Coming together with Los Angeles label/distribution outfit, San Francisco’s Giraffage has released the nine track Needs tape, a collection of all original “Sample-Based Pop” that is easily the man born Charlie Yin’s most cohesive and impressive release to date. Needs is largely based in contemporary hip hop and R&B, but runs the gamut of moods, ranging from triumphant dance numbers (“Money”, “Checkmate”) to impressively restrained bedroom choons (“Thinking About You”, “Undress U”). The bedroom tunes are really where Yin shines and represent his ability to morph rather garish elements (like the booming snares that are everywhere) into an integral, yet understated, element of the overall mix. In a fit of good will, Giraffage and Alpha Pup are giving Needs away for free, so stream below and toss it onto the harddrive asap.
Author Archives: Gabe Meier
Cid Rim Remixes Chvrches’ “Recover”
I’ve never been the biggest fan of Scottish band Chvrches’ take on “electro pop” (think Crystal Castles, not Arabian Prince), but I’m a sucker for a big remix. When that remix comes from Viennese LuckyMe representative Cid Rim, I’ll fully embrace those darn Scotts and their stylized letters. The opening two minutes of the remix are nothing to rave about, mostly just melodramatic keys and Chvrches slightly grating vocals, but Cid Rim’s scattered, percussion driven beat comes in after that and is pure magic. Stream below.
Lockah Remixes Koloah’s “Titan”
Aberdeen-native Lockah’s music has always had a frantic, throwback element to it, reminiscent of late-rave era (when the drugs were waring off) material in its mood if not the actual sonic elements of his hip hop/electronic productions. It makes all too much sense then that Lockah’s latest rework is a straight ode to frenzied, 160 BPM rave madness. Taking on Ukrainian producer Koloah’s “Titan”, Lockah utilizes a classic vocal snippet, synth stabs and some absolutely oppressive (in the best way possible) sub-bass on “Titan” with drug-induced paranoiac results. Stream below and grab Koloah’s Next Mutations EP here.
New Sinjin Hawke – “Prom Night”
Can we talk about Pelican Fly for a moment? Only eight releases deep, the Belgian DJ Slow-led imprint has released seminal release after seminal release, proving as influential as anyone in the ever-growing, amorphous realm of “club” music. On February 18, the label will release the Feathers compilation, featuring brand new heat from Sinjin Hawke, Cashmere Cat, Mister Tweeks and more. More than just about any other label (Body High and/or Fade To Mind maybe), Pelican Fly has set the tone over the past few years, predicting the grand cohesion of hip hop and dance music a full year before “trap” came into the popular vernacular and constantly churning out releases that sound nothing like anything that came before. Feathers will surely be another huge leap forward for the label, which should be seeing a LuckyMe-esque influx in fans in the not so distant future. Stream Sinjin Hawke’s especially turn’t “Prom Nite” below and look out for the comp on the 18th.
New Lapalux – “BETHR”
Maybe I’m ignorant, but I didn’t recognize the sample (or clearly derived song name) after listening to Lapalux’s brand new smasher “BETHR”. After scouring the interwebs for a a little while, I was only to come up with “Lapalux samples classic vocals”. Of course, a quick lyric search would lead to me Zimbabwean Rozalla’s “Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good)”, but something about the fact that many of the biggest blogs in this whole darn blogosphere neglected to mention that fact. It seems like a random event when the general blog group think decides to enlighten their readers on what elements a producer actually utilizes to develop a track. Even one as obvious as this. Anyways, all gripes aside, Lapalux’s debut LP is dropping next month on Brainfeeder (look out for an interview on the horizon!) and “BETHR” (no word on whether or not it will appear on the album) is just sublime. Rozalla’s vocals are played up for maximum emotiveness and Lapalux just does the damn thang. Not much to say about this one, you just have to let it ride out.
Komon & Appleblim Collaborate On “Gas Jam”
With an eye to the low end of the sonic spectrum and Komon, Appleblim and Apple Pips Recordings (think Joe, Peverelist, Brackles) have come together for an all Bristol everything party with the Gas Jam/Silencio single. Both artists are in fine form on a-side “Gas Jam” and the result is one of the phonkier tracks you’ll hear all week, mixing the raise ’em up qualities of disco with an emphasis on bass that is the hallmark of Bristolian dance choons. “Silencio” is a self-described “glooped-out Balearic/kosmiche beat” and while that description flies right over my head, the track touches on a ton of old school funk motifs and is melodic as hell. The single drops March 18 on Apple Pips, but until then stream previews of “Gas Jam” and “Silencio” below.
Jerome LOL Edits Tank’s “Emergency”
2012 was a landmark year for Jerome Potter of LOL Boys fame and 2013 should see the Los Angeles-based magician further perfecting the sound debuted on the Changes EP and the LOL Boys x FADER Mix. Jerome’s latest act of kindness comes in the form of a remix of Tank’s slow ballad “Emergency”. If you’ve been following Jerome’s progression, the tune will sound pretty familiar as it utilizes the pristine piano/live sounding percussion formula that has become a halmark of the Body High co-boss’ repertoire. Tank’s vocals are reduced to a syrupy drawl and drawn out over a delectable bridge. Stream below and download here.
Velour (Hyetal & Julio Bashmore) Remix BenZel’s “Fallin’ Love”
After returning with the Prince-like “Speedway” last month, Julio Bashmore and Hytal look primed to establish 2013 as the year of Velour. Not only will the duo release “Speedway” (along with b-side “Dial”) in the near future, but they’ve also remixed BenZel’s “Fallin’ Love” to full bedspring squeaking effect. Borrowing a good deal of influence from mid-aughts Ed Banger material, Bashmore and Hyetal utilize stomp boxes, cheesy vintage synths and a “Hyph Mngo”-esque intro for an absolutely massive crossover banger that fits perfectly atop the current trends in UK electronic music. Stream Velour’ “Fallin’ Love” remix below and hit the jump to stream “Dial”.
Mexicans With Guns Remixes Pop Pistol’s “No New Years Knows”
As one of Innovative Leisure’s keystone artists (and occasionally Friends of Friends), Ernest Gonzales aka Mexicans With Guns has been one of the key figures in bringing LA’s blunted beat sounds to the greater United States and has excelled despite his location in the relative badlands of Texas. Unfortunately Gonzales has been quiet over the past 12 months (by his standards at least) so his latest remix of San Antonio band Pop Pistol’s “No New Years Knows” comes as quite a relief. The original’s general mood is kept intact by Gonzales who installs a hip hop tempo and some timely vocal cuts. The remix isn’t groundbreaking or anything, but it’s just nice to get more Mexicans With Guns material. Stream below.
Tessela Founds Own Imprint, Preps New EP
Like most of his brethren from Bristol, Tessela has a fondness for booming low end and genre-less productions of the banger variety. To kick off his very own imprint Poly Kicks, the man born Ed Russel will release Hackney Parrot/Helter Skelter, the former of which has been floating around the internet and and gathering steam for some time after being debuted by Loefah. The two tracks comprise of a mish mash of unrelenting takes on contemporary garage, breaks-heavy percussion (amen to be exact) and high energy rave vocals. The bass takes on a life of its own on each track and sounds absolutely mad on a big set of cans. The EP is out sometime in March, but until then, stream the previews below.








