Brainfeeder have been quite the dominant force over the last few years. They boast a strong, varied stable of artists, one of the most idolised electronic musicians since Aphex Twin as their figurehead in Flying Lotus and a truly international line in oversubscribed parties.

To ensure their continued ubiquity they have dropped a free sampler featuring all their main players (apart from Flying lotus funnily enough). Check the tracklist

01. Jeremiah Jae – $easons
02. Lapalux – Gutter Glitter
03. Martyn – Viper
04. Matthewdavid – International feat. Dogbite
05. Mono/Poly – Needs Deodorant
06. Samiyam – Cushion
07. Taylor McFerrin – Place In My Heart feat. RYAT
08. Teebs – Jahara
09. Thundercat – For Love (I Come Your Friend)
10. TOKiMONSTA – Bright Shadows

Download the sampler here

Anticipation has been high for this mixtape and now it’s here. Darker moodier production is the order of the day for Chip Tha Ripper’s latest. There is at least one dubstep wobble monstrosity mind.

With 808s and Dark Grapes, Oakland’s Main Attrakionz dropped a project which mixed polar ambience with those 808s they mention in the title. To mark a recent Check Yo Ponytail set they threw together this mix featuting solo material and some classics old and new from some other guys.

I tried to resist posting this. I really did. It’s a bit obvious posting anything A$AP Rocky these days and the Shoolboy Q album doesn’t need any more blog coverage. But this tune stood out a mile on Habits & Contradictions, it’s massively over the top, ridiculous, it’s got some EMO sounding sample that I probably should recognise, the chorus is silly. Gotta love it.

Well Rounded have always been a label we watched and every new release at least gets a test listen in the shop. Deadboy may be the posterboy for the label having given them a stonking first release with U Cheated, but the label has built up a strong roster including Gongon and Hackman encompassing the 2 step, Garage, R&B and House side of the UK post dubstep landscape (any alternative to the descriptive terms ‘post-dubstep’ and ‘bass scene’ would be greatly received in the comments section btw) . February and March sees the label touring the UK and by way of an introduction label boss Donga has put together this vinyl-only mix of their greatest hits.

Scene Selection: Donga’s introduction to Well Rounded records (100% Vinyl) by Mixmag

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R&S continue their return to prominence by releasing the next Bullion 12″. Say Arr Ee is due out on the 30th of January and is available to pre-order here. It is a bit of a departure from what many people have come to expect from him, but it is good to see him evolve with the times and his production style is still clearly recognisable.

We wouldn’t tell you all about it without their being something for you to listen to, so here is the title track

In other R&S news they will be releasing the next James Blake 12″ soon as well (which is a bit of a return to form if you ask me) and they have their first London warehouse party coming up,more deets here. It’s at a secret warehouse location tba in East London, just like every other trendy label’s warehouse party. Just like every other trendy warehouse party, tickets have almost sold out and, perhaps I’m being cynical, but when the tickets have sold I imagine they will announce the venue and it wont be as ‘superb’ as they said or it may end up being in South London (NMBRS I am looking at you, traitors!!). Having said that I am still sorely tempted, but this could be the venue tba warehouse party that breaks this camel’s back.

Our Mixcloud fanbase is growing and to mark 700 followers here is another mix. Featuring some brand new hip hop, some old hip hop, some current R&B and a bit of the international beat scene. We present Seven Hundred Elves.

Tracklist

Peaking Lights – Marshmellow Yellow (Main Attrakionz Remix)
Mellowhype – 45
Hodgy Beats – BKLYN
UGK – International Players Anthem
Camron – Killa Cam
Perrion – Fire Ant
Beyonce – Countdown (instrumental)
Mount Kimbie – Before I move off (Star Slinger Remix)
Mike Slott – Snowbirds
James Blake – Love what happened here
The Weeknd – Initiation

The current trend for US MC’s to pick up old beats by UK producers and give them a bit of a refix has seen Jamie XX, Jai Paul and Hudson Mohawke get some high profile production credits. The latest contributor is Perrion who has chosen Fire Ant by Bibio to be blessed with a fresh vocal. It was always bound to happen.

You can find the truth about those background samples in our interview with Bibio from yesteryear.

Clams Casino made quite the impressionon 2011 and looks set to be all over 2012. His production on tha A$AP Rocky mixtape would have widened his reach far beyond his (recently mastered version given away for free) instrumental mixtape.

This recording of a live performance from San Francisco in October last year has recently appeared on Soundcloud and it is a very nice intro to his production and some of the MCs he works with. If you are late to the party it is time to get involved.

Oh and if you haven’t already checked it out our Clams Casino vocal mixtape from last year featuring the vocal versions of the highlights from his instrumental mixtape is still available over here.