Video: Lone – Inlove2

In 29^th October, the Nottingham-raised and highly-praised musician/DJ/producer Matt Cutler, AKA Lone, presents his 8^th album – and first in 5 years – ‘Always Inside Your Head’. It marks two major changes, with both a new label and new approach – featuring vocalists for the first time. 

This deeply textural and ethereal artwork is situated high above the clouds, amidst the heavens, occupying a stratospheric state where swathes of synthesized vapour and azure rays sound like a literal breath of fresh air. 

A varied selection of music influenced the record, but two main influences were Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine. “I wanted to approach a range of different styles, but attack them from their angle in a way, so for example on ‘Inlove2’ I tried to imagine what a Balearic / acid house tune might sound like if it were produced by Kevin Shields”, comments Lone. The ‘InLove2’ video is an analogue juxtaposition of colours and movements, where ghostly, distorted entities are melted into a psychedelic dream.

Lone – Mouth Of God

Lone shares new single ‘Mouth Of God’, taken from forthcoming album ‘Always Inside Your Head’.

Whereas ‘Hidden By Horizons’ – the first single to be released from Lone’s forthcoming album – explored the influence of Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine in collaboration with vocalist Morgane Diet, on ‘Mouth Of God’ Lone is back in solo mode, making music for the club. ‘Mouth Of God’ marks a shift in energy at a crucial point in the album, kicking things up several gears with a tearing electro-breakbeat-acid monster. But, like all music from Lone, it also tugs at your heartstrings, with his trademark lush pads and halcyon synth lines.

Lone’s new album, ‘Always Inside Your Head’ released 22^nd October on vinyl, CD, download & stream, via Greco-Roman

Grandbrothers – Bloodflow (Lone remix)

Grandbrothers recently announced details of their second album, ‘Open’ (due Oct 20th on City Slang) along with the enchanting track “Bloodflow”. Today they share a new version of the track, remixed by Lone, and announce more live dates including a string of shows with Bonobo this Autumn.

Grandbrothers are the sum of unique parts: progressive Swiss engineer/mechanic/sofware designer Vogel and German-Turkish pianist Sarp. Their second album ‘Open’ twins Sarp’s piano skills with Vogel’s talent for both building the formidably intricate mechanics with which he exploits his partner’s instrument and also designing its software. Sarp works at his ivory keyboard while, from behind his own computer keys, Vogel live-samples his partner’s notes, triggering further effects with the aid of homemade apparatus that physically manipulate the piano’s strings and body. “There are hammers I control,” he explains, “which hit different parts to make beats and percussive patterns. In the beginning, I just used an open circuit board I’d constructed without a proper case. It was very fragile and often didn’t work. We always had a soldering-iron when we played live.”

Washed Out – Hard to Say Goodbye (Lone Remix)

Washed Out has shared a remix of “Hard to Say Goodbye” from new album Mister Mellow by Lone. Fresh from releasing his latest EP on UK dance powerhouse R&S Records, the UK producer reimagines “Hard To Say Goodbye” as a dreamy, slow burning dance track. Washed Out has also announced a series of European tour dates..

The visual album Mister Mellow is Washed Out’s debut for Stones Throw Records, and is his most ambitious project to date. To create a comprehensive visual counterpart to each song, Ernest Greene served as creative director, working with 11 different visual artists, including the go-to animator for hip-hop superstars to a BAFTA Award-winning documentary director, to create visuals that utilise several forms of animation, from claymation and stop-motion to hand-drawn cartoons.

Washed Out has also announced live dates in the US, with Europe dates to follow very soon. Working in collaboration with Microsoft, Washed Out has translated the rich, detailed patchwork of Mister Mellow’s music and visuals into a powerful live experience, with robust and advanced live integrations that mimic the wide range of artistic styles seen and heard on the album. Stay tuned for the announcement of Washed Out’s November and December tour dates in Europe, when Ernest Greene will be bringing Mister Mellow to fans in London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam and more.

Kllo – Bolide (LONE Remix)

Having released their hugely anticipated sophomore EP Well Worn back in August, today Kllo share LONE’s rework of the lead single ‘Bolide’. When thinking up remix targets, the R&S Records mainstay was right at the top of Kllo’s wish list. As big fans of the UK producer’s textured, eclectic productions, they weren’t disappointed, with LONE offering up a typically lysergic take on the track.

The remix coincides with the duo’s first ever world tour which currently has them in Europe with RÜFÜS DU SOL. They will then turn their attention to supporting NAO on her European run before heading to North America with RÜFÜS DU SOL once again (as well as playing a run of stand alone shows). Kllo will also play a special London show on November 3rd as part of the[PIAS] Nites series at Omera with fellow [PIAS] Different Recordings artists, Vessels andGroves. To cap off a busy year, they’ll make their New York City live debut at Baby’s All Right onDecember 8th. A full list of dates can be found here.

Well Worn is out now on Ghostly International (North America), Different Recordings/PIAS(UK/Europe/Japan) and Good Manners Records (AU/NZ/ROW).

Kenton Slash Demon – Peace (Lone Remix)

Kenton Slash Demon – Copenhagen-based duo Silas Moldenhawer and Jonas Kenton – recently announced their new single ‘Peace’ for the Future Classic label, coupled with a retro sci fi-themed video from director Jenna Mangulad, and now they return with a sizeable remix from one of the UK’s finest producers, Lone.

