FOALS INHALER KONBINI EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

The wonderful Foals, two years after their stunning album Total Life Forever will be releasing a sure-to-be exciting third studio album: Holy Fire. This will be released in the UK 11th February, 2013.

For now, we have left with teasers and tidbits, including a pre-album tour later this year - one of which I'll be popping along to. Of those teasers, their official website, www.foals.co.uk is the biggest - newly designed and newly launched, it looks set to house all the nerve-shredding developments on the new album.

In other news, or should I say, mainly, Foals will be giving a sneak peak of a video for what we can only assume will be a single from the album, entitled 'Inhaler'. Where? Where will it be? On the French entertainment, music, lifestyle, etc. site, Konbini.fr. We're absolutely brimming with anticipation to see this.

It will be, as the poster says, à 22h ce soir, which in English means 9pm, tonight. Hold on to your hats, lock your doors, dim the lights, and click onto Konbini just before 9pm tonight to get your new dose of Foals - hopefully the first new dose of many... new doses! Below is the artwork for the new album, cleverly picked apart by one Facebook user: ""フォールズ(=FOALS)" "深呼吸 (=Inhaler)" In Japanese...." Thanks. That explains it all.

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Konbini.fr
Foals on Facebook
Foals' official site
Foals on Twitter

MATTHIAS ZIMMERMANN BOTANICA DUB EP

Out on Sound Pellegrino today, 5th November, is the new three song EP Botanica Dub from Matthias Zimmermann. Though I've only heard the teasers on his SoundCloud, I can assure you that any lover of dance music as it's supposed to be (i.e. dance-inducing) will get right on board with this. From the very beginning, the breathy synths and sparse, percussive breaks of 'Paul', the first track, give a sense of what's to come.

You can actually listen to the full, bounce-laden synth-fest that is 'Paul' on XLR8R now. Tasty.

We move on quickly to 'Quincy', whose beat has an Attention Deficit Disorder quality about it, certainly illustrated in the staccato samples and breakbeat snares grabbing your attention, twisting it and giving it a couple of bodyslams for good measure. The final track, 'Vincente' - one that I'm most excited about hearing fully - is full of a warm, party ambience that shines through with gusto in the full, vibrating bass synth that bumps the sound throughout the teaser of this track.

There's fun in all of Matthias Zimmermann's tracks on this EP, and it's the kind of fun you only get from letting loose to beautiful beats like these. Thankfully, it's out now, and if you want some fun-loving dance with a serious heart, then you should hop on over to iTunes for it now - or get the VERY LIMITED EDITION vinyl edition here.

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Matthias Zimmermann on Facebook
Matthias Zimmermann on SoundCloud
Matthias Zimmermann on Twitter

MIKKY EKKO PULL ME DOWN PROD. BY CLAMS CASINO [FREE DOWNLOAD]

One of my favourite moments of 2011 was discovering Clams Casino - hip-hop producer and producer in his own right; his big, dramatic beats, complete with a wonderful, earth shattering bass, were certainly an interesting discovery. Previously he's produced tracks for a number of artists, including Lil B and Soulja Boy, without, however, much recognition. Now, however, he's been credited, along with the creator of the track, as a producer on Mikky Ekko's new track 'Pull Me Down'.

The vocal stylings, although sounding a little as if they would be more suited to a down-'n'-dirty Jack White-style guitar explosion, are not greatly nor instantly recognisable do still find a place here amidst the slow-jams of the beat and its synthy blanket.

It's the music that is the overriding positive in this song, but that's not to say anything terrible against Mikky Ekko, not in the slightest; he has, along with Clams Casino, produced this track - to what extent we don't know - showing that his taste in wonderfully crisp ambient sounds and strong, ear-popping beats with a hip-hop slant is well-received. The vocals cover too much ground over the top of all the great music, sounding almost too distinct.

However, the track - with all its chillwave vibe - still deserves a listen and it surely deserves a download. Looking forward to hearing more from Mikky Ekko.

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Mikky Ekko on Facebook
Mikky Ekko on Twitter
Mikky Ekko on SoundCloud
Mikky Ekko's official site

SOLANGE LOSING YOU CYRIL HAHN REMIX [FREE DOWNLOAD]

Since we last wrote about the talented Mr. Hahn, Cyril Hahn, he has been very busy creating new tracks and getting attention on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show (23rd September 2012). Good on him, we say, good on him indeed. He's got this insane knack for being able to turn the poppiest of pop songs into epic, emotional, heartrending pieces of electro-dance genius.

From the very first few seconds of the remix he did for Destiny's Child 'Say My Name' (you'll hear that a lot in everything you see about him), it is clear to see that here is a truly original talent, who, ironically, makes a name for himself by doing other people's songs better than they themselves first imagined and recorded them.

Although this time Cyril Hahn remixes a song that is not only more obscure than both of the gigantically popular 'Touch My Body' and 'Say My Name', but also just barely released, his treatment of Solange's new 'Losing You' is still impressively powerful. Set to the fuzz of staccato synths, a funko-catchy bassline and hollow, barely audible string accompaniments, the song makes good use of the vocal sample from Solange - one thing that it seems Mr. Hahn could do in his sleep, whilst dreaming of being asleep. As the song progresses, the bass suddenly drops into a warm lava flow of heavy sound that leaves you positively tingling with good vibes.

The only thing is that, had this been yet another song that everybody knows and loves, it would have been instantly exalted to the highest heights of adoration. However, the song is still nothing short of incredible. Though it lacks the sparse use of sound in the unreal 'Say My Name' remix, it easily makes up for this with a decidedly heavier, meatier, more dense sound - something that might be an indicator of a break into the mainstream quite soon, perhaps.

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Cyril Hahn on Facebook
Cyril Hahn on SoundCloud
Cyril Hahn on Twitter
Cyril Hahn on Tumblr

TROPICS POPUP CINEMA

The thing about Tropics is that, no matter how different each song sounds, the same inimitable style is there, the lush cradle of sound that rocks you is always present. Thankfully, it's no different in his (yes, Tropics is a man: Chris Ward) newest track 'Popup Cinema', which will become or, rather, actually is the title track from his new EP of the same name: Popup Cinema. Let's say it again, all together this time: Popup Cinema. There we go.

I'm gonna just come out and say it - this track is beautiful. Like, actually beautiful. Starting off as a sparse few chords and delicious, near-heartbreaking vocals, the song quickly develops into a swaying masterpiece of rhythm. I thought that the last song we covered, 'Mouves', was something, but this is in another league. Listen to it, for seriously.

It could just as well continue as it began, with its percussive beat, tactile and delectable synth sounds, but it takes a different turn. More layers keep coming, low tone vocal samples come like ghostly solo singers in the background, floating in and out in waves, sharper synth walls pulse forward like some kind of religious experience but with music. For dancing, for driving, for chilling, for working, these are the kind of sounds that are so lovely and beautiful that they can transcend any situation you might happen to be in.

Holy Mother of Allah, oh Parameshwara, what a track.

Popup Cinema is released Monday 5th November. There will be a launch party for the EP next Friday 9th November at The Nest. What's more, Davey Evans (most recently renowned for the visual treatment of The XX's music) will be debuting a visual show for the EP launch, too. Sounds like it's going to be a lovely night, what with Micachu and Last Japan on the bill, too.

Here's the Facebook page for the event. Now get booking. And get listening, too.

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Tropics on Facebook
Tropics on SoundCloud
Tropics on Twitter
Tropics on Tumblr