Sunday 31 January 2010

DOWNLOAD: Soul Motive Showcase




The Bristol based Soul Motive imprint has slowly been carving out a niche for itself, quietly bustling, unearthing smash 12"s from Joker ('Snake Eater') and TRG ('Move Dis'), Hyetal ('Gold or Soul' b/w 'Neon Speech'). Word on the vineyard is that the boutique label - famed for their big boy, full colour artwork - have numerous projects on the way, including an album from Eleven Tigers, and this showcase mix of the label's forthcoming output seems to support that theory ten fold.

DOWNLOAD: Soul Motive Showcase



Tracklist:

01. julio bashmore - around - (soul motive)
02. el-b - son di cali - (soul motive)
03. geiom - luna - (soul motive)
04. hyetal - neon speech - (soul motive)
05. julio bashmore - batak groove - (soul motive)
06. headhunter - luvdup - (soul motive)
07. ? - jump remix - (sm white)
08. trg - move dis - (soul motive)
09. phaelah and vvv - reconcile - (soul motive)
10. sharmaji - break your heart - (soul motive)
11. coleco - breathwork - (soul motive)
12. eleven tigers - stableface - (soul motive)
13. ? - secrets - (sm white)
14. forsaken - into the sunset - (soul motive)

Link:
www.myspace.com/soulmotiverecords

Friday 29 January 2010

INTERVIEW: James Fox [TAKE]



Having been led into TAKE Records blossoming roster thanks to the involvement of Mr. Spatial, who contributed 2 remixes to the 1st vinyl release, a 12" comprised of remixes of False Prohpets' 'Wake Up,' our ears really pricked up when we received promo files of the 2nd 12", 'Put It Back' which also includes a particularly cultured Ramadanman remix on the flip, by the somewhat unassumingly monikered, James Fox.

Crossing straight house ruminations with interesting flourishes of mechanical melody, his productions sit right with us so we thought we'd reel him in for a chat and to provide our 33rd exclusive Sonic Router mix...

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

James Fox: Well, I’ve been DJing for about ten years now, and making music for probably half that. I’m from Manchester originally, and I moved down to London a couple of years ago, for a change of scenery…

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

I am a professional admin drone, currently employed at a college in central London for posh rich kids from all over the world.

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

Pretty standard really; always been fascinated with music in all its forms, so once I got a taste for DJing it was a logical progression to get into creating my own tracks.

What’s your production set up like?

I’m on a battered old PC running Ableton Live, I’ve got a Nord Rack that I use for most of my synth sounds and plugin wise I keep it pretty stripped down. I’m partial to the Korg Legacy synth package and I am a massive fan of the Sonnox EQ / Compressor / Reverb. I used to have a bazillion and one plugins, but I realised I was spending all my time trying to get my head round them (and failing), so I got rid.

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

Hard to say really, the common thread between all the records I play and make is probably sub bass, I’m a sucker for it. Not about all the distorted midrange stuff in the slightest, it just sounds like music for sweaty teenage boys to mosh to. Beyond that, I guess I like records that are groove-based and not too obvious - from deep dubstep through house, broken beat, 2step, whatever really.

What first brought you to the dubstep/house-ish sound? what drew you to that?

Probably the complete disregard for the sort of perceived genre boundaries and tribalism that can really suck the fun out of DJing and production for me. It’s really exciting, because nobody knows quite what to call it, or where it’s going - they’re too busy making records or putting nights on or writing a blog or raving to really give much of a fuck about such insignificant details.

What inspires you musically?

That’s a hard one. I suppose people would often say that they are inspired by other producers, but I have the opposite problem – i.e. making a track and then thinking ‘well, my mixdown will never be as good as this Modeselektor record, or the vocal work won’t be as good as this Burial record, or the drums won’t be as good as this Scuba record… so what’s the point?’ – which is a very dangerous area to get into.

I guess I’m inspired by two things mainly: the producers that I’ve known for a few years who are doing things their own way and not compromising, and also going to clubs with my friends and hearing DJs that I respect rock it over a crisp soundsystem. When you get involved with DJing and production it can take away some of the thrill that you got at the start, so I think it’s important to go out dancing as much as you can, rather than sitting in the studio staring at a computer. I still can’t help but stop and stroke my chin if the DJ fluffs a mix even slightly, though…



Your debut 12” is coming on the TAKE imprint next Monday. How did you hook up with them? What can people expect from the release?

I’ve known the guys who run the label for a good few years. The whole project has actually been in the pipeline for a while now, and I think it shows – they’ve really taken a lot of care over the remixes they’ve had done, the artwork and the mastering to ensure that the final product is something you'd want to own. As for my release - 'Put It Back' is a percussive bass driven house groove for the club, and the Ramadanman Refix… well, I know I’m biased but it’s probably one of the best things I’ve heard him do. It sounds like 2step from the year 2020, and the breakdown is like a Boards of Canada record or something! There’s also a digital only track on the release called Rebuildings, which is well worth checking if you like Alex Smoke – think deep glitching electronic house, a proper B-side.

What other releases have you got forthcoming?

I’m currently working on a few things for TAKE, I need to find an extra day in the week so I can get them all finished though.

You’re a contributor to Bass Music Blog too; tell us a bit about how it all came together and where you wanna take it?

I know Sam Baobinga and Ed ID from around the way in Manchester; they decided to start a blog about 18 months ago, and being the sort of person who tends to ramble on about music to whoever is in earshot, they asked me to contribute. The idea – much like this fine blog – is to be editorially led, i.e. not just pumping out free music. I think it’s working out pretty well thus far; one angle that has been good for us is offering readers insight into the industry, so we've done interviews with mastering engineers, promoters, that sort of thing. We’ve also been focusing on bass music culture in cities around the world that might not get much attention elsewhere, and I think that’s an area that we’ll continue exploring. In future, we aim to get to the level where people like Fact Magazine are; their guest mixes and interviews are always super on point, so yeah – big up Fact.

What else does 2010 have in store for James Fox?

I've got to finish some more damn records that I don’t decide are rubbish and immediately scrap, play some more gigs in London, go out raving more, basically continual upping of game on all fronts.

Tell us about the mix you’ve done for us, what kind of vibe have you gone for and what tracks did you just have to put in?

I really like creating DJ mixes that stand up to repeated listening, so to me this means things like: re-editing, mixing in key, subtle fx, layering things up, vocal / acapellas blends – the best tool for this is definitely Ableton Live, so that’s what I used. Vibe-wise, I wanted to try and represent the different styles that I like to play in the club, so you’ve got deep bass-driven house music, some 2step / bruk, a bit of edgy synth stuff and a few big ones at the end. It also ended up being a bit of a recap of my most loved tracks of 2009 ('WAD,' 'Pimp Jackson,' 'Since Last Night,' 'The Lighter/MAW' blend I did, etc).

Have you got any words of wisdom for our readers?

Earplugs. Use them!

