From then on our free download compilations will be launched exclusively at mb! Magazine, starting with our forthcoming Mixed Tape ‘Precious Selection’. In the face of this special event we promise that we’ll enthuse you with this especially eclectic selection of precious picks from around the world.

But there’s more to it than that. You’ll also find three terrific articles by the Mixed Tape editorial team including an exclusive video feature starring the musical prankster and Mixed Tape regular, Mocky. We met the entertaining singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer (Feist, Gonzales, Jamie Lidell, Nikka Costa etc.) in his new home base Los Angeles where he took us beyond the obvious Hollywood clichés – and behind the scenes of modern music production.

Everything’s bigger, better and brighter – so come along!

The two songs off the single more or less represent these poles: The title track represents the indie/electronica side. It begins rather quiet, builds slowly and successively establishes an energetic stream that pushes towards a climax, that will carry you away. For the b-side ‘Runner (Reprise)’ the duo strip off their electronic garment and offer calmly intimate nordic folk pop reductionism at its best. Charlotte’s voice forms a tender, immediate alliance with the sparse instrumental backing. You can almost sense that this is not just a band, but a loving couple circling around each other in the boxing ring of their music.

Have a look at the ‘Runner (Reprise)’ video below and grab your free download of ‘Down My Couch’ here.

We’ve noticed Charlotte singing that ‘there is a transformation going on’ … which reminds us of the transformations that are going on at our editorial team as we are about to incorporate Mixed Tape into the mb! Magazine within the next days. So watch this place and check our Facebook page regularly in order to stay tuned.

Artist info:
www.meandmydrummer.com

The 23-year old soul man has been a staple in his city’s fertile underground music scene for almost a decade now. At the tender age of 13 he formed the Kold Hearted Krew with a few friends including now successful dubstep/r&b producer Joker. This was the time when garage was morphing into grime, thus McCarthy found his skills as ‘two-faced’ party hosting MC with the ability to spit verses and boost the party as well as flexing his vocal muscle harmonically.

All in all Javeon has been collaborating with many kindred spirits who would turn out to be genre-defining artists of the next generation of electronic music. Among others his vocals blessed productions of Nightslugs impresario L-Vis 1990 (‘Forever You’), lauded dubstep producer Guido and the highly acclaimed bass-not-bass/house-not-house sensation Julio Bashmore (‘Father Father’). Obviously the two have enjoyed working with each other, because Javeon’s banging debut single ‘Love Without A Heart’ features Bashmore’s fingerprint too – a futuristic house gem fusing a bumping 808 electro bass riddim, driving hi hats, hypnotive synth stabs and Javeon’s sensitive vocals. This is 21st century r&b!

Listen to the boomin’ super soul of Javeon McCarthy via the www.soundcloud.com player below:

Javeon McCarthy – Love Without A Heart by JaveonMcCarthy

Artist info:
http://www.javeonmccarthy.com

It was released ten days ago via the Los Angeles-based Innovative Leisure label, which has established a good reputation with valuable releases across-the-board. The label as well as the artist’s website don’t offer too much information about Rhye, thus journalists and bloggers have already started to mystify this promising act, conjecturing about the number of members, their supposed European background and the assumption that they live in LA.

We have a different approach: as disciples of Danish super producer Robin Hannibal, we presume to presume that he’s responsible for the production as it’s comparable to his brilliant output with Quadron, Boom Cap Bachelors or even Owusu & Hannibal. Rhye’s tune ‘Open’ quintessentially bears his sonic signature between an almost asepetic sound engineering and highly reserved synth pop aesthetics on the one hand, and a penchant for heartbreaking melodies, warm synths and likewise strings on the other. The song sounds like a close relative of Robin’s beautiful Boom Clap Bachelors production ‘Løb Stop Stå’, albeit songstress Coco Malaika has been replaced by an equally heart-warming, mysterious voice. Is it his girlfriend or even Robin himself? Listen to the song via the www.soundcloud.com player below to judge for yourself:

Rhye- Open by Rhyemusic

Artist info:
http://rhyemusic.tumblr.com/

Backed by this label, the duo seems to proceed rapidly. After two inofficial releases in three years Sonnymoon will release their highly anticipated self-titled debut album in May 2012. But there’s more to it than that: singer Anna Wise and producer Dane Orr really take the gloves off in this year and start it almost hyperactively with two relases as appetizers for the main course, the LP. The first is the ‘2012 – EP’, which builds on the formula of their previous releases ‘Golden Age’ and ‘Blast Off’, offering moody bass-heavy downtempo electronica with a psychedelic dub edge and Anna’s aethereal voice swaning through these spheres.

