XLR8R MP3s

Exclusive: Dark Party "Status"

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:00:00 -0700

A new collaboration from Eliot Lipp and Leo 123, Dark Party's "Status" is an electro-funk dream—a DJ could place it next to Newcleus or Dam-Funk effortlessly, its lush synth pads and sample-based hook bringing memories of Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo to mind.

Catch Dark Party on tour this summer.

07/10 Charleston, SC - The Pour House
07/12 Philadelphia, PA - Silk City
07/14 Richmond, VA - Canal Club
07/15 Savannah, GA - Live Wire

Dam-Funk "Toeachizown"

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Honestly, Toeachizown is like most, if not all, of Dam-Funk's productions—it makes you want to cruise down Wilshire Boulevard smoking a fat blunt. Slow-motion boogie kicks, low-end bass groove, and bright analog harmonies make this quintessential Dam-Funk—and that is a damn good thing.

Tyondai Braxton "Uffe's Woodshop"

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Battles frontman Tyondai Braxton brings a similar sound to his upcoming second full-length, Central Market, though the more orchestral flourishes evident on "Uffe's Woodshop" might surprise fans. With soaring, looped string and piano sections and kazoos galore, the track is a bit of intensely syncopated whimsy that will simultaneously please fans of contemporary classical and indie-dance.

Fortune "Highway (James Pants Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:00:00 -0700

James Pants of Stones Throw notoriety rides shotgun on this zinger of a pop tune from French group Fortune. Giving birth to an entirely different beast, Pants strips the song down to its bare bones and shines it up nice with a jazzed-up electro-pop sheen.

Glimpse & Alex Jones "Bad Monday"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Powerhouse producer Glimpse (with a little help from Alex Jones) has got the skillet spiced up and fully ablaze on this jackin’ number from his upcoming EP, The Lazer Bather. Rolled up tight in a thick batter of deep techno then dipped in a light coating of jazz, the tune leaves us feeling stuffed, yet somehow craving more.

Fukkk Offf "Love Me Hate Me Kiss Me Kill Me (Disco of Doom Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:00:00 -0700

In the world of European producer Fukkk Offf, rave is king, and things haven't changed a bit on his new album Love Me Hate Me Kiss Me Kill Me. Here, Coco Machete labelmates Disco of Doom give the title track the royal treatment on their brooding, buzzing rave-up of a remix.

Neon Indian "Terminally Chill"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

One part Austin and one part Brooklyn, Neon Indian creates lush, psychedelic disco-pop that plays like a teenage Daft Punk writing songs for their first girlfriend. Their wonderfully titled first single, "Terminally Chill," is just a sweet taste of the bedroom ballads to come on their debut LP Psychic Chasms.

Omar Faruk Tekbilek "Hasret (Flosstradamus remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:00:00 -0700

This destined dancefloor hit from Turkish import Omar Faruk Tekbilek bangs, clanks, and hisses—just like the steam press he used to operate before he turned his sights away from the clothing factory and locked them onto the music circuit. Luckily, J2K and Autobot of Flosstradamus were two of several producers to get their paws on his tunes for the recently released Rare Elements remix album, and as we expected, they have crunked it up a bit.

DJ JS-1 "Nuthin"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

DJ JS-1 of the world famous Rock Steady Crew has been a bright, pulsating blip pinging across the hip-hop radar as of late and this track from the second installment of his Ground Original series is the proof in the pudding. This jazzed-up number has Brother Ali, CL Smooth, and Sadat X flexing microphone muscles, as JS-1 gets busy on the ones and twos.

Boy In Static "Starlet (Freezepop remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The new wave revivalists in Beantown’s Freezepop take aim and fire at the second single from Boy In Static’s latest longplayer, Candy Cigarette, spraying it down with a cool wash of '80s synth veneer that harkens back to the golden days of New Order and the Factory Records gang.

Uproot Andy "Brooklyn Cumbia"

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Between their summer tour and the recent release of both ZZK Sound Vol.2 and Villa Diamante's Empacho Digital, Buenos Aires' Zizek crew seems to be everywhere these days.

Exclusive: Bike for Three! "Lazarus Phenomenon (Thavius Beck remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Bike for Three! is the latest avant-rap permutation to appear on the anticon. label, this one combining the vocal talents of Buck 65 with the production prowess of Belgium's Greetings from Tuscan. Here, like-minded leftfield L.A. beatmaker and studio wizard Thavius Beck puts a woozy spin on their track "Lazarus Phenomenon."

Grand Puba "Get It (Toddla T remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Dancehall beatsmith Toddla T is one of four producers to get down and dirty with this cut from Brand Nubian’s Grand Puba as part of Scion A/V’s latest remix project. Injecting his mix with a heavy coat of bass, bounce, and ping, T’s spin on the track takes the cake as far as we’re concerned.

Casino Music "The Beat Goes On"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:14:35 -0700

As noted earlier, cult imprint Ze Records—who helped define the early-'80s dance and post-punk scene in New York—celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, and in honor of that, Strut Records is releasing Ze 30: Ze Records 1979 - 2009. Here's a track from the release, by no-wave duo Casino Music.

Jogger "Nice Tights (Nosaj Thing Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:55:33 -0700

L.A.'s Friends of Friends imprint might be unique in its concept, but like any good label releasing music, eventually there comes a time for remixes. Said hour is upon us, and L.A. noise-hop maker Nosaj Thing has taken on Jogger's "Nice Tights," turning it into distorted, staggered synth land.

