NEW: Herve remixes Faithless

This one isn't out til 3rd May... and the album doesn't come out til the end of May... BUT we've got it for you here right now! Herve has been a fixture of this blog because of Cheap Thrills, Machines Don't Care, The Count & Sinden and on and on and on...

He gave us an awesome interview, to the blog, a while back with none of the long delays and jumping through hoops with middle men... he agreed to the interview, I sent him the questions, they were back in a day... for that I am eternally greatful. He's prolific, friendly, genre bending, and one of the biggest driving forces in dance music for the last half of the decade (and no doubt many years to come)!

No press for this at the moment, but I'd love to hear your comments on this one!
Faithless - "Not Going Home (Hervé Remix)" Dropbox
Faithless - "Not Going Home (Hervé Remix)" YSI

Check out more at http://www.faithless.co.uk and http://www.myspace.com/hervespace...

Be back soon!

All about HANGIN' KILLIN' MOVIN' PUMPIN' & STICKIN': New HOSTAGE Mix!

62 mins long. 56.76mb of data. 100% awesome.

If it weren't for Hostage (and well the folks at Your Army) I wouldn't EVER know what was going on with dance music. For all the moaning I was doing the other day about dance music getting boring, this mix proves I was just in a bad mood (and didn't know what I was talking about at ALL)... from Black Noise's opener, to "Hangin' by our man Hostage, to our friends Martelo and Herve, down to the closing track from Grum this is a mix you DO NOT want to miss. Check it out right here:
Hostage - September Mix 2009 YSI
Hostage - September Mix 2009 zShare

HANGIN' KILLIN' MOVIN' PUMPIN' & STICKIN'
Hostage - September Mix 2009

1 Black Noise - Check The Blast
2 Hostage - Hangin'
3 Lee Mortimer & Foamo - It's Going Down
4 B. Rich - Killin' It
5 Martelo feat. Hervé - Wasted
6 Hostage - I Get High
7 Together - Hardcore Uproar (Lee Mortimer Rmx)
8 Foamo - Movin' It Over Here (Hey Now Remix)
9 Jennifer Delano - Amsterdam (Riptide Remix)
10 Tom deluxx - Reactivate
11 NT89 ft Distrakt - Pumpin' (GTRONIC_rmx)
12 Sawgood- CTRL Your Brain (Calvertron Rmx)
13 D.I.M. - Lyposuct (Edit)
14 SonicC - Stickin'
15 Grum - Heartbeats

Make sure you check Hostage out Death Disco this weekend!

MAIN ROOM
HUSHPUPPY 11pm-11.45
DESIGNER DRUGS 11.45-1am
MIXHELL (LIVE) 1am-2am
HOSTAGE 2am-3am

DANCE ARCH
MINGO-GO 10pm-11.30pm
JOE AND WILL ASK? (LIVE) 11.30pm-12.30pm
J.G.WILKES 12.30am-1.45am
RORY PHILLIPS 1.45-3am

PLAYROOM
HEADPHONE DISCO ALL NIGHT LONG!
HEADPHONE DISCO DJS
MINGO-GO
HUSHPUPPY

Watch out for EXCITING THINGS in Midland St 'til midnight.
HALF PRICE PASSES (£7.00) at www.deathdisco.info - valid until 11.30pm.
NB: Death Disco promotes an alternative, open-minded club environment.

Ok, hope you enjoy this musical pot of gold and I'll be back asap!

BONUS: Our friend from Acidkids sent us this earlier... may not be British BUT they are friends of the blog! Enjoy!

Daniel Dexter aka Dex Exploited/Acidkids Berlin Live in New York City YSI
Daniel Dexter aka Dex Exploited/Acidkids Berlin Live in New York City

01. Intro
02. Simian Mobile Disco – Audicity of Huge (A Chicken Lips Malfunction)
03. Trentemoeller – Vamp (Kasper Bjorke Remix)
04. Mowgli – Pa Po Pon (Nat Self Remix)
05. Brazilian Girls – Good Time (Diplo Remix)
06. Malente&Dex – Gipsy Kings
07. Metronomy – Radio Ladio (Radioclit Swedish Remix)
08. Isolee – Schrapnell
09. Ratatat – Mirando
10. Major Lazer – Mi pon da floor
11. Acidkids – Mitch (Felix Cartal Remix)
12. Space – Magic Fly
13. Siriusmo – High together
14. Sebastien Tellier – La Ritournelle (Mr Dans Magic Wand Mix)

NEW TUNES from Hervé, Joe & Will Ask?, Chima Anya of GTA, N.A.S.A, Jokers Of the Scene and more

A Hervé track is like manna from heaven for me. He's a great balance between electronic music and rock sensibilities... he's a trailblazer for a new "anything goes" generation of clubbers... he's kind and down to earth... and his music is always awesome even though he's more prolific than two rabbits when it comes to making tracks!

