XLR8R AUDIO PODCAST 4b3e2d

Fledgling Spanish label Fanzine will welcome HD Substance back to the fold early next month, when the seasoned producer will deliver the imprint's seventh release in the form of the four-track VCO EP. Pulled from the forthcoming effort is "Jasta 11," a Detroit-indebted techno affair which pumps and breathes throughout its seven-minute run with loose hats, pulsing kicks, and a steady assemblage of dubby bell tones. Officially out on February 10, the rest of HD Substance's forthcoming EP can be previewed below, where the free of "Jasta 11" can also be found. Jasta 11

For those outside of Berlin, it would be easy to think that techno is the be-all and end-all of electronic music in the German capital. Even the word "techno" has become an inexorable part of how the city is talked about and promoted to the rest of the world. That being said, anyone who's spent even a little bit of time in Berlin likely knows that there's a lot more to its electronic landscape than the machine-like thrum one might hear at Berghain. House music is arguably more popular than ever, experimental currents remain strong in the city, and then there's the genre-splicing wizardry being conducted by the likes of the Janus collective, which combines R&B, hip-hop, grime, industrial, noise, and more into a particularly hard-to-define (yet undeniably compelling) brew. Resident DJs Lotic and Kablam have both been garnering attention with their work, but it's their compatriot M.E.S.H. (a.k.a. James Whipple) who's perhaps been the most intriguing in recent months. His Scythians EP was one of the expertly curated PAN label's best releases of the year (the remix EP that followed was also quite strong), and early next month, he'll be issuing a new effort, "Infra-Dusk" b/w "Infra-Dawn," via the Black Ocean imprint. ist all of this activity, we found ourselves wanting to hear more of what M.E.S.H. could do with an expanded format, so we invited him to put together an exclusive mix for the XLR8R podcast series. True to form, what he's put together is difficult to describe, as Whipple spends just under an hour piecing together rough-hewn shards of experimental dancefloor sounds. (The fact that the majority of the tracks on offer are unreleased only adds to the mystery.) Hip-hop and R&B production are obvious reference points, as are assorted strains of the UK bass continuum, but the mix also contains ages of noise and distortion, not to mention bits of euphoric house and surging techno. For M.E.S.H., established notions of genre seemingly have very little to do with his artistic process, yet he's still managed to combine disparate sounds in a way that feels cohesive. One could theorize that he's simply guided by mood; alternately, it's feasible that he's representative of a new generation of producers who approach music with the idea that absolutely everything is on the table. In truth, the how and why of M.E.S.H.'s music could be discussed and examined endlessly, but in the meantime, there's little question that what he's doing is exciting, which is why he's absolutely got our attention. 01 Pita "Acid Udon" (Mego) 02 Vipra feat. Nigga Fox "Unknown" 03 Lotic "Crave" 04 Grovestreet "Ground Zero (M.E.S.H. Remix)" (Tight Knit) 05 Taskforce "No Info (Renaissance Man Remix)" (Silverback) 06 Unknown "Unknown" (PAN) 07 Deamonds "We're What's Been Missing" (East London Club Trax) 08 DJ DeLish "Piano Rage" 09 Fatherhood "Why Boys" (Origami Sound) 10 DJ Richard "Longyearbyen Fuck" 11 Why Be "Toy Soldier Laser Ha" 12 SPF666 "Mushin ??" 13 M.E.S.H. "Infra-Dusk" (Black Ocean) 14 Soda Plains "Æthelflæd" 15 Mumdance & Logos "Hall of Mirrors" (Tectonic) 16 MM "Unknown" 17 M.E.S.H. "Scythians (DJ J Heat Remix)" (PAN) 18 Kablam "Not Love" 19 Rabit "Church" MP3 M4A (iTunes enhanced)Subscribe to Podcast (RSS) XLR8R_Podcast_M.E.S.H._2015_01_20

