SR Mix #75: Konx-om-Pax [Display Copy]

Twenty six year old Glaswegian digital artist and sonic experimenter Tom Scholefield has been slowly rising in stature over the last couple of years. With mixes across a multitude of blogs and DJ sets in increasing demand it's hard to look across his rapidly diversifying body of work and pin him down to any one specialist artform – but it's under the banner of his audio-visual label, Display Copy, that he is most productive. As an artist he has been called upon to produce some high profile commissions including the hallucinogenic neon paint splashed video for Hudson Mohawke's 'Joy Fantastic,' the cover for Oneohtrix Point Never's Rifts album, as well as further OPN art, a Laurel Halo video, Mogwai posters and he has also worked with labels such as Optimo, Warp and DFA. You may well recognise his work if you’ve followed the recent releases on Numbers and the labels the crew ran beforehand, but in short, Scholefield’s is no small portfolio.

Optimo Tracks, the first record released on Display Copy was written for an AV installation at legendary club night Optimo Espacio in 2009 – the CD featured three tracks that flip between walls of screeching metal, analogue noise and sleek Detroit machine pulse with a remix from No-Fun-Acid impresario Carlos Giffoni sewing up the carnage left at the end. The second release on the label is Tom's debut full length album titled Light In Extension – a direct translation of his artist name Konx-om-Pax, a moniker taken from the Greek Eleusinian Mysteries. The tracks across the record draw a line like the vapour trail of an ascending rocket, piercing out of a collapsing constellation of abstracted industrial noise, techno and hypnagogic acid and into a space realigned across his own transformative vision of what transcendental noise can be.

To illustrate his influences, Tom made us a mix - number 75 in our ongoing series - that incorporates past and future signposts along his musical trip...

SR: First of all I want to ask about your name, Konx-om-Pax – is it from the Alistair Crowley book?

KOP: No, it isn't. People always seem to think that but it's from Giacinto Scelsi, an avant garde composer, it's the name of one of his songs. I didn't hear about it until people started telling me. It means Light In Extension, that's where I got the name from because I thought it related quite nicely with the visual aspect.

There's a relationship between the textures of the tracks on Light In Extension and the visual aesthetic of the artworks Tom produces – a nostalgic futurism...

Yeah, that's sort of it – BBC Radiophonic, Board of Canada influenced fuzziness to it. I listen to a lot of techno, when I make stuff I'm engineering it to sound good live, and simple. That's from years of playing techno and listening to what club music sounds like, so when I'm making weird fucked up synth stuff I'm still engineering it in the same way you would a House record. How it sounds loud on as PA

Did you start out making noise music?

I started out making really really hard Jeff Mills-y techno when I was about 15, on a Yamaha DJX keyboard. Really purposeful hard as fuck loopy techno. It sounded really bad and then I learnt more about production and stuff, moved away from more traditional music and got into noise based stuff later on.

On the mix there's a thread between the tracks that ties them together, a sense of formlessness to it, an amorphousness which is a counterpoint to the more structured techno...

They are two really clear things in my head and I understood when you said formless, I like the really loose and unformulaic – no rigid bar structure or tempo, music that doesn't have a repetitive structure. Really weird compared to more traditional dance music. There's definitely quite a strong link between most of the tracks in the mix.

There’s a noisiness and a trance-y, meditative aspect running through to the last track... a kind of religious, ritualistic trance music...

That sounds like something out of Blade Runner doesn't it? I found that last track on a really cool blog; it was tagged with the genre 'Ceremony'. I like that there was a genre called Ceremony.

And my mate Team Brick, I saw him in Bristol, came to the Mogwai show and hung out and gave me and Dominic from Mogwai a tonne of CDRs that he'd been making; a couple of noise ones a couple of really fucked up electro ones, and that track was off one of his electro albums that kinda sounded like a noise producer trying to copy the Analogue AFX series. Interested to hear a noise producer trying to make dance music, it doesn't sound quite right and that's why I liked it.

There's a dirtiness and darkness to one end of drum and bass that is very noisy, is that a kind of dance music you ever got into, or has it been purely techno?

You know that drum and bass track on Moving Shadow,? Dom & Roland 'Can't Punish Me'. I bought that on vinyl when that came out when I was about 16, and the bassline in that was by far the gnarliest bass noise I'd ever heard. And later on it kind of sounds like a sort of Japanese noise bassline or a Throbbing Gristle synth noise or something like that - just really nasty. It's funny how those noises then developed into dubstep and stuff like that, but it was just a real noisy resonance, the resonance was also quite high up, an acidy bassy sub sort of thing. Probably one of my favourite basslines ever, I think.

How did you come to work with Oneohtrix Point Never, and Carlos Giffoni?

Dan sent me a message on MySpace a couple of years ago after he saw one of my bits of work and asked me to design his Rifts artwork. That was quite an interesting working relationship because he's probably got one of the most overactive, visual, crazy, out-there imaginations I've ever met – it was this never ending gmail chat about ideas. I would say something and he would give me paragraphs of the most in depth code like language to describe what he wanted me to do. I was having to decipher this really personal language that he has to describe whatever the fuck he's going on about. But I got it because it we eventually came to something that he liked, though it probably took a couple of months to get that Rifts artwork to something he was liking.



I just got to know Carlos through that; we hung out in New York and he took us to this Venezuelan restaurant and ordered some really cool food, gave me some really really really strong weed, I don't think I've ever been that high in public just a pure grass joint before going out. Fucked me up properly, it was a good night. He kept it in the fridge and went “do you want that”, I smoked about half of it then was in another dimension for the rest of the night going round New York, it was cool.

I wasn't going to ask you anything like this, but since we're here on the topic - do drugs play any kind of a part in your music and art?

