May 2012
19 posts
5 tags
Bandshell - Dust March EP
The Hessle Audio camp have just announced HES021, the debut EP from new label signing Bandshell. They’ve only uploaded brief clips thus far but from what I can tell, this will be another fine addition to a remarkably consistent catalogue. Expect bottom dwelling, percussion heavy, steppers techno.
I can’t wait to hear it in full, especially the Actress esq crawling techno of title...
4 tags
Death Waltz Recording Co - Escape From New York...
For those of you who are as obsessed with John Carpenter films & sountracks as I am then this will come as a major treat. Death Waltz Recording Co. (the vinyl soundtrack label founded by Rough Trade East manager Spencer Hickman) has recently announced that it’s pressed up an exclusive limited edition version of the soundtrack including six tracks that never made it into the original...
3 tags
Kryptic Minds - Hybrid (Biome Remix)
After the excellent Tectonic takeover at last night’s Boiler Room this seemed a fitting tune to hear first thing this morning. Kryptic Minds killed last night and Biome follows suit with his excellent remix of ‘Hybrid’, forthcoming on Osiris Music UK.
Classic low end rumblings meet clean, crisp drums - sparsity never sounded so good. Check this and ‘The Raven’...
4 tags
Leon Vynehall - Mauve EP
Another strong look from Well Rounded Housing Project as they hit their 5th release, this time with the ‘Mauve EP’ from Brighton native Leon Vynehall. The title track ‘Mauve’ is a stomping cut of bass heavy piano house that will likely drive any floor into a frenzy (especially if they ignore the slightly dodgy male vocal sample). Like the James Fox track that the label...
4 tags
Joe and Will Ask Vikings launch party @ Birthdays
Following the release of their debut album ‘Vikings’ Joe And Will Ask are bringing their new live set to new Dalston venue on the block Birthdays tomorrow night. They’ll be supported by Bowski, Spieltrieb and John Green and you can check out the minimix they’ve made specially for the occasion to give you a taste of what to expect (as well as preview a number of tracks...
2 tags
Becoming Real - Solar Dreams/Neon Decay
Becoming Real’s new EP ’Solar Dreams/Neon Decay’ comes out on May 28th and presents a beautiful landscape where garage, techno and pretty much any other fucked up sounds available crash to make a rather dizzying affair. Listen out for appearances from Lady Chann and Alice from Sunless 97.
Stream the EP below and buy it on Bleep.
DLVRY
2 tags
Nicolas Jaar – Essential Mix
Trying to describe Nicolas Jaar’s Essential Mix is near impossible, however the 43 strong tracklist speaks volumes about his knowledge and breadth of musical influences. Although it only includes a few of his own pieces of music, the mix features tracks from Aphex Twin, Keith Jarrett, Feist, Charles Mingus, Marvin Gaye all the way over to Beyoncé, Ricardo Villalobos and even NSYNC.
A...
3 tags
Happa - Let It Go
I wish I was as rad as Samir Alikhanizadeh aka Happa when I was 14. Shame there’s only a minute and a half to listen to as ‘Let It Go’ is definitely one for the DJ trick bag. Listen immediately and keep an eye out for his future releases on Wigflex and Church.
DLVRY
5 tags
Blawan - Why They Hide Their Bodies Under My...
Ignoring it’s absurd title, ‘WTHTBDMG’ see’s Blawan realise one of his most jacking tracks to date. He dropped it midway through his recent Boiler Room session and now someone has ripped it onto to YouTube (obviously). Ticking all his usual boxes - lethal kick drum, trippy sample, hi hats carved from stone and a pounding bass line - it takes no prisoners. After a few hit...
5 tags
Simian Mobile Disco - Unpatterns Album Stream &...
Simian Mobile Disco’s excellent new album ‘Unpatterns’ came out on Monday and you can listen in full (and buy) below.
They’re launching the album at Fabric this Friday supported by Objekt, Blondes (live!) and Daniel Avery. Tectonic are taking over Room 2 and Sonic Router are in Room 3. More info here.
