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.

Fan Death- The Son Will Rise

And “Veronica’s Veil” is the track that the 12″ will be named after was my first encounter with the group but immediately hooked me.

Fan Death- Veronica’s Veil

Late of the Pier – Fantasy Black Channel

‘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!!

Soulwax’ film/documentary “Part of the Weekend Never Dies”, was filmed in the summer of 2006 by Saam Farahmand using one video camera, covering about 120 live shows in clubs throughout Europe, Japan, the United States, Australia and Latin America. The documentary, which premiered at the Royal Festival Hall in London on 24 April, 2008, takes a look at the relentless day to day routine of the Dewalee brothers and life on tour. It includes music, interviews and footage of 2manydj’s, Soulwax Nite Versions, James Murphy, Nancy Whang, Erol Alkan, Tiga, Justice, Busy P, So-Me, Peaches, Kitsuné, Klaxons and many more.

If at some point you tire from the back to back Sónar parties, the documentary will be screened at SónarCinema as part of Sónar’s daytime activities. Plan to catch the boys in action, as they’ll be performing on the main Sónar by Night stage, 21 of June.

SónarCinema / Soulwax’ “Part of the Weekend Never Dies” documentary screenings
19 June (Thurs) – 07:00pm
20 June (Fri) – 12:30am
21 June (Sat) – 04:15pm

‘Liquid latex’, has been making the rounds on several videos as of late (Santogold, “Les Artistes”, Huoratron, “$$ Troopers”). Here again, appearing in “Focker“, directed by Daniel Brereton, which is the latest single for LATE OF THE PIER. Erol Alkan has added his magical touches creating “Focker” into an immense tune.

Erol has co-produced “Focker” and a brand new version of “Space and the Woods”. Both tracks will be released as a double A side on the 19th May on 7 inch, 12 inch, CD, download. The Castle Donington quartet have hit the road once again, touring throughout May and June. Check their MySpace for complete dates and check out the making of the “Focker” video at Dazed Digital. Click here to purchase LOTP, Space and the Woods/Focker.

Word! I’m back, after what was WAAAAAY too much time in Miami. I had the pleasure of falling asleep at the pool, if you see me out and about - “Rock Lobster”. So anyway, I got A LOT of catching up to do, a plethora of amazing music came my way whilst I was away, so I’m delivering an onslaught.

Ready? OK!

Staring things off with my Philly posse. Santogold brought it at Radio One, and Spank Rock, well, I’m alive to talk about it, if I say anymore, I will mos def incriminate myself, and I’ve destroyed the evidence.

Spank Rock - B-O-O-T-A-Y ft. Santogold & Betty Black - Leif Remix

More Philly in da house with Pink Skull, love these cats, Julian, you are my hero, and I still have the “wizard” you gave me. Gonozo’s Cointreau is from Zeppelin 3, the first full-length album from Philadelphia’s electro-psych outfit, and the follow-up to the group’s 2006 debut EP Blast Yr Akk.

Pink Skull - Gonzo’s Cointreau

Mr. Dave Taylor aka Switch, one of my favorite producers, after MIA, he hit the studio for some production on Santogold’s album (which drops April 29, and of course it’s amazing), and he’s also now throwing down and working with Tricky. I heard some of the beats, they are SIKKKKK!

Mystery Jets - Hideaway - Switch vs Erol Alkan Remix

Thanks to our homies Fluo, Palms Out, & Atrak for the assist on this one . . .

Switch - Beeper - Atrak Remix

From the land down under, a longtime Trash Menagerie favorite - Aussie producer, Miami Horror. Miami is part of the Sidekick Posse, home to Young & Restless, Gameboy/Gamegirl, Flamingo Crash, kick ass artists in general!

Datarock - Fa Fa Fa - Miami Horror Remix

Dirty Secrets - 5 Feet of Snow - Miami Horror Remix

Infants have been in the studio working on a new album, but they did send us this smashing Popular Workshop remix they recently finished. They’ve been playing a few shows, but have been hibernating in the studio for the most part. (From the pic above, looks like their shows have been quite fun, eh/) The have a nifty remix play on their Infancy myspace. Few side projects going on as well, Gum Takes Tooth, they have a photo on their site is frikken’ scary, don’t look if you’re going to the dentist anytime soon, or ever for that matter. Real Feal is their other side project, this, not so scary looking, kinda cute in fact.

Popular Workshop - Radical - Infants Remix

This Infants remix is an oldie but goodie, one of my fav Drop The Lime remixes, but sheesh, I gotta come clean, they all pretty much kill it. We’re posting a brand spanking new Drop The Lime DJ mix in the next few days, we’ve been sitting on this for a week, starting to get antsy, it will slay, be forewarned! Luca is currently touring Australia for the next 2 weeks - check him out if you can, dates - Drop The Lime Myspace. (Maybe he’ll run into Miami Horror!?!?)

Infants - Firetruk - Drop The Lime Remix

The Scienticians remixing Portishead, who are about to release one of the best albums i’ve heard so far in 2008. These Chicago cats and I have some history, fellow old school raver (ha, sorry, had to bust us out there ; ) Angel Alanis and TM’s very own Local Hero.

Portishead - Nylon Smile - The Scienticians Remix

The Teenagers made us feel somewhat youthful, careless and kinda dirty with their impetuous hormones – but with the arrival of Late of the Pier, our attention has been utterly distracted with their half naked bodies prancing on stage in their videos. (see “Bathroom Gurgle” and live performance videos) I’m feeling even dirtier than I did when I first listened to The Teenagers, because with Late of the Pier you get real teenagers.

With two excellent singles, “Space And The Woods” and “Bathroom Gurgle”, out in 2007, it goes without saying that in 2008 the four-piece out of Castle Donington, U.K. will surely cause pulses to race and legs to wobble!! Riiiighhhtttt? Guaranteed.

February 2008 came and so did the pretty gold wrapped compilation from Kitsuné Maison, with Late of the Pier’s, “Broken (Fairy Lights Mix)” featured in all its glory. Speeding into March, “The Bears are Coming”, off Parlophone, arrived and with plenty of remixes from Beyond The Wizards Sleeve, Emporer Machine and Joakim. This is just a taste of things to come as they’re headed back into the studio to finish off their debut album with a man we so do love producing it – Erol Alkan. Expect only great things!!!!

This is a tad old, dated back to December however, just a snippet of what the people from the Digitalism camp had to say…

‘2008? It’s the year of odd band names’

Friday December 21, 2007
The Guardian

Black Kids, Dead Kids, the Whitest Boy Alive … which bands will make it big next year?
Dave Simpson hears nine industry experts’ predictions

The next big thing’s next big things

Last year’s success stories give their tips for 2008

Isi Tufekci, Digitalism

We think Late of the Pier could be bigger than Klaxons. They have three different sounds in one track: cool indie, 70s synths and techno, all at once. They’re really young and produced by Erol Alkan, who does things like make a guitar sound like a saxophone. Another band we like are the Heavies, who are a mix of disco and funk - and the guy has an unbelievable voice. At the other end of the spectrum we like the long-awaited comeback album by an old band, the B-52s. They’re back in Love Shack style. We like the Hot Chip album, too. It’s a mix of 70s and 80s, but sounds like now.

Read the rest of the article, 2008? It’s the year of odd band names and purchase their single “The Bears are Coming”. When you buy the 12″ you get a free pair of rainbow trippy goggles. As a special treat everyone who purchases the download will be entered into a competition to win one of 10 personalised, hand-distorted Late of the Pier tee shirts. All UK orders have free postage.

This is the first of what I hope to be many posts on here… so here goes; I just hit 21, I’m from the North of England and I’m a bit of a ‘Jack of all trades’ in terms of music. I have at one point or another, been a promoter, a music journalist, a band manager, a DJ and a general dog’s body for various labels.

I also edit my own blog/fanzine called Illegal Tender which I started in January of this year. I’m hoping to vacate for sunny London as soon as I climb out of the pit of student debt that I’m currently in, and see if I can infiltrate the music industry somehow.

Now, to business…

Primary 1 aka Joe Flory and friends, is one of the brightest lights in the British electro-pop scene at the moment. Mixing elements of funk, electro, pop and soul, he was the second signing to Erol Alkan and Dan Stacey’s label Phantasy Sound.

He’s also a producer and has a number of remixes under his belt for the likes of Operator Please, Metronomy, Mystery Jets and Late of the pier.

After releasing debut single ‘Hold Me Down’ (including remixes by The Shoes and Yuksek) in January, he’s just finished up a UK tour with the aformentioned Metronomy. Two bands, both lead singers called Joe, one tour, you really can’t script that sort of thing.

Currently resting while recovering from a virus, Joe has had to cancel gigs at Edinburgh’s ‘Cabaret Voltaire’ and Bournemouth’s ‘Big In Japan’. However, he should have made a full recovery for this weekend, when he’ll be playing Nottingham and London with French duo The Shoes (who I’ll be hoping to write more about at a later date).

