INTERVIEW: xxxy [Mindset]

xxxy hails from Manchester and produces bass music that sucks in elements of house, techno and all the other good stuff that’s been perforating dance floors at the tail end of 2009. He’s released on the Formant, Mindset and Open Earz (alongside Indigo) labels and also has a track, ‘Sing With Us,’ forthcoming on the new fabric compilation, ‘Elevator Music Vol 1.’

To mark the eve of the New Year we grabbed him for a chat and managed to snatch our final exclusive mix of 2009…

Sonic Router: Can you provide those who may not know you with a bit of background info?

xxxy: I'm a bearded man from Manchester who makes electronic music in between 120 and 140 bpm.

Outside of music who are you? What do you do on the daily?

I work in local government. It's not very interesting but it contributes to the bills…

How did you first get into making music? What was it that infected you to do produce?

I had just dropped out of Uni and managed to steal an aging pc off my folks and at about the same time I'd got quite into the early dubstep tunes my mates had been buying. I was messing about a bit and my missus bought me a midi keyboard to get me out of the way while she finished her dissertation. I started getting more serious about it after that. It's been about 5 years but I am finally starting to be a little happier with my tunes.

What’s your production set up like?

A mac book pro and some headphones usually. My neighbour isn't very sympathetic about bass so I don't get on my monitors as much as I wish but they are there when I mix down.

In terms of software I use Ableton for production and for playing out. Sometimes there is a lot of stigma aimed towards DJs who play off laptops, I don’t know about anyone else but I go to clubs to listen to music dance and have a good time. I couldn't give a flying fuck if someone plays off a laptop, CDs or vinyl as long as I enjoy the tunes.

I can do a lot more interesting things with Ableton and a midi controller than I can with a set of decks and some 12"s. I still buy records, I love records and it’s an addiction I don't think I will ever shake. Often I will buy both the 12" and the mp3 release as I am too pressed for time (lazy) to rip the tunes myself.

How would you describe your sound to someone zoning in for the first time?

I dunno maybe a mix of techno house and garage with a smattering of other sounds…?

Whats the deal with the xxxy moniker? You keen on chromosomes or sommat?

It was a name that came into my head when I was walking home one day, I liked the ambiguity of it at the time and it stuck.

Also I’ve seen it written in numerous different ways. Whats your official line, XxXy, XXXY or xxxy?

xxxy - pronounced triple x, y



You used to produce as forensic (mcr), what made you change names/directions?

I produced as forensix (mcr) and released ‘1st Dynasty’ b/w ‘Solace’ on Revolution music in ‘07 but whilst it went down very well I had only just started making music properly and I wasn't happy with my sound; so I backed off for a while and wanted to start afresh so I came back with some better productions and a new name.

Your productions fuse house, garage and techno what is it about the slower than 140bpm tempo that you prefer?

I love the grooves and shuffle of house, garage and techno. Really rigid tunes can get a bit dull after a while.

Is that the kind of background you come from?

Not at all, I grew up listening to britpop and indie and I still listen to a bit of it. I would say some of my influences at the moment would be Rhythm and Sound, Carl Craig, Karizma, Modern Love releases, Theo Parrish and many, many more.

You’re involved with the Mindset label, further than just releasing on the label, right? What does this involve for you?

I assist Indigo with promotion and anything else he needs help with, it's a label that means a lot to me. The belief and enthusiasm he has for the music he puts out is very infectious.

You are a Manchester resident I believe, what’s the scene like up there?

The scene is hit and miss, as I am sure it is in most cities. There are some really good nights; Strange Fruit which has the finest array of residents anywhere in the country in my opinion - Rich Reason, Inidigo, Synkro, Andro and Dimit and Fantastic Mr Fox… Hit and Run, Curve, Soul:ution (which made it’s long overdue return this year) and Sicknote (which I help promote and I'm a resident at).

We are blessed with some great record shops too; Eastern Bloc, Piccadilly Records are great for house and techno and you can always pick up some second hand bargains at Vinyl Exchange.

Tell us a little bit about your mix, how did it come together, what tracks had to be in there and what other tracks are you digging right now?

I was off work sick with the flu and started listening to a lot of deep house and I thought it would be interesting to combine it with some of the new UK house which I had been making and have been sent as well as some dubstep which I am really feeling at the moment along with some classics.

What have you got coming up that the world should know about? (releases, gigs, bowel movements etc)

‘Rain’ should be out on Pollen soonish, ‘Sing With Us’ is coming out on ‘Elevator Music Vol 1’ - fabric's dubstep/post dubstep unmixed compilation which is a brilliant representation of bass music right now and there will hopefully be a release on Mindset in the new year.

I will be popping up regularly in Manchester in the next few months and I’m playing at fabric on 8th January for the ‘Elevator Music’ launch party which will be fun.

Have you got any words of wisdom for us, and our readers?

Look after your ears; imagine a world without music before you stick your head in a bassbin; oh, and always wear a bandit hat.

::

DOWNLOAD: xxxy – Sonic Router Mix



Tracklist:

Missing Linkx - Who To Call [Philpot]
The Machine - Fuse (Ame Remix) [Innervisions]
Martyn - Elden St (Sebo K Watergate Edit) [Watergate]
Dirty Culture - Doua Puncte Ics EP [Loco]
Junior Boys - Like A Child (Carl Craig Remix) [Domino]
Doc Daneeka - Drums in the Deep [fabric]
Coyu and Edu Imbernon - Morena [Diynamic]
Mario da Ragnio feat Abell - Curcuma (Milton Jackson Remix) [caballero recordings]
Martyn - Friedrichstrasse [fabric]
Canard & Lauer - Vibration [Peppermint Jam]
Karizma - Groove A K Ordingly [R2]
Atjazz, Domu & Yanna Valdevit - Info People (Atjazz & Domu’s Bruk Mush Remix) [development music]
Spencer Parker - You Got Me [NRK]
Hot City - If That’s How I Feel [fabric]
L-vis 1990 - Run [Dress 2 Sweat]
The Discowboys - At Midnight (Steve Bug’s always late mix) [Dessous]
xxxy - Blue Flashing Lights [dub]
Forsaken - Be my vice [dub]
Synkro - Digital Soul [dub]
xxxy - Flew [dub]
Hypno - Telescope [dub]
Joy Orbison - Wet Look [Hotflush]
Mr Gasparov - 1975 [Steakhouse]
Spatial - 90729 [Infrasonics]
Fantastic Mr Fox - Sketches [Black Acre]
Octa Push - Ai Nadia [Steakhouse]
Geiom - No More Tears [Berkane Sol]
Groove Chronicles - Stone Cold [DPR Recordings]
Octa Push - Laika Likes it [Steakhouse]
Brackles - Lizards [Applepips]
F - Untitled Dub [7even]
Appleblim - Vansan (Gatekeeper Remix) [If Symptoms Persist]
xxxy - You Always Start It [dub]

