THE BPA WANT YOU... to remix "Toe Jam"!

Remember the days when your aspiring DJ/producer self said "Man, if I could only get the vocal/instrumental to this song I could totally do a remix better than DJ Whoever! Man I'd never be so lucky..."

Well, along with the handiness of Web 2.0, and the different chatter and cultural changes across the various intrawebs your time to shine has become a regular occurrence! So much so that I don't even have time to remix all the songs I get stems for (regardless of deadlines you'll still see a "3 Little Words" remix and a State Crime "Reckoner" remix outta me before the end of this decade lol)...

With all that said, The BPA "Toe Jam" remix contest is in full effect! You now have the chance to remix the arguably the biggest hit of the year right from your bedroom/dormroom/basement/bunker and actually get your name out there...

Check out the contest site or see the recent posts from two of the concert sponsors BIGSTEREO and Discobelle for more on this shinfig....

Unlike SOME remix contests this one is a freebie! All the individual tracks are there for you to use however you wold like. The best part of all this is that the winners will be chosen by Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim), himself! He's a fucking cool guy, he is, so I'm sure he's open to that Gabber techno remix you're thinking up right now lol... I mean you may not win but at least he might hear it ;)

Completed remixes must be received on or by January 1, 2009. There's already one remix DONE so obviously you need to step up your game right now... especially because if I'm not going to win this damn thing... one of you needs to! And then tell me that you won because I yelled at you. This will validate my existence!

This will be a repost now... I'm not sure they'd want me posting the single again but I'm sure everyone's cool with the 'Database Remix' filling in the uninitiated...

The BPA- "Toe Jam (Database Remix)"

The BPA- "Toe Jam (Database Remix)" YSI

Just in case you're coming in late on this one here's the best video of the year hands down of the track you're about to remix...


Ok, go out and make me proud!

The BPA: The Brighton Port Authority, Fatboy Slim's new project

Fatboy Slim needs NO introduction. From goofy teen movies like "She's All That" ('The Rockafeller Skank') and Cruel Intentions ('Praise You'), to genre defining compilations (almost anything with the word Skint or Big Beat Boutique in it), to stadium packing DJ sets the man has put his mark on nearly everything. Hit videos, adverts, everything. He put out three stellar albums in the last decade... the man is an unstoppable force.

I remember a then little known label called Astralwerks sending me some "Better Living Through Chemistry" stickers my sophomore year in high school... and I remember my ex bought me a lovely orange round cornered poster from "Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars" in college... the point is I've been all over the Fatboy experience before I even knew who he was. And then, hell, I was obviously lucky enough to meet him at Ultra Festival 2007! I'm glad to see he's got some new output.

Having said that, and this is just personal note but... for a while I was like "Bah, forget Fatboy Slim. When there are 'serious' electronic artists out there that deserve attention, every kid and soccer mom on earth is listening to 'Praise You'. I don't want to have anything to do with that. 'Michael Jackson'? Maybe. But not this new Fatboy Slim"... then I read an article where he said "I have no idea what I'm doing. I admit I can't write music. I just want to have fun and make songs" and I retracted everything I said. Some music from the late 90's 'electronica' surge was lazy and dumb, and as over exposed as Fatboy was, his music was anything but lazy and dumb. In fact after I read that I went out and got the CD and convinced my friends to buy it based on what I had read. Many many house parties had me slamming 'Right Here Right Now' after all that... just personal thoughts. Fatboy Slim albums (and other aliases) are not meant to be put up against Autechre... it's party music to help you unwind from listening to Autechre hehehe. I KID I KID, I love them! But seriously Fatboy makes feel good records...

Anyway, now he's putting out more legendary output with The Brighton Port Authority. You may have already heard "Toe Jam" featuring David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal. Pretty rad stuff but that's just the begining! The upcoming album is a collabo with Emmy The Great, Iggy Pop, Pete York, Jack Penate, Jamie T, Martha Wainwright, Conan, Olly Hite, Lateef, Ashley Beedle, Simon Thornton, Thomas Gandey, and Justin Robertson. What a list right?!?!

