When is there never time for more guitar-fuelled sex-synth? Chromeo’s first new single release since 2007, ‘Night by Night’ was released as a free download over the weekend and as always, it doesn’t fail to hit the spot. Grab our mirror below or check out the Green Label site.
The track’s ID3 is listed as Track 1 of 3 so here’s hoping an official release comes later (perhaps with a b-side? pretty please?)
For ages this was only available through Myspace. Now the guys have signed a deal with Dim Mak Records, I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more official releases where this came from.
Greetings loyal patrons, my name’s Duncan, and Mr. Kerrance has very kindly allowed me to post my random scrawlings on his lovely website.
From this day forth I’ll be regularly updating you on which bands and artists have been most recently rocking my world, as well as fondly remembering some golden oldies and unearthing hidden treasures you may have missed.
As far as my musical ‘background’ goes, I’m mainly a rock liker but my tastes span everything from trip-hop to shoegaze, indie to electro, hip-hop to blues. My favourite artists you ask? Well, that would be telling, you’ll just have to find out by reading my future posts!
To kick things off, I’d like to introduce one of my favourite discoveries of 2009; The Antlers. The band was originally a solo vehicle for Peter Silberman, a soulful type who cut himself off from family and friends and moved to New York, emerging after 2 years of social isolation with 2007’s ‘In the Attic of the Universe‘, a stunningly beautiful and inventive (albeit brief) record which attracted critical delight and comparisons to Neutral Milk Hotel.
Now a 3 piece, they released the new LP ‘Hospice‘ in March and were met with hysterical praise which I’m not about to contradict; ‘Hospice’ is simply mesmerising. A concept album from the point of view of a man whose lover is terminally ill, it contains some of the most beautiful arrangements and heart-breaking lyrics ever recorded; even the cover art chokes me up.
In particular, the song ‘Two’ has fast become one of my favourite songs of all time. It brought me to the brink of tears on practically the first listen, and then again when I actually listened to the lyrics.
Who bought all the boys to the yard? Kelis has four albums to her name, with another on the cards as well as plans for her own fashion line, eesh.
This is yet another of Alan Braxe and Fred Falke’s remixes that I’ve fallen head over heels for. Falke always adds so much with his funky bass guitar lines, everything they work on just seems so accessible.
It seems that ‘Bossy’ was quite a big release in terms of remixes, with Crookers, SebastiAn and Switchalso on board for a classy electro remix package.
What do you get when you combine two cheeky Northerners with a crazily catchy pop-vocal? I think you’re about to find out.
Mini Viva could quite possibly blow-up into mainstream success later this year, they’ve got all the requirements down perfectly. Strong style, a major label on their side (Geffen), a crystal clear electro-pop loving audience and (most importantly) a brilliant debut single.
‘Left My Heart In Tokyo’ is a fantastic pop song, it’s got that highly important funky bassline, driving synths and killer vocal talent. It’s good clean fun.
Sadly though, it could quite easily become another part of the heavily-oiled mainstream music machine, doomed to be another segment of ‘Ministry of Sound’ manufactured dance drivel. So far however, the act seem to show promise. With remixes from Treasure Fingers, Fred Falke and Acid Girls already on the lineup, you’d hope that someone must know a thing or two about marketing, and recognise that there are real people out there who actually like to follow music beyond simply radio and sync jobs.
Surely the majors know by now how cliché it is to see so many pop-acts fade away into obscurity because they just targeted the musically-dulled mainstream? The kind of place where music is disposable and the ‘next-best-thing’ will be dictated to you by Burger King’s in-store video channel. It doesn’t have to be like that.
Rant or not, best of luck to Mini Viva in achieving what they want, be it mainstream success or something more. It fills me with sadness that Major labels will almost always drive a good act into the dirt for a quick buck, never letting true potential shine through. I’ve already pre-ordered the single on iTunes, so let’s see what happens eh?
Brighton night ‘Somewhere in the Universe’ is changing. They’ve become known for putting on some of the biggest parties in town with an alternative take on dance music which puts West Street to shame. Earlier on this year they played host to one of the first ever live gigs for both Little Boots and La Roux (Click here to check our coverage on that). They’ve also recently put on cutting edge acts like Boy Crisis and just-signed-to-Vice-recordsKatie Stelmanis (Yes, THAT Vice)
In their third year of activity it seems like they are taking a step-back from the banger-heavy house styling of yesterday and settling on a new, more mature sound. It’s a step that can only be good when they put out a most magnificent mixtape featuring blog favourite acts such as Boy Crisis, Casio Kids, Vega, Yelle, Fan Death, Yacht and Passion Pit, as well as big hitters Justice, Hot Chip and Little Boots.
Swedish band Teddybears have to be one of my favourite things right now. Originally founded in 1991 by singer Patrik Arve and brothers Joakim and Klas Åhlund, the band started out as a black metal/grindcore group. 18 years – and a severe mellowing – later, their sound is electro-pop, and they write rather more pleasant songs about getting their mother a house.
Here are three facts to know about the band.
Their 2006 album ‘Soft Machine’ featured Iggy Pop and Neneh Cherry’s vocals amongst others.
Their song ‘Cobrastyle’ was covered by Robyn and achieved chart success. In fact, Klas Åhlund also produced Robyn’s 2005 album ‘Robyn’.
Joakim Åhlund is the lead guitarist and songwriter for the band Caesars, who are best known for the indie floorfiller “Jerk It Out.”
Now in 2009, and after a 3 year pause, Teddybears are back with the catchy ‘Get Mama A House’. They’ve wisely decided again to change with the times, and so the track is available as a free download from their website. We have also provided it here.
Shall we call this ‘Classics Friday’ ? I think so.
Take this one from Feist and Chromeo, I remember hearing this on Myspace before Feist had hit it big with ‘1234′ and before ‘Fancy Footwork‘ had arrived. I hope they both come back with new material soon.
I love the disco twinge which Chromeo do so well. It’s been so inspirational to many acts today, perhaps not as much as the first time around! But still pretty big.
Feist’s debut album ‘The Reminder’, is out now. Chromeo’s fantastic sophomore release ‘Fancy Footwork’ is again, out now. Both come in lovely deluxe editions packed with a second CD filled with remixes.
Featuring the vocal talents of Yann Destal (previously of Modjo fame) and ‘Raw Man’ (I sure hope he’s got the ability to back up that claim), Priors is a new project straight out of France with a unique vision in mind.
As the name states, Priors is all about taking an innocent look back at naivety and with their classic ‘French Touch’-like sound, it really is quite reminiscent of Summers gone by. As Raw Man says, “to live with a child’s outlook on life – where nothing is impossible, you don’t know if you can fly or not – that’s Priors.”
It’s got a brilliant introduction with one of those long, slow build-ups. I’m still loving the ooh’ing placed nicely throughout the song. I also love the building synth towards the end – brilliant!
Summer’s here and apart from that frustratingly placed humidity-storm yesterday, it’s all about the music. Jump on it kids.
There’s still no release date on this one, but we’ve been promised remixes by Van She Tech, Michael Gray and one or two others. It’s going to be put out by Eye Industries, hopefully some time before the end of Summer!
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Who bought all the boys to the yard? 
This, this is Priors.
