Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: anoraak, college, Maethelvin, russ chimes, Stephen Falken, The Outrunners, Valerie
I have the pleasure of hosting the very first Australian Valerie tour featuring COLLEGE & ANORAAK in a few months! (ok Russ Chimes has already hit our shores but he isn’t French so I’m partially justified)
I will keep you all updated… and believe me I will be buttering you all up as soon as I get the official club bookings confirmed.
For the time being enjoy these exclusives from College.
écouter..
College - Teenage Color (Maethelvin Remix)
College - The Scarlett Empress (Stephen Falken Remix)
College - The Light Of Your Dress Feat. Anoraak (Performed Live)
I do not know how it is humanly possible for any type of equipment to produce such captivating sounds. We can only conclude that College is magical : )
Priceless Escapism.
Filed under: Uncategorized
almost makes me not hate high school musical.
Bloc Party surprised the world a few days ago, delighting everyone with their radiohead/ raconteurs/girl talk-esque imminent digital release of their third album Intimacy. (that’s four months before their release date and literally a few days after my ‘I can’t wait for the new bloc party album’ rant)
I have appalling, incongruous listening habits. I usually fall for one or two songs on an album and find myself in a state of obsessive fixation. I relentlessly play the same songs over and over again and leave the rest of the album to temporarily fade into the background.
I forced myself out of this pattern for Bloc Party… I just really wanted to get a feel for this album. I decided to completely isolate myself from all other activity. I locked myself in my room, blared the speakers and devoted all attention, thought processes to the music.
Whether it was my heightened awareness or acute weakness to the themes presented throughout the whole album- my first listen to Intimacy was truly an invaluable experience. I really felt this to be a genuine, heart-felt album.
Intimacy brings all those raw, suppressed emotions to the surface. Issues of despair, loneliness and longing…The delivery? A flight of complete chaos and emotional disorder.
Halo grabbed me with a brutal intensity. A three minute passionate whirlwind of hope; desperation; suffering; desire and a yearning for love
The Xylophone-esque ‘Signs’ is too adorable. Really, Kele’s fragile voice just breaks my heart time and time again
Trojan Horse presents the inevitable self-torturous human instinct of living in the shadows of extinguished love.
Oh and the lyrics are divine…
“Just take me back
To the start
When our earthquake
It was just cracks
You must ask yourself
Every day”
Filed under: Fucking Fashion, Photography | Tags: Black Strobe, danger, David LaChapelle, Phones, Scissor Sisters, Teenage Bad Girl, Vyle
You are obscene. You are immoral. You push the boundaries. You dare. I love you. You are sheer genius.
I’m jealous of his budget, his subjects, his marvelous project opportunities.
I love his use of colour. The brightness intensifies. The angles are outstanding.. some photos feel like they are screaming right at you. Some incite feelings of revulsion, aversion, lust..
They are thrilling, sexually explicit…. he is mocking his photo-subjects. He saturates them with their own flaws and exploits them
The point is his work infects us with various emotion… just like all powerful works do.
“My pictures are about getting as far away from reality as possible. Dreams should be part of our everyday life.” –
LaChapelle definitely incorporates surrealist elements into contemporary fashion photography.
Powerful impact art can no doubt be measured up to powerful impact music..
Black Strobe- Shining Bright Star (Phones Industrial Version)
Scissor Sisters - I Don’t Feel Like Dancing (Teenage Bad Girl Remix)
Dark, provocative, empowering… and two of the most exceptionally produced introductions i’ve ever heard.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Culture Prophet, digitalism, Jence, shinichi osawa
Oh Digitalism. How you blow my mind.
I strongly maintain that † has nothing on Idealism. That Justice are slightly overrated (most of the time I stand alone in this view). I also think the release date for Idealism was extremely unfortunate in terms of the whole being overshadowed by Justice thing.
