quick audio picks: 12
I'm not saying this to be a dick, but seriously: buy this single now or weep next year. BLK JKS are a four piece band from South Africa whose dark-yet-bouncy melodies, layered harmonies, impressive guitar work and rhythm section already have them...
expand review being courted by some labels which I'm not at liberty to name (but you've definitely heard of). If I'm sounding like a hype machine right now, just listen to "Lakeside(1)" and tell me I'm wrong. Diplo met these guys in an airport last year and came back telling me how awesome they were based on this track alone. I can't say I disagree. B-side features an early track, the downtempo/rap hybrid "One Must Die(2)." I'd keep going, but I think the music sells itself on this one. One time pressing of 500 copies, each in a hand-stamped sleeve. Recommended. -Larri Byrd
quick audio picks: 12
LAB US EXCLUSIVO. Import-only pic sleeve 12" featuring two of the biggest tunes from Dabaaz's new full-length. A-Trak gets behind the boards for "Regarde-Les(1)," scratching up a Clipse sample and crafting yet another ridiculously infectious beat. Flipside features the Drixxxe-produced "Tu Veux...
expand review La Guerre?(2)" - the term "Eurocrunk" kinda makes me wanna shoot my face, but this is pulled off so nicely, it doesn't feel like a joke. Totally dark, Dirty South style production. DJ Paul & Juice would be proud. Includes instrumentals for both tracks. Limited stock. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
quick audio picks: 1
The Federation are no longer sounding very Bay or "hyphy," but they're still sounding pretty Cali and, y'know, awesome. They also still go dumb, as evidenced by lines like "the way you fit them jeans, you make my dick scream" and "you...
expand review hate the po-lice? I hate the po-lice / we got somethin' in common, now ain't that sweet." Totally uncharacteristic production from Rick Rock, who gives the Fed something bouncy and Neptunes-ish to flow over. And of course, you can never go wrong with a cameo from Snoop, who's sporting a chef's hat and barbecue tongs in the video. Includes dirty, clean, instrumental and acapella versions. -Larri Byrd
quick audio picks: 12
This split 12" features the live downtempo of Peabody & Sherman. Incorporating live bass, guitar, keyboards, and drums, the band recreates the mid-nineties trip-hop sound with crisp drums, a bouncing bassline and cut & paste sample play(1). Steve Fisk's re-edit(2) messes with...
expand review the EQs, transforming the snappy original into a beats in space version. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 12
What? New RAMP single?? Well, yes and no. These tracks were produced by Mr. Ayres in 1977 after the release of RAMP's classic Come Into Knowledge LP, but then disappeared, forgotten about on a cassette master somewhere. Ubiquity's cleaned them up and...
expand review given them their first ever release here. I won't say the tracks are mindblowing, but c'mon - it's new RAMP! "The Old One, Two(1)" is a short, funky workout with energetic vocals, while "Paint Me Any Color(2)" gets a little jazzier with it. In a way, this is like finding the Holy Grail and it turns out to be a Dixie cup... but... ah, who cares - new RAMP! Plays at 45. -Chris Lemon-Red
quick audio picks: 12345
Debut EP on Franki Chan's IHEARTCOMIX label from this mysterious, kabuki-masked Frenchman. Comparisons to other mysterious Frenchies spring to mind as soon as "Superheroes 2007(1" kicks in, with some super dirty, super distorted techno that'd mix well with Justice or Daft Punk....
expand review (I know, I know - what wouldn't these days? But this is GOOD.) For something a little different, try the remix from Bogart & The Addictives(2), whose live band disco jam makes the Avenger's shouty vocal bits sound less threatening, more Junior Senior. Rounding out the A-side, the Mixhell remix(3) skronks "Superheroes" out even more. Flip it over for more Ed Banger style vibes on the 6-minute "Escape(4)" and the raved out remix(5) from the Bloody Beetroots. Great looking pic sleeve, too. -Larri Byrd
quick audio picks: 12
Woah, is this what UNKLE sounds like now? I admit, like most people I gave Mr. Lavelle and his rotating cast up for dead after that last album, but... this is pretty sick! "Hold My Hand(1)" features Lavelle on vocals and stoner...
expand review rock pioneers Chris Goss and Josh Homme on the big, droning guitars. Shoegaze meets Bowie meets dramatic soundtrack for a movie set in the desert? Pretty close anyway. Flip it over for Radio Slave’s mix of UNKLE's last single, "Burn My Shadow(2)," which places the original's vocals (from The Cult's Ian Astbury!) over a typically minimal, deep house-y beat. A-side plays at 45; B-side at 33. -Larri Byrd
indepth
