Black Milk is making beats again, this time steering the production helm for Slum Village memeber and Detroit colleague eLZhi's debut solo album.
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eLZhi and Black Milk Team Up for Album
Posted: July 31st, 2008, 2:37pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
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Third Congotronics Disc Planned
Posted: July 31st, 2008, 9:30am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Following Democratic Republic of Congo group Konono No. 1’s success and critical acclaim for its follow-up compilation, Congotronics 2, Belgian label Crammed again returns to Kinshasa, DRC for the series’ next release.
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Ghostly Signs School of Seven Bells
Posted: July 31st, 2008, 9:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Ghostly loves any music that's slightly futuristic and hard to pin down, so the label's latest signee, School of Seven Bells, is a noteworthy addition to the roster.
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The Glitch Mob: Slaying the Laptop Game
Posted: July 31st, 2008, 7:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
A giant bus was blasting dubstep outside, a line of New Era cap-clad hipsters, dreadlocked kids, hip-hop enthusiasts, and slightly regular-looking people wrapped around the building, and the über-stressed bouncers were turning people away from the guest list. But that was nothing compared to what was happening inside Mighty, the S.F. venue playing host to The Glitch Mob show one windy night this past May.
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Parra, Geoff McFetridge Get Retrospective
Posted: July 31st, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
London's Kemistry Gallery, the only exhibition space in the U.K. that's completely graphic design-centered, recently asked 11 artists that had previously shown work at the space to participate in Retrospective-One.
The exhibition will feature all manner of graphic-design creations–from collages and light boxes to hand-drawn typography and prints–on display from Parra, Geoff McFetridge, Experimental Jetset, Zak Kyes, NMo, Simon Svärd, Cut-Up Collective, Jay One, Eine, Sanderson Bob, and James Joyce.
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Kidz in the Hall's Double O Assaulted
Posted: July 30th, 2008, 3:35pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Word was just received today that Double O (left), one half of hip-hop duo Kidz in the Hall, was assaulted by bouncers at nightclub this past Saturday in Tempe, AZ.
From a recent press release:
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The Go! Team Re-Releases EP for Free
Posted: July 30th, 2008, 1:20pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
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Pon Di Wire: Reggae Embraces Barack
Posted: July 30th, 2008, 12:00pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Despite Jamaica’s bleak crime reports and economic development needs, the news from Yard is not all bad. London’s Guardian newspaper reports this week that 1 million tourists have visited the island in the first seven months of 2008. That’s up 20,000 visitors from last year, which JA tourism minister Ed Bartlett describes as "the best ever" for arrivals and revenue. Tourism is Jamaica's second-highest income source, behind remittances from Jamaicans abroad.
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Z-Trip, Shepard Fairey Team Up for Obama
Posted: July 30th, 2008, 11:50am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Can't imagine Nixon ever having a former skateboarder-turned graphic design star take his likeness, but Barack Obama's proven himself a fine subject for such a thing, what with the Shepard Fairey's limited edition Obama prints selling out in mere minutes. Z-Trip thinks so too, it seems, and he's teaming up with Fairey to throw a fundraiser party in support of the hopeful candidate.
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Jamie Lidell To Tour... Again
Posted: July 30th, 2008, 11:07am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
It seems like Jamie Lidell just passed through the U.S., but the electronic soul master is rushing back to North America at the beginning of August, where he'll make the rounds yet again before returning to Europe for a set of dates with Elton John. Those wondering how the man can keep such a lengthy tour going without collapsing somewhere in the middle of Portland will find their answer by checking one of these performances:
07/31 Quebec, Quebec: La Grande Scene
08/02 Chicago, IL: Lollapalooza
08/03 New York, NY: Central Park Summerstage -
Tobacco Readies Sinister Full-Length
Posted: July 30th, 2008, 9:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Tobacco is well-known as head honcho of Pittsburgh-based neo-psych outfit Black Moth Super Rainbow, but avid his fans know that he doesn't sit at home twiddling his thumbs when the band takes a break. Hence, Fucked Up Friends, his debut full-length under his solo moniker and next up on anticon.'s release schedule.
