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French electro-pop (er, "Tecktonik" -ed.) cutie Yelle's first album, which includes the Tepr remix(1) of her big single "A Cause Des Garcons(2)." I haven't the foggiest idea what this girl is saying, but she sure sounds like she's having fun saying it...
expand review and her production -- half throwback, half dirty nu electro, all synth-heavy -- is spot on. (If you didn't know better, you might think album opener "Ce Jeu(3)" was really a lost late 80s / early 90s heater.) More jams: "Mon Meilleur Ami(4)," "Je Veux Te Voir(5)," "Mal Poli(6)." Comes with a full lyric booklet (en Francais, of course). 13 tracks, 51 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
Special Offer: Any customer who purchases either ProjectMix i/o or FW1814 from August 15 through September 30 will receive a free boxed copy of iZotope Spectron software by mail. Simply send M-Audio the original ProjectMix or FW1814 UPC, a copy of the...
expand review dealer sales receipt and the completed rebate form. All rebate requests must be postmarked by October 31. Download rebate form here.
Spectron by iZotope is the next generation of spectral effect plug-ins, allowing unmatched control over audio by frequency. Add delay to only the snare or pan only the hi-hat—on a drum track that's already mixed! Give your guitar a delay, but only on the high notes. Make your bass ring down low, but stay clear and dry up high. For effects that are subtle or out of this world, Spectron is the one-stop spectral toolbox. Valued at $129, this exciting 64-bit Spectral Effects Processor will add new power and options to your audio mix that you never before thought possible.
The Firewire 1814 is M-Audio's high-end Firewire solution. This is basically as maxed-out as you will find in a portable interface. With the addition of ADAT compadibility the M-Audio runs an incredible 18-in / 14-out, capable of recording entire groups or a complex studio with one interface.
The FireWire 18/14 is an 18-in, 14-out audio interface complete with ADAT Lightpipe for multi-channel communication with other digital devices. It features 8 x 4 analog I/O at up to 24-bit/96kHz, and boasts 192kHz on the first two inputs and all four outputs. Channels 1 and 2 also include high-quality microphone/instrument preamps. S/PDIF optical digital I/O provides 2-channel PCM, as well as pass-through of surround-encoded AC-3 and DTS material. Flexible internal mixing allows input and output routing, including an aux bus for effects send or monitor mix. A front-panel momentary switch allows DJ-style headphone auditioning between two assignable sources.
Other features include two headphone amplifiers, assignable level controller, S/PDIF coaxial/optical digital I/O, 1 x 1 MIDI I/O, and BNC word clock connectors for synchronization to other digital devices.
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LAB EXCLUSIVO! While supplies last, all orders will receive a promo-only 7" of BDR's new single, "Office Boy," featuring remixes from CSS and Architecture In Helsinki! The vinyl version of With Lasers will be released in a few weeks.
To say that Bonde...
expand review Do Role's debut has been "long-awaited" would be a huge understatement. It's been 2 years since we dropped their first EP on Mad Decent and the kids are all grown up now, migrated over to Domino and swapped out message board love for NME praise. The band probably recorded 40 demos for this album, but the final product is a streamlined beast with just 12 tracks, clocking in at 30 minutes. Really, when's the last time you heard an album where every track could be a single? The Diplo-produced "Solta O Frango(1)" and "Gasolina(2)" are here, and so's the new single, "Office Boy(3)" (stupid fun - "buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-boy"). But what you know about "Quero Te Amar(4)," with the heavy vocoder action and throwback Miami bass beat from the Lab's own Eggfooyoung? Or the evil metal opener/closer combo, "Danca do Zumbi(5)" and "Bondallica(6)," with Chernobyl from Comunidade Nin-Jitsu SHREDDING on those finger-tapping guitar solos? London production duo Radioclit even turn in a couple tracks: the kazoo-driven "Geremia(7)" and chopped-up electro-baile "Divine Gosa(8)." All this is to say nothing of the amazingly fun vocals that Marina, Pedro and Gorky provide. I read an article this morning comparing them to Brazil's Tropicalia artists of the 60s/70s, and while I don't know if that's totally on point (Marina would Manic Panic her hair before she put flowers in it), there's something important going on behind all this silliness. Do I even have to say... Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
Special Offer: Any customer who purchases either ProjectMix i/o or FW1814 from August 15 through September 30 will receive a free boxed copy of iZotope Spectron software by mail. Simply send M-Audio the original ProjectMix or FW1814 UPC, a copy of the...
expand review dealer sales receipt and the completed rebate form. All rebate requests must be postmarked by October 31. Download rebate form here.
