A Britastic Best of 2009

Every year this is a very difficult list to make... this year it's even harder. NOT because there weren't a bunch of brilliant releases... but because I had a lot going on personally this year that kept me out of the music world.

As usual I'll be updating this all the way up until New Years Eve (most likely)... so, enjoy, and I can't wait until next year because I promise it will be the BEST on this blog has ever had :)

Best Albums of 2009
Pete Doherty - "Grace/Wastelands"
Morrissey - "Years Of Refusal"
Little Boots - "Hands"
Frankmusik - "Complete Me" (plus "Recomplete Me" & "Completely Me")
Arctic Monkeys - "Humbug"
Editors - "In This Light And On This Evening"
Dot Allison - "Room 7 1/2"
Heads We Dance - "Love Technology" (plus "Dance Technology")
The Whip - "X Marks Destination" (released in the U.S. this year)
Simian Mobile Disco - "Temporary Pleasure"

Honourable mentions:
Bloc Party - "Intimacy Remixed", Franz Ferdinand - "Tonight", La Roux - "La Roux", Echo & The Bunnymen - "The Fountain", Bad Lieutenant - "Never Cry Another Tear", Doves - "Kingdom Of Rust"

Best Singles
Morrissey - "Something is Squeezing My Skull"
Arctic Monkeys - "Cornerstone"
Pete Doherty - "Broken Love Song"
Thom Yorke - "Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses"
Simian Mobile Disco - "Audacity Of Huge"
Heads We Dance - "Take My Picture"
Bloc Party - "One More Chance"
Frankmusik - "3 Little Words"
La Roux - "In For The Kill"
Franz Ferdinand - "No You Girls"

Honourable Mentions:
Lily Allen - "The Fear", White Lie - "Death"

Best Dance Tracks
Hostage - "I Get High"
The Count & Sinden - "Mega"
The Prodigy - "Invaders Must Die"
Bloc Party - "Trojan Horse (John B Remix)"
Frankmusik - "Confusion Girl (Russ Chimes Remix)"
La Roux - "In For The Kill (Skreams Lets Get Ravey Remix)"
Little Boots - "Remedy (Rusko's 'Big Trainers' Remix)"
The Black Ghosts - "Full Moon (Marlow Remix)"



Best Compilations
Various Artists - "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"
Various Artists - 5: Five Years of Hyperdub
FabricLive.44 - Commix
FabricLive.47 - Toddla T

As I said, I'll keep it coming but these were the first albums/songs to come to mind. Thank all of you for all your support; I wouldn't be where I am with out you all!

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Heads We Dance PLUS Remixes!

If you read the blog regularly you'll know that I've been anxiously awaiting remixes for "Take My Picture"... and they couldn't come at a better time of year! Just as everything is freezing and awful looking they deliver remixes that make it feel like Summer again :)

Heads We Dance we kind enough to take a few minutes to do a little Q & A for us and give us 3 new remixes! So please read below to find out what their new single is about, what artist almost made Yoni take scissors to his neck, and HWD's tips on how to make it in the industry. Of course the aforementioned remixes are just below this awesome interview...

ISoA: What was the inspiration for "Take My Picture" (which by the way has one of the catchiest choruses you've ever written)?

It’s about the power relationship between celebrities and the press; it’s a two-way thing, which can work in a similar way to a romantic relationship. That’s the main theme of the song anyway; the inspiration for the general sound of the song was the fact that we were really longing to make an out-an-out pop track! I’m glad you picked up on the catchy chorus – we definitely went for that, and putting Becky centre stage also gives the track a real pop feel.

ISoA: It seems like most bands or artists have one... do you have a favourite song that you've written?

We always get really excited by the song that we’re currently working on. As a band it’s important you keep it exciting for yourself, and I guess you always want to be thinking the next thing you do will be the best thing you’ve ever done. Now is no exception! It’s a bit of a cop-out because nobody can hear this track yet, but we’ve nearly finished the follow up to 'Take My Picture' and we all absolutely love it… It’s called 'Guilty Heart' and I honestly think it's the best thing we’ve done.

ISoA: What have been your favourite albums this year?

Heads We Dance: I really like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs album; we all went to see them live a couple of weeks ago and it was just great too. ‘Heads Will Roll’ especially was just huge! The Fever Ray album was sonically fantastic; amazing soundscapes. Recently I’ve been listening to quite a bit of the new Boys Noize album (which seems to have been somewhat overlooked) and the Blakroc album as well.

ISoA: Is there any song you could go the rest of your lives without hearing?

Heads We Dance: Can I say the entire Jamiroquai back catalogue? I was having my haircut the other day and they put a Jamiroquai album on. I almost wrestled the scissors off them and stabbed myself in the neck to make it stop. I didn’t - I stayed in my seat and got my hair cut – but only because I’m polite! I would happily never hear any one of those songs again!

ISoA: Are there any artists, or bands, that you expect big things from this coming year?

Heads We Dance: Loads of the acts that inspired our Love Technology album like Justice, Chromeo and Digitalism have been out of the spotlight for a while so I'm looking forward to what they come up with next year. I'm also hoping that A-Trak will put an album together as I've loved almost all his remixes and original tracks. I also have to confess that I'm looking forward to some big blockbuster pop albums from Britney, Kylie et al!

ISoA: Obviously you've kept it together and big things have happened for you all. Has there ever been a moment where one or all of you said, "We may not be able to do this", where you considered packing it in?

Heads We Dance: Yeah I think it's fair to say we've all had our moments, especially when we're juggling music, jobs and relationships. We've had some amazing reactions to our tracks over the last 18 months but we still have to work really hard to keep things moving!