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Labels We Love 2008: Part 2
Posted: July 30th, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
If you’re reading XLR8R you probably already own ’nuff albums on XL or Domino, Def Jux and Lex artists have repeatedly rocked your headphones, and you know what’s coming out on Minus or Stones Throw before we do. So this year–our seventh time loving on labels–we focus on labels we’ve (mostly) never quizzed before. For the next six weeks, we'll catch up with brash new dancefloor igniters Fool’s Gold and Dress 2 Sweat, techno champions Mobilee and Traum, and the dubstep damage squad: Hyperdub, Tectonic, Hot Flush.
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Free YR Radio Dates Announced
Posted: July 29th, 2008, 12:13pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Two successful years at SXSW later, the Free YR Radio campaign is ready to hit the road.
Created by Toyota Yaris, and Urban Outfitters, the campaign is intended to raise awareness and support for indie radio, and has seen the likes of Simian Mobile Disco, Dizzee Rascal, Klaxons, and Sonic Youth roll through for the parties.
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Pit Er Pat Announces New Album
Posted: July 29th, 2008, 11:19am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Pit Er Pat isn't afraid to experiment. Over the course of three albums, an EP, and a 12" all hyped between 2004 and 2007, the Chicago-based trio has constantly dabbled in numerous musical styles, disparate rhythms, and unusual melodies. 2008 finds them comfortably trekking the same course with the forthcoming release of High Time, on their longtime home at Thrill Jockey.
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Out This Week
Posted: July 29th, 2008, 11:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Since we don't keep enough people here at XLR8R.com to write an announcement about every single release we get word of, the news team gathered some notable new releases and compiled them here. Pick them up at your local record store, even if you've already snagged the leaked version online.
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Review Chromeo's "Momma's Boy"
Posted: July 29th, 2008, 10:55am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Since everyone's a blogger now, they've all got informed opinions on the state of music, right? Okay, perhaps not, but Chromeo and MTV are giving fans a chance to spout off anyway. The duo recently sent the video for their track "Momma's Boy" over to mtv.com, and fans can watch it, then play critic.
Here's the gist:
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Does It Offend You, Yeah? Adds Dates
Posted: July 29th, 2008, 9:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Their name is still ridiculous, but U.K.-based trio Does It Offend You, Yeah? is moving steadily towards the center of the indie dance-rock scene, with a much jabbered-about Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance last week and a fresh batch of tour dates just announced. The band will first hit the road with Bloc Party for a previously mentioned set of dates before hopping the pond to tour with Nine Inch Nails. Catch the boys and Mr. Reznor in one of these cities:
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Serena-Maneesh Announce Double Album
Posted: July 29th, 2008, 7:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Serena-Maneesh lead singer Emil Nikolaisen was once quoted in XLR8R as saying, "every song should have a personality and an upbringing. They're like kids."
He and his bandmates must have had their hands full over the last several months then, because the Norway-based indie rockers just announced not one but two albums to drop on September 23 via Smalltown Supersound.
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In The Studio: Daseca
Posted: July 29th, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Three young Jamaican dancehall producers storm international charts with a fresh roster and new-school riddims.
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Moodgadget Introduces Next Gen IDM
Posted: July 28th, 2008, 3:10pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
IDM (“intelligent dance music”)–the awkwardly named electronic music genre encompassing ambient-tinged techno and eclectic instrumental beats–was defined between 1992 and 1995 by labels like Warp, Rephlex, Planet Mu, Mille Plateaux, and Rising High.
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Atlas Sound to Tour with Stereolab
Posted: July 28th, 2008, 9:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Some time back, the inimitable Bradford Cox announced on his MySpace page that he would do all future Atlas Sound shows solo, accompanied by his own electronic devices. And while we always enjoyed the full band experience, Cox is such a natural showman that it shouldn't make a difference if it's humans or machines making the extra sounds onstage.
He'll kick off this new setup with several dates in the U.S., none of which are in major cities, opening for Stereolab on their fall tour.
