what’s with all the praise for “untrue”? it sounds like an autistic keyboard. “best album of the 2000s,” according to various blogs and such on the internet? fuck outta here. then you have all the album reviews trying to say that this embodies “the ghosts of raves past,” “the soundtrack to a rainy afternoon,” “hardcore continuum this and that,” and, if i remember correctly (i don’t), somebody likened it to “ghost in the shell”? the anime? *sigh* AND this guy remained anonymous for years and people actually gave a shit when he revealed his pasty white face. MYSTERIOUS! SUBLIME!

if you really want to experience the “ghosts of rave past” (scary, eh), listen to any drum & bass, grime, garage, dubstep, hardcore, house, techno, trance, (insert electronic genre here) mix/compilation/radio-live-set-recording from the past 20 years- it’ll be infinitely more rewarding than suffering through this malfunction of a recording.

oh! “archangel,” the first track, is astonishingly good. maybe a friend of his recorded it and snuck it in! y’know, to get sales up.

i hate this album.

YES. Despite being ungoogleable, Rubulad New Year’s Eve 2010 is indeed happenening. It’s a masquerade themed affair and Mike Simonetti’s djing 4 hours from 1030 to 230 — which is EXTREMELY special in itself.  It’s 20 in costume and 30 without.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I tried to wake my roommate up with this. She said it was nice to sleep to and then passed out again.  Anyways, it turns out I have 2 other songs by Over The Atlantic that I d/led at the end of last year (and really like too).  idk where I got them from.  Google Reader, your search function is useless.

Click here to view the embedded video.

eve on a benga track??? co-produced by a nas producer? according to the luis dnb timeline (method man was working with roni size in… 2000, was it?), dubstep should be around 3/5 of its lifeline??? after this comes continued, hopefully creatively vibrant penetration into the mainstream, followed by a full comeback of the original headstrong sound (such as the 2003/2004 era dnb amen choppin’ revival), followed by commercial death (back to the underground, back to niche).

or not. but the parallel’s uncanny…
Eve – “Me N My”

Top Mixes:

I-F – Mixed Up In Rotterdam NYE 08-09
Not to say I didn’t have the best NYE of my life this year, but I do wish I’d heard a set like this from 2 till whenever; I probably would have stayed out later.  It sounds like Ferenc went through his collection, picked out hits, put them in his box and knocked’em out.  My favorite sequence of songs starts with Donna Summer’s I Feel Love, followed by Caress’s Love Spell with its trilling strings, a clever edit of Macho’s I’m a Man segued into Azoto’s Exalt, and finally Walk The Night. The other standout for me is I-F’s edit of duncan sisters’ boys will be boys.

I-F-.Mixed.Up.@.Misja’s. This is a shorter, more saccharine-filled set.  Replete with 3 Madonna tracks, it all sounds really good together and closes with the life of the party and ahzz’s new york’s moving.

Kon’s Disco Juice Mix
I wish I knew more about the songs in this mix as I’ve only come across one so far (not that I’ve actually tried).  Kon’s Disco Juice mix is great because I constantly lose myself in it. He seems to specialize in finding edits that loop and layer over and over, while never growing old.  Certainly not your typical disco tape. Check his new mix from july 4th  — Jesus christ I can’t believe I missed that night.

Filthy Luka – Jan ‘09 DJ Mix.
Horse Meat Disco resident Filthy Luka shoots his load in the first 35 min.  The rest is fab too, not unlike cuddling.

SeverinoJimStantonmixfoResidentAdvisorTHEBONGMIX
HMD mixes have the best melancholy/dancing-in-an-empty-room-alone (and possibly just in my mind) songs. See the track 20 minutes in.  They’re also pros at playing out power-walking music.

Avalanches_-_02-11-30_-_Mix-Up__Triple_J
James De La Cruz is the DJ I aspire to be like the most, though I’m not sure this set is representative of why. lol.

ExclusiveMixForLowerEndSpasm + kingdom_FADER MAGAZINE RADIO SET 4.10.09
Kingdom’s my new favorite.  He’s my Mike Simonetti of 2009.  As fluent in London’s urban scene as he is in New York’s, he superbly melds the two for one kind of waist wining.

no time for boredom
This is my second favorite mix from Luis.

And one I just came across this week:
Afrobot – 2 dollar disco – the new Worck. Domu and a friend did a similar mix of charity shop breaks a few years ago.  I have no clue who Afrobot is, but this is more focused on disco and less bin-y.

Personal Update: I got a real DJ setup finally. But I’m still looking for an affordable room that’s over 100 sq ft. It’s going to happen soon…pray with me.

Top Apartments Seen (April – July)
Grand btwn Union+Lorimer – 500 sq ft. terrace, large rooms fitted exactly to each of our price ranges, great finishings in living room+kitchen.

Fort Greene – beautiful terrace, 2 floors, each room at least 12×13, 1.5 bath, 2 blocks from the brooklyn flea.  1 block from the Classon G.

S.11th st. - Can you believe it? The agent had us believe we were the first to put down a deposit! What a dick.  Perfect loft, fantastic view of manhattan and bridges from the roof.

S.1st & wythe. Absolutely insane loft spaces.  Like 4k for a 1 BR with 20 ft ceilings.  Loony.

S.5th & Keap. Massive duplex. Uh…sorry, not trying to raise a family atm.

(Alice by Pavla Kopecna)

Top Nights Out (no order):
hatcham social at don hills 6/19* – ever been to a bar really close to the holland tunnel on a friday? Hahahaha.  I still loved the show – they haven’t changed.

harvey at love 5/9* – complete aural workout. Proper night of dancing till 6am.

tim sweeney at cameo – best birthday party i’ve ever had. (People actually showed up).

rich medina @ diety – it is really hard to find a party sometimes, even in ny. Sometimes it’s like 1:30 and you’re still chilling at a bar, scratching your head.  Everyone’s getting antsy.  And at the last minute someone chimes in, “well, I heard so-and-so is playing at this place.” Gotta love surprises.

mike & mike’s bdays at savalas 1/31. I always have a good time going to mike’s gigs by myself, but I have an even better time when they’re packed and my friends come to party (duuuuh!).  the most surprising track was some version of venus.

Double Digitz Bouquat (Kingdom) 2/28. Already gushed all over this one.  The best thing about Kingdom is that he’ll go dance in the crowd like he’s just another kid getting down. Love that.

ESG w/JG Wilkes (Optimo), Sal Principato @ le poisson rouge 1/24*.  Excellently curated night. Sal went first, setting the mood, then ESG played and JG finished it off with party jams (not nearly as deep as I’d expected).

*denotes nights alone (for the most part)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=6EM35D9E
zip file includes:

01. Bok Bok – www.myspace.com/nightslugs VICE mix JAN 09
02. Youngsta – Seven_RINSE_219
03. Chelly – Took The Night
04. Kyla & Crazy Cousinz – www.theheatwave.co.uk/blog Do You Mind (Reggae Remix)
05. Donny – [Donny - The Fucking Offensive EP #04] They Find Me
06. Jamie Vexd – [ZIQ212 #04] Radiant Industry
07. Joker and Ginz – [KAP004] Purple City
08. Major Lazer – [Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do #10] Keep It Goin’ Louder feat. Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze
09. shuttle – [the vostok 1 mixtape] the vostok 1 mixtape
10. Starkey – [Miracles (Jamie Vex'd Remix) #01] Miracles (Jamie Vex’d Remix)
11. Telepathe – [Dance Mother CD1 #01] So Fine
12. Timberlee – Gunny Gunny (Schlacthofbronx RMX)

two notes:

1) the martyn + aaliyah a cappella blend in the shuttle mix has been the most blissful musical moment of the year thus far for me, and…

2) brackles – lhc (separate download). most discomforting track since skream’s “request line”? soundtrack for a dream? nightmare? you decide.

Pop Rox
Pop Rox 2
Mad Muggy
Love Notes
Whiffle & Snug
No Time For Boredom

They finally have pics of this movie out. Bangalter may or may not be doing the soundtrack. It’s going to show at Cannes this year, and websites are saying it’ll be available in the US by 2010.  Unfortunately, I have to wait that long for the next season of Skins too.

Soudain Le Vide

Bjork – Nattura (Switch Remix)

What can I say? I’m gonna be there.  I’m gonna dance.  I’m gonna love it.  It’s not summer yet, but I guarantee it’ll feel as good.

Township Funk (Kingdom’s 1 in a Million Remix)

edit: and here’s a live set – just posted on Patent Leather Daddy. seriously, the man can do no wrong.

More details on facebook.

They make me think of Link from The Legend of Zelda. While I’d like to agree with Claudia that they’re “unisexy,” something about them scream, “you’re trying too hard,” “god, I want to slap you for wearing those” or “wow, you’re obviously too fragile and stylish for normal kicks.  Uppity bastard.”  So I’m happy to gaze from afar or imagine them on a girl’s feet, especially since they’re sold out. (Best ones are always taken, right?)

After googling all their stockists, it’s simplest to buy direct from Love Thy Neighbour.

Click here to view the embedded video.

still BRUTALLY mesmerizing…

Tim played a very solid set, definitely one you could appreciate even if you weren’t dancing your heart out at a club.  Highlights? A piano house track that had hands in the air – truly an EPIC build, and a vocal that came in towards the end.  If you were deaf, you might have gotten the idea you were at an electro-house show.   A disco song with the words new york, love, east, west (not necessarily in that order or phrasing), and finally a few “got to be funky,” blaxploitation-ish tunes with hilarious basslines towards the end.

I’d prepared to stay out till 5, but meh. Shouts to my best friends who wished me happy birthday.

Photography duo ioulex are showing their mini-collectiona and 9-minute film called Carpet Death at the Audio Visual Arts (AVA) – basically a walk-in, walk-out hole in the wall – from March 13 to April 12.

More photos on Neo2.

Hatcham Social’s MySpace

This mix by James De La Cruz reminds me – in style of presentation, not content – of the one Gonzales (formerly Chilly Gonzales) did for The Breezeblock.  Both are from 2002.

The Avalanches on Triple J 11/30/2002 (RapidShare)
Tracklist (Swampmaster)

More on the wig-coat here.

cuz they already write about it so well. their write-up reads like a diary entry… it’s really neat.

anyway, that mix is pretty good, though not as good as this one:
Bok Bok mini mix for vice

i went to sleep with it yesterday. it’s my morning soundtrack. it’s just fucking *good*, not “ok,” not “yeah, it’s alright”- it’s *solid*. despite some slight, unfortunate trainwrecks, the momentum it builds is quite possibly the best i’ve heard in many, many months, and as a whole, it elicits a very cold shade of gray for me. it reminds me of those murky, transfixing dnb sets i used to love with oceans of subbass and sparse neon synths and hypnotic drum loops. AND, curses’ “moss man” drops friiiiighteningly hard at 18 minutes in or so.

yeah!!!

God damn. I needed that.

And Dummy Magazine are posting again and have a new website. They could write about anything, anything at all, and I’d still be amused.

Honey Soundsystem in SF with DJ Spun was the perfect way to end all the filial drama, overeating and requisite wii gameplaying. It was just like A Club Called Rhonda in LA but with a san fran twist. Really fantastic party: couple trannies, almost all gay but best of all a small room full of sweaty, dancing (some semi-naked) bodies.  Fresh air from the usual ny hipster trash, felt nice.  Tune of the night was some song that went “I’m a freee man!” for quote, all the single men in the house, unquote.

(this is part II of 2008 – more tracks here)

hey, y’all! i don’t have much to say about this year. didn’t really think it through. dubstep’s gone almost entirely to shit (although that wobbly stuff can be fun in small doses), i fell in love with grime all over again (and HARD!), i listened almost entirely to singles, few of which i can thoroughly remember, and… hmmm… there were many pleasant surprises, to be sure. lots of “oh, SHIT!” moments. they came in odd measures, but when they came, they were marvelous.

i hope you enjoy the list!!!

FAVORITE…

SINGLES/DUDES/DUDETTES
zomby – this guy… holy shit. spliff dub (original, not the 2008 mix), THE LIE, gloop, liquid dancehall, STRANGE FRUIT… DAMN. he’s got the dark bounce, the effortless dread vibes, the deeeep low-end, the lazer synths… that ALBUM… easily the most scarily promising producer to follow in 2009. PLEASE, zomby- don’t slip up!!!

bun b – you’re everything – this one wins the Bassline of the Year award. kept me company on many nocturnal bike rides durin spring.

lil’ wayne – comfortable, a milli – liked, didn’t love the album. anyway, standout track “comfortable” gives us lil’ wayne at his most amusingly crazed, and there’s no explanation necessary for “a milli,” although it deserves runner-up for Bassline of the Year (what a thumper!), and maybe an award for Way Too Many Freestyles on a Beat, None of Which Matter.

t.i. – swagger like us – SUPERhype m.i.a. vocal, tough beat, and solid verses from everyone involved, especially t.i. it just hits really hard.

young jeezy – straight out the rarri -this time, it’s grime influencing american rap. huge, huge beat. it almost sounds like a chopped-up joker production???

izza kizza – hello – VERY odd beat, and it KNOCKS.

beyonce – single ladies – guaranteed dancefloor stormer, yeah? dope chorus.

the dream – his productions – i guess i kinda slept on him. rihanna’s “umbrella” is and was a mammoth track, but it wasn’t until i heard more of his own album from last year that i noticed his penchant for combining discordant melodies and sweet harmonics, usually in minor chords, and if there’s one thing i’m a sucker for, amongst others, it’s melodic dissonance (kano – what have you done?, t power – runnin’, threat misses – juke ya girl). electrik red’s “drank in my cup” and the chorus in beyonce’s “single ladies” are prime examples- tense, uneasy, strained… exciting…

da govment – puffin on the purp – kinda like crisp, vintage 90s boom-bap laced with a thick, syrupy southern bounce, despite the fact the dudes are from philly .

