Inspired by a nice article in Danish paper Weekendavisen (Online article here in Danish)I'm going to do a small post on techno legend Derrick May. Somewhere in the late 80's May turned house inside out and invented what is refered to as techno today. This mainly happened with the help of Frankie Knuckles championed track 'The Strings of Life' which. Of course not alone, he is part of what you might call the techno equivalent of the gang of four, along with Carl Craig, Kevin Saunderson and Juan Atkins. May's releases in general only span half a decade (from around 1987 until 1992), he does small pieces every know and the for computer games or films, but nothing major. He still runs the Transmat label, and recently did a film on the techno genre called High Tech Soul.
Whats interesting about May, besides the music obviously, is his always socio-conscious approach to techno. He always stresses how music, and especially techno with it's 'perfect' sounds is at odds with reality - especially that of his hometown Detroit. His point being something along the lines of techno(logy) is great but it should never be God.
For your enjoyment today two classics more influential than you can imagine:
I found this little gem on the hollar board - It's a remix of the great All I Need from Radioheads In Rainbows done by hip cat Them Jeans. The tempo is turned up, but contrary to normal, it actually makes the vocals better. It sounds like a cigaret hardened Bonnie Tyler doing electro. This blog really feels the love for this track. Oh, and don't let the clasher looking photo fool you, this is a nice slowburner.
New mixtape from the hands of Mark Ronson - This time with word surgeon Rhymefest on a Michael Jackson themed run of words and beats. Like everything Ronson touches, this is absolut fire! Hilarious skits by the way! Rhymefest is a funny man!
01 The Cipher (Rhymefest & Michael Jackson) 02 Can’t Make It (Rhymefest) 03 “Thriller” Skit 04 Get Up (Rhymefest ft Wale) 05 Dancin’ Machine (The Jackson 5 ft Rhymefest) 06 Flip It Skit 07 Never Can Say Goodbye (Rhymefest ft Talib Kweli) 08 Mike The Mentor (Rhymefest ft Michael Jackson) 09 No Sunshine (Rhymefest) 10 Caught Up Skit 11 Foolin’ Around (Rhymefest ft Dres) 12 Set The Mood 13 Breakadawn (Rhymefest ft Daniel Merriweather & alpha.) 14 Windbreaker Skit 15 Higher Intro 16 Higher (Rhymefest) 17 Mark vs. Mike 18 All That I’ve Got (Rhymefest ft Ghostface Killah & Mary J. Blige) 19 Maybe Tomorrow (Michael Jackson) 20 Sunshine Skit 21 Coolie High (Camp Lo ft Rhymefest) 22 Family Reunion (ft Tito, Randy, Mike & Rhymefest) 23 Much Love Skit 24 Man In The Mirror (Rhymefest ft Michael Jackson)
Feeling nostalgic these days, longing for the good ol' days. Good ol' days is Fischerspooner. Fischerspooner is probably one of most important numbers in the annals of my musical taste history. They opened my eyes to the wonders of the cross over genre in a not-bootleg-kind-of-way and of course to the wonders of gay cabaret techno, not to be missed. Fischerspooner is best described as a collaborative art and performance project created by Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner that makes music, dance, fashion, film and photography. Straddling genres in art and entertainment, the project is renowned for outsider pop shows bursting with stage effects presented in both art galleries and traditional concert venues, and tlt's face it Emerge was a killer track, and it still is. They've just released 2 new 12" on Kitsune as a preview for an upcoming new album, I'm wetting myself already!
A couple of years ago DFA was the shissle, if you didn't know them, God were you out of the loop. It's not like they've been gone for the last couple of years, but the sound, like everything else is changing, and the blogosphere is a random mistress at best. Luckily, the wonderful label is still doing releases to the left of middle. Hercules and Love Affair is the next thing from them. The band is basically Andrew Butler, with support from various people (Antony, Nomi, and Kim Ann). Album is co-produces by Tim Goldsworthy. What does that mean? Well basically were looking at post punk sung by Antony (You know the loveable Antony of Antony and the Johnsons right?) - That's pretty excitting! And that's not all, throw in a remix by none other than legend Frankie Knuckles (Look at his CV)- Speechless!
This year could be another good year for Baile and remix kings Radioclit. Radioclit were in Copenhagen last month, a show which I sadly missed. Anygays, the 'clit has done a remix of Danish darlings Alphabeat which is more than worth checking out. I'm actually all for Alphabeat, but their sound sometimes strays a bit too close to a high school band doing covers of Abba (Come to think of it, that sounds pretty good in a way). There's something in the Danish accent and overall delivery of the music which comes of a bit camp, but on the other hand, who am I to argue - I'm writing a blog. I read somewhere that Franz Ferdinand wanted to make music that makes girls dance, well Alphabeat did actually that. Hopefully, Alphabeat will drop their new album this year, the last one was poptastic in the words of popjustice.The Radioclit remix sets the sails for 24 hour latino carnival town and goes bonanza in horns. I'd love to see Brazilian samba girls shake down to this.
Also, I'f you for some god awful dumb reason haven't heard Alphabeat, do enjoy this fantastic single from last year- It's more high school than pimples and "I don't care":
A new year of music and terror awaits us - let's not leave the jury waiting:
Herve and Sinden have done a great essential mix for BBC to kick of the new year in fashion. It's a bit slow of the ramps, but it ends in bangin' jubilations.
Estelle - Wait A Minute (Just A Touch) (Count and Sinden remix) - Atlantic
Se Sa feat Sharon Phillips - I Like It Like This (Count and Sinden remix) - Positiva
Ron Carrol - Nike Spinnin (Count and Sinden remix) - Ministry Of Sound
The Soft Tigers - Ice Cream (Waxmasters remix) - Bang Gang 12 Inches
Count and Sinden feat Kid Sister - Beeper - Domino
Alphabeat - Fascination (Count and Sinden remix) - EMI
Toddla T feat Serocee - Inna Da Dancehall (Count and Sinden remix) - 1965
No Requests - Heartbroken
Juiceboxx and Dre Skull - Centre Stage - Vicious Pop
DJ Technics - Computer Madness
Tameil - Trans Newark Express - Mad Decent
DJ Class - Next To You
Fake Blood - Theme - Counterfeet
The Touch - Maximization Nation (Trevor Loveys remix)
Action Man (aka Herve) feat Trevor Loveys - Beat Bang - Speaker Junk
Machines Dont Care - Take It To The Club - Machines Dont Care
Count Of Monte Cristal vs DJ Funk - Bounce That Ass - Cheap Thrills
Tittsworth feat Kid Sister and Pace - WTF
Bondo Do Role - Gasolina (Fake Blood remix) - Domino
Herve - Deep House - Speaker Junk
Machines Dont Care - Afro Jacker - Machines Dont Care
Brick N Lace - Switch (remix)
Action Man (aka Herve) - Alarm Bell - Speaker Junk
Machines Dont Care - Drop The Lime and Herve Are Secret Agents - Machines Dont Care
Voodoo Chilli - Streetplayers - Speaker Junk
Voodoo Chilli feat Trevor Loveys - All I Need - Speaker Junk
Fake Blood - Mars - Counterfeet
Detboi - Come Rest Up - Skint
Chrome Hoof - Tonight (Count Of Monte Cristal ghetto sax remix) - SRD
Count Of Monte Cristal and Sinden feat Kid Sister - Beeper (Detboi remix) - Domino
Dead Soul Brothers - Blessed - Dead Soul
Next track here is strictly speaking not 2008, but since US based Ssion is about to release a new album titled 'Fools Gold', I think it's ok to give this little piece of 80's electro a nice ride on the speakers. It's loud, rather gay, a bit too happy and quite good:
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