New Kode9 – “Kan”

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April 25, 2013
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Only three days after debuting the a-side of his first official single in two years, Kode9 has uploaded the b-side for public consumption. Opening with Nintendo charms, “Kan” quickly devolves into a barebones audial assault that will test even the largest sound systems. Most Kode9 tracks aren’t “bangers” in the traditional (knock you off your feet) sense, because there’s something almost uncanny about the way he mangles dubstep, garage, grime, etc. into his ultra-specific blueprint. “Xingfu Lu”/”Kan” is out next Monday (4/29) on Hyperdub.

Visionist “Only Eye” Mix For DIS Magazine

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April 25, 2013
Mixes
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DIS magazine

DIS Magazine is awesome. We don’t shine light on too many other music outlets 1.) Because we’re selfish and conceited, and 2.) Well, I don’t actually have anything else. Getting past that, London-resident Visionist is the latest disc jockey to contribute to DIS’ impeccable mix series (following the likes of Kingdom, DJ Funeral, The-Drum and other Astral Plane favorites) and has laid down one of the better grime/club-oriented mixes we’ve heard in quite some time. Keeping his feet firmly planted in next week, “Only Eye”  draws from a bevy of spacey yet hard-edged beat work with some highly selective MCing thrown in. Some choice Dot Rotten cuts were the highlight for me, but there really isn’t a weak spot in the mix’s 53 minute runtime. Stream/download below and peek the tracklist after the jump.

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Odesza Remix Beat Connection’s “Saola”

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April 25, 2013
New Music, Remixes
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Beat Connection have always been a band that has impressed me more in a live setting than in recorded form, an odd characteristic for a band that is often grouped alongside relatively tame live acts like Blackbird Blackbird, White Arrows and Lemonade. Whether performing at a tiny house party or the dance tent at a major festival, the trio never ceases to entertain with an endless supply of energy and enthusiasm. Unfortuantely, their recorded work, while bright at times, often lacks in the same departments. Enter Odesza, fellow Seattleites and sample patchwork impressarios. Last year, the duo (BeachesBeaches & CatacombKid) released the heavily slept on Summer’s Gone and, in the past few months (a few festival dates haven’t hurt), have garnered quite a bit of mass appeal. To kick off their upcoming West Coast tour with the aforementioned trio, Odesza have taken on remix duties for the Tune-Yards-channeling “Saola”, adding an oomph-worthy kick drum and scattering the vocals through a seductive filter/chop sequence. Like Summer’s Gone, the result isn’t exactly mind-blowing, but the duo have shown a penchant for turning out impossibly sunny jams in an over-saturated market, which is no small feat. Whether Odesza take their sound in a meatier direction will determine whether they eclipse their Northwest brethren or not.

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Lord Quas’ Planned Attack

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April 24, 2013
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After Flying Lotus’ Captain Murphy stole the drug-addled/animated alter-ego crown from Ahmad Miller, it was only a matter of time before Lord Quas emerged from his psilocybin-induced slumber. Yessir Whatever, the third official Quasimoto album, will be released on June 18 via Stones Throw (like really, who else?) and will feature a collection tracks released over the past 12 years. A few of the tracks have been released on limited vinyl in the past, but the majority have been hidden away in the Madlib vaults. “Planned Attack” sounds like it was recorded 12+ years ago and we’re all the better for it. We rarely exhort the godliness of the “golden age” like some other nostalgic journalists, but a Jeru The Damaja sample can go a long way in the right setting. See Lord Quas’ guts on June 18.

Blue Sky Black Death Remix Gunplay & Isaiah Toothtaker’s “Frownin”

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April 24, 2013
New Music, Remixes
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gunplay and isaiah toothtaker

Is there a more fitting name than “Frownin” for a track that features both the knuckle throwing knucklehead and a man who supposedly carries around a jar of his bar fight victim’s teeth? Not in this realm of existence. We all know Gunplay, but let me introduce you to Isaiah Toothtaker, Arizona MC and calcified structure collector. Co-founder of rising hardcore clique Machina Muerte, Toothtaker has been getting some press among the heads, but has been largely ignored by the more pop oriented folk. Kind of like Gunplay. Both rappers hit like a lyrical shotgun and are some of the most prolific punchline technicians around and both fit perfectly on “Frownin”. Did I mention that this is a remix? Helmed by Blue Sky Black Death? The Seattle duo’s work sans-Nacho Picasso hasn’t garnered them as much attention as it should, but “Frownin” should change that. We’re not exactly sure when the original “Frownin” will be released so you should just grab the BSBD version below and get to headknockin’.

New Classixx – “All You’re Waiting For”

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April 24, 2013
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While everyone looses their collective shit and chops of their pinky toes for the false pyramid idols, Los Angeles’ Classixx are making better pop/disco crossovers in 2013 than anyone else. “Holding On”   (and the subsequent Jerome LOL remix) set the stage for an utter takeover, but “All You’re Waiting For” is the real announcement, all throwback chord progressions drenched in molly water and champagne glitz. When a washed up Phoenix are opening for Classixx at the Coachella mainstage in 2016 you’ll think back to this moment and show thanks that you threw “Get Lucky” in the proverbial waste bin.

Giraffage Remixes Owl Eyes’ “Closure”

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April 24, 2013
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giraffage

On first listen, Giraffage’s music is rather unremarkable, a seemingly benign mixture of hip hop, R&B and contemporary production methods. Basically what everyone else is doing. After a few listens though, the appeal emerges in a hurry. Born Charlie Yin, the San Francisco-resident just has a way with vocals. Disembodied and dissonant, Yin reworks vocals into spindly melodies, weaving their way above, below and in-between the melody. Single words and snippets of popular hooks emerge suddenly and disappear just as quickly. Like-minded artists Kastle and Dreams have a similar way with their vocals. Shlohmo takes it to the extreme. Even Jersey Club artists like DJ Sliink and DJ Kiff manage to have their way with pop tropes, albeit with an entirely different outcome. Giraffage and the others are making pop music for the Adderall-addled future generations.

New Joy Orbison – “Donell”

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April 24, 2013
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In a startling show of good will, the once elusive Joy Orbison dropped a freebie line for his fans last night. “Donell” unsurprisingly samples Donell Jones’ “You Know What’s Up” and is a classic piece of shuffling throwback house. Orbison let the track go to ruffle up some hype for the second edition of his Just For You concert series. The event will take place at Oval Space in London and also feature Cassy (Panorama Bar), Evan Tuell (Worhshop) and Will Bankhead (The Trilogy Tapes). While most of us won’t be able to attend said smasher of an event, we can at least close our eyes, throw on “Donell” and  pretend our hardest.

New Kode9 – “Xingfu Lu”

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April 23, 2013
New Music
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Hyperdub don Kode9’s first official track in over two years comes in the form of “Xingfu Lu”, named after the street it was conceived on in Shanghai. “Xingfu” translates to “happy” in Chinese, but this track is anything but joyful. It’s a paranoiac journey through Kode9’s past, drawing on his brutalist take on garage as well as his more extreme percussion workouts. At times it sounds like a demented Joker while at others, it falls into the realm of a soul-less Pearson Sound. The single will be released on April 29 via Hyperdub and will hopefully be followed by something more substantial.