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Miss Pat: From Jamaica to Jamaica
Posted: July 28th, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Three generations of the Chin family are now represented at VP Records, the New York City-based reggae powerhouse founded by Patricia Chin and her late husband Vincent (a.k.a. “Randy”) in 1979. While her sons Christopher and Randy took over most operations from their parents some years ago, Ms. Chin–known affectionately by VP staff and artists as Miss Pat–is still a daily, grandmotherly presence at the company’s headquarters, overseeing aspects like the Riddim Driven clothing line.
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Extreme Animals Blind Fanbase, Tour
Posted: July 25th, 2008, 2:35pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Since the members of San Diego-based outfit Extreme Animals are affiliates of technicolor art collective Paper Rad, it makes sense their MySpace page is literally painful to look at because of the neon color scheme. We sucked it up and damaged our sight for a few minutes anyway, to find dates for the group's current tour.
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Warehouse Goes Crazy with 2008 Lineup
Posted: July 25th, 2008, 1:11pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
After peeping the lineup for this year's Warehouse Project, we immediately jumped onto Expedia to book our plane tickets to the U.K. The multi-date party series will host a ridiculously diverse sampling of electronic music artists over a 14-week period, with all parties (there are over 30 of them) taking place beneath the Piccadilly train station in Manchester.
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Growing to Tour with Hot Chip
Posted: July 25th, 2008, 11:57am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
They joined the Social Registry's roster a little less than a year ago and have just completed a new full-length of ambient guitar compositions that'll drop on September 9. Shortly thereafter, the boys in Brooklyn-based duo Growing will hit the road. The handful of U.S. tour dates will see them sharing a stage with Hot Chip, but before that, they'll perform at the My Bloody Valentine curated ATP part in New York. More fall dates to follow soon.
09/20 Catskills, NY: Kutshers Country Resort
09/28 Chicago, IL: Metro
09/29 Chicago, IL: Metro -
Fat Beats Turns 14
Posted: July 25th, 2008, 9:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Hip-hop label and retail powerhouse Fat Beats turns 14 this year, and to celebrate, the company is holding a massive sale over the weekend.
From Saturday, July 26 through Sunday, July 27, both Fat Beats NY and Fat Beats LA will offer customers 10% off all purchases, from CDs to 12"s to DVDs and t-shirts. Check the Fat Beats catalog for an in-depth look at all the hip-hop it has to offer.
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Lykke Li: Future Pop Purveyor
Posted: July 25th, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
It’s one of those unbearable New York City summer afternoons. Everywhere you look, t-shirts are affixed to their owners’ backs with sweat and it feels like you might choke on the humidity. Stockholm’s Lykke Li sits at a crowded East Village café trying to refresh herself with a bowl of fruit. Perhaps it’s the weather, or maybe the strawberries and bananas just aren’t cutting it, but the Swedish singer-songwriter isn’t stoked to chat.
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Burial Nominated for Mercury Prize
Posted: July 24th, 2008, 12:38pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Among this year's Mercury Prize nominees–which include Radiohead, British Sea Power, and Robert Plant–sits the ever-elusive Burial, who guards his privacy so tightly he puts Banksy to shame in terms of anonymity. The U.K.-based dubstep producer's Untrue album has joined the ranks of In Rainbows and Do You Like Rock Music? for the annual music prize.
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Hot Chip, Beach House Play Pop Montreal
Posted: July 24th, 2008, 11:25am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
MUTEK has wrapped, the scowling minimal techno DJs have returned to Berlin, and it's now time for bands to descend on Quebec for the seventh annual Pop Montreal festival.
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Clinic, Junior Boys on Domino Comp
Posted: July 24th, 2008, 10:57am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Ah, family drama. Dead mothers, suspect step-parents, and fleeing one's relatives make up the subject matter of British indie flick Hallam Foe, which has already made the rounds in Europe and will be released in the U.S. on September 5 (under the name Mister Foe).
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Stones Throw Flash, Video Premiere
Posted: July 24th, 2008, 9:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
News is coming from all corners of Stones Throw's brand-new (and very nicely designed) website. Here's the rundown on what the L.A.-based indie hip-hop label is up to this summer.
First, there's the aforementioned site, with more news, podcasts, and downloads, plenty of white space to make reading easy on the eyes, and, most importantly, an online store.
