Life Signs Project

"Keep Filming .. It's Rosario Dawson"

2012-01-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

I am not particularly commander keen about the track but I found the video to be pretty super vision x-ray

Shit like this just brings a smile to my face :)

"Put that on your youtube!"

Ott - Mir

2012-01-26T07:31:00.000-08:00

Really interesting stuff here for you today. I've never heard of this dude until a few days ago and I'm really digging his stuff so far. Below is the full album from 2011 entitled Mir.

Respect:
Ott is no stranger to the studio, he has for the last 20 years been producing, arranging and recording for artists including Sinead O'Connor, The Orb, and Brian Eno. Working in a wide range of the best studios in the land from SARM East and West, Real World, and Ridge Farm to Foel in Wales. He has been interviewed in the producers/engineers bible Sound on Sound. -- Discogs.com

Bombtrack: Owl Stretching Time

Mir by Ott

LSP Best of 2011

2012-01-15T09:52:00.000-08:00

1. Click on 'Top 25' to Download
2. Import into preferred media player
3. Sort by Track # to organize by interest
4. Shake don't stir
5. Enjoy

Greg's Top 25

1	Gimme The Loot (Superginger Dubstep Remix)	Notorious B.I.G.
2	High Priestess	Active Child
3	Wilhelms Scream	James Blake
4	What Would You Do? (City High Cover)	Bastille
5	Caroline	Alex Clare
6	Limit To Your Love	James Blake
7	Waves	Jhameel
8	Little Man	Little Dragon
9	Baby Missiles	The War on Drugs
10	Savage Night At The Opera	Destroyer
11	Lady Luck	Jamie Woon
12	County Line	Cass McCombs
13	Future Funkizm	Skream
14	Comin' Through	The War on Drugs
15	Jay Z Empire State Of Mind Remix	Pretty Lights
16	Codex (Mojib Remix)	Radiohead
17	Don't Move	Phantogram
18	Know Where	Holy Other
19	Hard In Da Paint (Bellizio Remix)	Waka Flocka Flame
20	Scale It Back feat Little Dragon (Party Ben Remix)	Dj Shadow
21	Battery Kinzie	Fleet Foxes
22	Are You Can You Were You (Felt)	Shabazz Palaces
23	California Sunrise	Dirty Gold
24	I Follow Rivers	Lykke Li
25	Up Down Up Down	Koreless

Darcy's Top 25

1	Hours	Tycho
2	Echoes (Live @ Midi Festival 2011)	Washed Out
3	Can You Get to That [Funkadelic]	Stone Darling
4	Fallout	Neon Indian
5	Brokendate	Com Truise
6	Still Life	The Horrors
7	Fly Me To the Moon	Groove Armada
8	New Theory (RAC Mix)	Washed Out
9	Sweet Virginia (The Rolling Stones cover)	Everest
10	Wilhelms Scream (BBC Radio 1 Session)	James Blake
11	Toro Y Moi - Still Sound (John Kunkel New Division Remix)	Toro Y Moi
12	Raconte-Moi Une Histoire	M83
13	Fragments	Thievery Corporation
14	Bitch, I Love You (Baby Bollox Master Remix)	Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
15	Monsters Theme	Jon Hopkins
16	I got the driver	Drive
17	A Real Hero (feat. Electric Youth)	College
18	Riders On The Storm (Ibizarre Remix)	The Doors
19	Meridian	Southern Shores
20	Heart: Release	Neon Indian
21	Diamonds (prod. by Jus-Stone the Great)	Jay Fresh
22	Lofticries	Purity Ring
23	All I Want / Heroes (LCD Soundsystem / David Bowie cover)	Lightouts
24	Ragysh	Todd Terje
25	Mit Dir (Robert Görl cover)	Bright Future
26	Run Through the Jungle (LeSale's Satanic Edit)	Creedance Clearwater Revival
27	Triangle Waves	Teeel
28	Alisa	Cut Copy

Paul's Top 25

1	Burned Out	The Field
2	Shatner Rap [Feat. Greenleaf]	Fanu
3	Iwywaw	Com Truise
4	Generations	Bcee
5	Open The Wormhole In Your Heart	Warm Ghost
6	Motivation	Clams Casino
7	End Of Line [Photek Remix]	Daft Punk
8	Eyes Be Closed	Washed Out
9	The Fourth [Feat. Jenni Potts]	Blu Mar Ten
10	Don't Look Back	Bungle
11	Circular Logic [Front to Back]	DJ Shadow
12	Let You	Sully
13	Kabuki Disco [previously unreleased]	808 State
14	Bare Knuckle	Fred Falke
15	Without A Danger	Warm Ghost
16	As Young As Yesterday	Korellreven
17	Four Walls	Massive Attack and Burial
18	A Voice From Outer Space	Nikola Gala
19	Cecconi	Photek
20	La Teta [MiniCoolBoyz Remix]	Pig and Dan
21	Latchmere Allotments [Nocturnal Sunshine Remix]	The Orb
22	Heat Haze	Walls
23	True	DFRNT
24	California Dreamin'	DJ Cam
25	Somnl	Plaid

"Without music, life would be a mistake."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche

Eagle Eye Willamson - Black Gold

2012-01-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

"Williamson, 34, a proud sixth generation Texan, lives in Austin. At the age of 15, a bike accident severed his optic nerve, rendering him unable to see through his right eye. 

Watching Williamson play can at first be distracting. An unassuming man sits behind a small drum-kit configured to his liking. In his lap a guitar, perfectly positioned. As he begins to play, his feet tap the drums that construct the rhythm of the songs

With his left hand, he works the fret board of his electric guitar as his right hand switches between striking the snare drum and cymbals. Each layer expands as Williamson begins to sing. The experience, at first fascinating soon turns to exhilaration"

What a Rock n' Roll Bio

Austin Texas ☑
Williamson ☑
Eagle Eye ☑
Raunchy Blues Inspired Rock ☑mate

Check out his Eagle Eye's site for more info

Childish Gambino - Heartbeat

2011-11-23T07:34:00.000-08:00

Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino (No relation to Danny Glover) has been an internet cult darling and an industry hidden gem for years dating back to his Derrick Comedy days.

A true "Renaissance Man", (Think Jack Black, but funny, not retarded & can actually make good music) Glover is an Actor (Community), Writer (30 Rock), Comedian (Just for Laughs/Comedy Central) & Musician.

The above song is off Gambino's 4th album "Camp" released last week and it broke the chains Rock had wrapped around me since the 80s. I never had that high school whiteboy rap phase where I grew my hair out, wore baggy mossimo tshirts and listened to DMX on repeat. Beyond The Beastie Boys, acceptable Run DMC & Aerosmith collaborations & Snow, rap was just noise to me.

I am unable to accurately pick out the elements of this song which intrigued me. I just feel its goodness

Childish Gambino - All The Shine

Tycho - Hours

2011-08-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

I have been all over Tycho's latest release "Hours". The track has a rolling organic quality that reminds of a BOC on juice. They have always had a lush visceral sound that really makes me wish I was sequestered somewhere on a warm sun splashed beach. If "Hours" is a prequel to what can be expected on their new LP hopefully we should be in for a groovy treat.

Tycho - Hours

Tycho - Dictaphone's Lament

Sloan - Cars (Gary Numan Cover)

2011-07-01T17:51:00.000-07:00

Sloan covers the man the legend Gary Numan. Just downright pure

Sloan covers "Cars" by Gary Numan

The Whispers - Keep On Lovin' Me

2011-05-26T21:51:00.000-07:00

Viddy well brothers/sistas. I Just wanted to share a track that has been stuck in my head for days now. This thing is just pure uncut groove. It also accompanies one of the greatest youtube comments I have ever seen. Pay close attention to the gem in the red. BELLE ISLE muthas!

"If you're at a party and this jam comes on and you don't move, simply get up, get into your car and drive to the closest cemetery, park your car at the gate so in the morning when it opens you will be first one in and simply find an open grave and JUMP IN! you must be walking dead."

Welsey Willis Vs. DJ Shadow

2011-04-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

I had a request for this little Wesley Willis / DJ Shadow classic.

Wesley Willis - Dj Shadow Mix

Below are a couple old school personal fav's, on the house.

Souls of Mischief - 93 'til Infinity

Bran Van 3000 - Problems

Radiohead - King of Lambs

2011-04-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

After a few listens I am really digging the relentless drums scattered on the LP. But overall I must admit it does make me want to clamor around for their earlier work.

Vega Choir - Creep (Radio Head Cover)

Everything is a Remix - Part 2: Remix Inc.

2011-02-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

Bibio / Pilooski

2011-01-29T17:53:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I last "poasted" any sonic delights. So just to break the silence I've decided to post a few tracks that have been getting me through these bleak winter months. Especially the driving part.

Bibio - Lovers’ Carvings

The opening of this piece seems to remind me of some campy 1970's National Film Board of Canada nature film. For some reason I visualize a sterile narrator waxing poetic about some boring, overpopulated Canadian varmint like a deer or an otter, toiling in its natural habitat.

Tame Impala - Lucidity (Pilooski Remix)

A downright kick ass mix of a Tame Impala cut. Pilooski always seems draw these up right. What I enjoy about Pilooski's takes is the subtle touch he adds. Its like adding the marsh-mellows to something already quite delectable like hot chocolate.

I always seem to get a kick out of Matt & Kim video's. This one featuring their new release "Camera's" is worth a viewing if you enjoy the ole' ultra violence

Goldie Lookin Chain - Dubstep Christmas

2010-12-08T18:48:00.000-08:00

Caribou - Sun

2010-10-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

I must admit I have never been a big fan of Caribou / Manitoba (Dan Snaith) over the last few years. Only a handful of exceptional songs such as Irene have kept me checking up on him. However this last LP, Swim really sunk its teeth in me. Swim is well crafted and tighter than ever, with some real groovin' elements.