Prayer is a budding UK artist who debuted on a split 12" for Zomby's Cult Music label last year, which was followed by the self-released Knowing EP a few months after. Prayer's first effort of 2015 comes in the form of "Pluvia," an ethereal beat that continues to find the producer exploring the territory previously treaded by the likes of Balam Acab, oOoOO, and—of course—Burial. Still, as "Pluvia" helps show, Prayer (who also occasionally operates under the name Kollaps) brings his own perspective to the genre; a classically trained pianist, the London artist exhibits a confident musicality here, dressing the tune's clattering rhythms and rolling snares with a dense assemblage of gorgeously intertwined synth lines. A taste of what's to come from the budding UK beatmaker, "Pluvia" single can be ed for free below. Pluvia

Denver-based producer John Hastings has been featured many times in XLR8R's s section over the years under the guise of his RUMTUM alias. However, the past few months have seen Hastings begin to slowly release tracks from his new, more house-oriented project, Mt. Roué, which today hits the XLR8R pages for the first time with "Do It Again." A breezy endeavor, "Do It Again" is fueled by a number of playful percussion layers and the relaxed bounce of a natural-sounding drum kit. From there, Hastings' nimbly builds a procession of tremolo'd chords, whispered vocals, sugary melodies, and tasteful atmospheric touches, all of which helps make "Do It Again" an ideal candidate for the types of sunny outdoor dance parties the warmer temperatures of the months ahead are bound to bring. Basically, "Do It Again" is the kind of track that has us already pining for summer. Do It Again

After introducing itself to the world with a free, five-track EP in the fall of last year, fledgling Italian label Random Numbers today issues its latest effort, Healing Loops, the debut EP from Spire. A budding Italian artist, Spire has sent over the ever-evolving "Dreamy State" to serve as a bonus cut to his new four-track EP. At first an exercise in hazy sound design (with a few deep kicks thrown in for good measure), "Dreamy State" slowly builds momentum for its first half before turning a corner just ahead of the three-minute mark, where a momentary rush of broken rhythms are introduced into the otherwise, well, dreamy production Spire has crafted. Dreamy State

Chinese-born, now Tokyo-based producer Hamacide and Shanghai vocalist ChaCha recently issued their second collaborative release, the Thirty Hours EP, which presented a collection of ethereal pop constructions led by airy vocal layers of "abstract Mandarin Chinese." Enlisted to close out Thirty Hours with a remix is Japanese producer and sound designer Yosi Horikawa, who reworks the moody, funk-laced EP cut "Annie Gun" into a dense, water-logged beat filled with a large array of minute sonic details that draw the listener even further in. Horikawa's finely crafted new remix can be ed below where Hamacide's and ChaCha's full Thirty Hours EP is also streaming. Thirty Hours by Hamacide + ChaCha Annie Gun (Yosi Horikawa Remix)

In today's digital music realm, one would not be wrong to, at times, wonder if there are in fact just too many remixes floating out there in the world. Then something like this rework from Leeds outfit Vessels comes along, helping make the case for the continued legitimacy of a well-crafted remix. Here taking on Rival Consoles' "Recovery"—a cut from the London artist's 2014 Sonne EP for Erased Tapes—the Vessels crew manages to reshape the somewhat hyperactive original into an enveloping piece of textured electronics, one touched with just a few subtle (but effective) nods to the dancefloor. Furthermore, the remix lands at a somewhat convenient time for Vessels, who is currently in the midst of prepping its debut long-player for a March release. In the meantime, the group's skillful reworking of Rival Consoles' "Recovery" composition can be ed below. Recovery (Vessels Remix)

Mike Gao is one smart guy; the LA-based producer has developed his own inventive music-making iPad app, Polyplayground, and is currently a professional music technologist and a PhD candidate. Given that, it's east to imagine that the man's intelligence just can't help but seep through into his beats, such as on the soul-burnt "Just Do You," one of 14 tracks set to appear on his forthcoming Migamo LP for Alpha Pup (out on January 20). A dexterous production, "Just Do You" moves in such a fashion that Gao always seems two steps ahead of the listener—while we're focused on the tune's squiggly lead synths, Gao has an assemblage of warped chords waiting in the wings; while we get wrapped up in the track's bluesy swoon, Gao has a stuttered breakdown waiting just around the corner. Thankfully, the producer's musical intelligence never gets in the way of "Just Do You," ultimately making the fast-evolving, thoughtfully crafted track just a downright enjoyable listen. Just Do You

Coinciding with the recent release of the REPVI compilation via his own Relish label, Swiss producer Robi Insinna (a.k.a. Hean) has elected to share a stripped-down edit of the late house pioneer Frankie Knuckles' classic "Cold World" track (here, the title has been shortened to FK "CW" to make it clear that this is a bootleg edit). Slowing down the original tune a touch and infusing it with a chunky disco bounce, Hean's edit is built around the original's more memorable elements—Knuckles' active bassline and drum-machine percussion appear in a slightly lower , while the harmonies of Jamie Principle's chorus are laid out every so often across the edit's five-plus-minute run. A cautiously nimble take on a dance music classic, Hean's "Cold World" edit can be ed for free below, where a full stream of his disco-minded label's most recent offering can also be found. CW (Hean/Robi Insinna Edit)

This week, Berlin-based producers Benjamin Weiss (a.k.a. Nerk, of Toktok) and Peter Kirn (who heads up the excellent Create Digital Music site) combined forces to deliver their second EP together as NERKKIRN. Titled Obervolt, the new record offers four energetic and overdriven techno constructions, including a pair of remixes from Tallmen.785 and Syntax Error. In addition, a bonus remix from a somewhat shadowy producer by the name of Themostworstwasted accompanies the release, finding the artist reworking NERKKIRN's "Finality" into an even more efficient affair, overlaying an innumerable number of unsettled electronic squelches atop the track's sharp drums and rhythmic glitches. Out now on V-Records, NERKKIRN's Obervolt EP can be streamed in full below, where Themostworstwasted's restless bonus remix can also be ed for free. Obervolt EP (V021) by NERKKIRN Finality (Themostworstwasted Remix)

Danish producer Henrik Koefod (a.k.a. Erosion Flow) arrived on the scene in April of last year with a debut self-titled EP for George FitzGerald's ManMakeMusic label. Now, Koefod is gearing up for an active 2015, a run which today begins with the offering of a free new track, "Aiir." Similar to the productions heard on the artist's debut outing (which is still available to stream in full here), "Aiir" is a gritty house number which injects layers of potent soul—and a bouncing synth melody—between its many shuffling rhythmic textures. Aiir

An established DJ and event promoter in the Seattle scene—and a member of the city's Secondnature collective—Alex Markey (a.k.a. Archivist) will release his debut EP as a producer later this month via the burgeoning Blankstairs label. Titled the Migration EP, the record will offer four dense efforts from Markey (as well as a remix from Secondnature cohort Josef Gaard), including the elongated "Trophic." Stretching out past the seven-minute mark, "Trophic" is an efficient techno production, one which allows only pieces of effected percussion and a sparse bass sequence to peak out above its bleak, hazy atmospheres. Archivist's "Trophic" track can be ed in full below before his Migration EP sees an official release on January 27 via Blankstairs. Trophic Image by Warren Mattox

The Grandbrothers duo is made up of Erol Sarp and Lukas Vogel, two German musicians who met while attending university in Dusseldorf. Together, the pair combine synthesis, rhythmic programming, and live piano to craft modern classical hybrid compositions that would sit nicely alongside much of Nils Frahm's and the Erased Tapes' catalog. Dilation, Grandbrothers' debut LP, however is set to land via Berlin's FILM label in the coming months, including "Wuppertal" in its run. Spanning just over four minutes, the composition is led by cascading melodies—both from the piano and plucked strings—which weave together atop sparse layers of live percussion and subtle sound manipulation. A rush of syncopated patterns, "Wuppertal" is as hypnotic as it is rich, ultimately serving as a fine introduction to the burgeoning Grandbrothers pair's forthcoming 12-track debut album, which is set to see its official release on March 23. Wuppertal