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File Under: Forward
Posted: July 24th, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Voluntary collective licensing proposes an alternate solution to the RIAA’s crackdown on file-sharing.
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XLR8R Seeks Web Marketing Intern
Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 5:29pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
XLR8R.com is seeking an online marketing intern who knows the difference between Junior Boys and Boys Noize, techno and electro, lazer bass and drum & bass to start immediately in our San Francisco office.
Duties include:
-Assisting in the marketing of XLR8R.com by maintaining a relationship with and sending content updates to websites, publications, and blogs-Assisting with the management of XLR8R.com's MySpace and Facebook accounts
-Maintaining and updating the XLR8R.com PR database
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M83 To Tour U.S. Again
Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 2:09pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Fresh off a sold-out tour from May and June, Anthony Gonzalez is set to return to the U.S. for another round of dates in support of his latest M83 release, Saturdays = Youth. The Frenchman who makes the prettiest shoegaze this side of Ulrich Schnauss dropped the album this past April, and has been busy touring every since. Catch him this fall in one of these cities:
11/13 Washington, DC: Back Cat
11/14 New York, NY: Webster Hall
11/15 Philadelphia, PA: Starlite Ballroom
11/16 Northampton, MA: Pearl Street Nightclub -
Deerhoof Releases Single as Sheet Music
Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 11:51am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
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Pon Di Wire: Bounty Killer, Busy Signal
Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 11:21am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
The Alliance Crew’s “Warlord,” a.k.a. Rodney Pryce or DJ Bounty Killer, was arrested for profanity after his set at Sumfest in Montego Bay, Jamaica last weekend. In recent years, Jamaican authorities have come down hard on “indecent language,” which, apparently in Bounty’s case, was sparked by a negative crowd reaction to his performance on July 19.
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Labels We Love 2008: Part 1
Posted: July 23rd, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
If you’re reading XLR8R you probably already own ’nuff albums on XL or Domino, Def Jux and Lex artists have repeatedly rocked your headphones, and you know what’s coming out on Minus or Stones Throw before we do. So this year–our seventh time loving on labels–we focus on labels we’ve (mostly) never quizzed before. For the next six weeks, we'll catch up with brash new dancefloor igniters Fool’s Gold and Dress 2 Sweat, techno champions Mobilee and Traum, and the dubstep damage squad: Hyperdub, Tectonic, Hot Flush.
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Goldfrapp Plans Tour
Posted: July 22nd, 2008, 1:00pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
With their Caravan Girl digital EP out today on Mute, Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory (a.k.a. Goldfrapp) look to the road for a few North American show dates beginning with a performance at Radio City Music Hall on September 12.
Caravan Girl, named for the track off the group's Seventh Tree release from earlier this year, features the original cut of the song, as well as a live choral version, an acoustic rendition of "Monster Live," and a remix of "Little Bird" by Animal Collective.
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Music Legends Collaborate For Strut Series
Posted: July 22nd, 2008, 11:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
The U.K.’s Strut Records has launched a startling new collaborative artist series titled Inspiration Information, which brings together eclectic underground reggae, funk, dance, and African superstars.
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Roots Manuva Preps New Album
Posted: July 22nd, 2008, 9:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Rodney Smith will return this fall with his fourth studio full-length under the Roots Manuva moniker.
Slime and Reason finds the Stockwell, London-based rapper drawing inspiration from the music of his past, namely with old Channel One and Studio One cuts. "Lord knows what they were drinking, smoking, or eating, or what they were doing or what was on their mind, but to me, that was a special period in music," Smith remarks.
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Flying Lotus: The Imperfect Beat
Posted: July 21st, 2008, 6:00pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
It’s a hot afternoon in May, and I’m driving a cheap rental car through the awful sprawl of the San Fernando Valley. I’m bored out of my fucking mind. I keep imagining that if a guerilla war broke out around here, soldiers could wear stucco camouflage and a Carl’s Jr. hat, and they’d be practically invisible. I’m also starting to understand why Fast Times’ Jeff Spicoli hit such a nerve with people familiar to this place. Is there anything to do other than smoke pot and drive around?