::

DOWNLOAD: James Fox - Sonic Router Mix



Tracklist:

1. Soul Clap - Rock The Boat [dub]
2. Dubbel Dutch - Trollsta (Round Table Knights Remix) [Palms Out Sounds]
3. Julio Bashmore - Tread Soft [dub]
4. Worthy - Crack El' (Justin Martin Remix) [dirty bird]
5. Lil Silva - Different [dub]
6. James Fox - Put it Back [TAKE]
7. Horacio - Taverna Del Funk [Raum]
8. Drop The Lime - Set Me Free (Zombie Disco Squad Remix) [Trouble & Bass]
9. Dan Black - symphonies (Hot City Remix) [Polydor]
10. Loco Dice - Pimp Jackson is Talking Now [Desolat]
11. Pearson Sound - Wad [Hessle Audio]
12. Wookie - Down On Me [Manchu]
13. Deadboy - U Cheated [Well Rounded]
14. Martin Kemp - Aztec [Blunted Robots]
15. Skinnz - Euphorbia [dub]
16. Joy Orbison - BRKLN CLLN [Doldrums]
17. Lighter - Skanker (James Fox Work Vocal Edit) [dub]
18. Uncle Bakongo - Bambara [Roska Kicks & Snares]
19. TRG - Since Last Night [Tempa dub]
20. Jaheim - Put That Woman First (Calibre Remix) [dub]

Link:
www.myspace.com/jamesalexanderfox
twitter.com/jmsfx

DOWNLOAD: Cooly G - XLR8R Podcast



Former XLR8R cover girl and Hyperdub signing, Cooly G, fixes up the latest installment in their podcast series.
Apparently theres a 2nd section to this mix coming via her twitter, so eyes out for that...

DOWNLOAD: Cooly G - XLR8R Podcast

Tracklist:

01 Cooly G "Intro"
02 Cooly G/DVA "Ol' Dirty"
03 DJ Gregory "Traffic"
04 T Williams "Hardcash"
05 Zander Hardy (exclusive)
06 Ben Westbeech & T. Williams (exclusive)
07 Martyn "Megadrive"
08 Artist Unknown "Glow"
09 O.B "ER"
10 Artist Unknown "Get Slapped Up"
11 Artist Unknown "Gain"
12 Artist Unknown "Dougsanna"
13 DJ Gregory "Work Me"
14 Sami Sanchez "Air Raid"
15 MA1 "Samurai Remix"
16 Wbeeza "Deep Underground"
17 Bowly (exclusive)
18 Major Notes "Friend of Mine Dub"



Link:
www.myspace.com/coolyg

Thursday 28 January 2010

DOWNLOAD: Deadboy - Get Me Mix



Let the glut of awesome-o mixes continue; this blend comes from South London's Deadboy whose spun a mix together for the Get Me people.

DOWNLOAD: Deadboy - Get Me Mix

Tracklist:

1. Bad Autopsy – Beam Beamer
2. Groove Chronicles – First Time
3. Sunship – Try Me Out
4. Bump & Flex – Long Time Coming (Big Up version)
5. Jinder – Youth Blood (Bok Bok remix)
6. Elektric Red – Drank in my Cup
7. Funkystepz – Touch On Me
8. Deadboy – Easy
9. Matt Jam Lamont – Feel My Love
10. Bakongo – Baga
11. Adonis – No Way Back
12. Buraka Som Sistema – Restless (Julio Bashmore remix)
13. Ultrasound – The Hard Way
14. Zinc feat. Ms Dynamite – Wile Out
15. Mosca – Square One
16. Ke$ha – Tik Tok (Untold remix dub)
17. Groove Chronicles – Blakjack
18. Dexplicit - Karma

Link:
www.myspace.com/deadboysoundboy

Photo: Steve Braiden

DOWNLOAD: BiteSize Beats - Synthesize Me



The latest mix from Musique Large's La Mixette series come from the Nottingham based BiteSize Beats and, real talk, its got an monumentally stacked tracklist from a wish list of global 'beats' producers.

DOWNLOAD: BiteSize Beats - Synthesize Me

Tracklist:

01/ take - chrome in the clouds [power slide audio]
02/ sephirot - scattered [mp3]
03/ shlohmo - ghosts pt2 [error broadcast]
04/ abbey lee tee - circulating til infinity [hillbilly]
05/ dizz1 - frazzled [kindred spirits]
06/ devonwho - glow [klipmode]
07/ pudge - reign dancing with the stars [rushhour]
08/ weslee - ellechronica [mp3]
09/ 00genesis - my sunshine [mp3]
10/ afta-1 - 7th sun [mp3]
11/ eliphino - i like it yo [mp3]
12/ mindesign - airways [klipmode]
13/ exile - san pedro cactus [plug research]
14/ tokimonsta - lucid waking [mp3]
15/ dr who dat - jj-tron [lex]
16/ architeq - spinning plates [tirk]
17/ prefuse 73 - dec machine funk [warp]
18/ mike slott - snow birds [luckyme]
19/ robot koch - gorom sen (shlohmo remix) [robots don't sleep]
20/ low limit - turf day [rushhour]
21/ mono/poly - oil fields [fat city]
22/ little dragon - fortune (afta-1 remix) [mp3]
23/ siroj - dancing serpent in dawns quiet [slumgullion]
24/ teebs - untitled 05 [mp3]
25/ nosaj thing - us [alpha pup]
26/ take - chrome in the clouds [power slide audio]

Link:
www.myspace.com/bitesizebeats

DOWNLOAD: Julio Bashmore - VICE Mixtape



A big week for Julio Bashmore this, a minimix on MAH and this mix for VICE Magazine.

Solid.

DOWNLOAD: Julio Bashmore - VICE Mixtape

Tracklist:

1. Deadboy - “Heartbreaker (Julio Bashmore Remix)”
2. Cooly G - “Love Dub”
3. Deadboy - “U Cheated”
4. Julio Bashmore - “Around”
5. Son of Aphrodite - “Vibrations”
6. DJ Sneak - “Fix My Sink”
7. Blackjoy - “Untitled (Solid Groove Remix)”
8. Mosca - “Gold Bricks, I See You”
9. L-Vis 1990 - “United Groove (Baobinga and I.D Remix)”
10. LV & Untold - “Beacon (Mount Kimbie Remix)”
11. Breach - “Fatherless”
12. Julio Bashmore - “Um Bongo’s Revenge”

Link:
www.myspace.com/juliobashmore

Wednesday 27 January 2010

DOWNLOAD: 1000 Names - Lowriders Mixtape



Following their mix on Mary Anne Hobbs' BBC Radio 1 show and ahead of releases on Black Acre, the Bulgarian duo 1000 Names have put together a mix for the Lowriders Collective. Cop it and the accompanying interview.

DOWNLOAD: 1000 Names - Lowriders Mixtape

Tracklist:

1. Bibio – Great are the Piths
2. Black Monk & Ras G – Juju
3. Wankers United – Superfunky
4. Coco Bryce – bit crushing
5. Inko – Alma Parodia
6. Gards from KC – Statement
7. Robot Koch – Gorom Sen (Shlohmo rmx)
8. Kidkanevil – Mega joy
9. Lone – Arcade
10. Yoggy One – Moonwalk
11. Alan Hwakshaw – Technicolor
12. A.Rodionov – Electronic Jokey(horse races)
13. 1000names – Telephony 2000
14. Blue Daisy – Hunters
15. Shafiq Husayn – Evil Man (Flying Lotus rmx)
16. Lapti – Polar Bear

Link:
www.myspace.com/1000names

PRE-ORDER: Binary Sequence - Below The Ice EP [Dark Arx]



There’s scant information available about Binary Sequence online, which makes a pleasant change given that the typical pattern for the emergence of new music can involve a disproportionate amount of hype. Anyway, there’s something about his debut release for the Dark Arx label that justifies the anonymity – the '66/31' EP is appropriately stark and alien, trading obvious human emotion for a cool mechanical sheen.

