Powell unveils his brand new single ?Insomniac / Should?ve Been A Drummer?.. his second release on XL Recordings. » more More

London's Powell works with opposites, in a way that's delightfully disconcerting. His tracks, on the surface, seem relatively uniform - but listen closer, or at punishing volume, and they teem with detail: wiry guitars, sinister yelps, synth figures that fizz like bubbles through sparkling water. Across two EPs in 2012 for his own Diagonal label and one for Death Of Rave in 2013, he has established himself as one of the UK's most unique electronic musicians. Powell's tracks flirt with the dynamics and structures of club music while joyfully subverting them, throwing acoustic sound sources or disembodied voices into the mix to play havoc with the groove. Indeed, the three tracks on his new Fizz EP for Liberations Technologies are some of the most mischevious club-rooted music you're likely to hear all year. They nod obliquely to Powell's history with jungle and early drum & bass - compared to the techno-esque momentum of his earlier releases, here he's almost subliminally ratcheted up the tempo, turning these tracks into blistering forward barrages of percussion and dusty bass. On 'Fizz', sub-bass throbs like a motorbike engine, paired with his distinctive guitar scribbles. 'Wharton Tiers On Drums' sets panicked vocal cut-ups to a rapid motorik chug. And the sketchlike rhythmic pummelling of 'Beats'
plays almost like a DJ tool, a reminder that even this strangest and most angular of music can lay waste to dancefloors. More

gyrofield debuts on XL Recordings as part of the iconic house bag series with ‘These Heavens’. The EP is an exploration into the universe and the beauty of nature via a series of shapeshifting sonics that are just as well-suited for personal introspection as they are for sweaty underground dancefloors. On the release, gyrofield says “I see a lot of value in creating danceable music that also touches base on atmospheric and spaced-out sounds. I’m a big fan of a lot of Drum and Bass that has come out but the influences for this record stem just as much from electro and techno like I Hate Models, Djrum to synth ambient, post-rock, and experimental pop a la Bjork.”

gyrofield is fast becoming electronic music’s most exciting new Drum & Bass talent. Their arrival on the scene was an anomaly. Aged 9, they discovered electronic music via the internet, stumbling across the sounds of Skrillex (Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites) and Noisia (Split The Atom) on YouTube. The otherworldly sounds intrigued gyrofield and so began their self-made journey in music. It was only after visiting Bristol at 17 that gyrofield stepped foot into a club for the first time at Unchained Recordings’ takeover of The Love Inn. This experience was transformative and ignited a new ambition in her. In four short years since then, gyrofield has gone from DIY DJ/producer to a NTS resident with releases ranging from Drum & Bass to Jungle to Ambient Techno to Dubstep via Metalheadz, Critical, Deadbeats, and Noisia’s VISION, to name a few. They have amassed a growing committed fanbase that includes Tim Reaper, DJ Flight, Doc Scott, IMANU and Joy Orbison. More

New Burial 12" on XL. More

Written, Produced, and Mixed by Jai Paul. RECORDED AT HOME IN RAYNERS LANE, LONDON, ENGLAND. Str8 Outta Mumbai contains a sample of Bala Main Bairagan - Vani Jairam.

Banner: Suchitra International Productions "Meera".
Music: Ravi Shankar.
Lyrics: Meerabi. Licensing courtesy of UNIVERSAL MUSIC INDIA PVT. LTD. Crush
Written by Berny Cosgrove, Kevin Clark, Clifford Mueller and Andy Goldmark.
Published by Warner/Chappell North America Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Ltd. and Shapiro Bertstein & Co. Ltd.

Baby Beat contains a sample of "All My Life" performed by K-Ci & JoJo. Courtesy of Geffen Records, A Division of UMG Recordings Inc., under license from Universal Music Enterprises.
Chix contains a sample from "Adagio For Strings, Op11." as recorded by Leonard Bernstein and The New York Philharmonic, used courtesy of Sony Masterworks, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.

The initial pressing was limited to 3,000 copies available exclusively via artist and label webstore, selling out in minutes
Strictly Limited Vinyl Edition
Black vinyl with amended Art/Metallic Sticker
This second edition features a new XL house bag sleeve design and will be available via retailers globally.
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Florentino announces Kilometro Quinze, a brand-new EP out 20 October. The five-song project will be Florentino’s debut EP on XL Recordings as part of the iconic house bag series. It includes the celebrated single “Constrictor (feat. BAMBII and KD One)” and a newly released single “Pressure” featuring the Mercury Prize-shortlisted multi-hyphenate, Shygirl.

