In Love W/ The Disco Siren

Just this morning--I swear to god--I envisioned a YouTube battle, wherein the audience attends a theater performance and 15 to 20 of the most well-versed YouTube VJ's play the funniest, most interesting, most obscure YouTube videos. The competition would be arranged spelling bee/freestyle-rap style where he or she who plays a foul video gets kicked off, preferably with an elongated shepherd's staff. The one who gets the best crowd reaction would win--I would easily pay upwards of $5 for a show like that. Well, you've heard of Girl Talk, now get ready for DrewTube: the next generation of mashups.

Lovin' the ecstatic look on Ronald McDonald's face. Kickin off the show is Rupaul and Bag Raiders' "Shooting Stars." Comment with your favorite obscure YouTube clips. Thanks to Amir for the find!

Missed Connections

Damn, I didn't know Alan Braxe ripped that infectious melody on "Intro" from obscure R&B group The Jets? Has anyone already pointed this out? Check it out.

The Jets - Crush On You (alt) (youtube) - around 2'30

Alan Braxe - Intro (alt)

Right On Time

I needed this Turbo Love EP to drop, cuz Bag Raiders is usually a breath of fresh air, nevermind that it's a remix EP. I guess Flight Facilities are go, heard a lot about them most everywhere and there's a general excitement surrounding them. Check this out and tell us what you think:

Bag Raiders - Turbo Love (Flight Facilities featuring Louis Austen Business Class Lounge Version) (alt)

BONUS:

Bag Raiders - Turbo Love (Shinichi Osawa Remix) (alt)

Ajo y Agua

Spring break has been hitting us recently with nice weather, bikinis, BBQs and the like. Hopefully the music will catch on soon. In the meantime something good to hold us over.

Chromeo Vs. Bag Raiders - Call Me Up/Shooting Stars Mashup (alt)
Annie - Anthonio (Designer Drugs Remix (alt)
A-Ha - Take On Me (The Twelves Remix) (alt)

Music In Media

Ok, as promised here is the Fred Falke remix of Lykke Li's "I'm Good, I'm Gone," fresh as this morning's baked baguettes. Since I last posted about her, Lykke Li has seen a surge in popularity (no correlation, right? nah), especially with the debut of her album "Youth Novels," so this remix couldn't come at a better time. And it's easy on the ears too.

Lykke Li - I'm Good, I'm Gone (Fred Falke remix)



The arrival of this anticipated remix gives me the excuse to write about something else that I've been noticing in the past few days: electronic music in the media. It seems like the kind of music we post about here, from Australia to Sweden and back, is starting to get picked up by those in high places. Songs I never thought I would have heard outside of my own room are popping up in the most peculiar places. I don't know if it's just coincidental or just a sign of the times to come. I have to admit, it gets me excited.

So, when else can you hotwire a car, do several drive-bys and get chased by the FBI all while cranking out the sweet sounds of Justice? I got a chance to play Grand Theft Auto IV this past week. Simply put, it's amazing. Just by chance I had recently noticed that on Kavinsky's site, he had advertised that "Testarossa" was featured on the "electrochoc" channel, so the first time I did my own hotwiring I immediately tuned in. I was thoroughly impressed with the tracklist and quality of mixing. To my surprise, searching for the ramps to drive my car off of, in addition to SebastiAn's remix of "Testarossa Autodrive," I heard "Waters of Nazareth" by Justice, "Tits & Acid" by Simian Mobile Disco. Albeit lo-quality, you can listen to the radio station yourself without playing the game here and here.

When I checked the tracklist on wikipedia, I was shocked to see names like Boys Noize, Bag Raiders and even Black Devil Disco Club. How the hell did Rockstar catch wind of Bag Raiders? Ah, then I saw that DJ and producer François K compiled the list. Still, it makes playing GTA IV that much more enjoyable. There are other quality songs on the other stations as well. I've heard !!!, LCD Soundsystem (while buying a chicken sandwich), Q-Lazzarus' "Goodbye Horses," and even Philip Glass (while getting into this epic six-star wanted level chase on the train tracks).



On Tuesday I was invited to go to a film at the SFIFF called American Teen. The documentary, directed by Nanette Burnstein, attempts to tell the story of the American High School Experience more realistically than its predecessors. The movie features a wide array of songs, but I did notice"Kids" by MGMT and "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You" by Black Kids.

Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You

Sometimes when I'm bored I surf trailers and I recently caught an independent French film called Naissance des Pieuvres or in Engish, Water Lilies. The trailer features Vitalic's "Trahison." The trailer renewed my love for Vitalic and it looks like an interesting film itself that I will have to catch once it comes out.

Vitalic - Trahison

Don't Be So Emozioni

Monday night, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, I went out with a friend to a neighborhood bar. I was immediately struck by the difference of the crowd compared to most nights. There were more guys who looked abrasive, brutish, who looked as though they were humored by the possibilities of a fight. When it came time to dance--called by the alcohol and music--I felt as though we had introduced a new language of dancing to these people. Out of the corner of my eye I would see them staring whistfully at us. We would move silently in our own space and then suddenly traverse the entire dance floor because we could. Other girls, I imagined, desperate to express themselves in a similar way, "freaked" each other. When, after short respite, we took once again to the hardwood floor, people would follow suit immediately and join us, as though we granted them permission to do so. It was a bizarre but enjoyable experience.

In anticipation of his newest album's sortie, Sebastien Tellier speaks on influences in this interview. His grasp of English is indeed "charming." It's always fun to see how people of different tongues express themselves in one's own language. They are excited about words and phrases that we have always taken for granted. You understand that excitement when you study a new language.



This song is perhaps my favorite. Tellier says it has to do with missing (manque) a woman, though it is not a sad song. It was apparently the top single of 1976 in Italy.

Lucio Battisti - Ancora Tu

I've been obsessed with this song lately. Mateusz scoffed when I told him that. He says that the original is better, but I can't get enough of this one. It starts off kind of similar to Busy P's "Rainbow Man" with a churning deep synth sound, but then when the song blasts off into its fullness it feels like your swimming in butter, only much less fattening.

Bag Raiders - Nil By Mouth (Knightlife Remix)

Otherwise, the gap between indie-emo musicians and DJs is getting smaller and smaller. Recent remixes of songs you never thought would end up in a club have never sounded better. For instance, "Golden Cage" by The Whitest Boy Alive speaks of sad things, but Fred Falke assures us, in his remix, that it is not a sad song. Thanks Fred.

The Whitest Boy Alive - Golden Cage (Fred Falke remix)

Bag Raiders -- First EP

Since the birth of what many have called the "neu-rave" genre, Australia has, like France, no doubt, been doing it big. We have already seen waves with acts Cut Copy, The Presets, Van She, and Justice favorite, Midnight Juggernauts. One act that has this universality is Sydney based duo, Bag Raiders. Christopher Brave & Jack Sabbath have recently released this first EP through Bang Gang 12 Inches. No strings attached, the "Bag Raiders EP" kills, and rarely do two songs like Fun Punch and Punch Reprise carry as much resonance, at least in the sense of what is considered essential in this variety of music today. Simply stated, it delivers and you can secure your copy at the right records stores, Beatport, iTunes or DjDownload. Enjoi!


Bag Raiders - Fun Punch

Bag Raiders - Punch Reprise


Some people hate blends, or "mash-ups," and those same people get drunk, dance to them, and ultimately enjoi them. Opinions vary widely. I will hold my neutrality here. I can see how this blend could be noted as rape to a very well crafted song, Punch Reprise. On the other hand, Soulja Boy - Crank Dat is very, very (very) addictive. Don't believe me -- just read the charts. So, either this is a cheap shot at something great, or this blend truly kills. I myself don't know. In any case, we can all still super-soak that hoe; and why not?

Soulja boy - Crank Dat - Bag Raiders blend by Luminfire