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Remixes

Sounds From The Astral Plane (Thank You Flying Lotus)

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December 2, 2012
Mixes, New Music, Remixes
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Can we talk about Steven Ellison for a moment? Just take a few minutes out of this lovely Sunday afternoon to recognize what the man stands for and what he represents in the 2012 music landscape. This little piece probably won’t include anything that hasn’t been said, but it’s so worth reiterating it, especially this week. As Flying Lotus, Steven Ellison has produced some of the most divergent, thought provoking and challenging electronic music of the past 20 or so years. Since his arrival, Mr. Ellison has essentially put Los Angeles’ instrumental hip hop movement, known by most as the “beat scene”, on his back, pushing it into international waters. Despite being the figurehead of this movement, touring incessantly and heading a hugely successful label, he is still the very best at what he does. Furthermore, he seems to genuinely enjoy making music, meeting fans and performing. If you’ve ever seen a Flying Lotus set, you know what I’m talking about. That ear-to-ear smile is just impossible not to replicate. That’s why it isn’t even remotely surprising that Ellison devised and followed through on the Captain Murphy project. Ok, his above-average rapping ability is a little surprising, but the fact that he would release a free album featuring a menagerie of the best MC’s and producers in hip hop shouldn’t be. So before getting to the rest of this week’s sounds, can we all take a moment to thank Steven Ellison? He deserves that much from us.

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Jaw Jam Remixes Pharrell’s “Frontin'”

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November 29, 2012
New Music, Remixes
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From the Wikipedia entry on Pharrell’s “Frontin'”: “The title refers to putting up a facade (or false ‘front’), typically to impress peers.” Just in case you were confused about your early 2000’s lingo and need some brownie points with the cool kids. The internet is a funny place. Over the next few months, Jaw Jam has tunes coming out on Tuff Wax and Symbols (which makes too much sense), but until then, he’s going to release bootleg after bootleg after bootleg. His latest target is the aforementioned “Frontin'”, one of The Neptunes’ biggest hits at the time and, for better or worse, a pretty damn good indicator of radio hip hop in 2003. Jaw Jam’s bootleg is built around stuttering percussion and those rich, smooth synths that have become his penchant over the past few months. Pharrell’s voice cuts in when the beat stutters, but never really reaches the surface. Jaw Jam is digging out a niche for himself as a sort of house tempo counterpoint to Kastle and Symbols’ R&B laced dubstep. Stream below and show Jaw Jam some love at his facebook page so that he’ll let the download loose.

D33J’s Love Story

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November 29, 2012
New Music, Remixes
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French Montana has a new Mike Will Made It produced single out called “Marble Floors” wherein a few famous rappers fanute about fucking your bitch over some garish snare rolls. In the midst of 2 Chainz’ song ending verse, he lays down this double (triple? quadruple?) take worthy bit of brilliance:

2 Chainz, that’s your best answer

Cup filled with pink, I’m supporting breast cancer

I might do that walk for the 5k

I get paid every time I leave my driveway

Now regardless of your opinion on Tity Boi, that is some high concept shit right there. It’s purp and lean music for the sensitive man/lady. Grippin’ grain and switchin’ lanes with a greater societal purpose.  Sort of like D33J and the whole night bus sound. Sort of. Lean music on a deeper level, replete with soppy, late night love stories and brief, hyper-sexual encounters. Now, D33J’s remix of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” is about as far away from “Marble Floors” vibe-wise as you can get. It’s that late-night underwater feel that D33J and his Wedidit compatriots are so good at evoking, bringing the wettest, darkest vibes out of flat pop songs. D33J said this stream is only going to be up for a little while so give us a shout in the comments if it suddenly disappears. Download here.

SCNTST, Nathan Fake And Twin Peaks

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November 28, 2012
New Music, Remixes
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Combining Ludacris, Eminem, Nathan Fake and juke is probably a really bad idea. It’s actually a little astonishing that SCNTST even attempted this rework of Fake’s “Bumbechord”. The original is one of those songs that inhabits both dark and light space, evoking either the deepest and most depraved or the most mind splitting-ly euphoric memories from the listener. It’s the electronics version of Laura Palmer’s Theme in David Lynch’s Twin Peaks series without the cornball-ness. What SCNTST does though is  flip it into Evian Christ’s best song, the dense, atmospheric nature of the original the perfect backing for Slim Shady and Luda’s brief exhortations. This is a damn fine song. Stream below.

Cashmere Cat Remixes Feadz & Kito’s “Wettex”

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November 28, 2012
New Music, Remixes
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Before analyzing this new Cashmere Cat fuego, I’m going to indulge in some self-promotion right quick (it tenuously applies to the song, don’t worry). I recently took my talents to South Beach, otherwise known as TRUANTS and will be shopping my pedantic thoughts in those parts from here on out. I will still be doin’ the damn thang in these waters, but now you’ll find me at TRUANTS at the same damn time.  If you’re looking to follow my cultural musings and/or posts from both sites, get at me on Tumblr. You’re probably asking yourself why your reading this and in what possible way it could relate to a Cashmere Cat’s remix of Feadz & Kito’s “Wettex”? Well not much actually, but it’s a triumphant, feel good song and I’m feeling triumphant so bare with me. The Pelican Fly rep’s take on “Wettex” isn’t as subtle as anything on Mirror Maru, but for unabated good times drenched in chintzy 80’s euphoria, it can’t be beat. So yeah follow me here/Truants/Slopped & Wetted and stream below.

Nadus Remixes Star Slinger’s “Ladies In The Back”

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November 28, 2012
New Music, Remixes
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Put this one under strip club music along with most of Pluto3D and Blue Dream And Lean. For the uninitiated, Nadus is a key member of the notorious Brick Bandits crew, which is a loose collective of club-oriented producers stretching from Jersey to Chicago. DJ Sliink and DJ Kiff are also members and the crew is pretty much the go-to place to find up-to-date Jersey/Philly club shit. Taking a step back from his usual 130 BPM exhibitions of twerk-inducing madness, Nadus speeds up Star Slinger’s sexy-as-fuq Teki Latex assisted “Ladies In The Back” only slightly, sprucing up the percussion with some lighthearted snares. The calls to “shake that” are the real highlight here as Nadus makes sure you know exactly what his goal is. Why beat around the bush when serious business is involved? The remix is part of the “Ladies In The Back” single, out now on Slinger’s Jet Jam imprint.

Anenon Remixes Gold & Soil’s “Where Or When”

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November 27, 2012
New Music, Remixes
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Keeping in the family, Non Projects boss Anenon recently remixed Gold And Soil’s “Where Or When” from their self-titled debut album. Anenon maintains Ana Caravelle’s angelic vocals and the beatific harp playing of the original, adding layers of rich percussion and adding to the earthy nature of the original. Like the original, Anenon’s remix is understated and rich with emotion, looping Anna Caravelle singing “I still remember” with further soaring vocals in the background. Stream and download below.

Happa Remixes Vondelpark’s “Dracula”

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November 27, 2012
New Music, Remixes
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Who would have thought that such massive sounds come from such an innocent source? Just look at the above photo of Happa. Not trying to belittle him by centering on his age, but fuck, dude is 15 and churning out some of the most stomp-worthy techno (if you can even call it that) we’ve heard all year. This is one those posts that, if you don’t have a strong pair of headphones or speakers, you should probably skip over. When the vocals cut away… just tear your hair out. This is what every horror movie should sound like, the kickdrum playing the part of the man with a knife behind every curtain. Stream below.

JETS (Jimmy Edgar & Machinedrum) Explore Clubland In Latest FACT Mix

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November 26, 2012
Mixes, New Music, Remixes
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The partnership between Jimmy Edgar and Machinedrum makes too much sense. The two came up in similar fashions, crafting their own individual takes on electro and club music and now reside in Berlin. Despite the superpower implications of their JETS project, the buildup to their self-titled EP felt somewhat restrained, as if excitement was implied instead of exuded. The Jets EP is an impressive release in every sense of the word, borrowing dance from tropes from across the bass music sphere with the result being four tightly wound balls of energy. What the EP lacks though is a certain flair for the dramatic that is readily apparent in both Edgar and Stewart’s solo work. As technically proficient as the EP is, it lacks a certain rawness that can transform a release from just another EP into something that will be played out years down the road.

Regardless of the EP’s relative shortcomings, the partnership between Edgar and Stewart is sure to bear more succulent fruit, the first sign of which comes in the form of their contribution to FACT Mag’s mix series. Rife with exclusives, the mix is a 75+ minute marathon through a club wasteland, littered with the defiled carcasses of dozens of sub-genres. There is unreleased JETS material, as well as unreleased solo jawns from Edgar and Stewart. There is a break for old timey radio ads. There is a Machinedrum remix of Triple Six Mafia’s “Who Run It” (!!!) an Edgar remix of Body Language’s “Lose My Head”. If you’re looking for an introduction to the ambiguities of club and/or bass music, look no further than this mix. I just got excited about JETS all over again. Stream and download below.

Sounds From The Astral Plane (R.I.P. Austin Peralta)

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November 25, 2012
Live, Mixes, New Music, Remixes
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I can’t pretend to have known Austin Peralta or to be profound enough to properly eulogize him, but what I can do is recognize the enormous outpouring of love for a young man and transcendent musician who has tragically passed away. It’s easy to portray false love/appreciation through a computer screen, but I truly believe in the genuine nature of the hundreds of tributes that have popped up across the web. I remember seeing Austin at Low End Theory earlier this year and remarking on the ingenuity of his (quite literally) mind melting solos, but leaving halfway through the set nonetheless. Whether it was a lack of patience or just pure laziness, I can’t remember, but Austin’s passing has enlarged a feeling of deep personal regret. On a larger scale, Austin’s passing, like his music, is a remark on the ephemeral nature of life itself. So please, listen to this recording from Austin’s release party in Eagle Rock last year and recognize the incandescence that was Austin Peralta.

Hit the jump for the rest of the sounds…

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