Wednesday, 31 March 2010
try harder next time
Sadly I wasn't in the city to go to last week's Club Pony where Neon Gold darling Starsmith played with the all-round prince of electronic music- Riton. I imagined in my head that it'd be an explosion of colours with lasers shooting out of people's eyes and rainbows leading the way to the dancefloor. Judging from the photos, I probably wasn't far away from the truth. Here we have a remix by Starsmith of this year's pop wizard, Chris Glover aka Penguin Prison, who's been looking to fill that void between indie and electronic music alongside other acts such as Monarchy and Fenech-Soler. Although it's the Starsmith version who steps it up a notch to create something that sounds like Alan Braxe flying through time in a machine powered by candy coloured tokens. Light-hearted fun useful for house parties.

DL:
Penguin Prison - The Worse It Gets (Starsmith Remix) [M]
Penguin Prison - The Worse It Gets (Starsmith Remix) [Y]

New York City's Penguin Prison is set to release his debut solo album in the UK later this year.

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Written at 18:50 by pablo.
1 comments
meeting with the devil
Who is the real Guillaume Coutu Dumont? African nomad, king of the Montréal techno scene, leader of the band Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts- that was the start to an interview I read on Resident Advisor three years ago. I remember being intrigued by the thought of one man traveling across Africa to help write his new album (at the time), for example going deep into the bush to meet a Xalam player or a drummer. I admire epic shit like that. Just the story of a producer not being content with the capabilities of his computer but rather reaching out to places like Senegal where they have an ethnic group down there called the Jola who have an amazing kora and singing tradition- that alone made me buy his album Face A L'Est. It's easy to say that Guillaume's experimental edge towards house music makes it a difficult sound to get into, but if you listen carefully, it's probably the most danceable undanceable record you'll ever come across. Yea the tracks may be on the cute side, and highly unlikely to be played at clubs, but finding time for appreciation is easy as ever.

DL:
Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts - I Was On My Way To Hell [M]
Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts - I Was On My Way To Hell [Y]

Last year's The Pussy Shepard was probably one of my most played tracks, and despite this one being released nearly two years ago, it's worth posting again now that Fabric London are giving this away. It's worth a try.

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Written at 18:11 by pablo.
0 comments
bruises on my knees
Ohh look have I taken acid and ended up in the widespread hippie movement of the mid-60s where people roamed about butt naked with flowers in their hair? Is this the sound of a seemingly innocuous yet incredibly dangerous philanthropic cult following? Where the initiation raises tales of multiple sexual encounters and even more acid misuse? Possibly. You know I thought let's start the day with something unstartling and delightful so that we can leave the cries of work for another day. Yes it's mid-week, yes it's piling up, yes today we don't have to give a fuck. This here is a collaboration of two artists who've both been involved in previous projects that I've come to love- Sebastian Blanck with the experimental rock group Black Dice and Caroline Polachek who's sultry voice you'd recognise from the alternative pop band Chairlift. They've come together to create a lovely piece of soft-folk music. Or to start a promiscuous cult? Not totally sure yet.

DL:
Sebastian Blanck - Thunder ft. Caroline Polachek [M]
Sebastian Blanck - Thunder ft. Caroline Polachek [Y]

You can expect Mr Blanck to return with a solo album on June 22nd on Rare Book Room Records.

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Written at 17:37 by pablo.
0 comments
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
while i stare at you
In life everything is forever a mystery, specially the lingering wonders when you happen to like someone; making the eye contact, feeling the world stop, but in the end it is all a craving only worth pursuing when two are willing to groove to it. Therefore in the honor of anyone ever finding themselves in this game of chase we have a track worthy of craving for, more than any guy or girl in the planet earth, except if they so happen to be genies in a bottle. Thus, a well deserved remix for our hearts come from the work of Bxentric's remix for Flight Facilities of Bang Gang Records "Crave You." This remix is a blend of the original's hopeless romanticism thoughts with a lovely Bxentric teleportation to a felicitous ambient, where tastes of sweets, and sparkles are savored along chilled and elating beats, sounds like a glass of classy champagne. Cheers!

