Bixi’s sophomore EP on Canadian imprint Breathing Room Records is upon us. Simply entitled Natural, the release is a further exploration into the Switzerland-based artist’s love of organic sounds and textures. Following up on his debut Aquarius EP released last year, this time Bixi, who also goes by his more jazzy main alias Lokke, decided to forego the sampling and played most of the instruments himself with a little help from his friends. This includes keys, guitars, bass, synths, kalimbas and all sorts of other percussion. The four track EP is also the first in a set of upcoming digital-only releases for Breathing Room.

The title track, Natural, is led by a tranquil kalimba melody while being underpinned by a driving moog bass. A percussive break in the middle of the track serves as a reminder that the track is still meant for the dancefloor, BPM not withstanding. Flip has a sharp kick and hefty moog bassline reminiscent of last year’s Cosmic Water, while the melodies are once again contrasting that heaviness with a light-hearted flair. The third track, Phanta, is a percussive affair with rhythm guitars aplenty, perhaps being the most footwork friendly of the bunch. The closing track Moka, and our premiere today, takes on a breezy atmosphere with sunny pads and playful melodies, transporting you straight to the beach.

The perfect EP to soundtrack the rest of your summer is here. You can pre-order your copy directly via the label’s Bandcamp.

Cet article Bixi – Moka [Breathing Room Records] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

Following a succession of releases that’s picked up support from the likes of The Black Madonna, Honey Dijon, Severino Panzetta and more, the London based outfit Disco Milk Records and founder Super Paolo have built a reputation of producing infectious tracks from scratch and focusing on utilizing live instruments. Super Paolo’s MSLU sees him welcome remixes from Opilec Music artist Craxi Disco and Rare Wiri founder, Rayko who has a number of releases scattered across labels such as Nang, Whiskey Disco and Lumberjacks in Hell to name a few.

[soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/boltingbits/premiere-super-paolo-mslu-craxi-disco-remix” /]

“MSLU” kicks things off with infectious drum grooves balanced with a gratifying sax line and soothing musical elements before Rayko’s remix delivers alleviating bass notes, tranquil pads and gracefully composed strings.

Craxi Disco’s remix offers up meditative flutes, luscious atmospheres, and chugged-out percussion until Paolo The Magic Groover Global remix of ‘The Queen of Excel’ rounds off the pack with otherworldy aesthetics fusing cosmic synth waves and winding melodies together gracefully.

Super Paolo ‘MSLU’ drops on Disco Milk Records on April 8th. Make sure to pre-order your copy here!

Cet article Super Paolo – MSLU (Craxi Disco Remix) [Disco Milk Records] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

Harvey Touch is the solo project of Barcelona-based artist Javi Toca, who started his career at the beginning of 2015 seeking to create a name for himself at the intermediate point between the raw sound of synthesizers and the warmth of sampling methods.

After a few years of dropping tunes like Changes, Warm by your side, or his recent EP “Astral Patterns” with the Lebanese label Feedasoul, Harvey now comes with his first self-edited record “Archipiélago.”

[soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/boltingbits/premiere-harvey-touch-the-wanderer” /]

The original we are sharing with you today is taken from Harvey’s forthcoming LP, and it’s titled The Wanderer. The song begins with melodic drones from a sitar, which act as a tranquil introduction to the heart and soul of the piece – the vocal. Being one of the most memorable and emotive samples we’ve heard in recent memory, it’s hard not to get teary-eyed by its beauty upon first listen. Although we are unable to make out the message contained within its powerful mystique, the female’s voice immediately commands your attention as you eagerly await what’s to happen next…and then just like that, the warm strumming of bass and angelic strings cut the tension like butter and overwhelm the track with an all-encompassing sense of optimism and playfulness. It’s honestly very difficult not to have a more positive outlook than the one you had before listening to such a hopeful arrangement of melodies. I will certainly have this one queued up in my personal playlist if I ever need a pick-me-up during the upcoming days, and you should too!

To get your copy of The Wanderer and the rest of Harvey’s debut, make sure to pre-order yours here. It is set for release on March 21st.

Cet article Harvey Touch – The Wanderer [Self Release] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

Continuing off the success of his inaugural release from last year, label head and Bolting Bits colleague Igor B is set to come out with another record on his percussion-loving Canadian label, Breathing Room Records. This time around he has chosen to spotlight a new project from Switzerland-based producer and multi-instrumentalist Lokke. For the EP Aquarius, Lokke has decided to operate under the whimsical name of Bixi in an effort to push out more sample & house-oriented tracks than the downtempo and jazzy originals he’s come to be known for. In total, this record will contain 5-tracks with a goal to jettison listeners closer to the equator with groovy rhythms that will instantly transport you somewhere beachside.

[soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/boltingbits/premiere-bixi-cosmic-water” /]

If we had to pick the original that best accomplishes this goal, we would have to say it’s the track we are premiering for you today. Titled Cosmic Water, one will hear an assortment of slap-happy basslines and swelling synths that are complemented by an assortment of both expertly sampled and finely performed parts – making it the most dancefloor friendly tune of the bunch. However, what really rounds out the piece is the collection of bird calls and fluttering flute rhythms that are at the forefront of the song from beginning to end. If any fans of Brazilian jazz and samba are reading this, you will certainly feel at home the second the tune is played.

To get your copy of this, and Aquarius‘ 4 other tunes, make sure to pre-order your copy by following this link right here! This EP is set to hit the shelves on March 8th with one of the best artworks we’ve seen in a while!

Cet article Bixi – Cosmic Water [Breathing Room Records] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

KETAMA is a creative collaboration between Nicola Loporchio and Michele Lamacchia. Today we premiere the second track from their debut EP titled Voyage which is to be released on Italian based label Cosmic Rhythm. Cosmic Rhythm state the four-track record was created, ” […] while breathing a tropical breeze in Italy.”  

[soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/boltingbits/premiere-ketama-dreamscape” /]

“Dreamscapes” is the title of the track we have the pleasure of sharing. The track is Balearic house at its finest. It is a soundscape which illustrates a warm, hazy tropical scene. Warm synths and dreamy high-pitched tones ring away and emanate bird song, the bass line plucks away and percussion drives throughout and lays the groove. So much groove.

As is common in Balearic house music, a stringed guitar plays melodies which furthers the romance and chilled out feel of the track.

This is track would not sound out of place on a dance floor thanks to the energy of the drums and the build-up of space and delay between sections. However, it may be best placed on a long scenic drive in the summer, or perhaps whilst lying on a beach. Wherever you choose to listen, it will bring a glimpse of sun and sea and perhaps a memory of a happier and warmer time.

The record is set to be released on 29 January 2019. You can pre-order it here!

Cet article KETAMA – Dreamscape [Cosmic Rhythm] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

As you might know, Heist Recordings was created by the lads of Detroit Swindle as a means to take control of their own releases. However, in the 5 years that they have been in existence, Heist has also become a launching pad for many producers from their homeland the Netherlands. Artists like Nachtbraker to Frist Wentik and Fouk, all have featured their music on the label and have helped Heist become the Dutch, funk powerhouse that it is today. In keeping up with the tradition of showcasing the best deep house and disco the Dutch have to offer, Heist has decided to add another friend into the mix – the exquisite producer Pitto!

To get yourself a copy of the EP when it comes out on June 22nd, simply click on this link right here!

Cet article Pitto – Late Night Studio Moves [Heist Recordings] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

A common passion for the diasporic reverberation of African music and culture is what pushed Huilly Huile and Philippe Néméh-Nombré to start Échantillons on n10.as webradio. Their show highlights current musical waves coming in from the Continent, as well as recontextualising the impacts of the genre’s historical progressions.

INTERVIEW

How did Échantillons start?
J: I think it started with conversations about african aesthetics in music. And anti-colonialism. We wanted to turn those conversations into something productive. Because before that, we were hearing more and more Afro, Caribbean & Afrolatin music in the clubs… but no one was dedicated to contextualizing the stuff.

P: Or at least very few people were doing it in the scene we’re in, whether in promoting afro-focused parties or even just using specific and very distinct traditional sounds, sampled instruments and vocals in edits or mixes, you know.

What’s the mandate/mission of your project?
P: I would say Échantillons is open-ended and hard to define. A tool, maybe? An experiment? I don’t know. There’s a show we did almost a year ago that’s pretty representative of what we want to do I think. We went from playing hyped-up Kologo jams, to discussing a tragic death that happened that week as yet another example of state-sanctioned violence towards black lives. In the same show, we called out an all-white line-up opening for Awesome Tapes From Africa performing in Montreal.

J: Yeah. In one hour, we probably introduced traditional Ghanaian music to a few people, we drew attention (again) to anti-black racism, and to the important work of antiracist activists in Montreal. And that call-out actually led the organizers to change the absurd bill of openers for a more representative line-up.

P: So yeah, we try to curate panafrican and diasporic black music, and disrupt the way we listen to it and experience it in white settler societies.

