dinsdag 30 oktober 2007

Franz & Shape

About three years ago, Italo body music duo (so they say themselves) Franz & Shape amazed me, and a couple of million others I hope, by releasing a track that went by the name of "Countach". I was listening to it the other day and it still sounds absolutely massive. No wonder Franz & Shape were hailed by no less than Tiga and 2 Many DJs.

Earlier this year, their first album "Acceleration" was released on Headman's label Relish and I was simply stunned from the first till the very fucking last second. It's still my favourite album of 2007 and producers are running out of months to bring me round.



My favourite Italians Francesco Spazzoli and Chris Shape haven't been slacking and their remix of Tronik Youth's "We Are..." was released on Back Yard Recordings just now. Later this month, Turbo is unleashing their brand new track "Deflection", which sounds wonderful if you ask me. And the good news keeps piling up because in December, another single called "Eyes Like Knives" will be released on Relish.

I'm liking these guys more and more with each release and if me rambling on about them won't convince you of how great these guys really are, perhaps the tracks on their MySpace will.

For all you Treehuggers

(cover of Simple Sounds EP 1)


I couldn’t sleep, which was kinda logical, since it was 4 o’clock in the afternoon. I decided to write something.

British Will Saul is not that known with the public, but very respected in the bizz (I assume, I respect him an awful lot and I am not even in the bizz). He delivers tracks ideal to accompany an hour of watching out of the window, of peering into the fall-ish landscape, of looking at the birds and the trees. He also is the man behind Simple records; home to melodic minimal and house. On November 5th the first Simple records cd, Simple Sounds, will be in shops and to celebrate, Simple is releasing three EP’s, from which the first is out now. Simple Sounds EP 1 contains an exclusive new Will Saul track, called 3000 AD, and a Wahoo (= Dixon) remix of Mbira, probably the best known Saul track. Brilliant EP!

Besides, Will Saul came down to play at Fuse last Friday (on Mugwump’s Flesh concept), I am sorry, but you missed that.



Henrik Schwarz - Live


De Duitser Henrik Schwarz, bekend van het alom geprezen – al was het maar door mezelf – Where you at samen met Âme en Dixon, heeft furore gemaakt het afgelopen jaar. Hij heeft een oerdegelijk vervolg gebreid aan de Dj-Kicks compilaties, en heeft ook niet stilgezeten als het aankomt op remixen, producen en het beste van zichzelf geven in zijn passievolle sets. Het levende bewijs hiervan is zijn meesterwerk op !K7 records dat recentelijk het levenslicht zag onder de naam Live. Prepare for a harmonious journey into sound…

De cd is een smeltkroes van verschillende live opnames van over de hele wereld. Schwarz’ bedoeling in een notendop: “In some way I have the feeling that if you record something live in Tokyo, you can capture some of that energy on a disc. So I tried to bring some of the energy of Tokyo, but also the energy of Berlin, Chicago, Manchester, Darmstadt, Madrid, Istanbul, Porto - and London, of course. I don’t know how it works but somehow it is all melted together.”

And how he nailed it! Henrik verwoordt zijn diepgewortelde liefde voor jazz en soul met funky deephouse. Vandaar ook zijn ode aan legendarische figuren als Sun Ra, James Brown en Boy George. Maar ook jonger talent komt aan bod, denk maar aan Mari Boine met haar oorstrelende Voui Voui Me en het daverende Earth Beats van Kuniyuki, weliswaar beide bewerkt door zijn ‘Midas Touch’. Om dan nog maar te zwijgen over Schwarz’ eigen producties, gaande van de Afrofunk van Kalimba Dance over de acidbeats van Jimis tot het jazzy Leave My Head Alone Brain en het pianistische Imagination Limitation.

