Telephone Jim Jesus- Birdstatic

Beach House- Heart and Lungs

High Places- Head Spins
Future Loop Foundation- The Sea and the Sky (Padded Cell Remix)

Languis- In the Fields Of (Lonely Fences)

The Tuss- Alspacka

A fantastic interview with my friend Sam Valenti (of Ghostly fame) over at Murketing. The author, Rob Walker, writes the ever-reliable "Consumed" column in the NYT Sunday Magazine.

My friend Aaron recently mentioned he thought Jackson had a huge influence on the stuttering, cut-up, Ed Banger and co. sounds. I tend to agree. Here's a story I did for XLR8R awhile back (click the image for a larger version).

An excerpt:

The record cribs from his early flirtation with glitch, 80's electro and funk, but also emphasizes his early musical background as a drummer, albeit doing so via cut-up and recontextualized breaks.

If you haven't given the album a spin lately-- go back and check it out. I think you'll see how prescient his sound was. Now, I'm curious to see what he's going to do next. My guess is that his ultra fluid, 4/4 live sets will be a good indication of the next direction. In any case, I can't wait to hear it.

A great Al-Haca feature by Toby Warner (Earplug)

In the latest Rolling Stone, BPitch control artists Modeselektor are featured in the "Hit or Hype" section. The verdict?

"We haven't rocked out to music this rave-marish since parachute pants were all the rage. Say it with us: Never Again."
Verdict: Hype.

The new Modeselektor is one of the most interesting records I've had the pleasure to hear this year. Also, it has little or nothing to do with "Rave," at least in the comparison the writer is trying to make. I find it also quite interesting that the magazine fawns over MIA and her creative beatmaking, global influences, fashion style, etc. a few pages before.

I'm not denying that the new MIA album is quite good, but perhaps if the Modeselektor chaps had a glossier, pop-friendly public image, complete with tinny proclaimations about "power to the people" and garish neon clothing, they could be more palatable. Instead, they just make groundbreaking dance music that is an intelligent amalgam of several disparate genres. Rave being one of them. Dancehall, Dub, Industrial and Pop being others.

However, it's no surprise that traditional media can't wrap their heads around this. My advice: stick to your strike zone, Rolling Stone. Surely there's some new Pete Wentz news, or overhyped, derivative UK garage rock band to drool over.

Battle for Blogosphere Ballot Box Heats Up (Financial Times)

The Tuss- Shiz Ko E

A nice new mix from my friend Philip Sherburne. This installment is very minimal, but has more than enough swing to stay engaging. Very deep and hyponotic...a good one to lose yourself in. His first record, "Lumberjacking", is out on Lan Music in September.

Philip Sherburne- Chips the Light Fantastic Mix

Uusitalo- Korpikansa

Modeselektor- The White Flash (Feat. Thom Yorke)

Boards of Canada- Eagle in Your Mind

How to make a Flat White Coffee. Or, if you live in New York, just go to Ruby's.

Cobblestone Jazz- Live PA in Amsterdam (Thanks SV4)

Of interest:
-Ewan Pearson gives a track by track rundown of his recent Fabric 35 mix.
-An ever-expanding cache of great podcasts over at Resident Advisor.
-A brand new mix from Alex from Tokyo over at Beats in Space. Also, don't miss Dan Selzer going track by track through his recent early industrial set from the show.

Burial- Shutta

If you haven't yet, be sure and download Philip Sherburne's newest mix, hosted by my pal Rayna over at Modyfier.

Some really positive momentum for my good friends Karl and Marie-Claire. Their band, Speck Mountain, is starting to get some really nice reception in the press. Matt Perpetua featured one of my favorite cuts, "Girl out West," over at Fluxblog, and word on the street is Manchester's Piccadilly Records will be featuring "Summer Above" as their record of the week sometime very soon. Also, they'll be touring with Honey Owens' excellent solo project, Valet, this summer. Don't miss their live show.

Fujiya & Miyagi- Ankle Injuries

Young Marble Giants- Searching for Mr. Right

Jamie Lidell- When I Come Back Around (Featuring Jimmy Edgar)

Skream Essential Mix (Direct DL)

Hat tip to Mr. Aaron Rietz.

Reuber- In Fernen Ländern

A Perfect Friend- When the Temperature is Rising

All The Critics Love U in New York

A special treat today. A few years back, Woody from Turntable Lab handed me a CD entitled New Wave: 1977-1990. It a really fantastic party mix that I find myself going back to often. It's properly beatmatched and lovingly curated with all the usual suspects: Romeo Void, INXS, Pet Shop Boys, etc. Also, Wire, Yaz, Crowded House, Gang of Four, etc. Highly enjoyable, indeed. And I know Sarah will love the inclusion of Joy Div's "Stolen Transmission." Here's a link to the .zip file:

New Wave: 1977-1990

Radiohead- How to disappear completely

Misha- Delovedly

Photek- The Hidden Camera

Spot the sample:

Paul Lansky- Mild Und Liese

More about Paul here and here.

More music I'm enjoying:

Gudrun Gut- In pieces remixes, particularly the Burger/Voight version.
Future Loop Foundation- Memories from a faded room
Henrik Schwarz- Walk music
Theo Parrish- Sound sculptures vol 1
Seefeel- Quique (Redux Edition)
JPLS- Twilite
Konono no 1- Live in Tokyo EP
Paul Kalkbrenner- Altes Kamuffel 12'
Dan Berkson- The Hollow
Popnoname- White album

Duplex- Mysterious unraveller
Four Tet- Rivers become oceans

On rotation:

Jens Zimmermann- Tranquillite (K2)
Selway + Vincenzo- Dream stealer (CSM)
Shackleton- Next to nothing (Crosstown Rebels)
Morgan Packard- Airships fill the sky (Anticipate)
Cobblestone Jazz- Lime in da coconut (Wagon Repair)
Cobblestone Jazz- DMT (Wagon Repair)
Carl Craig- Paris Live EP (Planet e)
Naw- City Saturate (Noise Factory)
Matthew Dear- Asa Breed (Ghostly)
False- 2007 (Minus)
Motorcitysoul- Kazan (Aus)

Closer Musik- Maria

Joy Division- Dead Souls

Kalabrese - Hide Feat. Guillermo Sohr

Dungen- Familj

Cornelius- Fit Song

Human League- Things that dreams are made of (dub mix)

Richard Carnes with a nice piece in Stylus on Shut up and Dance, the collaboration between the Berlin Staatsballet and Ostgut, with pieces from Âme, Luciano, NSI (aka Tobias Freund and Max Loderbauer), Sleeparchive, and Luke Slater (as The 7th Plain).

My interview with Matt Dear in the new issue of Earplug.

Islaja- Pysähtyneet Planeetat

Also, don't miss Nate Cunningham's post here. Glacial vibes.

Modeselektor- Fake Emotion (Dabrye mix)
Padded Cell- Are you anywhere?
My Bloody Valentine- Off your face
Ø- Helium
Panda Bear- Comfy in Nautica (Contender for 2007 track title of the year)

The designers were paid 400,000 pounds for this monstrosity.

A quick dispatch from The Mutek Festival in Montreal. Tonight's main venue lineup was Pantha Du Prince, Jichael Mackson, Matias Aguayo, Gui Boratto and Michael Mayer, if that's any indication of the quality this festival puts on year after year. An earlier highlight was My My playing live at the outdoor picnic at Parc Jean Drapeau right on the river.

There's still lots to take in on Sunday, but the standout act so far was Cobblestone Jazz, who absolutely tore the roof off Friday night. They were also joined by The Mole towards the end of their performance for a few cuts as the Modern Deep Left Quartet. Stay tuned for more information about their forthcoming LP, due out in September on the stellar Wagon Repair imprint. Also in the hopper for the label is the new Circlesquare LP, which I'm incredibly excited about. I've been a huge fan since a friend introduced me to their debut, The Distance After, on the now-defunct Output Recordings in the late nineties. It's an absolutely incredible release and still one of my favorite EP's ever. Also, if you slept on Pre-Earthquake anthems, don't miss it.

Here's a cut from one of the artists featured at Mutek:

Jichael Mackson- Blow

Porn Sword Tobacco- Giftwrap Yourself, Slowly

Edwin Starr- Get up (Pilooski edit)

Theo Parrish- Soul Control (w/Alena Waters)

Battles- Atlas

Two great music blogs worth a look:
American Athlete
24 Hours

Happy weekend!

Lindstrom & Solale- Let's Practice (Dub Mix)

A nice mix here! My pal Mr. Toby Warner (who forwarded the link) describes it as, "A weird and heady concoction of dub, dancehall, baile funk, and perhaps a lil dubstep. Sounds improbable but it fucking slaps."

Direct dl link here.

Joe Colly interviews James Murphy over at Earplug.

Owusu & Hannibal- Delirium

Go check out my playlist for Flavorpill Radio this week.



New stuff from Yacht, Day for Night, Tracey Thorn, Apparat, Jarvis Cocker, Battles, etc. Also- a killer Burial remix of Jamie Woon.

Annie- My best friend (Nathan Fake Remix)

I've started an "Edits" channel over at Socialight. It takes Monocle's location-based recommendations (with full attribution, of course) and tags them to a defined place. Then, you can access their picks on your mobile phone when you are in the area. For example, you land in a new city, check in to your hotel, then check in with your location via the mobile web to quickly see what recommendations are in your immediate area awaiting your discovery.