VIDEOS

flying lotus – parisian goldfish – soooooo, so hot. SO hot. glad to see smut done so artfully and with some much fun and humor. best tune on the album, too.

beyonce – single ladies – another hot video. kinda thrilling, really.

LINES
“if we play it, we mean it. irony is for pussies, and we are bold.” – bok bok & manara

“it’s hard getting rich, it ain’t shit to go to hell/it’s hard selling dope, it ain’t shit to go to jail” – rich boy, “drop”

ALBUMS
flying lotus – los angeles – sounds warm from beginning to end without EVER being “laid-back,” “chiiiill,” “jazzy, man!” three sure-fire descriptors of a boring  piece of shit. it’s calm and wild in equal doses, but most importantly, it maintains that warm, slightly woozy texture throughout.

eminem – the marshall mathers lp – from the year 2000! after not having heard this album in eight years, based on the good memories of that first listen, i went back to see what it’d sound like. a week and about fifty continuous playthroughs later, i wholeheartedly declare this album one of my top ten of the decade (two more years, y’all!) above all else, it’s shocking, even in the face of plenty of offensive material out there, primarily due to one supreme strength: it’s not for show. it’s all real hate (a wealth of hate) and fear and energy and excitement you’re hearing. it’s stunning.

MIXES
jackmaster – mix for sinden on kiss fm/ mix for fact magazine – a welcome discovery this year. like other favorites of mine like flosstradamus, drop the lime, and diplo, he just plain does it right: the momentum, the sick tracks, and the tight mixing are all there. excellent.

joker – mix for skream on stella sessions – the only good dubstep mix this year. the wobbly mid-range garbage all over the place now is dubstep’s death knell, and that BORING “techno-infused” stuff on the outskirts of dubstep is shit, no matter what anybody says. bring back 2005!

rustie – mix for mary anne hobbs experimental – damn… i wanted to name this one the mix of the year!!! it got inched out by something just a liiiiittle tiiiny bit more, er, bangin’, but still, this mix is BIG! insane and heavy and huge and BIG. all about that doomed-to-be-unreleased keyshia cole remix (the second track in)… BIG!!!!!!

bok-bok & manara – club vortex mix/ mix for no love lost records/ push soundsystem mix (2007)/ what’s a niche? mix for mad decent radio/ 69 allstars mix (2007) – unbelievable. really, really high-quality output from these two. they’re unique and distinctive. their sets flow beautifully. their grime instrumentals compendium “69 allstars” is a masterpiece.

ghislain poirier – his mixes! – you know, i just realized that i’ve never praised his mixes ever since we started making our lists. in my mind, he’s way up there: his selections, his refixes, his sequencing, his overall cohesiveness… most definitely one of the greats. i hope i can check him out live someday!

boys noise – live at sonar 2007 – house the way it should be- JACKIN’!!!

AND THE WINNERS…

#1 SINGLE: THREE-WAY TIE!
joker – snake eater – i heard that this was the number one song in the world in an alternate reality? seriously… i would throw myself out of a window to hear this one beating down the block on 18-inch subs just ONCE.

prgz – bama gettin’ money (diplo remix) – anthem, anthem, anthem. pure menace, pure hype, pure punch-your-fucking-wall music. anthem.

silkie – sky’s the limit – the drop in this song = the happiest moment of your life.

#1 MIX
lazer sword – mix for mary anne hobbs experimental – the first third of this mix alone nearly gave me a heart attack. the rest is consistently crazy, but really, if it kept the intensity of the first portion, the mix would burn you alive. high hopes for these two next year!!!

#1 ALBUM
zomby – where were u in 92? – druuuuuuuggy, reeeeeally druggy. an almost disturbingly dreamlike aural approximation and condensation of every rave you’ve ever been to. you know those memories you have of walking around a rave, walking around the different rooms, having all those sounds reverberating in your head? this album IS those memories.

LOOSIES
june – cakey – minimal/ maximal
jim jones – pop champagne (hot beat; shame it went to jim jones. why the HELL is he still rapping? *shudder*)
little jinder – polyhedron – (supra1 remix) – raaaaaaave
no age – teen creeps – makes me feel like a teenager
t-pain ft. ludacris – chooped & screwed – genius
deadmau5 – faxing berlin – not from 2008? not sure. lush
scuba – twitch (vex’d remix) – diamond-sharp crispness… vex’d productions put 99% of other producers to shame
his majesty andre – nrg555 – nrg, indeed

that’s it! here’s to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2009!

be good, be safe, and stay up, dudes!!!

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah man, it’s next wednesday.  I would not miss it for the world…

But for now I’m gonna go back to the one thing that makes me truly happy: season 1 of gossip girl.

“Oh, Dillard, without you I am in a cave,
a cave of despair,
a pocket of air trapped in a mountain of grief.
The avalanche of indifference that you have unleashed
has blocked, has sealed the mouth of this chamber
and entombed me in a blackness of choking denial.
Like an Egyptian mummy by the Nile
Waiting for her archaeologist
To dump his girlfriend
And spread open her sarcophagus
Come raid my treasures.
Love, Carla”

A big big thanks to Katherine and Ravi, and Christina and Fritz! I think I can finally say I’ve gone from bedroom wannabe to a REAL DEAL amateur dj.

• brought your own speakers? check.
• borrowed a second set of PC speakers from a friend? check.
• played mp3s off your laptop? check.
• mixed with a usb midi controller? check.
• compiled a wholly uninspired list of songs on the theme of the party? check.
• made other wannabe bedroom djs jealous? check.
• faded the chorus out to a silent crowd? check.
• coaxed a few bodies to move to the rhythm – but not enough to spark a “dance party?” check.

With my bases covered, I can set my self-deprecation aside and say, “y’know, out of all my experiences playing out (4 total, 2 complete disasters), it’s never a bad party if your friends show up.”

And to all you professional djs – watch out! I’ll be back in ‘09 with cdj-800s and more mp3’s, some possibly ripped from real vinyl!…soon as I get a room with 3 digits of sq footage and decks.

A medusa, her long coat as shabby and dusty-black as the dog’s, came up to Edwin and asked him to dance.  ‘I shouldn’t really,’ said Edwin.  ‘I should be in hospital really.’  But he was borne off, too much the gentleman, into the jigging crowd.  He looked for Sheila, but he had become separated from her by two new drink-buyers – thin young Guardsmen, blind behind their peaks.  Frantic shoving dancing went on before the golden calf of the juke-box – a man who had taken his teeth out for fun; a woman whose breasts bounced lazily up and down, out of time with the music; a Mediterranean man shaven to the matt blue; a coach-driver in his cap; a genteel woman in a raincoat, tremulous with gin; two flat-chested girls who danced woodenly together, talking German; a middle-aged blonde with a bull-dog’s face – all seemed somehow mixed in one moving mush, like pease pudding.  Edwin and his partner were added to the boil, and the partner, her snake-hairs waving, was vigorous.  Edwin soon found that one of his bedroom slippers had been kicked off.  He danced as though guying a bent-backed old man, looking under feet, under the juke-box, into corners.  It was not to be seen.  He lost the other one and then, still dancing, felt spilt beer soaking his socks.  When the music ended everybody helped.
‘What’s he lost?’
‘It sounded like slippers, but I don’t see how it can be that.’

