New Machinedrum – “Whatnot”

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November 19, 2012
New Music
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Machinedrum’s latest effort, “Whatnot”, sees the Berlin-resident retreating to the territory he occupied with the Room(s) LP, a restrained, emotive sound that I believe is his most engulfing. It’s not as loud or dance-able as the club sounds found on SXLND or his Halloween anthem, “Diablo”, but “Whatnot” is a richly textured groover that has enough bass weight to carry a dancefloor. The track is a part of Low Limit’s (of Lazer Sword) Ouroboros compilation, which will also feature Obey City, Ghosts on Tape and Clicks & Whistles. The tape will be released on November 27 via Low Limit’s Innovative Leisure imprint. Stream and download below.

The Mount Kimbie Interview

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November 19, 2012
Interviews
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The auteurs of one of the finest, most groundbreaking electronic albums in recent memory, Dominic Maker and Kai Campos, recently embarked upon a quick jaunt across North America to showcase new material from their upcoming full length and a more developed live show.  While the members of Mount Kimbie took in some Los Angeles poolside vibes the day before their LA appearance, (reviewed as an incredible musical journey in which the concepts of time and place ceased to behave according to their usual rules and regulations) I had the pleasure of sitting down with them and hearing their answers to my star-struck, stammered queries.  The transcription that follows sheds some light on the intentions with their live show, a few of the more technical aspects of their live and studio setups, the creative process, and more.  They confirm a new record out on Warp before summer of 2013 and hint that some James Blake collaborations may see the light of day in the upcoming year as well.  I had a fantastic time chatting with this pair of gentlemen and am pleased and honored to share their insights with you.

Hit the jump for the full interview…

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Cult Play With Captain Murphy

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November 19, 2012
New Music
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Witnessing the widespread panic that followed the initial posting of Captain Murphy’s Duality last Friday was almost as entertaining and mind-boggling as the actual music/visuals. Some people are actually angry that Mr. Murphy’s identity hasn’t been revealed, while others indulge in the jaw dropping list of producers involved, attempting guesses at which beat can be attributed to which beatsmith. While the Captain’s identity is still technically under wraps, you can now take home a copy (in one long MP3) of Duality and fret over it on your daily ride to work! You can also stream the chapter-split version of the tape below, courtesy of Masked Gorilla. Apparently, a deluxe version of Duality is on the way, which will (probably) contain exciting features like split tracks, producer credits (!) and hopefully some more cult-centered visuals. In the meantime, stream below and grab the full tape here.

Night Slugs In This Mothafucka

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November 19, 2012
Mixes, New Music, Remixes
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From the opening salvo of “Night Slugs in this mothafucka, Fade To Mind’s in this mothafucka”, the listener pretty much knows what they’re getting into with L-Vis 1990’s NSMIX002: 70 minutes of the eclectic, mind melting jams from the foremost purveyors of club music. The mix was recorded at Dubspot NYC and features several unreleased L-Vis originals and remixes as well as an unreleased Bok Bok/Tom Trago collaboration and Girl Unit’s “Double Take Pt. 2”. L-Vis keeps it in the Night Slugs/Fade To Mind family for the most part, rinsing tunes by KW Griff, MikeQ, Jam City and more. Stream and download the mix below and peep the tracklist after the jump.

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Bitch, Don’t Kill Star Slinger’s Vibe

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November 18, 2012
New Music, Remixes
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Of the many faces Star Slinger puts on in his various productions, the hip hop remix face might just be my favorite. Despite having a bevy of low-key hip hop originals to his name, the Mancunian usually takes a more amped up approach when remixing the likes of Danny Brown, ASAP Rocky or Drake, adding a tinge of funk here, or maybe some Jersey club there. His latest bootleg target just happens to be a song that will be associated with 2012 hip hop years down the road, Kendrick Lamar’s “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”. You’ve all heard it (I hope), and honestly, there really aren’t many improvements to be made in this case. Slinger does his thing though, transforming it into a smooth bit of piano-driven club music that retains the original’s structural integrity. Stream and download below.