Socialight is very good for finding off the beaten path selections, and Monocle's content in New York, Geneva, London, Hong Kong and Tokyo really adds a nice element to the platform. If you haven't yet signed up for Socialight, go do it. Also, the third issue of Monocle is on newstands now.

I'm really enjoying the new Ellen Allien Fabric 34 Mix. I often find it hard to spend enough time with each installment (they're released on a monthly basis), but I've found myself reaching for this one several times in a row.

In her words:

“I wanted to do an analog mix, by hand. I used my favorite records of last year and the newest ones. I like analog!" says Ellen. "And I like to hear how one has to manipulate the mix until it’s tight. I like the mix because to me it’s the ideal club mix that I personally would like to hear in a club. It’s also a nice memory for me – I can remember every record being played by myself in a club. And when I now listen to the mix I can recall all the great moments.”

Here's the tracklisting:

1. Schubert - S1
2. Larry Heard Presents Mr. White - The Sun Can’t Compare
3. Estroe - Driven
4. Damian Schwartz - Tu Y Yo (Peros Nos Volvemos A Levantar) (Pilas Remix)
5. Don Williams - Orderly Kaos
6. Melody Boy 2000 - Sound Stealer
7. Artificial Latvamaki - It Is Now Either
8. Cobblestone Jazz - India In Me 2
9. Roman Flugel - Mutter
10. Aste/Maan - Aaltovaihe
11. Thom Yorke - Harrowdown Hill
12. Ellen Allien - Just A Woman
13. Ben Klock - Journey
14. Heatthrob - Baby Kate (Plastikman Remix)
15. Apparat - Arcadia

In other news, Resident Advisor reports that Ewan Pearson is mixing Fabric 35. Can't wait for that.

A fine day in the district.

Paul Mogg's got some interesting things in the works. Check out his Myspace for new cuts that I'm really impressed with. Also, he's got a poppier side project that is worth a listen, Baby Snakes.

Also, don't sleep on Trevor Jackson's remix of Black Ghosts. It's the first track featured on his player. B'More break with indie-ish vocals and circa 1999 Fabric Ed Rush and Optical-styled filthy bass stabs. Interesting.

Boards of Canada- Zoetrope

Aphex Twin- Xtal

This is probably one of the more exciting tracks I've heard in some time. Be sure to listen on good headphones:

Amon Tobin- Foley Room

Brazilian Girls- Last Call (Carl Craig remix)

Sly Mongoose- Bad Pulse

Hot off the presses: My Q&A with Ewan Pearson is here.

Also, my review of Justine D's new mix in Earplug:

On the latest mix in the RVNG series, Justine D — best known as the woman behind New York's Motherfucker party — reveals a wide range of influences with a proclivity toward dance music's dark side. Compiled and mixed with assistance from Optimo's JD Twitch, the mix doesn't aspire to the Glaswegian duo's cut 'n paste, time-stretched mastery, opting instead for clean transitions between early electronic sounds (the Orb), contemporary underground disco (Danny Wang), industrial (Nitzer Ebb), and goth (Christian Death). With an obscure Weatherall remix of My Bloody Valentine sitting nicely amidst newer tracks from the likes of DFA's Hot Chip and Delia & Gavin, Justine D sets herself apart from legions of vacant-eyed party promoters as a true purveyor of underground sounds from the last 20 years. (CJN)

Zoot Woman- Taken it all

On Rotation:

Tobias Thomas- Please Please Please DJ Mix
Panda Bear- Person Pitch
Dixon- Body Language Volume 4
Grandadbob- Pictures (Quiet Village Dub)
Pär Grindvik- Casio
Jurgen Paape- Take This
The Vulva String Quartet- Cranberry Song
Reinhard Voigt- Charge your dreams
Jonas Bering- Inside
Kalabrese- Rumpelzirkus
Motivi_Tuntematon- I don't feel good when you're not around
Optimo Walkabout DJ Mix
DJ Koze vs Sid Le Rock- Naked (DJ Koze remix)
JPLS- Program 2 (Original Mix)
Mathias Kaden- Pentaton (Original mix)
Herbert- The Audience (Martinez Cosmic Re-Edit)
MIA- Bittersuss
JJ Cale- Ride me high (Joakim edit)
Lazy Fat People- Club Silencio
Triple R- Selection 5
Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid- The sun never sets
Will Saul- Pause
Hug- Tiny stars
Gavin Herlihy- Praia Brava
The Mole- Jingover

I'm also keen to check out this Air- Late Night Tales, which I seem to have slept on. Thanks to Blacknoise to pointing it out. The tracklisting looks amazing.

And, I encourage everyone to go buy a new 12' or a hi-res copy of Mathew Jonson's Marionette and listen on good headphones as loud as you can stand. Also, and go check Hercules and Love Affair.

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