On the title track his closest contemporaries are probably mid-period Autechre, somewhere between the sci-fi dystopia of 'Tri Repetae' and 'Confield'’s stammered half-rhythms. Yet that duo’s terse atmosphere is successfully refracted through the last few years’ worth of post-garage music. The result rattles with static interference and the digital equivalent of vinyl crackle, offset by chill stabs of sub-bass entirely removed from either the soft dub edge of Digital Mystikz or the heady heat of Burial. After such a reserved opener, ‘Below The Ice’ is unexpectedly gorgeous, restoring an analogue warmth that leaves a long burst of noise trailing behind each percussive hit. It’s the guitar work that really resonates though; like the more contemplative moments of Fennesz’s 'Black Sea' album it emerges from heavily effected fuzz as a delicate contrast to the background wash of computer chaos.

Closer ‘Arc’ is the most in thrall to London-borne dance sounds, driven by a stuttering beat that might once have been garage, but somewhere along the line was stripped of any organic quality. Like the rest of the EP this soul isn’t locked within rhythm but lost in the background drone of subtle ambience and slow-moving melody, suggesting there’s more wintry beauty to come from this intriguing producer.

Words: Rory Gibb
Out: Now

For audio of the EP download the second installment in the recently upped Dark Arx podcast, mixed by Binary Sequence...

DOWNLOAD: Binary Sequence - Dark Arx Podcast no.2



Tracklist:

Onoff - Distant Personal
Binary Sequence - 66//31
Flying Lotus - Dance Floor Stalker
Autechre - Garbagemx36
Lukid - Chord
Telefon Tel Aviv - When It Happens It Moves All By Itself
Aphex Twin - On
Pole - Heim (Fourtet Remix)
Burial - U.K.
Brackles & Shortstuff - Broken Harp
Binary Sequence - Arc
Scuba - Tense
Photek - UFO (J Majik Remix)
Binary Sequence - Below The Ice

Link:
www.darkarx.com

VOTE: Sonic Router in 2010 Dubstep Forum Awards


http://dubstepforum.com/awards


Best Website/Magazine Category.

Voters need to be registered DSF members and get free money (in voucher form) from Juno Download upon the culmination of voting.

Link:
http://dubstepforum.com/awards

Tuesday 26 January 2010

EVENT: FWD>> & Rinse @ matter



This Friday at matter... ter... ter... ter.

Facebook Event // Tickets

Link:
http://rinse.fm

Monday 25 January 2010

READ: Sonic Router on URB.com



January's URB.com column just went live-o with discussion points ranging from Shortstuff & Hyetal to the new double pack Pangaea EP, Airhead & James Blake, Kuedo, Joy Orbison, Slugabed, Low Limit & Lando Kal, Martyn (and his forthcoming bunch of remixes) plus word on long players from Scuba and Starkey.

READ: Sonic Router: Suburban Sine Wave Surfing (Jan 2010)

Friday 22 January 2010

RECOMMENDED: Pangaea - Pangaea EP [Hessle Audio]



First release from Hessle Audio in 2010 comes from Pangaea, in a sublime double pack fashion.

Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=7052

Link:
www.myspace.com/journeytopangaea

COMPETITION: Win Om Unit 7"s



The eagle eyed SR followers amongst you may well have noted a few posts on Om Unit before, most recently through his involvement in the epic Boom Bap Continuum mix, or his past, present and future retrospective type mix for the Irish All City record label - a label with a superbly healthy beats legacy (releases from Hudson Mohawke, Fulgeance, Mike Slott and Dimlite) that he himself has just recently released on.

Having come to our consciousness through his emphatic 'Pop Lock' remix of Joker's 'Digidesign' (available to stream below), which has now been released on 12", he's got music forthcoming on both Plastician's Terror Rhythm imprint and on fabric's Elevator Music compilation.



He's kindly offered our readers the opportunity to grab a copy of his fresh 7" on All City, containing 2 slices of his hard hitting take on bass heavy hip hop music: the intricate bubble synth & 4x4 kick drum posturing of 'Lavender' b/w the slower more menacing taught atmospherics of 'Lightgrids' for absolutely nothing. Well unless you count emailing someone with an answer to a question as costly...?

To scoop one of 2 copies email omunitcompetition@gmail.com with the answer to the question below:

What planet are the notorious 'grey' e.t.'s reputed to mainly come from?

Winners will be picked at random and notified by the man himself.

You can catch Om Unit at the debut Pipedown event next Wednesday at the Rhythm Factory in Aldgate alongside James Blake and Greena.



Facebook Event

Link:
www.myspace.com/omunit

DOWNLOAD: Wedge - FOO Mix Series



To mark the passing of their 3rd release, which is apparently imminent according to their twitter, If Symptoms Persist have contributed a mix to FOO Magazine's series, segued together by label boss Wedge. Featuring a bunch of ISP material it includes tracks from the new 12" Wedge & Aesoteric's 'Night On The Wonk' and the Gemmy remix.

DOWNLOAD: Wedge - FOO Mix Series

Tracklist:

1. Butterfly (Wedge remix) – Hazel Mills
2. Detached Reality – Wedge and Aesoteric
3. Vansan (Gatekeeper remix) – Appleblim
4. Cabot Circus – Wedge
5. Phonics – Wedge
6. Blip – Gatekeeper
7. Running Away – Wedge and Shadz
8. Night on the Wonk – Wedge and Aesoteric
9. Night on the Wonk (Gemmy remix) – Wedge and Aesoteric
10. Running Away (Guido remix) – Wedge and Shadz

Link:
http://www.myspace.com/ispmusic

Thursday 21 January 2010

PRE-ORDER: XI - Light FM/Glass [Formant] & 000/Slippin’ [Immerse]



If there’s a problem inherent in any producer attempting to pull off a variety of different moods, it’s the danger of watering down through lack of focus. With the release of his latest two 12”s, Toronto native XI neatly manages to sidestep any such issues, marking himself out as impressively eclectic in style. Across two plates for Formant and Immerse, his music flits as though weightless between icy broken beat, two-step and austere techno, leaving a frosty tundra landscape punctuated by sudden shards of warmth and emotion. It’s appropriately chill for its Canadian origins.

Of the two 12”s, the Formant release is warmer in tone. The wispy drama and skittery percussion of ‘Glass’ recall the more abstract moments of 2562’s ‘Unbalance’ album, and ‘Light FM’ sends glacial chimes rippling through an ascend-descend bass melody that never really takes any drastically different trajectory - instead exploring every permutation before dissipating. Appropriate to the label’s output, which tends towards dark, percussive minimalism, his Immerse 12” further relegates melody to a supporting role, barely making an appearance at all in the sub, voice and drum battle of ‘000.’ 'Slippin' on the flip is another slice of particularly delectable ghostly garage, joining the ranks of an ever-swelling sub-genre that manages to encompass (amongst others) Burial, recent work by Instra:mental and Scuba, and Clubroot’s aquatic ambience. It’s also probably the best – and most dancefloor-ready - of the four tracks here, underpinned by razor-sharp, hard-panned hi-hats and a techy two-step flex.

Regardless of their relative energy levels, the common trait running through all four tracks is a deliciously palpable tension between XI’s complex, spiraling drum patterns and their backdrop of swelling, oceanic ambience – leaving his music suspended in some tranquil vacuum between waking and dream. The overall effect is oddly disconcerting, neither entirely dance-immediate nor calm enough for comfortable headphone listens, but all the better for it.

Words: Rory Gibb
Out: Shortly/Soon

Link:
www.myspace.com/xidubs

DOWNLOAD: Greena - XLR8R Mix



Another XLR8R podcast goes up, another post on SR goes up pointing out how they are probably the best US site pushing the variant chasms of UK dance music. It seems to been a chain reaction of late...

