and a DJ, the veteran is a master of far-flung house and techno grooves, with a sound that ranges far and wide—as you would expect from a man who’s recorded for everyone from Losing Suki, Defected (with Huxley), Hypercolour, ManMakeMusic and, lately, Will Saul and Fink‘s always on-point Aus Music.

The mix itself is an occasionally hard-charging one, but it’s a set that’s also defined by ebbs and flows of the sort that add plenty of extra drama to the podcast’s hour running time. Full of crystalline peaks and fogged-in valleys, it’s a sonic roller coaster, one that navigates though moments of gorgeous shimmer (Steve Murphy‘s Detroit-tinged “Something Around the Sun“, swirling introspection (Oskar Offermann‘s “Carol’s Howl”), dark ambience (Voiski’s “Mathematical Park“) and gentle sentimentality, as with opener “Transit V (See See Rider)” from Huerco S or closer “I Hadn’t Known (I Only Heard)” from Herbert). Even if you know some of these songs inside out, the way that Shenoda aligns them in context to each other can make them seem new again—and the fact that many of the versions here are exclusive Shenoda edits makes that doubly true. We caught up with the artist to query him about the mix—but really, just give this mix a listen, and we have a feeling you’ll be won over.

What kind of feel were you going for on this mix?
I wanted the mix to be a reflection of a range of tastes, rather than just straight up bangers. I was keen to include artists and labels who I have always been into as well as some ones I’ve more recently discovered. I’ve done a few edits of some tracks, as well as included some yet to be released forthcoming material.

How does this mix compare with what we would hear from you in a club or festival?
As I’ve decided to include tracks from a wider spectrum, from the more deeper end all the way to techno, I guess the mix moves from different styles much quicker than what I would do than if I was in a club setting, especially being that it’s an hour long.

How did you put this mix together?
I first recorded the mix live, then used Ableton to add the odd FX to parts as well as add additional edits, kicks, hats, etc. to the odd track here and there.

What’s coming up next in the wonderful world of Shenoda?
I’m mainly focusing on finishing off new music at the moment, and tying up releases for the rest of the year. The next couple of bits that will be dropping soonest are a track on an Aus Music ten-year compilation, shortly followed by my second EP for Aus. Both of those will be coming out within the next few months, I believe.

01 Huerco S “Transit V (See See Rider)” (Proibito)
02 Bryce Hackford “Round Trip) (Shenoda edit) (Meakusma)
03 STL “Make Believe” (Echochord)
04 Nitam “Value Time” (Underton)
05 Anthony Parasole “7EVEN” (MDR)
06 Theo Parrish feat. Dwele “I Can Take It “ (Shenoda edit) (Signature Sound)
07 DJ Qu “In This Society” (Strength Music Recordings)
08 Fx Mchn “Satan’s Monopoly” (Transit)
09 Steve Murphy “Something Around the Sun” (Hot Haus)
10 Burnt Friedman & Daniel Dodd-Ellis “Inward Sun Reprise” (Nonplace)
11 Raudive “Ruins” (Macro)
12 Dungeon Acid “Autonomia” (Klasse Wrecks)
13 Brothers Grimm “Exodus” (Maghreban remix) (Sneaker Social Club)
14 Peggy Gou “Troop” (Rekids)
15 LA-4A “Understand” (Delft)
16 Alan Fitzpatrick “A Subtle Change” (Figure)
17 Voiski “Mathematical Park” (Delsin)
18 Shenoda “Shores” – Aus Music)
19 Red Axes “Nu” (Shenoda edit) (I’m a Cliche)
20 Shenoda “Musical Mob” (Aus Music)
21 Oskar Offermann “Carol’s Howl” (Shenoda edit) (Mule Musiq)
22 Herbert “I Hadn’t Known (I Only Heard)” (Shenoda’s outro edit) (Phonography)

XLR8R Podcast 423 – Shenoda

Kowton Announces First Album, Shares Track

Bristol native Joe Cowton (a.k.a Kowton) has announced the release of his first LP, landing via Livity Sound in April of this year. Preceding the Livity Sound compilation that saw release back in 2013, the forthcoming nine-track Utility LP will be the imprint’s first solo artist full-length to see release on the label.

When talking about the forthcoming project, the former XLR8R podcast contributor says: “The name Utility came from a series conversations I had in the build up to finishing the record,” as reported by The Quietus. He also adds “I wanted to create an LP that works on the floor but is nuanced enough to justify repeat listens and self-aware enough to sit properly as a complete album.”

Hear upcoming album track “Shots Fired” over at The Quietus.

Tracklisting:

01 Comments Off
02 Scido
03 Balance
04 Sleep Chamber
05 Some Cats
06 Loops 1
07 Bubbling Under
08 A Bluish Shadow
09 Shots Fired

Utility is set to land via Livity Sound, in vinyl and digital formats, on April 15, 2016.

Hessle Audio Announces First Release of the Year

The label run by former XLR8R podcast contributor Ben UFO and partners Pearson Sound and Pangea, has announced its first release of 2016. HES028 is set to land next month via Hessle Audio and will be the debut of a new artist called Ploy. Although not much is known about the artist, the UK label has characterized his forthcoming 12-inch as “fragile yet impactful music for dance floors,” according to RA.

You can preview clips of the upcoming release on the player, below.

TRACKLISTING:

1. Sala One Five
2. Move Yourself
3. Helix

HES028 will land via Hessle Audio on February 19, 2016.

Page 921 of 3781
1 919 920 921 922 923 3,781