Download: il – for (polyklinik remix)
We haven’t given anything away to download for a while, so it was great to receive an email from Error Broadcast containing a free remix by Hungarian producer Polyklinik of iL. Some of you should already have heard of iL having written about his apollo1ne3thee EP a couple of months back, if not you can check it out here. Much like iL, it was very difficult to find much upon the elusive Polyklinik. From what we gathered he is very difficult to pin down for photo shoots, only likes meeting in public places and is part of the Svetlana Industries roster along with artists such as Nightwave, Teebs & Jack High and Piece of Shh.
Moving onto the remix itself, Polyklinik chooses to remix one of our favourite tracks from the iL EP. Titled ‘For’, the original track used a strong set of chopped male and female vocals with intricate disjointed percussion to create a hypnotising environment. The same mood is brought across in the remix but reworked in a more solid structure. Polyklinik commences the track by chopping the female vocals even further and merging them with distorted kicks, claps and other sampled textures for a second, before cutting the sound completely for an almost step like pattern. This is continued throughout, with the full vocal from the original track coming in occasions. Like iL and his tracks, this remix is selectively fine tuned with an array of sounds and textures that never feel over the top but go as far as sounding highly complex. Fans of Shlomo and Flying Lotus should be able to get down with this.
As well as introducing you to this great remix, I also want to mention Nate James. Hailing from Toledo, Ohio he is the designer who did both the original artwork for the iL EP and the reworked design from it, which you can see above. The 600 x 600 design can be seen here but I highly recommend going over to his tumblr to see more of his work (and mixes) which I’ve been mightly impressed by. Some really awe inspiring pieces that should appeal to both the music lovers and designers who may read the blog.
iL- For (Polyklinik Remix) by Error Broadcast
Words by Riccardo Villella, 21 July 2011. 5 comments
Review: xxxy – you gotta do you
With an output more akin to a trickle than a stream, xxxy can be a frustrating producer to follow. Instead of bending under the pressure to release four track EPs backed with a slew of remixes, he opts for the less is more approach, dropping streamlined releases that simultaneously satisfy the craving but intensify the need for more. Fortunately his latest EP, You Gotta Do You (out now on Orca Recordings) is one of his most complex and rewarding releases to date, offering much more than its short tracklist might suggest.
The title track represents a pretty drastic departure from xxxy’s previous output. Whereas tracks like “Ordinary Things” and “Just For Me” exemplify his warm, sensuous, and nostalgic sensibilities, “You Gotta Do You” displays a much more rugged production style that favors techno and acid over garage and 2-step. It opens with a choppy, heavily filtered synth line that rises up at various points to bring a strong sense of motion to the track. The no-frills drum programming and writhing, shape-shifting acid synths are a nod to early techno sounds, while the murky sub bass and pitched down vocal sample bring an entirely modern perspective to the table. The result is a heavyweight technoid roller that will require some serious build-up before being unleashed on a dancefloor.
The swirling cosmic pads and garage-leaning shuffles on “Open Your Eyes” sound more in line with what we’ve come to expect from xxxy, but it finds the producer branching out once again into more unfamiliar territory. Borrowing a distorted, lo-fi kick from grime’s sonic palette as well as a heaping dose of the Amen break (the fundamental building block for jungle and drum and bass), this track is perplexing in its references but dazzling in its execution. We’re blown away by the ease and fluidity with which xxxy fuses together tough bass rhythms and frenetic breakbeat sounds with blissful synth melodies and atmospherics. For a producer that generated such a big following for his signature sound, it’s really exciting to hear him bring in a wider range of influences and experiment with new styles. You Gotta Do You is a sublime release that smartly abides by the first rule of show business: always leave them wanting more. We’re more than happy to wait.
xxxy – You Gotta Do You – 004 by william orca
xxxy – Open Your Eyes – 004 by william orca
Xxxy – You Gotta Do You (Orca Recordings) is out now.
Words by Sam Billetdeaux, 21 July 2011. 1 comment
Review: morning factory – fantasy check
After a crazy bunch of days of co-hosting a night in Amsterdam with Audio Culture, it only felt fitting that we introduce some up and coming Dutch talent today. After the amazing success of Maya Jane Coles on the house scene, it seems like hotly tipped Dutch duo Morning Factory are set to follow in her footsteps. For those trying to pin down where they’ve heard the name Morning Factory before, the name is actually taken from the 1994 song by Chez N Trent, whom we can only imagine are great inspirations to the young duo. In terms of previous output, the duo had an astonishing 2010, releasing two EP’s on Yore Records and another fantastic set of tracks on 20:20. Their production process in 2011 doesn’t seem to be coming to a stop anytime soon either; a release on Pets Recordings, a remix for Reggie Dokes and now a two track release on the always on form Royal Oak can all be added to a now buzzing Discography of raw energy and supreme talent. Why the world hasn’t picked up on them sooner baffles me to no end but their time is most definitely on its way. The tracks below make this a certainty.
Things open on the A-side with the groovy sounds of ‘Fantasy Check’, kicking things off with some bewitching filtered stabs that eventually break out into a delightful set of lavishing piano keys and a bassline that carries the song perfectly without overwhelming the latter. As more sets of keys and melodies get introduced the song reaches a profound peak of euphoria, creating an almost evocative dreamy experience. Everything is so immaculately produced that if anything was removed the song would lose its overall pristine vibe. Things follow suite on the B-side with ‘Diane’s Love’ which opts for a more percussive approach using a famous vocal and another low end bassline to push the track forward. Another higher pitched melody the same as the bassline weaves it’s way in and out of the track using an array of filters and properly cracks from its shell for the last drop. Proper big grooves that will unanimously get everyone moving.
This release has been out for a couple of weeks now and we’ve been wanting to review it for a while but it shamefully got put back due to a couple of busy weeks. However, in our defense, both this release and Morning Factory themselves should be heard and be rinsed by all this summer. Get the release here.
Morning Factory – Fantasy Check (Clone/Royal Oak 009) by Morning Factory
Morning Factory – Diane’s Love (Clone/Royal Oak 009) by Morning Factory
Words by Riccardo Villella, 20 July 2011. 1 comment
review: chaos in the cbd – the moving image
Not even 10 years ago, the idea of a production duo from New Zealand occupying an important spot in the dance community alongside artists from Europe and the US would have been laughable. But as we all know, the exponential gains in technology in recent years have rendered geographical boundaries all but obsolete when it comes to music scenes and creative output. Aukland-based Chaos In The CBD, consisting of brothers Ben and Louis Helliker-Hales, are one of the best examples of this surge of great electronic music coming from largely unexpected locations. (Fun fact: Louis was part of the Truants crew when the site was first founded). Having gained a steady following over the past couple years, the duo is now set to place New Zealand on the map with The Moving Image, their new offering on French label Youngunz.
“Birthday Song” gets things moving right away with some proper house vibes that strike a perfect balance between smooth and energetic. A subtle, rolling bass line pushes things forward, while grainy synth pulses tango with a dreamy vocal sample (from none other than Diana Ross) to bring out some really nice romantic and whimsical vibes. By the time the track reaches the third drop, it’s gained just enough momentum to transform into a tidy, euphoric dancefloor pleaser. Next up, “The Moving Image” highlights the brothers’ penchant for rhythmic variability, opening up with an inventive rhythm stationed somewhere between Funky, garage, and tropical house. The duo utilizes marimba – the overly cheesy instrument of the moment – to establish a moody, nostalgic tone that’s also picked up throughout the track by gliding, brassy synth tones. Meanwhile, fragments of processed vocals bounce weightlessly around the stereo field, creating a sense of space that really sets the track off. This one sounds very much in line with the recent production and DJ work of like-minded duo Nguzunguzu.
For us, the top offering on this release is found in “Trying To Get A Dub.” Borrowing the woozy vocal ooh’s and ahh’s and tropicalia influences from the other tracks, this one is destined for dancefloor success thanks to a thicker sub-bass foundation and an unavoidably infectious vocal sample. One thing this track shows off is Chaos In The CBD’s seemingly effortless ability to build a track around atmospheric elements more than overtly melodic leads. This production sensibility lends a breezy sheen to the whole release, making it a valuable addition to your summer playlists. “Something You Got” rounds out the original productions with some retro-meets-tropical vibes reminiscent of LOL Boys or Julio Bashmore’s recent work. A buttery synth lead glides around jubilantly against a backdrop of rich, transcendent pads, while clamorous percussion gives the track more energy than its muffled kick drum would suggest.
The Helliker-Hales brothers enlisted a stellar lineup of remixers to give their fresh and diverse takes on their productions. First up is super-hyped young New Orleans producer Jim-E Stack, who dissects “Birthday Song” and reassembles it in his innovative, trademark way. The reworking incorporates elements from moombahton, slowed-down B-more, and the as of yet nameless kind of romantic, slo-mo dance sounds showcased most prominently in Nguzunguzu’s Perfect Lullaby mix. Next, Submerse takes “The Moving Image” into more straightforward dance territory, incorporating a distinct garage shuffle as well as some 4×4 rhythmic sensibilities. At the same time, Submerse holds on to the longing vocal sample from the original, giving this one some great late-night appeal. Finally, French Fries & Bambounou represent the Youngunz roster by turning out a brilliant remix of “Trying To Get A Dub” that features a stop-and-go sub-bass line that’s wound so tight it could come undone at any moment. The track is restrained and sparse in a way that you wouldn’t expect from French Fries, but it’s a definite showstopper. Boasting seven beautifully-constructed tunes that span a wide range of sounds, this release is highly recommended, so be sure to pick it up when it comes out. Also, in anticipation of the upcoming release, the duo is offering a download of their dancefloor-ready track “Distant,” a higher-tempo number with a pronounced garage flair. Grab it below for free!
Download: Chaos In The CBD – Distant
Chaos In The CBD – The Moving Image E.P by youngunz
Chaos In the CBD – The Moving Image (Youngunz) out July 18th.
Words by Sam Billetdeaux, 15 July 2011. Leave a comment
Truancy Volume 24: One Hundred And One
We here at Truants have an exciting weekend ahead of us, as we’re looking forward to co-hosting the upcoming mid-summer edition of the incredible Amsterdam-based clubnight Audio Culture this Friday in the Club Up! For the line-up, we’ve invited over two artists whose output we’ve continuously loved to extremes over time and that have contributed serious weight to our Truants compilation. Performing for the first time in Amsterdam and hailing from Helsinki, Finland, Femme en Fourrure take influences from the minimalism of Detroit techno and the dancefloor grooves of early house music and disco and make music that is explicitly uncompromising. Femme will be joined by Montreal based Grown Folk, whose combined production and DJ skills have got everyone from Teki Latex to Jacques Greene excited and on the lookout. As a preparation for the night yet to come, Soraya and Femme en Fourrure have collaborated to cook up a terrific exclusive promotional mix for you to pump up and get into the right mood with as you get going to the club. The mix is full of tunes that set the tone for this Friday: energetic, wholesome, zoning and sure to get you moving one way or another.
Femme En Fourrure & Soraya – “On Hundred And One” Mix
The first half an hour of this mix are the sounds of Soraya taking you through her sonic adventure, starting off lustrously warm with Seven Wonders’ absolute classic “Crazy”, that still has the capacity to get any mood lifted into the perfect kind of positivity and tranquility you need before entering a club. The atmosphere swiftly shifts its gear to something a lot more vigorous and gets into some real bad things with Addison Groove, prepping us for the ridiculous energy that’s bottled up into the succeeding Surgeon remix that still physically pulls you into movement time and time again. Continuing on in a Hotflush state of mind, the anaesthetic sounds of George Fitzgerald’s “Let Down” sit tight in another dimension that’s joined by Wax’s “30003B”, a propelling endeavour brought forth by one of the many aliases of Rene Pawlowitz. Soon enough we’re taken on a whole other level with one of our favourite remixes of the year done by London’s own #purpleswag Brey for Javeon McCarthy’s “Love Without A Heart”. Darling Farah always knows how to grip your deepest sense of consciousness, and this unreleased gem “Excuse Girl” that’s been included is no exception to this rule, so don’t miss out. Soraya then ends her segment by progressing into Ramapearson Donovan’s charming “Babeh”, whereafter we’re taken to the lovely mixing of Femme En Fourrure.
Starting off with the fresh sounds of Fresh and insane patterns by James Braun, this part of the mix is where the hypnotic beats that channel non-stop motion come into the picture. Bok Bok takes things up a notch with his acid house take on Don Morris’ “In Da Groove”, after which The Phantom’s take on Viadrina’s “Back To City”, that’s due for a release later this week on Top Billin, brings a melodious flavour to the table. Femme En Fourrure’s own revamp of Sir Nenis’ “Freaks” then kicks in, whose hard-hitting bass and daunting vocals are sure to clench on to your every regard. For the last few moments of this mixtape, we’re taken to the everlasting vibes of Instra:mental’s “Pyramid” which are always bound to give you the feeling of a longing victory in sight. Femme closes the mix off with a bang as we hear Jam City’s glacial and piercing “Waterfalls” off of the much-anticipated superb new Waterworx EP.
Check out the full tracklisting for the mixtape below and see you this Friday!
1. Seven Wonders – Crazy [DJ's For Life]
2. Addison Groove – Bad Things [Unreleased]
3. Scuba – Ruptured (Surgeon Remix) [Hotflush Recordings]
4.George Fitzgerald – The Let Down [Hotflush Recordings]
5. Wax – 30003B [White]
6. Javeon McCarthy – Love Without A Heart (Brey’s Oh’s & Trix) [PMR Records]
7. Darling Farah – Excuse Girl [Unreleased]
8. Pearson Sound – Babeh [SSSSS]
9. Fresh – Dum Dum pt.2 [Trax Records]
10. Addison Groove – Footcrab (James Braun Edit) [White]
11. Don Morris – In Da Groove (Bok Bok Remix) [Deep Teknologi]
12. Viadrina – Back To City (The Phantom remix) [Top Billin]
13. Sir Nenis – Freaks (Femme En Fourrure Remix) [Trax Records]
14. Instra:mental – Pyramid [3024]
15. Jam City – Waterfalls [Night Slugs]
Words by Sindhuja Shyam, 13 July 2011. 1 comment
