Santa Is French

Merry X-mas.

Missy Elliott - Lose Control (Mr Oizo Remix) (alt) via

Full Preparation

I am now putting most of my focus on the lists for 2009. It's a lot of work for the possibility of having them taken down, but I still like to do it to give you guys an idea of summary, not that we don't have competition out there that might be improving on that thought.

To warm you guys up, here's one of the best things I've listened to recently. It's Blue Oyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" covered by Van She. Really nice take on it, Passion Pit-style without all the annoyingness. Soft rock is making a weird comeback. Also, for your listening pleasure, the Holy Ghost! disco take.

Van She - (Don't Fear) The Reaper (A B-Live Original) (alt)

BONUS:

Van She - (Don't Fear) The Reaper (Holy Ghost's! B-Live Mix) (alt)

Early Momentum

New Uffie. It's got the Ohio Players "Rollercoaster of Love" as a sample, I think. Liking the outlook for the She-Uff in 2010.

Uffie - MC's Can Kiss (alt)

Unfortunate Circumstances

I know we haven't been around lately as often as you would like. Definitely not as much as we would like. I've been working over forty hrs a week to save up money for the holidays and future plans. Getting sick, unfortunately, wasn't something I was planning on, and the destruction of my iPod put a hamper on my music listening time. It literally went up in smoke. Apparently, it's not the first time it's happened to old generation nanos. Screw you, Apple.

Enough about me though, let's talk about In Flagranti. I picked up three remixes that are pretty special. The first, a treat from Lilofee, wrapped up with some special Justice drum snares, and some of those 80's, early 90's pop sounds In Flagranti is becoming known for. Similar style for his next remix, this one for Lenka. Both songs sound like they belong on runways for the super model era, at least I get that vibe. The next one, the pick of the bunch, is for Ali Love's "Smoke and Mirrors". It's fantastic how he captures hip hop 80's dance floor vocoders and then Ali's voice does the rest with that haunting, MJ-esque pining voice.

I would embellish more on these songs but I'm spent.

Ali Love - Smoke & Mirrors (In Flagranti Remix) (alt)
Lenka - The Show (In Flagranti Remix) (alt)
Lilofee - Runaway (In Flagranti Remix) (alt)

You've Got Mail

Just got word through our mailbox that it had dropped. Without further ado, the follow up to "Who's There?", from us to you:

Riton and Primary 1 - Radiates (alt)

Space Invaders

It's too bad they can't hear you scream in space, cuz your screaming would probably one of gleeful euphoria if you were listening to Cut Copy's remix of The Juan Maclean's "Happy House". The original is one of the better tracks TJM ever released, but this facelift is highly welcome.

The Juan Maclean - Happy House (Cut Copy's Space Is The Place Remix) (alt) via

Blow Them Away

What Kind Of Breeze Do You Blow? has been one of the better blog bands of the year, surprising us with a sound that can more or less characterize the year: transition from the hard stuff to softer tunes, but still wanting to keep what felt so good about the recent dance scene. Fortunately for us, WKOBDY? is not just blog music, they will probably start making a bigger splash soon with the release of their EP on Brilliantine by mid-December. To start the ball rolling, they left us with a track with dramatic razor synths, and whining pitches reminiscent of Symbolone. Enjoi:

What Kind Of Breeze Do You Blow? Unanswerable (alt)

BONUS:

The XX - Night Time (What Kind Of Breeze Do You Blow Extended Edit) (alt)

Continuity

It's not a bad thing to post this track after my previous post. This way we can attest together the coolness that is a sound transitioning from one decade to another. It is a Lady Gaga track, but so what, production from H&LA tips the balance here.

Lady Gaga - Bad Romance (Hercules & Love Affair Remix) (alt)

A (Small) History Listen

There are songs that help to define the musical identity of an era so, that when we look to categorize that particular time, some songs instantaneously come to mind. One of these eponymous songs was Yazoo's (Yaz in the US) "Situation". Bundled as a B-side with single "Only You", "Situation" offered italo disco synths sequenced with a hip hop loop by Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Erasure) and a songstress in Alice Moyet that carried the song with both angst and detachment, elements that are not only key in characterizing a sound for the decade, but that helped shape it and have been an influence for contemporary acts such as Hercules & Love Affair. In no short esteem I speak for myself and my blogrades in our acknowledgement of Yazoo's "Situation" as a pivotal song of electronic dance music and of the 80's.