This is why I'm even more surprised that it took me this long to post this. See, around the time my dearest Anna sent this to me... I was so depressed I couldn't even really read the email. I'm sure the rest of you who are feeling the recession blues get it... hell, almost ALL my favourite blogs have come close to hanging it up at one point or another. BUT not unlike the Heads We Dance feat Little Boots track from the other day, music like this is undeniable (and even though loads of other people got around to posting it before I did, that doesn't make it any less awesome lol)... I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

The Young Lovers Album Minimix
The Young Lovers- "Love You Madly" (192)
The Young Lovers- "Love You Madly" YSI

* The prolific Joshua ‘Hervé’ Harvey returns with an album somewhat different to what you may be used to hearing from the electronic producer – Mixmag compared it to Saint Etienne this month (4*)
* Inspired by Joshua’s “trips to Rome, Paris and Barcelona”, the album also features Joe from Primary One and Trevor Loveys
* Joshua has just released his first mix compilation ‘Ghetto Bass’ and is currently working on The Count & Sinden album for Domino Records. The second Machines Don’t Care album looks to be released later this year, with a Hervé debut LP arriving in 2010

It's still not out for a week (11 May) so I didn't sleep on it tooooo long! Check out more at Myspace.

Next up is one from Joe & Will Ask? who made an appearance with a Lowline remix a few weeks back. Here's the press...
The track is to be Released on Gulp Communications later on in 2009 and more Joe and Will Ask tracks are available at www.beatport.com.
Joe & Will Ask?- "Yellow Stone"

NOW THIS I GOTTA HIGHLIGHT... my boy Chima Anya from Oxford's GTA is the only doctor in Brithop and this man spits straight fire. Not only is he a wicked emcee but he also has a knack for choosing the BEST possible instrumentals to work with as you'll see in the press blurb below. DOWNLOAD THIS or miss out on one of the UK's fastest rising hiphop stars...

Having already received support from the biggest radio stations in the uk (Radio 1, 1Xtra, Choice, Kiss FM) and cosigning from some of the most progressive blog sites arouind (Moovmnt, IBYM) Chima Anya (hip-hop's only practicing Doctor) releases his mixtape to great anticipation.

Featuring production from Flying Lotus/ Hudson Mohawke/ Samiyam/ Rustie (editorial note: holy shit, see what I'm saying?!?!) juxtaposed to the more commercial standard bangers this mixtape is the first symptom of vocal hiphop's evolution to a Higher Ground.

Chima Anya higher Ground Mixtape

This I thought would be fun to post... you know how I feel about Brithop (only the grime boys and GTA ever make the cut)... but The Forcefield Kids do, and I quote, "leftfield/lo-fi UK hip-hop act from Newcastle and have an EP coming out on the 6th of July" and I enjoy it. The lead track from the EP is right here:

The Forcefield Kids- "Little Miss Star"

Now I got some rock for those of you who thought I forgot what that was (smirk). Duke Special have a nice little 3 track sample they want you music fans to have and it's got a fun cover in it that you don't wanna miss. Here's some press about their album that just came out and this freebie:

‘I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD COME’: The brand new album, out 20th April 2009
"A more immediate and visceral collection than the previous multi-platinum selling Songs From The Deep Forest, Duke Special’s new album, I Never Thought This Day Would Come is full of moments of beauty and hope juxtaposed with a dark, brooding edge.

Recorded between Wapping, London; Champaign, Illinois and Culleybackey, Northern Ireland, 'I Never Thought This Day Would Come' was produced by long-time collaborator Paul Pilot and mixed by Nick Terry, best known for his work with the Klaxons and The Libertines."

