Dancefloor Heart Attack

DUDES

2009-06-02T13:29:00.000-07:00

I've moved:
http://heavyaccents.blogspot.com/
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Best of 2007 (Pt. 1 of 2)

2007-12-26T00:16:00.001-08:00

I know I've been neglecting my blog but I wanted to spread some Holiday cheer with my Best Of list for 2007. Besides, it's the only list I look forward to putting together each year. I've split it into two parts: a) my favorite/best albums of the year, and b) my favorite/best 21 songs, 10 remixes, and 10 music videos of the year. Oh and yes, I did the unthinkable and qualified a DJ mix compilation (Thee Bang Gang Deejays) as one of the Best Of albums. You only live once. Enjoy, and Happy motherfucking New Year!

Top 16 Albums of 2007:
1. LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver
2. Justice - †
3. Kanye West - Graduation
4. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
5. Thee Bang Gang Deejays - Light Sound Dance
6. Peter Bjorn & John - Writer's Block
7. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
8. Feist - The Reminder
9. M.I.A. - Kala
10. Digitalism - Idealism
11. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
12. Boys Noize - Oi Oi Oi
13. Calvin Harris - I Created Disco
14. Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Delay Sustain Release
15. Chromeo - Fancy Footwork
16. Midnight Juggernauts - Dystopia

Already on my list for the Best of 2008:
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

Best of 2007 (Pt. 2 of 2)

2007-12-25T19:22:00.000-08:00

Favorite 21 Songs of 2007:
Peter Bjorn & John - "Young Folks"
Architecture In Helsinki - "Heart It Races"
Matt & Kim "Yea Yeah"
Toxic Avenger - "Superheroes"
Simian Mobile Disco - "Hotdog"
Hearts Revolution - "CYOA"
Chromeo - "Fancy Footwork"
LCD Soundsystem - "North American Scum"
The Glamour - "Shake That"
Hot Chip - "My Piano"
Kid Sister - "Control"
Boys Noize - "&Down"
Does It Offend You, Yeah? - "Let's Make Out"
Uffie - "Brand New Car"
Friendly Fires - "Paris"
Holy Ghost! - "Hold On"
Battles - "Atlas"
Bumblebeez - "Black Dirt"
The Cribs - "Men's Needs"
Shakes- "Sister Self Doubt (Alt. Version)"
datA - "Aerial Light"

Top 10 Remixes of 2007:
Klaxons - "Gravity's Rainbow (Soulwax Remix)"
Feist - "My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Remix)"
Justice - "D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT Remix)"
Kavinsky - "Testarossa Overdrive (Sebastian Remix)"
Yelle - "A Cause Des Garcons (Riot In Belgium Remix)"
Riot In Belgium - "La Musique (Adam Sky Remix)"
Teki Latex - "Les Matins De Paris (Surkin Remix)"
The Black Ghosts - "Any Way You Choose To Give It (Boy 8 Bit Remix)"
M.I.A. - "Boyz (The Twelves Remix)"
Matt & Kim - "No More Long Years (The Risk Remix)"

Top 10 Videos of 2007:
Kanye West - "Can't Tell Me Nothing" (Alt. Version)
Dizzee Rascal - "Sirens"
Feist - "1,2,3,4"
Hot Chip - "Ready For The Floor"
Kanye West - "Good Life"
Chromeo - "Bonafied Lovin'"
Bumblebeez - "Dr. Love"
Mitchell Brothers - "Michael Jackson"
LCD Soundsystem - "All My Friends"
Shinichi Osawa - "Star Guitar"

Bumblebeez Parte Duex

2007-09-13T19:55:00.001-07:00

The Bumblebeez (aka Chris Colonna, and occasionally his sister Vila, but I read she's pregnant, so no touring for now) are back in town and they've dropped the "81" and picked up a new album, Prince Umberto and the Sister of Ill, for you punk rockers, all you hip-hop heads, all you bitches.

As genre-bending and schizophrenic as the first album, The Printz, the new Bumblebeez record is a logical progression without much progression at all. With the usual amalgamation of punk to arena hip-hop to electro to...grime ("Pump Up The Bass")?!, the Colonnas take more chances this time around to pump up the Bumblebeez weird-/amazing- ness to 11. It's not for everyone, but at the same time has something for everyone. "Freak Your Loneliness," alternative rock radio, here they come?

