With Electric Zoo Festival only a few days away, we over at The HiFi Cartel are prepping ourselves in every way possible for what promises to be a truly epic weekend brimming with colorful adventures into the world of electronic music – our favorite kind. While constructing outrageous outfits and buying lot’s of sunscreen are definitely high on our list of to-dos, there is nothing more important than ensuring that the most is made of the incredible array of talent that the good people over at Made Event have blessed us with. With the festival featuring two full days of the best DJs and producers from around the world, navigating your way through this delightful beat driven wonderland can be a bit daunting to say the least, and if you’re anything like us, fear of missing out can quickly become crippling paranoia without a little organization. With that in mind, we’ve put together a brief guide featuring our favorite must-see artists to help you maneuver through the madness. Take a deep breath, here we go…

Day 1 – Saturday

Martyn – 12:00pm, Redbull Music Academy Radio Riverside Stage

Martyn’s unique interpretation of dubstep has simply been dubbed “Martyn Music” by his legions of fans and admirers. Rooted in all things bass, the sound draws influence from everything from Detroit techno, Chicago house, hip-hop, and drum & bass. Martyn began 2010 with the release of the landmark 50th edition of the esteemed Fabric Mix series. As expected, the mix was met with critical acclaim and showcased the entire scope of Martyn’s sonic abilities, whetting appetites for his upcoming second LP. His label 3024 is a genre defying platform for music from the likes of Flying Lotus, 2562, and of course, Martyn himself.

Martyn – XlR8R Podcast 125

Paul Kalkbrenner – 1:30pm, Sunday School Grove

Berlin-based Paul Kalkbrenner’s status as a Techno MVP is cemented by more than 15 years of experience as a producer and live act, starting with the 1999 release of his “Friedrichshain” EP, a series of singles and two full-length albums (“Superimpose” and “Time”), plus continuous live performances. His third album “Self” (2004) marked his affinity for melodic, grand emotional gestures, and “Gebrünn Gebrünn”, released one year later, became a crossover hit. He’s also the star and soundtrack composer of 2008’s Berlin Calling, a film about a musician in Techno City during the new millennium, now a cult classic.

Paul Kalkbrenner – Aaron

Claude VonStroke – 3:00pm, Sunday School Grove

Raised in the suburbs of Detroit before relocating to San Francisco, Claude VonStroke always had a knack for music. Since his first original production “Deep Throat”, his studio work has always been met with worldwide acclaim. As a DJ, Claude is known simply for having fun, and insists that he does not scowl or frown while providing worldwide audiences with his distinct interpretation of techno and house. In 2005, he formed the label dirtybird which is now celebrating its 5th anniversary with a 3CD release of the labels favorites. Claude himself has put forth over 25 releases, as well as two artist albums and an edition of the Fabric Mix series.

Claude VonStroke – Who’s Afraid Of Detroit (Audion Remix)

Paco Osuna – 5:45pm, Sunday School Grove

With a precise technique, Paco Osuna constructs and produces a beautiful and complex sound through his highly influential interpretation of electronic music. In a continual evolution he has been able to redress the purest minimalist sounds, recreating them and adding his personal touch: depth, darkness and intelligence. Last year saw him taking on a highly ambitious world tour that lead him from Latin America to Japan, Miami to Argentina, London to Berlin, and Australia to Central America. Paco’s dedication and musical skills have led him to be an indisputable part of the Plus8 ranks, releasing EPs such as Crazy (2007), Obeat (2008) and Lemon Juice (2009).

Paco Osuna – It Wasn’t True

Flying Lotus – 7:15pm, Redbull Music Academy Radio Riverside Stage

Flying Lotus is widely recognized as one of the world’s premier abstract and experimental artists. Hailing from the city of angels, Flying Lotus is a prolific music producer, DJ, and laptop musician with several acclaimed LP’s and EP’s to his credit. His work manages to cover a dizzying amount of musical soundscapes while staying true to dance floor ready percussive beats. Flying Lotus can also claim fame from his work on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, as well as remix work for Radiohead’s In Rainbows album. There is no doubt that FlyLo, is the undisputed leader of a groundbreaking new wave of experimental dance music.