DL:
Written at 07:02 by sindy.
0 comments
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
cruising through the ionosphere
Damn these Norwegians sure know how to create an alucinor of outer spacial fantasies. All hail Prins Thomas- King of cosmic disco and leader of the Full Pupp army! We already owe this guy a millionasauras amount of thanks for his crafty edits and Ekstravaganza parties so I'm clueless as to how we can repay the balearic producer now that his eponymous debut album is out. Last year ended with a release by Hans-Peter Lindstrøm and now, at the start of 2010, we have another one from Prins Thomas- is there no end to this debt we owe to Norwegian producers? What next? Do we find out tomorrow morning that we have to give an arm and a leg to diskJokke? Dølle Jølle? Rune Lindbæk? Todd Terje? No, no, no- all we have to do is sit back, close our eyes, enjoy the music and dream.

DL:
Prins Thomas - Uggebugg (Original Mix) [M]
Prins Thomas - Uggebugg (Original Mix) [Y]

You can get Prins Thomas' debut album and Full Pupp's fourth release through most digital music stores on April 5th. Oslo, represent!

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Written at 17:27 by pablo.
1 comments
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
lost sight
And so it goes. Twenty years on and I'm still blind to the path I want to be on. Let's ask the one person we should turn to when we need to find our way- Kriss Akabusi what d'ya think? "Uhh well ya gotta jump over those hurdles, ya gotta be a soldier, ya gotta use my acronym F.I.T ya dig? What I'm gonna do, ya gotta listen to this, I'm gonna tell you it stands for Focus, Innovation and Teamwork and we gotta live by these rules if we wanna succeed in the arena of life ya hear me? Positive mental attitude dude. Y'all know I rap too right? See ya can achieve anything if ya put your mind to it- jus' check me out. P.S. I'm not the awooga man. Peace, Kriss Akabusi." Why did I not think of this earlier? There- wise words from the legendary Akka. Problem solved.

DL:
Das Glow - Lost Sight [M]
Das Glow - Lost Sight [Y]

Of course this all has a significant reason- here we have a free giveaway from the Das Glow 'Phase IV' EP out now on Beatport. Thanks to Emile Shahidi over at the lovely Institubes blog. Happy (late) #Instituesday everyone!

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Written at 17:57 by pablo.
3 comments
Monday, 22 March 2010
(clouds)
After having the past two years in his hands under the alias of Fake Blood, Theo Keating has took the next step and gearing up for the launch of his new record label. But in Fake Blood style, Theo is keeping the name of it close to his heart. With news of this exciting label launch we are going to introduce to you the latest artists to sign the dotted-line, CLOUDS. When I say introduce it’s a bit of a lie; “There’s not much you could write about us, apart from we’re both 18 and live in Scotland” They are just as mysterious as the guy that has took them in, the duo share a facebook profile!

Coming from Perth, Scotland the two friends (Liam and Callum) have extended the boundaries of Funkism bedroom disco. Currently being played out by Thomas Von Party, Burns and Sound of Stereo has clearly not phased them as they continue to lift the bar with each of their productions. Being a very young duo their production skills are beyond their years, with this in mind they still haven’t settled on a ‘sound’ (hate that word) but prefer to keep their options open and expressing it though a variety of genres such as Dubstep/Electro and Clouds are showing us all there is no problem in a bit experimentation

Clouds have just secured a new residency at Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh. I expect anyone in Edinburgh to go check them out.

P.S. Clouds are peak time, very peak time.

Written at 19:32 by marky!.
3 comments
Sunday, 21 March 2010
waiting for sunrise
Gordian Gleiss and Leopold Faerberboeck are Spieltrieb, very talented young producers and DJ's originally coming from Hamburg, Germany, but they now both live in London. You can listen to their tracks on their soundcloud and disover fantastic tracks such as 'Horny', 'Gursky', and the emotional 'Baldessari'. They made a great techno-house minimix for us which you can listen and download on their soundcloud. Enjoy!

Mix:


Tracklist:
01. Blind Minded - Clap Time
02. Super Flu - Roloch
03. iO - Jeton
04. Stimming - After Eight
05. Daniel Steinberg - In My Home
06. H.O.S.H. - Funk King
07. Einmusik - Shells
08. Holgi Star - Defender (Kaiserdisco Remix)

Spieltrieb plays in UK and Germany, you can check their dates on Myspace.

Written at 19:53 by Yann- Edouard.
1 comments
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
le jour se lève
Who the hell let go of the reins on this one? Well we're all aware of Dan Snaith (Caribou) and his avant-garde twist on electronic music but this new remix for Copenhagen's Oh No Ono is every bit as a monster as Desmond Davis' Medusa- although I'm expecting the complete opposite when Natalia Vodianova takes to the role in the remake. I mean where do I even start in describing this track? Because over the course of the six minutes we witness a plethora of ideas and influences that represent the dark, the deep and the plain outright mother fucking end of the world! It's so monumentally frightful it's insane. Put it this way- one wave of that acid house bassline and we'd forgive you for thinking that the devil's riding on the back of a vampyroteuthis infernalis to come take your soul. Would you sell it? For a Hangover-esque story why not.

DL:
Oh No Ono - Eleanor Speaks (Caribou Remix) [M]
Oh No Ono - Eleanor Speaks (Caribou Remix) [Y]

Although on a slightly sunnier note, Caribou's next album Swim is pretty much a treat well worth waiting for. Perhaps more dancefloor orientated this time, but it's still as enjoyable. If not more.

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Written at 17:33 by pablo.
3 comments
interview with highbloo
pic: Ro

We have a little treat for our Funkers, and it's better than organic lollipops! After an enamored audience on Highbloo's remix for Crystal Fighter's "I love London" It is only natural to feed the curiosity, by interviewing him. This young Belgian artist is already supported by the likes of Brodinski, Don Rimini, Sharkslayer and more = a definite artist to look out for.

Sindy, Funkism: Hello Highbloo, let's start with the basics, what does Highbloo mean and who is the man behind the sound?

Highbloo: Highbloo doesn't mean anything, it was just a bad pun we made with my best friends actually (the only thing is Loo because my friend always call me so because of my real name "Luca")Well, I'm 20, I was a musician before being a dj/producer, even though I am more into djing now. I study Jazz in Brussels at the Royal Conservatory of Jazz, and started producing a year ago now, and trying to evolve with it.

Sindy: Let's have a fill in the blanks play

Sindy: I think...

Highbloo: I like it like it haaaaa haaaa haaa ha ha

Sindy: Therefore I am...

Highbloo: Someone that makes bad jokes

Sindy: Long walks on the beach and...

Highbloo: A joint full of chronic

Sindy: Once upon a time...

Highbloo: a crew called Partyharders

Sindy: If your music were a city, which one would it be? Why?

Highbloo: Calcutta because this is where Maharadjahs rule!

Sindy: What gives birth and influence to your music? Belgian Chocolate?musicians?

Highbloo: Well my music is probably influenced by a lot of electro producers that I like a lot (Wolfgang Gartner, Popof, Noob, Momma's Boy, and my top friends on Myspace) but the music I got deep in me and that is the birth of what I can do is mostly rock music.

Sindy: How did you go about getting involved in music and with Partyharders?

Highbloo: I have been doing music since I was a child, my dad is a great guitar player here in Belgium. He used to be always on the road, so I always got into music thanks to him! And about the PartyHarders, I would sum it up in one word "family." There is not actual words to say what happened between us but it's just way beyond friendship.

Sindy: Word is you will be releasing an EP soon in Lektroluv, can you give us a say in what to expect?

Highbloo: Sure, my EP will be released in April on vynil and digital, there will be three tracks and it will make your mommas dance.

Sindy: You are making a delicious music shake for yourself, what do you add into the concoction?

Highbloo: Some Maharadjah sauce!

Sindy: What would you say makes you unique from other young musicians out there exploding in the scene?

Highbloo: Some Maharadjah sauce!

Sindy: What would we find inside a Highbloo time capsule?

Highbloo: Some Maharadjah sauce !

Sindy: Any final confessions, you'd like to say?

Highbloo: Be ready to see your mom shaking her body when she will get my tracks on Beatport!

Sindy: Thank you so much for taking the time Highbloo!

Highbloo: Hope everything is okay with you, thanks for doing this interview with me, cheers!

With all that mention of Maharadjah sauce, rock background, jazz, and influence of electro producers, it is one that I can not personally wait to hear! Highbloo's style calls for a body shaking, eclectic concoction. All the best to this young dj/producer. Be sure to check out his myspace to listen to previews of his songs, and remix for Daniel Haaksman's, Kid Conga.

Written at 13:09 by sindy.
2 comments
Sunday, 14 March 2010
tube or club tune
Mix:

Tracklist:
01 - Down (Original Mix) - Heinrichs & Hirtenfellner
02 - La Madone - Shonky
03 - Whatever Kind (Original Mix) - Mic Newman
04 - In My Home (Original Mix) - Daniel Steinberg
05 - Yanara - Mendo & Danny Serrano
06 - Definition - Loco Dice
07 - L'Amor Discontinuo - Neuroxyde & Doomwork
08 - Thrill - Sascha Braemer & Philip Bader
09 - Panik (Tony Senghore Remix) - Far Och Son
10 - Tickets (Kid Kaio Is High Remix) - Urchins & Spoek
11 - Haunted - Qoso
12 - Alcatraz (Kenton Slash Demon Remix) - Kasper Bjørke
13 - Side A - Cottam
14 - Riders On The Storm - Wareika

Written at 17:29 by Yann- Edouard.
2 comments
Friday, 12 March 2010
if we feelin'
Tony Snake from Geneva has been a fantastic producer for the last three years. His first album, Rendez Vous Chez le Dentiste ("See you at the Dentist") was released in September 2008, since which he released another EP. His new EP, Karateka, will be released during the month with four other remixes. If you're visiting Switzerland in May you can also see him play at the Mapping Festival in Geneva!

DL:
Tony Snake - Karareka EP Medley [M]
Tony Snake - Karareka EP Medley [Y]

Here is an exclusive Karateka Medley for Funkism.

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Written at 18:08 by Yann- Edouard.
3 comments
Thursday, 11 March 2010
sun is/isn't
There are many factors to suggest why Denmark is so bloody cool right now- Tartelet Records, Tartelet Records, Tartelet Records, Tartelet Records, Tartelet Records, Tartelet Records, Tartelet Records, Kenton Slash Demon, Fallulah and COPENHAGEN. Did I mention Tartelet Records already? So here's another person to add to that list and another reason to fly over there for the weekend- Eim Ick- who has recorded a mix for us that's perfect for when we thaw out over the Spring. Okay, I think I love you Denmark.

Listen:

Funkism Mix by Eim Ick

Hopefully we can expect an EP on Hivern Discs, home of John Talabot, due for release in the near future. Tracklist on the comments page.

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Written at 13:25 by pablo.
3 comments
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
forever searching
First of all Wolf + Lamb is not another indie movie. It may look and sound like another attempt at a twee-filled two hours but just to make this clear- it isn't. No in fact Wolf + Lamb is probably one of my favourite record labels out there at the moment. Want to know why? If say it was the Significant Others compilations? Nicolas Jaar? Gadi Mizrahi? Le Loup? Why yes then you'd be right. Here we have Soul Clap, another a set of producers who'll set your house on fire with some charming disco inspired house music. Their remix with Gadi Mizrahi of Bad Rabbits sounds like if Breakbot was forced to make songs whilst wearing a silk dress- smooth, elegant and entirely SEXUAL. So on that note, I'll leave you to finish with a little something off their EP of R'n'B edits, which you can find on Soul Clap's soundcloud page.

DL:
Bad Rabbits - She's Bad (Gadi Mizrahi & Soul Clap Remix) [M]
Bad Rabbits - She's Bad (Gadi Mizrahi & Soul Clap Remix) [Y]

DL:
Soul Clap - Kissing Game (Original Mix) [M]
Soul Clap - Kissing Game (Original Mix) [Y]

It will also be worth your time checking out the Boston duo's website for some more sexual stuff- particularly their podcasts and free edits.

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Written at 12:30 by pablo.
0 comments
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
dare to take command
We have a clan of our own. One that groups a set of people who admire Christoph Waltz, his transmittable villainy and a matching sense of dubstep that could flourish in every dark corner of the planet. Granted it's only about seven people large, six if you're not counting my cat, three if we exclude the Seventh Seal figurines, but there's enough here to enjoy this ominous remix by Kingdom. It takes an entirely different direction from the effervescent garage that burst onto the scene earlier this year with his Mind Reader EP and now we see the high NRG ditched for an eerie take on Ultravid's latest release. Of course, to join our clan, you're just going to have to download this track and have a listen for yourself. And if we think you're worthy, you can come round my house and we can have pyjama parties and everything. Ohh it will be so MUCH fun. Uber bingo.

DL:
Ultravid - Clan Of Wow (Kingdom Remix) [M]
Ultravid - Clan Of Wow (Kingdom Remix) [Y]

They're Belgian producers who've remixed the likes of Kenton Slash Demon and Riva Starr- their new Clan Of Wow EP should be available soon on Silverback Recordings. Pure party music.

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Written at 15:43 by pablo.
0 comments
i spy... something beginning with P
Written at 15:14 by pablo.
1 comments
Saturday, 6 March 2010
carry you home
Whoever went outside, found the first star and wished for Astronomer to remix Glasser- I salute you. Not for the fact you missed the opportunity to wish for a million billion trillion other wishes, that was plain stupid, or even the chance to harbinger the news of world peace, that was also stupid, but more so the consideration to use up your one and only wish so we could all hear this masterpiece of a song. It could be Glasser's ability to haunt us with her mellifluous vocals or the meandering journey set out by a talismanic Alex Egan, who knows, because here we have a synergy that emulates all the luring power once held by the mythological Sirens. It's utterly beautiful, yet potentially danceable all the same. Worth a wish? Yes, no, maybe, almost certainly, it depends on how you look at it. Just think- you could have had a lifetime supply of cheesecake.

DL:
Glasser - Tremel (Astronomer Remix) [M]
Glasser - Tremel (Astronomer Remix) [Y]

Young Turks are releasing the new Glasser 12" Tremel on March 29th. The release features three remixes of the track, including one from Jamie of The XX, who Glasser will tour the UK with throughout March.

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Written at 20:14 by pablo.
4 comments
Friday, 5 March 2010
one kiss and I go overboard
It nearly feels like spring here in New York, and it's ever so much warm in thought with these Portland, Oregon darlings, White Hinterland. Their cover of Arthur Russell's Lucky Cloud is so angelic, it's as if the sky was singing. They are touring worldwide, making stops from Portland to Amsterdam! Hence, I already know where I will be spending my birthday this year! Make sure to listen to my other current addiction Icarus. Which is a single of their coming LP album Kairos (which in Greek means, the opportune moment) debuting March 9.

DL:
Written at 01:15 by sindy.
0 comments
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
forget the horror here
Hello world- I have a confession to make. Well, despite the hundred and one times I was made to dance to Foals during indie style discos, I was never actually that much of a fan of their first record Antidotes. Okay I liked it that they sang about maths, yes, but it just seemed to lack anything meaningful. However this time around the new Foals single Spanish Sahara has me gripped. It's more panache than trash, and it sounds as if the band has done a hell of a lot more growing up- or perhaps I just prefer Yannis as a weirdo beardo? Either way, if the new album continues in this new direction, I'll be thoroughly pleased, just as I am with the releases from Mount Kimbie. No-one else has produced a better remix of The XX as Kai and Dom, whose experimental dubstep breaks every rule possible, and this time around we see them take on five boys from Oxford.

DL:
Foals - Spanish Sahara (Mount Kimbie Remix) [M]
Foals - Spanish Sahara (Mount Kimbie Remix) [Y]

Please sign up to the Foals mailing list to keep updated on the details for their new album. 'Total Life Forever’ is due out in May.

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Written at 18:15 by pablo.
1 comments