The other release is the ‘Just Before Dawn’ single, a minimalistic dark blue ballad with an interesting synth-foundation. While the original is already stunning, we fell for the alternate take by LA-based composer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, who’s best known for his Flying Lotus collaboration and J-Dilla tribute ‘Suite For Ma Dukes’ in a contemporary chamber music style. This breathtaking version delivers exactly the sweet strings and the exquisite arrangement you’d expect from him – full of quiet moments, beauty and soft ambient sounds. Listen to these prolific sounds via the www.soundcloud.com player below:

02 Just Before Dawn (Alt. Take feat. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson) by Plug Research

Also we’d like to add this remix of the ‘2012 – EP’ track ‘Magicians’ as a goodie. Listen to the tune which sounds like a twisted ‘Girl From Ipanema’ hip hop rework and grab your free download via the www.soundcloud.com player below:

Magicians (MndsgnSalmonFromIpanemaMX) by Plug Research

Artist info:
http://www.facebook.com/Sonnymoonmusic

They met in the Netherlands in 2006, when their mutual friend Naba Napalm asked both to join his musical project. At that time Osaka-native Kazu, an indefatigable globetrotter and producer, was making a living as DJ and producer in Paris, while Haarlem-based Maikal had just left the influential Dutch hip hop formation ‘Postmen’ which he joined under his former pseudonyms ‘Rollarocka/Shyrock’. Thus, they were both open for new projects when they met for the first time. Following the session, Kazu made Maikal listen to his sun-drenched bossa nova-inspired beats and Maikal got excited.

Soon after they started making music, sitting on a ‘Yellow Couch’ with nothing more than Kazu’s laptop and Maikal’s microphone it clicked immediately: Kazu ‘fell in love with Maikal’s voice and flow’ and Maikal got hooked on Kazu’s beats. Since they both lived in different parts of the world one would think the easiest way to collaborate was a ‘cybercollabo’ through the internet; however they never felt tempted by this modern but impersonal way of working. Thus Kazu would always visit Maikal when he was travelling and they ‘locked-in the studio for a whole week or month to sit down on said couch and make music’ – hence their name ‘Couch Brothers’.

Our favourite track of the Couch Brothers is ‘All U Need’, a buoyant and joyful, vibrating, bossa-tinged hip hop beast that will set tongues wagging among real hip hop lovers. You simply have to love the way Kazu flips the piano sample and beats with his Akai MPC 3000, Maikal rides the rhythm with his flow – and the soulful hookline is the icing on the cake. According to Maikal X, the tune’s ‘about people always looking past what they got. People always want more because of ego and greed when it’s all right in front of them.’ Kazu on the other hand says that he was ‘heavily influenced by jazz and Brazilian music’ when he produced that beat, ‘especially samba rock’.

We’ve had enough of words! You should now listen to this utterly uplifting, essentially beautiful hip hop jam in the vein of the Dilla-produced golden age classic ‘Runnin’ by The Pharcyde. Listen to the dopeness galore via the www.soundcloud.com player below:

All u Need by CouchBrothers

The Couch Brothers finished their album recently and plan to release it independantly in 2012. Nevertheless they’re open for offers from labels.

Artist info:
http://www.couchbrothers.com

A word and a blow: Spherical locked themselves in for 14 days at Peermusic Studio in Hamburg and recorded live with an ensemble of up to 16 musicians including a string quartet and a brass section. In the end, twelve songs were selected for the LP ‘Diggin’ Deeper’. Twelve songs that transport the band’s penchant for jazz, neo soul and film music as well as their ability to convert these influences into deeply relaxing wide screen pop.

‘My Way’ is the opener and one of the highlights of the long-player: blessed with cinematic strings, a catchy chorus sung by Mexican vocalist Claudia Valtierra, and a jazzy nonchalance it has the power to carry you away. Just the perfect music for soundtracks and lounge compilations, sounding easy without sounding meaningless. If you’re into Micatone, Brand New Heavies, Zero 7 or The Cinematic Orchestra, these sounds should please your ears as well. Enjoy our pick via the www.soundcloud.com player below:

My way by spherical

‘Diggin’ Deeper’ incl. ‘My Way’ will be released in April via Wavemusic.

