Spitzer!

I know this has been written about on countless Blogs already but I was totally going to write a bad review about them at first, because the first few times I played their tracks it seemed like all the power lies within the near-end of the track break down/bridge... & that bit being best of the track pulled all the attention and minimized the importance of the remaining body.. still It was a good enough reason for me to come back & listen to them all over again... but then today while I was brushing my teeth, the groovy beat to "Avida Dollars" kept popping in my had & it gave me the urge to go & play it loud. At that point I realized the greatness of their production, it's a grower for sure & once it has grown then your brain would've registered their sound signature at that point, meaning whatever comes next from this duo you'll be able to like immediately. It was just a matter of understanding their sound. Right now I can say, I really like them!

Spitzer are two ex. rockers who got breast fed in their earlier years by Axl Rose and
Jimmy Page. After 7 years of growth in the indie scene their body started to produce testosterone & their hormones kept craving for the synthetic environment and the animal beats of Techno. Their slowly building tech-house-tronic music needs patience to be appreciated (that I’ve learned), it's like a villain robot with a fax machine plugged into his eyes sockets & transferring nude photos of the washing machine in a rate of 10 pixels per minute through bad transmission to a beta version of a Casio printer circa 1973”, a long time consuming process but the result is no less than art.

DL: Avida Dollars
DL: Kasper Sky
DL: Disco Biscuit
DL: Yacht Club

*links removed except for avida dollars, by request from spitzer. but if you really want the other tracks try searching here.

"Spitzer" are currently working on an official remix for "Kylie Minogue" & finalising their first EP, "Roller Coaster".

The only thing IMO would make their music better is if their tracks were under 5 minutes, it protects the listener from getting bored of the excess repetition. Sometimes it feels like its never going to end.

Avida Dollars ROCKS! Checkout their Myspace!

Alavi Reroxes Again!

The great Alavi destruction of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is Out Now On Vinyl & Digital Download!

Purchase from iTunes, TrackitDown, Beatport, DjDownload, Juno, MusicLoad, & AOL!

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Interview : Alavi!

* I know this is a generic question but for some new indie cultivators, who’s Patrick Alavi?

“Patrick” is a loser from Germany who eats a lot of croissants; no really… it’s just because in my past as "patrick" alavi I had a different sound that I’m not very proud of! I don’t like the past, but that was me back then… Call it development maybe... Now I’m just “Alavi” & I have my spastic funk cut (spunkut ?) style, love the present and future. & Concerning who “Alavi” is, only the upcoming album can answer this question.

* Last year I bought a 2004 promotional disc from ebay that contained “Power” and “Glory”… what were these 2 tracks released for, I can’t seem to find any info on them? They sound completely different form your current work!?

Yeah it was released on Kris Menace’s label “Workitbaby”… But I was still in my transition phase and it was a sort of an experimental period that led to me to my Rerox sound! My music really changed since then.

* You’ve recently reroxed TEPR’s “En Direct De La Cote”, is there going to be more releases by him under RoXour in the future? What does “En Direct De La Cote” mean in English?

Yeah, TEPR told me to do another one... but for the moment there is no new release planned. We licensed this release to “Wall Of Sound” records and I hear it’s a big release for them, especially with the new datA remix. I’m happy for TEPR, He comes from the westcoast and he’s proud of it. This just shows that France is not only Paris on the music map.

"En Direct De La Cote" means: "Direct From The Coast"

* On you’re Myspace you mentioned that you signed a new artist “Flairs”, It also mentions that both the 12” and video will be out in September? Have they, coz I haven’t heard the track yet or seen the video! Tell us more about him!?

“Flairs” is a phenomena. I personally think it’s an outstanding funny and intelligent mixture between rock and electronica. I heard "Better Than Prince" once on someone else’s MySpace and a fat, hairy clown in my head screamed "Fuck, Sign this record Mr. A". Also to mention is the fact that it’s mixed by the golden fingers of Alex Gopher and Etienne De Crecy.

I’m quiet proud of this package, the single will come out in the beginning of February with remixes by Benjamin, 25 Hours A Days & a little Alavi ReroX. The video will be amazing; it’s done by Mtv heroes Jonas & Francois, the guys responsible for Justice “D.A.N.C.E.” and Kanye West “Good Life” videos.

* Now I know you have done a number of amazing remixes for fellow friends in the indie scene, some may not admit that some of their best work could be involved with mainstream, in your case I think it’s the Click-Clack-a-Smash-a-Shout remix of Jamelia’s “Beware Of The Dog”, I’ve never heard a remix so perfect to rave to like it! How did you construct it? Did it come together easily? Do you agree that it’s one of your best?

Ohh, Thanx for these kind words. Well, I think that I just slaughtered Jamelia in "aahhh"s and "ehhh"s and that gave the track its energy… Or wait, could it be because of the tons of Redbulls I was drinking while I was doing it...?

* Your remixes sound pretty complex in texture, sometimes combining several layers of noise simultaneously, how painful is the process of remixing a song that is already loud or complex!?

Well, usually I don’t work like this. I mean I don’t listen to a track and then ReroX it. When I have listened to the original once I get back to the cutted samples a few days later and I build my own shit with it... so I’m never inspired by the original.

* Another thing some DJs told me about, is that sometimes when they make music, every time they add a sample or change a bit they have to play the track over and over so many times they end up not being able to know what they are listening to “literally”? Did that ever happen to you? If yes, describe it? How do you deal with it?

Yeah, this happens to me really often. But now I just work on so many tracks at the same time... it’s really interesting how one track can be a result of an idea that did not work with something before.

* Now what’s the story behind Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” rerox, it’s actually better than some of the official ones! Why haven’t you offered it to his label?

Thanx for the compliment, but sometimes it’s better to be unofficial.

* Congratulations on releasing “Smells Like Rerox”! But the track is not a newborn right, you’ve started making it long time ago! I’ve been rocking to it for almost a year now, but it seemed like a loop, a good one though! Is the officially released version any different from the one roaming the blog fronts? What made you finally decide to release it?

I made it about 3 years ago, and then last year re-discovered it again and uploaded it for 2 weeks on MySpace... the reactions were good and someone managed to rip it from there, & that’s how many Blogs had it long time ago. To be honest, I never wanted to release it but then later Courtney Love contacted me to help me on clearing this. I thought I should do it because I wasn’t happy with the version everyone was playing... I mean, it’s crazy; a friend called me one night and told me that Annie Mac at Radio1 was playing this low quality MySpace version on her show... imagine that.

* So is it an official single or just an independent 12’ you decided to put out there?

Yeah, it’s official. I had various license offers by major labels but I don’t want to make this bigger than it is right now. It’s just for those who appreciated it & wanted a better quality version.

* How come there won’t be any backing remixes to it?

A remix of a ReroX doesn’t really make any sense to me.

* “Bitchee Bichee YaYaYa”, their music generates the same energy your reroxes does! Do you know them?

Yeah, I like their sound!

* It seems like “Pink Floyd” is one of the top choices for a rework, I mean a lot of successful DJs and bands are re-using their hits… for example “Scissor Sisters” and “Eric Prydz”! Why?

Ahh, from the top of my head… I really don’t know.

* If you go to DsQuared MySpace, there’s a clip of one of their runway shows and it features your music! What’s it called? Are we ever going to be able to have it?

It’s called "The A", and it’s a possible album track!

* WOW an album! What can you tell us about it? When do you expect to finish it?

I have finished more than 60 tracks for it, but now I really can’t decide for the final tracklisting... I don’t want to repeat one style, that’s for sure... I think that the whole project will be ready around summertime.

* Will there be more releases before the album?

Yeah, at the moment I’m finishing my real first EP. It should be ready quite soon with 4 fresh tracks, kind of a preview to the album.

* Are you remixing for anyone at the moment?

Yeah, I’m currently ReroXing the new single by Tronik Youth.

* Do you have any unofficial remixes that you’ve done or haven’t finished that you’re hiding?

Yeah, RAMMSTEIIN, GUNSN´ROSES, LL COOL J ... but most of them are just for my shows... on my MySpace you can hear the beginning of a ReroX for "O Fortuna" by Carl Orff.

* Blogs writing about new artists and posting their mp3's? Great free promotion or disposable sabotage?

No, it’s great promotion!

* what’s the best gift you received this Christmas?

Nintendo Wii: Mario at the Olympic Games!