Andreya Triana – Lost Where I Belong (Flying Lotus Edit)

Richie Hawtin – 8:45pm, Sunday School Grove

As an artist, DJ, conceptualist and ambassador, Richie Hawtin has relentlessly proved himself to be a true innovator. The one-man mogul behind acclaimed techno imprints Plus 8 & Minus sends signals out all over the world from his HQ in an old fire station in Windsor, Ontario. The signals are constantly evolving: his Plastikman persona gave techno a unique face with a series of four ruthlessly minimal albums of skeletal beauty, while breathtaking live festival sets at Glastonbury and Tribal Gathering helped to invent stadium techno. His “Decks, EFX & 909″ album released in 1999 expanded the concept of a DJ mix album beyond the imagination of most DJs.

Steve Bug & Richie Hawtin – Low Blow

The Chemical Brothers – 9:30pm, Main Stage

The Chemical Brothers need no introduction, as they have been pioneers at bringing the big beat electronic dance genre to the forefront of pop culture. They are known for their high-quality DJ sets and accompanying live visuals that create an all around incredible sensory experience. The Chemical Brothers just released their seventh studio album, Further, on June 22, 2010 on Freestyle Dust/ Astralwerks. As well as an eight-track album, Further is the band’s first proper partnership with long-time visuals collaborators Adam Smith and Marcus Lyall. Visuals for Further have been created to correspond with each track on the album and have been planned during the recording of the record.

The Chemical Brothers Feat. Kele Okereke – Believe

Day 2 – Sunday

Dixon – 12:00pm, Sunday School Grove

The multi-talented, multi-tasking Dixon earned his stripes from the underground dance scene of Berlin during the early 90’s. His sets have long been known to start slow and unfold towards a peak, then another and another in order to find the exact point from which the crowd gains that lasting experience. Now, he is a globetrotting ambassador of everything techno, deep house, and beyond. Dixon is also the accomplished head of the renowned label Innervisions, which he created along with Âme to bring the sounds of deep, soulful and sexy house back to light in a world made up of minimal sounds.

Ben Klock – In A While / The Voice From Planet Love (Dixon Edit)

Jon Hopkins – 1:00pm, Redbull Music Academy Radio Riverside Stage

Sonic perfectionist Jon Hopkins is known for his brand of big and bold electronic music productions compiled of smooth synth sounds, harmonic melodies, and amorphous basslines. He has been dubbed a musical innovator by esteemed peers such as Brian Eno and Herbie Hancock, and has been called upon by international superstar act Coldplay for production work, as well as tour support. Jon is known to transcend the traditional parameters of electronic music, drawing influence from his classical piano upbringing, as well as is early experimentation with four track tape recorders and old school computer programs.

Jon Hopkins – Light Through the Veins

DJ Mehdi – 4:45pm, Redbull Music Academy Radio Riverside Stage

Ed Banger crewmember DJ Mehdi has worked with the best of the best in French electro and hip hop: Daft Punk, Busy P, MC Solaar, Cassius and Justice’s Xavier de Rosnay, just to name a few. The first single “I Am Somebody” from his debut album Lucky Boy features the vocals of Chromeo’s Dave 1, and is a perfect example of the animated bassline and synth-heavy sound that make Ed Banger DJs legends in their own time.  He’s put the French electro golden touch on remixes for Miike Snow (“Burial”), Erol Alkan and Boys Noize (“Death Suite”), and Etienne de Crecy (“Out of My Hands”).

DJ Mehdi Feat. Chromeo – I Am Somebody

Marco Carola – 6:30pm, Sunday School Grove

Over the last decade Marco Carola has emerged as one of the world’s most influential purveyors of techno and electronic music. He is responsible for the seminal techno labels Zenit, Question, Design, 1000, and Do.Mi.No, as well as countless releases on virtually every important techno platform. Carola’s unique style draws on his influences in the golden age of Italo-House to the underground techno sound of Frankfurt and London. Marco Carola has mastered a sound which has brought him headlining spots at events and clubs from Tokyo to New York and everywhere in between.