Created over a three-year period between Manchester, London, Bogotá, New York, and LA, Kilometro Quinze features bold solo productions from Florentino (aka Yeshe Bahamon Beesley) alongside additional collaborations with Venezuelan-native Baby Cocada and fellow Sangre Nueva bandmate, DJ Python.

A direct reference to his grandfather’s farm near Villavicencio - a city in central Colombia where the Andes meet the plains of Los Llanos - Kilometro Quinze is a total realisation of the riveting, cross-culture club sound that Florentino has carefully constructed over the last few years. By drawing on the vast musical influences of his British-Colombian heritage, Florentino presents a unique sonic world where the darker acid tones central to Manchester’s underground club scene meet the irresistible swing of Latin American dance sounds. Kilometro Quinze is Florentino at the height of his powers as he releases some of his most captivating, innovative music to date. More

Pitch language - Modular synth wizard Blawan brings his brand of distorted, syncopated electronic productions. Toast introduces the EP with a playful head bopper with ethereal sounds and menacing overtones. One of the biggest acts in dance music playing international festivals such as Pitchfork 2022, ADE, Nuit Sonores. Plays from Mary Anne Hobbs on BBC 6 music and coverage from Resident Advisor, Pitchfork, Dekmantel, CRACK, The Face “losing himself in modular synthesis without ever sacrificing soul for science”

1. Toast
2. Panic
3. Monstera Black - You Can Build Me
4. Body Ramen
5. Monstera Black - Dismantled Into Juice More

Today Chicago-based percussionist, composer and producer Makaya McCraven announces the details of his new album In These Times, which is set for release on September 23rd via International Anthem / Nonesuch / XL Recordings. The first offering from the new album is a song tiled "Seventh String," which encapsulates the various musical dimensions present on McCraven's new album, a career-defining body of work that is a remarkable new peak for the already-soaring McCraven. In These Times is a collection of polytemporal compositions inspired as much by broader cultural struggles as McCraven's personal experience as a product of a multinational, working class musician community. It's the recording that he's been trying to create for 7+ years, as it's been consistently in process in the background while he's put forth a prolific run of releases including: In The Moment (2015), Highly Rare (2017), Where We Come From (2018), Universal Beings (2018), We're New Again (2020), Universal Beings E&F Sides (2020), and Deciphering the Message (2021). With contributions from over a dozen musicians and creative partners from his tight-knit circle of collaborators - including Jeff Parker, Junius Paul, Brandee Younger, Joel Ross, and Marquis Hill - the music was recorded in five different studios and four live performance spaces while McCraven engaged in extensive post-production work at home. Featuring orchestral, large ensemble arrangements interwoven with the signature "organic beat music" sound that's become his signature, the album is an evolution and a milestone for McCraven, the producer. But moreover, it's the strongest and clearest statement we've yet to hear from McCraven, the composer. Profiled in the New York Times, Vice, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, the Guardian, and NPR, among other publications, Makaya and the music he makes today is what Passion of Weiss explains, "is part of a necessary conversation about the next evolution of the Black improvised music known colloquially as 'jazz.' He's found the threads connecting the past with the present, and is either wrapping them with new colors and textures, or he's plucking them gleefully like the strings of a grand instrument." McCraven, who has been aptly called a "cultural synthesizer" and "beat scientist," has a unique gift for collapsing space, destroying borders and blending past, present, and future into poly-textural arrangements of post-genre, jazz-rooted 21st century folk music. In These Times encompasses his artistic ethos, his experiences, identity and lineage, while pushing his music to new heights. More

Limited White Vinyl!

