stamp the wax

Brighton, Electronic, Previews 24/04/2012

Preview: Big Beach Bootique Brighton 5

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Returning for its 5th year, Fatboy Slim’s Big Beach Bootique is set to be Brighton’s biggest party of the year. Since attracting some 65,000 people in it’s first year, BBB has quickly become notorious around the world, with people flocking from all sides of the globe to rave it up. In 2009, an estimated 250,000 (that’s right, a quarter of a million) dance-music fanatics descended on Brighton beach in what was supposed to be a 35,000 capacity event, that quickly became headline news worldwide (you can watch live footage of the event here).

Electronic, Free MP3s 10/04/2012

New Release: El_Txef_A – Breath

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Hailing from the Basque Country in Northern Spain, 25-year-old House producer El_Txef_A probably hasn’t hit your radar just yet. His debut album, Slow Dancing In A Burning Room, was released this March on his own imprint Fiakun – a mecca for contemporary House music. Not being much of a dance music fan himself, El_Txef_A has drawn inspiration from a wide host of different musicians; citing A$AP Rocky and John Mayer as significant influences upon his sound (the title of his debut album is a reference to a song by John Mayer of the same name). As a classically trained musician, his creative approach to music-making revolves around intricate chord progressions and beautifully dark vocal melodies (sung by himself). Think James Blake, pitched-down and post-House. Also check out his edit of Bon Iver’s Calgary right here, it’s a free download as well!

Hip-Hop 29/03/2012

Mini-Documentary: Schoolboy Q – A Day In The Life

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We haven’t heard much from L.A. hustler Schoolboy Q since the release of his second album Habits and Contradictions at the start of this year – so it makes for perfect timing having Vate Magazine put out this mini-documentary a couple of days ago, following the young hip-hop artist and his crew through New York City. Fresh.

Free MP3s, RnB & Soul 27/03/2012

New Release: Mar – Our Attempt

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Dutch soul-singer Mar is back with bite this month, releasing the lead single off his debut solo EP Seeing Her Naked (slated for a release by the end of this month). Our Attempt begins with Drake/The Weeknd style production (fizzling string-pads and gittery Hip-Hop rhythms), which is then brought back down to earth via a blues guitar riff doused in melancholic distortion. Together with Mars silky vocals, the track is a beautiful example of what the future holds for RnB and Soul music, joining other forward-thinking artists like The Internet and Frank Ocean who are really pushing the boat out within this type of music. We’ve also been told that a new Full Crate and Mar album can be expected by the end of 2012! All good things to come…

Electronic, Free MP3s 26/03/2012

New Release: Sonnymoon – Just Before Dawn

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One of our favourite labels around, Plug Research (home to Exile, Bilal, Boom Clap Bachelors) have ferociously tugged on our ears yet again with the beautifully balmy tones of Experimental duo Sonnymoon. The track Just Before Dawn is stripped-back chill-out music in its purist form, with just simple synth-work and a magical melody. But as the song progresses, it builds and enters new realms of frequency that blew us away when combined with visuals from Gordon Hendrick and Hunter Steinman. The release is part of a free compilation that Plug Research wanted to share with everyone: ‘all brand new music coming out on plug during the spring quarter of 2012’, which you can download for free right here!

Electronic 13/03/2012

New Release: xxyyxx – Overdone (Anneka Remix)

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16 year old producer xxyyxx has brought us another gem this month, mixing an acapella version of Anneka’s Shut Her Down with his ambient production skills. Beginning with muffled vocals from Anneka, the track grows luminous with fizzy synth pads and sparse wooden knocks. For those that don’t know, Anneka is a vocalist/multi-instrumentalist…