DLVRY
6 tags
Flying Lotus - live @ Sonar São Paulo 2012
I can’t think of a better time than this rainy afternoon to catch some new FlyLo material. Sit back, open your mind and enjoy his Sónar São Paulo performance as he reels off some new material from his forthcoming album ‘Until The Quiet Comes’ dropping later this year on Warp.
DLVRY
4 tags
Trevino - Backtracking
Sex music from drum and bass maestro Marcus Intalex. Under his new guise Trevino, his latest EP is out now on Craig Richard’s new imprint The Nothing Special. Both tracks are Barcelona roof-top bangers out just in time for the summer. A worthy purchase for Chicago House addicts.
Trevino Backtracking / JuanTwoFive clips. The Nothing Special Records Out Now by Marcusintalex Soul:rHQ
Buy...
7 tags
In The Mix 006 - Robn
“There’s a loose theme of loose synths, or at least my interpretation of what it means” was the note attached to this mix when Wifey LDN resident Robn emailed it over to us a couple of weeks ago and instantly sparked our curiosity before we’d even had a chance listen. As it turns out, his interpretation of loose synths is one that includes an upfront selection of house,...
6 tags
Darq E Freaker & Danny Brown - Blueberry (Pills &...
By Internet standards we are well late on this, but fuck that, it’s still one of our favourite tunes to emerge in recent weeks. Nicely answering the question of what happens when you mix one of Grime’s most talented beat makers with one of the most enigmatic and audacious rappers to emerge from the US in the past couple of years, ’Blueberry (Pills & Cocaine)’ is a...
3 tags
Planet Mu Night - 11/05/12 @ XOYO
My top tip for this weekend is most definitely the Planet Mu Night this Friday at XOYO in Shoreditch.
Easily one of the finest electronic music labels around, Planet Mu have programmed a fantastic line up featuring headline sets from two of their most prolific artists, Machinedrum & Kuedo. Both artists will be performing live and regular Loose Synths readers will recognise them each for...
4 tags
Elek - Don't Know (Tanka Refix)
Our pals over at Dem Hungry have offered up a new Tanka refix of an old tune from Elek. At maximum downloads they’ll be giving away the stems for a remix competition, with a chance to win a set at their next party at XO on the 23rd.
The remix itself is a beautiful re-imagination of the original, with some great vocal work, punchy drums and throbbing synth action that we love here at...
6 tags
Theo Parish - Electronic Beats Slices Interview
Electronic Beats conduct a thought provoking interview with Theo Parrish as part of their Slices series. Possibly one of the most important and influential DJs from the past 20 years, Parish gives a brutally honest and insightful view of DJ’ing, including a particularly compelling (if rather biased) argument against the advancements of the digital domain in modern DJ’ing. Well worth...
5 tags
Wbeeza - Billy Green Is Ded
This one has been doing the rounds for awhile now and has finally been put to wax courtesy of Third Ear. Straight up party vibes from Wbeeza, ‘Billy Green is Ded’ samples Bernard Wright’s ‘Spinnin’ (you know.. the one Skee lo used for ‘I Wish’) alongside a Gil Scott Heron vocal sample to create a deadly DJ tool that stands up alongside some of...
3 tags
Deadbeat & Danuel Tate - Lazy Jane
Absolutely deadly new cut from Deadbeat on the Berlin based BLKRTZ label. Lazy Jane is a finely honed slice of dub, channelling Mala and Basic Channel in equal parts to create a 135bpm stepper the likes of which you don’t hear enough of these days. Vocal duties are provided by Danuel Tate of Cobblestone Jazz fame whose soulful, vocodered crooning sits perfectly above the cavernous...
April 2012
20 posts
3 tags
Joy Orbison - Ellipsis
Putting aside any thoughts and frustrations that surround the length of time for Joy Orbison tracks to get released, it’s good to see ‘Ellipsis’ finally being put to wax after months of hearing it pop up in various sets and mixtapes. Backed by what promises to be a killer Heads High (a.k.a Shed) remix, it’s being put out on Orbison’s own Hinge Finger label....
4 tags
John Talabot - Destiny ft. Pional
I managed to completely miss the hype around Barcelona native John Talabot’s debut album ‘Fin’ when it was released earlier this year and it was only a chance purchase last week whilst I was busy riffling through Rough Trade’s racks on Record Store Day that led me to discover it. Since then though all other records have been left in their dust jackets as it’s...
3 tags
Disclosure - Boiling ft. Sinead Harnett
Disclosure continue their steady rise with ‘Boiling’ which follows on from their previous EP for Make Mine earlier this year. Picked up by Greco Roman (who already have a knack for picking ludicrously catchy tunes - ‘Gabriel’ by Joe Goddard & ‘Close’ by Hackman both come to mind), the release sees the duo drop the tempo and focus in on Sinead...
4 tags
Mux Mool – Planet High School
Mux Mool - Planet High School by ghostly
Brian Lindgren has a canny knack for defying expectations. The one-two opener of ‘Brothers’ and ‘7-11’ on this, his second release on Ghostly International, lead me to believe I’m sitting down with a fluid, funky, instrumental hip-hop release. It’s certainly a formidable way to open proceedings: the former comes rolling in with faintly alien textures,...
8 tags
Loose Synths x Mimm Recordings - 21/04/2012 @...
This months party is something rather special. We’ve teamed up with Nottingham based label and cultural hub Mimm to bring you a label showcase featuring two of our favourite DJs of the moment: Spam Chop and TOYC. Wigflex head honcho Spam Chop has been turning heads for awhile with his rude take on bass influenced techno and anyone who has ever been to a Wigflex party will know that his...
5 tags
Tupac @ Coachella 2012?!
Words can’t really describe this one. I bet most people in their states of intoxication had absolutely NO idea what was going on when what appeared to be Tupac appeared on stage with Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre at Coachella 2012.
Check their rendition of ‘Gangsta Party’, about 2.40 in.
DLVRY
5 tags
Artifact - Brittle Bones/Freeze Dry (Free...
After an excellent debut on Deadplate earlier this year, Artifact returns with a free release via the ever consistent Local Action Records. This ain’t your standard freebie download business though - make no mistake, both of these tunes are absolutely killer.
Brittle Bones is in many ways the antithesis of it’s title, a rugged stepper that hits hard with some brilliant interplay...
5 tags
Throwing Snow - Bass Mutations Teaser Mix
Throwing Snow has put together a very tasty little mix to whet appetites for Unsound Festival NYC’s Bass Mutations party on April 21st. It’s available to stream/download over at Percussion Lab.
If you’re not familiar with his recent Local Action release, get to know that as well.
Tracklist:
Kuhn - Stoneskipper (S. Maharba Remix) Memotone - Don’t Come Looking (With...
5 tags
DLVRY - These Words
This one is obviously close to our hearts as DLVRY is one of the writers here at LS and this week he released his long awaited ‘These Words’ EP on L2S Recordings. After being picked up by label boss Whistla last year, the title track has gone on to be a firm favourite on his Sub FM radio show and at last it’s seeing the light of day alongside ‘Downtown’. Both...
2 tags
CFCF - Exercises EP
CFCF’s new EP ‘Exercises’ is streaming over at The Fader. They’ve summed it up pretty well…
“…a meditation on brutalist architecture and the pretty (and sometimes brutal) ostinato archetypes punched out by minimalist composers like Philip Glass”
‘Spirit’ is my choice cut - a beautiful meeting of cluster chords and delicate Rhodes...
5 tags
Last Japan - Ambush EP
Last Japan always puts a large amount of effort into the sound of his tracks. Whether on the money or not far off, his diligence is to be admired. With his forthcoming release on Lo Note UK, he is bang on. Both tracks are minimal yet characterful, lined with enough bass frequencies to leave your house windowless.
