Hot shizzz for the beginning of your week... Esser & Herve's Cheap Thrills!

Just the beginning of another week. Although this one seems to be going every which way (positive, negative, positive, negative)... but of course that doesn't stop the music (thank god)... or at least other people's music... my music came screeching to a halt... but that's another story...

I caught Esser in Dazed and Confused a couple months ago and thought "Looks like something I need to check out"... and low and behold I got my hands on an Esser track to give to you fancy folks.

He has this to say about himself:

"Esser is a person not a band. I use a computer machine and some instruments to make popular songs. Most of my songs are in the key of E. When I was fairly young I managed to wear two ties to school. One on top and one underneath my shirt. But look at me now!

Yes, the two ties thing has served him well :)
Esser- "I Love You" YSI

Esser- "I Love You" Rapid

Make sure you check out his Myspace. Star on the rise kids, star on the rise...

Speaking of things on the rise... Herve just don't stop!


He's got a new release as Voodoo Chilli... the 2nd release on his new Cheap Thrills label... you know it's crazy fire already without hearing it. But once you do hear it... it evokes the sound of the type of records I heard Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk spinning in a Chicago warehouse 10 years ago... really funky... the Bucketheads drop in there? I dunno... I have no idea what it's all about... but it makes me wanna buy this E.P. like yesterday! Check out his Myspace for more info.

‘Titans EP’ Sampler

RELEASED 19th May on Cheap Thrills (CHEAP002)

* This is the second release on Cheap Thrills Records and a rare outing for the Voodoo Chilli alter ego of Joshua ‘Hervé’ Harvey

* Voodoo Chilli burst onto the scene back in 2006 with “Look What You’ve Done To Me” on Speaker Junk Recordings

* This EP includes four high-octane sample based block party bangers that highlight Josh’s penchant for classic disco and funk with a head nod to the Roulé label

* Trevor Loveys gets his disco boots on joining Josh for the feel good joint “All I Need”

* Also available is a re-release of “Look What You’ve Done To Me” on Dubsided which includes 2 new tracks and a remix from Mustapha 3000 aka Erol Alkan!

* Cheap Thrills Records will have a hectic release schedule over the first 6 months so watch out for releases by Action Man, Hervé and Detboi.

The E.P. tracklisting is as follows...
Get On Down
All I Need feat. Trevor Loveys
Streetplayer
Big Byrd

Voodoo Chilli- "Titans E.P. Sampler"

Voodoo Chilli- "Titans E.P. Sampler"

Out of control and you know it... I'll be back soon providing I don't lose my mind today... keep on keepin' on...

This is just random FIRE... Riton, Van She, Marv, The Whip, South Central, and more...

So sometimes beautiful diamond tracks get lost as everything is strewn about... I'm hustling so hard to get things done that I lose track of things I REALLY want to post...

This would be these four tracks...

Ok, here's the first rule bender. Hercules & Love Affair ain't quite from ol' Blighty. BUT Riton is and therefore this can totally get posted. I could have gotten the jump on everyone because I got it a while ago but once again, life called and I answered, and this track has sat around crying waiting for me to come back since then :( But now like a shit father I pass it off on you... even if I am passing on parental rights please get Hercules & Love Affair to stop dancing so much. I would like them to play football. And drink more often, and other more masculine and less socially responsible things than dance. Although I gotta say that "Club Mix" version of "Blind" made me want to dance... but only a little... in the mirror singing into a hairbrush... but only a little... I'm still straight despite that and owning a Lemar and Duley Rainbow hoodie... that's why I want my estranged track of a son here to be a footie hooligan...

Hercules & Love Affair- "You Belong (Riton Remix) YSI

Hercules & Love Affair- "You Belong (Riton Remix) Rapidshare

Now this one is a little off the beaten path... there has been talk about setting aside one day a week to hit the Brit related but not quite British releases (such as this one). I was told jokingly that Ladyhawke is LIVING in England right now and that should count for something lol... and over at the "Albion" show we use the excuse that Australia is "Britain's Prison Island" and therefore it's ok to play artists like Van She (or in this case Van She Tech). The song is fucking FIRE so it deserves a post and lots of play. I'm only giving you a low bitrate version of this so you can go be a responsible music buyer and get yourself a REAL copy of this! I mean don't tell me this isn't fucking awesome...

Ladyhawke- "Back Of The Van (Van She Turbo Fire Engine Mix) YSI

Ladyhawke- "Back Of The Van (Van She Turbo Fire Engine Mix) Rapidshare

This one makes me want to cry that I waited to post it. I was SOOOOO into it. But the not having a job, then car crash, then subsequent things that came from that got me way off the track. I actually I thought I had posted this actually! How sad is that? But it's a fucking baller track... all that superhero talk is a good way to get me locked into a track. I'm a fucking nerd. Like Lupe said "I am American mentally, with Japanese tendencies, and Parisian sensibilities"... but more I'm British mentally, and American residentially lol... that Japanese tendencies shit basically means you use chopsticks and read manga watch anime lol...

Marvin The Martian- "Superhero (Superfriends Remix Part 1) Feat. Example & Akira The Don"

Marvin The Martian- "Superhero (Superfriends Remix Part 1) Feat. Example & Akira The Don" Rapidshare

Now this one I'm going to ASSUME is blog safe because that's how I got it. South Central are friends of the Arcadia so I wouldn't do something I didn't think was in their best interests (especially because State Crime has a song in the works that I'd realllllllly like them to remix lol; btw guys I'll send you the rough demo here soon). South Central (like Frankmusik and Black Ghosts) will get preferential treatment until the end of time here because I like them and I think they are cool fucking guys. The Whip are pretty awesome in my eyes too right now... X Marks Destination is a wonderful record I suggest you all pick up. All the single and the new album are over at eMusic which you can get to from the link below or to your left (help us all make a little money yeah?)... I'm only posting this YSI because I think you need to go buy it...........

The Whip- "Trash (South Central Remix)"

Ok and that's it for now... once again interview from Metronomy, Kash, and Black Ghosts in the works... releases from Astralwerks, Fabric, Parlophone, and about 10,000 PR firms soon to come :) Keep it locked. Oh yeah and join eMusic so I can start to do this as a partial career and not just a free time killer!

New Black Ghosts pt #1 (the mp3)

Sooooo... just in case you haven't guessed... I'm errrrr maybe a little too into Black Ghosts.

Like very very very into them. As in I don't care that I just did a post on them recently and will be doing another one probably within the week.

I recently was trying to go a little deeper down the rabbit hole and secure an interview... which lord only knows how, I was actually able to do! And while I was at it asked if there were some demos lying around...

And of course I fell into a goldmine. Because that's how it works. My life is in shambles... my music career in grinding to death in a perpetual state of inertia due to the former... BUT in the blogosphere everything just falls in my lap. If I could translate this to real life I would be set for life. Like I would be a ballin', hanging out with Pharrell Williams, living in Chicago, wearing fancy ass streetwear, working with people who would become world famous DJs... errrr... hold on... shit...

Anyway, I was allowed to pick a remix to post out of the "I Want Nothing" remixes which was something I had sort of been dreaming about (EDIT: This is only exciting for us American readers, the UK got this last week. However apparently no blogs have had the balls to post it? At least not that the Hype Machine is tracking...). Now, I had no idea that it was the new single but after I bought the track I could tell it was one of the most slammin' things they have done period. It was a song that I kept wishing was longer... well ask and ye shall receive because now I've got the extended mix :) Which I'm mixing with... well fuck that, I'm not telling you, it's too perfect... you'll just have to hear it once I've got it recorded...

I see Kunk sort of beat me to the Sinden remix (Note: Kunk people, you must have some awesome friends to get that shit on March 22nd) but that's ok... you all remember I'm sure the monster Sinden remix of To My Boy's "Model" that I got before anyone else so I'll bask in that (before Fluokids! And they are way fucking cooler than I am!) and post one of the other super dope remixes...

So I chose the most wacky electro banger remix out of them. We'll get to that. But let me give you a quick overview of what I think of them all seeing as I'm going actually start REVIEWING things and not just talking shit. This spot has blown up big time in the last 6 months or so and I need to treat it as seriously as everyone is lol...

