34. KID MACHINE EXCLUSIVE MINI MIX AND INTERVIEW

over the last few weeks, i've been speaking with kid machine about his current work, where he's headed and where he comes from. not only was i able to listen to his solid "Velours 77" EP, but he made an exclusive mini mix for me to share (at the bottom of this post). the mini mix takes you through a nice variation of tracks - house, electronica, funk. basically everything you're looking to do with the next half an hour of your time. kid machine also threw one of his remixes in there. be on the lookout for this guy!

the EP is an adventure through space and time. you can buy it online here for $4 (US). that's a big deal and totally worth it. i've included one of the tracks from his EP at the bottom of the post, check it out and then please support the artist!

here's our q & a-
slam: How long have you been making music and what got you started?

KM: I got my DJ break as a naive 19 year old on XMAS eve '99 (with a recovering broken leg, fuck it hurts carrying records boxes around like this) in Melbourne Australia. I played French filtered stuff and a bit of Trance. IT WAS '99! haha
I returned home to UK inspired by DJing I bought a PC and began to buy 100's of records from charity shops to sample the fuck out of. I became obsessive, and had my first vinyl EP out in 2001 on my own label Deluded Recordings. It was housey disco Filter stuff. You can still buy it online 'Maruko-NYC People' EP. Check it ;)
I was always in to Daft Punk, so they inspired me to produce. I left it for a while and became Kid Machine in 2007. Someone said I sounded like Kraftwerk, so the name Kid Machine derives from the track 'The Man Machine'.

slam: I ask all artists that I interview this question, and it's clearly a tough one- but I like hearing what they think: How would you describe your sound?

KM: Hmmmm. Well, Definitely Electronic. Definitely Nostalgic. Definitely Analog sounding. Definitely inspired... everything from Kraftwerk to Disco to Daft Punk to new wave to Italo to French Touch to House to Soundtrack scores . Definitely Dreamy. Definitely Spacey. Definitely Warm. Definitely Cool. Definitely ominous in places. Definitely always moving. Definitely Original. I hope.

slam: One of the reasons I'm into Velours 77 is because the three original tracks on the EP mix very nicely together - almost telling a story. When you listen to them in order, they take you for a ride. Was this intentional on your part and you can speak a little bit about the development of the EP?

KM: You're the only person who has 'got' this concept and mentioned it to me. I'm Impressed. It's a journey of influences and it just so happens it all happens in space. The track names give it a 'story' feeling, e.g 'Enter Exosphere' is like the start of the journey, 'Keepers of the Temple of the Sun' is maybe about having a laser sword fight battle with aliens as you travel unknown galaxy's, 'Velours 77' is a disco 77,000,000 miles away in deep space and is also the name of Kid Machine's Space craft.
The EP took about 6 months to develop. It was mainly written in the middle of cold,dark, clear starry nights over xmas / new year 2008. I was pretty obsessed with 'what was out there' at the time and I was given a book by my friend and label manager Mike TV from a Manchester band called Beats for Beginners. It was a 60's ex-library book explaining all about space, it had amazing words I could use for Title Tracks and illustrations and diagrams that inspired the music I was making. It only felt natural to steal and bastardise the imagery for the EP cover. I wrote about 9 or 10 tracks at the time, and decided to hold them back for an LP, so hopefully the EP is glimpse of light of what's to follow on the full album.

slam: I can hear a lot of similarities on your work to a lot of the stuff on Valerie (the Blog and the label). That smooth, french, 80s, electro, I'm in outerspace and it's great type of thing. I'm obviously a big fan of that stuff. Do you have any connections with them/ are you considering it?

KM: Wow, that's an amazing compliment. But, I discovered Valerie and it's artistes quite late on. My immediate reaction was, fuck, they sound like I do, but maybe better(?) I wish I lived in the same neighbourhood as these guys as kids. We'd have probably played around with DX7's, BMX's and Star Wars Figures. They are inspirational, but I can see where they have been influenced...most of the same places as I have. If they were to become interested in me becoming a 'friend of Valerie' then I would get my ass out to Nantes or wherever for a few beers and a studio session with them. The closest connection I have with Valerie is through Justin Faust, he remixed Velours '77, I THINK he has some connection with them anyway. I don't want people to think I emulate these guys, or even aspire to be like them. I just want to do my thing, and add a bit of Kid Machine to a typically claimed French sound.

slam: Your tracks seem like they would work well with some lyrics or vocal samples. Is that something you are considering for some of your future stuff?

KM: People seem to be split 50-50 on this with me. I personally used to think that my music was instrumental, but for the album and DEFINITELY the next EP, I'll have more vocal content. Vocals and song writing will come from Mike TV on next EP 'Pocket Universe', but I'd love to collab with someone like Doves, Interpol or more likely, a lesser known indie vocalist, I think that's where my sound will go next, more dark, indie influenced songs with my usual nostalgique synthy trimmings.

slam: You work with other artists to collaborate on other projects. Who are some of the artists you work with and what's different about the work you create when you work together?

KM: I have a collab track ready to go with Beats for Beginners. It's a clear split down the middle in terms of sounds. He has that kinda New Order thing going on, adding real bass, guitars and analogue synths, with some charity shop Yamaha toy keyboards plugged in to fx machines. Nothing has been released yet with any of the people I have collaborated with. Marc Remillard (an upcoming Canadian producer) and I have similar styles, but the track we did together takes a different spin when it comes to the final mix,he makes it more side-chained, pumping and French. Well French-Canadian.

slam: What's next for you? Any plans for an LP?

KM: I will get my head down and get busy with the next EP, so recording vocals to tracks that are already finished instrumentals. I aim to get an album out this year. I just listened to the tracks I worked on during 2009 that were meant for the LP, and decided not to put 'em out. So back to the drawing board.
I'm also waiting for the parts to a song called 'You Do Something' by label mates The 1,2,3,4's. I'll be having a go at a remix for that, but I guess it's all down to if they like it!
I'm just going to keep working, and If I'm successful, then cool, but if not, that's cool too. I never set out to become some kinda big name. I just enjoy making music that has all the influences from my first 30 years on planet earth.
This is only the VERY start of my music career and have been fortunate to meet a couple of great people in the music industry and great, fresh, talented people online with the likes of Myspace.

Kid Machine - Keepers Of The Temple Of The Sun

Kid Machine - Kid Machine Mini Mix Dec 2009
(bloggers feel free to repost, just let me know!)

34. KID MACHINE EXCLUSIVE MINI MIX AND INTERVIEW

33. INTERVIEW WITH BRANDT BRAUER FRICK

late last week, i was over at my favorite music video blog, and found this excellent video for brandt brauer frick (check it out below, or click here to take you straight to youtube), a german group that produces music with elements of house and contemporary classical music- haven't heard anything like this before, really original stuff.

Paul Frick and i had a little q&a-

slam: What got you guys started and how long have the three of you been working together?

PF: Jan Brauer and Daniel Brandt have been making music together since school times. I heard a track of their project "Scott" on myspace and loved it. So I contacted them (well, not entirely sure who contacted whom...), and as Daniel and Jan happened to come to Berlin shortly after that, we arranged a meeting to exchange some records. In the meantime they had noticed that I also compose music for classical instruments, and they proposed to start a project together that combines techniques and aesthetics of techno and contemporary classical music. Our first studio session was in late 2008.

slam: What's happening in the near future - any LP in the works?

PF: Our debut album is almost finished and will appear in march on Tartelet Records. Before that several EPs are coming as well:
"Wallah / Button" on The Gym
acoustic rework for Bozeman on Doppelschall Records
"Bop / Paino Shakur" incl. Losoul RMX on Tartelet Records
acoustic rework for Emika on Ninja Tune
And apart from that: touring, setting up our BBF ensemble with about 12 musicians, working on a performative installation for San Francisco based Gallery GAFFTA amongst others... it has to do with several musicians in separate rooms, and it requires the manipulation of the visitor/listener.

slam: It's great to hear some work by electronic musicians that is self-sampled. You don't often hear musicians of this genre sample only themselves. There are groups who play a lot of instruments, but sample (like The Twelves), and then there are groups that are electronic influenced, but don't sample at all, or rarely (like Whitest Boy Alive or Studio). Your work is different and feels like a unique approach. What brought you there? AND there's a lot of real instrumentation, but with very strong house roots. What brought the sounds together?

PF: Being 3 people with instrumental skills in a nicely equipped studio, it feels rather natural for us to record everything ourselves. We are of course not the first ones to do this... But we hope that our colliding aesthetic visions help in creating something authentic. As a lot our pieces use prepared piano, I should mention that our detuned old piano has also become quite typical for us: playing normally sounds really bad, so we focus a lot on interesting sounds... In a similar way, various instruments that we use determine our sound. And about the house roots: in our separated projects we are all much more housy. On our album we have set the house influence a bit aside, but on our new EP on "The Gym" the house side shows a lot (like already on our EP "Iron Man"). Those tracks will not be on the album, as their style does not really fit to it.

slam: Where do you take some of your inspiration and what are some artists you listen to?

PF: Concrete musical inspiration comes for example from Gustav Mahler, Morton Feldman, Kevin Saunderson, Mr. Bungle, Matthew Herbert, György Ligeti, Helmut Lachenmann, Meshuggah, Steve Reich, Thelonious Monk, 4hero, A Tribe Called Quest, Akufen, Theo Parrish...
The forthcoming debut EP of the Dutch producer "Bozeman" has lately inspired me a lot.

slam: Any plans to tour in the US?

PF: Not yet, but hopefully soon.



slam: The Bop video is a beautiful complement to the many layers in the track. Did you guys come up with the idea? How was the shoot?

PF: The concept and realization of the "Bop" video was made by Daniel Brandt who is a professional director, besides being a musician. One aspect of the video was also to visualize how we want to perform in the future, with a larger ensemble. The shoot was really stunning for me, having had very few film experience before. it took two 16-hours working days, with about 30 people working on it: amazing! Daniel directed it together with Julian Schleef, who also makes incredible work.

Wallah:


Button:


currently only available on vinyl. upcoming LP will be in digital and CD. look out for it!!!
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if you are subscribing via RSS: click here to check out the tracks and video.

33. INTERVIEW WITH BRANDT BRAUER FRICK

32. THE YOUNG PUNX R BACK

welcome back.

after what feels like a long time since they've been in the studio, the young punx are back with a wonderful two track EP that features two singles "simple pleasures" and "like dat." both tracks are to be on their upcoming LP, "mashpop & punkstep." as i've said before, the young punx are extremely versatile, check out their new LP's name. even their press release calls them "un-genrefiable." these tracks are no different - but they're extremely different from each other - sounding like they're from two different bangin' artists. really though, unbelievable stuff - esp. the count bass d track

enough from me

The Young Punx - Like Dat (feat Count Bass D)
my favorite of the two tracks: lo-fi hip hop at its best. unlike any other track i've heard in recent memory. the signature young punx THRASHING guitar sounds great. check it.