Marco Carola – Plaster

Chris Lake – 7:15pm, Hilltop Arena

Globally recognized as one of the most exciting, forward thinking and cutting edge producers on the scene, Chris Lake’s rare ability to create tracks that fuse elements of house, electro and techno has not been lost on his fellow peers. His innovative productions continue to receive wave after wave of support from such luminaries that include Sasha, Danny Howells, Justin Robertson, Sander Kleinenberg and Carl Cox, whilst Pete Tong leads the way in championing the unique sound that has established Chris as one of the world’s elite.

Chris Lake & Deadmau5 – I Thought Inside Out

John Digweed – 9:30pm, Sunday School Grove

John Digweed is the very embodiment of a “DJ’s DJ”. He is a globetrotting performer, successful label owner, forward thinking producer, and all around dance music icon. On any given day he can regularly be seen headlining the world’s premier clubs and festivals, sometimes visiting places where no other DJ had ever played before. His two decade career can only be described as groundbreaking. With successful mix compilations on Renaissance, Global Underground and Fabric, beloved residencies, classic studio production, and a million plus followed radio show, the name John Digweed brings immediate association with dance music of the highest quality.

John Digweed & Nick Miur – Aquatonic

Brace yourselves, because this weekend is going to be an absolute marathon. After the Electric Zoo takes over Randall’s Island on Saturday and Sunday, Fool’s Gold Records is throwing a HUGE “Day Off” party on Monday to in celebration of our nation’s lack of labor.

The event will feature a plethora of Fool’s Gold artists and friends, with live performances by Yelawolf, Pill, Donnis and The Suzan, and DJ sets by Just Blaze, Craze, Klever and Kill the Noise. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Fool’s Gold party without its founders Nick Catchdubs and A-Trak, who will also be spinning. A-Trak and his brother, Chromeo’s Dave 1, will once again join forces as The Brothers Macklovitch for a tag team set.

The party kicks off at 2 PM at the City Winery Backyard in SoHo. No need for tickets, it’s a free event.

As if the Electric Zoo festival hasn’t already gotten us beyond excited for this coming Labor Day weekend, the ambitious minds behind Blkmarket Membership, ReSolute, and Esthetik are putting their heads together to give New York City music lovers yet another reason to strap on our dancing shoes Sunday night – the Bpitch Control Showcase. We’re not ashamed to say we quite literally jumped for joy when we first glimpsed this incredible line-up. Ellen Allien, Sascha Funke, Nicolas Jaar, Kiki, Alexi Delano, Taimur & Fahad, and Steven Letigre will all get behind the decks for a no holds barred journey into techno heaven sure to carry you late into the next morning. You better start resting up now, as you will not want to miss a second of this musical event of epic proportions that promises to go even above and beyond the stellar  events we are used to seeing from these party facilitators.

As a DJ, producer, label owner and fashion producer, headliner Ellen Allien not only crosses universes, but rather tries connecting multiple genres through the creation of an independent culture. Her label Bpitch Control, which she founded in 1999, is one of the most successful independent labels in Berlin and beyond, and has released a host of boundary pushing techno, electro, and breaks from international producers like Sascha Funke, Kiki, Moderat, Modeselektor, Paul Kalkbrenner, Thomas Muller, Telefon Tel Aviv, Jahcoozi and more. Bpitch’s mentality is influenced by Berlin’s counterculture, and thus in some ways Bpitch Control represents the musical and thereby cultural and creative movement that has flourished in Berlin over the past ten years.

Ellen Allien – Flashy Flashy (Nicolas Jaar Remix)

Along with Ellen Allien, Bpitch’s second in command Sascha Funke will bring his particular brand of techno that sways between the polarity of emotional overload and concrete rationale. In addition, Kiki will be making his long awaited return to New York and will be adding his unique style which encapsulates everything new and exciting about electronic music, and New Yorker Alexi Delano, who has been a very important part of electronic dance music for the past two decades, will also be delivering his trademark sound. Have a listen below to one of Sascha Funke’s new collobarations with Nina Kraviz.