Here's the first single just in case somehow you didn't already cop this...
The Brighton Port Authority (BPA)- "Toe Jam (with David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal)" YSI

So, I know some of you interweb warriors are saying "I've had this for eons". Well perhaps you don't have this Database Remix of "Toe Jam"! HA! What's up now hipster?
The Brighton Port Authority (BPA)- "Toe Jam with David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal (Database Remix)" YSI

Those of you who miss a decent music video may want to check out the Streetgang Films' Keith Schofield directed video here

Or check it out right here... I love the look of this as I'm fond of '70s porn photos and this reproduces that very well... I'm pretty sure I saw wood paneling! And what's better than nude people and fake wood?


Both the track and video of "Toe Jam" are available online now and the album comes out in the US on January 20th, 2009. If you're anything like me I bet you're wishing it was still summer after listening to that song! Well by the time the album comes out you'll be getting full blown cabin fever and hopefully it will help you through it lol...

Check out The BPA on Myspace or Facebook.

Hells yeah. I'm loving this shit. Be back soon!

All sorts of things... Midweek update!

So, I just got done doing an interview with the legendary Howie B... the man can be described as nothing other than a legend, is a really nice bloke, and I could have talked to him for an hour. Apparently his next big move is drilling for oil but you're going to have to wait.

Oh what little treat can I throw your way to satiate your musical urges for a few hours? Hmmmmmm... I gotta give you something to fuel these end of summer parties, club nights, back-to-mines, love affairs, dorm parties... whatever the hell you kids are into now! Hopefully this will do it :)

This is a wicked little rework that came from Prodigy on a comp here recently... surely a better fit than that "Love Buzz" rework.. I mean I LOVE Prodigy but... that wasn't quite my style... this is...
The Prodigy- "Ghost Town" YSI

The Prodigy- "Ghost Town" Mediafire

I can't get enough of Bloc Party and that new album... in fact I'm hoping to see them on Saturday night! Let's cross our fingers on that one :)
Bloc Party- "Flux (BBC6 Session)" YSI

Bloc Party- "Flux (BBC6 Session)" Mediafire

This one is pretty wicked as well...
Bloc Party- "Mercury (BBC6 Session)" YSI

Bloc Party- "Mercury (BBC6 Session)" Mediafire

Now I lost interest in Gnarls Barkley when I lost my copy of their first cd... I'm sure it's in my ex-girlfriends car. Whatevs. But this Radiohead cover is pretty sick.. check it out...
Gnarls Barkley- "Reckoner (Radiohead Cover)" YSI

Gnarls Barkley- "Reckoner (Radiohead Cover)" Mediafire

This has been out for a while as the American extra on the Dizzee Rascal album... but I just got around to listening to it... too much music... Enjoy it though!
Dizzee Rascal- "Megamaster 1.0 (Mixed by El-P)" YSI

Dizzee Rascal- "Megamaster 1.0 (Mixed by El-P)" Mediafire

And lastly this is the leak from Vice for the new album by The Streets... this album is going to be off the fucking hook and I hope you all buy it the day it comes out to make records!
The Streets- "The Escapist" YSI

The Streets- "The Escapist" Mediafire

I thought I would also mention Franz Ferdinand have started blogging on MOG (which if you haven't figured out yet I'm quite fond of. Here's a few links to what they have going on...

http://mog.com/Franz_Ferdinand/blog/186082
http://mog.com/Franz_Ferdinand/blog/186085
http://mog.com/Franz_Ferdinand/blog/186088

Speaking of blogs, you'll notice in the blogroll that Klaxons are in full blog fever... I'm not going to link them all here but you can find them on the side! That second album will no doubt be amazing. The moment that James Ford mentioned it when I was interviewing him my heart jumped... I am obsessed with hearing that record! Even the demos! Come on guys?!?!

Anyway, the Howie B interview will be up soon... it's a hoot. You guys will love it. Check back soon...

Brithop you don't stop!

Phew... yesterday was fucking AWESOME. Seriously.. check it out.

First off I have a message in my inbox from Dot Allison "Hey, do you still want me to do a liner for your show?"... awesome right?

Then I think to myself, maybe I should ask a couple other people if they will do liners...

