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Author Archives: Gabe Meier

New Stavrogin – “Expiration”

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August 30, 2012
2012, New Music
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A few weeks ago, I saw British phenoms Disclosure (or at least one half of the duo) bring down the house at a festival in Germany. Besides being delighted by the performance, I couldn’t help thinking about another up-and-coming British youngster, Stavrogin. The green tea organic percussion, slow-burning synths and effortless vocal manipulation is readily apparent in both act’s brief discographies. “i love…that you know” could easily be a Stavrogin track and vice versa, “Chicago ’46” could easily be a Disclosure creation. Granted, the Lawrence brothers have a little bit more pop accessibility in their repertoire, but the two sound eerily similar at times. Stavrogin’s newest attempt, “Expiration”, is yet another brilliant adventure in patience. The track doesn’t quite build as much as it slinks along underneath the radar in the most engrossing way possible. It’s smooth as hell, but doesn’t give an inch in the bass category. It is bass music after all. Stream “Expiration” below and look out for the exclusive Stavrogin mix in the coming weeks.

Haleek Maul and Supreme Cuts Debut Chrome Lips via Mishka

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August 28, 2012
2012, New Music
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Since we interviewed Haleek Maul back in May, the young Barbadian has been on an absolute tear. In June, Maul’s debut Oxyconteen EP put his tattered mental state on blast, giving fans new and old one of the rawest listening experiences they’ll have in a long minute. What we’ve really been waiting for though has finally emerged today. Back in May, Maul spoke on an upcoming mixtape with Chicago production duo Supreme Cuts who are leading the back when it comes to viscous hip hop bangers. Chrome Lips finally emerged today, featuring 17 originals from one of the most uncouth minds in contemporary music. Maul’s eclectic, dexterous flow allows Supreme Cuts to dip and dive from the airiest peaks to the dankest dungeons of their production dichotomy. Verses from Deniro Farrar, MondreMan and Squadda B offer short respites from Maul’s often severe flow, vastly improving the overall flow of tape. Mishka is giving away the tape for free as they’re known to do and you would be making a mistake not to snatch this one up right now. Another high profile mixtape dropped today, but Chrome Lips is the one that people are going to remember (no shots). Stream and download Chrome Lips below.

Mixes From The Astral Plane, Vol. 3 (Mixed By Kong)

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August 27, 2012
2012, Mixes
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For the better part of a decade, the UK has been the home for all things bass music. From Croydon record shops to the fabled Warehouse Project of Manchester, the Brits can never seem to get enough low end frequencies. Over a similar period of time, a number of previously insular and heavily localized brands of club music have broken out of their shells and entered the mainstream consciousness. Blunted hip hop, go-go and club can now be found in locales far removed from the streets of L.A., D.C. and Baltimore. On Volume 3 of Mixes From The Astral Plane, Vancouver resident Kong conflates takes club and bass and makes them one. Kong makes you forget all the sub-genres I just ignominiously named and allows you delve deep into sounds of the future. Download Volume 3 below and catch the tracklist after the jump.

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Captain Murphy and TNGHT Move Weight

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August 20, 2012
New Music, Remixes
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When Lunice and Hudson Mohawke came out swinging at the American hip hop consensus, many assumed (myself included) they were aiming their fine-tuned WMD at the Southern hip hop conglomerate. Their first remix of Flocka’s “Rooster In Rari” reinforced that assumption and the EP was even pigeonholed by some as an extension of the trap phenomenon. Oh how we underestimated the project. When Lunice and HudMo hinted that they had MC’s lined up for every track on the EP, I assumed the features would be a menagerie of well-known Southern MC’s with maybe an A$AP Rocky or Danny Brown thrown in for good measure. This though? They have certainly outdone themselves Captain Murphy: you probably know the name by now. He sounds a lot like a pitch shifted Tyler/Earl combination. “Shake Weight” involves the Captain going the fuck in over the bubbling, immense heap of braggadocio that is “Bugg’n”. The doors are wide open folks. I’m looking forward to Canibus throwing his next paranoid rant down over “Gooo”. Fuck, and this video? I jokingly posted a while back that we were just going to become TNGHT stenographers, but would that really be such a bad thing? Grab the free download below and watch the video above (preferably under a controlled substance).

