New Yorkers. Get excited. Tonight is finally here, Brainfeeder is presenting the long anticipated return of the West Coast’s, Flying Lotus. A recent press release for FlyLo’s newest album Cosmograma stated: It’s impossible to understate what Flying Lotus has created with Cosmogramma, since there is so much to unpack: The effortless musical cohesion of the historical avant-garde and the next chapter of futurism. The conversation at the post-hip-hop crossroads of two urban music traditions, American and British, and at the center of one of the most vibrant sound scenes on the globe today: the beat-and-bass-heavy corner of Los Angeles (of which FlyLo’s Brainfeeder is a mainstay). The uncommonly natural musical communication between the physical world and the spiritual, one made personal and given a cohesive form. Even the funny smells, without the slightest whiff of self-importance.

Playing alongside FlyLo will be Thundercat, Austin Peralta, Teebs, and Strangeloop. Doors open at 8, the show starts at 9. Unfortunately this show is sold out. However, you might have better luck catching these guys this Wednesday night, the 22nd, at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. We’re looking forward to seeing you there.

Click here for more information.

New Flying Lotus Track:
Flying Lotus// BJork//Shiver by Flyinglotus

Detroit is about to be booming with some of the richest and most desirable artists our generation has to offer. The blues, gospel, jazz, pop, R&B, rock and roll, hard core and hip-hop scenes have all individually established their presence in this Midwestern city. The birth of Motown Records might have been reason enough to shed some infinite light on Detroit’s musical talents, but Motown’s soulful sounds laid the concrete base for what was next. George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic’s instrumental layers and song structures were borrowed to help directly influence Detroit’s “Techno” scene that debuted in the early 1980s. House, trance, funk, and unique electronic sounds from the Midwest are still infiltrating the earth, making Detroit the perfect city to host Movement.

Movement is kicking off at noon on May 28^th. Electro heads from both the east and west coasts will be congregating along the river at outdoor stages and inside spacious venues as night falls for three days straight. This years headliners showcase an eclectic group of music makers. Fatboy Slim, Felix Da Housecat, and Green Velvet will taking the stage sponsored by Vitaminwater. Red Bull Music Academy’s tent will be hosting Flying Lotus, Gaslamp Killer, Goldie, MiM0SA, and Skrillex.

For those of you making your way to Detroit, be sure to check out Com Truise, Daedalus, Dam-Funk, Hudson Mohawke, and Soul Clap! Safe travels to all and we are looking forward to hearing your feedback!

For more Movement details click here.

Photograph by Aaron Gonsher

Paxahau, producers of the Movement Electronic Music Festival in Detroit have announced the 105 acts scheduled to perform May 28, 29, and 30 in downtown Detroit’s Hart Plaza. Discounted presale $60 weekend passes are now available HERE. The full line-up is as follows:

What better way to burn off thousands of excess Thanksgiving calories than to dance the night away? Last Saturday at Terminal 5, we did just that with Turkey Soup, the latest installment of the HARD series that featured Destructo, Yelawolf, Miike Snow, Flying Lotus, A-Trak and Tiga.

Destructo (aka Gary Richards, founder of HARD) started the show on a strong note, debuting Hard’s elaborate new set-up, complete with a raised DJ booth. Next up, Yelawolf took over the mic, demonstrating the chops and charisma that could catapult him to mainstream success.

When artists make the jump from band member to DJ, the results have varied considerably, ranging from amazing (Passion Pit’s Shuttle) to disastrous (I’m not naming any names). We weren’t quite sure what (or who) to expect from Miike Snow’s DJ set, but any skepticism immediately vanished once they took over the decks. Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg delivered a killer set, and were appropriate representatives for the band – the duo has worked together under the pseudonym Bloodshy and Avant, writing and producing records for the likes of Madonna, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, and more.

Flying Lotus, brilliant as always, stepped up his game by supplementing his set with a bassist and drummer, making this his first New York City appearance with live instrumentalists. I’m not sure if this qualifies as his ∞ project (it wasn’t billed as such), since past ∞ appearances have included a fuller range of instruments (guitar, keys, harp, violin, saxophone, among others). Nevertheless, the band was a great addition that made his music more hard-hitting and added depth to his set.

Looking sharp in a grey tux and bow-tie, A-Trak played a set that drew heavily from his growing list of hits. The crowd was still going strong as Tiga closed out the night.

CLICK HERE to view more photos by Lauren Marsh, and HERE to check out videos from Poison Ivy.

