Ready For The Weekend

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool are going to be big in 2009. Or so I believe. 'Dance The Way I Feel' (which I think is their first single?) is a great song - pretty simple, but still powerful and catchy. 'Jackson's Last Stand' (I apologise for the quality of the sample by the way) is equally good, although it's garnered less attention. Both songs follow pretty much the same formula: deep, rumbling, distorted bass; well-pitched, epic choruses and stacatto synth melodies. But it's a good formula. Their stuff is easy to sing along to (if you're into that kind of thing), and easy to nod your head to.

But not to nod off to.

I'm pretty sure I've posted about WPAHP, buy Blogger obviously got their knickers in a twist about it. Nevertheless, I will persevere and try again. WPAHP don't seem to be on wikipedia, so obviously I know nothing about him(?) except what appears on his myspace. However, I do know that his(?) brand of trance/dance is exactly what I need whenever I get bored of listening to that new Calvin Harris track. He's(?) done all kinds of incredible remixes - most noticeably of Coldplay, Radiohead and Daft Punk, but his own stuff is just as emphatically good. The track I've linked isn't necessarily typical, it's a bit more laid-back... but it is still particularly euphoric (I'm a bit hung up on that word atm) and brilliant. All the tunes I have from WPAHP on my itunes are 4 or 5 stars, so I'm basically in love. Anyone who's interested should definitely check out the 'Wings of Love' mix on his myspace (see link below).

I've wanted to post a CFCF track for a while now, ever since I got their remix of 'D.A.N.C.E' which stood out for me as the most original (although not necessarily the best). CFCF are another group (or person) that I know nothing about, other than that I like their music. But for the purposes of this blog the music is all that matters. 'Crystal Mines', below, is kind of Crystal Castles, although only in the vaguest sense of the comparison. In fact, it's not anything like Crystal Castles really - other than the fact that 'Crystal' is in the title of both. Which is probably why I made the comparison. I digress. The track is pretty awesome: not in a banger sense, but in a robot-movie-sense (think Bladerunner). Worth a listen, as is most of their stuff.

Finally, I've left a little something for the ravers. Santiago & Bushido's new effort reminds me a little bit of Style of Eye, although a lot fiercer and more powerful, if less hypnotic. It's kind of dubsteppy-electro (I think I probably describe far too many songs like that) with a nice bass kick and a great bit of distorted-vocoder sounding action over the top.

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - Jackson's Last Stand Myspace
We Plants Are Happy Plants - Sailing In A Dream Boat Myspace
CFCF - Crystal Mines Buy
Santiago & Bushido - Second Nature (Original Mix) Buy

Euphoric

Madcon made a bit of an impact with their single 'Beggin' (which used that awesome Pilooski edit of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons), but I wrote them off fairly quickly, assuming they would be a bit of a one-hit wonder.

Whoops.

Although they might not be the best rappers in the world by any means, they definitely know good production when they hear it. The sexy electric guitar in '2000'n AA' is pretty much one of the best used samples I've heard in a long time. The drums are also great, really funky, and it's all mixed in with some horn stabs and a few electronic sounds. It sounds very smooth. And the lyrics aren't all bad, though they seem a bit aggressive for the track. (The way he sings 'we Madcon' sounds awesome as well). 'Liar' and 'The Sweetest Drug' are done in the same kind of style and are worth a listen as well. I think 'Liar' is quite possibly on a few BBC playlists... You can count that as a good thing or not depending on personal preference.

But it can't be all commercial hip-hop on this blog. In fact it hardly ever is. Because that would be no fun. So I turn to commercial dance instead - meaning the new Calvin Harris track in particular. I can't be the only person who spent the last week searching for a non-tagged version of the song, or one that wasn't horribly distorted by (non)virtue of being a radio-rip. Alas, I can't find one. To make do, I've listened to my less than ideal versions of the song about 50 times a day. I love the new direction he's gone in, moving from a 'disco' revival to some good, old-fashioned, mainstream house - possibly because he's trying to jump on the hype surrounding 'Pjanoo' and 'Infinity '08'. Not that I'm cynical. Regardless, 'I'm Not Alone' is a great song, it builds up nicely and it's about as euphoric as you could possibly want. Can't wait to hear it on a night out.

I won't put up the song, because it's on his myspace and all over the web anyway. I've put up an old remix of 'Dance Wiv Me' by Shazam instead, because it's pretty much amazing.

Sticking with the trance theme, I've linked an old Lifelike tune as well. I'm pretty sure he doesn't need any introduction or any hyping. Which is good, because I've already written far more than necessary.

Also, Damn Arms are quality. They've been getting a lot of attention recently, courtesy of their new EP. Their remix of 'Far Away' is one of my favourites, and I think I may have linked it before. Nevertheless, it's worth a second mention. The grainy electric piano in particular sounds fucking brilliant, and the treatment of the vocals is perfect.


Madcon - 2000'n AA Buy
Cut Copy - Far Away (Damn Arms Remix) Buy
Geyster - Under The Fuse Of Love (Lifelike Remix) Buy
Dizzee Rascal (feat. Calvin Harris and Chrome) - Dance Wiv Me (Shazam Remix) Buy

Sweet Selection

So, Blogger pulled my Chew Fu post. Gutted. Because it was amazing. However, I have more amazing things. Things that will no doubt get equally rough treatment. Ho hum.

Yuksek has been making waves all over Hype Machine with his new album 'Away From The Sea' (don't excuse the pun), and rightly so. It sounds seariously amazing. It's made a splash. It's definitely quite different from some of his stuff I heard some time last year, but is more up my street (clashing synthy stabs, repetitive vocals, powerful drums etc). Minus the short burst from Amanda Blank, 'Extraball' is probably my favourite of the moment. Very solid.

In other news (well, 'olds' really) David E. Sugar brings a bit of his funky, softer sound to the Klaxons, breathing a bit of fresh life into 'Golden Skans' - which I was a fan of anyway. Despite its uncool popularity. The mix sounds a bit like that song from the car advert with that robot. You know the one I mean.

Hopefully.

I love M83. A couple of their remixes from last year have been getting all kinds of attention on 2008 song lists and so on, and their album has snatched a few top ten lists as well. 'Don't Save Us From The Flames' is a classic - anthemic and powerful, with some nice, yearning vocals. I've had it on repeat pretty much all week because it makes me feel like a hero. (By the way, it's off Before The Dawn Heals Us, not Saturdays = Youth which is their latest album. Both are amazing.)

By rude request, I've also posted that 'Peach' remix. And to re-underline what I've already said: Sidechains are awesome.

Have a good week.

Yuksek - Extraball Album
Klaxons - Golden Skans (David E. Sugar Remix) Myspace
M83 - Don't Save Us From The Flames Buy
Louis La Roche - Peach (Sidechains Remix) Myspace

Sidechains are Awesome

Epic. As if the original wasn't good enough. Check out the Sidechains remix of Louis La Roche's Peach as well. Equally bangeriffic.

Heads We Dance - The Human Touch (Sidechains Remix) Buy Original

Cheers to blousesydney for the heads up.

Not Mundane

Considering the Black Ghosts had one of the biggest tunes of '08 with 'Anyway You Chose To Give It', I definitely haven't given them enough attention. Recently, I've been flicking through a few of their tracks and 'Some Way Through This' caught my attention - mainly because of the dubsteppy bassline, mixed cleverly with (slightly) Thom-Yorke-esque vocals, and some nice operatic strings. It's definitely one of those songs that you have to play loud to really appreciate. But I did play it loud. And I really appreciate it. Black Ghosts rule.

Moving on ... I was listening to Chris Lake's remix of 'Oh My God' the other day and I was struck my how disgustingly brilliant he is as a producer. I almost (well, actually did) wet myself when I found out that he and the ever-impressive and multi-talented Deadmau5 had teamed up on a couple of tracks. Below are the results. The 'Faxing Berlin' tune is pretty standard trance, something to listen to when you're too drunk for lyrics. But still a banger. 'I Thought Inside Out' - which is the actual co-production - is immense. The drop happens exactly on 2 minutes and it's fucking HUGE. You can feel the bass punching its way through your guts until it smacks you in the face. Another one that has to be played loud.

Moving on (again), Treasure Fingers blesses an already blessed Romanthony track with his own considerable talents. The mix uses the kind of funky clap rhythm that you usually only get at a retro breakdance contest, and brings the bass and bongos to match it. It's pretty chilled, but pretty cool at the same time.