M-Audio's ProjectMix I/O delivers what you need to take your computer-based studio and home productions to the professional level. With built-in 18 x 14 FireWire audio interface, seamless integration with all major DAW software, the ability to record directly into industry-standard Pro Tools sessions, and motorized faders so you can feel the mix with your fingertips instead of dragging a mouse - the ProjectMix I/O gives your studio that professional feel. It also features on-board display of critical parameters for intuitive operation, motorized control to craft more accurate mixes, and professional multi-channel I/O including mic/instrument preamps, Lightpipe and S/PDIF. ProjectMix I/O combines the best of the hardware and software worlds to give you an edge in your production. Compatible with Pro Tools M-Powered 7, Ableton Live 5, Logic, Cubase, Digital Performer and SONAR.
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It took me a long time to write this review. I tried to do it the way Madlib made the record: I smoked about 3 ounces of high grade and then got down to work. Unfortunately for Lab, that meant that I...
expand review spent most of the time I should've been writing listening to this incredible LP again and again, giggling over the hundreds of tiny psychedelic fragments within. From the very first cut, "Bullyshit(1)", where Quas sounds like a "Just Don't Give a Fuck"-era Eminem, you know this is some bugged-out genius. There's not a single tune that runs the beat straight through without an incomparably odd break, sound effect or twisted change-up coming out of left field. Add in Madlib's increasingly adept rhymes (yeah I said it) that flip dizzyingly back and forth in pitch from Quas helium to white-guy squeak to standard drawl, plus subject matter that references magic mushrooms as well as la yerba buena ("Greenery(2)"), and you have a thoroughly psychedelic experience. I mean, the guy used Frank Zappa graphics on the cover and even has a song named after the Beatles' heaviest ode to acid ("Tomorrow Never Knows(3)"). Of course, the main ingredient in this stew is the man's vast record collection, and for the beat diggers out there it's scrunched-face bobblehead time from the get. The requisite vinyl tribute is suitably sizzling ("Raw Addict Pt.2(4)"), but each cut smacks unimaginative beatmakers silly with twisted drums ("1994(5)"), loops to spare ("Raw Deal(6)") and awkward/awesome chops ("Players of the Game(7)"). I said it before, and I'll say it again: Lib might not have the smoothest flow on the mic, but he comes with consistently clever lyrics and precise metaphors that suit his beats impeccably ("Players" has this to say about life in the music biz: "Lose all your money or double up/fall off or bubble up/break a number one on the pop charts/or keep it real dropping sound like art (gotdam I'm broke)/goin' wood in the hood and getting Grammys/coming like Neptunes or Prince Jammy's"). And did you see the video for "Rappcats"? It matches the tongue-twisting hip hop retrospective frame for frame. Frequent guests Melvin Van Peebles and Doom are both in the house, with the metal-faced fellow reprising a Madvillan cut over a new beat on "Closer". The CD and vinyl versions have slightly different tracklists, taking advantage of the surplus of material 'Lib had in stock, and fans should not miss the chance to hear more outtakes on the free ST Fan Club 45 you'll get with purchase here. "Quas is just me fucking around", Madlib once told me. Let's hope he doesn't get serious anytime soon. -monk
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Special Offer: All orders for the Exodus CD and LP will also receive Stones Throw Fan Club 45 #19, featuring the exclusive tracks "Believe" and "Fast Drive Fast."
Exodus is Oh No's second official album, and this time he comes in full...
expand review concept mode. Every beat on here was made using strictly Galt McDermott samples. Galt has close ties with the Stones Throw crew, and he gave Oh No access to everything in his catalogue for this project. After clearing the beats with Galt, Oh No shopped them to friends and the result is this here album. If you haven't been checking for Oh No lately, his beats have really come up in the last year or so and he should be out of the "Madlib's brother" shadow after this one. Standout cuts include "Smile A Lil Bit(1)" with Posdnous, "Beware(2)" with the Cali Agents, "T Biggums(3)" with super space couple Georgia and Dudley, "To Be An MC(4)" with K Jay (always loved those junkyard horns + keys), "Black(5)" with Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers (sounding good), and "Second Chance(6)" with Aloe Blacc. Hefty 22 tracks. -the mgmnt
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SPECIAL DEAL: Get this free Heliocentrics "7 with 2 tracks not on the album, when you buy this 2LP. Limited supply.