The "Extended Mix" is exactly what we all wanted... more of the the same song so that you either a) can listen to it longer or b) mix it without breaking your headphones in frustration due to the the two minute length of the original.

The "Markus Lange Remix" is the one I'm gonna post... think LarryTee+Switch -1/2Herve +(Audion)X(a-full-room-at-Fabric-close-to-the-end-of-the-night)= the Markus Lange Remix. It's a full on fucking BANGER that doesn't conform to the bloghaus style BUT is still accessible. The drums are very much "main room" material and the introduction of the vocal (sans melody) for a while makes it a total hands in the air teaser track until it brings the goods... think minimal techy electro that works itself up to a distorted stuttering shuddering blast of raw perfection. It is for sure more techy than it is housey and is a perfect compliment to..........

The Sinden remix goes for rave craziness. Where Markus keeps it low key and icey, Sinden makes it sinister and fucking maximal. If you have a friend with a coke problem don't let them hear this after midnight... it'll be like feeding Gremlins if you know what I mean. Hold on maybe I don't know what I mean. But any way you cut it, it's a fucking amazing ride. It starts out ravey, gets dark, then takes a left turn to Baltimore for about 30 seconds, comes back with rave from 1991, then puts all those things back together at the same time suddenly it's like... well, it will make you dance until your feet bleed. Like you'll be pounding them into the floor, grinding your teeth, trying to yell over the speakers that THIS is the best night of your life. The best night. Trust me.

Now Vincent Markoski goes for an all together different approach than everyone else who touched the song. It's "live" sounding drums, shards of the original, and dubby atmospherics. A really great track to use to switch your set up. Like this song could be the bridge between playing Justice tracks and playing Drop The Lime (which means it's a total gem). His approach to this song is really addictive, and makes me want to listen to it over and over even though he doesn't use much of the vocal at all. Ethereal, breakbeat-y, dubby, awesomeness.

Then of course I don't even need to talk about the original. But I will... from the moment that fuzzy 8 bit sounding synth comes in it's like you don't ever want the song to end. And it's a song that presumably everyone can relate to and it's hazy, lust filled, thirst. What a dope ass song.

So keep your eyes and ears peeled for that one. All of them are worth purchasing. Not one dud in the bunch! Here's your treat kiddies!

The Black Ghosts- "I Want Nothing (Markus Lange Remix)" YSI

The Black Ghosts- "I Want Nothing (Markus Lange Remix)" Rapidshare

So make sure you cop that when it hits the shelves (or digital marketplace). Much love to the powers that be for making this happen for us. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR THE INTERVIEW! I'm writing it as soon as I'm done writing this and I'm really really excited about it... in the meantime I've got some reviews of recent Fabric releases for you guys and other little treats that I sort of forgot about in the hustle and bustle. Keep it locked.

Spring is sort of here... and that means 'Digital Love' time!

You know...

It's nice to be first on the scene :)

I'm gonna savor this one for a few minutes. Ah...

Ok anyway, Alphabeat, Leon Jean Marie, and Arcadian superhero Frankmusik have created an awesome remake of the Daft Punk classic "Digial Love". And it's sweet. Like loads and loads of expletives sweet, but I have a feeling this post may draw a crowd, so I don't want to start swearing up a storm.

Here's a little background... they collaborated on this to promote the Wonky Pop tour... The song is produced by FrankMusik, featuring Alphabeat, FrankMusik and Leon Jean Marie... and the cover was recorded in Hackney in less than 6 hrs at the Premises
Studio... how mental is that? Ok, now that you know the background you can get ready to dance yeah?

Oh almost forgot, Little Boots and Annie are also Djing at spots on the Wonky Pop tour (check the link above for more info).


April 10 Leeds Cockpit
April 11 Sheffield Plug
April 12 Liverpool Korova
April 13 Oxford Bar Academy
April 15 Nottingham Stealth
April 16 Stoke Sugarmill
April 17 Cardiff Barfly
April 18 Bristol Start The Bus
April 19 Brighton Audio
+ Annie (DJ set)
April 21 Northampton Soundhaus
April 22 Birmingham Bar Academy
April 24 Newcastle Academy 2
April 25 Edinburgh Hive
+ Annie (DJ set)
April 26 Glasgow King Tut's
+ Annie (DJ set)
May 1 London Kings College
+ Annie (DJ set)
+ The Clik Clik
May 3 Tunbridge Wells Forum
May 4 Manchester Night & Day
+ Annie (DJ set)


Here I give to you, an Arcadia exclusive, "Digital Love"...

Frankmusik, Alphabeat, Leon Jean Marie- "Digital Love"

And if somehow you missed it check out the Frankmusik interview from last week! Catch you on the flipside...

Oh yeah, and buy Frankisum at eMusic!

EXILE PARADE produced by Owen Morris

I know that a lot of people are looking forward to getting some audio goodies from Manchester's Lowline whose upcoming album was produced by the great Owen Morris...

In the meantime there is another band that Mr Morris has worked with that for sure deserves a look over as well... they are called Exile Parade... the other day I said something would have fit right in on the Doom Generation soundtrack... and this is another one of those songs... one you listen to on repeat driving through the desert 100 miles per hour as if you're trying to drive off the edge of the earth... the song is raw as rusty nails and I like it :)

The title would seem to be from the Twin Peaks movie... but you know I never actually got into Twin Peaks so I don't know much about it. I actually love David Lynch, in fact I was friends with his son in high school. Ironically he stole my Doom Generation cd and I called David Lynch's house to try to get it back... no such luck. POINT IS I never got into Twin Peaks because that would involve time and money and I have neither (and haven't had them for a good 5 years or so)... Anyway perhaps the song has nothing to do with Twin Peaks and I'm an idiot...

Here's an mp3 of the exciting upcoming single from Exile Parade produced by Owen Morris (Oasis/The Verve) and mixed by Rick Parker (BRMC/The Von Bondies).

It is being released on ltd edition 7" Vinyl... but you can just have it here at Arcadia for free :) But I still suggest you buy the 7" if you enjoy it...

Exile Parade- "Fire Walk With Me" YSI

Exile Parade- "Fire Walk With Me" Rapid

Here is a link to the music new video http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=28706585.

Hope you enjoy. Comments are always appreciated. Join eMusic and make me $6 so I can watch Twin Peaks. Woo hoo. More goodies on the way.

Dead Kids will sleep with your mum!

Yeah, Dead Kids are fucking awesome. They sound like a summer drive back from the beach, drunk, driving in the wrong lane at 100 miles per hour, trying to read "A People's History..." while getting road head. No really, I'm not going for graphic, that's what it sounds like. It sounds raw but decadent in a political way without being obnoxious... they rock so hard it's insane. And the fact that I can play Dead Kids songs when I DJ makes me even more happy... this "America Mix" below will have you losing your mind until next winter comes. Then you'll have a vast collection of Dead Kids mp3s, a sweet handmade medium sized tee shirt, and a picture of you and Dead Kids with Iggy Pop... I'm fucking bringing the power this week... read on...


ISoA:So hi there Mike. How's life at the moment?

Dead Kids:its pretty good..im just waiting for spring to get kickstarted. im not a stay in and get cosy by the fire human being. i want to be out there in the sun. i only wear t shirts. i went for a walk the other day and a bird made a funny noise and then a squirrel walked alongside me. spring makes me feel like im in a disney movie. its cool.


ISoA:One would think it's going pretty well. Dead Kids are really making waves at the moment. What's the most balls out crazy thing that's happened so far as a result of gigging up to this point?

Dead Kids:i got to run across crowd of people in paris who then lifted me upside down and hoisted me up by shoulders so that i could run across the ceiling and then flip down and avoid smashing my head on the concrete floor by centimetres. that looked pretty good apparantly. i try not to do anything too balls out since ive had a few falls and a and e experiences. the adrenalin turns you though. you end up living in that moment with no fear. we are getting to play with iggy pop soon too so thats going to be a mission to say hello.


ISoA:Niceeeeeeeee... ok. Did you have any other names before Dead Kids? If not just make some shit up...

Dead Kids:ill make some up for you right now.

mother!, little dead babies, battle scar gallactica, we are the world, mr mortimer


ISoA:At least one of those will be the name of one of my children provided I ever have any... it would be warped to name your child "Dead Kids" you know. Anyway. You've had some stellar remixes so far... anything in the queue coming up that you'd care to let us know about?