Wandering asides aside, this week's podcast comes from Greena (with another tailored Steve Braiden image) and taking in everything from unreleased Terror Danjah, Untold and Ikonika, to Omar S, Carl Craig and Villalobos the Applepips affiliated dude smacks it on the TL.

DOWNLOAD: Greena - XLR8R Mix

Tracklist:

01 Omar S "Flying Gorgars" (FXHE)
02 Carl Craig "Sandstorms" (Planet E)
03 Mosca "Nike" (Night Slugs)
04 Ghosts on Tape "Predator Mode (Roska Remix)" (Wireblock)
05 Afrojack "Cheese" (Wall)
06 DJ Funk "Dik Work" (Funk)
07 Geeneus "Ultrafunkula" (Warp)
08 Jam City "Let Me Bang Remix"
09 Major Lazer feat. Nina Sky "Keep It Goin' Louder" (Mad Decent)
10 Julio Bashmore "Um Bongo (Deadboy Remix)"
11 DJ Mystery & Natalie K "Speechless" (white)
12 Untold "Bad Girls" (Fabric)
13 Terror Danjah "Acid" (Hyperdub)
14 Kingdom "You" (Fool's Gold)
15 Martinez Bros "My Rendition (Bonus Beats)" (Objektivity)
16 Mya "Free (Brackles bootleg)"
17 Karizma "33rd Street Anthem" (ITH)
18 DJ T "Dis" (Get Physical)
19 Villalobos "Chromosul" (Perlon)
20 Apple "Dutty Dance" (white)
21 Bok Bok "Ripe Banana VIP"
22 Mosca "Square One (Greena Remix VIP)" (Night Slugs)
23 L-Vis 1990 "Untitled"
24 Ikonika "The Idiot"
25 Claude VonStroke "Monster Island" (Dirtybird)
26 Electrik Red "Freaky Freaky" (Def Jam)
27 Davinche "Megadrive" (white)
28 Low Deep "Down Like That" (white)
29 Terror Danjah feat. Sadie Ama & Kano "So Sure" (white)

Link:
www.myspace.com/ukgreena

DOWNLOAD: Akkachar - Butterz Exclusives



Former Sonic Router mix giver (wow - bigg title), Akkachar - owner and proprietor of Rwina Records, just did an exclusive mix - which was first broadcast on Elijah and Skiliam's Rinse.fm show - for our friends over at Butterz.

Watch out for Starkey's 'Rain City'/'Beatingz' 12" dropping shortly on the Dutch label as well as an EP by SRC, a producer featured heavily on the mix and the lips of everybody from FACT to DSF, entitled 'Goin Out.'

DOWNLOAD: Akkachar - Butterz Exclusives

Tracklist:

Taz Buckfaster - Tonic the Swedgehog [forthcoming rwina]
SRC - Sort of a start [forthcoming rwina]
SRC - Goin out [forthcoming rwina]
501 - Higher ground [forthcoming rwina]
Starkey - Rain city [rwina]
SRC- Where's the remote [forthcoming rwina]
Dj Madd - Got u dancin [forthcoming subway]
501 - St. ives [forthcoming rwina]
Guido - Cat in the window [dub]
Gemmy - Double Yellow [dub]
Starkey - Beatingz [rwina]
Baobinga - Ride It (untold remix) [forthcoming build]
Taz Buckfaster - 20 Red [rwina]
Akkachar - Neon Swagga [forthcoming subway]
Matt-u - Watchin U [forthcoming subway]
SRC - Goomba VIP goombag [forthcoming butterz]
Eprom - Lick Out [forthcoming rwina]

Link:
www.myspace.com/akkachar
http://verybutterz.blogspot.com

Wednesday 20 January 2010

EVENT: Tactile w/ Ikonika



Tactile is relaunching, after a short hiatus at the end of 2009, at the Horse & Groom, Shoreditch, with Ikonika, Chris Box from Run Sounds and Paddy Freeform.

Friday, 22 January 2010
Time: 9pm - 4am
Venue: The Horse & Groom, 28 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London, EC2
Cost: Free before 11, £5 thereafter/£4 with flyer/£3 guestlist

Facebook Event


And as if by divine intervention they Tactile residents have summoned a promotional mix:

DOWNLOAD: Tactile - House, Funky and more Fucking House

Tracklist:

Ultra Nate – Love Is the Only Drug
Soul Tourist – Fo Eva (Gruber & Nürnberg rmx) (Drumpoet Commuity)
Rene & Gaston – Pouah! (Ours Savant edit) (ARTLESS)
Scotty D – The Sound (white)
Perempay and Dee – Just Wanna Be Your Girl (white)
Aaron Carl – Oasis (Nick Holder vocal dub)
Chez Damier – Untitled B1 (KMS 049)
Delano Smith – The Explanation (Third Ear)
dOP – Blanche Neige (Circus Company)

Link:
www.myspace.com/tactilelondon

VIDEO/DOWNLOAD: Starkey - Building The Beat



Maybe some of you considered us to be a 'bit slow' on posting about Starkey's uber special challenge to build a beat in 2 hours live on Mary Anne Hoobs BBC Radio 1 Experimental show with samples provided by BBC DJs, producers and members of the public...

Truth is we were waiting for this:



DOWNLOAD: Starkey w/ Reso & Anneka - Building The Beat

Go PJ.

Link:
www.myspace.com/starkey
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/maryannehobbs

DOWNLOAD: Raekwon - Coke Up In Da Dollar Bill Mixtape



As Raekwon's 'Only Built For Cuban Linx II' album proceeds to get better and better - dominating almost every journey to work whether on cycle or tube - we're proud to link you to this brand new mixtape hosted by DJ Whoo Kid and DJ Scream. 'Coke Up In Da Dollar Bill' pulls together '09 freestyles and collaborations from Rae Rae the Chef, himself.

DOWNLOAD: Raekwon - Coke Up In Da Dollar Bill Mixtape (Via Sendspace)

Tracklist:

01. Happy New Year ft. Ol Dirty Bastard
02. Coke Up in Da Dollar Bill
03. I Wanna Rock
04. Blood Missles ft. AZ
05. History
06. Trenchman
07. The Set UP
08. Real Talk
09. Stick Up Muzik ft. Busta Rhymes & Uncle Murda
10. Yessir ft. Ghostface & Crooked I
11. Crime Wave
12. Heat Rocks

Link:
www.myspace.com/raekwon

DOWNLOAD: Echodub Podcast



In a world where every record label has a voice thanks to the socially [inept] network the internet has provided, some imprints choose to use it a little better than others, offering an insight into fresh and creative music from aspiring producers.

Echodub do that anyway, packaging up free releases from producers you should definitely check, but head honcho DFRNT has taken it a little further with the podcast series...

"Since we spend so much time exploring new and intriguing music, it seemed like a logical progression to allow Echodub members to present their musical interest as a series of podcasts."

DOWNLOAD: Echodub Podcast

Tuesday 19 January 2010

DOWNLOAD: Letherette - Beat Showcase 003



BTS Radio is back after a short hiatus and the duo of Andrew Meza and Charles Munka seem to be doing things right promising every Tuesday to deliver "a new guest mix from some of the most progressive artists around the globe."

Step up then Wolverhampton duo Letherette... with only a couple of remixes for Bibio and Machinedrum to their name thus far this is the perfect opportunity for the world of beats to get to know.

