Remixes + Stuffs

Thought it was a coincidence the first two tracks on my new comp CD both happened to have girlfriend/boyfriend in the song titles.  Hmmm, wonder if it means anything? How about the intro to a new post!

The first track here is a Twelves Remix of The Black Kids 'I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance'.  Great dance remix from this Florida band which has been getting tons of Press and Blog Love.  We were lucky enough to see them perform here in Miami @ Circa before they got too huge not too long ago. Free too! Not too shabby.. 

MP3: I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance (Twelves Remix) - The Black Kids (YSI)

  

The second track is by my one of my favorite Norwegian guilty pleasures Annie.  Haven't really heard too much of her new stuff, but this Remix by Get Shakes for 'I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me' is pretty solid and a sure-fire dancefloor hit.   

MP3: I Know your Girlfriend Hates Me (Get Shakes Remix) - Annie  (YSI)

This next band The Ting Tings I noticed was listed on Hype Machine as one of the most searched/blogged bands the other day.  Pretty impressive, usually the bigger names/more well known artists get those honors.  Anyway's don't know that much about them yet, but this track I have from them 'Shut Up and Let Go' is pretty sweet. Reminds me of bands like New Young Pony Club.

MP3: Shut Up and Let Go - The Ting Tings  (YSI)

     

Finally I leave you with Woolfy.  Not the best name out there, but good music beats out a crappy name anyday! Just think how many crappy band names there are out there. Woolfy is a British transplant who resides in California. Recently he's been putting out music on Rong Music, which is Lee Douglas' label (who we recently brought down for WMC.)  This new track of his 'Oh Missy' is catchy as hell! Still trying to get that 'Oh Missy, Oh Missy, don't break my heart' chorus out of my head.  This might take awhile..  This track also has that great mid-tempo groove I love. 

Enjoy!

MP3: Oh Missy - Woolfy  (YSI)

P.S.  Not digging the new Death Cab for Cutie album 'Narrow Stairs'. What happened? Doesn't sound like a cohesive album to me.  There's a good song here or there, but as a whole just kinda sounds like a bunch of different styles thrown together with no rhyme or reason. Pretty disappointed.  I loved Transatlanticism and some of their earlier albums.  Can Ben just take like 6 months off at some point and put out a new Postal Service record. Thank you! Out!

 

Quiet in the Village

Quiet Village have just released their amazing debut album 'Silent Movie' (out now on Itunes and May 13th as hard copies) and just like the name implies it's like a soundtrack to an amazing movie that hasn't happened yet. Like other bands like The Avalanches who they remind me of, they mix and match a lot of different elements and samples to form an amazing piece of art. Mostly instrumental you can put this album on and let yourself be transported away to another place and time, from India to a secluded island beach. It's exactly the type of music that lets your mind float away and enjoy the beauty that music can bring. Sure to be a Classic! Highly recommended!!

Here's a couple of my favorites so far....

MP3: Free Rider (YSI)
MP3: Broken Promises (YSI)

Hercules, Hercules, Hercules

A little late to getting to Hercules and Love Affair (at least by Off the Radar standards). My partner Jonathan has been spinning these guys as well as tons of new disco stuff for months. Keeps telling me that's 'the new thing'. We shall see.

One thing's for sure Hercules and Love Affair self titled debut is pretty impressive. They have a disco sound that reminds you of the classic stuff (horns and all), but with a modern twist all their own. In particular the single 'Blind' is out of hand! The vocals by Antony Hegarty is powerful stuff. It's destined to be one of the biggest dancefloor hits of 2008. It's already climbing up the charts in the U.K.

They're from NYC and signed to DFA, but apparently it's not gonna be available in the U.S. till June. Pitchfork who are big fans gave their album a 9.1! By pitchfork standards thats almost unheard of. Seems their pretty pissed over the lack of availability of this in the U.S. Here's what they had to say about it.


'We've made no secret of our love for Hercules and Love Affair - shucks, we even think it's some of the Best New Music going around. But we've also made no secret of our chagrin over its lack of availability in H&LA's home country: the United States.

But, like a real live Hercules smiting the mighty foe of import fees, the folks at Mute Records have seen fit to license the LP from DFA for release in the U.S. It will be in stores June 24. What's more, they're releasing the fantastic Antony Hegarty-laced "Blind" as a single May 27 for all your American neo-disco needs.'

So looks like your best bet to getting this is in the U.S. is as an import or through lovely blogs like ours for awhile. Here's the amazing Blind plus the almost as impressive Athene and This is My Love to hold you off. Also one of my favorite remixers Riton did a pretty good remix of 'You Belong' which you can get on Hype Machine.

Enjoy!

MP3: Blind (YSI)
MP3: Athene (YSI)
MP3: This is My Love (YSI)


Here's the amazing video for Blind...

Non-Arcade Fire B-Side

When I heard the opening strains of A Needle In Your Eye, I was wondering where this Arcade Fire b-side came from. But the artist was listed as The War On Drugs instead. Further listening to their catalog and musical similarities to other artists appeared as well. Particularly lead singer's voice reminiscent of Dylan at times and other times a young Boss. Those of you in Philly, they are playing a show tonight in their hometown at the North Star Bar.

Their last EP is available as a free digital download from their label Secretly Canadian. It is composed of 6 demos (3 are short instrumental tracks). The group recently played in SXSW show and is in the process of releasing their full length debut, Wagonwheel Blues, sometime this summer.
And once you are are for the EP, you might want to spend some time on the Secretly Canadian site, they have a bunch of MP3's available from other artists they represent as well (Jens Lekman, Antony and the Johnsons, ...).

Check out a couple of TWOD's newer tracks on their MySpace profile.

MP3: Arms Like Boulders (YSI) - Arcade Fire resemblance
MP3: Pushing Corn (YSI) - Non-Arcade Fire resemblance

ZIP: Barrel of Boulders EP

Blak Swan

Our homeboy Danny Ashe of Marqui Adora / Lunabelle fame, as well as being a long time popular Miami Indie DJ (Off the Radar/Chocolate Sundays) has started a new electro-pop side-project through his alter ego Jules Vega called Blak Swan.

He's released two tracks so far 'A Perfect Day' and 'This Isn't It'. Heard he's gonna be adding female vocals to 'This Isn't It' to make it a male/female duet. Should make that track even better, it's already my favorite. If you enjoy these go to his myspace page at myspace.com/blakswanmusic and add yourself on as a friend to keep abreast on his new releases.

Here's also a great dance jam Marqui Adora had in 2005 called 'Empty'. Used to play it out all the time, still holds up pretty well I think.

MP3: Blak Swan - This Isn't It (YSI)

MP3: Blak Swan - A Perfect Day (YSI)

MP3: Marqui Adora - Empty (YSI)

PNAU = WOW

One of my favorites at the moment are PNAU. These guys are a duo from guess where? Sydney, Australia of course... Why does most of my favorite stuff keep coming from down under and Sweden. They're on a roll I guess...

Anyways these guys are pretty amazing! Electronic Pop Music with a heart, like one of my other favorites from Australia Midnight Juggernauts. They mix classic electronic pop elements with a modern twist all their own.

Some songs are a bit disco-ey like this Baby Remix by Breakbot with full on childrens choir! While others are more anthemic dancefloor stompers like Come Together & Embrace, but they're are all uniquely them and all really good! Don't you love when bands can do different things. Makes album experiences better when every song doesn't sound the same. Some slower, some faster, keep us on our toes.

These 3 songs I'm posting today are about as good as it gets, all Highly Recommended!

You can just tell when bands are gifted and creative and this is one of them. I think you guys will be thanking us for this recommend.

MP3: Come Together (YSI)

MP3: Baby (Breakbot Remix) (YSI)

MP3: Embrace feat. Ladyhawke (YSI)

Here's the Original/Video for Baby...

Dance, Dance, Revolution...

Dance, Dance, Revolution!!!

First saw this game in that movie Grandma's Boy (check the 1st youtube clip above) and it cracked me up, still does. Never played it, but it's so funny to watch people play it. Just saw a Youtube video of a kid playing it at home (check 2nd clip above). Awesome!! Not that I could play it right now, my back sucks! It gives out like once or twice a year for no reason and pretty much puts me out of commision for a few days. Just happened again! So painful any movement and I get a painful spike up my spine. Feel lucky if you've never had one.

Anyways since I'm home doing nothing but watching CNN (Go Obama!) and resting, thought it'd get on here to post some new dance tracks for you guys. I always notice the Dance Mixtapes usually get the most views. Spikes our hits everytime they come out. Either way our little blog here is pretty steady. Thanks for listening! It's great to know there are people who dig new music as much as we do. What's funny is that our blog is a pretty International affair. The top cities that look at our blog are Miami, London, New York, Paris, Sydney, Melbourne, Berlin and Hialeah! Ha, love that last one..

Anyways here's some new dance tracks I've been digging...

The first one is from Sydney duo WOW. Seems their pretty new. Their Myspace says they were invented on November 2007. That would make them a whole 3 months old. This track of theirs 'When Your Dead' is pretty sweet, albeit with not too many lyrics. 'When you expire, you'll be on fire' Wonder who they could be talking about? We'll be keeping an eye on them.

The next one is from Philadelphia band Hail Social. They're a pretty cool Indie Rock band, but here they get some great dancefloor remix treatment by Designer Drugs for their track 'Heaven'. I could totally picture this one being played on a dancefloor near you, the way Shout Out Louds had 'Tonight I Have to Leave It' turned from a rock track to dancefloor stomper by Kleerup. Gotta love that. Life for the rock fan and under the disco ball as well.

