To kick off 2011, RJD2 released two new projects via his RJ’s Electrical Connections imprint. The first is the “Glow Remixes EP”, which he is offering for FREE for the next few days via Bandcamp. The EP includes new mixes of the track from Flosstradamus, Paolo, and Candy Panther.

The second project is from an artist called The Insane Warrior, entitled We Are The Doorways. It is described as follows:

RJ’s Electrical Connections is pleased to bring you The Insane Warrior. In a way, this album could be considered a soundtrack to a movie that doesn’t exist (at the moment). A strictly instrumental affair, the album “We Are The Doorways” was loosely inspired by horror and sci-fi film scores of the wonderfully fruitful period of 1976-1984. Several things mark this record – for one, there is a departure from the concise nature of most modern pop-oriented records. Expansive, open passages – often with no rhythmic elements – recall the work of both Eno and John Carpenter. These give way to spastic outbursts of energy in places. At other times, the tension-meets-groove aesthetic of Dario Argento’s pet Goblin give birth to some surprisingly funky cuts as well.

While heavily leaning on big, expansive analog synth sounds, angular rhythms, and blissful ambient passages, the record still maintains the attention to groove that RJD2′s label is known for. At times jazzy, psychedelic, and introspective, the exploratory nature of the music shines through. The Insane Warrior’s ‘We Are The Doorways’ is yet another unique landmark in the growing catalog of RJ’s Electrical Connections.

The album is up for preorder now on CD and digital formats for a February 1st release. The track “Then You Hear Footsteps” is also available via Bandcamp for free download.

This week marks the release of DJ/producer superstar RJD2’s iPhone remix app, finally giving fans and tinkerers alike the chance to experience a bit of what it sounded like in RJ’s studio as he worked on upcoming LP The Colossus (due in stores on 1/19 via RJ’s own label, RJ’s Electrical Connections). The application, called Touch Mix, was created by Future Audio Workshop, the makers of the well-received deadmau5 remix app. RJD2 announced the news on his website Monday as part of his “Monday Madness” series, telling fans, “you can make your own mixes on the fly with 5 cuts, and also get a sneak preview of another track from The Colossus.” There are more details about how the Touch Mix app works on their site.

The Colossus may not hit stores until January 19th, but fans can pre-order several exclusive deluxe packages right now on RJ’s website. RJ also ran a Twitter contest to give fans a chance to win tickets to any show on his upcoming tour, which just ended this week. The Grand Prize winner, who gets The Colossus Deluxe Package and a private DJ lesson from RJ along with his/her pair of tickets, will be announced on release date. RJ’s tour kicks off this Saturday in Washington DC.

Never one to slow down, RJ also just premiered his brand new video for “Let There Be Horns,” directed by Thom Glunt, on Pitchfork TV, and it’s truly magnificent. Check it out below.

• Buy RJD2’s Touch Mix remix app for your iPhone

• Go to RJD2’s web store to purchase an Exclusive Pre-Order package of The Colossus [RJ’s Electrical Connections] and get a free download of “Games You Can Win (Instrumental)”