The genteel woman in the raincoat said carefully to Edwin: ‘I can see that you’re artistic, just the same as I am.  I modelled for the best painters, the very best.  John, Sickert, that other man.  There’s one of me in the Tate, you must have seen it.’
‘It’s my slippers,’ said Edwin, kneeling down, looking between the legs of the seated.  ‘There’s one there,’ he said, crawling on his knees towards the two German girls, one of whom was in the other’s lap.
‘Edwin,’ said Sheila, ‘whatever are you doing?’
‘It’s my slippers.’
‘You shouldn’t have come out, you know you shouldn’t.  I’m going to call a cab and take you straight back there.’
The loss of his slippers, the fact that he had been dancing in his socks had suddenly, for some reason, endeared Edwin to the man who had taken out his dentures.  ‘Drink this, major,’ he said gummily.  ‘Take it in your right and and repeat after me.’  He wore a good suit but no collar or tie.  Edwin, flustered, found himself holding a glass of Scotch.  ‘You’re a man as likes a lark, same as it might be myself.  I could see that soon as you come in.’ The club customers seemed quick at finding affinities.
‘I’m going to take you back,’ said Sheila, ‘as soon as I’ve finished this drink.  Dancing in your stocking-feet indeed.  You want your head seeing to.’  The shocking aptness of this struck her. ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean it that way, you know I didn’t, and she hooked her hand on to his arm.

mtv’s putting up every video ever on here!!!

i know there’s youtube and shit out there, but this… this could be grand.

watch all your favorites again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!

i miss new york. i had a great time there. the mad muggy mix is my thank you and good-bye to that final summer in brooklyn…

DOWNLOAD (Mediafire – faster)

tracklist:

east flatbush project – tried by 12
gangstarr – speak ya clout
tech itch – undercity
tum tum – caprice muzik
grit boys – fresh
tru-life – this is the life
jr writer – get em
lil mama – lip gloss
ghostface killa – the soul controller
leftside & esco – light my spliff
busta rhymes – get down
truth hurts – addictive
turf talk – i got chips
young leek – jiggle it
the pack – freaky bopper
pitbull – bojangles
digital mystikz – hunter
m.i.a. – bird flu (diplo guns up remix)
mala – left leg out
lloyd – get it shorty
the chemical brothers – it doesn’t matter

t-pain and ludacris – chopped n screwed

now we need a gabber pop song and that’s it, pop is complete…

Hailing from Colombia via Brooklyn, Plastic Caramelo are spearheading a new movement christened Glampeta, a “fusion of Colombian Dancehall, Cumbia, and Champeta,” as the band puts it.  Their self-titled first single deftly melds all of the above genres and electronic, while maintaining great pop-sensibilities sans the cheese and overproduction that normally plague songs with cross-over potential.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Plastic Caramelo recently performed at NYC’s Latin hipster party Nacotheque and are close friends with Isa GT of London’s Girlcore collective.

Download “Plastic Caramelo” (Rapidshare)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Every other Monday the company I work for throws a party at the Hudson Hotel, a swank, midtown boutique hotel with a bar.  No matter how hard I try I can never get any of…well not any, but most of them don’t even reply to me when I ask…anyways, like I said it’s in midtown, the uncoolest place in NYC, so they avoid it like the dickens.  Their loss.  (How you can turn down a free event with DJs like Danny Krivit, Bobbito, Louie Vega, Spinna, The Rub…etc. whatever).

To the point, a month or two ago I submitted a list of DJs I thought might work at Hudson.  It went something like this:

Theo Parrish
Harvey
David Holmes
Pete Rock
J-Rocc
In Flagranti (Codek)
*Mike Simonetti (Italians Do It Better, Troubleman Unlimited)
**The Martin Brothers (Christian Martin & Justin Martin of dirtybird records in SF) doing a half hyphy, half hyphy-inspired nu-techno set.

*My personal fav at the moment, best 1 hr set I’ve gone nuts to in nyc.
**Not serious, but thought the idea was fun.

Admittedly, the reason I did the list was because Mike Simonetti had completely killed it at Love a few weeks prior.  But the only filler on it was In Flagranti – and I only say that because I’ve never really seen them play out.  A couple weeks later my boss announced Pete Rock – yus!

—
My first few months in NYC 2 years ago (wow), my buddy luis and I went to a lot of hip hop nights: Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Premier, Pete Rock, Babu, J. Rocc, Kool Herc, Rob Swift, Prince Paul, Bobbito, Skratch Mekaniks at clubs like Southpaw, Triple Crown (R.I.P.) and APT – pretty tough to beat a Monday at APT with the funktion 1 sound system.  Anyways, as I recall Pete didn’t actually play ANY hip hop and I remember him dropping in particular Minnie Riperton’s Les Fleurs at Triple Crown (shit system btw).

So fastforward to the party at Hudson.  It’s like moderately packed at 915 when I get there.  Pete’s playing kind of…I don’t know.  Not a lot of dancing going on,  just a lot of staring, which got me a little nervous and I started looking for a drink ticket.  Met some people and some friends, chatted, stood around.  So, I’m holding my free $18 glass of wine and Pete drops BBD’s Poison full volume – hands immediately go up in the air, the place lit up.  Totally reminded me of this one time I was in the middle hating on a DJ when all of a sudden he dropped a Mr. Oizo track, and I ran off to dance floor while my friend luis – ah we used to be inseparable – was still talking mid-sentence.  Instantaneous reaction.

From then on it was like APT on a Monday with 5x the energy, 5x the floorspace, -1 for the sound.  Jam after jam, stuff I didn’t know (of course, everyone else was spitting it right back), stuff that’s normally cliche, stuff that’s always a party bomb.  It made me so happy – most of all to live in New York, where it’s possible to oh-i-don’t-know go see a rap revolutionary like Pete Rock throw down on a Monday night to an incredible crowd.  He was just feeding the fire and it was just straight up murder – so many people going silly to music. Pics here (yeah, i know it takes forever to load).

Click here to view the embedded video.

So yeah, two weeks later and I’d finally convinced a couple friends to come out to see Mike play at Love, a venue that really does have the best sound system in NYC but can never seem to bring in anyone but NYU kids. I ran across town to meet one of my friends who’d arrived early/on time. After bullshitting with the doorman about my friend’s ID, we went in and there was a band I’d never heard of on; it was their record release party. Middle of the first song, my friend says I can’t stand this place and walks out. I didn’t disagree, so I followed him out of the main room. He went back outside to see if our other friend had arrived, and I played tetris on my mobile in that ridiculous mcdonald’s playground-ish room. He called and said she arrived and that they don’t want to come back in. I got convinced to go outside to say “hi.”

“Oh that party is so not cool, why don’t we go somewhere in the LES that’s cool, I know a party there,” he says.
“I want to go somewhere to chill out. Can you guarantee I’m going to like Love?“ she says.
“I forgot my ID and can’t get a drink inside…Let’s go somewhere else,” he says.
etcetera etcetera etcetera.

Normally I would have given in, but I was just beginning my “i’m gonna go it alone if i have to” phase, which manifested from situations like this one and just being generally dissatisfied with life.

Furious – I think my friend had said something to the effect of “Wow, you’re really angry aren’t you?” – I strode back inside and played more tetris for about an hour in the second floor cubby, while the jazz band played whatever it was they played. I was beginning to lose hope as the night approached 1, so I went in to the main room. Good timing, Mike went on just moments after. It wasn’t particularly packed – still the same crowd as earlier in the night, though Kon and Amir were there kuz they were playing later.

First record was a non-dance, set the mood, folky thing. The trick worked again, and at full volume, the second record sent everyone nuts. I can’t really say what he played – stuff that sounded like early house, disco, vocal stuff, a record that had a nice sonic breakdown, which was probably awesome for its time and could only work on Love’s sound system. I had 3 beers, which is a lot for me. One record had this bass melody that kept returning to me for weeks on end, which rarely happens. Turned out to be pointer sisters’ send him back (pilooski edit). The whole room was dancing really hard and Mike was playing shit probably only Kon & Amir knew. The bartender was genuinely interested: “who is this guy?? he’s tearing it up.”

It was another short set, about an hour long. But unbelievable. I want to say it’s the best 1 hour set I’ve ever heard in a club, and I said as much in the phone call to my sister at 330.

I got a lot of friends to come out to Rubulad (his next ny gig) – it was good and I had a great time, but it wasn’t the same level of newness/what the fuck is going on/this is crazy shit – at least not musically.

Hopefully put some more stuff up soon.

Sometime in late June (I know because I had to search through my bookmarks and match the date modified of the pics files), I came across Beatica.  The main site is down right now, but lucky for google cache, you can still find the gallery here.  My fav is Large Pendants, but it should really be called plastic parts glued together by montessori kindergarteners.  So simple.

And then a couple weeks ago I saw something that was kind of Charlie Le Mindu-ish by Husam El Odeh – but equally simple. More here.  If anyone has an account for the Valery Demure site, please email me.

There’s a great interview with Valery Demure in issue 1 of The Fashion Almanac, which also has pretty genius articles on comparative fashion.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here at Giant Step, we’re staunchly against hipsters – everything they like and what they look like.  Unfortunately for me, even though I can’t really define what a hipster is, I probably have a lot in common with them.  But the point is, as long as you act like you hate hipsters, you’re O.K.

Here is a track that was found on the Hyperbole blog via Der Fresh Creamy.  Although it has the characteristics of a hipster creation (a remix of a famous rapper with electro elements – hardly inspired), the CSK OK Remix of Ghostface Killah’s Charlie Brown is really quite fun.

Download

Here are a few favorites: Pierre Hardy’s #2030 (toucan camo), Serve by Carola Euler (for the cheesy music concept – def not the clothing),  Customers Own Property (funny cut-out bibs), Finsk (trendy heels), Basso and Brooke (color palette), Borba Margo (hair), Aleksandra Olenska (short & sweet) and Cassette Playa (Carrie’s the nu-rave designer whose style the Klaxons and M.I.A. cashed in on – see below).

Soundtrack: “PAR” by Tempa T

So on my first vacay this year, I went to LA to visit the fam.  I only got to party twice (a club called rhonda and cat toy factory) kuz of forced r&r on the beach.  Despite the par-for-the-club music, I liked the energy and crowd both times.  Probably the best part – in contrast to NY – is that the kids dress a little crazier with half the attitude.  I don’t know, I just never get the vibe in NY that I can dress like an idiot and have fun.  (Aside from Rubulad and Club Vortex).  Anyways, congrats to Justice on throwing a fab first party for thecobrasnake.

Click here to view the embedded video.

While I’m still under this Olympics/Gymnastics spell, I just wanted to tell everyone (i know this is like shouting in outerspace) who’s hating on China – “oh the girls aren’t 16,” “they don’t ever see their family” or “they were selected when they were 3,” “they’re machines.”

It’s fucking China.  I really think it’s worthwhile to separate the gymnasts from their nation’s unethical practices for a second and just enjoy what they’ve worked so hard at perfecting.  And it makes me really happy to see the men’s and women’s teams perform breathtaking routines that no one else in the world can hold a candle to.  I mean, how can it not?

Both the Chinese men’s and women’s teams totally owned prelims.  No competition at all.  Just watch the vids – they will blow your mind.

I recommend “Chinese women’s routines in prelims” and if you scroll down about 2/3’s of the way “Top routines from men’s gymnastics.” Finals not necessary, though I’m looking forward to those, too.

Maurice – This Is Acid (S&T Remix)

from a minimix by Mike’s old DJ partner Dan Selzer.

Princess Julia – Milky Lunch 1994. The Dalston Oxfam Shopper calls this “progressive house,” which probably was the term for it in ‘94. I’ve been learning more and more about Princess Julia and her clubbing history, and this mix is another piece in the puzzle. It’s really fun house music on the less commercial side of the C+C Music Factory tip.

Mavs – And Did We Mention Our Disco? Live 2005.5.27. This has been a favorite of mine for quite a while. At first it was just for the beginning 30 minutes. Now it’s more for the last 40 or so. Funk mixed into rock/indie classics the way it was meant to be. It ends with Martina McBride’s I Never Promised You A Rose Garden – which is great because it’s just so wrong.

Duke Dumont – Europeans Do It Better Live Hamburg Dec 2007. There are too many mixes of its kind in this scene/genre, including ones by Matt Walsh, Casper Clark, Hannah Holland, Cormac, Warboy, Peter Pixzel, Brodinski – all who I would love to play out on a regular basis. This one was the least boring as a mixtape. The best part of Duke’s live mix is Len Faki’s My Black Sheep (Radioslave remix) – a total stomper – followed by Luciano’s Calypso remix.

Todd Hart Live at Durrr 7.4.08. Okay. For this one, let’s pretend it’s not Durrr and that it’s played at some dingy bar you’re not really expecting anything from. You aren’t paying attention to the music; you’re just there, chillin’, talking to friends. (Just for illustrative purposes, let’s say you’re at any bar in williamsburg). I think around 25 minutes into this mix, I’d start thinking, “wow wtf. this is a really great DJ – what a surprise!” and regardless of what I’d had or hadn’t been expecting of the night, I’d be dancing and having the time of my life.

Todd Hart – January 23^rd 2008. I liked this one a little less than the 7.4 mix, but it’s filled with a lot of really great tunes. I’d only heard the original version of Love Hangover before, so the remix really threw me! Love it. And of course, the Phil Collins track.