I wish him well and here are some goodies for your consumption, don’t eat them all at once!

Primary 1 - Outside (Demo)

Primary 1 - Hold Me Down (The Shoes Remix)

The frigid weather we’ve been having in Chicago, -1° F, is enough to keep a person holed up in the house for days on end! Not too terrible if you’ve gone to the grocery, stocked up on some good food, a sugary snack or two, perhaps picked up a few movies and have some good music to get you through the chill!!

The lovely Kimberleysmobiledisco of TM, featured MeMeMe late January, It’s All About MeMeMe! complete with an excellent mix to get us going! I’ve just listened to the most recent they’ve whipped up for NLLR and it is one FINE PIECE OF ASS in the form of a mix. Sink your teeth into this one wherever you are, freezing or hot. Cheers!!

“MeMeMe, aka Moxie and Purlow, are a very tight Nottingham based DJ duo with a much buzzed about residency at much loved club, STEALTH. Having already played alongside the likes of EROL ALKAN, KISSY SELL OUT, SINDEN, NIGHTMOVES, BANG GANG DEEJAYS, LATE OF THE PIER, FRIENDLY FIRES, DETBOI, PRIMARY 1, D.I.M., CRYSTAL CASTLES, GUNS & BOMBS, LILLICA LIBERTINE and RORY PHILLIPS, these two fine and most talented individuals have thoroughly earned their deejay stripes and their career is barely off the ground. If like me you’re a big fan of the utterly fresh sound folks like HERVE, SINDEN, SWITCH, DROP THE LIME, SURKIN and friends are currently throwing down, then you’re gonna’ flip over this mix. In the space of 13 tracks and 1 hour MEMEME manage to whip up the euphoric frenzy of a full nights clubbing at the coolest venue imaginable. There’s more whirring Bassline and Dubstep-style sub-bass, Bmore and Jukey shake, grinding Electro pulse and stuttered post-Hip Hop, post-Rave beat and melody in this mix than you’ll know what to do with. It’s an absolutely bangin’ set from start to finish, comprised of only the very hottest tunes out there at the moment, selected and mixed to woofer trembling perfection. Needless to say MEMEME are going all kinds of good places in 2008. If after enjoying this exclusive mix that MOXIE and PURLOW have lovingly crafted for you, you are left craving more MEMEME, then you’re in luck! They did a sweet-as mix for Trash Menagerie only last month, which I’ve conveniently linked below. So there we are, go friend MEMEME, MOXIE and PURLOW on Myspace, check out their extensive list of upcoming dates and get on this mix!!!” – No Love Lost Records

Me Me Me - NLLR Mixtape Project

01. Drums Of Death - Breathe (Curses! Remix)
02. Bulgarian and Spoek - Zombie Door (Santiago and Bushido Remix)
03. Solid Groove - This Is Sick (Yeah! Woohoo! Remix)
04. Fagget Fairys - Samo Ti (AC Slater Remix)
05. Azzido Da Bass - Dooms Night (Switch Remix)
06. Crookers - My Penny
07. CJ Bolland - Sugar Is Sweeter (Twockers Respect To Van Helden Remix)
08. Klaxons - Atlantis to Interzone (Destroy Disco Mix)
09. Hostage - Rave Rave Rave
10. The Count and Sinden - Beeper (Fake Blood Remix)
11. Benga and Coki - Night (L-Vis 1990 Hyper Bass Remix)
12. Congorock - Exodus (3 Is A Crowd Mix)
13. Bok Bok - What The!

Illustration courtesy of Neonskullz

As selfish as the title sounds it’s actually true! 2007 was definitely the year that Nottingham based dj’s MeMeMe broke the mould and unleashed their monster tunes on unsuspecting hipsters throughout the UK.

With hot DJ sets alongside the likes of Kissy Sell Out, Guns & Bombs, Friendly Fires, and Late of the Pier this duo are certainly delectable. They are in fact so delicious that their residency at Liars Club based at Stealth in Nottingham is the talk of the town.

The duo are not afraid to admit that they like bass and don’t shy away from utilising this when playing Electro, Techno, House or Baltimore. With influences in the form of Tony de Vit, Old School Hardcore, Pirate Station Garage, Boys Noize, Drop the Lime, Daft Punk, Switch, and Diplo it is easy to that the MeMeMe setlist is never predictable.