DOWNLOAD: Letherette - Beat Showcase 003

Tracklist:

Letherette - Eye To Eye (CDR)
Pete Rock - We Roll (Nature Sounds)
Letherette - Master Chin (CDR)
Letherette - In July (CDR)
Madlib - The Mystery (Dilla's Still Here) (Stones Throw)
Letherette - Check My Head (CDR)
Kashif - I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On) (Arista)
Pheonix - If I Ever Feel Better (Source Records)
Cherelle w/ Alexander O'Neal - Saturday Love (Tabu)
Letherette - Langsette (CDR)
Letherette - In And Out (CDR)
Machinedrum - Late Night Operation (Letherette Remix) (Normrex)
Letherette - Good For Me (CDR)
Lone - Fire Fly Rainbow (Dealmaker)
Letherette - Feel Real (CDR)
Letherette - Shoe Be Doo (CDR)
Letherette - Blad (CDR)
Letherette - Yea Yeah Love (CDR)
Letherette - Giro Milo (CDR)
Hudson Mohawke - Track #003 (CDR)
Letherette - Donnie Ball Ball (CDR)
Letherette - Optimise In Prime (CDR)
Thomas Bangalter - Club Soda (Roule)
Letherette - This Time (CDR)
Bibio - Jealous Of Roses (Warp)
Bibio - Lovers' Carvings (Letherette Remix) (Warp)

Link:
www.myspace.com/letherette
www.btsradio.com

RECOMMENDED: Hyetal & Shortstuff - Ice Cream/Don't Sleep [Punch Drunk]



First 12" from Punch Drunk, Hyetal and/or Shortstuff in 2010 = 1st must buy 12" of the new year.

Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=7047



Link:
www.myspace.com/djshortstuff
www.myspace.com/hyetalmusic

DOWNLOAD: Ramadanman - Ruffage Wire Podcast



Ramadoozle just dropped a new mix in aid of the next Ruffage at Wire in Leeds next Friday which features selectors Ben UFO and Untold alongside a headline slot from Hatcha doing a 2004 set.

DOWNLOAD: Ramadanman - Ruffage Wire Podcast

Tracklist:

01. Timeblind - Space Cadet [Agriculture]
02. Rhythm & Sound - Why [Burial Mix]
03. Alix Alvarez - Boom Bip [Sole Channel]
04. DVA - Ganja [Forthcoming Hyperdub]
05. Untold & Roska - Long Range [Forthcoming Build]
06. A Made Up Sound - Sun Touch [Forthcoming A Made Up Sound]
07. Jam city - What I think about you [Unreleased]
08. Ikonika - dckhdbtch [Unreleased]
09. Ramadanman vs. Missy - Mir's a bitch [Unreleased]
10. Mos Wanted Mega - Diffrent Lekstrix [Unreleased]
11. Joy Orbison - So Derobe [Forthcoming Aus]
12. 2562 - Who are you fooling? [Tectonic]
13. Pangaea - 5-htp [Hessle Audio]
14. Ghost - Two Thousand [Ghost]
15. LV feat. Rubi Dan - Crossfire [Unreleased]
16. Bok Bok - Citizens Dub [Forthcoming Blunted Robots]
17. Ramadanman - Glut [Forthcoming Hemlock]
18. Pangaea - Neurons [Hessle Audio]
19. Icicle - Xylophobia [Unreleased]
20. Ramadanman - Bleeper [Unreleased]
21. Lil' Wayne - A millie (Harmonimix) [White]
22. Mala - Blue Notez [DMZ]
23. Ramadanman - Don't Change For Me [Unreleased]

Link:
www.myspace.com/ramadanman

Monday 18 January 2010

DOWNLOAD: Club Transmediale 2010



As the Berlin based Club Transmediale festival is about to kick off its 11th edition - between the 28th Jan and the 7th Feb featuring work varying from experimental cello work to beat 'experiments' - they're offering up the relevant compilation, featuring tracks from people like Scuba, Mount Kimbie and Funckarma alongside work from Richie Hawtin, Joris Voorn and Glass Candy, as a free download for a limited time only.

Check out more about the festival and this year's line up here: http://www.clubtransmediale.de/ctm-festival/introduction.html

DOWNLOAD: Club Transmediale 2010











Links:
www.zero-inch.com/get/ctm10
www.clubtransmediale.de

DOWNLOAD: Mala on Gilles Peterson - Podcast



"Much loved low end theorist Mala (Digital Mystikz/DMZ/DEEP MEDi Musik) makes the trek up from snowy South London to join GP in the Brownswood Basement for a chat about his musical roots, dubplate culture, the evolution of the dubstep movement, and of course to spin some of his favourite records – past, present and future."

DOWNLOAD: Mala on Gilles Peterson - Podcast

Tracklist:

1. Mala – Level 9 (Hyperdub)
2. Mala – Livin’ Different (Dubplate)
3. Mala – Education (Dubplate)
4. Burning Spear – Door Peeper (Supreme)
5. Little Roy – Hurt Not The Earth (Pressure Sounds)
6. Augustus Pablo – East Of The River Nile (Message)
7. Steve Reich – New York Counterpoint (Nonesuch)
8. Quest – Smooth Skin (Dubplate)
9. Jill Scott – Slowly Surely (Theo Parrish Remix) (Ugly Edits)
10. Mizz Beats – My World (DEEP MEDi Musik)

Link:
www.myspace.com/malamystikz

VIDEO: Trim - Monkey (Hood Video)



Arkse fo' Trim.

Link:
www.myspace.com/trimbale

DOWNLOAD: Final Ruffage Session



I was gonna tap this recording on to last week's piece on this very subject but I figured it deserved its own post; it's a bitter sweet honour for me to be able to present you with the audio from the final Ruffage Session on Sub.fm.

4 hours with Ben UFO, Ramadanman and Pangaea at the helm.

DOWNLOAD: Final Ruffage Session

Tracklist after the jump - I'd post it but it is retarded long.

Friday 15 January 2010

INTERVIEW: XI [Immerse/Formant]



Sonic Router is incredibly proud to be able to present the first exclusive mix of 2010 from Candian producer, XI. With music forthcoming on a multitude of labels and a multitude of production styles, we first got wind of him through his forthcoming, ‘000’ 12” on Immerse Records. With a percussion heavy style his music has all the energy of the garage, funky hybrid perpetuating the airwaves but manages to retain some of those simple sine wave step hallmarks that first struck a chord with our ears back when.

After hearing more of his music thanks to another 12” on Formant, we reached out and touched our keypads, pinned XI down to an AIM username and shot him a few questions so we could learn ourselves a little something.

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

XI: Sure, my name’s Christian, been producing beats since the turn of the millennium, got seriously into dubstep late in ’05. Started out doing experimental and moved to jungle early on. Always been an electronic music fan, also grew up on a lot of abstract hip-hop and metal from the 90s. Been DJing clubs since the age of 16, went to recording school at 19, and it’s been a wrap ever since.

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

Music takes up a massive portion of my daily life, between playing shows, working on music by myself or with friends, working at local record store Slinky Music, or doing mix-downs for friend’s bands/projects; there is really only time for a few things. I like to collect comic books and trades, and was a competitive video game player for a bit, but those days are pretty well over.

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

Hearing artists like Aphex Twin, DJ Shadow, and Photek made me do a 180. I was totally captivated by the artist’s sonic palette and become obsessed with figuring out how to mimic the sounds and arrangements I was hearing. I copped a free version of Fruity Loops and started having more fun than I’d ever had doing anything. Ever.

What’s your production set up like?

I like to keep it minimal; I run a small basement studio with a Novation Xio Synth, and an MPD32 for control/performance. Aside from that I do a huge amount of my work inside Ableton Live.

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

Manic depressive.



Whats the deal behind the XI moniker?

