Other than a couple ISP scratch practice tapes released when he was about 16, this is the first mix cd we've ever seen from A-Trak. It was recorded live in Vancouver this past fall, and goes a long way to show just...
expand review how well rounded this former scratch prodigy has become. Dude is Kanye's tour dj afterall, and he's found the perfect balance between his ridiculous battle skills and party rocking. It starts off with some of his amazing live routines and then goes into a long mix set, where you'll find everything from De La to Daft Punk, from Mann Parrish to Mac Mall. Tons of blends, mixing and cutting along the way, of course. -the mgmnt
Here's comes the crossover! I know The Rub is synonymous with hip hop, reggae, funk and breaks in NY, but now you can add electronic dance tracks to the list. Leave it to the creator of The Rave to follow it up...
expand review with... Drugs Drugs Drugs Drugs. I know the name is a little obvious, and it's kind of a greatest hits of the last 2 years of NY dance music, but if you're in the dust - get on it bruh! Trends are like seasons here and you don't want to be left in the cold. So put your groove boots away and grab your fluorescent bandanna and Trizzy shades, and bang out to the hype sounds of Soulwax, Justice, Chromeo, brand new unreleased Kid Sister Track (featuring Kanye West), Arman Van Helden, Mylo, Claude Von Stroke, Green Velvet, Booka Shade, Das Glow, the Lab's own Egg Foo Youngstah, and many more!!! -C'mish
Oh shnap. Get your candy beads and whistles ready... it's time for the RAVE! Yep, that's right, the time has come. Ayres done did the Rave mix. And like all of his other mixes, he kills it! Strictly the biggest hits and...
expand review classics on this one from every rave sub-genre (house, techno, acid, and even drum n' bass!) skillfully mixed to bring back all those memories that you've purposely forgotten. Featuring tracks from 4Hero, Basement Jaxx, Armand Van Helden, DHS, DJ Funk, DJ Zinc, DJ Hype, Doc Scott, Jaydee, Aphex Twin, and more. Can you feel it? I do... P.L.U.R. ya'll! -snackmaster
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Not for the easily offended! (But you could tell that from the cover.) It's the debut EP from Bangers & Cash, the new project from MC Spank Rock and producer Benny Blanco, and it's about as dirty as you'd expect a Spank...
expand review Rock tribute to 2 Live Crew to be. The live show favorite "Shake That(1)" sounds just as good on record, but how could a track that samples 2 Live's "Fuck Shop" and Splack Pack's "Shake That Ass Bitch" not be? "B-O-O-T-A-Y(2)" pulls sources from no less than three different tracks, but guest vocals from Santi of Santogold really makes the track; same goes for the hoodrat track "Loose(3)" and the guest spot from Amanda Blank, who just sounds better every time she gets on the mic. "Pu$$y(4)" gets a little too dumb for my taste, but "Bitch!(5)" overcomes its subject matter with an epic beat from Benny and a sample from NWA. And if you think the cover is nasty, you should see the back and inside. -Larri Byrd
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Three new tracks, six remixes and a "classic" single for under $8? That's some bang for your fading yankee dollar from three of my four favorite Brazilians. (Right now #4 is a tie between Anderson Silva and Adriana Lima.) "Marina Gasolina(1)" is...
expand review nothing new to Lab heads, but the remixes from Peaches(2) and Fake Blood should be. Besides that's just the appetizer, the real goods here are new tracks like "Miami Beach(3)" (hilarious... it's in English!), "Contaminada" and the bumping, minimal "Cagado(4)." There's also a pair of remixes each for their two previous singles - my picks are CSS' mix of "Office Boy(5)" and the Bitchee Bitchee Ya Ya Ya version of "Solta O Frango(6)." 10 tracks; 37 minutes.
-Larri Byrd
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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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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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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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Bogman procured this CD for us from his network of East Village record store workers. Soul Punk works at the most righteous Academy Records (excellent place to buy used vinyl), and has dropped this unmixed, compilation of 16 rare, and in-demand...
expand review rock tracks, all with big, bad breaks. This is total record nerd area, with tracks from Atomic Rooster, Titanic, Stray, James Gang, Thin Lizzy, Dust, Power of Zeus, Humble Pie, and others. Excellent sound quality. Recommended for rock break lovers, producers, and archivists. -the mgmnt
Back after a short absence -- diggin's hard work! -- DJ Soul Punk returns to his roots with a follow-up to his first unmixed breaks comp. Just like Volume 1, this disc contains 16 rare hard rock tracks filled with nasty breaks,...
expand review some of which you'll recognize and some you'll just want to chop up and keep for yourself. Features songs from Nazareth, Deep Purple (not "Smoke On The Water"), Montrose, Sorcery, Pentagram, Zipper, Free, Hard Stuff, Dog Soldier, Humble Pie, Captain Beyond and more. 77 minutes total. -Larri Byrd
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Looking at this comp, I just assumed it was a long-ass, double-disc DJ set from BBC Gilles Peterson - an admittedly disappointing prospect, considering how much rare and unreleased Fania material there is out there. But wait... it's not mixed! That means...
expand review two CDs, 26 tracks of pure, uncut Latin joy selected by Mr. Peterson and remastered from the original sources. I've never heard "Acid(1)" sound this good. Gilles doesn't go for obscure cuts just for obscurity's sake, and that's a good thing 'cause there's no getting sick of tracks like "Vente Conmigo(2)" or Roberto Roena's "Shade of Time(3)," especially sounding like they do here. On the first disc, check Joe Bataan's "Mambo de Bataan(4)" (from the Riot! LP, also essential) and the offbeat, funky "Freak Off(5)" from Orchestra Harlow. The onslaught of floor-fillers continues on the second disc, with cuts like Noro Morales Quintet's "Saona(6)," Vladamir's "Mambo Moderno(7)" and Charlie Palmieri's "Sandstorm(8)." Gilles ends the whole thing with a pair of killer live cuts - "La Odisea de Tito(9)" and "Ricardo Ray In Orbit(10)" - that display some of the most crucial Fania members (Tito Puente, Ricardo Ray, Bobby Cruz) at their peaks. Over 2 hours of music, plus liner notes from Gilles and a cool insert featuring vintage Fania LP covers and photos. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Sometimes you're really not sure with these rare groove gurus, when they're trying to sell you on some 1962 Doc Severinson b-side or something you've never heard of. You kind of have to take their word for it, but you wonder, you...
expand review know? If that shit really is so good, how come nobody but you's ever heard of it? Anyway, you can forget all that with this comp, cuz as much fun as it would've been to slag the perpetually boyish tastemaker supreme in the baggy turtleneck, this collection is really tight. Kicking things off with the tremendous wall of afrofunk that is Oscar Sulley's "Bukom Mashie(1)" (last seen on the essential Ghana Soundz LP) and including MAW's timeless Fela tribute "MAW Expensive(2)" is pretty good move, setting the tone for the two records (one covers vintage Afro cuts, the other contemporary facsimiles). Things stay on solid ground with two cuts from the superb Ethiopian vibist Mulatu and his cohort Feqadu Amde-Mesqel ("Mulatu(3)" and "Asmarina") and Peter King's longtime DJ/breakbeat fave "Ajo(4)." Thievery Corp's recent "Heart Is a Lonely Hunter(5)" gains some cachet rubbing shoulders with a typically wicked IG Culture remix of the Lekan Babalola (me neither) tune "Aso Kere(6)." The optimized levels on this crisp pressing will endear this to DJ folk, as will the diverse and powerful selection of 9 useful tracks. -Bartleby Hisamoto
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Italians Do It Better are killing it right now with the releases, and this one is no exception. "Beatbox" features 9 icy smooth disco-pop tracks from the power duo of Glass Candy (Johnny Jewel is on production duty lacing the retro-future synth...
expand review driven beats up proper while Ida No serves up the sexy smooth vox like no other). If you liked their stuff on "After Dark" or picked up the Miss Broadway 12" you pretty much need to get this one too. Checkout their fantastic cover of the Kraftwerk classic "Computer Love(1), sweet and funky soul on "Rolling Down Hills(2)," modern italo action on "Digital Versicolor(3)," and the future-pop gems "Etheric Device(4)" and "Beatific(5)." Excellente! Recommended for sure. -snackmaster
DFA honcho James Murphy and fellow LCD-collaborator Patrick Mahoney team up for this sprawling 24 track mix. If you want to gauge the hotness of this release, just know that it sold out straight out the box at our LA store. Yes,...
expand review it's rare we get to see the gears behind one of the most influential underground bands, and the selection definitely does not disappoint. It relies heavily on the current NYC slow-disco sound tapping on releases from Environ, Rong, Balihu, DFA, and numerous white labels. The selection also includes many under the table classics from Donald Byrd, Love Of Life Orchestra, Chic, Was (Not Was), Lenny Williams, and others. Packaged in the usual Fabric metal case. -the mgmnt
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Just in time for Valentine's Day! This is the classic 1969 album from Serge & Jane B., featuring the notorious title track(1), which the pair were supposedly being very literal with during its recording. That's a pretty lazy rumor if you ask...
expand review me (sounds like something your friend would make up in middle school, about on par with "Stephanie from Full House killed herself"), but ain't nothing weak about the power of Serge's sleazy French lothario persona matching up with the sweet, innocent tones of Ms. Birkin. This has to be one of the best (or at least most entertaining) musical duos of all time, to the point where it makes me sad when Serge goes solo on this album, like on "L'anamour(2)" and "Les Sucettes(3)." But it's okay: Jane more than makes up for it on the haunting "Jane B(4)" (lovely strings, those) and "69 Annee Erotique(5)," which, like the title track, was originally meant to be sung by Serge and Brigitte Bardot. (Ironically, Bardot went down in history as, arguably, an even more notorious sex symbol.) Cop this, throw it on for a romantic evening (or some opium smoking) and lounge the night away. 11 tracks; 31 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Have you heard of these guys? I think they're French. Now that Justice's debut album is upon us, there's nothing left to say. Cross is every bit as good as everyone expected. It's crammed with already-classics ("Waters of Nazareth(1)," "Let There Be...
expand review Light(2)") and singles we still can't get enough of (the early leaker "Phantom(3)" and single of the year candidate "D.A.N.C.E.(4)"), and unlike most debut albums, the songs you don't already know don't let you down. "Newjack(5)" cuts the skronk (a little) in favor of some Daft Punk funkiness, but those finely chopped vocals remind you just who you're listening to. "Phantom, Pt.2(6)" reveals why Justice ended "Phantom" with that hypnotic loop, as they proceed to plow over it with dense, distorted electronics and those "D.A.N.C.E."-y strings. More essential tracks: the epic opener "Genesis," the Uffie-vocal'ed "The Party" and a revamped version of the comp track "One Minute To Midnight." 12 tracks total. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
You probably already know every song on Things Kings Do, and while that's not usually a good selling point for a mixtape, it's a great asset to this one. Burlesque's Mike 2600 and his Minneapolis brethren King Otto have mixed up an...
expand review hour of the most well-known, time-tested oldies into something actually fresh and worth listening to. This is the soundtrack to the best wedding reception you've never been to. Sock-hop classics, Motown jams, British Invasion hits, and on and on. "Walk Like A Man," "Satisfaction," "Uptight," "Chantilly Lace," "Tears of a Clown," "Tired Of Waiting," "Same Old Song," "I Hear A Symphony," "Nowhere To Run," "She's Not There," and way too many more to name, all quick-mixed party style. Recorded and co-produced by Andrew Broder from Fog. Highly recommended. -Larri Byrd
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45:33 was originally commissioned by Nike for iTunes as a "work out" mix, but this shit is so good that the DFA decided to put it out on CD and LP. The "mix" isn't a mix in the traditional DJ sense of...
expand review the word, but rather an epic disco-movement played live by James Murphy and Co. It starts off with a lonely synth line that slowly builds in tempo then eventually grows into a full on groover that erupts into various rhythms and styles eventually climaxing, then breaking down into an ambient drone. You'll recognize some tunes of the Sound Of Silver album for sure (like "Someone Great" and others) but the way it is all presented is fresh and unique. You should see the list of instruments that James Murphy plays on this thing too - everything from vintage drums, guitar, all kinds of synths, vocoder and the glockenspiel. Very, very impressive. The CD version also includes 3 unmixed bonus tracks - "Freak Out/Starry Eyes(1)," "North American Scum - Onanistic Dub(2)," and Hippie Priest Bum-Out(3)" all of which are exclusive to this release. Recommended. -snackmaster
Madlib returns to grey areas with two more simultaneous releases in his Mind Fusion series. Much like its surrealist covers, the series is hard to define: not really a mix and not really a compilation. It's an impromptu Madlib stew, put together...
expand review with heaps of randomness and mysterious herbs. The series skips volume three and heads directly to this volume four. The theme here is hip-hop and features indy hip-hop, remixes, freestyles, a sizeable Nas vs. Jay-Z section using Madlib beats, and tracks from Lib's own Crate Diggas Palace archives. Over one hour of music. -the mgmnt
Madlib returns to grey areas with two more simultaneous releases in his Mind Fusion series. Much like its surrealist covers, the series is hard to define: not really a mix and not really a compilation. It's a impromptu Madlib stew, put together...
expand review with heaps of randomness and mysterious herbs. The series skips volume 3, and heads into volume four and this volume five. The theme here is "Dirty Crates From Around The World" aka the fruits of Madlib's many tour travels. The second half of the CD consists of a 36 minute live set from LA's best kept secret, the Do-Over party. Over one hour of music. -the mgmnt
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Unless Stones Throw gets into porn (Madlib vs. Butt Dentist!), I don't know how they are going follow this up. Without exaggeration, this is one of the greatest meeting of the minds in this whole SP1200 using, dusty records searching, notebook rhyme...
expand review tagging, state of mind. MF Doom arguably at his amoeba genius prime, mixed with the unpredictable stoned aesthetics of Madlib? Kids in Germany are going crazy over this! Stones Throw has always been soft-spoken and classy in their marketing (which I respect them for), but with this they need to pop in some "boo-ya's!" and "fo dat azz's!!!" Aside from the silliness, I'm here to tell you that this album lives up to the billing, reading like a mesmerizing novel. The inclusion of lyrics in the CD insert is a welcome introduction into the world that is Doom (no more rewinding!); and Madlib, who sometimes is stretched too thin, steps up to this encounter with some of his most textural work. This is X-factor issue #1, you don't know what the hell will happen. Instead of ruining the story, I'll let you explore the audio clips, here are some to nipple at: "Accordion(1), Raid(2) feat. Medaphoar, America's Most Blunted(3) feat. Quasimoto, Money Folder(4), Shadows Of Tomorrow Feat. Quas(5), Operation Lifesaver Aka Mind Test(6), Figaro(7), All Caps(8), Curls(9)" and Rhinestone Cowboy(10)." CD version also features video for "All Caps." -the mgmnt
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If Mutantes' first album sounded like a bunch of Brazilian teenagers mashing up the Beatles and Marcos Valle while tripping on acid, their second LP sounds like the band falling completely over the edge. While the Baptistas didn't abandon their pop sensibilities...
expand review altogether with Mutantes, the structure and bubblegum feel of their debut feels largely stripped away. Instead, songs like the spacey and vocodered "Dia 36(1)" and the layered "Dois Mil e Um(2)" feel like mini-suites, compact rock operas where Mutantes could accomplish in 3 or 4 minutes what took other bands 10. Of course, there's still the light-hearted "Rita Lee" and fuzzed-out "Magica(3)," not to mention the short and sweet "Algo Mais(4)" which probably could have been a hit in the US… if it weren't in Portuguese. In my humble opinion, this record comes in a close second to the debut record, but at the same time I can't deny the stoned beauty of the pair of closing tracks, "Qualquer Bobagem(5)" and "Caminhante Noturno." Nevermind the fact that the Omplatten reissue of this CD has been fetching major bucks on eBay – if you haven't heard Mutantes' first three albums, you owe it to yourself! 11 tracks, 42+ minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
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The debut album from this Brazilian psych-pop-tropicalia group, falling into the "if you own one Os Mutantes record, let it be this one" camp. They've achieved some sort of "legendary" status among record nerds, rockists and the like over the years, but...
expand review don't let that dissuade you from checking and enjoying this album, cause it is rather phenomenal. From the opening cut "Panis Et Circenses(1)," these guys are clearly on some other shit (proof that imagining the blotter could be better than actually experiencing it). Fuck, I love music that's both pop and experimental; stuff you can't help but like and you never have to feel guilty about. Especially when it sounds like Velvet Underground + HGSOB + some funny dudes I would love to hang out with. This is challenging! (but I'm really into for the hooks R
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