Hidden.

Nutz / Bass Society 20/11.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Rinse v FWD is the only thing happening in LDN on Friday. Well it’s sold out, so anyone without tickets looking for a fix should head to the Bass Society’s takeover of Old Blue Last in Shoreditch. They’ve drafted in Alexander Nut to headline who has a had a brilliant year, he mixed Rinse08, runs Eglo records alongside Floating Points, put on several nights in LDN as Eglo and has knocked up countless DJ dates. He also runs one of the best shows on RinseFM, perfect for every Saturday at 1pm anyway, no other DJ mixes it up quite like him; seamlessly shifting from hiphop to garage to dubstep. We’ve blogged about him and the Eglo records crew enough recently too – look here, here and here. Download his set on Rinse from Saturday going back to back with fellow Eglo records co-head Floating Points.

Alexander Nut b2b Floating Points – Mixed Nutz on RinseFM 14/11

Other DJs on the night are SPD + Edgey, Charles Cronin, Jamie Bloxham and Lemmy Ashton, aswell as a live set from Beaty Heart. More details on Facebook.

Hyperdub 5 21/11.

Ok on to some actual movements now after the pretty disposable #shitalliterationweek (and don’t watch Sunday is always a day of rest.)

This is pretty much the best and most essential night of the year. Hyperdub 5 @ Corsica Studios, a birthday party of sorts. Steve Goodman’s (aka Kode9) antics over the past 5 years as Hyperdub owner has carved his label a place on a level with Metalheadz circa mid-1990s. Hyperdub has always been ahead of the game and though often seen as a dubstep label, has never really put out much dubstep (Burial, Quarta 330). So it was no surprise that over the past two years as popularist dubstep stagnated and became ever more masculine, the redemption came from the South London based label. If in 2008 he hinted at another path with Rustie’s Spliff Dub, Darkstar’s Need You and Samiyam’s Return then in 2009 Goodman declared the turn to high-pitched, futuristic synth wizardary, the cry of the computer (Joker’s Digidesign and Mark Pritchard’s Wind It Up) and broken and cold rhythms, “hypersoul” (Cooly G’s Love Dub and LD’s Woodblock), sometimes the two even met; Kode’s own Black Sun. And all this before the release of Hyperdub 5, a double compilation with contributions from the entire label, if you haven’t picked it up yet, read this and realise you’re missing the most essential purchase of the year.

Saturday is set to be special; hopefully Darkstar will have their live act sorted, expect to hear previews of the Midas Sound LP due soon, Ikonika and Cooly G take things broken both with pitch and rhythm. Whilst in room 2 things get taken unbelievably deep with a lot of fresh unheard ‘plates placed beside forgotten classics, I’m sure Kode will draw for some jungle too. And with late additions Samiyam and Quarta 330 jetting from LA and Tokyo respectively, the only people not in representation are Burial (obviously), Zomby and Joker.

Room 1 (10-5)
Kode9 & Spaceape (Live)
King Midas Sound (Live)
Darkstar (Live)
Samiyam (Live)
Quarta 330 (Live)
Ikonika
Cooly G
LD
LV
Videeo

Room 2 (12-5)
Kode9 (3 hour set)
Mala
Videeo

Tickets / Facebook event.

See you at the front.

___

Also take a moment to check out the work of Manuel Sepulveda. He designed the Hyperdub 5, Harmonic 313 and Ikonika’s forthcoming Sahara Michael covers. I’m a big fan.

Sleigh Bells Saturday #shitalliterationweek.

sleighbells
Photo by Rob Loud

Ever wanted to know what a hardcore punk/teen girl-group crossover sounds like? Thanks to Sleigh Bells, you no longer need to wonder. Coming straight outta’ Brooklyn (seriously, they have to be putting something in the water there), this duo are made up of Derek Miller (formerly of Poison The Well and Alexis Krauss (formerly of Myspace-less group RubyBlue). They skilfully mix together hardcore guitar and pop melodies, creating something very, very danceable. “Crown On The Ground”, one of my favourite tracks of the year so far, illustrates this effect best, featuring a Justice-like riff (a reference they encourage with their cross-featuring logo), breakbeat-esque drums and singing in the style of Dirty Projectors. We bring you this track today, as well as two others: “Infinity Guitars” and “A/B Machines”. These expand the Sleigh Bells sound, featuring handclaps, call-and-response chants and more riffs. There are no current plans in place for any releases or tours but here’s hoping that changes soon. Check out their Myspace for fourth track “Ring Ring” and read the interview given to Pitchfork, linked below, for more information.

Crown On The Ground – Sleigh Bells

Infinity Guitars – Sleigh Bells

A/B Machines – Sleigh Bells

Sleigh Bells Myspace
Sleigh Bells’ Pitchfork ‘Rising’ Interview

Funky Friday #shitalliterationweek.

james-brown copy

Could the Friday of #shitalliterationweek be anything other than Funky Friday? I think not. Funk is something difficult for all but the most Luddite to embrace, such was the case in the 1950s and such is the case with what we refer to as funky now. Just as the diehard ‘Kind of Blue’ fans despaired when Miles Davis progressed musically we still have hoards of ‘Dubstep Fans’ who unload most of their hate for anything that isn’t half-step at 140 bpm on UKFunky. To make this parallel complete we’ve got two tracks up for download to celebrate the ongoing life of the essence of funk. One old, one new – both with the x factor.

First up is a tune I know very little about. I was given it by a friend at work who got it off a compilation cd for £1 at Shepherds Bush market, a very funky way to acquire music.. Horns, organs, hype, this song has it all – Definite remix potential.

Slim Pickens – The Tighten Up

Next up is a remix from Pipedown favorite L-Vis 1990 of Gucci Vump’s ‘Sha! Shtil!’ which was given away for free on Electric Zoo. Understated and, for lack of a better word, progressive, this is great proof that there is soul in UKFunky beyond some of the slightly plastic sounding tunes that championed Aiya Napa this summer.

Gucci Vump – Sha! Shtil! (L-Vis 1990 VIP Remix)

Until next time – Keep it Funky

Tetris Thursday #shitalliterationweek.

Today’s addition to #shitalliterationweek is made up of tunes taking their palette of sound from 16bit/chiptune early Nintendo consoles. Hence Tetris Thursday…

First one is from grime producer SRC, Butterz has just interviewed him for his blog as an artist to watch out for 2010. After hearing this tune in Oneman, Tomb Crew and Jackmaster’s sets recently I’ve been waiting for details of a release, only to find out he’s given it away for free. The Nintendo reference is obvious in this one :). You can grab the whole of SRCD Vol 4, from which this is taken, here. Be warned this is catchy as hell.

SRC – Goomba Riddim

Zomby gave these tunes away for free on his twitter after some sort of fight with the label. Zomby’s trade mark bleeps meet garage riddims in these two, more afterhours-blissed out business than what we’re used to from him. I think he even uses the Nanoloop in some of his production, check the YouTube vids of many-a-neek getting busy.

Zomby – Digital Flora

Zomby – Digital Fauna

This last one not so much 16-bit, but definately game related. Mumdance’s remix of Maximo Park in a style he’s dubbed Kerplunk, because it reminds him of, um, Kerplunk (the game.)

Maximo Park – Lets Get Clinical (Mumdance Kerplunk Remix)

W*nky? ;)lol Wednesday #shitalliterationweek.

Slugarrbed.

#shitalliterationweek continues with some seriouz business from a man who is blowing up big time at the moment. With a huge wave of drum machine stabbing producers slugabed has to be up there in the ballers section. Playing alongside him a few weeks back,the guy absolutely burned down the dance with a mass of personal cuts aswell as a heap of stuff from over the pond. With releases imminent on some huge labels,there is no doubt in my mind that the slug will find himself in your boomkat crates shorty. 

Slugabed Segment & Chat (Seclusiasis Radio Nov 09).

Slugabed Mix & Interview for Dummy magazine.

Mix For FMLB.

(Don’t worry today’s contribution to #shitalliteration week is coming later.)

I have just done a mix for friedmylittlebrain.com. It’s exactly what you can expect if you come see Sduk or me play anytime soon, 55 minutes exploring the sounds that sit somewhere between dubstep, house, uk funky, grime and garage. Check out the full post here.

cntrst – Mix for friedmylittlebrain.com (10/11)

Mixcloud / Soundcloud

TRACKLIST
Falty DL – Party
A Made Up Sound – Closer
Julio Bashmore – Around
Martin Kemp – No Charisma
Pearson Sound – Wad
Dark Knight – Gotham City
Martyn – Mega Drive Generation
Deadboy – U Cheated
Lil Silva – Different (Kingdom Remix ft. Jazmine Sullivan)
Bok Bok – Ripe Banana
Emvee – Freak Meesha
Sduk – Kurupt
Geeneus – Yellowtail VIP
Joy Orbison – BRKLN CLLN
Ghosts On Tape – Predator Mode (Roska Remix)
DVA – God Made Me Funky
A4C – Untitled Mambo (The Boogaloo Crew Remix)
Shortstuff – A Rustling
Basement Jaxx – Scars (SBTRKT Remix)
Octa Push – Ai Nadia
Mount Kimbie – Sketch On Glass
Eskmo – Let Them Sing
Guido – Beautiful Complication (ft. Aarya)
Blackdown – Concrete Streets (Zomby Remix)
DVA – Keep Up (4×4 Mix)
Agent X – Killahertz VIP
Terror Danjah – Piano Madness
Rustie – Click Clack
Zomby – Polka Dot
? – Bills Bills Bills Bills Bills Bills (Harmonimix)
Starkey – Rain City
Lil Silva – Pulse x Flex
Bubblez – Ice Rink Refix
Brackles – Rawkus
Untold – No One Likes A Smart-Arse
Untold – Stop What You’re Doing (James Blake Remix)

Two Tunes Tuesday #shitalliterationweek.

Continuing with #shitalliterationweek it’s Two Tunes Tuesday. First tune very dark and swung garage from Spatial, definately taking influence from some of Untold’s recent antics. More future garage.

Spatial – 90731

This second tune comes courtesy of Squeegie. Julio Bashmore has been making movements with house meets dubstep and disco and seemingly influenced by US heads like Karizma and Theo Parrish. Um Bongo is forthcoming on DirtyBird and is very dangerous, I think I heard it three times at the recent Night Slugs x FACT night, audio on his ’space. Also expect a massive remix of Mosca on his Night Slugs 12″ due very soon. Around is perfect afterhours business; lazy house, warm bassline and killer vocal sample.

Julio Bashmore – Around

Mixtape Monday #shitalliterationweek.

There was a lack of posts last week so to make up for it I’ve invoked #shitalliterationweek.

It’s FWD>> vs Rinse at Matter on Friday 20th November, and whilst all of Rinse’s heavyweight are there (BBK, Skream, Benga, Wiley, Heartless Crew, Zinc) for me it gets more exciting towards the bottom with Oneman, Ramadanman, Cooly G and Floating Points. Flyer here. Anyway here is RinseFM headhoncho, Geeneus’ set from last time, UKF mixed with house across the globe featuring Yonurican, Altered Natives, Geeneus’ own production and even some suprise electro tracks; Raven and Flat Beat.

Geeneus and Tippa – Live @ Matter 31/07/09

The next three mixes probably fall under the worst genre tag since wonky; future garage. Sadly I think like wonky it’s going to stick, hell there is even a forum. Names aside, it’s pretty much exactly what I’ve been feeling for most of the year and pushing on here. First up a Brackles mix, though a few months old now, we never blogged it at the time, most of the tracks are still unreleased and is exactly what future garage signifies. The other two are from Fabric’s own Mackaveli in the mix for Modyfier, check his words here, and Pipedown friend Ben White. Whilst in these mixes you’ll see productions from Brackles, Shortstuff, Joy Orbison, Untold, Grievous Angel and co that are future garage, you’ll also see why it’s so strong with the ease at which dubstep, grime, house, UKG and UKF are brought into the mix.

Brackles – XLR8R Mix

TRACKLIST
One Tribe – What Have You Done
Greena – Tenzado
Shortstuff – See Ya
Martin Kemp – Aztec
Brackles & Shortstuff – Pipey D
Aardvarck – Nosestep
Joy Orbison – GR Etiquette
Alley Cats – Cover Me
TLC – No Scrubs (Todd Edwards Remix)
Jamie Lidell – Another Day (Rustie Remix)
Wiley – Freeze
Untold – It’s Gonna Work Out Fine
Mark One – The Greatest
Geiom & Spamchop – Cave Rave
Brackles – Rawkus
D1 – Crack Bong
SBTRKT – Loving You

Mackaveli – Modyfier mix

TRACKLIST
Pariah – Orpheous
Synkro – Just Say
Joy Orbison – J Doe
Zomby – Digital Flora
Joy Orbison – Brklyn Clln
John Legend – Heatbreaker (Brackles Remix)
Hot City – Head Work
Scott Garcia – A London Thing (feat MC Styles)
Roska – Hey Cutie
D-Malice – Keep On
Hot City – What Am I Doin’
Claude Von Stroke – Storm On Lake Saint Claire

Ben White – November promo

TRACKLIST
Flying Lotus – Disco Balls
Floating Points – Truly
Dorian Concept – Be Tween
El-B – Serious
La Roux – Quicksand (Boy 8-Bit Remix)
Sduk – Dapper Derek
Simian Mobile Disco – Cruel Intentions (Joker Remix)
Gemmy – Rainbow Road
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)
Boy 8-Bit – Baltic Pine (GreenMoney’s Baltic Porn Remix)
Bat For Lashes – Pearl’s Dream (Skream Remix)
2000F & J Kamata – You Don’t Know What Love Is
Silverlink – The Message Is Love (Mumdance Remix)
Grievous Angel – Show Love
Brackles – LHC
Untold – Discipline
Ikonika Smuck
Hudson Mohawke – Allhot
Jamie Woon – Wayfaring Stranger (Burial Remix)