Posts published during March, 2010

03/31/2010

tegan and sara – alligator (toro y moi remix)

In an essentially unprecedented move (unless, of course, someone has done this before and I just don’t know about it), everyone’s favorite sisterly singer/songwriter duo Tegan and Sara did not just release a single for “Alligator”, off their recent album Sainthood, they turned it into a full on digital album, complete with 17 remixes. So not only is it a full album, it’s a lengthy one at that. While I’m not sure how much I would want to listen to the same song 17 times in a row (even though I’m fairly confident that every version would have to be pretty different than the one before it for this to work), I am sure that there are some real gems in the pack, especially with some of the names in the tracklist, so many of whom I adore.

This remix by Toro Y Moi, which, yes, I did just hear on Stereogum, but who’s counting, is sure to be among my favorites at the very least. And why is that? Because its got that smooth sound that I love so much. But it makes me sad listening to this for a few reasons. 1. Tegan and Sara were just in town and I didn’t go to see them. I wanted to go but I didn’t, and that is sad. 2. Toro Y Moi recently got all of their gear stolen, and that is sad. But the remix also makes me happy, because it’s awesome. Synthy and electronic and minimalist and jazzy in all the right places.

Tegan and Sara – Alligator (Toro y Moi remix)

buy the track on Tegan and Sara - Alligator - Alligator (Toro Y Moi Remix) or amazon

2 comments

penguin prison – worse it gets (RAC remix)

So many great remixes making their mark as of late. And one of my favorites is this reworking of Penguin Prison’s “The Worse it Gets” by RAC, aka Remix Artist Collective, which is led up by Portland resident Andre Allen Anjos who does most of the remixes himself. He always does a great job of picking out subtle pieces of the songs he’s remixing and highlighting them. It is often the case that subtlety is much more challenging than in your face beats (though we like those too). Since we are friends on the google talk (gtalk? gchat? I think I like calling it gchat the best, don’t ask me why), I asked him if he could take a few moments to talk about what his inspiration was for this remix and why he chose this song.

Something that I love about Penguin Prison is that it’s shameless pop. As it should be. Pop music can carry a negative image with lots of people and I’m glad there is somebody doing it ridiculously well. With this remix I just tried to bring out those elements with a little more focus on the groove. I’ve been wanting to do a track win an “Around the World” bassline and this is my take on it.

I kind of have to agree that sometimes we just need some shamless, shameless pop. So what’s next for Andre? Well, he shared with us that he’s in the middle of working on the second album of remixes. It’s a bit too soon for him to reveal anything about the album or what songs may be getting the RAC treatment, but he did say that there are lots of big name artists involved. If you can’t wait that long, he also informed us that he’s working on another Edward Sharpe remix and in the even nearer future, he will be releasing a Temper Trap remix, so keep an eye out for that. Sounds like there’s lots of good stuff to be heard from Mr. Anjos in the near future.

One thing we especially like besides good music are artists who just seem to be nice, down to earth people, and we feel that Andre is one of those people, so show some love to him and the RAC if you got it.

Penguin Prison – Worse it Gets (RAC remix)

2 comments

03/30/2010

the golden filter – hide me (clock opera remix)

After releasing a few random tracks over the past few years, it’s safe to say that the music kids are looking forward to the release of the official debut album of The Golden Filter, “Voluspa”, released officially on April 26. Like so many other releases (aka every single one these days), the album has leaked, and the classy folks they are, the Golden Filter has offered up an instant download for anyone who pre-orders the album which even includes two bonus tracks. Because they are the good people of The Golden Filter.

And as if that wasn’t enough, check out this stellar remix by Clock Opera. But don’t think this UK fearsome foursome is a one-trick pony. They’ve got some pretty cool work of their own as well, which I hope to bring to you shortly. In the meantime, listen to how they’ve made the already beautiful “Hide Me” even more beautifuler. Just let it happen, k?

The Golden Filter – Hide Me (Clock Opera remix)

0 comments

method man, ghostface killah & raekwon – our dreams

This jam is pretty much a slam dunk right off the bat. I mean, it’s pretty hard not to be when you have a wicked awesome sample like this from the late, great King of Pop. The sample is from “We’re Almost There”, a song that I have never heard before this, but it was clear right away who sang it. I think that motown Michael Jackson was one of my favorites, right after disco Michael Jackson. I’m not even planning to pretend that I know about the Wu-Tang Clan, but I do know that this track is the first single from the upcoming Wu-Massacre album, which is the “kind of side project from a few Wu-Tang members, but let’s not call it that, because we’re all in Wu-Tang already, so we don’t need to be in a different group” album, released today. I’m confused by this whole thing. It features Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon and is produced by RZA along with a whole cast of characters. I really should have recruited my resident hip-hop writer for this one since I’m sure he knows whats up, but don’t I at least get something for trying? I never claimed to be a music historian, only a purveyor of songs that are good. But what I do know is the heat level of this song, which is bordering on hot to quite hot.

Method Man, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon – Our Dreams

buy it on Method Man, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon - Our Dreams - Single - Our Dreams or amazon

0 comments

03/29/2010

gayngs – the gaudy side of town

While so many of us have been awaiting a follow up to Bon Iver’s classic debut “For Emma Forever Ago”, we’ve definitely learned that Justin Vernon is a lot more versatile than we once may have thought. After his unforgettable folk-ish debut, we saw his more experimental side when he teamed up as a part of the Volcano Choir album “Unmap” (which I just so happen to rather enjoy) in the latter half of last year. And now, he’s teamed up again, this time as part of Gayngs, the collective featuring Vernon, Ryan Olsen, and members of Solid Gold, among so many others.

And from the one track we’ve heard thus far, this album is going to take us back to the 80s. But not in an Erasure dance-y sort of way. No, we’re talking sleazy, smoky 80s music that seems perfect for a late night rendezvous at an dark alley location made for sweet lovin’. And as the various promo videos suggest, we might not be too far off in that assessment. Either way, I’m sort of liking this first track, “The Gaudy Side of Town”, and am looking forward to seeing if the rest of the album follows suit. The album is released May 11, but you can preorder beginning on April 20 (perhaps better known as 4/20) and can download the album starting on that date if you preorder. What kind of project do you think Justin Vernon will get involved with next?

Gayngs – The Gaudy Side of Town

0 comments

steed lord – bed of needles

If you were to find the nearest dictionary and look up “hot jams”, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a picture of this song. Well, maybe you would find some sort of interactive audio player of this song, because I guess a picture wouldn’t do it much justice. Maybe you would have to look it up in a digital dictionary. Which, if you are reading this post, could very well be the nearest dictionary. Point is, I am so so loving this tune right now.

The track is “Bed of Needles” from the upcoming Steed Lord EP “Heart II Heart”. Steed Lord is originally from Reykjavik, Iceland but currently resides in Silverlake in CALI. Not to be confused with KALI, the woman whose incredible voice you are hearing after pressing play below. Along with MEGA and DEMO, the threesome of Steed Lord has been born. The single is available now exclusively on Beatport but will be available everywhere starting on April 13.

This is also my first time using the ole SoundCloud player, so let me know if you love it or hate it.

Steed Lord – Bed Of Needles (Original Mix) by Steed Lord

2 comments

03/28/2010

le loup – grow

This one is super fresh folky goodness. I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s by Le Loup, a many-piece out of Washington DC. Which you may know as “the city that the Real World is on right now”. I’m glad I saw this tune recently because I’ve actually seen Le Loup perform live maybe a year and a half ago opening up for Stereolab, and I wanted to check them out but completely forgot about them. I remember them having some really cool sounds and being really over the top, but you can tell that those kids love what they’re doing, and that’s what it’s all about.

“Grow” is folky and has some definite eastern influences and it’s like a weird and great mashup of so many of the bands that I love. It’s a little bit Fleet Foxes, a little bit Animal Collective, a little big Grizzly Bear, a little bit Yeasayer, and all with some nice eastern influence. It’s so nice when you see an opening act that you may have never heard of, and then you like them, and then you forget about them, and then you remember about them again, and you still like their stuff.

Le Loup – Grow

buy it on Le Loup - Family - Grow or amazon

1 comments

03/27/2010

yuksek – so down

Another disco jam, this time from France’s Yuksek. Although the word means “high” in Turkish, Pierre-Alexandre Busson (unmistakably French) claims he just liked the way the word sounded, or rather how it didn’t sound like everything else in the electronic world. But what is in a name anyway? This fellow has put out some pretty great music of his own alongside some nice remixes for some pretty high profile artists, which you can conveniently find on his website.

This track, “So Down”, has been around for a while, but it’s still tres super. It features Chromeo, so it automatically has some pretty solid street cred, but one the song really begins after the harsh and abrupt intro, the funky disco keys hold up all on their own, enough to get even the piano movers to stop what they’re doing and dance to the beat. And it’s a pretty confident song lyrically, too, perhaps bordering on arrogant. “I’ve seen you walk in front of me/That body’s makin’ it hard to breathe/Better run and tell the guy you’re seein’/When he’s gone I’m doin’ it better.” But, really, isn’t that “confidence” sort of what electronic music is all about?

Yuksek – So Down

1 comments
« Older Entries