In my last post featuring The Dead Soul Brothers I posted a remix of band called Make Model. Since then I’ve fallen a little bit in love with Make Model’s good timey, folk rock style that resonates with me in a similar way to one of my favorite song writers of all time, Liz Phair (that is, Liz Phair pre-Capitol Records 12th Floor Studios homogenizing of her music. “The Matrix” is the worst producer ever). Their sound is certainly more polished and deliberate than the aforementioned, as well as more compositionally complex and diverse. I particularly enjoy the inclusion of the horn section and the harp in their recent single, “The Was” (available for download below), and the layering of the many voices of the band is quite exceptional as well. As a bonus, they’ve given us yet another remix of this single by the increasingly ever-present, glitchy, electro outfit, The Autokratz that takes a dark approach to the tune.

Make Model - The Was

Make Model - The Was (Autokratz Made to Scale Mix)

I’m about to jump on a plane and head to the great Midwest. I only have 20 minutes, so this post won’t be as in depth and link up as I would like it to. Perhaps i’ll revisit in the next few days and do it up proper. Perhaps not : (
I’ll be spending my NYE in Chicago at Smart Bar with Dave Taylor, known to most as Switch. He produced M.I.A.’s latest album “Kala”, which hit many “Top of 2007″ lists this year, including #1 on Rolling Stone. He’s also been doing a bit of production work on Sanogold’s debut album. It’s a bit ironic that Santi was also named Rolling Stone’s #1 artist to watch in 2008. SO! Without further ado, here is my Top of 2007 list (to the best of my recollection).

These things can be difficult, I always feel someone or something is missing . . . ufff!

Favorite Track of 2007
“Hustler” - Simian Mobile Disco
This was more than just a track, it was an anthem!
“Drop The Phone / Down On Yourself” – Shy Child

Albums of 2007
Simian Mobile Disco - Attack, Sustain, Delay, Release
Dandelion Gum – Black Moth Super Rainbow
A Place to Bury Strangers – A Place to Bury Strangers
The Ponys – Turn the Lights Out
The Black Lips - Good Bad, Not Evil
+ - Justice
Joakim - Monsters & Silly Songs
Mystery Jets - Zootime
Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew - Spirit If . . .
Spektrum - Live At The Gymkhana Club
Plastic Little - DJ Lowbudget Presents The Immaturity Mixtape CD
Noisettes – What’s The Time Mr. Wolf

Party Crew of 2007
Trouble & Bass / Cut – Brooklyn, New York

Promoters of 2007
Fixed - NYC
I Love Neon – Montreal
Ricardo Tejada - Mexico

Favorite Weekday Party of 2007
Tuesday’s at 205 w/ Jacques Renault & Justin Miller

Best Parties of 2007
Daft Punk after parties – Ed Banger, Throne of Blood, Mas
- Mighty, San Francisco
- Green Dolphin, Chicago
- Studio B, Brooklyn - New York
Justice after party with Erol Alkan - Fixed
Masters of the Universe – Trouble & Bass / Cut DJ’s + Diplo, Surkin @ Studio B

Best Performances of 2007
The Reactable (sorry this was the highlight of her set) w/Bjork – Friday @ Coachella
Coachella, Saturday in the Mojave tent - !!!, Justice, LCD Soundsystem, & The Rapture
Kings of Leon @ The Aragon, Chicago
Daft Punk & The Rapture @ Greek Theater, Berkley
Daft Punk @ Lollapalooza, Chicago
Daft Punk & The Rapture @ Keyspan, Brooklyn
Rock The Bells – San Francisco
Simian Mobile Disco @ Gramercy Theater
Philip Glass – Einstein at the Beach, Carnegie Hall

Craziest Performance of 2007
Spank Rock, Yo Majesty, Santogold, Amanda Blank, Devlin & Darko, and half of the audience @ The Fillmore, NYC during CMJ. Can’t even explain, you just had to be there . . .

Best DJ Sets of 2007
Laurent Garnier @ APT
Drop The Lime (on more than one occasion)
Diplo (again, on more than one occasion)
Busy P @ Dafter Party, Green Dolphin, Chicago & at Studio B, Brooklyn

Favorite Producers of 2007
James Ford
Mark Ronson
Switch

Favorite Remixers of 2007
The Glimmers
Van She Tech
Erol Alkan
DJ Mehdi

Favorite Bands/Acts of 2007
Home Video
Illinois
Ghostland Observatory
Shy Child
Noisettes
The Warlocks
The Rapture
Plastic Little
Spank Rock
A Place To Bury Strangers

My Favorite New DJ of 2007
Still at #1 of all time - Laurent Garnier
Diplo
Drop The Lime
Star Eyes
Pase Rock

Artist / Designer of 2007
Dan Stiles, US
Face, Face, Face – Mexico
So Me, FR
Dust La Rock, US

Best DJ Mixes of 2007
Go Commando – JDH & Dave P – Defend Music
Fabric 37 – Steve Bug - Fabric
Fabriclive 36 – James Murphy & Pat Mahoney – Fabric

Favorite New City to Party in
Philly, yo!

Favorite Labels of the Year
Transgressive, UK
Ed Banger, FR
Ghostly, US
Modular, AU
Downtown, US

Favorite Books of 2007
This Is Your Brain On Music – Daniel J. Levitin (Audio Version)
The Culture Of Collaboration – Evan Rosen

Favorite Music Subscription Service of 2007
Emusic

Best Music Discovery Sites of 2007
Last.fm
Hype Machine

Forward Thinkers of 2007
David Byrne
Thom Yorke
Jay-Z

Favorite Manager’s of 2007
Pedro “Busy P” Winter - Daft Punk, Justice, Ed Banger Crew
Oli Isaacs – Simian Mobile Disco, Black Ghosts, Findlay Brown

Music & Technology Publications of 2007
Five Eight Magazine – UK
Wired – US

Drinks of 2007
Jack or/ Jameson & Ginger
Vitamin Water – Endurance (the peach-mango kind!)

Santogold and Trouble Andrew, originally uploaded by Trash Menagerie.

Onstage, at the M.I.A. show in Philly, following Santi’s performance

Upon viewing Brooklyn based duo Romanoff’s myspace page, I snickered at the sight of an illustrated fist and balls merged together and pumping. Yes, pumping to the sky, as if there is no limit. (Having a background in the arts can do wonders for those crossing over to music these days). For combining their creative energies a mere 6 months ago, I’d venture to say, that the sky is limitless for them.

If more synthy distortion and beard clad men (endless masks, now we have fake beards) is what you have been wishing for, then perhaps your prayers have been answered. With inspiration coming from a variety of genres, Romanoff have put together a few tracks for you to add to your next rager! I fancied these best, especially “Lipstick and Miniskirts”, but head to their My Space page and you will find all six available for download. Stay tuned for new material in the coming months!!

Romanoff - Lipstick and Miniskirts

Romanoff - Trash Magic

Romanoff - Two Tears

Having only been around for 10 months now, you could say that Trash Menagerie is a bit of an underdog as compared to the mainstream giant, RollingStone. Nevertheless, it feels good to know that Simon DeLacroix, known to most as “The Toxic Avenger,” was well on our radar long before Rolling Stone recognized him for his talent. We’re on the forefront as tastemakers, discovering new music that is defining the current moment.

Click the link for past features of The Toxic Avenger on Trash Menagerie, and the Ludo Escrime – Le Coq Sportif site for some sickkk graphics and an instrumental sample of a Toxic track!! Choose either Le Camp Rouge or Le Camp Vert to hear music. We’re very happy for our friend! Congratulations Simon!!!!

