2010 ‘Artists to watch’ Preview

Originally written for LSBU Magazine

So with a whole month having past us by, it is with this advantageous position that we bring you our artists to watch out for in 2010. 14 artists from various genres, there really should be something for everybody here. Some will breakthrough into the mainstream, other will remain underground in the hidden gems category – but all are of high quality and ingenuity – so get your notepad ready for some severe jotting. The following are in no particular order; the numbers are there just so you don’t lose count and think we’re lying in regards the final 14.

Be sure to check out a playlist at the bottom of the article too.

Wow, when you type in Bold AND Italics, it sure does look patronising sometimes.

1)    Joy Orbison – www.myspace.com/joyorbison

Flying the flag for South London, electronic producer Joy Orbison, real name Peter O’Grady, creates a dubstep-esque sound that smashes through the genre and drags in hypnotic house tones, chopped up looped vocals – and yet remains oddly uplifting. Must listen track Hyph Mngo spread internationally like a rampant STI in Mclaren House towards the latter end of ’09, a floor-filling jam that catapulted the Croydon one into the spotlight. He still works in the mailroom there ya know, saying he prefers music to be a relief from work, rather than work itself.

2)    Alex Metric – www.myspace.com/alexmetric

Alex Metric’s CV: Producer. Songwriter… as well as a singer. Oh, and a DJ – on radio and in the worlds best clubs. And a Remix demon. So, jack-of-all-trades, master of none you might say? No no no. The electro fiend released some of the best 80’s infused synth-pop of last year, striking a delicate balance between accessibility and straight-up dance-floor beats. B-sides such as Gusto muster something dirtier, in the vein of Justice; whilst monster lead singles boast choppy-synths, short, sweet and sharp – with hooky vocals. That describes Daft Punk, yes? Debut album hitting you’re local store hard early this year.

3)    Pulled Apart By Horses – www.myspace.com/pulledapartbyhorses

Simply put: The best live band in Britain. If you’ve had the pleasure of seeing them, you’ll know what we’re saying. Post-hardcore at it’s ugly, raucous, larynx-bursting finest. Front-man Tom Hudson jumps, screams, postures, wretches with every fiber in his body, writhes about on the stage floor, invades the audience, screams some more; just general anarchy – and a huge amount of fun. Oh yeah, and the music isn’t too bad from the South Yorkshire quartet – catchy, crunchy guitar riffs and screeching vocals that exhaust the listener – an antidote to some of the shall we say, blander guitar bands out there right now.

4)    Ellie Goulding – www.elliegoulding.co.uk

Miss Goulding is already establishing a name for herself in the mainstream, having won the notorious BBC Sound of 2010 poll – which did feature some top of artists, but overall stayed on the ‘safe’ side. Lazily heralded by some as these years La Roux, or Little Boots, she fuses traditional sing-songwriter sensibilities with an electronic edge – or if you insist on increasingly ridiculous genre names, Folktronica. For further listening, check out the superlative Under The Sheets (Jakwob Remix) – set to do for Goulding what Skream did for La Roux with THAT remix of In For The Kill. Type it into Youtube/Google now. Right now. Go on. Only sheer incomprehensible waffle will be typed until you do. Afshdhfadshfahdfhag. Ahjshal. Buh. Done it yet? Good.

5)    Esben & The Witch – www.myspace.com/esbenandthewitch

Brighton based Esben & The Witch provide the soundtrack to one of your more visceral, haunting nightmares in a way that can only be described as beautiful. Their brand of downbeat well-blended electronica posses such a thick, fantastical atmosphere, with ethereal qualities you could write a book on. Influences such as Portishead and Thom Yorke are evident, and the vocals are spine-chillingly haunted. Previous EP 33, available for free currently, posses a refreshing sound that creeps under the skin, and manages to disquiet, enthrall and remain somewhat mysterious, mostly at the same time. Glorious. Also, go see them live, they have an array of olde world objects on stage, including an owl who we’ve been reliably informed is called Gemma. Fact.

6)    Delphic – www.delphic.cc

Another band hotly tipped in indie circles (actually, indie-types would probably prefer Dodecahedrons, being indie-types) Delphic provide a fine slice of melodic electro. With debut album Acolyte already out, the shuddering synths and stuttering guitar rhythms add up to a perfect chunk of Indie-pop. Plus, lead single Doubt is a humungous humdinger of a tune.

7)    Theophilus London – www.myspace.com/theophiluslondon

Listening to Theophilius (actually his real name) for the first time is such a memorable experience – the sheer surprise at the blend of genres on offer and slightly bizarre, acrobatic lyrics are a treat. Based in Brooklyn, traces of Hip-hop are evident with blaring synths and 80’s beat, conjoined with hypnotic bass lines.

8)    Nedry – www.myspace.com/nedrymakesmusic

London based Nedry could be brothers of early mentioned Esben & The Witch – though the little ‘edgier’ brother that likes to stay up later, eat all your food in your cupboard, and listens to dirty Dubstep. Again firmly entrenched in camp electronica, it’s the synergy of disquieting minimal soundscapes in tandem with a grimey, glitchy beat-driven undertone that captures the attention of mind and body respectively. Post-night out music for when you’re not quite ready to finish your night.

9)    We Have Band – www.myspace.com/wehaveband

Describing themselves as a ‘Disco-rock trio’, We Have Band write infectious hooks that infuse the dance-ethic of Hot Chip and the sheer funk of Talking Heads, as well as a passing similarity of David Byrne’s vocal style. They dream-up the kind of foot-spasming four-to-the-floor that will have many leading remix demons (Erol Alkan, Simian Mobile Disco etc) clamoring to disassemble their tracks, and build a monster hit. On a Fabriclive CD soon, for sure.

10)    La Shark – www.myspace.com/lasharkband

Yet another South London assemblage, you’ll find them just down the road from here on the 453, in the baddest of badlands that is New Cross. Fun is the key word in the sextets outlook, sugary keyboards with a slight psychedelic twist adding up to something fresh, yet familiar. You can see them performing at their regular club night, Deptford Darling, shockingly found in Deptford, Darling.

11)    Jay Electronica – www.myspace.com/jayelectronica

Unique is the most overly used word in music journalism; how can anything be truly ‘unique’, given the vast array of covered genres and plethora of artists? Well, US hip-hop artist Jay Electronica is the closest thing an artist warrants to this tag. He makes use of percussionist film soundtracks whilst creating abstract raps over the top. For example, in 15 continuous minutes of music, without drums, he builds from the soundtrack to the film Eternal sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, featuring spoken words segments from friends and looped samples. Jack Kerouac-ian in style – just have a listen.

12)    Toro y Moi – http://toroymoi.blogspot.com/

The brainchild of South Carolina’s Chaz Bundick, Toro y Moi sound like a warm blast of evening sunshine wrapped up in prozac; If The Beach Boys were to run away with Animal Collective and have an impromptu jam by a campfire, this would be the result. Splendid pop tones and gentle electronics make for comforting ear candy, yet full of subtle surprises and disorientating harmonies to boot. Check out his blog (above) that he runs – full of his own sun-baked photos and words; the type of chap that constantly creates.

13) Gold Panda – www.iamgoldpanda.com

A myriad of influences are on offer from Gold Panda, a project from leftfield producer and remixer Derwin; from techno, glitch, electro, noise and even pop, he creates dreamy, challenging electronica that always remains, dare I say, pretty. Minimal lush beats and distorted loops are dipped in old records and VHS from charity shops, which Gold Panda savages frequently. An elective fellow, having played Fabric recently, yet you get the feeling he’d be equally comfortable in the bar in Star Wars (that’s Chalmun’s Cantina, kids) surrounded by the dangerous characters of Tatooine. Or something.