Not necessarily, I think every couple of months I use a joint to help me out, that's about it... maybe one spliff, creatively, if I seem to get stuck on something. All it does is remove me from the stress so I can take a step back and look at stuff. I could probably list all the things I've made when I've been stoned and they're all generally the funnest most colourful things I've ever come up with. But I mean, I don't rely on it, or I don't condone it, or encourage anybody to do it. I've had a few interesting psychedelic experiences in my life, but I think that influences the visual side of things more than the music stuff.

Are the inspirations for your art and music drawn from the same influences?

Yeah, everything comes from the same bracket, sort of 60s to mid 80's diy avant garde, handmade animation sort of stuff from Europe and America. Piotr Kamler.

Do you consider your work as having any nostalgic elements, with all the hypnagogic stuff around Oneohtrix, the American synth-age sounds, or is it a continuation of your current existence?

I think everything I do is relating towards creating a wee world of my own where I feel safe, and that's probably not nostalgias... I don't know, it's kind of difficult to describe 'what does nostalgia mean,' but I'm trying to create a world that I sit in and trying to seduce other people into that world where everything is a bit safe and nicer. I don't like living in this period of time now with everything that's going on, I much preferred it when I was littler and wasn't aware of all the bad things in the world. I don't know if that makes me sound like a hippy...

That's a fairly common sentiment, people feeling more comfortable in their childhoods...

Well, when you've got people like David Cameron running the country I don't want to be part of that. I'd rather just be able to put my mind somewhere else and not have to think about that.

Is that what you use music and art for, as a form of escapism?

Yeah, I think so. Escapism, and partly the reason why I do all these mixtapes and put up the tracklistings is just so other people and maybe get into it and realise there's more music out there than the newest UK dubplate that these blogs are going on about. There's tonnes of music that's been made in the 40's and 50's and 60's that's just as interesting. I think the fascination of the new really pisses me off, and how people discuss and compete against each other in having the newest music and how that equates to being the best. I like new music but I don't like how it is automatically assumed that because it is brand new it means it's good and there's just so much out there that's been made a long time ago that's just as interesting. It's kind of automatic: if it's new it must be good and only four people own it. It's not a competition.

Everything is like a never ending announcement, like we're stuck in an internet train station with fuck all info about all that is happening but there's no real criticism. I think I just need to get off the internet for a wee while and get back in to the studio; it's making me go a bit mad.

The momentum of the new and the lack of criticism doesn't give people much of a chance to put anything into a greater context. If there were more analysis going on there'd be more reference to older works and people would have the chance to slow down and discover more of the older music...

There's a really great interview with James Stinson (Drexciya) talking about how he makes things and how he was quite adamant that when he is making stuff he cuts himself from everything – obviously no internet, no going to clubs, no radio, just involving himself in his own little universe to make stuff and I think that's one of the best bits of advice you could get if you want to make something proper. You've just got to ignore everyone else and get on with it and I think I'm probably headed into that world at the moment, stopped going out as much and trying to just ignore all this noise that's buzzing about and getting on with making music and working on the film.



So what projects are you working on at the moment?

I'm just beginning to storyboard my first short film, an abstract piece influenced by stuff by a polish animator called Piotr Kamler and stuff by the Brothers Quay.

I'm going to be working with another Glasgow character animator and it's going to be really surrealistic and psychedelic. I'm going to be soundtracking it. I'm going to aim to be able to have it as almost like an installation piece, with people working with ambi-sonic sound, producing it. So it's like a step up from the 5.1 – this is all early days. Set up a guerrilla cinema system with an ambi-sonic sound generator so the sounds will be travelling through space in 3D. It will be really intense I think.

Have you done much sound installation in the past?

The only think I've done recently was at the Tramway as part of the Nurse with Wound event, I made a projection installation piece, there was sound to it a well but it was more of a passive, almost background element to it, it was really just to soundtrack the cafe space it wasn't intrusive in any way.

Piotr Kamler has done an amazing thing with Bernard Parmegiani, an Italian composer: Une Mission Ephémère is probably the coolest thing I've ever seen. I think that's a big influence on the animation film stuff I'll be doing, a surrealist non-space with abstract stories and characters I think.

This year I'm supposed to be doing more stuff with Oneohtrix. I was chatting to him about doing something on the Software label, but I don't know. Doing some music video promo work for - this is early days yet – for Hyperdub and a promo for Domino. Can't say what bands yet, just music video projects for two different labels. I quite like that I'll be working with a rock band and working with a dub thing – both visually very similar but at different ends of the music spectrum.

Psychedelia is the joining force between most of these things.

Is that what you tend to look for?

I think that's why people ask me to do stuff.

Because they're after that Hypercolour?

I think that's generally the common thread between everything... or they just want it to be a bit weird.

::

DOWNLOAD: Konx-om-Pax – Sonic Router Mix #75



Tracklist:

1. Konx-om-Pax - 7th Dimension (Rustie Remix)
2. Team Brick - Track 3 (Klad Heist)
3. The Human League - Disco Disaster
4. Alexander Robotnick - Ar Stack 2
5. Konx-om-Pax - II
6. Bernard Parmegiani - Échos/mélopée
7. Carl Craig - Sound On Sound
8. Konx-om-Pax - Chevy Chase Mega Looper
9. James Ferraro - Untitled (Clear)
10. SPK - Stammheim Torturkammer
11. Synergy - Terminal Hotel
12. Oneohtrix Point Never - Gates of Sanct Vacui
13. Konx-om-Pax - Glacier Mountain Descent
14. Madhya - Thème Solennel de la Rédemption

Words: Meatbreak

RECOMMENDED: Slackk – Synthetic / Hervey Jenkins - Steelo [Forefront]

Putting out your debut label release is a big statement. Colouring in your imprint’s grandiose mission statement with just two cuts is a tough ask, but the Hull based Forefront guys seem to have straddled that quandary with ease on their first single - a split between the fractured personalities of Slackk and Hervey Jenkins.

