Life Crushed

Close - My Way feat. Joe Dukie (Dusky Remix)

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:03:19 -0700

Close - My Way feat. Joe Dukie (Dusky Remix)

Viers - 0002 Next one coming out for Church.

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:37:56 -0700

Viers - 0002

Next one coming out for Church.

Dark Sky ‘In Brackets’ EP (Out Now)

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:43:03 -0700

Dark Sky ‘In Brackets’ EP (Out Now)

Kid A - BB Bleu (Eliphino Remix)

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:24:44 -0700

Kid A - BB Bleu (Eliphino Remix)

Mount Kimbie - You Took Your Time (feat. King Krule)

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:08:33 -0700

Mount Kimbie - You Took Your Time (feat. King Krule)

Laszlo Dancehall EP (Forthcoming - Man Make Music, May 20th)

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:59:14 -0700

Laszlo Dancehall EP (Forthcoming - Man Make Music, May 20th)

TeeFreqs - Pyramids

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:42:42 -0700

TeeFreqs - Pyramids

Deft - Paris

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:29:59 -0700

Deft - Paris

GUEST MIX: Borai For close to a decade now, Boris English (aka Borai) has been behind the scenes...

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:44:00 -0700

GUEST MIX: Borai

For close to a decade now, Boris English (aka Borai) has been behind the scenes crafting his trade and soaking up knowledge of the culture like a sponge. DJ’ing for over 10 years, apprenticing at a mastering house, and collaborating multiple times with the acclaimed, DJ October - Borai has finally come around to putting out his own solo work, ‘Moonlight on the Malago’. Released just a few weeks ago on the new Chicago-based imprint, Tasteful Nudes, the EP is one of astounding maturity and knowledge. It is extremely humbling and bewildering that such a talent would lend his time to us to cater the 24th installment to our Guest Mix series. Packed with personal favorites, and unreleased tracks that are soon to be highly renowned, Borai’s mix is a flawless and refined piece of work. Take the time to listen all the way through, you won’t regret it.

Download via Soundcloud

Interview & Track List after the jump…

Life Crushed (LC): “Moonlight On the Malago” is a gorgeously crafted EP - both productions. You have been DJ’ing for around 12 years, and have had upwards of three releases with the infamous, DJ October starting around 2009. In all due respect, why then have you just begun releasing your solo work?

Borai (B): There has been no one reason why it has taken this long for me to get my solo work out there, I guess it’s because I’m not that good at promoting myself, and never really took advantage of opportunities that could of helped in the past.

I really enjoy the process of writing and producing and for years that was kind of enough for me, I never really felt that I was writing anything that anybody would be into, or that it wasn’t at a good enough level to be released.

Gradually over the years I started to believe in my own work and it was when I started to work with October that I felt that I was writing music I really enjoyed and had a handle on the finer points of the production process. I set about trying to put something of what we were doing into my own work, and Moonlight on the Malago was the result.

I suspect that without his help, advice and guidance those two tunes would still be on my hard-drive waiting for me to send them to someone. October has been instrumental in getting my solo work out there, and for that I am ever grateful.

LC: Where did music start for you? Has it always revolved around DJ and Producer culture?

B: Music started for me with my parents record collection. Piles of dusty records waiting for me to get stuck in! I had my 1st record player at about 10 (not counting the Fisher Price one when i was a nipper!) and started to rifle through things like Bob Dylan, Kraftwork, Sprit, Bob Marley and lots of other stuff.

Living in Bristol in the 90’s, DJ culture was really big. Drum and Bass was massive and I grew up hearing stories about Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky and all the other “Bristol Sound” groups, the venues they played in, the parties that happened. All the time the collective interest in collecting and playing vinyl and trying to be the next big thing on the scene led to a really healthy record shop and producer scene, so with this all around me I naturally gravitated towards pursuing it in some form.

