Just in time for Christmas, Chrissy Murderbot is currently flogging his staggering record collection. If you’ve been following his Year Of Mixtapes project you’ll know how much of a goldmine his record collection is.
With such an impressive catalogue of mixtapes under his belt, you’re sure to find a hell of a lot of gems you thought were long gone. For a limited time he’s also cutting all the prices by 50%!
Old XI has been busy in his Toronto dwellings knocking up some delightfully moody and introspective, an aspect of bass music that is frequently neglected, tunes for our delight. Two such tracks have grabbed our attention recently. The first is ‘Nitelite’ which is available for free download below. The second is ‘Sleepwalking’ which is due for a New Year’s Day 2011 release and can be found here.
I’d always known XI for his unique take on dubstep but these tracks herald something of a new sound for Christian. Drawing in elements of techno and future garage, this new direction could be one that leads to the sort of dark Funky that BD1982, Bok Bok and Girl Unit among others are producing right now.
Download: XI – Nitelite
Just a quick glance at Mad Decent will leave you with this little gem: a collection of dubstep originals and remixes, including dubstep reworkings of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ and McCartney’s ‘Wonderful Christmas Time’. Seriously.
“Recently Klash & Krames performed at a smoked out snowboard event in Vermont, only to find the christmas spirit of Jacob Marley. There they were inspired to make “Dubstep Dickens,” a mix highlighting samples from Richard William’s Oscar-winning animated interpretation of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol.” Have a “dubby” christmas!”
1. Big Chocolate – Xmas Song
2. The Bulgarian ft Spoek – Jack It Like A Zombie (Alert Mix)
3. Burial – Archangel (Mt Eden Remix)
4. Greg Lake – I Believe In Father Christmas (DC Woldftown Remix)
5. Bob Marley – Is This Love (Logik Remix)
6. Bingo Players – When I Dip (Dillon Francis Remix)
7. Jay-Z – Young Forever (Eyes Remix)
8. Blue Foundation – Eyes On Fire (Zeds Dead Remix)
9. Nneka – Heartbeat (Chase & Status Remix)
10. Conal Radford – Christmas Dub
11. Zeds Dead – White Satin
12. Judy Garland – Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Charlie P Remix)
13. The Marvelettes – Please Mr. Postman (Cragga Remix)
14. Chase & Status – Let You Go (Vip Mix)
15. Simian Mobile Disco – Cruel Intentions (Joker Remix)
16. Crystal Fighters – Follow (Roksonix Remix)
17. Camo UFOs – UFOs Theme (HavocNdeeD Remix)
18. Kry Wolf – Stand Up (Bombaman Remix)
19. Basement Jaxx – Wheres Your Head At (Dual Remix)
20. Sublime – Doin Time (Zeds Dead Remix)
21. Damian Marley – It Was Written (Chasing Shadows Remix)
22. La Roux – I’m Not Your Toy (Nero Remix)
23. Chasing Shadows – Amirah
24. Mt Eden – Sierra Leone
25. Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmas Time (Organ Morgan Remix)
Download: 77 Klash & Cobra Krames – Dubstep Dickens Xmas Mixtape
Grime producer Stagga has released a new EP out on Slit Jockey. The original track features the vocal talents of MC Skamma and Joe Blow (of Squid Ninjaz fame).
The package also includes a whole stack of remixes, most notably from Starkey and Distal who brings what can only be described as “the first footwork and grime crossover”. Also included are instrumental versions of the original and Starkey’s remix.
Buy the whole EP here.
Download: Stagga – Genik Riddim (Starkey Remix)
Tagged Distal, Dubstep, Grime, Joe Blow, MC Skamma, Seclusiasis, Slit Jockey, Squid Ninjaz, Stagga, Starkey
Instra:mental have announced they will be releasing their debut full length LP in April next year. The duo state it will be a departure from their drum & bass roots: ““You can expect a wide range of styles”, say the pair (via XLR8R), “from 110bpm up to 135bpm. We just went with what we were feeling at the time, that’s all we’ve ever done in the studio.”
The album, titled ‘Resolution 653′, comes out April 4 on Nonplus+. There’s not much info available about the release but you can read the full interview they did with XLR8R here.
What’s your musical background? How did you get started?
“I grew up playing piano and drums, and obsessed with synths – kind of ideal training to end up writing electronic music I guess! Did a degree in Music, Acoustics and Recording at Uni, which pretty much taught me that acoustics is dull, and that working in a traditional studio would be hell… But cos it was in Manchester, it also introduced me to the joy of rave in a way I hadn’t really experienced before.”
How do you approach creating a track? Do you start with beats, bass or a sample?
“Generally I start with the drums, cos I am a drum freak – I find it really hard to enjoy a piece of dance music if the drums aren’t good. And to be fair, I probably like a lot of quite dull music that has amazing drums heheh!