For a good while I was producing jungle under the name “35k” but was also making a good bit of experimental breaks, 2-step and hip hop. I wanted to have a different name for that project so I took the first 2 letters of my name’s short-form (“Xian”) = XI.

What first brought you to the dubstep sound? What inspires you musically?

The versatility was easily one of the biggest draws for me. Each producer in the early days of the sound came with a unique style, but no matter how they differed, they all fell under this one BPM umbrella. I personally thought it sounded like the drum & bass I loved turned into crunk (which I also loved). This fusion of UK music and hip-hop totally piqued my interest, and has definitely had an influence on how I make my beats to this day.

From the feel of your forthcoming 12”s on Immerse and Formant, you’ve got a keen interest in percussion. Is that your main focus when you start making a track...?

I almost always start with drums. I played drums in various bands though my younger days, so rhythm has always been a sticking point with me. For me a track can be little more than a complex drum pattern and bassline, with one or two other sounds accompanying it.

What’s the scene like in Toronto? Is it a healthy place musically? Who’s representing, other than yourself, the out there?

Toronto is doing its own thing, I haven’t really been to any other city like it in terms of the community. I wouldn’t say it’s the most healthy musical environment, but the tools for artists to progress are here. There is a lot of talent in T.O such as producers Bombaman, Egyptrixx, and the boys from Zed’s Dead have sent me some very impressive stuff. We have tons of talented DJs as well. The scope here among some promotional outfits seems to be a bit limited, but I’ve always been doing my own thing, I think that’s the only way to keep going around here. I’ve taken back up promotion as well, kicking off the year by bringing NYC’s Falty DL to town on the 21st of January.

Do you find it hard to keep up?

I suppose that comes down to your definition of keeping up. These days there are so many new artists, so much new music, and legions of new fans of the music. I just keep my head down and trawl around for the stuff I like. I’m finding right now to be one of the most exciting times in music ever in my life, so in keeping up with stuff that makes me excited, no, I wouldn’t say it’s hard, though it does take some effort.

I see you work with Bombaman as Loetech. How did you two hook up and what makes the project different from your tracks as XI?

Bombaman and I started producing experimental hip-hop and jungle together many years ago. We met through a mutual friend around 2002. Being that we are basically the same person it is very easy for us to throw down in the studio together. The way our collabs differ from my solo production is that Bomba’s more party and dancefloor driven attitude plays off of my braindance-y complex arrangements, forming something uniquely intelligent, energetic and groovy.

You’ve also got the Ultragamma project, which feels more hip-hop influenced, judging by a quick listen and your mix tracklist for the CC 001 mixtape. Tell us a little about that one?

Ultragamma is another solo-project I’m working on. It started a couple years back in much the same way XI did, just dabbling around with some other styles under a pseudonym. I actually love working on this kind of stuff, I never really intended for anyone to hear it so I was free to just do whatever I wanted, the main point originally being to create a more tweaky sound palette for my dubstep productions, but after a couple people heard the beats I got the notion I was on to something a little more important.



What up and coming releases have you got coming out?

I’ve got several XI plates dropping early this year, ‘000’ on Immerse Recordings out of Bristol, ‘Light FM’ on Texas label Formant Recordings, my collab with DJG, ‘Putney Says,’ on Surefire Sound out of SF and ‘The Ghost’ b/w the Headhunter remix on Orca out of London.

I haven’t started working on releasing any of the Ultragamma stuff, and am not in any particular hurry to.

Since 2010 is the most futuristic sounding date since the year 2000, have you got any future forward predictions for the year ahead?

Given the current climate I wouldn’t be surprised to see a total blurring between underground and overground styles. Not just in music, but in culture in general. People are takin’ it back this decade.

Can you tell us a little about the mix you’ve done for us and how it came together?

I wanted to do a bit of a producer showcase, to give your readers an idea of my production spectrum. As I stated earlier, I love versatility in music and try to keep my style varied and interesting, so for this I decided to start off on the lighter side of things and work my way into some of my more slammin’ work.

Have you got any words of wisdom for our readers?

You literally get out what you put in.

::

DOWNLOAD: XI – Sonic Router Mix



Tracklist:

01. XI - Unfair [dub]
02. XI - The Ghost [Orca]
03. XI - 000 [Immerse]
04. XI - Drip [Surface Tension]
05. Ludwig Coenen - Green Movement (XI remix) [Thoughtless]
06. XI - Light FM [Formant]
07. Tri-Funk - 620 [dub]
08. Thrills - Go (XI & DZ remix) [dub]
09. XI - Dreaming Void [Surface Tension]
10. XI & DJG - Putney Says [Surefire]
11. XI - Zurich [dub]
12. Egyptrixx - Just Say Really (XI remix) [Idiot House]
13. Starkey - Murderous Words (XI remix) [dub]
14. XI - Vacuum [dub]
15. XI - Luck Dragon [dub]
16. Dials - SEF [dub]
17. Rustie - Bad Science [Wireblock]
18. Loetech - Base [dub]
19. XI - Genesis [dub]
20. Swarms - Shiver (Ashburner remix) [For the Win]

Link:
www.myspace.com/xidubs
www.myspace.com/ultragamma

Photos: Kelly Koehler

DOWNLOAD: Roska - Hyp!Hyp!Hyp! Mix



Roska comes with a lil exclusive mix for the Hyp!Hyp!Hyp! crew to mark their event on Saturday at Plan B.

Info on that here.

DOWNLOAD: Roska - Hyp!Hyp!Hyp! Mix

Tracklist:

01. Zinc & Dynamite - Wileout (Roska Special) - Bingo Bass
02. Roska - Feeline (Original Mix) - Roska Kicks & Snares
03. Baobinga - Tongue Riddim (Roska Remix) - Build
04. Geeneus & Dynamite - Get Low (Roska Special) - Rinse
05. Gucci Vump - Shta Shti (L-Vis1990 Remix)
06. MA1 - Static - Karnival
07. Roska - I Need Love - Rinse
08. Marco Del Horno - The Only Way Out Is Down - Bullet Train
09. Roska & Jamie George - Wonderful Day

Link:
www.myspace.com/rosiroska

Wednesday 13 January 2010

DOWNLOAD: The Best of Ruffage Sessions



There’s something so vital about internet radio; something about it feels a lot more hidden from the mainstream. You can’t flick across it accidentally on your FM dial as you drive, you have to be there locked into your station, frantically asking for wheel ups in the chat room by bashing your fists on the keyboard, adding a bunch of exclamation marks and then pressing enter. For me there is yet to be a more instant and personally rewarding medium.

After 3 years of helming the cult radio show, The Ruffage Sessions on the longest running original pirate internet station, Sub.fm, the core trio behind the Hessle Audio label, Ben UFO, Ramadanman and Pangaea, are calling it a day. Tomorrow night’s 4 hour special - from 8pm right through to midnight - presented by and featuring the platter merging of all 3 of them (“for the first time in ages” according to Ben UFO) will be the send off; that special present given to the loyal listeners and message board frequenters.

So, to mark the passing of a big part of the trio’s lives they’ve selected 10 of their favourite sessions - some archived on Sub FM’s cavernous recesses and others re-upped especially for this occasion – to give you a great idea of the guests they’ve had along the way along with a vital insight of the multitude of styles you can expect to hear tomorrow night.

DOWNLOAD: Ruffage Sessions 01.03.07 (via Sendspace)

This is one of the first shows we ever did... it feels like a long time ago. We were all based in Leeds at this point, so we were doing a lot more shows together.

DOWNLOAD: Ruffage Sessions – Ramadanman 05.07.07 (Right Click/Save As)

Another early show... Ramadanman was buying house and techno long before we started doing this, and this is the first time he showcased that.

