quick audio picks: 123
Throwback single from Air! After a couple albums filled with ill-thought out pop experimentation ("Surfing On A Rocket"??), "Cherry Blossom Girl(1)" was a breath of fresh… no, wait, let me start over. "Cherry Blossom Girl" is classic Air, a lush and beautiful...
expand review track that came out of nowhere during a really stale period in their career, and which could easily be mistaken as an outtake from Moon Safari or their Virgin Suicides soundtrack. But of course, you're buying this for the seldom heard Simian Mobile Disco remix(2). You're in luck, 'cause that happens to be a burner, too, proving that SMD have been doing this Daft Punk-y electro house thing since way back in… 2004. Everything about this mix is cool: the glitchy sound kits, the electrified (and hella sped up) riff from the original track, and especially the big breakdown / build-up in the middle. Also included is "Fanny(3)," a gentle, stripped-down demo version of "Cherry Blossom Girl" that's totally worth listening to on its own. A-side plays at 45; B-side plays at 33. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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This record comes together on all fronts. Firstly, the 80s collage cover art by Nina Tobien is an appropriately twisted way to start off the experience. Bonus points if you can name the source of the mouth (it's not Bullworth, I think...
expand review it's from a metal cover). Alter Ego backs up the visuals with the awesome "Gary(1)." It's equal parts Blade Runner, cult Italian soundtrack and lost dark disco record. If you like Padded Cell, then you'll most likely swerve to this. To top off this already impressive package, they enlisted none other than remix master Carl Craig to deliver the b-side remix(2). Predictably, he destroys it. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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After months of searching for the lost master files - finally found 'em deep in the belly of a Czech pressing plant - the unmixed wax companion to A-Trak's Dirty South Dance mix is here. On the A-side, Unk goes up against...
expand review The Gossip for "Walk It Out Trizz(1)," then the Clipse and Slim Thug pop bottles in Paris with Alex Gopher on "Wampercycle(2)." Not sure of the source beat for "Frenchies Act A Fool(3)," but Lil Jon and Three 6 have never sounded so Euro. Also not sure if M.I.A.'s "XR2" will end up on her album, but it's on here ("MIA-roder(4)"), blended with - you guessed it - some sweet Italo beats. Fool's Gold continues their trend of dope packaging with nice custom-printed all-over print sleeves and a sticker with artwork by Shepherd Fairey. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
quick audio picks: 12
It's Kitsune, but hey! Where are all the heads? I guess they made it special for this Autokratz 12" and judging by the sound, it's fitting. The main track "Reaktor(1)" reminds me of a electrorock carpet ride, laced with italo...
expand review synths boosters, and epic midnight landscapes. It could easily fit in your hype set although the soundscape is still mellow. It's cool though, you feel like soaring rather than bashing your head. "It's On" on the flip is really the banger on this, with more of a rock feel with noise and vocal chops. When the sustaining high synth hits, wait for it to blow! Recommended. -Cmish
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It's Sydney vs. Melbourne in an Aussie rules showdown to the death! Here we have four remixes of Bag Raiders' popular "Fun Punch" from last year, starting with a new mix from the Raiders themselves(1). These Sydney boys sure know how to...
expand review make a full-on gutpunch party track, I must say. The Whitenoise(2) remix meanwhile sports some impressive guitar work and reminds me more than a little of a certain judicious French duo who've been popular lately. Flip it over and the Melbourne side takes the pitch to heavy jeering from the Sydney biased crowd. But wait! Knightlife is breaking out the secret weapon, hypnotizing the crowd into complacency with his shimmering mix of "Nil By Mouth(3)!" As the disco handclaps and synth stabs fade out, it's ZZZ alone in the center of the arena with his absolutely bizarre take on "Fun Punch(4)." The people wander home confused but nonetheless satisfied and uninjured. Fantastic artwork once again from Hana Shimada. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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You don't really know about "Rapture" until you own this 10 minute 12" version(1). Nothing more really needs to be said. Standard 5 minute version on the flip. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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"Apples & Pears(1)" off Canyons' new EP is one of the best tracks of 2008. Whew... I've been holding that in for a month, feels good to finally say it out loud. Seriously, I don't know what's in the water down in...