As a free taster please download 3 Duke Special Tracks:
1. "Those Proverbs We Made in the Winter Must End" (Duke Special / Bernard Butler) produced, co-written and co-played by Bernard Butler
2. "I Feel For You" (Prince cover but made famous by Chaka Kahn)
3. "Low" (Duke Special)

So hopefully you'll dig that. Now this is kind of off the beaten path for this blog but I recognize I've come close to being a British "dance" music blog, not just a British music blog so... I'm broadening the horizons some! I've heard VERY heated pro/con online convos about this trio but... I'll let you decide what you think of it. I will say I thought they said "drinking out of a sports bra" and thought "That's a little naughty isn't it? I can't even picture that!"... which is proof I'm a moron :)

The Dolly Rockers- "North vs South" Stream
"It's like three Lily Allens meeting Motiv8 after they've had a quick rummage through one of Pepsi & Shirlie's jumble sales."
Visit http://www.myspace.com/thedollyrockers for 3 more tracks

FORMAT CHANGE: I had a lot of good stuff in the inbox so I decided to post some non-British artists. I don't do this often, but when you ignore your inbox for weeks you stumble upon loads of sick tracks. I mean tell me you don't want this N.A.S.A. or Jokers On the Scene... yeah, exactly my point... ENJOY

Ok, well I know you guys like designer shit (I'm a Kidrobot man myself), and I know a lot of you like drugs (shame on you), and while rocking both I notice a lot of you listen to Designer Drugs. Now I present to you "the amazing ‘Strange Enough’ with a Designer Drugs touch, featuring Ol Dirty Bastard, Karen O. and Fatlip"...
N.A.S.A. - "Strange Enough (Designer Drugs Remix)" (320kpsex)
N.A.S.A. - "Strange Enough (Designer Drugs Remix)" YSI

The Brash are from Canukistan (*cough* my neighbour to the north, Canada). They are described as "two guys from around the corner. A Dj and a geek.
Straightforward electronic music. Nothing more, nothing less"... and personally I like a press release like that lol. They got fellow Canukistanians Jokers Of the Scene to do a remix so you know they're about to be hot shit!
THIS TRACK IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The Brash - "H Muet (Jokers of the Scene remix)"
The Brash - "H Muet (Jokers of the Scene remix)" YSI

I'm posting this Dirty Projectors track because a) I like it and b) I think this AIDS Charity they are doing with Bjork is awesome... read more below...

   

"Stillness Is The Move" is available on 12" and digital with new b-sides a remix by Lucky Dragons May 5th. Pre-order the 12" now from Domino Mart -http://www.dominorecordco.us/usa/singles/09-04-09/stillness-is-the-move/

"Stillness Is The Move" is taken from the upcoming album, Bitte Orca, which will be released worldwide the week of June 8th (check local listings). Many of you will be able to catch the band live in action prior to that as special guests on the upcoming TV On The Radio tour:

FRI 5/22 - Oakland, CA - Fox Oakland Theater
SAT 5/23 - Portland - Roseland Theater
MON 5/25 - Vancouver - Malkin Bowl
WED 5/27 - Edmonton - Edmonton Events Centre
THUR 5/28 - Calgary - Macewan Hall
FRI 5/29 - Saskatoon - Louis’ Pub
SAT 5/30 - Winnipeg - Burton Cummings Theatre
TUE 6/2 - Toronto - Sound Academy
WED 6/3 - Montrea - Metropolis
THUR 6/4 - Boston - HOB
FRI 6/5 - New York - Summerstage
SAT 6/6 - Baltimore - Metro Gallery - w/ A Place To Bury Strangers
MON 6/8 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
TUE 6/9 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
WED 6/10 - Richmond, VA - The National
THUR 6/11 - Charlotte, NC - Amos’ Southend
*All shows with TV on the Radio except June 6th

In addition, on May 8th, Dirty Projectors and Bjork will be collaborating for a one-night only benefit show at the Housing Works Bookstore in Manhattan. The performance will feature an original piece composed by Dirty Projectors’ David Longstreth. The material will pair Bjork and Longstreth with the Dirty Projectors’ Amber Coffman, Angel Deradoorian, and Haley Dekle. All proceeds will go to Housing Works, a non-profit established to provide services for homeless men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS.

