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Fresh from their TTL LA instore, the Black Ghosts drop a new single with Lab affiliate Diplo on the instrumental remix(1). Easily sounds like a track MIA or Santogold would destroy. The original version(2) is no afterthought, this high energy track represents...
expand review the next fold of the electro-rock genre... super-clean, fun, great vocals... and it doesn't give you a headache. But if you like that headache-type track, they got you covered with the Phones remix(3). -the mgmnt
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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
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Folks have been clamoring for the aptly titled "Suspense Is Killing Me(1)" from London's Boy 8-Bit since big name DJs like Switch, Basement Jaxx, Annie Mac and Crookers started spinning it advance style late last year. Now the Boy is signed with...
expand review Mad Decent -- label head Diplo called him "the most unique sounding club music out right now" and dropped the track on his huge "I Like Turtles" mix -- and "Suspense" gets a super official release. Backed with the shuddering, trance-flavored Bmore of "Bulbs Burn Out(2)" and infectious bump of "The Cricket Scores(3)," plus a speaker-rattling "Suspense" remix from Drop The Lime(4), this one is, as they say, a no brainer. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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More crack! DJ Benzi curated the now-infamous We Got The Remix mixtape last year, and now he's hand-picked a few of his favorite remixes from the project and pressed 'em to wax for you non-Serato using heathens. Nick Catchdubs' remix(1) was one...
expand review of my favorites, tossing the acapella from "Re-Up Anthem" over a slowed loop from Eric Clapton's "Cocaine" ... so clever, that Catchdubs! Diplo flips the acapella chanting theme from Coming To America for his remix(2) of "Queen Bitch" ... it ain't club material, but I could see it fitting on a mixtape. The Disco D-produced "Double Down(3)" makes a comeback here, since we've been sold out of the Killah Kuts version for like a year - if you don't remember, it's got Vybz Kartel and the beat is made ENTIRELY OUT OF GUNSHOTS. (Insert Kevin Federline joke here.) On the flipside, Les Biches (what up, Krudmart!) remix "Drop It(4)" with a decidedly electro slant... and whaddayaknow, chuggling computer bass sounds nice under the Re-Up Gang. Ghislain Poirier's mix of "Stuntin' Y'all" falls off-track at times, but in the club it wouldn't be noticeable - everyone would be busy with that trademark Bounce Le Gros bass. Super unofficial pressing! Probably won't be around once Star Trak gets wind of this. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Hotshot Italian duo Crookers show some love to their country of origin with this Leone-inspired EP for Diplo's Mad Decent label. "Il Brutto(1)" is heavy, driving electro-house with gunshots and glitchy fx punctuating the beats; the remix from Bloody Beetroots(2) gets even...
expand review heavier, with a Bmore club slant on things and... what sounds like a possessed demon baby? "Il Buono(3)" stays true to its name, a pleasant little piece of spaghetti house, while "Il Cattivo(4)" gets real ugly with lurching bass, handclaps and chopped Elephant Man shouts. Pic sleeve. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Straight up: this is the best track from CSS' album and I'm really happy to see it getting a proper single release. Their first single was nice and dancey and all, but this is the realness! CSS are no joke and "Alala(1)"...
expand review shows their harder side, perfectly contrasting the shimmery disco guitar and synths from "Let's Make Love" with buzzsaw guitars and a thick-as-fuck beat. I can't get enough of that little noise in the chorus – sounds like the girl from The Grudge! Maybe I'm a bit biased, but Bonde do Role's remix(2) basically rips shit up. Gorky and Pedro throw some baile drums under the dark, spooky keyboard sound from the original track and then proceed to chop the hell out of Lovefoxxx's vocals ("b-b-b-b-bitches!") while fading effects in and out of the mix. Awesome shit, and infinitely more mixable than the original version. Princess Superstar contributes a remix(3) as well, and the girls are kind enough to tack the acapella on the end for you lunkheads. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Expansive Athens, GA, weirdo collective Dark Meat team up with snarky indie rag Chunklet for this limited edition 45 featuring their freewheeling, tambourine- and flute-heavy cover of Iggy Pop's "Success(1)." On the flip, Diplo's sludgy "Unsuccessful Dub(2)" goes against its name and...
expand review makes quite the palatable minimal smoker out of all that hippie nonsense, isolating horns and handclaps to great effect. -Van Hammersly
Fabric gave Diplo free reign on this mix, as he compiles and mixes 26 tracks, many which have been crucial in his sets for the last couple years. Hollertronix-defining stuff like The Cure, Cybotron, Debbie Deb, Hashim, Aphex Twin, Cajmere, MIA, Outkast,...
expand review and Le Tigre. He also reveals some new secret weapons, constantly amazing me how all over the place he is while maintaining his sound. Packaged in a metal case. -the mgmnt
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OK, by know you know that we're pretty much down with everything Diplo does. You know we're gonna give this a positive review, blow some smoke around and maybe gush over it a little bit; but that's only because the shit is...
