quick audio picks: 123
"They hear the bass and they say 'whoa'..." Been loving this track(1) from Mr. Macklovitch ever since it popped up on his mix for Nike over the summer. It was designed as a perfect high-energy running/workout jam, but those hyper synths and...
expand review punchy beats speak just as loudly to the dancefloor. Kitsune stacks the B-side with two big remixes from Sinden(2) (MONSTROUS bass!) and Boys Noize(3), whose skronky version doesn't make me think so much of jogging on the treadmill as running from the cops on PCP. I like the Kitsune icon for A-Trak, very Max Headroom. Recommended. -Van Hammersly
quick audio picks: 12
Kitsune's baaaack. It hasn't been long has it? They seem to consistently be pumping out releases. This here is the second one from London's indie electro outfit, Autokratz. "1000 Things(1)" is the harder of the two tracks - more of
the fist...
expand review pumping variety. The video game generation is going to be amped on this one, with lost of blips and bleeps. You get a nice little vocal hook and your set. Almost sounds like a Klaxons remix. "Last Show(2)" is a bit more calm, but still built for the dance floor. It sounds like what those new Depeche Mode tracks I imagine would sound like in a better world, if Timbo moved to Germany for a year and lost a bunch of weight and muscle mass through measured anorexia. A nice guitar line at the end adds an extra dimension to the band that you might not find with a lot of the newer electro groups. -Rezound
quick audio picks: 12
Woah -- Bloc Party on Kitsune? Kinda wacky, but who's gonna argue when the output is this good? Alex Ridha (aka Boys Noize) deconstructs the barnstorming "Banquet" (the best track off of Bloc Party's Silent Alarm LP) and turns it...
expand review into a stomping, disco-tinged anthem with dirty synths washing over top. The flipside features a hot dub with handy chunks of vocals left intact. FULL REVIEW COMING SOON. -Chris Lemon-Red
quick audio picks: 12
Boys Noize's "Feel Good(1)" starts off like some weird performance art thing (leaning toward "annoying"), but if you can get your crowd into it, there's a great electro payoff about a minute in. Think of it as a DJ challenge. Edit(2) with...
expand review shorter intro by Shinichi Osawa (Africanism). -Van Hammersly
quick audio picks: 12
They just released a 12" of this song featuring some hot remixers (Vicarious Bliss, Streetlife and Autokratz) but truthfully I don't know what's more appealing than the original. You can digitally chop something to death but it's kinda like stretching out the...
expand review ingredients in a recipe, don't ya think? The original has the youthful energy of the band, and although it may not be as dancefloor friendly, it still bangs. Here you have the original track(1) and the bonus track "Both Sides (Version 1)(2)" on the flip. Both songs are prime examples of the guitar based rock energy this band holds. Hype basslines, crispy drums and raw guitar riffs make the backbone, with a vocalist that'll turn the underground's ears as well as pop-minded peeps.
-C'mish
quick audio picks: 1234
Don't know if you keep up with the guitar bands overseas, but these London dudes are causing a stir with their tight, sharp licks, addictive melodies, and dance energy. This is their second appearance on Kitsune since their "Poor Innocent Boys" track...
expand review on Maison 2, and it seems they've only gotten more potent. Check their heavy chords and riffs on "To Cut A Long Story Short(1)." They've got monster sounds! To follow that up you've got Vicarious Bliss doing two remixes(2, 3), that slow it down and add a dense instrumental touch. Pure fire for the French-Electro minded. Streetlife, who did a sick remix for CSS' "Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above" earlier this year, also turns in a vox chop ballistic missle of a remix(4) that deserves an stadium sized audience. Autokratz turns in a choppy 80s flavored remix(5) that's a little more jammin’ than his tasty 12" earlier this year. All in all, a powerful original track with some insane remixers on wax can't be a bad look. Break out the strobe lights and cigarettes, it's party hardy time! -C'mish
quick audio picks: 1234
From the Avalanches, to AC/DC and especially to Kylie Minogue, Australian exports always manage to capture my man Roger Yamaha's heart. So when we got in this "Future(1) " single by Melbourne's Cut Copy, it wasn't hard to guess who would be...