Later in the afternoon I check my inbox again... and I have a message from the Klaxons management saying he'll try to get them to get a liner done for the show while they are on tour... KLAXONS! THE MOTHER FUCKING KLAXONS?!?!? Can you believe that? They are like the Nirvana of the type of music I've loved since I was a little kid! Fucking bonkers...

THEN... as if that wasn't enough... I go over to Sam's house last night to practice (i.e. bullshit and play around with computers) and he gives me a FM3 Buddah Box! How fucking rad is that?

Yesterday was fucking great... so with renewed inspiration I bring you today's post! I've been wanting to do a Brithop/ Grime/ Dubstep post for a minute (I mean I already posted some Dubstep tracks a minute ago but... anyway) and I thought I'd treat you guys to that today...

First off is Akala with "Shakespeare" which is just a total fucking banger... when my girlfriend heard it she thought it was something I had written, and it is totally the type of song I'd like to.. the beat is rough and electro-y and surges with energy. The rap is pretty damn good too HOWEVER the 2nd half of the chorus sounds WAYYYYY too much like Eminem. But this is still a tight song...

Akala- "Shakespeare" YSI

Akala- "Shakespeare" zShare

Then I thought we'd go back to the most popular name in British Hiphop... Dizzee Rascal... I can't wait for his new album... I'm sure it will be fire. Unlike some people I really dug the last album quite a bit. Here's one off RUN THE ROAD Vol 1

Dizzee Rascal- "Give U More" YSI

Dizzee Rascal- "Give U More" zShare

You know what's almost as cool as rapping? Bouncing around like you've been smoking batteries and fighting! Here's Dizzee vs Crazy Titch... I like that part where Dizzee is like screaming "DON'T HOLD ME BACK DON'T HOLD ME BACK"...


AND since I'm giving you a Dizzee/D Double E track, I should probably give you an awesome Wiley track to make the experience complete!

Wiley- "Stormy Weather" YSI

Wiley- "Stormy Weather" zShare

Then, getting back to the dubstep stuff, I thought I'd post this Justin Timberlake RUF remix... I don't care about how you feel about Justin Timberlake (Sam) I love "My Love" and this remix is pretty nifty... I've posted the shit out of all the big names in Dubstep so I figure I'd try something different!

Justin Timberlake- "My Love (RUF Dubstep Remix)" YSI

Justin Timberlake- "My Love (RUF Dubstep Remix)" zShare

While we're getting random with Dubstep check out this little documentary from Bristol... the greatests musical city in England next to Manchester and London... my biggest idols are from Bristol (maybe the next post should be a Bristol post?)...


Now I don't know how well acquainted you guys are with Sway but I TOTALLY ignored his album. It was one of those albums that got SO much hype that I couldn't even pay attention to it.... when that happens you can't even hear the music. You hear chatter and reviews not music! Now that we are far past the Mercury Prize and all that I'll post a track... which I might add is brilliant.

Sway- "Products" YSI

Sway- "Products" zShare

On a breakstep tip.. how about this Stanton Warriors track with Sway on it? I used to really love Stanton Warriors... this track is poppier than I remember their stuff being.. and the video is goofy but worth a watch. I gotta say though, Sway's hoodie is fucking ugly... I remember the first time I saw that hoodie thinking "who would wear that?" and now I know... (although if the Klaxons wore it I would probably think it was sweet lol)...



So that's what's up for now! As usual, I hope you guys dug this post... let me know what you thought in the comments! I'll be back by Thursday at the latest with a new one so brace yourselves!

I thought I'd mention, before I leave here, that I was talking to Larry Tee earlier and he said he liked my new version of "Lift"... which isn't my primary concern because that's a solo song and I'm more concerned about what Sam and I are doing together... but it is good news. Because hopefully a breakthrough is just around the corner... we're getting there... wish us luck...

Where do we go from here?

Sorry I haven't been posting loads over the last couple weeks. I mean I've been posting but not everyday like I was. Why? Well... I'm kind of confused as to were music is going. HEAR ME LOUD AND CLEAR: I am very well acquainted with what magazines want me to think is music is going. I think they would say it's roughly the sound of the summer still (The Kooks, Lily Allen), the old guard (Muse, Razorlight, Babyshambles, Dirty Pretty Things), the young bucks (The Fratellis, Larrikin Love), the egotistical 'working man's band' (Kasabian), and the rotating NME invented genre of the last 6 months (Thamesbeat.. just kidding! New Rave!) and the bands within that label that pretty much make up the whole things (errr... Klaxons?).

