Your Foe Is A Man Without Country

A thrilling modern duo with tour de force dynamics in both sound and vision, Man Without Country unveil their debut album Foe on June 5th via Lost Balloon / Cooperative Music.

Man Without Country specialize in an atmospheric, sometimes uneasy sonic palette – their forte, a dark yet uplifting paradox. Glacial guitar ripples are spliced with an eerie synth pulse, yet have the ability to morph into an anthem when you least expect it.

The Cardiff duo of Tomas Greenhalf and Ryan James have been setting their stall since summer 2011, their singles King Complex and Puppets along with mixes for the likes of M83 and Active Child picking up plaudits from key tastemakers both here and abroad.

For such a dynamic sound, it’s impressive that Foe was recorded in the duo’s bedrooms, save for drums and some guitar. Giving the album “an edge and energy” is legendary producer Ken Thomas (Psychic TV, 23 Skidoo, Clock DVA, Sigur Rós) who agreed to mix the album because he loved the songs.

Check out a few tunes for yourself and prepare for the release of Foe this June.

Download: Puppets (Error Operator Remix)
Download: Active Child - Diamond Heart (Man Without Country Remix)
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Francis Harris Pays Tribute To His Dad With Leland

Brooklyn-based Francis Harris recently announced Leland, his forthcoming full length album on his new imprint Scissor & Thread. The album and project is a very personal one, as Harris composed the album as a requiem for his father. With the approaching 2 year anniversary of his father's passing coming up on February 25th, Harris has pushed back the Leland album release to the adjusted date of February 28th (it was originally set for a February 7th release), now in closest proximity to the life-marking event. The album itself is poignant, reflective, and moving, providing enough of a contrast to his dance alias Adultnapper that allowed Harris to release the album under his actual name (his first release as such in many years).

Like Adultnapper, the dancefloor friendly micro-rhythms are intact here with the Francis Harris material, but only representing part of what's really going on. At other points in the album, Harris injects live cellos, trumpet, piano, guitar and vocals throughout, creating a cohesive and captivating listen that is wholly unique.

Download: Pharoah In The Morning
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Kyle Andrews Is The Victim of A Murderbot

Chicago DJ Chrissy Murderbot has given Kyle Andrews' "Make Me Feel Human" the royal treatment, remixing not one but two separate versions of the track.

As Murderbot explains, "When I first heard the track, I realized pretty immediately that I wanted to make two versions of my remix—one with the full vocals that's more like a pop song for people to listen to in the car at work or whatever, and then a more dubbed-out, stripped-down mix for a slutty 6am sunrise loft party dance floor madness."

And that's exactly what's happened.

Download: Make Me Human (Chrissy Murderbot DUB Remix)
Download: Make Me Human (Chrissy Murderbot Remix)
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Andy Petr Is Anything But A Rapper Turned Singer

Prolific beyond his years, Milwaukee native Andy Petr recently signed with Brooklyn-based Mixpak records and will release his debut album Rapper Turned Singer EP on May 10th. Andy's profuse output of intricate chops doesn't stop there. He is also delivering a spate of free EPs which APD004 being the first. The planned trilogy of EPs will feature original material as well as heavy reworkings of some of his favorite rap songs.

Simply put, the kid is good.  He slices, dices, chops and grinds together samples with an ear to the floor while keeping an eye out for the next great sample.  And when he's not doing that he gets lost in his own little world where Brian Eno and Justice live together in electronic harmony.  It all might seem a bit disjointed and strange at times, I mean it's hard for it not to with samples flying around everywhere or new agey synths floating by, but either way the kid writes grooves that are so deep they make the Mariana Trench look shallow.

Download: Rapper Turned Singer
Download: Drinking Milk From His Hands
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Kick The Canblaster

Canblaster, aka Cédric Steffens, he’s from Northern France and he’s part of the Club Cheval crew that’s currently taking over France. He’s only 22 but his unique ability to combine genres and sounds belie wisdom beyond his years. Master Of Complication is his first for Nightshifters and, to be honest, it’s so full of new noises we’re not really sure how to describe it.

Master Of Complication the new Ep by Canblaster, is a concept record about time, speed and, well, the complexity of watches. Of course there are many things about the music of Canblaster that is not what you expect. First of all, his music is ultra-melodic with an almost Zen like use of melodies that lifts you right off the ground. Then there’s the everything-including-the-kitchen-sink beats filled with details that always seem to point outward to an even larger world.

Download: Clockworks
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Alan Wilkis Heads To Film School

Lots of stuff going on today so I'll make this quick...

Brooklyn-based musician, multi-instrumentalist and producer Alan Wilkis has taken on Film School and remixed it in his own special way.

He makes the track noisy, distorted, but none the less lovely. It's a bit glitchy but it shows a completely different side of Film School and that's probably why I like it.

Download: Heart Full of Pentagons (Alan Wilkis Remix)

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