ISoA: So far what has been your biggest moment as a band?

Heads We Dance: I'm not sure really. Releasing 'The Human Touch' was a big moment as it felt like a turning point and the start of a much more positive time for us. Releasing 'Take My Picture' feels like a big moment too though because it has shown us we can surpass our indie band origins to make some proper pop!

ISoA: Are there anything embarrassing moments hiding in the bands past?

Heads We Dance: We like to keep moving as a band so we can be pretty dismissive of things we've done in the past - there is a demo version of 'Love In The Digital Age' floating about on the net which is pretty embarrassing. If we stand back from it all though we realise that we wouldn't be where we are now if it wasn't for past mistakes... don't listen to that demo though!

ISoA: Does anyone in the band have a hidden talent?

Heads We Dance: Becky is an awesome cook and likes to bake stuff to keep us going in the studio! I have also been told that I look like an albino Snoop Dogg though I'm not sure if that's a hidden talent...

ISoA: You guys are the ones who introduced me to Frankmusik; how did you come to work with Vince on the "Love In The Digital Age" remix?

Heads We Dance: We were put in touch with Vince via the guys at Puregroove Records. We had actually never heard of him (this was back in 2007) but loved his remix of 'Digital Age'. We supported him at The Cockpit in Leeds in November this year - one of the best and most fun gigs we've ever done.

ISoA: This is probably my most asked question: With the collapse of traditional music industry, what do you suggest to young bands trying to make it right now?

Heads We Dance: Be organised and be prepared to put in some hard work! I think it's also important to enjoy what you're doing while you're doing it - it's easy to get sucked into always looking forward to the next stage and getting hung up on that. Also, don't be shit and rely on a nice haircut - there's too much of that about!


I wanna thank them for taking the time to answer these questions and for giving us these wicked remixes! Make sure you pick up "Take My Picture/After Dark"!

Heads We Dance - Take My Picture (Digital Foxglove Remix)"

Heads We Dance - Take My Picture (Justin Faust Remix)"

Heads We Dance - Take My Picture (Coin Operated Boy Remix)"

Heads We Dance present "Take My Picture Video"!

I love Heads We Dance... they've been really getting places as of late and yet they're cool enough to remember where they came from (which I really respect). I am very proud to present to you this wicked new video for "Take My Picture"...



The video is a perfect stylish counterpart to such a sleek sounding song. Around about 2:10 you realize that this song is going to be stuck in your head for months to come, and if you're like me? You're lusting after some remixes :) Heads We Dance have proved time and time again that they are committed to being one of the best dance bands out there and that hard work evident in "Take My Picture".

On that note it's worth mentioning that their remix album, Dance Technology, it's still up on their website for download! I recommend you take a listen before it goes to iTunes and other digital download sites... take a listen here.

Here's a little more info... and some praise :)
NEW SINGLE 'TAKE MY PICTURE' / 'AFTER DARK' OUT 14.12.09 ON GASH DIGITAL
INCLUDES EXCLUSIVE REMIXES BY B-XENTRIC, JUSTIN FAUST, THE AMPLID,
COIN OPERATED BOY, GHOSTS OF VENICE & RADIOCONTROL


"HEADS WE DANCE are pushing all the right buttons." - Mixmag

"Glittering, lustrous electro-pop" - Artrocker

"The twisted offspring of an illicit threeway between French disco,
pop and forward thinking electro" - iDJ

"Everything that La Roux wants to be and a whole lot more." - Leeds Guide

"HEADS WE DANCE are fast becoming stars." - Yorkshire Evening Post

Check out more at their website or Myspace! And keep looking back here as I'm sure they'll give us some free remixes and tracks closer to the release!

EXCLUSIVE: Unreleased Simian Mobile Disco, Fenech Soler & Vega remixes, and Heads We Dance Remix album!

Well, after waiting 7 months, I've finally decided to go ahead and post this unreleased Simian Mobile Disco track. It seems that a few others have made their way onto the Hype Machine ("Flea In Your Ear", "Pinball") so I suppose at this point they must not mind. It's a rough mix anyway which is sort of like looking through the trash bin seeing as it's not the finished product... unless you really like SMD. I do, and this song is the shit.

Simian Mobile Disco- "Santiago (Rough Mix)"

UK residents Fenech-Soler did a remix for someone called Mimo?!? I no nothing about the gent but the song is pretty fucking cool. There is a Vega (from Austin, Texas) remix here as well and both are in 320 for you audiophiles! The Fenech-Soler remix is vaguely trancey, and sort of his this gospel-y chorus, and frankly I'm not even sure what genre it is, but in my mind that's a good thing? I really like the bit at 5:10... really good song for transitions in a DJ set...

Mimo- "Running Out (Fenech-Soler Mix)" YSI
Mimo- "Running Out (Fenech-Soler Mix)" zShare
Mimo- "Running Out (Vega Mix)" zShare

Check out more Fenech-Soler at Myspace, and Vega also at Myspace!

And lastly our good friends Heads We Dance have decided on a winner for their remix competition! AND their new remix album Dance Technology is on it's way as well... here's some more info from the group themselves:

"The first remix competition entry we've chosen to go on our forthcoming remix album, Dance Technology, is on our MySpace player now (http://www.myspace.com/headswedance)! The remix of our album track 'You Are Never Alone With Model 21' is by the fantastic Justin Faust and features brand new vocals by Becky! Check the remix out now and let us know what you think.

