nach 24 jahren sagen drei worte immer noch alles: wu tang clan das neunteilige outfit von staten island, new york, hat einen weg für buchstäblich hunderte von künstlern geebnet und wiederholt hip hop geschichte gemacht. ursprünglich aus den ostküsten-rappern rza, gza, ol dirty bastard, method man, raekwon, ghostface killah, inspectah deck, u-god und masta killa zusammengesetzt, ist der clan nun wieder vereint, um ihr achtes studioalbum the saga continues zu liefern . die erste single des epik-albums people say (veröffentlicht am 25. august) mit dem ehrenamtlichen clan-mitglied redman, hat bereits die hip hop-community begeistert und in erwartung des albums versetzt, welches mitte oktober veröffentlicht wird. produziert von mathemathics, enthält das album auch features von killah priest, streelife, chris rivers und dem späten sean price. rza beschrieb den produktionsprozess für das rollings stones magazine im august und sagte: seit jahren hat math die idee gehabt, eine musik mit modernen und legendären geräten wie asr10 mit vokalaufführungen von wu-tang clan mitgliedern und anderen prominenten mus zusammenzustellen... mit der the saga continues setzt er ein meisterwerk.

nach 24 jahren sagen drei worte immer noch alles: wu tang clan das neunteilige outfit von staten island, new york, hat einen weg für buchstäblich hunderte von künstlern geebnet und wiederholt hip hop geschichte gemacht. ursprünglich aus den ostküsten-rappern rza, gza, ol dirty bastard, method man, raekwon, ghostface killah, inspectah deck, u-god und masta killa zusammengesetzt, ist der clan nun wieder vereint, um ihr achtes studioalbum the saga continues zu liefern . die erste single des epik-albums people say (veröffentlicht am 25. august) mit dem ehrenamtlichen clan-mitglied redman, hat bereits die hip hop-community begeistert und in erwartung des albums versetzt, welches mitte oktober veröffentlicht wird. produziert von mathemathics, enthält das album auch features von killah priest, streelife, chris rivers und dem späten sean price. rza beschrieb den produktionsprozess für das rollings stones magazine im august und sagte: seit jahren hat math die idee gehabt, eine musik mit modernen und legendären geräten wie asr10 mit vokalaufführungen von wu-tang clan mitgliedern und anderen prominenten mus zusammenzustellen... mit der the saga continues setzt er ein meisterwerk.

junto club kicked off snap crackle & pop late last year, and now the label returns with the debut solo release from london-based outfit deeds. while rollo and kiri inglis may have previously popped up on an obscure compilation on anti-ghost moon ray, this record should see their coldwave sound shoring up with many more adventurous listeners. video dreams is a beautifully melancholic slice of electronica while unknown reaches for euphoric heights. remixes from bezier and the field round the record out as a wonderful exercise in emotive home listening electronics for sensitive souls.

limited edition of 1000 copies on translucent, multi-color splattered vinyl.
experienced crate diggers are no doubt familiar with new birth, the 17-piece funk ensemble sampled on classic hip-hop records by wu-tang clan, de la soul, junior m.a.f.i.a., black sheep, lil wayne, ice cube, and many more. the genesis of new birth can be traced back to the nite-liters, a louisville-based instrumental outfit. founded in 1963 by motown songwriter/producer harvey fuqua and saxophonist tony churchill, the nite-liters released a handful of albums in the early 70s, scoring a few minor hits and perfecting the sound that would power new birth to further success as the decade progressed. while much of the the nite liters’ early material has been overlooked, their self-titled debut album is worth revisiting. originally released on rca records in 1970, the nite liters is a raw, soulful masterpiece that has been sampled by kmd, ghostface killah and others.

heard on “melancholia” are interpretations of honzo’s subconscious visions of life. the intense compositions are made up of drones, noises and distorted beats moving in and out of the frame. on opener “orientalism” said elements blend with hi-hat brushes, brassy synth pads, sci-fi noises and distant human voices evoking islam’s “adhan” (call to prayer). the theme contemplates over alienation caused by western accounts of “orientalism”, soaked in “hüzün” (the turkish term for melancholia). on a2 a rework of “moral masochism” is provided by the mysterious shadows outfit, starting with a distorted guitar over a slow and gritty rhythmic backbone which gradually turns into a chaotic high-intensity acid jam on the ep’s most dance floor suitable cut. on the flipside, “lovesickness” presents a broken kick rhythm periodically flipped by toms and accompanied by a disorienting hi-hat rhythm, ghostly strings and sporadic human moans – all resulting in a tribal mood, recalling a ceremony, perhaps a quest for a saviour from the blue temper? b2 presents the “moral masochism” original. again a distorted guitar plays over a slow rhythm, but compared to the remix, the original’s intensity is introverted, contemplating over melancholia’s effect of deriving gratification from self-inflicted moral humiliation. ambient closer “emptiness” explores a cold state with such an encapsulating airiness that it feels like a close account of another person’s mood down to the impression of their breath. arpeggiated synth noises appear from a distance representing increasing pressure from the outside world without ever suppressing the state of mind. as a result, “emptiness” sums up the state of melancholia experienced as a mood rather than the effect of a cause.

the constant state label launches in style with a record from ian blevins & phil moodys al gobi outfit, who had something of a breakthrough 2013 with releases for disco bloodbath, rothmans, culprit la and audio parallax. while the original mix of a cup of tea is dark and unsettled - beautifully balanced bass notes and piano cutting through heavy, storm-pregnant air, cottams accompanying remix is the distillation of a second wind. his tribal, twisted, acidic treatment of this 3am concrete bunker anthem never overwhelms the piano refrain, instead giving it a new life, like the ghost of a party suddenly bequeathed fresh purpose as tired legs find boundless energy.

amazing record! tip! steyoyoke is a new berin-based house label and its first release is the three track >if i were music< ep by im fine (marco perschon & alexander grafenauer) and antonio olivieri. im fine are a production outfit who first met at berlins music engineering school, sae, and have since gone on to establish a tight working relationship and are currently working on a debut album reflecting their jazz, house and techno influences. antonio olivieri is italian born but now resides in berlin and has developed a firm reputation via releases for silicone souls darkroom dubs and lustundfreude, amongst others.

it only takes one listen to jee days >like a child< – and its whirling, hypnotic rush – to recognize the know-how that has made studio whiz dennis dj mcnany a go-to source in new york citys dance music scene. over the last decade, the sound architect has become a musical jack-of-all-trades: fine tuning releases from outfits such as the rapture and turing machine, working on early output from dfa records, maintaining his own run roc label, remixing artists like panthers, ghostape and digable planets ladybug mecca, and contributing keyboards and percussion on tour with the juan maclean. in light of the already impossibly long list of credits to mcnanys name (including the numerous pseudonyms under which he has released his own music) the jee day debut 12 inch is a bit like a first listen to an artist who audiences, ironically, have already heard many times before.

the irrepressible cobblestone jazz present the first single from their debut album >23 seconds<, forthcoming in september on wagon repair. cobblestone jazz produce their tracks live, with a strong emphasis on improvisation, and the trio of programmer tyger dhula, keyboardists danuel tate and mathew jonson, make full use of their formative jazz training to transform the musical outfit into a pragmatic and responsive unit, a living and breathing creation, free of formulaic sequence. >lime in da coco nut< is a potion brimming with transformation. cobblestone approach a simple key melody from every angle imaginable, with the harmonies, disharmonies, bubbling accents and rhythmic permutations exposing the otherworldly potential of the simplest of tunes. a sinister whispered vocal conducts affairs, seemingly flustered at its inability to contain the unruly elements in this wonderful experiment. on >saturday night< a deep synth line and ghostly vocoded moans progress through a jungle of percussion and falling echoed tones, steadily approaching a beat that enlivens like water on a desert journey, or rather, like vodka on a saturday night. the dizzy finale spins around your ears, a bit like the ceiling after a particularly heavy weekend adventure… be sure to be well rested before tackling this sensory safari

gareth dickson is ghost like. from the dark outskirts of glasgow he has sent three studio studio albums in to the world - collected recordings (2009), the dance (2010) and quite a way away (2012). these albums have bewitched a growing inner circle, including some of the most innovative musicians around today - juana molina and vashti bunyan to name just two. gareth has been the only constant member of vashtis touring outfit over the past ten years and latterly they have stripped down to a duet on their worldwide travels. vashti indeed makes a spectral apparition on the first track of gareth s new album orwell court.