DOWNLOAD: Ruffage Sessions – Pangaea 31.01.08(Right Click/Save As)

Pangaea's first and only solo show, starting out with a Derek and Clive sketch and moving through a lot of different sounds.

DOWNLOAD: Ruffage Sessions – Ramadanman 23.04.08 (via Divshare)

A solo Ramadanman show, 100% vinyl from early 2008. Broadcast from Dorset with the trusty headphone mic.

DOWNLOAD: Ruffage Sessions feat. Appleblim – 29.05.08 (Right Click/Save As)

This was at the point when there was more hype around techno oriented dubstep than there'd ever been. At the same time there was a lot of music coming out of the house and techno scenes that sounded really exciting, and was unfamiliar to us. This show’s a good document of that.

DOWNLOAD: Ruffage Sessions feat. Bok Bok – 20.11.08 (Right Click/Save As)

Ben: One of the hypest and most enjoyable show’s I’ve done. A lot of fun was had piecing together house music from all over the place and trying to keep everything from falling apart.

DOWNLOAD: Ruffage Sessions– Ben UFO Jungle Show 01.01.09 (via Megaupload)

Recorded on New Years Day 2009. Although it's predominantly dark, mid-90s stuff I get quite a blissful vibe from it.

DOWNLOAD: Ruffage Sessions Second Birthday Pt. 1 – Ramadanman 08.01.09 (Right Click/Save As)

The first half of our second birthday celebrations, broadcast from Lille. Ramadanman picked out some of his favourite tunes that got played regularly on the show through the two years it’d been running.

DOWNLOAD: Ruffage Sessions Second Birthday Pt. 2 feat. Oneman, Elgato, Brackles, Bok Bok, Ben UFO and Asbo – 15.01.09 (Right Click/Save As)

Ben: Some of the happiest memories of radio I have come from this show. It was a real privilege mixing with everyone all crammed into a tiny room with piles of records all over the place. We kept it going for nearly 4 hours. There are tunes in this show I've not heard since.

DOWNLOAD: Ruffage Sessions – Ben UFO 09.04.09 (Right Click/Save As)

One of the first Ruffage Sessions focusing on a transition from lower tempo house through garage ending up at 140bpm.

Catch the last ever Ruffage Session on Sub.fm tomorrow night from 8pm. Oh and look out for Pangaea's double pack EP dropping on Hessle Audio imminently, 'Why?' is the one...

Links:
http://sub.fm
www.myspace.com/freshben
www.myspace.com/ramadanman
www.myspace.com/journeytopangaea

READ/DOWNLOAD: Blue Daisy - SRQ009



Camden resident and producer Blue Daisy is the subject of January's Sonic Router penned Quietus column. He takes us through a few of his processes and opinions and drops an exclusive mix...

READ/DOWNLOAD: Blue Daisy - SRQ009



No tracklist, sucker.

Links:
www.myspace.com/bluedaize

Tuesday 12 January 2010

STREAM: Ikonika - Fenchurch Mix



Ahead of her full length album on Hyperdub and the slew of forthcoming remixes she's got listed on her myspace page, including mixes of Egyptrixx, DJ Madd and Illum Sphere, Ikonika has put together a mix for the clothing label Fenchurch.

STREAM: Ikonika - Fenchurch Mix


Tracklist available after the ^^^ jump.

Link:
www.myspace.com/ikonika
www.fenchurch.com

Monday 11 January 2010

DOWNLOAD: LV - Aural Winter Blanket



Production trio LV today submitted a new mix to the Rhythm Incursions site, aiming to wrap up your ears and offer comfort in this icy turmoil textured time.

DOWNLOAD: LV - Aural Winter Blanket

Tracklist:

Biosphere – From a solid to a liquid
Pole – Taxi
Hieronymus – Honeydrops
Conjoint – Earprints
Oskar Sala – Klangfarben Caprice [V]
Burnt Friedman and the New Dub Players – Cassock Attack
Klaus Roeder – Kristalisation 9 (LV mix)
Sigha – Prayer
Asusu – Taurean
Untold – Yukon (FMF remix)
Flying Lotus – Auntie’s Lock/Infinitum
Zomby – Digital Flora
FaltyDL – To London

Link:
www.myspace.com/lvbass

RECOMMENDED: Julio Bashmore - Um Bongo’s Revenge/World Peace [Dirtybird]


If any more proof were needed of funky’s extraordinary capacity to infiltrate regions far beyond its immediate remit, Bristol boy Julio Bashmore’s signing to Claude VonStroke’s Dirtybird label provides it in excess. In terms of tempo, atmosphere and overall aesthetic ‘Um Bongo’s Revenge’ fits far better with the Dirtybird roster than it would on something like Apple Pips or Tectonic, pivoting around a startlingly minimal motif crafted almost entirely from percussion. Yet there’s something fundamental contained within that identifies its heritage as particular to the UK.

This 12” version is markedly different from an earlier form that circulated for a while, stripping away any semblance of its distinctive ascending melody, and with it any retention of tropical moisture. Whilst the unpredictable, Africanised snare pattern is pure funky, the track’s core is dessicated, brittle and oddly rigid - a paradox that lends the track a constant and barely resolved sense of tension between the demands of the dance and its machine heart. Yet it is this very contradiction that makes it so ferociously addictive, and eminently danceable – ‘Um Bongo’s Revenge’ is devastating in its very simplicity, and its chameleon-like nature ensures that you’re likely to hear that cartoonish voiceover in a huge range of DJ sets in the early half of 2010.

By way of contrast to the A-side’s oddly anthemic charms, the aptly named ‘World Peace’ moves into more subdued territory, generating a more contemplative atmosphere a little reminiscent of Berlin’s Rhythm & Sound label. Less overtly dancefloor oriented, it swells with shimmering melody and a downtempo warmth that remains hanging in the air long after the track’s end. Along with ‘The Moth,’ his track on fabric’s up and coming ‘Elevator Music’ compilation, its more considered nature is suggestive of more interesting material to come from Bashmore.

Words: Rory Gibb
Out: Now

Link:
www.myspace.com/juliobashmore

PRE-ORDER: DVA - Natty/Ganja [Hyperdub]



Rinse FM resident, Scratcha DVA, functioning here simply as DVA, drops his debut 12” for the iconic Hyperdub imprint, with his own take on the funky sound; one that the grime producer has been perfecting for some time. Hyperdub always seem to ‘do funky’ differently, be it the smeared secular synths of Kode9 or the loved up deep and spacious sounds of Cooly G, and after his infectious ‘Jelly Roll EP,’ Scratcha’s hitting back with two prime cuts of dark no nonsense percussive funky.

The snares on ‘Natty’ have that off-centre skippy nature, like skimming a pebble over open water; really giving the track a lilting groove, which plays off the tribal percussion in fine style, switching from one subtle groove to the other only to be enhanced by the pulse of a ragged bass tone that really makes things swing. It’s incredibly simple but so effective, a dark side funky track that really gets under the skin. ‘Ganja’ is less reliant on the percussive interplay and instead hinges on the catchy sinuous bass line that winds its way around the track not unlike DJ Mujava’s ‘Township Funk,’ a cycle of whining bleeps that twists into dance floor oblivion.

Words: James Balf
Out: 18th January 2010

Links:
www.myspace.com/scratchadva
www.myspace.com/hyperdub

You catch Scratcha alongside Ramadanman and Heny G at the Tropical Launch Party at the Wire Club in Leeds on the 10th Feb, for which he's done a mix...

DOWNLOAD: Scratcha - Tropical Mix



Facebook Event

DOWNLOAD: Stickem - Let Skweeedom Ring



Primitive, using simple computer sounds and what some might call outdated equipment, the genre of 'skweee' seems like it could be an insider joke when your trying your best to describe it to someone... like some kind of "fisher price dubstep..."

Its not. There's a lot to love, as displayed here by Stickem, providing a "75 minute mix showcasing the synthetic funk from Scandinavia" for the Skweeelicious blog.

DOWNLOAD: Stickem - Let Skweeedom Ring

Tracklist:

Mrs. Qeada (SWE) Dreamatis Personea
Melkeveien (NO) Fantôme
Claws Costeau (FIN) Cold Smokin’ Tofu
Boss Kite (UK) CMYK
V.C. (FIN) 30:00
Ricky Lemon (DEN) Copenhagen
Bellybelle (USA) Supercell Strut
LaZERcrotch (USA) Neon Dude’s House Party
Spartan Lover (FIN) Zbieg
Wankers United (FRA) Superfönky
Hybakusha (ESP) Lebannon79
Kid Logic (USA) Polyester Shirt
Miramichi (CA) Leggo My Ego
Limonious (SWE) Degenerate
Beem (SWE) Automan
Easy and The Center of the Universe (NO) Yazid
Daniel Savio (SWE) People Die Love Don’t
Rigas (SWE) feat. Markis Sage (SWE/FIN) Love Over Gold
Stickem (USA) This Thing Is On – Beatbully (NO) remix
Mesak (FIN) Sly Filmfestival (Sotchi Montage)
Sprutbass (NO) Hot Water Dirty Pits
Randy Barracuda (FIN/NL) Overnight Romancin’
Mackaper (SWE) Tale of Tale of Tales – Joxaren (SWE) remix
Slow Hand Motëm (CA) feat. Pubs Panseno (USA) They Lied

Link:
http://skweee.com

DOWNLOAD: Coco Bryce - Lowriders Mixtape 001



Having first seen the name Coco Bryce on a split 12" with Slugabed, I'd done the requisite googling and myspace surfing to know that the Dutch producer was someone to keep a keen eye on after releases on Harmonia and Myor. Then the Lowriders fam emailed to say he was kicking off their mixtape series - further entries in the series are promised from people like Hovatron, Debruit, 1000 Names and Slugabed - and I got really intrigued.

DOWNLOAD: Coco Bryce - Lowriders Mixtape 001

Tracklist

1. ELIOT LIPP – FLASHLIGHT (HEFTY)
2. RUSTIE & 215 TFK – CAFE DE PHRESH (STUFF)
3. CANDY HANK & MC SHADE – WE ALL GO TO DIE TONIGHT (SONIG)
4. SAMIYAM – RETURN (HYPERDUB)
5. MAD MEN – KANZULU (HUM DRUMS)
6. 1000 NAMES – TERMINAL 5 (CDR)
7. COCO BRYCE – SLECHTE RIP OFF (CDR)
8. REKORDAH – BEDROOM SUITE (SOON TO BE RELEASED ON POLLEN)
9. POGFLIPPER – ANTHOLOGY – COCO BRYCE REMIX (CDR)
10. STARKEY – OK LUV – EPROM REMIX (PLANET MU)
11. COCO BRYCE – DIS CAM BELIE (CDR)
12. DEBRUIT – KO DEBOUT (CIVIL MUSIC)

Link:
www.myspace.com/cocobrycebeats
www.lowriderscollective.com

Sunday 10 January 2010

DOWNLOAD: Om Unit - All City Past, Present & Future Showcase Mix



After his impeccable 'Pop Lock' remix of Joker's 'Digidesign' Om Unit has releases scheduled on Plastician's Terror Rhythm label as well as on the All City label. To mark his involvement on the All City roster, his 'Lightgrids' 7" should be out shortly, he's put together a mix so you can familiarise yourself with the labels output.

DOWNLOAD: Om Unit - All City Past, Present & Future Showcase Mix (Right Click/Save As)

Tracklist:

Intro
Matthew David - Late Nite Lo Fi For dak
Pudge - Awn My Dawn
Tokimonsta - Park Walks
Heralds Of Change - Work That
Take - warm Ruin
Dimlite - Quiz Tears
Hudson Mohawke - ROot Hands
Pudge - Blips Ahoy Mate
Mweslee - Jamas Jame Jamon
Dibiase - Spacely Sprockets
Fulgeance - Mamie Thè
Heralds Of Change - Ridin Chrome
Musinah - Lose My Fuse
Tokimonsta - Last Nights Blurry Memories
Om Unit - Lightgrids
Snowman - Rise
Onra - Wee Out ft. Buddy Sativa
Krystal Klear - Tried for your love
Devonwho -Keepthefunkalive
Knxwledge - Wait

Links:
www.myspace.com/omunit
all-cityrecords.com

Photo: Anna Marocco

Thursday 7 January 2010

DOWNLOAD: Shortstuff - XLR8R Mix



Another sure fire DL on sight podcast from Shortstuff courtesy of the San Fran fam from XLR8R.

DOWNLOAD: Shortstuff - XLR8R Mix

Tracklist:

01 Joey Beltram "Upper" (Novamute)
02 Scratcha DVA "Natty" (Hyperdub)

03 Martin Kemp "Wot U Got"
04 Shortstuff "Swine Time" (Ramp)

05 Hem feat. Terrible Shock "On a Mission (Shortstuff Remix)"

06 TRG "Tribal Flex"

07 Deadboy "If U Want Me (Brackles & Shortstuff Remix)"
08 Brackles "6am El Gordos" (Brainmath)
09 Shortstuff "Galaxy" (Ramp)
10 Steve Poindexter "Work That Muthafucker" (Musique)
11 Mosca "Square One (Roska Remix)" (Night Slugs)

12 Brackles & Shortstuff "Roots & Berries"
13 Doc Daneeka "Drums in the Deep" (Fabric)
14 Shortstuff & Hyetal "Crayola"

15 Bok Bok feat. Bubbz "Citizens Dub" (Blunted Robots)

16 Dizzee Rascal "Live O" (XL)

17 Untold "Bad Girls" (Fabric)

18 Geiom "Spiral Weave"

19 Lauren Pritchard "Stuck (Guido Remix)"

Link:
www.myspace.com/djshortstuff

DOWNLOAD: Untold - Elevator Music Mix for Sinden



Superb mix from Untold.
Featured on Sinden's KISS FM show last night.
Headhunter & Invisible - 'Luvdup' - fothcoming Soul Motive.
Bok Bok - 'Citizen Dub' - forthcoming Blunted Robots.
Ramadaman - 'Glut' - forthcoming Hemlock.
Spent.

DOWNLOAD: Untold - Elevator Music Mix for Sinden



Tracklist:

Boys noize - Transmission (Untold remix) - forthcoming Boys noize
Bok Bok feat. Bubbz - Citizens Dub - forthcoming Blunted Robots
Untold - Tastes like chicken - Unreleased
Wu Tang – Do It Big (Baobinga & I.D. Remix) – Cdr
Mark Pritchard – Elephant Dub – Deep Medi
Schlachthofbronx – Ayoba (Inst) – Man Recordings
Headhunter & Invisible – Luvdup – Soul Motive
Untold – You Dropped Something – Cdr
Sisters Of Transistors – Solar Disco (Untold Remix) – This Is Music
Ramadanman – Glut – Hemlock
Dj Eastwood – U Aint Ready (Untold Remix) – No Hats No Hoods

Link:
www.myspace.com/untolduk