Our weekly review of the latest news in music and tech. This week: Dave Smith Instruments demo the Prophet 12 live in Camden, Julio’s ‘Duccy’ gets Bashed and BPI stats reveal that dance music accounts for one in every six single sales in the UK.
Dave Smith Instruments demo new Prophet 12 synthesizer this weekend. Carson Day from Dave Smith Instruments will be demonstrating the Prophet 12 as well as DSI’s Tempest analogue drum machine and the full DSI synthesiser and module range on Saturday 6th July and Monday 8th July at Juno Records’ HQ in Camden. Both events are free. More info on location and how to register.
Julio Bashmore’s ‘Duccy’ gets a Marmite response. Bashmore proved his ability to generate hype, albeit mixed, with his latest release ‘Duccy’ which coincided with the announcement of autumn UK tour dates. Au Seve-ers were widely disappointed. Read a selection of responses here.
Early bird tickets on sale for Bugged Out Weekender. The Weekender will kick off Bugged Out’s 20th birthday celebrations in 2014. The festival is moving from the wintry depths of January to a more sociable March weekend, and from Sussex back to their roots up North. Early bird tickets are priced from £129 + bf.
Oneman broadcasts sessions from his yard. In case you missed it first time round, Oneman has taken to Vimeo with his ‘yard sessions’. Does what it says on the box – Oneman, chilling in his yard, mixing vinyl.
‘Kavinsky is evil, he makes me smoke weed and drink bottle of vodka’. Busy P fields questions from Reddit to celebrate Ed Banger’s 10th Birthday, covering everything from software vs. hardware to Justice’s creative process.
Sugar Bytes have launched their MIDI stepsequencer Thesys on iPad.
Dance music sales are booming. This week CMU reported on BPI’s stats for the first half of 2013, which revealed that dance singles were up nearly 20% in the first six months of 2013, and albums were up nearly 34%. Dance accounted for one in six of all singles sold in the UK. ‘Dance music is well on its way to becoming one of the defining sounds of 2013’ says BPI boss Geoff Taylor.
Congo Natty returns with a new jungle album. The latest offering from jungle originator Congo Natty (a.k.a. Rebel MC, Conquering Lion) features young reggae talent and sweeps lyrically across everything from racism to microchips. Jungle Revolution is out on Big Dada/Ninja Tune this week.
Massive Attack and Adam Curtis reveal more details about their forthcoming ‘gilm’ performance. Curtis and Massive Attack are combining their respective filmic and musical talents to create a live experience centred around the ‘debased state of contemporary democracy’. The event will happen at the Manchester International Festival later in July. Read more here.
Erick Morillo is back on form for his return to SW4. After a few recent incidents, Morillo spoke to SW4 about success too young, his addictive personality, divorce, burning out, going sober and reclaiming house.
Mixes this week: