Lazy Sundays: Global Communication – 76:14

The recent news that Tom Middleton and Mark Pritchard would be reviving their Global Communication project for some DJ and live sets brought a massive smile to my face and sent me rushing back to listen to their amazing “76:14″ album for the first time in years.

It’s an absolutely amazing piece of work and still sounds as fresh and amazing today as it did when it first arrived in the mid 90′s. It’s beautifully layered melodies weave through track after track of amazing ambience and it’s rarely been bettered since.

Have a listen to the wonderful “14:31″ below and if you’re missing this brilliant album from your collection then I recommend popping over to Boomkat and picking it up asap.

Global Communication – 14.31

Saturday Snacks #10

This week’s snack is the king of biscuits – the Toffypop. If you’re struggling through a hangover today, I recommend a double pack of these badboys to see you through. Now onto the tunes..

All City Dublin have an excellent reputation for high quality releases from the likes of Hud Mo, Martyn and Onra. This time however, they have unearthed a new UK talent called Tessela. The tune “Push” has an old skool synth overcoat the big heavy bass boots. Its full of sharp production with the soulful vocal samples well placed. One to watch we think! Free download courtesy of XLR8R.

Tessela – Push

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Kastle’s “Time Traveller EP” is a brilliant six tracker packed with 2-step, garagey goodness and with support from Sinden and Scratcha DVA under it’s belt, you know quality is guaranteed. Grab a freebie of “I Know” below and pick up the rest of the EP from June 6th.

Kastle – I Know by factmag

US west coast beat smith Baths is back with a tidy little album called “Pop Music/False B-Sides” on Anticon. The album was originally intended as a ltd edition CDR available only on tour dates but you can now get your mucky paws on it. You can expect his trademark glitch production and warped vocals to get those hairs standing up. He is also giving away a free tune which you can grab below courtesy of Pitchfork.

Baths – Pop Song

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Now I don’t really understand all the fuss about The Weeknd but this rather tasty My Panda Shall Fly remix definitely does the trick. Bathing the original in a kinda sea of warm atmospherics and with that vocal hook that reminds me of “Toxic”, it’s a nice wee chilled number and you can grab the MP3 below.

The Weeknd – Love Through Her (My Panda Shall Fly’s Forgotten Version)

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R&S continue their assault on the underground club scene with another mighty release on the way. This time The Chain are bringing the vibes. Set to land at the end of June it’s a heady cocktail of old sounds with new rhythms that pushes all the right buttons.

Lostwithiel by The Chain

Maje by The Chain

Droppin’ Science – Volume 1

Danny Breaks has always been one of my favourite producers, from his early classic rave tunes as Sonz of a Loop Da Loop Era through to the launch of his Droppin’ Science imprint and then onto his hip hop work later, everything to come out of his studio is pretty much gold.

Today’s classic sees us take a look at the first release on the aforementioned Droppin’ Science. The label mainly released Danny’s material but later diversified to include work from the likes of Paradox and Use of Weapons (Africa Hitech/Global Communication’s Mark Pritchard alongside Dave Brinkworth – the duo that also recorded under the name Harmonic 33 and would later release on Breaks’ Alphabet Zoo label).

The label’s first release was this huge jungle/dnb number with a massive hook driven along by super tuff beats and bass, turn up the speakers and feel free to get brock wild.

Droppin’ Science – Volume 1

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I put together a wee mix of some of my Danny Breaks favourites a couple of years back so this seems a good excuse to wheel out the mix again.

Paul Reset – Breaks The Unbreakable – All Danny Breaks mix

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Tracklisting:

Intro Jam / La La La (Pt 1) / Junkie For Beatz / Astral Vibes (Zoostrumental) / Beat Biter (Martian Instrumental) / Moodulator / Rokin’ on the Tables / Transmit Fantastic / Duck Rock (Zoostrumental) / Science Fu Beats (Pt 2) / Far Out / Freedomism / Calm Downizm / Style Warz / Droppin Science Vol 1 / Skratchadelikizm / R Yeah / Express Yourself (Droppin Science rmx) – original by Family Foundation / Modes / Mars to Jupiter

BNJMN – 141

BNJMN (aka Ben Thomas) has been bubbling under for the last 12 months with some lesser known tunes and remixes doing the rounds. His album of electronica house infused with Detroit DNA on Rush Hour brought him to everyones attention.

His new EP on Svetlana Industries contains much of the same vibe as the album but with leaning towards 2 step and a less rapid feel. There are also 2 remixes by Kelpe and Lukid lined up, with the former exploring a faster pace than we have been accustomed.

The sampler certainly whets the appetite for what is bound to be one of the stand out EP’s of 2011 so far. Released on the 13th of June.

SVET004: BNJMN – 141 Preview by Svetlana Industries

We also have the video from the Lukid remix to ramp up the anticipation.

BNJMN – One Sea (Lukid Remix) from Svetlana Industries on Vimeo.

Sigha – Sigha EP

Hotflush are at it again with another high quality release and this time we have Sigha following up on a release on his own label Our Circular Sound last month.