Reden genoeg dus om deze man te bejubelen en reikhalzend uit te kijken naar zijn debuterende artiestenalbum in 2008!






donderdag 25 oktober 2007

Rose Rouge

(St. Germain, according to Google)


I am thrilled to bits: St. Germain – Rose Rouge (remember the vocal: “I want you to get together”?) is going to be re-released. The original appeared in 2000 on St. Germain’s album “Tourist”, the new release comes with a Luciano (!), Rhadoo and Tak su remix, and a whole lot of desire to get together. Rumour has it will be released on Arpiar, the label of Raresh and his Romanian posse. Also check Arpiar001 and Arpiar002, for the minimal side of minimal music.

dinsdag 23 oktober 2007

Simian Commercialised Disco

Apparentely, Simian Mobile Disco released a new video for their track Hustler because "if Digitalism can get on the telly with Pogo, so can we with Hustler. Anything to attract the crowd's attention, ey? Anyway, this new video looks awful. The original was a nice video and I'm not sure what the heck was so wrong with it but obviously SMD knows best.

This transformation reminds me of the vids they made for Satisfaction by Benny Benassi. The original video was very, VERY basic, then they made a new one involving a lot of scarcily dressed young ladies and a whole lotta... tools.

Anyway, you be the judge yourself...

New one


Original

zaterdag 20 oktober 2007

Supersaviors

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Beeld je even in: Je gaat voor de tigste keer op reis naar je favoriete vakantiebestemming en bevindt je op de autosnelweg die je altijd pakt als je er heen gaat. Maar na enkele kilometers besef je dat je eigenlijk niet naar die bestemming wil want je hebt daar alles wel zo'n beetje gezien. Aangezien je toch op reis wil gaan, beslis je om de eerste de beste afslag te nemen en gewoon te zien waar je uitkomt. Ofwel wordt dit een unieke ervaring die je voorbije reizen overtreft, ofwel kom je terecht in een achterlijk gat waar je verkracht wordt door zigeuners die op doorreis zijn. Michael Mayer en Axel ‘Superpitcher’ Schaufler besloten om een stap in het onbekende te zetten en het resultaat is verbazingwekkend.

De intro "Hey" zet de toon met zijn sinistere vocals. "The Art of Letting Go", waarin handgeklap en Schaufler's vocals de hoofdrollen spelen , borduurt verder op de intro terwijl "Saturdays" meer weg heeft van Mayers typische sound. Als Indianen muziek hadden voor bij hun kampvuur terwijl ze aan hun vredespijp lurkten, zou "Lonesome King" dé perfecte track voor hun zijn.

De rest van het album is meer gericht op de dancefloor, wat niet wil zeggen dat het allemaal minimalistische dancefloorbangers zijn. "Please Sunrise"bijvoorbeeld, is een discotrack die niet zou mis staan in het repertoire van Lindstrom & Prins Thomas. "Planet of the Sick" doet denken aan de typische Detroit-sound, maar dan met vocals die thuishoren in ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’. Teleurstellende track dus. Gelukkig maakt "Two of Us", de dancefloor killer waar iedereen op te wachten zat, deze misser goed. Dit is het eerste typische Kompakt nummer dat ik tegenkwam toen ik "Save The World" beluisterde en het is al het voorlaatste. Een hoop fans zullen nu wellicht ontgoocheld zijn want Superpitcher en Mayer hadden zo een hoop tracks kunnen maken, no doubt. Waarom kozen ze dan voor de andere, moeilijkere weg?

Wel, ze hebben duidelijk beslist om hun creativiteit niet te laten beperken tot één genre, nota bene het genre waarmee ze bekend werden, en zonder hun sound te verloochenen zijn ze voorzichtig, maar meestal succesvol, andere wegen ingeslagen. Na een eerste luisterbeurt zal je dit album waarschijnlijk niet wereldschokkend vinden maar na een goeie week, misschien zelfs een maand, zal je (hopelijk), net zoals ik overigens, inzien dat dit album misschien wel één van de beste van 2007 is.

Keeping kids up to date since 1992.

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Tonight, the free nightlife magazine "Out Soon" celebrates its fifteenth anniversary in the famous Brussels-based nightclub Fuse. And they're celebrating in style with a Border Community label night with no other than the great James Holden and Fairmont, who will be performing a live set. Fuse residents Deg and Pierre will be accompanying them. In the other room, Tomaz, Steve Cop, Eric B and Joost De Lijser are taking some classic acid, house, techo and trance records off the shelf in an attempt to bring back old memories of departed greatness. For this special night, Fuse is also opening its third room where the Out Soon editors have a chance to spin their favourite records. If this party is as good as the monthly Out Soon edition, this night will be memorable.

woensdag 17 oktober 2007

Late-night Justice

Ed Banger figureheads Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard (don't give me that what'd-he-say-look, I'm talking about Justice!) are currently on a mini-tour through NorthAmerica and last tuesday, they made a live appearence on Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show. They (well, not exactly, you'll catch my drift soon enough) played D.A.N.C.E. Prepare for a weird ride:



maandag 15 oktober 2007

Koze/Cosy

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German Stefan Kozalla or Dj Koze started out with making hip hop in the early nineties, and was then struck by lightning (I have no other explanation). He got into minimal and developed a unique sound, as striking as lightning. Slow BPM, cosy and humorous post-minimal. It locks itself inside your head; the Germans like to call this an “Ohrworm”. Here’s a few which can be found on the good man's MySpace:

Dj Koze vs Sid le Rock – Naked (Dj Koze rmx)
Matthew Dear – Elementary lover (Dj Koze rmx)
Lawrence – Rabbit tube (Dj Koze rmx)

Private tutoring from Luciano.

This month,Luciano is releasing his new material, Études Électroniques, on his very own Cadenza Records and believe it or not it's been a while: the last Luciano release on Cadenza dates from May 2006 (!). Cadenza is home to rather lengthy, groovy tunes with some Latin rhythm mixed in, produced by the likes of Loco Dice, Pikaya, Alejandro Vivanco and Argenis Brito. "Études Électroniques" promises more of the same and we don't mind one bit!

Tracklist
Montana
Fochedrem
Masalla
Nunca Tiene Bastante

zaterdag 13 oktober 2007

Je t'âme

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Every weekend, we give a tip, or several , regarding parties which we think are going to rock. Most of the times, we won't even be lying, since at least one of us will usually be on the dancefloor of the party we recommend.

Berlijn boven in Leuven vanavond: Âme en Dixon spelen ten dans op Sunnyside Up in club Silo. De twee heren van Âme en hun maatje Dixon zijn sinds jaar en dag boegbeelden van de minimal house scene. Ze zijn naast veelgevraagde dj’s ook steengoede producers en tevens de grand pubahs van het kwaliteitslabel Innervisions.

Enkele minimalplaten die we jullie niet willen onthouden:

Marcus Worgull – Spellbound
Roland Appel - Dark Soldier
Trickski - Red Tape
Siobhan Donaghy – Don’t give it up (Carl Craig instrumental rmx)
Tracey Thorn - It’s all true (Martin Buttrich rmx)

maandag 8 oktober 2007

Jesus's resurrection

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The very first mixtape on this blog comes from Liss. , my fellow blogger who's a part-time college kid and a part-time party animal but a full-time lazy ass since I put his mix up. Tunes don't always have to sound raw, they can also be funky and deep housy, something he's defenitely taken to heart when he made this mix for the Brussels based radio show Beatz & Bleepz (though through telekinesis he already kinda knew that his set was gonna be up here someday...).