Sascha Funke vs Nina Kraviz – Moses

Completing the Bpitch Showcase will be electronic music’s new wonderboy Nicolas Jaar, who will be performing a very special live set. Nicolas Jaar was born in New York but quickly relocated to Santiago de Chile in the 90’s only to come back to his birth place as a teenager. Haunted by Mulatu Astatke and Erik Satie, Nico started to make organic electronic music in 2004 at the age of 14. At 17, he made his debut with “The Student EP” on Wolf and Lamb Music with a remix by Seth Troxler who called him “one of the most talented minds dance music is about to see develop”. In recent years he has continued producing and played live all around the world, and has even started his own label, Clown and Sunset. Have a listen to one of his mixes below recorded live inside Brookyn’s own Bunker.

Nicolas Jaar – Wolf & Lamb Showcase Live at The Bunker 3.13.09 [Download]

RSVP to bpitchny@gmail.com for more information and to learn the location. Advanced tickets through Resident Advisor are sold out, but tickets are still available from Halcyon Records in DUMBO, Brooklyn, or at the door on the night of the event.

Monday is immediately made better with the release of Dub Kweli, a new mashed masterpiece from the mind behind Jadiohead and Mos Dub, Max Tannone. Brilliantly layering Talib’s rhymes over  ’60’s reggae and dub plates straight from the Trojan record vault, this creation will make your ears smile. Hit the jump for immediate aural pleasure, and be sure to catch Talib Kweli this Friday when he DJs at Webster Hall with Questlove and Nina Sky.

Last Tuesday night, we made our way to Highline Ballroom for Chiddy Bang’s Opposite of Adults’ Release Party. Featuring Chiddy Bang, Donnis, XV, 2AM Club and Samuel, the night had many surprises in store for eager fans.  We arrived just in time to catch 2AM Club’s great crowd interaction. As they sang “Worry about you,” the audience chimed along. Next up, XV stepped up to the plate, commanding the stage with an awareness as he delivered sharp verses to some heavy beats. Playing several tracks from his mixtape, Everybody is Nobody, the audience took heed to every word. From Smallville, Kansas, XV showed that he has game, and that he can certainly play with the rest.

Donnis blew the roof off the house when he jumped onto the stage. The Atlanta-based rapper exploded with metaphors and presented a fresh accent of country cool and grammar. One of XXl Magazine’s 2010 freshmen class, Donnis exercised crowd control like an experienced pro. Having seen him several times, he has certainly grown up from his freshmen days, but still knows how to play. When he brought up Jim Jones for a number, the audience erupted in fervor and excitement, and it didn’t stop there. Following up, the live and instrumental infusion of Chiddy Bang added a fresh touch of indie hip-hop to the music depository of the night. With a hodgepodge of styles, Chiddy Bang has a knack for creating great combination of melodies intertwined with lyrical play. Their live variations and tracks from ther new album, The Opposite Of Adults, was a treat for the audience – especially when they unveiled a new song produced by Pharrell Williams.

Overall, the entire show had a great vibe, and for their first sold-out show in New York City, we’d say Chiddy Bang hit this one out of the park. The audience came for fun, and by the expressions around the room, they certainly got it. Check out photos from the night by Oliver Correa.

In today’s awesome collaboration news, Robyn will debut a brand-new version of “Dancing On My Own” when she performs with Deadmau5 at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. Deadmau5, the evening’s in-house DJ, is also set to collaborate with Travie McCoy and Jason Derülo to rework some of their current hits. Other scheduled performers include Eminem, Usher, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Drake, B.o.B, and Florence + The Machine. The MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 PM Eastern Time.

Last Saturday, HARD Summer Tour hit New York City’s Terminal 5 as the second to last stop on their nationwide journey bringing dance music to the masses. Terminal 5, whose capacity is set at 3,000 heads, was completely sold out; packed wall to wall on every level with enthusiastic partygoers who were nearly bursting at the seams with energetic excitement. New Yorkers JDH & Dave P started off the night with an opening set of disco tinged house music, which provided the perfect appetizer for Destructo’s heavily electro influenced set, heating the dancefloor up in earnest. By the time Sinden took the stage, the crowd had been reduced to one heaving organism that was pressed up against the barrier as he spun a set of solid bass music, bring in elements of house, dubstep, and garage. Canadians Crystal Castles closed out the night with their explosive performance of experimental electronic music created through the use of a live band.

