Beatportal Feed

8 February, 2012 | 11.09AM

Tune in to Beatport Live with Fred P

Written by: BeatportSean
Filed under: Music News: beatport live black jazz consortium fred p. soul people music ustream

Beatport Live goes big with a set from Soul People Music owner and Black Jazz Consortium creator Fred P. He’s on the decks at our Berlin office right now, bringing you the deepest shades of house. Don’t miss this special set, streaming live right here.

See Ustream.tv/beatport for more Beatport Live sessions, including sets from Catz ‘n Dogz, Morgan Page, Mano Le Tough, Samples, DNAE beats and more.

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8 February, 2012 | 10.20AM

Nicolas Jaar: Materials

Written by: Caleb Rakes
Filed under: Videos: circus company, nicolas jaar

Nicolas Jaar’s Marks & Angles EP on Circus Company tends to get overshadowed by his album Space Is Only Noise and the releases on his own label Clown And Sunset. Still, that 2010 EP was pivotal for him, and if it hadn’t been for tracks like “Marks,” “Angles,” and “Materials,” then his career might have developed very differently indeed.

To help jog our memories, Pondr have produced an extremely weird and surreal video to accompany “Materials,” featuring floating trumpets and (what else?) scary clowns.

8 February, 2012 | 8.50AM

Black History Month: Legends

Written by: Beatportal
Filed under: Music News: black history month

In a continuation of our Black History Month coverage, we spotlight the careers of some of the artists whose work best expresses the overlap between popular music and black culture. Read on to explore the music of Ron Hardy, Frankie Knuckles, Funkadelic, Lee Scratch Perry, and more.

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8 February, 2012 | 4.55AM

Track Of The Day: Roxy Music - Love Is The Drug (Todd Terje Disco Dub)

Written by: Philip Sherburne
Filed under: Music News: lindstrom prins thomas roxy music todd terje track of the day

You probably didn’t see this one coming: the Norwegian nu-disco dons Todd Terje, Lindstrom, and Prins Thomas have taken on two Roxy Music classics. Usually, edits of tunes this hallowed are resigned to the bootleg bin, but this is a legit release courtesy Virgin UK, making us feel like we should send fresh flowers to someone in the A&R department over there, in a show of appreciation. (It can’t hurt that Bryan Ferry has a well-documented love of dance music, of course.)

7 February, 2012 | 12.32PM

Tribute to J Dilla

Written by: BeatportSean
Filed under: Music News:

Celebrated this week are the anniversaries for both the birth and death of one of the most revered and inspiring producers in all of hop hop. J Dilla (born James Dewitt Yancey on February 7, 1974) died February 10, 2006, at the age of 32, of complications due to the combination of the autoimmune disease, Lupus and the rare blood disease TTP (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura). His passing was a tragic loss, but his legacy lives on, continuing to inspire musicians and listeners around the world.

J Dilla’s hometown of Detroit, Michigan pays its respects and celebrates its hero this Friday, on the sixth anniversary of his death with Dilla Day Detroit. Featuring Busta Rhymes, Jay Electronica, Phife Dawg, Danny Brown, DJ J-ROcc, and more, the event marks the launch of the Yancey Media Group, responsible for the forthcoming Rebirth Of Detroit, an anthology of the producer’s work; proceeds from the event will support the J Dilla Foundation, which funds music-education programs in urban communities. Parallel events are scheduled in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, Atlanta, and Baltimore.

In remembrance of the late producer, we’ve put together a series of videos showcasing his work. Read on to check them out.

Happy birthday, Dilla! We miss you.

7 February, 2012 | 12.01PM

Introducing: Shades

Written by: mferry
Filed under: Music News: introducing shades synthemesc

Of the many exports of the gem state, one I would have least expected is quality live electronica. Idaho’s Shades, a four-man outfit, is at the forefront of the burgeoning (really) Boise scene, and their debut release, Clear Motions (Synthemesc Recordings) caught the ears of everyone that heard it coming down the content pipeline a few weeks back. It’s heated haze-wave to the core and is the perfect soundtrack to the upcoming summer season. Lucky for us, the guys had a few minutes to talk about their live act, their take on the modern electronic scene, and their plans for 2012. Read on for more!

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7 February, 2012 | 10.02AM

Beatport’s guides to dub, hip-hop, neo-soul + more

Written by: Beatportal
Filed under: Music News: black history month

Dance music is universal, but its roots overwhelmingly reach back to black cultures and their musical traditions around the world. Funk and soul are the source of disco, house, hip-hop, electro, jungle, even techno, and despite dance music’s global reach, many of its key innovations originated in black communities in cities like Chicago, Detroit, New York, and London. In recognition of Black History Month, we highlight some of the innovative icons who shaped the music, as well as the artists connecting today’s EDM with its roots in black culture.

Today, we offer guides to disco, neo soul, hip-hop, dub, and Afrofuturism—read on, and explore some essential dance-music history.