14) Local Natives – www.thelocalnatives.com

Local Natives are the kind of band that you’ll be listening to, and your dad will walk in the room and say ‘Oooh, I like these, who are these?’. See also: Fleet Foxes. In fact, that lazy comparison is probably a fair one for the LA-ers – there crossover appeal evident, with melodic barbershop hairy harmonies, but added with the rising, emotional sound of The Arcade Fire.

Supa-playlist download here

*Photography by me, if you give a lengthy string of piss. (Apart from the ESOTSM still, obviously)

Hot Chip – One Life Stand (Album Review)

Label: DFA/EMI
Release date: 01/02/10
Website: MySpace

We’ve all been there. You have a friend that how has ‘found love’. He/she stops staying out to the wee hours for the most, the consumption of arbitrary intoxicants from ‘Dave’ ceases, says no to that last drink… and, well, grows up basically; matures – possibly becoming a more ‘well rounded’, happier individual. Well folks, Hot Chip have found love for their 4th studio album, One Life Stand, and have too followed this path.

One Life Stand marks a noticeable departure from previous releases – the brilliantly erratic Made In The Dark showcased the schizophrenic energy from the South London quintet – such as the straight up dance floor smash of Ready For The Floor, a couple of ballads thrown in and some dirtier electronics and experimentation-led tunes. Lead single One Night Stand captures the mood of the album – though only in it’s name (as previously discussed). A perfect blend of melodic pop, yet something that you can move to also, classic Hot Chip – “I will offer you my temper/In the hope that you will tame me” Alexis Taylor pleads.

I Feel Better is more of a signifier – a coherent, hugely melodic pop/soul gem, featuring a hooky string arrangement, and most remarkably of all, shows the gloriously sweet voice of Taylor, a song he has been waiting his whole life to sing. “I only want one night/together in our arms” Taylor croons – offset against the auto-tuned voice of Joe Goddard, providing quite the synergy. Some steel drums even creep into the end, Hot Chip still a hotbed of creative activity no matter what sound they produce.

A few ‘ballad’ tracks in the middle of the album threaten to become lost – Slush in particular is fairly forgettable and bereft of a much-needed spark – the other side of ‘your friend’ finding love; at times becoming almost dull to the outsider. Though the good far outweighs the bad overall, tracks such as opener Thieves In the Dark triumph over, echoing And I Was A Boy From School, arguably Hot Chip’s finest hour. The album ends of a large high with Take It In, with a dark, brooding, hooky verse at first, only to be juxtaposed with a soulful chorus that swims inside of you, and can get lost in.

So, gone are the threats of Hot Chip breaking your legs, and snapping off your head – (“less craziness to it” as Goddard says) to be replaced by a far more coherent album, that remains typically ‘English’ sounding; a rarity in the alterative world. This feels like the sound Hot Chip have been itching to display for while – sauntering into the Pop/soul area, Robert Wyatt influenced, side-stepping away from a dance act. Although some Hot Chip fans may find it all slightly off-putting at first, the tunes are so well crafted, only the most cold-hearted bitter person would reject. A joy.

Rating: 7.5/10

Download – I Feel Better

A Weeknight In The City… Pt. II

Alright there?

So, here’a a further selection of shots from mah series of night images in empty urban spaces, that possibly somehow reflect the isolation felt by inner-city Londoners (or any city) and the relationship with photography therein. (see first set here if yo interested)

Still insist on naming the tunes after Burial tracks. Conveys the mood of the photos and all that balls. Anyway, less words, more photos, yes yes?

Feel free to click on the photos to link to my Flickr – just to get that view counter up, that’s all. I mean, it doesn’t make any difference, but it makes me feel better about myself when that view count gets high, oui? TEH little victories…

Also, the photographer that’s inspiring all this, Rut Blees Luxemburg, has an exhibition on in London at the moment at the Hot Shoe Gallery – really do check it out – running ’til February 5th

Also also here’s a cheeky Burial (with Four Tet) download for you, Moth Club. It’s good. Ja!

