Nicolas Jaar | OUR WORLD
Nico Jaar dropped this moody soulful eclectic lush ambient mix this morning via his label Other People . Jaar pays some tribute to the memory of John Lennon.
Grab the free download if you’re vibing.
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Nico Jaar dropped this moody soulful eclectic lush ambient mix this morning via his label Other People . Jaar pays some tribute to the memory of John Lennon.
Grab the free download if you’re vibing.
Earlier this month, Nicolas Jaar launched his latest project: Other People , an imprint branded by Jaar as a “serial label.” Every week, members (yes, you have to sign up) receive a new issue. The first, released on September 2, featured a handful of new names alongside a number of artists you’ll recognize from Clown & Sunset. Valentin Stip was of them and you can listen to his contribution below.
Head here if you wish to subscribe-
Earlier this summer, Nicolas Jaar announced that he would be putting his Clown & Sunset label to rest in favor of something new: Other People , a self-described “serial label.” According to Jaar, “Like a magazine, we deliver new content each week. Every Sunday, our members receive a new issue.” For $5 a month (or $50 a year), one can subscribe to the label in order to receive weekly “issues” complete with a free download.
Jaar marked the launch of other-people.net a few days back with the first 11 minutes of the forthcoming Darkside record. The teaser of “Golden Arrow” burns slowly, opening with six minutes of beautiful, dissonant sound: sparse violins, piano and a mélange of atmospheric sound interspersed with white noise. It isn’t until half way through the song that the duo forgoes their restraint and moves into Dave Harrington ‘s graceful, sinuous guitar-based groove that you’re well acquainted with if you’re familiar with Darkside ’s self-titled debut EP.
Download the composition and, if you wish, sign up to Other People here and receive Trust , the first compilation from the imprint on September 2.
alh
On July 7 th , for the second time, Ray-Ban and Boiler Room teamed up to host the Pitchfork Festival official afterparty situated at Lacuna Lofts in Chicago, IL. For this special occasion, the organizers presented the crowd with none other than Jacques Greene , Nicolas Jaar , Todd Edwards , Ryan Hemsworth , Teklife alongside their crew of footwork dancers to entertain the packed room.
Fortunately, if you missed the broadcast or simply want to be reminded of how much you danced at the show, Greene’s expectedly stunning mix is available for streaming/download below.
alh
“For the longest day of the year, DARKSIDE momentarily turns into DAFTSIDE…”
In a characteristically bold move, Nicolas Jaar and his Darkside compatriot Dave Harrington have taken to remixing Daft Punk ’s Random Access Memories in its entirety. In a similar fashion to the work that Nico put into reworking Brian Eno ’s “Lux” and Grizzly Bear ’s “Sleeping Ute” for his Record Store Day release , the duo slows things down, texturizing and warping each song into a hypnotic blend of tension and release. In general, the tracks respectively clock in between three and five minutes, save for the seeming parody of Pharrell’s “Lose Yourself to Dance” – two seconds seemed to be enough to get the message across.
[Darkside]
alh
Booma , a Montreal-based musicians’ collective, is composed of a handful of producers such as Valentin Stip , SolPara , and Pavla & Noura - names that are also present on Nicolas Jaar ‘s Clown & Sunset roster. Earlier this week, the group shared a slow burning edit of “Help Me Jesus,” courtesy of Val Stip himself. The track is available for download below.
[ Valentin Stip ]
alh
For the 2013 edition of Record Store Day , Nicolas Jaar took to remixing both Grizzly Bear ’s “Sleeping Ute” and Brian Eno ’s “Lux,” which appeared on an exclusive RSD 12”. Of course, the vinyl sold out instantly.
In usual fashion, Jaar takes his time in letting his work unfold, keeping your attention with a stream of sparse atmospheric noise. Perhaps in respect for the original, he allows “Lux” to remain ambient throughout while his rework of “Sleeping Ute” gradually evolves into a clean, guitar-driven beat reminiscent of Darkside, Jaar’s collaborative project with Dave Harrington.
alh
[Ataxia EP]
Nikos Vezanis a.k.a. Benjha recently uploaded “Wanderlust”–a cut from his Ataxia EP, which is slated for release sometime in early 2013 on Nico Jaar ‘s Clown & Sunset label. Vezanis paints soulful intimate improvisational instrumental narratives blending a rich palette of percussion, raw field recordings, warm synths, and chopped vocals. The distinctive looseness of the rhythms is in part due to Benjha’s method of placing all of the drums and percussion hits by hand within his sequencer. Though I love the classic swing of an MPC sequencer, Benjha’s hands-on approach to programming drums yields grooves that are uniquely his.
I have listened through the Ataxia EP, and it contains a handful of gems, many of which, including “ Shadowplaying ,” “ Space Bollywood ,” and “ Time ” are currently available for streaming on his SoundCloud page.