How do we even begin to describe the magical technoverse that was Electric Zoo’s take over of Randall’s Island this past weekend? How do we communicate the incredible vibe of unity, spirits so high everyone seemed to be floating, and the general sensation that the 50,000 or so people who flocked to the festival grounds were part of one big organism bonded by their common mission to dance and laugh and then dance some more? I suppose we should start at the beginning, when both Saturday and Sunday dawned warm and clear, and thousands of brightly colored revelers donned their face paint, grabbed their dancing shoes, and boarded the bus or ferry to the island, which had been transformed throughout the past week into something akin to Alice’s Wonderland – had she been a raver child. Four massive tents were strategically placed across a field of lush grass, making up the four different stages of the festival: the Main Stage, Redbull Music Academy Riverside Stage, Hilltop Arena, and Sunday School Grove.  In addition to these were the VIP and Media tent, as well as multiple bars, food outlets, and art installations, all set against the magnificent backdrop of the skyline in the distance. Over the span of two days, the festival featured over 60 DJs and producers from all corners of the globe, each of whom brought something unique and extraordinary when they stepped behind the DJ booth. Due to this overabundance of talent, we’ve pulled out our favorites from the bunch, as well as provided you with a glimpse into the minds of a few select artists that The HiFi Cartel was lucky enough to chat with during the course of the festival.

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With Electric Zoo Festival only a few days away, we over at The HiFi Cartel are prepping ourselves in every way possible for what promises to be a truly epic weekend brimming with colorful adventures into the world of electronic music – our favorite kind. While constructing outrageous outfits and buying lot’s of sunscreen are definitely high on our list of to-dos, there is nothing more important than ensuring that the most is made of the incredible array of talent that the good people over at Made Event have blessed us with. With the festival featuring two full days of the best DJs and producers from around the world, navigating your way through this delightful beat driven wonderland can be a bit daunting to say the least, and if you’re anything like us, fear of missing out can quickly become crippling paranoia without a little organization. With that in mind, we’ve put together a brief guide featuring our favorite must-see artists to help you maneuver through the madness. Take a deep breath, here we go…

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Just in time for his appearance at Electric Zoo this Labor Day weekend, pioneer beat master Flying Lotus has announced a September 21 release date for his new EP, Pattern+Grid World, through Warp Records. Still riding the wave of epic success that was Cosmogramma as well as touring all over the globe, it’s astounding to think the man had time to produce a new EP so soon – not that we’re complaining. Flying Lotus’ abstract and jazz-tinted style of electronic music pushes boundaries and challenges listeners in the best possible way, creating an aural journey that is thought provoking, inspirational, and often downright extraordinary. Judging by the evolution of his talent for production and his artistic vision, this new EP promises to be just as incredible and forward looking as his other releases, if not more so.

Make sure to catch FlyLo’s set Saturday September 4th at the Red Bull Music Academy Riverside Stage during Electric Zoo. You can also pre-order the EP in either CD or 12″ vinyl form here, as well as other material from the innovative artist.

Just in case you’re not excited enough about the prospect of this, FlyLo has released his first track “Camera Day” off the new EP, which you can stream below. Feel free to dance around the room, we know we are.

Check out the over art by Theo Ellsworth pictured above, and the EP’s full tracklist after the jump…

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Though it feels like the season is just beginning, we’re already looking forward to the end of summer thanks to Made Event‘s Electric Zoo. Now in its second year, the festival will once again take place on Randall’s Island on Labor Day Weekend (September 4-5). The final phase of the line-up adds Moby, Boris, Cosmic Gate, Dusty Kid, Glenn Morrison, Sander van Doorn and Savoy to the already massive roster. Like this year’s Ultra, the Electric Zoo has broadened its range of electronic musical styles to include several dubstep and experimental artists like Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Flying Lotus and Rusko, among others.

We’ll be giving away a pair of passes to the festival later this summer. In the meantime, CLICK HERE for tickets and more information.

Moby – “Wait For Me” (Laidback Luke Remix)

As the sun rose on day two of Sonar Festival in Barcelona, the masses once again flocked to the downtown location of Sonar by Day, pouring through the gates in even larger masses than the previous day’s festivities. Spirits were once again at peak levels during the afternoon hours, with Europe’s electronic music revelers taking full advantage of the beautiful weather and vibe of the city, the company of fellow partygoers, and of course the stunning array of musical talent from all over the world.

Once again, stand out acts were difficult to determine, as each artist contributed something creative and unique to the boundary-breaking display of electronic music across the three stages. Of particular distinction was the UK’s Hyperdub group King Midas Sound, who presented a brilliantly dreamlike set pairing their bass heavy and reggae influenced rhythmic sound with a backdrop of dramatic and hypnotic lighting in the darkened SonarHall. Also taking advantage of the confined space of SonarHall was Nosaj Thing, who performed his visual show to a thoroughly enthusiastic crowd. Matching a visual display projected against the wall behind him, Nosaj Thing took the audience on an aural and visual journey through his hip-hop inspired beats, dropping favorite tracks like “Coat of Arms” and “Fog” at key moments.

After a long day of music in the sun, we headed to the first installment of Sonar by Night, which takes place Friday and Saturday night in a massive old airplane hanger just outside of Barcelona’s city limits. Three enormous stages hosted a slew of even more enormous talent, with thousands upon thousands of people going absolutely mental for the breathtaking lineup and environment. Noteworthy acts included favorites like veteran French super-duo Air, DFA Record’s LCD Soundsystem whose performance of their beloved old track “Daft Punk is Playing at My House” got the whole room singing, and German house group Booka Shade, who all lived up to their stellar reputations as forerunners in the realm of genre bending electronic music. Indie electronic staple Hot Chip also played a thrilling live set under the open air night sky to the tune of thousands of cheering fans at Sonar by Night’s second biggest stage, SonarPub.

Mary Anne Hobb’s showcase at the SonarLab stage was also a big hit, showcasing some of the finest talent currently on rotation in the overarching realm of dubstep and UK funky. First the BBC Radio DJ herself took the stage, dropping some seriously grimy dubstep tunes and making the massive bassline reverberate through the ground and up into the enthralled audience. Second was a rare appearance by the illustrious Joy Orbison, who’s set was an extraordinary treat for UK funky fans. Flying Lotus took the stage next, spinning a set that focused on samples of some heavy hip-hop beats, and of course his own production, which contrasted effectively with his more house tinged set of the night before, and lead perfectly into the showcases’ closing set from the king of UK funky, Roska.

On the techno and electro side, 2manydjs spun a rambunctiously fun mix of electro tracks both new and old, with a multitude of stellar remixes and visual graphics animating each tracks record sleeves. Techno master Plastikman (otherwise known as Richie Hawtin) and the legendary Claude Von Stroke also each tore the roof off the epic venue. The latter’s closing set at the main stage, SonarClub, provided the ultimate ending to an incredible night, dropping monumental tracks like “Who’s Afraid of Detroit?”, shifting into some wicked drum and bass just when the crowd least expected it, and slowly bringing up the lights on the dancefloor throughout his set to emulate the sunrise outside, effectively preparing the crowd to face the bright day that awaited after the last note ended.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS

Day one of Sonar, the self-described festival of “Advanced Music and Multimedia Art”, taking place June 17-19 in Spain’s vibrant coastal city of Barcelona, kicked off yesterday with this weekend’s first edition of Sonar by Day. Located in the heart of downtown Barcelona, Sonar by Day features a variety of artists across three different stages, representing the broadest spectrum of what is considered to be electronic music. Thousands of partygoers, including locals, Europeans and music fanatics from all over the world, attended this roaring celebration of music and art that represents the beginning of what promises to be an incredible and inspiring weekend.

While the array of incredible musical talent on display makes choosing favorites nearly impossible, there are a few some stand out acts that were a cut above the rest. We first checked out the UK’s infamous Pete Tong’s set in the open air SonarVillage, which was overrun with revelers enjoying the beautiful bounty of sunshine and outstanding beats. Unaffected by the fact that it was still only early afternoon, the space was already vibrating from a multitude of dancing feet. Hyped from the vibe of the joyous atmosphere, we headed to Caribou’s excellent performance, who played to a packed audience in the SonarDome. Their onstage unity and aptly cheerful set list of tracks chosen primarily from their newer album “Swim” made for the perfect late afternoon warm-up for the coming night’s events. Another noteworthy act was Broadcast, who’s visual backdrop of surrealistic video footage contrasted against a dark stage and hall created a beautiful aesthetic of wonder and almost melancholy.

After an actio-packed day, we started our night at FACT and Plat du Jour’s Hyperdub Off Sonar event at Club Mondo, featuring Cooly G, Ikonika, Darkstar, Kode 9, and more, with a special surprise appearance by the supremely talented Flying Lotus, who will be performing again at Friday’s Sonar by Night under the auspices of Mary Anne Hobbs’ stage. Hundreds of dubstep fans packed themselves into the dark, sweaty, and seriously energized Hyperdub party, where the artists proceeded to blow the roof off the place with a heavy onslaught of bass music. To nobody’s surprise, Flying Lotus’ set in particular was an outstanding combination of his own production set to a background of more traditional house rhythms, and naturally caused the crowd to go completely mental with aural joy.

Next up was Desolat’s Off Sonar party, featuring Loco Dice and Marco Carola, among others. This massive event also served as the opening night of Ghoa Beach Club, a brand new open air space right on Barcelona’s waterfront. Energy levels remained high and the bass kept thumping as the artists carried the crowd straight into the dawn, keeping the dancefloor packed and he partygoers begging for more as the music finally came to an end well in the morning.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS