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LAB US EXCLUSIVO. Adam Kesher follow up their outstanding debut EP on Disque Primeur with this loaded single, featuring four new tracks and four remixes from all over the place. This EP also marks the remix debut of the Lab's very own...
expand review Snack & C'mish! "P-Katherine(1)" is hype enough on its own (think Franz Ferdinand, but better), but Snack & C'mish get so funky with it(2) and turn it into an absolute dancefloor bomb. Fine work, dudes. Paris' premier ghettotech DJs, Goon & Koyote, get their hands on Kesher's first single, "Modern Times(3)," and Strip Steve puts down a HEAVY remix of "Irene(4)" - check the original(5), too. Also includes "Let The Earth Rejoice" and the original and Yuksek versions of "Feel You In My Arm." Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Super deluxe 10th anniversary edition of AIR's first proper album from '98. You might've listened to this back when it first came out, but it's definitely worth a revisit. I know my ears were a little more biased a decade ago and...
expand review weren't really in tune with the Frenchies, but in '08 I'm pretty sure we're all much more familiar with the "French Style" and can really appreciate what these dudes were doing. Nicolas and JB (aka AIR) were definitely ahead of their time, combining elements from Burt Bacharach and Serge Gainsbourg, ambient, lounge, new wave, disco and lots of synthesizers, into one unique musical style paving the way for similar-minded artists like Sebastien Tellier. Just take a listen the masterfully crafted chill moods -"La Femme D'Argent(1)," "Talisman(2)," "All I Need(3)," and "Sexy Boy(4)," "Le Voyage De Penelope(5)," and "Remember(6)." The whole album really goes down real easy - it's that smooth. This limited edition set also contains a bonus CD loaded with rarities, remixes, demo versions, and radio sessions as well as a DVD with an hour long documentary on the band entitled "Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing" by none other than Mike Mills. All this in a fancy 12- page hard cover booklet with full liner notes, lyrics, and original artwork. Recommended. -snackmaster
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Now available on CD! Cosmic jazz stunner. This is one of those upper-crust albums that easily holds down a spot in any seasoned selector's late night top ten - it's simply that timeless. From the first swirls of the title track(1), this...
expand review thing just carries you away - probably the closest legal thing to a big bong hit of Cali power skunk there is. Each tune is built on a different hypnotic string bass groove that bores into your mind. "Shiva-Loka(2)," "Stopover Bombay(3)," it's your pick. The tamboura (that's the metallic buzz that signals exotica in any B-movie) never lets up, and when Alice Coltrane flings some harp over it (or piano, in the case of "Something About John Coltrane(4)"), you've got a powerful mystic brew indeed. Recommended. -monk
With the additional title "Subtropical Sun Stroke Psych Out" splashed across a suntan lotion bottle on the cover, one can guess with some certainty that the third installment in Far Out's 'Brazilika' series will be crammed with all manner of fuzzy and...
expand review folky Brazilian gems perfect for summer listening. Of course with Andy Votel in the mix, it's also safe to assume that you'll never have heard a single one of said gems before in your life, and that you'll come out loving most of them. Anyone watching the collectors guides (or, um, Turntable Lab) will know that obscure Brazilian sounds have been quite en vogue recently, but instead of letting eBay be his co-pilot, Mr. Votel chose to stick mainly to releases from Sao Paolo's Som Livre and RGE labels, whose tracks are already known in Brazil and whose stocks haven't soared in the record fiend market (well, until now probably). And hey, if you've read this far you probably already know that Votel's great ear doesn't disappoint - whether it's Anatolian or sub-tropical sounds, it seems this man can dig no wrong. Includes tracks from artists like Mutantes, Azymuth, Tim Maia, Oz Brazoes, Sidney Miller, Trio Soneca, Novos Baianos and more. 26 tracks divided up into 12 sections. 50 minutes total. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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17 more unmixed Bmore club tracks from Titts, Ayres and the extended fam.