DJ Food "The Illectrik Hoax Feat. Natural Self"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:00:43 -0700

An eight-year hiatus from making music is no small thing, and a return after said hiatus is even bigger news. Hence, our excitement over the return of DJ Food (now pared down to just Strictly Kev). A new EP, One Man's Weird is Another Man's World, is expected this summer. In the meantime, here is the lead track off the release.

One Man's Weird is Another Man's World is out July 6.

Exclusive: Roots Manuva "Do Na Bodda Mi (XRABIT Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:20:08 -0700

Off Roots Manuva's Slime & Reason, "Do Nah Bodda Mi" is a Toddla T-produced track where electro and dancehall meet with a bang. German hip-hop producer XRABIT's take on the track turns it into a bass-heavy, upbeat jam.

Quantic and His Combo Bárbaro "Arianita"

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:14:24 -0700

Will Holland (a.k.a. Quantic) once again steers us through the tropic regions of the globe with this track from his upcoming album, Tradition in Transition. This time around he successfully excavates the musical territory of the Caribbean and Latin America and infuses those sounds with a fresh seasoning of funk and soul elements.

Holy Ghost! "I Will Come Back"

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Brooklyn-based duo Holy Ghost! returns with a new track, and this one includes vocals from the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. The disco-loving, Serato-hating pair also shows off its fondness for old-school synthesizers here. Meanwhile, a debut album is expected sometime next year on DFA.

Malente Presents ManroX "Theme From ManroX"

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:04:35 -0700

In the words of Collision Course's press kit, "it's time to present a celebration of everything that is addictive, bass-heavy, mischievous, and downright funky." The compilation, mixed by DJ/producer Azzido Da Bass, gathers some of the best tracks to come off the Luscious Sounds imprint in recent years, including this electro-flavored free-for-all from Malente.

Collision Course is out July 3.

Del the Funky Homosapien "King of Fighters"

XLR8R Magazine — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Our man Del the Funky Homosapien has a career that spans two decades and 14 albums, the latest of which is Funk Man (The Stimulus Package). Ever the socially conscious artist, Del's well aware of our troubled times on the album, and he doesn't hold back discussing them. Bonus: the entire album is available for free right now.

SA-RA "Dirty Beauty Feat. Erykah Badu"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:43:08 -0700

With their latest album, Nuclear Evolution: The Age of Love, released yesterday, the SA-RA boys are ready to share the love, as well as another track from the album. This time around, Erykah Badu stepped in to lend some vocals to the L.A.-based band's jazzy, broken-beat number.

Explode Into Colors "Paper (Hot Sax Version)"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:32:06 -0700

Three "Ps" best describe Explode Into Colors—post, punk, and Portland. The all-girl trio recently signed to Kill Rock Stars and is hard at work on a debut album. In the meantime, here's an instrumental saxophone version of their song "Paper." Photo by Stephen Sharrett.

Exclusive: Glasser "Apply (Lemonade remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The ghettotech psych-hipsters in NYC’s Lemonade have been active on the remix front as of late, with every track they touch turning to pure gold. With that in mind, the trio’s remix of this track from True Panther's resident chanteuse Glasser (a.k.a. Cameron Mesirow) is the most radiant nugget in the pot. Not included on the recently released Apply 12", this remix is exclusive to XLR8R.

Sally Shapiro "Miracle (Bogdan Irkük remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:13:00 -0700

Following a pair of exceptional remixes for Jens Lekman and Al Usher, Sweden’s Italo queen Sally Shapiro is the next customer in line to receive the remix treatment from DJ and producer Bogdan Irkük (a.k.a. Bulgari). The original was snagged from Shapiro’s upcoming sophomore release, My Guilty Pleasure, but this clubby, bass-driven remix grandstands as an ocean of sex appeal, with plenty of sultry synth work to go around.

Jahdan Blakkamoore "Best I Ever Had (Freestyle)"

XLR8R Magazine — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:47:31 -0700

Jahdan Blakkamoore's career took a radical left turn when he first collaborated with MC 77Klash and Matt Shadetek for "Brooklyn Anthem." The parties have reunited for this track, which is the first jam off Blakkamoore's forthcoming Bazooka Shot mixtape, which he made alongside Shadetek's Dutty Artz crew. Meanwhile, his Buzzrock Warrior album—a fusion of dancehall, dubstep, grime, and cumbia—will drop September 15.

Delorean "Deli"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Can a rock band be Balearic?

Thunderheist "Nothing 2 Step 2 (Idiotproof Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:07:34 -0700

One thing we can say with certainty about the somewhat mysterious outfit known as Idiotproof is that they like their beats sharp and their remixes strange. The self-described "three-headed freakshow baby" has reworked everyone from Malente & Dex to Armand Van Helden. Now, they reinvent Canadian duo Thunderheist's latest single, turning it into a chopped-up musical free-for-all.

Buju Banton "Regular Ting"

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:03:02 -0700

Joining the likes of TOK, Spragga Benz, and others, our man Buju Banton tries his hand at Truckback Records' Clutch riddim on this track, off his recently released Rasta Got Soul. He made the bulk of that album in 2004, when his visa was confiscated, thereby putting a stop to travel for a while. Time alone was, it seems, well spent, and roots revivalists should be all over this one.

Exclusive: ApSci "Under Control (David Last vs MC Zulu Remix)"

XLR8R Magazine — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Noise-hop duo ApSci, who just returned from Sydney, Australia, where they've been recording Best Crisis Ever, recently slipped their track "Under Control" into the hands of producer David Last. With badman MC Zulu in tow, the tune becomes a stomping, ragga-flavored number that will surely stir things up on the weekend dancefloor.

Meanwhile, Best Crisis Ever will drop August 11.