Anyway, here's the playlist:


01.Snax - Honeymoon's over (Jamie Lidell rmx)
02.Escort - All through the night
03.In Flagranti - In genital blue room
04.Faze Action - In the trees (Carl Craig rmx)
05.Arto Mwambe - Ombala mbembo
06.CSS - Let's make love (Hot Chip rmx)
07.Discemi - Data Sapiens (Radio Slave rmx)


you can download it here

donderdag 4 oktober 2007

Some much needed soulwaxin'

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Belgische überproducers David & Stephen Dewaele brengen binnenkort een dubbelalbum uit met hun beste remixes op. De titel is (best even diep inademen):

"Most of the Remixes We've Made Over the Years Except for One by Einsturzende Neubaten Because We Lost it and a Few We Didn't Think Sounded Good Enough or Just Didn't Fit In But Including Some That are Hard to Find Because Either People Forgot About Them Or Just Simply Because They Haven't Been Released Yet. A Few We Really Love. One We Think is Just OK. Some We Did For Free. Some We Did For Money. Some Just For Ourselves Without Permission and Some For Friends as Swaps But Never On Time and Always At Our Studio In Ghent."

Vraag dat maar eens bij je betere platenboer. Anyway, de compilatie zal op 22 oktober uitgegeven worden.


Tracklist
CD1

01. The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (Soulwax Remix)
02. LCD Soundsystem - Daft Punk Is Playing at My House (Soulwax Shibuya Re-remix)
03. Human Resource - Dominator (Soulwax Remix)
04. Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (Soulwax Remix)
05. Dj Shadow - Six Days (Soulwax Remix)
06. Justice - Phantom Pt.2 (Soulwax Remix)
07. Kylie - Can't Get You Out of My Head (Soulwax Kyluss Mix)
08. Gorillaz - Dare (Soulwax Remix)
09. Robbie Williams - Love Light (Soulwax Remix)
10. Arthur Agent - Hold Your Head Up (Soulwax Remix)
11. Lords Of Acid - Sit on Acid (Soulwax Remix)
12. Daft Punk - Robot Rock (Soulwax Remix)
13. Sugarbabes - Round & Round (Soulwax Remix)
14. Muse - Muscle Museum (Soulwax Remix)

Op de tweede cd zijn de tracks aan elkaar gemixt (yay!)

1. Stella Maris - Einstuerzende Neubauten - Hidden Track
2. LCD Soundsystem - Daft Punk Is Playing At My House (Soulwax Shibuya Re-remix)
3. Gossip - Standing In The Way Of Control (Soulwax Remix)
4. Arthur Agent - Hold Your Head Up (Soulwhacked Mix)
5. Daft Punk - Robot Rock (Soulwax Remix)
6. Human Resource vs 808 State - Dominator (Soulwax Remix)
7. Robbie Williams - Lovelight (Soulwax Ravelight Dub)
8. Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out Of My Head (Soulwax KYLUSS Remix)
9. West Philips - (I'm Just A Sucker) For A Pretty Face (Soulwax Remix)
10. Justice - Phantom Pt.II (Soulwax Remix)
11. Sugababes - Round Round (Soulwax Remix)
12. Tiga - Move My Body (Only4Erol mix)
13. Playgroup - Make It Happen (Soulwax Remix)
14. Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (Soulwax Remix)
15. Felix Da Housecat - Rocket Ride (Soulwax Remix)
16. Ladytron - Seventeen (Soulwax Remix)
17. Gorillaz - DARE (Soulwax Remix)
18. Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor (Soulwax Remix)
19. Lords Of Acid - I Sit On Acid (Soulwax Remix)
20. DJ Shadow - Six Days (Soulwax Remix)

woensdag 3 oktober 2007

A start without an end?

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This blog will contain our thoughts on albums, artists, parties, festivals and striking details which only appear to be striking to ourselves. We're by no means professional and will merely use this blog to get some things out of our system and to give some, entirely unprofessional of course, "recommendations". Occasionaly, you'll also find sets on this blog, whenever one of our comrades decides to chuck a mixtape on our desk.

We're Belgian, so posts will be in Dutch as well as English, et quand nous sommes en bonne humeur, même en français!