OK! Hopefully that makes up for my absence! I'll try to make sure to stay on top of things from here on out and appreciate all your support. I notice a lot of you adding me on Twitter but please feel free to "follow" the blog (the option is located in the right sidebar). I'll have a show starting soon on Hype.FM in the next week so make sure you keep your eyes and ears peeled because that'll be off the fucking hook... have you seen the other names who are gonna be on that site? Phew! And for those of you already podcasting Albion I apologize about the lack of updates... we have a server problem that should be fixed soon. Thanks again, I couldn't do this without you guys, be back soon!

Interview with Herve (of The Count & Sinden/Machines Don't Care)!

You may know the man called Joshua Harvey by many different names... such as... HERVÉ, VOODOO CHILLI, ACTION MAN, COUNT OF MONTE CRISTAL, SPEAKER JUNK, DEAD SOUL BROTHERS, OR THE YOUNG LOVERS...

Along with, well mainly a bunch of other people he's worked with, he's made an almost creatively flatlined electronic music scene exciting again. Whether it was The Count & Sinden's "Beeper" with Kid Sister, or the Machines Don't Care project (which is like dance music's version of the Superfriends with Hervé, Sinden, Trevor Loveys, Affie Yusef, Toddla T, Fake Blood, Detboi & Drop The Lime), or his own brain melting originals or remixes, Hervé's contribution to music in the last few years has been immeasurable. Which is why I'm elated to bring you this interview... for those of you who are just looking for the tracks a) they're at the bottom, b) they're preapproved mini mixes from a while ago and c) you should be ashamed of yourself...

Hervé Interview

ISoA: What specific album or single made you want to get into music?

Herve: i dont know i just knew from a really early age i wanted to make music i took drum lessons at about 8 years old and i used to make compilation tapes for family trips, it must be in my blood or something!


ISoA: You've declared that you're sick of the term 'fidget house', a term that seemed to arrise the same way as when Klaxons jokingly started using the term 'new rave'... do you think that genre descriptions are helpful or a hindrance to artists and the public?

Herve: im not sick of it, none of us, myself trevor loveys and switch were EVER happy with it, it was a private joke between trev and switch (its weird saying that cos trev started switch with dave taylor , so at that time he was switch aswell!!). people send us all these crap fidgit records that are basically copies of records that we all did 3-4 years ago. what we did was try something new, thats our philosophy, try your best to keep it fresh, not completely copying people 100%.
basically there is a few people out there making a living off of photocopying what we did/do, they do not have the same philosophy we do and it shows.


ISoA: Speaking of genres, what musical movement (or trend) in the recent past could you have dealt without? Or what trend perhaps run it's course and should call it a day?

Herve: im not a fan of "breaks" i think its bizarre that something so sterile and funkless could come from "breakbeats", essentially very funky drum loops. its fucking massive tho.
i do get breaks guys sending me stuff, i dont know why they think id like it, i like breakbeats not "breaks".
also deephouse was one of the most pretentious forms of dance music ever. all these idiots thinking they where smarter than you cos they put a fucking rhodes over a painfully boring 4/4 drum loop, hilarious.
masters at work at their best where great and funky and there was in my opinion a few great tracks, but most deep house was a waste of wax for me...eerruugghh the pretentiousness of it all makes me cringe


ISoA: You work under multiple monikers and are extremely prolific. How much time do you spend during an average day working on tracks?

Herve: i really dont know, i work quite fast and work alot out in my head just sitting around before i go into the studio.
ive mentioned it before but when i hear a track to remix i basically remix it in my head, pin point all the bits i want
and then jus do it
ive never had the problem of finishing a track...my main problem is finishing too many!!. the many names are cos i like all kindsa music.


ISoA: Also making note of you being prolific, you've worked with loads of great artists who seem to be good friends of yours. What's your secret to making a partership run smoothly?

Herve: well im a nice guy!!
i dont know dance music is full of utter cunts but it also full of some amazing brilliant lovely people, and i work with the lovely people and dont work with the cunts.


ISoA: Has there ever been a remix you've turned down because of the artist or song?

Herve: yes, some tracks are so rubbish that you would just be making them a new track, so i dont bother.
but sometimes a rubbish track will have great bits to play with so you do it cos it will still be fun and a challenge


ISoA: Usually when you approach a track how do you start?

Herve: see above.


ISoA: What sort of hardware and software do you use to create your tracks?