This volume rounds up many of the tracks from T&A's recent vinyl EPs, including Dave Nada's "Kick Out The Jams(1)," "Where Brooklyn At?(2)" and "Spell On You(3)," A-Trak's...
expand review Stevie-flipping "Sir Duke(4)" from Ultimate T&A, and Million Dollar Mano's popular "They Know(5)" from The Chedda EP.
It's also got new tracks from Tittsworth (a remix of M.O.P.'s "Ante
Up(6)") and Ayres ("Angel of Death(7)" - Slayer!!) plus Top Billin' and DJ Eli. Another useful no brainer for digital DJs. 17 tracks; 55 minutes.
Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Please note, the tracklisting on the Vinyl and the CD are significantly different! Benga has been a major player (along with his buddy Skream) in the dubstep scene since the genre was formed. For his massive debut full length (on none other...
expand review than the much respected Tempa label), Benga has proved he not only has bass for days, but also a versatile, progressive style that can push the dubstep sound forward. From the jazzy, smoked-out intro track "Zero M2(1)," you can already tell Benga's got style that surpasses the usual dubstep fodder. But just when you think it's gonna be a smooth ride, he hits you with the roughness! "Night(2)" is a bass anthem of epic proportions - with it's howling bleeps and pulsing sub bass, this thing is sure to wreck. And there's a lot more where that came from. "E Trips(3)," "Crunked Up(4),""The Cut(5)," and "26 Basses(6)" continue the merciless barrage of low end sounds to shatter a sound bwoy dead. For real, this kid is straight nasty with it! Also features the surprising "Someone 20(7)" with a hybrid sound more akin to new disco and breakbeat to round things out nicely. Recommended listening for all the bass fiends out there. 14 Tracks total. -snackmaster
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Everyone (including myself, the mgmnt and even the choosy Shota The Database) flipped over Bob & Gene's "You Gave Me Love(1)" / "Your Name(2)" single when Daptone dropped it last year, and it's seemed like eternity waitin' for this CD to come...
expand review out! You really gotta go to Daptone's site and read the full story behind this album to appreciate it, but in short: in 1967, two friends (Bob & Gene; 15 and 16, respectively) in Buffalo, NY (I see you, Caps!) started recording these tracks in a basement studio set up in their neighborhood by a local renaissance man ("singer, saxophonist, factory worker, union leader and father of two.") The two recorded until the studio shut down in 1971, and these dusty, never-before-released recordings were discovered (after some footwork) by soul historian David Griffiths. If you ain't interested yet, just click on "Sailboat(3)," "Don't Leave Me Girl(4)," "Somebody's Doin' It(5)" or the title track(6) and tell me that's not some classic shit. 12 tracks; 34 minutes. Highly recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Bonde do Role are officially the biggest thing to ever come out of Curitiba, Brazil (except maybe Wanderlei Silva). The Diplo-produced "Gasolina(1)" is gonna be on their debut LP this Spring on Domino / Mad Decent, but we figured it was about...
expand review time they had something proper for DJs. It wasn't intended this way, but the CD is a nice overview of where Mad Decent is at right now. The original "Gasolina" (which Diplo stretched out for the bonus beats and extended 12" mix) is easily the catchiest track Bonde's come out with yet; somehow it came together in one afternoon with Marina and Diplo collaborating on the lyrics. Unruly Records' Scottie B & King Tutt represent the Mid-Atlantic with a textbook Bmore remix(2) (nevermind that these dudes wrote the textbook…). Buraka Som Sistema slay on their mix(3), fusing their Kuduro styles with Bonde's bastard funk (and it's even got a verse from one of the best young MCs out right now, Petty). London transplants Radioclit round this thing out with a vicious electro rework(4) which has already been getting some UK radio burn. That wolf on the sticker pretty much says it all. Obviously recommended! -Chris Lemon-Red
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LAB EXCLUSIVO! While supplies last, all orders will receive a promo-only 7" of BDR's new single, "Office Boy," featuring remixes from CSS and Architecture In Helsinki! The vinyl version of With Lasers will be released in a few weeks.
To say that Bonde...
expand review Do Role's debut has been "long-awaited" would be a huge understatement. It's been 2 years since we dropped their first EP on Mad Decent and the kids are all grown up now, migrated over to Domino and swapped out message board love for NME praise. The band probably recorded 40 demos for this album, but the final product is a streamlined beast with just 12 tracks, clocking in at 30 minutes. Really, when's the last time you heard an album where every track could be a single? The Diplo-produced "Solta O Frango(1)" and "Gasolina(2)" are here, and so's the new single, "Office Boy(3)" (stupid fun - "buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-boy"). But what you know about "Quero Te Amar(4)," with the heavy vocoder action and throwback Miami bass beat from the Lab's own Eggfooyoung? Or the evil metal opener/closer combo, "Danca do Zumbi(5)" and "Bondallica(6)," with Chernobyl from Comunidade Nin-Jitsu SHREDDING on those finger-tapping guitar solos? London production duo Radioclit even turn in a couple tracks: the kazoo-driven "Geremia(7)" and chopped-up electro-baile "Divine Gosa(8)." All this is to say nothing of the amazingly fun vocals that Marina, Pedro and Gorky provide. I read an article this morning comparing them to Brazil's Tropicalia artists of the 60s/70s, and while I don't know if that's totally on point (Marina would Manic Panic her hair before she put flowers in it), there's something important going on behind all this silliness. Do I even have to say... Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Even though I know it, I always forget just how absolutely huge electronic music really is in Europe, and the rest of the world for that matter. It's just pop music there y'all! This tour DVD that comes with the re-release of...
expand review Booka Shade's very solid 2006 long player is major. It follows them to North America, Australia and their native European continent, riding in helicopters, jamming in front of jumping crowds and giving interviews along with their publicist and tour manager in front of lit candelabras! Also, includes live visuals, raw live performances and a grip of remixes, including two by Hot Chip, only playable ON the DVD (no iTunes unfortunately). But really, the magic lies in the album. If you haven't heard the album in its entirety and you've been at all interested in this German two piece, you should definitely pick this up. From major worldwide minimal electro house club bangers "Mandarine Girl(1)," "In White Rooms(2)" and and "Body Language(3)" to funky tech'd out sleeper tracks that are just as strong, like "Darko(4)," Booka Shade are forward thinking and consistent, with a strong grasp for hook and melody. They even slow it down and get slightly emotional on the Boards Of Canada like, "Lost High(5)." And, unlike most German club all stars' full lengths, this album comes complete with great sequencing and cohesive LP feel. Get with it if you haven't already. Recommended. -Rezound
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As if that scorpion on the cover didn't say it all - the Budos Band are back, and they mean business. 10 more tracks of unfadeable Staten Island instrumental Afro-soul, recorded live at the Daptone complex in luxurious Bushwick, Brooklyn. Right from...
expand review the jump, "Chicago Falcon(1)" grabs your ear with driving organ, a crisp, angular bassline and - goddamn, those horns! (The Budos' section contains 2 saxes, 2 trumpets and flute, not to mention numerous percussionists.) "Budos Rising(2)" keeps it rolling with a slightly Egyptian feel (is that PC?), before "Mas O Menos(3)" blows it all away - seriously, if this track came out on a Numero comp, it'd have me completely fooled. "King Cobra(4)" kicks off the B-side on a way more mellow - but no less sinister - note, all spine-tingling organ trills and staccato guitar stabs. The instrumental cover of the Temptations' "My Girl(5)" may catch you off guard, but let your prior knowledge of the track go and you'll find this a totally fresh and original take. The downtempo "Origin of Man(6)" may just be my favorite cut on the album, but really... it's hard to pick. You don't have to be a soul/funk aficionado, nor be familiar with the entire Daptone catalog, to enjoy this record (as proven by yours truly). Budos are truth. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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The Chromatics are on fire lately and are popping up everywhere I look - DJ Dixon's Body Language mix, the After Dark CD, and the Italians Do It Better 12's, etc...I see what's going on. Ruth Radelet is actually a...
expand review powerful mage and we're all quickly falling under her spell. If those releases weren't powerful enough, they go ahead and give us the NIGHT DRIVE SOUNDTRACK! Whether this is a real soundtrack to a movie is unclear, and frankly, I don't give a damn. Sure it would be awesome to see the beautiful Ruth Radelet starring in a film, but I'm just happy to hear more of her music. "Night Drive(1)" is the only track I've seen appear on another comp. That means 9 tracks of all new material! Sweet for you (and me -Ed.). Now you have tons of new music to make-out to. The cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill(2)" is an awesome slow burner especially good for the fireplace, while "Healer(3)" and "Tomorrow Is So Far Away(4)" brings the beat to the heat for that extra bump. The saucy synthwork with Ruth's poetic vocals is magically seductive and will have you demanding multiple listens. And just in case you're not in the mood for words, there's the instrumentals "I Want Your Love(5)" and "Let's Make This A Moment To Remember." Sounds like Smokey Robinson singles? Not quite, but they are smokey for sure. Highly Recommended. -C'mish
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Dave1 and P-Thugg return to the album game after a few years of live shows and mixtapes, and they're sounding fresh as ever, proving why they’re the shiny superheroes of the Vice roster. (These guys have funk laced in their bones like...
expand review Wolvie does adamantium.) Right off the bat, the intro tells you what you're getting into as some sassy females chant "CHRO-ME-OH! OHHH-OH!" like the guards in Wizard of Oz. Then they hit you with the one-two punch of the heavily vocodered "Tenderoni(1)" and "Fancy Footwork(2)," both filled with unfadeable melodies and tons of squiggly synth. Digging deeper, you should check the amazingly retro "Opening Up(3)," "Call Me Up(4)" and "Outta Sight(5)." Did I mention that the album was mixed by Zdar and exec-produced by Tiga? Well it was. Also, the artwork is perfect. Nice and quick, too - at 11 tracks and 40 minutes, it only leaves you wanting more. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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I was pretty lucky to stumble upon this record. It was a late shift at the Lab store in LA, already played everything on the wall, so I grabbed this home-made looking record under the DJ booth, and damn, it was probably...
expand review the best thing I heard since I got there. Not sure who comprises Clutchy Hopkins, but they're a live downtempo band that sounds like they should be backing Portishead or releasing cult 7"s (but damn, an entire album!), it's really that good. None of the tracks have titles, but track two(1) is an incredible flute-led heater that will get you hooked. The thing that gets me here is the finesse, check track one(2) and four(3). They can go weirdo too, check Track 6(4), with its eastern-influenced guitar and dribbling piano licks. It sounds like something you'd hear on Doom's Special Herbs, but deeper. Or what about straight buttery smooth, check tracks 8(5) and 9(6), like some glistening oil on a beautiful french lady's skin in the Riviera. I won't ruin the entire surprise, there's 12 tracks in all. Recommended. -the mgmnt
Cousin Cole and Pocketknife's (aka Flagrant Fowl) Tambourine Dream EP has been on heavy rotation at the Lab from day one. The vinyl version featured 6 unique indie-rock and folk remixes (which are all included here), but the Flagrant Fowl dudes got...
expand review loose on this CD with twelve more remixes that are hitting the spot right now with winter gloominess in full swing. These songs give all the sappy jams that you listened to when your college crush told you she just wanted to be friends, a danceable quality that'll make you glad she didn't lock you down, so you're free to be knee deep in 'tang until graduation.