Slackk, the obsessive figure behind the essential grime archive and resource, Grimetapes, has been turning his attention further towards UK funky of late, brining that grimey edge to his own productions - you may have caught on to his Wiley loving Eski-house experiments via his last 12” on the formidable Numbers or checked his beats all over the radio from Dusk & Blackdown and beyond… ‘Synthetic’ sees Slackk at his bumpin’ best, channelling the house aesthetic through his grimy lens. Rumbling echo drenched drums boom and bubble, whilst bleepy synth motifs twist with an urgent tension against some addictive shuffling hi-hats and bongo rhythms, that’ll definitely get you shaking a leg.

The flip comes courtesy of a mysterious garage don from way back when, Hervey Jenkins. He’s the kind of guy who’d give Chicago house legend Maurice Donovan and NY’s very own Frankie Solar a run for their money in a dance off, powering through the voguing until they were all down to their string vests. ‘Steelo’ is a sweaty slice of R&B chopped and flexed into a tough garage number that’ll have you skipping across the dance floor, champagne in one hand with fixed gun fingers on the other.

Words: James Balf // Out: Now via Rubadub

RECOMMENDED: Ill Blu – Meltdown EP [Numbers]

Back in August of 2009 a video appeared on youtube from UK funky production team and Rinse FM regulars, Ill Blu and ever since that track has been lodged in my brain. That tune turned out to be ‘Meltdown’ the title track on the first 12” to be released on Numbers in 2011. With only a few other releases on wax - the phenomenal ‘Time To Get Nasty’ from The Fantastic 4 EP, the undisputed anthem in their ‘Pull It’ w/ Shystie, the odd remix here and there plus last year’s Hyperdub release of ‘Bellion’ b/w ‘Dragon Pop’ - it’s a pleasure to see them unleash some of that fire. Listeners to their ever growing collection of dubplates - which you can hear when you tune into their Rinse show (Tue, 11-1am) – will be more than aware of their combination of rude bass and supple hard-hitting percussion is on show here.

‘Meltdown’ comes right out the gate with galloping tribal drums, showcasing that irresistible percussive vibrancy that Ill Blu personify. Before you know it those skipping snare hits -that five in a bar flutter they’re so good at - skits over the bass tones and you’re shaking so much more than just a leg. Coupled with pulsing bass drops, acidic alien synth tweaks and melodramatic melodic ascents, - one of which sounds suspiciously like when you get spotted by a guard on Metal Gear Solid and have to go into hiding – well... let’s just say this one is a banger.

The other two track ‘Overdose’ and ‘Chelt’ aren’t to shabby either; skippy rhythms that ooze energy, rudeness and pure vibes are handed out in spades. ‘Overdose’ bleeps and bubbles in fine style, Ill Blu know how to get some dramatic dance floor tension rolling, here playing the vibey bleeps against over-saturated buzzy bass tones. The rolling snares and rushing synths on ‘Chelt’ make you feel like you’re at carnival, those raw bass hits are back and coupled with a euphoric electro rush and spaced out key melodies.

If by the end of this EP a robotic voice chanting “Ill Ill Blu Blu…” isn’t music to your ears then you’re just going to have to reach for the rewind.

Words: James Balf
Out: Now

Links:
http://nmbrs.net
www.myspace.com/illblu

RECOMMENDED EVENT: Bloc Weekend 2011

Bloc Weekend 2010 was a real eye opener. Through friends you hear the ruminations of one of the weirdest most absurd sounding festivals in the calendar, and what you get is exactly what you imagine, a hardstyle no messing tribute to the multi-national elite of electronic music set in, well, set in a 1960s hardstyle holiday park. The novelty of raving in Butlin’s never leaves you, but it’s the quality of the programming that keeps you grounded amongst the colour, indoor burger king and giant Bob The Builder statues. Last year’s festival was a true test of personal intensity with highlights too numerous to attempt to recall.

This year the party returns to Minehead on the 11-13th March with a lineup that really does read like a roll call for inventive futurist musicians in 2011. Topped by Aphex Twin and Magnetic Man, two acts that given the notoriety of the former and the chart success of the latter need no introduction, the festival boasts stages from likeminded people and kin like Bleep.com, Resident Advisor, Numbers, Subloaded, Plex, Outlook Fesitval and Mary Anne Hobbs featuring all manner of names from Moderat and Four Tet to Jamie XX, Roska, Shackleton and so many many many more.
Without echoing the epic lineup for this year’s festival we urge you to go here and see what your missing.

It really is more than alot.

The Bloc team have also uploaded a selection of audio content from Blocs gone by to their particularly functional site. Recommended listening goes to Pinch’s ’09 set, Model 500’s set from last year and the brand new and exclusive Venetian Snares track, ‘There Now You Have Syphilis’ which you can stream here:





Link:
http://www.blocweekend.com

READ: Trap Magazine #001

The debut edition of Trap Magazine should be lining the shelves, or floors, of your local fashion and record outlets now (if you live in one of the larger, luckier metropolitan cities, that is).

Put together by a likeminded crew of writers and designers its a fresh bi-monthly look at the wider bass music scene in a super handy, ultra glossy A5 sizing. Including words on Toddla T & Redlight (pictured above) it also features an article by yours truly on Deadboy, as well as well rounded pieces on D Double E, Break and this year's Outlook Festival amongst others.

If you see it, pick it up. The Deadboy piece - with its big boy photography by Steve Braiden -looks wicked:



...plus, it's free.

For those a little less technophobic you can also read it online - via this weeny widget or at the link above it...