* The best album of the year?

Karen Ann’s "Karen Ann".

* I’ll mention some words and you say whatever you want related to them :

Machine: Evil
Britney Spears: Spam
Crown: king Randor
10.000.000$: Hip-Hop
Sexy: Motherfucker
Cowbells: Beastie Boys "Hey Ladies"
Trash: Destruction
Rainbow: Summertime

* Thanx a lot for your time & wish you a happy new year in advance!

Alavi Myspace

NYPC Really Literal!

In august, New Young Pony Club penned a new song titled “Really Literal” for Tate Modern's Tate Tracks series. The song was inspired by Martin Creed's piece, 'Neon Sign'… Anyhow finally the new limited edition vinyl of “Get Lucky” has the rack exclusively as a B-Side.

DL: New Young Pony Club – Really Literal

*IF you don't know what Tate Modern tracks is... It's an art gallery & they bring indie artists to look at the art and then choose one of the pieces to be inspired by and write a song about!!

For some odd reason I keep imagining ‘Victoria Beckham’ at an interview every time I hear this track. Weird…

New Young Pony club MySpace

Splittr!

Splittr is the explosion generated by 2 shooting stars Martijn ten Velden (International House Producer) and Mark Yardley (one half of the Stanton Warriors) colliding & combining their super powers and dissimilar tastes to produce a stardust of electronic dance. In their first single “All Alone” Mark showcases his vocal talent for the first tme!

All Alone sounds like its been produced: vocally by The Knife, guitars by junkie XL, jumpy beat by Eric Prydz & David Guetta, & bleeps by Simian Mobile Disco!

DL: Splittr – All Alone

Already a favorite to many DJs like Roger Sanchez & Deep Dish, The single is backed up with remixes by Michael Gray, Chicken Lips (Peter Rauhofer), Alex Metric, & Shadowdancer!

Splittr Myspace

Indie National Anthem!

Generation Y by The Hampdens is co-written by Julian Hamilton of ‘The Presets’ which explains why this sounds in some bits a little like”Girl & the Sea. Susannah's haunting yet dreamy voice is the essence of the single, Generation Y is about beauty and hope, about white Converse sneakers and beating hearts in dark clubs, about a New generation for whom Kurt Cobain is nostalgia and 'CK one' is a cultural relic, about going back to the town you grew up in and burying your hands in the soil.

DL: The Hampdens – Generation Y

& if lines like “Throw out all the clothes you own, Throw out all the things you know, Throw out all your converse shoes, Throw out all your videos” doesn’t melt your heart then you’re a hypocrite.

The Hampdens Myspace

Ordered Suffer For Two?

‘Suffer For Two’ An engineered noise-pop tune with its well orchestrated instruments, smartly ordered pitch changes, quirky electronic sounds & a tingly minimal break, generating this aurally silly soft rock piece where BC's elegant falsetto voice shines the brightest. It’s the best song from that school play you weren’t good enough to star in, a song a bout controlling self in bad situations.

DL: B. C. Camplight – Suffer For Two

If you like the band ‘Mew’ you’ll love this. ‘Suffer For Two’ is the second single form the album ‘Blink Of A Nihilist’.

B. C. Camplight Myspace

The Russian Futurists!

“Let’s get ready to crumble” might be one of those songs that passed over your head in the past while being all fan-like excited & allured by all the new hyped about artists, but you better discover this little deviant joy bringer because it's fresh! Even though “Let’s ready to crumble” lyrics are indirectly nostalgic in some bits like “Love consists of on & off, & a built for 2 coffin” yet it’s a feel good song in bright colors and sunlight. It’s like “The Super Furry Animals Embracing Synth While Being High On Sugar”.

DL: The Russian Futurists – Let’s Get Ready To Crumble

Pop in form, Indie at heart. Anyhow, The new Russian Futurists album "The Weight's On The Wheels" is complete & they're hoping for a spring release! New songs will be posted on their myspace in the coming weeks. Radical!!!

The Russian Futurists MySpace

Fischerspooner Are Back For Revenge!

"The Best Revenge" is a track from their upcoming third full-length album with producer Jeff Saltzman (The Killers, The Black Keys, The Sounds), the release will feature remixes by Alex Gopher, autoKratz, & Oliver Koletzki, as well as another Fischerspooner original "Danse En France" out 14 jan, 17 feb!

DL: Fischerspooner - The Best Revenge

*Seizures* the song is soo good, it's soo them! It sounds brilliant & registers from the first play!

Ohh! Crapp... It's The End Of The Year Chaos!

Hey guys, sorry for the lack of updates in the past few days. I've been extremely busy.. it's something that has to do with the blog (if it happens Ohh! Crapp... will get much better)... Can't tell till the second week of january (wish me luck, I need it)lol. I still will be trying my best to do few updates at every chance i get, for now enjoy this barfload of remixes & make sure you check out my interview with "Luzius"!

DL: Bolt Action Five - Tree Friend Tree Foe (Kissy Sell Out Remix)
DL: CSS - Alala (Bonde Do Role Remix)
DL: Jape - Floating (D.I.M. Remix)
DL: Tracey Thorn - King's Cross (Hot Chip Remix)
DL: Brad Hed - Girls And Boyz (Vandalism Club Mix)
DL: The Presets - My People (Kris Menace Mix)
DL: Felix Da Housecat - Like Something 4 Porno (Lost Daze Remix)
DL: Tegan And Sara - Back In Your Head (Dangerous Muse Remix)
DL: Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor (Soulwax Dub)
DL: The Whip - Muzzle No.1 (The Black Ghosts Remix)
DL: Crazy Loop - Crazy Loop (Mm-Ma-Ma) (Dj Ross Extended Rmx)
DL: Boys Noize - Lava Lava (Feadz Aval Aval Mix)
DL: Uffie - Make It Hott (Crystal Castles Remix)

*ps. Miami Horror interview soon!

Interview: Loose Shus

He’s one of the many embracing 80s synth pop, but every time we come across a new artist in the category they bring a new side, a special side to their music making it stand out from the rest. It’s still too early to judge on Loose Shus’ talent, but you can get a taste of what his music’s like & where he’s going with it. Check out this interview & download couple of his songs then make your mind whether you like him or hate him (or even wait further more before deciding). Enjoy.

DL: Bodybath
DL: Threesome

*Both links are now updated with a 320kbps rips of the songs, thanx to Loose Shus.
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Interview : Luzius!

Calling him 3 in the morning for the interview, Luzius was drunk & mean. Thank god he turns back to the good Luzius once he’s sober, he apologized & offered to redo the interview properly since the former made no sense (was funny though, made me laugh lol)!

Hey it’s me Faisal, how’s it going?

Good, thanks.

Are you sober enough to make sense this time?

Ha-ha Of course, shoot.

Ok, I tend to ask this question on the beginning of every interview! why did you choose the name “Loose Shus”? Why not “Lu Shus”?

It's my name, Luzius, phonetically spelled. Once people can say it right I'm going back with Luzius (It means "bringer of light"). For now, I guess I was trying to bite the band Nu Shooz but it’s not coming off. I also like the KOOL cigarettes logo, so I kind of forced those two O’s in the name just so I could cross them, Olympics style.

If you’re your music was a product, what type of stores would be selling it & under which section?

It would be in a video store, I’d like it be in the section called Fantasy. Usually they bundle Sci-Fi and Fantasy, but if you get lucky they’ll separate them for you. I don’t know what the musical equivalent to that is.

When did you start making music? Did you study it?

I started making music about 6 years ago. I studied film, and got way into soundtracks, and it was this weird, but natural progression out of film and into music.

What Equipments, Instruments, Programs do you use to create your music?

Ableton, an Akai AX60, & a lot of VSTS.

Who are you mainly influenced by?

I don't actually know who really influences me the most. But, my biggest inspiration comes from Italian composers of the seventies. I am really into Giallo films, so Goblin and Fabio Frizzi are the two big ones. I wouldn't be making music if it wasn't for them. They are my two top friends on MySpace.

By the way, you were recommended to me by SymbolOne! How do you know them?

I just met them, they're awesome! It's an internet thang. I’m doing a remix for them right now, and hopefully we’ll get to do more stuff together.

It’s obvious that you like to render your music through a certain image! What’s with the erotica related track titles & images on your MySpace?