Yazoo - Situation (alt)

Harder, Better and Nowhere To Be Found

I couldn't have said it better than the peeps over at TMS. SebastiAn and Ed Banger have been so quiet, that it's no surprise that the banger era they helped to vanguard has recently become passe in dance culture. Do they think their time is up and that their music now suffers from being dated by and because of the quickness that the blog world has consumed/failed to imitate anything Ed Banger? Are their big guns fatigued from all the attention received and are they fed up with an environment in which they can't work due to their high profile, one that inhibits creativity in order to sell/give what the people want? Or are they just simply waiting to rip everybody a new one when they least expect it with what they least expect in terms of music style and catalogue? I'm not sure, but in the meantime, in hopes of getting them out of their slumber, an unreleased SebastiAn track, ripped from a set.

SebastiAn - Unknown (alt) via

Parallel Universes

There was a time when I though RJD2 was electronic music's answer to hip hop's DJ Shadow. Not so much an answer, in the sense of competition, but definitely a comparison in sense of style and sound. I was so into "Ghostwriter" my freshman year of college, I used to write my essays to it (that and to Tatu's "Nas Ne Dogonyat"). It was music that really made you feel very bohemian, that had soul, funk and felt soft enough to read to, with enough beat to bop your head to. My guess is that good music has the ability to transform itself for different purposes and different contexts.

That being said, RJD2 started experimenting into being a pop-rockstar shortly after that, a love-it-or-hate-it experiment that did not put his reputation into dispute. That good faith is now being repaid with another wonderful song by RJD2 for his new EP, The Tin Foil Hat, and the song is reminiscent of that hip-hop ambient, with Madvillain-esque production. Check it out:

RJD2 - When It Wobbles (alt) via

Safe Promotion

Nice to know the Pixies look out for the fans. Listen in, tell them what you think, I think it's pretty good.

Double Standard

So lately, we are getting booed off by the record companies for posting their artists songs, our posts kicked out. Though we get a notice of it, it seems a bit weird that most of these songs are able to exist elsewhere but not here. I guess we can't really play with the big boys anymore. I'll be the first to say, we as a blog are not perfect, we don't always ask before we post because, well, a lot of times we know we are getting music from other blogs, and those blogs are ones that have countless of times said that they will not post without asking for the artists permission first; not only that, but we have attempted in past occasions to have access to these artists, most always never having a response, inciting neither negative nor positive inclinations to our reviewing and promoting of their music.

Having said that, I apologize to any of the artists we have financially hurt through our actions, to the companies who pay them and to other blogs who promote them and do it well. My mission statement for this blog is to promote music, not to severely deteriorate artists' means of income. From our side of things, we'll try to do the right thing, and try not to provoke the ire of the folks whose product we are trying to popularize.

Azari & III - She's An Illusion (alt) via

Happy Birthday LTBN!

On this Halloween, Let There Be Night turns 2. It's hard to believe we're still here, not to mention doing better than ever. Here's to two billion more years! Thanks to our devoted LTBNers out there, happy Halloween and enjoy this birthday mix, mixed by yours truly:

Nabocough - Let There Be Night Turns Two Mix

Proxy - Dancing in the Dark
Midnight Juggernauts - This New Technology (Memory Tapes remix)
The xx - Crystalized
Zombi - Sapphire (Escort remix)
Duck Sauce - Anyway
CSS - Move (Cut Copy remix)
Breakbot - Penelope Pitstop
The Death Set - Listen to this Collision (G.L.O.V.E.S. remix)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero (RAC remix)
Munk - Back Down (Cut Copy Jackmaster remix)
Skatt Bros - Walk At Night
Electrick Dragon - Davorite
Au Revoir Simone - Another Likely Story (Neon Indian remix)
Database vs. FHR Beaches and Friends (The Twelves Remix)
Party Ben - Shame (At Night)

Come Get That Candy If You Dare

Enjoi a ghoulish weekend!

The Scare - Could Be Bad (G.L.O.V.E.S. Remix) (alt)
Peaches - I Feel Cream (Proxy Remix) (alt)
Fake Blood - Mars (Style Of Eye's Tool For School Remix) (alt)
Fenech Soler - Lies (The Phantom's Revenge Remix) (alt)

War In My Ears

I've been thinking about the top of '09 post (yes I'm thinking ahead that early) and I was trying hard to remember most of last years (got taken down by the web-police). One of the songs I remember having on there was Proxy's "Raven". Can you guys still remember what a massive club anthem that was last year? I was wondering when we'd hear from them, knowing that they were working on an album. Sure enough, the man recently released the "Who Are You?" 12'' with a Bloody Beetroots remix, and we just got our hands on a song from the album. Welcome back, Proxy, we missed you.