The Young Punx - Simple Pleasures
electro-punk + acid house + dubstep = mash-pop & punkstep? check 1:15. crazy!

myspace
follow them on facebook

32. THE YOUNG PUNX R BACK

31. ITWONTSTOPAH - Mike Huckaby

So this is the first of many ITWONTSTOPAH 'mix of the week' posts. And we're starting out big, with the Bunker Podcast Mix from one of Detroit's finest, Mike Huckaby.

While this isn't exactly a new mix, Mike Huckaby isn't really that well known and this mix is so spectacular the term 'timeless' is absolutely accurate. If you like Chicago house but would like a little more Kraftwerk and a little less Donna Summer this mix of Detroit Techno classics is for you. Huckaby's track selection is spot on, he just doesn't stop(ah).

Here's what the folks over at the Bunker Podcast had to say about it.

This set was recorded live at House-n-Home in Brooklyn on February 20, 2009. Detroit's Mike Huckaby is the man behind the Deep Transportation and S Y N T H labels, and became one of our favorite DJs with this set. You can read more about him here. Mike Huckaby for President!

Grab it here.

Also you can sign up for future Bunker Podcasts here.

31. ITWONTSTOPAH - Mike Huckaby

30. EXCLUSIVE WITH ODAHL

i came upon odahl totally by accident about a month ago while I was looking for some luther vandross tracks. since my first listen of his vandross sampled track, odahl has done some detail work and that bass line will still blow you away (download below - never 2 much). i couldn't believe how little this guy has been blogged about. he's done remixes of some of my favorite artists: cut copy, tesla boy, empire of the sun, and jay jay johnson. i've listened to all of them - many times. GOD DAMN; HOT. check out some of his tracks on his myspace page (linked above). you won't be disappointed - his remix of tesla boy's "electric lady" is reallll good.

i'm serious about this. this is some of the best french house inspired music i've heard in a long time: on par with fred falke.

ODahl - Never 2 Much
damn, odahl, where can I get this on vinyl?
BUY THE 320 ON BEATPORT AND SUPPORT ODAHL.

Cut Copy - Far Away (ODahl Remix)
remixes of cut copy keep on coming and they're still good!

ODahl - Happy Thoughts
check out that build!

i was lucky enough to speak a little bit with odahl about his work - some of which is on mullet records (sick label). here's a little excerpt:

slam: how long have you been producing music and what got you started?

OD: i started of making hiphop music in my young days, i was about 14 years old and my mom bought a pc where 'cakewalk express demo' came along. thats basically where it all started. i guess i was around 20 when i started to make electronic music, far from anything serious though. as 'ODahl' i'v been producing for 2 years.

slam: could you describe your specific sound?

OD: i think its hard to put a label on your own music, im not saying im THAT unique, you just unavoidably grow to close to it. i guess im always looking for that melody that makes you shiver. my goal would be making music which is equally good for your headphones as for the dancefloor.

slam: do you do any live DJing and/or have you made any mixes?

OD: at the moment no, but its under development...

slam: is there a possibility of an EP or LP in the future? Any potential release dates?

OD: 'nightwaves - fascination (ODahl remix)' 13 october. there is no "ODahl EP" on the way though, not right now anyway...

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keep your eyes peeled for new tracks.

30. EXCLUSIVE WITH ODAHL

29. NEW HFE (FORM)

nice video, right? good use of effects and works well with the music. makes me excited for the use of multimedia in shows that i spoke to noel (guitar and vocals) about in my last post about them.

WABAM. hooray for earth is finally getting some new tracks out there. according to jonny leather, "form" will not be on their upcoming lp, but that's ok because it's a great track anyway. like much of hfe's music - it's heavy hitting, melodic and makes you want to do something with your life.

Hooray For Earth - Form (Exclusive via Jonny Leather)

by the way, hooray for earth will be playing at 930pm in BROOKLYN this friday at Southpaw (9/25). i'll be there. will you?

29. NEW HFE (FORM)

28. KLÄDER AND VAPEN (KOV)

it's been a while since i've posted. i moved to Brooklyn a few weeks ago and i've been spending most of my time job hunting. sorry. wow, it's hard to find $$$.

THESE are a great selection of tracks to return with. another duo from sweden, KOV, discovered by backyard records' imprint label pin-up, is getting out there with their release of today's "what have i done" single. their sound is very original, electro with lots of layering and sexy vocals and lyrics - but get this - they use some industrial ed banger style low-end too (but KOV unique). the combo here is intriguing and as a result i'll be following this group like a hawk. when surrounded by strangers in an unknown land, put these tracks on and suddenly it's like you're at a party with your closest friends. give them some love at myspace (linked above) and buy their 320 tracks from beatport! these tracks are my JAMs right now:

KOV - What Have I Done (Extended Mix)
definitely my favorite of the four tracks. all the rest are great, but this one is unbelievable.

KOV - What Have I Done (David E. Sugar Remix's Zums Reinvention)

KOV - Electri-fi

KOV - My Heart Still Beats For You

28. KLÄDER AND VAPEN (KOV)

27. THE YOUNG PUNX

young punx music video for "mashitup" - welcome to the club where some of the people have animal heads! they have some other sweet videos too. check it out!

the young punx is a electronic music collective from the uk that's really all up in that scene right now - with a collective of musicians, there's obviously a huge range of style - french house, drum & bass, electro, nudisco etc etc. they released their debut album back in summer 07 called "your music is killing me" (buy it on itunes)! their myspace says they have plans to release a follow up sometime in 09. look out for it!