READ: Trap Magazine #001



Look out for #002 come December time.

Links:
www.trapmagazine.co.uk
facebook.com/trapmagazine
twitter.com/TrapMagazine

INTERVIEW: SRC [No Hats No Hoods/Numbers]

After releasing singles on imprints like Rwina and Numbers, Birmingham based producer SRC has this week dropped the Ryouko EP on the No Hats No Hoods label. Flicking from the oriental strings of the title track, which capitalises on that stone cold boom bap groove present in Joker's earlier work, he lilts out the electronic funk on 'Quarterback Circle' and 'Switch Up' working in a vein similar to Terror Danjah, i.e. incredibly prolifically. Nestling perfectly amongst the new wave of ultra melodic grime that powers the beat out under the torrent of synths, he's adept at infusing those primitive 8 bit melodies that made early computer gaming such a hypnotizing experience, into his work.

With his youtube demonstration videos providing a unique insight into his methods in the studio we caught up with him, shot him our semi tailored generic questionnaire and scooped our 52nd exclusive Sonic Router mix.

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

SRC: Yeah, I’m a producer/DJ from Birmingham, UK. I’ve been making beats for about 6 years. Recently put out two EPs (Gold Coinz & Goin’ Out). Just about to release the third, Ryouko EP on No Hats No Hoods.

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

Apart from the regular stuff like chilling out with friends & work etc, there’s no real “outside of music” for me. I’m making/listening to/thinking about music most of the time and tend to fit anything else around that.

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

I first got into making music after being into garage/early grime. I was always listening to the pirate stations in Birmingham. Got “music 2000” on PS2 to try and make my own beats. Eventually got a PC and carried on from there.

What’s your production set up like? What’s your favourite bit of kit in the studio?

I’m always buying and selling bits of equipment but right now it’s at its most basic. A standard PC, a pair of studio monitors, a mixer and a MIDI keyboard. The MIDI is my favourite though, it’s an M-audio Axiom that I’ve had for years.



How would you describe your sound? You share a brashy kind of computer grime influence thing with people like Swindle etc…

It’s hard to describe in brief, but my current stuff I just think of as a type of instrumental grime. A lot of my tracks are influenced by retro games because I really like the way the melodies were constructed. They’re memorable and fun and that’s what I try to bring out in my own stuff.

How did you get into this current flux of dubstep?

I think it was just the support from DJs other than the specialist grime ones. Having DJs like Oneman, Mary Anne Hobbs, Jackmaster etc maybe made my tracks more accessible to people who don’t particularly check for grime as a whole.

Your YouTube beat tapes really interest me. Like you make the process look so simple. What made you start doing them? What’s the thinking behind them? Like just to show the layers and different sounds?

The beat videos are just my fun, most don’t end up finished but I enjoy doing them. I always thought the process of making a beat is as interesting as the end product and decided to do some videos.

I mainly did sampled ones on the MPD because I find I can get them done quickly in comparison with my grime beats and they came out more entertaining to watch.

Where do you take inspiration from when making music?

It’s hard to say, I guess I’m inspired by everything in a way. If I’m lacking ideas or have a block I’ll normally listen to some Chinese folk music, reggae, old grime sets, and game soundtracks or anything to give me a good vibe.



You’ve got/had records on Numbers/Rwina/Butterz and your next release comes out shortly on No Hats No Hoods. What’s the deal, what can we expect from the release?

This release is a one I’m really happy with. The title track 'Ryouko' is a one of my personal favourite tracks so I’m glad I got to bring it out, it’s different to any of my other tracks so far as it has the Japanese folk influence.

'Quarter-circle back, kick' (Quarterback circle) is in a similar vein to Goin' Out but twice as excited and 'Switch Up' is a really fun grime beat. Anyone that liked the last two EPs should enjoy this one just as much.

What other projects have you got in the pipeline? What’s happening with you in the rest of 2010? Gigs, releases, personal growth etc?

The next thing will be my track, 'Goomba VIP' which will be a part of the 'Quality Street EP' which also features Terror Danjah, Mr Mitch & Royal-T. Apart from that I’m working on more tracks for release and just playing out more. It’s been such a good year so far I’m just looking forward to working twice as hard for the rest of it.

Tell us a little bit about the mix you turned in for us… I mean you said on twitter it was one of the most fun ones you’ve done. What made it so? Are there mad exclusives on there? Etc etc…

Yeah I enjoyed doing this mix a lot; it’s the 1st mix I’ve done with that many of my own tracks in.

It’s not really filled with exclusives but features some of my favourite tracks from people like Spooky, Royal-T and Kavsrave. I think their tracks all compliment mine even though they all sound so different.

It’s also a good representation of the tracks I’ve been playing out live recently.

Any words of wisdom, for our readers?

Be punctual, lateness can be costly.

::

DOWNLOAD: SRC – Sonic Router Mix #52



Tracklist:

01 SRC - Ryouko
02 Gudio - Mad Sax
03 SRC - Powerman 9
04 SRC - Headspin
05 SRC - Quater-Circle, Back, Kick
06 Terror Danjah - Bipolar
07 Royal-T - Damn It
08 Spooky - Iron Gates (Remix)
09 SRC (Unamed)
10 Swindle - Molly
11 Kavsrave - Baggage Handler
12 James Blake - Buzzard & Kestral
13 Terror Danjah - Air Bubble (SRC Remix)
14 SRC - Sex On The Beach
15 SRC - Paper Aeroplane
16 SRC - Blue Grime Zone
17 SRC - Sort Of A Start
18 Gemmy - Maroon Chant
19 Crystal Fighters - In The Summer (SRC Remix)
20 SRC (Unamed)
21 SRC - Gold Coinz
22 SRC - Be Down
23 B. Bravo - Computa Love

Link:
www.myspace.com/src411

Photo: Steve Braiden

DOWNLOAD: Deadboy - Hyp!Hyp!Hyp! Mix

Facebook Event // Tickets

In celebration of this ^^^ event at Plan B next Friday, the Numbers/Well Rounded signed pulseless child, Deadboy, just put together a mix featuring a bunch of freaky deeky bits from people like D1, Cosmin TRG, DJ Naughty, Altered Natives and Kromestar...