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7 February, 2012 | 7.06AM

On Rotation: Staff Picks Week 6

Written by: Beatportal
Filed under: Music News: on rotation staff picks

This week, our editors wax ecstatic over new releases from Goth-Trad, Jacob Korn, Tropic of Cancer, and a new mix of classic dub reggae. From chilly post-punk to deep house, you can go either way--either luxuriate in the freezing temperatures out there, or dream of sunnier days.

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7 February, 2012 | 4.09AM

Track Of The Day: Latecomer - Cosmic Cart (SoulPhiction Aced Out Remix)

Written by: beatportchristine
Filed under: Music News: faces records latecomer soulphiction track of the day

Young Muscovite Latecomer is just one from a batch of talented Russian producers that are currently putting their own spin on house music, a crew that counts Nina Kraviz, Vakula and Anton Zap amongst them. The multi-instrumentalist, singer, and producer was discovered in 2011 by Motor City Drum Ensemble, and eagle-eyed house pundits ought to be familiar with the name--MCDE introduced him to the masses with the inclusion of the track “Cosmic Cart” in his celebrated DJ-Kicks compilation last summer.

7 February, 2012 | 12.06AM

Max Cooper talks with Traum Music Magazine

Written by: Beatportal
Filed under: Videos: max cooper, traum

Cologne’s Traum Schallplatten has grown into a sprawling conglomerate since it was founded in 1999, spinning off a wide array of sub-labels—Trapez, Trapez LTD, MBF, MBF LTD, Telrae, and more. The latest venture in their media empire is Traum Music Magazine, a series of interviews with the label’s artists.

Here, the versatile techno producer Max Cooper gives us an extensive look at his background, productions and performances in a 10-minute conversation with label founder Riley Reinhold (aka Triple R).

6 February, 2012 | 3.48PM

Borgore: Flex

Written by: BeatportSean
Filed under: Videos: borgore, buygore, dubstep, video

Naughty, naughty Borgore is at it again. The video for his upcoming single “Flex” has surfaced, and news of the EP has provided us some details of its contents. “Flex” will see remixes from Coven, Figure, and Document One, while Borgore sweetens the package with a tune featuring the vocals of LA indie-pop singer Dev. The EP is due for a full release in March, but you can catch the exclusive on Beatport coming February 27. In the meantime, check below for a behind-the-scenes-look at the video shoot.

6 February, 2012 | 1.30PM

Track Of The Day: Moon Boots - Aretha (Zimmer Remix)

Written by: mferry
Filed under: Music News: moon boots nurvous track of the day

The guys at Nurvous have once again graciously delivered us more deep-disco goodness from the city so nice they named it twice. Moon Boots, of French Express fame, unleashes ”Aretha," a blissed-out summertime deep-houser, smack dab in the middle of one of the most miserable winters on record. In typical low ‘n’ slow Nurvous style, “Aretha” is a sleazed-out take on the modern deep house sound. Rolling bass, chopped vocals, and an arpeggiated synth move the track through its unfortunately short duration, but thankfully there’s plenty of remixes in the package.

6 February, 2012 | 11.13AM

Beatport #1: Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl – In My Mind (Axwell Mix)

Written by: BeatportSean
Filed under: Music News: axtone axwell beatport #1 feenixpawl georgi kay ivan gough tv rock

Congratulations to Axwell, whose remix of Ivan Gough and Feenixpawl’s “In My Mind” just hit the #1 position on the Beatport Top 100!

His dance-floor touch tips the track, originally produced by Australia’s Ivan Gough (of TV Rock) his countrymen Feenixpawl, over the edge. The single enlists the vocal talents of award-winning vocalist Georgi Kay, and it looks as if both factions have soon-to-be-released projects in store with her.

If you’re in New York, be sure to check out Axwell ‘s upcoming opening of the Cosmic Opera dance event. Also be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming releases from his label Axtone.

Get the track on Beatport here, or keep reading to listen to an audio sample.

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6 February, 2012 | 9.30AM

Friction: Led Astray

Written by: BeatportSean
Filed under: Videos: drum & bass, friction, shogun audio, video

You might know Friction as head of Shogun Audio or as the artist whose many tracks took the DnB scene by storm last year. Either way, brace yourself for 2012 because Friction looks to be continuing his upwards trajectory. Here’s the latest video released via Friction, for the new track “Led Astray.” The tune is a monster with “peak-time raver” written all over it. News from the camp pins the single to a February 27th release, but it also looks as if we can expect a full artist album from Friction some time this year.

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6 February, 2012 | 6.30AM

Lucky Paul: Elephant Island

Written by: beatportchristine
Filed under: Videos: lucky paul, somethinksounds, wolf + lamb

London-Berlin collective Somethinksounds are premiering the video for Lucky Paul‘s forthcoming “Elephant Island” today; read on to see hear the forthcoming Elephant Island EP in full.