The Young Punx - Never Die
"fashions go, but disco will never die." song is very different from music in the video above - this is more like french house & nudisco with a little electro in the mix.

27. THE YOUNG PUNX

26. PATRICK ALAVI PRES. BASSTARD SLAYERZ

i've been really heavy into french house a little EXTRA these last few days. patrick alavi plays some french house, so naturally, i've checked out some of his tracks. alavi has worked with many of the best djs, producers and house musicians in the world - some being the french label vertigo/ vox (unbelievable, led by daft punk?) kris menace's label work it baby, and pedro winter (busy p). i couldn't find any other tracks or any info on basstard slayerz - it looks likes this was a one time collaboration. i got this track and much of this info from ilictronix. so big thanks to them!

this house track is all about the up tempo bass-line:
Patrick Alavi Pres. Basstard Slayerz - Goldbass

check out this post about alavi from one of the best sources of house, solid goldberger!

26. PATRICK ALAVI PRES. BASSTARD SLAYERZ

25. WEREWOLF MASK

from texas, werewolf mask plays, self-described and appropriately titled "nintendo dance pop." werewolf mask, versatile in his creations under the full moon, rises to use dark synth, atmospheric samples and night beats with that cartridge sound that, in combination, belong on the soundtrack to your life. he also throws down some dreamy 8-bit that makes you want to dance and flick a light switch over and over because you want to dance with something and, hey, that switch moves back and forth and so do you! werewolf says his "intent is to turn a space from static to frantic, to fill the air with humidity of densely clustered people breathing and sweating." so, stop dancing by yourself, invite some people over and turn up, ladies and gentlemen, the ghost dancer ep:

Werewolf Mask - Firecrackers

Werewolf Mask - Rocking in Circles

Werewolf Mask - First Rain In Forever

Werewolf Mask - Bad Hair Day

head over to werewolf's myspace (linked above) and give him some woo!

25. WEREWOLF MASK

24. PHONAT

i first heard phonat when he worked with super mal on the track pixelated, a smooth AND party ready house track that'll knock your socks right off, but keep your dancing shoes on. he has been busting out some serious tracks for a while now - remixes for the young punx and trafik and some hot original tracks too (check out "ghetto burnin" and "learn to recycle"). phonat is a sexy blend between classic french house and that harder industrial electro that's got everyone flipping out. his recent ep "set me free" is a delicious appetizer for his upcoming self titled lp, due out 9/28. the ep doesn't screw around by offering remixes from louis la roche (another UK favorite!!), avicii, and high rankin. phonat's original is by the far the winner on the ep, but the remixes are solid. check it:

tracks below are 192kbps, buy the 320's and check out the other remixes on beatport!

Phonat - Set Me Free Extended Mix
be careful of those drops!

Phonat - Set Me Free (Louis La Roche Remix)
just as house as you'd expect from la roche but with some nice grinds!

24. PHONAT

23. TOTS AND HOOTCH

tots & hootch is a duo from virginia (seth glennie-smith and ted day). they set out to create beats that will make you feel like you're "delivering a package" in a movie about zombies with neon track jackets on. raspy schizo melodies with hard-to-ignore bass and drum lines.

ep's estimated release is around xmas 2009. i'll keep you posted.

Tots & Hootch - Smack Train Pt. 1 (YOUCANTSTOPAH exclusive)
while partying down, turn the low end all the way up.

23. TOTS AND HOOTCH

22. CUT COPY

one of the seven wonders of the world, cut copy's tracks from before bright like neon love, just got posted on nonacíenmanchester. tracks are from one of their first ep releases "i thought of numbers" (2001). this was when cut copy sounded way way different but still way sick. i had two of these tracks already: "rendevous" and "drop the bomb" because they were once, long ago, on cut copy's myspace and i audio hijacked them, but "standing up sitting down" is new to me. check it.

Cut Copy - Rendezvous (via NNM)
an old favorite! very similar to their track "stars." i might put that up for everybody at a later date, because it's really rad. lots of high snare that sounds like clapping, you know the drill.

Cut Copy - Standing Up Sitting Down (via NNM)
i think this samples da funk, it's real dope though

also: i am desperately looking for their first track "1981" (not to be confused with twilight) and have been looking for it forever. i strongly recommend checking out the music video. there are a couple of mp3 versions out there, but the audio quality is pretty bad. if anyone know the whereabouts of a good version please hit me up!

also big thanks to NNM! great post!

22. CUT COPY

20. AEROPLANE JULY/ AUGUST

here are aeroplane's mix charts for july & august 2009. as always great stuff from aeroplane (♥). these mixes will definitely keep you entertained for at least a few hours.

Aeroplane Mix Chart July 2009 (via Space Dust)
the two fred falke tracks in here are really tight - get that shit off of hypem!
incorrectly tagged as the august mix - make the change!
01.Siriusmo - High Together
02.Lindström - The Magnificient
03.Zepp001 - Don't Sleep
04.Chamboché - Feverish ( The Revenge Remix )
05.Faze Action - I Wanna Dancer ( Disco, Rock, Dub Mix )
06.Killa Kela - Everyday ( Lalory remix )
07.Freeland - Borderline ( Grum Remix )
08.Fred Falke - Chicago (Extended Mix )
09.Makossa Megablast - Juno
10.Rythm Droid - Sunrise on Planet Tokyo
11.Reggie Dokes - Chicago Pimp
12.Headman - Dirt ( The C90's Remix )
13.Mika - We Are Golden ( Don Diablo Dub Remix )

Aeroplane Mix Chart August 2009 (download at bottom, streaming via Aeroplane's Myspace & SoundCloud*)

