Author: Jim Allen

5 Nagging Questions About Aphex Twin’s ‘Cheetah’ EP

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aphex twin cheetah EP

A mysterious but apparently official announcement of Aphex Twin‘s new EP, Cheetah, has been made. But the quirky fact sheet about its imminent arrival on July 8 actually raises more questions than it answers. Here are the most immediate queries it engenders.

1. Are these tracks “those” tracks?

Warp Records’ track listing for the EP includes song titles like “CHEETAHT2” and “CHEETAHT7b,” prompting curious minds to wonder whether these are the same as (or related to) similarly titled tracks Aphex Twin anonymously uploaded to SoundCloud.

2. Does it actually come bundled with a synth?

The announcement lists all sorts of synthesizer-sounding features, like 15-note polyphony and velocity sensitivity. Are we to assume Cheetah comes bundled with some sort of downloadable digital synth technology?

3. Is there really a remix contest?

Fans are invited to “Have fun programming,” and send any “superb patches and tones” they might create to Warp in hopes of receiving an unspecified prize. Is this just a cute way of announcing a remix contest?

4. Cassette? Really?

Warp promises that Cheetah will be released not only in digital, vinyl, and CD formats, but even as a limited edition cassette.

5. How seriously should we take any of this?

Well it looks like there definitely is an Aphex Twin EP called Cheetah arriving from Warp on July 8. As far as all the other stuff, who knows how far Richard D. James is willing to take his twisted sense of humor? In the meantime we’d regard any of the additional info with several grains of salt and just look forward to the music.

Track listing
01. CHEETAHT2 [Ld spectrum]
02. CHEETAHT7b
03. CHEETA1b ms800
04. CHEETA2 ms800
05. CIRKLON3 [ Колхозная mix ]
06. CIRKLON 1
07. 2X202-ST5*

*CD, Cassette and Digital track only, included on download available with vinyl

Premiere: Pineapple Pop – RJCTD (Rob Made remix)

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Pineapple-Pop-RJCTD

London meets Istanbul in Rob Made‘s remix of Pineapple Pop‘s “RJCTD.” It’s the new single from the Istanbul-based artist on Sleazy Deep Records, following his debut EP, RVLTN. And while the original track itself actually dips into some rather Brit-flavored, bass-heavy grime and garage flavors, achieving a bit of an international feel, Sleazy Deep main man Made’s remix of the tune takes it to a whole other level.

A touch of techno and a dizzying dollop of ’90s-style house inform Made’s remix, pushing Pineapple Pop’s track even further into your face (and feet) for maximum impact. Hackney Polo Club and Lisbon-based Xinobi add their own takes on the tune to the new release as well, but below you can hear the Rob Made remix in all it’s house-heavy glory.

Support Give A Beat’s Crowdfunding Campaign to Help Ex-Cons Enter the Electronic Music World

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Give-A-Beat-crowdfunding

How can you contribute to the greater good of the electronic music world and do your part to combat America’s mass incarceration epidemic at the same time? By supporting the nonprofit Give A Beat organization’s new crowdfunding effort, “On a New Track.” It’s a music-powered mission designed to aid people exiting the prison system. Running through June 24, On a New Track aims to raise $15,000 to build an entrepreneur mentor program to give the formerly incarcerated options for “creative economic self-sufficiency” and prevent recidivism.

Board member Tomas Palermo says, “Give A Beat harnesses the resources of the electronic music community—DJs, producers and artists—to do social good, specifically volunteer time at music workshops for underserved youth, and raise funds for entrepreneur initiatives…facilitating internships and jobs in the entertainment industry for people coming out of prison. Artists like Nickodemus, Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale, Marques Wayatt and Will Magid are supporters. They’ve done dozens of music workshops with youth in LA and other cities, and hosted events at this year’s Movement festival in Detroit. I hope they make their latest funding goal. It could really make a tangible impact on communities that need support.” You can do your part to help by donating at the On a New Track page.

Bob Moses Review Their DJ Set at Governors Ball [Video]

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Bob-Moses-DJ-set Governors Ball

Last Friday, Bob Moses hit the Bacardi House Stage at The Governors Ball on Randall’s Island in NYC. With a Friday lineup that included the likes of Beck, Jamie xx, Robyn, Bloc Party and more, Tom Howie and Jimmy Vallance were in good company, and Saturday’s lineup wasn’t exactly chopped liver either (Miike Snow and M83 anybody?). Unfortunately, the powers that be brought about the cancellation of the festival’s third day featuring headliner Kanye West. No, we’re not talking about the police; apocalyptic storms and the threat of lightning were the source of the shutdown.

Nevertheless, before all that nastiness went down and a subsequent attempt by West to do a pop-up show last night at Webster Hall led to a riot, both Howie and Vallance talked after their appearance. Want to know who some of the duo’s key influences are? Care to learn which current artists they’re excited about? Itching to find out how they felt about their performance at Gov Ball and about the festival in general? Avail yourselves of the videos below, from the Bacardi Untamable House Party and wonder no more.

Image by Rob Kim