As the calendar flips, still throwing my hands up in the air. Sometimes. During most other waking moments, records are being screened, new and old. Below is some new-new for you-you. Subtle suggestions for progressive digital fiends.

Planet Asia & Madlib in monstrous form. Very digable. PA came in the game strong back in ’99 and while his pedigree has bobbed and weaved since, he seems to be coming back with some aggressive content. Not to say he was ever fully off track, it was just hard to discern his quality amongst all the muckety-muck out there. He holds together Madlib’s straight-ahead bangers n’ mash with panache. “…documented on Knowledge God.” Nice. Hear “Madrid” for your ‘delf:

[audio:http://www.urb.com/files/2012/01/Wandering-Worx-Entertainment-Cracks-In-The-Vinyl-06-Madrid.mp3|titles=Planet Asia & Madlib-Madrid-Cracks In The Vinyl]

Sacramento sidewinder Lee Bannon released this Lost Highway-styled instrumental piece just after midnight on New Year’s. Only losers hosting laptop parties with a guestlist of 3 or less on NYE got this hot off the press. A little too close thematically and sonically to BSBD’s Noir, but that’s forgivable. Surely you can find the whole thing with a few clever key strokes, Google Chromes or whatever. Here’s a taste:

[audio:http://www.urb.com/files/2012/01/Lee-Bannon-Gnarlon-Bandos-Midnight-Noir-08-shoot-out.mp3|titles=Lee Bannon - Gnarlon Bando's Midnight Noir - Shoot Out]

The echoes of dark favelas. Mexican Drug War dark, as narrated by an Irishman (Slaine) and a Jew (Ill Bill). LCN are dropping Masters Of The Dark Arts in May 2012. Mind your melting enthusiasm for the year ahead. So says these lyrical conjurers.

New Year People. Niches. Everyone.