This is a really nice remix by Maribou State, of a new song from Mr. Fogg. After checking out more of each artist’s music on SoundCloud, I have to say I think this collaboration highlights the best in both.

The official blurb about the forthcoming release:

Mr Fogg provides a second taste of what is to come from his forthcoming sophomore album with new single “A Little Letting Go”, released through Kicking Ink/ Kompakt on May 28th.

Built from spiralling layers of choral samples and intricate beat production, A Little Letting Go picks up where previous single and blogosphere favourite Stay Out Of The Sun (Zane Lowe “Next Hype” on Radio1) left off, but this time sets the electronics against a soaring vocal melody and bittersweet lyrics.

“It’s a song about how people behave in a crisis. Grabbing somebody by the lapels and trying to get them to snap out of their state of shock and do something about it. But it’s also sympathetic, even optimistic – that even the most stubborn of us can be persuaded with the right encouragement.”

“A Little Letting Go” is the second single to be taken from Mr Fogg’s new long-player “Eleven”, conceived at Fogg’s Oxford studio and subsequently completed during 3 trips to Greenhouse Studios in Reykjavik in collaboration with Valgeir Sigurdsson (Bjork – Medulla, Feist – Metals, Damon Albarn – Dr Dee).

It is a beautiful piece of music, powered by a compelling mix of optimism and melancholia.

“A Little Letting Go” is released through Kicking Ink Recordings / Kompakt on 28/05/2012.

German DJ Paul Pre, one of my favorites, has a new mix he did for Laid Back Radio in Belgium, featuring “chilled beat music”. As usual he comes correct with a selection of soulful, futuristic beats featuring AFTA-1, fLako and more (full tracklist below).

Tracklist:

01. Shlohmo – Things I Lost
02. heRobust – Lumber Party
03. Jazzo & Melodiesinfonie – The Euphony Tree
04. Ta-Ku – Glacier
05. ?bstract-ONE – Dreamfeeder/Satellite (Remix)
06. The Astronotes – Luiz
07. Lower Entrance – Netherland Sun
08. Indigo Pyramid – Remember 2 Bounce 1
09. Annu – Opo
10. Free The Robots – Jupiter
11. Taprikk Sweezee feat. Busy – Eating at the Void
12. Samiyam – Where Am I?
13. Kritikul Beats & Teddy P – Abounding Grace
14. Vanilla – Keep On Walking
15. Mndsgn – Meanitlikeyousayit
16. Afta-1 – Amor Es
17. Sugoisounds – Moody
18. fLako – Kelau
19. Groundislava – Gods
20. Kona Triangle – Mango Rubicon
21. Com Truise – Glawio
22. Jon Phonics – The One
23. Samiyam – Frosting Packets
24. Duke Hugh – Ahyeah
25. DZA – Softgram (Kid sW!Ng Remix)
26. Praveen & Benoit – Embers (Machinedrum Version)
27. Devonwho – Brushmetal
28. Belle – Open My Eyes (Quest’s “Flyby” Remix)

The Stereo MCs are back! They have a new album, Emperor’s Nightingale out on August 30th. “Manner” is the first, and pretty impressive single to be released from it, and as you’ll hear below, still features a strong hip-hop meets electro vibe. They sort of remind me of Daft Punk or maybe even Basement Jaxx in that they’ve mastered the art of still being prominently cutting edge with their musical influences, but giving it a polished, pop-friendly sound (and for once I don’t mean that as an insult, hehe)  at the same time. Looking forward to hearing more of the new album. Listen/Download below and let me know what you think of the new song.

Stereo MCs- Manner by !K7 Records

Download “Manner” by Stereo MCs (right-click and choose ‘save as’)

Yesterday’s Machine is the debut release from King Britt’s Saturn Never Sleeps project, his collaboration with singer/artist Rucyl. The blurb from the label describes it as well as I could:

Their debut album, Yesterday’s Machine, combines an experimental create-in-the-moment vibe with inspirational lyrics and vocal sonics that range from Sade tones to Flora Purim’s ethereal layers. The result is well-crafted, intelligent, genre-pushing, electronic soul rooted in the duo’s collective years of experience and musical expanse.

Listen and download the album for free below, and also watch the video for “Grace”

SaturnNeverSleeps – Grace from rux on Vimeo.

Heard this track on Raul Campos’ show on KCRW last night and immediately had to hunt it down. This is probably one of Tokimonsta’s best yet – a totally addictive & melodic downtempo soundscape perfectly complemented by the delicate vocals of Gavin Turek. As HomeWorkOnTheFire points out, the catchy, soulful nature of this track really distinguishes Tokimonsta from her Brainfeeder labelmates who rarely weave melodies into their tracks.

