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So I finally got my room booked for South by Southwest (SXSW) and I am totally excited. It is my first time to go and I have really high hopes for it to be a good festival. I’m thinking about doing a series of posts showcasing some of the artist I am looking forward to seeing there. Here it goes.
CRYSTAL CASTLES
Crystal Castles remix of Health’s “Crimewave” is my favorite song of the week. Sadly my blog hasn’t become popular enough for me to receive free promos yet, so I don’t know all there other good tracks, but “Magic Spells,” “Untrust Us” and “Air War” are really tight. Their remix of “Goodbooks” by Leni is splendid as well their remix of Divebomb “The Whip.” This simple Canadian duo of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass are in the midst of a tour right now with Health. I’m hoping to check them out in Phoenix on March 11th; if I do I will let you know how they are live, but if not I am just going to have to wait until SXSW, which they have still yet to announce where and what day they are playing. Their debut album is due to hit your local record stores shelves March 18th. Peace and Beats
TOUR DATES WITH HEALTH:
02-28 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
02-29 Winnipeg, Manitoba – Pyramid Cabaret
03-01 Regina, Saskatchewan – The Exchange
03-02 Calgary, Albert – The Warehouse
03-03 Edmonton, Alberta – The Starlite
03-05 Vancouver, British Columbia – Richard’s on Richards
03-06 Seattle, WA – Chop Suey
03-07 Portland, OR – Backspace
03-08 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
03-09 Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy Theatre
03-10 San Diego, CA – Casbah
03-11 Phoenix, AZ – Brickhouse Theatre
03-12 Albuquerque, NM – Launch Pad
03-16 Denton, TX – Hailey’s
03-17 Springfield, MO – Randy Bacon Studio & Gallery
03-19 DeKalb, IL – House Café
03-21 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
03-22 Philadelphia, PA – Transit
03-23 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
03-25 Brooklyn, NY – Studio B
03-26 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
03-27 Montreal, Quebec – Musee Juste Pour Rire
03-28 Toronto, Ontario – Circa
Soulwax consists of the Dewaele brothers (aka 2 Many DJs) and a couple of other kick ass guys. They released Nite Versions way back in 2005. They really rock live. It is really fun to watch them all go at their instruments in perfect sync with one another instead of turntables for a change. As far as I know, they only play live (with instruments). Otherwise I believe it is just the Dewaele brothers spinning as 2 Many DJ’s. To bad neither of the groups ever seems to come over to the U.S. The album starts of with a re-work of Daft Punk’s “Teachers.” It then smoothly goes from there to the nice track “Accidents and Compliments,” and into the 3rdand kick ass track “E Talking.” No tracks on the album are a bust. They just keep the flowing going until the bangers like “Krack” come on. The album then proceeds to finish strong with last two tracks “NY Lipps” and “Another Excuse.” If you like electro, and even if you don’t, check this album out. Remember “Part of the Weekend Never Dies.” Peace & Beats
Top Tracks: “E Talking”, “I Love Techno”, “Krack”, “NY Lipps”, “Another Excuse”
So This isn’t the same version of “E Talking” from the album, but luckily I came across it because it is one of the coolest music videos I have ever seen.
Thievery Corporation’s The Mirror Conspiracy (2000) is one of my favorite albums to listen to when I am relaxing. It is also one of my favorites to listen to when I am studying, which I am doing way too much of today. It keeps you chill and focused. Good stuff for being romantic as well, or at least from my experience. You probably know “Lebanese Blonde” from the Zach Braff movie Garden State. I am pretty sure the soundtrack won a grammy. Thievery Corporation is dub, acid jazz, down-tempo, chill out, lounge etc. Many songs have a great Indian/worldly vibe to it. I saw them live at Vegoose and their performance was magnificent. It was refreshing and something new for me to dance to. I was impressed by how ‘into’ them everyone got. It might be credited to the substances everyone was taking in preparation for Daft Punk’s final ‘Alive Tour’ show in the U.S., but regardless it was a classic performance. If you like Air, you should definitely give these guys a shot. Peace & Beats yall, I am off to study some more.
Top Tracks: “Lebanese Blonde,” “Shadows of Ourselves” and “Illumination”
Sorry for no post yesterday, especially the ones who don’t even care about my ‘Fashion Friday’ post, but once again my laptop battery went to shit. Luckily this time it didn’t catch my computer on fire (Don’t by a Dell). So in order to save time and not have to use my girlfriend’s laptop all day I am going to keep it how yall like it; short and simple. Just click the picture to be linked to the site to purchase. Peace
Art School Vets, although I am not sure exactly where they are located, are my best find of the week. Some really fresh Tees.
‘Girlfriend’ by Chaunce Clothing. $26
Sick shirt by Growing Pains. $31
Fresh Nike kicks available at wellgosh. Make sure you wash dem feet before you put these babies on.
Ha, I didn’t know Mohamed Ali was an evil dictator. Sweet shirt though. $45
So I am not sure about you guys, but when I think of DnB I think the metal heads of the rave scene and how crappy it is. I had pretty much given up all hope on DnB, but then Commix, George Levings and Guy Brewer, came along. However, I wouldn’t consider them traditional DnB even though they are signed to the label MetalHeadz. Their album Call To Mind is definitely not as hard as most other DnB albums, at least the ones I have listened to, and is actually soft around the edges. I’m predicting that Commix is going to do to DnB what Burial did for the dubstep & grime genre. It’s just going to take them awhile to do it because music sites like Pitchfork Media don’t review electronic albums until months after they have been out. Seriously, today they are just now getting around to reviewing that not so great Steve Aoki album I heard in October. On that side note, how is it that kids from California are so in to Aoki when California is one of the few places that all the major DJs go to? It must be his fashion sense or something. Anyways, Call To Mind starts out with the track “Be True.” After listening to it I think you will notice a Burial feel to it. “Call To Mind” and “How You Gonna Feel (Feat. Steve Spacek) are the same way. Both tracks contain vocals that actually accentuate the beat, unlike many other albums where vocals take away tracks freshness (aka Pinch’s Underwater Dancehall). “Change (feat. Nextmen)” and “Emiley’s Smile” have a more traditional, but toned down, DnB feel to it. “Satallie Underground (Resistance Remix)” is another cool track; Lindstrom’s “I Feel Space” meets DnB. This album is probably the first DnB album I can actually relax or dance to. By no means do I consider myself an expert on the genre though. It just seems to be composed of many different styles. It has the bleeps, the basslines, the synths and the production I look for in album. I hope this album lives up to its hype. It did to me. I can’t wait to hear more from this young and talented duo. Peace & Beats
Turbo Recordings is a Canadian record label run by the multi-talented Tiga. Don’t judge Tiga by his very 80’s glam looks. The guy is great at what he does. He also has a great podcast that I seriously recommend you to check out. He plays all types of music and seems to just be winging it. They are free to download, if you didn’t already know, and I’m sure they will give you some great new tunes. His momentary in between tracks is actually very entertaining and way better than any radio DJs you hear on ‘real radio.’ Anyways, I think Tiga has a great ear for good music. He further enhanced my belief after I listened to Tiga Presents 12 Great Moments In Turbo. This is definitely one of the best mix compilations out there. Many other labels usually stick to one or two genres, but like his podcasts, Tiga’s mix is very eclectic. It starts off with the smooth as silk “Crockett’s Theme” by FPU. I am especially fond of this track because I grew up watching Miami Vice. What is even more embarrassing is that sometimes I think my style is very 80’s Miami Vice like, or at least my Ray Bans. The mix then smoothly blends into “Ocean Drive,” also by FPU, but remixed by Tiga. The next half of the albums is just stellar; including Techo, Electro, Acid House, Tech-House and Electro House tracks. Is it just me, or are there not many Acid House tracks being put out these days? Luckily “Azid Life” is a really cool one. Check out the album and let me know what you think. Peace & Beats
The album I suggest you to buy or download today is Primal Scream’s Screamadelica. This album is golden for anyone who is coming down from an E trip. The concept of the album seems to be describing the whole ‘rollin’ experience. Taking ecstasy is an experience, to the people who have tried the drug, unforgettable, and the people who haven’t tried it, a mysterious a scary one probably never to be attempted due to the myths surrounding its use. Bob Gillispie tries to take you through the whole E experience with this remarkable album. The album starts out with “Movin’ On Up,” basically describing how he was once blind to the idea of trying , but now he can see, “You Made a Believer Out of Me.” My favorite song of the album is “Higher Than The Sun.” I think the track’s name speaks for itself. The second best track is “Loaded.” It starts off with the famous speech from the movie Animal House about wanting “to be free, to do what we want to do, and get loaded” before it breaks into an awesome old school house track. You might of heard it before if you have seen the great Peter Jennings special Ecstasy Rising. Then of course how could you describe your first experience on ecstasy without talking about the come down. That is just what the last track does in a nice a relaxed way. Peace & Beats
A couple of cool t-shirts from MHI by Maharishi
“The Pop Girl Tee” by Insight. $40
“The Kick It Tee” by Insight
“A Opened Mind tee” by imaginery foundation. $30
So I’m not sure if this t-shirt is a big joke or not, but who the fuck would pay $45 for one of these shirts? My suggestion is to save your cash.
Also here is a video that I just wathced and thought it was pretty cool, but I wasn’t into the song really. I came across it on a nother website that was bashing nu-rave.
Hadouken! – That Boy That Girl
It’s time to get hyper to the “Bass Bass Drum.” Signed to Ellen Allien’s label, Bpitch Control, Modeselektor released their second album “Happy Birthday!” late in 2007. Modeselektor is a German duo composed of Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary. By no means would I put “Happy Birthday!” in my top ten list of albums from last year. That’s because there are 17 tracks on the album when there should only be about 10. If the duo chose to slim down the track list then the whole album would just be brilliant! However, considering they made the album in some kind of mobile recording studio you have to be more impressed than disappointed. The album transcends all genres. If you are looking for electronica tracks then check out “Godspeed,” “Happy Birthday” and “Deboutonner” featuring Siriusimo. Hip-Hop fans check out “Let Your Love Grow” and the “The Dark Side of the Sun.” Or if you are more into Dubstep & Grime; “Hyper Hyper” is fantastic. Techno fans should download “Sucker Pin” and “Black Block.” So, as you can see there is a wide variety of genres in “Happy Birthday!” There is even a track with radiohead’s Thom Yorke titled “The White Flash. I think they will put on one hell of a live show so we all should be hoping they go on a tour in the U.S. before they play Coachella this year.
Modeselektor – Black Block
Modeselektor – Happy Birthday!
So, I’m really into the whole electro thing right now. I know half of you think it is just a fad, and the other half just don’t know anyone out there besides Justice. Well let me introduce you to Mr. Oizo. Mr. Oizo is yet another French producer now signed to the out of control, and also French, music label Ed Banger. I first got into him listening to the Transsexual-Patrick 122 EP released in 2007. The track “Ovoma” has a dark, 80’s, and Kavinsky like feel to it. The top track on the EP however is “Patric 122.” It’s choppy, french house, and electro all in one. Not to mention the amazing saxaphone part! Can anyone tell me the last time they heard something like this before? Mr. Oizo also has two great breaks tracks(“Monday Massacre” and “Sick Dog Try To Speak”) and a nice electro house number with the title track on Flat Beat (1999). It is probably his best record. All three tracks are solid.
Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat
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