Send "James Holden " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Pitchfork |
 !K7's long-running DJ-Kicks series is on something of a hot streak, with the Juan MacLean's recent classic-house entry and a promising bass-and-dubstep mix on the way from Hyperdub boss Kode9. Sandwiched between those two is a more experimental but equally appealing set from British producer James Holden. Better known in the UK than in the U.S., Holden has his own imprint (Border Community) and has carved out a name with high-profile remixes for acts as varied as Madonna and New Order. His own tracks are progressive-minded, drawing from IDM, trance, and psychedelic music, but retain a distinct rhythmic quality.For his DJ-Kicks mix, Holden mostly picks from outside club music for a set that draws heavily on experimental techno, kraut, and ambient sounds. In the disc's liner notes, he writes about being displeased with the current state of techno and wanting to provide an alternative with these tracks. And it is different: Holden chooses music that probably wouldn't fit in a regular DJ set (tracks by experimental acts like Lucky Dragons and Eric Copeland) but the mix hangs together remarkably well. Largely it works because of Holden's production skill. He'll tweak the pitch or key of a track or blur one song into the next so that this disparate material feels unified. Legowelt's Italo-inspired electro sits comfortably next to Walls' ambient pop. And the mixing is such that you almost don't notice the transitions between songs. A stretch in the middle of the album illustrates it well: It opens with Holden's tech-y remix of Mogwai's "The Sun Smells Too Loud", spills into a loose Steve Reid/Kieran Hebden jam, and then finally into "Punkte" by Ursula Bogner, sort of a squelching minimal-ambient piece. Heard apart, these songs are wildly dissimilar, but Holden finds a rhythmic balance and makes them sound natural together....full text |
| Residentadvisor |
| As we revealed back in March, Holden will be the next DJ to enter the series, with a diverse 20-track mix that encompasses the likes of Mordant Music, Walls, James Ruskin, Legowelt and Mogwai, and he's curated a special evening of entertainment to celebrate its release. As is to be expected, James will take the headlining slot on the evening, but he'll be bringing along Kieran Hebden AKA Four Tet for the ride. Both will play individual sets, but party promoters Magic & Medicine have told us to expect a bit of back-to-back action from the pair throughout the evening. Occasional Border Community producer Avus will take support duties on the night, and with his three-year spell as resident DJ at Border Community's many events worldwide, you can be sure that he'll warm up the crowd in a more than suitable manner....full text |
| Prefixmag |
| !K7 has recruited James Holden to create a mix for its long-running DJ-Kicks series of dance mixes. It comes four years after his latest release. Holden's entry into the series mixes indie mainstays like Caribou, Mogwai and Eric Copeland with more obscure tracks from the likes of Luke Abbot and ARP. Holden also provided an exclusive track himself, with "Triangle Folds." ...full text |
James Holden lyrics
|
| |||||||