How is your work trying to draw a different kind of attention to pan-african and diasporic black aesthetics and cultures?
J: Phil and I are both diaspora peoples. His parents are Burkinabe & Egyptian, my father’s side of the family hails from Rwanda. I think it’s important to us to contextualize african aesthetics, because so many of the cultures and histories have been silenced or denied. Naming the artists & labels, diving into the traditions & politics of the music is a way for us to engage with these cultures in a way that’s meaningful to us.  

P: I’m happy to see Djs spin rare Afro-groove, or hiphop finally being recognized in Quebec. Really, I am… But I think it’s still the same fucked up pattern that we see over and over again: African and Black cultures considered as commodity and product.

It’s nothing new, but I feel like it’s becoming more and more subtle, thanks to “colour blindness” and other such bullshit. Even with good intentions, we risk erasing precisely what makes these cultural expressions a necessity – especially when we suppress everything but their entertainment and market value for consumption by non-black/non-POC folks or consumption without black / POC folks. So don’t get me wrong, of course I am not trying to reduce music to politics. But I think it’s seriously damaging to strip panafrican and black diasporic sounds from their political, social, healing and liberating potentials. So yeah, I think part of what we’re trying to do with Échantillons is to help bridge this gap. But we also joke around and poke fun at each other!

Do you see yourselves as radio hosts, podcasters or DJ’s?
P:  I’m more of a “selector”, and I need to think and imagine through music. You can catch me behind the decks sometimes, to drop a few tracks, but Justin’s the DJ around here. Like, I keep a USB on me at all times, but that’s it! Oh, and what’s the difference between a radio host and a podcaster again?

J: A podcaster just shoots the shit with whoever she/he invites. The audience tunes in ‘cause they like their curation or their take on things. A radio host will present tracks or news in a more formal way, I think. We try to do both. Phil’s an academic, so he always brings a strong critical lens to the stuff we talk about. But I think we’re starting to rub off on eachother. His DJ game definitely leveled up, and I like to think that I’m more articulate than when we started the show…?

Why do you guys feel this kind of work is necessary/useful in Montreal?
P: One of the specific things about Montreal, Quebec and Canada that makes this kind of work useful but also difficult, is that it contradicts the ways this society sees itself. People really see Canada as a safe haven and Montreal as a culturally diverse, open-minded and welcoming city…So it’s hard to directly address the ugly past and ongoing, growing racism and colonialism here. Échantillons is a space where we feel comfortable addressing these things.

J: Yeah, whether it’s the two of us, or with other Montrealers. We’ve had K-Iri, Julien Stout, Melissa Gaju Fundira & DJ Empress join us on the show and it’s become a positive platform I think.

Justin, you’ll be in East Africa during the next few months. What are your plans? Phil, what are you up to these days?Any clues on the futures of Échantillons?
P: I’m working on a few projects that bring together my academic research (on Indigenous-Black relations, and cultural expression as politics) with what we do on Échantillons.

J: I’ll be in Nairobi and Kampala for the next three months with the Femme Electronic DJ’s, an all female DJ collective. I became friends with a few of them last year, and I had to go back…‘Cause they dope. And they aim to put the East African sound on the map. So look out for that. And…What else can I plug here?

P: Palma Disco.

J: Oh yeah, in Montreal, we’ve got a night called Palma Disco, it’s a Pan-African ting we do at Club Pelicano. We DJ there every second saturday with our homie DJ Empress, and sometimes we have guests join us. Dancehall, Afrobeat, Afropop, Afrohouse.

Tracklist:

1. Labdi Ommes – Not Searching (Prod. @abstrakt_ginino) @labdiommes
2. Brenda Fassie – Qula
3. C.K. Jazz Band – Rapar Wuon Osimbo (Jaakko Eino Kalevi edit)
4. Oumou Sangare – Ah Ndiya (K&F Edit)
5. Sam & Yacouba – Kiradodora
6. Mugwisa International Xylophone Group – Jinja Pearls (SJ Construct) @santuri-safari
7. Kakai Kilonzo – Mama Sofi (Umoja edit)
8. Untshebe – Amanga Abelungu
9. Kabaka – LAdieu (BNJ Vinyl Edit)
10. Cervo – Banku
11. Esa – Rift Valley (Ft. Abakisimba) @abakisimbatroupe10
12. Unknown – Habaia
13. Chateau Flight – Kolingo (Love) ft. Diblo Dibala
14. Gigi – Tew Maneh
15. Dj Rachael & Kastimo – Conga Jinka ft. Mama C (Scraych Mix) @djRachael4Raynsom

Interviewed by DJ Asma

Cet article MIXED BY/ Échantillons est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

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