Mind-altering track from Villalobos’ debut, Alcachofa. Got this one from a friend, but still need to buy the album. Interestingly, this track can only be found on the cd version and the vinyl version has songs that aren’t on the CD so I guess I’ll buy both!

[See post to listen to audio]

I’ve been waiting for this tune to come out for around 5 months, it has been ubiquitous in most of London’s bass-scene for quite some time now. And finally, PTN have released it. Go buy it!

[See post to listen to audio]

I’m playing some tunes at this on Saturday the 18th. Should be good fun!

This percussive slow-burner doubles over itself and becomes quite a banger. The undulating keys really work to make the snares stand out. For me, it is the highlight of Kompakt’s latest compilation, I really look forward to more material from the mysterious Jatoma, who are currently virtually unknown.

[See post to listen to audio]

Going on a holiday tomorrow, first proper one since December ‘09. Spending quality time in Nice with my better half and driving to Petrčane, Croatia (with a stop off in Venice) for Stop Making Sense’s inaugural festival. Can’t wait to play at this, the lineup is too good and the site looks amazing. A little bit nervous as I’m doing a peak-time 90 minute b2b set with James Priestley on Saturday night. I’m sure it’ll go off though, especially when I drop this.

Özut Kamaci takes beautiful pictures of airplanes interacting with nature. The first three images belong to “Pause”, the last three are from another set, entitled “Landing”.

Don’t know how most of how you feel about Kanye, but I’ve been a massive fan since way back. The only project of his I haven’t really enjoed was the 808 & Heatbreak album. That said, there were a few big tracks on that. And now, he’s dropping one track a week, for a few months for free via his blog. This was the first song from that effort and it is seriously amazing. Jay’s verse is negligible, but Kanye drops some epic swagger on two different tempos. Also, if you’ve not seen the video for the original version of this track, please do, its hypnotic.

[See post to listen to audio]

Old St tube station.

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This is taken from Dexter’s album “Our Man in Paris“, which was recorded in 1963 and subsequently released on Blue Note Records. This is one of my favourite standards, I can’t get enough of the main riff. I bought this record at the Blue Note shop in Amsterdam around four years ago, I remember being gutted last year (or was it two years ago?) when I discovered that it had been shut down. It’s an all around great album with some really brilliant cover art, in typical Blue Note style.

[See post to listen to audio]

Scrutton St, Shoreditch.

It is difficult to pick a standout track on Pariah’s 6 track EP, Safehouses. While some people like Teki Latex have taken a liking to The Slump, others have preferred Prism, a track factmag.com calls “stunning“. For me, Slump is a peak time tune, while Prism for the later hours when crowds are more eager to appreciate depth. This is a cohesive body of work, where each track feeds of the other and a sense of ambiance is created through shuffles, space and low end theory.

These tracks are not your average post-dubstep offerings, with influences of juke, hardcore and classic techno subtly shifting throughout. It is easily one of the best EPs of the year within its niche, along with James Blake’s CMYK. Interestingly enough, both of those have been released on R&S Records. This recently revived imprint is not wasting any time.

You can pre-order/buy the EP here.

[See post to listen to audio]

Here is my latest RA chart, as usual, in some particular order.

Its the second month in a row that I’ve included a Mount Kimbie track. If you haven’t bought their album “Crooks & Lovers” yet, please do. It will be on all the “Best Of” lists for 2010.

That internet phenomenon has been slooowed down 800% and it sounds quite unreal. Nice one, Shamantis.

J. Biebz – U Smile (800% Slower)

[See post to listen to audio]

Our third mix in our series comes from one of the friendliest men I know in dubstep: Rob Kemp, or as most know him, Brackles. He’s released forward-thinking dance music for a good while now and started up a great label last year, garnering mad respect from all the right people. I asked him if he would be up for contributing a mix at a party a while ago,  he replied that he’d really like to do a summer mix with tunes he didn’t get to play out. Now that summer is coming to an end, it seems like the perfect way to say goodbye to the best one in years. Most mixes that you come across these days are snapshots of a certain time and place, BTGMX003 avoids that in a really classy way – I know I’ll be bumping it for years to come.

[See post to listen to audio]

Download: Brackles – BTGMX003

Could you please introduce yourself, for those that don’t know you?
I’m Brackles – I started out DJing when I was 15 and got into making music through that. I now DJ on Rinse FM every Thursday and play out most weekends. I also run the Blunted Robots label with Shortstuff.

What’s the story behind this mix?
There’s not really any rules to the mix – it’s from all different genres and decades. I just wanted to play some of the records you wouldn’t hear me playing on Rinse or in the clubs. Most of these records are my favourite track off a particular album so it made sense to draw them all together onto one mix. I guess the goal was just a good selection of tracks for the summer.

What do you prefer, making tunes or making mixes?
A few months ago I’d have said mixes, but I’ve really been getting into the tunes recently and I think I prefer making beats now.

What inspires you more, sights or sounds?
Definitely sounds, I couldn’t really say sights influence my music. I reckon that sights have a more subconscious effect on what I make..

You run Blunted Robots with Shortstuff and your brother Martin Kemp. How has that been? What’s in store for the future?
I just run it with Shortstuff actually! [ed note, my bad!] Yeh running the label has been a lot of fun and hard work. It’s been a steep learning curve but I think we’re getting there with it now. The next release is me and Shortstuff feat. Terrible Shox – Good Foundations with a Doc Daneeka rmx. After that we have DJ Dom’s debut 12″.

Any other hype stuff we should know about?
My Songs For Endless Cities CD is dropping on !K7 at the end of August. I’m working on a big project for after that but I’m not sure I can say what that is yet.

BTGMX003 – Brackles

O.V. Wright – Let’s Straighten it Out [Delabel]
Jay Z – Feelin’ It [Rock-A-Fella Records]
Dr Alimantado – Can’t Conquer Natty Dreadlocks [Greensleeves Records]
Roy Ayers – D.C. City [Uno Melodic Records]
Stevie Wonder - Too High [Tamla Motown]
Gil Scott-Heron – When You Are Who You Are [Flying Dutchman]
Bobbi Humphrey – Harlem River Drive [Blue Note]
Dave & Ansel Collins – My Best Girl [Trojan Records]
Drexciya – Organic Hydropoly Spores [Tresor]
Eighties Ladies – Turned On To You [Uno Melodic Records]
Susan Cadogan – Nice and Easy [Trojan Records]
Rico – Africa [Island Records]
Larry Heard – Missing You [Alleviated Records]
Raymond Scott - Portofino [Basta]

[Brackles will be dj'ing at Phonica Records this Friday Friday the 27th of August to celebrate the release of his K7 mix cd. More info here.]

For all those people who say their iphone (or mobile phone, in general) camera lenses aren’t good enough, Jelly Lens has stepped into the market. They offer sepia, wide angle, fish eye and vignette attachments which will further blur the lines of “real” photography.