Photo Credit: Monroe Gallery, 1991

Wired just ran a fantastic article from former Talking Heads frontman, David Byrne, regarding his thoughts on the present state of the music industry. Last SXSW, he gave a speech, reported by Billboard, (below) that I clipped and archived. I’ve been following his insights and sensibilities since that time, so I was extremely eager to read and share his further thoughts on the current state of things. Wired is also running a great discussion between Byrne and Thom Yorke, delving in even further.
David Byrne and Thom Yorke on the Real Value of Music.

Below is an excerpt from Byrne’s Wired article
Survival Strategies for Emerging Artists and Megastars

What is music?
First, a definition of terms. What is it we’re talking about here? What exactly is being bought and sold? In the past, music was something you heard and experienced — it was as much a social event as a purely musical one. Before recording technology existed, you could not separate music from its social context. Epic songs and ballads, troubadours, courtly entertainments, church music, shamanic chants, pub sing-alongs, ceremonial music, military music, dance music — it was pretty much all tied to specific social functions. It was communal and often utilitarian. You couldn’t take it home, copy it, sell it as a commodity (except as sheet music, but that’s not music), or even hear it again. Music was an experience, intimately married to your life. You could pay to hear music, but after you did, it was over, gone — a memory.

Technology changed all that in the 20th century. Music — or its recorded artifact, at least — became a product, a thing that could be bought, sold, traded, and replayed endlessly in any context. This upended the economics of music, but our human instincts remained intact. I spend plenty of time with buds in my ears listening to recorded music, but I still get out to stand in a crowd with an audience. I sing to myself, and, yes, I play an instrument (not always well).

We’ll always want to use music as part of our social fabric: to congregate at concerts and in bars, even if the sound sucks; to pass music from hand to hand (or via the Internet) as a form of social currency; to build temples where only “our (more…)

I don’t think there’s anyone who likes the Ibizan sunshine more than I do?? Seems Pete and Jim, aka the GASH DJ’s, are no different, having spent this past summer spinning records, and making their mark on the gorgeous White Isle. It is indeed a magical place to be for all who have been.

Back at home in the U.K., the boys are keeping busy with setting up not one, but two labels – “Gash Digital”, for Indie dance, and “Disco Slut Digital”, for more electronic related music. Upcoming remixes are in the works for Steed Lord, Pull Tiger Tail, and as a bit of a taster, they’ve sent over their latest remix for the Birmingham based four piece, Deluka. (featured by our dear KMD this past November – Hott Band Watch – Deluka). “Ike & Tina” (Gash DJ’s Elephant Knee Remix), will be featured on Deluka’s forthcoming “Ike & Tina”, single.

If you can read the fine print above, then you will learn how the GASH DJ’s came to be. They’ve got their own blog, so check it for updates, and plenty of track and tape mix downloads!!

Deluka ‘Ike & Tina’ (Gash DJ’s Elephant Knee Remix)

Straight from Miami comes Hydraulix, Ash Rock & JimiTheGenius. Utilizing futuristic beats with an emphasis on dirty bass. Richard “Ash-Rock” Zarate and James “JimiTheGenius” Merlo have been dropping bass in their DJ sets for years, most notably as residents of Culture Productions. Their childhood influences include 2 Live Crew, Cut It Up Def Records, MC A.D.E, and Maggatron.

They self released their first record - “The Hydraulix E.P.”, on their Kuad Recordings imprint. (Co-owned by Merlyn). Since then, the pair has been solicited for production work Dynamix II, Scape One, Exzakt, Bass Junkie, and Volsoc .

The Hydraulix duo sent us some bass heavy dancefloor fillers, that have been on repeat in the office, we’re going to keep our ears on these guys, as they deliver the hotness!

M.I.A. - XR2 - Hydroz Remix

Kanye West - Stronger - Hydroz Remix

Jay-Z - Brush It Off - Hydroz Bmore Remix

DJ Funk - Bounce Dat Ass - Hydroz Remix

CSS - A La La - Hydroz Remix