Proxy - 8000 (alt) via
Proxy - Who Are You? (The Bloody Beetroots Remix) (alt)

P.S. By popular demand, we re-uploaded the A-Trak remix.

Brothers From Another Mother

I'm pretty sure that Memory Tapes and Neon Indian are twin souls. Both make similar music, with other groups and under other monikers, both just recently released albums that are similar, and my hope is that both of them will tour together. I plan on reviewing these albums for the blog at some point, we will draw better conclusions from it there.

Au Revoir Simone - Another Likely Story (Neon Indian Remix) (alt)
Midnight Juggernauts - This New Technology (Memory Tapes Remix) (alt)

Talk Is Cheap

Maybe the best remix of the year, brought to us by A-Trak and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Big thanks to DD for this one.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll (alt1) (alt2) via

EDIT: Re-uploaded through Mediafire!

Pleasant Disasters

Songs to kick off your weekend, as well as this awesome look into Phoenix's musical influences. Enjoi!

Annie - I Don't Like Your Band (alt)
Get Shakes - She Found The Diamonds (alt)
Little Boots - Earthquake (Treasure Fingers' Epicwave Mix) (alt)
Uffie - Pop The Glock (DJ Mehdi Casco Edit) (alt)

Black Is Back

So the Ed Rec Newsletter is announcing Uffie's newest album, with production by label faves such as Oizo, Feadz and SebastiAn, as well as adding the production nous of Mirwais, a surprising addition to the aformentioned production talents. A new videoclip for the Let Love Rule Justice remix as well as news of a remix album from DJ Mehdi tittled Red, Black & Blue completes the highlights in the news section, with the bonus gift of a Mehdi mixtape promoting said remix album. Enjoi!

Dj Mehdi's Black, Black & Black Mixtape (10/14/09)

For Your Eyes and Ears

There's a lot of music videos coming out now of the music we like to showcase on this blog, and we usually never post any, so I'm going to make an exception today and give you some of the cooler ones. The first one comes from super-duo Duck Sauce, formed by A-Trak and Armand Van Helden. I think they really captured the imagery their song gives off with this one:



Duck Sauce - aNYway (alt) REMOVED BY REQUEST

This next one is quite the psychedelic mindtrip. It's impossible for this blog to pass up on anything Midnight Juggernauts related, not only because we are fanboys but because everything they do has seal of approved quality.

This New Technology - Midnight Juggernauts from midnight juggernauts on Vimeo.

Midnight Juggernauts - This New Technology (The Emperor Machine Remix) (alt)

If somehow this skipped you by, don't let it. Florence + the Machine is getting a lot of love lately, I've really liked a couple of the remixes, and the video for "You've Got The Love" harkens back to glam disco days.


Florence + The Machine - You've Got The Love

Florence and The Machine | MySpace Music Videos

Florence + the Machine - You've Got The Love (XX Remix) (alt) Now @ 320 kpbs! Thanks DD!

Finally, party starter album of the year Major Lazer's "Keep It Goin' Louder" comes with an acceptable Halloweenish theme. I don't know how much people are about this album, but if you haven't given it a good chance it's worth doing so, especially for songs like this.



Major Lazer - Keep It Goin' Louder (ft. Nina Sky and Ricky Blaze) (alt)

Missed Connections

An easy and apparent one, especially with all the re-browsing of The King of Pop's material that we've done as of late. Props to Louis La Roche, then, for making a song trying to remind everybody about french house at the height of bangers (people actually thought it was a Thomas Bangalter song) and even for the coincidence of having our deceased superstar featured before he passed. Good use of the sample, and I can't get enough of the original.

Michael Jackson - It's The Falling In Love (alt)
Louis La Roche - Love (alt)

EDIT BONUS:

Michael Jackson - This Is It (alt)

Let's Paint This Town A Certain Color

Some music to send you out on your weekend boys n girls. Sorry I didn't keep you informed the past two days, but I hope this makes it worth it.

We start with a song by one of the true music blog breakouts, Keenhouse of Binary, part of a vibrant LA electro scene that reflects the brashness and attitude of the city. I've seen Keenhouse live (my friend tried to get an interview through his annoying live singer, a decision discouraged by me) though I can't say that I was there for him (I was there for College). Now Binary is releasing LA Lights, it's debut record, a compilation of songs from the label artists in order to kickstart internet buzz, so we'll help them out with the best track I've heard related to the record:

Keenhouse - Ari-es (Hemingway's Starlight Yacht Remix) (alt)

On a similar vibe, we turn our heads towards a regularly LTBN feature, Miami Horror. The producer from Australia has brought us a change but not entirely devoid of his signature sound. It shows good tact to go towards a more G.L.O.V.E.S.-ish , yacht-house, especially when he displays it so flawlessly. It still maintains the elements that made him so good, vocoder voice chirps, but adds some deep The Cure/The Smiths basses on there to go along with the synths.

Miami Horror - Sometimes (alt)

This next group, as mentioned by Discodust, is an enigma, but Joe Goddard isn't and he brings all his production dexterity to center stage. His remixes bring a coldness to it, being bold and dramatic in tone yet light and simple in structure. This one is definitely less dark and more boppy, though similar sounds exist. The faster pace makes the song bounce everywhere at faster paces than we are used to, which is welcome from Goddard.

Silver Columns - Brow Beaten (Joe Goddard Remix) (alt)

Finally, and probably the creme-de-la-creme, Lindstrom gets the treatment by dreamy nu-discoers Aeroplane, and it seems like a match made in heaven. While Lindstrom can escape into a different universe with his tunes, Aeroplane is able to infuse a pop side to their also escapist music. The drums, Nintendo-style pianos, and Christabelle's voice really makes this song vibrant, yet the hints of Lindstrom in there are felt as the song pushes past the 3 minute mark, with acoustic guitars joining the electronic melodies, even if by sound, it would seem difficult to distinguish between either of them, as both tread in familiar territories. Do enjoy this song, I know I am.

Lindstrom & Christabelle - Baby Can't Stop (Aeroplane Remix) (alt)

Enjoi!

Soft Tones

CFCF is Mike Silver, highly respected in the blog world because of his vanguard leadership in redirecting contemporary electronic music towards softer creations, away from bangers that can obfuscate the value of solid producing skills and the melodies of contemporary electronic sounds. He's released a couple of scarce vinyls and EPs, but he's also remixed some stuff, recently HEALTH'S "Before Tigers". Check it out, let me know what you think.

CFCF - Monolith (alt)
HEALTH - Before Tigers (CFCF Remix) (alt)

Hypothetical Reality

The trailer for this album, funny as it sounds, was enough to get me st(r)oked about Julian Casablancas' first solo effort. Great as it looks in the preview, it's nice now to have a track to judge the album better before it's Oct. 20 release stateside (Oct. 19 UK). As it stands, it seems like what Nigel Godrich might have wanted to do with The Strokes for their second album, a what-if scenario that seems to be playing out in "11th Dimension" the first single for Casablancas' album Phrazes For The Young. I personally can't wait to have the full album in my hands/iPod.

Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension (alt)

Lucky Guess

I just knew that Empire of the Sun channeled Prince somewhat, just never thought it would ever be so apparent. Good for us.

Empire Of The Sun - Breakdown (alt)

Moving On

Songs to keep you fresh throughout the weekend. Enjoi!

Demon - Happy Therapy (Lifelike Remix) (alt)
Michael Huygen - Capturing Holograms (alt)
Matthew Dear - Send You Back (alt)
Fake Blood - Fix Your Accent (alt) REMOVED BY REQUEST

Perspective

I am trying to reconcile the fact that I like hipster music with the fact that I don't find myself to be much of a hipster. Hipster-ism, as a form of behavior, seems like another attempt at labeling a generation of people who happen to have as little or as much alike in common as any other group of people that have ever suffered a label. Yet it's pushed onto these groups in order to make it easy to pick them apart based on such mutable characteristics such as fashion, profession, and social diversions (and immutable ones like age group).
To be exact, I may have fallen within the trappings of the label, for I agree with the descriptions of those who find that there is much to loathe from the hipsters. This particular article set me off in the wrong way about hispterism. It is an article that always considers the consequences of the society (the hipsters themselves) and never the society itself. The Hipster generation is a generation of young people that demonstrates apathy to everything and stands for nothing because it is a generation of shutouts that suffers from a lack of opportunities hence a general disdain for the social structure. However, the hipster is born of the ideas of the previous generation that their hardwork would allow the next generation to reap the benefits and move up the social ladder. It's not only a generation of malcontents who face reality, but a generation of brokenhearted dreamers who were told that they could be anything if they just worked hard enough. If one also adds to that recipe that all hispters have been bombarded by consumerism in order to build a social identity, then you more or less encounter with the reality that is the hipster. Thus the tongue in cheek humor, the constant ironies and the skinny jean culture. The fact that it's a culture speaks more to the shortcomings of the society than of the group itself.

