New Video: Beat Detectives

Man, these Beat Detectives guys are capital-dub Weird. Their musical output stands as pretty strong evidence of this, with groggy-azz tapes for Moon Glyph, 100% Silk and Night-People all capturing my attention last year. Their latest release, the wonderfully titled ASSCOP, captures those “3am basement house party” vibes that followers of the Detectives will already be accustomed to. As if the psychedelic fug of the music wasn't enough, their visual accompaniments also happen to be next-level BAD trip material (as is well-documented on their YouTube channel), and the Nic Wilson-animated vid for "Fresh Out The Pack" could well be the strangest of the lot, featuring a nude CGI Bart Simpson doing all sorts of hoodrat shit; namely, walking through a mountain range, navigating a black void, and setting himself on fire. Yeah. Watch it above, and cop the ass outta ASSCOP from 1080p here.

New Music: Cool Angels

Following on from the sublime Formes De Viure tape back in February (scope it out here), Exo Tapes are comin' through once again with a new set from Cool Angels, the brainchild of Nicholas Ray aka Speculator. Much like previous releases under the guise, Hole is a melancholic yet comforting reverie, a meditation on reggae and pop communicated through hiss-drenched, spacious soundscapes. It's just the kind of summer comedown music you need as we approach the holidays, so listen to the digital stream below and maybe grab a tape from Exo here; there are only 35 of these in existence, so it's not to be missed.

New Music: Foodman

It's been over a month since the last //APEX post, and in our dormancy some fairly astounding records have been released. One such album is DRUM DESU, a new tape from the slippery Japanese footworker 食品まつり aka Foodman, which was released unto the web by Noumenal Loom on May 9. If you've had the pleasure of following the music of Foodman, you'll know that the footwork connection is an extremely distant one at this stage; DRUM DESU continues his expansion into what is near-enough uncharted territory, characterised by his use of garbled samples, digital squelches and barely-there drum patterns. Bewildering stuff indeed, but it should leave you thoroughly satisfied if you're in the market for an alternative experience. Stream the whole damn thang below, and maybe grab it on cassette from the label here.
 

New Music: Serious Thugs

Enter Serious Thugs: the latest and greatest contribution to the discussion on the low/high art distinction. Possibly. The group, which consists of William E. Wright (aka Yung Willuminati), Alis Pelleschi (aka 3D Slut) and DJ Warlord, have released two tracks thus far in "Link Ting (Other Girls)" and "Ur Not a Baller". An initial glance may indicate that Serious Thugs merely appropriate "chav" culture, just as Sadboys and Gravity Boys have aped the fashion of their favourite rappers. Much like their Swedish contemporaries, however, there's more to ST than meets the eye; this isn't so much appropriation as it is fetishisation, and while it would be easy to dismiss as mere irony/click-bait fodder, there appears to be a genuine appreciation of so-called low culture at work here: fake Air Max, chains, Rubicon and Burberry lingerie all feature in the video for "Ur Not a Baller".

The comparison to the y[o]ung Swedes could be further extended to the music itself; Serious Thugs are to grime and UK bass/funky what Sadboys/Gravity Boys are to cloud rap, with a sound that captures the strange saccharine urbanness of 3 Of A Kind, and more recently Sophie's anthem "Bipp" (one of my favourite tracks of last year, I should add). Whether it was their intention or otherwise, Serious Thugs have crafted a potent mixture of yesteryear's [un]fashion and hypermodern, ultra-slick pop, and I cannot wait to see what they come up with next. Watch "Link Ting (Other Girls)" and "Ur Not a Baller" below, and keep an eye out for ICE ARENA, their forthcoming album.

New Music: disrupt

I wouldn't count myself as an avid listener of dub, but then again, Dub Matrix with Stereo Sound is hardly your average dub release. Constructed primarily out of the bleeps and bloops from disrupt's "Gamebwoy" - a modified Gameboy system capable of providing "maximum bass weight" - Dub Matrix is a wonderful diversion which introduces the sonics of 8-bit chiptune to the tried-and-tested dub sound. If it sounds a little gimmicky, think again: according to Jahtari's website, "this mini LP is not a joke ting", so take their word for it and stream "Babylon Wavetables" above (also, consider downloading this thing from Boomkat).

New Music: Lil B

It's been just under 2 months since The BasedGod dropped the monolithic, dizzying 101-track opus 05 Fuck Em, and now he's back with a new tape, titled Basedworld Paradise. Peep that #rare cover art up there! But just remember this, children: on 2012's superlative White Flame tape, Lil B declared that he ain't no joke, and given the quality of the "leaked" tracks from this latest release, he clearly ain't stuntin' on Basedworld Paradise either. Cop this #based art while it's hot, and, as ever, love and protect the BasedGod. *SWAG*

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New Music: Meili Xueshan I&II

One of my favourite paradoxes is the existence of an underground community of musicians on the Internet. The World Wide Web is surely the way of getting your music out there, but for every Chance The Rapper out there riding a tidal wave of web-induced hype, there are a huge number of names who, while not commanding the popularity they often deserve, are sticking to their guns and releasing some of the more peculiar, but nonetheless intriguing music of the day.