Catch xxxy at the Elevator Music launch party on Friday 8th January at fabric:



Link:
www.myspace.com/xxxydubs

STREAM: MADVILLIAN - SAVIOR BEANS

An ultra new Madvillain track, 'Savior Beans,' played by J Rocc on a recent Benji B retrospective on BBC 1xtra, spun into one of those youtube teasers you see about the place these days.

Note: For those of you just born, Madvillain is the combo of beatsmith savant Madlib and emcee DOOM (MF optional but no longer required) whose debut album 'Madvillainy' is one of the finest emcee/producer pairings ever heard by these ears.

Cue a lot of excitement at the second audio leak of the long promised new material...



Link:
www.stonesthrow.com

DOWNLOAD: A Decade Of Flying Lotus Mixed by GLK

What it says on the tin...

DOWNLOAD: A Decade Of Flying Lotus Mixed by GLK

Link:
www.brainfeedersite.com

DOWNLOAD: Ben UFO/Untold - Why Not? Mix/EE Mix

Laptop battery on 8%... Just time to squeeze in a few glorious mixes from yesterday...

Too many dubs in this first one, Ben UFO's furthering his rep for pre-empting everything with this selection in promotion of the Why Not? rave at Ministry on Boxing Day.

DOWNLOAD: Ben UFO - Why Not? Mix (updated with permalink)

Tracklist:

1. Mosca - Nike (Forthcoming Night Slugs)
2. Lighter - Skanker vs. Work (Unreleased)
3. Untold and Roska - Myth (Unreleased)
4. Deadboy - If U Want (Forthcoming Numbers)
5. Geiom - Sugar Coated Lover (Forthcoming Berkane Sol)
6. Mr Majika - Different Lextrix (Forthcoming Numbers)
7. Shortstuff - Swine Time (Unreleased)
8. Kode 9 - Sub Kontinent (Rephlex)
9. Seven Wonders - Crazy (DJs For Life)
10. Ikonika - Space Ugly (Unreleased)
11. Lumidee - Uh Oh [Target remix] (White)
12. Addison Groove - Footcrab (Forthcoming Swamp 81)
13. Joy Orbison - She Dressed In Her Best (Unreleased)
14. Joe - Percolate (Unreleased)
15. Ramadanman - Glut (Forthcoming Hemlock)
16. Pangaea - Because Of You (Forthcoming Hessle Audio)







For some reason, I just figured this had already happened, Untold - one of 2009's breakout producers - mixing exclusively for Electronic Explorations.

Turns out it hadn't...

DOWNLOAD: Untold - Electronic Explorations Mix

Tracklist:

[01] - A Made Up Sound – Sun touch (Unreleased)
[01] - Cooly G – Weekend fly (Hyperdub)
[01] - Martyn – Hear me (Zomby mix) (Forthcoming 3024)
[02] - Mosca – Square one (L-Vis 1990 remix) (Forthcoming Night Slugs)
[03] - Julio Bashmore – Batak groove (Unreleased)
[04] - Roska and Untold – Long range (Unreleased)
[05] - Marlon D – Jesus Creates Sound (Strictly Rhythm)
[06] - Thommy Davis – Mars Needs women (Code red)
[07] - Roska and Untold – Myth (Unreleased)
[08] - Mark Henning – The right time (Chris Simmonds remix) (Forthcoming Hypercolour)
[09] - Justin Drake – Gotta let me know (Dj Sneak remix) (Tsuba)
[10] - Reboot – Enjoy music (Defected)
[11] - Deadboy – If you want me (Forthcoming Numbers)
[12] - Julio Bashmore – Banda 2 (Unreleased)
[13] - Plasmik – Retune (Forthcoming Hypercolour)
[14] - Ation – Lovers dub (Forthcoming ABUCS)

Links:
www.myspace.com/freshben
www.myspace.com/untolduk

DOWNLOAD: Darkstar - XXJFG Mix

You'd think Christmas would well be the break we all need from computers, internet and venting our most disposable thought on twitter. Fact is, it isn't... yet. The 20JazzFunkGreats blog just included a mix from Hyperdub duo Darkstar in a segment of their end of year review.

Look out for the Darkstar album in early 2010.

DOWNLOAD: Darkstar - XXJFG Mix

Tracklist:

1. Charles Dodge – ‘When I am With You’
2. Snap – ‘Rhythm is a Dancer’ (Mux Mool Edit)
3. Actress – ‘Purple Splash’
4. Jay Dilla – ‘Its Funk Kay…. Its OK’
5. Charles Dodge – ‘He Destroyed Her Image’
6. Theophilus London – ‘Cold Pillow’
7. Instra:Mental – ‘Watching You’
8. Unknown – ‘Unknown’
9. Zackey Force Funk – ‘Zackey’s Style’
10. Stardust – ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ (Mux Mool Edit)
11. <<<+>>> – ‘Know You’
12. Charles Dodge – ‘The Days Are Ahead’
13. Darkstar – ‘Aidy’s Girl Is A Computer’
14. Lee Fields and The Expressions – ‘My World Is Empty Without You’
15. Unknown – ‘Unknown’

Link:
www.myspace.com/darkstar001

DOWNLOAD: TRG - Arctic City Mix

Cosmin TRG has the right idea. Its cold outside, mad cold, so stay in and make a mix.