Herve: it doesnt matter, its your knowledge, imagination and your ears that make tunes. i would definately recomend getting pro DAW as soon as you can cubase or logic. there are people who dont use them who are big but they are few and far between (and debatable whether they are any good!!!!)


ISoA: Obviously with the availibility in software a lot more people are producing nowadays. What are you suggestions for getting noticed in this new industry?

Herve: dont release tunes too early if you stick at it you will get better, theres enough shit out there all ready and eventually you will make good stuff.


ISoA: Speaking of a new music industry, what are you feelings on file sharing?

Herve: should i work for free? fuck that.
alot of bloggers seem to be glory seekers, you give them upfront stuff but they want top quality full files, so they can say look at me i got the 320 mp3 !!!!
do you call that supporting the scene and music you love?? giving away other peoples hard work for free?
i think bloggers could really help the scene if they understood how much damage they can do sometimes by giving hi quality tracks away, it can kill a release, it could be such a positive force (obviously there are loads of responsible bloggers that understand the situation and support the music they love in a way that doesnt fuck up small labels and artists and everyone connected, respect to you guys!)


ISoA: What's been your favourite club (or event) to play at?

Herve: theres been loads, too many, im just looking forward to getting over my fear of flying so i can move to the US!!!!!

And there you have it folks! Enjoy these mixes... and be on the lookout for The Count & Sinden album dropping world wide in May!
Voodoo Chilli- "Titans EP Promo"

Machines Don't Care- "Beat Bang (Trevor Loveys Remix)"

Machines Don't Care Mini Mix

Another Count & Sinden Mini-Mix!

Things are crazy busy! So crazy busy that I've fallen behind on interviews, reviews, remixes, and living. But don't fear... because... well actually there's no reason to not fear. I guess worry as much as I am if you want... BUT you can shake off those worries over at On The Rocks... read below...

"This Thursday night (11th Dec) once again sees On The Rocks in Shoreditch, London be taken over by The Count and Sinden for Mega Mega Mega. This is the final of a four week residency and if you haven't made it down to one already you shouldn't miss your chance. This week the guest DJs include Mistajam and Sunship plus The Count aka Hervé will be rocking a special one-off set specially prepared for the night."

The Count & Sinden Mini Mix

TRACKLIST:
DANIEL MERRIWEATHER - LETS RIDE (FEAT WALE) (THE COUNT'S DOING IT REMIX) (SONY)
THE COUNT AND SINDEN - BEEPER (SUNSHIP REMIX) (DOMINO)
SUNSHIP FEAT WARRIOR QUEEN - QUITS (SINDEN REMIX) (CDR)
MACHINES DONT CARE - ON A ROLL (MACHINES DONT CARE)
YO MAJESTY - CLUB ACTION (SUNSHIP REMIX) (DOMINO)
MACHINES DONT CARE - BEAT BANG (MUJAVA REMIX) (HERVE EDIT) (MACHINES DONT CARE)

And if that doesn't make you feel better? Well, perhaps you should go see a doctor and discuss your issues with depression. OK... be back in a few!

South Central and MACHINES DON'T CARE... sounds like the best Tuesday of your life...

Funny thing about blogging is eventually the line between promoting someone else's music for fun... and posting about the music of people you like turns into the same thing.

Example: South Central.

South Central are my fucking boys. They produce banger after banger (in a non-Ed Banger way; I'm starting to get a little worn on that whole thing... not to say it isn't good guys; you know I love you) and are cool fucking dudes in the process. Doing a widely publicized remix for an up and coming band like Late Of The Pier, doing a fucking insanely sick mix for Kiss FM, and touring for Club NME would have most young duos/bands getting huge fucking egos and losing all their hard work to too much charlie and groupie head. These guys however just keep plugging along, making new tunes, and checking their ego at the door. Great tunes+great attitude=Eventualbigtimesuccess in my humble opinion.

So I present to you a wicked new remix that shows serious growth towards that goal... this tune is really different from their previous remixes but I reallllllllly like it...

Sneaky Sound System- "Pictures (South Central Remix)"

On a different note.... The world also gets smaller when you blog a lot... eventually people you post about, if you spend enough time working to the heart of this music biz monster, are friends of friends (if they aren't your friends already).