A Weeknight In The City

Hello, hope you’re phaaantastic. Herein you’ll find a few photos that I took one night, I’m finally getting the photography bug again after awhile MIA.

I’ve been inspired by photographers such as Rut Blees Luxemburg, (who you should really REALLY check out) who is a master of night photography in city and urban envorinments, and includes an incredible amount of detail utilising stunning natural, yet of course artificial light – In that ‘extra’ light by herself is never used. Her photos posses a heightened sense of loneliness, yet with traces of human activity; like we, the viewer, can sense the dramatic potential of anticipation or anxiety, of an event just having been played out, or about to begin.

Her photo appears on the cover of Bloc Party’s A Weekend In The City (above) – an album I’ve revisited recently, and it may not be fashionable to say this, but I believe is a vastly underrated album that really encapsulates the feeling of, you’ve guessed it, a weekend in the city, lost in a mist of intoxicants, hedonism, comedowns and memories.

There are plenty of great individual tracks, but also flowing together perfectly as a whole, a concept album that works. Luxemburg’s photograph really fits into the concept of the album… album artwork can potentially be a productive tool if used correctly, doesn’t often happen mind.

I’ve named the photos rather pretentiously after Burial tracks – partly to suit the dark, broody city feel I was after (though my photos weren’t ‘dark’ or ‘city’ enough really), and partly because I fucking adore Burial right now. They’ve just ‘clicked’ recently…

Here’s a Bloc Party remix by Burial of Where is Home?

And here’s a Thom Yorke remix by Burial of And It Rained All Night

View a slideshow of the images here, if ye would prefer, or scroll yo ass down:

Chk Chk Chk – Best EVER picture disc

Chk Chk Chk, originally uploaded by J_Ymmit.

Having recently been converted to the ways of vinyl, I’ve been taken in by the sheer aesthetics of the experience – the artwork of course a major proponent. Though I do love that vinyl smell too I tells ya. Especially if it is second hand, older than me, and co-habited with a chain smoking shit-stained hermit named Clive – the funkier the odour, the better.

Anyway, I stumbled across this amazing piece of 12″ by !!! (That reads Chk Chk Chk kids in case you weren’t sure) in my local record store. In fact, before I bought it, I didn’t even know what it looked like – all that was on the shop floor was the made-up piece of cardboard by the staff, as seen below, proclaiming Best EVER picture disc (which I too got to keep). They weren’t wrong.

So it was an exciting surprise when they unveiled the actual vinyl at the counter (They even did a mini drumroll on my behalf. Ya see, you just don’t get that kind of experience when you type in “Simon & Garfunkle – torrent” into Google).

Oh plus, I actually really like Heart of Hearts anyway, and contains a lot of potential for mixing in with other tracks. Also, has great potential for dancing like a dyspraxic child short of it’s Ritalin – in fact, that’s probably the only way you could dance to this.

Anyone know of any other instances where there’s actual artwork on the vinyl itself?

Here’s a remix of Cut Copy – Futures by !!!

2 Many Djs & LCD Soundsystem Radio extravaganza

Whatta collaboration. LCD Soundsystem and 2manydjs on Friday night just gone (08/01/10) took over Aussie radio station Triple J Radio for 3 hours of glorious live music mixing.

With James Murphy and Pat Mahoney representing LCD, it of course featured a whole range of eclectic disco gems as you’d expect if you’ve followed any of their previous mixes; as they put it an one point “If you’re a 17 yeard old aussie kid staying in on a Friday night, tuning in for some house/electro… be disappointed!” A mixture of farcical banter and running commentary between the four guys was a pleasure to listen to.

For those who own the Fabriclive: 36 compilation (complied by James & Pat) you’ll be familiar with the style – and if you don’t: a) What’s wrong with you? b) I strongly urge you to check it out before this hefty time investment.

Of particular remembrance was a double header featuring relative Australian electro unknown’s Flash And The Pan, with Waiting For A Train – which was then followed by an early Talking Heads demo of Once In A Lifetime that I’d never heard of before, called Right Start. Funk me, it was funky as funk.

Also, a german version of Heroes sung by German Party Rock (Come on! Whatta genre name! Ja!) outfit Die Idole were a reet hoot. I love mixes like this – fantastic for discovering hidden little gems that generally shy away from the mainstream. Fanjizzmic.

Download Flash And The Pan – Waiting For A Train.

Listen to the stream here (Real Player)

Tracklisting:

Soulwax – Another Excuse (DFA Remix)

Fox the Fox – Precious little Diamond
Peder Godwin – French Emotions
Tom Noble (edit) – Party together

William Onyeabor – Good Name
Heaven 17 – Play to win
Greg Van Dyke – Clone

Single Review: Charlotte Gainsbourg Ft. Beck – Heaven Can Wait

Originally posted on The 405

Label: Because Music
Release date: 25/01/10
Website: http://www.charlottegainsbourg.com/

Multi-talented French one Charlotte Gainsbourg returned to our big-fat screens last year in Lars von Trier’s well-received Antichrist, and now here she is returning with other her favourite past-time, in the form of new single Heaven Can Wait. 2006’s previous album 5:55 was a thing of beauty, her light, spoken-word singing voiced matched by compelling soft pianos and strings; music to be played in a lift said some detractors – but the sexiest lift you’ll ever have set foot in, that’s for sure.

Beck features in the new single – well ‘features’ is quite an injustice, his fingerprints all over this track; Well, he did co-write it after all. It marks a definite departure from Gainsbourg’s sound of 5:55, with the new track possessing a very folksy feel, in terms of subtly ‘jangly’ (awful word, apologies) guitars and somewhat in terms of lyrical content also. It flows through along splendidly and the two voices compliment each other; though as a whole, somehow never excels itself like you feel it could. It’ll be of interest to see how Beck’s influence throughout the entire upcoming album, IRM, plays out, which Beck produced.

Make sure to watch the fantastically surreal video below, directed by Keith Scofield. It features an astronaut with pancakes for a head! A man having a bath in cereal! Beck singing to a guy with half a beard! Imagine that! Well, now you don’t have to.

It’s as if Gregory Crewdson were to have a nervous breakdown and then be invited to direct a video for Sesame Street. Check it:

Rating 7/10

2009: Remixed

Well hello there, and a belated merry new year to you. I perhaps should have written this up a couple of weeks ago, but I figured everyone would be getting sick of 2009/end of decade retrospective kind of listy crap, so have delayed until now. That and massive amounts of xmas/new year/deep winter apathy. Ennui if you will.

So here’s a selection of lovely compressed sounds that are mp3’s of some of the best remixes of that year that was 2009. 12 tracks that have often soundtracked my year, remixes that have really contributed something new to the original, and in many cases transformed into something wholly different, and yet equally wonderful.

Yes yes, it does include that La Roux remix from Skream, minus 1,000,000 points for lack of originality there, I know, but come on – it’s a killer track. Cringey pun intended. You’ll find a couple of Alex Metric ones thrown in too; in fact I probably could have included a whole album of these such is the busy nature of the talented electro fiend. A personal favourite of 2009.

A special mention to Two Weeks of Hip Hop, a Dead prez vs Grizzly Bear mash-up that I first heard from one of The 405 clubnights – a great find from our resident dj Wil Cook.

Also crow-barred in is a kick-muff Simian Mobile Disco mix of The Go! Team’s Ladyflash – I’m aware it’s old, but only just discovered it this year and fell in love with the beast, so thought I’d include it as a cheeky little bonus.

Oh, and the photo included above  is one of mine – just because I hadn’t taken any in far too long, and a reminder I must take more. Also, where the playlist was created. A behind the scenes! Wow! Also also suits this blogs name.

Tracklist:

01 – Simian Mobile Disco – Cruel Intentions (Feat. Beth Ditto) (Joker Remix)

02 – MSTRKRFT – Heartbreaker (Feat. John Legend) (Laidback Luke Remix)

03 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix) (Club Edit)

04 – Bloc Party – One More Chance (Alex Metric Remix)

05 – Friendly Fires – On Board (Joakim Remix)

06 – La Roux – In For The Kill – Skream’s Let’s Get Ravey Remix

07 – Animal Collective – Daily Routine (Phaseone remix)

08 – The Hood Internet - Two Weeks Of Hip Hop (Dead Prez vs Grizzly Bear)

09 - Lindstrom & Christabelle - Baby Can’t Stop (Aeroplane Remix)

10 – Pheonix – Lisztomania (Alex Metric Remix)

11 - Filthy Dukes - Messages (Filthy Dukes Kill Em All Remix)

12 – The Go! Team – Ladyflash (Simian Mobile Disco Remix)

Download here

Alex Metric – It Starts EP review

Originally posted on The 405

Label: Marine Parade
Release date: 30/11/09
Website: http://www.myspace.com/alexmetric

Who is Alex Metric? Well, for the uninitiated, he’s a producer. And a songwriter… as well as a singer. Oh, and a DJ. And a Remix demon. So, jack-of-all-trades, master of none you might say? Judging by this latest offering, definitely not. No-siree-bob. The mighty talented one of all things electronic is back with one last EP before the hotly anticipated debut album, due out early next year – and it follows a similar procedure of the splendid previous EP The Head Straight.

Title track It Starts strikes a delicate balance of accessibility and straight-up dance-floor beats. Following his traditional 80’s synth-pop sentiments, at three minutes long, it has one foot firmly placed in indie territory with hooky sing-a-long lyrics and forward structuring, whilst the other foot jerks about to house music. A bit like eating a bag of Percy Pigs; sweet, colourful, surprisingly more-ish, and leading to hyperactivity. Choppy-synths, short and sharp, overground yet not compromising his own style and roots. That describes Daft Punk, yes?

BUT… Metric showcases his further depth with two massive B-Sides here. Discotron sounds like it has been cryogenically frozen since 1986, and desperate for it’s voice to be heard – a composite of electronics, no lyrics, French-electro-house style; Justice at their grittiest. Following on for a stunning double-header, Gusto drops in like a runaway bulldozer exactly a minute in after an exhilarating build-up, before continuing on its destructive journey.

It is this contradiction in style that makes Metric an artist that will soon see his face thrust into the stands of newsagents very soon. Never compromising credibility with his leading pop-singles, and never a self-indulgence with his electro-house work; always a pleasure in both fields. The new album should be a belting ruddy great stonker.

Rating: 8/10
MP3: Alex Metric – Gusto

What say you on this? Sound off in our Fourum!

Blast from the past #2 – Skifree

Welcome to the 2nd in the series of nostalgia, that will either have you going ‘I don’t get it, how dull’, or ‘Oooo, I remember that! But 5 minutes later will say, but really, how dull’.

After a slightly drunken conversation in a kitchen with some good friends (RARRIS and SEDWARDS), we somehow all got over-excited about our remembrance of the magnificent SkiFree. To jog your memory, Skifree was a very basic game that came bundled with Windows, released in 1991, created by Chris Pirih (I love you Chris). You could take one of three courses from the outset – but the beauty of the game was you didn’t even really have to choose any of them – it was essentially free-roaming, and you’d just meander down the hill with no boundries.

And of course… watch out for the Abominable Snowman! Speedy fucker he was. He’d come along and eat you every now and again. Then HOLY SHIT!! Fire! Which seemed to burst out at random intervals. Fire and Abominable Snowmen, they don’t make ‘em like they used to. Something Gears Of War definitely lacks. Anyway, it was an addictive thing of beauty.

It’s still available for download – well, if you have a PC that is… Mac users like me will have to make do with mental masturbation over Screenshots, unless anyone happens to know of some kind soul who has done some conversion??