Thanks to our good friends over at URB Magazine, we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to sit down and chat with UK producer/DJ Sinden who has revitalized the club scene with his own brand of forward thinking remixes and productions, clever mash ups, and genre-melting DJ sets. Although Sinden’s sound is associated with different forms of house music, his original influences while growing up stemmed from hardcore hip-hop, the kind that you have to be over 16 to purchase (in the UK), and that your parents would confiscate and destroy if the records were ever found. He sights Public Enemy and N.W.A. as primary influences, which then lead him to branch into the discovery of electronic music through jungle and garage. Pulp Fiction’s “Alex Reece”, which he describes as soulful, sparse, quirky, minimal, and different, fundamentally changed his perception of electronic music and inspired him to truly embrace dance music.

His new label, Grizzly, is in many ways set to reflect Sinden’s own eclectic taste and his desire to keep things fresh and constantly pushing forward. Although house has always been the unifying focal point for the music Sinden has been involved in with regards to both his own production and DJ sets, Grizzly in many ways represents a move away from the traditional 4×4, and an attempt to create and experiment with new patterns and ways of looking at club music.The direction that the label will take is still very fluid, with Sinden’s own innate sense for sound acting as the primary compass – certainly nothing to complain about. Sinden’s own transition into UK Funky and more cutting edge sound has mostly stemmed from a boredom with the over-saturation of generic basslines, which stirred up a desire to move forward and keep things interesting, through tapping into unique micro scenes from all around the world, such as guarachero and old go-go rhythms. In this sense, he has never been much of a “genre” artist, preferring to dabble in many different areas and switch up his production, keeping us hanging on his every release.

Sinden will head back to the studio at the end of this year to work on some solo material, but there’s plenty from Grizzly to keep your dancing shoes moving until then. You can look forward to the release of a collaborative record between Felix Buxton of Basement Jaxx’s disco alias Jon Gionvanni and Sinden, as well as new material from Bassanova (Grahmzilla and Jess Jubilee’s project). You should also keep your ears peaked for Sinden’s remix of Lone’s “Once in a While”, which is sure to be a killer track, and as always, future releases from his role as one half of The Count & Sinden.

Check out the full photo gallery from this edition of HARD Summer HERE.

Fresh off the “All Hearts” tour with Robyn and Kelis, Dan Black is stepping out on his own with a headlining engagement at Bowery Ballroom on September 9. The British singer-songwriter has been on a bit of a hot streak lately – his new single, “Alone”, will be released this week with a remix by MJ Cole, and his video for “Symphonies” has been nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards.

CLICK HERE to buy tickets for his show on September 9th, and in preparation for what is sure to be a fantastic show, check out his Weird Science mixtape HERE and his VMA-nominated video for “Symphonies” after the jump.

With the recent release of Body Talk Pt. 1 and the imminent release of Pt. 2, I was eager to see how Robyn’s performance has evolved since I last saw her in 2008. The good news: Robyn’s headlining performance on Friday was everything I could have hoped for and more. The bad: she left “Konichiwa Bitches” off an otherwise strong set list. But personal gripes aside, Robyn’s set was hands-down my favorite of the week.

She started things off with ”Fembot” and went straight into “Cry When You Get Older” before kicking back to 2005’s Robyn with a retooled version of “Cobrastyle”. The set list was perfectly balanced between old and new songs, and included almost every track from Body Talk Part 1 (“Dancing On My Own”, “Dancehall Queen”, “None of Dem” and “Don’t Fucking Tell Me What to Do”). As with “Cobrastyle”, Robyn offered up fresh interpretations of several old favorites, including “Be Mine”, “Who’s That Girl” and her breakout debut single, “Show Me Love”. She also played “Dream On”, a collaboration with Swedish musician/producer Christian Falk, and closed the show with an epic rendition of “With Every Heartbeat” in its full original glory.

