XLR8R MP3s

Slugabed "True Born"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:15:00 -0700

As we announced last week, Slugabed will be dropping a free EP of new material this Friday through his own Activia Benz imprint. Before the This Is a Warning EP sees a release though, the UK producer has offered up a track from the effort, "True Born," as a preview of what's to come.

Airbird & Napolian "Special"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:00:00 -0700

Yesterday, the Cascine imprint dropped the debut single (artwork above) from newly formed production pair Airbird & Napolian (a.k.a. Joel Ford of Ford & Lopatin and LA producer Ian Mays).

Neuropol "Dusky Brights"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:00:00 -0700

Pete Hall (a.k.a. Neuropol) has been churning out tunes that jump between breaks and dubstep—of the classic variety—for years now while also DJing his way around dusty, dank UK nightclubs, more often than not in his native Bristol. Admittedly, there's very little of what is now considered the "Bristol sound"—i.e. Bashmore, Kowton, Hyetal, and others—inherent in Hall's work under his new alias, Neuropol. Instead, Hall leans on a sound that eschews house and in some ways harkens back to the days of Dubstep Warz.

Ambalance "Are You Around (Grenier Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:00:00 -0700

Burgeoning Toronto-based pair Ambalance has passed along this remix of the title cut from its new EP, Are You Around, which is out today. Smartly placed in the hands of West Coast low-end wrangler Grenier, the already heavy and icy production is taken into more astral territory on this particular rework.

Scrimshire "Kindle a Fire (Aronnax Mix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:46:25 -0700

On Scrimshire's forthcoming LP, the London producer/vocalist utilizes an eclectic range of influences ranging from disco to fusion to more contemporary electronic styles. Much of this is present in "Kindle a Fire," even after mysterious, ungoogleable producer Aronnax gets his (or her) hands on it. Regardless of whether or not this stranger is from North Carolina, Germany, or just Scrimshire mucking about himself, this is a plodding, humble rework.

Owen Howells "Riding"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:00:00 -0700

Rising UK house producer Owen Howells has a history of writing slow-burning tunes, most notably the standout cut "The Door," which was featured at the top of this year as part of Danza Macabra's VA series. A signature of Howells' productions is the patient simmer with which they get going, and "Riding" surely fits that mold.

Shortcircles "On My Mind (Anenon Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:00:00 -0700

Oakland beatmaker Matthew Tammariello (pictured above) has been releasing blissful instrumental hip-hop as Shortcircles for the last couple of years now, and is set to release his debut full-length, Between Waves, next month via Plug Research. Before that record sees a release on June 18, the producer today drops a single for album cut "On My Mind," a lushly produced slice of crystalline R&B featuring vocals from fellow Oakland resident Sarah K Melfy. That single also contains a loping remix from LA producer and previous XLR8R podcast contributor Anenon, offered here for download. A stream of "On My Mind" in its original form can be heard after the jump.

Holy Other "Held (Fort Romeau Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:03:00 -0700

This particular remix had its roots planted last year when nocturnally tinged, Manchester-bred producer Holy Other and London-based house alchemist Fort Romeau (pictured above) embarked on a tour together. After a few months of stewing and retooling, Romeau finally offered his rework up as a free giveaway on his SoundCloud earlier today.

Magic Panda "Days Are Numbered"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Hailing from Norfolk, up-and-coming producer Magic Panda is in the midst of readying his debut LP for the Kid606-helmed Tigerbeat6 label. Entitled Temple of a Thousand Lights, the full-length explores a wide range of electronic composition with a keen sense for enveloping arrangements and dense synthwork. One such cut is "Days Are Numbered," a driving, but melodically led effort which appears early on in the forthcoming record's run. Before the Temple of a Thousand Lights LP drops on June 24, Magic Panda has offered a streaming preview of all 12 album tracks (including remixes from Max Cooper and Kid606), which can be heard after the jump.

Beat Pharmacy "Sometimes I'm Happy"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:00:00 -0700

Dub-techno veteran Beat Pharmacy (a.k.a. Brendon Moeller) will soon add to his immense discography with the release of a new EP, the aptly titled Tricks of the Trade. Set to drop May 27 via Throne of Blood, the four-track record opens with "Sometimes I'm Happy," a cut that blends standard dancefloor rhythms with off-beat synth licks.