After their mammoth set alongside Erol Alkan New Years Eve at the Stealth vs Rescue Rooms event, we feel it is only fair that we unleash their greatness on you.

This dramatic ‘Obese Teens Can’t Dance’ Mix (below) will make your eyes water and you dance around like you have ants in your pants, mark my words! If that isn’t enough check out their upcoming sets around the UK in 2008 here to indulge your selfish side as much as you see fit.

Mememe’s Obese Teens Can’t Dance Mix

Drop The Lime - What about what I need
Faomo - Moving it over here
Lethal Bizzle - Selfridges Girls (Boy 8 Bit Remix)
Bart Bmore- So it goes
Congorock – Exodus
Radioclit - Divine Gosa (Brodinski Mix)
Crookers - Love to Edit
Alter Ego - and why not?
AC Slater - Bassline Time
Bloody Beetroots and Congorock - Bluto Fucks Popeye
Alter Ego - Why Not
L-Vis 1990 - Playing with Tom
Curses! - It’s the Way
3 is a Crowd - Minos Crunk (Ghetto 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!)

I was late in getting my thoughts about the Grammy nominations out there, but i’m finally getting around to it now, I kept it brief, just touched on a few categories that piqued my interest. We also thought it might be fun for all of us to place our own bets on a few of the nominees. We set up polls in our recently launched forum - Trash Talk, so tell us what you think, and come Feb 8th, we can see how hit or miss we are.

Best Dance Recording

* Do It Again
The Chemical Brothers
Tom Rowlands & Ed Simons, producers
Track from: We Are The Night
[Astralwerks]

* D.A.N.C.E.
Justice
Gaspard Auge & Xavier de Rosnay, producers; Gaspard Auge & Xavier de Rosnay,
mixers
Track from: †
[Downtown/Vice/Ed Banger]

* Love Today
Mika
Jodi Marr, John Merchant, Mika & Greg Wells, producers; Greg Wells, mixer
Track from: Life In Cartoon Motion
[Casablanca/Universal Republic Records]

* Don’t Stop The Music
Rihanna
StarGate, producer; Phil Tan, mixer
Track from: Good Girl Gone Bad
[Def Jam]

* LoveStoned/I Think She Knows
Justin Timberlake
Nate (Danja) Hills, Timbaland & Justin Timberlake, producers; Jimmy Douglass &
Timbaland, mixers
Track from: FutureSex/LoveSounds
[Jive/Zomba]

Awesome to see Justice on this list, but I think JT is gonna take it.

Cast your own vote - BEST DANCE RECORDING

Best Electronic/Dance Album

* We Are The Night
The Chemical Brothers
[Astralwerks]

* †
Justice
[Downtown/Vice/Ed Banger]

* Sound Of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
[Capitol Records/DFA]

* We Are Pilots
Shiny Toy Guns
[Universal Motown]

* Elements Of Life
Tiësto
[Ultra Records]

Again, great to see Justice on this list, but LCD is my bet and who i’m pulling for. They were nominated last year, and James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy (more…)

According to our UK sources, this week, Goya Music Distribution and Resist/React Music will be filing for liquidation. Along with Amato Distribution, this will make for third dance music distributor folding in the past three weeks.

Resist Music was the replacement company for React Music Limited, who, in 2004, was forced into voluntary administration, for owing, in excess of £1,000,000 in distributed income. React’s James Horrocks and Melissa Kemp set up Resist Music in its place, and acquired the staff, rights, and catalog of React.

React distributed hundreds of releases across multiple formats - vinyl, CD, DVD, ringtones, across multiple genres - house, electro, drum n bass, electro, trance, techno, hardcore, breaks, hip-hip, lounge, garage and more. They are are responsible for the “At The Controls” series mixed by DJ’s James Holden, M.A.N.D.Y., and Claude Von Stroke. They also distributed the popular Bugged Out! & Suck My Deck compilation series mixed by the likes of Erol Alkan, Miss Kittin, Felix Da Housecat, Jon Carter, Simian Mobile Disco, Damian Lazarus, Ivan Smagghe.

Goya Music was formed back in 1997 by Mike Slocombe and Spencer Weekes. They distribute mainly Broken Beat, Future Soul, and House music. The Goya catalog includes labels and releases from Dubsided, Eskimo Recordings, Oblong/Plank, Ubiquity,V2, BBE, and 300 plus other music outlets and artists.

RELATED LINKS
About React Music
List of Reacts releases on Discogs.com
About Goya Music
Full list of Goya Music’s Distributed labels