01.Canyons - Dancing On Silk
02.Metronomy - Do The Right Thing (Wild Cheese Remix)
03.The Units - High Pressure Days (Rory Phillips Remix)
04.LCD Soundsystem - 45:33 (Prins Thomas Remix)
05.Wax Stag - And How (Bottin's Discoursive Diversion)
06.John Rocca - I Want It To Be Real (Farley's Hot House Piano Mix)
07.Atsushi Yano - Organ Grinder
08.Still Going - Spaghetti Circus
09.Riton & Primary One - Who's There (In Flagranti Remix)
10.Erol Alkan & Boys Noize - Waves

*SoundCloud is a great way to share and discuss music, but it looks like artists are beginning to use it for streaming purposes only, which is absolutely fine if the track is available for $$$ (or free) elsewhere, but drives me cray-cray when the track (or mix) is no where to be found.

if anyone finds the aeroplane august mix for download and/or tesla boy's remix of "nightdrive with you" please let me know. they are in high demand over here. big time.

UPDATE 8/24: Just found the Aeroplane Mix Chart August 2009 via Gosh Damn DJS! Thank you GDD!

20. AEROPLANE JULY/ AUGUST

19. THE SIMILOU & PLEJ

sure this is old news, but i just finally got some new tracks. the similou are some other swedes that i absolutely adore. unbelievable synth work from their first album "so hot right now" - an album that i've been listening to over and over again since its US release. and it is SOOO hot. their myspace hasn't been updated for way too long and there isn't any news of future releases - but i was just informed (thanks to DDVNOW!) that the similou is actually a side project of plej's erik niklasson. plej is often like really effin' hip lounge music. they use organs, muted horns, smooth beats, and are some times reminiscent of some smoother etienne de crecy tracks. not just lounger & chill-out, they seem super versatile. "freaks" sounds like indie - mallets and everything! in other tracks, you can hear that similou hotness like this rick james cover (give it to me baby).

The Similou - Weather Girl (via formerly Ohh! Crapp, now nightmagnets)

Plej - Freaks (via Obscure Sound)

buy the similou's so hot right now (HIGH REC!!!)
buy plej's home is where your heart was (HIGH REC!!!)

19. THE SIMILOU & PLEJ

18. FIBES, OH FIBES

look at these guys. fine young cannibals + scissor sisters + swedes = fibes, oh fibes! i don't really speak swedish, but it looks like their third album "1987" will be coming out on september 2nd somewhere in the world. pre-order.

i'm going to oregon early tomorrow morning so there will be minimum posts here for a week or so. throw me some recommendations.

Fibes, Oh Fibes - Love Child (via Metaphor)
check out the music video (quicktime, right click to download)

18. FIBES, OH FIBES

17. TESLA BOY

some of my favorite russians, tesla boy, released a mix for a valerie (♥) a few weeks ago that's really excellent. it's got some remixes and original tracks in there you can't find anywhere else. great spread of tracks, wham! anoraak, casio social club and some tesla tracks, of course. big time bangin and big time SMOOTH. PS above is my janky crop and edit of their graphic design for this blog. check out their myspace because the GD is sickkkkk.

Tesla Boy - Tesla Boy Mixtape #1 (mixed by Dj Antonionni) (via Valerie)

Tracklist
Casco Pres Bwh - Stop (Original Mix)
Omni - Body Groove (Club Mix)
Lindstrom - Another Station (Todd Terje remix)
Tesla Boy - Spirit Of The Night (Bestrack remix)
The Diogenes Club - Sdi
Anoraak - Nightdrive With You (Tesla Boy remix) (HIGH REC)
Wham! - Everything She Wants
Manicure - Atomic Summer (Tesla Boy Dub)
Casio Social Club vs Diogenes Club - She Takes My Breath Away (HIGH REC) ITUNES LINK
Fred Ventura - When I Let You Down Vinyl

BONUS
Jake Island - What If You Wanted More ft. Joanna Christie (grum remix) (via FRΞNCH ΞXPRΞSS)
grum's work is always top notch. check it out and follow it on hypem.

17. TESLA BOY

16. ZAMBRI & MIÁDIS

i don't know anything about zambri other than that they're from new york, are a quintet and are led by two lovely ladies. nick seeley's (aka miádis/ popnick) remix of the single "easier" is like if sexy 90s r&b hung out with out hud (rip!), but had a thing on the side going with revolte. hot shit. check out the music video of the original track.

Zambri - Easier (Miádis Remix)
original is off of the ep bang for changes (love the title). buy it when it comes out!

expect to see more from both zambri AND miádis!

16. ZAMBRI & MIÁDIS

15. HOORAY FOR EARTH EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

i was lucky enough to interview noel heroux, vox and guitarist for hooray for earth, and talk about the past, present and future of the band.

slam: After the release of the Cellphone EP and the re-release of your self-titled, what's next? What kind of direction are you going in?

nh: ok. well, we released that first LP (which is actually from 2005/6) so it would officially just be done and out there - and Cellphone was a collection of random songs that happened shortly after that period. Until this year it had been a long time since I'd truly concentrated on Hooray For Earth music - the record we're putting together now is intentive, instead of a mishmash of ideas puzzle-pieced into a recording. Our good friend Josh Ascalon is co-producing and we're recording almost everything in his studio in Brooklyn. With Connecticut between us it's difficult, but (bassist) Chris and (guitarist) Gary venture down from Boston to throw down tracks, and (drummer) Joe and I grab the bus up there every couple of weeks to get together and play.