The promo sticker on the front of this album highlights these selling points: "the drummer that backed DJ Shadow on his tour,"...
expand review "the drummer that Madlib sampled," etc. All I gotta say to that is... NOISE! Get outta here with that! It should say, "DJ Shadow and Madlib were lucky enough to work with and sample the man himself, MALCOLM CATTO!" It's kinda ass backwards when they hype up DJs over the musicians, you feel me? Anyways, if you don't know the name, here's your chance to get familiar. It's Malcolm Catto, biz-natches, together with Mike Burnham, Fake Ferguson and a whole band of astral players to make The Heliocentrics. I've been a die-hard fan (like most people into Catto) since his Popcorn Bubblefish EP on MoWax and The Curse of the Evil Badger off Stones Throw. Finally, after years of waiting, something entirely fresh and new. It's a mostly instrumental album, with a heavy dose of inter-dimensional space funk, laced with worldly sounds, astounding musicians and the ever-changing rhtyhms of Catto. My suggestion, pop this in your player and soak it in like you would a movie. It's that epic. But for reference, check these selections: "Distant Star(1)," "Joyride(2)," "Age Of The Sun(3)," "Before I Die(4)," "Nico - Winter Song - Heliocentrics Remix(5)," and "Second Chance(6)." Like Sun-Ra and other astral musicians, the whole album gives you a chance to transcend the planet once again. Get lifted. Hiiighly recommended. Double vinyl, nice pic sleeve. -C'mish
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Man, I can't remember the last time I liked a "rock" album this much.
(Like the WHOLE ALBUM. Imagine that!) If you're not familiar, the Mountain Goats are basically one Mr. John Darnielle, and even if "acoustic" and "folky" are apt...
expand review adjectives for most of his (hundreds??) of songs, the sum total of the music feels like a lot more. For the skeptics who have been listening a while, yes, the sound is far removed from the boombox recording days, but you gotta think of those as sketches and these as full-on paintings. And dude is Bob Rossing it! Except instead of happy mountains and clouds, Heretic Pride is rife with swamp creatures, chicks in Marduk t-shirts and Lovecraft-style paranoia. Of course in typical Darnielle style, the raw, jittery "Lovecraft In Brooklyn(1)" has the album's lol moment when he blurts out "woke up afraid of my own shadow...
like, genuinely afraid!" I could go on, but just check out the great opener "Sax Rohmer #1(2)" - if you like that, proceed to the title track(3), "How To Embrace A Swamp Creature(4)," "New Zion(5)" and "Autoclave(6)." Nice subtle production once again from John Vanderslice and Scott Solter. And did I mention it comes packaged with a code that gives you access to a free high-quality MP3 download of the full album? 'Cause it does. Obviously recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
SPECIAL OFFER: Purchase two (2) CDJ-400's between January 1, 2008 and August 31, 2008 and get a free download version of Pioneer's DJS Software. Details on redemption card inside the box.
OVERVIEW
The latest addition to the popular CDJ line is the CDJ-400, which...
expand review brings many high-end features like those found in higher priced models at a relatively affordable price. This versatile deck can play all types of CDs, MP3 CDs, and media from USB storage devices, vinyl emulation and scratching, plus unique features like MIDI control via USB (which allows you to control DJ software like Serato without the timecode disc), scratch and loop effects, and much more.
FEATURES
The CDJ-400 is a full featured CD deck with the capability to play CD, CD-R, CDRW, and MP3 CD formats, as well as music from mass storage devices, thumb drivesm and external via USB. Through the new push-selection Rotary Scroll Wheel and Back Button, users can navigate files and folders as simply and quickly. The deck also features the unique capablitliy to control your DJ and music software with MIDI via USB. This is achieved by simply selecting the PC Source Select button, so that virtually all of the deck’s buttons and slider can send MIDI control data via the PC USB connection. DJ's can connect the CDJ-400 to a PC or MAC and play and manipulate files from their favorite DJ application software (like Serato)without the time-code disc! Other features include: +/-6, 10, 16 & 100% pitch range, vinyl emulation and scratch capability, the world's first Scratch Jog Effects (bubble, transform, wah), DSP effects (jet flange, wah, roll), BPM counter, hot looping with beat divide function, illuminated touch sensitive jog wheel w/ 6 settings, digital anti shock & pioneer oil damper float, and reverse play.