Dead Kids:we've given a song I LOVE AMERICA that we wrote recently to some people in LA called Villains and basically there are tonnes and tonnes of people in their bedroom wanting to do remixes so i send them out the stems whenever they ask. this happens alot in brasil for some reason. i love brasil.


ISoA:Everyone has fucking amazing things to say about you. That you sound like "Dead Kids are the spitting electrocuted baby of PIL" and "this is a band capable of redefining contemporary music as we know it"... what is the most obnoxious thing you've read about Dead Kids up to this point?

Dead Kids:i dont know..dead kids will eat your children and sleep with your mum. i sprayed that on a wall in coventry. does that count? (ISoA Note: this is the coolest thing I've read in weeks)


ISoA:If you could be in one band for one day to teach them a lesson what band would it be (and it can't be Keane because that's too easy)...

Dead Kids:who am i to teach lessons? i'd shake the hand of anyone doing it because its pretty tough right now and if you can make money doing it then good for you. there is so much identikit music out there though that it hurts. if you watch mtv2 any one of those bands could be singing the other bands songs. there are no personalities. no charisma. it seems to me that if you go to university or if you've ever watched that SKINS programme then you have to be in a band. this means we get loads of good-looking and clueless bands with future managing directors of SHELL OIL on bass. the record industry are all looking around at each other thinking what the hell are we going to do? they are not spending half the money they were in the past. yet with all of this uncertainty i think this is still a good time. you baton down the hatches. you write music. you get out there. you deliver. i know there is a lot of blood but god told me to do it. i give everything ive got.


AND THAT KIDDIES IS IT! Except for this fucking anthem of a song. Once again, it actually is an anthem. It may actually make you feel something other than entertained so be prepared. Maybe put on a condom and listen to this song?!? You don't want to get your pants pregnant (I know you don't wear underwear either so that would be pretty obvious if you busted one)... my favourite French word phrase is "Super cool"... I just love saying it... "Soup-airrrrr kew-uhl"... and it almost always sounds like you're disgusted with something unless you say it like Borat... and then you sound like a twat... anyway... Check out Dead Kids Myspace and go to a show if you can. Support awesomeness.

IMPORTANT EDIT: There was a little confusion between Mike and myself about who did this song and what this song was called etc... THEN I GOT IN A FUCKING CAR CRASH RIGHT AFTER I WROTE THIS POST, GETTING T-BONED BY AN 80 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO FORGOT SHE WAS DRIVING APPARENTLY, TOTALLY DESTROYING MY CAR and making so that I have no way to get to work (amongst 20 other awful fucking things)... ANYWAY IT IS A DEAD KIDS SONG! Not Villains! But they are remixing it! So there you go... now it's fixed 12 hours later because I was in the casualty department all night...


Dead Kids- "I Love America"

Dead Kids- "I Love America"



What a fucking great interview right? Keep it tuned for more awesomeness... I'm trying to get through the PR machine to bring you an interview from someone who has graced these pages and has been repeatedly given props by Klaxons... but you'll just have to guess for now :)

Frankmusik is the future of music. Period.

I know I rave about most people/duos/groups that get type on this blog. That's how it works! I won't write about shit I don't like!

But Frankmusik is different. I literally think he's the future of pop music. Literally. So having had the chance to talk to him on and off over the course of the last year or so has been fucking awesome... I consider him to be more of a acquaintance than a "contact" because I've had the chance to get to know him a little... and he's not a pretentious twat like some of the other people I've been involved with. He's a very genuine person, a true artist, and the type of guy whose talent is so plentiful that it is impossible not to gush about him!

It's not an understatement to say that I'm
always going to post how fucking amazing Frankmusik is so.... I'm going to get right into the interview... It's a little more involved and overzealous than my normal interviews but... that's I so fucking stoked to bring this to you guys... I'm not afraid to cross the fanboy line and geek out on this one... so... TA DA! Here we go...

ISoA: I first heard your music through Heads We Dance who had approached me about posting some tracks. Then I heard the remix you had done for them and was blown away. THEN you were on the front page of Myspace the next day and I thought "I better contact him before he takes over the world!"... things have changed a lot since then I imagine. You got signed, has that dramatically impacted your life?

FM: Since I got signed to Universal / Island records all that has changed is my bank balance. I still work in the same studio with the same equipment I have used since I was 17 and I don't see any need to change my creative process just because of a major signing. I got signed on the merit of my original work therefore I shall carry on working within my limitations rather than saturate my creativity with new shiny gear just because I have the money to.

ISoA: I've noticed quite a bit of fan art and what have you on your Myspace, it seems that people go pretty fucking mental for you and your tunes. You could easily make shitloads of money being a bloke behind a mixing desk, but you're out there singing, DJing, and producing all whilst leading the pack for a pop movement that is still in it's early stages (I'll get back to that bit in a min). Do you enjoy that attention or is it a tad overwhelming?

FM: There really isn't that much in the way of attention I feel. I have a good team of people who work with me and support me to the nth degree so I feel that what ever happens, as long as I have these amazing people beside me I will be level headed and grounded in my work rather than my ego.

ISoA: Now this is a pretty throw away question but just for the sake of dreaming teenage girls (who tend to make up a large portion of my radio and blog audience lol) are you single at the moment?

Sort of....

ISoA: Right then, back to serious questions. So... the type of music you're writing really is sort of an amalgamation of a lot of things but also so fucking different it defies categories SO FAR. Would you be ready to be the face of a whole new movement? Like if some NME journo put a label on you (Peter Robinson made note of you in his column, what, about 5 months ago? I've stopped reading the NME since lol) and your music, could you handle being a trailblazer and that level of attention? Like how would you handle something like the media landslide that happened to Klaxons? Because I can see that happening to you... Or has this already happened since I stopped reading the NME lol?

FM: I am just doing my thing. I have always tried to do things differently. Like while everyone else was trying to be football fanatics at school I was bombing around on a bmx. I don't know I would just rather think that there is more to life than what we are already faced with. NME magazine is something that I have never really payed much attention to due to the fact that I am an electronic pop act rather than one of the guitar based bands that they seem to go for normally. If I am starting a new movement or the media grasp onto something then great but I really could not give a dandelion due to the fact that it means that I am only going to have to change my style again to rebel against another journalistic label.

ISoA: Since we're talking about bits and pieces put together... who are your influences? I hear like Missy Elliot, a happier Aphex Twin, pinches of New Order, good pop like Annie and Justin Timberlake (edit: So, with Missy Elliot and JT mentioned, I guess that really just means shades of Timbaland lol)... that would be my five second five name description for someone who had never heard you... that's a bit daft so give the readers a better idea lol...

FM: Vangelis taught me how to ride a bike. Daft Punk took me to my first day at school, Bobby Caldwell was my playground best friend, Masta Ace taught me about the streets and Boards Of Canada used to read me bedtime stories from what I can recall.

ISoA: Similar note, what has inspired your music on a personal level?

FM: Oh that is easy. I just love to write about the fact that I have never managed to fall in love and to try and conquer its meaning through my songs which is of coarse an impossible task due to the fact that love is an abstract term to start with.

ISoA: "Swings and Roundabouts" that you produced for Kash is one of the most amazing pop songs I've heard in my whole life full stop. It's the type of song I can listen to over and over and over. (The original idea was to do an interview with both of you at the same time but I can't find time to coordinate that lol! You know my life got derailed like 6 months ago lol). Are you guys friends or how did that come about?

FM: I met Kash a while back through the London club circuit. We just kind of hit it off and decided that making music as a good idea. He also lived round the corner from my studio and so the logistics were quite easy. Kash is a great song writer and also a good produced in his own right. I have a lot of time for his eats (sp) meets west style.

ISoA: Southern Fried sent me the Black Ghosts Mixtape for my birthday and of course I was really excited to see you were on there. That song "Three Little Words" is fucking infectious. When can we expect to see the album now that you're on Island, you're touring this next month, and there are songs in the can?

FM: Project "Finish The Damn Album" is going really well. I am producing it and have one of the best mixers in the world working on the mix. Oh and I have the best programmer too so there will be some nice surprises in the final versions of my tracks for the album. I want to get a couple more tours done before the album comes out next year. But do not fear as there will be singles out before then!