expand review so good. Sorry, it just is. On Florida, Diplo makes thinking-man music that ain't boring and doesn't have a stick up it's ass. Such a rare thing. Like most debut albums, the tracks here are years in the making, and despite his open stance in terms of direction, they smoosh his many musical sides together with style. You can feel the influence of all the various projects- AEIOU beat tape smarts, hollertronix baltimore/ bounce sensibilities, etc- and the combination doesn't sound like anything else out there. Don't make me sound like a tool describing it, just pick this up with confidence. Listen to the intro "Florida(1)," "Way More(2)," the peak time of the 8 minute saga "Summer's Really Gonna Hurt You(3)," "Into The Sun(4)" featuring Martina Topley Bird, "Diplo Rhythm(5)" (a blend of the Sandra Melody, Vybz Kartel & Pantera Os Dandhinos tracks), "Indian Thick Jawns(6)" with PEACE, and "Big Lost(7)." -the mgmnt
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Deadstock find! Out of print CD+DVD edition of Diplo's classic debut album, featuring videos and an EPK from System D-128. OK, by know you know that we're pretty much down with everything Diplo does. You know we're gonna give this a positive...
expand review review, blow some smoke around and maybe gush over it a little bit; but that's only because the shit is so good. Sorry, it just is. On Florida, Diplo makes thinking-man music that ain't boring and doesn't have a stick up it's ass. Such a rare thing. Like most debut albums, the tracks here are years in the making, and despite his open stance in terms of direction, they smoosh his many musical sides together with style. You can feel the influence of all the various projects- AEIOU beat tape smarts, hollertronix baltimore/ bounce sensibilities, etc- and the combination doesn't sound like anything else out there. Don't make me sound like a tool describing it, just pick this up with confidence. Listen to the intro, "Florida(1)," "Way More(2)," the peak time of the 8 minute saga "Summer's Really Gonna Hurt You(3)," "Into The Sun(4)" featuring Martina Topley Bird, "Diplo Rhythm(5)" (a blend of the Sandra Melody, Vybz Kartel & Pantera Os Dandhinos tracks), "Indian Thick Jawns(6)" with PEACE, and "Big Lost(7)." -the mgmnt
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Another piece in the Tony Allen remix project from Honest Jon's, though to be honest (ha!) I doubt there's much of a Tony original to be heard in this track from Diplo. "Fuji Ouija(1)" is one big slab of pawrty music with...
expand review a kuduro rhythm, addictive rave synth progression and hyperactive vocal sample triggering from the dinosaur. UK vets Newham Generals are up next with "Tetsuya's Theme(2)," a nasty piece of instrumental grime centered around some Afro-folk beats. Flip features two cuts of incredible percussion by Elewedu of Agege - "Boys & Girls(3)" and "Thank You(4)" - recorded in Lagos, Nigeria. A-side plays at 45; B-side at 33. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
Mad Greasy! Originally released as part of Pitchfork's mix series -- don't bother checking, it's no longer available -- Diplo gives us the full length, hi-fi version of his I Like Turtles mix. Like a lot of Lab customers, I've been following...
expand review Mr. Diplo's work for a while now, and this CD still made me stop and go "Damn... dude is a REALLY GOOD DJ." I Like Turtles has everything you could want in a mixtape - heaters, weirdness and tons of fun, all effortlessly mixed by the dino-man. Oh yeah, exclusivos too, like the Sizzla dubplate of M.I.A.'s "Bamboo Banger," Diplo's "Krispy" remix of the Bartman song, Diplo & Switch's "Solta Frango" with Beenie Man, y mucho mas. Artists include: Mr. Vegas, Bun B, Rich Boy, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Schoolly D, Jellybean, Nirvana, Huey, DJ Tamiel, Queen, a Sandrinho remix of DJ Shadow... and that's only halfway through the tracklist. 39 tracks total. Highly recommended. -Larri Byrd
Just as Diplo killed it on MIA's Piracy Funds Terrorism mix that dropped before her debut, he does it again with Brooklyn's own Santogold, mixing up jams off her recent debut album. Expect to hear exclusive blends and mixes of her singles,...
expand review masterfully executed by Diplo himself. The styles flow smoothly from everything under the sun: dirty south, club, classic cuts, dance tracks, dancehall, dubstep, reggae and more. What's also cool is that although she's signed to a big label like Downtown, this is a Mad Decent pressing. So props to Diplo for making this happen. Expect to hear shit from Santi (duh), XXXchange, Ratatat, Richie Spice, Three 6 Mafia, B-52's, Kid Cudi, Switch, Radioclit, Benga, Tony Matterhorn, Skream, Warrior Queen, Barrington Levy, and more. The mix is 75 minutes, perfect for the summertime jams. -C'mish
Money Studies kicks off its new "Lost Masters" reissue series by resurrecting this impossible to find mix from Diplo and fellow Philly record hoarder Tony Tripledouble. Originally self-released on CDR in an edition of less than 500 (plus a few handmade cassettes),...
expand review AEIOU 2 is over an hour of the finest and rarest breaks drawn from Diplo & Tripledouble's extensive collections of psych, funk and obscure soundtracks. Some of the breaks in this mix have gone on to achieve classic status - still no tracklist to help you out, but now it comes in a full-color digipak designed by PH. And if you ever wanted to hear Diplo skratching, right here's the spot. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
Even though Blaqstarr's from Maryland and a lot of his music falls in the 126-130 BPM range, it doesn't seem right calling a lot of what he makes anymore "Baltimore club." The man is on some next-level futuristic party music shit with...
expand review his productions, and this official sequel to his online-only mix from last year showcases his skills behind the boards and the reason that he's one of the most sought-after beatsters around. In addition to over a dozen original tracks from Blaq - including the fucking HEAVY single "Bang" and the minimal, trance-inducing "Get Up On The Floor" - I'm Bangin 2 includes his remixes of MIA's "XR2" and Rick Ross' "The Boss." This should hold you over 'til the new EP drops on Mad Decent... 17 tracks; 34 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
Blaqstarr had a good 2007 (signed with Mad Decent, int'l touring styles, beats for M.I.A. and Young Leek) but it sounds like he's got some mindblowing shit lined up for 2008. Lots of new classics ("Supastarr," "Shake It To The Ground") and...
expand review unreleased tracks on King of Roq, the mixtape/album which was self-released last summer in an edition so small that it barely made it out of Bmore. Most of the songs are laced with the man's inimitable vocal styles, and all have that patent pending bizarre minimal vibe. The best new bits are the re-teaming of Blaq and Woodie from Dru Hill (aka RoqStarrz) on "Let's Go," plus genuinely strange tracks like "Allday" and "I Wanna Touch." I've heard this likened to a Bmore version of Stankonia, and while I don't think it's quite on that scale, it still proves Blaqstarr will be a force to be reckoned with for a while yet. As if that needed proving. 31 tracks, 63 minutes. Recommended. -Larri Byrd
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Now available on CD at the nice price! Mad Decent's most loaded release to date. Diplo called in the Justice League of remixers for this one. If you heard Blaqstarr's Supastarr EP, you know he's not your typical Bmore producer. No gimmick...
expand review tracks here, just dark, crazy original production. "Shake It To The Ground" has been begging for remixes from the start, with its minimal beat and 17-year old Rye Rye's crazy flow. Current remix king Switch and NYC's Santogold team up for a fucking bonkers kuduro-flavo(u)red mix(4), which interpolates... well, you'll know when you hear it. Drop The Lime's remix (2) has been getting tons of play - I used to think this dude was all Kid606, but this is hot as hell and totally ready for the club. All this, plus the original(3) and a dirty, bassy mix from SF's Claude VonStroke(1).
-Larri Byrd
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New Mad Decent! Are you ready for this? Blaqstarr's style of Baltimore club is a little different from the gimmicky cut-and-paste joints that're dominating the Lab these days. I think Diplo called it "violent, futuristic soul music," and I can't say I...
expand review disagree. Right off the bat, "Supastarr(1)" has gotta be one of the most unique club tracks I've heard, with Blaqstarr's one-of-a-kind vocals riding over an ever-evolving beat that's punctuated with gunshots and Lil Jon shouts. Speaking of gunshots, the beat to "Tote It(2)" is made almost completely out of them, but it really feels like more of an interlude/DJ tool here, leading into the absolutely killer "Shake It To The Ground(3)." Rye Rye absolutely murders the minimal beat from Blaqstarr – I've heard people compare her voice to the girl from "Chicken Noodle Soup," but Rye Rye makes Young B sound like John Brown (hallelujah, holla back). Flip this thing over and you're greeted by our personal sleeper pick from the EP, "Check Me Out Like(4)." You also get "Rockstarrz(5)" (with secret guest vocals – the group he used to be in rhymes with "Dru Hill"), the hypnotic and awesome "Automatic Lover(6)" and a Rye Rye acapella from "Shake It To The Ground." DJs, take note: this will throw a little spice into your stagnant Bmore set, and Blaqstarr's minimal arrangements are perfect for mixing. Highly recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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When is the last time you heard a major label remix that blew your mind? This(1) marks the start of Diplo's high profile remixing career, and it starts off with a megaton bomb. Diplo adds hulk intensity to the original, incorporating b-more...
expand review breaks, death techno elements, and all sorts of grimy instrumentation (my only complaint: make it longer!). Don't be that dude who chickens out and only plays the original. Also includes a dancehall remix(2) not by Diplo. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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