Last of all, but definitely not least, is Style of Eye's 'The Prophet'. I've only recently become aware of the Eye, courtesy of Pelski, but I intend to make up for lost time. It's the kind of music that makes you feel like you must be on drugs, or having a bad panic attack - in the best kind of way possible. I would label it minimalist techno but I think that would put most people off... to be honest, I listened to the track first time and got really annoyed because nothing seemed to happen. It was definitely too minimal. Then I listened to it again and I have literally ended up with it on repeat. It's like magic. 'Girls' is just as good, and slightly less random. I highly reccomend checking both songs out. They'll grow on you, like some kind of glowing, fantastical musical cancer.

The Black Ghosts - Some Way Through This Buy
Deadmau5 - Faxing Berlin (Chris Lake Remix) Buy
Chris Lake and Deadmau5 - I Thought Inside Out Buy
Romanthony - Curious (Treasure Fingers Remix) Buy
Style of Eye - The Prophet (Original Mix) Buy

Chromeo Weekend

My brother recently reminded me what an awesome album 'Fancy Footwork' was and is. I recently gave it another listen and I've spent most of the past few days in some kind of Chromeo world. All I can say is:

"Chromeo, oooOoOoo"

'She's in Control' is also an amazing album (alliteration). And, Surkin is awesome. So hooray for Chromeo and Surkin. Enjoy.

Chromeo - You're So Gangsta Buy
Chromeo - Needy Girl Buy

Surkin - Chrome Knight (feat. Chromeo) Buy

Out With The Old

OK, so F***uck a top 10. My top 3 albums of 2008:

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

This album came out around January, and I refused to listen to it until December for reasons I have forgotten. Anyway, I eventually took notice of the hype (about 10 months after it died down) and spent the whole of Christmas listening to it.
And Christmas came early. Because it's probably the 2nd (see below) happiest album I've ever listened to. The combination of vibrant string progressions (that sound like they're from an old children's film) and playful pianos (that sound as if they would be more at home in the circus) with upbeat, exotic sounding drums is something quite special. Somehow all the elements are pulled together and gently hammered into a sound that isn't the slightest bit ridiculous. Apart from the lyrics which are sometimes... random to say the least

"the ground beneath their feet, is a nautically mapped sheet/ as thin as paper wallets, slips away from you"

"why would you lie/
'bout how much coal you have"

What? ?
I don't know what. But they are amazing, anyway. And definitely deserve a top 3 finish despite being absent for 90% of the year. My recommendations: 'Walcott', 'Campus' & 'Oxford Comma'

Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight

I hated FR the first time I heard 'Head Rolls Off', mostly because they are (at times) almost aggressively Scottish. But Scotland is producing a lot of good bands at the moment - see We Were Promised Jetpacks for another promising example - so I've had to get used to it. Frightened Rabbit are quite simply fucking amazing. Their song-writing ability is unbelievable - the lyrics throughout the album are some of this century's best.

"Are you a masochist?
You love a modern leper on his last leg,
And you're not ill, and I'm not dead,
So doesn't that make us, a perfect pair?"

Need I say more? Quite possibly, but their album pretty much does the talking, and has been in pretty much everyones' Top 10 and Top 20 lists across the indie/alternative blogosphere. Deservedly so. They mesh a particularly lamenting, Scottish sound with anthemic choruses and brash, gripping lyrics - all in all, producing one of the best album's of 2008. Without question.
I reccommend - 'Keep Yourself Warm', 'Modern Leper' & 'Fast Blood'.

Mystery Jets - Twenty One

OK, so I'm not going to suggest that the Mystery Jets are the most original band ever, or the most challenging lyrically, or the most excitingly alternative and new. Because, probably, none of those things are true. But their album literally makes me so happy its unreasonable. Almost every song has a chorus that is slightly catchier than the other, without any song being too disgustingly 'pop'. It's pretty much indie at its finest (for me, before anyone gets upset), and is unashamedly upbeat. Like a less gay, annoying Alphabeat. And Alphabeat are already pretty good. Also, lyrically the album isn't bad - 'Flakes' and 'Veiled in Grey' have some of my favourite phrases and lyrics ever, and capture a tone that is slightly darker and deeper than the rest of the album. Overall, its very nicely balanced, very intelligently done, and excellently produced by Erol Alkan. Well done that man. I could probably bang on about it all day but anyone who likes them already doesn't need to read it, and anyone who doesn't won't want to. Ho hum.

