Skream Premieres New Single "Still Lemonade" and Announces 2015 Album for Crosstown Rebels

For all you dubstep purists who have been secretly hoping one the scene's originators, Skream, would be making a comeback to the sound in 2015...sorry, the dream is dead. Skream has continued to hone and craft his love for house music, which is evidenced by the first single from his forthcoming artist album on Damian Lazarus' label, Crosstown Rebels. While Skream was previously dipping his toes into the house music sounds of the Hot Creations crew, on "Still Lemonade," he returns to his original love for embracing "darker" sounds. While this tune doesn't scream "crossover anthem," it will resonate with fans who appreciate underground house music, which is precisely the point. 

Take a listen to Skream's "Still Lemonade": 

Special Thanks: Skream, Mixmag, Crosstown Rebels and underground house music lovers around the world

Artist to Watch: Etherwood Preps Stunning Debut Drum and Bass Album for MedSchool Music

It's no secret that we love ourselves some proper drum & bass tunes...especially the chilled out liquid funk of genre heroes like LTJ Bukem and London Elektricity. The latter started Hospital Records and after that became one of the biggest labels in electronic music, Tony Coleman soon started the spinoff, MedSchool Music to focus on nurturing younger talent that stayed true to the label's original melodic sound.

Cut to Etherwood, who just might be their finest signing yet! The UK producer is currently putting the finishing touches on his self-titled debut album, which is due to hit all good download shops on November 4, 2013.

Take a listen to the sublime album sampler and watch his beautiful music "Begin By Letting Go" video below!





Special Thanks: Etherwood for making music like this, MedSchool Music for putting it out, London Elektricity for laying down the template and Disclosure debut set in Las Vegas

Download New Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation's New Indian Summer Mix

Summer may be coming to a close, but Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation has put together the perfect "Indian Summer Mix" to help soundtrack those final warm days.

Listen and Download Rob Garza's "Indian Summer Mix" Here

TRACKLISTING:

• The Smiths - This Charming Man (Luis Leon Bootleg)
• Space Ranger - Push Button Bang JORI HULKKONEN INS
• Mirror People - Kaleidoscope (Psychemagik Remix)
• 16 Bit Lolitas - Deep Space Girls (DAVI Remix)
• This is I - Hood Rat (Original Mix)
• Jimmy Van M, Affkt, Luxor T - Dreams (Original Mix)
• Lonely Boy - When I Think About (Giom Remix)
• Miguel Migs, Aya - The Distance (Balcazar & Sordo Remix)
• Dharma Protocol ft Boy George - Coming Home (Juan Kidd Weirdo club mix)
• Akabu - Another World (Andre Lodemann Mix)

Special Thanks: Rob Garza for putting this together, Thievery Corporation for still going strong, the new Nightmares on Wax album and fresh starts

Essential Free Download: Chromeo Preview New Album on First Single "Over Your Shoulder"

Oh yes....the boys from Chromeo are putting the finishing touches on their next album and have delivered their first offering, "Over Your Shoulder" as a free download! Fans will rejoice in the duo's most funkdafied return and it provides a perfect soundtrack to usher in the Autumn season.

Listen and download "Over Your Shoulder Below"



Special Thanks: Chromeo, 80's grooves, funked out bliss and 36 chambers

Nightmares on Wax Premiere New Song "Be, I Do" and Announce North American 2013 Tour

We've been fortunate to see unforgettable live shows from some of our all-time favorite music artists while living in Los Angeles, but never Nightmares on Wax! That will change as the group has announced plans for a 2013 North American tour in supporting of their anticipated new Warp Records album, 'Feelin' Good."