The creativity that Robyn displays in her impressive body of work has already set her apart from the droves of pop stars that have come and gone over the course of her fifteen-year career. Add her showmanship to the mix and she is completely untouchable. Robyn had me captivated from the moment she took the stage for her first-ever U.S. show at Highline Ballroom in February 2008. She began the show with “Cobrastyle”, delivering the first four lines with a rigidity that matched the form of the song, then suddenly broke into a dance so uninhibited and natural, I can still remember the audience’s collective awe and delight.

What I find so admirable about Robyn (aside from her music, of course) is how high she set the bar back in 2008, and how easily she cleared it two years later. Almost all of the artists I’ve seen on multiple occasions have failed to live up to magic of the first time, but Robyn is a clear exception. Not only did she wisely wait until she had new material before embarking on a major tour, her effervescent personality is so infectious, it makes you wish she was your best friend.

Body Talk Pt. 2 will be released in the U.S. on September 7 with Pt. 3 on the horizon, also slated for a 2010 release. Click through for photos of Robyn’s amazing Øya performance, and CLICK HERE to see more photos from the festival.

According to his own description, Claude VonStroke does not scowl and look mean while he DJs. He does not pretend to know everything and he will be nice to you and your friends. He is grateful to be doing music for a living and he knows that the reason people go to parties is to have fun. If you want to act cool and not have any fun then please do not book him.

It’s probably due to this attitude that dirtybird has always been synonymous with sweaty bass-lines, quirky ideas, bumpin’ funk, and most importantly, FUN. It is therefore only fitting that a label based on a philosophy of bringing smiles to the dance-floor was created by a party. Claude VonStroke’s enigmatic tech funk label released its first record in Janaury 2005, but the idea actually began in 2002 during the production of “Intellect,” one of the most intensive studies on DJs and producers of house and techno music ever filmed. Director Claude VonStroke (aka Barclay Crenshaw) created the concept of the label in order to supply tracks for the DVD soundtrack, and in 2003 his friend Christian Martin purchased a massive portable sound system and began throwing outdoor parties in San Francisco called “dirtybird” with the grand idea of changing the landscape of San Francisco house music by throwing an epic free party in the park based on a new sound.

In 2005, “dirtybird” the record label began releasing vinyl. At the same time, the DJ alias “Claude VonStroke” was created as a joke, but the name stuck forever after the debut record “Deep Throat” sold through more than 11,000 vinyl copies worldwide. Since then, both the label and the dirtybird party have enjoyed great success, particularly through the release of classic dirtybird records such as “Deep Throat,” “Stoopit,” “Who’s Afraid of Detroit?,” and “The Whistler.” Artists on the label are mostly from San Francisco (like Justin Martin, Worthy, and Claude VonStroke), but the label has recently been expanding beyond its West Coast home base to include a more diverse roster of talent.

As for the man himself, since 2005, VonStroke has released two artist albums as well as a Fabric mix and over 25 remixes for a wide range of commercial and underground artists from Indy rock group “The Rapture” to Detroit techno legend Kevin Saunderson. Tour wise, Claude has headlined almost every major club, festival and basement after-party in the world. He will be appearing Saturday, September 4th on the Sunday School Grove stage at Electric Zoo Festival, an opportunity to experience the tech house master for yourself that you definitely do not want to miss.

To celebrate the five year anniversary of one of America’s quirkiest labels, a 3 CD package with over 50 tracks has been put together representing the past, present, and future of the label.

Disc One – The Past: Includes all the greatest hits and most loved dirtybird tracks including everthing from Claude VonStroke’s classic “Who’s Afraid of Detroit?” to the Martin Brothers hyphy-house anthem, “Stoopit.”

Disc Two – The Present: Justin Martin, the man behind DB001, one half of the Martin Brothers, and one of the original founders of the dirtybird party represents the full catalog with a superb DJ mix using bit, pieces, and parts from over 30 dirtybird classic and future tracks.

