Hyperdub: Another future is possible
Take 10: Shlohmo picks the tracks that have inspired him
Four years on from his ‘Dark Red’ album and LA producer Henry Laufer’s solo work is as luscious and melancholic as ever.
02. John Maus ‘Bennington’
“I love John Maus so fucking much. This song will always be really special to me. I finally got to see him perform recently and it was one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen — even with just him and a mic. Very heavy. I definitely shed a tear.”
03. Squarepusher ‘Beep Street’
“At one point I think I listened to this song on repeat every time I got in the car for several days. I’m always finding something new in it. I could really listen to it forever.”
04. Tom Waits ‘Alice’
“My dad put me onto Tom Waits when I was a kid. I remember becoming obsessed with this album in, like, ninth grade. He creates such a special space in this song with sound design and the quality of the recording. There’s not much else like it.”
05. Miles Davis ‘Blue In Green’
“I think I listen to this album every time I’m on a plane.”
06. Sleep ‘Dopesmoker’
“Legendary stoner metal song. It’s like an hour long. I remember seeing this documentary about the making of the song and they said something about the riff being so good they kept trying to stop the song, but it felt all awkward [so] it just became about finding how to set the thing back to the ground, how does it land? And that just happened to take them an hour.”
07. DJ Rashad ‘Let It Go’
“Important song from a very important musician to me. I play this out almost every time I DJ. He was such a positive energy and this song really captures this other side of footwork that can be incredibly thoughtful and introspective.”
08. Bohren & Der Club Of Gore ‘Im Rauch’
“Only found out about these guys a few years ago. Really slow beautiful goth jazz.”
09. Sonic Youth ‘Superstar’
“This is a cover they did of The Carpenters for this tribute album, ‘If I Were A Carpenter’. Brilliant reimagining of the original and probably my favorite Sonic Youth song [laughs]. The guitar feedback and quality of the vocals being quietly sung but loudly recorded always really inspired me.”
10. Actress ‘Our’
“One of my favourite electronic musicians. Every song feels like such a specific moment in time. The space and melody in this one are so captivating, such a perfect little vignette. I could live in it.”
DJ Rashad to be remembered in commemorative photo book
DJ Rashad is to be remembered in a new commemorative photo book.
The Chicago footwork pioneer, who passed away in 2014 aged 34, will be the subject of the 340-page 'On Tour With DJ Rashad'. The book will compile photos by photographer and visual artist Ashes57, taken on tour with Rashad - born Rashad Harden - between 2011 and 2014.
DJ Rashad's estate signs exclusive publishing deal with Waxploitation Records
When Chicago’s DJ Rashad, one of the leading lights of the city’s footwork sound, passed away in 2014, aged just 34, it sent reverberations around the world.
Now his estate has signed an exclusive publishing deal with Waxploitation Records, the LA label which has released music from artists including Danger Mouse, Gnarls Barkley, Black Moth Super Rainbow and MF Doom since being founded in the mid-90s by Jeff Antebi.
From Chicago to Madrid: how footwork infiltrated the Spanish underground
Footwork is more than music, it’s a culture.
LISTEN TO KODE9'S FINAL RINSE FM SHOW
Kode9 has broadcast his final Rinse FM show, ending a 13-year run on the London station.
The Hyperdub boss began as a host back in 2003, when Rinse was still a pirate station.
Label-affliate Cooly G was the last guest on Kode9's show, which broadcast on 9th October. The Hyperdub boss also paid tribute to the late great footwork pioneer, DJ Rashad, on what would have been his birthday.
Stream the show in full below.
DJ RASHAD RIP
DJ Rashad, one of the pioneers of footwork, died at the weekend in his home city of Chicago. He was 34.
HYPERDUB TURNS 10
Kode9’s seminal Hyperdub label celebrates 10 years of eclectic urban electronica this year, with no less than four compilation albums and a world tour.
Released on May 19th, the first compilation in the series, ‘Hyperdub 10.1’, will be split into two discs, representing the label's sound past and present.
TEKLIFE LAUNCH LABEL WITH POSTHUMOUS DJ RASHAD ALBUM
Teklife have announced the release of a posthumous album from DJ Rashad.
‘Afterlife’ will pay tribute to the footwork crew’s co-founder, who passed away in 2014. The album will feature collaborations with Teklife stalwarts DJ Spinn, Traxman, DJ Manny and more recent recruits like DJ Taso, DJ Earl and DJ Paypal.
The release will be the first under Teklife’s own label. The Chicago crew have put out a number of records through Hyperdub in the past, including Rashad’s ‘Double Cup’.
‘Afterlife’ is due out 8th April, a percentage of the proceeds will go to Rashad’s family.