I’m not one to post every single minor software update, but with the latest handful of free upgrades for Native Instruments software, I think it’s safe to say the 64-bit age has come to the Mac musician. Windows developer Cakewalk heralded just this sort of advance for years on the PC side, with largely little company (even beyond the music world), but today, the technology is finally a reality for average users.

64-bit computing means a marginal performance boost on capable machines and more flexible memory usage. The 32-bit Mac has had an edge over a 32-bit PC – each application can access up to 4 GB, provided available physical memory. But with Snow Leopard and a 64-bit Mac, you can finally, say, take advantage of all of the 8GB or more you might have on your machine. And Windows users, likewise, can load up their machines and fly past the crushing limit – slightly below 4GB – that impacted their entire system. (Linux users can run 64-bit, too, or a PAE kernel that nets the same result as that 32-bit Mac.)

Back to the updates: both Mac and Windows users should benefit from bug fixes to FM8, Massive, Guitar Rig, and Absynth. You’ll find the free update on NI’s Service Center utility, or heading to the updater on the website.

But the 64-bit aspect is the biggest news here. Since standalone mode is supported, you don’t even need a 64-bit capable host like Logic or Cubase (cough, 32-bit-only Ableton). That brings the current roster of NI products with 64-bit products to the latest versions of:

Battery, Guitar Rig, Kontakt, Maschine, Massive, FM8, Absynth

…and drivers for all the Audio DJ line and Traktor Kontrol hardware. Unfortunately, that does leave a lot of 32-bit only stuff, especially if you haven’t upgraded lately, but you still have a significant number of choices.

Now, the collective wisdom of the readership of this site is far greater than my own. Any particular software you wish was 64-bit that isn’t? Has 64-bit software meant any real-world improvements in music production for you? Let us know.

Club leaders Shaanti return back to Birmingham after a one-year hiatus, having rocked London at venues like Cargo, and festivals like The Big Chill with artists such as Asian Dub Foundation, Nitin Sawhney and Engine Ears Experimental return to the underground surroundings of The Hockley Bar & Club where Shaanti shall push iconic sounds of the futuristic west against an backdrop of classical Indian percussion, live sitars, tablas, dhols all fused with the current sounds of 21st Century Britain!

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With a career spanning over a decade, Azam Ali is back with her third and latest solo release titled From Night to the Edge of Day, releasing April 12th. On this album, Azam performs unique and gorgeous renditions of various lullabies from the Middle East illustrating the power of life, nature, joy, pain, love and beauty.

Free download of Azam Ali’s  “Dandini” below:

*Click the downward facing arrow to download

Sonically rich, thickly layered with texture, crackles, and low end, the upcoming full-length by Prefuse 73 nonetheless promises a focus on songwriting and vocals. That could make it a highlight of the year – whereas dense production can often render singers almost decorative, early samples of the new work suggest the singers step up.

Prefuse 73, aka Guillermo Scott Herren, certainly has the resume. Here, he’s joined by a string of female vocalists (presumably represented by the mandala of naked ladies on the cover and the title), “The Only She Chapters.” The likes of Zola Jesus, Nico Turner, Adron, Faidherbe, Niki Randa, and Broadcast’s late Trish Keenan are onboard.

Warp Records has a release for late next month, but it’s worth mentioning now is you can grab a stunning, moodily soulful track by My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden. It sounds imaginative and different, packed with indie cred, yes, but also something adventurous. And there’s still the kind of bass and electronic production you’d expect of a friend of The Gaslamp Killer.

Prefuse 73 ‘The Only She Chapters’ Album Sampler by Warp Records

I imagine some out there won’t like this, but I don’t care; I think Worden’s voice is fantastic.

More details at Warp Records:
Prefuse 73: New album ‘The Only She Chapters’ out in April – listen to sampler

http://www.prefuse73.com/

This ultimate floorfiller party mix is filled to the brim with exclusives, new remixes and kick ass good music (and to those who are not ready to get in an exellent mood and to start shufflin, look away)!
Make sure to check out tracks by Hyper Crush, Ninjasonic, Gilbere Forte:

Benzi presents Moodswing360 X Oakley SXSW 2011 Mixtape from DJ Benzi at Letsmix.com.

… and last but not least host LMFAO!:

I am shufflin alright!!

There are plenty of calls for charitable contributions to Japanese relief efforts at the moment, and rightly so, but we wanted to briefly direct your attention to Gilles Peterson's fundraising efforts on a different front. Named in memory of the jazz musician Steve Reid, who passed away a year ago, the Steve Reid Foundation is intended to support musicians in need. Peterson writes: "I'm running the London Marathon to raise money and awareness for the Steve Reid Foundation and the Musicians Benevolent Fund. I started the Steve Reid Foundation to keep his memory alive. Steve Reid was an amazing drummer with a long and illustrious history that stretched from working with James Brown, Miles Davis and Fela Kuti through to his own Steve Reid Trio and more recently working with Kieran Hebden (Four Tet). He died from throat cancer in the US in April 2010 without the money for treatment that could have saved his life. The Steve Reid Foundation will work closely with other charities such as the Musicians Benevolent Fund to aid the plight of struggling musicians, especially those with long-term and life threatening health problems. A career as a musician may sometimes seem glamorous, but more often it is a struggle and health-related issues can often be the final straw." The Steve Reid Foundation is currently awaiting approval of its nonprofit status; until then, Peterson says, he will be directing all funds raised to the Benevolent Musicians Fund. Find out more on Peterson's blog.

