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DJ Milktray Edits Flukes’ “Wifey Riddim”

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February 17, 2014
New Music
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Valentine’s Day is far from my favorite holiday as far as free/new music goes, although though the deluge of 90s R&B generally manages to prick my ears up for a few hours. Lucky for all of us, DJ Milktray is here to save us from the melodramatic morass. Taking on Flukes’ (of “Grime Groupies” fame) “Wifey Riddim”, Milktray turns in a typically choppy take on the indelible original in an act of rearrangement that will be familiar if you’ve heard his Ruff Sqwad, 50 Cent and A$AP Ferg edits in the past. Along with Inkke, Milktray is grinding his way into the general consciousness through an impressive streak of edits that demand attention in equal parts for their earworm qualities and 8 bar sensibilities.

New Shlohmo & Jeremih – “No More”

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February 13, 2014
New Music
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We all knew it was coming, but the release still feels momentous. The EP is coming soon. Shlohmo + Jeremih. The new song is called “No More”. NPR predictably referenced David Lynch in their write-up (you can download the song at their site). More than anything else, there’s a sense of collective experience in the sound and identity the producer and singer have fomented. Whereas other R&B acts often come-up deeply, darkly narcissistic, Shlohmo & Jeremih retain a sense of brooding while simultaneously eschewing the petty misogynies of the genre. I could spew on this song for many more paragraphs (and maybe I eventually will), but you know the deal and the music stands on its own.

Neana Remixes Sudanim’s “Midrift”

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February 13, 2014
New Music, Remixes
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If you were unfamiliar with the rising talent in the wot you call it world of instrumental grime, stripped-down techno and general sub-low bidness, it might come as a massive surprise to see so much collaboration and conversation occurring on a daily level. Twitter has the immediate capacity to connect artists, but it takes artist imperative to connect in the end. At times, it’s difficult to tell where the Gang Fatale boys, Her Records crew, Goon Club Allstars and joint Fade To Mind/Night Slugs powerhouse begin and end. The sheer amount of track sharing, bootlegging and wide-spread positive spirit would be encouraging in any sphere, but these guys and gals are at the very forefront of British dance music. That’s why it came as no surprise to see Neana listed as a remixer of Sudanim’s latest project, presciently titled The Link. Stream Neana’s remix below and check out the full EP here.

New Z-Money “Dope Boy Magic”

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February 12, 2014
New Music
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zmoneyDripping in ‘sace, Chicago rapper Z-Money delivered “Dope Boy Magic” to the world yesterday. Like a mix of Atlanta’s Migos and drill sergeant King L with a sprinkle of Gucci, Z-Money has a flow that doubles and triples back on itself and a voice that stays sounding like strained whisper. “Dope Boy Magic” sees the 20 year-old on a JNeal beat that teases at continuity, but instead stutters and stumbles into a dark, smoked-out world of foreign clothes, foreign cars, and condos.  After dropping two mixtapes on the same day last summer (Rich B4 Rap and Heroin Musik) and gaining some notoriety with “Regular,” Z-Money is ready for the spotlight. Check out the video for “Dope Boy Magic” below.

New Sudanim – “The Link”

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February 11, 2014
New Music
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sudanim - the link

Last year, south London club night/record label Her Records appeared to make a huge leap by releasing Miss Modular’s Reflector Pack/Cruzer Edge, a world-beating affair that launched MM and Her onto the tongue of just about every tastemaker in (and out of) the business. “Reflector Pack” was obviously the star track of 2013, but what some people forget is that the young label also released two other EPs and a compilation throughout the calendar year. Not only has Her broken open the sound bank with their angular, metallic take on club music, but they’ve already amassed an impressive catalogue in just over 13 months in existence. The label’s next release will come from co-head Sudanim in the form of The Link EP and it’s already sounding like a belter. The title track brings to mind the work of Jam City and Girl Unit’s Hysterics side-project, but Sudanim isn’t just your run of the mill Night Slugs derivative, instead he has an aesthetic all his own. It’s an aesthetic built on ever-building percussion that can tumble down in a violent crush at any moment. It’s nominally dance music, but offers an equally impressive post-industrial sentiment. With some of the bigger names in London already on their side and names like Fraxinus in their camp, expect to hear a lot more from Her over the coming months. The EP will feature four original tracks and an always coveted Neana remix. Out tomorrow (February 12) on Her.

New Main Attrakionz – “G.O. All I Know” (Prod. Friendzone)

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February 10, 2014
New Music
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Back in December, we caught our first taste of Oakland duo Main Attrakionz’s upcoming 808s and Dark Grapes mixtape, the followup to the 2011 tape that launched them into the national consciousness. That song, the Friendzone-produced “G.O. All I Know”, is now available for free download and offers a lens into where Squadda B and MondreM.A.N.’s minds are at. Stream and download the song below and hit the jump to peep the accompanying video.

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Glacial Sound Mix For The Astral Plane

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February 6, 2014
Mixes, New Music, Uncategorizable
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GLACIAL SOUND ART

If you’ve been following the deluge of “new wave” grime round-ups in recent months, the name Glacial Sound will be quite familiar at this point. Often lumped in with fellow upstart outposts like Goon Club Allstars, Coyote Records and Liminal Sounds, the Dublin-based imprint only has two releases to its name to date, but label-head Paul Purcell has flipped a keen eye for talent and an adoration for vinyl into a groundswell of UK and international support. Launched last June via Rabit’s now scene-defining Double Dragon EP, Glacial Sound is nominally a grime label, but if you’ve spent any time with the aforementioned Rabit release or Murlo’s highly touted Last Dance EP, you’ll know that Purcell’s vision far surpasses anything that could traditionally be dubbed grime. Double Dragon is a spacious effort that derives much of its sound palette from Wiley’s Devil Mixes, but exists in a protean universe of wildly twisting melodic content that defies its influences. Hailing from Houston, Rabit exists far from grime’s epicenter, but has managed to funnel some of its most left-field elements into a final product that eschews the more stultified components of the original product.

Whereas Rabit has developed and maintained a sound that is mutually exclusive in its own right, Murlo has synthesized the bright sound palettes and skittering rhythms of Caribbean music like soca and dancehall into an ornate, fully original byproduct. More than just about any other producer, Murlo’s music, especially Last Dance, mirrors the multi-cultural, multi-denominational  nature of contemporary London.

Both Double Dragon and Last Dance have created a sustainable platform for Glacial Sound and the future seems bright with an upcoming Rabit & Logos white label in store. In a remarkably short time, Purcell has attained what most labels struggle over for years: an idiosyncratic identity. For Astral Plane Mix 018, we asked Paul to showcase Glacial Sound and to give our readers a taste of what he’s listening to at the moment. The result is a whirlwind journey through the kaleidoscopic sounds of London and grime’s various mutations. We also asked Paul what he likes to listen to when he’s on the go as there is a certain sense of movement (or lack thereof) that is inherent in the Glacial Sound aesthetic. Check out Paul’s addition to our guest mix series below and hit the jump for his on-the-go selections and track list.

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Download Folie Douce’s Cold Confessions

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February 5, 2014
New Music
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Coming straight from the hustlers of Belgium collective Folie Douce is their third compilation titled Cold Confessions. With nine near stand-alone tracks, Folie Douce rounds up every hitter they could get their hands on for what could be anyone’s 2014 Freshman list. Familiar faces include P. Morris (formerly Morri$ of Fade to Mind), S-Type, and DJ Paypal, but it was PC Music head honcho A.G. Cook‘s euphoric “HAD 1 (Club MIx)” and Kon‘s take on Ariana Grande’s “Honeymoon” that came through as the sleeper cuts. Jumping from footwork to rnb edits to jersey club, let Cold Confessions be your 2014 music chaperone. Stream/download for free Folie Douce’s Cold Confessions through soundcloud below and for more goodies from the Belgium braniacs check out Folie Douce Compilation Vol. I and Vol. II.. 

New Wen – “Intro (Family)”

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February 4, 2014
New Music
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On March 17, Owen Darby aka Wen will release the Signals LP on Dusk & Blackdown’s Keysound Recordings. As Wen’s debut full length, the album will offer up a kaleidoscopic view of UK pirate radio culture, London’s urban, grey-scale aesthetic and other signifiers we’ve come to expect in his productions. “Intro (Family)” is a swirling combination of eski/8 bar/wot u call it stabs and cinematic synth pads. The perpetual MC chants below the track’s surface, but acts more as a foil to the beatific pads and whirling spin backs. In the end, it’s a self-described intro, but the track shines more than enough light into Wen’s thought process to get us chuffed for the album.

Download Chris Travis & BONES’ SeaBed Mixtape

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January 29, 2014
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After releasing a couple songs together, Water Boy Kenshin Travis and TeamSESH headmaster BONES finally give us a complete mixtape (coming in just under 19 minutes) titled SeaBed. The tape flips between romance-leaning tracks like opener “FijiFalls,” which features BONES’ crooning, “I just hope you’re safe and sound” and darker cuts like “FallenLeaves,” which (after a build featuring a rain stick) sees Travis’ monotone finishing the track off with, “yeah I make a killing, just by killing.” The two flaunt designer water and murder without discretion, cutting themselves off mid-bar to let haunting beats from soundcloud producers take over. This project allows the two to fully realize their Solomon Grundy-like return from the grave and similar in more ways than not, Travis and BONES’ embrace their anti-hero role on SeaBeds. Download here and stream the full project below.