Sunday, February 28, 2010

HUSTLE


Bloc Party fucking kills it on the remix of Tunng's brand new single, Hustle. The original is a indie-folky feel good number that's bound to make you forget all your troubles for roughly 4 minutes. But Bloc Party essentially removed all the original instrumental aspects and transformed it into a techno beast. Perhaps it's my unrelenting love for Kele Okereke, and my desperation to hear something new from one of the greatest bands around at the moment, but I love this.

Listen to the original first I think, here it is right below. Then never listen to it again and blast the remix on repeat for all eternity.



Hustle (Bloc Party Remix) - Tunng

COMPLETELY ME


Here's some pretty damn compelling acoustic versions of songs from Frankmusik's rather disappointing debut, Complete Me. In Step and Better Off As Two were always the best songs on there, and these alternate versions are just as good. You can find both, and the rest of the album in acoustic format on the digital-only release rather imaginatively named; Completely Me.

In Step - Frankmusik
Better Off As Two - Frankmusik

Thursday, February 25, 2010

LIGHTS // ELLIE GOULDING


To be honest, I saw Lights coming a mile away. It's too much for the record label suits to let a female artist with girl next door looks to be anything other than pop. There's no money in it otherwise, and nobody wants that. I also understand how very typical it is for the people who got her to where she is (her original fans) suddenly reject her as soon as she makes it. But that's what's going to happen, people are fickle and the weight of hype is suffocating for all but a select few.

While Ellie Goulding had this charming Electro/Indie/Pop vibe when we first heard her, it's a different girl we're listening to on Lights. Perhaps i'm being a tad melodramatic, but the whole thing feels over-produced and typical. From the album artwork, which will turn everyone but the most stalwart Beyonce fans away in disgust, to the cutesy sentimentality and sappy lyrical work in most of the tracks, it all reeks of a budding young artist steered towards the black hole of despair that is the Top 40 charts by the powers that be. It was obvious with Frankmusik's debut, Complete Me, and it's obvious here.

However like everything, Lights is not without its merits. The opener, Guns And Horses, is exactly what I was hoping for from Goulding with this album. It's catchy as hell but still retains that X-Factor that discerns credible songwriting from manufactured pop. Tracks previously heard and loved by many such as Starry Eyed and Under The Sheets are still there, but little vocal flourishes and production highlights make them sound far more pop than ever before, especially in the former. Your Biggest Mistake is another song that gives us but a glimpse of what could have been, it's a truly compelling track, and the vocal effects utilised remind me once again of Frankmusik, but here it's a great thing, rather than a disappointing similarity.

Which makes me wonder about the tracks that didn't make it on the album. You get a sneaking suspicion throughout the album that this is not her best work, just the stuff deemed least risky by her label.

All of this said, you could do far worse than buy Lights. In a world where people like Lady Gaga can become famous and respected, Ellie Goulding is a breath of fresh air. I sincerely hope this album and her inevitable success doesn't pigeon-hole her for the rest of her career.

5/10

WEBSITE

HYPE



Here's a whole bunch of what you're missing out on, it's all quality but I'll put the best stuff up top, as I know how daunting it is looking at a big list of songs to download.

Saturday Night (Gloves Remix) - Matt Van Schie
Neverest (Raw Man Remix) - Hey Champ
Never Known Love - Thieves Like Us
Tokyo Getaway - Polygon Palace
Bright City Lights - Barretso
Beach Comber - Real Estate
What You Need (Hey Champ Remix) - Priors
Yes, And Dance (Silver Columns Remix) - Silver Columns
Jeffer - Boys Noize

Mostly electronic stuff this time round, save for the Real Estate track.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Thursday, February 18, 2010

HEAVY DRUG /// CAVALIER

 


Two really interesting tracks, on the more downtempo side this time.

First up is a track from UNKLE released late(ish) last year called Heavy Drug (Surrender Sounds Mix). A rework of the version that appears on the album Where Did The Night Fall, it's a slow burning chill-out masterpiece. Definitely worth listening to.


Heavy Drug (Surrender Sounds Mix) - UNKLE

Next is a remix of a song by Silver Columns called Cavalier. The "Time And Space Machine" remix has a slow bubbly beat underneath interesting lyrics delivered in a deadpan and effortlessly cool manner.


Cavalier (The Time And Space Machine Remix) - Silver Columns

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Thursday, February 11, 2010

LESS IS MORE


Everything moves in cycles. Where a few years ago the best songs were ones with slick production values and bells and whistles, now everything is stripped down and raw. One only needs to glance at The xx and Mumford & Sons to see exactly what I mean.

So embracing the spirit of the age, here are some new tracks that I've been listening to over the past couple of months that I think sum this methodology up perfectly.

Girls' Night - First Rate People
Zorbing - Stornoway
All Is Said And Done - Broadcast 2000

And here's some more exceptions to the rule.

My Keys, Your Boyfriend - Everything Everything
What You Know - Two Door Cinema Club
Let Me Take You Out - Class Actress
Marchin' In - Lo-Fi-Fnk

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