The Dance Technology album is a "best of" our remixes and includes tracks by Don Diablo, Frankmusik, Russ Chimes, Tepr, Louis La Roche and Sidechains, as well as four exclusive new remixes. It will be available as a FREE download for a limited time from www.headswedance.co.uk from 28th September. Keep checking our website for more details!

In celebration of the art of the remix, we've started a weekly series of articles on our favourite remixes. You can read the latest here".

Ok, that's all I've got right now BUT I'll be back soon! Enjoy!

Heads We Dance Remix Competition!

As you very well may know I've been out of circulation because of sickness, and general irritation with the blogging world. I want to stay on Blogger... but... I'm looking into switching... the take downs are a little too much and I don't want to loose good interviews and exclusive material to DMCA garbage.

Anyway... I think it's important to post this about my fam and their remix project! I thank them from waking me from my blogging coma lol...

Heads We Dance- "Love In The Digital Age (Frankmusik Remix)" YSI

Heads We Dance- "Love In The Digital Age (Frankmusik Remix)" Mediafire

In September 2009 HEADS WE DANCE will release a remix album to
accompany their debut album Love Technology and are looking for the
best up and coming remixers to contribute tracks. The remix album
will feature the best of the past remixes including those by Don
Diablo, Frankmusik, Tepr, Russ Chimes, Sidechains and Louis La Roche,
as well as brand new remixes of album tracks. HEADS WE DANCE have
uploaded a cappellas of the tracks available for remix to
www.headswedance.co.uk/remixes and ask for submissions to be emailed
to the band at headswedance@googlemail.com by Monday 10th August. The
best remixes will be chosen by the band and included on the remix
album!

And if you haven't checked it out yet...
DEBUT ALBUM 'LOVE TECHNOLOGY' OUT NOW!!!
INCLUDES THE SINGLES: 'WHEN THE SIRENS SOUND', 'THE HUMAN TOUCH',
'LOVE IN THE DIGITAL AGE' & 'MY HEART IS SET ON YOU'
PLUS THE KRAFTWERK COVER 'COMPUTER LOVE'

Find out more at www.headswedance.co.uk and
www.myspace.com/headswedance.

Be back soon! I've got and itch to write more... put up some stuff I've been waiting on.

Jahcoozi presents new "Namedropper" video!

Well, you know I've been reluctant to post recently... but when you get an email from your boy, it makes you wanna jump out of bed and get a post up!

And even if I were totally depressed and didn't wanna move I know that something new from Jahcoozi is bound to put me in a better mood :) Check this slice of fried gold out...

Jahcoozi- "Namedropper" Video

JAHCOOZI - NAMEDROPPER from mother perera on Vimeo.

To really keep this within the Arcadian Family lol... Jahcoozi is playing @ Fabric in London next weekend July 3rd (just 3 days before you can cop the "Namedropper" SINGLE).

This next weekend is my 1 year anniversary... wish I could be at Fabric with Robert, and James, and London folk for it :( Maybe next year yeah? Once Michigan stops having a 12% unemployment rate we might be able to make that happen...

Speaking of Arcadian Family... I know I'd put up a lot of coverage... and I didn't want to drown you guys in favouritism but... Heads We Dance have released their brilliant Love Technology. And it's perfect that they released it right at the official beginning of summer, because that's what it is, it's the perfect summer album for morning, noon, or night. Along with Little Boots, Frankmusik and Simian Mobile Disco (who won't be bringing you their sound until the "end of summer")... Heads We Dance will help keep your summer awesome, and memorable, without question. I realize that HWD and Little Boots are the only ones with albums out but I PROMISE that the other two albums are must haves for your summer... (p.s. I love the cover, with the binary code and the heart, and the cool type face... fucking sweet)...

But the album right now through iTunes!

Since I mentioned it... I'm going to post a review of Frankmusik's Complete Me album soon. I wanted to get Vince's seal of approval first, but he's so busy, I'm going to take his silence as a seal of approval. He has a copy of the review (it was written in February)... we all know the album is awesome, but I'll tell you why in my opinion...

OH YEAH... I also wanted to repost that GoldieLocks song so it would show up on Hype Machine. Make sure you read about the podcast in the previous post. You know, as well as I do, without Hype you don't get any traffic...

GoldieLocks- "Fuckabout"
NOTE: This was a YSI file so that it would hit Hype Machine, but since it did show up, I'd rather you download it from where it came from. I think some of these take down notices come from "reposting" the track on a 3rd party file sharing service (i.e. Mediafire, YSI, MegaUpload) to get the track to show up on the aggregators. I don't need any trouble so, please, read the previous post about the Red Bull podcast and get it from the right place :)

Ok, enjoy all this jazz... and I'll be back as soon as I can. I still have loads of interviews from before I got sick to post... but I also will be m.i.a. from about Saturday of this week til next Friday dealing with a personal health issue. Anyway, keep checking back! Thanks for stopping by!

Dragonette and Don Diablo and Heads We Dance make your Friday!

Got something new from both Dragonette and Heads We Dance!

Let's start out with the Don Diablo remixes:
Dragonette - Fixin to Thrill (Don Diablo Remix)
Dragonette - Fixin to Thrill (Don Diablo Remix) YSI

Dragonette - Fixin to Thrill (Don Diablo Dub)
Dragonette - Fixin to Thrill (Don Diablo Dub) YSI

Don Diablo (www.myspace.com/dondiablo) has been asked to put his magic touch on Dragonette’s forthcoming single ‘Fixin to Thrill’, which celebrates their return to the scene. It has been two years since electropop band Dragonette (www.myspace.com/dragonette) first burst on to the scene with their debut album ‘Galore’, which Popjustice called “the best album of 2007” and the Guardian called “ace shagtronic pop.” Don Diablo adds a lot of funk to the original and delivers a remix that will rock your world. The single will be out at the end of may, and Dragonette’s 2nd album, also titled ‘Fixin To Thrill’, will be out at the end of the summer.

Also, here's a little present from our friends Heads We Dance:

Our new single, 'When The Sirens Sound' (Popjustice Song of the Day), is out this Monday 18th May! There are two versions of the single. The first is a digital only release available through iTunes (and most other digital stores) and includes the b-side 'Work It Out' featuring Little Boots. The second is a Beatport exclusive and includes remixxes by Don Diablo (Hype Machine No. 1, Elbo.ws No. 8), Russ Chimes (supported by BBC Radio 1's Andy George & Jaymo), Hot Pink Delorean and Geek Chic Soundsystem.

Heads We Dance- "When The Sirens Sound"
Heads We Dance- "When The Sirens Sound" YSI

--
NEW SINGLE 'WHEN THE SIRENS SOUND' OUT 18.05.09
INCLUDES DON DIABLO, RUSS CHIMES & HOT PINK DELOREAN REMIXES
PLUS EXCLUSIVE B-SIDE 'WORK IT OUT' FT. LITTLE BOOTS

HEADS WE DANCE
www.headswedance.co.uk
www.myspace.com/headswedance

MORE Heads We Dance... this time with Don Diablo!

Drip, drip, drip goes the leak.

It's frustrating to see work from your friends find it's way on to the internet a little too soon... BUT Heads We Dance have always been about sharing even their singles with fans so, while this release may not have been when they wanted it to come out, I know for a fact they are happy for you guys to have access to this track (albeit a little early lol)...

Heads We Dance - "When the Sirens Sound (Don Diablo Remix)" YSI

Heads We Dance - "When the Sirens Sound (Don Diablo Remix)" Mediafire

Heads We Dance - "When the Sirens Sound (Don Diablo Remix)" zShare


Here's the official press from our good buddy Don Diablo (the busiest man in dance music lol):
Don Diablo (www.myspace.com/dondiablo) has cooked up a mighty tasty remix for the forthcoming single "When the Sirens Sound" by Heads We Dance (www.myspace.com/headswedance). Don turns the electropop original into a heavy dancefloor destroyer that is sure to rock soundsystems across the globe. The full e.p. will be released on Monday May 18th on Gash Digital. Also on remix duties are Russ Chimes, Hot Pink Delorean and Geek Chic Soundsystem, but make sure you grab the Don Diablo remix, right here right now!

I don't know about you guys but now I'm even more stoked to hear the other remixes. Their album Love Technology is already a sure shot for my top 10 albums of 2009 and the year isn't even half over! You'll understand why once you hear it... it's gonna blow your mind and you ear drums!

I do have to say though... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE buy this release. You're getting most of it for free but, in my opinion, that's all the more reason to buy it. This band is giving you their hard work (which cost a lot to make) for free, and if you enjoy it, the least you could do is throw a couple quid their way for being so fan-centric. HWD have given me loads of stuff to give to you guys free... and so I ask you (not them) to please at least buy digital copies of the single(s) and the forthcoming album. It would mean a lot to me and would help prove to me that this blog is doing what it's supposed to :)

Check back soon because I have a backlog of a LOT of stuff to get you guys!

I'm back! And so are Heads We Dance with Little Boots!

Mmmmmm... *takes deep breath*... hello everyone! Sorry I took such a significant extended leave of absence! I sort of WELL... you know I'm not sure if I got fired? Or if it was a lay off? Because... I was "let go" because they didn't have the money to pay my paycheck anymore BUT they came up with nice totally unfounded and untrue reasons why I should be let go. Probably not a lay off huh lol...

That's America for ya! Here's a couple good suggestions if you want to keep your job (where there are no rules and supposedly you set your own hours)... DO NOT get a horrible infection in your mouth (w/o insurance) and wait for 6 months to take care of it (forcing you to go to the surgeon all the time). DO NOT wear your Kidrobot hoodies even though you work in the basement, and no one sees you, even though the collective professionalism level is in the negative numbers. DON'T make sense at all... because sense is the enemy of nonsense, and right now that's the ruling power still.

So all that has been a bummer... it made me so depressed I didn't have the energy to even write. BUT on the lighter side of things one of my favourite bands has come through with an antidote to gloom!

Heads We Dance have come through with, no doubt, what will be an album to rule the summer called Love Technology (I haven't been able to take it out of my car to even copy it) which is amazing...

They've always been out to be the best of the best... so of course they've hooked up with one of the "best", Little Boots, to make sure that no one can escape their synth perfection. This b-side to their new single, "When The Siren Sounds", is true unadulterated pop perfection that begs to be played over, and over, and over again.

Heads We Dance- "Work It Out (feat Little Boots)"

Heads We Dance- "Work It Out (feat Little Boots)" YSI

Pete from HWD had this to say via email earlier today:
It's nice to be able to get all our online stuff together in one place at last! As well as 'Work It Out'
you can download our mixtapes, and the Frankmusik remix of 'Love In The Digital Age' - and there are a load of photos, songs for streaming and all the usual news etc. you'd expect to find - take a look! www.headswedance.co.uk

You can pre-order the the 10/10 album of the summer Love Technology by following this link: http://shop.thisisfakediy.co.uk/heads-we-dance-love-technology.html

Of course, it should be mentioned, that new Arcadian associate Don Diablo has remixed the new single along with Hot Pink Delorean and Russ Chimes. Don't sleep on this one... and make sure you check out the HWD website to get more goodies. Be back soon!