DOWNLOAD: TRG - Arctic City Mix

Tracklist:

1. Lone – The Twilight Switch
2. Nosaj Thing – Quest
3. Flying Lotus ft Andreya – Tea Leaf Dancers
4. DJ Bootsie – Mosquito Dance
5. Bibio – Fire Ant
6. Mike Slott – Snow Birds
7. Ras G – Spacewayz
8. Heralds of Change – Sittin on the Side
9. Bullion – Young Heartache
10. Cosmin TRG – Masterplan
11. Cosmin TRG – Modern Tribes
12. Lone – Love Heads
13. Cosmin TRG – Space Station Riot
14. Boards of Canada – Telephasic Workshop
15. Cosmin TRG – UFO Interlude

Link:
www.cosmintrg.com

READ: Sonic Router on URB.com

In addition to the monthly column on The Quietus you'll now be able to catch Sonic Router writing on URB.com too.

Between you and I the SRQ series will now focus on interviews and profile pieces whereas the URB column will centre around upcoming releases. With that said...

READ: Sonic Router on URB.com

VIDEO: V/A - Elevator Music: Vol. 1

Mini(mega)mix of the new 'Elevator Music' 'bass music' compilation on fabric Records.
Minimix by mlr // Art by Remote Location // Animation by Peter Dickinson

Note: If you pre-order the CD you can get entrance to the launch party on the 8th Jan (featuring Untold, xxxy, Shortstuff, Mosca and Vista) for a tenner.

Full details on that here: http://fabriclondon.com/label/misc/Elevator_Music



Link:
www.fabriclondon.com

VIDEO: Raekwon - Pyrex Vision

Raekwon's 'Only Built For Cuban Linx II' opus has gotten repeated listens over the last week and I've been mulling over the scope of his lyrical content quite hard; even this very morning I was locked in an internal discussion dissecting his references to snow, white and pyrex on the tube. And then, as if by divine intervention this video pops up...

Simply.

Genius.



Link:
www.myspace.com/raekwon

DOWNLOAD: 00Genesis - Re: Re-Runs EP

Having posted on 00Genesis since the 3 Bar Fire days its fair to say we're into what this dude does, so when we spotted his new FREE EP it was a given you'd get a shot of this too... so have yourself some intricate slumpy hip hop along with that faceful of icy road you had yourself last night.

Out to YSK for the link.

DOWNLOAD: 00Genesis - Re: Re-Runs EP

Link:
www.myspace.com/00genesis

EVENT: See You Next Tuesday

The fundrasier for V Day, a global movement against violence toward women, featuring an all star cast of female bass music performers - Hyperdub's first ladies Ikonika and Cooly G alongside Fatima, Goldielocks and the veritable Diesel U Music lynchpin Lucy Pink - is tomorrow night at Cargo in London.

It's a FUNdraiser. NO excuses.

Facebook Event

Link:
http://www.vday.org/home

RECOMMENDED: Martin Kemp - After The Night/Aztec [Blunted Robots]

Martin Kemp holds down his first solo 12" on the Blunted Robots label in his own fiercely percussive style.

Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6958

Link:
www.myspace.com/themartinkemp

PRE-ORDER: Asusu - Small Hours/Taurean [Project Squared]

On the surface at least, the legacy of 2009 seems to have been to render obsolete any simplistic notion of a discrete techno-dubstep crossover, as many of the artists previously making music that could loosely be placed under that bracket have begun to further absorb influence from a host of surrounding genres. The result has given rise to an often inseparable hybrid that presents techno as merely one of its many facets, alongside Chicago house (Untold), funky (Ramadanman and the Blunted Robots stable), old-school garage (Martyn, 2562) and awkward, jittery electronica.

Bath’s Asusu, whose debut 12” ‘Small Hours’/’Taurean’ was released this week on the new Project Squared imprint, provides further assertive evidence to support this notion. The two tracks here draw unmistakable influence from Berlin, shrouded in dense clouds of static and swirling, barely there melody as they drift with a subtle but deadly forward propulsion. Yet just beneath the smoked out surface of ‘Taurean’ lies a tightly swung garage flex, lending its shiny chrome exterior a welcome human element. By the time its simple three-note melody ushers the track’s midsection into action, its core is breathed into fidgety life by the tight tessellation of three separate elements – four-to-the-floor pulse, rattling London percussion and fast-paced subs.

‘Small Hours’ is a slow-burner by comparison, driven by dubby bass and a more overtly half-stepped rhythm, yet its subtle track-length synth mutations point as much towards Maurizio as towards El-B. In a year when producers like Dave Huismans (2562) have upped their game significantly, it’s good that UK talent continues to prove itself in rude health.

Words: Rory Gibb
Out: Now

Link:
www.myspace.com/asusumusic

DOWNLOAD: Hyetal - FACT Mix

Keen followers of this blog should know just how much of a lingering presence that Bristol based producer Hyetal's mix for us had on us when it dropped all those months ago (audio and interview here). Well... now the boy dunn did a FACT mix...

Go Dave!