Sounds From The Astral Plane (Reboot)

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November 18, 2012
Mixes, New Music, Remixes
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The below quote in from David Foster Wallace and Mark Costello’s Signifying Rappers, a discussion on hip hop and race, as well as a thorough criticism of rapidly changing, turn of the century media forms. I felt it was probably more worthwhile than the brief commentary I was going to plaster here instead.

You may now be getting some hazy idea of the sorts of really quite scary possibilities with which the rap we like is replete. And, hazier, of how complicated this stuff of sampler-from-outside can be. What’s remained passing strange, for use, is the vague threat’s appeal. The unease and ambivalence with which the rare white at the window loves rap renders that love no less love. Whence the fear, though, is really no matter. For look at the world, at the masses we’re part of. At what you look at closest. The plain 80s data is that, whereas love, devotion, passion seem only to divide, it’s fear and strangeness that bind crowds, fill halls, unite Us, somehow, as audience, under the great tent.

Discuss.

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Action Bronson And Alchemist Are Rare Chandeliers

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November 15, 2012
New Music
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Alchemist has basically reinvented himself over the past few years as the guitar looping torchbearer of the the type of realist hip hop that has caused mass hysteria among both longtime hip hop fans and internet folk. Action Bronson is probably Alchemist’s MC counterpart in that sense, so when news broke a little while back that the two would be collaborating on Rare Chandeliers, many a jaws were dropped. When the video for “The Symbol” came out last month, we knew it was all over. After a one over, Rare Chandeliers is everything we expected and more. The beats are classic, dusty Alchemist and Bronsolino brings the seared Chinook salmon in rap form. Schoolboy Q, Roc Marciano and Evidence are along for the ride. We’ll have much more on the tape soon, but a release of this immense quality deserves to be heard immediately. Stream below and grab the whole tape for free courtesy of Noisey.

Gold And Soil Made An Album In A Yurt

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November 15, 2012
New Music
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Recording an album in Topanga Canyon isn’t exactly a breathtakingly new concept. The beatific canyon northwest of Los Angeles has more or less been the go-to (or at least idealized) Southern California location for all things bohemian over the past fifty or so years. Regardless, the image of Ana Caravelle and Ryan York recording an album in Topanga Canyon is pretty damn cool. In a yurt no less. The result is nothing less than spectacular, an understated confluence of organic sounds and modern production methods. As Gold And Soil, Caravelle and York have crafted a sound as rich and textured as the Topanga soil they probably rolled around in during its creation process. You can stream Gold & Soil below and grab a few tracks for free if you’re looking for a nice change of pace.

Jerome LOL Remixes Tomas Barfod’s “November Skies”

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November 15, 2012
New Music, Remixes
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In which Jerome LOL continues to tweak the sound first found on the Changes EP, reapplying it to labelmate Tomas Barfod’s “November Skies”. I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that Jerome could easily be producing (if he isn’t already) for some of the biggest names in the industry. On “November Skies”, he invents a child-like element, represented in the chipmunk vocals and twinkling chimes. Not childish, but child-like. Innocent. Bashful. The synths bounce off of the track walls in bouts of controlled excitement as the live-sounding percussion tumbles over itself resulting in an Animal Collective-esque chaos. This might be the best track of 2012 for people to hipster dance to. The remix is off of the “November Skies” remix package (catch Sepalcure’s take here), out November 26 via Friends of Friends.

Jacques Greene Remixes Jesse Boykins III & MeLo X’s “The Perfect Blues”

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November 15, 2012
New Music, Remixes
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It appears that Jesse Boykins III has become somewhat of an informal member of the Vase-Forever crew. After appearing on Zodiac’s standout “Come” back in September, Boykins III has recruited labelhead Jacques Greene to remix “The Perfect Blues” off of his joint album with MeLo X. There’s something about Boykins’ voice, as comforting as it is unnerving, that fits so damn well with that lush, mid-tempo Vase aesthetic. Here Greene takes on “The Perfect Blues” and, stepping back from his past few dancefloor oriented productions, aims directly at the bedroom. And really, is there anyone making sexier music than Jacques Greene? Boykins and MeLo X’s crooning is just the cherry on top. Stream and download below courtesy of FACT Mag.