I'm trying to narrate that aesthetic. I think it's really important to get in touch with what you're expressing, like you're bringing this whole imaginary world out. In seventies cop movies, they always have the classic shot at night panning across some avenue in New York from inside a car. There are always hookers, and random guys just walking around, but they're like real guys, not paid extras. That's my imaginary world. I should probably move it to Hawaii or somewhere nicer, maybe I'll do that next spring, but then my music would suck.

You have a bunch of tracks on your MySpace player & to be honest while I was going through them I thought “Hmmm these are nice, but there’s nothing here that I haven’t heard before”… then “Bodybath” started playing & I went “Wow, Now This I Like”! I’m sure a full mastered version with a breakdown will sound hot… seriously why haven’t you finished it?

Have you ever been in a restaurant and accidentally looked at a guy in the mirror when you didn't know it was a mirror, and it takes you about 2 seconds to realize that you're actually looking at yourself? Well, with making music, the same phenomenon occurs. When you’re trying to make good decisions about what to finish and what to ditch, you can only do it in those 2 seconds. I think as you go it becomes easier, but for right now I have no idea what to do. But, I plan ..ing that, I always liked it, I just needed to let it sit for a minute.

Recently you finished a track called “Threesome”! How long did it take you to create it? Is this the final version of it? Tell me about it?

It took a while. My friend Alex from Team Everything got me all hyped to run the bass to VHS tape, but my VCR broke, so I ran it through an old normal stereo amp, turned it way up, like to 12, and recorded that back in from the headphone jack. It made the bass sound all metallic and weird when it hits high notes. I just kept doing weirder and weirder stuff to that track. The entire first half is pitched down, it happened on accident, like I literally bumped the pitch knob and it just sounded so cool, so I said fuck it, I’m going to pitch down the entire first half of this track. Then the middle has that ridiculous chord segue that’s so big, people don’t even notice the big change in pitch.

WOW! You know what, you just typed the hottest review of “threesome” by just explaining the process, seriously!

So, Are you going to infuse guitar & distortion in your future music (since they are both the most appealing elements in the scene right now) I’m sure you know?

Probably, but distortion can be a bit of a crutch. I want to make sure I’m using it for the right reasons.

Any more tracks or remixes in the making?

Yeah, the symbol one remix, and I have a ton of my own stuff in the works.

How about previous ones?

I have remixed a track for Astra Moveo, I don’t do too many unofficial remixes of like big artists Although I did remix a Jodeci song once.

Who in your honest opinion made the best music this year?

Russ Chimes, Miami Horror, and pretty much everyone from the Valerie crew are all currently blowing my mind.

Rainbows or Football?

Depends on the girl.

Heheh… This was Fun! Ok man I got to go… ran out of Redbull (ahh the misery)!

*Sigh*, I'm out of beer.

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Luzius Myspace

Herr Styler

I'm well aware that this is a reiteration of a recent Bigstereo post, however, failure to post a track that's featured so highly in my life this week would be nothing short of criminal.

Let me introduce "possessed duo" (their words), Herr Styler, Italian based producers of this superb Amari remix. Stewing the combined coolness of Air and Daft Punk (who isn't these days?) with a wedge of dramatic electronic pop, Herr Styler kind of steal the show from the original source. I warn you: this is butter smooth stuff. Makes me unashamed to follow the lead of the Bigstereo juggernaut.

MP3: Amari - Le Gite Fuori Porta (Herr Styler Peaches With Sugar Remix) DOWNLOAD

Teenage Bad Girl V2.0!

You should be ashamed of yourself if you still don’t know who “Teenage Bad Girl” is! I wrote a review of their brilliant album “Cocotte” back in September!

Anyhow they’ve just re-released their album as “Cocotte V2.0” with a bonus disc containing all their remixes for “Scissors Sisters, Boys Noize, Goose, Felix Da Housecat", Boys Noize Rework & Hystero Rebrand of “Cocotte” & 4 exclusive new remixes of “Hands of a Stranger” guaranteed to turn your skeleton into cocaine!

DL: Hands of a Stranger (Vitalic Re-edit)
DL: Hands of a Stranger (D.I.M. Remix)
DL: Hands of a Stranger (Yuksek Remix)
DL: Hands of a Stranger (Massacred by JohnLordFonda)

“Cocotte” is one of those albums you can’t live without (Specially if you’re into Daft Punk, Justice, & Distortion)! I advise you to go out and buy it because your collection won’ be complete without it.

Richard Lane Marches Into New Territory!

Underground dance producer “Richard Lane” has started a new indie band/project called “The Marches” where he turns into a Singer/Songwriter creating indie songs with several of his music friends who still remain a mystery!

The Debut Lo-Fi Rock single "Turn It Around” sounds like Lorraine, Bryan Adams & Cicada getting together at Häagen-Dazs for coconut ice-cream! The clean composition melts into your head with its Spacey Electrohouse melody, soft bass & Richard’s obscenely soothing airy vocals adds up to the tune as an instrument rather than a voice!

DL: The Marches – Turn It Around (Radio Edit)

*Link Removed Upon Request of the Artist*

sque almost-vocal-less club mix & an electronically destructed Micky Slim remix!

_____________________________

I've recently contacted "Richard Lane" & asked him to explain this project, Here's what he had to say:

"The Marches is basically me with occasional help from session musicians. As you may have seen from my site and Mypace, I'm keeping the info on The Marches very minimal as:

a) There's really not a lot to tell, as a person I'm not cool in the slightest
b) I'm sick to death of the vain, self important bullshit that 'artists' fill their biogs with, and
c) I like to let the music speak for itself at this stage...

The only info which may be of interest to someone is that I have a long history as a house music producer and I've spent too many years working with and for cool DJs. Well, I've had enough. The Marches is me making the music I want to make without worrying about the fickle demands of jocks. And I'm LOVING it... should have done it years ago." -Richard Lane

Sia (pronounced /’si:ə/ SEE-ah)

Talented singers and songwriter Sia returns with a stunning new single entitled 'Day Too Soon' taken from her eagerly anticipated forthcoming album “Some People Have REAL Problems” out Jan, 2008.

A few musical friends help on the record including Beck who features on 'Academia', and tracks co-written with members of Turin Brakes, and it is produced by Jimmy Hogarth who recently worked with Corinne Bailey Rae, James Morrison, James Blunt & Amy Winehouse.

“Day Too Soon” is the perfect introduction to those new to Sia, showcasing her husky yet nasally trademark jazz/drunk slur voice in languid form in a gorgeous ballad that is a classic slice of gloss and garnish melodic pop full of heartfelt emotion and soul seeking.

DL: Day Too Soon
DL: Day Too Soon (Lifelike Remix)
DL: Day Too Soon (Tom Neville Remix)
DL: Day Too Soon (Mock. & Toof Remix)

“Day Too Soon” is packaged in a sleeve that has been drawn on Microsoft Paint; & comes with an ambient full hypnotic house Lifelike remix, a bleachy beachy plank synth & keys Mock. & Toof remix, & a semi-minimal electro Tom Neville remix.

Interview : The Black Ghosts!

Hey Simon & Theo! Shall we begin….

BOTH: Yes. Please continue.

The most common interview question in the universe, why the name “The Black Ghosts”?

THEO: Cos it sounds great. Some people seem to take it too literally - like we have to sound like a goth band to fit the name, but that's bollocks. We love all things dark - horror movies, gothic (NOT goth) imagery and literature, etc, but that doesn't mean we have to sound like that all the time. We have a dark edge in some of our music and lyrics, but there is light there also.

SIMON: We chose it because it sounds like a psychedelic band name, a street gang name and a horror movie... the holy triptych.

You’re a duo… Simon Lord ex. “Simian” & Theo Keating “The Wiseguys”... Sorry for being such an ignorant but who the hell are/is “The Wiseguys” I can’t recall ever hearing anything by them/him (Except for an ancient remix of the Gorillaz single 19/2000) & I’m not even sure if it’s them/him?

THEO: Well... funny you should know that one, as it's my least favourite remix. There's plenty of other Wiseguys stuff out there, though. If you know it, cool, if not, no matter - it was a while ago, now.

How did “The Black Ghosts” project come to life? On what base did you 2 think you we’re going to be a good combination? What does each of you bring to “The Black Ghosts”?