Also, if you are feeling “Wanderlust,” here is another brand new one entitled “Palpitations.” I’m vibing to the eerie interlocking plucked string melodies and the washed-out piano chords.
Having recently relocated to London via San Francisco, Benjha has been settling into his new town as well as working on a new EP project for our very own Blenheim & Celtic imprint. You can expect this to arrive in early 2013.
[Benjha a.k.a. Nikos Vezanis]
Wolfey
Following the theatre of thanksgiving, Theatre Roosevelt.
Nicolas Jaar treats us to a Thanksgiving special- a house-driven piece that rests heavy on one of his signature cheeky grooves.
It’s been a moment since we’ve heard from the Clown & Sunset boss- we would anticipate that he’s rather consumed with his forthcoming LPs. A full-length record by his Krautrock-leaning side project Darkside is due out early 2013 as well as his solo record, composed of “esoteric, atmospheric, sad, diabolic 14 th -century baroque church music.” Oh, and if you missed the note, the virtual edition of Don’t Break My Love (the compilation formally exclusive to C&S ’s Prism) has surfaced. Purchase here .
alh
Patrick Holland, producing under the moniker 8prn , has been busy toiling away in the studio, perfecting his beats in anticipation for the release of his first EP, Time Waste , on Jellyfish Records . Three of the tracks from Time Waste have been floating around on Holland’s soundcloud for a couple of months now but after a few slight modifications and a trip to the mastering house these tunes compare in quality to those of past Nicolas Jaar releases- this EP would not seem out of place on the roster of Nico’s own imprint, Clown and Sunset .
Holland’s ability to seamlessly incorporate chopped-up vocal samples and organic elements into songs such as “Woman” and “King Of” place this young Vancouver beat-smith into the small category of electronic producers who are able to create visceral sounds brimming with soul and emotion. Though many try, this is a task that few are able to accomplish.
A standout track for me is Solow. It’s skittering beat and popping percussion are grounded by the tastefully detuned vocal sample and softened with the comforting tone of piano chords. Though comparisons are odious, I cannot help but be reminded of Mount Kimbie and James Blake ‘s early work. Time Waste has been on heavy rotation on my speakers and it still holds weight after countless listens. Do yourself a favour and download the album- it’s available for free download for one week only. Also if you feel like seeing 8prn live check him out on November 3rd at The Waldorf for the Chapel Sound Takeover .
Download || Time Waste EP – 8prn
[8prn]
James
If you didn’t manage to catch Nicolas Jaar over the summer, at one of the many festival and/or tour dates he played worldwide, here’s a little treat. His 54-minute set from Sonar Labs was uploaded to Soundcloud a few days back.
As Nico has mentioned in a number of interviews, there’s something removed when people talk over those signature quiet moments that have become a staple within his sets. In his own words, “emotion gets transferred into those tiny moments. But that doesn’t work, because people are talking, right? And this is not that it’s bad that people are talking. I don’t really care. It’s more that people are talking and it’s a reality and it’s not silent. And so the fact that it happens, makes those moments more seem like pauses than anything” (via Resident Advisor ) Those “pauses,” “lulls,” “transitions,” whatever you want to call them, are meaningful and thoughtfully woven into the narrative of his mixes. Hence, why Nico posted his own uninterrupted version of his BBC Essential Mix on the Clown & Sunset Soundcloud . Unfortunately, the same could not be done for this mix, so try not to mind the Sonar voiceovers.
alh
Nicolas Jaar extended his markedly unblemished track record today, releasing a wonderfully subterranean retake of one of Australian Chet Baker ‘s latest.
Jaar’s touch drags you deep below the earth’s mantle – to caverns with echoing percussion, whistling and hissing with raw noise, the caves shifting disorientingly in mood and tempo as you descend along the six minute piece.
Happy spelunking -
-St.Patty
Today; Atlanta, Georgia experimentalist Chan Marshall – AKA Cat Power has graced us with an early glimpse of her hiatus shattering release Sun.
Coupled with the original is an exquisite rework by a man who needs no introduction, Nicolas Jaar . The Clown & Sunset boss takes the already delicate original and strips it down to Marshall’s porcelain voice, surrounding it with complementary airy and fragile synths.
Download || Cherokee (Nicolas Jaar Remix) – Cat Power
~St.Patty
Keep your sights fixed on Benjha . His first EP release will be out soon on the venerable Clown & Sunset . Nikos Vezanis hails from Athens, Greece and currently resides in San Francisco. Here is just a taste of what to expect.
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[Valentin Stip]
Yet another golden piece has been offered up from those over at Clown & Sunset . This time, the tune is courtesy of Paris-born producer Valentin Stip , who we caught warming up the day at Montreal’s MUTEK Piknik . Although he hit the decks early in the afternoon ( MUTEK Piknik begins at 2pm), the crowd was already substantial and completely immersed in Valentin’s set, which quickly encouraged us to forget about our anticipation to see C&S founder Nicolas Jaar , the following act.
Valentin’s latest gem first became available on the Clown & Sunset Prism , however, the tune has now been (thankfully) loaded up onto his Soundcloud . Like much of the work that emerges from the label, “Hiathaikm” has a cinematic quality as it evolves, winds up and releases at just the right moments. Valentin characteristically embraces space, crafting woolly soundscapes through a deliberately drowsy beat, which remains present behind the mystical vocal and melancholic piano lines throughout.
While you’re at it, be sure to lend an ear to Pavla & Noura , a collaboration between Val and his friend, Paul Sara, available on the Prism as well.
[Clown & Sunset Prism]
alh
MUTEK is just around the corner (the official festivities begin tonight) and it’s safe to say that anticipation is running high, here in Montreal. If you’re not already familiar, MUTEK is an international festival organization, founded in the year 2000. It’s centrepiece: the presentation of its annual namesake festival, held in Montreal, which thoughtfully showcases the strength and value of both electronic music and the digital arts. This year is MUTEK ‘s 13th instalment.
“Over 70 acts will converge on Montreal from May 30th to June 3rd, among them respected pioneers, hotly tipped emerging artists, adventurous sonic manipulators, and a significant number of Canadian artists who represent the wealth of digital creativity currently at work in this country.”
(via
MUTEK
)
The 13th edition, as it has done in the past, will provide a platform for some of the most forward thinking minds in digital creativity to demonstrate their talents. This year’s spectators have the opportunity to catch some of our unabashed favourite names: Nicolas Jaar , Shlohmo , Salva , Kode 9 , Valentin Stip , Prison Garde , and so many more, as well as a number of experimental art installations that we’re looking forward to exploring (take the CineChamber for example).
“MUTEK is an immersive journey, with many levels at which to explore the artistic contours of its many creative scenes.”
Whether you manage to be in attendance or not, we’ve put together a little offering of just some of the sounds attendees will be exploring during the next few days. The tracks included are from either the recent or far-gone past. Check back for some exclusive updates in the near future.
We hope to see you there-
Download || MUTEK 2012 Promo Pack [zip]
Tracklist:
And I Say (ft. Scout LaRue & Will Epstein) – Nicolas Jaar
Hot Boxing the Cockpit – Shlohmo
Wake Ups – Salva
Babylon – Kode 9
Goodbye (Instrumental) – Apparat
High For This (Sibian & Faun Bootleg) – The Weeknd
Sea of Pulses – Tim Hecker
Arose – BNJMN
Anytime Will Do – Valentin Stip
Parking Lot – Prison Garde
Whit Dub – Alex Smoke
Best Of (Deniz’s Freestyle Version) – Deniz Kurtel ft. Mykle Anthony
Beat 26 – Jimmy Edgar
International Fires – Shackleton
T.P.Ø. (Rumpistol Remix) – Acustic
[Anstam, MUTEK 2011]
[Modselektor, MUTEK 2011]
[Four Tet, MUTEK 2011]
alh
Catch Nico’s essential mix on BBC Radio One-
Nicolas Jaar – BBC Radio One (Essential Mix)
We’re live right now.
Wolfey
Six months ago, Clown & Sunset unshackled the first recordings of this collaborative entity. Today they released this video, directed by Clown & Sunset’s associate and “in-house filmmaker”, Ryan Staake . The immersive qualities of the EP are far from lost as we follow these shrouded figures through a synchronic visual interpretation of the modern classic A1.
“ DARKSIDE began when a converter plug exploded in Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington ’s Berlin hotel room during their summer tour. When the smoke cleared, their white Genelec speakers were fried. But rather than retiring for the night, they plugged into a computer and merged sounds, forming DARKSIDE.”
(via CSA)
Bless,
Rader
[Airhead]
The physical copies of Henry Laufer’s Vacation EP host a raft of remixes by Nicolas Jaar , Salva , Groundislava , and Airhead . The latter name, Airhead, is the brainchild of Rob McAndrews and besides his notable collaboration with James Blake in 2010, he’s released next to nothing. However, throughout the past couple months, when he’s had some spare time from providing his services as the guitarist for James Blake’s live sets, he’s crafted an EP, set to be released on R&S later this year.
His interpretation of Shlohmo ‘s ‘The Way You Do’ offers a taste of what to expect from his forthcoming record. Airhead’s rendering is a meticulous and stunningly diffuse tune that turns on slow, yearning chords and ominous undertones.
Download || The Way You Do (Airhead Remix) – Shlohmo
alh
Flick by Video Marsh : also produced videos for Crystal Castles and Caribou. Track taken from Shlohmo’s Vacation EP, available here .
See Previous: Shlohmo | Rained The Whole Time (Nico Jaar Remix)
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