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News
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SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 12
Earplug is a twice-monthly email magazine, delivering a handpicked
selection of news, sounds, videos, and original features to the international electronic-music community.
Could it actually be time to be optimistic about the state of electronic dance music in the United States? Isolée's blinding, bi-coastal blowouts proved that laptops can too rock; Jamie Lidell is burning out subs as he crosses the country with Four Tet; and upcoming tandem tours from Ellen Allien with Audion and Kompakt with Areal prove that a little cooperation goes a long way. If those names seem a bit too Europhile for you, snack on these Frisco fries, because Loveparade SF showed that it's not just Europe's capitals that are on fire these days. Based on the evidence from this season's mix CDs, we predict that the ongoing love affair between over- and underground will continue to heat up — promising hot and heavy nights for clubbers on all continents.
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Takk... the fourth album from Sigur Rós, is now available on Geffen Records. Written, performed, and produced by the group (along with co-producer Ken Thomas) at its studio in Á lafoss, Iceland, Takk... justifies every amazing claim ever laid at this exceptional band's door. |
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License to Spin
Following a series of high-profile crackdowns on digital DJs earlier this year, UK royalty collection society PPL has finally created a Digital DJ License, allowing DJs to play mp3s off laptops or computers when DJing in clubs, pubs, and other UK venues. For £200 a year, DJs can copy up to 20,000 tracks onto their computers for DJing in public and keep a backup on a separate hard drive. The licenses are available directly through PPL or one of its dubbing operators, such as digitaldj.co.uk. Unfortunately, indicating the labyrinthine complexities of UK copyright law, the license still does not cover DJs who burn music onto CDs for playing in public. And in further restrictions, DJs are still prohibited from recording their own DJ mixes. Another prohibition bars "edit[ing] or alter[ing] the track (including combining two or more tracks to create a new track)" — a regulation that, taken at its most literal, would seem to fly in the face of DJ culture's most basic tenets. PPL has promised to start enforcing the license requirement in the "near future," though it offers no indication of how it may allocate royalties to interested artists on an equitable basis. (CW/PS)
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MORE HEADLINES
Ketamine: It's Not Just for Horses Anymore
K-holes opening across UK dance floors more »
Desert Music
Scientists compile CD of sand dune sounds more »
Legionnaire's Release
Isolée brings his schizophonic splendors to the US more »
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Artist: |
Jamie Lidell |
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| Album: |
Multiply |
| Label: |
Warp Records |
| Release: |
June 13 |
A would-be 1960's soul classic re-envisioned with the digital machinery of the 21st century, Multiply's richness derives from the glorious abandon with which Jamie Lidell channels a generation of soul singers. Equal parts Otis Redding, George Clinton, Sam Cook, Prince, and Steve Wonder, it's as if he's been stealing bone marrow and red blood cells for a musculoskeletal replacement and a full transfusion. Whether it be the slinky do-wop of "What's the Use?," the Motown shimmer of "Music Will Not Last," or the New Power Generation funk frenzy of "Newme," Lidell croons and warbles with daredevil aplomb over instrumentation that jiggles and bleeps with digital artifacts, while noise and technology masquerade as a lock-step rhythm section. As the P-Funk Mothership crash-lands into the studio during "The City," you can almost hear that Lidell has slung himself so robustly into the past that he's come around to the future. (MT)
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Artist: |
Timo Maas |
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| Album: |
Pictures |
| Label: |
A&E/Ultra |
| Release: |
August 2 |
Revered deck-master Timo Maas' ample cred hangs on his panache for captivating dance-floor cognoscenti with dark, crunchy, mind-melding stadium techno that meshes electro, rock, and rap. At his most cohesive, his bottom-heavy, rubbery bass and precise, pile-driving thump betray latent radio-friendly noblesse, flashing endearing glimpses of a gifted DJ in full crossover bloom. As evidenced by the riveting Loud, however, Maas' metamorphosis is best served by savvy collaborations. On board for noir stalker soundtrack Pictures, twisted soul sister Kelis, reclusive songbird Neneh Cherry, and kinky Placebo frontman Brian Molko all do their studio best to propel Timo's immaculate production to Loud's breakthrough decibels. The familiar arrangements, dubious lyrics, and ersatz vocal stylings don't quite pack the same resounding wallop, but they're enough to render Pictures a competent echo of the sonic boom of his explosive debut. (JH)
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Artist: |
Modeselektor |
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| Album: |
Hello Mom! |
| Label: |
Bpitch Control |
| Release: |
September 26 |
