In this world of mass hype that we call the blogosphere you always have certain things doing the rounds. If The Klaxons does anything you know it's out there - If Tiga does anything you know it's out there -If The Teenagers does anything you know it's out there - If Arctic Monkeys does anything you know it's out there - If the latest thing does anything you know it's out there.... You get my point. Actually this is good, you don't have to wait forever until your local record store stocks up on that single or hope your local DJ is going to play that cool new tune to be part of the hype. The backside is that sometimes you just get the feeling that everyone is posting this latest tune because of the name rather than the content - It's all filler and no killer. Just doing it because it's the latest thing.
This is how I was suspecting this following track to turn out... Sadly, it kicks you right in the mirror balls. It takes the best parts of D.A.N.C.E. and mixes it with the best parts of dancefloor J.T. It's got strings, it's got those kool hyped distorted synths, it's got Justin, it starts like Billy Jean, it's got breakdowns, it's got 2007 in it's palm:
I was actually not going to post this song. You can probably find it all over internet or at least in the Mp3 blogosphere. No points for guessing it's the new Justice track B.E.A.T. - the flipside to D.A.N.C.E. - Seriously, these guys have the iconagraphy nailed. First the flashing cross, now essential words spelled out in capital letters and punctuated! Both of these tracks - in effect they are essentially the same - sees Justice looking back to their french roots. It is as if the French dance scene is coming full circle - We are now that close to the Da Funk aestetics, that you can almost taste that first time it occured to you that said record was going to be B.I.G. and you fell in L.O.V.E. . Writing this makes me look forward to the actual Justice record, and crossing my finger that Daft Punk will be late showers at Roskilde Festival.
This is the childrens choir sampling beauty of B.E.A.T./D.A.N.C.E.: "Do the D.A.N.C.E. 1-2-3-4. stick to the B.E.A.T. get ready to ignite."
Guess what I saw/heard/danced to Friday night? Following a rather bass drum heavy upfront warm-up set by Djuna Barnes, Vega witnessed what was the most hyped ticket in town. I have been to Vega a zillion times by now, and I have NEVER seen a line formed that quickly or that long for anything. Winning that MTV award sure did the trick huh?
At Roskilde Festival I was rather disappointet by Jus†ice (I remember there only being one of them) playing a rather ordinary unfocused set which quickly fell in the category of boring. That was not the case at Vega! I was trying to think up a way to describe what I really like about Jus†ice - The only thing I could come up with was Urgent and Vital. It just seems so must more necessary than anything else, so bloody aggressive without falling into cliché or being metal. For me the highlight was the old skool disco song that started the set. The crowd was taken completely by surprise. Disorientated dancing ensued... was this what Jus†ice sounded like? Then it hit like a cat with sharp claws being dragged over your skin: The snare drums of the Erol Alkan remix of Waters of Nazareth! Huge flashing cross on the stage and a deafening roar! I'll let you guess at the rest.
Here is a couple of things from the Jus†ice department for you:
So how is this new year shaping up? Last year was the year of the 'new paris' wave, distorted dancefloor beats, stadium sized techno and alot of crossover. Hopefully this year will be just as good!
Judging by the first few tracks to be released, it is already shaping up to be it! Courtesy of Fluokids, Erol Alkan dub of the Klaxons:
The Klaxons where probably one of the most IT bands last year, releasing a series of really good singles backed by great remixes and having a solid liveshow. I think it is safe to assume an album of them sometime this year. Until then here is a nice dub of Golden Skans made by none other than man of many names Erol Alkan. The sound is prolonged, leaning towards some form of minimalism, developing like a small plant, but not at all boring! A great moment is the destinctly 90's sounding drums in the background.
Also Justice is (finally) releasing an EP, a fact which should send shivers racing through your spine and have your foot tapping a steady solid beat. I think my favorite track of last year was Alkans remix of Justice, if some of that energy is to be found on the new album I'll be one happy camper! Phantom the new single zoom bang direct of Myspace is a worthy precurser to the album, the trademark bass-drum, and the unschematic breakdowns. Let this be the year where the French people decide to vote Justice presidents and let them declare a new republic of distortion:
So another year is soon ripe to be torn from the calender - ready to be forgotten like a christmas album from Girls Aloud or the retirement of Jay-Z.
Since just about every blog is posting some sort of "these are the really good songs of the year" mp3's, I'm going to indulge myself with 2 micro mixes of some of the songs which made the year for distortion disco.
Being Danish this cannot be done without dogmas:
Only 4 songs per mix.
Max length 8 minuttes.
1 song must not be a remix.
3 songs must be remixes.
The two micro mixes must fall in the following 2 catagorys: Bangin', minimal
These Dogmas are of course (as always) total shite, but Lars Von Trier made Björk cry, something for which he has never recieved proper credit and therefore: Lars, Distortion Disco salutes you!
The Presets - Are You The One (Van She Remix) Simian Mobile Disco - Disco Animal The Rapture - Get Myself Into It (sebastiAn Remix) Justice - Waters of Nazerath (Erol Alkans Dur Dur Durrr Re-edit)
************************* Bonus Von Trier Qoute: The last year has been more full of fear than ever before... but on the personal level, each of my films is a little monument.(You gotta love this man - seriously, look at the picture!) *************************
All MP3's are for sample purposes only, and will be taken downimmediately upon request. They will remain up for approximately 1 week by default. Please buy records and support artists. We need music dammit! If you have any music that you feel would be in the taste of this blog send it to Distortion Disco