Disc Three – The Future: Claude VonStroke spent almost a full year A&R-ing this cd filled with new classics and crazy cuts representing the future of the dirtybird sound, further expanding the label from SF to Europe, Canada and beyond.

Visit the dirtybird WEBSITE to pick up a copy of Five Years of dirtybird, as well as other releases from the label’s impressive array of talent, and to see what else the dirtybird gang is up to.

Just remember, Claude VonStroke is only coming to see you if you want to enjoy yourself and get sweaty and nasty. If you want to wear a sweater and frown in the VIP section, he is not the right DJ for you. With that in mind, we’ll see you Saturday at Electric Zoo, stage front and center.

Just in time for his appearance at Electric Zoo this Labor Day weekend, pioneer beat master Flying Lotus has announced a September 21 release date for his new EP, Pattern+Grid World, through Warp Records. Still riding the wave of epic success that was Cosmogramma as well as touring all over the globe, it’s astounding to think the man had time to produce a new EP so soon – not that we’re complaining. Flying Lotus’ abstract and jazz-tinted style of electronic music pushes boundaries and challenges listeners in the best possible way, creating an aural journey that is thought provoking, inspirational, and often downright extraordinary. Judging by the evolution of his talent for production and his artistic vision, this new EP promises to be just as incredible and forward looking as his other releases, if not more so.

Make sure to catch FlyLo’s set Saturday September 4th at the Red Bull Music Academy Riverside Stage during Electric Zoo. You can also pre-order the EP in either CD or 12″ vinyl form here, as well as other material from the innovative artist.

Just in case you’re not excited enough about the prospect of this, FlyLo has released his first track “Camera Day” off the new EP, which you can stream below. Feel free to dance around the room, we know we are.

Check out the over art by Theo Ellsworth pictured above, and the EP’s full tracklist after the jump…

1. Clay
2. Kill Your Co-Workers
3. PieFace
4. Time Vampires
5. Jurassic Notion/M Theory
6. Camera Day
7. Physics For Everyone!

What’s left to say about Major Lazer? After attending every single NYC appearance, I thought I’d tire of seeing them live. Not so. Diplo and Skerrit Bwoy took over Øya’s Vika stage with lazers blazing for one of the most explosive sets of the week. Though there were familiar elements I’d come to expect from a Major Lazer show – Skerrit Bwoy’s “Pon De Floor” moves, girls dancing on stage, and a touch of Ace of Base – there were definitely some surprises in store.

Assigned the sunset time slot, Major Lazer ushered in the night with a full-blown party, transforming the stage into outdoor dancehall. Flaming Lips lead singer Wayne Coyne joined us in the photo pit to take some choice shots of his own, a testament to Major Lazer’s growing popularity. Coyne wasn’t the only one who made a guest appearance – Die Antwoord joined the action and clearly had a blast on stage, wearing Pokemon and Stitch onesies, no less. Unpredictable as always, Skerrit Bwoy took advantage of the scenic atmosphere, disappearing for a moment only to emerge in one of the trees surrounding the stage.

All in all, it was one of my favorite Major Lazer performances to date. I had to take off a little early to catch Robyn, but given their recent collaboration, I have to wonder if La Roux made a cameo after I left.

Catch some snaps of Major Lazer’s set after the jump… and CLICK HERE for more photos from the festival.

The latest smash-up from the LA based trio, edIT, OOAH, and Boreta, aka The Glitch Mob, is an infusion of party-starting music. The mixtape is a diffusion of tracks and vocals that are taken apart, chopped and screwed, then put back together with a touch of hip-hop driven beats laced with jagged electro and bass. Presented in partnership with Mishka, the infusions and cuts on these tracks are no small feat. From start to finish, the trio does a great job of driving and steering the half-hour mix.  The overall consensus: glitches don’t sound this good. Check out the mix below. Click through for the tracklist and download.

The group will take the stage at Electric Zoo in NYC on September 5th.