While the Bpitch team hammers out one techno homer after another, Modeselektor hold things down out in left field. With razor-sharp edits that bring Dabrye to mind, several subgenres — from electro and subtle glitch to filthy continental crunk — are in play on Hello Mom!. The duo sucks the juice from catchy sampled melodies, coughing them back up in grainy, staggered spasms, but always leaves enough intact to keep things interesting (and recognizable). "Dancingbox" is a brilliant, cut-to-ribbons collaboration with Parisian hip-hop trio TTC, while "The Rap Anthem" builds off of a very familiar kick-snare beat, piling on spacey, swirling tones to create a Jenga-like construction of sound propped up by the drums. The euphoric final track, "I Love You," goes out to the moms — perhaps as thanks for putting up with the early cacophony that has since developed into such production brilliance. (CJN)
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Artist: |
Capitol K |
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| Album: |
Nomad Junk |
| Label: |
Faith & Industry |
| Release: |
September 19 |
The "folktronic" sound associated with artists like Four Tet, Kelpe, and Capitol K might seem like a limited proposition; after a certain point, don't all fusions of acoustic guitars, sampled flutes, and chunky hip-hop breaks sort of sound the same? But just as Four Tet's triumphant Everything Ecstatic found new ways of mixing up familiar elements, Capitol K's fine fifth album offers surprises at every turn — whether it's the Lipps Inc. bass line in "Hong Kong" (sampled last year on Justus Kõhncke's "Timecode") or the eardrum-bending, Stereolabby squeal of "Jamboree." Capitol K's melodies are sunny enough, and his samples sufficiently acoustic — from bells and harps to brushed snares — to retain a resolutely folky, psychedelic feel, but his fondness for drones and grating electronics lends a Krautrock feel to his peripatetic compositions. May he keep wandering. (PS)
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Artist: |
Ladytron |
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| Album: |
Witching Hour |
| Label: |
Rykodisc |
| Release: |
October 4 |
Ladytron did well to distance themselves from the short-lived electroclash scene, because as Witching Hour proves, not only was the Liverpool-based quartet around before the trend's rise, but it's also not going anywhere after the fall. The band's third album finds it still reeling in the icy overtones and analogue undertones it's always done so well, with monotones — both vocal and fashion-oriented — still leading the way. However, in maturing this far, the group has discovered another element that makes its music that much more affecting: genuine emotion. "Beauty*2" is simply heartbreaking in its lonely lament, and album closer "All the Way" touches on a similar nerve. "Destroy Everything You Touch," meanwhile, is without a doubt the strongest Ladytron composition to date, a chilling indictment of a song that will follow you around like a devious shadow with a mind of its own. (DL)
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EARPLUG FAVES
Dominik Eulberg, Kreucht & Fleucht (Mischwald)
DJ Naughty, One Night in Berlin (Eskimo)
Andy Vaz, Live in Detroit (Persistencebit)
Vince Watson, Echoes from the Future: View to the Past (Bio)
Vector Lovers, Capsule for One (Soma)
Lindstrom & Prins Thomas, Lindstrom & Prins Thomas (Eskimo)
Matias Aguayo, Are You Really Lost (Kompakt)
Alex Under, Dispositivos de Mi Granja (Trapez)
And the Lefthanded,
"Rocket Rock"
(Freundinnen)
Slam, Nightdrive (Resist)
Ewan Pearson, Sci.Fi.Hi.Fi. (Soma)
The Orb, Okie Dokie It's the Orb on Kompakt (Kompakt)
Soulwax, Nite Versions (PIAS)
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Amsterdam Dance Event
October 27-29
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl
The Netherlands' fertile electronic-music scene means different things to different clubbers. Trance diehards cruise the canals to the strains of Ferry Corsten; fans of punishing techno go for the likes of Joris Voorn; members of the Detroit diaspora stock up on Delsin and Rush Hour releases; and electro aficionados grind booty and smoke grass with space invaders I-F and Legowelt. It's hard to imagine all these sounds coming together, but that's the job of Amsterdam Dance Event, which for three nights fills the liquid city's clubs with every conceivable genre of dance music. Like WMC, M3, and Midem, ADE doubles as a professional conference, with panels and seminars on the ins and outs of running labels, promoting clubs, and the state of the industry. In one of the event's most popular sessions, a lucky few bedroom producers even have the chance to have their tracks vetted by top-tier club jocks — a sort of Amsterdam Idol for laptoppers, if you will.
LINEUP: Evil Nine, Adam Freeland, Sneak, Rednosedistrikt, Marco V, Vector Lovers, Jori Hulkkonen, Solvent, DK7, Sébastien Léger, Anthony Rother, Dave Clarke, Joris Voorn, Jacek Sienkiewicz, Pascal FEOS, Soulwax Nite Versions, Dwele, Rich Medina, Rude Movements, Rude 66, Vince Watson, Aroy Dee, Dynarec, Dexter, Peel Seamus, Legowelt, Newworldaquarium, and more. (PS)
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MORE FESTIVALS
Electrofringe
September 29-October 3
Newcastle, Australia
Ultima
September 30-October 16
Oslo, Norway
Romaeuropa
September 30-November 27
Rome, Italy
Panoptica
November 6
Liège, Belgium
Avanto
November 18-20
Helsinki, Finland
Radiator
December 1-4
Nottingham, England
Impakt
December 7-11
Utrecht, Netherlands
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listen » |
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[a]pendics.shuffle: Live at Dreikommanull, Leipzig (MP3)
LA's Ken Gibson is on a roll lately, releasing everything from minimal techno to dubby breakcore under a slew of aliases including Eight Frozen Modules and dubLoner. Here, as [a]pendics.shuffle, he presents 74 minutes of herky-jerky digital funk for Berlin's Mo's Ferry label.
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listen » |
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Aswefall Plays Digital Folk (RealAudio)
Ivan Smagghe tapped Aswefall's "Ride (Lovelysplintermix)" to open his punchy, minimalist Fabric 23 mix, but this offering from the French duo couldn't be more different. Opening with Neil Young and slouching through an hour of bright-eyed indie folk, glitchy beats, and autumnal post-punk, it's perfect for a velvety Sunday morning.
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listen » |
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Ellen Allien Live at Creamfields Andalucía (MP3)
Bpitch Control founder Ellen Allien's dark, goth-leaning recordings are one thing; her stark, raving DJ sets are something else entirely. Listen in as she keeps southern Spain's festival-goers moving through the hot summer night.
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listen » |
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Sébastien Léger at Dance-Valley 2003 (RealAudio)
Filters, kick drums, and snares — oh my! In honor of his upcoming festival appearance, Amsterdam Dance Event points us to a rousing set of breakbeat-infused disco house from France's Seb Léger.
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listen » |
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Platoniq: Burn.fm vs. Scannerfm.com (MP3)
Even in Catalonia, word on the street is that "George Bush don't like black people." On this collaboration between Barcelona online broadcasters Burn.fm and Scannerfm.com, everything goes — from Richard Davis, to hardstep grime, to a soulful bootleg based on Kanye West's infamous quip.
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Looking for more hot mix sets and fresh new tracks?
Check out Blentwell for an
ongoing document of the evolution of blended music online.
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Preview: Infamy
Dir. Doug Pray, 2005, 90 minutes
In documentary film, one thing counts above all else: access. Perhaps nothing looms more ominously over the head of a documentary filmmaker than gaining the confidence of his or her subjects. For Doug Pray, known primarily as the director of critically acclaimed music-scene documentaries Hype! and Scratch and the editor of the Hughes Brothers' American Pimp, his newest film, Infamy, presented the most difficult challenge of his career — gaining the trust of a group of seven stylistically diverse and globally celebrated graffiti artists. The only option for the self-proclaimed outsider was to enlist the assistance of a respected graffiti insider: Infamy's supervising producer and creative consultant, Roger Gastman, a tireless creative and entrepreneurial force in the current street art renaissance, who is also a notable DC-area graffiti writer. "I like being an outsider," says Pray, before the RESFEST premiere of the film. "As I learn and get excited about something I've never thought about or haven't seen before, I react to that excitement, and eventually I have a film."
Keep reading »
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Each week, Earplug sneaks a peek inside the crates of our favorite DJs. We'll even help you beef up your own bag: click on selected titles to preview, download, or purchase vinyl.
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Lee Burridge
(Tyrant/Fabric)
London, England
www.leeburridge.com
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- Manon, "Mixdown Limiter" (CD-R)
- David Jimenez, "Unknown" (CD-R)
- Spirit Catchers, "Key Generator" (Mood Music)
- Alex Smoke, "Lost in Sound (Vector Lovers Remix)" (Soma)
- Lee Burridge/Dan F, "Treat 'Em Mean, Keep 'Em Keen" (365)
- LCD Soundsystem, "Tribulations (Lindstrøm Remix)" (DFA)
- Robag Wruhme, "Wortkabular (Tobi Neumann Remix)" (Musik Kraus)
- Audion, Suckfish (Spectral Sound)
- Konrad Black and Ghostman, "Medusa Smile" (Wagon Repair)
- Troy Pierce, "Run" (Minus)
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View all of this week's charts »
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Editors:
Doug Levy
Sascha Lewis
Steve Marchese
Philip Sherburne
Jon Spooner
Cyrus Wadia
Founder:
David J. Prince
Cover Design:
Yok
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Contributors:
Kendra Borowski
Andy Cumming
David Day
Nick Doherty
Carl Hagen
Jorge Hernandez
James Jung
Mandy Minor
Colin James Nagy
Nick Parish
Tim Pratt
Maggie Stein
Bruce Tantum
Mark Teppo
Toby Warner
Production:
Anjuli Ayer
Morgan Croney
Pilar Gallego
Jake Lancaster
Afarin Majidi
Sander-Martijn Milks
Judah Wiedre
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Submissions/Feedback |
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Tell us what you think is exciting and worth including in Earplug by dropping us
an email at tips.
Writers interested in getting even more involved should reach us at contribute.
To criticize, praise, or generally comment on this publication,
please send an email to feedback.
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Cover Design |
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We have an open call to create the covers that run at the top of each issue.
If you would like to submit a design, please email us at design
and we'll send you the necessary specs.
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About Us |
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Earplug is an email magazine dedicated to electronic music and its many dynamic styles and influences. Published every two weeks, it features a handpicked selection of music news, cultural spotlights, tip sheets, CD reviews, original reporting, and music festival previews and reviews. Earplug offers only pure editorial and unbiased news — no money is accepted from any artists, labels, promoters, or companies seeking mention.
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