I missed seeing Caribou live on their first go around in June, but due to their intense touring schedule I had a 2nd opportunity to see them live last week. I would say 2 tracks were worth the entire set to me. The first track being Hannibal which seems to have away of hypnotizing and just drawing me in. They finished the set off with Sun which is nothing but a relentless electro assault on the senses.

Caribou - Sun

As Dan Snaith's music tightens up with each passing record, Caribou's sound appeals more and more to me.

Air Charter International - Milwaukee

2010-09-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

It's felt like summer has been KO'ed for a while now. I don't know whether that's because I have made my peace with it. Or maybe it's just the fact that football season is here, and puck is just around the corner. Either way I would like to send summer off with a little sonic bliss. Milwaukee by Air Charter International, seems to gently capture the the summer of 2010 quite nicely. It opens up with the warm familiar sound of was seems like fireworks and then gives way to the faint hum of what reminds me of the notorious Vuvuzela of World Cup 2010. Those of you well versed in Boards of Canada should notice a similarity in sound.

Air Charter International - Milwaukee

Bonus deliciousness!

Air Charter International - Alaska v2

Air Charter International - Kamchatka

Everything is a Remix, Part 1

2010-09-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

Ride the Chillwave

2010-08-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

By adding crunchy danceable beats these artists have sweetened the "shoegaze" explorations of the 80's & 90's and have pushed the sonic reverberations further than ever. Chillwave kind of reminds of some sort of mix between Boards of Canada, The Beach Boys, 1970's AM radio (ex. 10CC), and The Cure.

Because of its close association with the "shoegaze" sound (see my previous post) Chillwave has hit me like some sort of warm midsummer t-storm and I can't get enough of it.

Up until recently I found it fairly easy too isolate new music, and the artists creating them, to specific regions. But with the advent of the internets and more specifically the "blogosphere" these geographic lines are starting to break.

"Whereas musical movements were once determined by a city or venue where the bands congregated, 'now it’s just a blogger or some journalist that can find three or four random bands around the country and tie together a few commonalities between them and call it a genre,' said Alan Palomo of Neon Indian"

The New York Times' Jon Pareles described Chillwave as: "They're solo acts or minimal bands, often with a laptop at their core, and they trade on memories of electropop from the 1980s, with bouncing, blipping dance-music hooks (and often weaker lead voices). It's recession-era music: low-budget and danceable."

Com Truise - Sundriped

Teen Daze - Shine On, You Crazy White Cap

Washed Out - You & I

Neon Indian - Should Have Taken Acid with You

Commanche - Velvet Morning

Washed Out with Small Black live - You'll See It & Feel It All Around (Toronto, April 7, 2010)

In a World of an Introduction to Love Hurts Mix

2010-07-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Below is a playful little collection of old and new. Big shout out to Keith for inspiring me to put this mix together! Hope all ya'll are are having a bang up summer!

In a World of an Introduction to Love Hurts Mix by (Dubsonic)

Tracklist
100 Greatest Insults in Film
Ennio Morricone - The Ecstacy of Gold
Nancy - I Promise I'll Wait
Computer Magic - Electronic Fences
Spandau Ballet - True (The Revenge Rework)
Keith via 89X
Kavinsky - Nightcall (Breakbot Remix)
Damien Jurado - Cloudy Shoes

For further insults please refer to the following..

Pogo

2010-07-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

For those who don't know of his work, Pogo creates imaginative mixes using snippets from film. He's pieced together some creative cuts citing, Harry Potter, The Terminator, Toy Story to name a few. His whimsical interpretations are catchy and drew me in instantly. Big shout out to Jen for this find.

A complete catalog of his mixes can be located via his website

Click for a trippy version of Alice.

Dawn of the Living Night of the Morning Tea Time Mix

2010-06-27T10:28:00.001-07:00

A little quick and dirty mix I threw together, inspired by the master of the undead world, George A. Romero.

A little bit of this and a little bit of Flesh eating Ghouls.

Enjoy the carnage at you're leisure.

Hope ya'll are doin well!
D

Dawn of the Living Night of the Morning Tea Time Mix by 1Dubsonic

Tracklist
Harry Nilsson - Everyboy's Talkin'
Goblin - Dawn of the Dead Theme
Ray Mang - Look into my Eyes
Darwin Deez - Up In The Clouds (Mr. Flash Remix)
Dusty Brown - This City is Killing Me
The Longcut - Repeated (Toro Y Moi Remix)
David Cross - Fitter Happier

Messin With Sly -- Imitations, Interpolations, & The Inspiration Of Sly Stone

2010-06-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

The title explains it all. Not only are there some down right dirty cuts of some quintessential sly recordings on this release, but it also made me think back to one of my favorite live performances by Sly & The Family Stone. That being said, this leads to more of a double barreled type "poast"

He 6 - Sing a Simple Song

Kashmere Stage Band - Thank you

Personal Top Live Performances

1. Sly & The Family Stone - Dance to the Music / Music Lover / Higher (Live @ Woodstock)

No other performance I wished I could have witnessed more than this one. Rock, Blues, Soul, Gospel, Dance music. Sly really does it all. He is the bunk of rhythm and the following cut is a perfect example.

Unfortunately there is no footage of the particular part of their performance which included the Dance to the Music/Music Lover/Higher combo on the Woodstock Film. Below is the closest thing I could find exhibiting the raw vitality of the Sly performance.

2. Pink Floyd Echoes - (Live @ Pompeii)

If recording in a coliseum at the base of one of the most famous volcanoes in the world wasn't cool enough, Pink floyd was the perfect fit. The bass line in the last 5 mins of this track is downright nasty!

3. The Guess Who - American Woman (Live At The Paramount)

Known for their Blues injected rock. These guys cut a 16 min take of American women that is downright amazing. The last 10 mins of which is just relentless rockery!

4. Any Avalanches set.

Self explanatory for those who know.

What are your favorite live performances?

I Heart Dub

2010-05-29T12:42:00.000-07:00

Dub music has been in heart since I was a pup. I was first introduced to the sound in the mid 90's when I discovered The Orb. Their slow moving hypnotic soundscapes drew me in immediately. Dub basically strips out all fluff in music & leaves the straight rhythmic goods. It also carries the same raw vitality and attitude that punk has without the all the high end. This is probably why so many English rockers in the late 1970's gravitated towards the sound.

Basically dub is the result of re-engineering a previously recorded track. The process used by Jamaican producers when making dubs was to use previously recorded material, modify the material, and subsequently record it to a new master mix, in effect transferring or "dubbing" the material.

Below is the trailer to a great film called "Dub Echoes" (2008) which highlights everything dub and its influences. The film touches on all of the sounds offshoots such as Hip-Hop, Downtempo, Trip-Hop, Drum & Bass, Jungle, Dubstep etc. It's a great watch for any music lova!

Don Letts ~ Dub Echoes

Mykal Rose - No Burial

Dr. Das - Asian Dub Foundation ~ Dub Echoes

Waldeck - Floater (Dubblestandart Mix)

Steve Barrow - A&R of Blood & Fire Records / Author of Blood & Fire A Rough Guide to Reggae ~ Dub Echoes

The Upsetters - Sipple Dub

Richard Hawley

2010-05-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

I'm on a late night tunes kick right now, so to embrace it i'm bringing you one of my favourite late night acts, Richard Hawley. I consider him a modern crooner, but not in the Michael Buble sense, Hawley is something serious - and he's got some serious reverb on most tracks which adds the perfect level of substance to his work. If you want more, I'd recommend his 2005 album Coles Corner. Cheerio.

Richard Hawley - The Ocean

Richard Hawley - I'm on Nights

Richard Hawley - Darlin' Wait For Me

Coverville: Population Acoustic

2010-05-09T18:41:00.000-07:00

WARNING ACOUSTIC MIND CONTROL!
Below are a few acoustic covers that have been tickling mine ears lately.
Hope ya'll have a good week now!

Snow Patrol - New Sensation (Inxs)

Vampire Weekend - Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac)

The Morning Bender - Dreams (Fleetwood Mac)

Florence & The Machine - Addicted to Love (Robert Palmer)

Dave Clarke - Dream On (Depeche Mode)

Trent Reznor & Peter Murphy

2010-05-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

I was first turned on to Nine Inch Nails at the tender age of 14 - around the same time they released The Downward Spiral. This album was seminal in evolving my tastes into what would become a love of electronic music.

What I'm bringing to the table today is something different, a dish from a different palette if you will. These tracks are all taken from Where Darkness Doubles Light Pours In. This album is a bootleg of a 2006 radio collaboration between Trent Reznor and Peter Murphy from Bauhaus. Peter Murphy takes the lead vocal on most of the album tracks, and they cover a lot of ground taking on tracks from TV On the Radio, Joy Division and Iggy Pop... here are a few of my favourites.

Trent Reznor & Peter Murphy - Warm Leatherette

Trent Reznor & Peter Murphy - Head Like A Hole

Trent Reznor & Peter Murphy - Night Clubbing

BONUS!!
1000 Homo Dj's - Supernaut

LSP Party

2010-05-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

The rest of the guys here don't know it yet, but we are going to start a new series of posts for the Life Signs Project.

Darcy and I, back in the day, used to sit in front of the CD player at parties and put on songs, "crowd pleasers" as we used to call them. We felt it was a way to show off the depth of our music knowledge to the room (and as a competition with each other), with the mask of just keeping the party rolling. Really, we liked beer, hated dancing, and always needed to be in control of the tunes.

So lets keep the party rolling. The following are the first four tracks of the Life Signs Project party. The way I see this is in the end we will have one hell of a soundtrack!