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Listen Here: Flying Lotus
Posted: July 21st, 2008, 5:00pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
XLR8R writer Brandon Ivers plays the tracks, while L.A. beatsmith Flying Lotus dishes the dirt. Read the full FlyLo feature here or download a pdf of XLR8R 119.
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Dungen, Valet on New Vinyl/Digital Label
Posted: July 21st, 2008, 12:53pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Ever notice how more and more artists are making their releases available in two formats, digital and vinyl, leaving out the CD package entirely? Anthology Recordings' Keith Abrahamsson has turned this trend into a business enterprise with the inception of Mexican Summer, a new label set to kick off in September that will feature releases in strictly vinyl and digital formats.
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Cut Copy and The Presets Announce Tour
Posted: July 21st, 2008, 11:52am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
After a tsunami of hype and press releases this year, Modular Records is set to unleash two of its biggest acts onto U.S. soil this fall.
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Faunts Plan Innagural West Coast Tour
Posted: July 21st, 2008, 11:31am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
As XLR8R's Tomas Palermo said of the band Faunts in a 2006 article, "the term 'ambient' doesn't do justice to these artists.'" After the release of their debut album, as well as their M4 EP more recently, the five bandmembers from Edmonton, Canada truly do seem masters of crafting lush, cinematic indie rock that takes its cue from shoegaze and dream-pop.
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R.I.P. K-Swift
Posted: July 21st, 2008, 11:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
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~Scape Reissues First Three Pole Albums
Posted: July 21st, 2008, 10:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
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Phones, Diplo Remix Black Ghosts
Posted: July 21st, 2008, 9:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Here come the remixes!
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SuperBlast: Of Paint and Pixels
Posted: July 21st, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Berlin graffiti writer-turned-graphic designer Manuel “SuperBlast” Osterholt has put in work for Ecko, Sony PSP, and Nokia’s Nseries (as well as some limited-edition items for Wood Wood and Montana Cans) but don’t call him a sell-out.
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Outtakes: Steinski
Posted: July 18th, 2008, 5:53pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
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Keak Da Sneak Arrested
Posted: July 18th, 2008, 2:44pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Oakland, CA-based rapper and key figure of the hyphy movement Keak Da Sneak has been arrested on four felony counts, it's been reported.
According to website HipHop DX, Keak was arrested late last week and charged with resisting arrest and carrying a firearm. He also had an outstanding warrant.
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Free Deerhoof Show and Broadcast Tonight
Posted: July 18th, 2008, 1:19pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
If you're in Brooklyn tonight, head down to Prospect Park Bandshell for a free Deerhoof show. The unconventional indie rock trio from San Francisco will be playing songs off their forthcoming Kill Rock Stars album, Offend Maggie, set for release October 7.
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DJ Hatcha: Five Things To Do On Tour
Posted: July 18th, 2008, 12:32pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Terry Leonard got his DJ name Hatcha from a reference in the Steve Segal movie Marked For Death. Like the adventurous film character, Leonard loves fast cars and fiery dubstep beats. He indulges these passions by driving around London in his gunmetal gray MTech 330-I BMW and DJing clubs around the world.
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Loading... E3 ’08 Report!
Posted: July 18th, 2008, 10:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
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Mishka Unveils New Compilation Series
Posted: July 18th, 2008, 7:30am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
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Donations Welcome: The Album in 2008
Posted: July 18th, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
DRM code is crackable, CD sales dropped 9.5 percent in 2007, and you can score an album for free just by knowing the correct words to punch into Google. The age of the traditionally distributed album is officially over. Well, perhaps not quite over, but more and more, artists and labels are turning to alternative ways of getting their music out to fans, and whether it’s zipping up the tracks and throwing them on a website for free download or just sending a mountain of MySpace bulletins, the indie side of music is taking back control of where albums go and how they get there.
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Top 10: Koushik, Digitalism, Tittsworth
Posted: July 17th, 2008, 4:47pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Koushik
Out My Window
Stones Throw
Release Date: September 30 -
Dirt Crew to Release Collection 02
Posted: July 17th, 2008, 3:06pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
The Dirt Crew boys are back, with a follow up to 2007's Collection 01, creatively titled Collection 02.
James Flavour and Break 3000's latest compilation consists of several unreleased tracks and remixes from the likes of Tigerskin, Chopstick, Gregor Tresher, as well as a few from the duo itself. In addition to these tracks, the release, due out September 15, will come packaged with some digital-only extras. As far as the musical style goes, one need only know that minimal is king here.
Collection 02
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Artists Reinterpret '80s Videogames
Posted: July 17th, 2008, 1:26pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Hailed by the LA Weekly as "Best Art Show," I Am 8-Bit returns to Los Angeles this summer, for its fourth annual exhibition.
The show was initially launched in April of 2005, when visual artists interpreted classic videogames like Mario, Sonic, and Pac-Man, and the event quickly mushroomed into one of L.A.'s largest collective art exhibitions.
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Peanut Butter Wolf Goes Crazy for Eight
Posted: July 17th, 2008, 12:53pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Boredoms are holding their massive, 88-man-strong drum performance on 08/08/08, and in a similarly ambitious, though somewhat different vein, Stones Throw boss Peanut Butter Wolf will celebrate the month of August with his 888 tour of Los Angeles.
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The Faint Readies Gigantic Tour
Posted: July 17th, 2008, 11:20am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
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Lagos, Nigeria: Then and Now
Posted: July 17th, 2008, 9:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
I'm driving through the back roads of upstate New York. Secondary roads named for the families that still live near them. Single-lane roads on which you’re passed by pickup trucks with gun racks. Roads leading past signs that read, “Jesus loves you–full range of bait and tackle.” Passing through one-stop-sign towns like Upper Lisle, NY, I’m blasting Sir Shina Peters & His International Stars from the new installment of Strut Records’ Nigeria 70 compilation series of monstrously heavy, funky Afrobeat.
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Zune Launches Joy Division Content
Posted: July 17th, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
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Nike Brings Boredoms' 88 Drummers
Posted: July 16th, 2008, 2:35pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
When Boredoms finished up their 77BoaDrum event last year, in which 77 drummers headed down to Brooklyn Bridge Park to perform an exclusive song by the Japanese noise-rock outfit, speculation pretty much began immediately afterward on what the band had in store for 2008.
The answer has finally come, in the form of 88BoaDrum. Yes, this means a new 88-minute song will be performed by, yup 88 drummers. Nike Sportswear will present not one, but two of these events, each to take place on August 8.
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Treibstoff Announces Remix Contest
Posted: July 16th, 2008, 1:14pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Cologne’s Treibstoff label is known for crisp, angular, and pulsing minimal techno releases by artists like Robert Babicz, Gabriel Ananda, Rob Acid, Maetrik, Falko Brocksieper, and Cio D’or. Since 1997, the label has issued 80 releases and established itself as a major German electronic music outlet alongside the likes of Kompakt and Traum.
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Illa J to Release J Dilla Produced Album
Posted: July 16th, 2008, 11:49am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
The legacy of J Dilla lives on! The late producer's younger brother, John "Illa J" Yancey, is currently at work on his debut album for Delicious Vinyl. The yet-to-be-titled release will feature 21-year old Yancey singing over beats made by his older brother. Dilla, who passed away in February of 2006 from complications relating to lupus, left behind him an extensive vault of untouched music, which will see light for the first time with this release.
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Pon Di Wire: Jah Cure, Renato, Perfect
Posted: July 16th, 2008, 10:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Siccaturie Alcock, better known as roots singer Jah Cure, drops his anticipated new album, The Universal Cure, September 9 on Danger Zone/SoBe. The album is his first recorded work since his release from prison in 2007 and includes collaborations with Sean Paul, Busta Rhymes, Enrique Iglesias, and others. Album track “Journey” is also on the Journey Riddim compilation, available via iTunes on August 19.