DOWNLOAD: Hyetal - FACT Mix

Tracklist:

Julio Bashmore - Around (Forthcoming Soul Motive)
Mosca - Square One (Dub)
Doc Daneeka - Deadly Rhythm (Dub)
Shortstuff & Hyetal - Don't Sleep (Dub)
NB Funky - Frequency (White Label)
Brackles & Shortstuff - Pipey D (Dub)
Headhunter - Love Dup (Forthcoming Soul Motive)
Starkey - Knob Twiddler (Forthcoming Planet Mu)
Sully - Toffee Apple (Dub)
Guido ft Aarya - Beautiful Complication (Forthcoming Punch Drunk)
Hyetal - Gold Or Soul (Soul Motive)
Gemmy - A Night On Da Wonk (Dub)
Hyetal - Pheonix (Dub)
Prince - I Would Die 4 U (Warner Bros)

Link:
www.myspace.com/hyetalmusic

DOWNLOAD: Braiden - Mixing It Up for Discobelle

"I found this picture of an absurd technicolour utopia on a Jehova’s Witness pamphlet in a changing room in South London and it reflects this mix better than any picture of my face could. I’ve put together a varied mix of electro, techno, grime, and whatever you want to call this 130bpm uk bass music. Some old, some new, some unreleased, mixed with decks and Serato, clocking in at just over 35 minutes. It’s unlikely you’d see me play such a wide range of genres and tempos within half an hour in a club scenario, but that’s the beauty of studio mixes." - Steve Braiden

DOWNLOAD: Braiden - Mixing It Up for Discobelle

Tracklist:

Aphex Twin – Windowlicker [Run Jeremy edit]
Deadboy – Ifuwantme
Japanese Telecom – Japanese Animation
Little Jinder – Youth Blood [Bok Bok remix]
Mark Henning – Sick Note
Greena – Actual Pain
Alden Tyrell – Disco Lunar Module
Major Lazer – Pon De Floor
Housemeister – Rambo
Martin Kemp – No Charisma
L-Vis 1990 – Untitled
Pangaea – Sunset Yellow
Dizzee – Stop Dat
Crystal Fighters – I Love London [Brackles remix]
Ruff Sqwad – RSMD

Link:
www.myspace.com/djbraiden
www.stevebraiden.com

2009: A Retrospective

Ok so I finally relented... after several weeks of anxiety, of convincing myself that regular readers will know exactly what I'm going to pick and of me embracing the casual fear that I would undoubtedly leave out something that a year later down the line I would grow to be completely in love with; I caved in... to the pressure of the 2009 retrospective and especially to the one person who emailed in and told me they couldn’t wait to see our end of year roundup.

This, my friend, is forever dedicated to you.

LPs of 2009:

2562 – Unbalance [Tectonic]

‘Unbalance’ feels a bit like a zenith for techno-tinged dubstep in 2009. There hasn't been an album that sums up the attitude and style of a producer so well since Martyn's 'Great Lengths' and its plush decadence. Similar to that record, these tracks work just as well away from the dance floor, just as comfortably soundtracking that last slow tussle with consciousness as they do your 4 AM drunken peak. – Taken from the SR penned RA review



DOOM – Born Like This [LEX]

Littered with comic book references, vocal skits and spoken word samples from people like Charles Bukowski, from whose poetry the album’s title is taken from, ‘BORN LIKE THIS.’ can only really be described as typical DOOM. A monumental character within rap he’s been accused of faking performances, hidden behind a metal mask for his entire career and yet he’s undoubtedly produced the next in his succession of superbly essential solo albums. – Taken from the SR penned Rock-A-Rolla review that I don’t think ever made it to print.



Martyn – Great Lengths [3024]

I did review this for Woofah but it was never used and sadly those gluttonous verses of my love for Martyn’s music have since been lost to a corrupted hard drive. Still, ‘Great Lengths’ was a purist realistion at the time of its release; a total wake up call for immaculately executed dancefloor dubstep. Superbly produced and constructed with a fiercely individual and warm sound bank it cemented the crossover potential of house & techno into bass music and rocked the shit out of any dance that dared to house it as it did it.



Peverelist – Jarvik Mindstate [Punch Drunk]

Despite its complexities, Tom Ford's approach to music-making seems delightfully linear and his on-album modesty—only nine tracks—goes a long way to juxtapose his studio workings. 'Jarvik Mindstate' is positively bulging with character, swelling with the kind of intrinsic rhythm that you just can't teach or learn. At times it drives a jagged shank into the notion of "dubstep," stumbling away from the altercation over the course of the album, ending up as far away from it as could be possible. – Taken from the SR penned RA review



Mountains – Choral [Thrill Jockey]

Like a less abrasive Fennesz (without the noisy drone bits), Mountains have an uncanny ability to astound. Their music may not be as instantly gratifying as a repetitive riff party but it is incredibly atmospheric. ‘Sweeping’ is almost undoubtedly the best adjective to describe these 6 tracks as they flitter and push themselves past your ears with gusto, enevloping your concentration with their subtle flecks of melody and involved guitar workouts. – Taken from the SR penned Rock-A-Rolla review (Issue 18)

Special mentions go to FaltyDL's 'Love Is A Liability' on Planet Mu, Lukid's 'Foma' and Actress' 'Hazyville' - both on Werk Discs, 10-20's self titled album on Highpoint Lowlife and Raekwon's 'Only Built For Cuban Linx 2' on EMI.

Compilations of 2009:

V/A - Beat Dimensions Vol 2 [Rush Hour]

The ultimate snapshot of this new slumped instrumental hip hop music some dare to call wonky; presented over 2 CDs with an insane level of quality control and a tracklist reading like a whose who in beats. I once heard a Beatnicks compilation that assured me of my love for twisted hip hop and this collection of sketches will undoubtedly do the same for legions of newcomers for a long, long time to come. It is simply utterly next level.



V/A - Skweee Tooth [Ramp/Flogsta Danshall]

Criminally overlooked, the ‘Skweee Tooth’ compilation forged relations between Scandinavia’s almost chip tune like electronica (skweee) scene and the fresh injection of 8bit computerisms in hip hop, recording it perfectly for all comers to embrace. Harbouring numerous gems it’s a glorious collation of the scene’s brightest talents with producers like Beatbully and Rigas Den Andre standing tall alongside Daniel Savio and the beautifully christened Wankers United.



V/A – 5 [Hyperdub]

For some 2009 was the year of Hyperdub; and after 5 years in the game and a whole load of interest in label, Kode 9 saw fit to mark the anniversary with a mixture of the old and new. Collecting some of the best and most vital works of Hyperdub artists as varied as Ikonika, Cooly G, Darkstar, King Midas Sound and Samiyam he presented the music beautifully with a 2nd disc of brand new material from label staples and like minded friends like Mala and Flying Lotus.