ISoA: Speaking of, care to let us know what you've released recently and what you have coming up soon (either as Frankmusik or as a remix or production for someone else) just so we can scoop them up before they sell out...

FM: I have a new Alphabeat remix coming up soon. A Go:Audio remix, Barringtone remix, The Coolness Remix and a Paige Remix. Oh and I have just finished a collaborative track which feature Alphabeat, Leon Jean Marie and Frankmusik. Its a cover of a famous daft Punk song and sounds pretty amazing!

ISoA: Good good good. We'll you will get nothing but love from this blog. Make sure you stay in touch, we art school drop outs have to stick together lol... Any parting words?

Stay in the Heath but always be looking outwards.

THEN KIDDIES NOT ONLY DO YOU GET AN INTERVIEW BUT YOU GET REMIXES STRAIGHT FROM THE MAN HIMSELF! ENJOY!

Frankmusik vs Go Audio- "Go Audio Re-edit" YSI
Frankmusik vs Go Audio- "Go Audio Re-edit" Rapid


Frankmusik vs Barringtone- "Barringtone Vs Frankmusik" YSI
Frankmusik vs Barringtone- "Barringtone Vs Frankmusik" Rapid

Ok kids, go over to eMusic and buy Frankmusik's first E.P.
Frankisum or I won't be your friend anymore. "Three Little Words" may be one of the top 100 songs ever written.
I'm gonna try to still do an interview with Kash, I've got Dead Kids on the line, and there are a couple others that have sort of been put in limbo but check back for more interviews music and over all Arcadian madness!

Super super super SUPERGRASS return! And it's my birthday!

Some of you have probably already seen this (I CAN'T GET TO EVERYTHING OKKKKKKAYYY?), but I thought it was still worth posting... I mean the album doesn't come out for a week so it's still fresh yeah?

Whilst on the Hoo Ha Men tour, Duke Diamond and Randy Hoo Ha were followed by men with audio visual recording equipment. This is the trailer to their forthcoming documentary 'Glange Fever'. I warn you now, those with an aversion to pale nakedness need look away now. If anyone was worried that the band had grown up……the good times still roll...




Download
Stream

And there's more...'Rough Knuckles', a belter of a track from the new album 'Diamond Hoo Ha' - This video was made by the band from footage they shot while recording the album at the legendary Hansa Studios, with producer Nick Launay (Arcade Fire, Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, Nick Cave).



Stream

Then here is the oldest new Supergrass video "Bad Blood"...

Stream

Big ups to Parlophone for that! Sorry I didn't get to it earlier!

Today is my birthday and despite the fact that it's glum as fuck out I'm rather chipper... ESPECIALLY because Southern Fried sent me a copy of The Whip and The Black Ghosts new stuff, an album and a mixtape respectively, and they are both fucking awesome. The new "live reversion" of "Something New vs Lindstrom" is fucking out of this world... like I can't have that track in enough different versions (outside of a 320 kbps version of the original bootleg lol)...

ON A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT NOTE... ANY OF YOU ARCADIA READERS GOING TO SEE JUSTICE IN CHICAGO ON THURSDAY NIGHT? If so hit me up at Facebook... the banner to my page is on the side...

And to all of you famous Arcadia readers... I'm finishing up a grip of interviews today so HOPEFULLY you'll all be getting them in the mail soon... After hearing the Frank Musik track on the BG Mixtape last night I cannot fucking WAIT to have a chat with him lol...

Come back round soon... cheers!

NEW VIDEO FROM THE WHIP!

So I think Southern Fried Records is pumping out the fucking jams right now. They've got one of my fav bands period The Black Ghosts up there... and they also have loads of Britblog friendly stuff like Crookers 'Knobbers', Armand Van Helden 'Je T'aime' Simian Mobile Disco Remix, Mighty Dub Katz 'Just Another Groove' (aka Fatboy Slim) that I'm loving. I gave up on Armand Van Helden but I guess I was way off... that Simian Mobile Disco remix is balllllllahhhhhhhh...

Well anyway, you all know I love my Manchester bands (you all know I'm a Joy Division nut, and an Oasis/Factory Records/Smiths freak, and I obviously just posted about Mancunian up-and-comers Lowline) and here's another band I'm all about from that long linage of amazing fuckers... The Whip!

Yeah, I realize I'm acting like I've never posted them before or something (it's for dramatic effect lol) but seriously I really like them a lot. That Black Ghosts remix of "Muzzle No 1" had me getting crazy behind the decks and that Crystal Castles remix of "Divebomb" was fire. Like five alarm fire intense.

Or like rape whistle on the back stairs of the Funky Buddha intense (that was just for you Sam)...

Ummmmm... but anyway... The Whip are back with more fire for you and I've even got the video in downloadable formats! I know right?

The song has a rough sort of feel to it like I dunno... like it should be on the soundtrack to The Doom Generation (which is like the greatest movie ever... which means you should go watch it... you can borrow my copy... the colors are similar to this video... interesting yeah?).

I really like his voice on this song... they all look so awesome... with their rad girl drummer... getting attacked by neon monsters... it's like a weekend in Detroit...

I think you can convert that shit for your iPod (although I always mess up the sound) if you add it to your library and then hit convert for iPod. Tell me if that works for any of you lol...



Go see it on YouTube @ http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ3eeRCoIBY

Here it is for you Apple folk in Quicktime

And you Windows folk in Windows Media...

Then once you've pick up that part of the goodies follow up with a listen over at their their Myspace...

AWESOME... so much greatness put so closely together. I've been doing lots of posts for you guys! I've got more awesomeness but it may have to wait a second... I'm contemplating having either a day of the week that I post NON-Brit stuff along with Britbands OR maybe I'll just really put some energy into the "City Full Of Neon Lights" blog... because I've got SO much material (like some promos from Fabric etc, that are not ALWAYS British but I want to share them with you guys. We'll see. Maybe the site needs a makeover first. Seems like even the young-buck-just-started-a-blog-yesterday-people are droppping hundreds (or lots of time) on their layouts! Maybe it's that all bloggers are actually art/design students lol... anyway... check back soon for more Brit-tastic-ness!

Hadouken!

I like Hadouken. I really do. They are however one of like... nope, I was gonna say more but strike that... the only group that has not responded to me with regards to promo request/interview/etc. THE ONLY GROUP. Do you realize how many people I contact or have contact with because of this damn thing?

There are even other artists/bands who have clumsily fucked up interviews and liners, or have pushed me off on their A&R people never to be heard from again, but no one has just blown me off... Hadouken are the only group that have stone walled me. I mean, seriously don't ask me how because I don't know, but I got Klaxons to do a liner damn near a year before I even got anything other than a newsletter (I signed up for) from Hadouken.

But, all bitterness aside, I still like Hadouken... we play them on the show... their music is good... and they've gotten a couple posts on the blog here despite my frustration with nuffin coming from their end. So this song (which was leaked a while ago) will still get posted... I love you Hadouken... now have your people contact me lol...

Hadouken!- "Get Smashed Gate Crash"

Hadouken!- "Get Smashed Gate Crash" YSI

I'd write more but... there is nothing you don't know about Hadouken by now. I wish the album would come out here in the U.S... or maybe they should tour here... hmmmmmm ... good idea...



Check out their Myspace

I did mention I love The Black Ghosts?

I love The Black Ghosts... I mean, I love them as much as I love like Simian Mobile Disco... in fact... well, holy shit! Doesn't that make a lot of sense!

I don't know how many of you kiddies out there remember... not KNOW, but literally
REMEMBER... how awesome Simian were, but they were fucking sweet. I really got into their "Chemistry Is What We Are" album and the follow up (as well as the Simian remixes like the Zero 7 one I posted a couple weeks ago) and thought they were amazing. And then, like all good things, they came to an end...

BUT then we got Simian Mobile Disco into the public eye (and truly Justice) from the tidal wave interest stemming from "Never Be Alone (We Are Your Friends)" and life seemed good again! It seemed extra super fucking great when I realized that familiar voice in the Black Ghosts songs was homeboy from Simian and that he would be featured on a song called "I Believe" on Attack Decay Sustain Release!