[FORTHCOMING] Last Japan - ‘Ambush’ EP by LNUK Records
Check out Lo...
4 tags
Bicep - Stripper
Already a massively popular release, Bicep smash the production on their latest. Out April 16th on Love Fever, this is an absolute must-have for the record collection. The artwork’s also pretty inspired.
Buy it here
SH
3 tags
Space Dimension Controller - Welcome to...
Pretty hyped about this! R&S have just released a trailer for the new Space Dimension Controller album which is due to drop sometime this year. A tiny taster of what’s to come, the video channels Blade Runner aesthetics with what I assume is a snippet of one of the tracks off the album.
5 tags
Bobby Tank - Afterburn
And I thought Rustie’s ‘Glass Swords’ was going to keep my brain ticking over for the next gazillion years.
WELCOME Bobby Tank to the ring!
A massive slice of awesome for Wednesday night - and check that artwork! A lovely presentation of high rolling synths, crashing drums and our well acquainted friend - the chopped up vocal sample. I’m feeling Bobby’s...
7 tags
Teddy Music - Hoods Up (Remix)
Super intense stuff here from Teddy Music - utilising the vocal talents of Lil Nasty, Double S, Lady Leshurr, Scrufizzer, Dot Rotten & Tre Mission to create something truly terrifying.
I know what you’re thinking - “That’s a lot of guests!”
Never fear - the track’s brilliant production gives them plenty of time to expand over crisp beats, industrial and...
3 tags
Funkystepz - Royal Rumble EP
Holy crap! Needed a relisten to remember how much I love this EP.
The choice cut is ‘Riddim’ (second tune in Soundcloud player above) - an absolute tear up of Jay Z’s ‘Jigga What, Jigga Who’. As unrecognizable as it is from it’s original form, those Timbaland beats can’t escape anyone. Not to say the rest of the EP isn’t banging - a lovely...
4 tags
Jimmy Edgar - This One's For The Children
Ahead of the release of his third album on Hotflush this spring, Jimmy Edgar has recently dropped the awkwardly titled but rather good ‘This One’s For the Children’ EP which features his first new material in nearly two years. The title cut on the A side is a raw slab of house complete with sleazy synth arpeggios and a dancefloor proselytiser who is convinced he can make you...
4 tags
Land Of Kings
Festival season is well on the way (even if some quarters would have you believe it’s falling apart) which means the usual mixture of dodgy food, warm booze and questionable hygiene, oh yeah and some music as well. One of the first opportunities to sample all of these delights comes in the form of Land Of Kings which is Dalston’s multi venue music and arts Festival which runs over...
6 tags
Wifey 008 - Swing Ting
Wifey 008: Swing Ting by Wifey on Mixcloud
In case you missed Wifey LDN’s latest blow out at the Alibi this weekend just gone, headliners Swing Ting put together this fucking stonking mix with a load of upfront exclusives from the likes of Funkystepz, Murlo, Logos and Beneath. Perfect for the upcoming Easter weekend - Get to know!
Tracklisting:
01. Samrai – Mickey Mouse Gas Mask 02....
4 tags
Ghost Loft - Blow
LA Based Ghost Loft got in touch over the weekend to send over his latest tune ‘Blow’. A mellow slice of hazy down tempo pop, it mixes a choice R’n’B sample (see if you recognise it…) with layers of dreamy vocals. Well worth checking out, you can download a copy from his Soundcloud and whilst you are there check out his other tune ‘Slowdowntime’ which...
March 2012
17 posts
3 tags
Jai Paul - Jasmine
Great new demo from Jai Paul who has been relatively quiet since his excellent ‘BTSTU’ single came out on XL last year, ’Jasmine’ is a low-fi slow jam which is smooth as fuck. As with the previous single, it’s his voice that shines through. This time his distinctive, soulful falsetto sits on top of a rough Prince esq groove with a massive low end.
No release...
4 tags
Becoming Real - Snow Drift Love (Free Download)
A great free download popped up last week from Becoming Real (a.k.a Toby Ridler) who is currently gearing up to release his new mini album (what ever the fuck that is?) ‘Solar Dreams/Neon Decay’.
Sitting somewhere in the highly fertile, genre resistant land that much of the UK electronic music scene finds itself in currently (“anything but Post Dubstep”), Becoming...
5 tags
Tycho - Dive
Originality in music is always welcome, but there’s something to be said about refining a well-worn sound, as long as it’s a good one. Tycho, aka Scott Hansen, has been developing his sound for quite some time now, quietly honing his craft without the glare of the hype cycle. Mining the same rich vein of form as acts like Gold Panda, CFCF and Boards of Canada, the San Franciscan has emerged...
3 tags
Josh T - Fresno EP
ODD001 - Josh T - Fresno EP by Odd Socks Records
New record labels seem to be ten a penny these days, especially given the ease with which the digital age facilitates what was previously the relatively challenging task of creating and distributing records. One of the major downsides to this (apart from a constant sense of over-saturation) is a lack of investment and quality control in many...
10 tags
We Are S.M.E. 2nd Birthday - 30/03/12
Tip for this week has got to go to the S.M.E. crew who are celebrating their 2nd birthday in fine style this Friday at East Village. After two years of parties they’re back with their biggest line up yet, collaborating with Kids Of Grime to bring you 7 hours of hip hop and grime including sets from the likes of Vectra, Spyro and CJ Beatz plus the inimitable P Money who’ll be making...
4 tags
Xhin – The Realm EP
TOKEN21 - Xhin - The Realm EP by Token Records / Kr!z
Despite it’s name sounding suspiciously like Bay Area trap-rap, this release comes from pretty much the opposite end of the spectrum: techno by way of Singapore. Granted, there’s an inherent novelty to it on paper, but Xhin rises above any gimmick and more than delivers the goods.
The trick here is the breadth and variety on...
5 tags
Trikk - Jointly/I Fall Down
ManMakeMusic continue a steady stream of quality releases with a new EP from portugese native Trikk. A-side ‘Jointly’ is the stand out cut here - a fine slice of percussive house, drawing on Detroit and Chicago influences to create a well executed club banger that is particularly on point. ‘I Fall Down’ on the flip is more melodic, drawing it’s reference points...
3 tags
TOYC
Nottingham/London based producer TOYC (aka Andy Sheen) popped up onto our radar late last year through his debut ‘Loophole EP’ released on Mimm Recordings. It’s blend of well made, bass-heavy house caught our ears and indeed those at Rinse FM where he’s received a fair few plays over the past 12 months.
Continuing a series of interviews we’ve done with some of...
6 tags
Bullet Train Allstars Compilation (Free Download)
If you like free music, you’ll probably like Marco Del Horno’s free label allstars giveaway. Seven tracks of varied styles and of varied consistency, the free EP peaks quickly with Pale’s ‘Worst Job Of Good Luck’, Shift Key’s wonky contribution ‘Limitless’ and some silky euphoric dubstep from Last Japan. For these tracks alone, the release is worth...
6 tags
Cropper
Trix regular, Cropper, recently pointed me in the direction of his own productions. I was impressed to hear a fantastic variety of beats on his Soundcloud. Not confining himself to one sound or genre, he takes on 2-steppy riddims, acid house throw-backs and even a touch of hip hop. Still with a nice raw edge to his output, I’d put Cropper down as one to watch over the next couple of years.
Check...
4 tags
Justin Martin - Below The Bass Mix
Probably worth it for the intro alone, the new Spring 2012 mixtape from Justin Martin is as fun as it is packed full of bass. Featuring new tracks from Pet Recordings, Anabatic and of course Dirtybird, this mix makes for a cracking listen.
justin martin- below the bassline mix- spring 2012 by justin martin music
Download it right here. Follow the Soundcloud link for tracklisting.
SH