It’s a gorgeous Autumn day in October! The leaves are falling and the sun is shining bright! Tonight we celebrate the 1 year anniversary for The New Guard!! If you are in or around Chicago, come to Smart Bar for the festivities and snag some free CD’s courtesy of Local Hero and Keith MacKenzie, with a slew of special guests – Deekline, The LA Riots, Treasure Fingers and DJ Annalyze.
Back in July I featured Paris born, Léonard de Léonard, French Fever after the Fourth. Since then he’s been working hard on new material, and a new maxi “Screaming Dance”, which is set to be released on Ekler’o’shock in November. Meantime, check his latest génial, bizzare video by Kplusme and get your ninja dance moves on!!
Time for a little shameless self promotion. This Thursday the 25th, The New Guard turns one year old. What began as a little weekly at a little club aimed at unseating the old guard that has ruled the Chicago club scene for eons. We did our best to bring in acts that have never been invited to or accepted in this fair city and give folks a chance to finally see something new. And here we have ended up, a monthly at the finest club in the land as we bring in a couple of our friends from across the US and England; Deekline, The LA Riots, Treasure Fingers and DJ Annalyze, to celebrate with us and bang it out all night long.
To mark the event, I present you with three tracks from each of our special guests. I’d like to think that each tune really embraces the attitude of The New Guard. La Scène Est Morte. VIVE LA SCÈNE!!!!!!!!!
Ben “Trucker” Rymer, also known as one half of Gucci Soundsystem was enlisted to turn out The Rapture’s original production of “The Sound”, which was released earlier this year on their full length album, “Pieces Of The People We Love”
Ben’s mix starts out with dreamy melodic, pads, paired with arpeggiated “French Kiss” inspired tech tinged beats. The track kicks in with a “back to 95” rave stab that turns the production into a full on banger that’s destined to destroy dance floor. Can’t help but think, Who Is Elvis? And is James Brown in fact Dead?
The Max Pask Horror Show Mix sprinkles in eerie Theremin - esque synth pads, and resurrects the Belgian “New Beat” dance movement from the early 90’s with a Saunderson/Reese “Rock To The Beat” vibe felt throughout. The overdriven Moog baseline is reminiscent of Nitzer Ebb and Front 242.
Throne Of Blood 004 is another quality remix package that is truly representative of what label head James Friedman and The Rapture, as DJ’s are playing in recent sets.
Vinyl drops Nov. 26 via Amato Distribution and is available in all fine record shops.
Julien Milan is looking extra snug in his giant sized, camouflage hoodie, created by the excellent illustrator, Anem. Originating from the port city, Bordeaux, he made his debut in London in 2003 when he found his love for electro. Upon his return to France, he teamed up with Tom Deluxx for the “Body Pressure” party at Plug and for the “Be Trash Party”, at 4Sans. “Body Pressure”, was selected for the break through DJ at the techno festival, “Les Impulsives”, in 2005 at Cussac Fort Médoc. From here on, he has dedicated himself to music production.
Julien’s latest work is a remix of “Petasse”, by the super cool group, Sexy Sushi, followed by a new track, “Poney Plage”, and a remix of Tom Deluxx’s “Drama Queen”, coming out on his first EP at the end of November on Boxon Records. Julien has sent us a brand new, super smooth mix, featuring some of your favorite tracks! Hit play, enjoy, and stay on alert for more Julien Milan in the near future!!
01. Jamelia - Something About You (Mr Oizo Remix)
02. Justice - D.A.N.C.E (Yuksek Edit)
03. Sebastien Tellier - Mr Oizo - Sebastian - C.H.I.V.E.R.S
04. Goose - Bring It On (MSTRKRFT Jfk Remix)
05. Tom Deluxx - Drama Queen (Julien Milan Remix) (Boxon Records 001)
06. Charlie Fanclub - Jet
07. Does It Offend You - Lets Make Out
08. TomDeluxx - Hero (Boxon Records 001)
09. Kaspersky - Spitzer
10. TEPR - (feat. GrandMarnier) Minuit Jacuzzi
11. Julien Milan PoneyPlage (Boxon Records 001)
12. Sebastian - ??
13. BoysNoize - Lava Lava
14. Just A Band - Arrgh!!!
15. BoysNoize - my head (ParaOne remix)
16. UFO - ? (Sebastian remix)
I’ve been skint on postings and this is why – My birthday, which fell on Tuesday October 10, had pushed itself well into the next week, finally ending today over a spectacular lunch at “Pierrot Gourmet” at The Peninsula, Chicago. Way to stretch it! Does it ever end? I welcomed fall with a delish salad consisting of: Mixed California greens, arugula, port wine mission figs, pine nuts, mixed with balsamic vinaigrette, and topped with 2 large phyllo pastries stuffed with brie! Divine!!
What a whirlwind 2 weeks and somehow I felt extremely lazy this past Wednesday and skipped seeing my absolute favorite, Erol Alkan!! (Justice and Midnight Juggernauts also on the bill earlier) What the hell was I thinking?! Ah this just gives me reason to book a ticket to the U.K. and catch him out there!! Also, a fun time was had at the Toxic Avenger event at Buddha, on 10.16. Thanks to all that made it a memorable one!! Here are some snapshots of the past week, taken by our dear friend, Clayton Hauck of everyoneisfamous.
Yet another up and comer emerges from the seemingly endless supply of artists and remixers in the bustling Parisian metropolis. Fredze Fred has cranked out a gritty, choppy monster of a track on this remix of another local French band, SaraZvati. It seems there is this whole new breed of producer that’s creating this new, almost glitch style of hard elektro with choppy leads and intimidating basslines, as if they took the current style of elektro and abused it until it develops mental problems. Its not necessarily the most club ready style but its certainly intense and pretty fantastic.
It’s been crazy to witness the success of Justice over the past few years. I had the pleasure of booking them at WMC in 2006, and back then, no one knew who the hell they were, my how things change. Now they are selling out 3000 capacity venues. Wowza?!?! The Ed Banger duo recently left their North American label, Vice Recordings to sign with Downtown Records, home of artists Gnarls Barkley, Art Brut, Cold War Kids, Spank Rock, and most recently, Geffen defector, Mos Def. (more on that later.) Big things in store for Busy P’s boys indeed.
I’m a tad obsessed with pretty much everything that Daft Punk does and I love Louis Vuitton! What a great combination of visual and sound, created for the Spring/Summer 2008 Paris Runway show. When top fashion houses and amazing musicians collide, inspiration thrives! Check the audio end at Discobelle.