Download: Captain Murphy – “Shake Weight”

Bok Bok and L-Vis 1990 Go b2b In The Boiler Room

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July 27, 2012
Live, Mixes, New Music
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Back in the day, Bok and L-Vis 1990 played back 2 back sets on a regular basis at the Night Slugs club  night. The regularity of those affairs is the stuff of legend, but every so often now, the two label-heads strut their shit. Most recently, they hit up London’s Boiler Room, the pitch perfect location for 40+ minutes of space age club music. You can now stream their set from back in June courtesy of Boiler Room. They know us all too well. Stream below.

New 5kinandbone5 – “Do You Really Know Me?”

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July 26, 2012
New Music
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I wasn’t around to witness the heyday of UK Garage. Well I was, but I was far more interested in baseball cards than British dance music. That means I wasn’t around for its subsequent devolution into bland pop music. I maintain a veil of ignorance regarding the relative shortcomings of the genre. So when I hear that a song described as “gauzy UK garage revivalism”, I more or less take for granted that the statement is factual. That’s exactly how FACT just described California’s own 5kinandbone5’s newest effort. The internet savvy duo’s “Do You Really Know Me?” is a silky piece of 2-step highlighted by oh so silky vocals. Always impressive to see an artist advance into uncharted territory with the authority that 5kinandbone5 have taken on UKG. Stream and download below.

Cid Rim Readies LP For LuckyMe

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July 25, 2012
New Music
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Cid Rim is straight of Vienna. At least that’s what his Facebook states. According to his band profile on the Affine Records website:

The world of Cid Rim circles around the boundless magic and mythical formulas of funk. When speaking of his influences and musical socialisation, the 25 year old producer and drummer of JSBL inevitably ends in the 70ies of the past century. Think of the JBs, big band sounds á la Stan Kenton or the drum breaks, which widely opened his personal doors to funk.

I like funk and musical socialisation sounds vague and appealing. Cid Rim also has an upcoming release on LuckyMe. That was the sticking point for me. “A Fall For Two” was played out by Lunice on his recent stunt on Diplo’s BBC show and is a brilliant representation of the 25 year olds production prowess. Unrelenting synths swirl into a fever pitch that never comes as clomping percussion performs its own jig in the seams. The track, along with “Danger Ranger”, will be on Cid Rim’s self-titled full length, due out August 7th on LuckyMe. Stream “A Fall For Two” below.

SBTRKT Channels Gold Panda, Lone On “Gloss”

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July 25, 2012
New Music
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SBTRKT’s 2011 debut was more than just a special album, it let the world know that bass music and pop music could overlap and intercede in exciting new fashions. Just listen to the latest LOL Boys EP for example, full of emotive vocals and an overt pop sensibility. I can’t say for sure whether Markus and Jerome are influenced by the London producer, but it sure sounds like it. SBTRKT’s latest track, “Gloss” is a blur of skittish technicolor synths and rhythms, highly reminiscent of the mood of Lone’s latest project and the structure (or lack there of) of much of Gold Panda’s work. Little snacks like “Gloss” might just satiate us as we await a followup to 2011’s SBTRKT. Stream below.

DJ Sliink + Brenmar + Body High = Madness

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July 25, 2012
New Music
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Hate ’em or love ’em, MMG turn out some damn good hooks for club tunes. Wale’s “Bait” is the latest to be snagged, sampled by DJ Sliink and Brenmar for a track of the same name. This is booty music in every sense. Sliink and Brenmar predictably smash Jersey Club and Juke together with unpredictable results. Set to be released on LA’s Body High, future collaborations between the three parties are a must. Head over to Noisey to stream and download.

Black Moth Super Rainbow Prep New Album, Release Single

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July 25, 2012
New Music
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October 9th marks the return of Black Moth Super Rainbow, synth enthusiasts, vocoder abusers and general malcontents. That day marks the release date for Cobra Juicy, their first album 2009’s Eating Us. Incredibly, fans funded the album twice over via the band’s Kickstarter page. That’s a dedicated fanbase. Not satisfied with their unique spot in the history books, BMSR get real cantankerous on  “Windshield Smasher”. It’s classic BMSR and has Tobacco written all over it. If you’re not familiar, please, please listen to Dandelion Gum. Stream “Windshield Smasher” below.