Freeze-Tag (real name Marcus Alan Ward) is a Cleveland based multi-instrumentalist making dance-based ambient R&B. Described as a “prisma-chromatic” sound on his website, Ward is inspired by “retrograde and futuristic tones, as well as the unification of visual art and music”. He has great admiration for artists like Matisse, Rothko, Warhol, Van Gogh, Magritte, Basquiat, and […]
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Opal Block, a self-confessed 1992 obsessive trapped in 2013, has found a home for his first full-length release in Jon Phonics’ Astral Black imprint. Having released music from Phonics and Jaisu, and with a beat tape from Inkke in the works, the label knows a thing or two about how to bridge the gap between […]
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Matthew Kent’s Blowing Up The Workshop mix series is a riveting mix series – rather than easy, instant mix after mix after mix after mix gratification, the project deviates from the norm of intensive publicity and has a more focused selection of broadcasts who are often focused in their own turn. From commissioned work, sounds from ancient keyboards […]
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Boya hasn’t put out much, but he’s caught the attention of some of the biggest names in electronic music right now, what with a feature on an Opal Tapes compilation and getting airplay from the mighty Ben UFO on the Hessle Rinse show. This week he put out an EP on Mister Saturday Night, and […]
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Stream: Koett – Golden Peak (Atomnation) Last month we recommended Lost Time from Russian producer Koett, the first single from his upcoming album Golden Peak. We loved its jazzy leanings and sunny melodies, and reveled in its warm 60s revivalism. It’s with great pleasure that we can bring you this exclusive premiere of the album […]
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Substantive technical skill can often be the foundation of cinematic rapping, and on The Pimpire Strikes Back, Roc Marciano contends to be New York’s resident adept. If the Long Island MC’s first release on Man Bites Dog Records is any indication of his forthcoming album Marci Beaucoup, then we can likely expect it to be […]
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Tomb Full Of Truants is the third instalment in our Truants crew mix series. Following the same concept as Club Full Of Truants and Room Full Of Truants, the crew were asked to imagine themselves in the most harrowing environment they could think of and pick one or two songs that would soundtrack that experience. As […]
Read moreThe London-centric producers Finn Casey and Thomas L have been making music and throwing parties together for half a decade, and emerged as Silk 86 at the start of the year. With the intent of exploring a housier direction under their new alias, they proved their adeptness at making dancefloor primed and melody infused grooves with their debut […]
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From the swamps of South Florida comes rapper Robb Bank$ with his second solo mixtape Tha City. Over a year after the Tumblr-fever of his debut Calendars has died down, Bank$ returns with a dark mixtape firing shots at all posers, exes, and cliches. With a library of references that cover Breaking Bad to Norman Bates to […]
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Often abbreviated as BAT, Best Available Technology is the alias of Portland based producer Kevin Palmer. First appearing in 2012 on Stephen Bishop’s now highly prolific label Opal Tapes as a split release with OND TON; BAT then went on to put out the impressive Excavated Tapes 1992-1999, Vol. 1 the following year on the always on point […]
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If Flying Lotus says that he wants to work with you after hearing half of one of your songs, you have to know that you’re on to a good thing. Now affiliated with both Brainfeeder and Beast Coast, this was the case with The Underachievers, Ak and Issa Dash. The track Flying Lotus heard was […]
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The guys at Donky Pitch have had an exciting 2013. With releases from the likes of Lockah, Friendzone, Lil Texas, and not to mention the label’s first full length project from The Range, we submit that their time spent flying under the radar will undoubtedly come to an end in 2014. When we heard that North […]
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