I guess the musical direction is just the typical "next step" situation. We haven't recorded anything for almost a couple years, and my outlook has changed dramatically - so I guess the sound will reflect that. I sort of "bubbled" myself for the first three years of the band's existence (during our first record and EP). And all along the band has been extremely supportive in letting me go ahead with a new musical direction.

slam: I always have a hard time explaining HFE's sound; what to compare it to and what kind of genre it fits into. I frequently find myself describing it as: "electronica, anthem, rock" and "effin awesome." I don't know any other artist's that I can use all those terms to describe them. How would you describe the unique sound and where do you find your influences?

nh: Hard to say, I think anyone who cares about their own work will have a hard time not sounding massively pretentious when asked to describe it. Influences are also tough - I could never honestly say "we sound like ___" because it would be wrong. Some of my randomly favorite music is Broadcast, Tricky, The Divine Comedy, Arab Strap, Aphex Twin...make what you will of it. Also once in a while someone says "oohh you must love Nirvana", and I'm like "fuck off of course I do". Then I spend more time casually listening to classical music than anything else. What comes out as Hooray For Earth is beyond me.

slam: I saw that there's a remix of Videostore. What are your thoughts on the remix and reworking culture? Do you have any future plans to do some of that work yourself? I'd love to hear a studio version of your JT cover.

nh: I'm very much into particular electronic/dance music. I've worked closely with DJ Die Young, Baltimoroder and several other DJ's/electronic artists around nyc and Boston, and it's definitely something that will continue. I do lots of various production work myself, but most has been focused around making this album so I haven't had too much free time. I did contribute a fair amount to Zambri's not-yet-released EP Bang For Changes (myspace)- actually Die Young and Baltimoroder have both remixed tracks for them in the past couple months. We are a functional family.

slam: Do you have a name and estimated release date for the new LP? Anything you're psyched about that you can reveal?

nh: No name yet, and definitely no date - all up in the air. I'm definitely excited for the record. We have new video collaborations and art ventures going on with Johnny Woods and our old friend Drew Innis. We'll definitely plan a massive party around the release, one in Boston and one in NYC. We'll keep the internet updated of course.

slam: Is the work in multimedia you're doing with Johnny Woods and Drew Innis going to be a part of HFE shows in the future?

nh: Johnny is working on a live visual setup, we'll have to see how things go but we plan something for the future yes.

slam: I was recently reading about how you used to bring in guitars through an old PC and you kept doing it because you liked the sound. Are you still doing stuff like that?

nh: The PC guitar thing only happens a couple times. All the recording has been through ancient outboard gear, computers only recording the audio, there's barely any processing happening. Mixing is analog too. I'm still using the homemade guitars though. We also tracked some window smashing and vodka induced screaming in the bathroom (for background texture).

slam: What's your favorite BBQ?

nh: I don't usually like animals in my mouth, so "barbecue sauce."

slam: Correction: Anything you like BBQ'd (any grilled veggie action)?

nh: squash

Hooray For Earth - Video Store
off of their Cellphone EP. BUY IT ON ITUNES IMMEDIATELY!

Hooray For Earth - Simple Plan (via the Boston Phoenix)
off of their self-titled. BUY IT ON ITUNES IMMEDIATELY!

HOORAY FOR EARTH IS PLAYING SOME SHOWS IN BROOKLYN.
8/12 at The Bell House 7pm / $10
8/20 at Glasslands Gallery 9pm/ TBA

seth (ex-live HFE drummer) and noel's other band dpony is playing next thursday, 8/13, at the enormous room in cambridge. they will be doing a set with dj die young. sounds awesome. go to it!

15. HOORAY FOR EARTH EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

14. REDIAL

redial is another one of those australian heavy hitters, the tracks come on when the lights have dimmed and no one cares about anything except dancing. last fall i grabbed "revolver" and "valve" from discodust - and they've constantly returned to my speakers. he's also done remixes of cut copy, daft punk & bag raiders - so check it out on hypem.

Redial - Revolver (via Discodust)
looking for a mid-day pick me up?

Redial - Heart (via The Lemur Blog)
not as heavy hitting, but definitely bangin - nice vocal sample

DatA - One In A Million (Redial Remix) (via Trashbag Kids)
sickkkk remix - data's original (yotube clip/also good)

14. REDIAL

13. THE GALVATRONS

another repost. i don't know if blogger is removing my posts or what. it'd be great if they'd let me know.

anyway, galvatrons, fuck yeah.

i over looked the fuck out of this band. bag raiders (awesome) did a remix of their "when we were kids" that i grabbed back in early spring. the track had a sound i'd been dreaming of that brought industrial electronica and new wave together; an awesome wtf.

this month, the galvatrons released an lp called "laser graffiti." LASER GRAFFITI. right? has to be unbelievable. I've heard a couple of tracks (cassandra, robots are cool, she's in love) all seem tight even on first listen.

not a lot of buzz, yet. it's like, i don't know, a montage you can't take your eyes off of. it's basically thrashing synthrock and I have this feeling that kenny loggins, duran duran, soft cell and maybe even van halen would approve.

buy the album when it becomes available in the US (I can't find a release date any where and it's not on itunes - not even a single ep!).

maybe i'm a little over enthusiastic? but...

The Galvatrons - Cassandra (YSCAh rehost)

PS: from australia

BONUS:
The Galvatrons - When We Were Kids (Bag Raiders Remix) (via KISSATLANTA)
AND an ultimate bag raiders post (mmmmm highly recommended! but be careful! some of those remixes are mash ups)

13. THE GALVATRONS

12. CALVIN HARRIS

what's the effin deal? I posted this and then it disappeared. REPOST:

fluorescent lights are so fucking ill.

calvin harris is slowly releasing singles to anticipate the follow up to his debut lp "i created disco." in january he released the single "i'm not alone" which was very club oriented (almost trancey), but i'm a fan. i was kind of worried he was moving stylistically towards that genre, but after his second single - "ready for the weekend" (and the remixes he's produced since), it's pretty clear that he's got a huge style range. the sound coming from these last two singles are totally different than his first lp (and each other)- but there's nothing wrong with that, because they're still ballin. i'm really looking forward to the next lp - release date is still TBA though. hurry it up, calvin!

Calvin Harris - Ready For The Weekend (via CHROMEMUSIC)
i am so ready for the weekend.

12. CALVIN HARRIS

11. MIIKE SNOW

another swedish group (what's the effin' deal?), miike snow, released their self-titled debut lp in may and i'm pretty unhappy that i didn't catch on sooner. it's no surprise that two of the three dudes that are miike snow are responsible for producing music for spears, minouge and madonna (club ready!). though in contrast, some of their original tracks sound more like indie-rock. i've been listening to some great remixes of their work since mid-spring (dj mehdi, treasure fingers). good stuff. they're a really versatile group, each song seems stylistically different - after listening to five of their tracks, i'm hearing some similarities to the melancholy in carpark north, the playful use of instrumentation like metronomy, the rhythm section from whitest boy and for some reason the vocals occasionally sound like bowie (especially in "song for no one.") check out the album on itunes.

Miike Snow - Burial (via Emodreng & Indiepige)



Miike Snow - Animal (via GOLDEN BLOGGEN)




BONUS: d/l burial music video (quicktime mp4!)

11. MIIKE SNOW

10. MILLE

so many swedes! what's happening over there?

Mille - Crysteena (Via Silence Killer)
mille is epic thrashing 8-bit guitars that'll accompany you on your trip to saving the princess OR if kavinsky and SNES had a child together. a great pregame anthem (please enjoy this music while your party is reached).

10. MILLE

9. CFCF

been busy! here's some CFCF - another canadian artist. sounds a little bit like shazam with fred falke mixed in. great combo.

Bathtub Clash (CFCF remix) - Femme (Via Emodreng & Indiepige)
smooth remix and great lyrics coming from femme.



and here's a music video of an original cfcf track:

CFCF - You Hear Colours from tommy boy on Vimeo.

9. CFCF

8. BOYS NOIZE

oh shit. another release I missed the boat on. boys noize, one of the more industrial electronic dudes out there (draws similarities to crystal castles, justice, mr. oizo, sebastiAn etc) released "starter" (ep) in late june and it's all i could have hoped for in a follow up to "oi oi oi." for real. if unfamiliar with boys noize - you've probably heard his work at any party that plays what some colleagues and i like to refer to as "heavy hitters." it's the music that makes everyone take their shirts off. also: he recently did a mix for mixmag that i'd love to get my hands on.

Boys Noize - Jeffer (via Squeegie)
samples in this track are brighter than most boys noize originals (i'm into it), but those synthesizer knobs are still turning in classic fashion.

8. BOYS NOIZE

7. THE TWELVES

the twelves are kind of the connect between the sound coming from valerie, some canadians and more mainstream electronica and indie groups. doing remixes of all of the favorites. over the last few years, they've released at least a dozen remixes (commissioned work too!), several mixes, and some demos of original work. their work has never let me down because it is ALWAYS good. not only do they do fantastic remixes, they also do covers and "re-works." what i have for you today is a cover of daft punk's "night vision."

The Twelves - Night Vision (Daft Punk cover) (via Sundtrak)
this shit will rock your socks off. it's as if night vision was recorded in 1977 by an orchestral disco squad. hot-as-fuck. it'd be rad to see all of dpunk's discovery recreated in such a manner, no?

7. THE TWELVES

6. AEROPLANE

wow. a lot of bangin' mixes recently.

aeroplane has been bustin out some solid remixes over the last two years (grace jones, mgmt, friendly fires, sébastien tellier etc). i found their june mix today, a month late, after i've been listening to their "disco balearica" for a few months (.zip file via Mixmag). all the way from BELGIUM, aeroplane is gaining frequent flyer miles on sound systems everywhere.

Aeroplane - June Mix (via BLAH BLAH BLAH)

sorry, it's zshare.

6. AEROPLANE

4. CLASSIXX IN THE MIX

i know have been posting a lot of classixx, but can you really blame me? i can't believe i missed this one - it came out last november. it's great for a bike ride back from the bar.

Classixx - 42:33 Mix (via Classixx Myspace/FLUOKIDS)



Tracklist:
1. The Cars - Let the Good Times Roll
2. Chocolate City - Orlando Johnson
3. Roman Salzger - Alpha Centauri
4. Shock - Shock Talk (U-Tern Remix)
5. Michael Jackson - Rock With You (Frankie Knuckles Remix)
6. Dorfmeister vs. Madrid de los Austrias - Boogie No More (Reverso 68 Remix)
7. Simian Mobile Disco - Hot Dog (Cosmo Vitelli Remix)
8. Classixx - I'll Get you feat. Jeppe (Royal Rumble Edit)
9. Morgan Geist - Detroit (Carl Craig Remix)
10. Compuphonic & Kolombo - B1 - Emotion [Edit]
11. Rubies - I Feel Electric (TieDye Version)
12. Drop Out Orchestra - Gibbon
13. Siriusmo - Simple
14. Night Crawlers - Push the Feeling On
15. Guns'n'Bombs - Riddle of Steel (Classixx Remix)
16. Kraftwerk - Computer Love

4. CLASSIXX IN THE MIX

3. STUDIO & HOLY GHOST!

studio has an amazing selection of original tracks, including west side, indo, and life's a beach. holy ghost! and studio don't sound at all alike, but its the level of consistency each has in their music and remixes from track to track that pair them together. holy ghost! has done several bangin' remixes, very stylistically similar (they've remixed cut copy, moby, - but their most recognizable track is hold on (via discopunk). cut copy used it in their mix socosmic, so if you've been some place where they play music, you've probably heard it because it's solid gold. if you don't have that mix, you need it!

Shout Out Louds - Impossible (Possible Remake by Studio) (via The Lemur Blog)
swedes working together! why is everything so good from that part of the world? moreover, why is it always in english? anything by studio is a low-key jam that'll make you relax. had this for a while, came up on shuffle today. good summer track. shout out louds are always good too. waiting for a new album from them because it's been a while.

Holy Ghost! - I Will Come Back (via flowmi)
still sounds like holy ghost, but definitely with a more digital electronica feel. holy ghost released the track @ 320kps online as a free download. solid!

BONUS:
Holy Ghost! - I Will Come Back (Classixx Acapulco Nights Version) (200 kbps VBR) (via Cream TEAM)
very different sound coming from classixx. check it out. draws similarities to babes driving red convertibles (couldn't do a direct link, but it's worth the jump).

ADDED BONUS:
Senor Coconut - Around The World (via Above The Fold)
oh shit, it's a latin cover of daft punk's around the world. listen to that percussion! cha-cha!

3. STUDIO & HOLY GHOST!

2. TURN ME LOOSE & I CAN COOK

Loverboy - Turn Me Loose
I gotta do it my way or no way at all.

Grafton Primary - I Can Cook (YCSAh rehost)
miami horror did a great remix of this track last year (two years ago?) - didn't know the original was so good. heavy synth. nice. definitely check out their ep "relativity." their lp, "eons" isn't as hard-hitting, but give it a listen at their myspace.

Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Kids at the Bar Remix) (via Disco Workout)
another remix of sleepyhead. the perfect remix? expect more from kids at the bar. after listening to a bunch of their remixes - they are heavy, a bit choppier than i usually like, but ABSOLUTELY worth the patience. check out their remix of one of my favorite tracks of 2008 "walking on a dream" (via PHASE02). The workout put together several of their tracks into one post - listen to all of them, but maybe wait until later in the day...

Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me (feat. Michael Jackson) (via djnodj)
this song has been stuck in my head for the last couple of days - rockwell & MJ were making music in 1984 that sounds eerily like what musicians are making 25 years later. why? because it's still awesome. listen to the synth solo. it is HARDCORE. also: vocoder? yes please.

Maethelvin - Time Travel Mix (via Valerie)
valerie puts out great stuff all the time (for free). a lot of mixes over there. the collective sound is always consistent, in a good way. never heavy - always smooth. very eighties. if you like college's mixes (the band not the educational institution), you'll like this.

2. TURN ME LOOSE & I CAN COOK

1. KNIGHTLIFE & CLASSIXX

fluorescent lights are all i have in here.

Cobra Dukes - Leave The Light On (Knightlife Remix) (YCSAh rehost)
I've had this one for a while - it just popped up in my shuffle and thought it should get pushed a little bit. knightlife is really good, pretty versatile in their remixxxes, but always solid. Sometimes funky, w/ disco bass, sometimes giving that industrial electronica sound. This one is a bit harder, kind of guns n' bombs-y but with the motivation that comes from classixx.

Classixx feat. Jeppe – I’ll Get You (via Trials & Tribulations)
Ok this shit is pretty sweet - Jeppe is one of the dudes from Junior Senior so... and the Classixx we know and love. It's kind of pop electronica, but I'm into it. Has some good drops.

Low Motion Disco - Love Love Love (Aeroplane remix) (via Regnsky Feed)
Imagine if Studio worked on "Make Love" and Fred Falke came in to play a bit on the keys, but they kept it smooth throughout. Aeroplane is always pretty tight - definitely worth a listen and check out anything of theirs on hypem. Just gave some of their original stuff a listen - don't know how I feel yet... let it grow and I'll let you know how it goes.

Bottin - No Static (via 8106)
If you're interested in going back in time (or feeling like it)... Don't know anything about this track other than I've had it since March and it's contemporary Italo-Disco. Just gave it a re-listen and like it better than initially thought. A lot of music in this sub-genre (which I know little about) is pretty heavy on the synth and pretty light on the vocals. I like this track because it feels like it could be used for both a Bill Murray 80s montage or a Timothy Dalton 007. You'll see what I mean. Pretty smooth. Wouldn't be surprised to see this interact in some way with Valerie in the future.

Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Wallpaper. Dio Remix) (via Finger on the Pulse)
Passion Pit is always good kind of like if Cut Copy and The Rapture worked together and it wasn't exactly what you expected (which would be good anyway). Wallpaper does some interesting stuff with reed instruments for their remixes (and synths) and it might be MIDI, but... check it out, ok.

Air France - Roof Top Music (via MusicVictim)
Best mix of early summer so far. Great selection of old and new (and it isn't just electronica). Definitely worth several listens and very appropriately titled - good for late night summer BBQs.

PS: Last track is the original song used as a sample in the avalanches' "since i left you"

1. KNIGHTLIFE & CLASSIXX