Instrumentalists/producers/DJs: Apewok & Stab from Canada and Switzerland respectivly combine to form Berry Weight. They came to prominence after winning a remix competition held by Downtempo heavyweight Wax Tailor. Their remix of his track Positively Inclined was featured on the track's release. With a sound that they describe as "electro-organic-space-jazz" Berry Weight's debut long player is a thing of beauty. 

As the music industry continues it's unstoppable shift to a digital only culture (not something they are happy with I'm sure) its going to become increasingly harder for artists to use filler tracks to justify the price of a full album. No problems here though, "Music for Imaginary Movies" works in it's entirety; it feels like an album not just a random collection of songs. A perfect set to chill or work to. The only issue (which would be more from a promotion point than the listeners) is that its greatest strength may be it's only weakness, a balanced set like this unsurprisingly has no stand out track. 

Music for Imaginary Movies is mostly instrumental, but vocalist Astrid Engberg makes an appearance on 3 tracks, one of which she's also joined by ASM (best known for their appearance on the aforementioned "Positively Inclined"). It's also nice to hear decks being used at points throughout the album which instantly reminded me of Downtempo legends Fingathing and gives a nod to the genre's original roots. Keldsy Jy on clarinet which blends perfectly with the production serves to give many of the tracks their signature soft "space jazz" sound.

Like most forward thinking artists, Berry Weight have made the entire album available to listen to online, and I really can't suggest enough that you click over and do just that.

... and now for some superlatives: Music for Imaginary Movies is the aural equivalent of frost on a spring morning. Beautiful, crystalline, fragile and rather lovely all round really.

www.berryweight.com | MySpace | Twitter | SoundCloud

You can listen to the full LP here

Listen to "Sky Below (Feat. Astrid Engberg)" below and watch the video for Equations here.Equations

Video for Berry Weight's "Equations" which features vocalist Astrid Engberg.

The track is featured on their album Music for Imaginary Movies which is out now.

www.berryweight.com | MySpace | Twitter | SoundCloud

You can listen to the full LP here

Video for The Hawk Feat Little Hannah Collins - "Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover" which drops on www.recordkicks.net (today I think).

Hannah was keyboard player / vocalist with UK band The Heavy and Scott Milsom aka The Hawk, bass player for funk band Big Boss Man. It's a little more Northern soul / Motown-eqsue than my personal taste normally runs to, but it's a happy little dity.

www.myspace.com/thehawkmyspace

Video for The Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra's Shot Me In the Heart, a fantastic slice of heavy soul this.

Vocalist Loren Oden dilvers a master-class in conveying passion and emotion on this track. If you've not picked up the album and you have even just a passing interest heavy funk and soul I strongly recommend you do.

I quite want that "Venice Dawn Theme" that plays over the video titles as well.

Props to C.E. Garcia of vinyl4giants for keeping me in the know.

Via: Wax Poetics x Converse 45 Series Presents

Slow Songs Vol 1 is a really nice collection of downtempo tracks from London based "Ending In Ing". If your a fan of lush soulful downtempo electronica from the likes of Aim, Tycho etc. your more than likely going to find a lot to love here.

Download: Slow Songs Vol 1 from Ending In Ing

MySpace | Soundcloud

"The 14 tracks chop and dice samples from classic soul and funk, riding atop some amazingly dirty beat constructions and rude synths, to create a mixtape that flows effortlessly, fusing classic elements with modern production techniques and a fresh attitude."

Depakote Myspace | Highpoint Lowlife (record Label)

Download: Depakote – It Ain't '94 Anymore

Via: highpointlowlife.com

WARNING: may cause addiction.

Today, readers, we shall be dining once more on the audible delicacies of Absolutive Records, for it is clearly the home of delicious aural sustenance. In the mix today to nourish your lovely listeners is 'Fi's Special Recipe For Audio Goodness.' Please wrap your ears around the player below, combining one part Ryan Davis and one part Micromattic in equal measure, simmer gently over your eardrums and serve with lashings of temporal indulgence. The result? Tasty and nutricious!

For those of you who have been paying attention (spanks a lot if not, I do this for you,) this will be your second helping of Micromattic from the table of LateMag, following hot on the heels of the incredible edibles of his debut EP. But for all concerned, this will be your appetiser de Ryan Davis to get the audio juices flowing.

Changing Skies EP, due to be released later this month on Absolutive Records, is the latest output from Ryan; Germany’s previously classical guitar-playing, currently electronic music-producing traveller on a journey through sound. Where will he go? Nobody knows, but much of that will be in the ears and mind of you, the beholder.

On offer for your delectation will be two divine tracks by the man himself, an equally worthy Matho remix plus a predictably beautiful remix by my latest greatest find, the aforementioned Micromattic. So, get yourselves over to BeatsDigital NOW, lest you should go hungry.

Bon appétit, you mucky pups!

myspace.com/ryandavissounds

myspace.com/microwavesounds

myspace.com/absolutiverecords

In 2004, NASA made the almost impossibly beautiful move of transmitting what happens to be my favourite song, The Pixies' Where Is My Mind, to 'wake up' the Mars rover, Spirit. And now, in 2010, Bassnectar is waking up the minds of Earth-dwelling music-heads with his reworking of the 1988 alt rock classic. Dropping on last year's Cozza Frenzy tour, Bassnectar's remix updates The Pixies' own haunting lyricism and moody riff with some club-friendly heavy beats and bass.

If you pop on over to Bassnectar's Select Kutz you can get yourself the download for free, or if you're a DJ wondering Where Is My Instrumental, well, wonder no more, for the titular set piece itself is also residing with the kutz of greater selectivity. 

I've got a certain sunshine on a cloudy day today and, indeed, all the other days of late. But I guess that you'll say, what can make me feel this way? Well, that would be the current object of my fickle aural affections; Micromattic. Yes, music is the food of my love and I do play on... and on, and on to the point where I'm glad I can't wear digital out. So, lend me your ears, please, for I have something I'd like to play to you...

When I first heard Reconstellation by the literally awesome Bulgarian master of electronic noise, Nikolay Seizov (aka Micromattic,) it was love at first listen. But I wasn't merely taken with some ephemeral moment of audible delight for my happy ears, I was utterly fascinated, structurally, in a way that I haven't been since I was young listening to Eat Static's Prana. So, this is something pretty special, of course, but this musical wizard has many more tricks up his sleeve than the incredibly skilled array of bleeping goodness in Reconstellation.

The now London-based artist formerly known as Microwave has had many years on the music scene, from djing in his home country to collaborative live sets and the beginnings of production that led to his current incarnation as Micromattic; the Wii controller-manipulating, audio/visual show-stopper who's busy gaining recognition by some heavy-hitters in the industry for his talents. Earlier this year he released his debut EP Under Over The Clouds on Absolutive Records (who, I might add, set up their label purely so they may sign his lovely output) and it is quite the thing of dreamy IDM brilliance. How does he do it? He's so clever! (my Zippy mug.) But will this new-found love be an audio affair that goes the distance? Well, all I can say right now is I'm thinking he's one to watch, and watch I most surely will.

I don't need no money, for I have been gifted with the audible treats, but people do please be good to your ears (and each other) by heading on over to purchase the 12" vinyl at Juno Records (yes I know it's currently out of stock, but good things come to those who wait an' all.) 

Or, if you prefer, you can get yourself the download, complete with the inordinately sublime Reconstellation and two exclusive and beautiful UOTC remixes at BeatsDigital.

Also check out SoundCloud, for amongst the delights is a free download of January - Careful What You Tell The Skies.

myspace.com/microwavesounds

myspace.com/absolutiverecords

Emika's Ninja Tune debut EP 'Drop The Other' is released on 18th January.

www.myspace.com/emikamyspace