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Sébastian Tellier Preps Tour
Posted: July 16th, 2008, 7:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
You might only be able to grab his forthcoming Sexuality album in American Apparel outlets come July 22, but fans of French songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sébastian Tellier need not have to buy a new pair of leggings to see some of the tracks off the release performed in the live setting. Tellier will perform the apparent "11-track meditation on lovemaking" in a small (very small) handful of cities in North America this summer. Catch him at one of these venues:
07/26 Los Angeles, CA: Knitting Factory
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77klash: Punking Up Dancehall
Posted: July 16th, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
As the son of a noted Rastafarian poetess and the cousin of former Shabba Ranks musical director Dr. Paul, Mikkel “Gize” Burrowes (a.k.a. 77klash) was born into reggae. By the age of 12, he was even playing percussion with Junior Reid’s One Blood Band. But when the Brooklyn-based deejay and producer returned to Kingston in 2005 with a post-genre rhythm called Scallawah, he may as well have been from another planet.
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Health Embarks on U.S. Tour
Posted: July 15th, 2008, 3:51pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
SoCal synth punks Health will hit the road this summer, following the release of last year's self-titled album for Lovepump United and its subsequent remix disc, Health/Disco. The five-piece outfit from Los Angeles kicked off a set of dates last night in Denver and will be hitting clubs and venues around the U.S. for the rest of the month. From there, they'll play a couple dates in Europe before darting right back over the pond for some West Coast shows.
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Girl Talk, Chromeo Play Capitol Hill
Posted: July 15th, 2008, 12:11pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
With Sup Pop's 20th Anniversary Party finished and the 2008 Decibel Festival still a couple months away, Seattle looks to to another kind of multi-day party for the interim. The Capitol Hill Block Party, now in its 11th year, is an annual music showcase that gathers indie and underground bands in the U.S., with a special focus on Northwest-based artists.
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Carl Craig, The Bug Headline Decibel
Posted: July 15th, 2008, 11:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Seattle's Decibel Festival will return for its fifth year this fall, and while the four-day music, art, and media event has always boasted a worthwhile lineup, it seems the organizers have gone all out for 2008.
Detroit techno legend Car Craig will take some time away from his busy schedule to headline the show, and joining him will be artists from all corners of dance music, including Lusine, The Bug, Jeff Samuel, Jahcoozi, Audion, Tujiko Noriko, and a bunch of others listed below.
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Architecture in Helsinki Release EP
Posted: July 15th, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Like it or Not seems an apt title for the latest offering from Architecture in Helsinki, a band that proved with its last release, Places Like This, that any direction is possible and the band will choose any path it pleases in terms of its musical evolution.
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Paris Readies New Album
Posted: July 15th, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Always an outspoken and emphatic activist when it comes to politics, Guerilla Funk label boss, Public Enemy collaborator, and artist in his own right Paris is ready to unleash another solo album, just in time for the 2008 elections.
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Banksy Identity Revealed?
Posted: July 14th, 2008, 3:09pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
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Alex Moulton Goes Sci-Fi on New Album
Posted: July 14th, 2008, 1:01pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Expansion Team label boss Alex Moulton is set to unleash his debut artist album to the masses on August 5, and the producer has gotten all sci-fi on us for the occasion. Cover art aside (which is simultaneously tasteless and intriguing), Exodus finds the New York-based maker of techno and electro immersed in storytelling, letting the album tell a kind of sci-fi/romance adventure from track to track that includes an operatic overture.
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Adidas and Upper Playground Shoe Series
Posted: July 14th, 2008, 11:30am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Adidas and Upper Playground are hardly strangers. The two companies have collaborated on shoes and the like for years, perhaps most notably when Upper Playground lent a design to Adidas' 35th Anniversary Superstar Series (there was also that documentary about the giant shoe that aired earlier this year).
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Tussle Plans Fall Tour Dates
Posted: July 14th, 2008, 10:57am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Funk, experimental dub, and psychedelia, inform the sounds on Cream Cuts, Tussle's forthcoming full-length, and fans will get to see the band's live interpretation of the album this fall. A tour is set to kick off September 2, with one preceding date at the end of July in the band's hometown of San Francisco. Fellow S.F.
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Techno's Class of 2008
Posted: July 14th, 2008, 1:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
As dance music sees an almost total conversion to digital (and laptops quickly replace turntables as the weapon of choice for festival headliners and bedroom Beatport junkies alike), it only makes sense that we find ourselves in the midst of some kind of techno renaissance. Electronic music’s most venerable genre has also always been its most digitized, making techno a fitting soundtrack for today’s cut-and-paste culture–and as three recent and decidedly non-minimal releases prove, it’s capable of as much diversity as the recent nu-electro and synth-rock explosions.
