Makeness & Adult Jazz – Other Life
On ‘Other Life’ the creative forces of Scottish producer MAKENESS and art pop four piece Adult Jazz combine to create an addictive slice of catchy disco-not-disco with post-punk influences.
MAKENESS is the name of producer and songwriter Kyle Molleson. Having grown up in The Outer Hebrides it was at Leeds Uni that he meet Harry Burgess, Steven Wells, Tim Slater and Tom Howe of Adult Jazz. Drawing on influences from Afro Beat, New-Wave and techno in 2015 he had his debut release ‘Laca-Langa’, a thundering percussive track. Adult Jazz released two lovingly received records, 2014’s ‘Gist Is’ and 2016’s ‘Earrrings Off!’ (on Tri-Angle) and have established themselves as one of Britain’s finest new experimental pop groups, with lyrics that tackle questions of identity and belief.
For the collaboration, the intention was to write pop. “I invited Harry over to sing over a groove idea” says Kyle MAKENESS. “We wrote it around that in an afternoon and it kind of snowballed into this disco track that we both had really similar ideas with.”
“It was pretty instant,” says Adult Jazz singer/ songwriter Harry “we came away from that first afternoon with these really nice melodies/instrumental things. I sent it over to Tom (Adult Jazz) and he did some structuring. It’s nice for Kyle and I to work in that zone, cause we love it, but don’t often do it. Its quickness was quite a shock for me.”
Prior to the release on Meno Records, a then unreleased ‘Other Life’ was remixed by Whities producer Minor Science. 15 dub plates were pressed up and stamped with MXMS, finding their way to Jamie XX, Ben UFO and Roman Flügel, who all played the track. The original track is now being released by Meno Records, with a limited run of 300 12” as well as being made available digitally.
Fans of avant-disco will rejoice at the sound, with its loose and un-quantized groove, synth squeaks, flourishes and off-kilter vocal falsetto, it’s the artists but not as you know them and totally addictive. MAKENESS and Adult Jazz let their hair down and follow Arthur Russell’s advice; ‘First Thought, Best Thought’.
Nicolas Jaar – Sirens LP
Critically acclaimed Chilean electronic artist and producer Nicolas Jaar’s upcoming full length LP, Sirens, is out digitally September 30 and on CD and vinyl October 14via Jaar’s own Other People label. The album—which consists of six tracks that each flow seamlessly into the next—is Jaar’s most topically cohesive and politically-minded record to date. Sirens is available for pre-order at https://store.other-people.net/ and via iTunes at http://smarturl.it/nj_sirens_itunes
Jaar is embarking on a tour this fall with tickets for all shows on sale now. The complete list of tour dates is below.
Additionally, Jaar recently launched his ambitious new online project, The Network, which fans can explore at http://other-people.network. Sirens will premiere via Channel 333 on The Network in the coming days.
Currently based out of New York City, Jaar has received extensive critical praise since the release of his debut 2011 album Space Is Only Noise. He has contributed to BBC Radio 1’s prestigious “Essential Mix” series, winning “Essential Mix of the Year” in 2012, and has performed alongside friend and collaborator Dave Harrington in Darkside. Jaar is founder of the Other People imprint, which has put out releases by a diverse group of artists ranging from Lydia Lunch to DJ Slugo.