That being said, fitting in is fitting in. Everyone tries to fit in, no one is exempt from that. Given those barometers I cannot say that I'm not a hipster, not only because I match the criteria above but because I associate with said culture (cue "Hipsters Are My Friends" for great shirt idea). As to what that means for the music on this blog, be sure that hipsters do listen to this music, some for the sake of feeling cool, others because they like it. I fit in with the latter. I don't dedicate my free time to this blog in order to feel or look cool, but because I like music, I like the music I post and I'm pretty sure that if you read this blog, you like it too.

This entire post now comes full circle to the origins of what made me think to write it. I came across a post about how great Phoenix was live, how awesome they're music is and how said author "FEELS the music" instead of just going to a show where you like the music and the band plays exactly like the album or is noticeably less talented than the album demonstrated, so forth and so on....all points taken, I probably agree with him. It still doesn't sit well with me, though, that said author takes Phoenix to be the end all and be all of music, that it starts and ends with them, as if they hadn't been around for a long time, as if they hadn't made music that was almost as phenomenal...basically, the post reeked of bandwagonism. That irks me. What's worse is that it irks me that it irks me. I write on a blog to get people to LIKE that sort of music, so for me to accuse somebody of liking it too much is not only hypocritical, but self-defeating. In the end, I should be happy that people like the music, not only for the listener but for the artists, in this particular case very deserving of the spotlight, suspicious as I might be that it ruins the music later on. Oh well, I'll have to live with the paranoia, and to show you no hard feelings, here's the latest hipster nugget, a cover of Phoenix's song "Rome" by Devendra Banhart.

Phoenix - Rome (Neighbors with Devendra Banhart) (alt)

P.S. Sorry for the babbling, I hope it made sense and I promise it won't happen often.

BONUS EDIT:

Phoenix - Love Like A Sunset (Animal Collective Remix - Deakin's Jam) (alt) via

Prior-ity

These guys are pretty good, Priors. I'm a fan and I hope you will be too. These are two songs that have been rated pretty highly by a lot of people. Methinks they should build off that success and go off, like Aeroplane or something.

Priors - What You Need (Extended Version) (alt)
Priors - Into The Fight (alt)

Fight The Power

....but I can't. I'm sorry, I should be more original and provide other stuff and not just Boys Noize leaks, promos, demos, mixes.... For better or for worse, we all know that this album is gonna be big. Whether it's good or not (it will be), the amount of people talking about it, scrutinizing it, repping it for life like their hipsterdom is at stake, etc. is gonna be enormous (true as well). I figure we might start the conversation by giving you a song off of the new album, Power, out in October (Sept. 28th digitally). Enjoi it and purchase the album when it comes out!

Boys Noize - Rozz Box (alt) via

I Was Ready For That Jelly!

I'm glad this song came out, it's a great follow-up to my previous post on the man. I'm happy to see him back remixing things, and I hope we'll get some original work thrown in somewhere, sometime. Also weird is that Beyonce is invading my music week more than usual, oh well, can't help that one, she's huge. Like, Rihanna huge.

Beyonce - Broken-Hearted Girl (Alan Braxe Dub) (alt)

Fabulous Mixes By Fabulous Mixers

The first one, because it's The Twelves, a group I saw a couple weekends back. They always deliver good mixes, and in this case, it's no different. I imagine this mix is a precursor to their upcoming EP, too bad it won't be a full length, but I'm sure the quality will be so good, we won't mind.

The Twelves - The Twelfth Hour

The second mix is delivered by DJ of DJs, Erol Alkan, who stopped by BBC Radio 6 and dropped some new tracks, some fresh ones and some hyped ones. However you might feel about electronic music, Erol has always been on top of his game in delivering variety and in his mixes.

Erol Alkan BBC Radio 6 Mix 9/19/2009 via

P.S. I'm pretty sure, given the tracklist, that The Twelves mix is actually the mix used for their liveshow. Tracklists in the comments section.