expand review first in line to cop one. I can't blame him though. The quartet's slightly electro, synth-pop sound is incredibly catchy. They manage to subtly incorporate 80's production techniques while maintaining a sound that stays futuristic, thus avoiding the throwback label that many groups find themselves trying to escape these days. They further separate themselves from the pack by coming with lyrics that are interesting and a vocalist who can actually sing (as opposed to shriek), making an instrumental version unnecessary. To insure they get their point across they enlist three different groups/producers from three different countries for remix duties. The "Zongamin Remix(2) " is the most appealing, finding its sound in the simplicity of late 70's dance-rock. If you're a fan of Chromeo's Cameo-laced funk you'll appreciate their remix(3) ; and the fellas from !!! (Chk Chk Chk) offer another viable option on their almost entirely instrumental version (4). With four mixes that go in four separate directions, this is a pretty easy one to cop. -JMS
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Big remix action for Digitalism. Jens & Isi let other producers take control of the boards on 3 tracks off their Idealism full length for some party rocking results. Turbo representers Proxy go for the abrasive, grinding electro sound on their version...
expand review of "Home Zone(1)," Fred Falke turns "Apollo-Gize(2)" into a certified disco banger, Breakbot gets kinda Daft Punk with it on his rework of "Apollo-Gize(3)," and Siriusmo gives us an arpeggiator happy version of "Echoes(4)." This should hold you over till the Digitalism boys release some new material. -suicide bangs
quick audio picks: 123
Lucky bastards. You get another shot at this Digitalism heater from last year. "Idealistic(1)" is textbook electro: big drum intro, new wave vocals, and Digitalism's patented synth weave. This duo is some of the best when it comes to putting synth...
expand review sounds together; also check out those drums, they mix in a natural kit for extra feel. There's two additional remixes(1,2), both sick, as expected. Digitalism does no wrong. -the mgmnt
quick audio picks: 1234
It's not like Digitalism's big single needed to be fixed up, but damn if A-Trak didn't turn the already hot "Idealistic" into an absolute BEAST. His remix(1) whips the original into a club-smashing nu-rave (sorry) heater that's sure to blow out some...
expand review speakers. Didn't this guy used to win DMC championships? You'd never know listening to the clean electro workout he gives here. Digitalism also provides a handy extended version(2) for mixing, plus remixes from WhoMadeWho(3) (dirty, distorted and LOUD) and Hystereo(4). Plus it's on Kitsune, so you know it's gonna look good on the shelf. -Larri Byrd
quick audio picks: 12
More Digitalism! We've had "Idealistic(1)" before as a 12", but who can resist the perfect packaging on this little 7"? Open it up and feast your eyes on the sweet lime green colored vinyl. It's like candaay. Sure, the A-Trak remix on...
expand review the 12" was look, but WhoMadeWho's(2) is the slept on heat and it bangs just as hard. Plus, it's Kitsune. They never do you dirt. -C'mish
First volume of Kitsune's Tabloid mix - a new series in which they have a featured DJ compile and mix tracks by artists that have inspired them. The Digitalism dudes kick off the series with an impressive selection of tracks mostly by...
expand review their modern contemporaries. Check the tracklist (which reads kind of like "hot list" of the moment) with songs from the likes of Hercules & Love Affair, Muscles, Zongamin, Holy Ghost!, Midnight Juggernauts, Hot Chip, In Flagranti, The Kills, and The Presets with some notable classics thrown in for good measure (Jonzun Crew, B-52s, Human League, etc.) If you're into indie-dance, electro, and modern dance stuff, you can't go wrong with this mix. About an hour and 15 minutes. -snackmaster
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