Jamie XX and Gil Scott-Heron - We're New Here

New York I love you but you're bringing me down....

It probably comes as no big surprise to you that Jamie XX has recently been quietly tinkering away on a re-working of Gil Scott-Heron's 2010 come back album I'm New Here but after months of rumours and hearsay news has finally broken today of an official release date.

We're New Here will be released on the 21st of Febuary 2011 via XL. From my first listen of Jamie's remix of NY is Killing Me it sounds as if the talented producer has come up with the goods. He gives the original a bass heavy bounce which will appeal to any Dubstep/Bass head.

Head over to http://www.werenewhere.com/ to stream or watch the video for NY is Killing Me and links to get your hands on this early 2011 essential.

The full Tracklist is shown below:

1. I’m New Here
2. Home
3. I’ve Been Me (Interlude)
4. Running
5. My Cloud
6. Certain Things (Interlude)
7. The Crutch
8. Ur Soul and Mine
9. Parents (Interlude)
10. Piano Player
11. NY Is Killing Me
12. Jazz (Interlude)
13. I’ll Take Care Of U

Fantastic Mr Fox - Evelyn EP

Forget super, ignore incredible, it's all about fantastic....

Since returning from a touring stint in the U.S of A supporting the likes of The XX and Warpaint Manchester based producer Fantastic Mr. Fox is back with the follow up to his Sketches EP; Evelyn.

His latest offering kicks off with the title track Evelyn which steps into Joy Orbison/James Blake territory with its bass driven click clack rhythm and processed vocal, but as soon as the intro gives way the beat breaks into a beautifully crafted leftfield Hip-Hop stomp.

Next on the agenda is Fool Me, with the first 20 seconds sounding like a slow jam version of Katy Perry’s Hot n Cold. FMF switches it up a gear with rising and falling synth stabs combined with intricate bass drum and hand clap patterns.

Mr Fox continues with the garage/Hip-Hop style of Over; utilising sampled and processed vocals to make his beats sound more like conventional songs.

“I wanted vocals to be more prominent, I was trying to find acapellas with richness to them.”

From listening to this EP it seems to me FMF has concentrated heavily on the percussive rhythms he has used, basing his hybrid Hip-Hop/Dance style around his intricate drum sounds and rhythms.

The finale of the EP Sepia Song steps up the BPM again with what sounds to me like Mr. Fox’s sped up take on UK Funky. Using chopped up vocals, 16 bit synth lines and a pounding kick drum. Sepia Song may be short and sweet but is suitable for testing out any sound system daring enough to take it on.

In a world obsessed with pigeon holing artists and genres I find it hard to describe Fantastic Mr. Fox’s sound, similar to many of the other emerging artists around at the moment. Where some producers fail Evelyn succeeds to sound like the efforts of a young talented producer carving out his own individual sound within a new and developing music scene with incredible results.

Evelyn is available now on Black Acre Records. You can also listen to the title track below:

Fantastic Mr Fox - Evelyn by FBi Radio

Casualsi - Louis Walsh Can't Clap Mix

There's more to Ireland than this....

As I have neglected my dedicated blog followers (all 5 of you) for the last couple of weeks I have decided to treat you to yet another mix by moi of some of my recent and not so recent personal musical highlights.

This mix was recorded to highlight the fact to the general public that Louis Walsh is unable to clap like a normal human being.

Once again I cannot afford to fix my mixer so there may be a slight buzzing but other than that I think it is quite lovely. Not all of the timings are perfect but I am lazy and I couldn't be arsed to record it again.

Listen below to your hearts content

Tracklist:

Tiga - Gentle Giant (Martyn's Heaven Remix)
Breach - Fatherless
Four Tet - Sing (Extended Mix)
Glasser - Tremel (Astronomer Remix)
The XX - VCR (Four Tet Remix)
Badly Drawn Boy - Promises (Beyond the Wizards Sleeve Re Animation)
LCD Soundsystem - Beat Connection (Disco Dub Version)
Julio Bashmore - Chazm
Ill Blu - Bellion

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Louis Walsh Can't Clap Mix by Casualsi on Mixcloud

Throwing Snow - Hiffle

Your as cold as ice, willing to sacrifice

It has been a while since my last post and even longer since I treated my readers to a free download of musical goodness.

This little gem comes from Throwing Snow (real name Ross Tones) a London based producer who came to my attention after hearing his recent single Un Vingt which is a broken beat/drum n bass influenced banger well worth checking out.

After stumbling upon his Soundcloud account I discovered this little beauty Hiffle that Mr. Tones is kindly giving away for free. Hiffle is a Hip-Hop inspired slice of dancefloor goodness, using a repetitive grimy synth line that reminds me of Mike Skinners crowning glory Blinded By The Lights. The synth line is chopped up and set against a kicking Hip-Hop beat, simple bass line and a 16 bit trickling melody with astounding results.

His talents have not gone unnoticed with Secret Peter favourite Gold Panda getting this young producer behind the desk to remix his stand out track Snow and Taxis.

Listen and download Hiffle for free below. This is definitely one for the headphones!

Hiffle by Throwing Snow