P.s. Maybe we can convince Frankmusik to let us post his Little Boots track in the near future?!?!

NEW SINGLE 'WHEN THE SIRENS SOUND' OUT 18.05.09
INCLUDES DON DIABLO, RUSS CHIMES & HOT PINK DELOREAN REMIXES
PLUS EXCLUSIVE B-SIDE 'WORK IT OUT' FT. LITTLE BOOTS

HEADS WE DANCE
www.headswedance.com
www.myspace.com/headswedance

NEW SINGLE from Heads We Dance! Plus new album info...

Riddle me this you Albionites in search of Arcadia? What do Hot Pink Delorian, Don Diablo and Little Boots have in common?

They're all connected to the new Heads We Dance single!

Here's some press...
HEADS WE DANCE follow the sold out 'The Human Touch' single (9/10 iDJ, Popjustice Song of the Day, The Hype Machine Top 10) and over a million downloads of the Rewind2 Covers Project 'Computer Love' with the release of a brand new single ‘When The Sirens Sound’ on Monday 18th May.

There will be two versions of ‘When The Sirens Sound’. The first is a digital only release through This Is Fake DIY Records which includes the exclusive b-side ‘Work It Out’ featuring Little Boots. The second is also a digital only release through Gash Digital and features remixes by Don Diablo, Russ Chimes, Hot Pink Delorean, Geek Chic Soundsystem and more tbc.

To celebrate both releases, HEADS WE DANCE hit the road and will play 'When The Sirens Sound', plus tracks from their forthcoming debut album 'Love Technology', at a number of live club shows. Please check the shows section of the band MySpace for details.

You know before you even listen that this one's gonna be a banger... Check out the 'When The Sirens Sound' Don Diablo Remix on their Myspace player! I'm sure HWD will give us more as it become available (as they always do)! Keep your eyes and ears on this page!

--
NEW SINGLE 'WHEN THE SIRENS SOUND' OUT 18.05.09
INCLUDES DON DIABLO, RUSS CHIMES & HOT PINK DELOREAN REMIXES
PLUS EXCLUSIVE B-SIDE 'WORK IT OUT' FT. LITTLE BOOTS

HEADS WE DANCE
www.headswedance.com
www.myspace.com/headswedance

HEADS WE DANCE remix Depeche Mode cover!

Man, all my old school Arcadian friends are coming out of the woodwork! First South Central now Heads We Dance... we only need one more person to pop by to complete the original three bands that composed the original line up of the "Arcadian Family" (cough *Vincentwhoisquitebusy* cough)...

This is gonna be a wicked post because Heads We Dance have done a crazy awesome remix of Red Blooded Girls covering Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence"! I was just watching that video for "Wrong" (the new Depeche Mode song for those of you who didn't catch it being splattered all over the various interwebs) and I think it's good... Can't wait to read "Best one since Violator" in the music press, right? Happens EVERY album lol...

Back to the matter at hand...

Yoni from HWD contacted me this morning, with this gem, and has this to say...
"We've gone for a bit of a Pet Shop Boys vibe on it - inspired by their winning of the Brit Lifetime achievement award!"

Red Blooded Girls- "Enjoy The Silence (Heads We Dance Remixx)"

Red Blooded Girls- "Enjoy The Silence (Heads We Dance Remixx)"

Indeed it does have that sound... like I've never been able to imagine this as a PSB song but now I can... even if it is girls singing :) I look forward to hearing more from them.

As far as our dear remixers, this band never manages to do anything wrong! I mean, look at their cover of "Computer Love"... covering Kraftwerk has been a big mistake for a lot of people, but not only did they manage to make the song their own, they made it sound exciting for the first time I can recall since the original (yeah Coldplay they did a better job by merely covering it, not 'interpolating' it or whatever you call that). Heads We Dance are a band that deserve the hype they get because "The Human Touch" has been one of the few songs to earn the distinction of "actually as good as Daft Punk"... plus "My Heart Is Set On You" has become a classic in the Arcadia/Albion frequently played setlist... I mean these guys would have to tank hard to not end up being one of the most respected indie dance bands this decade with material this fresh, and I don't see that happening any time soon.

In case you forgot Heads We Dance are now on This Is Fake DIY Records...

REWIND2 PROJECT: KRAFTWERK COVER - NOW ONLINE!
GO TO HTTP://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/HEADSWEDANCE

HEADS WE DANCE
www.headswedance.com
www.myspace.com/headswedance

Heads We Dance Cover Kraftwerk's "Computer Love" for Rewind 2 Compilation!

It's always a pleasure to bring you something from one of the Arcadian Family so I was pleased to see this morning that Heads We Dance (one of the first bands ISoA really "got behind" as far as enthusiastically supporting) had send their cover of Kraftwerks "Computer Love" over along with artwork for you guys! I had seen it on the Buffet Libre Djs new Rewind 2 mix but I wasn't gonna grab a track off it without permission, so needless to say I'm stoked I can officially post it. If you guys haven't yet heard it (or the entire Rewind 2 tape), you need to get on it NOW lol...

Heads We Dance- "Computer Love (Kraftwerk Cover)"

Here's some press...
HEADS WE DANCE follow 'The Human Touch' single (9/10 iDJ, Popjustice Song of the Day) with their contribution to the Rewind2 Covers Project - a cover of Kraftwerk's classic song of finding love through technology: 'Computer Love'.

Organised by the Buffet Libre DJs, the Rewind2 Project features loads of exciting new artists covering their favourite tracks from the 70s, 80s and 90s. The last Rewind Project received more than a million downloads and this one should be no less successful as HEADS WE DANCE are joined by artists such as Au Revoir Simone, Bonde Do Role, Little Boots, Sidechains, Miami Horror, Justin Faust, We Have Band and Freezepop.
All the songs are available as FREE DOWNLOADS so go check 'em out at http://www.buffetlibredjs.net NOW!

Here's a little more info...


AVAILABLE TRAVELS:
01 Au Revoir Simone - Here Is The News (ELO cover)
02 Amiina - Souvenir (OMD cover)
03 The Young Punx - The Clapping Song (Belle Stars cover)
04 Good Books - Only You (Yazoo cover)
05 Starfucker - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cindy Lauper cover)
06 Little Boots - Love Kills (Buffetlibre vs Sidechains remix)(Freddie Mercury cover)
07 Bonde Do Role - Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbab (Pigbag cover)
08 Parker Lewis - I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World (Ronnie Milsap cover)
09 Division Day - Ghosts (Japan cover)
10 Canadians feat Cherielynn Westrich - Neverending Story (Giorgio Moroder cover)
11 Project Jenny Project Jan - Self Control (Laura Branigan cover)
12 Diamond Cut - Teardrops (Womack & Womack cover)
13 The Botticellis - Here I Go Again (Whitesnake cover)
14 Dolby Anol - Your Woman (White Town cover)
15 Charlie Ash - I Wanna Sex You Up (Colour Me Badd cover)
16 The Procession - Old Time Rock And Roll (Bob Seger cover)
17 Robbers On High Street - Shout To The Top! (Style Council cover)
18 Sportsday Megaphone - Ever Fallen In Love (Buzzcocks cover)
19 Man Like Me - Lets Talk About Sex (Salt-n-Pepa cover)
20 The Prodigy - Everybody In The Place (AC Slater remix)
21 We Have Band - West End Girls (Pet Shop Boys cover)
22 Headlights - Making Plans For Nigel (XTC cover)
23 New Kids On The Block - Step By Step (The Requesters remix)
24 Pin Me Down (Redux) - The Chain (Fleetwood Mac cover)
25 Setting Sun - You Got Lucky (Tom Petty cover)
26 Saar & Sky - Somebody's Watching Me (Rockwell cover)
27 Codebreaker - First True Love Affair (Jimmy Ross cover)
28 The Picture - Bring On The Dancing Horses (Echo & The Bunnymen cover)
29 Sohodolls - Open Your Eyes (Lords Of The New Church cover)
30 Electric Youth - Lying Still (Level 42 cover)
31 Johnny Hates Jazz - Shattered Dreams (The Amplid remix)
32 The Glass - 2CV (Lloyd Cole cover)
33 What She Wants - Jealousy (Pet Shop Boys cover)
34 The Old Believers - Naive Melody (Talking Heads cover)
35 Division Kent - Cry For Love (Iggy Pop cover)
36 Malente feat Knixx - Rock Me Amadeus (Falco cover)
37 CFCF - Forbidden Colours (Sylvian & Sakamoto cover)
38 Electric Valentine vs Ultraviolet Sound - 2 Of Hearts (Stacey Q cover)
39 Heads We Dance - Computer Love (Kraftwerk cover)
40 Freezepop - Only You (Yazoo cover)
41 Baby D - Let Me Be Your Fantasy (TMX remix)
42 Ultra Nate - Free (Sidechains remix)
43 Chin Chin - Some Like It Hot (Power Station cover)
44 Hexes & Ohs - Head Over Hells (Tears For Fears cover)
45 DVAS - Urgent (Foreigner cover)
46 Miami Horror & Dan Hartman - Starmaker (Relight My Fire remix)
47 Josh & Anand - Billie Jean (Michael Jackson cover)
48 Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal (LAZRtag remix)
49 The Mocks - Enola Gay (OMD cover)
50 Little Pictures - Buddy Holly (Weezer cover)
51 Beau Jennings - Streets Of Bakersfield (Dwight Yoakam cover)
52 Hidrogenesse - Quien Maneja Mi Barca (Remedios Amaya cover)
53 Matt Keating - Reel Around The Fountain (The Smiths cover)
54 Telonius - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (Ian Dury cover)
55 Melnyk feat Sara Berg - Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush cover)
56 Love Motel - Dance On (Prince cover)
57 Aleks And The Drummer - Fade Away And Radiate (Blondie cover)
58 The Rock Steady Crew - Hey You (Justin Faust remix)
59 Dan Hartman - Instant Replay (The Phantom's Revenge remix)
60 The Ruby Suns - Arm Around You (Arthur Russell cover)
61 La Chansons - Sex And Candy (Marcy Playground cover)
62 Cruel Black Dove - Love My Way (The Psychedelic Furs cover)
63 The Human League - Sound Of The Crowd (Youth Attack remix)
64 Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Baby Diamonds remix)
65 Kah - Dancing In The Dark (Bruce Springsteen cover)
66 Computer Club - Just One Fix (Ministry cover)
67 We Were The States - Rise (Public Image Ltd cover)
68 Mojib - Paranoid Android (Radiohead cover)
69 Schnitzer - Heart And Soul (Joy Division cover)
70 Nightwaves - In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins cover)
71 Bee Gees - You Should Be Dancing (Giko remix)
72 Robin Gibb - Juliet (CatComplex remix)
73 Fight Bite - Live To Tell (Madonna cover)
74 The ELF - Dancing In The Dark (Bruce Springsteen cover)
75 The Model - Wicked Game (Chris Isaak cover)
76 Club84 - Sussudio (Phil Collins cover)
77 Absent F - Hills Of Katmandu (Tantra cover)
78 Gwen McRae - All This Love That I'm Giving (JoolsMF remix)
79 The Boat People - Livin' On A Prayer (Bon Jovi cover)
80 Deltawave - Lost In Music (Sister Sledge cover)
81 Kraftwerk - Heimcomputer (Facteur vs Dubmood remix)
82 Tears For Fears - Shout (Redial remix)
83 PhD - I Won't Let You Down (Toiletdisco remix)
84 Micky Finn - Some Justice (Super Mal remix)
85 David Swinburn - Unpretty (TLC cover)
86 Flou - I Love Rock And Roll (Joan Jett cover)
87 2 Unlimited - Get Ready For This (Gun n Rose remix)
88 Bling Crosby - Uh Oh Mr Sandman Goes To Belleville (Mashup)
89 Baron Von Luxxury - Y Control (Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover)

So go check that out! Make sure to visit the Heads We Dance website and Myspace. Be back in a jiffy! BTW I'm interviewing Commix tomorrow so if you have good suggestions for questions leave them in the comments!

Heads We Dance new single 'The Human Touch' available here!

It's always good to hear from people who are part of the Arcadia Family... so when I got this email about a new Heads We Dance single I was pysched! Then I was even more excited to find that I'm getting to offer you guys the new single for free! I hope that if you enjoy it you go out and purchase a physical copy. HWD are leading the pack of artists who understand it's better to work with their fans instead of against them... so they are gifting (and trusting) you with their new single presumably with the hopes that you guys will show your gratitude supporting them! It's very a 'punk rock' way to do things and I fucking love it!

Here's the goodies... make sure to read below to find out more about the release!

Heads We Dance- 'The Human Touch'

Heads We Dance- 'You Are Never Alone With Model 21'

Here's the press on this puppy...

Label: Gold City Records UK

Release Date: 24/11/2008

Format: Ltd 12" and Digital (order includes exclusive free HWD sci-fi mixtape and single remix bundle)

About: In celebration of their weekly DJ residency at hot new Leeds electro club night Nailgun, HEADS WE DANCE release a crunchin' five minute space-disco synth work-out entitled 'The Human Touch' on Monday 24th November! The single has already caught high-profile attention from I-DJ Magazine (5 out of 5); and Subba-Cultcha who described it as "the sort of grinding electro throb that gets me hard at a hundred paces!"

Backed by the remastered live favourite, and recent Popjustice Song of the Day, 'You Are Never Alone With Model 21' and mixed by Grammy-winning mix engineer Simon Gogerly (U2, New Order, Gwen Stefani), 'The Human Touch' highlights HEADS WE DANCE's exciting crossover between melodic, dance-influenced pop and futuristic dancefloor-fillers.

'The Human Touch' will be available on extremely limited 12" vinyl and as a digital download through www.myspace.com/headswedance, with stunning sleeve art by Empire (Miami Horror, Charlie Fanclub) and exclusive remixes by Sidechains, Charlie Fanclub (Work It Baby), Louis La Roche and NeOn.

SPACE-DISCO NEW SINGLE
'THE HUMAN TOUCH' / 'YOU ARE NEVER ALONE WITH MODEL 21'
OUT 24TH NOVEMBER!!!

INCLUDES REMIXES BY SIDECHAINS, CHARLIE FANCLUB, LOUIS LA ROCHE, NEON & MORE TBA

Check them out at their website here or at their Myspace!

Ok, I've got some more work to do at the office and the rest of that Stanton Warriors Interview is on it's way... stay tuned!

200th POST! Arcadian Family Portrait: Heads We Dance (Plus Free Mixtape!)

I figured we needed something special for the 200th post so here it is. I want to say thank you to all of you, the people on the inside and the people behind the keyboards for everything. This blogging thing has changed my life and I never would have guessed that when I started this account. So I hope this is as much fun for you as it is for me... but I really just wanna say thank you.

Heads We Dance have received quite a lot of coverage here on the site... enough to warrant being part of the fam. I liked their music from the time we first spoke, and their involvement with Frankmusik is what allowed me to become chummy with Monsieur Vincent.

Heads We Dance do a type of pop music that the world needs more of. I'm very sad that right now in music most "pop" is ephemeral and won't endure at all. The remixes may be fun but the longevity does not exist. For Heads We Dance, this is not even an issue which is why I keep my ear to the ground for everything they do.

You may have caught previous bios but it bears repeating :)

Leeds based band Heads We Dance write "custom chromed aerodynamic pop" (Losing Today) influenced by Daft Punk, Depeche Mode, Roxy Music, Timbaland and Pet Shop Boys. Taking their name from a Kate Bush lyric, Heads We Dance are inspired by the early sci-fi visions of 'Metropolis', Aldous Huxley and Philip K Dick, and a fascination with love, modern life and the internet. Heads We Dance played their first show at the Dead Disco single launch in September 2006, three weeks after forming, and have since been described live as achieving " an unfathomably glamorous and energetic take on disco pop... damn, it's great to watch" (via Tasty fanzine)

Ahhh yes... so many of my fav bands share that love of Philip K Dick (I'm looking at you Vince) and Huxley. I literally feel like this is music I've been waiting my whole life to hear. Not that there are other bands that haven't been influenced by the same things... don't misunderstand me... it's that these are the some of the first groups in my generation that are making waves and know what they stand for. The talk the talk, walk the walk, read the books, and have impressive record collections (no doubt). I need this from artists/bands that I want to align myself with... commonality in the most uncommon way... HWD are those types of trailblazers.

I meant to get this up a couple of days ago but this cold WILL NOT go away. Sorry about that... I promise I'm doing everything I can to keep things moving.

Here's the real fun part! A fucking SWEET mixtape from Heads We Dance just for you kids! The track choice is perfect... and what's better is it's only 24 mins long! That's perfect for the drive to work or cardio at the gym. Unlike some mixtapes you see online and think "is this any good?"... I can assure you this one is exactly what you wanna hear... I mean it's got some more 'rare' Daft Punk for the first two tracks (Le Knight Club being one of the Daft Punkers)... and then tracks from Arcadia friends SMD, The Kills, and fam Black Ghosts and Ladyhawke! And gobs of aural goodness inbetween!

The full tracklisting is:

Daft Punk - Fresh
Le Knight Club - Nymphae Song
Simian Mobile Disco - Hustler (Joakim Remix)
MSTRKRFT - Bounce (Felix Cartal Remix)
Treasure Fingers - Cross The Dancefloor (Lifelike Remix)
The Presets - Talk Like That (Miami Horror Remix)
Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire (Knightlife Remix)
Public Enemy - Harder Than You Think (NeOn Remix)
The Kills - Cheap and Cheerful (SebastiAn Remix)
The Black Ghosts - Any Way You Choose To Give It (Boy 8 Bit Remix)
A-Trak - Say Whoa
Ladyhawke - Dusk Till Dawn (Linus Loves Remix)
Chromeo - Tenderoni (MSTRKRFT Remix)
2pac - California Love (Big Na$ty Remix)
MGMT - Kids (Soulwax Nite Version)
Black Affair - Tak! Attack!
Madonna - Into The Groove (Sidechains Remix)

Heads We Dance Nailgun Mixtape YSI

Heads We Dance Nailgun Mixtape Rapidshare

If the downloads have run out go over to their Myspace and cop it! The tape of course is to draw attention to their Nailgun nightclub night, which if you're in the area, you'd be a fool to miss...

Their next single, 'The Human Touch', will be available on 24th November through Gold City Records. Apparently Empire is doing the design work and it's different from what we've heard from them thus far... I'm VERY interested.

I was told to "encourage people to contact us with song requests and for free guestlist places at the new club night"... so do that shit up! And make sure you tell them 'Arcadia' sent you! I mean it! Once again their Myspace link...

Remember...
SPACE-DISCO NEW SINGLE
'THE HUMAN TOUCH' / 'YOU ARE NEVER ALONE WITH MODEL 21'
OUT 24TH NOVEMBER!!!

INCLUDES REMIXES BY CHARLIE FANCLUB, LOUIS LA ROCHE, HARRIS ROBOTIS & MORE TBA

I'll be right back...

Heads We Dance exclusive remix!

Remember good old Heads We Dance? They were a fantastic indie pop group that led us to a young artist called Frankmusik and provided us with fantastic songs like "Love In The Digital Age" and "My Heart Is Set On You"!

Now, about a year after our first encounter and countless spins on my radio show THEY'RE BACK with new remixes to melt your ears off with an awesome ARCADIA EXCLUSIVE from Docteur Cauchemar (who has done remixes for the likes of Yelle)!

Pete from HWD said "the remix is by Docteur Cauchemar who was recommended to us by our good friend Tepr!"

Their debut single will be a double A-side featuring a brand new version of 'My Heart Is Set On You', as well as 'Love In The Digital Age'. Mixed by Simon Gogerly (U2, Gwen Stefani, New Order) and pressed onto very limited gold 7" vinyl, the single will be available exclusively through Pure Groove records (www.puregroove.co.uk) from Monday 16th June.

Here's the goods as promised...

Heads We Dance- "My Heart Is Set On You (Docteur Cauchemar Remix)" YSI

Heads We Dance- "My Heart Is Set On You (Docteur Cauchemar Remix)" Mediafire

REMEMBER!!!

DEBUT SINGLE OUT 16TH JUNE!!!

LTD GOLD 7" 'MY HEART IS SET ON YOU' / 'LOVE IN THE DIGITAL AGE'

Or if you are 'round Leeds you could go to the single release party over at THE LIBRARY on 19TH JUNE.

I really love these guys and think they deserve your support. A real fucking indie band with real songs and no fucking label. That's fucking awesome. This is the future of music. Bands like this. They deserve your/my cash/respect. Word.

Here's a little more background for those of you who missed the last time...

"Leeds based band HEADS WE DANCE write “custom chromed aerodynamic pop” (Losing Today) influenced by Daft Punk, Depeche Mode, Roxy Music, Timbaland and Pet Shop Boys. Taking their name from a Kate Bush lyric, HEADS WE DANCE are inspired by the early sci-fi visions of ‘Metropolis’, Aldous Huxley and Philip K Dick, and a fascination with love, modern life and the internet. HEADS WE DANCE played their first show at the Dead Disco single launch in September 2006, three weeks after forming, and have since been described live as achieving “an unfathomably glamorous and energetic take on disco pop... damn, it's great to watch" (Tasty fanzine). A strictly limited 12" 'Love In The Digital Age' remix single is available now, while the debut HEADS WE DANCE single, a double A-side of 'My Heart Is Set On You' / 'Love In The Digital Age', will be released on 16th June 2008 on Ltd Gold 7"."

How fucking cool are they? Too cool, that's how cool. Go to www.headswedance.com" or their Myspace.