Also, don't miss out on the "Dr. Love" video directed by Tom Kuntz. Watch out Soulja Boy Tell Em', you got competition. Here's an 80's/Miami disco dancefloor filler from the new album to whet your appetites before devouring the rest of it. I just have to figure out when/if this is coming out here in the U.S.

Bumblebeez - "Rio" from Prince Umberto and the Sister of Ill

For fans of: Beck, early Beastie Boys, M.I.A.

Calvin Harris Was Born In The 80s

2007-09-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

I have had Scotsman Calvin Harris's album I Created Disco on blast for the last month straight. I got a copy back in June, being one of those hesitant people who saw the buzz building up but just didn't really feel too experimental. Well, if you've been waiting whether to check out Calvin Harris or not, like I did, wait no further.

You will realize how mighty of an album I Created Disco is. It's crafty, it's kitschy, it's 100% fun dance music. It took me the entire summer to push myself to listen to it more, but after the eventual first full spin, I thought to myself "oh shit, I can't stop listening to this!" Calvin Harris is only 23 and already his shit is on fire.

He gives love to people born in the 1980s (I'm one of those) and is damn hard for me to compare to, but yet is so familiar. Just loop the track I'm sharing, and then go get the entire album.

Calvin Harris - "The Girls" from I Created Disco

For fans of: Chromeo, Hot Chip, Prince

Flight of the Conchords: Daft Punk Suits (Clip)

2007-09-11T19:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJF5Xg0FQYs

If MTV was the only thing you were watching all summer, you probably slept on a small hit show starring an offbeat folk/comedy duo from New Zealand called the Flight of the Conchords. The 12-episode show followed the mis-adventures of Jemaine and Bret, two struggling musicians, living in New York, trying to get gigs, and dates.

It's one of the best original comedy series I've seen since stuff like Arrested Development and The Office (fine, it's a remake). If you're into deadpan humor and random musical break-out sequences, you'll like Flight of the Conchords.

Here's a little clip from the first episode I posted on YouTube, you'll only get it if you get the Daft Punk reference, but trust me, the show isn't driven on inside jokes, but on heart.

For fans of: The Lonely Island, Jamie Lidell, Monty Python

Good vs. Rad (Mix)

2007-07-31T18:01:00.000-07:00

Everyone talks about the good and the bad, but what about the good and the rad? A dance mix for the kids who still believe in the music...here's to the rest of the summer:

Kids At The Disco Presents Good vs. Rad
Dragonette - I Get Around (Midnight Juggernaut Mix)
Shakes - Sister Self Doubt (Original Version)
Sebastien Tellier & Mr. Oizo - Chivers As A Female
Simian Mobile Disco - Hotdog
Thieves Like Us - Love Lets Down
The Chemical Brothers - A Modern Midnight Conversation
Riot In Belgium - La Musique (Adam Sky Remix)
Kid Sister - Control
Bonde Do Role - Caminhao De Gas
Feist - My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Remix)
Matt & Kim - Yeah Yeah (Flosstradamus Remix)
Yelle - A Cause Des Garcons (Riot In Belgium Remix)
Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT Remix)
M.I.A. - Bamboo Banger
Calvin Harris - Disco Heat
Surkin - Radio Fireworks (Surkin 909 Edit)
Digitalism - Anything New
K.I.M. - Party Machini
Klaxons - Gravitys Rainbow (Soulwax Remix)
Midnight Juggernauts - Into The Galaxy

Good vs. Rad (60:53 min)
single file 73.8 mb (right click and save as) or split tracks 85.4 mb

Do The W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E. (Wale + Justice)

2007-07-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted on this site and plus I'm sure no one really reads this, but I know I just had to share this track on here. There's this new rap-cat out of D.C. who goes by the name Wale, who just released a mixtape with DJ Nick Catchdubs recently called 100 Miles & Running (cop it here).

Wale hasn't had a proper full-length released, but if you want a taste of someone who can save hip-hop, don't let Wale pass you by. The 100 Miles mixtape features his lyrical stylings over songs you know and love, including some Mark Ronson productions, as well as a Justice "D.AN.C.E." rap-over track that I love and wanted to share. Just DO IT!

Wale - "W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E."

Syncronize Yourself (Mix)

2007-05-09T17:20:00.000-07:00

I thought spring time is the right time to unleash another mix, so here goes nothing:

Kids At The Disco Presents Synchronize Yourself
Yelle - Ce Jeu
Justice - B.E.A.T.
Bjork - Earth Intruders (Spank Rock Remix)
Riot In Belgium - The Acid Never Lies
Tomboy - Synchronize
Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Battle Royale
The Chemical Brothers - Do It Again
Midnight Juggernauts - 45 And Rising
Boys Noize - Feel Good (TV=Off)
Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire
Simian Mobile Disco - It's The Beat (The Teenagers Remix)
Gameboy/Gamegirl - Sweaty Wet/Dirty Damp
Bonde Do Role - Melo Do Tabaco (XXXchange Remix with The Ford Granada)
Punks Jump Up - Dance To Our Disco (Baseball Furies Remix)
Hot Chip - My Piano
Passions - Emergency
Datarock - Fa Fa Fa (Riton Re-Rub)
Digitalism - Pogo

Syncronize Yourself
single file or split tracks (right click and save as)
60 min / 78 mb

Digitalism

2007-05-07T10:43:00.001-07:00

Astralwerks is going to be bringing the German electronic/house duo Digitalism soon to the States at the beginning of June with their debut album, Idealism. The band has had a handful of singles released through Kitsune (including notables "Idealism" and "Zdarlight"), and like Simian Mobile Disco's debut (entitled Attack Decay Sustain Release), it's going to include the singles plus new tracks. Besides popping out some dance floor bangers, Digitalism has also remixed for the likes of Tom Vek, Klaxons, Presets, Daft Punk and The Futureheads. If you're a fan of Daft Punk or Midnight Juggernauts, you'll like these guys too.

I'm sharing the opening track to Idealism called "Magnets," a good smack in the ass for an album opener. If you like what you hear, check out their MySpace for more songs and cop that shit when it drops June 5th!

Digitalism - "Magnets" from Idealism

The Cribs!

2007-04-25T00:56:00.000-07:00

This smashing 3-piece rock band of three brothers from the UK known as The Cribs have a new video on the internets for the single "Men's Needs" and need I say more it is smashing... The new sound is way more polished and it seems like they are venturing into bigger and better dynamic soundscapes! If only we could have the uncensored version. Ladies and gentlemen, THE CRIBS!

Tokyo Police Club

2007-04-13T13:14:00.000-07:00

Tokyo Police Club out of Canada have been remixed by these guys I just found out about called the Remix Artist Collective, and if you check out the latter's website, you can find streams of more of their work (including Bloc Party, The Shins, and M.I.A., among others). I don't know too much about RAC, but their remix seems to me to have enhanced TPC's original many times over. Tokyo Police Club's latest album A Lesson In Crime came out last year and it has got to be the shortest, greatest indie rock kicker of 2006.

Tokyo Police Club - "Be Good (RAC Remix)"

Datarock + Riton

2007-04-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

Throw together the Norwegian disco-rock band Datarock and UK electro-dance maestro Riton (link to his remixes) and you have one of my favorite remixes of 2007 so far. Although the original version of "Fa Fa Fa" is one hell of a fun dance song, Riton ups the ante and turns up the remix factor to 11.

Riton has been pumping out so solid remixes for the past few years, including Chromeo, Mystery Jets, and Para One, and has a new 12" out called "Hammer of Thor." But instead of sharing that as well, I'm throwing in his cover of The Cure's "Killing An Arab" from his 2004 release, Homies and Homos.

Datarock - "Fa Fa Fa (Riton Re-rub)"

Riton - "Killing An Arab" from Homies and Homos

Make You Sweat (Mix)

2007-03-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

Originally I recorded this same mix via control vinyl (I use M-Audio's Torq for dj'ing now) but in the end, I realized I'm not going to achieve a good quality with just recording through my laptop (for whatever reason, it sounds a bit better than the radio), so I reverted back to digital mixing. And now I'm going to use my dj name instead of "andytron". Anyways, THE NEW MIX!

Kids At The Disco Presents Make You Sweat
Steamworks - The Presets
Phantom - Justice
Body Heat - Plus Device
F-cking Boyfriend (Peaches Remix) - The Bird And The Bee
Something Good - Van She Tech vs Utah Saints
North American Scum (Onastic Dub) - LCD Soundsystem
By The Time They Reach You (The Bagraiders Remix) - KIM
Interzone To Golden Skans (So-Me Remix) - Klaxons
We Are Rockstars - Does It Offend You, Yeah?
Testarossa Overdrive (SebastiAn Remix) - Kavinsky
I Wish You Were Gone - Joakim
Lindsay Lohan's Revenge - Pase Rock
It's The Beat (The Teenagers Remix) - Simian Mobile Disco
Chop Suey - Busy P
Black Eyes (Le Castle Vania Remix) - Snowden
Someone Like You (MSTRKRFT Sweat Remix) - Revl9n
Frequency 7 - Visage
Transpiralo - Panico

Make You Sweat (Mix) (right click and save as)
60 min / 80 mb

Gramme of Funk

2007-03-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

Back in the fall of 2004, I used to have a radio show on KCSB 91.9 FM called "Break Out The Shakedown," and I used to rock this one group from the UK called Gramme. They had a mini-album called Pre Release that was released on Trevor Jackson's (aka Playgroup) now-defunct label, Output Recordings, that had six of the tightest dance-funk jams I'd heard.

Pre Release came out waaaay back in 1999, and since I didn't know anything about the band then, I have no clue where they are now. At least they lasted long enough to bless up with that one release. The one on rotation the most with DJs I shall share with you today:

Gramme - "Like U" from Pre Release

Hadouken!

2007-03-19T17:52:00.000-07:00

I just found out about these guys over the weekend (I can't remember from where!), a UK-foursome that goes by the name Hadouken!, who've recently remixed Bloc Party and Klaxons. When I first heard the single "That Boy That Girl" I thought they had a grime MC rapping over the music, but then upon closer inspection the lead singer is white guy who looks like he could be part of Klaxons' crew.

Equal parts punk and grime, Hadouken! busts out some crazy grime-style synth-lines and hard-hitting beats that'll surely shake up the '07 scene. Music video and mp3 below!

("That Boy That Girl" video)

Hadouken! - "That Boy That Girl" (from That Boy That Girl 7")

Services For Your Desire

2007-03-09T14:36:00.001-08:00

I'm still unclear about what or who makes up A Touch Of Class ever since hearing their compilation A Touch of Class - Sucks! from a few years back (are they just a label? are they their own band? why are they trying to confuse us?), but I know they've got a magic touch with everything (releases, remixes... and class, I guess?).

Four years later, ATOC has already released follow up compilation, A Touch Of Class - Still Sucks!, which I haven't managed to get a copy of yet, but I wanted to bring your attention to one of the artists they remixed, and how crazy mad I am at myself for not paying more attention to.

("Element Of Danger" music video)

This band in reference is the Brooklyn duo Services, who've just had the single from their two-year old album, Your Desire Is My Business (another album I don't have yet), remixed by MSTRKRFT and ATOC in the past year. But the original version to this single, "Element Of Danger," grabbed my attention immediately. It's a fresh take on the electronic/guitar rock sound that I can't really compare to anything else without problems.

I sampled clips of the album off iTunes, and it sounds like they go into electro death rock at times, but the new music on their MySpace sounds promising (and a new album for this year, perhaps?). If you want the MSTRKRFT remix, you're out of luck. Here's the album version, yeah!

Services - "Element Of Danger"

Ed Banger, Parte Deux

2007-03-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

In case you slept on it, Ed Banger's second gift to the U.S. via Vice Records, Ed Rec (Vol. 2), hit digital music stores this past Tuesday. While the first volume was more of a primer for listeners new to the label, the second one brings both old and new listeners together for new, exclusive tracks from Justice, Uffie, Busy P (the man behind the label himself), and a So-Me remix of Klaxons (which is one of the better selections on the compilation, in my opinion).

(Promo video for Ed Rec Vol. 2 via YouTube.com)

Mr. Oizo sadly only appears for the intro track, but probably produced the beats to Uffie's new banger, "Dismissed." Feadz comes up short with a watered down effort and I can't explain it why he didn't give us what he's best at. DJ Mehdi throws in "Lucky Girl," dashed with samples from Gwen Stefani's "Wind It Up" and a Stefani-esque rap in an apparent Gwen Stefani parody song.

Busy P has definitely proven to be a nice surprise through the two compilations, which I would've never expected, so that's why I've chosen to share Busy P's (very Kavinsky) track:

Busy P - "Rainbow Man"

I Have Battles In My Life

2007-02-28T12:16:00.001-08:00

One of those WTF bands that we see signing to Warp Records (like !!!; WTF since Warp is usually way electronic crazy shit) is a band out of New York called Battles. I caught the Battles wave when they had their first 3 EPs (B EP / EP C / TRAS) released via Dim Mak/Cold Sweat, which were subsequently re-released through Warp. Now they have a new full-length banger set for release in May of this year, entitled, Mirrors, perhaps personally my most anticipated release of the year!

When I first listened to this band, I couldn't categorize it or put it down in words. Even their website has been somewhat ambiguous and enigmatic for the last couple of years. I typically see "math rock" dropped in the band's description, and I know they're like one of those supergroup collaborations. The first three EPs were instrumentally dynamic and sonic sound excursions into noise and rhythm, with some semblance of rock/punk elements.

Apparently the new album will feature vocals for the first time, but luckily Pitchfork has a video/audio sampling of their first single, "Atlas," over at IMEEM. Since I only have their older material, I'm posting a track from one of the first EPs:

Battles - "B + T" (from EP C)

Which brings me to a similar yet altogether divergent (and sadly underrated) band, Holy Fuck, out of Toronto. Their self-titled came out in 2005, and featured eight instrumental electronic (yet ironically analog) punk/rock jams, made completely with live drums and homemade electronic equipment (no actual synthesizers or anything, etc.)! They also provided backing music for Beans (new album Thorns coming out later this year on which he recorded w/ Holy Fuck!) live at a festival last year I think, which would've blown my mind to have seen.

Holy Fuck - "Tone Bank Jungle" (from Holy Fuck)

And lastly, continuing the underrated bands rant, there's Mahjongg out of Chicago whose last release was the full-length RaYDONcoNG from 2005, preceded by the Machinegong EP from 2004, both on Cold Crush Records (what ever happened to these guys?). The EP is definitely one of my favorites. Think !!! (chk chk chk) with more post-punk, more quirk, and maybe more drum machine.

Mahjongg - "Aluminum" (from the Machinegong EP)

*Note: All three artists can in fact be downloaded legally through eMusic.com, so pay up for that subscription to the site, you won't regret it

Pick Me Up Uppercut

2007-02-26T11:57:00.001-08:00

Once upon a time, Ladytron had a fifth member who played bass, remixed a song for the band, and also was featured on Softcore Jukebox, and I'm not sure what else he was able to accomplish with them. He's been in a band called Super Numeri (who I know nothing about) but more noticebly he's been releasing (solo?) music for the past few years as the one, the only, Pop Levi.

Pop Levi has just released a new full-length entitled The Return To Form Black Magic, which channels a lot of 60's psychedelic pop/folk/rock and reminds me of Of Montreal at same strange, unexplainable moments. It has some solid singles ("Sugar Assault Me Now," "Blue Honey"), and while the 2nd half of the album doesn't really float my boat, I've been assaulted lately by how killer "Pick Me Up Uppercut" is of a song. With a catchy chorus, fuzz guitar, and hand claps, you can't go wrong.

Pop Levi - "Pick Me Up Uppercut" (from The Return To Form Black Magic)

These Beats Are Made Breakin'

2007-02-24T12:33:00.000-08:00

New massssssh-up/remix deal fusing vocals from M.I.A.'s "Bucky Done Gun" with music from Chemical Brothers' "These Beats Are Made For Breakin'" (a 10-year old b-side that I've been infatuated with ever since it came out) goooooooo!

M.I.A. vs. Chemical Brothers - "Bucky Done Breakin' (Kids At The Disco Edit)" (right click and save as)

Snowden Remixed

2007-02-22T20:16:00.000-08:00

I can't remember where I first read a blurb about Atlanta, GA's Snowden, but I definitely remember putting off grabbing their album from eMusic since I was going on a family vacation for almost two weeks last December. Thankfully, I didn't put off checking them out completely and ever since experiencing Anti-Anti (released on Jade Tree Records) earlier this year, I've been in love with the album and the band's sound, some of the cleanest, danciest, and most sincerest post-punk I've heard in a while.

Then, while reading through Big Stereo, turns out Snowden released a remix EP (Fuel of the Celebration - The Remixes ) as a free download online, which is also for sale if you catch them on tour! Remixes come courtesy of Le Castle Vania, two other ATL artists, and Snowden's singer himself (under the moniker Stutter). If you want to get your remix on, download the EP or buy it from the band, but if you want to get to know Snowden first, go get the album! It was one of the first albums I heard this year that impressed me on the first go, and that doesn't happen that much. Whoever was on their Myspace page when I tried to add them was really nice too (for once!).

Just as a quick note, Snowden will be performing at Cinespace on March 6th in L.A., with a DJ set at Check Yo Ponytail afterwards, a few blocks down from Cinespace. You can most likely expect me to drive down that night to make it (why am I still at college...)! And Dandi Wind is also performing at Cinespace, who I'm just familiarizing with/reading up on right now, so I'll get back to you guys with her possibly...

I was torn with which remix to post, but since I didn't settle with Treasure Fingers' of "Anti-Anti," that should be the next remix you listen to (complete with vocoder action for you Chromeo fans)!

Snowden - "Black Eyes (Le Castle Vania Remix)"

Stones Throw + Old School Electro

2007-02-20T21:33:00.000-08:00

Or so that's what I'd think Arabian Prince, and especially Baron Zen, was bringing to the label. Both artists are featured on Stones Throw's two latest compilation offerings, Chrome Children Vol. 2 and Vol. 1, respectively. If you order Vol. 1 from hiphopsite.com, they'll throw in a 7" picture disc (that's what I did when it was first released--AND it comes w/ a really, really dope Stones Throw DVD); Vol. 2 can actually be downloaded for free courtesy of the label and Adult Swim here!

Being a big fan of old school hip-hop, especially the artists who paved the way for electro (Cybotron/Model 500, Egyptian Lover, Afrika Bambaataa, etc.), tracks from both artists caught my attention immediately, a) because it wasn't the usual hip-hop Stones Throw is known for, and b) they got that cheesy, old school vibe. Even funnier is that Arabian Prince was actually part of motherfuckin' N.W.A. (but to what extent, I'm not too sure), and the first thing that came to my mind was an Egyptian Lover rip-off(!). But nevertheless I'm digging this track in all its freaky glory:

Arabian Prince - "Strange Life"

And don't get me started on Baron Zen, I have no idea who this guy is, or was. His release on Stones Throw, At The Mall (you can get it on eMusic, etc) is apparently a compilation of music from '88-'92, and the rest of the album totally did not meet my expectations (which isn't a bad thing) when comparing it to the track I'm posting (off of Chrome Children and At The Mall). The weird, but noteworthy (at least I think so), side of Stones Throw if you ask me...

Baron Zen - "Turn Around (PBW Remix)"

Shy Child

2007-02-16T11:08:00.000-08:00

I first heard about Shy Child after some guy at a party who just heard my first mix (from back in the day in December 2004) played me their cd, One With The Sun, during Spring Break two years ago. Shortly after, I was so enthralled with their music I bought myself a copy from their label (Say Hey) online, only $12!

It's another one of those bands that release something different and exciting, yet it gets overlooked (at least by me) until a year or two after their release. It's a shame, but at least Shy Child is now in my record collection (and should be in yours). They're two guys on drums and synth (keytar?) who've had ties with El Guapo, and sound very close to its reincarnation, Supersystem. It's not pretentious music but at the same time it's some of the most fun indie dance rock w/ synths I've heard coming from just two guys. They've bust out a mean remix of The Futureheads two years ago, too. I just need to see them live now because I'm sure it's crazy fun...

They're coming back with a new full-length in May on Wall of Sound (a UK label, so at least in the UK) and have just released a 7" with two tracks from what I'm guessing will be on the new album. And here's one of those songs, but definitely check out One With The Sun (you can find it on eMusic, probably iTunes too) to experience an album that will rock you like a wild child.

Shy Child - "Drop The Phone"

Cut Copy Paste

2007-02-03T14:31:00.000-08:00

Holy cow, is '07 the return of Cut Copy? The group (or just Dan Whitford, the wizard behind the curtains himself) has posted a new track that will be the first single from the upcoming follow-up to Bright Like Neon Love on their Myspace called "Hearts On Fire," and so far the new music sounds promising. With Tim Goldsworthy (DFA/The Loving Hand) at the helms for recording, and I'm guessing producing, I think the new record will pick up a more late night club vibe continuting in the vein of the 80's new wave aesthetic.

"Hearts On Fire" sounds more of an artifact of the 80's than Cut Copy's ever done, with definite elements of New Order's new wave/post-punk influence (among several other discernible 80's artists) seeping into the track. I'm not going to rip the track this time but mercy, mercy I urge you to click over to their Myspace and stream it for yourself here.

Hot Chip Side Dish

2007-01-24T21:37:00.000-08:00

This one comes straight out of the Myspace presses: DFA Records has a new release from a side project of two guys from Hot Chip called Booji Boy High. I almost passed this one up, but luckily you can hear both songs from the Doubleshaw 7" on DFA's Myspace page. Here's the dirt on Booji Boy High taken from DFA's description:

Booji Boy High is a new project from elusive musical tag-team duo, Georgios Panayiotou and Mother Markzbow. Coming On Strong with the bounciest bounce of the next year, New Rave left dead in its grave, replaced by the rainbow rhythms of the New Age.

And that's about all there is so far. But, alas, the sound and vocals are succinctly the Hot Chip flare. This side project is definitely more about the electronic/synth/drum machine aspect of Hot Chip, but with the same quirkiness and frenetic syncopations of the band most of us have come to love so much. I'm excited about the project and I hope we'll see more material come out this year. The 7" is ready for your sale at the DFA webstore. For the time being, I've posted the b-side to Doubleshaw, "Twist Myself ," ripped from DFA's Myspace page:

Booji Boy High - "Twist Myself Again"

Klaxons vs. to my boy

2007-01-14T18:53:00.000-08:00

I don't know how this passed me by, but via Palms Out Sounds I just picked up to my boy's remix (released through Kitsuné Music) of the Klaxons' "Gravity's Rainbow" (one of the best singles from last year, in my opinion). The remixers are a duo that put the electronics in UK art-punk, while the remixees are a trio that are paving the way for the New Rave genre (whoever came up with that term, because I didn't--honestly!) bound to pass or fail this year. The UK sound is much more present in to my boy's music, but luckily for us, their reworking of "Gravity's Rainbow" sticks to the New Rave books.

Klaxons - "Gravity's Rainbow (to my boy Remix)"

While I think the original to "Gravity's Rainbow" (so far only available to the U.S. on their Xan Valleys EP) is amazing, this remix is worth the listen. The Klaxons will hopefully make great strides here if their full-length turns out to be just as exciting. Along with the remix, I'm throwing in to my boy's second single, "The Grid," a song that would perfectly score an 80's science fiction b-movie; their music is so retro-future, it's dangerous. Besides to my boy being signed to XL Recordings, both bands consist of members who I think are younger than I am. Talk about wasting my adolescent years...

to my boy - "The Grid"

Mon Maison Votre Maison

2007-01-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

The latest Kitsuné Maison compilation (3) has been growing on me lately, more than the first two did. The more I hear Freeform Five's "Home Wit U" (whose vocals channel Bernard Sumner of New Order, at least to me) the more 3 tops my list. The Simian Mobile Disco track "I Believe" is straight out of the now-defunct Simian's third album that never was. But the one track that I always wait for in anticipation to come up is Alex Gopher's "Motorcyle (Wet Clutch Short Edit)" a track too French to be MSTRKRFT but too MSTRKRFT to be Alex Gopher.

From what I am familiar with, Gopher came out with his first full-length in 1999 with You, My Baby & I riding the wave of the '99 French House scene and channeling as much dance-funk as Cassius's sound at the time. The last I heard of him was the superb collab with Julien Delfaud & Etienne De Crécy for Super Discount 2's "Fast Track" aka "Someone Like You," the best dance single from 2004, if you ask me.

Now we get this new single show up in Maison 3 that has Alex Gopher channeling electro-disco house at its finest, and MSTRKRFT should be jealous. But of course Gopher's track has that special French twist to it, like Sprite Remix with its tropical fruit twist on the old taste. Let's hope this new year will see more of Alex Gopher; in the meantime, check out his track!

Alex Gopher "Motorcyle (Wet Clutch Short Edit)"

Top 16 of 2006

2006-12-31T18:54:00.000-08:00

The Winter Mix

2006-12-04T00:19:00.000-08:00

Even with finals coming up, I ended up spending too much of my study time this weekend with throwing this mix together. This was almost going to be put off for a while, mainly because I was short good tracks to fill it up with, and LCD Soundsystem's cover of Siouxsie Sioux was killing the beatmatching. But luckily I stumbled upon this new dancefloor killer, a duo by the name of Shakes, and found a copy of the Thieves Like Us single.

I'm not sure what to think of this one, it has a sprinkling of gutter, electro, disco, etc., but all I know is that I was damn excited to finally have finished it. End the year right with this free 54-minute dance party!

Electrotheque (The Winter Mix)
Thieves Like Us - Drugs In My Body
Uffie vs. Justin Timberlake - I'm (Sexy) Back To Uff (Andytron Edit)
New Young Pony Club - Ice Cream (DJ Mehdi Remix)
Goose - Modern Vision
Van She - Kelly (Cut Copy Remix)
The Valentinos - Kafka (Bag Raiders What Y'all Kno 'Bout Five Remix)
The Rapture - Whoo! Alright Yeah... Uh Huh (Simian Mobile Disco Remix)
Phones - Sharpen The Knives
Aaron Lacrate - Oxy's Anthem feat. Roxy Cottontail & Amanda Blank
Mstrkrft - Community Revolution In Progress
M.I.A. - XR2 (Turbo)
The Rakes - Binary Love (The Loving Hand Remix)
LCD Soundsystem - Slowdive
Tussle - Warning
Datarock - Fa Fa Fa
Shakes - Sister Self Doubt (Alternate Version)
Spank Rock - Far Left (U-Tern Electro-Boogie Remix)
Thieves Like Us - Fass

Electrotheque (The Winter Mix) (right click and save as)
54 min / 68MB

Meet the Presets

2006-11-15T18:08:00.000-08:00

Another band on Modular, The Presets are a duo from Australia and right now they're touring with The Rapture stateside for some crazy ass live shows. I should know, I just saw them last weekend. Live drums, a handful of synthesizers, a drum machine, and loads of vocal effects all collide into a techno-rock extravaganza.The live show totally blew the studio song versions away, but that's just my opinion. Good stuff to headbang to and dance your ass off to overall.

If you saw The Presets recently and bought a shirt, you'd have gotten a free cd, which so happens to be the new remix cd, Resets, that's already been available for purchase online. Although it's in the vain of Death From Above 1979's Romance Bloody Romance in the sense that it's the same 3-4 songs remixed by different artists, The Presets are definitely more remixable. The arsenal of remixers are also pretty exciting: Van She, Juan Maclean, Digitalism, Simian Mobile Disco, etc.

The remix that caught my attention was one for "Down Down Down" done by labelmates Bumblebeez 81, which has this weird hip-hop/techno vibe that isn't necessarily that at all, but I like it. I like Bumblebeez 81, and I like The Presets. Please, you listen:

The Presets - "Down Down Down (Bumblebeez 81 Remix)"

I <3 NYPC

2006-11-13T15:59:00.000-08:00

I also heart Modular Recordings and all their artists. One of them that didn't grab my attention the first time I heard them somehow came back into my attention like that obscure girl in high school who totally turned hot in college, after "Ice Cream" showed up on Cut Copy's mix for Triple 5 Soul Sessions series (thanks to Amoeba Records in Hollywood, anyone can get all the promo copies of stuff you can't find in stores!).

The band--New Young Pony Club; the place--somewhere in the UK where sometimes the music over there totally kicks the music over here. Their music is cool, sexy, nonchalant, and very disco-dancey. The singer, Tahita Bulmer, when googled, shows up as a vocalist for Blue States, a group I never really got into, so I can't figure out (or I'm too lazy to) if she is one and the same, but I know is that I've had a crush on her after seeing her in NYPC's video for "Ice Cream" (the song, which by the way, has recently been remixed by Paris's DJ Mehdi--totally rad).

To my knowledge, the band's only released a couple of 7"s, and the song that I'm posting today has two different titles, but I'll stick with "Get Dancey," as it appears on Cut Copy's latest contribution to the Fabriclive series. New wave disco at its finest:

New Young Pony Club - "Get Dancey"

Packing Things Up On The Remix

2006-10-29T23:48:00.000-08:00

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

2006-10-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

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

2006-10-17T20:51:00.000-07:00

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

2006-10-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

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

2006-10-15T02:39:00.000-07:00

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?

2006-10-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

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)