Today Chicago-based percussionist, composer and producer Makaya McCraven announces the details of his new album In These Times, which is set for release on September 23rd via International Anthem / Nonesuch / XL Recordings. The first offering from the new album is a song tiled "Seventh String," which encapsulates the various musical dimensions present on McCraven's new album, a career-defining body of work that is a remarkable new peak for the already-soaring McCraven. In These Times is a collection of polytemporal compositions inspired as much by broader cultural struggles as McCraven's personal experience as a product of a multinational, working class musician community. It's the recording that he's been trying to create for 7+ years, as it's been consistently in process in the background while he's put forth a prolific run of releases including: In The Moment (2015), Highly Rare (2017), Where We Come From (2018), Universal Beings (2018), We're New Again (2020), Universal Beings E&F Sides (2020), and Deciphering the Message (2021). With contributions from over a dozen musicians and creative partners from his tight-knit circle of collaborators - including Jeff Parker, Junius Paul, Brandee Younger, Joel Ross, and Marquis Hill - the music was recorded in five different studios and four live performance spaces while McCraven engaged in extensive post-production work at home. Featuring orchestral, large ensemble arrangements interwoven with the signature "organic beat music" sound that's become his signature, the album is an evolution and a milestone for McCraven, the producer. But moreover, it's the strongest and clearest statement we've yet to hear from McCraven, the composer. Profiled in the New York Times, Vice, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, the Guardian, and NPR, among other publications, Makaya and the music he makes today is what Passion of Weiss explains, "is part of a necessary conversation about the next evolution of the Black improvised music known colloquially as 'jazz.' He's found the threads connecting the past with the present, and is either wrapping them with new colors and textures, or he's plucking them gleefully like the strings of a grand instrument." McCraven, who has been aptly called a "cultural synthesizer" and "beat scientist," has a unique gift for collapsing space, destroying borders and blending past, present, and future into poly-textural arrangements of post-genre, jazz-rooted 21st century folk music. In These Times encompasses his artistic ethos, his experiences, identity and lineage, while pushing his music to new heights. More

CD!

Tracklist:
1. In These Times
2. The Fours
3. High Fives
4. Dream Another
5. Lullaby
6. This Place That Place
7. The Calling
8. Seventh String

Today Chicago-based percussionist, composer and producer Makaya McCraven announces the details of his new album In These Times, which is set for release on September 23rd via International Anthem / Nonesuch / XL Recordings. The first offering from the new album is a song tiled "Seventh String," which encapsulates the various musical dimensions present on McCraven's new album, a career-defining body of work that is a remarkable new peak for the already-soaring McCraven. In These Times is a collection of polytemporal compositions inspired as much by broader cultural struggles as McCraven's personal experience as a product of a multinational, working class musician community. It's the recording that he's been trying to create for 7+ years, as it's been consistently in process in the background while he's put forth a prolific run of releases including: In The Moment (2015), Highly Rare (2017), Where We Come From (2018), Universal Beings (2018), We're New Again (2020), Universal Beings E&F Sides (2020), and Deciphering the Message (2021). With contributions from over a dozen musicians and creative partners from his tight-knit circle of collaborators - including Jeff Parker, Junius Paul, Brandee Younger, Joel Ross, and Marquis Hill - the music was recorded in five different studios and four live performance spaces while McCraven engaged in extensive post-production work at home. Featuring orchestral, large ensemble arrangements interwoven with the signature "organic beat music" sound that's become his signature, the album is an evolution and a milestone for McCraven, the producer. But moreover, it's the strongest and clearest statement we've yet to hear from McCraven, the composer. Profiled in the New York Times, Vice, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, the Guardian, and NPR, among other publications, Makaya and the music he makes today is what Passion of Weiss explains, "is part of a necessary conversation about the next evolution of the Black improvised music known colloquially as 'jazz.' He's found the threads connecting the past with the present, and is either wrapping them with new colors and textures, or he's plucking them gleefully like the strings of a grand instrument." McCraven, who has been aptly called a "cultural synthesizer" and "beat scientist," has a unique gift for collapsing space, destroying borders and blending past, present, and future into poly-textural arrangements of post-genre, jazz-rooted 21st century folk music. In These Times encompasses his artistic ethos, his experiences, identity and lineage, while pushing his music to new heights. More

The Smile will release their highly anticipated debut album A Light For Attracting Attention on 13 May, 2022 on XL Recordings.

The 13- track album was produced and mixed by Nigel Godrich and mastered by Bob Ludwig. Tracks feature strings by the London Contemporary Orchestra and a full brass section of contempoarary UK jazz players including Byron Wallen, Theon and Nathaniel Cross, Chelsea Carmichael, Robert Stillman and Jason Yarde.

The band, comprising Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood and Sons of Kemet’s Tom Skinner, have previously released the singles You Will Never Work in Television Again, The Smoke, and Skrting On The Surface to critical acclaim. More

Repress!

‘still slipping vol.1’ is the debut full-length project from Joy Orbison. Fans of Joy O’s DJ sets and radio shows will already be aware of his diverse tastes and inspirations, represented here through a roll call of delicately curated, mainly UK, collaborators that include Herron, James Massiah, Bathe, Léa Sen, Goya Gumbani and TYSON. Just as important are the voices of Joy Orbison's family - mum, dad, sister Sarah, uncle Frankie, uncle Keith (recently departed), auntie Helen and cousins Lola, Mia and Leighann, who was the first person to introduce him to drum and bass and garage as a kid and stars on the mixtape’s cover art. They appear throughout the record via a series of voice notes, his only contact with his family during this year of worldwide lockdown and an intimate, vicarious glimpse into the personal world of an artist who has generally side-stepped the public gaze. More

John FM's American Spirit EP. Active in Detroit's underground music scene for the best part of a decade, John FM is respected by dance music heads for his collaborations with house music pioneer Omar S and NYC producer AceMo. American Spirit puts John's "staggering talent" (Resident Advisor) at the forefront: dance music that feels genre-less and accessible with elements of lo-fi House, RnB and Blues, inspired by the broad sounds of Detroit and the mid-west. More

Today Rozzma announces the ‘Khatar Sayeb’ EP, the artist’s first release for XL Recordings. He kicks off the EP release with ‘Hout’, a track that displays Rozzma’s knack for combining tribal sounds and contemporary urban/street music with a sharp, idiosyncratic flair.

Rozzma is an Egyptian sound artist inspired by the era where sound preceded music – he finds inspiration in the similarities between the wilderness of prehistoric times and modern-day chaos. Having already performed his particular strain of music across the world and at festivals like Sonar and Unsound, Rozzma releases ‘Hout’ into the digital world with an animated video created by the artist’s close friend Mahmoud Shiha.

“Hout is a celebration of beating the odds,” says Rozzma. “It’s about a specific state of mind where one finds comfort in the most extreme and unfortunate circumstances to beat the odds that one could instead fear.”

The EP’s title ‘Khatar Sayeb’ means 'loose danger’. “The release challenges the idea that danger and fear are uncontrollable circumstances,” explains Rozzma. “We cannot fully diminish fear or danger. We can only condition ourselves to believe that safety exists during the absence of fear. It is however more dangerous to deny the uncertainty of danger itself. Danger is a very broad state with infinite circumstances. But it is also infinitely uncertain and mainly linked to luck. We do not control our luck; good or bad. And it is solely luck that dictates danger and safety. It is for that reason that one’s best chances may be to condition themselves to find comfort in danger. Loose danger to be specific.”

Rozzma’s world is one of status quos being challenged, whether that be the real world, the historical world or specifically in the world of music. Rozzma won’t let you settle with what you believe. Everything deserves to be challenged. More

Breakbeat science of highest quality.. More

Omar McCutcheon, operating under his Batu alias, has been on the frontline of Bristol’s innovative electronic music scene since 2013. In 2015 he founded his record label Timedance, a platform for showcasing his tastes utilising a close knit group of young producers and DJs. More

Dark0 steps up on XL...! Big UK sound on this one More

Radiohead worked on A Moon Shaped Pool intermittently after finishing the 2012 tour for their previous album, The King of Limbs (2011). Their ninth studio album was recorded in southern France with long-time producer Nigel Godrich. It includes several songs written and performed some years earlier; "True Love Waits" dates to at least 1995, "Burn the Witch" to 2000, and "Present Tense" to 2008. The album features strings and choral vocals arranged by multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood and performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra.

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Radiohead worked on A Moon Shaped Pool intermittently after finishing the 2012 tour for their previous album, The King of Limbs (2011). Their ninth studio album was recorded in southern France with long-time producer Nigel Godrich. It includes several songs written and performed some years earlier; "True Love Waits" dates to at least 1995, "Burn the Witch" to 2000, and "Present Tense" to 2008. The album features strings and choral vocals arranged by multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood and performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra.

More