Example: Herve

6 degrees of separation turns into 3 degrees. Herve has done two high profile projects with two of my friends... hopefully someday we will meet... who knows? I think it's fucking awesome though... makes me feel like the world is really small which is nice in an age where there is no community anywhere. Now his Machines Don't Care project is getting closer to having an album released so I'm giving you a track off it.

Machines Don't Care- "On A Roll Man"


APPARENTLY Machines Don't Care isn't just a couple of names you'd expect to see next to Herve's. It's like a BUNCH of names... MACHINES DON’T CARE are Hervé, Sinden, Trevor Loveys, Affie Yusef, Toddla T, Fake Blood, Detboi & Drop The Lime?!?!? WTF? That boy Toddla T is making it happen I tell ya... I'm trying to get him back on the line but looks like he's hella busy lol...

This track was passed on from their website Machinesdontcare.com... go check it out...

I love this fucking track. It's like straight up acid, with an MC with a heavy accent, with strange vocal drops that I can't tell if they're watermarking or part of the track. It reminds me of current stuff, with a pinch of Josh Wink, and then the first half of Simon Reynold's book "Energy Flash" all put into one song. It's ravey and it's bonkers and I love it...

Speaking of ravey and bonkers... the video for my boy Larry Tee's song "Licky" (which appears to be the original song superimposed on top of Herve's remix) is finally out. It's weird to me the life of some songs. Like... "We Are Your Friends"? That song could still blow up a room right now. Doesn't matter how many times it's been played (other songs from the same time period as the original release I doubt we can even remember). Same with this track. I got it March of last year, it's been officially released, put on loads of comps, Santogold put a verse over it for Steve Aoki, and this fucking thing just keeps on ticking! It's a testament to how fucking truly genius the man is. Shit even I've posted about it in some form like 5 times. Check it out... Princess Superstar is awesome...



Let me say something real quick though before I end this post. Don't get me wrong for two seconds. This doesn't make me special. I wear a blue shirt and khakis, lift heavy shit all day long, am despised by my coworkers, and making barely over minimum wage in the process. I can barely ever pay for anything other than flowers for my girl and discounted "Ice Cream" trainers. I'm treading water like there's no tomorrow. But at least there is something exciting in the middle of that shit storm and it's knowing that almost every day some artist I like or someone I know has a new tune out... and I'm proud to help represent that. So it doesn't make me special... Simian Mobile Disco calling and waking me up last Friday was cool, but it didn't make me special. When I have an album done and people recognize that (if that ever even happens) then that's a whole 'nother something. But it in meantime I'm here to spread the gospel of other people's amazing work and enjoy doing it :)

See you on the next post!

Herve & Sinden "Machines Don't Care" and new Ladyhawke!

Got some good stuff today... first off...Hervé & Sinden's new project Machines Don't Care. It's at the point where I don't see how these guys can do any wrong! It blows me away how much sheer quality they are pumping out but then again these guys work solo and in duos so there's a lot of potential for song making... shit is fireeeeeeee...

Machines Dont Care 12 minute Mini Mix 128kbp YSI

Machines Dont Care 12 minute Mini Mix 128kbp zShare


On another tip... sooooooooooooo... Ladyhawke isn't British. But she lives in the UK... and for today that's enough because the remix last time was sick and so is this one...

Ladyhawke- "Paris Is Burning (Alex Gopher Remix)" YSI

Ladyhawke- "Paris Is Burning (Alex Gopher Remix)" zShare

To roughly tie this all together... I was in the UK in 1999 in my hotel watching what was an absolutely awful stretch of MTV with Alice Deejay and the like... and suddenly I saw this fucking amazing video with all these words buzzing all over the place and I was completely wowed by the music and the video. That of course was Alex Gopher's The Child. The Verve Remixed albums probably owe Alex Gopher a lot for creating a real opening for jazz vocals and electronic music (not as though it hadn't been done before but this song was huge). The dialogue is probably a little much but I suppose... but it is still a design geeks wet dream... mmmm typography :) Over all the video has aged really well...




So that has nothing to do with anything, other than me making an excuse to put a French remixer up, but it's still worth posting the video! And it's a good memory. Despite only being a resident I'm gonna keep my eye on Ladyhawke... and I advise you to do the same :)

So that's it for today kids... sorry I haven't been posting much... down to one car :( But everything will be all right. All right. So keep checking in and I'll keep bringing the goods!

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...

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...