V/A – Mary Anne Hobbs presents Wild Angels [Planet Mu]

Simply put, I don’t think there is anyone out there who gets as much access to new talent as BBC Radio 1’s Mary Anne Hobbs and her third compilation outing on the Planet Mu showed just that. Reflecting the Sonic Router mentality perfectly she sat tracks from dubstep’s brat pack; Brackles, Untold, Hyetal and Gemmy alongside beats from Hudson Mohawke, Mono/Poly, Nosaj Thing and Teebs to astounding effect.



V/A - Tectonic Plates Vol. 2 [Tectonic]

With 'Tectonic Plates Vol. 2,' label boss Pinch proved that his imprint has the scope to reel in the big dawgs. Speaking to us in an interview at the time Pinch said: “it’s kind of an extension on the idea of the first Tectonic Plates series which was the idea of being Dubstep Allstars with each vinyl plate being a double A side and then a collection of the tracks on CD, kind of like the label highlights, with an upfront dubplate mix on CD 2.” It also housed the first more dubstep structured beat from Flying Lotus in ‘Glendale Galleria.’

Tracks of 2009 (in no ascertainable order):

Untold - Stop What You're Doing (James Blake RMX) [Hemlock]
Instra:mental - Watching You [Non Plus+]
2562 - Like A Dream [Tectonic]
Mount Kimbie - Sketch On Glass [Hotflush]
Joy Orbison - Hyph Mngo [Hotflush]
Slugabed - Super Freak [Stuff (White Label)]
Scuba – Symbiosis [Hotflush]
Shackleton - I Want To Eat You [Mordant Music]
Shortstuff - A Rustling [Ramp Recordings]
Joker & Ginz – Purple City/Re-Up [Kapsize]
MSTRKRFT – Heartbreaker (Brackles Remix) [Free DL]
Mono/Poly - Distant Form [Rush Hour]
Guido - Beautiful Complication [Punch Drunk]
Martyn – Vancouver [3024]
Tempa T – Next Hype [No Hats No Hoods]
Rekordah - Mint Milano [C8 Cassette]
Martin Kemp/Mickey Pearce – No Charisma/Innami [Blunted Robots]
Joe – Grimelight [Hessle Audio]
Nosaj Thing -1685/Bach [Alpha Pup]
Low Limit – TrapperKeeper [forthcoming on Numbers]
Pariah - Detroit Falls [R&S]
Hyetal - Gold Or Soul [Soul Motive]
Rigas Den Andre – Distordelle [Ramp Recordings/Flogsta Danshall]
Pearson Sound – Wad [Hessle Audio]
Ikonika vs Eero Johannes - We Could Be Ikons [Planet Mu]
Darkstar - Aidys Girl Is A Computer [Hyperdub]
James Blake - Air & Lack Thereof [Hemlock]
Zomby – Digital Flora [Brainmath]
Pangaea – Memories [White]
Jamie Vex'd - In System Travel EP [Planet Mu]

Please note:
These lists are not definitive. There are so many more (especially for the last category).
This is how the Sonic Router contributors and I felt today, on 17th December 2009.
Tomorrow it would most likely be very different...

DOWNLOAD: Martin Kemp - XLR8R Podcast

DL on sight.

Martin Kemp's put together a mix for XLR8R, something you really should not miss out on. His debut solo 12", 'After The Night' b/w 'Aztec' should be out now at all good retailers on the Blunted Robots label - look out for the RA review coming shortly.

Kemp had a track on a split 12" with Mickey Pearce, also on Blunted Robots, earlier this year, he has remixed Royal T's grime anthem '1UP' - also out now - and his track 'Bowzer' is set to appear on the Hold Box Flat imprint early next year.

For more info on Martin Kemp why not revisit our interview with the man himself here:
http://sonicrouter.blogspot.com/2009/08/interview-martin-kemp-blunted-robots.html

DOWNLOAD: Martin Kemp - XLR8R Podcast

Tracklist:

01 Tuff Jam "Experience" (Casa Trax)
02 Ultymate feat Jacquee Bennett "Vybe (Todd Edwards remix)" (i)
03 DJ Lewi "Hold Me Tight" (Moist)
04 Martin Kemp "Aztec" (Blunted Robots)
05 Roska "Feeline (VIP mix)" (Roska Kicks and Snares)
06 Martin Kemp "Fix"
07 Mya "Free (Brackles Bootleg Remix)"
08 Brackles & Shortstuff "Pipey D" (Blunted Robots)
09 Mosca "Square One (Greena remix)" (Night Slugs)
10 Geiom "Sugar Coated Lover (Brackles & Shortstuff remix)" (Berkane Sol)
11 Hem and Terrible Shock "On a Mission (Shortstuff remix)" (Berkane Sol)
12 Ellie Goulding "Under the sheets (Brackles remix)"
13 Zinc feat. Slarta Jon "Flim (Horsepower remix)" (Bingo)
14 Martin Kemp "After The Night" (Blunted Robots)
15 Mickey Pearce & Shortstuff "Tripped Up" (Ramp)
16 Brackles "6am El Gordos" (Brainmath)

Link:
www.myspace.com/themartinkemp

EVENT: Burnt Progress 2.1 Album Launch

The Burnt Progress presents V/A 2.1 Album launch and Xmas Celebration is this Saturday at Sosho on Tabernacle St in London.

Featuring music from artists and producers heard and developed at the heralded CDR Sessions the line up includes: Floating Points, Studio City, Guynamite & D.ablo, Joel Harrison, Paul White, Analog Jones, Mr Beatnick & Fatima, JnR SAS, Tom Trago, Oriol, Earlyman, Duchy, Blacksmile, Gawain, Bergs, Oblique, Kay Suzuki, Simbad & Titonton, Rether, Lukid, Polar Pair, Deltason, Masoul, TISTITI, Ninkisun, Twin Cities, Gerry O'Rourke and special guests Soundspecies and Cinnaman, one half of the duo behind the incredible Beat Dimensions compilations.

