Aphex Twin on new LP, Pioneer to sell DJ equipment business, a manga guitar pedal and a rare interview with Mike Paradinas.
Aphex Twin shares first track from new album. ‘mini pops 67 [120.2][source field mix]’ from Syro, Aphex Twin‘s first new album release since 2001’s Drukqs, is now available to the general public as a stream – above – and as an instant download via Bleep.
Aphex Twin on New Syro LP. “I’m feeling really horny about it – and very smug.” Richard D. James speaks to Rolling Stone about his decade of unreleased music, drum-playing robots and adjusting to small-town life just outside of Glasgow here.
Pinch: Finding the Balance. “You’ve got to not just bend with the times, but hopefully bend the times.” RA met Tectonic Recordings head and forward-thinking UK producer Pinch recently in Bristol, where he spoke philosophically about his career, discussing his place in dance music, the detribalisation of UK scenes and his ongoing search for the balance between extremes. Read it here.
Liquid Rhythm Sale. WaveDNA are offering 25% off all versions of their sophisticated beat generator, sequencer, and software-based MIDI controller software Liquid Rhythm until September 7th with the coupon code: LRSUMMER25. Find out more here.
A rare interview with Mike Paradinas. “Rashad’s death has brought everyone together.” The Planet Mu boss speaks to Thump about British footwork, Rashad, the secret heroes of the Chicago scene and the difference between footwork and juke here.
A Hatsune Miku Guitar Pedal. Korg‘s Miku Stomp is the world’s first vocal synthesiser in a guitar pedal. It allows you to trigger the notes that Korg’s famous humanoid persona Hatsune Miku sings using your guitar, in real time, in a variety of tones and phrasings. Check it out in action above.
Korg ARP Odyssey release pushed back to 2015. Korg updates the release date of their upcoming ARP Odyssey analog synth reissue, announcing “we are sorry for this delay especially since the extraordinary reaction to the initial Odyssey announcement. We are refining the Odyssey to make this product even better”. More info here.
Introducing the Conductr 4-Dimensional XY Pad. Ableton Live controller iPad app Conductr releases a new feature update many users have been asking for: the XY-4D pad. It contains 4 FX units, each allowing you to control up to 4 parameters: one horizontally, one vertically, one by pinching and one on/off parameter when tapping. Find out more here.
Free samples from 99sounds. The free sample collections from newcomers 99sounds.org have been expanded with the addition of a new collection of white noise SFX. The library features a wide range of risers, tension builders, drop noises, sweeps and various other transition FX which have been designed for use in different styles of electronic dance music. Available for free download here.
National DJ of the Year Competition. RoodDJ’s competition is set across four rounds, open to anyone in the UK, pitting contestants against each other in an all out battle to be the National DJ of The Year, with the top three finalists winning epic prize packs. To enter the first round, you need to compile a 15 minute mix showcasing your talents as a DJ. You will be judged on your technical ability, track selection, timing and DJ flair. Find out more here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02O7MwxAJc4
Kate Simko & London Electronic Orchestra Live. Chicago-born electronic producer and classical composer Kate Simko performs live as part of an innovative and groundbreaking new project, Kate Simko & London Electronic Orchestra (LEO), at iTunes Festival. Check it out above.
Details of Simian Mobile Disco XOYO residency announced. London-based duo Simian Mobile Disco are announced as the latest name to head up XOYO‘s ongoing residency series. The techno-heavy line-up features weekly DJ sets from SMD and guest sets from Kevin Saunderson (October 18), Matthew Dear (November 15), Cajmere (December 13) and many more. More info here.
Pioneer Leaves DJ Equipment business. Pioneer Corporation is in the final stage of selling its DJ equipment brand to get back to the core business it was better known for in the late 80s – car stereos. The sale could fetch about 60 billion yen ($570 million), according to a Reuters article.
Manufacturers struggle to meet demand for vinyl. “The problem is everyone wants colour, picture or splatter vinyl and it’s very time consuming to make.” The cost of building new record-pressing machinery is prohibitively expensive, so greater volumes are being pumped through ageing machines in the few plants left. Read The Independent‘s feature here.
ATC launch new nearfield monitors. Specialist British loudspeaker manufacturer ATC announces availability of two new high-performance reference monitors. The active SCM20ASL Pro and passive SCM20PSL Pro provide an entry point into ATC studio monitoring at a lower price point, without compromising component quality over features. More info here.
MP3, CD and 24-bit audio – Can We Tell The Difference? Debates rage over whether hi-res music is a gimmick, so three Guardian writers put four music formats, and their ears, to the test here.