Don't get me wrong. I like every single one of those bands. Am I'm kind of poking fun because I use the 'New Rave' tag every five minutes. But it's also like... I feel like we are reaching the end of the line right now. Like something mega is going to break thru or... or... or... things will keep going the way they were at the end of the 'britpop' explosion... just, I dunno, staring around looking at the guy next to you wondering where to go or writing a bloated mess (see 'Be Here Now). I kind of balked at Lily Allen's assertion that DPT and The Kooks were writing the same old bullshit we've been hearing for years, but after thinking about it, it's close to the truth. It's not THOSE two bands but rather the bands that are surrounding them that are creating this problem. I liked "Two Left Feet" by The Holloways, but "Great Britian"? Not so much (maybe I'm totally off base.. if you really feel this is the case then alert me and I will investigate further.. until then I stick with this)... I don't think those guys are going to save British rock. I really liked Boy Kill Boy's "Last Of The Greats". But the whole of "Civilian"? Errrr no... they aren't going to do it either. And it's bands like that who are making up the bulk of the scene right now. And those bands want to be the aforementioned bands, and those bands cannot handle the burden of carrying rock music (as a whole) on their own.

In order for things to work going forward we have more innovation. Maybe that is 'New Rave'... and maybe my concern is unwarranted. But in my heart of hearts I think new rave is really just a novelty tag that revolves around the Klaxons, a handful of Van She remixes, and bands/duos/producers that are actually just dance music (Digitalism, Justice, Soulwax). I feel like what we really need right now are a couple of 'mature' albums (see Supergrass-'In It For The Money'), a couple of progressive albums (see Radiohead's-'OK Computer'), and a couple crazy classic albums (The Verve- 'Urban Hymns' and Massive Attack- 'Mezzanine'). SOMEONE PLEASE WRITE THE CURRENT EQUIVALENT OF 'THIS IS HARDCORE'!!! We need that.

Frankly? I've been listening to grime and dubstep recently. Those are two similar genres that are constantly breaking the mold. Unlike the coke-and-champagne-induced-insane-sugar-rush-spazzoid-sound of 2 Step Garage (circa summer 2002), where every song sounded the same, grime and dubstep songs are dramatically different from record to record. I mean fucking all over the god damn place. But in a good way!

I've been a big Dizzee Rascal fan since 'I Luv U'. I (unlike a lot of critics) also really liked Showtime despite the fact that it didn't sound like it was made in someone's bedroom. He's obviously the STAR of the whole game. He is like the Jay-Z of grime. Untouchable. I mean I liked So Solid Crew a lot but look where they are and look at where he is. He's the fucking master.

Dizzee Rascal- "Round We Go"

Also been digging some Kano recently. He is one of the artists who was kind of the in the periphery when I was listening to this stuff a lot and I never really got the time to get into him. I've been playing the shit out of a couple singles of his that I've got. I need to get the whole album!

Kano- "Mic Fight"


OBVIOUSLY I fucking love Es-Oh-Vee and will keep blogging about her until I pass out... so I will post something from her too.
Lady Sovereign- "The Broom"

Lady Sovereign- "Cha Ching (XXXChange Remix)

Then there is the crown jewel of the dubstep legacy thus far... of course I am speaking of 'album of the year' contenders Various. The World Is Gone is perhaps the most new school shit I've heard all year...

Various- "Hater"

And then as the icing on the cake is the So Solid Crew remix of Playgroup's electro-disco club pleaser 'Number 1' chopped and stripped like a dead hooker in a woodchipper. I know, I know. That was harsh. But that is how hardcore this song is. It even makes my words GANGSTAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Playgroup- "Number One (So Solid Crew Remix)"

I would have put videos up but I'm tired and YouTube was down... enjoy though!

p.s. Why are you sitting at home when you should be out purchasing the new Clipse album! THAT SHIT CAME OUT TODAY! PUSH IT TO NUMBER ONE! There is no fucking duo out there spittin more fire than them!