Tracklist:

1. ANIMUS VOX vs.  NAS, JAY-Z, LIL WAYNE & DR. DRE
2. FORTUNE DAYS vs. LIL WAYNE, BUSTA RHYMES, THE GAME, DAFT PUNK & DRAKE
3. WE SWARM vs. M.I.A., MOBB DEEP & DAFT PUNK
4. HOW TO BE EATEN BY A WOMAN vs. THE GAME, FABOLOUS, JAY-Z, PAGE, WALE & DRAKE
5. A DREAM WITHIN A DREAM vs. LFO, FREDDIE GIBBS, & YOUNG JEEZY
6. BETWEEN TWO POINTS feat. SWAN vs.LIL WAYNE
7. BAD WINGS vs. LIL WAYNE & LA ROUX
8. FISTFUL OF SILENCE vs. RAPPER BIG POOH, JAY-Z & BLACK ROB
9. STARVE THE EGO FEED THE SOUL vs. PAUL WALL & BIRDMAN
10. DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT vs. BIRDMAN, DRAKE, COLLIE BUDDZ, THE GAME, JAY-Z, DR. DRE, JIM JONES & BOO

Miike Snow’s performance was the one I was most looking forward to on Øya’s second day. And while Richie Adomako and Kenroy George reported on one of three sold-out NYC shows back in March, I personally never had the pleasure of seeing them live.

The band took the stage in matching black jackets and white theatrical masks, which coupled with the lights, fog and ambient intro, gave off an eerie vibe reminiscent of the Phantom of the Opera. They launched into “Cult Logic” and “Burial”, removing their masks in one fell swoop during “Black & Blue” to reveal the full emotional range behind their music.

Physically watching each member’s contribution to the sound made me appreciate the complexity of each song even more. While the entire set list came from their eponymous debut album, the live interpretations were not mere regurgitations of the originals. Miike Snow pushed the boundaries of each song’s structure, adding improvisational breaks to several album favorites, including “Sylvia” and “Black & Blue”. As expected, they ended the show with a rousing rendition of their first single, “Animal”.

Click through for photos from Miike Snow’s Øya performance, or CLICK HERE for more snaps of the festival.

This Saturday, August 21, Club Infinity returns to Santos Party House for the third installment of their club night of future-minded, bass-driven dance music from around the world. Brought to you by the good folks over at MeanRed, this weekend’s party features resident DJs Kingdom and Dre Skull, as well as Prince William, Physical Therapy & $hayne, and very special guest Girl Unit.

Hailing from the far off shores of London and from Bok Bok and L-Vis 1990’s reputable Night Slugs label, Girl Unit is known for his ability to seamlessly blend deep and melodic variations of Juke, R&B, Hip-Hop instrumentals, South African House, Ballroom Grime, UK Funky, and his own unique reinterpretations of all of the above through his dynamic sets. His own productions also take in vintage, star-lit house, dramatic R&B and 808-heavy Chicago dancefloor gear, creating a product that is not only innovative and interesting, but downright impossible to resist moving to. His track IRL, described by Bok Bok as “rat alert meets Juke @ 135″, has garnered some serious well deserved hype, and we’re itching see what he comes up with next.

This is Girl Unit’s first US tour, and he will be playing a few dates on both coasts, with New York City lucky enough to be counted among them. With only one official release and a smattering of remixes and other tracks to his name, Girl Unit nonetheless displays a keen ear for sound that is completely on point, and an impressive talent and ability that you will not want to miss witnessing firsthand.

For a taste of the coming action this Saturday, check out Girl Unit’s brand new killer XLR8R Podcast below, brimming with the latest dubplates and unreleased tunes to get you pumped.

Tickets are $5 with RSVP HERE, or $10 at the door. We also have two free tickets to give away to one lucky winner, just fill out the form below to enter. Contest closes this Friday at noon. See you on the dancefloor!

Related News:

• Girl Talk Plays Rough at Hiro Ballroom
• Round Two of Club Infinity Keeps the HARD Party Going
• Countdown to Street Scene: Girl Talk
• Contest: Win Tickets to Trouble & Bass with Sinden and Zombies for Money
• Contest: Win Tickets to Dance Right New York with A-Trak, Diabetic and DJ Pubes

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