DOWNLOAD: Deadboy - Hyp!Hyp!Hyp! Mix



Tracklist:

01. Cosmin TRG - Groove Control
02. Musical Mob - Sweet Sounds
03. C.R.S.T - Dial the Operator
04. D1 - Crack Bong
05. Baby Cham - Man & Man (El-B remix)
06. Umbra Productions - Everyday is a Gunshot
07. DJ Naughty - Firepower
08. Ultrasound - Heavy Roll
09. The Dub Monsters - Waiting
10. Altered Natives - Believe In Me (Zed Bias Club Dub)
11. Lil Silva - No Hooks
12. Musical Mob - Pulse Xtra
13. Lighter - Skanker
14. Addison Groove - Footcrab
15. Kromestar - Iron Soul

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

DOWNLOAD: Spencer/Subeena/Ben UFO - Various Mixes

Co-founder of Wireblock and subsequently the Numbers label, Spencer, helms the latest FACT Mix featuring stone cold Glaswegian classics and plenty of forthcoming material on their new conglomerate label.

DOWNLOAD: Spencer - FACT Mix 143

Tracklist:

The Jonzun Crew – Space Is The Place (21 Records)
Mr Fingers – Distant Planet (Jack Trax)
DJ Gregory – Don’t Panic (Gregory and Karizma Dub) (Defected)
Cybotron – Cosmic Cars (LP version) (Fantasy)
Sully – In Some Pattern (Keysound)
Kraftwerk – House Phone (Warner)
Autechre – Eutow (Warp)
Deadboy – If U Want Me (Numbers)
MJ Cole Crazy Love (Todd Edwards Underground Remix) (Talkin’ Loud)
Roska – Time Stamp (Rinse)
Karizma – Beat Dis (R2)
Sticky – Jumeirah Riddim (Mixpak)
Altered Natives – Raaatid Einstein (Fresh Minute Music)
Ultradyne – E Coli (Warp)
Jan Driver – Rat Alert (Music Man Records)
Roska and Untold – Long Range (Forthcoming Numbers)
Deadboy – Easy (Maybe Forthcoming Numbers / Lost On HD)
Yonurican – Boriken Soul (Yonurican Club Mix)
Mosca – Nike (Club Edit) (Night Slugs)
Anthony Shakir – Spectre (Seventh City)
Addison Groove – Dumbsh*t (Swamp 81)
SRC – Brakedance (Forthcoming Numbers)
Rudekid – London Town (Forthcoming No Hats No Hoods)
Terror Danjah – Limbo (Planet Mu)
Taz Buckfaster – Future Funk (Forthcoming Numbers)
Macabre Unit – Lift Off (Terrorhythm)
Addison Groove – Footcrab (Swamp 81)
Hakan Lidbo – Walk Away (Todd’s Tell Someone Dub) (Loaded)
Untold – No One Likes a Smart-Arse (Hemlock)
Kavsrave – PClart (Forthcoming Numbers)

::



Opit Records boss lady, Subeena, weaves together a mix exclusively comprised of her own productions, which she's never really done before, for the FADER. Reportedly a mix of old and new ish...

DOWNLOAD: Subeena FADER Showcase Minimix

Tracklist:

Subeena – System Message
Subeena – 2080
Subeena – Excuse me
Subeena – Neurotic (Instrumental)
Subeena – Don’t call it anger
Subeena – Unconditional (Instrumental)
Subeena – Analyse
Subeena – Call it Anger
Subeena – Dual
Vaccine – Radiate (Subeena Remix)

::



New mix from Ben UFO for the Austrian Rave, Disko 404. Mixcloud only business at this time... but new bits from T++, Joe, Starkey (remixing Terror Danjah) and Rossi B & Luca are all there...

*UPDATE:

NOW AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD: Ben UFO - Disko 404 Mix

Tracklist:

1. Wookie - Saturn [Manchu]
2. Lemonade - Lifted (Shortstuff Remix) [Unreleased]
3. T++ - Allied [Erosion]
4. Oris Jay - Trippin (2010 Dub) [Gusto]
5. Dong - Sazuran (LV and Quarta330 Remix) [Forthcoming Hyperdub]
6. James Lavonz - Inpractical [FFK001]
7. Joe - Digest [Forthcoming Applepips]
8. Masterstepz - Melody ('98 mix) [Outlaw]
9. Falty DL - Because You [Unreleased]
10. Skream - Untitled [Tempa]
11. Ruff Sqwad - Pied Piper [White]
12. Mala - Level Nine [Hyperdub]
13. Rossi B and Luca - E10 Riddim [Planet Mu]
14. D1 - Murky [Tempa]
15. Hindzy D - Target [White]
16. Shackleton - Shortwave [Skull Disco]
17. Terror Danjah - Air Bubble (Starkey Remix) [Unreleased]
18. Plasticman - Shockwave [Slimzos]
19. Drop It Like It's NOT (Harmonimix) [Unreleased]

DOWNLOAD: Redinho - Bare Blips Sampler

Following up ‘The Golden Handshake’ EP from Low Limit and Lando Kal, collectively known as LazerSword, and the anthemic ‘IfUWantMe’ from Deadboy, the freshly minted Numbers imprint are serving up the ‘Bare Blips’ EP from London resident, Redinho, next month. Anyone who caught his bombastic live show at the label launch at Plastic People late last year can testify that Red's squashed syrup of low end frequencies and hip hop swagger is frankly, intense. Micro produced and with a strong focus on intensity the full EP is a glory to behold; flickering from the thump of the eponymous track to the flutter of the aptly named ‘Pitter Patter,’ Red explores ideas quickly, seemingly mastering each mood with ease.

Ahead of his slot at the Numbers fabric takeover this Friday, he passed us a minimix of the forthcoming EP and being that he’s one of the nicest dudes you ever shall meet, we shot him a few quizzical probes for dramatic effect.

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

Redinho: I’m about to drop my debut EP, ‘Bare Blips,’ on Numbers.

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

Tom Calvert aka Red. On the daily, I’m a professional nine to five avoider.

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

I spent a lot of time making music with my two brothers. I started playing drums, and my brothers got a guitar and bass. It’s weird because my parents aren’t musical in the slightest. I remember making recordings right from the start using a village tape recorder with a built in microphone ‘hole.’ We would set the drum kit up in one corner of the room, and place the tape recorder in the opposite corner, and my brother would “rap” as I played the drums. That way, if he rapped loudly (i.e. screamed), some sort of mix balance was achieved between the drums and the vocals on the recording.

Even more elaborate recording techniques were invented to combat our lack of equipment until we managed to borrow a multi track tape recorder. I used to rinse that thing until it was literally burning hot. Looking back on it, it was always recording that I loved. I didn’t really practice playing instruments; I just practiced writing and recording. I would make loads of tracks where I played everything from the drums, guitars, bass to vocals. Without realising it, I was producing, and it was something that I naturally loved to do and haven’t ever been able to stop doing since.

What’s your production set up like?

Laptop, vinyl, plus a few toys and whatever else I’ve managed to “borrow” from people.

Where do you take inspiration from when making music?

Gigs of all sorts leave a lasting impression on me. Also there’s just so much good music out there - past and present.

How would you describe your sound?

Some have described ‘Bare Blips’ as a fusion of electronic, beats and grime. I’m happy with that. The newer stuff I’m making has a different feel to it, maybe a more glorious vibe harmonically, but you can still hear those reference points in it.

What draws you to the mentally contorted, hip hop sound?


I’d say hip hop is essentially 'funk' music; I’ve always liked funk music, or music with a strong beat.

Your first release is out imminently on Numbers right? Can you tell us a bit about that...?

The ‘Bare Blips’ EP will be out on Numbers very soon. I made most of it in a week. I tuned into one of those autopilot zones. I just wanted to make something that excited and entertained me.

What else have you got coming up? (releases, gigs/plug the fabric show etc etc)

I’m playing live at fabric on this Friday in the Numbers room alongside Rustie, Martyn and Jackmaster. I'm also playing a Numbers thing in Glasgow on the 17th April with Deadboy.

Release wise, there's ‘Bare Blips’ v. soon, then I’ve got a track with Riz MC, and some more Redinho stuff to follow.

::

DOWNLOAD: Redinho - Bare Blips Sampler



Tracklist:

Boy Racer
Bare Blips Bonus Beat
Bare Blips
Banger
Nuff Stubble Rash
Pitter Patter

Catch Redinho at fabric, this Friday:



Link:
www.myspace.com/redinhomusic

DOWNLOAD: Untold - Live @ Numbers

Surely, if you've read this elongated page before you'll be well aware of our love affair with Untold and his potent brew of riotous drums and his relentless musical schedule. Similarly you'll have seen the Glasgow Numbers conglomerate name checked here a bunch of times, whether its been in promotion of some of their legendary club nights or the announcement concerning the formation of the uber label - bore from the fusion of the Stuff, Wireblock and Dress 2 Sweat energies.

Well - the deal is this: Numbers just launched their brand new website - http://nmbrs.net - and they're offering a recording of Untold's set from one of their September '09 Glasgow bashes as a celebration.

DOWNLOAD: Untold - Live @ Numbers

Go and buy the first Numbers release 'The Golden Handshake EP,' from both parties behind the LazerSword project, Lando Kal and Low Limit. Its in stores now and you need it for 'Trapperkeeper' alone.

And look out for the Deadboy 'IfUWantMe' release in early April too - some super special single sided laser etched business...

Oh and make sure you attend the clique's next fabric takeover next Friday:



Link:
www.myspace.com/untolduk
http://nmbrs.net

INTERVIEW: Offshore [Stuff/Big Dada]

In some ways it’s a testament to the quality of music encapsulated on the short lived Stuff Records label, that Offshore caught our ear last year with his somewhat understated eponymous 12". His music fits with the jitterbug boom bap of Rustie whilst harnessing that electronic lilt that aligns him with so many of the current low end conscious dubstep crop.

Pouring elements of grime into his productions in the same manner as someone like say, Joker, he's on the edge of something really special; sparring of his cheap drum machine percussion and curating a sound that is utterly infused with his own personality – sampling his own voice or those of friends to give his work a humanized humour that mirrors the ridiculousness found in some of his melodic pitches.

We caught up with him after a stock pile of emails revealed he was down with what we do and would be kind enough to drop us an exclusive mix – which turned out to be one of the most low down and swaggered out installments we have had to date.

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

Offshore: I'm from Aberdeen, moved to london about 6 years ago

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

I run a design studio with Oscar, called Oscar & Ewan; our new site up very soon at www.oscarandewan.co.uk.

Your design agency did the album art for Roots Manuva’s ‘Slime & Reason’ album right? How did you link that?

I interned at Big Dada about 5 years ago - I was a fan of the label and wanted to get an insight into how it worked. After a while we got to pitch for the Wiley, ‘Playtime is Over’ artwork, which we got and went down well. Then we did the 10 Years of Big Dada comp, and ‘Slime and Reason’ came after that.