10-6am // £5 all night long

Facebook Event

Link:
http://burntprogress.com/

RECOMMENDED: Illum Sphere – Long Live The Plan [Fat City]

With his first vinyl EP, the aptly named ‘Incoming EP,’ Ryan Hunn's Illum Sphere project caught our attention, so much so we interviewed him about his processes after hearing the record in full about twice. Choosing to compose on completely analogue equipment – his myspace photographs show a desk littered with red LED bearing samplers and grooveboxes – he manages to inject his productions with a bleak, machine hummed venom. And it’s definitely the case on this, the first in a two part vinyl album, with third track ‘Psycho’ offering the first moment of ‘melody’ on the EP; if you can call the confused plonking of a glockenspiel underneath torrents of electro current just that.

What precedes it is a swamp of static and swooping strings on ‘Long Live The Plan…’ and ‘Better Late State,’ a slow pulsing snare crackler reminiscent of LA beat smith Ras G with whom Hunn seems to share a holy-atmospheric kinship. The Illum Sphere world of awkwardly slipping beats over thick, often bleak backdrops and minimalistic arrangements is as dense as any of the beats contorting themselves out of laptops in dark Californian clubs, but his music doesn’t scream about its golden sun tan as much. His music is darker, more rabid and paranoid than some of his US contemporaries and its this edge that keeps you going back once you’ve connected to the lopsided snare pattern and swirling lambaste of ‘Never Lie Twice.’

‘Chasing The Midnight Moth’ is undoubtedly the EP’s centerpiece, crackling into earshot with quicker snatches of percussion and simple one note keys that ooze atmosphere, pursing up into waves of distortion propelled by the ride cymbals before the settled rhythm returns, each time easing things back into the groove with aplomb. ‘Shadowman’ furthers the sense of calm amongst a sound palette seasoned heavily with grain, as the the four four kick drum and cymbal spray pulses under an impossible to tame synth line that conjours up a little of that arpeggiated Zomby madness.

Completed with a Samiyam remix of ‘Psycho’ which reconstructs the simple kick/snare loop into a more of a tumble, adding those enlightening chord stabs and woozy elements of G-funk that Samiyam does so well, ‘Long Live The Plan’ is a deft and clever follow up to such an emphatic debut 12”. Building his productions sensibly and planning the tracklist like you would a journey up through moods its easy to hear what people like Martyn (whose commissioned Hunn to remix his ‘Brilliant Orange’ track) are starting to take notice of.

Words: Oli Marlow
Out: Now @ Boomkat



Link:
www.myspace.com/theillumsphere

SUBSCRIBE: Wigflex Podcast

Spam Chop handles the first in the new series of Wigflex Podcasts. Bang the below to subscribe via iTunes.

I got a good feeling about this.

Look out for Wigflex 003 with tracks from Taylor ('Squeege') and Shortstuff coming soon.

SUBSCRIBE: Wigflex Podcast

Direct download: http://www.sendspace.com/file/l26kiz

Tracklist:

Spam Chop, Buffallo Herder
Rebolledo & Daniel Malosa, Marchante
Matias Aguayo, Bo jack
Taylor, Squeege
The Hizatron, Telescope dope
Moderat, Seamonkey
Darkstar, Videotape
Shackleton, Theres a slow train coming
Ratsnake, Twisted Ballon
Pfirter, Ondas Y Sondas
Mathew Johnson, Twin Cobras
Lazy Fat People, Low Profile
Van Rivers, Stretched Out (nukubus remix)
Jesper Dahlback, Snara
Electric Indigo, Phoca Sibirica
Matt obrien, Blackwood freestyle
The Hizatron ,poached
October, Medium
Trentemoller, Miss You (remix)
Mount kimbie, 50 Mile view
Shortstuff, Galaxy
Max Cooper, ???
Spam Chop, Ergoline

Link:
www.myspace.com/djspamchop
www.wigflex.com

DOWNLOAD: Oneman - Winter Mix

Running a little bit later than usual on this one. As the title of the post pertains to, here be a winter mix from Oneman, he who is doing the 11th CD in Rinse mix series.

DOWNLOAD: Oneman - Winter Mix

Tracklist:

South East Soul - Lust
Four Tet - Love Cry (Joy Orbison Remix)
Deadboy - Heartbreaker
Dusk + Blackdown - Dasaflex
Blackpocket - U're A Sta (Martyn Remix)
Point B - Fossils
Shackleton - Blood On My Hands
Peverelist - Roll With The Punches
Digital Mystikz - I Wait
Skream - Sweetz
Kissy Sellout - This Kiss (Synkro Remix)
FaltyDL - Lay
Bisweed - You're In Love
Burial - Etched Headplate
Kamikaze - Ghetto Kyote
Desto - Skyline
Shackleton - Naked
Burial - Endorphin

Link:
www.myspace.com/1mandj

DOWNLOAD: ATL RMX

Adult Swim and Beaterator have put together a remix album of Atlanta hip hop artists like Young Jeezy, Lil Jon and the like featuring refixes from people like Flying Lotus, Starkey, Dam Funk, El-P, Hud Mo and more.

DOWNLOAD: ATL RMX

PRE-ORDER: J-Kenzo – Conqueror/LD – Derailment [2nd Drop]

2nd Drop Records are like the tireless beavers in the pack, always working to better their environment. Call it too much early morning Animal 24/7 in my ocular diet, but you can’t not admit that Markle - owner of officially the best banana smile in the business – and associates have been putting out brilliant platters since their inception. Kicking off proper with Ramadanman’s ‘Good Feeling’ their stable has since become home to heaters from Sully, Clouds, 23Hz & Numaestro and the ever present LD.

Their 9th release to date then hides a good few punches with its highly coloured, scrawled artwork, Kent based producer J-Kenzo’s ‘Conqueror’ manages to fuse numerous plusses; the rolling almost paniced percussion of Untold, the spatial awareness and taught bass sensibilities of Skream and the shuddering snare drum delay of Peverelist. There's no real melody to it, its just a fully formed glorious marching kick drum onslaught that gets peppered continually with differing lines of driving woodblocks.