SIRENS TRACK LIST (CD & DIGITAL)
1. Killing Time
2. The Governor
3. Leaves
4. No
5. Three Sides of Nazareth
6. History Lesson
NICOLAS JAAR LIVE
October 15 Atlanta, GA Terminal West
October 17 Houston, TX WOMH Downstairs
October 18 Austin, TX Emo’s
October 19 Dallas, TX Granada Theatre
October 21 Albuquerque, NM El Rey
October 22 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom
October 23 Santa Ana, CA Beach Goth
October 24 San Diego, CA Observatory North Park
October 26 Los Angeles, CA Fonda Theatre (sold out)
October 27 Los Angeles, CA Fonda Theatre (sold out)
October 28 Berkeley, CA The UC Theatre (sold out)
October 29 Berkeley, CA The UC Theatre (sold out)
October 31 Seattle, WA Neptune
November 1 Vancouver, BC Commodore (sold out)
November 2 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
November 5 Denver, CO Gothic Theatre
November 7 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
November 9 Chicago, IL Thalia Hall (sold out)
November 10 Toronto, ON Danforth Music Hall (sold out)
November 11 Montreal, QC Theatre Berri (sold out)
November 12 Providence, RI Columbus Theatre
November 13 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts
November 15 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
November 16 New York, NY Webster Hall (sold out)
November 17 New York, NY Webster Hall (sold out)
November 18 New York, NY Webster Hall (sold out)
November 21 Cologne, Germany Ewerk
November 22 Munich, Germany Muffathalle
November 24 Milan, Italy Alcatraz
November 25 Turin, Italy Teatro Concordia
November 26 Strasbourg, France La Laiterie (sold out)
November 28 Lille, France L’Areonef (sold out)
November 30 Paris, France Trianon (sold out)
December 1 Brussels, Belgium AB Hall (sold out)
December 2 Utrecht, Netherlands Tivoli (sold out)
December 3 Amsterdam, Netherlands Paradiso (sold out)
December 5 Manchester, UK Granada TV Studios
December 6 London, UK Heaven (sold out)
December 7 London, UK Heaven (sold out)
December 9 Berlin, Germany Columbiahalle
James Hersey – Miss You (HONNE Remix)
Arriving on the scene with the unshakeable new single ‘Miss You’ (released via Glassnote Records) James Hersey has quickly racked up over 2.5 million streams on the track in less than a month. The single’s success is now set to sky rocket even further with a poignant piano-led remix from electronic soul duo HONNE, available to stream today.
HONNE explain, “This remix came so easy. As soon as we heard James’ vocal we came up with that gentle rhythmic piano part that runs throughout. Something that never ceases to amaze us is how new chord sequences can add to or shift the sentiment of lyrics, and we really enjoyed playing with that for this.”
Co-produced by James alongside Ed Sheeran collaborator Will Hicks and mixed by Stephen Fitzmaurice (Sam Smith, Disclosure, Kwabs, Mary J. Blige), the track is a spacious, captivating future classic, with nods to the dance world. It’s also deeply personal, dealing with the idea of connections between people. James’ talent for songs that will strike a chord with anyone who’s ever experienced heightened emotions, i.e. everyone, is strikingly evident.
“I wrote and produced the first draft of ‘Miss You’ in two virtually sleepless days and nights. Three days later I was on a plane to England to cut (and finish writing) what is now my debut single,” James explains. “It was like windsurfing, when you catch the right gust at the right moment and you’re catapulted forward by this incredible, invisible force. That’s what it feels like to write music you love.”
Despite ‘Miss You’ forming Hersey’s debut single, his voice is one many listeners will be familiar with. ‘Coming Over’, Hersey’s delicate, summer-tinged ode to delayed desires, is a song that took on a whole new life in the dance arena. Initially remixed by Filous (26m Spotify streams and counting), it’s since been subtly reworked by Kygo & Dillon Francis (a staggering 74m Spotify streams and counting). Its success has led to dance legend Tiesto offering up a remix and Hersey touring Europe with Kygo himself.
Now based in Berlin but born and raised in Austria’s capital Vienna, Hersey’s childhood was filled with music. Guitar lessons were augmented by impromptu family music concerts. The house also reverberated to the sounds of Bob Marley, Grateful Dead and, in the mid-nineties, hip-hop. For Hersey himself, Michael Jackson was King.
Happy to explore musical genres, utilizing that grounding in folk, pop, and rock from a young age, Hersey’s songs work in different musical contexts because at the core of them lies classic songwriting. Crucially, the thread throughout is always Hersey himself.