Bob Marley and the Wailers - Punky Raggae Party (Babylon by Bus)

Ben Harper - Burn One Down (Fight For Your Mind)

TV on the Radio - DLZ (Dear Science,)

Peter Bjorn and John - Writer's Block (Writer's Block)

Clock Opera

2010-05-01T17:41:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across Clock Opera recently and have really enjoyed what I've heard so far. Clock Opera "remind(s) us of how much we wished Michael (Jackson) had chosen Aphex Twin or Squarepusher to be his production accomplices towards the end of his life instead of Will.I.Am." (last.fm.com)

I was very impressed with the video compilation of random things here, and I really think it goes well with the track. My favorite is the fish, and pie. Enjoy!

"

Washed Out

2010-04-10T10:09:00.001-07:00

The last few weeks have been quite hectic for me, with a move into a new house. Things are finally feeling settled and luckily I had some good toonz to get me through the painstaking task of putting together furniture.

I have been fixated lately on a band that unfortunately has no back catalog. I've had to scour the inter-tubes to collect what little content that is available at the moment.

Washed out is Ernest Greene, a fella from Georgia that basically has a sound that lives up to his alias. The music has a warm summer quality to it that I just can't seem to shake.

Enjoy!

Washed Out - New Theory

Washed Out - You'll See It

My Ride to the Blues

2010-04-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

Little did I know when I began my musical journey so long ago that I would be on a train ride strait to the blues. For years I thought of the blues along with country, depressing slow mundane and generally not worth the time of day. As time has gone on and I've realized how important it is in all forms of music and I've taken the time to delve into the details a lot further over the years.

One of the only truly American musical art forms, blues music spawned rock-and-roll, rhythm and blues, soul and even rap. The sound that originated in Mississippi's cotton fields and juke joints is like no other, and when played well creates a feeling that is hard to find anywhere else across the musical plain.

It took me many years to truly begin to enjoy "roots" blues such as Muddy Waters, BB King, Howlin' Wolf, Big Mama Thornton etc. My love for the blues guitar started with more traditional classic rock legends just as Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds, The Animals, Fleetwood Mac, Cream and The Rolling Stones.

I've attached tracks from four true legends. This is truly as smooth as the guitar gets as far as I can tell. Something about each of these tracks just gets me right in the gut.

Enjoy.

Jimi Hendrix - Red House (Are You Experienced 1967)

Eric Clapton - Old Love (Unplugged 1992)

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Little Wing (The Sky is Crying 1991)

Led Zeppelin - Since Ive Been Loving You (Led Zeppelin III 1970)

The Cure - The Unheralded Gem that is Bloodflowers

2010-04-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

Bloodflowers, an album released in 2000, billed as the third part of a trilogy begun with Pornography and continued with Disintegration is in my opinion one of the most underrated albums ever produced. Bloodflowers boasts all of the Cure's signatures: lazy melodies, gloomy lyrics, classic Smith vocals, and long running times which at first sounds bad, but are what makes The Cure who they are. Though it does not boast classic hits like its brother album Disintegration (Pictures of You, Love Song, Fascination Street etc.) it is front to back truly excellent.

Bloodflowers has never been critically acclaimed as an album, and in a way I can see where these negatives are coming from. The songs do tend to blend, and you often do check to see if the track has changed from one to the next, but all the while the groove and feel never lets up. In my opinion in this case that’s a positive. The album has a purpose, and from the beginning with Out of the World, and the amazing Watching Me Fall strait through to my two favorite finishing songs 39 and Bloodflowers it feels like there is a point to be made.

I’ve attached a few of my favorite gems from this album. Enjoy.

Sorry for the hiatus – it’s good to be back.

The Cure - Watching Me Fall

The Cure - Maybe Someday

The Cure - 39

Hot Chip - I Feel Better

2010-03-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

Marianne Faithfull

2010-03-12T08:48:00.001-08:00

There are few rock & rollers who's stories can match up to volatile life of Marianne Faithfull. In 1965, when she was 18 she became one of Britain's biggest stars. She was a staple in the swinging London scene, she had a look and sound that was entirely her own. Move to 1970 and she's an addict, anorexic and living on the streets. Thankfully, Marianne made a successful comeback with her 1978 album Broken English, and has since transformed into a symbol of the pleasures and pitfalls of the 60's.

Today, my gift to you is a few of my favourite Marianne Faithfull tracks. Included are two amazing remixes, one by Baron Von Luxxury and the other by the always entertaining Osymyso.

Marianne Faithfull - Broken English (Baron Von Luxurry Slow Touch Remix)

Marianne Faithfull - Sex with Strangers

Marianne Faithfull - Like Being Born (Again with Osymyso)

Marianne Faithfull - Lola R. Forever (with Sly & Robbie)

Bleep Bloop Pleasures

2010-03-05T10:19:00.000-08:00

December 8th, 2009 was the last time I posted on this site.. I am a terrible human being and I apologize to my thousands and thousands of fans out there on the intertubes. Now, please accept these gifts!

Baby Monster - She Comes Alive (Jocks Remix)

Plushgun - Just Impolite

The Phenomenal Handclap Band - Baby (Clock Opera Remix)

David Bowie - Memories of a Free Festival Part 1&2

2010-02-26T13:31:00.000-08:00

Memory of a Free Festival has always been one of my favorite Bowie tracks. Released in 1970, this was Bowies attempt at the woodstock sound. His take sounds like it could have been a transmission from Mars.

I have never been a fan of this song being broken into 2 parts. Bowie and his then producer Tony Visconti split the track roughly in half, re-recording it so both halves could function as individual songs.

With the re-mastered re-release of Space Oddity I was hoping there would have been a combined version. Instead there were a number of alternate takes included, which I felt were inferior to the original.

Ultimately I decided to take things into my own hands and merge Parts 1 & 2.

Enjoy!

David Bowie - Memories of a Free Festival Parts 1&2 (LSP Exclusive)

Mercury Rev - Memories of a Free Festival

"The Sun Machine is coming down & we're gonna have a party"

Boards of Canada - Everything You Do is A Balloon

2010-02-19T19:02:00.000-08:00

I have been on a bit of a Boards of Canada kick lately and I happened upon this little video featuring BOC's - Everything You Do is A Balloon. I quickly found myself mesmerized by the strangeness of the footage combined with the melodies of the BOC track. This result challenges even the great Aphex / Cunningham duo for downright creepiness.

After some research I found out the video is based on an actual children's bicycle safety film released in 1963 called "The One Got Fat". In the film, ten friends who are children with monkey masks and tails, plan on going to the park for a picnic. They all ride there on their bikes, but each one meets a different fate on their way to the park as a result of their failure to follow specific bike safety rules (like not making hand signals, not reading traffic signs, not riding with traffic, riding double, or riding on the sidewalk). One by one, each of the friends makes a mistake and suffers an interesting fate. In the end only one of the friends (who not only followed all the bike safety rules, but is also a normal human, whose face is not shown until the very end) makes it to the park and eats all the food by himself. Thus, as the title says, "One got fat!"

One critic described the film as "a concentrated dose of lab-purified nightmare fuel."

Even the names for each of the Monkeys are downright comical
1. Rooty-Toot ("Rooty") Jasperson
2. Tinkerbell ("Tink") McDillinfiddy
3. Phillip ("Floog") Floogle
4. Mossby Pomegranate
5. Slim Jim ("Slim") Maguffny and Trigby Phipps
6. Nelbert ("Nel") Zwieback
7. Filbert ("Fil") Bagel
8. Stanislaw ("Stan") Hickenbottom
9. Orville ("Orv") Slump

If I had saw this film when I was a child it would have gave me nightmares for weeks. The combination of track and the Film is priceless.

Boards of Canada - Everything You Do is a Balloon

One got Fat (1963)

Funk Liquide

2010-02-11T14:53:00.000-08:00

No words here, just a few sexy tunes I've been enjoying as of late. Lettuce turnip the beats.

Emalkay - Angie Got Stoned

Joy Orbison - Wet Look

Headhunter - Prototype (Modeselektor Remix)

Chromeo - Night by Night (Skream Remix)

Javelin - No Mas

2010-02-06T10:12:00.000-08:00

These fellas from Brooklyn put together some of the slickest grooves I have heard in a long time. Their sound is one of a distinct playful mashup similar to the Avalanches (If anyone can remember them). Each song seems to top the other. Javelin's Debut album, No Mas is scheduled to come out on April 20th. Keep your ear to the ground.

I had a difficult time choosing what particular trax to post. I may have went a little overboard, however I promise you they do not disappoint the ears.

LONG LIVE MIDI!

Javelin - Intervales Theme

Javelin - Soda Popinski

Javelin - STD Fury

Javelin - Lindsay Brohan

A little snipet of "Soda Popinski" live. with some Hip-Hop accents

Easy Star All-Stars - Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band

2010-01-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

Last year I published a brief post referring to Easy Star All-stars rendition of the Radiohead's OK Computer titled, Radiodread. This time the group is back and take on one of the seminal Beatles albums. Lonely Hearts Dub Band is littered with Easy Stars usual mix of neck bobbing reggae licks. I particularly enjoyed their rendition of the A Day in the Life. These guys are on my hit list to see live.

Easy Star All-Stars - A Day in the Life

Catching Up (Part 2)

2010-01-16T15:53:00.000-08:00

Looking into the folder where I keep all the tracks I intend to upload I've realised that some have been sitting there for a LONG time, better late than never I suppose.

Over the past few months I listened to both the Neon Indian and Bibio albums quite a lot, and I couldn't help to think that if they joined forces they could release one triumphant album. They both have a similar home made low-fi sound, so here's a little taste from each to wet your palette.

Bibio - Jealous of Roses

Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer

Monsters of Folk - Baby Boomer

Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Do Your Thing

Catching Up (Part 1)

2010-01-16T15:02:00.000-08:00

Since we've last spoke I've had the pleasure of hearing many a fine tune, all of which I've been meaning to share with you for quite some time. However, due to my lack of motivation during this winter solstice these good intentions have been postponed until now.

