Scion A/V has once again partnered with some of the best names in the biz to produce another exclusive release. This time they matched up with legendary NYC hip hop duo EPMD with Trash favorites - Sinden, Duke Dumont, and Herve to present another package full of bangers. The three versions of this brand new vocal take completely different routes – with Hervé’s trademarked basslines, Sinden drawing from UK garage inspiration and Duke Dumont going for a hip hop take with bhangra-styled loops. The full project drops Oct. 20, but you can grab an advance of Sinden’s mix right here . . .
Summer is winding down and for some that means the end of great weather and lazy days. That doesn’t stop the enjoyment of some sun soak roller disco tunes that reminisce of the late 70’s era. Fan Death, provides these tunes in an almost eerie sense of authenticity. Perfect for the afterparty, the songs wash over you sense of warmth and romance and leave you wanting more.
Little is known about Fan Death, they are being presented to us shrouded in mystery, hopefully to entice us on their substance more than their style. They already have caught the attention and are being endorsed by superstar tastemaker djs like Diplo and Erol Alkan. With good reason too, they are great and could be easily compared to Glass Candy and The Chromatics as well as Cerrone or Gino Soccio. There great expectations to be had here because Fan Death should do some great things.
Be on the lookout for the “Veronica’s Veil” 12″ and future work, although with a group this exciting its unforeseeable that they will be able to ignore.
Please enjoy the following tracks and when the record comes out purchase it.
First tune “The Son Will Rise” is quickly reaching the top of my itunes most played tracks. It’s the infectious horn line and swagger the track has that keeps me coming back. It also is similar feel to rapper Young Jeezy’s track “Circulate“. Which for legal purposes I cannot post but seek it out for a comparrison.
Just in case you are not aware of the delectable Ladytron I have decided to do this rather lovely post about them!
This sharp electro tarnished foursome originally hail from Liverpool UK and are now in the midst of touring their new album Velocifero around Europe, which will be followed by a whistle stop tour around Australia and then back to Europe for seconds! Phew they are busy…..
Anyway if you haven’t checked them out before, please listen to the haunting tune (pardon the pun) that is ‘Ghosts’ its spookily addictive.
Oh and to give you an extra dollop of Ladytron goodness we also have delish ‘Ghosts’ remixes by Toxic Avenger and a chilled-out dreamy remix from Modwheelmood.
Dandelion Wind is playing director once again, with a colorful video for Twin Crystals song “Two Girls”. Look out for Dandi Wind’s hotly anticipated album, ‘Yolk of the Golden Egg‘ coming soon!
Remember back in June when everyone in blog world was up in arms over a tune called “Black Chrome”, from the mysterious LA-based, Circuit Freq?? Have you figured them out yet? Chock-full of intensity, the original stood well on its own. As promised, they’ve been kind enough to deliver their latest remix of “Black Chrome” from England’s Charlie Fanclub and YES, it’s armed with the hard hitting power I thought it would.
If I were gearing up for war, Charlie Fanclub’s remix of “Black Chrome” is the tune I’d be listening to before crossing enemy lines, and a perfect play if ‘Call Of Duty‘ had a soundtrack. Charlie’s remix is a solid, pounding effort that takes the original track up a level and will certainly shatter the dancefloor!
Listen to the other remixes of Circuit Freq’s “Black Chrome” from Vandal, Electrixx, Metalzone, plus a bonus Charlie Fanclub version. You’ll find that they’re all superb, thus leaving you to make a purchase via Beatport!
French artist extraordinaire Franck Rivoire, producing under the moniker Danger, has become notorious amongst many and recognized for his exceptional synth heavy production, that he describes as ‘French Touch new electro’. His music evokes complexity and a sense of darkness, stirring the emotions of his devotees, causing an insatiable desire for more. I’ve often envisioned Danger’s music playing in the background to an Osamu Tezuka anime, which seems quite fitting given his childhood influences.
Just five years back, Danger was a self-proclaimed chiptune geek, creating game music. His direction changed and his music has flourished since the days of past and in recent months, Danger has remixed tracks for Midnight Juggernauts, ‘Into the Galaxy‘ and Sébastien Tellier, ‘Divine‘. But it was his first few brilliant productions, ‘11h30‘, ‘14H54‘, ‘19H11‘, that paved the way for what was to come. Signed to the Parisian label Ekler’o’shock, Danger continues to push the limits of his craft, taking us into the future. As a long time favorite of mine, I wanted to know what is behind the mind of Danger, so a few months back, I exchanged a bit of Q&A with him. After a long delay and the responses properly translated, here you have his answers in French and English.
Lovestar: Who is Danger? Please give some background history
Danger: Je suis illustrateur et graphiste, je suis très imaginatif et j’aime raconter des histoires, et communiquer des sensations. J’ai passé une certaine partie de ma jeunesse devant des écrans d’ordinateur , des livres, et des consoles de jeux, je fais des bandes dessinées, j’adore le cinéma, l’art, les jeux vidéos et les synthétiseurs.
I’m an illustrator and graphic designer, I’m very imaginative and I love to tell stories, and convey sensations. I passed part of my youth in front of computer screens, in books, and game consoles. I do comic books, I love cinema, art, video games and synthesizers.
Lovestar: Tell us about the music that you are producing
Danger: J’imagine mes musiques comme des émotions simples. Mon avenir c’est de continuer à suivre simplement ce que j’ai envie de faire ressentir. Beaucoup d’entres nous parlent à “l’enfance” en faisant ce genre de musique, je m’en rends compte et j’ai d’autant plus envie de donner une vision de l’enfance qui est la plus fidèle à ce que je suis et à ce que j’ai été.
J’essaye de ne pas penser qu’à la musique quand je compose mais aussi à des images et à des sensations, d’ailleurs le fait que je sois graphiste et illustrateur m’aide à m’écarter du seul chemin musical, qui n’est pas le mien.
Je vais faire pas mal de lives dans un futur proche dans lequels j’utiliserai la vidéo et l’animation plus d’autres surprises mystèrieuses.
I picture my music like simple emotions. My path is to continue to follow that which I have the desire to experience again. A lot of other people talk to us about “childhood” in making this kind of music. I realize this and I really want to give a vision of a childhood that is the most faithful to that which I am and that which I have been.
I try not to think about just the music when I’m composing, but also the feelings and images. Otherwise, the fact that I’m a graphic artist and illustrator helps separate me from a single musical path that’s not mine.
I’m going to do a few live shows in the near future in which I will utilize video, animation, and other mysterious suprises.
Lovestar: Your tracks are all named with numbers and letters. Are these random or do they have meaning?
Danger: Disons que je pense qu’une heure est aussi évocatrice d’un sentiment qu’un titre littéraire. Je passe ma vie à faire attention à l’heure et je trouve sincèrement qu’un 20h45 ou un 14h porte déjà en lui tout un tas de sentiments, alors imaginez 14h54, c’est un truc de fou.
Let’s say that I think that an hour is just as evocative of a feeling as the title of a piece of literature. I go through life paying attention to the hour and I really find that no other time than an 8:45 PM or a 2 pm already brings a whole barrel of feelings… so imagine 2:54 PM, it’s something crazy.
Lovestar: Are you still working as a graphic designer and do you create your own artwork?
Danger: Yes still drawing :) It’s important for me to be sure to create what I want to communicate.
Lovestar: What went into creating your latest EP, 09.14.2007?
Danger: A first step for me…:)
Lovestar: Your music has a lot of expression to it, I could see it being played in a Japanimation movie or a Speed Racer scene – Do you know of Speed Racer? Have you ever thought of scoring your music in a film?
Danger: It would be great, that’s a long time dream.
Lovestar: What was it about the label Ekler’o’shock that made you want them to represent you?
Danger: I really liked the Ekler’o’shock artists.
Lovestar: A comment left by a fan on the Ekler’o’shock My Space said that “if Daft Punk and Justice had sex, their lovechild would be Danger”. What do you make of this?
Danger: Je pense qu’on a raison de comparer les artistes entre eux et de leur trouver des ressemblances mais généralement ces ressemblances viennent plus de références communes plus anciennes mes references viennent des jeux videos de ma vie, des films que j’ai vu et je pense pouvoir raconter d’autres choses que Justice et Daft Punk, des artistes que j’aime beaucoup pourtant.
I think that we’re right to compare artists between themselves and find their resemblances but generally these similarities come more from common references that are older. My references come from the video games of my life, the films that I’ve seen, and I think the ability to relate about things other than Justice and Daft Punk, artists that nevertheless I like a lot.
The greatest thing about starting this blog was not only to hear music that we encountered on our own, but also to be introduced to it from a wide range of sources, often times from the very artists that we feature. When Etan spoke of remixing an upcoming artist that I was unfamiliar with, I checked in on things. Good thing I did because my ears have been stunned by the lo-fi, leftfield pop sounds of East Londoner Micachu.
Classically trained since the age of four in violin and viola, 21 year old Mica Levi aka Micachu, creates imaginative, experimental pop music and mixtapes comprised of grime, garage, tropical, R&B, hip hop, folk – basically whatever she tosses in the pot. But it’s Mica’s obsession with inventing her own sounds from scratch, like the notable American composer and instrument maker Harry Partch she so greatly admires, that sets this wunderkind apart.
Currently in her third year studying music composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, Mica was amongst four young composers to write new works for the London Philharmonic and in March, an original composition she wrote was performed at the Royal Festival Hall.
