Bloc are back at Butlins, a chat with the CEO of Ableton, watch the 808 documentary trailer and LFO’s Mark Bell passes away.
Bloc Back at Butlins. Three years since their previous weekender, from the 13th – 15th of March 2015, Bloc will be back at Butlins resort at Minehead accompanied by: Modeselektor, Carl Craig, Hudson Mohawke, Jackmaster, Omar S, Karenn, Hessle Audio & many more. Check out the promo above & find out more here.
Berlin Club Mogul Eyes Detroit Auto Plant. Dimitri Hegemann, the founder of one of the world’s most famous techno clubs Tresor, hopes to open a club in a dilapidated auto plant near the intersection of I-94 and I-75 in Detroit, according to The Wall Street Journal. Find out more here.
Ableton CEO Speaks. HighSnobiety dropped by Ableton‘s headquarters in Berlin to talk to CEO Gerhard Behles about the company, its beginnings and its future. Read here.
Introducing Traktor Kontrol S8. NI‘s new flagship all-in-one DJ controller is driven by touch-sensitive controls and high-res displays that put Traktor Pro software within sight, “keeping you focused on the music – not on your laptop.” Available October 30th, watch the promo above.
Elektron’s Strom Sampler App. A first look at Elektron‘s sophisticated new app, a quirky monophonic sampler that can be played stand-alone and makes uploading samples to their powerful drum machine, the Analog Rytm, easy. Check it out above.
LFO’s Mark Bell Passes Away. Warp Records broke the news – “It’s with great sadness that we announce the untimely passing of Mark Bell of LFO who died last week from complications after an operation. Mark’s family & friends request privacy at this difficult time.”
808 The Movie. A documentary film that will tell the inspiring story of the Roland TR-808, from the creation of ‘Planet Rock’, which established it as a dynamic modern instrument, to how it defined hip-hop and modern dance culture, through to its continued use today. Watch the trailer above.
XLR8R Loves Clone Records. XLR8R’s annual focus on their favourite labels features Rotterdam-based Clone Records owner Serge discussing the institution’s place in electronic music, as well as their ethos and 20-year history. Read it here.
SoundCloud net losses growing at faster rate than revenue. “Our overhead base has increased faster than our revenues,” states the company in its financial filing. SoundCloud’s latest figures come shortly after it was reported in The Financial Times that the company’s negotiations with Universal, Sony and Warner had reached an impasse. More here.
Spotify’s UK revenues rose 42% in 2013. The streaming firm’s UK income up to £131m as it turns 2012’s £11m loss into a £2.6m profit in 2013. “This growth can be attributed to a 42% year on year growth in UK subscriptions and also to an increase in advertising revenue,” The Guardian reports. But the global picture could be different: “Spotify may have turned a profit in the UK in 2013, but having invested heavily in global expansion that year, the parent company may yet report more losses.”
Pioneer DJ launches KUVO. KUVO brings dance music fans live information about which DJs are playing and where, with real-time set lists and the ability to preview, ‘like’ and buy tracks – all via the KUVO smartphone app and website. Clubbers will be able to see what’s trending and what’s happening in clubs near them. Check it out above.
Arturia introduces MicroBrute SE Limited Edition. The MicroBrute SE synthesiser is a limited edition of a pure analogue sonic powerhouse that’s small in size but loaded with features. This special edition is produced in limited quantity, with only 1500 units available in each colour. Watch above, more info here.
6 Best Game Sound Spin-offs. The Guardian examines where game music aesthetics have seeped into the rest of music, inspiring producers and musicians to create all manner of electronic music from chiptunes to Nintendocore here.
09.40 AM
Strom made not by Elektron, but by Jakob Penca, aka VOID.