I hope this selection will soothe whatever ill will you felt towards me during my unannounced absenteeism. For the contents of this brown box, elclectisism wins all around:

Yeasayer - Tightrope

Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM

The Antlers - Kettering

The Rural Alberta Advantage - The Ballad of the RAA

A Very Bootie Christmas

2009-12-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

Good X-Mas music? Thats unpossible!! As you can tell, I'm not a huge fan of most Christmas tunes, but this is definitely an exception. What we have here is a couple of mashup albums released back in 2006 from a couple of chaps by the names of DJ Adrian & the Mysterious D – a.k.a. A PLUS D. Similar to Girl Talk in the mashup vibe, A Plus D take X-Mas and non-X-Mas tunes both new and old, throws them together, to create something different entirely. At first, I wasn't expecting much, but while listening to the albums, it was just one track after the other of music gold. If I were to throw a Christmas party, this would be playing and people would be having fun.

A Very Bootie Christmas - Volume 1

A Very Bootie Christmas - Volume 2

Voicedude - It's The Small Things

Edit: Volume 2 was released just this December. Thanks for the correction A+D! :)

Verve Remixed CHRISTMAS

2009-12-06T18:33:00.000-08:00

It's starting to feel like Christmas again. Especially since there's now a thick coating snow where I reside.

Verve Remixed CHRISTMAS is part of Verve's remix collection and it breathes new life into some of the seasons classic's. There are a few new ingredients added in each track which gives them a slightly different flavour. This can be good or bad depending on listener's perspective.

Steven Leggett of Allmusic sums up perfectly the tricky job of remixing timeless pieces of music, especially Christmas music.

"What makes a classic Christmas song work is that, even as we change and the world changes, it stays the same, popping up each year during the holiday season steady and sure, providing a kind of thread to holidays past, an example of perceived nostalgia at its most powerful. Messing with that emotional nostalgia is a tricky thing, which is why this set of holiday classics remixed by various producers and DJs walks a thin line between delightful surprise and what-were-they-thinking disaster."

Take em' or leave em'. Personally find this collection to be a refreshing change to some timeless tracks and they have been on rotation along with their original counterparts.

Count Basie - Good Morning Blues (Real Tuesday Weld Clerkenwell Remix)

Shirley Horn - Winter Wonderland (Christian Prommer Remix)

Billie Holiday - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (Yesking Remix)

DJ Spooky

2009-12-03T09:29:00.000-08:00

DJ Spooky is a turntablist, a producer, an author, postmodern intellectual, among other things. He has been described as the king of 'illbient' which combines the hip hop slang term 'ill' (a positive expression: bad meaning good) and 'ambient'.

In 2007, Spooky made a film called "Terra Nova Sinfonia Antarctica" which really exemplifies how he uses his music to connect with nature and the world around us (in this case, specifically Antarctica). He actually ventured to Antarctica with a waterproof microphone and captured field recordings of the resonant frequencies of crystalline ice. Combining these recordings along with his trademark spinning and backed by live music creating quite an amazing live performance. Here's a clip.

Below are a couple of selections from his earlier work in the mid 90's. Both are from his first album released in 1996 called "Songs of a Dead Dreamer" and are definitely 2 of my favourites of his work. It certainly doesn't stop there however, as he has released 16 albums since then varying from ambient to hip hop to dub.

DJ Spooky - Hologrammic Dub

DJ Spooky - Galactic Funk

Natty!

2009-11-26T09:01:00.001-08:00

Hello. How are you? I am fine. I have some drum and bass for your listening enjoyment. I hope you like it.

First up is "Bitemark" by Black Sun Empire. I can safely say that this is my favourite drum and bass track ever in the history of life. The build up and drops give me goosebumps every time.
Teebee's up next with a track from the album Black Science Labs released back in 2000 called "Fingerprints". Teebee is one of my top D&B producers that continues to pump out quality tunes year after year.
Finally, Goldie is still alive with a collaboration with Commix that was just released this year called "Envious". Wicked track with an old school flavour. You'll like this one Gregory.

Black Sun Empire - Bitemark

Teebee - Fingerprints

Goldie and Commix - Envious

Happy "Oneth" Birthday LSP!

2009-11-19T21:00:00.001-08:00

Its been a successful 1st year for the LSP. We just want to throw a personal thanks out there to all those with music blogs. Keep spreading those sounds. Thanks to efforts of sites such as Last.fm, Eblows, & Hype Machine, music is finally beginning to shift into the hands of the people.

Cut Copy - Lights & Music (Boys Noize Happy Birthday Remix)

James Brown - Live at the Olympia, Paris, 1971

2009-11-14T12:37:00.000-08:00

In 1969 Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker disbanded from James Brown to peruse other interests, leaving James to find replacements. He recruited The Pacemakers, a Cincinnati based band featuring a young Bootsy Collins on Bass.

What Bootsy brought was a vitality and energy that seemed to go hand in hand with Browns raw brand of infectious music. This new band was based entirely on rhythm and brought Brown's energy to a new level.

Unfortunately this collaboration only lasted one year as Bootsy wanted to push the funk farther than James would allow.

Below is a rare performance of these two soul giants captured on stage together. Forgive the audio quality. I have attached a much cleaner audio version of this track. The selection is taken from James Brown - Live at the Olympia in Paris released in 1971. This release was originally intended for a 1972 release as a vinyl triple album, but was canceled after the key members left Brown to join Parliament-Funkadelic.

James Brown - Ain't It Funky Now

The Beatles '71

2009-11-06T19:54:00.001-08:00

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am an absolutely huge Beatles fan. My obsession began at the impressionable age of 13 - right before The Beatles Anthology aired on television, which afterwards only fueled my obsessive fire to the point of absurdity. Since then they've still remained my favourite band from Liverpool, where I revisit my obsession at least once a year where they are all I play for weeks.

Lately I've been listening to a large amount of solo Beatle material, which is dangerous territory to the uninitiated due to the vast majority of it. My first exposure to the solo albums came with the purchase of the 1987 release of Paul McCartney's All The Best! through Columbia House about 15 years ago. The mental and emotional scars that greatest hits compilation left me have only recently begun to heal. For quite a while this album gave me the impression that mostly all solo Beatle material was shit, and trust me, there's a lot of sordid albums released by the fab four over the last 4 decades. However this has also taught me to never truely trust a Greatest Hits album from someone with SO much material. The true golden gems are the ones usually buried within the albums, and not the radio played singles.

A Selected History of Beatles' Solo Material 1970-1971:

March 1970 - Ringo Starr releases Sentimental Journey, a collection of rock and pre-rock standards. Through the sands of time, this album is very much forgettable.

April 1970 - Paul McCartney releases his solo album simply called McCartney. A self-penned interview was issued to the press prior to the album release, you can read it in full here. This interview was the first indication made to the public that there were some serious issues within the band. Quite frankly, Paul comes across as a total smug asshole in it, but considering the circumstances in which they album was released (pressure from within the band to delay the release in favour of Ringo's solo) - Paul's angst may have been justified.

November 1970 - George Harrison releases the epic triple album All Things Must Pass. Harrison had been accumulating these tracks as far back as 1966. However, his tracks were always pushed to the back burner in favour for those of Lennon/McCartney. Harrison enlisted the aid of Phil Spector to co-produce the album, giving All Things Must Pass a heavy and reverb-oriented sound, typical for a 1960s/1970s Spector production.

December 1970 - John Lennon releases Plastic Ono Band (the name given the collection of artists who performed on the album). This album is his first proper release (not including the three practically un-listenable experimental albums he did with Yoko in '69 & '70).

Early 1971 - Paul McCartney sues his band mates for the dissolution of the group's contractual obligation. The actual break up is a long and sordid tale, followed by years of lawsuits. In the years prior, however all members of the band (except Paul) had left for various reasons, only to be coerced back... By 1971, the writing was on the wall and the band was done.

May 1971 - Paul McCartney releases Ram with his wife Linda. A short musical feud ensues with John Lennon as he he feels Paul took lyrical jabs at him through the choice of words in the songs Dear Boy & Too Many People.

September 1971 - John Lennon releases Imagine. A commercial and critical masterpiece, some of you may have heard of it. This album also includes the track How Do You Sleep? which is the musical response to the feud he believes Paul started previously.

• • •

Over the years there has been speculation over what the last Beatles record would have sounded like if they had remained together for just a few more years. As mentioned, The Beatles broke up in 1970 but they hadn't even been in the same studio together for more than a year prior. Many of the tracks listed on the solo albums above were originally written while the band was still together, and some tracks as far back as 1966.

The Beatles '71 is my attempt to compile the best of the solo Beatles albums released between 1970 and 1971. This project was a true labour of love so I hope you enjoy listening to the end result. The album's running time is 75 minutes so it will fit nicely onto a CD for your parents, who have no idea what an MP3 is. Also the album cover is clearly a revamp of 1970's Let It Be now featuring the fab four as how they appeared in 1971, as they bravely ventured into new worlds, solo.

Three tracks are available to preview now, and if you like what you hear you can download the album in it's entirety below:

Part One.rar
01 - Paul McCartney - Ram On
02 - John Lennon - Power to the People
03 - George Harrison - All Things Must Pass
John Lennon - Instant Karma!
05 - George Harrison - Awaiting On You All
06 - Paul McCartney - Eat At Home
07 - John Lennon - Working Class Hero
Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed
09 - George Harrison - Let It Down
10 - Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy

Part Two.rar
11 - John Lennon - Jealous Guy
12 - Paul McCartney - Every Night
13 - George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
14 - John Lennon - Imagine
15 - Paul McCartney - Oh Woman, Oh Why
George Harrison - Wah-Wah
17 - John Lennon - Oh My Love
18 - Paul McCartney - Mumbo
19 - John Lennon - How Do You Sleep?
20 - John Lennon - Mother

"Boning out on my Blippity Bloops!"

2009-10-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

Gone are the days of Kraughtrock with the likes of Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, and Cluster, but Germany remains a fertile hot bed for some of the finest intelligent electronic music. Some of Canada's strongest electronic musicians such as Richie Hawtin, and Scott Montieth have relocated to Germany just to be immersed this sonic creativity.

Kompakt is a label that does an excellent job squeezing out as much electronic juice as possible out of these minds. This year marks the 10th Editi on of their Total series. Each release contains a collection of essential tunes from the labels catalog. A personal favorite in the series is Total 4.

Dj Koze - 40 Love

Gui Boratto - No Turning Back (Wighnomy's Likkalize Love Rekksmi)

Click on the image above to watch an interview with Scott Montieth (Deadbeat) at the Red Bull Music Academy. Scott discusses his musical influences, growing up in Canada, and the future of Electronic music.

Big Sonic Heaven

2009-09-04T17:56:00.001-07:00

When I was all but a pup back in Forest, Ontario I was quite fortunate to have had the opportunity to tap into one of the fertile hotbeds of music, DETROIT MICHIGAN!

In these pre-internet years there was a sound that I had never heard before permeating thru the terrestrial airwaves of Detroit's 96.3 FM. The show was known as Big Sonic Heaven and aired Sundays at 9PM till 1AM.

The program was hosted by resident DJ Darren Revell and would feature shoegaze(1), dream pop, and trip-hop. He would showcase local talents around the area of Detroit, as well as acts such as The Boo Radleys, Blur (Leisure, Chemical World), Catherine Wheel, Lush, The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Chapterhouse, Slowdive and the Cocteau Twins.

The show initially aired a time when shoe-gaze was in its prime. Only a few years later would Suede and others officially kick start what was known as Brit Pop, officially marking the subsequent end of an of the sonic era.

These sonic sounds had a significant impact on me at the time and are their sound hold a similar magnitude to Phil Spectors "Wall of Sound".

The British music press—particularly NME and Melody Maker—named this style shoegazing because the musicians in these bands stood relatively still during live performances, whilst concentrating on their effects pedals on the floor, hence the idea that they were gazing at their shoes.[1]

Ride - Vapour Trail

Lush - Sweetness & Light

The Cure - Strange Days

Slowdive - When the Sun Hits *

"While on tour with Slowdive in 1993, one of Rachell Goswells eardrums burst, and it has troubled her ever since, in the form of persistent infections, partial deafness (which she employs a hearing aid to correct) and ataxia. This has prevented her from performing on occasion, ... "

My Bloody Valentine - Come In Alone

Interpol - Untitled (LIVE)

Follow this link to Darrens top 10 Big Sonic Heaven Tracks

Playing For Change

2009-08-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

"Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world." Taken direct from http://playingforchange.com

In the spirit of the simple love for music and all that moves you I thought this was perfect for this project. We sometimes forget that some of the best talents don't always get the chance to make it big. This is a brilliant idea, and one that has been put together in such a beautiful way. Here are some selected gems from a brilliant collection.

War/No More Trouble | Playing For Change

Stand By Me | Playing For Change

If you are interested in more here is my personal favorite. Grampa Elliot is truly something to behold.

A Change Is Gonna Come (live)

Thanks Clif for pointing this in my direction.

The Amen Break

2009-08-02T23:50:00.000-07:00

The most famous loop af all time. The "Amen Break" is a six-second drum sample from the b-side of the chart-topping single from The Winstons in 1969. This sample was used extensively in early hiphop and sample-based music, and became the basis for drum-and-bass and jungle music.

The following video does an amazing job of "breaking" down just how important this 6 second sample is in the context of music to follow.

On a side note I have bottled up a couple of my personal favorite sampled filled treats.

Hexstatic - Ninja Tune

Aim - Original Stuntmaster

The Count Five - Psychotic Reaction

2009-07-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

After a few pops while I was back in Ontario, a friend of mine and I were having good discussion on music when we stumbled upon the topic of 60's garage bands.

A number independent bands in the 60's such as The Count Five, The Creation, and The Music Machine were laying the ground work for what was later known as punk. It was their free spirited low production sound that helped influence a generation of New York punks after them such as Talking heads, The Pretenders and The Ramones.

It was this little Youtube video that my mate sent me that sparked the entire conversation in the first place. This "I don't give a fuck" attitude can be witnessed first hand in this video. I don't think these Californian kids cared much for being suited up, lip syncing & and being unplugged. As can be seen when the harp player tries to get his drummer to smash the symbol out of rhythm.

The Count Five - Psychotic Reaction

The Standells - Dirty Water

The Creation - Hey Joe

Flight of the Conchords

2009-07-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

Nothing new here, but I thought I'd post some of my favourites from the New Zealand comedy duo.

Flight of the Conchords - Hiphopopotamus vs Rhymenocerous

Flight Of The Conchords - If Youre Into It.mp3

Flight of the Conchords - Think About the Epileptic Dogs

Flight of the Conchords - Business Time

Hip? Hip-hop? Hiphopanonymous?

2009-07-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

There's definitely good hip hop and bad hip hop in this world so I thought I'd share some of my favourites of the good. I definitely get bored if they are played 5-6 times consecutively, but every once and while, its good times.

The first track is by Nas who, in my opinion, is one of the best straight up rappers to ever live. Meaningful lyrics along with a solid melody have always been his strong points. The World is Yours is off of Nas' first album Illmatic released back in 1994. Its one of those rare albums thats good from start to finish and is a must have for anyone who is remotely interested in the hip hop sound.

Next, we have Scarface with his track No Tears. Many of you might know this song from the movie Office Space in a classic scene involving a character named Michael Bolton (David Herman) in the opening credits. Great track.

Westsiiiiiiide! \ || /
Westside Connection is made up of Ice Cube, Mack 10 and WC. Can't help but tap your foot to this one.

Three 6 Mafia are one of those groups that on the surface, they're just your typical rap group with that "dirty south" sound. Upon further listens, at least for me, you see the genious in what these guys produce. Great beats and very creative synth programming make these guys stand out from the rest. This track is from Three 6 Mafia's album When the Smoke Clears which was released in the year two thousaaand. (Conan reference anyone?)

Finally, Bussa Buss brings us Dangerous from 1997's When Disaster Strikes. Love the bass and synth in this track along with Busta's always pleasing unique rapping style.

Nas - The World Is Yours

Scarface - No Tears

Westside Connection - The Gangsta, the Killa and the Dope Dealer

Three 6 Mafia - Barrin' You Bitches

Busta Rhymes - Dangerous

Ed Rush & Optical

2009-07-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

What's happened to drum & bass, does it still exist? I don't think it does, not in the form I remember it as at least (fffffffuuuuuuuuu!). Last I remember was around 2003 and the genre seemed to be ballooning over 200bpm, favouring the bleeps of old school techno rather than liquid basslines, sharp open snares and atmospheric tension. I hear the influences of drum & bass in grime and dubstep these days, but it seems the cocaine rollers at the dawn of the millennium are now a thing of the past.

Ed Rush & Optical were the guys who got me hooked back in 1998 with their album Wormhole - it's a genre classic, deep, pulsating and absolutely delicious. So here are a few of my favourites of theirs from over the years.

Ed Rush & Optical - Reach Out

Ed Rush & Optical - Pacman (Ram Trilogy Remix)

Ed Rush & Optical - Sick Note

Ed Rush & Optical - Alien Girl

Photek

2009-06-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Rupert Parkes, a.k.a. Photek, has always been one of my favourite drum and bass producers over the years. Though I haven't liked much his most recent material, his earlier work is the stuff of genius. Parkes usually relies on dark and paranoid sounds on top of incredibly intricate rythm programming, which may have you thinking, "well I need to be in the right mood for that" and for many of you, this is 100% true but not me, it works everytime.

Photek - Minotaur

Photek - Infinity

Photek - Terminus

Photek - Smoke Rings

Bonus!
Photek - Ni Ten Chi Ryu (Teebee Remix)

"Dr Kitch, it's terrible.. I can't stand the size of your needle"

2009-06-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

The heat is officially upon us, and I'm looking forward to heading back east for my annual summertime festivities. It's also at this time every year that I feel the need to compliment those summer festivities with solid sounds! A few B's on some sort of patio with some appropriate summer time toonz.

First track here being a fun little piece by calypso legend Lord Kitchener. WARNING this track is littered with humorous sexual innuendo and is not intended for people who aren't drunk or not drinking.

The second track is extracted from the distinctive Viennese musical score by Anton Karas from the film The Third Man covered by the Granville Williams Orchestra.

Enjoy the (b)heat everyone!

Lord Kitchener - Dr. Kitch

The Granville Williams Orchestra - The Third Man Theme

Hot Rod - Wanna see a picture?

Michael Jackson RIP

2009-06-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

Hey internet, it's a pretty sad day today isn't it? On a day like today, and especially a day like tomorrow once the shock has settled it'll be easy to make a million +1 jokes about Michael Jackson and all issues he dealt with over his lifetime. However, the fact remains that during his prime he was simply the shit, the coolest of the cool, the King of Pop.

So in memoriam of Michael, I present to you my favourite MJ cut of all time. This is taken from his debut album Got To Be There released back in 1972 while the Jackson 5 was still relatively new group. The song is sweet sweet 70's inner city soul, the vocal is simply amazing and it proves without a doubt what this kid could do.

Michael Jackson - Maria

Chris Cornell - Billie Jean

Jamaica to Austria

2009-06-19T15:31:00.001-07:00

What I have for you today is a collection of simply bombastic, very fantastic tunes. The genres of this wild bunch may vary slightly, however the tie that binds the guilty is that they all take direct inspiration from the sounds that abound in the wide world of Jamaican dub.

