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Download: Policy "Underpass"

With releases for labels like Car Crash Set, Rush Hour, and Argot—the last of which issued the man's XLR8R Pick'd Hit Gone Bad EP in February—and forthcoming records coming from both Ukraine's Wicked Bass label and 100% Silk, New York producer Policy is certainly a talent worth keeping one's eye on. Recently the man let loose "Underpass," a free cut to tide us all over until his next official effort drops. True to its lineage, the buoyant tune strikes a fine balance between deep house grooves and free-flowing synthwork, with just a hint of summery vibes tucked underneath. Yes, this one will do nicely before we can next get our hands on a new piece of wax from the quietly ascending NYC producer. 

Average: 7.7 (45 votes)
 
 

Stream the New Shams 12" for 100% Silk

Exclusive

Admittedly, Shams has only appeared on XLR8R once before, when we announced his inaugural 12" for SoCal dance-music outpost 100% Silk, and that was hardly two weeks ago. But something about the smoothed-out, disco-touched house sounds put forth on the NY producer's upcoming record managed to catch our attention, so we jumped at the chance to premiere the full stream of his Piano Cloud EP before it's released next week. Read more » 

  • Filed under: news
  • 05/16/2013

High Five: RP Boo

When throwing the word "veteran" around with the players of Chicago's juke/footwork scene, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that RP Boo was making moves roughly a decade before the likes of DJ Rashad and DJ Spinn. The artist born Kavain Space is credited with being a key part of creating the hyped-up ghetto-house sound back in the late '90s, and he certainly has the experience, stories, and production chops to prove it. Maybe that makes him something of a legend in relation to his contemporaries, which is why it's even more surprising that RP Boo's debut LP, Legacy, was released just this week via Planet Mu. To do our part in marking the special occasion, we asked Space to select for us five tunes he believes to be integral to the history of footwork, and the DJ/producer came back to us with a list of music and anecdotes spanning eight years of Windy City music and culture. Read more » 

Fuck Buttons Readies Third LP, Announces Summer Tour

Though its constituents have been busy with their separate projects since the release of 2009's excellent, XLR8R Pick'd Tarot Sport, Fuck Buttons itself has remained practically dormant, releasing little more than a single track during the four-year span. That's all about to change, however, as Benjamin John Power and Andrew Hung have stealthily reconvened to announce the impending release of their third full-length album. Read more » 

  • Filed under: news
  • 05/16/2013

Hi, Doctor Nick! - Tips for Working with Vocalists and the Audience Adds to Some of the Doctor's Past Advice

We're not ashamed to say it. We love Nick Hook. And not just because he's funny or cool or knows lots of rad DJs and producers (although all those things are true). It's because he genuinely wants to help. He's been around the music game for a while, has picked up a lot of wisdom along the way, and is truly happy to pass along the knowledge he's accumulated. That's certainly what happens here every Thursday morning, when the good doctor answers questions from our readers about music, DJing, travel, production, gear, romance, and more. Hit him up doctornick@xlr8r.com. He just might help you too.

Hey y'all.

Hope all is well. It's hard to believe that May is already halfway over.

I've been hiding out since Term One of RBMA ended. I'm just trying to learn some new stuff over here. Read more » 

Grown Folk Announces North American Tour

Rising Montreal duo Grown Folk have announced it will embark on an early summer West Coast tour beginning the end of May and continuing throughout most of June. Read more » 

  • Filed under: news
  • 05/16/2013

Download: Lokiboi "All Nighter"

First Listen

London transplant Lokiboi will be issuing his offical debut solo EP, Late Reaction, next week via the growing Somethinksounds imprint. Before the four-track endeavor drops, the budding producer has passed along bonus cut "All Nighter"—a silky slice of house driven by piano stabs and laced with a slight shuffle—to help spread the word. In addition to offering up this download, Lokiboi has also provided XLR8R with a full stream of his forthcoming Late Reaction EP, one track from which features fellow London resident and Love Fever-darling Citizen on production duties. That effort, along with the rest of Lokiboi's EP, can be heard using the SoundCloud player included after the jump.  Read more » 

Average: 7.5 (50 votes)
 
 

Review: Steffi Panorama Bar 05
Label: Ostgut Ton

It's hard to tell exactly what the point of a commercial mix CD is in this day and age. Lower costs of travel and a proliferation of free, high-quality podcasts have caused the once important medium to lose much of its potency. Yet there remains a compelling aspect to certain lingering institutions, especially when it comes to the expression of a feeling or style particular to a geographic location. Of the existent labels still producing mix CDs, Ostgut Ton's Berghain and Panorama Bar series are certainly at or near the top. The steady trickle of releases issued by these two outposts over the years has acted as official dossiers for the current sound of Friedrichshain's dance mecca. Panorama Bar 05, the latest offering, is a consistently well-crafted snapshot of the dancefloor as presided over by long-time resident DJ Steffi. Read more » 

  • Filed under: review
  • 05/16/2013

Download a New Track from DVA

Prolific UK DJ/producer DVA has offered a free download of a new VIP mix for "Walk it Out," a tune which appeared in its original form on the man's Fly Juice LP for Hyperdub last year. Read more » 

  • Filed under: news
  • 05/16/2013

Download: Closer "What Have You Done To Us (Dub)"

First Listen
Label: CLSR

Described as little other than a "production partnership," the mysterious Closer outfit are set to follow up its self-titled debut release with a new EP dropping on May 20 via the CLSR label—an imprint which has so far only issued music from Closer itself. With the utilitarian title of EP2, the release features four tracks of tightly produced deep house. Pulled from that forthcoming record is "What Have You Done To Us (Dub)," a tune which strips away the optimistic vocals showcased in the track's non-dub version, bringing the effort into purer club territory with its hard-hitting organ line and celestial string arrangement. 

Average: 7.3 (31 votes)
 
 

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