Standouts on the mix that aren't on the EP include: Cousin Cole's No Bro-Mo House mix of Indie darlings, Panda Bear. Pocketknife brings the mellow heat with his Faded Beach Towel remix of Feist's Gatekeeper. Seu Jorge gets put through the drum machine as "Rebel, Rebel" gets the Tambo D treatment as the mix starts to wind down. This is all topped off with the great artwork from Nathan Fox and design from Strange Attractors on the jacket and disc. Lightly mixed (you could DJ with em, but cop the vinyl for full versions). Comes in a full color digipak. Recommended. -erock
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I ain't gonna front, I've probably listened to Tambourine Dream over 100 times this year. It's probably gonna wind up being my mix of the year. Although I like the never-ending thump quality of the mix, all you DJs have been begging...
expand review for unmixed versions... Cole and Skooby deliver. Always with the consumer in mind, these guys have even made this release unique with only 200 copies made (hand-numbered), silkscreened covers they did themselves, and a new bonus track. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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If you haven't figured out that Daft Punk is one of the strongest artistic forces in universe, you need this. CD and DVD special edition set (not to be confused with simultaneous single CD release) of Daft Punk singles, rarities, remixes, and...
expand review videos. The CD features 14 tracks, everything from early hits like "Da Funk(1), Musique(2), Around The World(3), Harder Better Faster Stronger(4)" and "One More Time(5)," all the way to current favorites like "Robot Rock(6), Technologic(7)," and "Human After All(8)." The CD also includes three Daft Punk remixes for artists Gabrielle, Scott Grooves, and Ian Pooley. While you are listening, flip through the booklet for all the album and singles covers (totally underrated for design vision). The DVD disc is equally robust with 12 videos including all the classics and two unreleased videos exclusive to the set. Daft Punk videos are as vibrant as their songs, so expect a potent visual overload and overall pleasant feeling of warmth. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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Environ CD reissue of Daniel Wang`s 2000 debut solo album. If you are not familiar with this guy, he's making moves in the underground dance world, similar to how labelmates Metro Area blew up a couple years back. Founder of his own...
expand review Balihu label, Wang utilizes vintage instruments for unique sound suitable for the headphones or the progressive club. The original tracklist has been modified with new versions of "All Flowers Must Fade(1)" and "Misty(2)." "Black Boots and Sine Waves(3)" and "Glimmer In His Eyes(4)," twin cult classics from the Nocturnes 12" have also been added as bonus tracks. Lookout for the massive "Rings of Saturn(5)," originally a 150 copy white label release. Limited edition. -the mgmnt
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First time on CD! The benevolent Dusty Groove has done broke diggers the world over a favor by remastering and reissuing this rare Axelrod catalog nugget. Originally released in 1975, the accurately titled Seriously Deep is Axelrod at his funkiest, conducting a...
expand review gang of trained studio assassins (including Joe Sample, Ernie Watts and percussionist Ndugu Chancler) through six great jazzy excursions. The pulsing opener "Miles Away(1)" sets the tone for the rest of the record with its tight groove and loose (yet not overly jammy) solos, while the slinking "Reverie(2)" carries more of a classic Axelrod vibe at first but soon falls into a hypnotic loop with great bluesy guitar soloing and a haunting organ breakdown. Also includes "Go For It(3)," the break-laden "1,000 Rads(4)" and "One(5)." 6 tracks; 40 minutes. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Back in print! The debut album from Department of Eagles (featuring members of Grizzly Bear), now with 4 bonus tracks - "Dinner For Two(1)" and "Day School/Rooster(2)" - plus exclusive notes and new artwork. Here's what we said when it came out:...
