XLR8R News and Features

The Lowdown - This Week's XLR8R Top 10 with Daft Punk, Julio Bashmore, Skream, and More

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:00 -0700

Throughout the week, a whole lot of material gets posted here on XLR8R. And while we know—and love—that some hardcore readers will eagerly pour over every single news story, interview, podcast, video, and MP3 download that appears on the site, we also realize that for most people, it's impossible to see everything, which means that some quality XLR8R content is likely to get missed in the hustle and bustle of everyone's daily lives. In the interest of making it easier for everyone to catch up, every Friday we present The Lowdown, a weekly wrap-up of the top 10 tidbits from our site.

Download Kingdom's Edit of Cassie

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:50:00 -0700

With Kingdom's forthcoming Verical XL EP set to drop before the month is through via his own Fade to Mind imprint, the Los Angeles producer has shared a bootleg edit of Cassie's "All My Love" to "celebrate saying bye to the pre-Vertical XL era."

Listen to A Guy Called Gerald's Three-Part, 150-Plus Minute Mix

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:34:12 -0700

Electronic music pioneer and UK mainstay Gerald Simpson (a.k.a. A Guy Called Gerald) presumably needs no introduction. Simpson has made a large impact on multiple facets of dance music throughout his career, beginning with acid house (where he enjoyed a role in the 808 State trio), jungle and drum & bass, and then back to techno and house. We saw a glimpse of this most recent transition as part of his MUTEK podcast for XLR8R last year, and yesterday the producer unveiled a sprawling new, three-volume mix.

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.

Alex Burkat Readies EP for 100% Silk, Shares First Single

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:26:36 -0700

100% Silk is already having a rather busy year, with no less than six releases in the books so far, including efforts from Maria Minerva, Coyote Clean Up, Bobby Browser, and Pharoahs. Just yesterday, XLR8R premiered a full stream of Shams' Piano Cloud EP for the imprint, and now with that out in the open, 100% Silk has unveiled its next release, a four track effort from Alex Burkat.

Slugabed to Drop Free EP Next Week

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:42:43 -0700

UK beat chameleon Slugabed has announced details of his forthcoming This Is a Warning EP, which he plans to release for free next week.

Robag Wruhme Remixes Vondelpark on Upcoming 12"

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:30:49 -0700

Much of the forward momentum for Vondelpark's new Seabed LP comes from the strength of its standout tune, "California Analog Dream," whose maudlin take on 2-step and inside-out R&B makes it an enticing cut. Eventually, the song caught the ear of Pampa boss DJ Koze, who then appointed techno alchemist Robag Wruhme (pictured above) to take the tune—as the press release puts it—"out of the bedroom and onto the dancefloor."

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.

Watch Jimmy Edgar and Machinedrum Talk Music, Collaboration, and More

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:58:25 -0700

Last month, we reported that Jimmy Edgar and Machinedrum (a.k.a. Travis Stewart)—who together operate as Jets—had launched the Ultramajic imprint, and would issue Edgar's Hot Inside EP as its inaugural release on June 10. Today, a Yours Truly-curated clip of the pair has surfaced, one which finds Edgar and Stewart discussing the genesis of their collaborative project and the new label, while also taking the time to play a few cuts from a forthcoming Jets release.

Video Premiere: Evans "I Can't Hide"

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:51:34 -0700

After first offering "I Can't Hide" as a free download earlier this month, the sleek, garage-indebted cut from Parisian producer Evans has recieved a video treatment.

This Week in Music Tech: Reason 7 MIDI, Beatsurfing Update, Animoog for BlackBerry, Arpeggionome App, and More

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 -0700

The latest edition of XLR8R's weekly gear and music production roundup includes a look at Reason 7's new MIDI functions, the Animoog for BlackBerry, Beatsurfing updates, iZotope's new sound libraries, the newly released Arpeggionome app, and a free collection of FX racks for Live 9.

Press Play: Daphni, Wiley, Nautiluss, Glimpse, and More

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:00:00 -0700

Record streams, remixes, DJ sets, unreleased tunes, music videos, and more fill out the space of this week's Press Play, with an array of excellent artists—like Wiley, Nautiluss, Daphni, !!!, Steve Summers, Ejeca, Glimpse, Mark Fell, and others—contributing their fresh productions and well-curated selections. We think the music on offer is well worth the time it takes to start clicking those play buttons, which can be done 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.

Spek Hondje EP

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:00:00 -0700

At one point during the mid '90s, radio legend John Peel bestowed upon Dave Clarke the title of "The Baron of Techno." The nickname has stuck ever since. And though the aughts weathered his legacy some, Clarke and his contributions to the genre during the decade prior have proven to be integral in dictating the current landscape of UK techno; his output from the period rivals that of grandfathered icons like Luke Slater and Surgeon. As such, fledgling Fabric offshoot Houndstooth seems like a curious choice to release the debut from _Unsubscribe_, a duo comprised of Clarke and studio partner Mr. Jones. Despite some history with the seminal London club—particularly, his 2011 entry into the Fabric mix series—Clarke doesn't seem like the obvious choice to follow up Call Super's inaugural release for Houndstooth. Whereas that EP was amorphous and understated, Spek Hondje is truly anything but.

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.

Colonized EP

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:00:00 -0700

Colonized, Paula Temple's first release since 2006 and her debut EP for R&S, finds the producer, DJ, and hardware engineer exploring the starker, more punishing edges of powerful warehouse techno. It's an effort that finds her diving fearlessly into aggressive percussion and arresting industrial instrumentation, resulting in some effective, no-holds-barred dancefloor monsters.

Renaissance Man Launches Label with New EP

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:55:38 -0700

Following its Call2Call 12" for Turbo earlier this year, Finnish duo Renaissance Man have announced it will launch its own label, Black Ocean, with the release of a new EP from the pair next month.

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.

Video Premiere: Mathew Jonson "Metropolis"

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:47:31 -0700

Mathew Jonson's calmly astral "Metropolis" has the esteemed honor of opening the ambitious MiniMAX compilation, forthcoming via Richie Hawtin's Minus label. Now, Jonson's serene slice of techno has a similarly calm and inviting video to match.

L.I.E.S. Preps Double-LP Debut from Gunnar Haslam

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:15:48 -0700

For the first half of 2013, Brooklyn label L.I.E.S. has been operating at a breakneck pace, one which appears nowhere near ready to let up with the announcement of a forthcoming debut outing from newcomer Gunnar Haslam—a record which will serve as the imprint's 11th release so far this year.

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.

Stream the New Shams 12" for 100% Silk

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:20:55 -0700

Admittedly, Shams has only appeared on XLR8R once before, when we announced his inaugural 12" for SoCal dance-music outpost 100% Silk, and that was hardly two weeks ago. But something about the smoothed-out, disco-touched house sounds put forth on the NY producer's upcoming record managed to catch our attention, so we jumped at the chance to premiere the full stream of his Piano Cloud EP before it's released next week.

High Five: RP Boo

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 -0700

When throwing the word "veteran" around with the players of Chicago's juke/footwork scene, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that RP Boo was making moves roughly a decade before the likes of DJ Rashad and DJ Spinn. The artist born Kavain Space is credited with being a key part of creating the hyped-up ghetto-house sound back in the late '90s, and he certainly has the experience, stories, and production chops to prove it. Maybe that makes him something of a legend in relation to his contemporaries, which is why it's even more surprising that RP Boo's debut LP, Legacy, was released just this week via Planet Mu. To do our part in marking the special occasion, we asked Space to select for us five tunes he believes to be integral to the history of footwork, and the DJ/producer came back to us with a list of music and anecdotes spanning eight years of Windy City music and culture.

Fuck Buttons Readies Third LP, Announces Summer Tour

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:55:08 -0700

Though its constituents have been busy with their separate projects since the release of 2009's excellent, XLR8R Pick'd Tarot Sport, Fuck Buttons itself has remained practically dormant, releasing little more than a single track during the four-year span. That's all about to change, however, as Benjamin John Power and Andrew Hung have stealthily reconvened to announce the impending release of their third full-length album.

Hi, Doctor Nick! - Tips for Working with Vocalists and the Audience Adds to Some of the Doctor's Past Advice

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:00:00 -0700

We're not ashamed to say it. We love Nick Hook. And not just because he's funny or cool or knows lots of rad DJs and producers (although all those things are true). It's because he genuinely wants to help. He's been around the music game for a while, has picked up a lot of wisdom along the way, and is truly happy to pass along the knowledge he's accumulated. That's certainly what happens here every Thursday morning, when the good doctor answers questions from our readers about music, DJing, travel, production, gear, romance, and more. Hit him up doctornick@xlr8r.com. He just might help you too.

Hey y'all.

Hope all is well. It's hard to believe that May is already halfway over.

I've been hiding out since Term One of RBMA ended. I'm just trying to learn some new stuff over here.

Grown Folk Announces North American Tour

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 06:30:00 -0700

Rising Montreal duo Grown Folk have announced it will embark on an early summer West Coast tour beginning the end of May and continuing throughout most of June.

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.

Panorama Bar 05

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:00 -0700

It's hard to tell exactly what the point of a commercial mix CD is in this day and age. Lower costs of travel and a proliferation of free, high-quality podcasts have caused the once important medium to lose much of its potency. Yet there remains a compelling aspect to certain lingering institutions, especially when it comes to the expression of a feeling or style particular to a geographic location. Of the existent labels still producing mix CDs, Ostgut Ton's Berghain and Panorama Bar series are certainly at or near the top. The steady trickle of releases issued by these two outposts over the years has acted as official dossiers for the current sound of Friedrichshain's dance mecca. Panorama Bar 05, the latest offering, is a consistently well-crafted snapshot of the dancefloor as presided over by long-time resident DJ Steffi.

Download a New Track from DVA

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0700

Prolific UK DJ/producer DVA has offered a free download of a new VIP mix for "Walk it Out," a tune which appeared in its original form on the man's Fly Juice LP for Hyperdub last year.

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.