Don’t get me wrong Justice are amazing but Idealism just happens to be one of my favourite albums ever. I can still listen to it the whole way through innumerable times and it still impacts me…. it takes my mind through a passage of conflicting emotions, bringing back memories and simultaneously allowing me to visualize my desires.
I mean, I know Justice are like so revolutionary with their sound and shit but there is not one track on † that mildly resembles Pogo. There is not one track on † that you can really attach yourself to emotionally or just sit there and think about for hours.
Digitalism encapsulate all those alternate elements of the human emotional impulse… we cry, we get fucked up, we dream, we attach ourselves to people and the rapid beat of the heart remains. You can apply these songs to your own experiences… it’s not just about forcing you to dance involuntarily at a club.
ALSO Digitalism were way better than Justice live. Jence singing in that half awkward yet intensely passionate way was just mesmerizing to watch.
I really hope the new album is every bit as overwhelming in power.
Here is a track from Idealism I picked at random (no… really… with my eyes closed… just to prove they all shine)
& These two remixes have withstood my test of time. It has been months and I still take the utmost pleasure in listening to both. The Culture Prophet remix intensifies “Idealistic” perfectly and Shinichi Osawa has worked his magic upon Pogo, giving it a bit more climax & making it more dance-friendly. Definitely fine by me.
Digitalism- Idealistic (Culture Prophet Remix)
Digitalism- Pogo (Shinichi Osawa Remix)
And finally here is the new Digitalism track!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really cannot contain my excitement for the new album!!
I don’t care if I sound like a hyperactive kid. Whatever. Emotionally I’m still a 13 year old anyway I just have a big vocabulary…. It’s deceiving.
Digitalism- Taken Away (Radio Edit)
And yep, It’s totally growing on me… bring on the remixes!!!!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Bloc Party, crystal castles, erol alkan, Herve, m83, Paul Epworth, Phones, SebastiAn, Speaker Junk, Telemitry, Tunng, Villains, Weird Science
Bloc Party saved my life one day. I was going through a chaotic quarter-life crisis type thing and then came Silent Alarm, like a breath of fresh air.
What Bloc Party managed to create was a cauldron of conflicting desires and moods, slapping me in the face with my own humanity. Every single track on the album exploded with fresh ideas, romantic notions, beauty and intelligence. Not to mention Kele’s voice of sincere desperation.
(Favourite B Side from Silent Alarm):
I was quite disappointed with A Weekend In the City whilst simultaneously understanding that any band trying to recreate a masterpiece was faced with a curse. The guys tried to incorporate more experimental, electronic sounds but the album still felt as though it somehow lacked creativity.
To me “We Were Lovers” from A Weeked In the City B-Sides was way better than most of the album tracks combined.
Well Bloc Party have just a released a new single. It’s called MERCURY! My feelings are pretty mixed. It’s not a failure but it’s definitely no ‘Banquet’. I’m not sure if I will still be listening to it in a few months time but the lyrics are intriguing and it’s definitely hell captivating compared to anything from album numero 2!
You can buy the single from their website & you will get this beautiful zip file:
2. Mercury (12″ Version)
3. Idea For A Story
4. Mercury (Herve Is In Disarray Remix)
5. Mercury (Flosstradamus Remix)
6. Mercury (12″ Instrumental)
Here is an “Unofficial” remix of Mercury I also kinda dig. The Herve one is still my favourite.
Bloc Party- Mercury (Telemitry Remix)
Hervé has actually already done a remix for Bloc Party under the alias ‘Speaker Junk’ which went down quite smoothly with me last year (how I love chopped vocals). I also have to throw in the SebastiAn remix which still blows me away. It’s intense. Probably one of the most solid works by SebastiAn .
