TURNTABLE LAB

DJ Mehdi
I Am Somebody (Chromeo, Kenny Dope Remix) 12"

This one is for everyone who's been in line at a club or a party and had some dude push past them like "Yo I'm on the list - yeah, I know the DJ"Montreal's Chromeo hooks up with Parisian phenom DJ Mehdi on the Ed Banger label for this track about trying to get on the other side of that velvet rope. In keeping with the theme of the record, I gotta say that we've been bumping this shit in the office for months, ever since Ed Banger sent us the advance copy. Mehdi lays down a sick (and I mean SICK!) electro groove and Dave from Chromeo gives an outstanding account of a night of weary club-hopping with uber-cool vocals on the Paris version(1). The Montreal version(2) surpasses it, though, with a simple and effective use of vocoder in key spots. Kenny Dope's remix(3) takes it from the club to the loft with a slightly tamer version for more low-key affairs. Also includes dub version of the Kenny Dope mix.
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red

file under:
masters at work / ed banger + institubes + related

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DJ Mehdi
Red, Black & Blue: Some Remixes by DJ Mehdi CD

mix CD consisting solely of Mehdi remixes

New full length from your boy Mehdi! Well, not really... but this mix CD of remixes will have to hold you over till the next album drops (which is scheduled for sometime in 2010). For Red, Black & Blue, Ed Banger's resident hip-hop turned electro producer gives shine to some his excellent remix work by mixing the creme de la creme together in one continuous mix. Fans will recognize most of the tracks on here, but there are a few unreleased joints that get to see the light of day. Artists remixed include Holy Ghost, Chromeo, New Young Pony Club, Architecture in Helsinki, Cassius, David Rubato, Etienne De Crecy, CSS, and label head Busy P with Murs. In all it's a great listen, and truly a testament to his skills as a producer and DJ. Best thing about this fancy book-style CD package are the revealing liner notes by Mehdi chronicling his DJ/producer origins and the stories behind each and every remix. Recommended.
reviewed by snackmaster

file under:
reviewer recommended / reviewer reccomended / dance - lab recommended

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DSL
Invaders (Busy P Remix) 12"

The newest Ed Banger signing (not to be confused with downtempo producer DJ DSL), at first listen, sounds like a French (or more French version) of Chromeo. "Invaders(1)" immediately separates itself from past Ed Banger releases with French raps and singing and that Chromeo electro-pop sound (all the way down to the vocoder action). For those who can't handle the foreign tongue, there's also a mostly instrumental TV track version. And you know these Ed Banger dudes fight like prep school kids (in big packs, never one on one), so here come the remixes. Busy P's version(2) sounds like a Missile Command arcade machine gone Short Circuit. I'm digging the lowered bpms. Djedjotronic, who might be the next big French producer, delivers two(3,4) skillful chop jobs. If you like the DJ Mehdi stuff rather than the bleeding eardrum stuff, this Ed Banger might be for you.
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
ed banger + institubes + related

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DSL
Stupid Bitches (Pic Disc) 12"

cut-n-paste electro

The 3 brothers known as DSL come back sounding better than ever on this limited pic disc from Ed Banger. As you can see by the sweet ass tatt artwork by So-Me the track is called "Stupid Bitches(1)." For being a new French dance release the production on this is pretty impeccable combining the discoriffic cut and paste styles of Justice with a pop feel perfect for the club. Ok, maybe Euro club, but still a strong, clean production. Also features a smooth remix by DatA(2) and booty shaking electro refix by Rynecologist(3)! Flip contains electro rap single "J'M'En Bats Les Couilles(4)" with instrumental included. I guess you wouldn't know this unless you understood French, but I think "Stupid Bitches" is actually a love song of sorts. Kinda like Busta Rhymes' "I Love My Bitch" is really a positive song, na'meen?
reviewed by C'mish

file under:
ed banger + institubes + related / new electro / electro rock / rave - new arrivals

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Feadz
Happy Meal EP

Don't be fooled by So-Me's Pen & Pixel / McD's inspired cartoon thug styles on the cover (nice details tho) - despite an almost 5 year wait between solo EPs, this is the same ol Feadz, effortlessly churning out more Ed Bangers in between touring, remixing and making tracks for his girl Uffie. Fans of the classics will wanna head straight to the B-side's "Numanoid(1)," Feadz' deeper, rougher new mix (or cover, more accurately) of the Westside acid joint "Stakker Humanoid." Keep it playing for the joyous 8-bit juke of "Hawaian Smut(2)" (which Snack says reminds him of playing Sonic The Hedgehog on Genesis) and a sick little locked inner groove. A-side features a creepy intro, the gun toting "Suck It(3)" and "Edwrecker 2.0(4)," a new version of his track from the Ed Rec 2 comp. Plays at 45. Recommended.
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red

file under:
ed banger + institubes + related / reviewer recommended / reviewer reccomended / dance - lab recommended

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Justice
Waters of Nazareth Remixes 12"

New cheaper domestic pressing. Round two! Parisian duo Justice are the men of the hour in the electro/dance community, having already remixed everyone from Britney to Daft Punk to Franz Ferdinand. They also recently signed to Vice Records, and have provided us with this tasty EP to hold us over until they unleash their debut full-length later this year. "Waters of Nazareth(1)" was a huge success when it dropped on the EP of the same name last year; now, Justice head back to the track that spread their name far and wide, offering a remix/collaboration with fellow Ed Banger and Uffie producer, Feadz(2). The sleeve states that their remixes "contains elements from the forthcoming album," and if that's the case then I've got a new most-anticipated-album – even more obtuse and sputtering than the original, this remix may not blow up the dancefloor, but it's a hell of a listen. Speaking of blowing up the dancefloor, though, the B-side on this bad boy is designed to do just that, as electro-rock remixer extraordinaire Erol Alkan contributes a DJ-friendly re-edit(3) and DJ Funk(!) turns in the barely-recognizable "Bounce Dat Ass Remix(4)" of "Let There Be Light."
reviewed by Chris Lemon-Red

file under:
new electro + electro rock + rave / dance + house + new disco + electro + nujazz / ed banger + institubes + related / vinyl new arrivals / and more

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Krazy Baldhead
Sweet Night Pic Disc (with FREE MP3 Download) 12"

electro-soul + rap, electronica

These Ed Banger pic discs are sick. As for the music, Krazy Baldhead is as unpredictable as they come. "Sweet Night(1)" featuring the Outlines (of "Just A Lil' Lovin" fame) is a electro-soul vocal track that you wouldn't expect on EB, but it works. "Katana Powa(2)" is an electro-rap featuring Japanese emcees. I could never really get into asian rap, except for that track by De La. My pick of the set opens up the b-side. "Saturnication(3)" is an uptempo electronica instrumental with the creeper effect; sounds the melodic tracks of Juan Maclean. "Choppin(4)" is in the same vein but a bit more aggressive.
reviewed by the mgmnt

file under:
ed banger + institubes + related / vinyl with free mp3

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