• Pre-order The Colossus on Amazon

• Pre-order The Colossus on iTunes

RJD2 Tour Dates:
Sat. Jan. 9 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club #
Sun. Jan. 10 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle #
Mon. Jan. 11 – Charlotte, NC @ Visualite Theater #
Tue. Jan. 12 – Savannah, GA @ Live Wire #
Wed. Jan. 13 – Orlando, FL @ The Social #
Thu. Jan. 14 – Tampa, FL @ Crowbar #
Fri. Jan. 15 – Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder #
Sat. Jan. 16 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade #
Sun. Jan. 17 – Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree #
Mon. Jan. 18 – Chattanooga, TN @ Rhythm and Brews #
Tue. Jan. 19 – Knoxville, TN @ Valarium #
Wed. Jan. 20 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel #
Thu. Jan. 21 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theatre #
Fri. Jan. 22 – Morgantown, WV @ 123 Pleasant Street #
Fri. Feb. 5 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House #@
Sat. Feb. 6 – Columbus, OH @ Sully’s Music Diner #@
Sun. Feb. 7 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall #@
Mon. Feb. 8 – Nashville, TN @ Exit In #@
Tue. Feb. 9 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe #@
Wed. Feb. 10 – Oxford, MS @ The Lyric Oxford #@
Thu. Feb. 11 – New Orleans, LA @ Tipitinas #@
Fri. Feb. 12 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon #@
Sat. Feb. 13 – Austin, TX @ Emos #@
Sun. Feb. 14 – Denton, TX @ Hailey’s #@
Wed. Feb. 17 – Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar #@
Thu. Feb. 18 – Columbia, MO @ The Blue Note #@
Fri. Feb. 19 – Grinnell, IA @ Grinnell College – Harris Center #@
Sat. Feb. 20 – Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club #@
Fri. Mar. 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church #&
Sat. Mar. 6 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg #&
Sun. Mar. 7 – New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom #&
Mon. Mar. 8 – Boston, MA @ Paradise #&
Tue. Mar. 9 – Providence, RI @ Jerky’s Music Hall #&
Wed. Mar. 10 – Montreal, QC @ La TuLipe #&
Thu. Mar. 11 – Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club #&
Fri. Mar. 12 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick #&
Sat. Mar. 13 – Chicago, IL @ Metro #&
Mon. Mar. 15 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club #&
Tue. Mar. 16 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater #&
Thu. Mar. 18 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop #&
Fri. Mar. 19 – Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theater #&
Fri. Apr. 2 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater #$
Sat. Apr. 3 – Durango, CO @ Strater Theatre #$
Sun. Apr. 4 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room #$
Mon. Apr. 5 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah #$
Tue. Apr. 6 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre #$
Wed. Apr. 7 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent #$
Thu. Apr. 8 – Eureka, CA @ Red Fox Tavern #$
Fri. Apr. 9 – Portland, OR @ Dantes #$
Sat. Apr. 10 – Bellingham, WA @ The Nightlight Lounge #$
Sun. Apr. 11 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos #$

# w/ Happy Chichester
@ w/ Kenan Bell
& w/ Break Science
$ w/ Busdriver

To celebrate the official launch of his new label, RJ’s Electrical Connections, the revered instrumentalist has released the incredible 2002-2010 limited edition (1100 copies) vinyl box set, a gorgeous collection summing up the greatest moments of his career thus far. Obtaining the rights to his first three Definitive Jux releases, RJ reissues all three releases in this lovely package.

His first two classic full-length albums, Dead Ringer and Since We Last Spoke remain unaltered, both including the original U.S. tracklistings, and both on double vinyl. Since We Last Spoke loses it’s original gatefold sleeve status for the collection, however it’s a fair trade for such a cohesive box set. Also included here for the first time on vinyl is The Horror EP, trading it’s original die-cut CD O-Card for a 12×12 visage of Zombie-Jesus in all it’s glory.

New to the collection is the bonus Tin Foil Hat EP, which similar to The Horror, is a collection of loose knit tracks, taken from the “deluxe” versions of each album. There are elements of his earlier works sprinkled throughout the sound of Tin Foil Hat; the atmospheric waves, the filtered french vocals, the oohs and aahs, and of course the snapping drum kicks. The sound here is vintage instrumentalist RJ. In fact, there’s only one vocal track on here, “The Move”, featuring Tage – perhaps a glimpse at what his next Soul Position-esque project might sound like. This exclusion of RJ’s own vocals shrouds his forthcoming release, The Colossus, in mystery.

All of this comes packaged in a brilliantly realized box design, which appears to sport a random checkerboard pattern of sorts, but upon closer examination is a amalgamation of each of his album covers, including The Third Hand and The Colossus. Speaking of which, the set includes placeholders for these two albums (The Third Hand which is still under license to XL), so you have the option of inserting these LP’s yourself later. As an added bonus, each box includes a hand-printed piece of original artwork, signed and numbered by RJ himself, plus a redeemable card for MP3 downloads of each album.

While many of us are admittedly beyond buying music anymore, RJ demonstrates a valid reason for dropping $60 with this lush collection. In a zen like moment, the packaging is as beautiful as the music itself, a rarity in an industry now controlled by point, click, and delete options. – DJ Pizzo

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