‘Peace’ follows Kenton Slash Demon’s breakout pair of EP’s for Future Classic, Harpe/Syko and TT/Dok, which earned them praise from the likes of Stereogum, The Line of Best Fit, SPIN, Thump and Time Out New York as well as spins on KCRW, BBC Radio 1 & 6Music and placement on the Spotify Viral U.S., Australia and Global charts. ‘Peace’ has so far garnered support from everyone from Wonderland, Hunger TV, FACT and XLR8R to Sir Elton John, who played the track on his ‘Rocket Hour’ show for Beats 1.

Kenton Slash Demon will head out on a short US tour with Flume at the end of next month before returning to the UK to play Bestival and a headline show at London’s Pickle Factory in September.

Video: Lone – Backtail Was Heavy

After recently announcing his sixth album Levitate via R&S Records, Lone returns today with a visual for his fervent, hardcore track “Backtail Was Heavy.” The Hugo Jenkins-directed video channels old school British kitchen sink realism as a young protagonist, played by British actor Connor Chapman, navigates through school, pubs, strip clubs, and crime.

Speaking on the video, Jenkins said, “Even though the track feels dark, raw and full of energy it’s also ethereal and reflective. I tried to create a world and a situation that mirrored these two conflicting moods. When I first heard the tune it instantly conjured up lots of gritty, real, British looking imagery in my head. I tried to stay close to this letting it inspire the subject matter, locations and cast.” Jenkins deliberately shot the video in ambiguous locations to leave the meaning open to interpretation – he explains, “for me it was more about creating and entering the world the kid is in. We’re not sure whether he’s dreaming or it’s happening for real.”

Check out the “Backtail Was Heavy” video below to decide for yourself. Lone’s Levitate LP will drop on May 27th on R&S Records.

Lone – Vapour Trail

photo by Jade Matthew

After sharing his first singe “Backtail Was Heavy” via a UK landline last month, Lone aka Matt Cutler is back today to announce his sixth album Levitate – which marks a point of departure from the inviting warmth of Reality Testing’s blend of hip and house and finds Cutler at his most energetic peak delivering a record that feels both vital and contemporary. The 9 track LP, a breakneck psychedelic journey through hardcore, jungle, and ambient, clocks in at a fat-free 34 minutes.

Check out “Vapour Trail” and see below for all Levitate info.

More on Levitate:
Following the success of previous album Reality Testing, Cutler was left at somewhat of a musical impasse – a six month dry period with no new inspiration that was showing no signs on abating. The ‘epiphany’ moment came, during an enforced short break from touring in New York. Bed ridden and feverish for days Cutler started to hallucinate.

Speaking on the album Cutler said, “It was pretty terrifying – I’d try to go to sleep and I’d be hearing these mad rave tunes form in my head. When I recovered I was left with all these ideas for fast, feverish tunes. Following that we went to LA and hung out with friends, driving round all day in the baking sun playing these jungle and hardcore edits – all the best bits from rare jungle tunes, spliced together…there was something that really seemed to fit hearing these ridiculously energetic tracks whilst speeding around LA under perfect blue skies, that was amazingly similar to the music I’d been dreaming up whilst in New York. I couldn’t wait to get home and start putting this together – I had a new theme. After making a record as mellow as Reality Testing it was important to me to not repeat myself – I wanted it to be an intense blast“.

Nimmo – UnYoung (Lone Remix)

Following the announcement of their new single ‘UnYoung’, London-based five-piece Nimmo unveil a ravey piano house remix courtesy of R&S’s Lone, “who throws his signature twinkling keys and phased synths over chunky, rolling bass drums” in the words of FACT.

Produced by Boxed In (Oli Bayston), ‘UnYoung’ is a taut, nocturnal take on hedonistic dance, channelling Nimmo’s natural energy as a live-band into their most infectious work to date. Lyrically, the band describe ‘UnYoung’ as “a song about the fear of our parents or loved ones in general dying, and only being remembered in photographs on a mantelpiece. As the instrumentation progressed, ‘UnYoung’ became a celebration of your family and just being alive.”

‘UnYoung’ is out now via Columbia Records. Lone & Paul Woolford remixes available from January 29th.

Nimmo are a unique electronic five-piece who can be traced back to the decade-long friendship of co-vocalists (and football-obsessives) Sarah Nimmo and Reva Gauntlett. Filtering the band’s shared childhood exposure to garage, jungle, drum n’ bass and ’80s pop (Tears for Fears, New Order), Nimmo have immersed themselves not only with the sounds of the club culture, but also located the moods of aggression, energy and heartache within that which would add depth to their songwriting. If their pristine sportswear and tomboyish tailoring wasn’t an additional clue, Nimmo are far from your typical breakout band.

Following an early, acclaimed EP via Kitsuné, Nimmo have since picked up support across Radio 1, 6Music, XFM and KCRW – also collaborating with the likes of Tim Goldsworthy (DFA) and their old school mate Maya Jane Coles. From two disobedient, North-West-London schoolgirls to a thick-as-thieves five-piece, Nimmo are now poised for a breakout year ahead.

Video: Lone – Restless City

Lone has returned with a new video for “Restless City,” taken from his latest LP, Reality Testing. Directed by RUFFMERCY and Patch D. Keyes. Lone’s Reality Testing LP is out now via R&S.