Useful Inventions

Sometimes, not having all the information can be substituted by having good intuition. That being said, I had an inkling that Midnight Juggernauts were probably very quiet because they were in their studio preparing new material. Sure enough, the boys from Australia have just indicated as much by releasing a single onto the web belonging to their upcoming second full length.

Midnight Juggernauts - This New Technology (alt)

Release of the single on iTunes on Oct. 9th with remixes from The Emperor Machine, Weird Tapes and Nile Delta.

Re-Braxe-ation

A wonderful surprise for us here in San Diego, Alan Braxe, a member of the French house scene and one of the major influences on post-French house electronic music, will be spinning at the El Dorado Bar. It's important for me to be there, so I will be, and I hope you are as well. In order to get me (and you) ramped up for it, here's a couple of his songs, both favorites of mine.

Shakedown - At Night (Alan Braxe Remix) (alt)
Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Alan Braxe Remix) (alt)

Infinite Punches

Songs from around the blog world/our inbox to get your weekend going. Enjoi!

Phoenix - Fences (Friendly Fires Remix) (alt)
Vitalic - See The Sea (Red) (alt)
2020 Soundsystem - Closure (alt)
Meroz - Your Lover (alt)

Monstruous

Just the equation of Erol Alkan and Boys Noize makes people drool. Add to that Bobermann, Bob Rifo of The Bloody Beetroots, and you've got a lot of buzz developed on just the three names. Then you just gotta hope the song kicks ass, and thankfully, it reminds you why you followed blogs in the first place.

Erol Alkan & Boys Noize - Death Suite (Bobermann Remix) via RCRDLBL

EDIT BONUS:

Erol Alkan & Boys Noize - Death Suite (DJ Mehdi Simple Acid Edit) (alt)

An Hour Of Glee

Boys Noize is a LTBN favorite, so anytime he does anything, it's likely that we are going to post it. Well, he just released a 60 min mix as a pre-tour appetizer to wet our mouths and destroy our brains. I'm definetely going to go see him when he comes about and you should too.

Boys Noize 60 Min August Mix via

EDIT BONUS:

Boys Noize 20 Minute Mix (Radio 1 19/09/09)

Your Move Now

We got this awesome gift sent to us and well I can't resist to post it. Burns is yet another LTBN fave, he's gonna be touring with Deadmau5 throughout Canada and the US so keep an eye out for him coming to a city near you. In this case, it is Fred Falke who takes on the remixing duties, and he really brings that dreamy sound he's instilled in his best remixes to "First Move" while maintaining some of the bounce of the original.

Burns - First Move (Fred Falke Remix) (alt)

Follow Burns here and here, tour dates below:

09/23 – Ritual – Ottawa, Canada
09/24 – Dagobert Night Club – Quebec City, Canada
09/25 – Metropolis – Montreal, Canada
09/26 – The Guvemment – Toronto, Canada
09/29 – Republic Nightclub – Winnipeg, Canada
09/30 – Flames Central – Calgary, Canada
10/01 – Edmonton Events Centre – Edmonton, Canada
10/02 – UBC Thunderbird Arena – Vancouver, Canada
10/04 – Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA
10/28 – Roseland Theatre – Portland, OR
10/31 – The Forum – Inglewood, CA
11/01 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA
11/02 – Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ
11/04 – The Ogden – Denver, CO
11/05 – Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK
11/06 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX
11/07 – Stubbs – Austin, TX
11/08 – House of Blues – Houston, TX
11/10 – The Village – Little Rock, AR
11/11 – House of Blues – New Orleans – LA
11/12 – House of Blues – Orlando, FL
11/13 – Revolution – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
11/14 – Mansion Night Club – Miami, FL
11/15 – The Ritz – Tampa, FL
11/17 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
11/18 – Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
11/19 – Limelight – Nashville, TN
11/20 – Congress Theatre – Chicago, IL
11/21 – The Fillmore – Detroit, MI
11/22 – Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
11/23 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
11/24 – Roxy Boston, Boston, MA

If Man Is 5

Saturday morning I woke up to a. thunder overhead and b. the best Pixies revival I've heard in a long time. Check out this remix by Minigroove 45.

Pixies - Monkey Gone To Heaven (Minigroove 45 remix) (alt)

Slow More

So there's this band, called The XX. They are decent, bits and pieces remind you of Chris Isaak, some of Interpol, some of Broken Social Scene, Radiohead production...nice bands to remind you of, if you ask me (also reminds me of Jack Johnson, but I know some of you would refute that with ire). I don't know how much I like this record so far, it seems a bit taught and reserved, like it keeps from going to the place it might want to, forgoing loud melodical outbursts and disciplining the addition of sounds and production. Honestly, I don't know that I'd like it to go anywhere else, otherwise these guys might just go full Evanescence on us.

Seriously, it is a beautiful album, made for days of introspection, people watching, grey skies and will be in dramatic movie love montages soon. Well worth a listen.

The XX - Infinity (alt)
The XX - Fantasy (alt)

Shapes That Only Sound Can Mold

Karen Dreijer Andersson, 1/2 of The Knife is the auteur of Fever Ray and this beautifully, moody Self-tittled album. The three singles released so far, "If I Only Had A Heart", "Triangle Walks" and "When I Grow Up" are intense creations, the first with a droning, haunting repetition and guttural base, the second with inertial calypso drums a-la The Knife that feel so cold, its surprising that the instruments' origins come from the Caribbean, the third a should've-been collaboration with MIA and Switch to hit those high notes and make us dance.

On that note, I'm surprised that "Seven" is the next single. Dreijer Anderssons' fourth single is lighter and less moody than its predecessors. Personally, I was expecting "Keep The Streets Empty For Me" to be the next single, but no matter. Though she continues to sing as she only can, the production template behind her changes up, more jittery and fluffy, less dark and ominous. The single for “Seven” has remixes from CSS and Crookers, posted below, as well as from Marcel Dettmann, Martyn, Nic Chacona and Seth Troxler.

Fever Ray - Seven (alt)
Fever Ray - Seven (Crookers Remix) (alt)
Fever Ray - Seven (CSS Remix) (alt)

Niner Niner O. Niner

Oddly enough, we come up on an odd numerical day, which just had to deliver awesome music right? We certainly hope so.

First up, O. Children and their song "Dead Disco Dancer" is quite moody and out of left field, but seems to fill a niche right now that had been missing in hipster rock music, these guys excluded. O. Children's band makeup reminds me of this group, so I'm wary that the blogs and record companies are trying to sell me a generic formula. However, "Dead Disco Dancer" is a good song, partaking in moods belonging to early Interpol and that sort of Halloween rock sound that Nick Cave is famous for, and for some reason, they remind me of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but I don't know quite where, so don't be scared to like it.

O. Children - Dead Disco Dancer (alt)

This a song that I fell in love with when I heard it, one of those I'll-download-now-listen-later-cuz-it-looks-like-another-generic-remix. Good thing I'm open-minded, then, cuz this is one of the better Sebastien Tellier remixes I've heard.

Sebastien Tellier - Fingers of Steel (Hypnolove Remix) (alt)

Finally, the maestro himself gives us another self-aware-of-the-genre electro song to make us smirk at the awesomeness/ridiculousness of electronic music.

Mr Oizo - Sucer Dancer (alt)

Mob Hit

The before electro blast of Pascal Arbez, aka Vitalic, was followed by an immediate submersion, a dormant period away from the hype and the fads of electronic music. It was this blogger's hope that the dissapearing act was due to work on a new album, and I'm glad to have had my hunch proved right. Vitalic will be back with a new album tittled Flashmob, out on Sept. 28th in Europe ( Nov. 3rd for the US) and I'm expectant to listen to it. To get the hype train rolling, here's a minimix of the album:

Vitalic - Flashmob Minimix (alt)

Thanks to Bigstereo for the mix.

Bestest Single Evar

There seems to be a small sort of backlash by a certain internet sector towards Ciao!, Tiga's latest album. I don't understand it, Ciao! is a pretty solid album and has about 4 or 5 songs that are dancefloor ready, one of those being album opener "Beep Beep Beep", released on July with many, many remixes:

1. Beep Beep Beep (Dave Bascombe Radio Mix)
2. Beep Beep Beep (Soulwax Edit) (alt)
3. Beep Beep Beep (Emperor Machine Remix) (alt)
4. Beep Beep Beep (Punks Jump Up Remix) (alt)
5. Beep Beep Beep (Loco Dice Remix)
6. Beep Beep Beep (12” Extended Remix)
7. Beep Beep Beep (Toot Toot Kaine Loft Mix)
8. Beep Beep Beep (Phonogenic Remix)
9. Beep Beep Beep (12” Extended Remix Instrumental)
10. Beep Beep Beep (Loco Dice Remix Dub)
11. Beep Beep Beep (Emperor Machine Remix Dub)

As is with most big releases, there are several remixes not included in the original packaging, in this instance a Brodinski remix as well as a Crookers remix that reminds us of loud-ass Bloody Beetroots mixed by Switch. If that sounds like a match made in heaven, then download this immediately:

Tiga - Beep Beep Beep (Crookers Remix) (alt)

Buy "Beep Beep Beep" here.

