Aurgasm

Electronic // Thrill // Chill

Anchorsong has a way with the MPC, as you can see in the above video. This Tokyo export shipped to London in 2007 and has ever since been building a live reputation, being famed for energetic shows. Masaaka Yoshida’s records are as dynamic and energetic as his live performances, with sounds found in lounge music combined with organic soulful layers from various genres and vibrant pulsating rhythms. Having released three EP’s in Japan and one international EP on his own label, the debut album Chapters is out now, from which I recommend the moody sway of ‘Plum Rain’ and the bold rhythm of ‘At the Hyatt’.

Japanese quirky & thrilling approach to electronic music.
Anchorsong – Plum Rain
Anchorsong – At the Hyatt (stream only)
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instrumental hip-hop // idm

The music of LA native Sahy Uhns a.k.a. Carl Madison Burgin is a unique blend of West Coast hip-hop, IDM and ambient influenced soundscapes, all topped off with some glitchy beats, organic rhythms and obscure psychedelic beauty. The opening track, a personal favorite, of his recently released album An Intolerant Disdain of Underlings (2011), “Montebello Postpartum”, delivers a dreamy ambient vibe and a gentle midtempo beat. “Anticipation Of The Night, which is named after a 1958 film by Stan Brakhage, showcases Sahy Uhns’ outstanding sound design skills.

Mesmerizing sound collage.
Sahy Uhns – Montebello Postpartum
Sahy Uhns – Anticipation of the Night
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electronic // future garage

An idiophone is any musical instrument which creates sound primarily by way of the instrument’s vibrating, without the use of strings or membranes. Steel drums, or more appropriately known as steel pans, are mallet-struck toned ideophones and seemingly fit extremely well in the post-dubstep world of “future garage”, “wonky” or essentially 2011’s evolution of 2-step. Balanced very well against the gravity percussion, unintelligible vocals and a sweet and salacious bassline provide a warm bed. My recommendation: listen but turn it up and drop in at 3:45. Sublime.

Bendy, bouncy, but based in reality.
Jamie xx – Far Nearer
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electronic // future garage

Between toned white noise, spherical raindrops whet the aural palette. A “precisely manipulated diva wails; soon balancing the harsher static sounds. The drop is wonderful, with static omitted and replaced by driving 4×4 rhythm that is equal in prominence to the pad arrangement, whilst vocal clips fill atmospheric gaps“.

Sensual, simple, and satisfying. Tones and tastes.
Koreless – MTI
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Sub // Soul // Chill

One could consider Submotion Orchestra a loungy exponent of the dubstep genre. This, however, would do them no justice. The tracks are crafted with more skill and consideration than the average ‘lounge’ sounds, while the subtle approach has nothing to do with the blunt destruction radiated from the average dubstep track. Their debut album Finest Hour consists of soulful tracks pulsating with sub bass fueled emotions & intricate downtempo rhythms, equally able to hold their own when stripped to acoustic renditions.

Subtle soul floating on a sub-bass driven undercurrent.
All Yours (Acoustic Version) [get 320 kbps mp3 here]
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Funk // Beats // Soul

Lovers of beats and soulful production should not be a stranger to Adam Gibbons. Often compared to DJ Shadow’s early sound, this funky dude is a frequently asked remixer who also produces for acts like The Diplomats of Solid Sound and Frootful. Lack Of Afro rolls original samples into played instruments, making any song he touches feel vibrant and organic, stirred up with deep bass and heavy drums.

Lovingly produced soulful grooves.
Lack of Afro – A Time For (feat. Wayne Giddens) (from This Time)
Lack of Afro – Roderigo (from Press On)

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icelandic composer // contemporary classical

The cinematic nature of Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson’s work has led him to work on countless soundtracks for documentaries, shorts and feature films. And In The Endless Pause There Came The Sound Of Bees (2010), composed as a soundtrack for Marc Craste’s award winning animated film Varmints, embodies ghostly choirs, gentle strings, lyrical piano, all wrapped in the barely perceptible electronic processing that Jóhannsson is known for. Largely orchestral and choral, it is recommended for those of you, who enjoy the electronic synthesis of Fennesz, Icelandic melancholia of Sigur Rós and ethereal minimalism of Arvo Pärt.

Painfully beautiful.
Jóhann Jóhannsson – City Building (Alternate Version)
Jóhann Jóhannsson – Rainwater
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Songwriter // Jazz // Soul

Subtle layering of emotional songs with attitude both playful and deep make Stacey Dowdeswell an artist to keep an ear on. Her debut album Turn That Light Out oozes soulful and mostly contemplative songs, co-written & produced by label mate Scrimshire, benefited with added depth and clarity from Benedic ‘Nostalgia 77‘ Lambdin’s engineering. Electronic heads should check the pair of remix albums where Stac’s songs are reimagined by beatsmiths like Bonobo, Ashley Beedle and Natural Self. Bass driven “All Or Nothing” is a full-bodied red wine, and “Tip” is a mature, intelligent track, while Hint’s counterpart takes all that maturity into the club and shakes it like there ain’t no tomorrow.

Blue eyed soulstress from LDN.
Tip
Tip (Hint Remix)
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Retro // Electronic-chill

Lance Ferguson is one of the most prolific Funk & Soul producers in the retro scene, being the guitarist and producer for The Bamboos, Kylie Auldist & Cookin’ On 3 Burners, as well as having produced for a slew of acts on the Tru Thoughts, Freestyle Records & Record Kicks labels. On Her 12 Faces he teams up with Australian artist Megan Washington as the main singer among a few instrumental tracks. This second album as Lanu displays the full breadth of Lance’s versatility as a producer and shows he can do more than retro-soul or raw funk. Schizophrenic? Not quite, but many faced for sure. All songs tell a story, be it vocalized or written in melody. “Beautiful Trash” is an uptempo, sunny affair that has Washington bouncing along a retro vibe. “The Roosevelt Blues” is equally playful (both in vibe and execution) and envelops you in a lo-fi sumer breeze.

Australian multi-faceted sunshine sounds.
The Roosevelt Blues (feat. Megan Washington)
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two-step // mallet percussion

The history of this song is pretty storied, but I’m already plenty distracted by the production of this take on “You’ve Got The Love” by The XX. We open with arpeggiated harp lines. A basic two-step beat trots out, chased by the two-step signature sub-bass, descending in hertz. The XX give us tag-team male & female vocals, matching in harmony just when… a float of mallets tickling vibraphones come flirting past your ears. The bass and vocals meet up with the percussion, stimulating an aural foreplay. I’ll let you take it from here.

Vibraphones, harps, ‘n deep bass on the dance floor.
Florence and The Machine -You’ve Got the Love (The XX Remix)