expand review Lots of music flows through the Lab, it's like Rolex perpetual motion. Occasionally, a release comes through that sounds so different (minus your Beans release), it's a mini-office event. That's what happened when we got our first Whitey on the Moon 7". The combination of indy rock lyrics, downtempo beats, musical awareness, and uncanny creativity was a refreshing blast among the vinyl stacks. So much so that we tracked down this NYC based duo to do a single for our Money Studies label. In the meantime, they've released this full length, 12 tracks that come together as one of our favorite listening albums of the year. "Sailing By the Night(3)" is the prime example of the Whitey sound, melodic rock bred with excellent downtempo production. That's an amazing song, but when it's sandwiched between instrumentals like "On Glaze(4)" and "Noam Chomsky(5)," it's not normal. You'll find yourself swaying to the guitar tracks like "Piano In Your Bathtub(6)" and stuttering to experimental beat tracks like "Origin of Love(7)." You realize Whitey has you under control. Back to indy rock? OK, checkout the acoustical "Family Romance(8)" for a nice outtro. For an album so diverse, it really congeals, weaved together by the sheer blast of creativity. Recommended. -the mgmnt
Restocked with official packaging. Diplo has been all over the place lately, and one of his most recent trips was an assignment to cover the emerging Baile Funk scene in Brazil. The only way I can describe this is a hybrid hip...
expand review hop/ miami bass/ electro funk/ house sound. Kinda like Hollertronix if it was based in Rio. Apparently the kids down there are nuts for it and it causes the same kind of spontaneous club combustion that we see with Go Go in DC, B-more club in B-more, Grime or whatever you wanna call it in the UK, etc. Anyway, this is a 35 minute mix of the stuff Diplo was able to dig up down there, with a little extra flavor thrown on top. Interesting to say the least. -the mgmnt
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Over at the top secret Mad Decent HQ, we got LOTS of shit cooking for the near future – but none of it was quite ready yet by the time we hit the road for the Diplo / Bonde do Role /...
expand review CSS tour this summer. Solution? We contacted PH and the Money Studies mafia and worked up a likkle collab to hold people over 'til the winter. The tracklist got a little wacky somewhere in the process, so when you're listening to this and going "Sweet goddamn, what is this??" be sure to come back to this review for the answer, 'cause I'm about to give ya the lowdown. First up, we got a pair of mixes that Diplo originally released via iTunes: they're the namesake of the compilation, and Mad Decent Radio is no joke. Conceived as "NPR for the streets," the first mix focuses on Baltimore and the second on New Orleans, and both combine the music of the region with interviews from key players in the scenes. (It's hard to explain without hearing, but trust me, it's cool.) Next up is A-Trak's remix of Bonde do Role's "Melo do Tabaco(1)" – DID YOU KNOW HE IS KANYE WEST'S DJ? WELL, HE IS. Here's where the confusion comes in: Dama Estrela's "Tipicou(2)" got left off the tracklist by accident, which really sucks 'cause it's a FIREBALL of a kuduru track. Then we got the new Diplo production – the upcoming Jungle Fever Riddim – with Dr. Evil (aka Leftside) providing the vocals for "Mary Jane(3)." Diplo adds some effects and rewinds to Wilcannia Mob's "Downriver(4)" for the Mad Decent edit – if you ain't heard these kids, you gotta. Aboriginal rap from like 9 and 10 year old kids in Australia, and they burn the house down. The other unlisted track on here is a top secret sneaky preview of Bonde do Role's next single, "Gasolina(5)." That's all I'm saying – you'll be hearing more about that one soon enough. Just like the first series of Money Studies mixtapes, this is a one-time limited pressing, so buy now or cry later. Remember when you slept on the Second Cousins CD?? -Chris Lemon-Red
Money Studies kicks off its new "Lost Masters" reissue series by resurrecting this impossible to find mix from Diplo and fellow Philly record hoarder Tony Tripledouble. Originally self-released on CDR in an edition of less than 500 (plus a few handmade cassettes),...
expand review AEIOU 2 is over an hour of the finest and rarest breaks drawn from Diplo & Tripledouble's extensive collections of psych, funk and obscure soundtracks. Some of the breaks in this mix have gone on to achieve classic status - still no tracklist to help you out, but now it comes in a full-color digipak designed by PH. And if you ever wanted to hear Diplo skratching, right here's the spot. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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