Then life got even better when we got "Anyway You Choose To Give It" and all the remixes... then even better with "Some Way Through This" (whose Skream & Plastician remix is one of the best of 2007... State Crime is actually putting into a mix right now that is gonna make you guys totally shit yourselves).

NOW YOUR LIFE SHOULD BE ALMOST PERFECT... Black Ghosts are releasing a reupped and redone version of their Summer mixtape just a day befor a certain Britblogger's birthday (*cough*)... this version is out of control, with songs from our beloved Rustie and State Crime/Arcadia friend Frank Musik... along with like a heap of bangers that you'll totally lose it for...

The Black Ghosts- "Something New (Galactic Lindstrom Mashup)" Rapidshare

The Black Ghosts- "Something New (Galactic Lindstrom Mashup)" YSI

The Black Ghosts- "Something New (Galactic Lindstrom Mashup)" zShare

Here's the tracklisting...

1. Boy-8-Bit - The Suspense is Killing Me
2. Armand Van Helden - Je T'aime (Switch Remix)
3. SMD – Cliktrak
4. Ben Westbeech - Hang Around (Karizma’s Kaytronic Dub Mix)
5. The Black Ghosts - Something New (Galactic Version)
6. Rustie - Pendulum
7. Frankmusik - Three Little Words (The Black Ghosts Mix)
8. BOY 8-BIT - Fogbank
9. Trabant - The One (The Black Ghosts Remix)
10. Siriusmo - Discosau
11. Proper Villains - Trick Baby
12. Lord Skywave - Something
13. Alter Ego - Fuckingham Palace
14. Gossip Listen Up - (The Black Ghosts Remix)
15. The Black Ghosts - I Want Nothing (Extended Mix)
16. Fil OK "Wink Wink" (Touché remix)
17. The Black Ghosts - Some Way Through This (Replicants Remix)
18. Bonde Do Role - Marina Gasolina (Fake Blood Remix)
19. Fake Blood - Mars
20. The Black Ghosts - Face (Switch Mix)
21. The Whip - Muzzle No.1 (The Black Ghosts Remix)
22. The Black Ghosts - Anyway You Choose To Give It (Extended Mix)
23. The Black Ghosts - Anyway You Choose To Give It (Fake Blood Remix)

Boy 8 Bit? The Whip? The recently disbanded Bonde Do Role? Fake Blood? Seriously. If you don't cop this stop reading my blog... we have nothing in common lol... in the meantime if you want to download some goodies from Black Ghosts and The Whip head over to eMusic via the image below and help make a broke dude some money lol...

OH YEAH... btw... check out the most awesome Lego video ever for "Some Way Through This"...


Oh and what the hell... how about a 128kbps copy of last Summer's mixtape to whet your whistle?

Black Ghosts Mini-Mix July 2007

And while we're talking free music... did you happen to catch this over at XFM?

Download Charlatans New Album For Free!

I guess you'll be able to pick that up later in March in physical formats... I love how everyone is giving their shit away for free! It totally makes me wanna buy it.. no lie! If an artist trusts me to pay for what I think they are worth I'm gonna make good on my end... it's like if someone opens the first door to a building for you, then you open the second innermost door for them right? Right.

And also The Boy Least Likely To are releasing their new single for free download on their Myspace!

Ok kids, I've got a lot of catch up this week... but leave some comments telling me what you think of the track if you haven't heard it before. IT'S SOOOOOO EPIC. See you soon.










P.S. Does the 4 bar Aphex Twin piano loop used in Saturday Night Live's "Iran So Far Away" make anyone else want to cry? Regardless of all the gay references and Adam Levine singing? NO? Oh, ok then I'm just a weirdo... it's just so pretty... even if they are singing about gayness and Iran lol! Maybe I'm having my man period lol...

I take back what I said about Brithop... and give you GTA

Remember when I said British hip-hop was mainly a load of shit... that I love grime, but "British hip-hop" (of "Brithop" if you will) too often sounds like an awkward off shoot of American rap (which mostly sucks)? Well, yeah, I sort of have to take that back... at least for these two...

I got an email from a duo called GTA and... um... their new single is effing (I'm trying to get a new job shut up) great. I mean it's really really fun... and I mean that in a good way... like Muscles "My Friend Richard" fun, not watching SpiceWorld fun... you just have to hear it for yourself! It's a good summertime jam that you play over and over in the car with the windows down and the system turned up...

Check the video... you kind of have to or you'd be missing out on half the fun... as Chima said in his email "Considering the UK spends on average £250,000 on each
medical graduate it could be argued this video cost about
£1,000,000 to make..."



Anddddd here's the bio:

Having met at Gosford Hill School (Kidlington) in 2000, Neill Timms a.k.a Ineffable (22) and Chima Anya (23) quickly created a vibe that excited anyone with a vague musical interest in the Oxford vicinity.

Now a fully qualified Practicing Doctor and Assistant Accountant, Chima and Neill, respectively, have embarked upon releasing their debut album, "The Way", with the hope of adding some much needed charisma and sophistication to the UK's "urban" scene.

Drawing influences from the aforementioned hip-hop legends and their cohort, GTA have the substance of old school hip-hop spliced with the cutting edge swagger and charisma of what hip-hop is evolving into. A quote from Chima's facebook:

"The exuberance of the O’Jays, the grandeur of Mozart, the swagger of Jay Dilla, the soul of Al Green, the sentiment of Elton John, the golden tone of early Stevie. Ladies’ and gentlement, I give you… GTA”

Despite Chima moving to Birmingham for 5 years to complete a Medical degree and Neill going on to Oxford Brookes to study Business; they managed, during their student years, to be invited to support legends such as KRS 1, Amp Fiddler, Flavour Flav. They also put out their debut EP, "Love is Here", in conjunction with Blunted Records - a venture hampered both by Blunted's incompetence and GTA's own naivity.

Yikesssss... sounds like they aren't happy with Blunted Records... pause and really take that one in... hmmmmmm... anyway here's the track...

GTA- "Wanna Be Myself"

So yeah, I implore you to buy this if you like it because it's RARE that an artist gives us a high bit rate copy of their single before it comes out... or least downgrade the copy to like 128 for your friends and be like "Yeah, it's sounds great like that but you should hear it when it isn't torn to shreds... go buy it" lol... this is a duo that deserves serious support... you know I don't post crap...

Their Myspace has a few more downloadable tracks and an awesome design so I suggest you check it out.

Until next time... keep your ears and eyes on this space...

Joy Division forgotten gem...

The nice part about working at a radio station with a SERIOUS record collection is that you can easily get your hands on things like this. I never realized it before but the b-side to my favourite Joy Division song (my fav band next to Babyshambles... I know... that's a huge difference in musical taste but that's how I roll) is TOTALLY different from the version you are used to...

First off the production and instrumentation are more stark and cavernous... then there is a bunch of extra lyrics at the end of the song... it's fun stuff to find that this exists! When a band hasn't released (and can't release) an album for 25 plus years it's the little things that matter lol... like those Martin Hannett Mixes that came out... anyway enjoy this... sorry about the distortion at the end!

Joy Divsion- "She's Lost Control (Single FACUS2 Version) Vinyl Rip

So yeah... just a little treat to tide you over. There's such a renewed interest in Joy Divsion because of Control that hopefully this will reach some new ears... anyway, make sure you check back because I've got a nice slice of Brithop for you in the next post..

Lowline are on the riseeeeeeeeeeee...

So... as you know... I'm not a huge fan of posting without an MP3. It's just... I dunno... it's an mp3 blog?!?!? Right? (Maybe I should rethink this, flesh out the site, and make it more than that... yeah? Maybe... someone want to be a contributor? Perhaps someone who actually LIVES in England lol?)... But every once and a while there comes something that deserves mention even if I can't get you the content RIGHT then.

My feeling about this is that if we "the listeners" are patient we will be rewarded by the labels in the long run. Obviously, they decided that the "blogosphere" is here to help and not to hurt, and since they are willing to extend an olive branch I'm willing to play ball as well.

Is that selling out? Nah, because if I don't like the song, or anything about the band, I'm gonna let you know right off the bat lol... there have been PLENTY, I mean PLENTY, bands that have NEVER hit this page because regardless of how free, or "cleared", the content maybe I'm not here to advertise for record companies. I think I've maybe made $18 dollars off this blog the whole time I've been doing it... trust me, no one is lining my pockets lol... in fact I'm so poor I can't afford to think right now lol...