"If I'm wrong,
then dust me off and put me in my place
but drop a bombshell
you blow me away without even a trace"

It's the way he sings it. And he can sing. I've seen them live.

They were fucking AWESOME. Recommended - everything, with the possible exception of Umbrellahead, for being unnecessarily badly recorded and wasting some good lyrics.
Happy 2008

BTW, I like all these bands too much to go giving away their best stuff. But it's all on hype machine anyway. So happy hunting. ;-)


And the more exciting bit, my Best Remixes. Because I love remixes.
I'll let them do the talking:

SymbolOne - Love Juice (Danger Remix) Buy - Quite possibly my favourite remix in the history of music. Nothing else is this incredibly epic. Can't wait to get a copy of his Empire of the Sun remix.
IAMX - Spit it Out (Designer Drugs Remix) - Sounds like an electro Rocky theme. Incredibly.
Cut Copy - Lights and Music (Boyz Noise 'Happy Birthday' Remix) Buy - Much more chilled out than the last two. Still amazing. Makes me feel sad and want to dance at the same time.
Bag Raiders - Fun Punch (Calling In Sick Remix) Myspace - Bag Raiders can provide banging remixes, or bangers to remix. Calling in Sick provides the latter, god bless him. Her? Them?
The Tough Alliance - Neo Violence (SHAZAM Remix) Buy - Again, slightly more chilled, but has an incredible dance vibe to it. The vocals are managed perfectly, and the drums and piano push the song along at a pretty much perfect speed.

Obviously, I could bang out a list of about 200 remixes I love, but I won't bore you with it. None of them are particularly original choices.

Here's hoping that 2009 brings more of the same.

BONUS
Private - My Secret Lover Buy

Summer

In the (continued) absence of my end-of-year summary, I've gone for a few fill-in tracks that sound a bit summery. Because it is f*cking cold, and there's no denying that.

Deadmau5 is an old favourite of mine, and 'I Remember' is an absolute classic. The two minute trancey vocal breakdown in the middle of the song is like an injection of pure E. The overall sound is as simple and chilled as a G&T on a summer afternoon. Or, for the less gay man (and less feminine woman), a nice cool Corona. You've got to love how flexible he is as a producer.

I've spent about an hour looking for David Aussi tracks online. He captures the French House sound perfectly, and replaces Francois Dubois as my new house fetish. Air France is probably one of my favourite tracks of 2008. Skyscrapa is similarly euphoric.

As for the garage track - who doesn't love a bit of old-school dance garage in the summer? (The answer is 'nobody'.)

Deadmau5 feat. Kaskade - I Remember (Original Vocal Mix) Buy
About feat. Cameron - Let The Music Take Control Buy
David Aussi - Air France (Original Mix) Buy

Prequel

2008 has ended. 2009 has begun.

Which is pretty much as expected. But what else can be expected? The unexpected?

Probably not.

But in terms of music... well... I expect that Coconut Records and Air France will get a bit more notice from the media at large, and start to prosper even more greatly in the blogosphere. The Script will hopefully die. Or just quit, I'm not bothered either way. Frightened Rabbit's rise to fame will no doubt deservedly continue, as will The Hold Steady's, and My Morning Jacket's - perhaps slightly less deservedly considering how unbelievably (frighteningly) good the Rabbit are... but nevertheless...

I suppose I could use this post to sum up my favourite songs/albums/bands from '08 and make some predicitions on gems for '09 but I think I'll save that for a special day when I have nothing but a hangover to deal with. In the meanwhile, some musical news:

Kris Menace is now masquerading as 'Jaunt', but hes managing to be as consistently awesome as ever so fair play I guess. The Twelves have started releasing pretty average tunes by their standards (the recent couple of tracks they did with Cicada were a crushing disappointment, I won't bother posting them). Designer Drugs have continued to be amazing, although in a slightly different (more bassy) way, as have Fake Blood (see below). Bag Raiders are still great. Hooray.

...

Also, I think that rambling nonsense has filled up enough space to warrant me posting all these amazing songs. Hooray again.

Coconut Records - Nighttiming Buy
UNKLE - Restless (Fake Blood Remix) Buy
The Black Ghosts - Lets Get Physical Buy
Modjo - What I Mean (The Crayon/Aloud Remix) Awesome

How did I miss this one?
Bag Raiders - Nil By Mouth (Knightlife Remix)