Illum Sphere - The Plan Is Dead

When the sky turns black, why do I feel so blue?

2010 has been a hell of a year for Illum Sphere. Ryan Hunn a.k.a Illum Sphere has been rushed of his feet, not only is he the co-creator of Manchester’s (and probably the UK’s) freshest club night Hoya:Hoya but he also claimed a spot in the much sort after Red Bull Music Academy at the beginning of 2010.

In between his hectic schedule he managed to drop his massive Titan EP for Martyn’s 3024 label whilst also releasing two EP’s via Fat City Recordings. The first of this two-part release being the excellent Long Live the Plan and now to conclude proceedings he has released the much anticipated The Plan Is Dead.

The EP opens with the psychedelic Hip-Hop sounds of One For Dimlite with Illum Sphere tipping his cap to the much respected Swiss producer. With its swirling vocal samples set against its relaxed Hip-Hop beat, One For Dimlite is a great opening for the listener to ease themselves into.

Next on the agenda is Diablo Day Out, a futuristic take on Hip-Hop in a similar vein to artists such as Flying Lotus. Based around an awkward yet appropriate melody Diablo Day Out shows why Illum Sphere is a master of the leftfield Hip-Hop sound.

Supercharged begins with its upbeat shuffling percussion, which then collides with a deep and futuristic bounce. This then morphs into a synth ridden beast which reminds of the LuckyMe member Hudson Mohawke at his best.

Illum Sphere then takes us down a dark and dystopian path with An Old Escape (Kill Them Kill). Starting out with a tribal sounding introduction the track is then drenched in dark synths and heavy beats to create a menacing dancefloor cut.

The EP concludes with Aftermath which carries on from where An Old Escape left off. With a deep synth bassline juxtaposed against a Sci-Fi inspired melody, Aftermath clatters against a distorted drum n bass rhythm to finish things off nicely.

Although I have likened his sound to artists such as Flying Lotus and HudMo I use these names only as a reference point as I feel that Illum Sphere is making music way ahead of its time. The plan may be dead but that isn't to say it didn’t work.

The Plan Is Dead is available now physically and digitally via Fat City Recordings.

Listen to EP opener One For Dimlite below:

One For Dimlite by Illum Sphere

Secret Peter - 10 Best Tracks of 2010

Georgy Porgy pudding pie, kissed the girls and made them cry....

As I delivered my top 10 albums of 2010 last week I believe it only fair that I bore you to death with my top 10 tracks of 2010 as well, so here they are.

#1 Quest - Smooth Skin

Deep outer space electonic vibes from Deep Medi Musik
One for the wig out sessions at the end of a long night. Essential listening!


#2 James Blake - CMYK

Absolute dancefloor destroyer from man of the moment James Blake. Sampling Kelis' vocal to great effect, James has made screaming "I found her red coat" more enjoyable than ever.


#3 Foals - Spanish Sahara

I wasn't a huge fan of Foals after they appeared with their "Math Rock" sound back in 2005 but then I heard Spanish Sahara. Beautifully crafted, progressive and haunting if only all comeback singles were this good.


#4 Ramadanman - Glut

I don't think it could have been a more perfect year for David Kennedy a.k.a Ramadanman. This lad is seriously striking whilst the iron's hot, with his huge cross over single Work Them and now releasing material under the Pearson Sound alias, his percussive 808 sound has soundtracked the year for me.


#5 Mim Suleiman - Mingi

Zanzibar born singer/songwriter Mim Suleiman teamed up with legendary house producer Maurice Fulton to come up with this years stand out underground disco stomp. For me personally I prefer the instrumental dub version but the vocal ain't half bad either.


#6 Breach - Fatherless

Breach otherwise known as Ben Westbeech churned out probably the most instantly recognisable anthem of 2010 with Fatherless. With banging tribal drums and the nastiest use of a flute I've ever heard, this one is fatter than Rick Waller in his prime.


#7 Jamie Woon - Night Air

With his good mate Burial helping out on the controls, Jamie Woon has created the most effortlessly cool electro/soul hit of 2010. Next year looks set to be a big year for Jamie as well with the BBC shortlisting him for the Sound of 2011.


#8 Deadboy - If U Want Me

After releasing his 2009 EP U Cheated, Deadboy returned at the start of 2010 with the infectious house/garage track If U Want Me released on Numbers Records.


#9 Illum Sphere - Titan

May 2010 saw the release of Illum Sphere's Titan EP on none other than Martyn's label 3024. Mixing futuristic Blade Runneresque synths with a glitchy Hip-Hop beat, Illum Sphere is making music way ahead of its time.


#10 Joy Orbison - The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow

Undisputed winner of the longest and strangest song title of the year Joy Orbison returned in early 2010 with The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow. More subtle than his 2009 stand out track Hyph Mngo but still brilliant enough to creep into my top 10.

Secret Peter - Top 10 Albums of 2010

It's that time of year again when everyone starts compiling their best of lists but now the wait is over for Secret Peter's Top 10 Albums of 2010

#1 Caribou - Swim

Back when I first heard this album in April I said it was my album of the year so far, and since then nothing has changed. Dan Snaith infamous for changing musical direction with his outfit Caribou delved into the world of electronic music and came up with a future classic. This LP works on so many levels; on your headphones, on the bus, sat at home or tearing up a grimey dancefloor and that is one of the many reasons that Swim is my album of 2010.

Choice Cut - Sun


#2 Mount Kimbie - Crooks and Lovers

2010 saw the rise of Mount Kimbie. A pair of producers who surfed a sea of praise since releasing their Maybes EP and when it came to their debut album they did not dissapoint. Fusing R'n'B, Hip-Hop, Dubstep and Electronica this duo have created one of the most forward thinking albums of recent times.

Choice Cut - Before I Move Off


#3 Oriol - Night and Day

Oriol for me was the surprise of the year. Hailing from Barcelona and now based in Cambridge this bloke came from nowhere with his 80's Electro/Boogie inspired album. Soaked with lush synths, deep basslines and shuffling percussion Night and Day gave me a bit of sunshine during a somewhat typical damp English Summer.

Choice Cut - Coconut Coast


#4 Glasser - Ring

2010 has seen some amazing debuts from new emerging artists and Ring is certainly one of those. In a similar way to Bat for Lashes and Kate Bush Ms. Cameron Mesirow is not scared to push the boundaries. Using tribal drums and sweeping strings to compliment her haunting voice Ring shows off the talents of a gifted individual who I'm sure has plenty more up her sleeve.

Choice Cut - Home


#5 Four Tet - There Is Love In You

January of this year saw the comeback of one of electronic music's most valued producers Kieran Hebden a.k.a Four Tet. Picking up from where he left off with his Ringer EP back in 2008 Four Tet came back with an offering aimed at the dancefloor. There Is Love In You is packed full of intricate melodies and technological trickery to give an experience not just suited for the dancefloor but for the sofa as well.

Choice Cut - Angel Echoes


#6 Gold Panda - Lucky Shiner

After releasing his You Ep at beginning of 2010 October saw the release of Gold Panda's first full length effort, Lucky Shiner. Splicing Hip-Hop and Electronica with Eastern instruments and samples Lucky Shiner is a great example of two seemingly different worlds coming together to create something new and intriguing.

Choice Cut - Same Dream China


#7 Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me

This year I had the pleasure of seeing this lady live down in London for the first time and I have to say I was spellbound. Have One on Me shows how much Ms. Newsom has matured and grown as a song writer since her Milk Eyed Mender days. With over 3 discs worth of material Have One On Me really shows off the versatility of one of folk music's living greats.

Choice Cut - Baby Birch


#8 Darkstar - North

After abandoning half an albums worth of material and adding vocalist James Buttery, Hyperdub's unlikely heroes Darkstar came to the publics attention with North. Stepping away from the Dubstep/Garage sound which got them recognised, Darkstar created their dark melancholic and haunting take on 80's industrial synth pop to critical acclaim.

Choice Cut - Gold


#9 Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma

Dubbed by Flying Lotus as his "Space Opera" Cosmogramma sees Steve Ellison distort his wonky hip-hop sound from his previous releases and take it to a whole new world. Featuring the likes of Thom Yorke, Thundercat and Jazz legend Ravi Coltrane Cosmogramma definitely comes out all guns blazing. Newcomers beware this may scare you away at first but stick with it and you will be converted.

Choice Cut - Do The Astral Plane


#10 Aloe Blacc - Good Things

This year saw Aloe Blacc roll back the years with his Soul inspired album Good Things. Opening with his upbeat hit I Need A Dollar Aloe Blacc takes the tempo down for the rest of his LP harking back to the days of Al Green, Sam Cooke and Otis Redding whilst adding his own modern swagger.

Choice Cut - Loving You Is Killing Me

Secret Peter - Don't Call Me Shirley Mix

I am serious, and don't call me Shirley

As it's nearly Christmas hear at Secret Peter we are in a giving mood. So here is another mix for you to wrap your ear drums around.

This mix was recorded in honour of the late & great comedy genius that was Leslie Nielsen.

Again there's a slight buzzing on the quiet bits but you should know that by now. And please remember that all these mixes are recorded on vinyl as everyone knows Vinyl is King.

Tracklist:

Modeselektor - Art & Cash (SBTRKT Remix)
Mount Kimbie - Maybes (James Blake Remix)
James Blake - CMYK
Deadboy - If U Want Me
Ramadanman - Work Them
Floating Points - K & G Beat
Ramadanman - Fall Short
Illum Sphere - Titan

Listen to this mix for free via my Mixcloud, Merry Christmas.

x

Don't Call Me Shirley Mix by Casualsi on Mixcloud

Floating Points Ensemble - Post Suite

We'll all float on, good news is on the way....

Now here at Secret Peter I do try and keep as ahead of the game as possible but I must admit that this one crept up on me without me even noticing.

Today I bring you the rather superb news that Floating Points is releasing some new material. Although Sam Shepherd is best known for tracks such as Love Me Like This and the still absolute killer known as Vacuum Boogie he has plenty more tricks up his sleeve.

Taking time out from producing his Nu-Disco/House sounds Floating Points has brought several musicians together to form the Floating Points Ensemble. Although the talent within the ensemble is mostly rumoured I can confirm that the group does feature Soul princess Fatima on vocals with Sam orchestrating and writing the music. My sources also tell me that Funkineven also plays a part but don't quote me on that.

Recorded at the historic Abbey Road Studios the first offering Post Suite sees the Floating Points Ensemble dip their toes into the world of Jazz. Opening with some delicate keys and strings you feel as if you could be listening to The Cinematic Orchestra. But don't be mistaken this is no copycat production, Sam makes the sound his own.

The new 10" Vinyl is available now on Ninja Tune and features the tracks Post Suite and Almost In Profile. There is also rumours of an album in the pipeline so lets keep our fingers crossed.

Listen to Post Suite below:

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