SO ANY DAMN WAY... I posted something about Lowline a few weeks back mentioning they had a release in the near future... and the future is coming up on us quickly now.

They first started to pique my interest when Nick McCabe of The Verve played with the guys and gave them his blessing... I mean we all fucking love The Verve so his opinion means something. I mean, whenever like Adam Ficek from Babyshambles recommends something I listen... anytime anyone I admire recommends something that isn't JUST commercially based, my ears perk up...

So I did a little post about that... and now I guess I'm basically reviewing their track "Monitors" in hopes that I can get some goodies for you guys once the record gets released. Here we go... first you have a listen, then I'll tell you what I think...



"Monitors" strikes me as being a nice piece of the type guitar rock that I really miss. There aren't bands like this anymore that don't have some stupid agenda behind their music... everyone is trying to turn their stuff "new rave", or they are still aping The Libertines, or they are trying to break ground to the degree where they are doing the exact opposite. Lowline have managed to write an upbeat guitar song that isn't overly complicated... they aren't trying to be Interpol (although a little bit of that Manchester Joy Division seems to have seeped in there somehow lol), and they aren't trying to ensure they will be on the soundtrack of "Grey's Anatomy", they are just having fun and rocking out like bands from a more peaceful era. Basically "Monitors" strikes me as having been written in a "pre-911" era, totally devoid of extremely depressing angst (despite there being a bit of that in the song), and full of energy. Best comparison I can make is think Editors+Sunshine Underground+We Are Scientists-whining&pretentiousness= "Monitors". It reminds me of the the late Nineties, which, is something I sorely miss. It's not Coldplay, it's not Travis, it's not U2, and it's not The Verve lol... it's something that you will play repeatedly because despite being just under 4 minutes, it feels like it's only two. The chorus is super infectious and Owen Morris' production is superb. They may not have re-invented rock'n'roll but that's what I really like about this song... it just fucking rocks without overthinking things... and the world needs some of that right now (without being toss-away garbage)... if this is the single I bet the album will be a total fucking gem...



Here's the press on it...

LOWLINE – MONITORS (1-2-3-4 Records)
RELEASE DATE: MONDAY 17th MARCH 2008

In search for a prophecy of 2008’s new order of rock and roll, British music need look no further than LOWLINE, as they begin their assault on the UK.

“More Manchester greats” - NME
“The best new band in the country" - Tom Clarke, The Enemy
“Lowline make timeless music like no one can at the moment. music with balls” Nick McCabe, The Verve

Monday 17th March 2008 sees the debut release from Lowline, arguably the most exciting new band to have emerged from Manchester in recent times. Monitors is a timeless indie anthem, the first yield from Lowline’s own youthful and uplifting brand of rock and roll. It combines addictive melodies, compulsive rhythms and an unforgettable chorus to create what some are already regarding as one of 2008’s most significant releases. The B side is Last Chance, a relentless and driving powerhouse of a track, which goes further to show the intensity, depth and urgency of Lowline’s sound.

Owen Morris (Oasis, New Order, The Verve) fell in love with the band, and was so convinced by them that he paid to take them into the studio to produce this; a remarkable, razor sharp record that brims with energy and promise. We see flashes of Manchester alongside notable references to Joy Division and My Bloody Valentine, but it is the bands ability to create a sound that is genuinely new that makes them so thoroughly exciting.

They have honed their craft playing a rift of raucous live shows and impromptu warehouse parties across the UK and release this single amidst a continuous touring schedule which has seen them develop an ardent and dedicated fan base.

This single is to be released amidst a massive level of radio and press interest, with major support already emerging from NME and XFM.

The word is out and Lowline are quickly becoming one of the UK’s most exciting new prospects, and in 2008 Mike, Andy, Sam and Robbie are intent on carving their own unique place in rock and roll.

Check out their Myspace

‘Monitors’ 7” is available for pre-order. Digital version will be available from itunes on March 17th from HMV.

And here's the bio for those of you who missed it last time. AS I said hopefully next time I will have a nice b-side or a live track... but I think these guys are gonna be huge... the single comes out the day before my birthday so maybe we'll have something rad for you by then! TO CELEBRATE lol...

LOWLINE BIOGRAPHY

“Lowline make timeless music like no one can at the moment. music with balls” Nick McCabe The Verve
“More Manchester greats” NME
“The best new band in the country" Tom Clarke, The Enemy
"One of Manchester’s new hopes! Explosive & energetic live, combining Oasis, Primal Scream, Joy Division & a touch of Kasabian at times. you need to see these boys live to fully understand the Lowline vibe; driving guitars and bass lines with amazing drums & electric vocals & a touch of synth capturing the dark underbelly of the city" Kav, Happy Mondays
"History in the making" Owen Morris, producer – Oasis / Verve / New Order

BIOGRAPHY
Manchester is a funny place. Few places are so full of musical heritage, and with that comes expectation; something which has been unfulfilled in recent times. Enter the cities newest heroes: Lowline.

Lowline are intense and sinister yet totally up lifting. A group of mates in their early twenties who formed in the spring of 2007, they spent the rest of that year writing, locked away in a warehouse in Manchester’s less-than-glamorous Ancoats district. There are flashes of inspiration from cult legends The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, but they strike a rare balance between razor sharp rock and roll, and epic shoegaze. Lowline’s intense guitar sound is underpinned by tribal house tinged drums and fuzzed up bass lines, all combine to make something with energy, atmosphere and spirit.

Their sound embodies the atmosphere of their City, whilst remaining distinctive and innovative, a combination that sets them apart and shows that this is the start of something special. Their sound impressed renowned Oasis and the Verve producer Owen Morris so much, that he immediately took the band into the studio and recorded some tracks over many late nights. The first yield from this session is their debut single ‘Monitors’, a timeless indie anthem which harbours Morris’s distinct style. It is set to be released on March 17th on 1-2-3-4 Records (Whitey, The Bishops) with the reverse side being taken up by the driving and relentless ‘Last Chance’. This massive debut has already begun to grab the eye of DJ’s, journalists and audiences alike, with NME and XFM showing great support for the band from the outset.

Live, the band are immense. They have crafted a rip-roaring show and brim with energy and confidence, which combined with their dance sensibility that has seen them demanding attention at shows across the country. Tours with The Enemy and Happy Mondays have seen Lowline continue to cultivate an ardent fan base, and as tales still spread about their recent warehouse party in Manchester (which guested close friend Nick McCabe - The Verve, on guitar) many more have sat up and taken notice. They now embark upon a vigorous touring schedule throughout the next few months as well as returning to the studio with Morris to continue to work on their debut LP.
DEBUT SINGLE - MONITORS - OUT MARCH 17 2008 - 1-2-3-4! RECORDS

GIGS
27 February Manchester Academy3 w/ Dragons and Exit Calm
7 March Glasgow ABC with Inspiral Carpets
8 March Oxford Academy with Inspiral Carpets
9 March Sheffield Leadmill with Inspiral Carpets
10 March Northampton Roadmenders with Inspiral Carpets

Ok kids... I have an inbox BRIMMING with new shit so you know I'm hustling trying to get it to you... make sure to check back, and leave some comments to let me know what you thought!

OVERLOAD... A bunch of stuff you need to see/know... LOTP, South Central, Cazals, and errrr... KT Tunstall?

I like how 'yours truly' is in the lower right hand corner of their top friends :)



Ok this isn't a song.. but it's just as cool... trust me... Parlophone just send this gem from Late Of the Pier out a couple days ago...

THE BEARS ARE COMING!!!!
Watch out here as a stream here or here


Speaking of LOPT... See when Sam and I (as State Crime) try to write a song we try to write songs that sound like you're so fucking dementedly wasted that you can't function... either something really evil and powerful, or something so off base it's like you're falling down the stairs... (even though we are both like the two most sober people on earth lol)... Like you ever get that feeling that you're coming up so fast that you might fucking die? Like you might literally pop right through the fucking ceiling... like that scene where Willy Wonka is in the glass elevator? In my opinion that's how songs should sound if they're gonna capture your attention (or way understated like Burial). Well the last people who really achieved that in song for me were my boys South Central when they did their remix of Late Of The Pier's "Space And the Woods"... which I was reminded of today when their page for that remix popped up as having a birthday on Myspace... which made no sense because it said something about September?!?!