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Graniph Contest Winners Announced
Posted: July 11th, 2008, 3:45pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
A new generation of designers has just been ushered in, thanks to Tokyo-based Graniph, whose Design Award.2 competition ran earlier this year.
Thirty winners were chosen from tens of thousands of t-shirt designs submitted, with subject matter ranging from books and bikes to bears with gas masks and tubes of toothpaste.
The Gold award (a.k.a. the grand prize winner) went to Cho Jo Tzu of Taiwan, whose design is pictured above.
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XLR8R Seeks S.F. Magazine Intern
Posted: July 11th, 2008, 1:00pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
XLR8R Magazine is looking for an editorial intern who knows the difference between Junior Boys and Boys Noize, techno and electro, lazer bass and drum & bass, hip-hop and trip-hop, and blog-house and prog house.
Duties include sorting CDs, vinyl, and MP3s according to genre, writing short reviews of said music, some light filing, mailing, and errand-running tasks. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and web interfaces, as well as the ability to multitask, a plus.
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XLR8R Seeks S.F. Web Intern
Posted: July 11th, 2008, 12:40pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
XLR8R.com is looking for an editorial intern who knows the difference between Junior Boys and Boys Noize, techno and electro, lazer bass and drum & bass, hip-hop and trip-hop, and who won't have to be told 10 times how to make a hyperlink.
Duties include writing and posting content to the News, MP3, and Podcast sections of the site, assisting with web graphics, archiving old content, and some data entry. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and HTML a plus.
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The Advisory Circle's Suburban Anxiety
Posted: July 11th, 2008, 10:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
On The Advisory Circle’s debut EP, Mind How You Go, a disembodied voice echoes forth the slogan, “The Advisory Circle–helping you make the right decisions!” Innocent, promising words perhaps, especially as a light bed of Moog synthesizer (straight out of ’70s British TV adverts) hums below. But it’s the delivery–a cold, state-certified Big Sister voice–that belies something much more sinister.
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Lucky 13 By Toph One
Posted: July 11th, 2008, 9:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Each month our resident cycling fiend and S.F. DJ legend Toph One drops 13 bombs for your listening, watching, and wearing pleasure.
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Aesop Rock Plans Summer Tour
Posted: July 10th, 2008, 3:47pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
He's known as one of the most abstract wordsmiths currently on the indie hip-hop circuit, and Aesop Rock is ready to challenge and puzzle live audiences once again, with a fresh handful of summer tour dates. The longtime member of the Definitive Jux crew will be hitting major U.S. cities this August and September, showcasing material from 2007's None Shall Pass.
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DJs Remix for truth® Campaign
Posted: July 10th, 2008, 12:12pm MDT by XLR8R Magazine
The good folks at truth® want to share every last shred of information available about nicotine and smoking, which means they've got a laundry list of pretty nasty details on hand. But it's not all gum cancer, premature death, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome due to secondhand smoke. The anti-smoking campaign also delivers its message through good music, and the its latest endeavor in this area is The Sunny Side of truth® compilation, in which the organization enlisted a handful of DJs to remix tracks from its current summer campaign.
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Deerhunter Unveils New Album Details
Posted: July 10th, 2008, 11:03am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Across the web, there has been much buzz about the forthcoming Deerhunter album, a follow-up to 2007's Cryptograms, and finally, those vital details like release date and track titles have been announced.
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Dublab Throws Tonalism 2008, Serves Tea
Posted: July 10th, 2008, 9:00am MDT by XLR8R Magazine
Grab your pillow or sofa cushion and head down to the beaches of Santa Monica next weekend, for Tonalism 2008. Hosted by the famous dublab crew, the event has historically combined lush, ambient music with visuals designed to relax party-goers and draw their attention to the experiment for extended periods of time. Which basically means that people lie around listening to music, watching compelling visuals, and drinking the complementary hot tea the crew serves up.