The Slips from the UK put out a great dance track called 'This Time is Not Your Own'. Love jamming this on the treadmill (when my backs not screwed that is!). Won't be too shabby on the dancefloor either!

Poney Poney are from Paris France! Nice place to live, no? I need to go visit one day. They've got some great music and have some famous friends like Justice who has helped produce some of their music. Here their track Junior gets remixed by Chateau Marmont and he did a great job. Really beefs up the original for dancefloor annihilation. Check out more on their Myspace page as well as a remix of The Teenagers 'Love No'

Like 90's house? Then this track 'Love' by Frenchman Thomas Bangalter (or is it Louis La Roche, check out comments) will have you feeling nostalgic and wishing there was more of this being put out today! I was never a big house fan back in the day (alternative rock kid here), but I can totally appreciate and dig something like this nowadays. A Classic!

Enjoy...

MP3: Wow - When You're Dead (YSI)
MP3: Hail Social - Heaven (Designer Drugs Mix) (YSI)
MP3: The Slips - This Time Is Not Your Own (YSI)
MP3: Poney Poney - Junior (Chateau Marmont Remix) (YSI)
MP3: Louis La Roche/Thomas Bangalter - Love (YSI)

The Holy Ghost! track "Hold On" is worth a listen. Holy Ghost! are two members of The Juan MacLean (therefore they are on DFA). Go take a side track to their MySpace profile for a listen.

Me gusta mucho cabron!

Talk About Moving Up Quick

From the website of A Classic Education:

Dear ladies and gentleman,
a few months later from our last rant here is a bit of news we are really happy about!
A Classic Education has been asked to open for the mighty ARCADE FIRE...and the show is quite soon..actually in less than 24 hours.
We will be opening tomorrow night in Ferrara..in one of the prettiest piazzas ever!
July 11th
Arcade Fire
A Classic Education
in Ferrara, Piazza Castello
www.ferrarasottolestelle.it
It all starts early around 9pm.

As usual there will be six of us on stage tomorrow.
Our official mood is: joy!

This will be our 5th show ever! After a self-organized festival, an unbelievable show with the Marr-Modest Mouse bunch, a flight to London for White Heat and a hardcore fest...well this one will be magic. what a journey!

Fifth show? And they are opening for The Arcade Fire? Time to take a listen. What do you think? Fool's gold? Or the real deal?

MP3: Victory At Night

Follow the White Rabbits

Sometimes an album slips by only to appear months later while shuffling through your iPod. I picked up the White Rabbits album a couple of months ago but I do not remember playing it. Either way, I heard one track yesterday and it stuck. They are like The Walkmen but mixed in with a little jangly pop.

One thing that definitely stands out are the drums and I am not surprised since they have two drummers. But do not think they overpower the rest of the music. Each drummer realizes there is another one there and they compliment rather than complete with each other. You can hear all types of influences in their music but particularly calypso. And it works.

Check out their MySpace profile to check out their tour line up including a spot at the Siren Music Festival at Coney Island, NY next week.

MP3: I Used To Complain Now I Don't

MP3: While We Go Dancing

More New Jangly Pop From Overseas...

Ignore our earlier post about Cajun Dance Club (okay not completely) but THIS is the new stuff coming out of London.

I have no idea how many teenage bands London has but they seem to keep pumping them out. Bombay Bicycle Club is composed of three 17 year olds and a 16 year old and have only been together for about a year.

Their lyrics show their youth. On the song Sixteen they sing:

You realize, you realize...
It's real life, it's real life...

They must be talking about getting their licenses or deciding who to take out to the school dance (what age to Londoners get their licenses anyways?). I remember thinking that I was adult at 16. But, the simple lyrics make it even easier to listen to the steady drums and jangly rhythmic guitars. The lead singers voice has a nice British twang to it and is easier to listen to than other teenage sensations from the UK (eg. Arctic Monkeys). Give them some time to grow up and we should see some nice music from them. They have already been signed and released their first EP independently, The Boy I Used To Be.

MP3: Sixteen

Workin' for the Weekend...

It's FRIIIIIDAY!! What? You thought we were going to leave you high and dry as you planned your playlist for the weekend? Come on now, we got the tracks to keep your body shakin' straight through 'till Sunday night!!

First up is a relatively new group from the Midwest, called Codebreaker (I'm talking Milwaukee here people! Schlemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated stuff). But do not let that fool you. These guys have got the electro-funk thing down pat. Check out the MySpace profile for two more tracks of theirs (downloadable!!)

MP3: Are You Ready 2 Love?

Continuing on the electro-funk path, the second group honestly does not need an introduction.

All I have to say is Chromeo-meo-meo!

MP3: Fancy Footwork (Guns N Bombs Remix)

Codebreaker is actually playing/DJ'ing a night with Chromeo in San Francisco this summer.