Worlds below 100Hz » jean

Headhunter – Lost Prophet / Chasing Dragons

jean — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:59:39 +0000

I’ve been a big fan of Headhunter ever since his early EP’s and finally the culmination on the Nomad album. Whilst he’s been rather quiet on the producer front, his name did pop up after a bit of to and froing with a white label remix he did for Modeselektor, after which Modeselektor responded with the epic Prototype remix that shook many a dancefloor during the summer and long thereafter.
After a bit of a dry spell, he’s back again, and how. A side Lost Prophet has maybe the deepest baselines I’ve heard in a long time. B side Chasing Dragons is a bit of a sidestep of his signature sound, though driving basslines still triumph the more upbeat rythm.

VA – Fly Russia

jean — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 07:00:49 +0000

Free swag! An entire compilation for free!? Assembled by German based label Error Broadcast in coöperation with Siberian blog Gimme5, the Fly Russia compilation aims to bring the best Russian beatmakers of the moment to the attention of the world. You’ll hear all sort of stuff in here that’ll make you wonder why you’ve never heard of these artists before (at least that’s the case for me). Check the trailer below for an idea of what to expect.

FLY RUSSIA teaser by Gimme5

Or you could just take my word for it and grab the entire thing at 192kbps over at: http://error-broadcast.com/index.php/catalog/show/release/ebc009

Or get the deluxe edition for only 5€, with extra tracks in FLAC at 320kbps over at: http://errorbroadcast.bandcamp.com/album/fly-russia

Martyn – Left Hander / Shook Up

jean — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:27:50 +0000

A personal favorite, I’m glad to see some new stuff from Martyn posted over on his label’s Soundcloud! After a quiet stretch following his album release we got the incredible “Miniluv” and a great Fabriclive where Martyn didn’t hide his love for the Ostgut sound. Now he’s finally back with two new tracks embodying the best the DC-based Dutchman has to offer: a dubby sound with minimal/techy background, mixing up the best of several genres, resulting in an easily identified sound that just screams dancefloor.

Left Hander by 3024world

Shook Up by 3024world

James Blake – Limit To Your Love

jean — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 12:32:28 +0000

A first glimpse at James Blake’s video for a tune that’s been haunting his sets but remained unreleased. James’ cover of Feist is a first preview of his album to be released early in 2011. Breaking it down and rebuilding the tune from the ground up, James makes the whole his own by singing the lyrics himself. Simplicity and soulfulness are key in Blake’s rework, his voice carrying the whole over a splash of wobbly dub, only to bring it back to a soulful chorus.
With the Klavierwerke EP recently released and a full album around the corner, James Blake is a force to be reckoned with in 2011.

James Blake – Limit To Your Love from James Blake on Vimeo.

For those in the Brussels area: James Blake will be performing at FUSE on Octobre 29th! Alongside equally hard to pigeonhole Isreali producers Borgore – who are also playing at Nijdrop tomorrow for this year’s first FFWD event.

Martyn – Miniluv

jean — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:38:19 +0000

Martyn‘s back with a new split on Berlin’s Ostgut Ton. Whilst I was slightly let down by At Great Lengths, Martyn’s full album, it was only because I had come to expect so much from this Chicago based Dutch producer. Miniluv luckily confirms my beliefs in Martyn as an excellent producer and someone to expect more great things from.

SBTRKT – One Week Over

jean — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:01:31 +0000

From nowhere to, as Resident Advisor puts it “UK bass music’s hottest acts”, SBTRKT (subtract) has certainly made a splash in a relatively short time. Even though he’d been producing for well over 10 years, it’s only recently that things started to pick up for the Londoner who’s been outed as Aaron Jerome. Aaron tried to keep his identity a secret at first, hiding behind an African tribal mask of sorts, explaining to RA that he’d rather “people base their opinions on if they love, like or dislike the music that I make. Not on me”.

He’s been busy here and there in the past, picking up some reworks for LTJ Bukem and Nithin Shawney, but part of his recent success seems to stem from a friendship with fellow dj and producer Sinden. The two knew each other personally, but Aaron had been sending Sinden tracks under his SBTRKT moniker without revealing his real identity. It’s only when Sinden booked SBTRKT for a gig in London’s Fabric, that he discovered who he really was.

His first White label mash ups of Goldie’s Timeless and Innercity life put him in the spotlight. From there on things have picked up speed for SBTRKT, who’s put out remixes for Basement Jaxx and Franz Ferdinand, and has future releases pending on Young Turks, Brainmath and Ramp Recordings.

This track, One Week Over, from the 2020 EP out on Brainmath, encompasses what I love so much about this producer: crossing boundaries and pigeonholes, this track tastes like several different things at the same time. Everyone from Mary Anne Hobbs to Giles Peterson have sat up and taken notice, so be sure to keep your ears peeled for things to come from this masked producer.

SBTRKT on myspace

SOLAR BEARS – Twin Stars (LONE Remix)

jean — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:58:53 +0000

Nottingham based Lone has had a solid run on the awesome Werk Discs label alongside Actress and Lukid. This remix he did for Planet Mu new signee Solar Bears just oozes with atmosphere. Lone makes the track his own with his signature joyful melodies and uptempo beats, resulting in a sort of happy dance floor Boards of Canada (if you can imagine such a thing? – if not, check the track!).

Extra: Lone – Once in a while

Another less recent Lone track that you’ve probably heard in some sets or radio shows.

Lone on myspace

Mono/Poly – Oil Fields

jean — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:18:09 +0000

If I tell you that Flying Lotus signed this guy for an EP later this year on his Brainfeeder label, then you already know what to expect. As with Flylo, Mono/Poly‘s stuff is wonky, a bit off-beat but still retains that head-nodding flavour reminiscent of funk and jazz.

Mono/Poly’s debut album, Paramatma, will be released May 25th on Tasteful Licks Records, whilst Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label will put forth an EP later this year.

Mono/Poly myspace

Starkey – Black Monolith

jean — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:14:20 +0000

Another track featured on Fabric’s Elevator Music, Starkey‘s Black Monolith is a bass heavy track layered with some very dramatic melodies. It’s relentless build up has an almost cinematic feel to it, and really carries the atmostphere. Starkey‘s been a bit hit or miss for me lately, but this one is bang on target.

Robert Hood – And Then We Planned Our Escape

jean — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:15:10 +0000

Some pumping minimal Detroit techno for you, from Underground Resistance co-founder Robert Hood. Released on the Belgian Music Man Records back in 2007, this banger just picks up with the beat and doesn’t let down over the course of 7 minutes. If you like driving basslines and trance-like continuity, then this is right up your alley.