It wasn't that long ago that any talk of Kowton (a.k.a. Joe Cowton) was almost sure to revolve around his drums. Even on his earliest records, the man simply had a way with percussion that few of his contemporaries could match. Honing his craft in Bristol, a UK city with a long history of thunderous, low-end-centric sounds, Kowton first made a name for himself amongst the splintered ruins of dubstep. By applying the genre's bass explorations to something resembling a techno template, he came across a remarkably potent formula, one that eventually proved to be particularly compelling in the hands of Livity Sound, his collaborative project with fellow Bristolians Peverelist and Asusu. The trio has undoubtedly played a huge role in moving the UK's so-called hardcore continuum forward, and has also laid the groundwork for a whole new generation of producers—many of them also hailing from Bristol—to step into the spotlight. As for Kowton, it's clear that he's never stopped evolving, and while his solo work these days still features his signature percussive prowess, it's also richer and deeper than ever before. His most recent effort, a 12" for the upstart Whities imprint, is not only surprisingly melodic, but also quite possibly the best thing he's ever done. (Lead cut "Glock & Roll" was named one of our top tracks of 2014.) Kowton seems to have crossed some sort of artistic threshold, and with a North American tour on the books this month, it feels like the perfect time for him to drop an exclusive mix for the XLR8R podcast series. Surveying the tracklist, a couple of things jump out immediately. First of all, the podcast is largely a family affair, as the bulk of the tunes come from a handful of Kowton's Bristol cohorts. Secondly, it's worth noting that almost every track here is unreleased, meaning that he's delivered nearly a full hour of previously unheard music. That being said, while the song titles may be unfamiliar, the aesthetic most certainly isn't, as the mix is full of cracking drum hits, off-kilter rhythms, gut-rumbling bass, eerie atmospherics, and the occasional soaring melody. It's undoubtedly an engaging listen, but more importantly, it's proof that with artists like Kowton leading the charge, the future of bass music is in very good hands. 01 Bee Mask "Frozen Falls" (Editions Mego) 02 Neuroshima "Scanner" 03 Pev & Hodge "Untitled" 04 Tessela "Untitled" 05 Hodge "Recall" 06 Kowton "UKF" 07 Tessela "Untitled" 08 Asusu "Velez" (A Made Up Sound Remix)" (Livity Sound) 09 Neuroshima "Headspace" 10 Minor Science "Glamour" 11 Pearson Sound "Rubber Tree" 12 Pev & Kowton "Signal 2" 13 Batu "Collate" 14 Pev & Kowton "Low Strobe" MP3 M4A (iTunes enhanced)Subscribe to Podcast (RSS) XLR8R_Podcast_Kowton_2015_01_13

The latest outing to appear on the growing RIS Labs label is the In My Room EP, a five-track effort from Hernene, who we're told is a "new production project ...

From the opening seconds of "Going On," it's easy to tell that this track is going to groove. Crafted by budding London transplants NVOY, the tune initially swells with neon, ...

Obgon is a Moscow-based producer who also heads up the city's fledgling Incompetence label, the latest release from which is Obgon's own Work mini-LP. Across its nine tracks, the record ...

Barcelona's Galaktika imprint has started its 2015 out with a five-track compilation which celebrates the Spanish label's nine years of releasing music. Appropriately titled IX Years Celebration the collection includes ...

Late last year, Sydney pair Wordlife dropped its Dat Groove EP via Australian label Motorik. Led by the duo's own hyperactive version of the title track (which also featured the ...

Luv Grooves is the appropriately titled debut LP from Slovakian producer Embryo, which saw its release last month via the House of Unity label. Spanning eight tracks, Luv Grooves; focus ...