Demdike Stare, Hype Williams, DJ Rashad, Actress pick apart South African dance music on Shangaan Shake comp

By Mike Reid on Jan 24 2012

In addition to personally inspiring a short-lived and bruise-ridden interest in urban rollerblading, the movie Hackers (1995), starring Johnny Lee Miller and a surprisingly child-free Angelina Jolie, is memorable for two reasons: cringeworthy dialogue that seems infinitely more cool during a movie than on paper, and a soundtrack filled with nostalgic techno tracks from the early 90s. The movie was perhaps my first, albeit indirect, exposure to genuine electronic music, and the British electronic group Underworld arguably gained even more of a following with the track “Cowgirl” appearing on the movie’s soundtrack. The song plays when… I don’t know, the l33t characters are performing some amazing montage-worthy hack? I can’t specifically recall.

For those who were permanently affected by that movie’s soundtrack, or for the elder among us who were already knee-deep into the electronic music scene at the time, here’s some newsworthy information that you might appreciate: Underworld are releasing two “career spanning” compilation albums this month. The first, A Collection, is a single disc set featuring “edited highlights” (or radio versions) from the group’s 20-year career, alongside recent collaborations; while the second, 1992 - 2012 Anthology, contains three discs consisting of 16 “full-length Underworld classics” and nine rare or previously unreleased tracks. Both compilations are available for digital download now on the band’s website, with CD versions becoming available January 23. Check out the tracklistings here and here.

• Underworld: http://www.underworldlive.com

By Liz Louche on Jan 24 2012

Baby lambs. Tiny peeping chicks. KITTEHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All newborn things, all adorable. But really — let’s be honest here — is there anything in life more precious than a newborn record label? In these trying times, it gives one heart to see a fledgling label giving it a go, and that’s precisely what the good people at revered label Soul Jazz’s London record store Sounds of the Universe are doing. That’s right! A record label’s store is giving birth to another record store. Babies having kickass babies. Somebody call Maury!

Appropriately enough, the store’s new label shares the same name: Sounds of the Universe. Its inaugural release comes from Chicago electronica dude Jamal ‘Hieroglyphic Being’ Moss, a fellow equally influenced by his hometown’s storied dance music past and the ethereal space strains of the legendary Sun Ra. The Sounds of the Universe label will release Shikaakwa, Moss’ limited-edition one-sided 12-inch named after the Native American word for Chicago, sometime towards the end of January. With hand-etched artwork from Japanese artist 2yang and a limited run of only 300 copies, this puppy, available through the Sounds of the Universe shop and website, will likely sell out quickly. Better break out those nasty bubblegum cigars while you’re at it.

• Sounds of the Universe: http://www.soundsoftheuniverse.com
• Soul Jazz: http://www.souljazzrecords.co.uk