Gorgeous new Lizzy record has escaped via her official YouTube channel, and it gazes further into the fluttery, erotic theatre of her mind. Assuming it’s Robopop/Justin Parker instrumentation, just outstanding.

‘Born To Die’, January 27th 2012.

On a bulging grassroots level, Darkwave R&B (Post-Drakestep, Future-Abelstep, Middle-Class-Hood-Chillwave, #SoEmoshSwag, etc.), is learning to walk now in it’s infancy stage as coming-of-age bedroom artists get seasonal affected by the tonne. But with this new influx of dangerous minds using that sound to perhaps deviate us from years of Euphoric radio wishy washiness, it’s welcome.

Scarce info on Julian Cruz other than he’s ticking boxes: is from Toronto, is reportedly a member of The Weeknd’s XO stable, has a few  pretty graphic’ed youtube demos.

Key things I can confirm right now though are, production on here is rhythmically adventurous yet necromatically sexy. The exciting track is laced by Tre Mission & Matt James. And a mixtape entitled Black Hearts will be on it’s way – watch for that one, truss.

Download: Julian – ‘Potion’

It’s no secret one of our mucho championed European producers in the last couple years has been the Amsterdam-based Soultronic force known as Full Crate: who a couple months ago graduated this year’s RMBA Madrid, committed a legendary Boiler Room set and expressed rapid stylistic development via acclaimed new EP Golden Glasses, out on Wonderful Ear Records.

With profile raised and a name beginning to buzz on the lips of the independent and alt scene worldwide, he’s decided to remind heads why vintage musicality and lush analogue warmth will always remain the nucleus of his increasingly digi-centric, club orientated output. Fusing Neo-Soul with a Footwork breakdown? F**kabout.

Shouts to our good friends Okayplayer for premiering the cut and making it available for free download.

Sonically influential ‘Post’ duo Mount Kimbie dropped one of the most noteworthy releases of 2010 with their LP Crooks & Vultures. Now soaring Mancunian producer Star Slinger who’s leaked refixes like bird stool in 2011, vigorously strikes again working one of his fave tracks in recent times off there.

You can hear a chivalrous link between the toy treasure chest sounds that both Kimbie and Slinger often utilise to such clean affect, whereas the latter favours more of a Stateside half-time style that sometimes feels like it’s been dipped in a psych bucket of Gold Panda; often works to breathtaking affect as illustrated by this lovingly reconstructed flip.

Grab the complimentary stocking filler direct from SoundCloud below.

Jesse Boykins III‘s octaves on beautiful form, for what was originally a record produced by renowned LDN decksmith Sinden; now forced by rising NY talent Brenmar into a more downtempo-R&B direction, with drama inciting reverb and climactic symphonies that really wrench the diaphragmatic power balladry out. Hell, it’s even got bleedin’ thunder storms in there, what more could you ask for?

The original and it’s remixes are available as a free four track download here.

London’s foggiest rabble rousers (all eight, nine or twelve of them… lost count), and purveyors of the finest piff-based marketing, are gearing up to drop their well anticipated Noel mixtape. Admittedly, we’d a general ban on all Xmas music – but for a small army of our homegrown (pun game hard) we’ll gladly make the allowance.

Also, fantastic to see gifted Ladbroke Grove based producer Budgie working extensively with this collective of cold ‘Cloud’ rappers. He’s bringing a nice wave of that soulful swisha to the Gang’s varied musical make-up.

Expect movements in strides from this lot next year. In the meantime Mary Piffmas lands – hopefully after the Queen’s speech if you don’t mind lads – December 25th.

SBTRKT. “Who?” Subtract. “Nah never heard of it!”

Some may have said that a year ago and understandably too. Known this time last year as ‘another’ tadpole swimming in and out of the world of Electronic music, SBTRKT was yet another DJ/Producer from London who every once in a while would throw a blog a bone by remixing a relevant piece of music. Those that were more on the ball however, realised that although enrolled in the class of ’10, Aaron Jerome could quite possibly reign valedictorian come 2011.

Fast forward to summer this year, off the back of a few EP’s and remixes, ‘Wildfire’ quite literally spread. First through the blogs, then the clubs/tastemaker radio DJ’s, then the mainstream. “Summer banger” would be an understatement, even our most beloved emosh rapper – Drake – took to the beat. And with Aubrey in tow, the Stateside crossover was set: the intricate wobbles, smart punches and thumping bass positioned in all the right places allowed ‘Wildfire’ (featuring Little Dragon’s Yukimi Nagano) to garner it’s place and became a staple in many a summer playlists. But most promising was that even with the success of it’s first single, SBTRKT’s self titled debut would throw a number of surprises our way, surpassing expectations and becoming a strong accelerator for Electronic in the mainstream.

Sophisticated, circuitous and timely in its entirety, SBTRKT welded together the essence of 90’s UK garage and 2-Step together with the punchy Dubstep influences of the noughties and melted it within American style Soul & R&B. These influences, all piled up on top of each other within an album made of original compositions gave way for this debut to stand on it’s own merit. With producers throwing the proverbial ‘wobble’ onto anything with a pulse these days, it was refreshing to hear SBTRKT deliver a cohesive collection of tracks as well as collaborating with an inspired array of artists. Opting for a more song-focused LP, as opposed to a show-and-tell style production project – SBTRKT kept his audience in mind and curated an album packed with enough energy for the raver, sufficient downtime for low-end head and an abundance of musicology for the ‘academics’.

The albums opener ‘Heatwave’ nods to and explores Junglist sounds; With a deconstructed Amen Break and Sampha’s atmospheric, building wails, as the low end flutters rather passionately. Then as the BPMs rise and the lyrics fade, the puissance is turned up a notch with tracks like ‘Sanctuary’ and ‘Ready Set Loop’ – both favouring a more beat oriented focus with minimal vocals.

A key factor which makes SBTRKT’s debut such a strong contender this year was his foresight, featuring some of the brightest and most exciting homegrown talent. Jessie Ware, Roses Gabor and his most frequent collaborator Sampha each help to bring his productions alive. It is his chemistry with Sampha though that really shines through – armed with one of the most distinct voices, his breathy tone and succinct delivery style adds a fantastic dimension to SBTRKT’s compositions.

The chilling, unguarded tale of ‘Hold On’ allows for Sampha’s higher register to flourish, suited beautifully to the smooth bass rumblings and twinkling percussion. ‘Something Goes Right’ shuffles between the stuttering nature of 2-Step against Sampha’s buttery lead vocals – striking the right balance between instrumentation and song, realism and dreams, producer and singer. ‘Never Never’ bravely explores the indecision of relationships as the vulnerability of the lead vocal explains “see I‘ve never never had so much to gain / and threw it all away / and if I ever ever had the chance again / I’d probably do the same”. SBTRKT sits humbly alongside his muse(s), mixing live drums with funky synths, whilst his vocalists take focus.

Delving in, out and around sounds, SBTRKT is a rich textured tapestry which significantly pushes boundaries. Masqueraded in very few words – SBTRKT allowed his debut to speak louder than any thing else. The music won.

SBTRKT – iTunes / Amazon / Spotify