LD’s ‘Derailment’ fixes a more anxious gaze, creating the tension in the minor key horns and breathy atmospherics before letting fly with a rolling snare-on-every-3rd-beat-of-the-bar loop that’s never overshadowed by the bitcrusher soaked bass riff and the array of swelling chords. The second revolution turns things up a notch with the addition of a squealing daggering riff, realising the angst of his drum work perfectly and positively amping the scope for wheel backs tenfold.

Words: Oli Marlow
Out: 14th December 2009

AND, in fine gentlemanly Christmas fashion the 2nd Drop fam have offered up 4 copies of the release to win. 2 lucky entrants will scoop the full 12” with bespoke artwork by UIU UIU, and 2 runners up will get the full digital bundle and quite possibly an email lovingly written by a human.



To win email us the answer to the below question.

Q: When is conker season?

A) Autumn
B) Winter
3) Spring

Winners will be announced in the New Year.

Links:
www.myspace.com/2nddroprecords
www.myspace.com/jkenzo
www.myspace.com/transitionld

PRE-ORDER: Spatial - INFRA003 [Infrasonics]

New 10" from Spatial, more on a warbling rah bass kind of tip, but still effortlessly classy.

Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6876

Link:
http://infrasonics.net

EVENT: Sonic Router is 1 w/ Brackles, Jack Sparrow, Shortstuff, Gemmy & more...

To celebrate a whole year in the blog game we're hosting Room 2 at [dissident] in Bristol on the 6th Feb 2010. We've invited some of our favourite DJs including Brackles, Jack Sparrow, Shortstuff and Gemmy to mark to occasion.

The rest of the line up across the club is stacked too. Join us...

06/02/2010 @ Lakota, Bristol.
10 - 6am // £10 advance/£12 OTD

Tickets available from Bristol Ticket Shop/Rooted Records/Drop Records (Bath)

Main Room - [dissident]:

Ed Rush (Virus)
Teebee (Subtitles/Momentum)
Doc Scott (31 Records)
Icicle (Shogun Audio)
Ulterior Motive (Subtitles)
Incite & Breach [dissident]
Noisy Boy [dissident]
Distilled (Torque)

MC'S: Stapleton, Fokus, Mantmast

Room 2 - Hosted by Sonic Router:

Brackles (Planet Mu/Blunted Robots)
Jack Sparrow (Tectonic)
Shortstuff (Ramp/Planet Mu)
Gemmy (Planet Mu)
Reecha (Dirty Canvas)
The Kelly Twins (UFO)
mlr (Sonic Router)

Room 3 - Hosted by Idle Hands Records:

Peverelist (Punch Drunk)
October (Caravan)
Kowton (Keysound)
Atki2 (Steak House/Idle Hands)
Chris Farrell (Idle Hands)
Richard Carnage (RA/Tape)

Room 4 - No Rules!

Munkee
Ironside
Alkemy
B Goat
Midas
Punksi

More info and content soon come.

DOWNLOAD: Guido - FACT Mix

FACT: 1 / SR: 0

:X

DOWNLOAD: Guido - FACT Mix

Tracklist:

01 Guido feat Aarya - Beautiful Complication
02 Peverelist - Infinity Is Now
03 Kito - Lfo
04 L-Wiz - Tvångströjjan
05 Mala - Alicia
06 Peverelist & Pinch - Revival
07 Rustie - Tempered
08 Mala - Level 9
09 Superisk - Find ya way
10 Mia - Bucky done gun (Davinche remix)
11 Joker - Output 1 & 2
12 Smith & Mighty - Love & Unity
13 Guido - Chakra
14 L-Wiz - Fotbojan
15 Wedge & Shadz - Runnin Away (Guido remix)
16 RSD - Naked Mario Kart
17 Floating Points - K & G Beat

Link:
www.myspace.com/guidoproductions

PRE-ORDER: Joker - City Hopper /Output One Two [Tectonic]

Joker follows up his 'Untitled.rsn' beat for Pinch's Tectonic Plates Vol. 2 compilation with a full 12" for the label.

Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6934

Link:
www.myspace.com/thejokerproductionsa

DOWNLOAD: mlr - Recognised Imposter Guestmix on Ramp Radio

Tonight you can hear a Sonic Router guestmix on Ramp Radio.

Lock in at 22:00 GMT at the web address above (or below) for an exclusive hour mix from me featuring some music and shit like that...

Out to Nat and Phil.

11/12/09 - EDIT:

DOWNLOAD: mlr - Recognised Imposter Guestmix for Ramp Radio



Link:
http://rampradio.co.uk
www.myspace.com/myleftretina

EVENT: Trouble Vision vs. Dirty Canvas

Trouble Vision collide with Dirty Canvas next Friday for a Christ honouring shindig at Corsica Studios, featuring a stellar line up including Sinden, Heartless Crew, Terror Danjah and Newham Generals.

Facebook Event // Tickets

To celebrate we've been given a copy of the brand new No Hats No Hoods (Dirty Canvas' record label - yep, them that released 'Next Hype') 12" release from Royal T, his '1UP or Shatap EP,' which features a remix from the ultra suave Martin Kemp (audio of which is in his SR mix) alongside two extra tracks from Royal T and a refix of 'Beatfighter' from Night Slugs co-conspirator Bok Bok.

To scoop the vinyl simply email us the word thats missing from the statement below:

Q: The man like Tempa T definitely will not give you none of your ____ back?

A: CDs
B: DVDs
3: Bonsai Trees

The winner will be announced before Xmas.



Links:
www.myspace.com/dirtycanvas
www.myspace.com/intothefraydj

DOWNLOAD: Shortstuff - Wot You Call It? Ballers Mix

As a prelude to his appearance at the Ballers Social Club in Glasgow (at Stereo I believe) this Friday, Shortstuff has put together a promo mix.

Look out for the second 12" on his Blunted Robots label, 'After The Night' b/w 'Aztec' by Martin Kemp, out next week.

DOWNLOAD: Shortstuff - Wot You Call It? Ballers Mix

Tracklist:

Hard House Banton – Reign (Roska VIP mix)
>> Martin Kemp – No Charisma
Geiom & Shortstuff – Wardenclyffe
Mos Wanted Mega – Different Lextrix
Martin Kemp – Wot U Got
Martyn - Friedrichstrasse
D Malice & Rebecca Knight – Poison (Roska mix)
Martin Kemp – After The Night
TRG – Discotek 79
Joey Beltram – Back Porch
Deadboy – If You Want Me
Mosca – Square One (Greena mix)
Brackles – Bad Sandwich
>> Youngstar – Bongo
Untold – Bad Girls
Geiom feat. Marita – Sugar Coated Lover (Brackles & Shortstuff mix)
Shortstuff – Tweaked
Ramadanman – A Couple More Years
Untold – Flexible
Brackles & Shortstuff – Ipkiss Riddim
Shortstuff – Galaxy
>> Aardvark – Nosestep
Sully – In Some Pattern
Clouds – Napalm
Pangaea – Dead Living
James Blake – Pembroke

Link:
www.myspace.com/djshortstuff

PRE-ORDER: Lone - Ecstasy & Friends [Werk Discs]

Lone's sophomore album, 'Ecstasy & Friends,' is out now on Actress' Werk Discs imprint; a superlative follow up to his 'Lemurian' album released on Dealmaker Records last year.

Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6920

Link:
www.myspace.com/lonemusic

DOWNLOAD: Eskmo - Colorbrain Mix

Following up his 'Let Them Sing' 12" on Planet Mu, Eskmo has dropped a mix for the Brainfeeder site comprised completely of his own tunes, ahead of his appearance at the sessions of the same name over in LA.

Check it:



DOWNLOAD: Eskmo - Colorbrain Mix

Link:
www.myspace.com/eskmo

EVENT: Colony w/ Millie & Andrea

The end of a busy year for the Colony crew; Saturday 19th Dec sees them hit a new venue with a better soundsystem bringing Andrea & Millie down from Manchester to play alongside Ben UFO, Sigha and more.

£7 advance tickets, more on the door.

Facebook Event // Tickets (RA)

Link:
www.myspace.com/colonyparty

EVENT: Back To The Wood

Facebook Event

Link:
www.backtothewood.com

DOWNLOAD: Hyetal - Electronic Explorations Mix

He may have changed the colour of his promo triangle (pictured) but its evidently not the only thing Hyetal has been working on of late. Along with remixing Starkey and a slew of great collabos with Shortstuff he just put together a superlative guest mix for Electronic Explorations which you should definitely download - if you aren't subscribed already.

DOWNLOAD: Hyetal - Electronic Explorations Mix

Tracklist:

[01] – Dubkasm – Transformi (Hyetal Remix) (Dub)
[02] – Moska – Gold Bricks, I See You (Forthcoming Fabric)
[03] – Shortstuff – Galaxy (Forthcoming Ramp)
[04] – Royal T – Beat Fighter (Bok Bok Remix) (Forthcoming No Hats No Hoods)
[05] – Sharmaji – How To Move (Dub)
[06] – Sully – In Some Pattern (Forthcoming KeySound)
[07] – Falty DL – I’m Gonna Show You Somthin (Dub)
[08] – Geiom & Dawntreader – Toscani (Forthcoming Double Science)
[09] – F – Energy Distortion (Untold Remix) (Forthcoming 7even)
[10] – Presk – Gatsch (Dub)
[11] – Desto – Overkrookd (Dub)
[12] – Starkey – Rain City (Forthcoming Rwina)
[13] – Numan – Secrets (Forthcoming Subdepth)
[14] – Guido – Korg Back (Dub)
[15] – Hyetal & Shortstuff – Ice Cream (Dub)



Link:
www.myspace.com/hyetalmusic

DOWNLOAD: Sines - That Thing She Does [Formant]

This morning you should go a kop this free EP from Sines. Apparently the first in a series of free releases from the Formant Recordings label, it features a rather tasty remix from Soul Motive co-owner Forsaken on the virtual flip.

DOWNLOAD: Sines - That Thing She Does [Formant]

Link:
www.myspace.com/formantrecordings

PRE-ORDER: Pinch Ft. Yolanda – Get Up [Tectonic]

It’s pretty safe to say that ‘Get Up’ is a dubstep classic. The vocal version with sometime Massive Attack collaborator Yolanda first featured on the CD release of Pinch’s debut album ‘Underwater Dancehall,’ but it never reached vinyl much to the disappointment of many. But proving that good things do come to those who wait, two years later the world gets a vinyl release with the original vocal alongside a dub version as well as a splattering of quality remixes from: RSD, Guido, Jack Sparrow and LV.

The original vocal and dub by Pinch uses smooth and rolling drum patterns, pulsing bass and dancehall dub accents to play off the soulful vocals that makes it sound as fresh today as it was 2 years ago, with the timeless melancholy of the house diva vocals, here updated for the dubstep generation, shift along seamlessly with the emotive strings.

The remixes are on point too though the highlight of the bunch has to be from Bristol legend RSD. Rob Smith, one half of the production duo Smith & Mighty, brings his own wonderfully deep and warm soundsystem shaking bass lines, piano flourishes and a beat that simply makes you want to wiggle. Guido also provides a brilliant refix that somehow echoes house music’s hay-day and the new slinky, soul-infused instrumental funk of Bristol dubstep. The subtle boom-bap drums build a smooth groove before deep house chords take over and play off the vocals to make what sounds like a long lost 90s house hit that’s been left to mutate in Dr. Dre’s refrigerator.

Jack Sparrow takes his version deep into dubstep territory, designing it for big dark rooms with weighty systems, lacing it with huge bass pulses and a half-stepping beat that still has a bump to it. LV is the one that comes from a very different angle; his dub heavy disco version has plenty of rootsy vibes and the slinkiest smooth bass around and as always with LV productions, it grows on you in a subtle fashion.

Word: James Balf
Out: Now



Link:
www.myspace.com/tectonicrecordings