Read more on Beatportal

Speck, one of the worldwide leaders of Apple-product cases has teamed up with the renowned sports-fashion brand Burton to release these stylish chequered iPad and iPhone cases.

The 0.53" x 2.5" x 4.75"
 hard shell iPhone case protects your phone from scratches and scuffs and is available for the iPhone 3G, 3GS and the iPhone4. All cases, including the ones for the iPad, are designed by Burton and made out of Polycarbonate and Polyester.

The cases will be for sale in the coming days, meanwhile you can check out Speck’s other designs here.

Dance music’s biggest enigma, the man who spent the last decade or so of his career stranded in the USA due to not having a visa, therefore not able to leave through fear of not being able to return, has announced plans for an album to be released much to the delight of his legion of loyal devotees.

Dj Harvey’s presents Locussolus – The Album will be issued by Uruguayan imprint International Feel who made quite an impact in 2010 with a string of decent releases from the likes of Harvey and Coyote.

The album, the first of it’s kind from DJ Harvey will be released 13th June and features remix’s from Andrew Weatherall, Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas, The Emperor Machine, Time & Space Machine as well as an exclusive Dub by the man himself.

CD:

1.Gunship

2.Little Boots

3.Gunship (Andrew Weatherall Remix)

4.I Want It

5.Throwdown

6.Bloodbath

7.Tan Sedan

8.Next To You

9.I Want It (Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas Remix)

10.Throwdown (Harvey’s Dub)

11.Little Boots (An Emperor Machine Special Edit Version)

Vinyl Double-pack:

1. Throwdown (Harvey's Long Dub)

2. Little Boots (An Emperor Machine Special Edit Version)

3. I Want It (Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas Remix)

4. Gunship (Andrew Weatherall Dub)

Dj Harvey’s presents Locussolus – The Album will be available 15th July in International Feel.

We pick up our series of labels worth watching with a brief foray into the world of JackOff, a new Berlin label with a thing for the classic sounds of old-school house and techno, and a growing roster of accomplices including Iron Curtis, Filipsson & Ulysses, and Oliver Deutschmann. Promoter, producer, DJ and label founder Elie Eidelman jacks us in to the sound of JackOff.

Read more on Beatportal

Today's trance music might not, on the surface, seem to have much in common with the Northern Soul culture of the '60s, but that's precisely the twist that makes the video for Above & Beyond's "Sun & Moon" so unusual. Directed by Ferry Gouw, the video casts the song's heartbroken themes in a vintage mold, to visually stunning effect. "Sun & Moon" is out this week; it's the lead single from Above & Beyond's forthcoming album Group Therapy.

Watch this video on Beatportal

After three albums on Sonar Kollektiv (and a fourth in the pipeline), Clara Hill has established herself as one of Berlin's most in demand singers. Now prior to the the release of her fourth studio album, she is presenting a special project at Berlin's HBC club.

Performing alongside the Mira Mode Orchestra - a youthful 12 piece led by composer Ede Merkel the orchestra includes 3 horns and five string players as well as a full rhythm section.

The concert takes place on Friday 25th March and performances of the orchestra's own compositions will be presented alongside songs from Hill's new album.

More info here.

There's sadness in the world of disco today, as reports emerge that the soul and disco singer Loleatta Holloway has died, at the age of 64. Holloway's single "Love Sensation," released on Salsoul in 1980, was repurposed for Black Box's #1 hit "Ride on Time" in 1989 and has been sampled or remade countless times since then, becoming a staple of disco and house history. In addition to Holloway's disco recordings—check out her contributions to Salsoul Classics Volume 1, Volume 3 & 4 and Larry Levan's Paradise Garage, along with the album Love Sensation, which also features period remixes from Tom Moulton and Shep Pettibone—Holloway released one single, 1987's "So Sweet," on DJ International Records, one of house music's founding imprints. Holloway, whom Francois Kevorkian described as "THE original diva singer," had a voice and a presence like no other—just check out a clip of her performing live in New Jersey just last summer. Her impact upon the world of house music was immeasurable; she will be missed. Update: Check out DJ History's recent interview with her for more.

Watch this video on Beatportal

Last year we introduced you to the enigmatic producer Steven Wilkinson, aka Bibio. His summery debut on Warp Records, Ambivalence Avenue, fused guitar-based pop with light-hearted electro. Now he's back with a new single, "Excuses," in anticipation of his forthcoming album Mind Bokeh, out March 29. Continuing in the same, psychedelic vein as his earlier work, the album nevertheless represents an evolution in the British producer's sound, with a heavier debt to the rock and pop he grew up on. It's been on constant rotation in the Beatport office—highly recommended.

Watch this video on Beatportal

PEOPLE! As you know I have been blogging about Ajay Naidu‘s film ASHES. Well ASHES has been nominated for Best Crossover film and Best Male Lead at the London Asian Film Festival. http://tonguesonfire.com/. It will be premièring this weekend in the UK. And to celebrate there is a special pre-party featuring selections from the film score and Karsh [...]

During the week long event of Shaanti’s Eastern Electronic Festival, I got to witness some really awesome acts. On the Thursday, Shammi Pithia and Polaroid 85 performed. Shammi Pithia you already know. I’m a massive fan of him and reported on his gigs and albums. However Polaroid 85,  are a new band on the scene [...]