Bloc Party- I Still Remember (SebastiAn Remix)
Bloc Party- I Still Remember (Speaker Junk Remix)
‘Pioneers’ – what an amazing song… both lyrically and sonically. The Tunng cover gives a little more fragility to the already heart melting lyrics. And I absolutely love love love this M83 remix. Anthony Gonzales would never let me down. The strings just kill me. I just want to throw myself on the floor and stare at the ceiling in agony (in the best way possible)
Tunng- Pioneers (Bloc Party Cover)
Bloc Party- Pioneers (M83 Remix)
Hunting for Witches…. I didn’t know what to think when I first heard it. So incongruous and a somewhat confusing listen. I am, however, very thankful to the original for being the catalyst for these two remixes.
Bloc Party- Hunting for Witches (Villains Electro-Banger Remix)
Bloc Party- Hunting for Witches (Crystal Castles Remix)
Weird Science kind of dropped off my radar. What happened guys!? Your remix of Helicopter was so deliciously brilliant. I’ve been listening to it for about 2 years now and I just cant stop coming back to the thing. Despite the fact that is has long ceased blog circulation It still sounds super fresh to me. And it is more than deserving of a second wave.
Bloc Party- Helicopter (Weird Science Remix)
Last off nothing is really complete without Erol Alkan’s touch
Bloc Party- She’s Hearing Voices (Erol Alkan’s Calling You Dub)
And how can I not throw a ‘Banquet’ related track in here?? This one we all know inside out by Phones (a.k.a Paul Epworth who actually happens to be producing Bloc Party’s third album)
Bloc Party- Banquet (Phones Remix)
I have such high hopes for this album. Please don’t let me down boys.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 2manydjs, Alter Ego, Badly Drawn Boy, Beyond The Wizards Sleeve, Bloc Party, Clinic, erol alkan, Hot Chip, Interpol, Justin Robertson, Klaxons, LCD Soundsystem, Midlake, Mylo, Mystery Jets, Peaches, Richard Norris, the chemical brothers, The Long Blondes, Tiga, Ulrich Schnauss, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Erol Alkan emerged from the underground with a sound that was innovative, arresting, and charmingly psychedelic. He is fast approaching premier league status and is one of the closest watched producer’s & DJ’s of the decade.
With his roots firmly locked in all that was amazing in alternative culture, Erol Alkan pretty much stands for everything I love about dance music. He takes all the sounds, artists, songs and genre’s which have captured hearts in history and smashes everything together into the wonderful idea of dancing.
A few years back before all the blogs were swarming with our favourite artists and we had no idea what the hell ‘Bloc Party’or ‘Klaxons’ meant, these very musicians were down in London chillin’ at Erol Alkan’s little club Trash. I’m talking LCD Soundsystem, Peaches, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. Not to mention some killer DJ sets by the likes of Tiga, Mylo, 2manydjs and yeah you got it… anyone that mattered.
To think that I was in London not long ago when Trash was in full swing and was completely oblivious to its existence (or to anything related to the obsessions I now possess) is extremely frustrating.
Allegedly in the last 5 years of the club the last two tracks that were always played were ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’ (the Smiths) & Bowie’s ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide‘.
Erol stated in an interview “they are the two songs that best reflect the club culture, it’s people and places, highs and lows and bring people together”
So I just adore Erol’s taste in music.
I would really really love to bring him out here (if he can get over his fear of flying)
Here are some of my favourite Erol Alkan Remixes:
Hot Chip - Boy From School (Erol Alkan’s Extended Re-Work)
Interpol - Mammoth (Erol Alkan Remix)
Alter Ego- Rocker (Erol Alkan Remix) (You just wait for the 1:30 mark)
The Chemical Brothers- Believe (Erol Alkan’s Feel Re-Work) (Incredibly empowering)
In case you were wondering Erol has been up to since (R.I.P Trash) …well it once again makes me feel like I should smash my laptop and go actively pursue something. The guy has been producing albums for some of our favourite indie bands (Mystery Jets), getting unknown artists onto our radar (The Long Blondes), and pushing out more top-notch remixes (I really don’t have time for this).
