On Rotation: Staff Picks Week 6

On Rotation: Staff Picks Week 6

7 February, 2012 | 7.06AM

• 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.

Christine Kakaire

Merchandising Manager / Berlin

Various Artists - Mind The Dub [Xelon Entertainment]

Is there any genre that radiates warm summer vibes more than dub? You can practically feel the sea breeze and taste the rum between its big waves of reverb. Well, when you’re as far removed from these types of scenarios as we are this week in Berlin (-14°C!), the warm embrace of some heavy dub rattlers is about as good as it gets. This bumper compilation form Xelon Entertainment includes favorites from Leroy Smart, Sugar Minott, Dennis Brown, and divides the 36 tracks into two lots of continuous mixes for nonstop riddims.

Further Listening:

Fau & Dream - Life Act EP [Dubporn]

We Have Band - Where Are Your People? Remixed [Naive Records]

Various Artists - Diskotopia Vol. 1 [Diskotopia]

Dan Cole

General Manager of Merchandising & General Manager / Berlin

Tropic Of Cancer – The End Of All Things [Downwards]

The heavy winter has spurred on my dark, hollow mood filled with angst and sadness, and nothing is reflecting this more than the new Tropic of Cancer record. A cauldron of droney guitars, soft synths and minor keys that emanates from the gloomy, gothic minds of the producers Camella Lobo and Juan Mendez (Silent Servant).

Further Listening:

Scuba – The Hope [Hotflush]

Synkro – Progression [Exit Records]

Stay+ - Fuck Christian AIDS [Ramp Recordings]

Sean Lewis

Merchandising Manager / Denver

Goth-Trad – Airbreaker [Deep Medi Musik]

I’m pretty predictable with my allegiance to Deep Medi, but even if I weren’t, Goth-Trad killed it on this one. He’s got that Knight Rider hi-hat vibe going, breathing sub bass, hypnotizing risers and synth lines… it’s phenomenal work. One good thing about “Airbreaker” is that it works as well on the floors as it does on headphones, but the best thing about it is that it’s a teaser for a full-length album, which came out yesterday. Check out his New Epoch.

Further Listening:

Soul Sinners – Listen Here EP [Oi! Recordings]

Neos – Half-Light EP [This Way Down]

TZR, Press & NYX – Forsaken EP [Sub Pressure]

Philip Sherburne

Editor, Beatportal / Berlin

Jacob Korn – IT [Mild Pitch]

Jacob Korn has become one of my buy-on-sight producers in the past couple of years. He doesn’t release all that often, but when he does, it’s generally pretty stellar—and nicely varied, from the lush, emotional heights of his ”Mirrorflip” to the lilting, low-key vibes of a track like ”She." His new single for Mild Pitch is another winner, with a spongy low end, shimmering keys and synths on top, and a muscular drum track pushing through the middle. Langenberg’s mix is nice and dubby, while Manuel Tur goes for a gothed-out slow-motion groover.

Further Listening:

Graphics – Mama Grizzlies [Made To Play]

Oren Ambarchi – Audience of One [Touch]

Young Hunting – The Night of the Burning [Blackest Ever Black]

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