But it reminded me of this mysterious video hyping that awesome bootleg... did you get your copy?


If you didn't make it over there when it first came out check it out over at XIII Myspace. Or go cop their free XFM mix over at Last.fm.

UPDATE:
And back on the bootleg tip... I saw a post about, what? Like a week ago? Saying they were shooting a video for The Count & Sinden - Beeper from my boy Curt from Flosstradamus and thinking.... "Errrr what the fuck does Floss have to do with the "Beeper" record?!?!" (check the last post on Herve's 'Cheap Thrills' Label if you're way confused)... and now I know... the mega bootleg from last year has turned out to be the party anthem of this year with Kid Sister filling in for FamLay and Pharrell... and she does a fucking wicked job too... I know it's not British but it ties back to a prior post and... well it's hotness...



Now... this isn't an track either but rather and annoucement...

So I guess get ready to cop that and keep your eyes open... And lastly... I'm just trying to post a bunch of stuff now... and this is not my normal fare... BUT... it is Bloc Party... do what you will with it... I'm not even gonna link it up... just cut and paste kids...

title: KT Tunstall
author: The Prayer (Bloc Party cover) - Video
copyright: Virgin Records

14 The Prayer (Bloc Party Cover)_128k.wma http://del.interoute.com/?id=ceafa5a3-c786-4dc8-9db0-0420cecf334a&delivery=download
http://del.interoute.com/?id=ceafa5a3-c786-4dc8-9db0-0420cecf334a&delivery=stream
14 The Prayer (Bloc Party Cover)_32k.rm http://del.interoute.com/?id=cda87e8e-e6c5-4105-a60a-b5f345247d49&delivery=download
http://del.interoute.com/?id=cda87e8e-e6c5-4105-a60a-b5f345247d49&delivery=stream
14 The Prayer (Bloc Party Cover)_32k.wma http://del.interoute.com/?id=d037b629-dd9f-425c-9b81-9f9d9211567e&delivery=download
http://del.interoute.com/?id=d037b629-dd9f-425c-9b81-9f9d9211567e&delivery=stream
14 The Prayer (Bloc Party Cover)_96k.rm http://del.interoute.com/?id=6e0ef4b1-5e9d-4e14-803c-de8b0b2c8f7d&delivery=download
http://del.interoute.com/?id=6e0ef4b1-5e9d-4e14-803c-de8b0b2c8f7d&delivery=stream

Ok... I've got too many things to do today... be back soon...

Sweet Wednesday luck... new Róisín Murphy... with a TODDLA T REMIX!

You guys remember Moloko yeah? I mean, those of you who live in the UK would have to have brain damaged to forget! But those of us in the U.S. who remember them, remember them mostly from warehouse raves with "Sing It Back" and "The Time Is Now"... well I suppose the latter was actually more of a club song even here in the U.S. but whatevs. POINT IS... you all know the voice of Róisín Murphy... she's got a new one out, after her success with "Overpowered", you know it's going to be a bruiser... AND THE MIX I'M GONNA POST IS FROM TODDLA T! How did this kid blow the fuck up over night?!?!? I dunno but it's hot... it's hot...

‘You Know Me Better’
Released: 31st March on EMI

New single released as 7”, CD, enhanced CD and download.

The track is a collaboration with Groove Armada’s Andy Cato

From top 20 UK album “Overpowered”

Mixes come from Samim, Trevor Loveys, Guy Williams and Toddla T.

Sold-out London show at Camden’s Roundhouse, London on March 8th

Headline set at the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square to an estimated audience of 75,000 people on March 16th

Róisín made a very special guest appearance at the Elle Style Awards on February 12th; the first live performance in the 11-year history of the awards

Live: London Roundhouse, March 8th – SOLD OUT
Trafalgar Square, March 16th
Rock Ness, June 8th

And here's the goods...

Róisín Murphy- "You Know Me Better (Toddla T Mix)" YSI

Róisín Murphy- "You Know Me Better (Toddla T Mix)"

I'd post the Trevor Loveys remix but you really should buy the single... And just to tie it back to the last post... with Herve...

Róisín Murphy- "Overpowered (Herve & Róisín In The Secret Garden Remix)"

I love how that song is pure fucking sleaze at the beginning... like the feeling of having drugs coming out of your sweat... and then it turns into shimmering wonderfulness... and then he busts out the fucking awesome drums again... and then back with the hip grinding buzzsaw synthlines! Oh Herve, how awesome are you...

Check out her Róisín over at...
http://roisinmurphy.com/
www.myspace.com/roisinmurphy
www.myspace.com/roisinremixed

Everybody gotta work it out... Herve gives you 'Cheap Thrills'...

Me in a bad jean-short/visor/sweat-soaked-combo with my friend the legendary Larry Tee

SO here's a fun post where I get to tell you guys about a great memory. I mean a great memory. And I get onto Herve starting his own label... Trust me it will all tie together...

Ok. For those of you who have been reading for the last year, you may remember me telling you about all the fun that was had in Miami during the Winter Music Conference... alas, I will not be going this year, BUT all the awesome shit that happened last year makes up for it.

SOOOOOOO... the last day of the 'conference', Sunday, was a pretty down day. My partner was totally worn out from the whole week and not trying to deal with the world. I had some new found friends call me out to kick it at Remix Hotel insuring me they had badges lying around and I wouldn't have to pay. At the end of the afternoon I found myself standing on Collins waiting for Anya (aka Womso... the only girl I've never slept with who almost ended my relationship doing nothing!) to come out and get me because there was a SUPER long line (she was waiting to come out when she knew she could sneak booze back in)... while I'm standing there waiting my buddy Curt Autobot (of Flosstradamus fame) just happens to walk down the street after having just flown from SXSW...

...so I tap him on the shoulder and he's like "Yeah, dude, I'm so wiped. We've just been moving non-stop. Josh (J2K of Floss) got stranded at some airport, I just met MSTRKRFT like two seconds ago and was too tired to talk, and I'm fucking starving. Everything is just too intense right now and I feel like shit. I gotta get something to eat... walk and talk." So we walk a few blocks down some really crowded area I didn't know existed (really how much of Miami, or rather South Beach, do you see when you go to WMC?) he runs into some people and I begin to feel a little out of place...

...see, Curt and I came up in the same town in Michigan, played the same weird ass warehouses, both went to school in Chicago at the same time, and even worked on songs together for a while... as in we were close enough that I stayed at his house while my roomie and I were finding a place in Chicago... but eventually I moved out of the Chi, which is one of the things that caused us to stop talking/working/hanging out together (we reconnected at Intonation Festival right before Flossy D BLEW UP)... but if you find a copy of my first demo you'll find that Curt's the first person I thank... but frankly you're never gonna find that unless well I dunno you're Larry Tee, or Errol formerly of Astralwerks, but I think I retrieved all the other existing copies!

...so anyway, here I am with my newly anointed "international-jetset-superstar-dj" buddy (he was on the cover of URB that month) walking with his friends I totally don't know and I start to feel weird. I mean REAL weird. He, although very tired, keeps trying to engage me in conversation and I start to become more and more uneasy. I release he's headed somewhere NICE and here I am, Midwestern Retard, dressed in a wifebeater, a black visor, JEAN SHORTS (which trust me I have since given up), sweating like a crack whore in a sauna from nervousness/heat...

...and we arrive at, exactly as I thought, a fucking really nice cafe! And I hesitantly walk in with him ...and I feel the air conditioning hit me and I'm like thinking "Ok, maybe I can hang. I just need to relax." So, the hostess takes us to a table that seats about 12... I can see most of the people have been sitting for a little while, and there are two seats left! Sweet right? So, Curt sits down and I go to join him BUT I suddenly look up and see Naeem Juwan at the other side of the table... I mean, that's probably what you'd call him if you knew him well like Curt does... but to me, my sweaty stupid looking Midwestern ass is staring at Spank Rock... and despite having met him two nights previous at the Turntable Lab party, I knew I couldn't sit around and chill with someone whose CD I listen to like every fucking day... no seriously, I'm man enough to admit I couldn't hang! I was in over my head... Now Benny Blanco is apparently trying to fuck my ex-girlfriend seeing as she "accidentally" sends me emails about it all the time but I digress (I guess go gettem Benny!)...

So I immediately bail and find a slew of mean text messages from Anya about how I left her in line and she saw me walking off and how I was a motherfucker for making her come out for nothing... she was REALLY pissed. I hauled ass back to the Remix Hotel gig and we all danced like retards... or at least I did... I was wearing an inflatable duck on my head...

Then blah blah blah we went to this Oakenfold thing and got past the wait, which despite the fact I don't care for him anymore was really fucking cool to bypass a three hour wait and a velvet rope! PROBLEM was Anya didn't have her ID... I mean I dunno??!? She's Russian! I don't know how that all works... but she couldn't come in with us... so I was there for like 10 minutes and declared "I gotta go to downtown Miami. My friend Curt is playing down there. I'll see you guys next year!"

And off I went. Patrick and Anya drove me to a corner where I knew I could catch a bus and that was that. I took the bus downtown and walked to the venue. It was REALLY fucking tiny and both Curt and Pase Rock were playing... there were like maybe 20 people there and I could tell both of them were like "Who fucking roped me into playing this place on a Sunday night in Miami?"... I went to talk to Curt but he was going on and... what was I going to do? Hang out with Pase Rock? Nope nope nope nope... I listen to Five Deez and his solo shit quite a bit so that's not happening. Some people I can do that with and some people I can't (that's kind of where this story is heading). So I stand in a corner and slowly make my way backwards to the bar. I figured "Hey, I'm gross, out of place, still wearing an ill advised beater and a visor, and I probably just need to go home. Just like earlier. Blah."

So I depart from this bar that is JUST far away from the bus station to be scary. There are literally crack heads walking around like zombies and then start coming closer to me. Every time I look over my shoulder they get closer, every time I speed up so do they! As I think I'm about to get dragged into the crackhead underworld a silver two door comes speeding up to my side, the door flings open and who is it other than my mentor Larry Tee!

He says "Do you know where Karu & Y is?", without even looking up at me.

To which I said "Larry, I'll get you there but you've got to take me with you!"

When he looked up and saw it was me, he leaned forward, I jumped in the back of the two door and we ran off to this club...

...which was the greatest thing ever because Larry didn't play which meant we got to hang out all night. Top five best nights of my life ever and I was totally sober. Amazing. I could tell you all about it again but I think I did last year.

Anyway, it comes time for the night to end and Kevin (Larry's friend and assistant) drops Larry off, and then goes to drop my ass of (because it's SO not safe to take the bus that late). Kevin turns to me and says "Have you heard the song?"

"What song?"

"Have you heard the song he did with Concetta? Off Larry's Sampler that he gave you?" (FYI: Concetta is Princess Superstar)

"Well, no, because he just gave me I copy. He hasn't had them on him all week because I always see him when he's relaxing or it's the end of the night."

"Holy fuck. You have to hear this..."

AND THIS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS WHERE THE STORY TIES BACK TO HERVE! We're driving down the highway at god-knows-what-o-clock and I'm hearing "Gettin' low low on the ground" thinking "Awwww fuck. This is why Larry is a fucking genius." And then Kevin goes "Hold on, I gotta turn it up." And then I hear...

"L-i-Licky-c-k-Licky-y-L-i-Licky-c-Licky-k-y"

AND THEN A BASS LINE AND A SYNTH THAT MAKE THE EARTH SHAKE. Which of course resulted in my jaw hitting the floor. And Kevin goes "I know right? This is the Herve remix... it's so fucking good". That drive back to my hotel on 72nd was fucking amazing... best WMC ever... how can you top moments like that? I waltzed into the hotel at like 5am and said "Hey, Electroboy, guess what you just missed out on?"... (FYI: Electroboy is Larry's nickname for Sam)... and, of course, he knew he realllllly missed out... especially if my lame ass is coming home at 5am because I'm usually in bed by 10pm lol...

When he finally got to hear the Herve remix the next day we were like "How did we ever end up in the position where we have a copy of this before everyone else?"... sometimes you're just lucky I guess...

AND today my friends you are luck too because I'm gonna get you hooked up with some good shit fer reals... here's the info on Herve's new label...

New label launched by Joshua ‘Hervé' Harvey aka The Count

Featuring new releases by all the alter ego’s and new talent including Action Man, Voodoo Chilli and Detboi

The Count & Sinden’s “Beeper” released in the UK on Domino Records on 24th March 2008

The Count & Sinden debut album out in summer 2008

www.MySpace.com/hervespace

www.MySpace.com/thecountofmontecristal

Maybe this is "DJ snobby" of me but errrr hasn't "Beeper" been the hottest shit on wax for 12 months? How is it JUST getting released? PLEASE tell me this doesn't have to do with red tape from Star Trak (seeing as the vocal is from a FamLay song... I jumped on his back once... but that's a different story for a different place... it's been easier to explain that story since the "Beeper" song came out)... still just as hot 12 months later though...

ANYWAY... here's the goods kiddo... I tried to keep it as British as possible... so here's a Herve remix of the Chemical Brothers that is fucking soooooooo sick... from 2:30 on it's like a weird Prince song and then the drums are sooooo fucking dope....

Chemical Brothers- "The Salmon Dance (Herve Remix)

And here's a mini mix Herve would like you to have... enjoy.....

The Count of Monte Cristal EP 2 Martelo Mini Mix

So see.. there, you got a fun story where I make an ass out of myself multiple times and we get to hear one of the greatest songs like ever... you wanna hear the Larry Tee song? Go to his Myspace and buy the damn thing... or swap that new Steve Aoki because it's on there with Santogold rapping... I'm not giving it to you for free... sorry kids... hotness... see you soon...

Clear ear space for Air Traffic...

So my dear friends over at Astralwerks recently turned me on to one of their recent releases that is bound to bring out cadre of Radiohead fans that miss "The Bends" era, and all the Muse fans that, well, like Muse lol... there's about 10,000 other comparisons I could use though and none of them would be fair... but Air Traffic, have just released 'Fractured Life' and trust me it's going to be that album where you're like "Yeah, I told you they were the new ______"... I've given you my first impression association... you give me yours... here's some background...

"Air Traffic are an English indie rock band from Bournemouth. The band's name originates from when they used to practice next to a runway at Hurn Airport, where air traffic control signals could be picked up on their amplifiers.[1] Their music features heavy use of piano, and they have been described by NME to be like "Supergrass covering Little Richard".[2] The band have received mainstream success due to the re-release of their single "Charlotte", and the release of their debut album, Fractured Life."

Here's the song they won't sue me for posting but I hope that it excites you enough to go out and buy a physical copy... seriously though, Astralwerks are one of the last labels that deserve blind brand loyalty despite having changed their format a little... every album they put out is ace really and they bring most of the good music from across the pond to the U.S... I mean, yeah it weirded me out to see Babyshambles on what had been a primarily electronic label, but it made me realize Astralwerks are America's XL Records (or equivalent thereof). Look at their track record... seriously I'm a lifer...

Air Traffic- "Come On" YSI

Air Traffic- "Come On"

For whatever reason the embedding is disabled (any reason for that guys?) so you're just going to have to trust me when I say you should check out the video for Charlotte...

Check out the whole Air Traffic album at Spinner (via AOL)...
Air Traffic, 'Fractured Life' album stream on Spinner

Also, on a totally different subject, if you've been dying to get away from that water mark, check out a stream of the new AMAZING album from Arcadia favourites Hot Chip over at Spinner...
Hot Chip, 'Made In The Dark' album stream on Spinner

And on the streaming tip... Dev from Test Icicles (who have been retired for about what 2 years now?) released a Bright Eyes-esque solo album as Lightspeed Champion that is really awesome... you should totally check it out... even though he's an American... because a) he used to be in a Britband and b) it's awesome and c) he worked on material in Grand Rapids (where I'm actually going tomorrow). Maybe if you leave comments I'll dig out some of his demos?!?!

Lightspeed Champion, 'Falling Off The Lavender Bridge' album stream on Spinner

Anyway, hope you dug this. I've got some posts I want to do for my new friends and I also want to do a post on Cage the Elephant because I haven't thus far lol... so keep the eyes and ears peeled... until next time...