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The second release to sport DFA's new Death From Abroad spin-off label. Altz, who hails from Osaka, Japan, has previously released singles and a full length on Bear Funk. He provides a fresh sound on the lead-off "Max Motion(1)" incorporating crisp breakbeats...
expand review to the disco-funk sound. The real show comes in the multitude of breakdowns he incorporates into the track. It has an awesome stop-go effect, perfect for getting the crowd into. It's like a Scruff track got but through a DFA blender. For the follow-up, Altz heads into the cosmic territory with "Yello(2)." Moving further into space, the Idjut Boys deliver the Hoe Down mix(3) of "Yello" on the flip (yes, it incorporates a country-rock sound, the next frontier?), plus the requisite Idjut dub version. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 12
Not to be confused with Betty Botox, the latest addition to DFA's Death From Abroad label is the Parisian duo of Bot'Ox, aka Julien Briffaz and Cosmo Vitelli. These guys both do great things on their own (like Briffaz' [T]EKEL project and...
expand review Vitelli's I'm A Cliche label) so expectations were high for this release; fortunately, the single is really, really good. An extended dark disco jam with ill live instrumentation and plenty of FX work, "Babylon By Car(1)" manages to keep the "DFA sound" and still sound 100% original, like LCD's moody European cousin. Flip it over for some slo-mo Italo with breathy, dubbed-out vocals on "Tragedy Symphony(2)." Plays at 45. -Larri Byrd
quick audio picks: 123
Gucci Soundsystem (aka Riton & Ben from Fat Truckers) step out of the remix shadows for an original 12" on the suddenly resurrected DFA label. "Acarpenter(1)" is a retro-sounding piece of techno-funk that takes a minute to warm up, but once those...
expand review 80s synth stabs drop in, it's a wrap. The B-side features an extended Joakim remix(2), but the real heat is the inside cut of the A-side, the rumbling "Lord A Mercy(3)." A-side plays at 33; B-side at 45. -Larri Byrd
quick audio picks: 12
DFA is on a tear lately! Whatever this new phase they're in is going to classified as by Vice and a few hipster blogs, I'm totally down with it. New artists Holy Ghost! come with a techy dancerock gem with one dirty,...
expand review dirty bassline. I'm instantly reminded of David Carretta from International Deejay Gigolo's - dirty beats and sassy lyrics. While I'm not too keen on the vocal version(1), thank god there's an instrumental for your ears. Flipping gives us the extra funky remix from Blackjoy(2). Guitar picking, slap bass, and violin jabs funk the hell out of the original, and will more than likely be heard in a Lloydski set in the very near future. I've got 10$ on some serious babies being made on the dancefloor when this one drops. -minimal man
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This limited deluxe edition includes a bonus DVD featuring the following live performances: "Shake A Fist (Live at Melt Festival)," "Boy From School (Live at Melt Festival)," "Hold On (Live at Electric Ballroom)," "One Pure Thought (Live From Glastonbury)" and "Over And...
expand review Over (Live From Glastonbury)." An unexpectedly beautiful third album from Hot Chip! I guess they weren't content dominating the dancefloor with stuff like "Shake A Fist(1)" and "Ready For The Floor(2)," 'cause now they're making flawless pop-dance hybrids like "One Pure Thought(3)" (was that a "Macarena" reference?) and "We're Looking For A Lot of Love(4)." (They even get downright emo on the title track.) Of course they still keep it semi-weird with songs like the robotic "Bendable Poseable" and "Touch Too Much(5)," which layers harmonies, percussion and synths until you're completely under the spell. The end of the album sort of tails off a bit for me, but there are about a million remixes begging to be made from this album. For now, I'll say this one's suitable for new and old Hot Chip fans alike. 13 tracks; 54 minutes. -Larri Byrd
quick audio picks: 12
After a brief hiatus, the DFA label returns with an obtuse yet strangely poppy punk-funk number courtesy of Japanese nutters JOY. Consisting of K.U.D.O.- they sure like those initial-based names over there- and Kan Tagaki from Major Force, with Yoshimi of the...
expand review Boredoms and OOIOO on vocal duties, JOY come on like a wacky take on The Slits. "Sunplus(1)" is quite possibly the most oddball dancefloor single on DFA, and it's all the better for it. The DFA remix on the flip(2) tightens up the loose grooves of the original, although I'm not entirely convinced that it's needed. -Roy Dank
quick audio picks: 12
Debut solo release from former Six Finger Satellite frontman Juan Maclean. Production by the DFA, whose James Murphy also produced Six Finger's last record. The first cut, "By The Time I Get To Venus(1)," is a mid tempo electro stomp with a...
expand review heavy NYC accent. The track gets remixed by 41 Small Stars, aka Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys, coming with a grittier break version(2). B-side features "TG-3X," a lengthy techno-ish track divided into 2 ambient sections and 2 beat sections. -the mgmnt
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"Happy House(1)" is a new direction for the Juan Maclean, who seems to be veering away from the darkness of his last couple singles and into the bright light of big house anthems. The nearly 13-minute long(!) track was co-written by and...
expand review features the vocal excellence of LCD Soundsystem's Nancy Whang atop some bouncy bass and 90s style piano. Great stuff with an uplifting vibe without getting too corny. Flip features remixes by two NYC killers: a fantastic dub by longtime Lab amigo Prince Language(2) and an Italo-influenced cosmic burner from Rong's Lee Douglas(3). Three solid mixes; definitely recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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The Juan Maclean has long been the unsung hero of the DFA camp. After penning the techno-cum-punk funk gem "Give Me Every Little Thing" (and in the process blowing away The Rapture's "Killing" on the flip), Maclean still doesn't get nearly the...