SIMON: We started making tunes together and they just kept coming, after a while we realized we'd created a thing in itself and The Black Ghosts was born. I bring the vocals and lyrics, Theo brings the beats and sounds... but there's no set formula to how we write a song, we both come up with the seed of an idea, and then work together to finish it off.

It’s hard to categorize your music under one genre; it’s really different style from track to another! Bleep electro-dance on “Any Way You Choose To Give It””, Vintage Caribbean-tribal-rock on “It’s Your Touch”, Minimal dramatic symphony on “Some Way Through This” & the Bass heavy rock simulation “More Than I Can Say”! Precisely what genre does your music fall under?

SIMON: It's soul music... with electro-psych flourishes, we like listening to all types of music and I think that comes out, though i've never heard anyone describe it as 'Vintage Caribbean tribal rock' before!

THEO: It's just a product of our musical schizophrenia. We find it hard to stay still, and anyway an album should have different things going on.

So are you Mainstream, Semi-Mainstream or Anti-Mainstream (a.k.a. Extreme Indie)?

THEO: None of the above. We believe you can make great pop music without it being generic or tacky. Just good songs, but influenced by all the styles of music we love.

Let’s talk a bit about “AWYCTGI” how did you come up with such a malicious upbeat dance number? Is it about a real life experience?

SIMON: Malicious yet upbeat comes natural to me, that'd be a good epitaph "he was malicious yet upbeat". I'm interested in how really positive things can have an underlying threat... it's the same idea behind "We Are Your Friends" - declaring "You'll never be alone again" is not necessarily a good thing, what if they're maniacs?
"AWYCTGI" is basically a love song but says 'i will love you no matter what you do" which i think is threatening and obsessive, like all true love.

Will there be more like it in your future releases?

SIMON: There's no avoiding it i'm afraid.

THEO: Ha ha.

“Boy-8-Bit” a “Crystal Castles” alias? Who is he? How did you come across him? I really like what he did to “AWYCTGI”!

THEO: Crystal Castles??? No way. Boy 8-Bit is his own flesh and blood individual - a good friend of ours from here in London. I've known him for years, and he's really talented, so it was only natural to offer him the remix. He's part of the family.

Tell me a little bit about “Some Way Through This”, how can a song be so annoying to listen to and so good at the same time? There’s a certain amount of discomfort generated out of listening to it… don’t you agree?

THEO: Annoying? Fuck you. (Joke) - I can see how it is quite unsettling in some ways - especially as the strings build towards the end. And Simon's lyrics are quite unnerving - not your average love song. But that was the point of the song. A torch song. A ballad that had an element of passion and psychosis to it. Much more representative of what love / relationships can be.

Who writes your songs? What/Who inspires you to?

THEO: Simon does, of course.

SIMON: I've only fairly recently got into writing lyrics. I mean i've always done it but before I was more preoccupied with the music. I'm inspired by using language in surreal ways and also using the rhythm of words to become part of the music, similar to how rappers make a verse that crosses the beat.

Is your music Negatively Optimistic or Positively Pessimistic?

THEO: Hmm. Good one. I go more for negatively optimistic. I myself can be cynical and negative at times - well, more pragmatic maybe. But ultimately I have a positive view of life and the world, and remain hopeful and optimistic. One's negativity can often come from disappointment in seeing one's underlying positivity being eroded and undermined by the actions of those around you.

SIMON: When i'm good i'm very good, when i'm bad i'm horrid. So it's Positively Optimistic and Negatively Pessimistic dependent on the moons cycle, blood sugar levels and alcohol content.

THEO: Oh yes, blood sugar is very important. Feed us regularly and everything is sweetness and light. I cannot stress how important this is.

I’m feeling the Black & White artwork you’re opting for your releases, I think it really suits your project outfit! Who’s responsible for them?

THEO: The artwork is by these guys in Paris called Check Morris. I had seen some of their other work for small French labels etc, and was amazed. So I suggested them for our stuff. They said yes straight away, and have produced some beautiful sleeves. The album sleeve is the killer, though. Wait til you see that...

Cross for Justice, Pyramid for Danger, Helmets for Daft Punk, Circle for Studio… What’s yours?

BOTH: The black skull.

Are you currently remixing for anyone (future releases)? If yes, who?

THEO: We are taking a little break from remixing at the moment, to finish some of our own stuff - like the mix album we're doing. But this year we remixed Gossip, Trabant, The Whip, Charlotte Gainsbourg etc. so it's been fun. I think there are a few recent ones that are coming out soon, though - one for The Users, another for Frankmusik, and one for SMD's "I Believe".

Would you remix for a super mainstream artist such as Britney Spears if you were asked to? Why?

THEO: If the song was good, and had good musical elements, then yes, why not? It's about the qaulity of the original song, and whether you reckon you could add your own flavour to that. Some artists are cornier than others, but we've all seen a really mainstream artist drop a track that redefines them and that everyone likes.

SIMON: Yeah it'd be cool to use the power a super mainstream artist has over the general public and get them listening to a great piece of music... quite often it's easier remixing a pretty lame track than an already brilliant one.

Blogs writing about new artists & posting their mp3s… Great free promotion or disposable sabotage?

SIMON: I think it's great promotion, it doesn't matter how good your music is you still need to get people hearing it and Blogs are great for getting things out to people. Of course a lot of is disposable and won't last long but the good stuff and proper talent will survive... the important thing is that people are hearing more music and the boundaries between artist and listener are being broken down. I think we're going to go back to a music industry dominated by singles and people will be able to release tracks really quickly, which will breathe life back into the scene and make things more current and relevant.

THEO: Blogs vary as well. There are some good ones that lead the field, and have a real appreciation of music; but then there are a load that just follow the herd, and their only interest seems to be posting whatever's "hot", and then immediately losing interest and chasing the next MP3. But the good ones are a positive thing I reckon.

Having been a part of the music industry before digital media (MP3's, Blogs, peer to peer, etc) went stratospheric, what's your view on the current state of the business? Do you see this change as a threat to your lively hoods or rather something to be taken advantage of? **

SIMON: I think it's a really exciting time for music. Ok the whole money issue is up in the air, but that'll sort itself out in time. The biggest frustration in dealing with record companies in the traditional sense is that they are so slow and market records in a very conservative way - things have to go through the machine. Now it seems things are really changing and i think it's going to make the music scene a lot more diverse and interesting, Yeah it's going to be harder to make a living out of it but only for all the sponges who were clogging things up in the first place, for the people that love making music it's going to be sweet.

“Simon” Are you still in touch with your fellow ex Simians “James Ford” & “James Shaw”? I mean after laying vocals on their single “I Believe”?

SIMON: Yes we still see each other, we all live nearby and bump into each other at gigs and parties. I really enjoyed doing "I Believe" - it's one of my favorite vocals.
I'm looking forward to seeing what they do next, I think there's a lot in there that people won't be expecting. I hear talk of a rock opera...

What do you think of their new album “Attack Decay Sustain Release”?

THEO: I like it - it's a really good album. "Scott" is probably my favourite track on there. They only do a few seconds of it live, though - more!

SIMON: I likes it too, it's a banger.

There's no denying your musical pedigree. Would you ever consider resurrecting past artistic endeavors? **

THEO: I don't see the point, really. A project / band exists at a certain point in time because that's when it was right to do it, and it finishes for a reason. You have to move on to new things and keep looking forwards.

SIMON: The best bits of my past are still alive and kicking, it's all about moving forward... in a way all the musical energy that was in Simian is still thriving it's just not all being crammed into one record now!

Is “The Black Ghosts” album in the making? Any teasers? Collaborations?

THEO: Yes, the album is done, and will be out next year, probably in the spring. No teasers. One collaboration, but it's un-credited. But the sharper ears will spot it, no doubt.

If I invented a time machine and traveled to 2008 to purchase your album, which month (Hypothetically) would I dial?

THEO: You'd have to ask our label Southern Fried, but I'm guessing April maybe. We just want to get it out there!

Beside live shows, what’s next for “The Black Ghosts”?

THEO: No "live" shows, actually - we don't play as a band. We perform by doing a hybrid DJ set, that also has some live FX and vocals. So we will be doing lots more gigs like this, both in the UK and abroad - we will probably be going to Australia and the US in the spring, with a possible Japanese stop-off. Plus releasing the album, doing more remixes, and also releasing a mix album - "The Black Ghosts Mixtape", which will be excellent. And maybe we'll try and fit in some writing of new material as well...

I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did preparing for it!

THEO: Yes it was splendid.
SIMON: Super, good show all round.

I'm Honored! Thank you so much for your time, enjoy your day!

_________________________________

** question by my friend Paul from CTA-Music

Jape Is Floating!

Meet the Irish “Beck” Richie Egan, Dublin resident and sole proprietor of the Jape alter ego who just released his new album “The Monkeys In The Zoo Have More Fun Than Me”.

This album is preceded by a radio promo single “Floating” a gorgeously stoned, charmingly lo-fi affair, slacker-pop nugget with an underlying electro riff, complemented by Jape's vocals, tambourines and guitars perfectly illustrating its creator’s love of both melody and modern, mechanical beat-laden production!

DL: Jape - Floating

But it's the remixes which make this release a gem. Alex Metric's version turns the Beck sounding track into a tough, noisy, electro tune, whilst the Prin Thomas and Son Green versions keep close to the original but add a funkier, floatier sound. The single has been re-issued with extra remixes by Bobmo, D.I.M., & Tronik Youth!

Grafton Primary Can Cook!

One of my favorite new discoveries are the Australian 80s revival electro & synth-wave band “Grafton Primary”, I know tons of blog shave already been praising it but they’re just too good for me to not write about! Beside the good music what pulled my attention is their I’m-reading-rhyming-poems-rather-than-singing-vocals while their music is not new breakthrough genre nor futuristic, they are playing with a style that’s been around for the past 25 years & added their own funky taste to it to create some super synth pop tunes!

They’ve just released an addictive 6 tracks EP titled “Relativity” which is a taster of what to expect from their in-the-works yet to come in 2008 album! The EP follows the success of "Hidden Cycle", which was rotation for 6 months on JJJ.

Tracklist:
01. Relativity
02. Change
03. Stuck in my head
04. I Can Cook
05. In An Hourglass
06. Relativity (Tommy Trash Remix)

The Mylo-ish stand-out track “I Can Cook” will have you begging your mom for super blue eye-shadow, neon Lycra and acid wash.

* The only thing I hate is the artwork of the EP, probably the worst I’ve seen this year.

Let's Fake A Heart attack!

The Sydney based melancholic pop rock group have returned with another album “Be The Twilight”!

The first single “This Heart Attack” Attacks with its precarious intensity, a song about escaping dangerous situations with a danceable infused riff, mixed with Hudson's apathetic vocals, there's something familiar about this. Like so many contemporary bands, Faker has mish-mashed 80's influences with a new breed of pop rock. “This Heart Attack” is a more produced and cleaner sound than we've heard from Faker in the past, which perhaps can be accredited to producer Paul Fox (The Sugarcubes, Bjork, They Might Be Giants, XTC, Grant Lee Buffalo)!

The chaotic catchiness that launched this band is still here & once you listen to it you'll probably have trouble getting it out of your head.

DL: This Heart Attack
DL: This Heart Attack (Miami Horror Remix)
DL: This Heart Attack (Grafton Primary Remix)
DL: This Heart Attack (The Teenagers Remix)

I highly recommend the album if you like the single! You’ll definitely love them if you loved “Lorraine”!

MySpace/Website

Dear Don & Sherri!

Lifted from Matthew Dear's latest album “Asa Breed”, Don & Sherri the second single after “The Deserter” finds the producer stepping up to the mic once again for some heavily processed, ever so slightly mental, vocal techno where he somehow managed to make depressed pop sound primed for the dancefloor.

This February, Matthew Dear's Big Hands are heading back to Europe for a tour in the UK with Hot Chip. The Don and Sherri video will also make it's Transatlantic debut in January of 2008.

DL: Matthew Dear - Don & Sherri

M.A.N.D.Y. adds some of the trademark punchy, dancefloor accessibility to the cut with their exclusive Beatport remix. While Hot Chip version sounds absolutely nothing like the original, and doesn't even feature Matthew Dear. In truth, this is a cover version, complete with new harmonies, melodies and deadpan Joe Goddard vocals.
In the end, it’s Matthew Dear’s ‘Don and Sherri’ original that’s catchiest, and gives most evidence of an artist with endurance.

Myspace/Website

Bolt Action Five Rocks!

Bolt Action Five is Tobias J Hughes (Guitar!), Ian William Galloway (Bass, Bleeps, Beats), Dan the Carnivore (Lead Vocals) and Mark Murphy (Micro-Korg) from London were repeatedly praised by Artrocker, PlayMusic, NME, I-D, Disorder & various online music journals.

The band have been multi categorised by others & themselves as Nu Rave, Indietronic, Industro-Pop, Dancepunk, Electrometal & even Post-Harcore! In interviews “Bolt Action Five” have listed influences as Devo, Nine Inch Nails, Wire, Prince and Michael Jackson.

Their debut synth metal pop single was “Tree Friend Tree Foe” [March/UK/500 green vinyl only] which refers to “CiTV's Knightmare where kids had to find their way around a Dungeons & Dragons-style computer-generated world with a helmet covering their eyes!” followed by their first 6 tracks EP “File Under Wolves” [July/US/200 CD only] that included 2 remixes of “TFTF” by Dan Le Sac & Kissy Sell Out & was the first place to get “TFTF” on CD!

1. Tree Friend Tree Foe
2. Gurl Howl
3. Spring Heel Jack
4. Spree
5. Tree Friend Tree Foe (Kissy Sell Out Remix)
6. Tree Friend Tree Foe (Dan Le Sac Remix)

Later on came their most recent single “Think Fast” [October/UK/500 Vinyl + Digital DL] a synth-heavy urgent space-indie magic single opens with an 8-bit power pop keyboard lick which is suddenly choked into submission by a nick snapping, gloriously flying-V assisted splintered sweaty mess of rusty chainsaw guitars, malfunctioning drum machine hits & ridiculous power pop keyboard riffs that gets better with every listen. The single is backed with the falsetto’d Robotic-sex funk B-side ”Can The Freedom Regulate The Volume” !

1. Think Fast
2. Can The Freedom Regulate The Volume

On Nov, 19 the band re-released the single “TFTF” with extra remixes by Hadouken! & Run Hide Survive & a new sleeve! FYI, all of their artwork is done by their guitarist “Tobias Jones” who’s also responsible for the cover of the second “Arctic Monkeys” album.

1. Tree Friend Tree Foe (Kissy Sellout Mix)
2. Tree Friend Tree Foe (Dan Le Sac mix)
3. Tree Friend Tree Foe (Jam-douken mix)**
4. Tree Friend Tree Foe (Run Hide Survive mix)

** Jam-douken = Hadouken!

The band is currently working on their first album & have finished recording 4 tracks with producer Frankmusik & 1 with James Bully who also produced “tree friend tree foe”.

Lead Vocalist “Dan the Carnivore” is currently working in his weekends on an album project with a certain popular producer/remixer, who shall remain Nameless for the time being. The project is moving quickly and expects an international release in the next few months.

MySpace/Website/Last FM/Facebook

Are You Ready For The Floor?

I actually didn't play it when they added it to their MySpace player coz I wanted to wait till the promos were sent out! I got to say this is probably their most ready for the radio single yet & I love the ringtone-like wooden bleeps sprinkled all over it! + It's catchy as syphilis!

DL: Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor

PAY-TV R BAK!

The trio Neena Fatale, Chanelle Ferrari & Claudia Cash may not be Annie, Kylie, Britney or Madonna but with their money & a smart promotional plot I think they can come up with something close enough…But will they?

I first found out about them when they had their first selftitled EP hyped about on Popjustice few years ago! Since then they released 2 singles, the first is the overly-cheese-pop-cliché’d “Work Your Body” which it producer explains “It was done that way on purpose to mirror the irony of that genre” but still I’m not swallowing! Then their most recent “Fashion Report” a catchy piece of chicletropop addressing reality through pretty clever words showing more promise to better-production in the near future.

I still wish there would be more variety or at least a good hunchback of remixes to their singles. It’s really difficult to stand out these days with the growing number of artists under the same genre & especially from their home “Sweden” where some others have raised the bar too high & others are struggling to measure up!

DL: PAY-TV - Fashion Report

I knew I had to discuss all that with them & let them express their point of view on things! So I did… You can check the interview below!

Official Site

___________________________________

Interview: Pay TV!

* Hello Girls, how you been?! I don’t know if you remember me but I actually did an interview with you few years back for my deceased blog “Oxygen Chunks”!?

Chanelle: We’re good. We had some issues to take care of lest year but now we’re back. Stronger than ever.

Claudia: Hello, we do remember you.

Neena: Do we?

* The music scene has changed & grown rapidly since then huh! Well, last time we had more of a light fun interview… this time around I would like to address some serious issues regarding your music! Are you up for it?

Neena: Hell yeah! Go for it honey!

Chanelle: Please, serious is so “now”. We like serious.

Claudia: Come on, throw it in our faces!

* Ok here we go... first I want to mention your beginning with your first “Pay TV” EP which was hyped about by many blogsters & on top of all “Popjustice”! But I’m afraid that that EP was your best work to date… meaning your work really hasn’t evolved since then?

Claudia: That’s a good point of view darling, except that…. youre wrong!!! Our music has evolved a lot since then. I think the problem might be that you haven’t – Mr Neanderthal! If you’re interested in evolving, listen to our music, to the lyrics. Listen and learn. Pay attention and obey. That will make you grow, and maybe on day you can be as incredibly smart and sophisticated as we are.

Neena: You are welcome to have any opinion you like about us. But if you question the quality of our music, I’m afraid we have to kill you.

Chanelle: Yes! Let’s kill him! That would be fun, and very good publicity! Maybe then we will go to prison, that would be really cool. I can get jailhouse tattoos and you two can be my bitches!

* I said that because (& I’m sorry for this) I’ve heard your single “Work Your Body” & it’s probably one of the worst clichéd & tacky tracks I’ve heard this year! It just channels the cheesiness of Aqua, Steps & those who were once upon a time hot artists! What do you to say in defense of this song? Be honest please...

Claudia: We don’t have to defend anything. You simply haven’t got it. “Work Your Body” has this new thing called “irony”. And it also holds another element that you might not be familiar with; “humor”.

Chanelle: OK, maybe the music sucks but we’ve made shitloads of money. Have you seen our wardrobe lately? That’s what I call evolution.

Neena: Our producer told us hat the irony of the song lies in the production of the music. The track is making fun out of cliché dance pop by being packed with as many clichés as possible. I don’t quite understand what he means but that’s what he said. Does this make it any clearer for you?

Chanelle and Neena: Please baby, don’t blame us. We’re just singing what we’re told.

* Now about your new single “Fashion Report” that’s more of the Pay TV I like! It’s catchy, dance-able & it’s smart, I mean any song with words like:

“Decadence is out, Ignorance is in
Self Defense is out, coz Attack is back it’s in again
Revolution is out, Air Pollution is in
Evolution is out, & Prostitution is in again
Compassion is totally out, Cash is in... its king again”

Is a Yes Yes to me… who produced it & who wrote the words to it? What were you thinking of when you wanted to make this song!?

Chanelle: I was thinking of my hair. Honestly, it wasn’t in perfect condition when we did the vocals in the recording studio. And my fingernails were so-so. Luckily you can’t hear that on the recordings as our producer covered it up with some digital effects. Phew!

Neena: We just sing about reality, as always. We know absolutely everything there is to know about fashion - and to us, everything is fashion. Fashion is everywhere. Look at what’s happening in the world today; global warming, war on terror, school shootings; it’s all very, very trendy.

Claudia: You say “any song with words like…”. What any songs? Are there any other songs like Fashion Report? Are there any acts like Pay TV. You know the answer darling; No, there isn’t!

* There’s a video for it right? Who directed it?

Claudia: There is a video in the making. It’s shot by Petra Hont, this new, young, Swedish movie photographer we met, and off course our in-house photographer Pixie Von Flash. The two most talented visual artists in the world today.

Chanelle: The video will be, like everything we do, like nothing on earth. No one have made a video like the one we will release in a couple of weeks. When you see it you will understand.

Neena: It will be ultimate fashion guide. If you watch that video you will understand how fashion works in every aspect of life and politics… Gee, that sounded smart! Thank God our manager gave us these cue cards. I don’t understand half of it but it makes me seem intelligent - which is also very fashionable.

* Hmmm, that’s kind of what I really wanted to ask you about... you girls being 100% made of Hakan Lidbo productions & imagery... don’t you think it’s what’s projecting you as a 1 dimensional act? I mean he’s the one who does your photos, music, video, public relations (he’s good at it, don’t get me wrong) but everyone knows that these days monotone is OUT! & seriously your music became very pre-predictable! Think about it…

Chanelle: We’re definitely not 100% made by Hakan. He doesn’t know one thing about make-up, weight-control or even hairdos. He doesn’t know much at all. And we have loads of dimensions, not just one!

Neena: But my personal trainer says that’s what I should aim at when I’m losing weight. To be one dimensional. I’m almost two dimensional now, I have length and width – but almost no depth. Who needs depth?

Claudia: And our music is not pre-predictable. You’re totally wrong there. It’s more like post-predictable. It’s actually post-post-retro-modern and pre-future-vintage-hip.

* Even the successful stars such as Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez… they all hire different producers for their album! It’s just common sense that working with different talented producers gives the artist an edge & variety in sound! Why don’t you do that??

Claudia: Because it’s so obvious that these girls don’t have any talent themselves. So they have to get every talented producer in the world to make them sound good and up to date. And as they don’t have any artistic vision they change producer for every song they make. We stick to this medium-talanted producer Hakan Lidbo because in his production we can shine! Our true talent really sticks out in his mediocre production. Now that’s a smart strategy, isn’t it?

Neena: In the future we will change producer not only for every album or every single, but we will have a new producer for every bar - in every single song! That’s how much money we will have in the future. We will change producer like most people change underwear

Chanelle: I hope Madonna changes underwear more often than she changes producer, she must be pretty smelly at her age.

* There are many artists that I think could come up with a song that would suit your style… to name a few: Calvin Harris, The Disco Boys, Bloodshy & Avant, Xenomania, Ladytron! Or even from your home “Sweden”: Lo-Fi-Fnk, The Knife, Studio, Teddybears! Are you familiar with any of them?

Chanelle: Yes, we know them all but we don’t like them. They’re not so good looking, are they?

Claudia: I don’t like atists with beeks.

Neena: Oh, sorry, I was paying attention to the TV. What was that again?

* It doesn’t stop there though... if you don’t like having others produce for you then why not have them remix for you! Seriously, a good remix could do a lot of promotion for one artist! I mean C’mon you’re rich.. Why not spend what could be a price of a designer bag on a good remix! There’s just a lot of talented new DJ’s who have created enough fame with no record deal or promotion & they are just thirsty for someone to ask them produce or remix for! Seriously are you going to consider having remixes by popular hipsters?

Claudia: No, as soon as they become popular, they’re out. We’re looking for the ones that are so hip that no one has ever heard of them.

Chanelle: Is he suggesting that we should spend our money on remixes instead of designer bags? Is he mad or what?

Neena: Hey girls… I like what he’s saying, maybe we should consider it?

* I’m really sorry if this interview comes across as negative, but I always like to say the truth… I hope you consider some changes in your work routine because I KNOW you have the ability to become big internationally but I don’t think you really realize the process for that to happen... it’s really not just about the artist these days!

Claudia: Isn’t it? We always thought that if you just sing from your heart, success will come automatically! Like, bring out your guitar and sing about the Vietnam War! Are you saying that money, marketing and adapting to the market has anything to do with it? God damn! Let me tell you this honey; we’re not like the others, we don’t adapt to the market. We create our own market. We don’t aim for success. We are success… We breathe success!

Neena: You’re not negative at all. You’re the nicest journalist we’ve talked to in a long time. We are always so cynical, so to us negative is almost like positive. If you know what I’m saying?

Chanelle: Negative is the new positive! We forgot to put that in our song.

* I still think your first EP has the best music you’ve done till this day, I seriously love “Material Girls”, “Refrain Refrain” & “Sexy Robot”... by the way which of your songs is your favorite?

Claudia: We don’t even listen to those old songs any more. The forthcoming album is so amazing that it makes even these songs (that were the best ever released in the World to that date) seem pretty weak. The new album is way beyond those simple tunes.

Neena: Yes, you just wait and see. It will blow your toes off.

Chanelle: Right! I hate my make-up on that EP. I’ve got this new foundation now that is so much better.

* Well I hope I haven’t ruined your mood or anything, my advice to you is to rethink about what I just told you! & I hope we stay in touch after this & I would be more than happy to talk further about it privately with you if you want!

All: Yes, we prefer private. We can be as private as YOU prefer… XXX

Deceased Children!

Even though this has been passed on the crotches of many Blogs, it’s still too good to not show up on our front too!

”Rabble-rousing, incendiary and twisted named London-based “Dead Kids” whose front man Mike Once told tourists he killed Diana released their strident admission to intoxication and paranoia single singing about conspiracy about fluoride in water. The dark party rave “Fear & Fluoride” is a panic attack of sound, a squall of feedback, a slow tightening of a fist around the throat, A strobe-lit head-f*ck, forceful and unforgettable & will stick to you like cum in the bath!” – Cut/Paste

DL: Dead Kids – Fear & Fluoride

* “Fear & Fluoride” has been remixed by Shy Child, Lillica Libertine, Re:Ply!, We Are Not Ghetto Kids, & Rio.

It's Here!

The Presets - My People

SymbolOne is One Mean Rocket!

.SymbolOne are the metaphorically-claiming-to-be-twins who invent emotion generating instrumental electro music & promoting their image as the geeks-in-pink-sweaters when are anything but geeks, after creating their first intended for the public track “Mean Rocket” they weren’t necessarily overwhelmed by it but it was their first evidence to what their talents combined can produce & right then they knew that with a galon of sweat & a handful of aspirins they can come up with some audio pleasures; & they did with 2 immediately-to-register–into-your-brain tunes! The first is the dark ambient based “Everything Louder Then Everything Else” with its neatly steady beat, jingly bleeps, spiral faux guitar licks & progressive keys interrupted 3 minutes into it by somewhat a stuttered hospital announcement! The other track “Love Juice” has a much strident figure & especially in the distortion department with its slappy beat, grindy distorted bassline, convincing electric guitar simulated synth & even a brilliant justice-esque gloomy intermission where the beat takes a break & the music gets its 50 seconds of solo fame. If their music was made for a movie, it would probably be for “The Transformers” but this time the Decepticons would triumph.

DL: Love Juice
DL: Mean Rocket (Exclusive!)
DL: Everything Louder Then Everything Else

Check out my SymbolOne interview here!

Interview : DANGER!

Originaly there were more questions but due to language difficulties (me not speaking french/him not so good in english) we ended up with the ones we could make sense out of!

* First of all I want to congratulate you for your instant success, creating such buzz around you form just a MySpace account & for releasing your "09/14 2007" EP digitally!
Thank you very much; it was a big surprise for me!

* Now this is usually a generic question to start any interview off, but with you it's a primary one! What's with all the mystery? I mean there's no biography or info on your MySpace or your label site? Tell us about you, the real person?
I’m an illustrator & a graphic designer. I’m very imaginative & I love telling stories & communicating to the senses. I spent a specific part of my youth in front of a computer screen, books, & gaming consoles. I designed comic strips. I love film, art, video games & synthesizers.

* I read somewhere that you got 2 or 3 offers from electronica record labels before Ekler'O'Shock? Why did you choose them?
Yes, I had received some offers before Elker’o’Shock, but I rally love the artists there.

* I know you did all the astonishing graphics showcased on your MySpace! Do you have a degree or you're one of those gifted self taught designers? I studied Graphic Art/Design for three years, but I’ve been doing illustrations since I was young.

* Why did you choose to promote yourself as a fictional/animated character?!
I wanted to tell a story that makes people enter into my universe while forgetting everything else. I use two personalities: one masked, one human… I use these to juxtapose the real in the fictitious, & the fictitious in the real. I also like masks in general because I’m quite shy!

* You know there is another hyped about artist "Kavinsky" whose doing the same thing? Right?
I’ve made music for video games & ‘Chip Tunes’ for at least 5 years now, It’s definitely the culture for me. One can utilize the same gimmick/style/EQ Levels if needed. I think that its conductive to communal influences after seeing something like two rock groups showing something completely different. I honestly do what I’ve always wanted to do without being too preoccupied with the other stuff. I use sounds with an emotional charge. In his project, I tried to convey the senses of somewhat like those of a child.

* What's the deal with the pyramids & ancient Egyptian clues in your gloomy graphics?
All civilizations have something that is mysterious & inspires fantasy. I love ancient Egypt because my grandfather was an archeologist & was very passionate about it. He was fascinated by Egypt too.

* Do you believe that the image you project is as important as your music? Why?
Yes, Absolutely. One doesn’t work without the other. & for me, I need to associate everything with music. The music which is the strongest is that which attaches itself firmly to reality, at least those which have the means to do so.

* So Is "11H30" you're first official single? Is there going to be an animated video for it?
I can’t comment on this at this very moment, but concerning the video…YES!

* In the process of making you music, Weren't you afraid it wasn't going to appeal to the masses?
I never thought of it that way, I just wanted to express my work to people.

* What's the story you're trying to tell with your music?
I don’t try to be overly nostalgic. Everyone knows how to do that. In this project, I’ve tried to mimic the senses of a child, where all emotions are amplified… their fears, the mystery. When I was young, I made imaginary worlds all the time. My family had lots of pretty severe problems & I was in the middle, so I tried to draw these stories. It’s in the spirit of this that I do this work, but always on a foundation of reality.

* Whose vocals are on "11h30" & what are the lyrics to the chorus?
It’s my voice! & the different syllables of the words are randomly mixed in a manner that makes a kind of text that people can interpret.

* I've been severely itching to get an explanation for this… What's with the weird track names? I'm guessing it's timings but still, why & based on what? Explain please!
We can say that I think that one hour is as evocative as an emotional feeling or a literary classic (book). I’ve lived my life to pay attention to the time & honestly found that the door to a 20:45 or a 14h is within & of themselves, altogether with the feelings involved… So imagine one for 14h54, it’s kind of a mind fuck!

* Other tracks can be streamed on your MySpace "9H20" & "Revolte at 22h10" why didn't you include them on your "09/14 2007" EP?
They will be soon available!

* I'm surprised that with all this hype you still haven't remixed for other artists!
Actually I’m in the process of remixing for some artists at the moment, but I can’t name any.

* If you ever wanted to co-produce a track with someone, who would it be?
I can’t say… maybe The Flirts.

* Blogs writing about new artists & posting their mp3s? Great free promotion or disposable sabotage?
Downloading is appositive thing in the sense that it’s necessary to spread music in a way that evolved with the society/industry.

* What do you think of Justice's album "†"? A lot of people are swearing it's the best album released this year!
It’s a nice album. I like Justice because they contribute to a change in the electronic music. They’re criticized by some who accuse them of taking an entire musical genre & making it vulgar & re-selling it as “POP”.

* I read on your MySpace that you're working on your album! How's that coming along? When do you expect to finish working on it?
I really can’t say at this moment. But it will finish when I have done my best.

* Now that the EP is out, are you going to disappear till the album is ready?
Another EP will come out early next year!

* Thank you so much for your time & looking forward to experience whatever you have for us in the future, it looks like you're going to be around for a very long time, lucky us!
Thanks a lot to you!

* Au Revoir!
A Bientot!!

Chef - Toccating
I’ve been in love with it for almost half a month now, the reason why I’m writing this late about it is because I have no idea who the hell “chef” is & googling seriously haven’t helped at all, neither did the world wide web! Finally I got in touch with his label & their response was “At this point we can’t reveal any information on chef, the release of Toccating has been moved to the first quarter of 2008. I will update you once it’s official.”

Anyhow the track is a strong 6 minutes of amazing instrumental electronic melody & beat... Starts minimally with a Crunchy distorted beat and some planky clicks then gradually adds sounds for about 2:30 minutes when it reaches its full body brilliance, Sounding like a dracula castle theme with its echoed tingly bleeps, dark muffled bassline, descending composition, & church organ simulated synths that sound like an electric guitar! 4 minutes into it the track starts to lose sounds slowly to what seems to be the outro part but then surprisingly it builds again to it’s hardest core & gets even more agrresive than before & starts leading to the final minimal encore!

DL: Chef - Toccating

Looking forward to more releases by him! It seems like he’s soon to be hyped about..all i can find about him for now is this Virb page!

They Are Terrorists!

“We are terrorists, We are terrific, We are bad & We are French electro band.” They say & they are! As doomful & horrific as their name is their music which is far from even being remotely related to mainstream, camouflaging angry pop songs as vulgar & harsh electro-rock bombs! Bilingually swinging from English to French (vocally) it gives me a hard time understanding what they’re singing about, yet their music does all the talking with it’s strong punchy beats, distorted bass, guitar hums & of course their electronic melody creating terribly lovable tunes to slash your ear drums & tear those club speakers apart, this is one of those bands where their music only shines when played obscenely loud!

They have finished recording 6 tracks till this day! The first single is the walkie talkie generated vocal, jittery bass & noisy guitar driven “Rejoins Nous” (Join Us) which is basically an invitation to join their army & support their mission to terrorize music, “Ground Zero” a baroque track to strut & rave to with am adamantine shinichi osawa-like rock body, “Emergency 911” their not-so-ctachy-not-so-perfectly-pronounced-english song which surprisingly is good for that reason! Fag-a lot “Achete Mes Disques” & I’m sexy “L'Attentat De 15h30” both have traces of death eurodance particles to them, & my personal favorite (probably their softest) the instrumental “Western Spaghetti” which is absolutely delicious, It sounds like something daTA, Boys Noize & Teenage Bad Girl would come up with by freestyling simultaneously at a gig.

* Achete Mes Disques
* Ground Zero
* Rejoins Nous
* Emergency 911
* Western Spaghetti
* L'Attentat De 15h30

Bonus: Revolte - Ironical Sexism (We Are Terrorists Remix)

Who wouldn’t like them, I mean look at their band logo (if that isn’t psychedelically hot enough) then I don’t know what is!

MySpace/Rejoins Nous Video

___________________________

Interview : We Are Terrorists!

* Hello Terrorists, what did you do today?
Ben : Nothing... like everyday, why ?
Nico: I slept !

* Ready for Interrogation?
Ben : Always !
Nico: ok I'll leave my shoes ..

* First of all, what’s with the name? Seriously… since when did terrorism become fashionable enough to be named after! Or wait... are you really terrorists who bomb airports by day and play in a band by night?
Nico: I think everything can be fashionable if you have the C K logo on your hidden face!! But as you can see in our video clip "rejoins nous" we really are terrorists !!! We eat children , we reap little animals, and we strike facilities..
Ben : I think I'm a food terrorist, just give me some plates and you'll see ...

* Are you in any ways involved with Al-Qaeda?
Ben : My name is ben lamoulatamere , which can be in a way next to some terrorists groups !!
Nico: I don't think we have the same hair though... at all!

* Your music is real bad ass rough electro rock but if you listen closely you realize it’s actually built over a pop foundation! What made you go for such a harsh sound? How did your music take that shape?
Nico: You must notice that we are fans of french pop singers like : guy marchand or serge regiani , I think it leads us to this type of music .
Ben : We like distortion , we put it every here , we love to make keybords screaming like guitars and we like to chop guitars and use it as a keyboard .

for structure of tracks or other things, we just do like everyone : copy & paste, copy & paste.

* Weren’t you afraid by adopting that style you would be limiting the number of interested record labels, I mean these days they just want what appeals to the most people! & your music is strictly NOT mainstream!?
Ben : I think whatever you do , you will end up limiting your publicity, But then I think it's possible for us to go mainstream cause our lyrics are fun and we are just as they are.
Nico: I do not really think that labels are open & courageous enough to sign some hidden people like us!!

* Did you study music? Like do you have a degree in it?
Ben : yes I studied wood at school when i was 6!
Nico: I've been playing guitar for 2 weeks now!!!

* Even though most of your songs are in French (& I have no idea what you’re singing about) I still think it would work for a foreign listener since it did for me! What are the meanings of the titles & what does each song talk about?

Rejoin Nous:
Ben : It Means: join us , join the community , with us destroy conformity

I spell everyone of our targets with some easy puns...

Achete Mes Disques:
Ben :It means : buy my records cause I have to pay my taxes . I talk about things related to teenage life, which is in a way the target of that song.


L'Attentat 15h30:
Nico : Those ones talk about what is "we are terrorists - WAT" ! We are sound terrorists, we place bass bomb everywhere we go! Where ever we go, federal agents try to get us ! it is not funny at all.


* Any plans for re-recording them in English?
Ben : You know french is a useless language , very hard to use in a song . We hardly manage!So we will just leave them in french for now and see what happens.
Nico: Moreover, we do not speak english!!

* What’s the story behind “Western Spaghetti”? It’s my favorite... it does have the noise signature of “WAT” but it’s somehow “Softer” if I may say... & I think it’s your strongest track “production wise”! How did this track come to life & is there going to be more like it in the future?
Nico: It was ben's idea , the first and the only one I think in his entiere life. We sampled some italian western spaghetti and we played with those sounds well.
Ben : I think it was my idea like everytime (notice that nico only makes coffee in the band). We' ll probably do more stuff like that , but we do not want to plan it cause it is the best way to do some tricky stuff .

* What’s your next single?
Ben : I think it will be the next for sure !
Nico: the best one sure !


* Do you have any physical Singles/EPs out?
Ben : defenitly not , people are afraid !!
Nico: Yes there are! I burn it myself with my wife!! do you want some ?

* That’s one hell of a fucking hot logo you got there, who created it? Who’s responsible for your artwork?
Nico: I created it myself with a friend of mine , called godordog(Think for that).

* A lot of new artists (who make their own music) like to remix unofficially tracks by other artists because it’s a good way to self-promotion + it attracts different type of people! Why haven’t you? If you did, then who?
Ben : we do have one on fire , but I cannot mention it to avoid problems so I'll give you just initials of the band : A C D C !?

* Would you remix for a super mainstream artist, someone like… let’s say “Britney Spears”?
Nico: Britney in a way is a stronger terrorist than us , more of a hair terrorist!
Ben : I have a message for you britney! I love your sister!!!

* In your honest opinion who’s the best new artist signed to “Ed Banger” & why?
Ben : I think it is kavinski cause he is not signed by ed banger! that makes him better !!

* Are people from Tokyo tokyons?
Nico: We love tokyo guys... we really love belgium of course!!
Ben : tokyo get us !!!! we are tokyotists !!We would love to play there.
* What do you have in your pockets right now?
Ben : Condoms
Nico: An Ipod, no money, so if you have more than you need just send it to us at : We are terrorists , building C in the cave just behind .

* Ok, I got to go now...
Ben : thx for the review & this.
Nico : See you tomorrow at breakfast!

Smells Like Rerox! (UPDATED!)

I Earlier Wrote:

I'm sure every fan of "Patick Alavi" have already had the mp3 of his remix of Nirvana's "Smell s Like Teen Spirit"... But now alavi is officialy releasing it on Fri.14.12.07! The vinyl will also include a "Justice" remix of "Satine - Corrupted"!

Then Alavicontacted me & gave me facts about this release, he said:

"we managed to release it official finally and some guys just made a bootleg with the old myspace-demo-version someone ripped once from there the real release is out with the distribution GROOVE ATTACK ... it will be also available as mp3 release everywhere on december 7th "

Until then here's an unreleased remix of Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" (Right Click & Save Target As):

Justin Timberlake - SexyBack (Alavi Rerox)

Hot Chip : Album/Single/Video/Remixes/+ More!

Album/Single:
* It’s their third studio album, titled “Made in the Dark”.
* Released on February 4 2008 (UK) & the next day (US).
* The first release out of it "Shake a Fist" was just a promo single.
* The first proper single will be "Ready For The Floor" in January 2008.
* "Ready For The Floor" can be heard through the player on their official MySpace.
* The album will have a rockier sound than previous records.
* They started working on “Made In The Dark” a week after releasing “The Warning”.
* They’re pleased about the record, they’ve done things they haven’t done before, & they’ve got more depth and range.
* It took them months to agree on the title “Mad In The Dark”, they thought about calling it “Four” or “Shot Down In Flames”.
* They were asked to write something for kylie Minogue's “X”, but they didn't because they were busy with “Made In The Dark”, But If thy had ever got around to it, they would’ve probably given her “Ready For The Floor” which is their next single.

Tracklisting:
01. Out At The Pictures
02. Shake A Fist
03. Ready For The Floor
04. Bendable Poseable
05. We’re Looking For A Lot Of Love
06. Touch Too Much
07. