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Remixes

It feels like it’s 2009 again. It’s been three years since the release of The xx’s seminal self-titled debut, but as the fourtet gears up for a second go around, xx mania is revving its engine as well. Jamie xx stuck his neck into the solo realm and immediately became an indie darling after releasing the “Far Nearer”/”Beat For” single and his remix of Gil Scott-Heron’s last album I’m New Here. The xx are scheduled to play at numerous festivals across Europe and elsewhere this summer and have publicly stated that they are currently working up on a follow up to The xx. One result of the unique use of silence on their debut was a deluge of remixes from all corners of music realm. Some made perfect sense (Dark Sky, Four Tet, Mount Kimbie, Nosaj Thing), but most were cringe worthy. Without any new  material to work with, amidst the excitement over a new album, it appears that some producers have begun to look back to the debut for inspiration. One of those happens to be 17 year old up and comer Beat Culture. This remix of “Shelter” borrows heavily from Burial (no surprise that he’s listed as an influence), but with an added twist. The song lacks the subtlety of most Burial productions, but that doesn’t necessarily negatively effect the remix. Beat Culture also lists Hudson Mohawke as an influence who places about as far from Burial on the minimal/maximal spectrum. If Beat Culture can fall somewhere in between the two, while maintaining his signature style, the teenager has a bright future ahead of him. Stream/download his remix of “Shelter” below.

Last week we featured Obey City’s juke-inspired remix of Schoolboy Q’s “Blessed.” This week, the Brooklyn resident is back with a remix of Astro Nautico label-mate Paul Jones’s cut “Bad Haircut.” Obey City flattens out the original without losing its funky flavor. The well-placed synth pads and a repetitive rhythm dominate the track, but it’s the breakdowns are what really draw you in. Download the remix below.

Download: Paul Jones – “Bad Haircut (Obey City Remix)

Photo from facebook

Well this is quite the coincidence. Back in February, we covered cloud rap aficionados MainAttrakionz performance at Pomona College. La Hambra beatsmith Jonwayne just happened to be opening up for the Oakland duo that night. In a comical turn of fate, legendary IDM producer Odd Nosdam mashed the two unlikely collaborators into one track using Main Attrakionz “Chap 3” and Jonwayne’s “Bowser I.” The track would undoubtedly sound better yell-rapped in a dark club, but what you do? Shit bumps. Stream/download below.

Photo by Bryce Pinkos

The Shlohmo remixes just keep coming. Earlier, Pitchfork debuted Chilean-American minimal artist Nicolas Jaar’s remix of “Rained The Whole Time” off of the Vacation EP. Removing Shlohmo’s sense of organized clutter from the track, Jaar manages to maintain the underwater feel of the track. The latin sounding guitar is still there, while the addition of stuttering drums transforms the track into a more dance-floor oriented house affair. Jaar, who is also a Comparative Lit student at Brown University, released one of last year’s most widely acclaimed minimal projects in his Space Is Only Noise album, and is poised for another big year in 2012. Unfortunately, “Rained The Whole Time” is only up for stream at the moment, but you can buy the entire Vacation 12″ at FriendsOfFriends, which also includes remixes from Groundislava, Salva and Teebs.

Today on Seattle’s KEXP 90.3, a new remix of SBTRKT‘s “Hold On” was premiered, supposedly created by someone named “Sisi BakBak.” However, after a little sleuthing, it appears that Sisi BakBak may in fact be Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, due to a comment made by KEXP DJ Cheryl Waters regarding the evasive remixer’s plans to play Seattle’s Key Arena in the near future. Mysterious pseudonyms, Thom Yorke, AND SBTRKT all wrapped into one? We’re all ears.

Here’s the remix, accompanied by a video directed by Sam Pilling:

Via.

Keyboard Kid has been on a tear lately. Last month, he released his BASEDTREASURES tape, one of the best instrumental releases of the year. He has also been aching to release the BASEDINSTRUMENTALEP, a collection of instrumentals Lil B has used recently. Now, the #BASEDGOD’s main producer brings us a remix of Seattle crooner Katie Kate’s “Houses.” Katie Kate’s vocals dip in and out of the meandering synth progressions and 808’s on this remix highlighting both the vocalist and the producer. The vocals are altered, cut out and refigured throughout the track, but the soothing beauty in Katie Kate’s voice remains throughout. Stream and download the track below and be on the look out for BASEDINSTRUMENTALEP.

http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F36025412&show_artwork=true