Meili Xueshan I&II, curated by the wonderfully named Hi-Hi-Whoopee, is an exemplary survey of the Internet's underground scene as it stands right now, featuring the likes of *ahem*: D/P/I, 18+, Foodman, AyGeeTee, Ahnnu, YYU, E+E, Diamond Black Hearted Boy, Giant Claw, Seth Graham, C V L T S, Sofa Pits (aka JCCG), but to name a handful. So, to you I say this; check this the hell out, and remember these names, because I have no doubt there'll be plenty more where these came from.

New Music: Yong Yong

Here's the lowdown: if you're anything like me, you can't get enough of the Hype Williams sound. Crumbling synths, broken drum patterns, detatched vocals, all stitched together in a miasma of pop culture references - it's all good stuff in your book. You're also a little sad that Hype Williams appears to be no more, with what Dean and Inga seemingly severing ties (although this could just be an elaborate ruse - who knows?).

If the disbandment of Hype Williams has left you without a reason to be, then you should probably check out the new Yong Yong album, titled Greatest It's, for it may bring a ray of sunshine back into your miserable existence. Their debut statement Love was practically Hype Williams worship, but Greatest It's sees the mysterious Glasgow-via-Lisbon pair branch out into new territories, with some dreamy, almost Badalamenti-esque compositions and mutant, kush-cloud pop excursions. It's a rather beautiful thing, albeit said beauty is somewhat obscured beneath a hazy fug. Stream it in full below, and if you really wanna, you can purchase it from Boomkat.

New Music: Grapes (James Ferraro)

The ever-mystifying James Ferraro has been pretty hot damn prolific lately, and it would appear he's got a new alias as Grapes. The two tracks he's dropped thus far, "." and "Sherm", feature Jim rapping (for the first time?) over some woozy-ass instrumentals (definitely not the first time), replete with movie samples and sirens aplenty. Give them a listen below, and expect more to come from Grapes.

#STOPTHEVIOLENCE #GRAPES 2014

New Music: Young Scooter

It's been one year since the excellent Street Lottery dropped, and everybody's favourite coke-peddling Atlantan has returned for a sequel. The aptly-named Street Lottery 2 doesn't appear to have another "Columbia" on precursory listens, but there are gems littered throughout: the Future-assisted "Nuttin About It" and "Roadrunner 2" have been in rotation on my playlists of late. Barring a few clunkers - well, mainly "My Boys" - this is another solid tape, and it certainly whets the appetite for Scooter's debut proper, which should see the light of day before the year is up. Stream and download Street Lottery 2 below, courtesy of DatPiff.

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New Music: Dalglish

The Berlin-based PAN has been slowly but surely building up one of the most consistently impressive back catalogues in experimental music. One of their latest entries is Niaiw Ot Vile, the enigmatic Chris Douglas' fourth release under the Dalglish moniker. The ten abstractions of track titles (and indeed the name of the record) are indicative of the music within, which sees Douglas explore the serene ("Set Nuin"), the dissonant ("Noscrlu"), and in the case of the album's centrepiece "Ciaradh", a crystalline amalgamation of both moods. Stream "Ciaradh" below, and read an interview with Dalglish here [via The Quietus].

New Video: Kanye West

I actually quite liked the divisive Yeezus, but I can't shake the niggling thought that it may just be an elaborate troll on Mr. West's part. Seemingly out to confirm my suspicions, Yeezy released the video for the album closer "Bound 2", and I absolutely love it. How could a guy with millions and millions of industry dollars behind him put out something so damn tacky, featuring sweeping scenery (complete with prancing horses), a still motorbike/greenscreen combo, and, above all, a topless Kim Kardashian? Sorry guys, but Yeezus has had you all on. I imagine he's laughing his arse off right now at all the hatred and bile in the comments section. He knew he would cause a frenzy with this shit. Career suicide? Nah. The "Bound 2" video is simply verification that Kanye West is one of the most self-aware artists in mainstream music, who knows full well the power of his brand and how it can create schisms amongst the public, as well as completely disregarding (nay, mocking) what it means to be a superstar in the musical era of vapid consumerism.

P.S. The song itself is decent, and something of a throwback to College Dropout-era Yeezy in sound.

New Music: James Ferraro

James Ferraro does love fucking with his admirers. Although his latest album, NYC, Hell 3:00 AM, will most likely end up ranking highly on my own albums of the year list, it's a rather confusing entry into his artistic oeuvre. And, in typical Ferraro style, before anybody can even begin to figure it all out, he decides to drop some new music! What a bugger. Anyway, new Ferraro material is always a good thing, so be sure to check out God of London below for a further blast of postmodern anxiety.

//APEX Playlists: UK Represent

It is in mine and Joe Sherwood's best interests to bring as wide a selection of music as possible to the ears of the readers of //APEX, 'from the esoteric to the well-known'. For this reason, we have put together a 14 track playlist, containing pieces by underground UK artists that we feel to be highly underrated. Enjoy.

Mix #2: //APEX 10k Mix

It sure feels good to hit 10,000 blog views, and to celebrate Joe and I have devised a mix that contains some of our favourite producers and artists - Flying Lotus, Hudson Mohawke, Arca, DJ Rashad, Aphex Twin etc etc etc. It's all good stuff.

Thanks for checking out //APEX (or indeed J&J) over the past year or so, because seeing 10,000 pop up certainly left me feeling rather gratified, and I'd hazard a guess that Joe would say the same.

❤❤❤❤❤

//APEX 10k Mix by Joe Sherwood on Mixcloud

1. 18+ tbo_intro (MIXTA2E) 
2. Clams Casino Crystals (GTA V Soundtrack) 
3. Flying Lotus rest ez (July Heat) 
4. Ahnnu lit (pro habitat) 
5. BEBETUNE$ H20 (inhale C-4 $$$$$) 
6. Madvillain Sickfit (Madvillainy) 
7. Lee Gamble Dollis Hill (Diversions 1994-1996) 
8. D/P/I CLOUD S (Espresso Digital) 
9. Boards of Canada Dawn Chorus (Geogaddi) 
10. Jeremiah Jae x Beastie Boys Bl00d (Black Castle/Beastie Boys Remixes) 
11. Forest Swords Thor's Stone (Engravings) 
12. Hype Williams Unfaithful (One Nation) 
13. Jai Paul Track 10 (Jai Paul Demos) 
14. Paisley Parks Ghetto Jap (Бｈ○§†) 
15. DJ Rashad I Don't Give a Fuck (I Don't Give a Fuck) 
16. Hudson Mohawke You Got Money (Hudson's Heeters, Vol. 1 '06) 
17. Foodman this is fue (「IROIRO」) 
18. Arca Tapped In (Stretch 2) 
19. Aphex Twin Windowlicker (Windowlicker) 

DOWNLOAD THIS MIX (121.8 MB)

New Track: Big Sean

First things first, there is some bad news. Although Big Sean's second studio album, Hall of Fame, will be dropping in stores on 27th August, this killer track hasn't made the final cut due to 'sample clearance issues'. However, the good news is that Sean revealed to Hot 97 yesterday that the song will be released for free on uknowbigsean.com at some point in the very near future.

GOOD Music (founded by Kanye West in 2004) has always been renown for having a fruitful abundance of  talented producers and up-and-coming Chi-town MCs, and Big Sean has utilised this to his fullest when piecing together his latest eagerly awaited LP - with lead producers such as No ID, Key Wane and Kanye West, it's difficult to see how this project could possibly go wrong. A glimpse of this anticipated production is showcased to us in single releases such as Switch Up (ft. Common) and Beware (ft. Lil Wayne & Jhene Aiko), and thus far has been well critically accepted by publications such as XXL Magazine and Complex Magazine, with the album being on their "Most Anticipated Albums of 2013" lists.

However, despite the fact that "Control (HOF)" is Big Sean's track, I think that I, and the world of Twitter, can safely agree on the highlight being Kendrick Lamar's two minute long verse, where the Compton rapper puts himself on a level next to Jay-Z and Nas, and seemingly calls out Big Sean in his own song by claiming that "I've got love for you all but I'm tryna murder you ni**as. Now if that isn't going hard then French Montana is a child prodigy.

New Track: DJ Rashad

Chi-town footworker DJ Rashad released another impressive EP on Hyperdub last week, by the name of I Don't Give a Fuck. As it stands, this new EP is but another impressive addition to his canon, and it interestingly plays the yin to Rollin's yang; whereas Rollin struck quite an emotional chord with Rashad's choice of samples, I Don't Give a Fuck finds him, well, not giving a fuck, coming across as much lighter in tone. I would advocate that each of these 4 tracks are well worth your £2.50, but the choice cut has to be "Everybody", which manages the remarkable feat of taking a sample from the infamous Best Cry Ever video and turning it into a seriously amazing track, featuring all the hallmarks of Rashad's sound - throbbing bass, skittering drums, sharp synth lines and expertly chopped-up vocals. For my taste, this could be his greatest achievement yet, which speaks volumes for a man whose discography largely consists of peaks. Stream it below via YouTube.

Mix #1: Con$umerism/Capitalism

Con$umerism/Capitali$m Mix: Now with less con$umerism and capitali$m! by Joe Sherwood on Mixcloud

Here's a new string to the //APEX bow - the occasional mix, with some sort of theme/genre focus. This one is a kind-of "virtual plaza" mix, except that it isn't really, bar a few tracks. I'm not that great at mixing, but the tracks are fairly solid, and it sure beats just sticking a Spotify playlist up. Hopefully Mr Gilbey and myself will be able to create some interesting mixes for y'all in the coming months. Until then, enjoy a comforting soundtrack to a stroll through the post-internet virtual mall.