XLR8R rounds up 10 new things DJs should cram in their hard drives.

Abstract Beats, Broken, Dowtempo:
o1o
“The Undatow 2”
Deepblak

This upstart Oakland, CA-based crew is going to heat up Fall 2008 with this smoking four-track EP. Picture future-funk and dreamy beats that lie between Flying Lotus and Boards of Canada territory. Evocative and supremely bumpin’.

Various
Modern Clubber EP
Vinyl Vibes

Germany’s Vinyl Vibes comes through again, with one of the coolest broken-beat collections this side of Co-Op. Featuring gems from Curv, Ye: Solar, Projetoitagiba, and an insane Inverse Cinematics remix of Basement Freaks. Bounce to this!

Solar Apple Quarktet
“Music Is Our Universe”
Further Out

Bringing bossa jazz grooves in the vein of Rainer Truby or Mo Horizons, SAQ makes perfect summer party music with a touch of Brazilian magic.

The Bamboos
“Can’t Help Myself feat. Ty”
Tru Thoughts

Australian funk band Bamboos tear it up, with U.K. MC Ty hanging tight in the grooves. Imagine Chali 2na rapping with Breakestra and you get the picture. A head-bobbing, goodtime single.

Techno, House, Minimal:
Motorcitysoul
“Change You”
Simple

With Ovasoul 7 on vocals and a Shur-I-Khan (Freerange) remix, this one was dope out the gate. Swirling, layered synths and pin-sharp rhythms combine for a real dancefloor thriller. Recommended for fans of Square One, Attias, or Deepchild.

Mike Monday
“Iamplankton”
Om

Blip, bleep, bloop go Monday’s beats on this unique minimal house single. The underwater theme is taken to heart on two groovy oddball tracks perfect for mermaid dancing.

Misc
Chemosphere EP
Lost Souls

Misc makes evocative experimental dubstep techno. It may have been categorized as IDM years ago, but this EP is oriented around bass and intricate percussive sounds. Exploring both half and double-time rhythm signatures, every track here is a winner.

Hip-Hop, Soul, B-Boy Beats:
Jazz Addixx
The Intermission
Domination

Get to know DC’s Jazz Addixx. These cats have mastered jazzy boom-bap production techniques à la Primo, Large Pro, or ATCQ, and updated it with crisp, clean beats. They rhyme tight too, but this EP is all instrumental work.

Mighty Underdogs
“War Walk”
Def Jux

Witness a hip-hop super-group, featuring Quannum Projects’ Latryx, Blackalicious’ Gift of Gab, and Crown City Rockers’ Headnodic. They get rugged and raw with insightful, in-your-face lyrical interplay and super-tight beats. This sounds like a take over.

Guynamite
EP2
Mukatsuku

U.K. soul and R&B comfortably rub shoulders with uptempo/broken vibes on this memorable release. Selina Campbell has an amazingly Jill Scott-smooth vocal delivery, while additional vocals from D.ablo and Krystal Hardwick round out this superbly soulful EP.

Pictured: Mighty Underdogs.