For his Hotflush EP we have more ghostly techno that varies between the peak time acid chugger “A1″ to more expansive and deeper tones on “B2″. What’s even better is that thanks to XLR8R we have my favourite from the EP as a free track.

Sigha – HF029A1

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Sigha – Sigha EP [HF029] by Hotflush

Jack Dixon & Robin Card – Decade EP

TAKE Records have swiftly built up a good reputation on the back of top quality releases from the likes of James Fox and their fourth release is about to land in the shape of the “Decade EP” by Jack Dixon & Robin Card.

The four original tracks contained within take their lead from dark house and garage with a smoky atmosphere running throughout and a crystal clear shine to the production. There’s also three tidy remixes tucked away at the end with James Fox, Eliphino and Colo making an appearance behind the desk.

For me, it’s all about the originals though, with opening track “Adrian” being my pick of the bunch, a slice of melancholy goodness perfect for late nights and early mornings.

Released on June 6th

Jack Dixon & Robin Card – Adrian

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Keith (Eliphino Remix) by eliphino

FOUND – Anti Climb Paint (S-Type instrumental) – free download

As we clamber our way through the week we’ve got a nice freebie for you courtesy of Chemikal Underground.

The label are getting set to release “Anti Climb Paint”, the next single from FOUND, a firm favourite here at the Labs. The single comes with a wee remix package – one from label-mates The Phantom Band and a huge remix from Mr S-Type.

S-Type’s rework is without doubt some of his best work to date – huge building melodies, a synth line to die for and those trademark crisp drums. Grab the instrumental for free below and stream the vocal mix.

Also keep an ear to the ground for S-Type’s brilliant remix of the next release on Phuturelabs, more info to follow.

S-Type FOUND Anti Climb Paint remix instrumental by Chemikal Underground

S-Type FOUND Anti Climb Paint remix by Chemikal Underground

The single is released on June 6th and to mark the release, there’ll be an edible chocolate 7″ run of the single limited to 50 copies. Enter this competition on Chemikal’s site for a chance to win one of the 7s.

There’s also a cracking video for the original courtesy of the very talented Andy Brown:

Richie Hawtin vs Plastikman – XLR8R Podcast

The XLR8R podcast series constantly delivers top quality mixes from the best dj’s and producers in the world of electronic music and who better to take on their 200th podcast than Mr Richie Hawtin AKA Plastikman.

The man himself explains the idea behind the mix:

One of the most common questions over the years has been what is the difference between Richie Hawtin and Plastikman. My most common answer is that Richie Hawtin is, or has become, the extrovert on stage, playing, performing, and partying with/for the audience, while Plastikman has remained connected to my more introverted side. A side that feels more comfortable locked away with my machine or hiding behind a curtain of technology, creating my own unique and personal take on electronic music.

For this podcast, I decided to experiment with the idea of how one of my personas would interpret the other: What would happen if Hawtin met Plastikman, or visa versa. So here, you will find a reinterpretation of a live Hawtin DJ set recorded at the Bermuda festival on November 6, 2010. Cut up, slowed down, shifted, and time-displaced to take the feel and experience of Hawtin into the realm of Plastikman.

Stream below and head on over to XLR8R to download.

Richie Hawtin vs Plastikman – XLR8R Podcast

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Tracklisting:

Caution / Avenger / Chatter / Co-ordinate / Position / Approach / Cyclops / Abandoned / Ghosts / Arrival

Space Ranger – What About The Magnetic Fields

We love a but of Space Ranger round these parts with his tune “Herbal Cake” being a mainstay of many a DJ set over the last year. Well there is now an album to get your teeth into called “What About The Magnetic Fields”.

The release bring together several tracks from previous EP’s and adds a few new remixes and tunes. The production values are sky high given a real depth to the nu disco vibes to get your boogie out.

There are flavours of rock, pop and psychedelic woven in there for good measure, with collaborations with The Revenge, Rayko and Captn K to name a few. If this album doesn’t get the head nodding we would recommend seeing a doctor as soon as possible.

Available now at Juno.

Space Ranger – Phase Fever (FREEBIE) 320Kbit (downloadable again!) by Space Ranger

Superstring(Rayko Remix FREEBIE) >>>Free download<<< by Space Ranger

Space Ranger – Herbal Cake (The Revenge Rubdown) 128 Kbit by Space Ranger

Plastic Romance feat. Captn K snippet by Space Ranger

Retro/Grade – Mindfighter (Boy 8-Bit rmx)

It’s been quite a while since we heard from Boy 8-Bit and this remix shows he’s far from lost anything in his absence.

The Retro/Grade original is a rather large disco styled number and Boy 8-Bit’s rework toughens up the beats a little, strips back the vocals and delivers a main room banger that’s whet our appetite nicely for new material from the man himself.

Retro/Grade – Mindfighter (Boy 8-Bit rmx)

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The single’s released on the 17th of July through Deconstruction and there’s a nice wee promo video to go along with it: