Shoot Sucka

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2010-06-26T17:29:00.000-04:00

Check out the new Shoot Sucka! at www.shootsucka.com

Glass Candy

2010-06-17T00:08:00.000-04:00

I just got into Toronto a few hours ago for North by Northeast, Canada's burgeoning response to the immensely popular South by Southwest in Austin. Tonight I'm off to Wrongbar to catch a performance by Glass Candy, a duo from Portland that's been consistently releasing the best Italo-disco outside of Italy. Their Feeling Without Touching EP, released in February on Italians Do It Better, ventures into some territory not explored on their classic 2007 album B/E/A/T/B/O/X, but Ida No's icy vocals still fit Johnny Jewel's moody synth-pop productions like a glove. From the immediately catchy "Feeling Without Touching" to the introspective, sax-driven "Sugar and Whitebread" to the paranoid "Covered In Bugs" to the percussion-less closer "Shine Like Gold and Diamonds," this EP covers a lot of ground and is one hell of a good listen. My favorite tracks are "Feeling Without Touching" and "Sugar and Whitebread," but I highly recommend downloading the whole EP from iTunes - you'll get a couple instrumentals as a bonus. Enjoy!

Glass Candy - Feeling Without Touching

Glass Candy - Sugar and Whitebread

J-Wow Remixes Robyn

2010-06-15T15:35:00.001-04:00

A couple weeks ago I posted Chew Fu's fantastic reworking of Robyn's "Dancing on My Own" (read the post here), but a new remix of the track by J-Wow from Buraka Som Sistema just came out and instantly claimed the #1 remix spot in my mind. It's a dubby, half-tempo track with vintage electric piano stabs and a lazy, rolling bassline that work harmoniously to create a perfect chill backdrop for Robyn's vocals. This is quickly turning into one of my favorite songs of the summer, and I'm going to have it on repeat until it's too cold to drink beer outside (which might be never). Enjoy this gem, and also check out J-Wow's new O Dedo EP over at Turntable Lab!

Robyn - Dancing On My Own (J-Wow Smoked Summer Mix)

Dubbel Dutch's Throwback EP

2010-06-15T15:06:00.001-04:00

Gotta keep this one short and sweet folks. Austin producer Dubbel Dutch has been making waves for a while in the gray area between post-garage, dubstep, and funky house, but until a few weeks ago he didn't have a proper release to his name. His Throwback EP, released on Palms Out Sounds, is a breaks-heavy sampler that proves how awesome he really is. He covers pretty diverse territory over three tracks that are full of intricate grooves and clean sub-bass that's just begging to be played loud. I really love "Deep Underground," but all three tracks are truly phenomenal. This release is getting support from boundary pushing artists and DJs such as Sinden, Bok Bok, L. Vis 1990, and Mosca, so don't hesitate to hop on board and give it a listen yourself.

Dubbel Dutch - Deep Underground (128 kbps)

Grab Bag #2

2010-06-13T15:58:00.000-04:00

Even though I've already given you guys a bunch of new music today, I can't neglect the Sunday Grab Bag, so here we go. Today I have some hype electro from Itch e & Scratch e, banging dubstep remixes from Sticky K and 12th Planet, and an awesome dubby cumbia remix of Rihanna. Enjoy all the new music today, and keep coming back because we're working on a sick new website!

Itch e & Scratch e - r.E.f.r.E.s.h. (Santiago & Bushido Remix)
Ludacris - How Low (Sticky K Remix)
M.I.A. - Born Free (12th Planet Remix)
Rihanna - Rudeboy (MAFFI Remix vs. Cumbia Colegiala)

Onra's Long Distance

2010-06-13T15:00:00.001-04:00

Alright, I've gotten a little behind on my goal of writing a new post every day, so today I'm gonna make up for it with three posts full of some fresh new sounds for you guys along with the second installment of my weekly "Grab Bag" posts. First up is Parisian beatsmith Onra, who's had my ear drums in a full Nelson since I first heard 1.0.8, a sample-riddled beats album with more swagger than pretty much anything except for Dilla. His new LP Long Distance finds him on more of a future-funk tip, and it's chock full of vintage drums and synths along with soulful, 80s R&B style vocals. An obvious comparison would be Dam-Funk, one of the sickest producers around, so you know this is some funky, funky stuff. My favorite tracks off the album are "High Hopes," featuring Reggie B's sensual vocals over a mellow groove, and "Long Distance," with its smooth-as-butter bassline and instantly memorable hook. Also listen to "The One," which finds T3 from Slum Village rhyming over an intricately-crafted beat that fits his style and flow perfectly. Be sure to pick up this whole album - I guarantee it'll give you endless hours of aural pleasure.

Onra - High Hopes feat. Reggie B
Onra - Long Distance feat. Olivier DaySoul
Onra - The One feat. T3

Femme En Fourrure x Drop the Lime

2010-06-10T01:30:00.007-04:00

Drop the Lime is providing the soundtrack to my life right now, and I'm particularly obsessed with the bang-up remix job he did of Femme En Fourrure's "Dirty Blonde." I'm fascinated by the eclectic mix of growling sub-bass, rattly snares, blippy metallic sounds that remind me of a music box and steel drums, and a mean synth horn part that comes in at the second drop. This is what club music would sound like if we lived in a Tim Burton movie and did a lot of acid. Not much more to say about this one, so enjoy the insanity! And if you like it buy it on Beatport.

Femme En Fourrure - Dirty Blonde (Drop the Lime Remix)

Back to my roots

2010-06-08T11:25:00.001-04:00

Over the past few months I have been into world sounds, tribal beats, and super squawky dutch house synths but I am starting to realize I have been missing out on a lot of great disco house tracks! Found these guys a while back and never got around to getting a post up about them, but it is French House at its best. Miguel Campbell, one of definitive leaders of funk in the UK also paired up with production partner Matt Hughes. Combined, they make MAM and are releasing some real funky house music on Miguels' label Out Cross Records.

Mysterious Vybes is a bonus track of Matt's "Funk Theory" EP. This track screams poppin champagne in the VIP lounge surrounded by French super models. Chill sound with tons of fun samples, and the funk-a-licous bass line perfect mood music. Kiss and Tell offers a punchier bass and faster tempo perfect for killin a dance floor. The horniness throw you into the time machine and spit you out rollerskating in your bell bottoms. The unexpected kick drops and returns keep this track fresh and funky. A must have for all you house lovers!

Miguel Campbell - Mysterious Vybes

Miguel Campbell - Kiss and Tell

Grab Bag #1

2010-06-06T16:46:00.000-04:00

I'm on a constant hunt for great new music, so I obsessively download anything I think deserves a good listen. I find some of my favorite music this way, but I also accumulate so much music that I can't possibly write posts about everything that I love. So starting today I'm going to do what a lot of blogs do and post a weekly roundup of some tracks that I can't get around to writing about but I think people need to hear. It'll be a wild card assortment of tracks that goes all across the board, but if you have an open mind I'm sure you'll discover some awesome new tracks and artists! This week I've got some lush disco-inspired sounds from A-ux, bright indie pop from Foster the People and Sister Crayon, harmonica-sampling house from Alistair Albrecht, and techy tribal house from Hickup. Lots to enjoy here!

A-ux - Less Hate More Love

Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks

Sister Crayon - Souls of Gold

Alistair Albrecht - Harm

Hickup - Hakazou!

Four Tet x Caribou

2010-06-04T19:51:00.003-04:00

On August 3rd, Domino Records is going to release a 12" with remixes of "Angel Echoes," the third single from Four Tet's stunningly beautiful album There Is Love In You. Dan Snaith, better known as Caribou, has been enlisted for one of the remixes, and for me this is a wet dream of a collaboration. Snaith takes Four Tet's airy and delicate album opener and warps it into a brooding, club-ready whirlwind of a track that displays the same intricate production and rich palette of sounds that had me listening to his album Swim nonstop for a month. Caribou's sound perfectly complements the original, and the only thing I dislike about the track is that it's making me crave more collaborative efforts between these two brilliant producers. So give it a listen, let me know what you think, and buy the remix package when it comes out! And I'll give you the original "Angel Echoes," too, in case you haven't heard it yet.

Four Tet - Angel Echoes

Four Tet - Angel Echoes (Caribou Remix)

Yolanda, I thought you said you were gonna be cool

2010-06-03T19:26:00.001-04:00

Despite the awesomely obscure Pulp Fiction reference in their name, Australian duo Yolanda Be Cool has always flown just a little bit below my radar. I've seen their name and tracks floating around on a lot of blogs, but the only song of theirs I had really listened to until recently was Douster's bouncy remix of "Afronuts." But between endorsements from big name artists, such as Drop the Lime and Sinden, and their hot new collaboration with DCUP called "We No Speak Americano," they've become one of my new favorite artists. On this track they plant themselves firmly in the realm of gypsy-dance (which Brandon and I clearly love) with some of the best horn sampling I've heard to date. I'm curious as to whether the samples in all of these Balkan-inspired tracks are pulled from older recordings or if they're studio-produced for the artists. Either way, Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP have crafted a blue-ribbon track that I'll be bouncing along to for the rest of the summer. Also give a listen to Urchins' great reworking of the track - it's a little more uptempo and they chopped the horn sample in a way that gives the song overall a lot more driving energy.

Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP - We No Speak Americano (128 kbps)

Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP - We No Speak Americano (Urchins Are Multi-lingual Remix) (320 kpbs)

Willie Willie and the Gypsies

2010-06-03T13:57:00.005-04:00

My girlfriends’ dad (Mark Orr) is an artist and gets to travel around the country staying with eccentric people who all seem to have the craziest taste in art and music. This time it was an outsider artist who makes so real crazy stuff, his name is Willie Willie, and apparently he has dope taste in music. He got a CD and brought it back and I asked to give it a listen, and oh boy was I impressed and very happy to find a gem like this. A CD full of obscure gypsy dance music with artist info and bios on each artist, RAAADDD!!! The first track is Jewish klezmer violin lead Roma music. It was then handed over to Shantel who put a real cool club kick to it, really fun track.

Sadagora Hot Dub (Shantel Remix) - Amsterdam Klezmer Band

My favorite part of this track is the sexy female vocals coupled with the dope accordion hitting every 16th beat. When the actual vocals drop it really pulls you in an you can imagine a small eastern European nightclub with a gypsy band getting trashed into the late hours of the night. I think that is why I love gypsy funk so much, perfect drinking and party music. I love the sheer amount of instruments used in this kind of music too, every time you listen through you pick up on another subtle little noise.

Although Eastern Europe is the hotbed for this type of music, some groups in New York have also been helping spread the popularity of Gypsy music here in the US. The most influential is Balkan Beat Box; all four members of were born in different eastern European or Middle Eastern countries giving them a very unique sound.

Sunday Arak - Balkan Beat Box

This track is meant for the club and I find it to be the perfect tempo to start up a night of dancing. The heavy groovtacular baseline with the spunky horn line and "Woo Woo" vocals give this slow tempo a lot of energy. The breakdowns in this track hit you with a nice mellowed out saxophone and fat lazy trombone that get your groove in a perfect easy sway.

Get the rest of the CD's music here and feel free to check out all of the other sample CD's they have released on the same label Putumayo Presents.

Sticky K Bringing the Heat

2010-06-03T13:25:00.001-04:00

San Francisco's Sticky K has been tearing the roof off the mother this year with his eardrum-shattering, bone-rattling brand of electro. His tracks are the epitome of the maximal sound that's so much fun to dance to; expect huge, nasty synth sounds layered over devastating drums and gritty bass lines, with a healthy sprinkling of horns. I just downloaded The Weirdo, his new EP on Southern Fried Records, and I nearly lost it when I listened to the title track on full blast - it's that heavy. On "Club Persh," Sticky K slows the pace down a bit but keeps the energy level up with the one of the most sinister sounding synths this side of the Bloody Beetroots. Also included on the EP are remixes from Jay Robinson & Malente, Will Bailey, and Sharkslayer, who bring their own distinctive stylings to Sticky K's heaters. You can preview all the remixes and buy the release in the Beatport player below. For good measure and 320 kbps glory I'll throw in the remix he did of the Crookers' "Para de Gracinha," which features MC Leka and is easily one of my favorite Sticky K productions.

Sticky K - The Weirdo (128 kbps)

Sticky K - Club Persh (128 kbps)

Crookers - Para de Gracinha feat. MC Leka (Sticky K Remix) (320 kbps)

Renaissance Man Update

2010-06-01T22:04:00.005-04:00

Renaissance Man caught my attention late last year with their track "Fruit Loop" and its enticing, infectious flute sample (read my earlier post about them here). Since then, the Finnish duo has been busy pounding out a steady stream of tracks that blow me away with impeccable samples and perfect sequencing. Their Babbadabba EP just came out on Berlin-based label Made to Play, which has also released tons of great tracks from the likes of Riva Starr, Oliver $, and Jesse Rose. The title track off the EP boasts some of the most playful vocal sampling I've heard in a long time, including a scat-like melody along with various beatboxing sound effects. There's a lot of small things going on in this one, so expect to hear something new with each repeated listen. On the remix side of things, they added some funky tech-house flair to Solo's outstanding "Afreaka" and Crookers' "Hold Up Your Hand," featuring the sultry Roisin Murphy. Unfortunately I can't post downloads for any of these three, but they're all available at Beatport.

Babbadabba EP by Renaissance Man

Solo - Afreaka (Renaissance Man Remix) by Renaissance Man

Crookers feat. Roisin Murphy - Hold Up Your Hand (Renaissance Man Remix) by Renaissance Man

I can't leave you empty-handed, though, so here's a couple more great remixes that you can actually download:

Poni Hoax - We Are The Bankers (Renaissance Man Dub)

Chernobyl - Balança feat. Praga (Renaissance Man Remix)

Afrojack Part 1: Original Productions

2010-05-30T22:24:00.003-04:00

When it comes to dance tracks that put you in the perfect mood to get silly, it doesn't get much better than Dutch-house producer Afrojack. He stormed onto the house scene in 2008 and quickly made a name for himself with his quirky production style, full of bouncy melodies and cavernous kick drums that sound downright wicked on a good system. The first song of his that I fell in love with was "Bangduck," which blatantly draws from Boris Dlugosch's playful anthem "Bangkok," turning it into an even wackier track. Recently, he's teamed up with fellow Dutch producer Sidney Samson for the outrageous and aptly-titled "Quacky." I can picture 1,000 sweaty bodies simultaneously going bonkers to this at a rave in some seedy rundown warehouse. He also just released "Louder Than Words," a heavy-hitting vocal house collaboration with über-star David Guetta that actually brings in some trance sounds without turning me off to it. It's already claimed the #1 spot on Beatport, and we'll definitely remember it as one of the biggest tracks of 2010, so get this one while it's hot! I can't post the full 320 kbps file, but I did add a cool new Beatport downloader for your purchasing convenience (I realize the colors clash like whoa but bear with us for the time being). And be sure to check back tomorrow for round two of my Afrojack post with some of my favorite remixes he's done.

Afrojack - Bangduck (128 kbps)

Afrojack & Sidney Samson - Quacky (128 kbps)

Afrojack & David Guetta - Louder Than Words (128 kbps)

I think "Freedom Fries" is the PC name nowadays

2010-05-29T22:08:00.000-04:00

I know that as an American, it's my duty to loath all things from France, but I just can't do it. I love French toast, French maids, and above all French Fries, a rising young Parisian producer who's caught my attention lately. A far cry from the electro and filter house that his compatriots are so famous for, his music is an artfully crafted blend of big room bass, globetrotting percussion grooves, and hypnotizing melodies. "Senta," from his Arma EP on Youngunz, is a frenetic track with a chopped vocal sample that grabs you by the balls and doesn't let you go until the end, while "Saurus Rhythm" is a fairly restrained bongo-driven track with a massive rolling bassline that gives it just the right amount of energy and low-end oomph. To round things out, he's also produced stellar remixes for the likes of Major Lazer (a huge feat considering the number of lifeless ML remixes last year) and We Have Band. There should be something here for everybody, so enjoy!

French Fries - Senta

French Fries - Saurus Rhythm

Major Lazer - Pon de Floor (French Fries Remix)

We Have Band - Divisive (French Fries Remix)

Why steal music when you can pay for it? Buy Senta's Arma EP at Beatport

Schlachthofbronx, anyone know how to say that name right?

2010-05-29T10:58:00.003-04:00

While working on this new mix for summer fun the amount of cool music and awesome artists we are discovering is fantastic. My favorite group found has got to be Schlachthofbronx. Their tracks and remixes all have a fantastic tropical vibe with super high energy good vibes. My favorite track is by far Big Foot, the beginning has a great bongo sound that reminds me of Wine (Them Jeans Remix). Then the horn line hits and you can't help yourself from getting a little grove on no matter where you are. I know Sam shits himself every time he hears it. Gunny Gunny a fast paced reggaeton track with steel drums, bongos and energetic vocals. Everything you need for awesomeness. I love when upbeat feel good dance music comes out for the summer, makes me want to partyyyyy.

Schlachthofbronx is out of Munich, which is misleading due to the name. Currently on the Disko B label They just released their new EP Ayoba, and have been seen all over with their Remixes. Currently they have one US tour date in LA in August. Maybe a birthday present to myself?

Big Foot (feat. Marina) (Schlachthofbronx remix)

Gunny Gunny (Schlachthofbronx Remix)

Ayoba (Legobeat Chop Remix)

If you like what you hear, please support the artist here at Beatport

I'm a hustler baby, that what my daddy's made me

2010-05-21T01:23:00.001-04:00

Just got back from Florida for my brothers wedding, have been without internet for a while so getting back to music is nice. Wanted to make a quick post on a cool artist who's voice comes from Simian Mobile Disco's "Hustler". Zebra Baby just released there W.A.R. EP about a month ago and I just have not made time to post about them. I am in love with her voice and just love the fat bass lines. Tribal influenced music, and if you have the ability, pitching down the Schlatchofbronx remix to 113 would be great in a moombahton set.

I have included a couple remixes of my favorite track of the EP, +1.

+1 (Original Mix) - Zebra Baby

+1 (Schlachthofbronx Remix) - Zebra Baby

+1 (Leg-No Remix) - Zebra Baby

And a bonus track, for those who can't get enough.

Jumbo (Bloody B Remix) - Zebra Baby

If you like what you hear, get the entire EP here.

I wanna take you higher

2010-05-15T11:42:00.000-04:00

It's been a little while since I've posted some straight-up, no frills dance music, so without any further ado I present to you AC Slater's new track "Take You" featuring Brooklyn's favorite hipster rappers Ninjasonik. This is AC Slater's first release on Trouble & Bass, a Brooklyn-based label known for putting out superb, banging dance tracks from artists like Drop the Lime, Acid Jacks, and Boy 8-Bit. The track has a great house vibe thanks to the piano stabs and vocal loops, but the rapping, b-more style beat, and huge bass keep it sounding modern. Trouble & Bass also brought in a whole slew of diverse producers for some hot remixes that I like better than the original. I really love Urchins' pared-down take on the track - it's a refreshing change of pace from the bouncing-off-the-walls feel of the original. Drop the Lime, on the other hand, offers a massive remix that maintains all the frantic energy that makes the original so good, but he adds a bit of tropical shuffle to it. Finally, Tête-À-Tête's transforms the track into a silky disco-rave workout that strips most of the rapping (sorry Ninjasonik, I love you but this remix sounds better without you) and extends the "take you higher" loop. All in all it's an amazing remix package that you can buy at Turntable Lab or download for free at Whitelabel if you're a Serato user.

AC Slater - Take You ft. Ninjasonik (Urchins Remix)

AC Slater - Take You ft. Ninjasonik (Drop the Lime Remix)

AC Slater - Take You ft. Ninjasonik (Tête-À-Tête Remix) (download at RCRD LBL)

Do it now, lick it good

2010-05-13T00:21:00.002-04:00

Keeping the posts rolling, with my second one of the day - something about being in such a big music city like New York always renews my passion for writing about music. Anyways, I've been on a big Shlohmo kick lately. He produces those kind of glitchy, swaggery, head-nodding electronic beats that aren't explicitly made for dancing but you can't help but vibe along with them. From the super-blippy, dirty sounds of "Hotboxing the Cockpit" to the syncopated drums and drippy reverb on "Ghosts Pt. 2" to the massive sub-bass domination on his remix of Khia's "My Neck My Back," his production is always spot and he always leaves me craving more. And what's most impressive is that he's only my age! Holy shit this guy has a career ahead of him. The Shlohmoshun Deluxe LP is coming out later this month, but you can download it over at Bleep, and the Shlo-Fi EP is available as a free download thanks to Error Broadcast.

Shlohmo - Hotboxing the Cockpit

Shlohmo - Ghosts Pt. 2

Khia - My Neck My Back (Shlohmo Remix)

Thank you Dave Nada

2010-05-12T17:52:00.002-04:00

So I'm sitting in my sister's apartment in Manhattan right now, wishing it weren't cold and rainy, but I figure that if I'm forced to stay inside I might as well use the time to share some good tunes, right? A few weeks ago I stumbled across a post over at Scatterblog (check it out here for an awesome mix and a bunch of free downloads) about a brand new genre called moombahton that Dave Nada invented on the fly at a high school party (read about it over at Fader). The formula for moombahton is pretty simple: take Dutch house, pitch it down to about 110 bpm, and layer Latin samples over it. When it's done right, it's the perfect sound for a sweaty, late-night summer party. The slowed-down bleeps and squelchy synth lines hypnotize you, while the chugging Latin grooves free you from the rigid dancing demanded by a lot of four-on-the-floor house music. Dave Nada has produced the best moombahton tracks I've heard so far, but a few other artists (most notably some of the Scatterblog crew) have hopped on board and are pumping out some great edits and original productions. So here are a few of my favorite tracks from this genre that I'm hoping to hear more of this summer, play them loud and enjoy!

Dave Nada - Riverside (Moombahton Edit)

Dave Nada - Punk Rock Latino

Slap & Dash - Fried Toy Moombahton

A-Mac - Long Train to Moombahton

Edit: Dave Nada's Moombahton EP and the brand new Punk Rock Latino EP are both available for free download thanks to T&A

Best name ever?

2010-05-07T12:40:00.004-04:00

Aside from having a lolz-worthy name, San Antonio's Mexicans with Guns produces some awesome heavy-hitting music that ranges from uptempo b-more-tinged tracks to wobbly dubstep to super blunted glitch-hop. The first track I heard of his was a remix of The Lonely Island's "Jizz in My Pants," and even though it's hard to take a remix of a song like that seriously, it's a really fun and well-produced track that made me interested in seeing where this guy was going. As far as I can tell his first real release was the Nuts and Bongos EP on Exponential Records, a hype electro track featuring Cerebral Vortex (who also killed a couple tracks on Starkey's new album) and Spoek Mathambo. Since then he has produced a handful of stellar remixes for hipster mainstays The Postal Service, Animal Collective, and Major Lazer as well as lesser-known artists like Rainbow Arabia, Oy, and Faunts. He just released the Me Gustó EP, which features three brand new tracks, on Innovative Leisure Records. "Dame Lo" and "Los Perritos" are both proper dubstep bangers that I'm sure will do some nasty things to a dancefloor, and they both feature some great sampling that sets them apart from a lot of the dubstep coming out these days. "Me Gustó" definitely steals the show on this release, though, with a reggaeton-inspired beat, some dirty synth work, and vocals by Chico Mann that fit the song perfectly, and the Ghosts on Tape remix is also on point. Buy the Me Gustó EP on vinyl/MP3 at the Stones Throw shop, and keep an eye on Mexicans with Guns - I think he's going to have a huge year!

Rainbow Arabia - Holiday in Congo (Mexicans with Guns Remix)

Oy - Snake (Mexicans with Guns Remix)

Faunts - feel.love.thinking.of (Mexicans with Guns Remix)

Mexicans with Guns - Me Gustó

Cosmogramma!

2010-05-05T11:59:00.001-04:00

This might come as a big surprise to anybody who has read our blog or talked with me about music, but I have a total man-crush on Flying Lotus. I'm a huge fan of everything he has put out, whether it be his own tracks or production for other artists, so clearly I've been waiting with bated breath for the release of Cosmogramma since I first heard about it. I could barely contain my giddiness when the track "Do the Astral Plane" leaked a couple months ago - it's 100% Flying Lotus but it sounds completely unlike anything else he's produced. As much as I loved it, it left me slightly worried that this new direction wouldn't fare well for an entire album. I shouldn't have had any doubts though. It took a few listenings of Cosmogramma before I fully understood the richness and diversity of the new sounds, but I'm really happy that FlyLo took such a bold departure from the lethargic, wading-through-molasses tracks that have earned him the top spot in the new-school beats scene. The new album draws heavily from jazz and drum and bass, and it's also way more spaced out than any of his previous work (Warp Records aptly describes it as a "space opera"). Long time fans shouldn't fret, though, because it still sounds distinctly like a Flying Lotus album - there are plenty of his signature staggered beats, heavy low end sounds, and lush atmospheres to go around. It's a pretty experimental album, even by FlyLo standards, but it's absolutely brilliant and I think it will elevate him from a king to a legend. My top picks are "Do the Astral Plane," "Computer Face//Pure Being," and "Zodiac Shit," but there's truly not a lame track on the entire album. Buy it over at Bleep on vinyl/CD/MP3 download - the artwork on the double gatefold vinyl is pretty fucking rad.

Flying Lotus - Do the Astral Plane

Flying Lotus - Computer Face//Pure Being

Flying Lotus - Zodiac Shit

And here's a couple bonus tracks just for the hell of it

Lil Wayne - I Feel Like Dying (Flying Lotus Remix)

Kanye West - Love Lockdown (Flying Lotus Remix)

Dance your problems away

2010-04-16T16:55:00.010-04:00

I don't know about everyone else but it was a really long week for me. Between work, being sick, and being stressed out from school, I'm ready to just unwind and have a good time tonight (trying not to think about finals). So here's some cool tunes to play on blast and forget about anything that sucks right now. Like Brandon, I've been getting more and more into dubstep recently. If you're into the genre at all there's no way you could have missed Rusko's huge release "Woo Boost" on Mad Decent. But for those of you that haven't heard it yet or don't listen to dubstep at all, consider Rusko essential listening. A lot of dubstep has fallen victim to lazy, paint-by-numbers production, but Rusko brings some fresh sounds to the table without throwing away the wobbly bass and heavy beats that make dubstep so much fun in the first place. One thing I love about Rusko is his innovative remix style - whereas a lot of producers don't do anything really creative with remixes, he finds cool ways to bring in elements from the original tracks while still flipping them on their heads. To hear what I'm talking about, look no further than his remixes of Kid Sister's "Pro Nails" and 2Pac's "California Love". All three of these tracks will melt your speakers, guaranteed.

Rusko - Woo Boost

Kid Sister - Pro Nails (Rusko Remix)

Rusko - Da Cali Anthem

If dubstep isn't your thing, don't worry, I've still got you covered. Brodinski is a tribal-tech house producer from France, and as far as I'm concerned he's making some of the best current house music. You can totally go crazy to his tracks and dance your ass off, but you don't get the burnout that often comes with the super ravey, hype brand of electro-house that's designed to make you go nuts. One of my favorite songs of his to date is "Peanuts Club," which he produced with long-time collaborator Noob. I lose it every time I hear that squelchy synth melody, and combined with that cowbell I can't help but smile and start groovin, wherever I may be. The Headshotboyz remix is also sublime - it has a beefed up beat with a Crookers-esque swing that turns the track into a higher-energy affair. And that breakdown about halfway through? Fucking brilliant. Brodinski also does incredible remix work, as seen on Buraka Som Sistema's "Aqui Para Voces," which features baile-funk darling Deize Tigrona, and Edu K's "Flutesnoot," a track that just needed a little bit of tweaking to turn it into a dancefloor monster.

Noob & Brodinski - Peanuts Club

Noob & Brodinski - Peanuts Club (Headshotboyz Renuts)

Buraka Som Sistema - Aqui Para Voces (Brodinski Remix)

Edu K - Flutesnoot (Brodinski Remix)

Let me know what you think, I love feedback!

A little mood music for a beautiful day

2010-04-15T17:16:00.005-04:00

So over the weekend we DJ'd at SHEIFest X and the afterparty, and both were great times for us and - from all the nice comments we got - everyone else there. Back to blogging, though! This is probably the nicest day Ann Arbor has seen this year, so I wanted to share some under-appreciated songs that compliment this sunny, breezy weather. I’ll save the long explanations for a rainy day – just listen to these four picks!

I don’t know anything about oOoOO (just try Googling that name) aside from that the music he makes his fucking awesome. It’s a combination of low end/dubsteppy sounds with really atmospheric, washed-out 80s synths. Listen to NoSummr4u - so dreamy.

oOoOO: NoSummr4u

If you’ve been reading our blog for a while, you’ll know that Dam-Funk’s Toeachizown  was my favorite album of last year that didn’t get hyped to death. Check out the synth work on “The Sky is Ours” – it’s sure to take you somewhere better if you’re not here to enjoy this weather.

Dam-Funk – The Sky is Ours

DJ Lengua is another artist I know nothing about, but I’m totally in love with his track “Mi Camino.” Make sure you have this one loaded on your iPod for Cinco de Mayo; it sounds like fish tacos and Corona with lime (or takeout and cheap tequila, depending on your taste).

DJ Lengua – Mi Camino

The last download I want to leave you with is Coati Mundi’s funky, upbeat jam “No More Blues.” I was listening to this while walking across campus between classes and I had one of those great moments where everything stressful in my life disappeared for a few minutes. Thanks Coati, you made today even better.

Coati Mundi – No More Blues

Finally, here's a video I found a while back that blows my mind every time a watch it. Not only is video one of the most trippy, visually stunning things I've ever seen, but the song is also sick as hell, with vintage keys and synths all over. Ethan Goldhammer is a mystery to me because I can't seem to figure out anything about who he is, but be sure to check out his other videos.

In the Pocket (Rhodes and Moog Light Paint) from Ethan Goldhammer on Vimeo.

Enjoy, and let me know what else I should be listening to right now!

Spring PIcks!!

2010-04-07T00:06:00.001-04:00

Walking around town in a t-shirt, drinking an iced coffee and hanging out in a park; How could spring get any better? Well some spring time music is a must and Sam and I have been recruiting by Shei Magazine to give you some spring time music there readers. We will be performing the runway music for Sheifest X for our coolest set yet. So here are my spring picks, and I hope they find there way into your house party playlist.

My favorite artist so far this year has got to be Rubix, this guy hails from Amsterdam and does just about everything. French House, Gypsy Electro, B-more, Disco whatever it is this guy is doing amazing reworks of them. This guy has released dope track after dope track since the years began and I can only be excited for so much more to come over the spring. Here are a few of my favorites.

Disco Electro - Rubix

Baiser Sur La Disco - Rubix

Bart B More - Roman (Rubix Gypsy Remix)

Wolfgang Gartner is another one to look out for, he is currently in works with Deadmau5 and has been putting out some of the best electro in years. Joey Youngman (Gartners real name) started DJing at 12 years old and has been producing the best electro this year. This Spring and Summer expect some amazing dance tracks, with the Deadmau5 and Gartner working together I can see some of the biggest tracks of the year coming out of it. A sample of Gartners work is below.

Flashback - Wolfgang Gartner

Heartbreaker (Ft. John Legend) - MSTRKRFT (Wolfgang Gartner Remix)

What better to enjoy a nice warm night out dancing than with a little tropical music? How about throwing an awesome electro feel all over it, Blood Shake has been delivering remix after remix of heavy hitting dance tracks. From São Paulo, Brazil Blood Shake represents the best of Brazilian house and fidget house.

Kid Conga (Blood Shake Tripical Falvors Remix) - Daniel Haaksman feat. MC Miltinho

Deixa o Tamorzao Tocar (Blood Shake Remix) - MC Guss

Simian Mobile Disco just released two new tracks of the upcoming album Delicatessen & Delicacies (Click here to here clips of the new tracks) and I must say they are pretty spectacular. Simian Mobile Disco has been killing dance floors since 2005 and getting a taste of some new Simian Mobile Disco gives me the feeling that we are in store for something amazing.

Spring is here and I am very excited!!! Perfect time for some sick house parties!

Spring Picks

2010-04-06T12:58:00.012-04:00

Brandon and I just finished doing a really fun interview for SHEI Magazine, a fashion, arts, and culture magazine run by students from the University of Michigan. We're working together with them for SHEIfest X - a fashion show celebrating the magazine's 10th anniversary - and I couldn't be more excited for it. They asked each of us to suggest some spring listening for their readers, and I figured a new post with my choices would be a great opportunity to jumpstart a busy spring and summer of blogging. I hope some of these will find their way onto your iPods for some serious aural enjoyment!

My favorite album of the year so far has been Gonjasufi's genre-defying Warp release A Sufi and a Killer. Gonjasufi is one crazy dude, with a unique croon unlike anything else you've heard in a while, and with Gaslamp Killer handling most of the production you can expect some heavy low-end beats with fuzzy, psychedelic samples from God-knows-where. Throw in a few guest beats by L.A. legend Flying Lotus and you've got an album that covers enough territory to captivate your ears and brain upon repeated listens. Right now I'm obsessed with "Holidays," a blippy digital affair that's sure to get your head nodding:

Gonjasufi - Holidays

Speaking of Flying Lotus, his third EP Cosmogramma is set to be released on Warp early next month. From the tracks that have come out so far, it sounds like FlyLo's most ambitious and possibly best album to date - he's recruited help from artists including Thom Yorke, Ravi Coltrane, and Erykah Badu for what Warp is calling a "space opera." As far as I'm concerned, Flying Lotus is King Midas, and Cosmogramma is going to be a landmark album that launches him into the consciousness of a lot of music lovers that aren't familiar with the new-school beats scene. "Do The Astral Plane," a surprisingly uptempo and danceable song for FlyLo, is my favorite track from the few I've heard. There's no download available yet, but in the meantime you should check it out over at blahblahblahscience:

Flying Lotus - Do The Astral Plane

Lazer Sword is one of my favorite artists in that borderland genre that weaves together electro, dubstep, 8-bit sounds, sub-bass, and new-school beats with all sorts of other crazy sounds. Lando Kal and Low Limit, the two members of Lazer Sword, put out The Golden Handshake EP on Numbers, a label with an incredible roster that always puts out solid releases. My favorite tracks from the EP are Lando Kal's "Fuzzy Ankles" and Low Limit's "Trapperkeeper." I don't really know how to describe these sounds any better than the description Lazer Sword used for a mix they released last year: "razor blade beats in a tornado." Word:

Lando Kal - Fuzzy Ankles
Low Limit - Trapperkeeper

Moving on to the dance side of things, I've really been into Four Tet's latest album There Is Love In You, which was released on Domino a couple months ago. I'm happy that the overall sound of dance music is moving away from the electro bangers that dominated the past few years towards a more pared-down sound with an emphasis on impeccable sampling and instrumentation. It's still totally dance-able, but it has a much more organic vibe to it. Four Tet is a master at giving his layered tracks enough space and time to flow dynamically throughout the song without ever sounding too sparse. The entire album is worthy of a devoted listen, but I especially love "Sing" for its syncopated drums and chopped vocal sample:

Four Tet - Sing

What would spring be without a super upbeat, poppy musical obsession? The warm weather just demands something to blast through your car speakers while you cruise around town without a care in the world. For me that new obsession is Two Door Cinema Club, a duo from Northern Ireland that's signed to French label Kitsuné, known for its amazing electro-pop artists and releases. Two Door Cinema Club will be this summer's Phoenix, an undeniably fun group with infectious tunes that you'll love having stuck in your head. I can't stop listening to "What You Know," a peppy, guitar-driven track off of their album Tourist History, which still hasn't been released Stateside:

Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know

For something slower and more relaxed that's still instantly accessible, it doesn't get any better than Columbia, South Carolina's Toro y Moi. Think catchy synth melodies dripping with shimmery reverb layered over lush beats that set a perfect vibe for a lazy afternoon. As my friend put it, "it's like Air and Daft Punk had a kid that listens to a lot of Ace of Base and does a lot of drugs." His debut full-length Causers of This is definitely going to be on repeat for me this spring and summer, and it should be for you too. "Low Shoulder" is my favorite track off the album, with a great keyboard loop reminiscent of Matt & Kim's "Daylight" and a fun synth line that brings a huge grin to my face every time I hear it:

Toro y Moi - Low Shoulder

Finally, I can't leave out Andre 3000 from my spring/summer music list. The Love Below is easily one of the best pop albums from the past 10 years, and I'd put it on my top 10 list of all time favorite albums. No other MC or singer has half as much swagger as Andre, and no other producer can cover so much sonic territory and make it sound so carefree and effortless. There's not a weak track on this album, but if I had to pick a favorite right now I'd go with "Vibrate:"

Andre 3000 - Vibrate

All of these releases can be bought on vinyl or as digital downloads at BLEEP, except for Two Door Cinema Club (whose album comes out on April 27th) and Andre 3000 (who you can find anywhere). Enjoy!

Aww Shoooot!!

2010-04-05T14:01:00.001-04:00

I was thinking that I really like cool music, so once again I wanted to share a couple more tracks that are bomb. This time around I have been really getting into dub step because Sam keeps making me listen to it. Well, not make me but as I listen to it more and more I am finding a very strong passion for the way this music makes you feel. It doesn't make you want to dance around all crazy; instead it makes you slow down and really get into how groovy the baseline is, or the syncopated drum hits which come in so late it feels as if the the hits are never going to come. Starting with a track that has been getting stuck in my head every night at work, and I feel it appropriate. The super grungy synth bass is completely missed with a crap sound system so please turn this up when you listen to it. Uldachi & Jubilee

Paypur (Nick Catchdubs Remix + The Kid Daytona) - Udachi & Jubilee

Late Nights, Found this gem in a mix from Dubbel Dutch on XLR8R's podcast. The booming bass is perfect, and there are handclaps, and I am a huge sucka' for handclaps. The syncopated vocals come in strong about half way through and really got me into the track. Cosmic Revenge.

Late Nights - Cosmic Revenge

Everyone who follows us, we are switching over to wordpress soon, so if you see anything that needs changing let us know!

It is getting warm outside!

2010-03-10T12:04:00.001-05:00

So lets put some music up that gets me thinking warm! During my time off I have developed a deep love for tribal or latin beats and so I have decided to share a few of them! Junior Jack in particular, I am not sure if any of you have heard the name, but he released his first album when I was in grade school and I still have a deep love for this kind of energized music.

We will start with a Bloodshake remix, this Brazilian duo has already seen a remix or two on the site and this one surely wont let you down. The bongo and woodblock percussion through the track really give you that Latin feel. They really hit the nail on the head with this one.

Quer Sambar (Blood Shake Tropical remix) - Junior Jack

An original off his first album this is by far my favorite. Really strong latin feel with a super groovy bass line and energizing piano sample on this track. It may be a long track but it is worth letting the entire track play every time because it just gets so much better after every breakdown.

Stupidisco (Hott 22 Vocal mix) - Junior Jack

This track is off Bersa Disco #6 by Sabo and Cassady, Because this is part of a larger mix the ending gets a little off but it is the first 3 minutes that I really want to showcase in this track. A real cool track to give a little break during a mix, the energy is not over the top and the vocals get stuck in your head all day, even though I have no idea what they are saying.

La Negra Chula - Sabo and Cassady

Well just those three for today, done with my vacation so more posts coming, and a mix is on the way!

Flying Lotus at the Blind Pig!

2010-02-24T20:56:00.001-05:00

So I just found out that Flying Lotus, one of the leaders of the West Coast, new-school beats scene that I love so much, is going to be in Ann Arbor on March 26th. Now, Ann Arbor doesn't have a very strong electronic scene, so I went loco when I found out that one of my musical icons is going to perform here. He's coming for the 48th Ann Arbor Film Festival, where's he'll be performing a live score of Harry Smith's 1957 film Heaven and Earth Magic, and then he'll be playing what looks to be a killer afterparty at the Blind Pig with Mahjongg and Dr. Strangeloop. This kind of opportunity doesn't come around often, so if you're in or around Ann Arbor don't miss out! And to get your juices flowing, here's a few Flying Lotus tracks (old and new) that I'm really into.

Flying Lotus - 1983
Flying Lotus - Quakes
Gonjasufi - Ancestors (Produced by Flying Lotus)
Gucci Mane - Photo Shoot (Flying Lotus Remix)

Flying Lotus' discography available at Bleep

Get on the floor if you got that booty

2010-02-23T14:46:00.005-05:00

This post is long overdue. I've been a huge fan of The Requesters ever since I first stumbled upon them last summer (as much as I despise Hype Machine for turning dance music into such a blog-centric genre, I have to give it credit for a lot of my favorite discoveries). Coming from Barcelona - one of the coolest cities in the world - they produce tracks that embody everything I love about house music. From the frenzied disco house of "Live" to the piano-driven melodies of the aptly titled "Pianobytes" to their thumping new single "Breakin' Up" on Buffetlibre's upcoming release for Amesty International called Peace, these guys really know how to make undeniably satisfying dance music. Their tracks are never stale or stagnant, thanks to frequent breakdowns and buildups that keep driving the energy level through the roof. I find that a lot of dance tracks are ultimately disappointing because their breakdowns don't build up to good enough drops, but The Requesters have perfected the art of the drop. In a genre with a lot of boring let-downs, I think they give us a prime example of how to craft a dynamic sound without losing any dance-ability. I'm hoping to see a lot more from them this year!

The Requesters - Live
The Requesters - Pianobytes
The Requesters - Breakin' Up

The Requesters' EP is available at Beatport

Good to be back

2010-02-22T12:33:00.003-05:00

Well it's officially been long enough since my last post that I feel ashamed of myself, so it feels pretty gratifying to be writing a new post! Anyways, unless you've been living under a rock you know that Odd Blood, the sophomore full-length from Brooklyn's Yeasayer, was released last week. The lead single "Ambling Alp" first hit the internet late last year and generated massive hype for the album, making me excited but also apprehensive for the release. After listening to Odd Blood a couple times through, I feel confident saying that it was worth the hype. It may not be quite as good as the group's 2007 release All Hour Cymbals, but it's certainly no sophomore slump and I have no doubt that it will find a spot on many a year-end list. The sharply-executed mix of indie rock playfulness, lush electronic soundscapes, and psychedelic instrumentation makes this an album that deserves repeated listens. If you're looking for something more explicitly dancey, I've got a couple rad remixes for you. First is Alan Wilkis's upbeat and carefree reworking of "Ambling Alp." I love the simple bassline and cascading synths on this one. Also be sure to listen to XXXChange's remix of "O.N.E," a devastating dancefloor destroyer with a great electro bassline that could do some serious damage.

Yeasayer - Ambling Alp (Alan Wilkis Remix)
Yeasayer - O.N.E. (XXXChange Remix)

How do you pronounce Debruit?

2010-02-01T11:43:00.001-05:00

Starting February off with a bang! I just downloaded Debruit's new EP on Civil Music, "Spatio Temporal," from the good folks over at TTL, and it's by far one of the freshest-sounding new school/future beats releases to come out since Dam Funk's epic Toeachizown. All four tracks are absolute bangers, showcasing Debruit's uncanny ability to produce mind-blowing headphone tracks that would also do some serious damage on a dancefloor if you have the balls to throw them in a set - of the four tracks, "Nigeria What?" is the only one that charts in "dance" territory around 135 bpm. It's hard to pick a favorite off this release, but I'd go with the opener "K.O. Debout,"which layers a super wobbly, dubstep-y bassline over a crisp staggered beat. If you're a fan of the new school beats sound don't hesitate to buy this EP! Also, don't miss his funky remix of Pollyn's "Still Love." Debruit is definitely one to watch out for this year!

Debruit - K.O. Debout
Pollyn - Still Love (Debruit Remix)

Sleep is so nice

2010-01-29T10:21:00.001-05:00

First time in a over a week I got more than 4 hours of sleep, and I feel pretty much amazing. No theme this time on what I am posting, just wanted to put down some tracks I thought deserved recognition for being so good.

Now some of these tracks have been out for while so bear with me if you have heard them before.

Alllllrighty! So for all you LCD soundsystem fans we have the All My Friends cover by Franz Ferdinand. They really give the track a different feeling and in a very positive way. The dope repetitive piano line and consistant pitter patter of the drums are replaced with a gained out electric guitar and sparatic drumming. Although my favorite change is the vocals, instead of that clear James Murphy voice, you get Alex Kapranos stumbling over all the syllables of this fast paced song.

All My Friends - Franz Ferdinand

Doing two Calvin Harris remixes this time around, both absolutely phenomenal. Canned heat is really a crowed mover, the vocals in the track give it so much energy and the drums keep pounding hard and has that super funky Calvin Harris synth. Keep this song going, because the end of this track the vocal line is spot on.

Canned Heat (Calvin Harris Remix) - Jamiroquai

Really groovy bass breakdowns here, really fun vocals and perfect tempo for having a fun time on the floor cutting a rug.

Great DJ (Calvin Harris Remix) - The Ting Tings

This next track is super fun! Really great disco beat and the bass line is killer! The vocals get a little repetitive but that is not a bad thing because her voice is perfect. About half way through the track gets super funky with the introduction of the synths, definitely a must have track.

Superstar - Pop Cop

French Tech-House at its best! This fast paced dance track just keeps building with more and more energy, and if it does not get you groovin' in your chair I am not sure what will. Kind of a minimal track, but that is what Popof is known for, and I absolutely love it. When the track hits 3:30 I really lose myself in it, hope you do too!

Faces 'Uch - Popof

Thank God...

2010-01-29T02:23:00.000-05:00

Alright, I was going to write a post bashing the "new Justice" track, but since we've recently found out it's a fake I won't stay hung up on the issue. Instead I wanna share a couple relatively new artists that I think are going to really be making waves this year.

First up is Renaissance Man, a Finnish duo that, according to their Myspace, came together in 2008 and since have released a few EPs and remixed artists such as Brodinski and Noob, Delphic, and Health. One of my favorite remixes of theirs is the stellar edit of the XX's remix of Florence + The Machine's "You've Got the Love." When I first listened to this track I was expecting it to be nothing but another layer of hipster sheen, but it's a seriously good remix. I've been on a minimal kick lately, so I love how Renaissance Man let the track breath and build for the first few minutes, and how it doesn't evolve into a banger. It's just great music. The same can be said about their original production "FruitLoop" that was released as part of the Scion A/V Presents Fluokids sampler. This one has more bump to it, though, making it a perfect dance track to throw in the middle of a set as you're building up to something heavier.

Florence + The Machine - You've Got the Love (Xx Remix) (Renaissance Man Edit)
Renaissance Man - FruitLoop

Douster is another artist that I'm really geeked about. He's not afraid to push the boundaries of dance music, mixing tropical sounds with choppy electro and house. His style is unique and, to be honest, really weird, but every track he does is just fun as hell! Exhibit A is "King of Africa," from of his recent EP Triassic on ZZK Records (available at T. T.L.), a label that you should definitely keep an eye on if you're into forward thinking, tropical electronic. Douster samples "Circle of Life" (yeah, that "Circle of Life") in a really catchy way, and the result is a bouncy and highly amusing track that also makes you want to dance like crazy. I'm also into the remix he did of Malente & Dex's "Lions," a constantly morphing track that achieves a perfect blend of dancehall and electronic. An obvious comparison would be Major Lazer... I highly recommend giving this one a listen.

Douster - King of Africa
Malente & Dex feat. New Kidz - Lions (Douster Remix)

Needle in a haystack

2010-01-28T07:24:00.001-05:00

So after staring at my computer screen for 5 hours I finally found the thing making my links bright blue instead of cool and soothing on the eyes dark purple... it was a "}". It was a } I don't remember putting in anywhere, in some jumble of code I don't recall working on at all. How it got there, I have no idea, but I found the needle in the haystack!

So, over the past week or so, I rediscovered the wallpaper remix of safe for the time being. The song is absolutely amazing, and the piano is what really gets me. It is so danceable, so simple, and is my favorite thing to hear in dance music; an awesome groovy piano line.

So I wanted to post a few tracks that over the year have really got me loving piano, these songs got me dancing harder than almost any other tracks I can recall so please enjoy the versatility of piano in dance tracks!

Lion (Bag Raiders Remix)

The syncopated rhythm and the staccato piano hits just scream out perfection. With a little beefier drum line this track would kill any dance-floor.

Butter - The Bloody Beetroots

Hard electro at its best. I would say the best bloody beetroots song produced. It keeps your heart pounding the entire way through with intensity. The way each measure carries over into the next you feel it pulling down on you, like the song is under so much pressure and is about to break. The breakdown hits and you can hear the hammer hitting each string with such a great intensity. Amazing.

Beaches And Friends (The Twelves Remix) - Database Vs. French Horn Rebellion

Not sure if I would call this piano or keyboard, definitely has more of that Casio feel. A really nice disco feel to this song with the twelves really amping up the original track with a nice disco beat and bumping up the rhythm enough to give it tons of energy.

Well, another late night over with. Fell free to leave comments about the tracks we are posting and site design, we are all ears and would love to hear from everyone checking us out!

DANCE DANCE DANCE!

2010-01-27T09:53:00.001-05:00

I would like to start out by saying, I know nothing about HTML so sorry about any bugs on the site. I am in the process of finding them and smashing them dead!

Just wanted to put down a few awesome remixes that should get any dance floor movin' and groovin'.

Sorry for no description of the tracks, kind of short on time today but I really wanted to put some songs up that I can't get over how good they are.

Turbo Love (Shinichi Osawa Remix) - The Bag Raiders

In For The Kill (Twelves Remix) - La Roux

Rich Girls (Le Castle Vania's Spring Break No Parents Remix) - The Virgins

Them Jeans Remixes So Shifty

2010-01-27T01:27:00.000-05:00

Even though 2010 is just barely under way, I'm going to give Them Jeans' remix of So Shifty's "Wine" a spot on my list of the year's best remixes. It's brilliant - minimal without sounding empty or like it's holding anything back, infectious and dancey without falling victim to cliches. Do this song some justice and play it LOUD over some good speakers. The track is from So Shifty's new EP "Wine Touch Clap," which also features some killer remixes from Douster and Emynd (get it at T.T.L.)

So Shifty - Wine (Them Jeans Remix)

And for those unfamiliar with Them Jeans, here's a fun remix he did of "Soft Shock," one of my favorite cuts off of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's massively popular album It's Blitz!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Soft Shock (Them Jeans Remix)

Covers are cool

2010-01-26T06:30:00.001-05:00

Alrighty friends, today's addition of cool tracks are in! Today I wanted to do some covers I thought were pulled off impressively taking into consideration how good the originals were. Thinking back Technotronic may be the reason I love electronica to this day. Pump up the Jam on Jock Jams may have been stuck on repeat a few times while I was getting pumped for anything that needed getting pumped for.

So we will start with a cover by a Canadian gypsy jazz band out of Montreal, The Lost Fingers. They take pump up the jam and definitly give it a new face, yet keeping it surprisingly still.... Well, Jammin'.

Pump Up The Jam (Technotronic) - Covered by The Lost Fingers

Don't really know much about Metric, but they are getting more and more popular popping up on blogs everywhere, and this song has been stuck in my head for days. A cover of Don't Think Twice It's All Right by Bob Dylan. Definitely not the music I am usually into but this track is just addicting. They have been out for seven years and every album has gotten rave reviews.

Don't Think Twice It's All Right (Bob Dylan) - Covered by Metric

Le Peste, I think it means the plague in french, but its been a while. I do know however that they were a punk band a while back, and a cool metal band did a cover. Death From Above 1979 is also half of MSTRKRFT and they are the coolest, so by default Death From Above 1979 pretty awesome. And yeah, I would call it danceable, if you like that kind of dancing...

Better Off Dead (La Peste) - Death From Above 1979

Daily Dopes

2010-01-25T22:14:00.001-05:00

Alright everybody sit tight, this is my first post of Brandon's daily dope tracks. So the plan is to be more productive with the music I find and share a few awesome songs that I found recently that have stood out.

First track is a track I was in love with when growing up just a little remixed. Yeah yeah yeah, I know call me lame but I think the Cardigans were dope in the 90's and MR. GASPAR's mix is no different.

Lovefool - The Cardigans (MR GASPAR remix)

Definitly some dance-tacular sampling done here, and it brings that disco feel in so strong that has been all over the place lately and I am lovin' it!

Lover in me - Moulinex

Next up we have a dope track that starts off a little meh, then this piano part kicks in and something spectacular happens and you almost can't help your head from bobbing. Definitely don't skip past this one until you have heard the piano solo!

Starry Eyed(Russ Chimes remix) - Ellie Golding

That is all for tonight, enjoy!

-- Brandon

I'm So Wasted for the Time Being at the Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell

2010-01-13T01:39:00.000-05:00

So I've recently been going through my iTunes library to weed out all of the stuff I'll never listen to (why did I like shitty, paint-by-numbers techno in high school?) and to organize everything better for DJing. I realized that I download a ton of music without ever giving it a full listen, so the process of weeding and organizing has also turned into a process of discovery for me. Among the music I've rediscovered are a couple phenomenal tracks by Wallpaper., a group that impressed me a while back with their remix of Mason Proper's "Safe for the Time Being." Their disco reworking is a drastic departure from the experimental indie sound of Mason Proper (really cool guys that make some great music, be sure to check them out!) but that's what I love about it. It's one of those go-to songs that seems at home in almost any set I play.

Mason Proper - Safe for the Time Being (Wallpaper. Remix)

Their track "I've Got Soul (I'm So Wasted)," the first single from their debut album Doodoo Face, is a fantastically blissful electro-pop dance jam. It's a perfect party song, complete with one of the catchiest hooks I've heard in a long time.

Wallpaper - I've Got Soul (I'm So Wasted)

The Wallpaper. remix of Das Racist's "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell" (a song that, by what I can tell, never gained attention on its own) catches you off guard at first with the stupidly funny lyrics. But then you realize that there's some serious production value behind it and that its a kickin', rockin' good time. One of the wackier songs of last year? Yeah. But also one of the most fun and entertaining. I'm excited to see what these guys put out this year

Das Racist - Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (Wallpaper. Remix)

Buy Wallpaper's Doodoo Face on iTunes

LCD Soundsystem/Special Disco Version

2010-01-11T23:55:00.000-05:00

Last week, in the Ft. Myers airport getting ready to fly back to Detroit, I saw "The Decade's Best Songs and Albums" enticing me on the cover of Rolling Stone. Now I'm not an avid reader of the magazine, but I'm mildly obsessed with people's opinions on music so I decided to pick up a copy for the flight home. As I flipped through the magazine I spotted LCD Soundsystem's "Sound of Silver" mentioned as one of the best albums of the decade, and it gave me a renewed interest in the perennial-favorite DFA headliners. I've always been into their music, but I'm only now realizing that literally every track James Murphy and crew touch is brilliant. Also fueling my LCD obsession is the new single "Up and Down (Beep!)" by Special Disco Version, a duo consisting of Murphy and LCD collaborator Pat Mahoney. It's a catchy track with that classic, irresistible DFA feel, drawing heavily from classic disco sounds but it also has that indie-dance bump to keep your booty shakin'.

Special Disco Version - Up and Down (Beep!)

And just for fun, a couple classics:

LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends
LCD Soundsystem - Get Innocuous!

Buy LCD Soundsystem at DFA Records

Albums that Pitchfork Forgot

2009-12-25T16:14:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks ago I started to put together a list of my favorite albums from 2009, and then finals time came around so I had to put it on the back burner. I finally have some free time now, but all the year-end lists are already out and sadly, they all read the same: Animal Collective, The Xx, Dirty Projectors, Phoenix, Grizzly Bear, and Fever Ray are in almost everybody's top 10. Now don't get me wrong, I'm down with all of these artists and think their albums were really good, but I'm more than a little disappointed by the homogeneity in the lists. Does everybody use Pitchfork as their one-stop shop for new music? So in response I want to share my five favorite albums of the year that I haven't seen on many lists.

5. Nosaj Thing: Drift

LA-based producer Nosaj Thing really surprised me with his first full-length, released on Alpha Pup Records. Drift, as the name suggests, floats all around the sonic map, from Flying Lotus-esque electro hip-hop to ambient electronica to glitchy IDM and even to electro-boogie. "Coat of Arms" is my favorite track off the album, with a future funk sound reminiscent of Dam Funk, but it's hard to choose standouts on an album that functions so well as a whole. Nosaj Thing exhibits meticulous compositional skills, layering squelchy synths over a framework of drums that sound organic in that trademark West coast way. The album constantly evolves, swapping one ethereal landscape for another, and the result is a perfect soundtrack for a late-night drive.

Nosaj Thing - Coat of Arms

Buy Drift at TTL

4. Simian Mobile Disco: Temporary Pleasure

By far the biggest artist on my list, Simian Mobile Disco got tons of attention for their lead single "Audacity of Huge," which features Yeasayer's Chris Keating and is one of my favorite dance tracks of the year. It could just be me, but it seems like most of Temporary Pleasure, on Wichita Recordings, got largely overlooked considering the success of their first album. SMD always blows me away with their restraint and subtlety. Their sound is never over the top but it feels like it's continually building up to an explosion that could occur at any moment. "Synthesiser" might be my favorite track for the breakdown alone, but "Bad Blood," featuring Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor, is also a top pick.

Simian Mobile Disco - Synthesise

Buy Temporary Pleasure at Beatport

3. Chiddy Bang: The Swelly Express

Philly's Chiddy Bang first made waves early this year with their creative re-working of MGMT's "Kids." Their style's really fresh in comparison to the dull, recycled sounds that seem have dominated hip-hop for the past few years. Xaphoon Jones crafts banging beats with an electro flavor, and Chidera Anamege rattles off sharp lyrics with some of the best metaphors I've heard in a while. The Swelly Express is true hipster-hop, maybe even more so than Kid Cudi, but it's a superbly-produced and entertaining album (technically it's a mixtape, but I'm not a man of technicalities) that tells the story of Chiddy Bang's ascent in the record industry. The duo brought Passion Pit aboard for "Truth," a super fun and catchy track that you'll actually enjoy having stuck in your head, and a couple other standouts are "Fresh Like Us" and "Silver Screen."

Chiddy Bang - Truth (feat. Passion Pit)

Get The Swelly Express for FREE at Pretty Much Amazing

2. El Remolón - Pibe Cosmo

El Remolón (real name Andrés Schteingart) is one of my favorite discoveries of the year. He previously produced IDM and techno under the name Drole, but I never heard about him until he became El Remolón. Released by Buenos Aires-based label ZZK, his debut album Pibe Cosmo is an incredibly unique and rich album that takes you on a journey across South America, making stops along the way to highlight the continent's diverse musical styles. It immediately captivated me with the opening track, "La Bonita," which ranks among my favorite tracks of the year. With an infectious sample of a Guarani children's choir that Schteingart recorded while visiting an indigenous tribe in the jungle, it's a perfect song to just sit back and relax to. Schteingart clearly has a keen ear for combining traditional styles (most notably cumbia) with a wide range of modern elements like squelchy synths and processed vocals. Also be sure to check out the outstanding "Escape" and "Negros Cumbieros," although I highly recommend giving the whole album a listen.

El Remolón - La Bonita

Buy Pibe Cosmo at TTL

1. Dam Funk - Toeachizown

Between Madlib's latest installations in his Beat Konducta series, a new Dilla compilation, and Mayer Hawthorne's breakout success with A Strange Arrangement, it was quite a year for Stones Throw Records. Their best release of 2009, though, was Dam Funk's fantastic Toeachizown. I absolutely cannot resist this new future funk sound. Produced using only analog synths and drums, it's simultaneously a throwback to old-school R&B jams and a visionary exploration of futuristic soundscapes. 2050 via 1980. The first listen of Toeachizown seems to be a daunting task, and I admit I was a bit apprehensive to devote over two hours to the 24 track album. Once you turn it on, though, you'll get so wrapped up that you won't want it to end. It's lush and relaxing with spacey, rippling synths, but it's also funky as hell thanks to its chunky drums and squiggly melodies. It's engaging, nuanced, and perfect for when you need a little boost or want to just chill out. There's not a single track that I wouldn't recommend off this album, but "LAtrifying" is probably my favorite, with "The Sky is Ours" and "Killdat a.k.a. Killdatmuthafucka" close behind.

Dam Funk - LAtrifying
Dam Funk - The Sky is Ours
Dam Funk - Killdat a.k.a. Killdatmuthafucka

Buy Toeachizown at TTL and pre-order the 5LP box set!

Black Noise Remixes Duck Sauce

2009-12-04T11:24:00.000-05:00

Today's track comes from British producers Black Noise. Admittedly, I'm completely unfamiliar with their previous music, but their new remix of Duck Sauce's anthem "aNYway" puts them firmly on my list of artists to watch. Their "Disco Mix" leaves most of the funky goodness of the original track relatively untouched but brings in a bouncy, fidgety bassline that perfectly complements the disco-house sound in a way that I've rarely heard executed so well. Check out the breakdown at 2:53 for one of the greatest uses of filtering I've heard in a long time. The main track swirls around in the background while a trumpet line builds up to a chorus with a fun energy that would even make a soulless Scrooge dance uncontrollably. Top-notch remix, I need more music like this.

Duck Sauce - aNYway (Black Noise Disco Mix)

Bersa Discos #6

2009-12-02T17:08:00.000-05:00

I just got a bunch of new vinyls the other day (thanks to a great sale on Turntable Lab) and one of the standouts was the new installation in the Bersa Discos series. I've been following these releases from the start, and they constantly blow me away with their quality and the diverse roster of artists they've gathered. Past releases have gone all over the place with contributions from Toy Selectah, Uproot Andy, Oro11, Hijo de la Cumbia, and Sonido de Principe. If you haven't heard any of the Bersa Disco releases I'd recommend that you check them out right away (digital and vinyl from Turntable Lab). For their sixth installation, Bersa Discos called on New York's Sabo (who also captains the phenomenal Sol Selectas series) for his take on the emerging genre of digital cumbia. Sabo, known for his tropical-inspired house tracks, blends cumbia sounds with healthy doses of Reggaeton, dancehall, and even B-more. Every track on this release is great but "Kuff Kumbia," his collaboration with Cassady and singer Shelly Thunder, really stands out. It's a warm and highly-accessible track that grabs you right away with its slow-burning groove and doesn't let you go until the very end. Just the kind of song we could use as winter comes closer and everything gets more depressing... it makes me want to sip a drink with an umbrella in it.

Sabo & Cassady - Kuff Kumbia

-Sam

First Post

2009-12-02T02:31:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody (or more likely, to the three people that will see this)! Brandon and I have been wanting to start a blog for a long time now... a place to share our musical obsessions with people who are constantly on the hunt for dope new music. We'll do our best to show you some pretty unknown tracks, post high quality files, and update regularly. So thanks for checking it out and hopefully you'll come back for some good finds!

To start off with a bang, here's some of my favorite tracks from the past few months or so. I wish I had time to write about them all, but the music will have to be enough for now:

Duck Sauce - aNYway
Coati Mundi - No More Blues
Shy Child - Criss Cross
Blood Shake - Mexico Caliente
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)
Chew Fu & Steve Clisby - Purple Rain (Prince Cover)
Fyfe Dangerfield - When You Walk In the Room
Yeasayer - Ambling Alp

-Sam