Saturday 28 February 2015

Ilictromix: Caius

Our popular Ilictromix series is back and I'm excited for you guys to hear what we have in store. This week we travel to Copenhagen Denmark, and learn about an artist who couldn't have put together a better mix to start us off with again.




Todays mix comes from a 19 year old funky powerhouse that goes by the name Caius. I came across him because of his stellar track "Love You Right" and I knew we had to have more. This is the first track he put out and I can't wait to hear what else he has up his sleeves.



This Ilictromix is topnotch and reminds us why we love Disco-House so much. Caius has only been making music since 14, after bedroom raping to Big Seans Finally Famous Mixtapes (Yes we all feel old now). I think after hearing this Ilictromix we can all be glad he shifted gears into his current production style.  Tracklist after the jump.






Tracklist: 

FKJ - The Twins
MAM - Crushed Ice
Star Slinger - I/IV
Le Nonsense - Kaer
Xtrafunk (Feat. Loumar & Nas) - Deep Down
Cherokee - Take Care of You
Myth Syzer - Bonbon a la menthe (Stwo Remix)
Kido Yoji - Won’t You Come Again
Breakbot - Easy Fraction
Touch Sensitive - Show Me
Irfane (feat. Outlines) - Just A Lil’ Lovin’
Kartell - It’s You
Alexkid - Love We Have
Alina Baraz & Galimatias - Fantasy
Bondax - All I See (Darius Remix)
The Swiss - In The City (Luke Million Remix)
Caius - Love You Right
Exmag - Somethin’ Bout Your Love


Find more of Caius on his Facebook, Soundcloud, or Twitter 


-Adam Tucker




Thursday 26 February 2015

Renewed

Sorry about the wait, I just had the domain renewed for another 2 years, so the ilictronix train will keep on rolling until 2017! And with that out of the way I am clear to post again without worry of the site going down. Here's this week's jams.

Tom Wesselmann -Interior #2 (1964)


A pleasant surprise this morning as I sat down to edit, more Pretty Lights. His debut was by far my favourite but the follow up, Filling Up The City Skies does have it's moments that bring it up to that level. Take Change Is Gonna Come for example, I could listen to that intro forever, gorgeously smooth even when the beats come crashing in a 1:30.



Next is the song I had in mind when doing the renewal process. Much like the PL tune above, the intro for this one is lush, if a little quiet. Every time I turn my volume up to enjoy it only to jump out of my skin when the beats come in. Flashbulb records have been very hard for me to get a hold of, but when I do it's worth it.



And once again the opening track for Shobaleader One continues to be one of my all time favourites coming up on 5 years since it was released. Other than the mastering being a little quiet there is not much I can fault it for. I may be a little biased because I love me some vocoders but still, check it out if you're interested in what 'Pusher can do when he puts aside the Amen Break and sets his site on Space R&B.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Monday 23 February 2015

Self Employed

Being reduced to one day a week isn't too bad, I got videos to keep me occupied and that, even if rendering takes up 80% of my time these days. Here's some tunes seeing me through my rotoscoping today!

Sigmar Polke - The Plant

First up is a tune I barely missed out of my overview of Stenchman's new album. This one's a collabo between his usual vibes and his love letter to the 80's project Steel Stallions and it's pretty bloody great in all honesty, as usual with stench those samples are on point and that bouncy bassline is damn catchy.



Which put me back on his solid Philestine side project. The remix he did of DJ Shadow's Scale It Back keeps it fairly simple but I cannot get enough of it. Headphones are a must to appreciate this one to it's fullest. It's got little in common with the original other than Yukimi's solid vocal contribution, amazing what a little increase in tempo can do for a song.



And funnily enough as I was going through footage frame by frame this little number with a fitting title came up. I've said it before but I'd love for more demos from flylo in the vein of this. Not to say I don't love the direction he's taking but I love me some instrumental hip hop goodness.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Thursday 19 February 2015

Turnin' Tables

Remember like 3 years ago when I posted about going for my interview? well guess whose turn it was to give the new applicants the same treatment this time? Das right this guy right here. So apologies for the post drought, I gotta go be an adult and serious shit. But here I am with some tunes so do not fear!

Pam Glew - Exhale (2013)

Kicking things is one of the first tracks from UNKLE's follow up to Psyence Fiction, held off on it cos there was a decent year gap between the LPs and DJ Shadow isn't part of the lineup on this one. Turns out 'm a big thicky bobo and should probably check things out fist because while quite different from the turntabalist trip hop vibes of Psyence, the tunes here are just as solid and in some cases just as moody.



Got majorly into the Late Night Tales series a while back as you probably all saw with my playlist obsession. The cover songs have always been a highlight, from Röyksopp doing Depeche Mode toFatboy Slim doing Kraftwerk there's plenty to go around. But what's been played the most recently for me is Trentemøller's electric treatment of Chris Isaak's Blue Hotel. It's sinister in spots but is overall a gorgeous listen.



And finally another tune I avoid due to thicky bobo-ness. I kept being recommended Thievery Corporation at every turn thanks to my trip hop listening but avoided it because I was pretty sure that it'd be ore loungy than the moodier vibes of Massive Attack and the all out depressive Portishead. Turns out Trip Hop can jump the pond and it can be done just as well by my transatlantic brethren.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Saturday 14 February 2015

Wuv

Taking the weekend off as usual, realised I didn't stockpile any valentine's mixes like I have done in the past. Oh, cock. Instead have some kinda love-y songs I guess? that seems like a thing I could do to make up for it (and also the slow posts).

Romeo Britto -First Love

Been on a Björk type of thing lately, and I've been itching to post this one again, the tune and infamous video that introduced me to both her and Chris Cunningham and tickled my cyberpunk itch before I even knew I had one (or even what Cyerpunk was).



On that same line I will shamelessly re-post what is to this day till my favourite lovesong in the world: The live version of The Knife's Heartbeats. While no doubt influenced by José Gonzalez's cover that gave it a new atmosphere, The Knife aren't one to be beaten at their own song, and they return with the definitive version. Absolute classic.



Throwback to Simian Mobile Disco's debut. Honestly the tracks here have aged incredibly well, it's coming up on 8 years old now and it's all still pretty fresh. It's chock full of gorgeous electro of the era, and this one along with I Believe are fantastic singalong tracks that I never tire of.



Just realised there's no instrumentals on here, so have an extra bonus from the Modeselektor lads, serving up some smooth synthy goodness with the simply titled I Love You, and I'll see y'all soon with more songs to get you by.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Wednesday 11 February 2015

AFX Appreciation Station

Never thought AFX would scoop himself a Grammy (especially over Röyksopp). Who'da thought a lad from Cornwall twiddling knobs and making acid would go on to such great things? Now as you all saw in the Warped history posts, me and AFX are longtime listening bros, but I'd like to take this post to reflect on and be thankful for Richard D. James. Here would be a good place to start if you are new!


Never one to discount his origins, I honestly love Digeridoo in all it's rough sounding glory. A far cry from his later productions, and certainly nothing like the 'IDM' tag thrown around him and other Warp artists. Bump this one loud and simulate your own warehouse rave circa 1992.



If you're jut looking for a crash course in AFX, the Richard D. James Album is a good place to start. Case in point is track 1, I've had this one in my library close to a decade at this point, and it never stops sounding fresh every time. As soon as I hear that opening beats 'n strings combo I can't help but smile.



Mandatory mention of Selected Ambient Works Vol. II now. There's not much I can say that hasn't been said either by me or elsewhere about this album, it's reputation is well deserved and it's been long enough now that I think it has earned it's place among the all time classics of the genre. Absolutely essential ownership for anyone with an interest in ambient, get it!



It would be a long time before Rich returned to his acid stylings, but when he did in 2005 with the Analord series it was pretty special. Here's one of my favourites from it, demonstrating Rich's mean synthesizer skills, as well as his specialist brand of taking the piss as shown here in the track's title.



So ends our brief tour of AFX, if you like what you've heard go digging on here for more, I've covered more than my fair share of it over the years!

-Claude Van Foxbat

Wednesday 4 February 2015

Crumbs

I dun goofed in that last post so Hype only archived the first tune. And I really like watching the little numbers go up so I am here to post again in the hopes of giving me something to do in my downtime.

James Doolin - City Of Glass (1990)

Thought I make it up in style with a tune I've been holding onto for a long time. From one of my most favourite titled albums ever; Chicago, Detroit, Redruth comes this one. It doesn't matter how bad the day's been yo ucan't help but smile from the first few seconds. Them beats ain't too bad neither.



Coming full circle now, here's a tune I deconstructed for my first year essay. Coming off the heels of my dissertation it looks basic now, but Autechre's protest EP still has it's moments. Here's by far the best track Flutter which is programmed so that no bar of beats is the same which is pretty interesting to listen to. Heads up it sounds even better if you slow it down like 10-20%, try it!



And finally Ex-Games turned Ford & Lopatin with their breed of 80's infused chillwave goodness. Bearly missed a spot on my cyberpunk playlist from the artwork alone. Dug out the LP again ad it is still very nice, really wish they'd come out with some more stuff in the near future.



-Claude Van Foxbat

Monday 2 February 2015

Future

As you may have noticed I am on a techy binge that will sadly end soon as tomorrow I am back to a regular schedule. Regardless I thought 'd leave you all with one last look into my listening before I go back to the routine.

Joseph Stella -Brooklyn Bridge

Starting off with a tune I can't believe I've only just come across, on an unofficial Ghost In The Shell 'tribute album' no less. Rest assured after this tune has ticked all my techno boxes I will definitely be picking it up in future. You wouldn't expect anything else from the legendary Derrick May though would you?



And of course Orbital were among my first techno loves. I posted pretty much all my favourites and it was looking pretty bleak until I remembered this one. Chances are if you dig this you'll love both Orbital's early albums, again it's not my favourite but still a prime example of their craft and a gorgeous time capsule back to the early 90's.



And finally Felix in his early house days. I've been over this one before but I just adore it, Felix's marine themed tracks from Metropolis Present Day? are some of my all time favourites. The intro is a bit long on this one but stick with it and you'll be rewarded with the best version of Submarine out there.



-Claude Van Foxbat