Artist info:
http://spherical.de

As one of the most successful acts of the Jazzanova-associated label Sonar Kollektiv the jazz-not-jazz ensemble released the three splendid albums ‘Nine Songs’, ‘Is You Is’ and ‘Nomad Songs’ between 2001 and 2005. While the group’s first two LPs were both purveyors or even an embodiment of the electronic jazz sound of that time, the third, ‘Nomad Songs’, including the Mixed Tape 07 song ‘Out Of The Game’, presented a rather unplugged live-sound, although it was still deeply rooted in the same musical reference system.

In this regard their new album seems like a continuation of the path the quartet followed at last, this time with a broader musical spectrum. As far as we can judge on the basis of ‘Handbrake’ vocalist Lisa Bassenge, bassist Paul Kleber, guitarist Boris Meinhold and keyboarder Sebastian Demmin incorporated elements of surf, beat, blues and soul into the moody spheres of their warm and organic sound. With the addition of the warm timbre of guest vocalist Stuart A. Staples of the Tindersticks and Air’s live drummer Earl Harvin, the song ‘Handbrake’ creates an oblique and simultaneously deeply relaxing atmosphere combining the vibe of Angelo Badalamenti’s surreal score for David Lynch’s ‘Twin Peaks’ and the surf-inspired soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino’s ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’.

Listen to the sonic stroke via the www.soundcloud.com player below:

Micatone – Handbrake (Radio Edit) by Sonar Kollektiv

‘Handbrake’ is the first track of the new Micatone album ‘Wish I Was Here’ which will be released on 5th of March via Sonar Kollektiv. The single will be available digitally from tomorrow, while the vinyl will be released February 20th.

Artist info:
http://www.micatone.de

He says that he grew up mainly listening to soul and pop like Terence Trent D’Arby, Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys and Minneapolis funkateer Prince. ‘When I moved to Berlin, electro and new wave enhanced my stylistic array, two genres that play a vital role in my music nowadays.’

We can hear some of these influences in his latest track ‘Something Like Love’, a track that bounces with a bass-heavy foundation, crispy breakbeats, fat synths and an interesting soul-pop-new wave twist. It’s the kind of gritty digital pop funk that Funkstörung-member Michael Fakesch or Jamie Lidell’s project Super Collider stands for, the sound that Justin Timberlake and Timberland champion in their best ‘Sexy Back’ moments – a moving combination of raw, edgy club sounds with catchy hooklines. To audit what we’re talking about have a listen via the www.soundcloud.com player below:

Something Like Love by KnixxMuzack

Artist info:
www.myspace.com/knixxizknixx

However we’re not sure if we have to thank his good nose for up-and-coming producers for the discovery of the mysterious Dirg Gerner, who just released his debut ‘Preface EP’ via Hotep. Why? Because Dirg seems to be the vocal alter ego of the renowned German cutting-edge beat maker fLako.

No wonder that these two outstanding artists are close-knit and collaborate frequently, just like on fLako’s ‘Lonely Town’ from his latest EP for Project Mooncircle. The song is a melancholic, mellow, deep and jazzy affair – full of soulful and floating vibes. Check out these beautiful sounds via the www.soundcloud.com player below:

fLako – Lonely Town feat. Dirg Gerner by Dirg Gerner

We’d like to present another delicate fruit resulting from the collaboration of fLako with his supposed alias Dirg Gerner: the remix for Dirg’s sublime track ‘Rubies & Diamonds’. fLako morphs the darker original into a moody, organic and warm sonic sphere, which alternates between the melancholia of the original and the blissful vibes of a swinging garage bouncer, while Fatima’s voice shimmers on top. Listen to this vinyl-only-track via the www.soundcloud.com player below:

Rubies & Diamonds feat. Fatima (fLako Remix) >> Vinyl Exclusive << by Dirg Gerner

Get your copy of Dirg Gerner’s stunning ‘Preface EP’ via Hotep Records and fLako’s superb ‘Carving Away The Clay’ via Project Mooncircle.

Artist info:
http://www.kwatro.info