LC: Working at an establishment such as a ‘Mastering House’ - has this molded or changed your original approach to making music? And can you tell us a bit about how you stumbled into an apprenticeship like that?

B: It has certainly helped me fine tune my mixes, I can hear a track on the super nice speakers, give it a tweak, get a dubplate cut and play it out well before i send it to anyone.

I started by answering the emails and phones and am slowly graduating up to cutting, I approached Henry Bainbridge (the head honcho of Dubstudio) asking if he needed any help with the business, and he said yes!

It all sounds pretty simple but in truth it’s taken a lot of hard work from both of us and it’s a long road to getting fully trained, but I’m adamant I’ll see it though.

LC: How do you begin to mix something like what you’ve prepared for us? Walk us through the steps.

B: 1. Take every bit of vinyl off my shelves…

2. Get a bit flustered trying to sort them out…

3. Give up and have a mix

4. Go back and press Record…..

5. Have another mix.

Joking aside, I wanted this mix to reflect something a bit raw and techno but still be able to listen to it at home..I hope I managed to accomplish it.

LC: Where do you see this culture going within ten years? And where are you when that time comes around?

B: In 10 years I’ll be 40…I hope I’ll be doing something interesting, they say life starts at forty.

House and Techno have been around for years and are pretty much a constant, If you got the time to put in and the passion and drive you can have a career that lasts for as long as your prepared to work for it.

I think that parties will continue to happen and music will be made, and the allure of the the 4x4 beat will continue to draw new writers and inspire people to go and and get involved.

It will change name and the “Cool Kids” will move onto something else but the underground will continue to exist and, as always, dictate what the mainstream picks up on next.

Vinyl will eventually die out in commercial events (it kind of has now…) and those left playing it will be just those interested or bothered to care about it. I will be one of them, but i don’t know how long it will last in the wide scheme of things. Crowds don’t really care what format you use, just what the music is and who’s playing it.

Vinyl will still continue to exist in other ways, white-labels, collectors editions, and vinyl-only labels see to that. But even today with higher than recent record sales its probably only 10% of DJ’s who are using vinyl to play out with. When you weigh up the pros and cons of Digital DJing Vs Vinyl DJing it hard not to pick the easy option.

Track List:

Reckless Rick Cook - Night Moves [7Days ENT]
Amir Alexander - Sonic Weaponry [Vanguard Sound]
Borai - Battle Weapon 008 [Dubplate]
Black Jazz Consortium - Stay [Soul People Music]
October & Borai - Level Abstain [Never Learnt]
Rick Wade - Night Chaser [Dockside Records]
Lamar - Guilty Pleasures [Aesthetic Audio]
DJ Sotofett - There’s Gotta be a Way (Club Mix) [Wania]
Unknown - Battle Weapon 009 [Dubplate]
Patrice Scott - 2000 Black [Sistrum Recordings]
Borai - Battle Weapon 006
Policy - Hit Gone Bad [Argot]

Valentin Stip ’Angst EP’ (Out Now - Clown & Sunset) His fourth release on Nicolas...

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:51:00 -0700

Valentin Stip ’Angst EP’ (Out Now - Clown & Sunset)

His fourth release on Nicolas Jaar’s label, the ‘Angst EP’ shows exactly what makes Valentin Stip one of the most talented yet understated musicians out there.

Hugo Slime - More Elevated Thing Guest Mix coming soon…

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:58:55 -0700

Hugo Slime - More Elevated Thing

Guest Mix coming soon…

T_A_M & Zubuntu - Power Cologne Forthcoming to Sabacan...

Sun, 05 May 2013 13:00:00 -0700

T_A_M & Zubuntu - Power Cologne

Forthcoming to Sabacan Records of Japan, two Tuffwax affiliates have banded together to produce an EP of an intriguing nature. Mystic sounding almost, but also rife with juke sentiments. Power Cologne is a piece that even if you don’t understand a single element involved, you’ll still catch yourself bobbing your head sporadically. It’s a different sound to say the least, and in a scene where similarities are all to consistent, it’s refreshing and encouraging to see that other sounds and ideas are being explored so confidently. Keep tabs on the two of them, via Soundcloud.

Wilroy - Everybody Copes With Another solid submission from a...

Sun, 05 May 2013 11:49:26 -0700

Wilroy - Everybody Copes With

Another solid submission from a talented, Liverpool-based, producer - Wilroy. Heavily focused on stuttering percussion, vocal R&B samples, and a garage-sound seemingly veteran, “Everybody Copes With” is a tune worthy of repeats. Starting off a bit choppy, it begins to make sense as the song progresses, becoming a discerningly coherent production. We’d highly suggest you pay attention to what this up-and-comer does in the near future. Stream more, and download this bit for free, via Soundlcoud.

Odessa ‘Odessa Trax Vol. 1’ (Forthcoming - Shifting Peaks, May 6th) (Pasteman &...

Sat, 04 May 2013 14:09:56 -0700

Odessa ‘Odessa Trax Vol. 1’ (Forthcoming - Shifting Peaks, May 6th)

(Pasteman & Tanka)

Ben Hayes - Colours (feat. Naomi Banks) Something very...

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:29:18 -0700

Ben Hayes - Colours (feat. Naomi Banks)

Something very different from what LC tends to post. Change is good though, right? By way of email, Ben Hayes has sent us a track off his forthcoming EP, releasing May 6th. While the vocals stand in the forefront at first glance, after listening to “Colours” multiple times, it reveals that Hayes is fantastic at crafting a sound that does not just support a voice, but accompanies it and carries it many ways. There’s the little things as well - the bubbling chirps that come to the top, the raw bass line that prevails through out the song. It’s all rather elegant and intelligent. We’ll be happy to pick up a copy, come May 6th. Stream more via Soundcloud.

William Arcane - Want Somebody Pictures Music is making bold...

Fri, 03 May 2013 12:57:42 -0700

William Arcane - Want Somebody

Pictures Music is making bold moves yet again, with the recently announced release of William Arcane’s EP, ‘Permanence’ coming out this June. Having experimented and conducted with different sounds and ideas, William has created an anthemic, vocal-laden splendor. We cannot stress enough how much the focus is on the beautiful vocals, at least with the track, “Want Somebody” - they’re emotional, gritty, and surreal, resulting in a very touching composition. And when it’s laid over the electronic work like a blanket, the effect is like something we’ve never heard. Club ready, but all too relevant for the introverted, headphone experience, ‘Permanence’ will be out June 10th on vinyl via Pictures Music. For now, stay locked on William Arcane’s Soundcloud.

Shlohmo X Chris Brown - Places/Yo (Bondax Blend) When a mash-up...

Fri, 03 May 2013 12:01:32 -0700

Shlohmo X Chris Brown - Places/Yo (Bondax Blend)

When a mash-up is good, it’s great. Like Pretty Boy over the old classic, “Places.” The track is ripped from Bondax’s days-old XLR8R Podcast, also worth a shot. Bondax are on Facebook and Soundcloud.

Isaac Tichauer - Take Over You A trusty source of unheard-of...

Thu, 02 May 2013 17:35:49 -0700

Isaac Tichauer - Take Over You

A trusty source of unheard-of vocals and master of the diachronic disco sound, Isaac Tichauer is out with this teaser for the Take Over You EP on French Express. Four more tracks to be released next week. Follow up on his Facebook and Soundcloud.

Redlight - Switch If Off (Ben Pearce Remix) A great dance track...

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:34:01 -0700

Redlight - Switch If Off (Ben Pearce Remix)

A great dance track turned dancier by producer and owner of Purp & Soul Records, Ben Pearce. Hear more on Ben Pearce’s Soundcloud and Facebook.

GUEST MIX: Usurp For the 23rd installment to LC’s guest...

Wed, 01 May 2013 12:41:00 -0700

GUEST MIX: Usurp

For the 23rd installment to LC’s guest mix series, the young producer by the name of Usurp has prepared over an hour of heart-pounding techno. A total adrenaline rush, the mix starts explosively and never lets up. Featuring plenty of his own originals, as well as infamous tunes by Joy O & Boddika, Machinedrum, and Breach & Dark Sky - the track list is almost as impressive as his seamless transitions. If Usurp isn’t on your radar now, he sure as hell will be after this.

Download via Soundcloud.

Life Crushed (LC): What were your intentions when you began crafting this mix?

Usurp (U): Well, I just tried to recreate the kind of mix I would do live. I’ve just recently reached a point where I’m confident enough with my production to play out my own stuff through a sound system and not have it sounding shit. On top of that I picked some bangers that have been featuring quite a lot in my recent mixes too. I really like strong, sub-heavy, powerful tunes that just smack you in the face.

LC: What came first for you - DJing or producing? Do you think the two go hand-in-hand?

U: I’ve been producing a lot longer than I have been DJing, I remember playing around with a really early version of Fruity Loops around 13 years ago… In 2008 I started taking production a bit more seriously. Starting off with more guitar based instrumental stuff, since then progressing more into the electronic style of things. Recently found my groove making 4x4 house/techno kinda stuff but before that I was writing more dubstep and garage influenced music. I’d say that producing and writing music definitely gave me a bit of head start with DJing as I understand the structure and composition of the music better – also meant I had a bit of an ear for key-clashes and stuff like that. Really though, it all just comes down to knowing the tunes.

LC: With the heaviness of your mix, we are very curious as to who you look up to or who influences you? Any surprises that no one would ever guess?

U: This is a big question! It’s probably easier for me just to list off a load of bands and producers so: Burial, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Yourcodenameis:Milo, Blawan, Lamb of God, Pink Floyd, Bass Clef, Four Tet, Die Antwoord, Frank Ocean, Huxley, Mono, Modest Mouse, Bon Iver… Lots of stuff! I really draw influence from all the music I hear and enjoy, music which has power, passion and intensity. Dumfries’ alternative music scene was really based around metal and heavy bands for me, so I guess I take a lot of cues from that style of music as it’s what I spent a lot of my teenage years listening to. Really into other producers like Happa, Network, Thieves, ARM WTCHS FNGRS, Lojt, Grobbie, Ray Vose… I could do this all day!

LC: What else can we expect from Usurp for 2013? Any projects or collaborations we should be looking forward to?

U: My first release with B-DEM Records should hopefully be out sometime soon which I’m really hyped for! I’m also moving to Glasgow later in the year where I hope to be DJing live a bit more often. I’m really just trying to improve my productions and lock in my own sound a bit more. Got a load of locked tunes at the moment that I don’t know what to do with so I’m considering releasing another free EP at some point. Hopefully going to be making more tunes with Mr.Beeb and Lojt as Burlesk over the summer, really enjoyed working with them both on a tune. Hoping to also find the time to get back into making guitar music and maybe experimenting a bit more with my CLIPPR stuff.

LC: What’s been your worst memory so far while being involved in this growing culture?

U: This far I’ve been having a great time and can’t really think of any bad memories, it’s all been so much fun!

Track List

Dense & Pika - Vomee
Usurp - Haiku
Usurp - Longing Loathing
Hot Since 82 - Mr. Drive
Usurp - I’m Addicted
Midland - For (Yacht) Club Use Only
Usurp - Do It Now
Usurp - Polar Bear
Machinedrum - No Respect
Breach & Dark Sky - The Click
Usurp - Boardroom
Joy Orbison & Boddika - Mercy (Boddika VIP)
Romanthony - Let Me Show You Love (Oliver $ Dub)
Latcha - Apricot
¥oin - High Ties
Disclosure - White Noise (Hudson Mohawke Remix)