Micachu’s latest debut for Accidental, ‘Golden Phone‘, produced by the esteemed Mathew Herbert (released August 11th) is an addictive, whimsical, hand clapping good time. I’ve listened to it over and over and it still sounds refreshing and unique. As does Micachu’s must-have 33-track mixtape entitled ‘Filthy Friends‘ (out this past February), featuring the likes of Toddla T, Man Like Me, Ghost Poet, Kwes, Jack Penate, The Fields, Naked & the Boys, Suicidedogz, Golden Silvers and more, which had everybody talking.
Though I’ve yet to catch a live performance with her band, The Shapes (Mica - vocals, guitar, electronics and Hoover, Raisa Kahn - keys and Marc Pell - drums), they’ve been making huge waves abroad. Since Micachu is on The Windish Agency artist roster, I hope it isn’t long before we see Micachu and The Shapes heading for our shores!
‘Golden Phone‘, can be purchased via itunes, Rough Trade, Boomkat and all good digital platforms. Check out Micachu’s other project, Society of New Music and catch Micachu and The Shapes at Bestival – 5, 6, 7 September and at gigs listed on their Myspace calendar. And look out for an album coming sometime this fall!
I was never into Baltimore Club. I am sick of hearing shitty remixes of stupid songs and I feel that once you hear one song you have heard them all. I never really understood it. However……these dudes somehow manage to get around the parts of it that I dislike. And I can listen to them all night without getting bored. Brick. Bandits. Kill. It. I have seen these guys go at it several times and I have never been disappointed. They are a serious party. All of them. Also for the record they do not just play baltimore club. I have heard Tameil kill it on the house music tip. So good.
Thursday 8/21 it’s SO on. I know this is last minute but the Brick Bandits have decided to pay Brooklyn a visit. I don’t know if you have happened to catch any of these DJs yet but you have no excuse. They have been all over the place lately and if you have missed them you need to switch your party schedule up a little. Time for some action. I am SO excited about this.
For you New York people, Galapagos is no more. They are under new ownership and the venue is called Public Assembly. They have exchanged their old sound system for some serious BOOM and Thursday is definitely the night to test it out.
I am 100% confident that DJ Tim Dolla, DJ Tameil and DJ Sega are going to rock a serious dance party so let’s do this. I will be there Djing as well. Most likely tag teaming with my favorite Philly kid Nick the V. Here is a little preview of what the night is going to be like. Get Wild.
Also the first time I heard the Digital Cable song I lost it. Brooklyn you know what I am talkin’ about!
Tonight markes an unbelievable 2nd night for New York City’s new 2-step/Garage night “F!T,” comes Todd “The God” Edwards to the NY-stage. Brought to us by Unit.One Productions and XLR8R Magazine Located at The Knitting Factory in TriBeCa, F!T is the brainchild of Thanyen Nguyen or “Tiny,” a member of the Unit.One crew in Dallas where he got his start. Headlining the first show was Unit.One’s own Jason Mundo, a heavyweight on the Garage scene both here and abroad. Unit.One, as a production team in Dallas, throws one of the State’s most infamous parties Dub Assembly, gathering many of the UK’s most prolific DJ’s and producers in the Grime, Dubstep, and 2-step scene. Jason Mundo and FIT’s own IanJamz will be headed to the UK in September for the Bassline/Garage Music Festival with UK notables Jamie Duggan and DJ Q.
With tonight as the 2nd installment of the FIT party, it’s quite extraordinary that Speed Garage legend Todd Edwards is gracing the stage. While there isn’t enough page space here to give all the credit where credit is due, Todd is a the Godfather. For a truly educating experience (as always) head over to Dutty Artz, where Todd received a lengthy special feature from Matt Shadetek.
Particularly gifted in the field of vocal edits and vocal production (see St. Germain vocal edit below), Todd’s production ranges greatly from his original Garage creations to more strict House flavors. Todd is often considered a major influence on Daft Punk’s use of vocals in their tracks, and has contributed numerous remixes to the French-House family. Reading his catalog, one begins to realize the efficacy that this man has created for himself. Modest and quietly producing works of brilliance, he stays in his sleepy New Jersey town, rarely to come out and make an overt splash.
So it should go with out saying that for Todd Edwards fanatics, and there are many, this is an incredibly special performance from a crew of extremely passionate individuals. The lineup tonight also includes NYC’s Rowdy host Black Plague on the 1’s and 2’s, IanJamz, and Keith P here from Dallas to represent the Unit.One crew in fine style. New Yorkers sick for that classic New York House, will be remiss to default to an overcrowded bar, where Todd Edwards has mostly likely either just been played over the speakers or is playing across the street at The Knitting Factory.
‘Fantasy Black Channel‘ is what you get when the minds of Late of The Pier and the midas touch of Erol Alkan collide in perfect harmony. The highly anticipated debut album released 11th August on Parlophone, explodes through a vast musical landscape with the kind of imagination that goes balls out! Watch the video for their single “Heartbeat“, released a week prior to the LP, purchase your copy of ‘Fantasy Black Channel‘ and prepare for this masterpiece to work its magic!!