James de la Cruz 9.30.06. I stumbled across this mix because I was so bored of listening to his Beneath The Surface mix over and over and needed another James de la Cruz fix. This is just another example of his hip hop style of mixing from a library of world, funk, hip hop, classics…etc – I don’t know why I tried to describe it like that. Basically, the next record is always a surprise and always great.

elbartoliamb_-_niespodziewany_koniec_lata (The Unexpected End of Summer). I cannot pronounce any of that. There are interspersed avalanche-esque moments (guess where I got it from), but it’s enjoyable start to finish. It’s 100% Polish records.

In Flagranti – A Decade of Hero Worship. While myspacing Tomboy, I came across the Gomma.de site, which has a load of fantastic mixes for download. One of them was In Flagranti, who I knew very little about at the time. It comes in 30 some tracks (I don’t know why).

Zines/Blogs
The P.i.X
SuperSuper
Dalston Oxfam Shop
Zarcorp
KCTV
secondhandzine
Gutter Broadcast

Sources
Slsk
Blogs (zshare, mediafire, sendspace, ysi..etc)
Mininova
Beatport

Hatcham Social – Dance As If… I can’t remember the first Hatcham Social song I heard, but this is the one that I fell immediately in love with. It’s so innocent and happy and hippity hoppy. I was very sad for a couple months because I only had it at 96k. It didn’t stop me from playing the low quality mp3 over and over. It’s definitely the combination of the high pitched guitar part with a happy go-lucky bass guitar line and care-free “I could care less I suppose”-styled vocals. There was a forum thread with a wide range of favorite Hatcham Social songs. I think people were posting the most obscure ones they could find, though – because Dance As If… is clearly the best followed by Til The Dawn (also with a danceable, jangly guitar melody). Other topics of interest regarding the band were a) the drummer’s bowl cut b) the band’s attire: colorful button down shirts buttoned all the way, muted by a cardigan c) releases on cassette tape and 128k mp3 (particularly upsetting since I paid money for them) d) their online zine called secondhandzine e) nicola probert’s videos and artwork f) their influences.

Popof – The Chomper (LSD Version). So, unfortunately after hearing this I discovered a lot of Popof’s songs sound the same <shrug> oh well. This one still takes the cake. Skippy rhythms and ridiculous, over-the-top electronics are the hallmarks of this song. If ever there was an aural equivalent of a strobelight…

Tomski & Fredboy – Mos Eisley (Tartlet Edit). Genius. Cheeky. Tacky. Nonsense. I love Tomboy and Fredski.

Proxy – Dance In The Dark. I’m not a huge fan of his latest singles. I think I’ve already raved about this one enough.

Malente – Killer Applikation (Aston Shuffle Badonkadonk Remix). I was listening to a lot of nu-techno. Just day in and day out of downloading mixes and listening to bouncey basslines and swirling sonics. I thought I’d never hear any of its kind in a club in NYC. So it hit me from leftfield when – I was just following my friends and we ended up in a car driving around Brooklyn. I was actually expecting some proper funk music because $mall ¢hange was supposed to be Djing (or so they’d told me) – As we were walking up the stairs to the loft party, I could hear the bass, and some people were actually dressed up. I thought I was walking into a rave just then. I recognized the song and was like, I have to get in there NOW. It was bliss. Almost 2 hours of Durrr and Trailer Trash anthems. Thank you Dominic of The Glass. (And surprise, surprise when I walked outside: it was not even a half block from Dope Jams in Bed-Stuy).

The Violets – Lost Pages. I did have this in 07. But I slept on it. I really like it. It’s one of the albums I can listen to straight through and enjoy every minute.

songs on constant replay, january-june 2008:

busta rhymes – don’t touch me – it’s good to hear busta having what sounds like FUN after who knows how long (a decade?) the lame thug persona he’s been cultivating for years now doesn’t fit the character we all fell in love with throughout the 90s- that rambunctious, goofy, lovable MC going nuts over some some appropriately nutty beats (gimme some more, dangerous, put your hands where my eyes could see, woo-hah… the list goes on). dunno what his new album’ll sound like, but this track gives me great hope…

prgz – bama gettin’ money (diplo remix) – this is SUCH a reply to three 6 mafia’s “stay fly”! love it! extra points for flipping bad 80s cheese (wham!) into something so menacing.

good dubstep tracks:
silkie – sky’s the limit
headhunter – horny teen
skream – tek-a-pill

most dubstep still sucks, and whatever promise it held three years ago has been rendered obsolete by a conveyor belt stream of wobbly, faux-ragga, cheap-thrill bullshit. but these three! silkie has the EEEEEEPIC synths, headhunter the sleaze, and skream the zombie vibe.

duke dumont – almost all he’s done – he’s one of a small handful of producers making *QUALITY* XXXXXX house (don’t know what it’s called anymore, don’t care) that everyone loves so much nowadays. the trick is, his glitches and edits and whatever other elements he uses actually PROPEL his songs, not just attempt vainly at giving the beat a “hard, distorted” feel. his take on debbie deb’s “when i hear music” is the definitive one, “lean and bounce” achieves the gritty texture everyone’s failed at, and the remix of missy’s “we run this” sounds riotous. awesome!

kanye west – flashing lights (video; first version) – why was there a second version made? was there not enough appreciation for the cinematically mesmerizing accompaniment to one of last year’s best songs? did we need some corny, forced, tremendously clichéd new york sob story instead? blah.

bun b – you’re everything – it has a crazy jodeci sample and that buzzsaw bass (trae – cadillac!!!) that i canNOT resist.

special mention:

sometime before summer last year, i came upon a bangladesh-produced track called “amilly” starring then-unknown (and now completely vanished?) rapper charlie mackenroe. the minimal, massive boom-clack beat was one of the year’s very best, though i forgot to mention it in december. this year, the beat was given to lil’ wayne (it’s “a milli” now), but you know what? the charlie mackenroe version was better! lil’ wayne’s stream-of-consciousness flow is all diminishing returns on this monster of a thumper, and even though this mackenroe guy was a no-mark, at least he gave his version a chorus, shitty as it was. anyway, helluva beat. oh, and there’re an endless pile of freestyles over this beat by a bunch of people now… they all stink!

from the top of mt. fuji, even though that lake makes it look like i’m at surface level…

sets on constant replay, january-june 2008

dj clever – offshore records mix – may – bless offshore records! makes you wish it was 1997, when dnb was the truth.

diplo – mad decent worldwide radio #27 – diplo’s often most on point in off-the-cuff sets like these, truly the sign of a great dj.
PRGz – Bama Gettin Money (Diplo Remix)

ghislain poirier – bring the fire – a ghislain poirier set is always gold before even listening.

dj wonder – april 1xtra dubstep mix – GOOD dubstep, no wobbly inanity, great selection, great sequencing… what a relief!

joker – skream stella sessions mix, may 2008 – the only other good dubstep mix so far this year.

and the very best of the last six months…

two entries!

