Gov'nor Sherburne on the latest Pole album, which is well worth your time. As a side note, I really love his use of "waxy analog delay."

A top-ten I put together for the fine folks at RVNG.

Susanna And The Magical Orchestra- Love Will Tear Us Apart

My review of Tracey Thorn's new album, Out of the Woods, in this week's Flavorpill:

Following a 15-year stint in UK duo Everything But the Girl, Tracey Thorn makes her long-overdue re-emergence with Out of the Woods. Enlisting noted DJ/remixer Ewan Pearson, Darshan Jesrani of Metro Area fame, and a cast of other notable producers, Thorn surveys early New York dance pop, pre-house, and post-disco sounds. Appropriately, she turns in an incredible cover of avant-disco composer Arthur Russell's "Get Around to It," sharpening the original's blurry tones with a crisp pop gloss and her warm, distinctive vocals. Thorn shows variety with some slower, gentler pieces that allow her voice to shine, but the album's true strength lies in the dance-oriented side of her songwriting. The lead single, "It's All True," melds throwback drum machines and vivid percussive elements to a buoyant bass line, while "Grand Canyon" is an pop anthem in the making, flirting with that elusive sweet spot between melancholy and consolation.(CJN)

Fabrice Lig- Meet U in Brooklyn

A nice interview with Henrik Schwarz over at Earplug.

Minilogue- The First Day of the Rest of My Life

Sir Richard Carnes from Tape has kindly forwarded on a lovely mix he recently did for Arveene's show on Irish radio. Here's a download link.

1) LFO - Tied Up (Spiritualized Electric Mainline Remix) // Warp
2) Force Of Nature - Sequencer (Rekid Remix) // Mule Musiq
3) Lexx - Slow Burning (Mudd Remix) // Bearfunk
4) Lindstrom - Monsteer // Dialect
5) Mock'n'Toof - Suck // CD-R
6) Vincent Markowski - The Madness Of Moths // DC
7) Junior Boys - Like A Child (Carl Craig Remix) // Domino
8) Ink & Needle - Two // Tattoo
9) Hearthrob - Golum // M_nus
10) Emptyset - Acuphase // Future Days
11) Efdemin - Just A Track // Dial
12) Akabu - I'm Not Afraid Of The Future (Joey Negro Medusa Mix) // Z
13) Ferrer & Sydenham Inc - Timbuktu (Sydenham And Faber Vibe Out Mix) // Ibadan
14) Throbbing Gristle - Hot On The Heels Of Love (Ratcliffe Remix) // Novamute
15) Partial Arts - Trauermusik // Kompakt

Speaking of Nordic countries, I just returned from my second Iceland trip. Here are some photos taken by my lovely and talented travel companion. Stay tuned for a "three perfect days" lineup of things you should do and see while you're there.

A sneak peak of the confirmed acts for this years Mutek festival in Montreal, running from 30th May to 3rd June:

Matias Aguayo & Roccness
Gui Boratto
Chic Miniature
Cobblestone Jazz with The Mole
Colleen
Digitaline
Gangpol & Mit
Heartthrob
Kode 9
Michael Mayer
Mr Oizo
My My
Onur Ozër
Rhythm & Sound
Shackleton
Jesse Somfay
Ricardo Villalobos & Friends
Wighnomy Brothers

Luciano- Saulitude
(from the recent No Model No Tool release on Cadenza)

THIS IS APACHE BEAT



I don't write about rock music often on this blog, but I do feel I need to highlight a track from Brooklyn-based Apache Beat. My good friend and EIC of The Pop Manifesto, Ilirjana Alushaj, is the front woman, and I think they have a tremendous amount of potential. Plus, they get bonus points for the esoteric NEU! reference that is their name. This is a rough demo that Ilirjana says has changed slightly in terms of lyrics, but you get the idea. As for forthcoming output, "Tropics" is being released as a 7" in April with the b-side remixed by Tacteel of TTC/Institubes fame on Summer Lovers Unlimited. Find out about the band via their Myspace page.

Apache Beat- Nightengale (Demo version)

An interesting concept down in Oz: "The Portable Film Festival is an annual online festival presenting the best in short film and internet video culture. From the second we open our virtual doors, you can take our programme away with you – or maybe just some of the programme - and do whatever you want with it. All you need is a portable device like a video iPod, Sony PSP, laptop computer or fancy mobile phone."

More info here.

Check out the new blog format for Stylus' Beatz By the Pound column, where I am a semi-regular contributor. Editor Michael Gill and all of the contributors have been doing an amazing job.

Tim Hecker- Dungeoneering

I'm really enjoying my friend Justine's new mix, just released on RVNG. I'll try to corral her in the next couple of days for a quick Q&A on her approach to the selections, working with JD Twitch, etc. Here's the track listing:

01. Robert Fripp & Brian Eno - Swastika Girls
02. The Orb - Little Fluffy Clouds (7" Mix)
03. My Bloody Valentine - Soon (Andrew Weatherall 12" mix)
04. Shocking Blue - Acka Raga
05. Nitzer Ebb - Warsaw Ghetto
06. Turntablerocker - Love Supreme (Reduce to the Dub)
07. Daniel Wang - Like Some Dream (I Can't Stop Dreaming)
08. Ministry - All Day Remix
09. Glass Candy - I Always Say Yes
10. The Cars - Moving In Stereo
11. Hot Chip - No Fit State
12. Arthur Russell- Make 1,2
13. Chic - I Want Your Love
14. Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom - Black Spring
15. David Bowie - 1984
16. Crass - Walls
17. Malaria! - Kaltes Klares Wasser
18. Human League - Marianne
19. Christian Death - Romeo's Distress
20. Death In June - Nation
21. Goblin - Suspiria
22. Syd Barrett - Love You
23. The Zombies - Don't Go Away

Want a well-designed newspaper? Go to Europe.

A lot of the so-called "mashups" that were all the rage a few years ago usually struck me as crass and unnecessary. However, there are a few that just clicked on a deeper level. One was the Beach Boys and Spacemen 3's Ecstasy Symphony which I had on my computer in college. That one has since vanished, as did the track below for a bit, but I managed to recover it from Fernando at My Own Language.

Superpitcher & Pet Shop Boys- Dry Heroin

A combination of "High and Dry" and one of Superpitcher's earlier successes, "Heroin." The two work together beautifully, and I've been listening to this on repeat. If anyone has a better version, do let me know.

I know this is out of my normal strike zone a bit, but don't miss this: Yo Majesty for Life. The highlight, in "Kryptonite," is an acapella version of the "Push it" hook. So focused.

DJ Koze vs Sid Le Rock- Naked (DJ Koze Remix)

For a limited time only-- a nice mix from Mike Shannon:

Mike Shannon- Live @ Loft Electroclub 27-01-2007

A Reuters interview with Tyler Brule, Chairman and EIC of Monocle-- my new favorite magazine. I just spent a good part of the weekend digesting it, and highly recommend picking up a copy. Next issue is out March 15th.

Jeff Samuel- I think they are trying to say something