Tycho – Epoch
Tycho has revealed ‘Epoch, the latest single from Scott Hansen’s continually expanding project and the keystone of the forthcoming album. The new album is at once a departure and an evolution for Tycho; honing the sonic aesthetic of Dive while drawing on the kinetic energy of Awake, it explores darker themes and new musical territory.
The release of ‘Epoch’ comes two months after the release of the song ‘Division.’ These two songs are the first new material from Tycho since the acclaimed 2014 release, Awake. Around the release of Awake Tycho performed in over 30 countries worldwide including major festival appearances at Coachella, Outside Lands, and Bonnaroo in the U.S., as well as Falls Festival in Australia, and Latitude in the UK. This fall Tycho is on tour playing several U.S. cities as well as a performance at Treasure Island festival in October.
Video: Sporting Life – Court Vision feat. Evy Jane
Following the recent announcement of his Slam Dunk EP series on Letter Racer and R&S Records, New York electronic artist Sporting Life releases a video for new track “Court Vision”, featuring Vancouver singer-songwriter Evy Jane. Its release comes in conjunction with BitTorrent offering Slam Dunk Vol. II exclusively via its site today.
Slam Dunk Vol. II features three new original tracks and a mesmerizing eight and half minute remix of “Court Vision” by Actress. The collaboration came about following a show hosted by Actress and Sporting Life at Lot Radio in New York and a joint live show in Brooklyn’s Trans Pecos in May, meeting for the first time after an ongoing correspondence exchanging tracks.
The first release working with BitTorrent’s Discovery Fund for supporting original independent creators, the three volume project sees Sporting Life marrying his love of basketball, manga and music into a seamless and fascinating blend encompassing instrumentals, remixes, video, and original apparel.
Inspired by Takehiko Inoue’s seminal basketball-themed manga series of the same name, the project features contributions from Dev Hynes, Novelist fellow RATKING member Wiki, as well as remixes from Actress and Galcher Lustwerk.
Slam Dunk EP Vol II is available now exclusively through BitTorrent and will be released on all platforms on September 30th via Letter Racer and R&S Records.
Video: Kllo – Sense
Kllo today share the official video for their single, ‘Sense’, the third taken from their recently released EP, Well Worn. ‘Sense’ was recorded on the piano in Kllo’s lounge room, leading to the distinct feeling of nostalgia that is evident. Filming the video on Super 8, they went along with a good friend, James Robinson, to a number of locations that are close to the duo’s hearts; the suburb they grew up in, the studio where they wrote a lot of the music, and the parts of Melbourne where they spend their time off. According to the duo, ‘It was important to us that we captured the honest aspects of our life at the moment, as unrefined as the music.’
The video coincides with news that they’ve announced their first ever world tour which will take them across Europe with RÜFÜS DU SOL and NAO and North America with RÜFÜS DU SOL again (as well as playing a run of stand alone shows). Kllo will also play a special London show on November 3rd as part of the [PIAS] Nites series at Omera with fellow [PIAS] Different Recordings artists, Vessels and Groves. To cap off a busy year, they’ll make their New York City live debut at Baby’s All Right on December 8th.
Well Worn is out now on Ghostly International (North America), Different Recordings/PIAS (UK/Europe/Japan) and Good Manners Records (AU/NZ/ROW).
Roosevelt – Colours (Tyler Pope Remix)
Marius Lauber AKA Roosevelt recently released his self-titled debut album to worldwide critical acclaim, including praise from Pitchfork, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, The Independent, NPR Music, among many others, and just kicked off a North American tour with sold-out shows at LA’s The Echo and San Francisco’s The Chapel. Other upcoming dates include Seattle, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, a sold-out show at NYC’s Mercury Lounge (9/27) and a soon-to-sell-out show at Rough Trade (9/28), and more- see below for a full schedule.
Today, Roosevelt shares a new remix of the single “Colours” by Tyler Pope of LCD Soundsystem. Pope says: “I really liked the melodic sensibility of the original track so it was easy for me to remix. I imagined my remix to be a combination of the pop disco that was already there mixed with techno.” Listen here:
Video: Beth Orton – Wave
Following the release of her critically-acclaimed new album ‘Kidsticks’, Beth Orton is to embark on a 10 date UK headline tour.
Prior to the tour which starts this Saturday, you can watch Beth perform ‘1973’ on Tuesday’s Jools Holland show here and her brand new video for ‘Wave’ here:
You can also watch Beth perform ‘Wave’ (and ‘1973’ again) on the extended edition of Jools this Friday at 11.05pm on BBC2.
Sept 24th NORWICH Waterfront
Sept 25th CAMBRIDGE Junction
Sept 27th GATESHEAD Sage 2
Sept 28th BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute 2
Sept 29th BRISTOL Anson Rooms
Oct 1st OXFORD O2 Academy 1
Oct 2nd GLASGOW Saint Lukes
Oct 3rd LEEDS Beckett Students’ Union
Oct 4th MANCHESTER Cathedral
Oct 6th LONDON O2 Forum Kentish Town
Tickets available at bethortonofficial.com/tickets
Video: RY X – Howling
Check out the visuals for the RY X single, “Howling”. Lifted from the his debut album Dawn, available now, the video is a primal sensual interpretation of the song, further explained by RY X as being “a deep hope to bring the same sense of sensuality and raw heartedness to the video that was surrounding my life when I created this song. Howling is based around the emotional connection and impact of past lovers into the present space. About the way we hold onto their energy and carry it, and them, with us, into new relationships, and into our lives even as we grow. I collaborated with dear friends on this piece with artist Elena Stonaker creating visual worlds, choreographer Nina McNeely for dance, and the three lead women in this are dear friends of mine. That way the intimacy and connection was real. Ever present.”
Be sure to check him on his first headline US tour this fall and check the video below.
Tricky pres. Flase Idols – Obia EP
The ‘OBIA EP’ is Tricky’s latest release, out via his own False Idols imprint on Sept 30th. The seven track collection showcases works by established and young emerging artists including CASISDEAD, Kiko King & creativemaze, WOODJU, Syava and Euanwhosarmy Feat. Lyndsey Lupe.
All the artists featured have been specially chosen by Tricky with the main purpose to provide a platform for them to be heard, where – in contrast to most UK and US labels – music does not have to be in English language.
It includes a powerful collection of tracks one that stretches from soulful electronic and hip hop sounds of Russia’s underground to the grooves of Berlin’s young talent, including artists discovered by Tricky on his travels and touring around the globe.
The EP is framed by two tracks by WOODJU, opening with ‘Damballah’ and closing with ‘Irradiant’. Both him and Syava, who contributes the track “Nenaviju Izmenu”, are Russian artists that struck up a strong relationship with Tricky, once again on his travels and have now been provided with a platform to shine.
Next up, Tricky provides Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja (a/k/a 3D) an opportunity to showcase a new track entitled ‘For Nothing’, produced by Del Naja and Euan Dickinson under the name Euanwhosarmy and featuring the vocals of Lynsey Lupe. The pair’s current creative bond should come as no surprise, as Tricky recently returned to perform alongside the Bristol band this summer to much media attention.
Los Angeles- and Berlin born Kiko King & creativemaze who now both reside in Berlin and have supported Tricky on German dates, add two tracks, “Tin Man” and “Wolves”.
‘Does It’ is a new take of a track that originally appeared on Tricky’s ‘False Idols’ album in 2013. This version features new verses from one of UK rap’s most elusive and enigmatic figures CASISDEAD who delivers his trademark distinctly British and macabre delivery with snatches of story bound lyrics that are socially poignant.
There’s a clear organic and unforced feel to the OBIA EP with the contributors granted license to grow with a native wild approach. We see Tricky taking a visible supporting role to artists that he wants to see flourish.
OBIA EP is released through False Idols September 30th.