1) JOKER – SNAKE EATER!!!

godDAMN, what a tune. i was gonna lump it with the other dubstep tracks i mentioned above, but… godDAMN, what a tune! this has it all. in a perfect world, this would be the worldwide summer anthem.

2) RUSTIE!!!

his showcase mix on mary anne hobbs’ radio1 show last april was a revelation in the way few things are nowadays, primarily because rustie has accomplished what is perhaps the most virtuous musical feat of all: culling your influences and morphing them into something unique, distinct, and wholly original. we can talk about how rustie employs a bit of dubstep here, hip-hop there, rnb here and such, but NOBODY sounds like HIM. he’s in a league of his own, he’s amazing, and he’s destined for greatness.

rustie on mary anne hobbs’ 1xtra show – april 23^rd, 2008

rustie & hudson mohawk – 4AM drunken mix

rustie – gutterish mix

everything on this list is easily googleable!

see you in december!

PS- you know what song SUCKS?! Estelle – American Boy. WHAT THE FFFFFF!?! TRASH!!!! <!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>

JAY: THIS IS FOR YOU. AND FOR YOU, TOO, CHARLY!

Well, Jay… I dunno what I could say about my experience in Japan thus far that wouldn’t make me feel “grandiloquent,” full of hot air, and/or pseudo-…deep/pseudo-intellectual. I thought long and hard about what to say concerning my conclusions and impressions up till now, and… I think I got it. Here it goes:

Barring differences in history, food, language, television programs, clothing, sensibilities in the country’s art, the weather, music, writing, technology, and yadda yadda yadda, whatever other cultural/geographic/etc. facet you can think of,… people are people, no matter where, no matter what. In the end, sincerity, courtesy, honesty, common sense, and generosity are all that matter, and all one needs to make shit work. I guess that makes me sound like some grandpa or something, but really, beyond the “wow, the food is so different” and “ooh, eastern and western approaches to xxx are so contrasting! How interesting!” and such that come with a new country, especially one renowned for being so highly isolated and insular, even today, being good to people is life’s cardinal rule. The more I understand the language, the more I realize that everyonr I listen to is expressing the same exact sentiments as any other human being I’ve ever known. We’re all human, we’re all the same, despite different approaches to art, comedy, certain mannerisms, expressions, etc. etc. etc.

Well, there you have it! I dunno it it makes much sense, or if it’s at all what you expected, but that’s the best I can do. If I wrote any more, I think my ideas would spiral into complete incomprehensibility.

]]> http://formirthonly.com/blog/2008/07/25/halfa-2008/feed/ 1 http://formirthonly.com/blog/2008/07/08/kon-amir-and-mike-simonetti-italians-do-it-better-at-love/ http://formirthonly.com/blog/2008/07/08/kon-amir-and-mike-simonetti-italians-do-it-better-at-love/#comments Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:06:39 +0000 Jay http://blog.giantstep.net/?p=35

Something to do after Little Jackie at Steven on Thursday. I’ve been in a disco swirl the past couple weeks after seeing Mike Simonetti (label head of Italians Do It Better and Troubleman Unlimited) turn out jams (for only a half hour!) like Don Ray’s Standing In The Rain and Harold Melvin & Bluenotes’ Don’t Leave Me This Way (the only one I knew). There were about 3 other ones of note, but the lyrics I saved in my cell didn’t help me track them down. (Yes, I’m a nerd – not as bad as photographing records, though).

To satisfy my craving, I’ve had Horse Meat Disco (a modern day London revival of the NY disco scene) radio shows on repeat, including a recent broadcast they did for Beats In Space. …And I do realize I probably have to dive into the bottomless pit of Larry Levan, Mancuso, Siano (who has a new Sunday party at Santos Playhouse) etc at some point now. But I hope to get a little more insight into the New York of old on Thursday.

The Alex Chess of AM Eyewear from Australia. Gimme gimme! I should just fork over the $250 AUS, shouldn’t I? Another option is mebbe the X-ray vision sunglasses from Karen Walker. *sigh* I really have turned to the dark side – I used to be so against shades.

It just looks like so much fun. There’s more on MySpace.

*sort of

Tune of the night was Crookers’ Love to Edit. It’s like 7-8 months stale, but I’m pretty sure nobody knew just judging on reaction. (And I’d never heard it played out, so it sounded fresh even though I’ve heard it 1000x on downloaded mixsets). I really did want to bang out some of the more minimal/techno tracks I’ve been into recently, but the system wouldn’t have done them any favors and they prolly would have cleared everyone out, unfortunately. Regardless, I had a good time, my friends had a good time and there was only one person complaining they wanted to hear Biggie.

I saved my tracklist. Obviously, I bit off of my favorite DJs – wasn’t trying to re-invent the wheel or anything – so a big “Thank You” to them. (I was going to hate on myself for playing all hits, but it was my first time – what was I going to do? play filler for posterity’s sake? Na, it’s just a party for my friend’s birthday). Pictures are here.

Update: My buddy Luis and I are doing lists for the first half of 2008 since we agreed our memories suck for our end of year lists. Watch this space.

Well, I’ve taken a serious interest in them.

“Til The Dawn” directed by Nicola Probert

A Clearing In the Woods Forum

Staying in all the time leads to depression. I’ve been almost masochistic in my self-imposed jailing, especially given the recent change in weather. I re-watched episodes of Twin Peaks and Strangers with Candy, and indulged in the occasional SC VOD, though. This week, I discovered Billa’s flickr account (he’s the photographer for SuperSuper magazine) and ended up sinking hours into middle-click-photo, middle-click All Sizes, right-click-v-left-click-ing through his 19k+ photos of East London club characters.

On tonight’s party: It’s nice to feel at home when you go out, to know you’re going to enjoy yourself, to hope for the time of your life and come away satisfied. It was a small slice of fulfillment – til the next one.

Chic – I Want Your Love (Todd Terje Edit) (pre party listening)

Alexander Robotnick – Problemes D’Amour (Dub) (A song I never thought I would hear in a club until I did tonight)

“It is happening.” — The Giant

This just in: Looks like it’s just gonna be a German-Canadian-British lineup. Proxy is no longer on the bill – prolly so he can work on his album. Which is really fine with meeeeeee.

Really funny Turbo press releases

The Proxy – Dance In The Dark
Out May 5th. (Sorry, it sounds like popcorn in a microwave oven at this quality, but you get the point).

Matt Walsh MySpace (check for mixes – his APR mix is my current fav).

Lo and behold, there may be a silver lining in it all. But will it happen?

I’m not really ashamed to say I only attended 1 of the 4 parties previously posted here this year. (There were more, but I deleted them) . In short, I’ve missed too many – part of it was my inane new year’s resolution, part of it was the cold weather -> being sick.

After scouring MySpace and Yelp (for parties and hair stylists, respectively), I decided on THE REAL WORLD, and an aggressive, ’80s bowl cut from Mousey Brown Salon (which I don’t recommend at all). The afterparty (location TBA) will be DJ’d by Princess Julia (The P.i.X zine) and The Lovely Jonjo (Durrr). The occasion? My 25th birthday.

(Julian and Sophie)

Fashion UK or fuk.co.uk’s played an important role in my life. I was a sorry, depressed teenager, living in cultureless suburbia, and I really ate up everything I could find through magazines at Tower and sites on the internet, including news items and LFW coverage on fuk.co.uk.

This is really just an ode to them and 2 of my favorite designers over the years who have consistently created in a style that seems to me a complete bubble. I think Basso and Brooke’s Autumn/Winter 05 collection was the one that hit me the hardest.

I would include Julian and Sophie (nothingnothing), but they broke up a while back…not exactly sure what they’re up to now. I do know Julian’s done some really genius MySpace bulletins lately haha, if that could ever be an artform.

Basso and Brooke
Antonio Ciutto
JULIANAND’s MySpace
BLOW PR
fuk.co.uk
SUPERSUPER

Click here to view the embedded video.

I bought a pair of his black and white bunny shoe/boots at the end of last year. Admittedly, they’re kind of an eyesore at first – not in the neon blow-your-head-up sense – just a little more visual stimulation than you’d expect from canvas that covers your feet. But the best part is they have a really cute design. And that’s what I like about Peter’s clothing. It’s just cute.

More info on the TRÈS BIEN SHOP blog.

Tracklist:
1. j-zone – pimp palace magic [zone]
2. j-zone – hit n run [zone]
3. nerd – thrasher [virgin/emi]
4. toto – rosanna [cbs/sony bmg]
5. mulatu astatke – emnete [soundway/creative vibes]
6. prince – i wanna be your lover [paisley park/warner]
7. prince – raspberry beret [paisley park/warner]
8. little dragon feat yukimi nagano – test [off the wall 7"]
9. some grime track
10. josh rouse – come back [rykodisc/warner]
Interview

In other Avalanches news, they keep saying they’re almost finished with the 2nd album. I just got bored and reversed their latest Relaxation mixtape.

James de la Cruz on Stylin (straightup.com.au)
The Avalanches’ Yoga Mind Meld Zombie Relaxation Tape (normal)
Relaxation (backwards)

The Swampmaster has additional info.

“Working Together” [mp3]

I saw Norman Jay play in SF (when I was still in college and rather friendless), and he rinsed the most raw and unknown funk I’d ever heard with disco. And all these kids my age were going nuts on the dancefloor. (Can’t vouch for the Cielo crowd this time, but I’m sure he’ll pull out the jams for MLK Day).

Good Times [mp3] Check the second segue!

Band from Oxford. Very post-punk. Very art-rock. Can-not argue with the venue – still my favorite. $13 advance tix.

“Mathletics” [mp3]

“Astronauts and All” [mp3]

vs.

Long Players
MIA – Kala
Late of the Pier – Zarcorp demo
Amy Winehouse – Back To Black

Printed Matter
Dummy
Oyster
Wax Poetics
Preen

Sweet Jesus! I’m Blind! I’m Blind!
Klazart
Twin Peaks
Strangers with Candy
We Fuck Alone
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders

A Night At The Opera
1. Joe Claussell @ Dope Jams 11/3
2. Amy Winehouse @ Joe’s Pub 1/16
3. DURRR @ The End 12/29
4. Kiiiiiii! @ Cake Shop 4/4
5. Justice (DJ Set) @ Studio B 10/20
6. Koop @ Hiro Ballroom 11/2
7. Rich Medina @ APT 11/21
8. Zoo Years Eve @ Catch 12/31
9. James Murphy @ 205 Club 12/3

Shop
Tokio 7
Levi’s
TRÈS BIEN

More lists: Satine, Cat, Luis, Charles, Patrick, mine

4 misguided azns tainting the otherwise uniformly Victorian-garbed art-rock crowd. Girls with bobs, guys with white, ruffled shirts. Special guest was Hatcham Social. Unfortunately missed Ipso Facto due to our taking 3 trains in the wrong direction and getting lost in Shoreditch. And how could I not mention The P.I.X’s lovely selection of oldies. The countdown to midnight was unnoticeably nonexistent.

Arrived late and missed half of them, but still caught the tail end of Rory’s set and saw Dan Deacon, Erol and Skull Juice lay the club in ruins. How good was it to hear The Proxy’s “Dance In The Dark” (dished out by Skull Juice) and Rory’s dub of The Teenagers’ Starlett Johanssan (played by Erol) on The End’s system. Nothing like affirmation of a whole year’s pining/wishing/downloading podcasts/wishing/chart mining.

I wish I’d grown up in NYC.

Bugged Out! wiggling [MP3]

We’re Not Cool AKA Mark Allain’s MySpace

This compilation makes me laugh. Firstly, it’s not “trip hop” at all. It’s more booty/miami/90s dance than anything else. 2nd, it’s one of the few CDs from my childhood that I can look back fondly on. I had to reorder it last week because I threw the original disc away <shrug> – it was a present from my mom for Christmas over 10 years ago. I must have been a Freshmen in HS. I remember listening to it over and over in my Aunt’s bathroom and then again on the couch when everyone had gone to sleep.

The songs are saturated with cheese synths, stoopid samples and trashy diva vocals. Definitely a guilty pleasure.

Christian Lacroix – Espirit De La Saison 2007 FW

Because it’s amazing everytime.

Just picked up the “new” issue. I’ve wanted to hate this magazine/”book” for the past few months because it changed its look and gained a little popularity – sort of became “World Hipster” instead of “World Fashion.” I started reading Jalouse, exploring online magazines and getting all uppity with my “do your own research” skills, following webpage links and “discovering” designers without the aid of a high gloss periodical. But alas, every edition of Oyster shows me who’s boss, and I’ve yet to flip through one and come away uninspired. Unbelievable. Big up the editors, directors, photographers, stylists, writers, designers, contributors of Oyster.

Photo-only fashion websites never really do Christian Lacroix’s shows justice because they only post one photo per outfit, which is incredibly misleading. Most of his pieces are multi-layered and the real beauty is revealed in the peeling of the outer clothing. This season the Czech-goth inspired coif, flat hat and wintry spells of satin and lace define the theme for the collection, shadowing his usually blinding color palette with black on black.

Wow. You might want to mute this video.

Her prints are – OOMPH – tasty. And surprisingly her dresses are affordable.

The 3-CD mix costs around $30 but the packaging is gorgeous and features 14 pages of liner notes detailing each of Deakin’s idiosyncratic selections. Fred Deakin and Lemon Jelly mixes are readily available on Soulseek with tracklistings.

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Ever since his Scarfun heels, I’ve been a fan. Not sure about the plastic bits at the end, but it’s all about the gardening hats and gloves. The poncho/jackets that appear to hang on the front add a pinch of silliness and the prints are ace as well.

Photos | Buy (…if you live in Brazil >_< )

The finest in Italo-house and lighthearted, Blade Runner-esque electro. (I also got my first speeding ticket while pretending I was in a race car video game and blasting the first mix).

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