I Have Battles In My Life

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

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'

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

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

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

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

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.