The Weekly Froth #33

crystal castles

Our weekly look into the blogosphere where we talk about six tracks we found out about in the previous Wednesday-to-Wednesday seven-day period.

Track of the week: ‘Suffocation’ by Crystal Castles (Memory Tapes remix)

I always feel slightly ashamed when I have to say that I don’t fancy Crystal Castles that much, because it kind of seems the thing to do. I do love Memory Tapes though, and I do love that band a whole bunch (me is the proud owner of a first edition vinyl of the album). So this could go either way. You would think. But I was lucky enough to have a little interview with the man behind Memory Tapes and so I know how he does his remixes. And the thing is, he doesn’t look at the original at all. He just looks at the components and creates a remix off of that. So in essence, it will definitely be more his aesthetic that will be shining through than that of Crystal Castles. Which, for me personally, is a good thing. So no surprise here, I do love this one. It has got a bit of that dreamy vibe that I love so much and which I think is just so great to listen to while walking around at night. If you want to bounce off of each other on the dance floor then this probably isn’t going to make you happy. But if you like the dreamy, fantastical vibe, then this might just be for you. It definitely is for me, in any case. Also, nifty drumming. … Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth #31

Headman

Our weekly look into the blogosphere where we talk about six tracks we found out about in the previous Wednesday-to-Wednesday seven-day period.

Track of the week:

‘Fluctuation’ by Headman (Thee loving remix by Timothy Goldsworthy)

Oh I love how it starts. It just seamlessly moves forward in a delightfully light and catchy way. Around two minutes in Goldsworthy changes it up a bit, first with more synth, then by stripping quite a few things and he goes bongo-crazy (or well, the focus moves to the drums at least, but I liked saying “bongo-crazy”). Then he builds the other elements back in again. I also really like those sharp sounds that occasionally pop up after the four minute mark. And in the mean time the core of the song is still seamlessly shifting forward in a dancey way. It seems to have been a bit quiet in the Tim Goldsworthy camp the past few months (or at least I didn’t come across new tracks of him in that period), but with this remix he once again shows why everyone likes his music so. … Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth #30

Scissor Sisters

Our weekly look into the blogosphere where we talk about six tracks we found out about in the previous Wednesday-to-Wednesday seven-day period.

Track of the Week: ‘Invisible Light  by Scissor Sisters (Stuart Price 12-inch Remix)

Not that I’m a bif fan of the Scissor Sisters, mind you, but it is always interesting to see what Stuart Price is doing besides not touring with his band Zoot Woman. And in this case it is making a pop track a bit more dancefloor-ready. The constant drumming provides a nice bit to hang on to, and after five minutes he kicks it into a higher gear which might just delight the people on the dance floor at that moment. In my opinion it actually is a better track this way. It is catchy and danceable, and especially the kick could potentially elicit a response from a party crowd. I would love to see a Scissor Sisters collab with Price. Do a four song EP of seven minute dance-pop songs, that would be interesting in my opinion. Danceable drums, slight camp, and just fun: I reckon the single will shift a few more with this as its B-side. … Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth #26

Boy 8-Bit

Our weekly look into the blogosphere where we talk about six tracks we found out about in the previous Wednesday-to-Wednesday seven-day period.

Track of the week:

‘A City Under Siege’ by Boy 8-Bit (StopMakingMe remix)

This has got me well impressed. London producer StopMakingMe took this ‘City Under Siege’ track by Boy 8-Bit, and the end result is pretty brilliant in my opinion. First of all, the track is aptly titled, because it really, really comes across as a city under siege, or at least something menacing or another. But not only the atmosphere is right, it is also pretty danceable and quite hypnotic. Also big love for the horns (at least, I think they are horns or are supposed to produce a horn-like sound). The track is also build-up very well with multiple layers and several different sections which work together very nicely. Cinematic yet for the dance floor as well. This definitely has me curious concerning the two artists involved. … Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth #24

The Juan MacLean

Our weekly look into the blogosphere where we talk about six tracks we found out about in the previous Wednesday-to-Wednesday seven-day period.

Track of the week:

‘Feel So Good’ by The Juan MacLean

In case they ever get tired of doing ‘Happy House’ (which I don’t hope because that song kills) they already have its replacement in place. This song will appear on John MacLean’s DJ Kicks, and it’s an absolute corker! It’s just ten minutes of pure dance mania, super catchy, and I can’t get enough of it really. One of the best tunes this year so far in my book. I just love that band, and live they are simply magnificent. Now, to support the DJ Kicks release John MacLean will appear behind the turntables throughout Europe, so be sure to be there. I believe he’s going to do a set with Horse Meat Disco in London, and if that doesn’t get you dancing nothing will I think. Not quite as great as the live version of ‘Happy House’ (which is twenty minutes of madnesssss), but I’m not sure anything is up to that really. Big love! … Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth #23

The Golden Filter

Track of the week:

‘Dance Around the Fire’ by The Golden Filter

I love the violins at the start. Those are amazing, it just sets the mood so well. And as this is the opening track of The Golden Filter’s debut that is actually what it has to do really, innit? This song does that amazingly. It also embodies what perhaps is the blueprint of this album, namely half italo/half electro with a slice of disco, and this is all put into a danceable mix with typical italo vocals on top of it. It is a bit of escapism, mystique and all that, but it is also danceable, especially when the song kicks it up slightly around 2:40. I really hope they’re going to be touring Europe soon, ’cause I would be there even if they would only play this and ‘Solid Gold’. I, for one, simply cannot not check out this album after having heard this lead track.
… Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth #22

Rainbow Arabia

Our weekly look into the blogosphere where we talk about six tracks we found out about in the previous Wednesday-to-Wednesday seven-day period.

Track of the week:

‘Haunted Hall’ by Rainbow Arabia (We Are The World Happy Ghost remix)

I’m just lo-ving this! And just pretend I said that in like the gayest diva voice. Fa-bu-lous. Something like that. But I’m just surprised by it, I didn’t really think I would love it this much, but I do actually. It really, really has that We Are The World vibe to it, that worldy musical sound, those drums, I don’t know how to describe it really. If you know their track ‘Clay Stones’ you will get the vibe a bit. In the mean time you hear vocals trying to pierce the word “haunted” through the drumming violence. And it does really feel like some sort of menacing army of things are coming at you while you in the mean time hear “haunted” and some other vocal acrobatics swerving around it. Those drums really do it for me, and add to that the rest of the sounds, totally captivating. Yeah, brilliant. … Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth #20

Ali Love

Just a little bit later than usual, here’s our weekly look into the blogopshere where we talk about six tracks we found out about in the previous Wednesday-to-Wednesday seven-day period.

Ali Love – Love Harder (Prins Thomas remix)

Spaceness by Prins Thomas of course! Who else? None other than the Lindstrom accomplice turns this rather poppy track into a space disco eight minute lovefest. Hips a flailing on that sweet bass, which keeps on coming and coming. Who needs vocals, right? Well they do come in, first kind of high and on the background, but at the half mark (as in, almost precisely the half mark I reckon) they get a more prominent place. This is after you’ve been seduced for a good four minutes by Prins Thomas and his space disco qualities, and after that you’re so into the song that the vocals offer just a bit of variation in this nine minutes behemoth. Prins Thomas makes it pretty easy to start singing along a bit as well. So if you find yourself singing and dancing like a loon, Prins Thomas is to blame, as this is one seductive remix. … Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth #18

Kasper Bjorke

Our weekly look into the blogosphere where we talk about six tracks we found out about in the previous Wednesday-to-Wednesday seven-day period.

Track of the week:

‘Efficient Machine’ by Kasper Bjorke

This record is gonna be huge, at least it will be for me (already ordered it on vinyl, you know, and based on three tracks that is). This is the second single in Scandinavia, in Europe ‘Alcatraz’ with Jacob Bellens on vocals had that honour. This track has the vocals of that guy from WhoMadeWho, and what a vocals they are. Bjorke sure knows how to pick them. Catchy, athmospheric, and just a bloody good tune as far as I’m concerned. Almost choir like vocals with handclaps on the background and a beat throbbing along, just to kick it into proper dance mode. It’s been on repeat ever since the clip was placed on his MySpace, and I’m actually not sure when I’m going to tire of it. Just terribly good and well looking forward to that bit of vinyl to drop through my mailbox. … Continue Reading

The Weekly Froth #14

MIA

Track of the week!

 

 ’Wilderness’ – Active Child

I actually like this very much, this new song by LA’s Active Child. Instrumentally it is a sort of trippy ambient atmosphere, and over that just the most lovely angelic voices. And I just think that is a very nice combination, that juxtaposition of the sometimes more menacing, sometimes more sad instrumentals and those voices almost offering some sort of consolation or forgiveness even. I don’t want to make it sound like it should be played in church, but I think it is rather evocative. Rather cinematic as well. I know at least I will be trying to find a bit more tracks by this artist.

http://hypem.com/track/1020238/Active+Child-Wilderness

‘Home’ – Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros (Fromage Disco Edit)

To be honest, I don’t know much about Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, except coming across them during Jarvis’ excellent Radio 6 show, so if I’m stating plainly obvious things or things that are blatantly wrong regarding the whole oeuvre, I do apologize. It kind of reminds me of the Blues Brothers this one, when they have to play in that country shack. It has a bit of that country rolling vibe, the female vocals are actually quite nice, and the whistling is kind of addictive. You can bob your head to this. With that said I cannot imagine me actually listening to this if it wouldn’t be on the radio. I guess it is fair enough, and when this Fromage Disco edit is on you won’t hear me complaining, but heavy rotation material it won’t be for me. Perhaps if you like the country vibe a bit better than I do it will get your constant attention though. That spoken word bit is a tad ridiculous though, as is the only-vocals bit near the ending.

http://hypem.com/track/1010652/Edward+Sharp+The+Magnetic+Zeros+-+Home+Fromage+Disco+edit+

… Continue Reading