What other design projects are you handling?

We do quite a range; we're doing a lot of print work for a classical music competition at the moment. We just finished Bonobo's new album and hopefully there’ll be something soon with a real live elephant, but elephants rights are getting in the way. We don't want to exploit the fattys.

How did you first get into making music? What was it that infected you to do produce? What’s your production set up like?

I've always been quite motivated with both music and art from when I was younger. I played guitar, which was a focus for quite a few years. I played in a moderately heavy band in Aberdeen when we were little teens, then towards the end of our career I was getting into Aphex and Autechre stuff, so I started jazzing around in fruityloops. I came to hi phop through the back door really - things like Anti-Pop Consortium led to El-P to Wu Tang and Madlib… and I was then turning to making more hip hop based stuff. When I came to London I was exposed to grime and dubstep, which have both been inspirational in their sound, speed and weight, but I think of hip hop as the main strain.

It’s over the past few years I’ve moved to Logic and got quite a bit of help from Clause Four with mixing and sound. I use a mac, programmes, a few plugins, a few soft synths. I want to keep making music as easy and convenient as possible.



Where do you take inspiration from while making music? How did you get into it? How would you describe your sound?

There's a lot of great stuff coming out which is really inspiring. It feels like an exciting time to be making music. Currently - production wise - people like Terror Danjah, Rustie, Loops Haunt, Bok Bok, Salem, and Cassie - Official Girl. Outside of the electronic stuff I've been listening to ‘Microcastle’ by Deerhunter a lot, and the grungy, stoner rock stuff of my youth like ‘The Circus Leaves Town’ by Kyuss, and ‘Bleach’ by Nirvana. Generally, I think my stuff is slow, heavy and sometimes cheeky. I see it as a coming together of a lot of my current influences and those from over the years.

In terms of inspiration when making music... sometimes I have a strong idea that I can base a song around. Generally I just make as much as possible and see what comes out, and then coax it out into a 'song'. I aim songs in a certain direction, and bring out certain moods depending on my moods. Then I go back the next day and dash them, because I’m in a different mood…

You’re a Scot living in London. What drove you to make the move? How do the regions differ musically? I mean with Numbers/Lucky Me it’s very healthy up there...

It was the end of school, a good friend decided to go to London, I hadn't really considered it as an option until then, but after some basic research, I was game for trying out the deep end. I'm from Aberdeen which isn't as booming as Glasgow in terms of scene, but there are some great DJs who get decent people up there. Giles Walker being the main one I know. He had Joker up recently, and he's had Bok Bok & Manara up. I can't really give you a proper insight as I haven't been around there and going out recently. There’s always been a strong live music scene, and the crowds are renowned for being up for it.

I think the Numbers and Lucky Me crews are brilliant - they are passionate about what they do, and they do it right.

You’ve had a 12” on the (no longer with us) Stuff Records, a release on disBoot and a couple of remixes for Big Dada affiliated artists. What else have you got coming up? Can you confirm and elaborate upon the projects your working on for Big Dada?

Yes, I'm working on stuff for Big Dada, that’s really the focus at the moment... probably EP > LP. I'm stockpiling and working on a load of stuff and then I'll farm it out.

I’ve got a mix for EE coming up soon.

Tell us about the mix you’ve done for us, what tracks just had to be included?

The Salem ones mainly. They've got an amazing tone. Low Deep – ‘Jedi,’ Wiley – ‘Crash Bandicoot,’ Nasty Nasty... there's a Non Person beat briefly that’s got a lovely spacey sound, and makes a nice launch pad for ‘Snake Eater.’ I think it’s out soon on Channel Zero.

It’s not jam packed with exclusives, just stuff I've been enjoying over the last while.

Have you got any words of wisdom for our readers?

Here's some wisdom:



::

DOWNLOAD: Offshore – Sonic Router Mix



Tracklist:

Trim – Money Up Front (Instrumental)
Gucci Mane - Round one (Salem Remix)
Offshore - Summer Hits
Wonder - Chi Flute
Salem - Frost
Offshore - Girly
Purple Ribbon All-Stars Feat. Big Boi - Kryptonite (Acapella)
Dexplicit - machine man
Ikonika - Sahara Michael
Wiley - Crash Bandicoot Freestyle
Low Deep - Jedi
Nasty Nasty - Damn Girl
Non Person - ? - forthcoming Channel Zero
Joker - Snake Eater
JME - Ju Ju Man
BD1982 - Space Boots (Slugabed Remix)
Nasty Nasty - No Names
Plasticman - Aqua Riddem (Remix)
Rustie - Tempered
Santogold - Shuv It ft. Three 6 Mafia

Link:
www.myspace.com/offshorebeat

VIDEO: Jackmaster & Poirier - RBMA Interview

www.myspace.com/iamjackmaster
www.myspace.com/poiriersound

DOWNLOAD: Hudson Mohawke - Freek

To mark the announcement of his full UK tour, The Pegasus Rising Tour, Hudson Mohawke has upped a bootleg of Jodeci's 'Freek'n'You' - made in the vein of his much celebrated 'Oops' remix - as well as the third installment in his annual Valentines Slow Jams mix series.

DOWNLOAD: Hudson Mohawke - Freek/Valentine Slow Jam Mixtape

Catch the HudMo live show:

APRIL:
22 Thursday, - Inertia / World Headquarters / Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
23 Friday - Dollop & No Bones/ A Nation Of Shopkeepers/ Leeds
27 Tuesday - FAC251 / The Factory/ Manchester
29 Thursday - Monkey Knife/ The Thekla / Bristol
30 Friday - Dummy 1st Birthday party/ The Macbeth/ London

MAY:
1 Saturday - The Plug/ Sheffield
2 Sunday - Detonate indoor festival/ Nottingham



Link:
www.myspace.com/hudsonmo

RECOMMENDED: Slugabed - Ultra Heat Treated [Planet Mu]

Merely the second solo single release from Slugabed, discounting the bootlegs and split 12"s for dramatic effect, naturally.

Out now on Planet Mu

Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=7153

Link:
www.myspace.com/slugabedmusic

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: Jackmaster - Dazed Digital x Numbers x fabric Mix

Super Scot Jackmaster continues his slew of great mixes with an exclusive for Dazed Digital, well timed to coincide with his Numbers conglomerate taking over Room One of fabric tomorrow night.

DOWNLOAD: Jackmaster - Dazed Digital Mix

Tracklist:

Modeselektor - Art + Cash (SBTRKT Broke Remix) - forthcoming 50 Weapons
Rhythm Construction Co. - Mighty Love (Wickedest Dub) - Nice 'N' Ripe
Deadboy - Here 4 U - forthcoming Numbers
C. J. Boland - Sugar Is Sweeter (Armand's Drum And Bass Mix) - FFRR
TRG - Tribal Flex - forthcoming Tempa
DJ Slugo - Wouldn't You Like To Be A Hoe Too - Dance Mania
Mike Dunn pres. The MD X-Spress - Deep Down (The Unbderground) - Fluential
Kim English - Night Life (Retail Club Mix) - Nervous
Deadboy - if U ant Me (Brackles & Shortstuff Remix) - forthcoming Numbers
KingThing - Bump - forthcoming Fortified
Roska & Untold - Myth - forthcoming Build
Joy Orbison - Derobe - forthcoming Aus Music
George Fitzpatrick - Don't You - forthcoming Doldrums
Taz Buckfaster - Wetter Is Better - forthcoming Rwina
ROX - My Baby Left Me (Terror Danjah Remix) - forthcoming Rough Trade
Terror Danjah & Rudekid - Best Crawler - forthcoming No Hats No Hoods
Mr. De' - Whonleeone - Electrofunk
Fonzworth Bentley & Anthony Hamilton - Greener (Instrumental)

Link:
www.myspace.com/iamjackmaster

Photo: Shaun Bloodworth

NEWS: Various Artists - North/South/East/West [Bleep]

A brand new project from Bleep, photographer Shaun Bloodworth and designer Stuart Hammersly, 'N/S/E/W,' is a musical and visual journey around differing regions of the world. Anyone who's followed Bloodworth's work will have seen his striking figures adorn the covers and booklets of the Rinse CD series along with Mary Anne Hobb's compilations on Planet Mu, and keen followers should know that recently he visited the US to document the - and I use this for the lack of a better adjective - 'beats' scene out there; and 'N/S/E/W' combines his stark potraits of these international artists with - in 9 out of 12 cases - exclusive tracks from opposite spectrums of the globe.

Skream, Headhunter and Geeneus rep for Southern England, Rustie, Hudson Mohawke and Taz Buckfaster hold it down for the North (i.e. Scotland), Flying Lotus, Matthew David and Daedelus shed light on the West Coast of the US whilst Mike Slott, Kotchy and FaltyDL give us a little insight into the East Coast.

Gumpf:

"Available as two editions, both made in limited quantities. A standard edition with 14 high quality photographic prints and a 12 track CD compilation and deluxe edition, hand numbered with a limited poster. Both editions are beautifully packaged in a custom made box."

Unified by a passion for bass music, the artists are now forever conjoined by Bloodworth's photography, presented in unanimous fashion by Hammersly and Bleep, its a project that's going some way to prove that the world isn't that huge a place after all...



Link:
http://bleep.com/index.php?page=release_details&releaseid=22523

DOWNLOAD: Rustie - Keesha Resmack

Scottish beat constructor Rustie uploaded his much sought after refix of Keisha Cole to his myspace for a FREE download earlier today. The producer may be in the lab working on his debut release for Warp but today he's also been announced for a live set on a super stacked line up in Room One at fabric in early January at a Numbers event that's running alongside the launch of the 'Elevator Music' compilation.

DOWNLOAD: Rustie - Keesha Resmack

Full line up:

Friday 8th January: FABRICLIVE
Room 1: Numbers
Todd Edwards, Hudson Mohawke (Live), Rustie (Live), Jackmaster, Spencer, Nelson, Goodhand +
Room 2:
2562, Headhunter, dBridge, Instra:mental, Joy Orbison, Jack Sparrow, Sigha
Room 3: Elevator Music Album Launch
Untold, Hot City, Shortstuff, xxxy, Mosca, Vista

More on the special entry/pre-order price here: http://www.fabriclondon.com/label/misc/Elevator_Music

Link:
www.myspace.com/rustiebeetz

Pic: Ian Bitmap

DOWNLOAD: Slugabed - Exclusive SRQ008 Mix

It finally happened... He was one of the first people we had in our sights when we started this blog nearly a year ago but today, after repeated bouts of gchat stalking, countless compliments and hours of repeated listening, Slugabed dropped his exclusive mix for us...

Its hosted by the good people over at The Quietus and accompanies an interview I conducted with him earlier this week for our monthly column. I'll post the full transcript here soon but for the mean time bang on the link below to read the piece and kop the mix.

DOWNLOAD: Slugabed - Exclusive SRQ008 Mix





Link:
www.myspace.com/slugabedmusic

PRE-ORDER: Hudson Mohawke - Butter [Warp]

The debut full length from Scotland's beat maestro, Hudson Mohawke, dropped this week on Warp...

Read the full review here: http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=6782

Link:
www.myspace.com/hudsonmo