“Having said that, recently I’ve been trying to get out of my comfort zone in terms of the writing process, so I’ve been trying to work on melodic ideas and chord progressions first and build stuff around that. I’ve never really got into working around big samples – but it’s something I’d like to try more.”
Are there any productions or remixes of yours that you’re particularly proud of?
“I really like the A side of the last Build release – N.S.G. – which I did with Mensah, cos it came together really quickly and just does it’s thing with no messing around. And it goes off as well.
“I also like the Riddim Team EP I did for Steak House earlier this year was pretty bout it – I wanted to basically make dancehall at 130bpm with big vocals, and I think not too many people have done that in the same way that release does.”
What software/equipment did you use?
“Logic 8 on a MacBook pro, plus whatever hardware I can get my hands on. I also use a microphone quite a lot – if you can record yourself hitting things, or playing tambourine in a cupboard or something, you can come up with unique sounds that no one else has.”
What advice would you offer up and coming producers trying to get their music noticed?
“1. Network like mad. Go to every event you can, get to know everyone in the scene in your town and beyond, and back that up with quality music.
“2. Speaking of which, just cos your mates like your tunes doesn’t mean they cut the mustard. Listen to them back to back against your favourite records – they need to sound as good as they do. They also need to have their own twist – there’s enough copyists out there already.
“3. Ideally, have a mate who is good at graphic design and marketing who can help give you a cohesive identity. And this can’t be forced – think about what makes you unique and interesting as a producer or DJ – are you an 80s obsessive? Do you love New Jack Swing? How do these things influence your sound and your overall identity?”
Do you think the internet is making it harder for good producers to get noticed?
“Yes, probably. But at the same time, once you have been noticed, there’s a lot more ways to stay noticed, so it’s kind of swings and roundabouts.”
Is there anything that new producers should avoid?
“Like I said above, don’t think your non-musician mates being into your tunes means they are any good. You need to train your ears and develop the ability to analyse sound until you can hear the mistakes in what you are doing. Until you are 100% sure, don’t send stuff out – competition is fierce, so you have to come with top notch stuff from the start.”
Which artists are exciting you at the minute?
“DJ wise, the Butterz crew are consistently playing inspiring music. Obviously Ramadanman has been on a run of rare form this year, Joker too… And I think Hyetal will surprise a lot of people next year as well. Not least on the next Build, which is a collaborative 12 between us both.”
What does the future hold for Baobinga?
“BUILD005 is two collaborative tracks with Hyetal, which are getting early love from Modeselektor, Brackles, Pinch, Shortstuff and Simbad, amongst others…
“2011 should hopefully see a big project from Build hit the streets, which I’m pretty excited about. Can’t say too much just yet though!
“I’d also like to move into producing for vocalists more – and I’m making some moves in this direction.
“Finally I guess I’d like to keep touring and playing interesting places around the world – something I really enjoy about this job!”
http://www.facebook.com/baobingabassmusic
http://www.facebook.com/buildrecordings
http://www.twitter.com/baobinga
soundcloud.com/baobinga
soundcloud.com/buildrecordings
Jungle pioneer Photek has been keeping pretty quiet the last three years. Little has been heard since 2007′s ‘Form & Function II’, but he’s back with a release penned for 2011 entitled ‘Avalanche’.
The first track from the new EP, ‘Slowburn’, is just that: a slow-burning electro-tech-dub-thing that builds and builds in a synth-laiden dirge. It’s a far cry from his early junglism and even his later dabblings in house. It sounds massively disparaging, but this seems like perfect soundtrack fodder with its techy dub sound and rumbling electro sidechains.
Sadly, this is all we have to tide ourselves over until the full EP is released on 28th February but we thought it best to post it quick sharp in time for Christmas, though the festive period has absolutely zero bearing on anything.
Download: Photek – Slowburn
Hailing from LA (home of Flying Lotus, Daedelus and the talkies), Nosaj Thing is a producer with a promising future and acclaim from Charlie Glitch, UCLA Radio, The Fat! Club and many more.
Clocking in at just half an hour, this remix LP of 2009′s ‘Drift’ on Alpha Pup keeps it short and sweet. With particularly special remixes from Jon Hopkins (composer of the soundtrack for ‘Monsters’ and Jamie whatsit from The XX, the new LP is out now on Alpha Pup and is available from iTunes, etc. In addition, download his remix of The XX’s ‘Islands’ and then check out his remix of Flying Lotus‘s ‘Camel’.
Download: The XX – Islands (Nosaj Thing Remix)
Tagged Alpha Pup, Dubstep, Experimental, Jon Hopkins, Nosaj Thing, The XX
The kind folks at FACT magazine have managed to persuade Ghettophiles to let them stream the new LP from juke/footwork legend DJ Rashad in its entirety.
The new LP, curiously titled ‘Just A Taste’, will be released on Ghettophiles next Monday. While you wait for that, head over to FACT to stream the full LP.
Posted in News, Uncategorized
Tagged DJ Rashad, FACT, Ghettophiles, Juke, Uncategorized