The sounds coming from Jamaica in the 70's continue to echo loud and clear. Fast forward your mind's eye 30 years into the future and the irie, dubbish vibes still hold influence in the last place you'd expect to find it... Austria.

Near the turn of the millennium, the nation that once birthed the third anti-Christ timely conceived the massively influential duo of (Peter) Kruder & (Richard) Dorfmeister. To the delight of smokers everywhere, they were one of the first to combine the dub influences of the island with the modern sensibilities or Fortress Europa and the emerging sounds of acid jazz. Moving past the demise of the K&D, Austria continues to champion the greatest artists in the area of nu-dub, down tempo and dub inspired dancehall burners. Below is a small collection of my favourite tracks that all fit this ballin' bill.

Stereotyp meets Al'Haca - Blaze n Cook

Intrusion - Angel Version (w/Paul St. Hilaire)

Stereotyp & Soothsayer - Dub Club

The Bug - Poison Dart (South Rakkas Crew Remix)

Kruder & Dorfmeister - Deep Shit Pt.1 and Pt.2

Stereotyp - Fling Style (w/Tikiman)

PS - Yes, that's Barack Obama (source)

Blogging the Angel

2009-06-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

When I was in my teens I bought big speakers. The first thing that was played on those big speakers was Depeche Mode, (queue turning up your speakers loud and clicking “Never Let Me Down”).

Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again

Now that you are in the mood, let’s learn together.

New romanticism emerged in the UK music scene in the early 80s as a direct reaction against the rigor of the punk movement. What began as a mockery became a serious movement. Although Depeche Mode originally was a product of Britain's new Romantic Movement, they eventually went on to become one of the model electro-pop bands of the 1980s. Depeche Mode was among the earliest and most innovative bands to break into the pop mainstream using only synthesizers. They began their existence as a dance-pop outfit but gradually developed a darker, more dramatic sound that ultimately positioned them as one of the most successful alternative bands of their era.

It is this darker, slow moving loud pulsing beat that I truly fell in love with at an early age. Songs of Faith and Devotion Live became a staple for me, and continues to be a constant in the “top five albums of all time” conversation. Higher Love, the live version can certainly be considered an essential on my Life Signs list always and forever.

Depeche Mode - Higher Love (Live)

Here are a few other fine specimens for your listening pleasure. This is only a sample of the goodness so please by all means delve in for more.

Depeche Mode - John the Revolator

Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence

Depeche Mode - In Your Room (Live)

The Infamous Stone Matthews

2009-06-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

I feel its my role on this site to ensure that the guitar gets its proper due. It is time to introduce the world to the wonders of the Am-G-F transition with fantastic guitar solos on top.

The following are two of my favorite songs of all time, and they both happen to have the same transition found at times within them. First we have The Stone Roses with "Tears". Beautifully woven with Ian Brown's haunting vocal's and John Squire's underrated genius on guitar, Tears brings even the best to their knees. It begins with a wonderful acoustic riff and ends with absolutely fantastic fist pumping solo - get's me every time.

The Stone Roses - Tears

Secondly I would like to speak to the genius that is Bob Dylan who wrote one of the most broadly covered tracks in the history of Rock and Roll - All Along the Watchtower. Unfortunately for Mr. Dylan, his version turned out to be the worst of them all (obviously up for debate - please don't yell at me) I would like to direct your attention to the Dave Matthews Live at Red Rocks version, my personal and sentimental favorite. Again this track starts off slow and ends in a tirade of goodness. Tim Reynolds plays off the Am-G-F combo on this version, making very difficult soloing sound effortless.

The Dave Matthews Band - All Along The Watchtower (Live at Red Rocks)

2009-06-16T08:30:00.001-07:00

This site is seriously lacking bass and I am going to try my best to fix that. Some nasty dubstep should do the trick!

George Lenton is a yet unsigned dubstep producer from the UK that has recently started to make some "noise" on this thing we call the 'blogosphere'. Ranging from rugged dubstep to light-hearted electro to bass-heavy rollers, Lenton certainly has the skills to create crisp and well produced tunes. Strictly headphone/loud speaker type music, so prepare accordingly before listening.

George Lenton - Jungle Whomp

George Lenton - Cold Rocker

George Lenton - Beware

MGMT - Weekend Wars (George Lenton Remix)

The King Blues - Come Fi Di Youth (George Lenton Remix)

Richard Melville Hall

2009-06-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that on June 30th Moby will be releasing his 9th studio album. It seems like only yesteryear that rave babies were frothing to Go & Feeling So Real - but in reality that was nearly 15 years ago, sheee-it.

Listening through Moby's back catalogue you'll find the majority of his work is very formulaic and structurally simple: piano melody + basic drum pattern + vox sample + sweeping strings. The formula is simple yet very effective, and through this he's crossed into many genres while stockpiling volumes of quality tunes.

Moby's latest album Wait For Me is a fairly low-key affair, he recorded it all himself in his NYC studio using only analogue gear. It has no stand out radio hits or tracks that will be used to sell you a Volkswagen, toothpaste or feminine napkins... Moby had this to say about the album: "It's a quieter and more melodic and more mournful and more personal record than some of the records I've made in the past."

My favourite track from the album is Mistake which in itself is a departure from the rest of the album - it sounds keenly similar to the underground British post-punk bands of the 80's - who also inspired his 1996 album Animal Rights which turned out to be garbage. So here it is, plus two other classic Moby tracks for your listening pleasure:

Moby - Mistake

Moby - Dog

Moby - My Beautiful Blue Sky

2009-06-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

Ratatat have a very unique sound to say the least. Using a fusion of electronic beats and rock guitars and on occasion use samples to provide a theme throughout the tracks. Evan Mast's provides most of the twitchy beats (with the keyboards sounding like the machines that they were) and Mike Stroud's catchy riffs (with the guitar sounding like a synthesizer).

First caught these guys on their hip hop remix album Mixtape Vol. 1 back in 2004 and have been following their work ever since. Since then they've release 2 albums Classics and LP3 which really have shown their creativity for producing music.

Here we have some selected tracks of their work over the years followed with a remix thats somewhat of a guilty pleasure I guess you could say. The track is just plain catchy ok!? Kthxbye.

Ratatat - Mirando

Ratatat - Six

Ratatat - Dura

Ratatat - Brule

Ratatat - Kennedy

Ratatat - Wildcat

Ratatat - Black Heroes

Young Buck, T.I., and Ludacris - Stomp (Ratatat Remix)

Bjork Remixes

2009-06-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

I've found that Bjork is a very polarizing artist, none the less she's an artist in the truest sense of the word. You either like her (usually guys), dislike her (usually girls), or you're unfamiliar with her music all together (children).

A common complaint from her fans is the vast quantity of repackaged albums, singles, promos and compilations that have been released throughout the years. For example, since 1993 Bjork has released 6 official albums... yet there have been 159 different versions issued of these same albums! Her discography is simply ridiculous, here are the numbers of all the different versions: Debut (35), Post (33), Homogenic (29), Vespertine (35), Medulla (29) and Volta (27).

Needless to say there is a lot of Bjork available to those who seek it. Personally I've always loved Bjork's work, and especially the remixes. So here are some of my favourites:

Bjork - Innocence (Simian Mobile Disco Remix)

Bjork - Dull Flame of Desire (Modeselektor's Remix for Boys)

Bjork - It's In Our Hands (Soft Pink Truth Remix)

Bjork - Who is It (Vitalic Remix)

Electronic Roots

2009-05-30T06:25:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the húûj pöast, but I've been meaning to express my appreciation of the 4 artists that have influenced my musical taste the most over the years. They've definitely been 'signs' in my 'life' .. road.. ? ROOO-AD. Anyway, I'll never forget walking into Darcy's parents place back in the day and hearing Orbital emanating from his room (props brother!). Wow, was my mind blown. From there I never looked back, focusing full attention to this new found electronic sound and tossing my rap and metal cds to the wayside. So here they are, the 4 artists that I would consider to be the most influential in my life. Enjoy the classics my friends.

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Aphex Twin - Xtal

Aphex Twin - Ptolemy

Aphex Twin - We Are the Music Makers

Aphex Twin - Polynomial-C

Aphex Twin - Analogue Bubblebath

Aphex Twin - Fingerbib
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808 State - Cubik

808 State - Azura

808 State - Nimbus

808 State - Plan 9

808 State - Naphatiti
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Autechre - Eggshell

Autechre - Eutow

Autechre - Dael

Autechre - Silverside

Autechre - Vose In
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Orbital - Halcyon On + On

Orbital - P.E.T.R.O.L.

Orbital - Oolaa

Orbital - Sad But True
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Oh Wait... Is she a great big fat person?

2009-05-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

There are no songs that I hate to love more than Q-Lazzarus's - Goodbye Horses & Mike Smiley's - Magic.

I first remember Magic while watching that eerie scene in Ghostbusters when that dick-less, Peck shuts down the Ecto Containment Unit unleashing a fury of pissed off ectoplasm across New York city. The scene itself wouldn't be nearly effective without the aid of Mick's haunting rhythms. I could do with out the first 2 minutes of the track, but Mick makes it well worth wait in the final half.

Goodbye Horses has always been tangled with the infamous Buffalo Bill dance scene in Silence of the Lambs. The track remains one of my beloved tracks from the 80's

Peter Venkman - Cats & Dogs living together

Mick Smiley - Magic (Edit)

Q Lazzarus - Goodbye Horses

Classic New Order

2009-05-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

The quickest way for me to know if I'm going to like you as a person to ask what kind of music you're into. Judging a person on how they answer this question is far from just but it's usually pretty accurate.

Personally I find this a really hard question to answer, I'm a self proclaimed music snob and it's usually impossible to answer without sounding like one. When I ask the question to others I'm always slightly apprehensive of their answer; if they say Bubba Sparxx and Insane Clown Posse that is a pretty good indication that the remainder of our single serving friendship will be filled with surface pleasantries and fake enthusiasm.

If the name New Order came up in your answer I'm positive you and I would become BFF 4 LIFE!!! ... I've found that fans of this band generally have good taste in a wide range of music, and tend to be rather pleasant people as well.

New Order formed in the wake of the demise of their previous group Joy Division, following the suicide of vocalist Ian Curtis. New Order has become the prototype for every rock/dance/indie/electronic band that has been formed since - you can still hear their biggest hits Blue Monday and Bizarre Love Triangle every Saturday night at a club near you, an undisputed testament to their longevity.

Here today, for you my new friend are my absolute favourite New Order tracks. The Krafwerkesque 'Your Silent Face', the Peter Hook vocal 'Dreams Never End', their first ever release 'Ceremony' (written by Ian Curtis) and my numero uno Procession

New Order - Your Silent Face

New Order - Dreams Never End

New Order - Ceremony

New Order - Procession

Kraddy

2009-05-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

Here we have 3 tracks from Kraddy's 2007 album "The Illegal Album" which I first heard on a live mix back in 2006 I believe. Kraddy can also be seen as one of the 4 members of The Glitch Mob which includes edIT, Boretta and Ooah. I must say, I'm a big fan of what these guys are doing and we'll continue to follow their work. Here's a description of Kraddy's sound from his myspace page:

"Kraddy's music implicates cybernetic breaks with asymmetrical dub delays and hip hop grooves with dark ethereal melodies. At times his music is technical and frenetic and calls to mind images of genetically mutated earthworms, poping and locking deep underground to sub atomic frequencies, causing minute shifts in the structure and alignment of the tectonic plates, that over millennia will alter the magnetic core of the planet and thus change its frequency field steering its evolution towards greater harmony and a more peaceful form.

Other times he weaves together webs of moody etheresque clouds akin to the sounds of alternate life forces manipulating hydrogen and carbon molecules into biomechanical nanobots that imperceptibly permeate the neuronets of sleeping subjects from light years away in a methodical attempt to preserve and record the neural, synaptic and chemical makeup of all matter." - haha whhaaa??

Dr. Dre & Eminem - Forgot About Dre (Kraddy Remix)

Dr. Dre - The Next Episode (Kraddy Remix)

Black Star - Bright As The Stars (Kraddy Remix)

Afrodizz

2009-05-25T18:45:00.001-07:00

If I had to list the three things I hate most in life, that list would look exactly like this: (one) Nazis, (two) Saxophones, (three) Honey-Dew Melons

Listening to a saxophone is like vomiting into an already dirty diaper and gargling the results. Over the last 30 years, and especially throughout the 70's and 80's the saxophone was an important part of popular music. Because of this atrocity; so many potentially great tracks were ruined by replacing the customary guitar solo with the sax (look no further than the 70's solo output of any Beatle). Thankfully that trend has tapered off as the sax is now rarely heard (in it's solo form) outside of jazz circles, by jazz people, smoking jazz cigarettes.

Needless to say I have never seen the appeal of the saxophone except when it comes to the rhythmically dirty and totally awesome appeal of Nigerian inspired afro-beat music. In the afro-beat sense the saxophone is merely a player in a huge game of different instruments. It is rarely showcased in a solo, however when it is in the limelight you hear it much darker and much deeper than you would in a typical pop song.

So up first is Afrodizz: a Montreal ensemble who are long over due for a new album. Both of these tracks were taken from their 2004 album "Toots". Following is Fela Kuti (the Father of all afro-beat) and a classic cut from master of Ethiopian Jazz, Mulatu Astatke

Afrodizz - Killing Floor

Afrodizz - Water and Fish

Fela Kuti - Trouble Sleep Yanga Wake Am

Mulatu Astatke - Yegelle Tezeta

Midlake - Roscoe (Beyond the Wizards Sleeve Mix)

2009-05-24T20:51:00.000-07:00

Erol Alkan & Richard Norris, otherwise known as Beyond the Wizards Sleeve have been remixing tracks on and off over the past few years. The two have just released a compilation of their body of work called "Reanimations Vol.1" .

What sets their portfolio apart from others is their ability to give their specimens an entirely different identity. Often blending in a variety of foreign substances and textures into their re-animations.

Below is a personal favorite of their work. It just seems like a perfect fit for a trippy remix duo to remix an already trippy indie rock track

Midlake - Roscoe (Beyond the Wizards Sleeve Mix)

"Whenever I was a child.. I wondered if my name had changed into something more productive like Roscoe, born in 1891 waiting for my Aunt Rosline....." WTF?

By the way if you're wondering what the beat is from (like I was). It's "You Make Loving Fun' by the Mac with a bit of reversed guitar sounds over the top.

Saturdays Wax

2009-05-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

Two Fingers (Amon Tobin & Doubleclick) - 25 Minute Mix

Friendly Fires - Jump in the Pool (Thin White Duke Remix)

Annie - Anthonio (Fred Falke Remix)

The Prodigy - Warriors Dance

Fischerspooner - We Are Electric (Hot Chip Remix)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero (RAC Remix)

Röyksopp: The Girl and the Robot [ft. Robyn]

2009-05-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

Peter Schilling - Major Tom

2009-05-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

I kept hearing this song on a Lincoln MKZ car commercial and could never figure out what the original track was. Finally decided to look it up and remembered that this was always a favourite 80's track of mine. Its one of those songs that has an alright verse but an amazing chorus, typical of a lot of tunes back then. Anyway, here's the original video of Peter Schillings rendition and a cover by a band called Shiny Toy Guns which I actually quite enjoy.

Shiny Toy Guns - Major Tom (Cover)

Pearl Jam - The Beginning of Life Signs

2009-05-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

Pearl Jam will always have that special place in my heart saved only for those who truly imprint themselves on your life. Hours of sitting on my bed listening to the early works of this great band, reading every magazine article ever put out, subscribing to the "Ten Club", buying single's for some rare track for far too much money...It just wouldn't be right if I didn't post some favorites.

Pearl Jam - Yellowledbetter - Live

Pearl Jam - Inside Job - Live

Pearl Jam - Indifference - Live

Pearl Jam - Even Flow (Re-Recorded)

Pearl Jam - Brother

Luke Slater - Love

2009-05-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

I blindly stumbled across this track a few weeks back while watching a clip about Chris Cunningham. Within a few seconds I loved it, but I had absolutely no idea what it was. Thanks to the wonders of the iPhone app Shazam all my questions were soon answered.

In the wide spectrum of electronic music I tend to lean more towards the sampled/organic sounds rather than what most like-minded folk would consider 'techno'. In the past, and because of this tendency I usually avoided the big names in the scene such as: Joey Beltram, Dave Clarke, Jef Mills etc.

This track in all it's simplicity has me thinking about what the other diamonds I missed, skipped or flipped over in the previous decade. So dig into a little bit of Luke Slater's Love, taken from his 1997 album Freek Funk and let it take you on a journey of glowsticks, ecstatcy and gigantic pants.

Luke Slater - Love

Danny Howells - Essential Mix (28-07-2002)

2009-05-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

One of the best Essential Mixes that I've ever heard. One of those mixes you can throw on when entertaining guests and hear no complaints. The first 25 mins are probably the weakest of the mix, but from then on its gold track after gold track. But yeah there's something for everybody in this one...

Tracklist:

01. Doves – “Firesuite” (Heavenly)
02. Madonna & Massive Attack – “I Want You” (Maverick)
03. Simian – “The Wisp” (Source)
04. Polar – “Nightwatch” (Certificate 18)
05. Danny Byrd – “Expanded Remix” (Hospital)
06. Agent Black – “Feel Good” (Ivory)
07. The Funky Lowlives – “Inside [Dorfmeister Vs Uptight Dub]” (Stereo Deluxe)
08. Primal Scream – “Screamadelica” (Creation)
09. Aloof – “Never Get Out Of The Boat” (FFRR)
10. Beastie Boys – “Shadrach” (Capital)
11. Kool & The Gang – “Spirit Of The Boogie” (De-Lite)
12. Artist Unknown – “Excerpt From James Brown Live At The Apollo Vol 2″ (label Unknown)
13. Patti Jo – “Make Me Believe In You” (Strut)
14. Prince – “Drum Link” (label Unknown)
15. Cerrone – “Sweet Drums” (Atlantic)
16. First Choice – “Love Thang” (Salsoul)
17. Raw Silk – “Do It To The Music” (West End)
18. Sir Drew – “Fat Foot” (King Size)
19. Spooky – “Something’s Got To Give” (Guerilla)
20. Age Of Chance – “Flame On” (Virgin)
21. Ekova – “Heaven’s Dust” (Six Degrees)
22. Candida – “Jingo” (Danny Howellsi [Kitchen Sink Mix])
23. Mekon & Marc Almond – “Please Stay [Royskopp Mix]” (Wall Of Sound)
24. Clash – “Rock The Casbah” (Columbia)
25. Beatles – “Strawberry Fields Forever” (Apple)
26. Ringo Starr – “Strawberry Drums Forever [DH Re-Edit]” (Apple)

Danny Howells - Essential Mix (28-07-2002) < read comment below

It's a 'Numbers Game' to the Thievery Corporation & Chuck Brown

2009-05-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

Who wouldn't think that Electronica and Go-Go go together? Not me, maybe you, but not me. If you are one of those closed minded souls the Thievery Corporation and Chuck Brown are about to change your mind. The Godfather of Go-Go and the DJ duo have teamed up for a track from Thievery Corp's latest album, Radio Retaliation, that sounds like it came off of the soundtrack to a '70s Blaxploitation flick with its wah wah guitars, tight horn section and funky groove. Sweet funk sounds of the 70's based right here in the decade without a name, (the 00's??).

The Crystal Method feat Matisyahu - Drown In The Now

2009-05-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

Its been a long time coming but the new Crystal Method album is out. I don't have the words like the rest of the guys on here to talk about beats and booms, but I do know that Crystal Method rocks.

This track is far from typical Crystal Method, and its not my favorite on the album, but its worth hearing and tapping your foot too. It's got a deep, strong urban vibe to it - more like Method meets the clubs...but its missing the lead in that is on the album that certainly makes this song shine. Get the album, its good.

Hot Chip

2009-05-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

Hot Chip - Just Like We Breakdown (DFA Remix)

At last count Hot Chip has been remixed 9,241 times. Released back in 2005 as the b-side to Over and Over, this track happens to be one of the first and probably one of their best remixes to date. DFA produces a slow burning sex machine that clocks in just over 8 minutes. It has an underlying oldschool feel that works really well with Alexis Taylor's signature falsetto.

Friday's Grab Bag

2009-05-08T15:20:00.000-07:00

A few covers that have been tickling mine ears.

Enjoy!

Sweet Child o' Mine - Alex Cornish (Guns & Roses)

This Charming Man - Stars (The Smiths)

Paper Planes - Pale Young Gentlemen (MIA)

Starfucker - Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second

2009-05-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

Burial / Four Tet

2009-05-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

“Moth/Wolf Cub” is a 12″ that was released on May 4th of this year. Never been a huge fan of Four Tet but teaming up with Burial definitely makes me take notice. This track sounds like straight up Burial, so I'll assume the other track "Wolf Cub" (haven't listened yet) on the EP is Four Tet's contribution.

Burial & Four Tet - Moth

Edit: Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) has confirmed that he and Burial did indeed collaborate on both tracks.

Burial & Four Tet - Wolf Cub

120 Days

2009-04-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

Saw these guys live at The Starlight here in Waterloo a couple years back and what great show it was. I find their sound to be a cross between Janes Addiction and The Verve but with some electronic influences. Its amazing how grown up these guys sound for only being in their early 20s. Having only one album released back in 2006, I'm really looking forward to whats next for the young lads. Enjoy.

120 Days - Get Away

120 Days - Come Out (Come Down, Fade Out, Be Gone)

Gui Boratto

2009-04-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

Gui Boratto is one of those techno artists that really get it. If you're a fan of music, its hard not to enjoy the sounds that this man produces. His sense of movement and grace suggests shades of classical influences yet complements the shuffle and boom of contemporary tech-house rhythms. Boratto describes his sound:

“The music I make, you can see the structure, even if it’s an instrumental,” Boratto says. “ You can see a verse and a pre-chorus and a chorus. The structure is kind of commercial. It’s not a typical techno track where nothing happens, nine minutes of boom-chick, boom-chick. In this way, it can be easier to accept for people who are not into the techno thing.”

A lot of his tunes are very progressive, building on several layers of melody and rhythm. Though most of his tracks are quite lengthy, it doesn't deter you from enjoying the track from start to finish by layering more and more melodies to keep you in it.

Gui Boratto - No Turning Back

Gui Boratto - Besides

Gui Boratto - Take My Breath Away

Gui Boratto - Beautiful Life

Starsailor - Listen Up Your Face

2009-04-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

Starsailor. Write it down, hook it up, pay too much for them or download for free. I don't care, just go and get undressed with them.

Built around the songwriting and lead vocals of James Walsh, the band fit nicely along side similarly minded mellow Brits Doves and Coldplay, but with a bit more juice in their junk.

Why you should already own a Starsailor album:

"Starsailor - Good Souls"

"Starsailor - Shark Food"

Sold? I know I am.

Depeche Mode - Wrong

2009-04-20T13:34:00.000-07:00

The Stooges - Down on the Street

2009-04-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

The end of 60's flushed out a band from the trailer parks of mid Michigan with a fresh gritty, "white trash" sound.

Iggy once mentioned that he based The Stooges sound loosely on the industrial noises he heard as an adolescent at the local auto plants, around the great city of Detroit. "Clang Clang, Bang Bang the more irritating the better".

This track has always resembled that raw explosiveness, that for me, rock is all about.

The Stooges - Down on the Street

Emancipator

2009-04-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

If you put Lemon Jelly, DJ Shadow and Aphex Twin in a room and said to them "make music please", you'd end up with Emancipator. Drawing heavily from hip hop beats and utilizing unlikely string instruments and natural sounds, there's no denying the absolute talent these men possess. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the sounds of Emancipator.

Mobb Deep and Sigor Ros - Shook (Emancipator Remix)

Emancipator - First Snow

Emancipator - Wolf Drawn

Emancipator - Good Knight

Emancipator - Soon It Will Be Cold Enough To Build Fires

P.S. - Mobb Deep and Sigor Ros? Talk about the extreme opposite ends of the music spectrum..

The Fibonacci in Tools Lateralus

2009-04-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

Honestly - one of the coolest things ever. One of the best songs ever, and after you see this you will no choice but to agree. Sickly genius.

Deadmau5

2009-04-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

Deadmau5 - Catbread

Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone (Deadmau5 Remix)

Deadmau5 - Ghosts 'N Stuff

"If I am not me, who da hell am I?"

2009-04-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

Kings Of Leon - Pistols Of Fire (Mark Ronson Remix)

Radiohead - Everything In Its Right Place (Discotech/Gigamesh Remix)

Laurie Anderson - O Superman (M.A.N.D.Y. vs Booka Shade Rework)

Royksopp - Happy Up Here (Holy Fuck Re-Interpretation)

Basement Jaxx - Twerk Planet < oh if only they could get rid of their ridiculous vocals...

Switch

2009-04-10T12:57:00.000-07:00

There's definitely a lot of junk remixes out there (more than usual as of late it seems like), but this guy seems to get it right. Mixing glitch, house and dub flavours creating very accessible grooves for one and all. Here is just a sample of his very large collection of remix work.

Bjork - Nattura (Switch Remix)

Late Of The Pier - Space And The Woods (Switch Remix)

Santogold - Shove It (Switch Remix)

Chemical Brothers - Get Yourself High (Switch Remix)

Lily Allen - LDN (Switch Remix)

UNKLE - Heaven

2009-04-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

Depeche Mode - Come Back

2009-03-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

Funkadelic - Can You Get to That

2009-03-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

During the brief period before the storm that was Bootsy Collins and George Clinton collided, providing us Parliament, Funkadelic cut three venomous LP's (Free Your Mind... And Your Ass Will Follow, Funkadelic, Maggot Brain) . These three little treat bags delivered nothing but a full wrap sheet of rock infused, blues, funk, and soul. Unfortunately these gems get lost in the shuffle a bit when compared to George's later collaborations with Parliment. They also serve as a nice little bridge between the psychedelic sounds of the 60's and the flamboyant funky colors of the 70's.

Funkadelic - Can You Get to That (Maggot Brain)

Funkadelic - I Got a Thing, You Got a Thing, Everybody's Got a Thing (Funkadelic)

Francis & The Lights

2009-03-04T08:27:00.001-08:00

Growing up with a name like Francis Starlight must have been tough, especially if you're a hipster kid into falsettos & Vietnamese sandwiches. Although I'm sure things have started to look up for Francis since he started a band, and named it after himself.

The sound on this particular track, and the EP from where it came from is a fine example of slightly sinister white boy funk. Sonically similar to Sam Sparro or even Prince (that is if Sam was from New York, and if Prince was ever a man).

The entire Modern Promise EP is available to download for free here.

Francis & The Lights - A Modern Promise

Midas Touch

2009-03-02T09:58:00.000-08:00

In Greek mythology, King Midas is popularly remembered for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold: the Midas touch.

I'm not prone to remixing or self promotion; but for now I'm going to make an exception. Here's my remix of the 80's track Midas Touch by Midnight Star. It's a slight departure from the original mix but still in keeping with the slight disco / electro vibe of the times.

Midnight Star - Midas Touch (Magua Remix)

If you need a refresher you can check out the original mix in video form here.

Starfucker

2009-02-21T12:13:00.001-08:00

"A person who obessessed with and seeks out personal interaction with celebrities. The desired interaction is often, but not necessarily, sexual in nature."

Portland Oregon's, StarFucker sound has been described as "Disarmingly upbeat and catchy electro-pop pummeled home with dual drumsets and layers upon layer of entrancing loops and samples."

Starfucker - Florida

Starfucker - Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cindy Lauper Cover)

For you katz lucky enough to live close to the GTA they will be appearing in your neck of the woods in the not too distant future

18 Apr 2009 20:00 sneaky dee’s w/ kuroma toronto ON

Local (for me) - Great for All!

2009-02-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

Higher Love (Depeche Mode), Karma Police (Radiohead), Try a Little Tenderness (Three Dog Night), all undeniable life signs tracks that have one constant --- They connect. At least with me anyway. That rush of love when a dearly missed friend appears from the arrivals lounge at an airport looking rather flustered from their long-haul flight and yet is so happy to see you. Like the days when every little detail of every little problem makes you want loose it. Like when my cat decides to crap outdoors instead of the litter box...These songs somehow encapsulate tearful moments of both joy and sorrow. They entwine the human nervous system and sink into the veins.

I've come across a local band (from Waterdown, ON) called Oceanship. They have a very Coldplay'esk sound, its certainly worth a listen. The track "Hotblack" falls under the above discussed category of music. The chorus isn't simply just good but instead tucks you up in bed so cosy you refuse to get out. So damn effortlessly warm in melody. Video is incredible.

Notes on video from band:

Hand drawn by Ofir Sasson, the video for Hotblack took over six months to complete. Ofir was able to incorporate the band within his animated vision thanks to live footage shot by David Patrick (assisted by Jacques Fortier) in Toronto, Canada. We were very fortunate to work with top rate people, both personally and professionally. We are presently shooting a "making of" video which will detail the intricate process.