Packing Things Up On The Remix

Radio 4, this motherfuckin' band. Their second album, Gotham!, introduced me to the world of dance-rock/disco-punk back in high school, and things were never the same since (oh yeah, and can I mention Gang of Four?! If I didn't get into Radio 4, I wouldn't have discovered Gang of Four).

When I tried to find a copy of this album, I had to special order it at a really obscure independent record store at the outskirts of Pasadena/Arcadia. This was about four years ago, and I didn't even know who the DFA (who produced the album) were at this time (although I had an mp3 of LCD Soundsystem's "Beat Connection" hiding around). All I know is that I was blown away by the first two songs on Gotham!, and that I had to get the rest of the album. It was a political, dub-influenced, dance/punk fest and I liked it.

They've come some way since that second album. The DFA also cooked up a remix for the non-album single "Dance To The Underground" but weren't involved in the follow-up record, Stealing Of A Nation, which went 180 degrees, Primal Scream style. I wasn't as blown away, but the most recent release from this year, Enemies Like This, returns to a more straight-forward rock tip. I'm still trying to decide whether I like it or not, but the singles off the album have had a grip of decent remixers.

The Loving Hand (one more time, from DFA) has remixed the latest single for "Packing Things Up On The Scene" and I've provided the track below. If it doesn't tickle your fancy, seriously, check out Gotham!, it'll be a dance party...


Radio 4 - "Packing Things Up On The Scene (The Loving Hand Remix)"

120 Days Of Amazing

I first sampled a song from Norway's 120 Days on Pitchfork a week or two ago, and I liked it enough to pass it by once and leave it alone for later. Then when I decided to download the new self-titled album (it's on eMusic now--go get it!), I didn't have exactly high expections. Luckily, those expectations have been greatly surpassed, and I have to say, the band's new record is fantastic.

120 Days' sound reminds me of what would happen if Suicide did vocals for Neu!, who in turn consulted Kraftwerk on their electronics. The album is nine songs too short, but each one feels whole, like there isn't a second wasted. Another plus is they're signed to Vice Records. Now I just need to figure out if and when they're coming to L.A., and hope their live show is just as good.


120 Days - "Come Out (Come Down, Fade Out, Be Gone)"

Be Kind, Please Rewind

Home Video is one of those bands that on first listen, you think had come out of the UK, and then it turns out that they're really from New York. And then you try to Google the band name, but of course "home video" is a very broad and common term, so you don't get what you're looking for at first. When it comes to band comparisons, I should be the last person to ask, but if I had to describe the sound, it's like somnambulist electronic-tinged minimalistic rock.

I don't remember how I first heard about them, but I got a copy of their Citizen EP two years back and it being released on Warp was enough to grab my attention. Flash-forward two years later and their first full-length, No Certain Night Or Morning, almost escaped my radar. Now they're on Defend Music (which I am familiar with mostly for James Fucking Friedman's Go Commando compilation) and have a remix from 1/2 of the DFA guys (The Loving Hand aka Tim Goldsworthy), and I think they're worth the checking out, if you're in a dark and sinister mood.

"In A Submarine" is taken from the Citizen EP, not too representative of the Home Video sound as a whole, but still a fresh track.


Home Video - "In A Submarine"

The Fall Mix

Finally, the new mix! I hope you got the reference...it's not really for Halloween but I figured it was fun enough to allude to the Fall. When Halloween rolls around and you have that crazy party of your's though, feel free to put this on blast. Tell your friends and burn copious amounts of the mix!

Disc-O-Lantern (The Fall Mix)
Headman - Moisture (Mustapha 3000 Remix)
Goose - Bring It On
DJ Mehdi - Pony Rocking feat. Feadz
New Young Pony Club - Ice Cream
Donna Summer - I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley Remix)
In Flagranti - Nonplusultra
Uffie - Hot Chick
Jim Noir - My Patch (Hot Chip Mix)
James Figurine - Leftovers
Whitey - Wrap It Up
Bonde Do Role - Funk Da Esfiha
Yelle - Dans Ta Vraie Vie
Simian Disco Moble - Tits & Acid
Kid Alex - Loverboy (Kid Alex She Just Can't Get Sleep Tonight Mix)
Goose - British Mode
datA - J'aime Pas l'Art
Fujiya & Miyagi - Ankle Injuries
Cansei De Ser Sexy - Alala (Bonde Do Role Remix)
Adem - Launch Yourself (Thomas Erikson Mix)
The Presets - Down Down Down (Digitalism Remix)


Disc-O-Lantern (The Fall Mix) (right click and save as)
64 min / 82MB

The Little Whitey Ones for Free

If you're in L.A. this coming Thursday you should definitely stop by this event for me because I will sadly be 100 miles away at school: Whitey and The Little Ones are coming to Hollywood & Highland for a free music and art show for something called 3rd Thursday, which I've never heard about until tonight!

Both bands are excellent from two different corners of the rock spectrum, and I'm hoping to see Whitey open for Peaches in December in L.A. if finals don't get in the way. Whitey's album At The End Of The Tunnel Is A Light finally got a domestic release via Dim Mak this month and it's either going to blaze a trail or remain under the radar yet again. Go cop that shit!


Chromeo - "Me & My Man (Whitey Vs. Chromeo Fly Whitey Mix)"

Justin, Are Your Ready To Uff?

Take two parts sexy time explosions (Uffie's "Ready To Uff" & Justin Timberlake's "Sexy Back") and one part curious ears, and the final product results in my first "mash-up," an audio excursion onto the middle ground between pop music and the guerrilla, underground shit. From the metaphorical dirty to the literal, two worlds collide in a piece inspired by Dangermouse's subversive musical reconstructions--a la The Grey Album--but at the same time, not quite.


Uffie vs. Andytron - "I'm (Sexy) Back To Uff" (right click and save as)