Parting Shot

Poor DJ AM. RIP

M. Ward - Poison Cup (alt)

Mngo Mdnss

Have been waiting patiently for a proper release of this song, and it is coming soon. It´s not that dub music is the new musical fad, it´s just that good music is good music, and Joy Orbison delivers. Here´s an excerpt:

Joy Orbison - Hyph Mngo Clip (alt)

What's Everywhere and Nowhere?

If you were wondering, the answer to the question of the title of this post is the Psychemagick remix of Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere." Rob da Bank dropped this gem a couple of weeks ago and so far, I can find no trace of it other than his show. I've gleaned little information about Psychemagick, though I'm not even positive it's the same band as the one that remixed this track (it was spelled differently on the Blue Room's tracklisting). They're from the UK and they have some pretty dope songs, including a dubbed cover of one of Let There's favorite Italo Disco songs, Skydiver by Neon. Check them out and click below. The remix is a radio rip I did myself, you won't find it anywhere else.

Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere (Psychemagick remix) (alt)

Bonus:

Neon - Skydiver (alt)

Escape Into Reality

Srsly, G.L.O.V.E.S. is quite possibly my favorite producer to listen to right now. He just dropped PYX on Bang Gang and, on top of the tittle track, he has a Damn Arms, Destination feel to the other original in the release, Too Much To Dream. It´s just so smooth to listen to, I feel like glam music is back with some force. I can´t wait to hear this dropped in a club.

G.L.O.V.E.S. - Too Much To Dream (alt)

Hands Down

New Radiohead. ´Nuff said.

Radiohead - These Twisted Words (alt)

DJs Are Heroes Too

It´s been making the rounds to nothing but amazing acclaim, so we want you to have it as well. A typical influences mix it would be if it hadn´t turned out so well. DJs like Breakbot are the reasons why I love music; they respect the musical heritage and implement that influence into their productions. What follows is the mix plus certain songs from the mix I´ve grown up with:

Breakbot Heroes Mix - In New DJs We Trust

Lew Kirton - I Can´t Live Without You

Silver Conventions - Fly Robin Fly

The Cool Notes - My Love Is Hot

Eddie Conard - U Are Unique

BB and Q Band - Dreamer

BB and Q Band - Dream (Shep Petitbone Edit)

Grandmaster Flash - The Message (A Capella) (alt)

The O´Jays - Cry Together

Marvin Gaye - Please Stay (alt)

Joe Walsh - Things

Barry White - Love Theme (alt)

Journey - Don´t Stop Believing

Foxy - Lady Macho - Montreal

Doobie Brothers - What A Fool Believes (alt)

Index - Starlight (The Break)

M83 - Run Into Flowers (Midnight Remix by Jackson) (alt)

Thanks to ROBOTXY for the individual songs.

Beaches and Bitches

Been away for a while as we are on vacation. But not enough vacation to miss what´s been going on in the world of music. I´ll be more in depth later with what we´ve missed after I´ve taken care of my sunburnt limbs, but for now, please enjoy this new music by one of my very favorites, Calvin Harris, who is releasing his new album today. Awesome way to keep my summer break going.

Calvin Harris - Flashback (alt)

Bonus:

Calvin Harris - Stars Come Out (alt)

Saving Dark Souls With Music

Nice couple of remixes by Yuksek. The Gossip remix starts off a bit Diplo-Switchesque Major Lazer styles pace, before he just gets into it with the synths and violins. The pace of this remix indicates more mastery by Yuksek, keeping the slow parts on an even ratio with the harder electro ones.

The Gossip - Heavy Cross (Yuksek Remix) (alt)

The other remix, one of Moby´s Mistake, is in the same love-it-or-hate-it vein as Yuksek´s album, robot voices, trance influences and soft, but fast-paced synths. Less intricate than The Gossip remix, but same old Yuksek nonetheless, which isn´t necessarily a bad thing.

Moby - Mistake (Yuksek Remix) (alt)

Likely To Happen

Another great remix by Lifelike. You just can´t stop the man. Hell, why would you want to?

Killa Kella - Everyday (Lifelike Remix) (alt) via

Bonus:

Moby - Mistake (Lifelike Remix) via