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Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra Return With New Album

After shedding some members and adding a new drummer, Montreal's Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra will be releasing their sixth full-length album at the beginning of 2010. Titled Kollaps Tradixionales, the new record continues along the path the group has forged for itself, spanning blues, folk, punk rock, and orchestral music. With a tour in the works and one single already available to stream on the group's rehabbed new site, the new year holds much for a reconfigured ASMZ.

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  • Filed under: news
  • 12/14/2009

Download: Alex Smoke "Lux+ (Automaton UK Remix)"
Label: Hum + Haw

The first single from Alex Smoke's upcoming third album sounds a bit like Thom Yorke doing gloomy microhouse—ultra-processed cyborg vocals, dry percussion, and some foreboding orchestral strains ride over a loping house beat. Mysterious UK producer Automaton destroys the piece in the best way possible, transforming it into a sputtering, grinding trek through the wasteland of a post-apocalyptic landscape where androids manage to dance to experimental dubstep. Though human dancefloors might not be ready for the remix of "Lux+," it's certain that somewhere, robots are getting down to this business. 

Average: 6.7 (35 votes)
 
 

Download: Seven Fields of Aphelion "Mountain Mary"
Label: Graveface

Seven Fields of Aphelion might be a member of psychedelic freak-pop outfit Black Moth Super Rainbow, but on "Mountain Mary," she channels a more gentle soundscape filled with tiny bells, grainy piano lines, and soaring synth harmonies. This is music for running through fields of tall, golden grass in the fading afternoon sun. Sentimental as it is, the piece also contains a layered, dusty elegance that is quite breathtaking. Look forward to February, when Seven Fields' Periphery comes out just in time for lazy spring days. 

Average: 7.3 (41 votes)
 
 

Review: Lymbyc Systym Shutter Release
Label: Mush

Opening with a flurry of toms and sparse, echoing guitars, Lymbyc Systym's second album, Shutter Release, is another instrumental electronic pop effort from brothers Jared and Michael Bell. The album's increased sonic depth (care of Explosions in the Sky producer John Congleton) helps open up their Mice Parade-esque hypnotic electro-pop with an increased sonic palette and spacious mixes while showcasing the duo's musical growth with its ethereal songwriting and hushed melodies. Read more » 

OPP: Other People's Podcasts

Although we're obviously proud of our weekly XLR8R Podcast series, we also spend time scouring the internet for high-quality offerings that appear on other websites. OPP is a monthly round-up of our favorites. Read more » 

  • Filed under: news
  • 12/11/2009

Toro Y Moi Does the East Coast

The eclectic sounds of Toro Y Moi will bring the heat to some select eastern cities, starting tonight in Philadelphia. Perhaps the most highly anticipated dates, though, are back-to-back nights at New York's Mercury Lounge with XLR8R favorites Neon Indian. Check out both of these solo magicians while they're in your town! Read more » 

  • Filed under: news
  • 12/11/2009

Nguzunguzu Preps New EP, Drops a Free Mix

LA's Nguzunguzu kept themselves rather busy in 2009—between production work for Maluca, remixing Buraka Som Sistema, palling around with XLR8R Artist to Watch Kingdom, and hosting their insane Tuesday night weekly, Wildness, you could forgive Daniel Pineda and Asma Maroof if they decided to take it easy this holiday season. Read more » 

  • Filed under: news
  • 12/11/2009

Kompakt Celebrates 10 Years of Pop Ambient

Longstanding German techno imprint Kompakt is releasing Pop Ambient 2010, the tenth release in their annual compilation series of lush and relatively formless music, this January. Read more » 

  • Filed under: news
  • 12/11/2009

Download: Shlohmo "Hot Box the Cockpit"
Label: Friends of Friends

With a sound that brings to mind the more herky-jerky moments of Nosaj Thing's productions and the vinyl-ripped ambiance prevalent in much of Flying Lotus' material, "Hot Box the Cockpit" is an interesting piece of bass music from SF-via-LA beatsmith Shlohmo. A flutter of birdsong brings us into the track before a slow, arpeggiated synth swells up into clicking rhythms and a buzzing bass drop, sending the song off into the stratosphere. "Hot Box the Cockpit" is taken from the re-release of Shlohmo's EP, Shlohmoshun, by the Friends of Friends label, which comes with additional remixes from Low Limit (of Lazer Sword), Tokimonsta, and devonwho, to name a few. Shlohmoshun Deluxe is out Jan 12. 

Average: 7.8 (81 votes)
 
 

Download: Anthony Collins "Another Lonely Night"
Label: Curle

Seeing as how Anthony Collins was raised both stateside (NY) and overseas (France), it's no surprise the prolific producer's music embraces the kind of house and techno that both cultures have come to widely know and love. Now based in Paris, Collins has written "Another Lonely Night" for Belgian techno label Curle. The song is propelled by a classic house beat which ties together the delayed synth work, intermittent piano flourishes, and plaintive vocal loop—making something altogether familiar but nonetheless perfect for peak-of-the-night dance parties. He's also released a video for the song, which you can check out here. 

Average: 6.6 (24 votes)
 
 

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