expand review Perth, Australia, but these Hole In The Sky dudes are only two releases deep and already seem to have mastered the art of these grooving smokey late nite jams. (See also: Fred Cherry's "Busride To The Zoo.") I'm not even sure how much of "Apples" is original production, how much is edited, etc., but it doesn't really matter - once this song gets its hooks in you, you won't care either; crisp drums and claps, heavenly keys, sweet looped Portuguese(?) vocals and waves of static washing over everything. I could see this track getting played in so many different situations; it's also getting play from The Rub's own Cosmo Baker and Rong artist Scotty Coats, and those are some dudes with good taste. And oh yeah, the rest of the EP is great too - "Big City Lights(2)" is some really well-crafted and spooky downtempo, while "Yesterday The Dog(3)" and "More Champagne?(4)" keep it on a more upbeat electro/disco tip. All tracks clock in around the 4 1/2 - 5 minute mark. Goes without saying this is... Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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One of the most in-demand re-edits around, Carl Craig splices up the Talking Head's "Once In A Lifetime" exposing it as the spacey loop affair it actually is (while adding no new elements or effects). That song has got some mystical powers....
expand review I was always amazed when Spinna would drop this track in the middle of a hip-hop set (circa late nineties). The crowd would be like "wha," but he always knew it was dope. Flip features a re-edit of the intense electro cut "There's A Woman" by Gino Soccio. -the mgmnt
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Oh shit, this is a killer re-edit of a classic that's been sampled for a famous hit single, so please, watch out for falling name drops! From the very first notes of this, everyone will go, "Yay! It's Stardust!" It sounds...
expand review like it's gonna be "Music Sounds Better With You," the hit single by Thomas Bangalter (half of Daft Punk) and Alan Braxe. It'll grab peoples' attention for sure, only to have them flip out that's it's another house edit of the original song sampled for Stardust, Chaka Khan's "Fate." The re-edit is by disco legend Man Friday, and he keeps Chaka's soul intact in all its glory. Just played this on Friday night and although it followed up some electro track, the familiarity of it kills everytime. For once, please play the vocal(1) version of this. The dub(2) is cool also, adding an acid-like bassline for the pumpin' midnight groove hour, but I can't help listening to the soulful version. It's like liquid gold. Recommended. -C'mish
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Yes! Chromatics first 12" single from Italians Do It Better. We got our first taste of the label just over a month ago with their tasty After Dark CD, which featured Chromatics' spacey Italo tracks "Hands in The Dark," "Killing Spree -...
expand review Suite 304 Demo," and this single, "In The City(1)"(also featured on DJ Dixon's Body Language 4). I loved it, it flew off the shelves, and I caught some collectors here in the lab picking up two copies. Here, they continue to hook you up with exclusive joints by giving you the extended version, a small ambient track(not mentioned), the dangerously sweet "Zombie Vocal Acapella", plus two tracks I've never heard. "In The Headlites(2)" continues their fascination with ultra-sparse minimal italo, with Ruth Radelet once again laying down the alluring ghostly vocals. Pretty awesome, but "I'm On Fire(3)" is the surprise track on this. It reminds me of a short rock inspired lullaby that takes it back to the soft pop sounds of the 80's - effortless and awesome! Also great for a romantic rendezvous, so now you can nookie to something else besides Mazzy Star. Recommended. -C'mish
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NYC's Cousin Cole & Pocketknife (aka Flagrant Fowl) are back at it, this time landing on the Philly-based Flamin' Hotz label with an EP of folk and indie rock remixes. Pocketknife leads off with "The Book of Right On(1)," throwing some tuff...