Check out new song, "Be, I Do" and the N.O.W. 2013 North American tour dates below:



November 14 - U Street Music Hall @ Washington, DC
November 15 - Boot & Saddle @ Philadelphia, PA
November 16 - Paradise @ Boston, MA
November 18 - Bowery Ballroom @ New York, NY
November 19 - Music Hall Of Williamsburg @ Brooklyn, NY
November 20 - The Hoxton @ Toronto, ON
November 22 - Lincoln Hall @ Chicago, IL
November 23 - 7th Street Entry @ Minneapolis, MN
November 27 - Neumos @ Seattle, WA
November 28 - Refuge @ Portland, OR
November 29 - Mezzanine @ San Francisco, CA
November 30 - El Rey Theatre @ Los Angeles, CA
December 02 - Belly Up Tavern @ Solana Beach, CA

Special Thanks: Nightmares on Wax for still rockin it, Warp Records and true herbalists everywhere

Essential Weekend Playlist: Rudimental Begin USA Takeover with New Album "Home"

While our friends in the UK have seen electronic outfit, Rudimental, blow up in a big way, they are now finally making their way stateside with their smash debut album, "Home." We recently picked it up and it hasn't left our stereo speakers for the last week. Covering multiple genres, "Home" is the kind of debut album that is a breath of fresh air in the current EDM boom.

Take a listen to their first couple of single from "Home" for further evidence:

First single "Spoons" was a sublime deep house cut:



"Feel the Love" was their drum & bass offering and a HUGE #1 smash in the UK:



"Waiting All Night" defied all expectations for the follow-up



Their latest is "Right Here" and is a perfect summer song that is not to be missed:



As a BONUS - check out the recent disco-house remix that Skream did:



Special Thanks: Rudimental for (hopefully) showing that the next generation of electronic music superstar groups will look more to legendary acts like Massive Attack for inspiration on sustaining career longevity

Music Mondays: Gramatik Makes New Mixtape "Street Bangerz Vol. 4" Available for Free Download

Boom! If you've missed those old hip-hop flavored Gramatik productions, he's gone and done you a solid today in advance of his next album. The producer dug into his vaults and emerged with 22 tracks of pure funked-out bliss that will get your week off to a great start.

Here's what Gramatik had to say: Remember when I used to make all those simple, raw, sample-based hiphop beatz? You know, the ones that the snobby part of my fanbase can't stop crying about? Well, I was going through my digital basement the other day and I found like 22 of them. A little something to hold you over till #TAORdrops, these are the leftovers from SB1. #BackToTheBasics#MerryChristmas

Free Download of "Street Bangerz Vol. 4" at: gramatik.net/free/SB4.zip

Listen below:



Special Thanks: Gramatik for the early Christmas present

Essential Music News: Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth to Re-Record Classic Album "Mecca & The Soul Brother" with Live Band!

Here's something fresh to ponder over the weekend....how awesome would it be if classic hip-hop duo, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, re-recorded their seminal album, "Mecca & The Soul Brother," with a live band? Well wonder no more because it's about to be a reality! Pete Rock recently confirmed in a new interview that this will indeed be happening!

So just think how good this jam is gonna sound with a live band!



Special Thanks: Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth for never resting on their laurels and Sunday hip-hop sessions

Watch Vice & Thump Present The Making of Pretty Lights' New Album "A Color Map of the Sun"

So Vice and their electronic music channel, Thump, recently got down with EDM heavyweight, Pretty Lights, and the result is this fresh mini-documentary about the producer's eagerly anticipated new album, "A Color Map of the Sun."

Check it out below & cop that new album come July 2nd 2013:



Special Thanks: Pretty Lights, Vice, Thump and the ill new Author album "Forward Forever"

Author Announce Second Album "Forward Forever" and Drop New Mix

When it comes to deep bass music, few do it better than Author, the UK group comprised of producers Jack Sparrow and Ruckspin, who also handles production duties for jazz meets dubstep act, Submotion Orchestra. The self-titled debut from Author showed the duo have a keen ear for composition and now they've announced the June release of their sophomore album, "Forward Forever," on Blackbox Recordings.

Stream the excellent first offering, "Innovate" below:

The new "Forward Forever" mix from Author is absolute class:

Special Thanks: Author, Ruckspin and Jack Sparrow, Blackbox Recordings for putting out "Forward Forever," deep bass music, Author coming to LA in June and fish tacos at the Culver City Hotel.

Madlib Brings Back Rap Alter-Ego Quasimoto on Upcoming Album "Yessir Whatever"

The web is blazing with a rumored June 18, 2013 release date for the return of Madlib's helium-voiced alter-ego, Quasimoto. The new album would be the first release from Lord Quas' since 2005 and you can get a proper taste of what's to come in the video below.



Special Thanks: Madlib, Stones Throw, Quasimoto and avant-garde hip-hop

Watch: Todd Terry Previews Daft Punk's New Album 'Random Access Memories' in Second Installment of "The Collaborators"

Like much of the world, we're eagerly counting down until Daft Punk's long-awaited new album drops in May. Thankfully the promo machine is already in full swing as the band are building the anticipation by featuring the album's key players and collaborators giving fans the inside scoop.

Watch the first part with one of electronic music's biggest living legends, Giorgio Moroder:



Here's the second installment with Daft Punk collaborator and another legend, Todd Terry:



Special Thanks: Daft Punk, Random Access Memories Anticipation, Upperhands taking the BSG journey, Kevin Spacey & the cast of "House of Cards" for making the best political show ever, Jogasaki Burrito runs and streaming the NCAA Championship game

Daft Punk Advert on Saturday Night Live Previews 15 Seconds of New Music

We're getting closer! A whopping 15 seconds of new Daft Punk music played during a recent advert on Saturday Night Live...but we're certainly digging the disco-tinged vibes!



Special Thanks: Daft Punk + Disco = comeback

Something Sublime for Saturday: Ulrich Schnauss Preps First New Album in Six Years With Free Download "A Long Way to Fall" and Beautiful Music Video

I've been championing the sounds of Ulrich Schnauss for over a decade now. With artists like Tycho beginning to catch fire with the more discerning electronic music lovers this year, it's important to know about Ulrich Schnauss. His first two albums, 2001's "Far Away Trains Passing By" and 2003's "A Strangely Isolated Place" are certified classics in the downtempo music community, combining elements of shoegaze, rock and Schnauss' signature layers of sublime electronic atmospherics.

Now six years after he released, "Goodbye," Schnauss is retuning with a brand-new album in January 2013. To mark the anticipated release, he's offered a free download of new song, "A Long Way to Fall" over on his SoundCloud page along with dropping a gorgeous music video for the track.

Check them out and be sure to play them when you want to get lost in another world.





Special Thanks: Pittfire Pizza parties to celebrate MC EVeryman's 30th birthday, sleeping in, warm egg  sandwiches, Nate Dogg, Native Foods, creative friends and fantasy football playoffs beginning 

Photek Preps New Album 'Ku:Palm' and Offers Free Download of First Single 'Pyramid'

We at Upperhands couldn't be more excited about the long-awaited new album from acclaimed electronic music producer, Rupert Parkes, aka Photek.

Photek made his mark initially as one of the pioneers in drum and bass, releasing standout singles on LTJ Bukem's Good Looking label as well as Goldie's Metalheadz. 

Never known to stay in one genre for too long, Photek's last solo album, 'Solaris,' came out in 2000, and saw the producer incorporate deep house sounds into his repertoire. In the following years Parkes went on to produce for artists like Nine Inch Nails and then start his own record label. Last year saw a slew of outstanding new Photek EPs from that, which have been building towards finally putting together a proper long-player. The result is the eagerly anticipated 'KU:Palm,' which is coming out on October 23rd. Judging by the early sounds, it looks to be a mixture of all the musical elements that fans have come to love from Photek over the years. 

You can download the first single 'Pyramid' for FREE right here

Special Thanks: SF Giants back in the NLCS, Amon Tobin ISAM 2.0 Tour at Greek Theater, frozen peanut butter cups, Biden sticking it to Ryan in the VP debate, crisp Autumn weekends