OUR OPINION
Pioneer's CDJ line is the most trusted and widely used CD turntables in the business. With many advanced features like MIDI control, effects, and many compatible formats, The CDJ-400 is an excellent choice for CD DJs of all levels at a relatively affordable price.
-the mgmnt
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Everybody's got an opinion on DJ Shadow. Downtempo god! Over rated white guy! Real hip hop! Sellout for working with hyphy artists! The real king of diggin! Man with terrible fashion sense! Whatever your stance, take it easy folks. His music often...
expand review gets lost in the shuffle of all this worshipping / hating, which is a shame cause he really does do some cool things. His last album was received well by the audience of his first, but I have a feeling that was just residual fumes off Endtroducing. Private Press was really on some different shit and I know a lot of people who just didn't get it, and a bunch of salty digger dudes who were not impressed with the 80s / rock / programmed touches (guess what? you missed out on something fun again). No surprise that Shadow has switched up his style again. The first single, "3 Freaks(1)" with Turf Talk and Keak Da Sneak, was leaked a long ass time ago, but he's got more Bay area joints up the sleeve. "Turf Dancing(2)" with the Animaniacs & Federation is a pretty tight follow-up and E-40 closes it out with "Dat's My Part." David Banner ain't from the Bay, but he sounds great on "Seein Thangs(3)." Could be the sickest track on here. He's also got tracks with Little Brother's Phonte (Backstage Girl(4)") and Q-Tip & Lateef ("Enuff(5)"), but the energy ain't quite the same. Before you think Shadow's gone 100% rappers, he's also got instrumentals, soft touches and guest singers on here. While this makes the album a little disjointed, there are some quality moments in there, and this is afterall what Shadow does best. Check "Erase You(6)" for the taste. -the mgmnt
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SPECIAL OFFER! When you order Real Emotional Trash, you'll receive an email from Matador with a special code and directions to download 2 exclusive B-sides, a full live show (Portland 12/21/07) and a stream of the entire album. As the year goes...
expand review on, you'll also be able to access all B-sides or exclusive tracks related to this record for FREE. Plus, you get a poster! Wow.
Deluxe gatefold 180g vinyl! Stephen Malkmus is back with his band of merry Jicks for his fourth(!) post-Pavement solo album. The album finds SM moving deeper still into psych / prog territory, the perfect complement to his trademark surreal lyrics ("Dragonfly Pie(1)") and bizarre character studies ("Hopscotch Willie(2)"). The 10 minute title track is a great jammy addition to the Jicky lore (on par with "1% of One") while "Baltimore(3)" has a cool folky swing that makes me think Malk has been listening to a lot of Mellow Candle lately. Meanwhile, "Gardenia(4)" sounds like our man fronting Belle & Sebastian while crooning about Richard Avedon. Last album, Malkmus got remixed by Prins Thomas, Emperor Machine and Hot Chip - here's hoping some more are on the way for Real Emotional Trash! 10 tracks. -Larri Byrd
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LAB EXCLUSIVO: Purchase the debut CD from Black Spade and receive an exclusive promo-only CD EP featuring a remix from Waajeed (Platinum Pied Pipers) and three unreleased tracks.
Freshman effort from this St. Louis producer/MC, already getting a lot of love in underground...
expand review circles and earning comparisons to SA-RA & Aloe Blacc. Plus, our man Josh Re:Up did the artwork! Black Spade's got wide ranging tastes in music (he namechecks Prince and Dilla, among many others, on "The Genius In You(1)") and it really shows in his varied and skillful beatmaking. "She's The One(2)" is Spade in a jazzy '20s nightclub update, "Actioneer(3)" is a slice of uplifting futuristic soul and "Revolutionary Bullshit(4)" starts with a misleading upbeat funk sample before it turns into a nasty trunk rattler. The man has some great lines, too; I like the part about "2-steppin' on the White House lawn." More listening: "Tale of 32(5)," "Her Perfume She Wore(6)," "Evil Love(7)." 19 tracks; 70 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
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LAB EXCLUSIVO! While supplies last, all orders for Joakim's new album will receive a 2007 wall calendar which features a special drawing by Joakim for each month. To call Monsters & Silly Songs "long-awaited" would probably be an understatement. In the five...
expand review years since Joakim's Fantomes LP, he's dropped singles on a number of labels (not the least of which is Parisian electro imprint Kitsune), had a hard drive crash wipe out an album that was virtually complete, and formed two bands. One of those bands was My Sister Klaus, whose awesome debut single we've got in stock right now; the other was The Ectoplasmic Band, who acted as Joakim's studio band for the recordings on Monsters & Silly Songs. There ain't much silly about this record – it's serious as a heart attack when it comes to tracks like "I Wish You Were Gone(1)" and "Drumtrax(2)." Definitely feeling the vocals on "Lonely Hearts(3)," too, courtesy of the band's Nicolas Ker, who also co-wrote the fantastically creepy "Palo Alto(4)" (which is [un?]fortunately not a cover of the Radiohead B-side). And check the Goblin-esque synths on "Sleep In Hollow Tree(5)!" Too sick. Those looking for non-stop dance anthems may be a bit disappointed with this one, but this is a great album. Even the less danceable tracks are great in their own right – heck, even the little "Monster" interludes sprinkled throughout aren't without their charm. Cool stuff, and definitely shows Joakim setting himself apart from some of his French counterparts. 16 tracks total. -Chris Lemon-Red
LAB EXCLUSIVO! Purchase this vinyl version of Fallin' Off The Reel and receive a size medium Truth & Soul Records t-shirt produced exclusively for this offer.
Much anticipated 2nd singles comp from Truth & Soul -- Volume 1 never saw release on vinyl,...
expand review so this deluxe 2xLP covers the ground from TS-001 to TS-018, which happens to include a whole lot of sick tunes. All the T&S faves are here, from vintage reissues like Tyrone Ashley ("Just A Little While Longer(1)") and Black Velvet ("Is It Me You Really Love(2)") to current champs like El Michels Affair ("C.R.E.A.M.(3)"), Bronx River Pkwy ("Deixa Pra La(4)") and Lee Fields ("My World(5)"). Also includes Timothy McNealy's killer Al Green cover "I'm Glad You're Mine(6)," plus four previously unreleased tracks from El Michels Affair, The Fabulous Three, Funky Music Machine and The Evil D's which aren't available on the CD version. This label is pumping out some of the funkiest, most soulful music around today - pay attention! Comes in an embossed sleeve with artwork by Rostarr. 27 big tracks total. Recommended.
Click Here For Full Track List And Audio Previews -Chris Lemon-Red
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FREE WITH PURCHASE: buy this title and receive Stones Throw Fan Club 7" #16 featuring 4 unreleased Madlib tracks.
Madlib's never been one for long songs (at least not under his own name), but the latest release from the Prolific One reads like...
expand review a bunch pages torn right out of his sketchbook. Forgoing a more traditional album approach, Madlib's gone and dropped the companion LP to last year's popular Beat Konducta Volume 1. There's a tendency for some people to shy away from new Madlib releases, since the dude's catalog is just so overpopulated, but this is a genuinely interesting release, one that junkies and newcomers alike will find something do like about. Dude is definitely still digging for obscure/quirky samples, as evidenced by "Filthy(1)," "Black Mozart(2)," and "African Walk(3)." It would be silly to try and meter Madlib's "artistic growth" or whatever, since he's got about a dozen aliases that all do their own things. This is just Madlib being Madlib. The majority of the 35 tracks are under 2-minutes long, lending to the feeling that you're just channel-surfing through dude's brain, or sitting around in his studio while he fucks around, like "Check out what I did last night." -the mgmnt
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Another Stones Throw project deserving of the full instrumental treatment, take a break from the Quas voice and enjoy the smoosh. All orders will also receive Stones Throw Fan Club 45 #13, featuring Quasimoto's "The Front" b/w "Youngblood." -the mgmnt
indepth