“Little Pleasures” is taken from the Creature Dreams EP.

Tokimonsta – Little Pleasures (feat. Gavin Turek) by SASHIRADIOBLOG

Always excited to hear new music from Miguel Migs…..

One of San Francisco’s finest, Miguel Migs returns with a new single, entitled ‘Everybody’ featuring disco legend, Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King this summer. This release precedes Migs’ eagerly awaited album, ‘Outside the Skyline’, out later this year on the multi faceted Om Records.

Migs’ reputation is such that, when it came to recording his new album ‘Outside The Skyline’, he was able to pull together an impressive line-up of collaborators including original disco diva Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, reggae legends Half-Pint and Freddie MacGregor, first lady of musicianship Meshell Ndegeocello, Berlin based singer Georg Levin and bossa nova phenomenon Bebel Gilberto all make an appearance on the album, alongside two vocalists who’ve been regular co-conspirators, Aya and Lisa Shaw.

The result is an album that’s trademark Migs. Informed by house but no slave to metronomic dancefloor rhythms and tempos, it takes influences from jazz, reggae, soul and more, with a heavy emphasis on high-quality songwriting and equally high production values.

The single package features a tantalizing display of remixes oozing funk, soul, disco and underground dance floor dubs from hotly tipped producers. While Migs gives us his Deep Salted Dub exploring the territories of deep-soul-disco and tech, Aki Bergen provides the quintessential and moody deep house Dub. The Hardsoul Vocal remix pushes the envelope into the realm of upbeat, peak time dance floor biz. With a plethora of remixes to choose from, Soul Clap completely switch the vibe and take us on a ride with their slow house interpretation that turns Italo Disco. Last but not least San Francisco’s Nav Izadi chops Evelyn’s vocals nicely over a nasty bass-line into a late night groove.

Soul Savior indeed. DJ Myxzlplix isn’t messin’ around on this seriously deep and soulful house mix. Pure dopeness.

Deep & Soulful House.

Tracklist
1. Moment (Atjazz Rmx)-Musaria Ft. Saturna
2. Ride With Me-Roberto Rodriguez
3. Wall of Love (Deeper Dub)-Davidson Ospina & MJ White
4. Something (So Good)-Alias Rhythm Ft. Sandy Spady
5. Monday-Will Power
6. Monday Groove-Amir Groove
7. For Your Savior-Redondo
8. take Control-New Mondo
9. I’ll Let It (Aki Bergen Rmx)-The Realm Ft. Choklate

LA-based producer & DJ Jayvon has created this sweet little mash-up project based on Daft Punk’s Tron Legacy movie score. In this 4 track EP, Jayvon re-imagines Sade, Terence Trent D’Arby, Lil Jon and Daft Punk themselves. The result is some atmospheric soul, the likes of which you haven’t really heard before! Well, I could do without Lil Jon (in life in general as well as in this EP), but the beats are awesome. Listen to the Sade and Daft Punk tracks below and head over to Jayvon’s site to download the whole EP. Check out the rest of his music selections – there’s a lot of good stuff to be found there….

Listen to “Pearls (Jayvon Mix)”:
[See post to listen to audio]

Listen to: “Derezzed x Technologic (JayvonMix)”:
[See post to listen to audio]

“Still Sound” is the first song taken from Toro Y Moi’s forthcoming album Underneath the Pine, due out Feb 22nd on Carpark. It’s funky and somewhat ethereal at the same time. The feel of this track is definitely earthier and bassier than Causers of This (one of my surprise favorite albums of last year) which was more on the electronic-y side of things. Despite what I like to call indie-kid vocals (you know, plaintive, slightly angst-ridden in that affected emo way), Toro Y Moi wins my forgiveness on account of his musical genius. His tracks have all kinds of soul, depth and atmosphere no matter which genres he happens to be dipping into.

Our colleague, awesome Strictly Social resident DJ, pixel-pusher extraordinaire and all-around good fella, DJ Myxzlplix has just released an EP of his very own productions. Now Recording is true to the eclectic aesthetic he conveys through his DJ mixes. Downtempo, electronica, funk and dancehall all find their way into the collage. My personal favorite is the track “Miklo” perhaps because it has undertones of Thievery Corporation. Check out the tunes below and find more info about Myxzlplix here and the SpringStrut label at: