Beats Antique
Collide
(Unsigned)
Oakland-based power trio Beats Antique has just released an album that picks up where their debut record, "Tribal Derivations" stopped. "Collide" accentuates the electro-acoustic feel to this band's sound, which blends exotic, Middle Eastern scents and moves with highly-charged electronics, reminiscent of recent dance dialects like dubstep and glitch-centered paraphernalia. ... read more

Frost & Wagner
Remixes
(Sonar Kollektiv)
You know when Sonar Kollektiv and Best Seven founder Daniel Best come together, the result is guaranteed, slow-burning fire. When Frost & Wagner are thrown into that mix, just reach for the marshmallows and a comfy place to hold them over that fire, because you're going to be there a while. It's about a kind of cult of personality based on Germany's unique way of blending of Reggae, soul and dub sounds and I have to admit, I'm a bit of a devotee. ... read more

Soulphiction
Do You Overstand?!
(Sonar Kollektiv)
Michael Baumann, aka Soulphiction is back again with his signature style of sparsely arranged, loopy-but-deep, warm and in its own unreal way, very organic house music. As on his previous album, State of Euphoria, Baumann employs the vocal talent of jazz chanteuse Suzana Rozkosny but the outcome is nowhere near the sound of "Used" or "Love Thang". It's actually very ambient. Soulphiction's deep Detroit influences come through all the same. With dance music you ultimately have to ask yourself one question: down it like a shot or sip it slow? ... read more

Gelka
Less is More
(Wax On Records)
All the repair men in the world rejoice! There's a new duo in town naming itself after the general repair service for all household electronics, during Hungary's difficult times. Budapest-based Gelka is the music project of Alex and Sergio, who first surfaced on a Café Del Mar compilation five years ago. They are now signed to Nightmares On Wax's label for their debut album, described as "urban blues drenched downtempo electronica". ... read more

Bardo State
Mariposa
(United Recordings)
This is the first album from Bardo State, the Amsterdam duo of Frank Wijn and Dorian Broekhuyse, and it features vocals by Jo Lemaire, Carmen van den Brakel, and Kevin Mark Trail. Their MySpace site says the duo was formed in 2003 to make classical music more accessible, in this case by mixing it with electronica. ... read more

Thomas Blondet
Havana 2am
(Rhythm & Culture Recordings)
When he released this single just past the tipping point of September, Thomas Blondet may as well have announced Summer would be going on for another two months. It doesn't matter that leaves are falling outside, because in your headphones, on your speakers, this music makes it all sunshine and rum. ... read more

See-I
Mean Joe Green
(Rhythm & Culture Recordings)
See-I's latest single "Mean Joe Green" follows on their recent 10" single "The King" on Bastard Jazz, and combined, those are the first works heard from the brothers, Rootz and Zeebo since their mid-2000 releases of the "Dinner of Herb EP" and "Special Operations". Reference back to the duo's vocal work with Thievery Corporation, dial up the roots vibes a few notches and you'll have half the flavor. ... read more

Properly Chilled - Propercast Episode 15: Happy New Year! w/ Alice Russell & TM Juke Interview

Properly Chilled - Propercast Episode 14: Fort Knox Five Interview