And by now you should have heard of his side project Beyond The Wizards Sleeve with Richard Norris (not to be confused with the Richard Norris that produces albums for Five and Robbie Williams)
Anyway, if you love Erol Alkan’s productions just listen to some of the stuff by Beyond the Wizards Sleeve. His collaborations with Norris result in the most magical creations.
The Midlake remix is my favourite from Beyond the Wizard Sleeve. I can’t really listen to it without a heavy heart but its so god damn beautiful and painfully infectious.
Midlake- Roscoe (Beyond The Wizards Sleeve Remix)
Badly Drawn Boy- Promises (Beyond The Wizards Sleeve Reanimation)
You can download Erol Alkan podcasts from his website which I HIGHLY recommend. You can also waste your time in the forums if you are a super music nerd like me.
http://www.erolalkan.co.uk/music/podcasts.rss
I was actually winding down today post-weekend with Beyond the Wizard’s Sleeve Live At The G Mex July2007 (feat. Pink Floyd, the Beatles, Peter Bjorn & John yummmm)
I have to say one of my best purchase decisions of all time was picking up the “A Bugged Out Mix by Erol Alkan/ A Bugged In Selection with Erol Alkan” which is composed of two discs… the first disc is an absolutely immaculate mix by Erol and the second makes for the most pleasurable home listening you could ever imagine.
Here are two tracks from A Bugged In Selection which I spontaneously selected to upload as I really think the album is best listened to as a whole. (Buy it ok? cool? cool.)
Justin Robertson Presents Revtone- Love Movement (Ulrich Schnauss Remix)
Oh, and I just spent the whole night listening to/reading about Erol Alkan.
So I am most definitely going to fail uni/ life.
I remember when I briefly maintained this strong belief that Boys Noize (slash Alex Ridha) was severely overhyped. I was never an intense fan of “& Down” and the Feist remix didn’t really do it for me. Upon finally acquiring Oi Oi Oi I had the most drastic change of heart. Fucking masterpiece. So so so so much better than I ever expected throughout my wildest electro-urges.
However, I still had my doubts about Alex being able to steer away from attacking his productions and remixes with that intense paroxysmal glitchiness. When I found out about the existence of this remix I was totally expecting to hear Alex ripping into the smooth Tellier creation with his signature brutal chainsaw.
Anyway, Alex has completely shattered all my expectations and gained my utmost respect and love forever. This is like, the most beautiful remix I’ve heard all year. So much emotion and anxiety distilled into one track. This is even better than the monstrous Oh! (which is still his best original, hands down).
Sébastien Tellier- L’amour et La Violence (Boys Noize Remix)
I should also mention that Rolling Stone gave Oi Oi Oi 4.5 stars which confirms most music critics ‘rock and roll is dead and electro is taking over the world’ theory.
Also this picture makes me feel like I have accomplished absolutely nothing in life.
nice Ksubi bag Alex.
Ahhh the majestic, glacial soundscapes which can only be derived from Post-rock… one of my favourite genres at the moment.
I’m usually OBSESSED with lyrics… decoding/self applications etc but lately artists like God is an Astronaut, Gospeed you! Black Emperor and Mono are the ones dominating my listening habits.
Anyway, I AM SO FUCKING EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW MOGWAI ALBUM!!
“The Hawk Is Howling” is the 6th studio album by Stuart Braithwaite & Dominic Aitchison (who decided to name their band after the creatures in the horror flick Gremlins)
Here is the track listing. I have to admit I’m a little surprised they actually stuck with this album name. I like the song titles though.
1 I’m Jim Morrison, I’m dead
2 Batcat
3 Daphne and The Brain
4 Local Authority
5 The Sun Smells Too Loud
6 Kings Meadow
7 I Love you, I’m Going To Blow Up Your School
8 Scotland’s Shame
9 Thank You Space Expert
10 The Precipice
So far the boys have leaked The Sun Smells Too Loud and I love it.
It’s more uplifting. More synthy. More electro-esque.
A lovely sound that still sparkles with uniqueness and imaginative audacity.