expand review attention that label mates LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture, and for that matter, the DFA production duo, continue to garner. No worries for the former crackhead, though. (Remember that piece in Vice he did where he detailed his shooting up crack days? Yeesh!) Both "I Robot(1)" and "Less Than Human(2)" see The Juan Maclean dive headfirst into 90s "intelligent techno" territory, recalling the heydays of Aphex Twin's beloved earlyâ€" and resolutely dance-yâ€" work. I have a feeling Maclean will get his due. -Roy Dank
quick audio picks: 12
Anything that DFA puts out right now becomes a must have, and judging by the first releases, these singles won't be around for long. The second DFA release for Juan Maclean, former frontman of Six Finger Satellite. "You Can't Have It Both...
expand review Ways(1)" is a deep electro cum new wave track featuring the vocals of Nancy Whang. B-side is my pick, an ambience filled track that kinda creeps all up on you. "My Time is Running Out(2)" again features Nancy, but with a heavy vocoder vest on and an even heavier new wave edge. I am so afraid of living in oblivion. -the mgmnt
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45:33 was originally commissioned by Nike for iTunes as a "work out" mix, but this shit is so good that the DFA decided to put it out on CD and LP. The "mix" isn't a mix in the traditional DJ sense of...
expand review the word, but rather an epic disco-movement played live by James Murphy and Co. It starts off with a lonely synth line that slowly builds in tempo then eventually grows into a full on groover that erupts into various rhythms and styles eventually climaxing, then breaking down into an ambient drone. You'll recognize some tunes of the Sound Of Silver album for sure (like "Someone Great" and others) but the way it is all presented is fresh and unique. You should see the list of instruments that James Murphy plays on this thing too - everything from vintage drums, guitar, all kinds of synths, vocoder and the glockenspiel. Very, very impressive. The CD version also includes 3 unmixed bonus tracks - "Freak Out/Starry Eyes(1)," "North American Scum - Onanistic Dub(2)," and Hippie Priest Bum-Out(3)" all of which are exclusive to this release. Recommended. -snackmaster
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#1 of 2 cool concept singles for LCD's latest, "All My Friends." The original was a steadily bulding, 7+ minute jam with non-stop hi-hats and Roxy Music-style piano; the twist here is that this is actually a single for Franz Ferdinand's cover...
expand review version. A slightly shorter edit(1) of LCD's original still appears on the B-side (better for playing out anyway), but the Franz boys' take(2) is the real draw. Their version feels warmer and certainly rocks harder than LCD's chilly electro style, even if their lead singer's vocals are just as affected and preening as James Murphy's. Pressed on thick vinyl with great sound quality. NOTE: B-side label says 33RPM, but both sides play at 45. -Chris Lemon-Red
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This EP collects up all the non-album tracks from LCD's Sound Of Silver singles for the benefit of us North American scum. (These were also included on the CD version of 45:33, but not the vinyl.) Up first is the side-long "Freakout...
expand review / Starry Eyes(1)," a 12+ minute disco jam sesh that's sure to become a favorite piece in the J.Murph discography. There's also the deep, dubby Onanistic mix of "North American Scum(2)" and another jammy jam, "Hippie Priest Bum-Out(3)." Beware the misprint: A-side plays at 45, B-side at 33. -Larri Byrd
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"I'm Losing My Edge. To the kids from France and London. But I was there, I was there in 1968, I was there at the first Can show in Cologne." "Losing My Edge(1)" is self-deprecation over banging lo-fi electro from DFA founding...
expand review member James Murphy. This has got to be one of the most entertaining and enlightening tracks I've heard in a while. Anyone who's been in the game for an extended period will definitely appreciate it, as Murphy's dead pan lyrics capture the moment that cool kid geezers start to wonder what the game is all about, and start noticing the younger breed of cool kids breathing down their necks. It's a strange and painful phenomenon, a mid life crisis of sorts. A masterful work of sarcasm and self analysis, it ironically has become an underground club hit of sorts. I've even heard it's become a Williamsburg party favorite. How avant po-mo. Newbies stick to the b-side "Beat Connection(2)," but will of course quickly migrate to the flip. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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Mofug. We managed to get copies of this very limited DFA 12" that came out in 2005. It's a single sided release: one side features an etching of the DFA bolt logo, while the other side features the super-awesome Rub N Tug...
expand review remix(1) of "Too Much Love." If vintage drum machines and androids made pornos, this is what it would sound like. Get one before Bogman takes the whole lot for his gypsy crew. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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"Tribulations" is easily the most accessible cut from the LCD album making it a prime choice for the single plus remix treatment. The man of the moment, Lindstrom, rolls out his most user-friendly remix(1) to date when he takes on James Murphy's...
expand review emotive vocals and pulsing bass line that drive the track into anthem territory. Lindstrom saves the vocals until almost halfway through, building and building to the release until we have a rave-tastic, albeit disco-fied, moment. Surprisingly, Tiga doesn't add his vocals to his remix of "Tribulations(2)," instead delivering a relatively bland attempt at old school trance (that's of the dark, acid-fueled variety). -the mgmnt
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