by Bill Pearis

Electronic musician Jon Hopkins will release his new album, Immunity, on June 4 via Domino. While making a name for himself with more ambient textures, Hopkins is definitely aiming more for the dancefloor on this one which traces the arc of an epic night out. His sometimes collaborator King Creosote sings on the nine-minute title-track which closes the LP. You can check out the quite lovely video for first single "Open Eye Signal" below, as well as a very cool promotional film for the album that uses time-lapse photography of microscopic crystal growth. You can also stream a Nosaj Thing remix of "Open Eye Signal" below too

Jon is coming over to North America in a couple weeks to play Mutek in Montreal and will swing through NYC after for a record release party at Glasslands on June 4. Tickets for that show are on sale now and all tour dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Jon Hopkins releasing 'Immunity,' playing NYC LP release show after Mutek fest in Montreal (dates, videos)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Evian Christ - "Duga-3" (MP3)

For this year's Record Store Day, UK producer Evian Christ pressed the Duga-3 Mix that he made last year onto limited edition vinyl via Tri Angle Records. If you wanted one and didn't get a chance to pick it up, Boomkat is now selling some copies. You can also download it for free above. It's a more ambient exploration than his dank rap EP/mixtape Kings and Them. That's the cover art above.

As mentioned, Evian Christ is going on a tour this year which brings him to NYC for a Red Bull Music Academy show on May 26 at Saint Vitus with Oneohtrix Point Never, Bill Kouligas, Kid Simpl, and ANNALOVE. That show has sold out, but you'll get another chance to see him in NYC a week earlier when he plays 285 Kent on May 18 with Gorgeous Children and Ian Isiah. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Updated dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Evian Christ released a RSD 12" (download it), playing 285 Kent before Red Bull show (updated dates)"

You can't throw a stick in this town without hitting something related to the Red Bull Music Academy's monthlong takeover of NYC. One of the most anticipated events is the sold-out DFA 12th Anniversary Party which happens May 25 at the rococco wonderland that is Grand Prospect Hall. In celebration of this -- and the label's dozen years in existence -- they've made a short documentary about how the label came to be. Narrated by Marc Maron, you can watch it below.

Continue reading "watch a short documentary about DFA Records narrated by Marc Maron"

El Guincho / Empress Of

Empress Of released a pair of hot remixes today by the likes of El Guincho (who has been quiet the last couple years) and Pional. Both are pretty chilled out, especially El Guincho's which sounds like walking through a big house that has a radio in every room, each one playing something different. Listen to both below.

Empress Of also has a pair of shows coming up including the previously mentioned gig with Twin Sister at Silent Barn on Saturday (5/11) and one with Doldrums at Mercury Lounge on Wednesday (5/8). Tickets for the Merc show are still available.

All tour dates are listed, along with those remixes, below.

Continue reading "El Guincho and Pional remixed Empress Of who's opening for Doldrums and Twin Sister (separately)"

As mentioned, UK electronic artist Gold Panda is about to start a short North American tour, playing NYC on Saturday (5/11) at Knitting Factory (sold out). One month after that show, Gold Panda will release his much anticipated second LP, Half of Where You Live, on his own NOTOWN label in the UK and Ghostly here in the U.S. You can stream the album's first single, "Brazil," below.

Gold Panda will also be back this fall and while a full set of dates haven't been announced yet, we do know that he'll play Webster Hall on October 11. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday (5/10) at noon with an AmEx presale beginning Wednesday (5/8) at noon.

Continue reading "Gold Panda releasing new LP in June, plays NYC this week, playing Webster Hall in October (stream & updated dates)"

by Andrew Sacher

Brooklyn producer Slava released his debut full length, Raw Solutions, last month via Software. He builds most of its tracks off of a repeating vocal loop which can veer towards the prettier sides of future garage ("Girl Like Me") and towards dirtier, Evian Christ-style hip hop ("Girls On Dick"). You can watch a visual clip for the album's single, "On It," along with a Spotify stream of the whole album, below. Also below are streams of Slava's recent FADER Mix and a new track called "As Long As You Love Me."

Slava will play a release show for his new album Tuesday (5/7) at The DL (upstairs). He'll be joined by MikeQ, Rizzla and Telfar, and is totally free to the public. Show begins at 11 PM.

Flyer for the DL show and those song streams below...

Continue reading "Slava playing LP release party this week (stream some songs)"

by Andrew Sacher

xxxy (not to be confused with XXYYXX) has a number of releases out, and is continuing to stay prolific, having released the Progression single and the Got Me So EP earlier this year. The title track on the Got Me So EP is a UK garage tune that feels pretty similar to the tracks Disclosure have been dropping lately, whereas "Progression" and its b-side "Thinkin Bout" are more indebted to his house influences. You can stream those three tracks below.

xxxy will be heading to North America for a tour this month which culminates in NYC on May 31 at Loft 300. All dates are listed, along with those song streams, below.

Continue reading "xxxy released a new EP and single, touring (dates, streams)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Chief Keef - "Love Sosa" (RL Grime Remix) (MP3)

One of the best parts of RL Grime's recent sets (like his set at HARD Miami) is his remix of Chief Keef's "Love Sosa," and he's just blessed us with an MP3 of the official remix, which you can download above or stream below (via FADER). If there's anything we learned from Keef's mostly-disappointing Finally Rich, it's that he's more of a hook guy than a verse guy, and on its best moments (like "Love Sosa"), he essentially got away with carrying those hooks on for the entire song. But on this remix of the track, RL plays with the hook, introduces plenty of dynamic changes, and throws in his fair share of trap thrills, arguably topping the original song.

RL Grime is currently on his previously mentioned North American tour, which hits NYC on May 9 at Le Poisson Rouge. Since we last spoke, it's been announced that the LPR show will be opened by Fool's Gold DJ Nick Hook and Maxiavelli. Tickets for that show are still available.

Chief Keef just announced a NYC show too.

Updated dates are listed, along with the remix, below...

Continue reading "RL Grime remixed Chief Keef's "Love Sosa" (MP3); Nick Hook and Maxiavelli opening his LPR show"

by Bill Pearis

Selebrities

Brooklyn quartet Selebrities will release their new album, Lovely Things, on June 25 via the Cascine label. You can stream the crystalline first single, "Temporary Touch," and check out album art and tracklist below.

The band have a couple local shows coming up. They'll play Glasslands on May 23 with oOoOO and Dark Sister (tickets); and then Cameo on June 13 for what is an extremely stacked bill if you like '80s style synthpop. Chad Valley headlines, and the line-up also includes fellow Cascine artists Kisses, Rush Midnight and (non-Cascine band) Ice Choir, plus DJ sets from Airbird and Chocolate Bobka (there's a name we haven't heard in a while). Tickets to that show, a Cascine & Newtown Radio showcase which is part of the 2013 Northside Festival, are on sale now or you can try and get in with your Northside badge if you have one of those.

Speaking of, Rush Midnight (aka onetime Twin Shadow bassist Russ Manning) just released a new single, the laid back and sultry "Don't Give Me Your Love," while he finishes up his debut album. You can check out the video for the song and a remix by Lemonade, below. Rush Midnight plays Friday night (5/3) at Mercury Lounge with Candide and Rioux. Tickets to that show are still available.

And more related news, Kisses (which is Jesse Kivel of Princeton and Zinzi Edmundson) will release their second album, Kids in LA, on May 14 which is also on Cascine. The album was produced by Saint Etienne's Pete Wiggs, and the two bands certainly share a love of classic pop and vintage synthesizers. This is superior modern synthpop with big hooks and fresh production and you can stream a couple tracks (including terrific single "The Hardest Part") below.

Kisses and Chad Valley tour dates are listed, along with previously mentioned song streams, below.

Continue reading "Selebrities & Kisses ready new LPs, playing Northside together w/ Rush Midnight who plays NYC this week (dates, streams) "

First we found out the cities and then the venues and now the artists are announced for the 2013 Mad Decent Block Party tour. This is what they have to say:

he MDBP 2013 artist Lineups and official event trailer are live! We're rolling through 13 cities this year featuring Major Lazer, Flosstradamus, Dillon Francis and RIFF RAFF on select dates + More. Starting July 19th in Calgary and ending September 15th in San Diego, 2013's Mad Decent Block Party will be setting off on its largest festival undertaking to date, bringing a full day of musical performances and tons of fun on-site activities

A limited number of Fanclub tickets go on sale tomorrow, which will also come with a FREE 30 day premium Mad Decent membership to their subscription service at https://drip.fm/mad-decent/. General tickets go on sale Friday & Saturday, VIP will also be offered at that time.

Continue reading "Mad Decent Block Party lineups announced (Major Lazer, Flosstradamus, Rockie Fresh & many more)"