Patrice Bäumel "Trance"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:00:00 -0700

Amsterdam resident Patrice Bäumel is a mutli-faceted talent. Not only does Bäumel do time as a resident jock for his city's Trouw nightclub—a venue we particularly enjoyed during our time spent at least year's ADE festival—but the man is also a talented producer as well.

Mirror Kisses "Runaways (Spazzkid Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:57:46 -0700

Budding stateside outfits Mirror Kisses and Spazzkid (pictured above) have connected on this new remix, with the latter beatsmith reworking the lead cut from the former's recently self-released Heartbeats LP.

Shcuro "Ignis Fatuus (Headbirds Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Next week, Portuguese producer Shcuro will drop his Ignis Fatuus EP via the Circus Maximus imprint (also a Portugal-based outfit). Along with the pair of original tunes slated to appear on the forthcoming EP are a number of remixes including this one from burgeoning producer Daniel Guijarro (a.k.a. Headbirds). On his remix, Guijarro injects the original tune with a healthy dose of extra synthwork, which comes balanced by bits of precise drum programming. Preview streams of all five tracks which make up the forthcoming Ignis Fatuus EP—out on May 20—can be heard after the jump.

Marco Faraone "Lesson (feat. Piegaja)"

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:00:00 -0700

Tracks like Marco Faraone's "Lesson" really cement the fact that house music and jazzy piano chords were just simply made for each other. Across its warm six-minute run, "Lesson" finds Italian producer Faraone and collaborator Piegaja piecing together a simple-but-effective house cut. Built on a slightly swung piano loop, the tune comes reinforced with clever drum programming which lets the glowing sample breath while the four-on-the-floor rhythms chug below.

SFV Acid "PT Sex"

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:00:00 -0700

SFV Acid's debut LP, The Dwell (artwork above), will see a release at the end of this month, and after first sharing a stream of album cut "Misto," the West Coast producer has offered up a track from the forthcoming record for download. "PT Sex" is a brief but enchanting beat, one that pairs a head-nod-worthy drum-machine trot with miniature synth gurgles and swells of fuzzy chords.

Benton "We're Both Lost"

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:07:33 -0700

Earlier this week, the Wheel & Deal imprint—helmed by longtime Rinse FM jock N-Type—released the debut long-player from London producer Benton.

Policy "Underpass"

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

With releases for labels like Car Crash Set, Rush Hour, and Argot—the last of which issued the man's XLR8R Pick'd Hit Gone Bad EP in February—and forthcoming records coming from both Ukraine's Wicked Bass label and 100% Silk, New York producer Policy is certainly a talent worth keeping one's eye on. Recently the man let loose "Underpass," a free cut to tide us all over until his next official effort drops.

Lokiboi "All Nighter"

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 06:00:00 -0700

London transplant Lokiboi will be issuing his offical debut solo EP, Late Reaction, next week via the growing Somethinksounds imprint. Before the four-track endeavor drops, the budding producer has passed along bonus cut "All Nighter"—a silky slice of house driven by piano stabs and laced with a slight shuffle—to help spread the word. In addition to offering up this download, Lokiboi has also provided XLR8R with a full stream of his forthcoming Late Reaction EP, one track from which features fellow London resident and Love Fever-darling Citizen on production duties. That effort, along with the rest of Lokiboi's EP, can be heard using the SoundCloud player included after the jump.

Closer "What Have You Done To Us (Dub)"

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:00:00 -0700

Described as little other than a "production partnership," the mysterious Closer outfit are set to follow up its self-titled debut release with a new EP dropping on May 20 via the CLSR label—an imprint which has so far only issued music from Closer itself. With the utilitarian title of EP2, the release features four tracks of tightly produced deep house.

Mystery Roar "Mayhem (Soul Clap Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:59:49 -0700

Boston's arguably biggest dance-music export Soul Clap has released a compilation that shines a spotlight on its hometown of Boston and that city's recent swathes of under-the-radar talent. Soul Clap presents: Dancing on the Charles—named after the outdoor parties the duo put on five years ago—unearths a number of budding Boston producers and aspires to tell the story of the city's electronic music scene.

No Artifical Colours "Love (feat. Sheff)"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

London duo No Artifical Colours is the latest outfit to appear on Kerri Chandler's fast-growing MadTech imprint, and judging from "Love"—a tune featuring the talents of one Sheff—the pair will fit in nicely with the sultry house sound the label has made its bread and butter. The tune offered here, which comes from No Artifical Colours's recent Crying Wolf EP, is a slick slice of classic-minded house. Stripped into an effecient shape, "Love" skips and rolls with no particular destination in mind, rather it is the groove the tune locks into which makes this one an inviting listen. No Artifical Colour's Crying Wolf EP is out now exclusively via Beatport; a preview of the three-track affair can be heard after the jump.

2Pekes "Txillo"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 15 May 2013 06:00:00 -0700

Zouk Bass is one of the latest global sounds to attract attention online after Portuguese group Buraka Som Sistema's recent Boiler Room session featured the style—a fusion of French Antillean zouk music and UK bass sounds.

Color Plus "Pulp"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 15 May 2013 03:00:00 -0700

It may not be the most obvious piece of insight to glean when first listening to "Pulp," but Connecticut-based beatsmith Color Plus (a.k.a. Lars Probert) was more commonly heard crafting hip-hop minded, Brainfeeder-esque beats in the past. Beginning with last year's self-released Cerulean Dream LP, the producer has taken his sound into more experimental territory while also turning to the more addictive tropes of UK garage—the organ stabs, tastefully chopped vocal samples, and one-off drum fills.

Ore "Rise (Manni Dee's Bootleg Mix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:00:00 -0700

London techno producer Ore's dubby, slightly swung "Rise"—a tune released last month on the man's State EP for Civil—has received the remix treatment courtesy of Manni Dee (pictured above).

Lowb "Inward Outburst (Synkro Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Lowb (a.k.a. Andy Barlow, one-half of UK pair Lamb) is prepping his first outing as a solo producer, with his debut album Leap and the Net Will Appear set for release via Distiller on June 3.

Uffe "Valentine's Card (Envee Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 14 May 2013 06:00:00 -0700

Set for release at the end of this month via Pets, Amsterdam-based producer Uffe's new EP, Times All (artwork above), is a downtempo-house hybrid, traversing the line between detailed electronic pop and club-ready four-on-the-floor modes.

Baadman "Gambetta (BS1 Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 14 May 2013 03:00:00 -0700

As of late, it seems that most producers who are on top of their game at an early age have little trouble getting noticed, but 18-year-old French DJ/producer Baadman (a.k.a. Arthur Dutil) has surprisingly remained a hidden secret, even with his first EP, Stab, out now on Kitsune.

Wildlife! "Oh Bondage! Up Yours! (Ital Tek Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:00:31 -0700

Ital Tek (a.k.a. Alan Myson, pictured above) has proven to be a prolific producer—the UK tunesmith seems guaranteed to always have a new release or remix in the works. Following this year's Hyper Real EP on Civil Music, Myson has quickly turned his talents to his remix duties, here warping dubstep producer Wildlife!'s sparse cover of "Oh Bondage!

Stay Positive "Leipzig"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 13 May 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Although initially believed to be the work of multiple artists, Stay Positive has recently been confirmed as the sole brainchild of London-based producer Matt Farthing. Featured here, the introspective "Leipzig" comes off of Farthing's Blood Brother EP, which is set for a release on July 1 via his new Stay Positive Industries label.

James Blake "Life Round Here (MANIK Ghost Pines Rework)"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:00:00 -0700

New York City-raised funky-house wizard MANIK has a not-so-subtle passion for hazy, doe-eyed hipster R&B. Having done edits in the past of tracks by Frank Ocean, Toro Y Moi, and another James Blake treatment prior to this, MANIK has dipped into the well again, this time delivering a smooth makeover of James Blake's slowburner "Life Round Here," taken from the recent Overgrown LP.