expand review electronic drums underneath the saccharine high-pitched vox of indie harpstress Joanna Newsom. Next up is the mellow, finger-picking "Each Coming Night(2)" by Iron & Wine, followed by Cousin Cole's lush edit of Neil Young's "My My, Hey Hey(3)." Cole also adds a downtempo remix of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm On Fire(4)," before Pocketknife rounds it out with edits of Beirut's indie hit "Scenic World(5)" and my personal fave, John Lennon's "Oh Yoko(6)." All this, plus DOPE artwork from Nathan Fox and Strange Attractors on both sides of a full-color pic disk. Recommended. -Larri Byrd
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Debut release from Curses! on Paris' mighty Institubes label. Don't be quick to group this in with all the other french-electro that's been coming out these days, 'cause this one is truly exceptional. Curses! is the mysterious alter ego of Brooklyn bass...
expand review monster Drop The Lime (who has been keeping ridiculously busy these days touring and remixing for everyone from Blaqstarr to Juiceboxxx and Dre Skull and even... himself!) and though this is his first release as Curses!, dude is obviously no noob to the game. He's been producing and rocking parties (including the infamous Trouble & Bass parties in BK) for years. I was lucky enough to witness his live show last year, and that shit was mind-blowing! But enough back story... as Curses!, DTL draws inspiration from the dance floor sounds of the past (think 90's house) and translates them for the dance floors of today by infusing it with his signature NYC bass style. "This Is The Way(1)" is a perfect example, with a screamin' diva vocal chopped and stuttered to perfection, hip-house sample drops ("Pump up the!") and jackin' bass and synths all over pumping drums. Straight slammin'. And if you REALLY want to blast the dance floor into smithereens, drop the DTL Remix(2) which takes all the elements of the original and punches them up to 11. Flipside features the strange mutant of a track "Hungry For Love(3)," which is unlike anything else out there right now. Part breaks, part dancefloor, part ambient, part prog rock, all masterful. Give it a listen and you'll see what I mean. Recommended. -snackmaster
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Electro 101 right here, kids. This record, "Al-Naafayish," and a coal mining helmet with a strobe light on top and you're legitimate techno wizard boy #747. If I was a 50-something recovering hippie-cum-preraver or this was a Pitchfork review (same difference), I...
expand review would probably call this "a slice of electro-fried protoplasmic funk" or some stupid shit. As it is, all I'm gonna say is you need to buy this and turn your stereo up as loud as it goes and put your ear up to the speaker until you get sound induced apoplexy. Probably right around the time that wet, dirty gravel someone had the nerve to call a fucking bassline begins its 3rd crawl around your scalp. Once the first layer of your eardrums has been cut into angel hair flesh sheets and the drum track has morphed into a frozen squalid toothbrush foam brain barrier, it might be time to utilize that medic alert keychain Auntie Zelda let you borrow for the weekend. Completely ridiculous that this is getting burn just now as a Missy sample. Shit has been a fucking staple for 20 years, and best believe that it's going to sound as mind numbing in 200 years. When "Lose Control" is just that track that sampled "Clear(1)" in the dancyclopedia fagtanica, new generations of kids will still be getting turned on to Cybotron. Completely indispensable record. -Bob Bannister
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This is one of those records that rarely ever makes it back onto the shelf at home. That extended edit of the break, a fundamental funk riff of the highest echelon, makes this a constant companion in the gig bag. ...
expand review Mix with house, mix out of house, go from funk to disco or back again, this record is your friend. The Disco Dub Band's version of "For the Love Of Money(2)," sporting a bodacious bass riff of its own, makes this a no-brainer essentiality. -monk
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LAB US EXCLUSIVO. Import-only pic sleeve 12" featuring two of the biggest tunes from Dabaaz's new full-length. A-Trak gets behind the boards for "Regarde-Les(1)," scratching up a Clipse sample and crafting yet another ridiculously infectious beat. Flipside features the Drixxxe-produced "Tu Veux...
expand review La Guerre?(2)" - the term "Eurocrunk" kinda makes me wanna shoot my face, but this is pulled off so nicely, it doesn't feel like a joke. Totally dark, Dirty South style production. DJ Paul & Juice would be proud. Includes instrumentals for both tracks. Limited stock. Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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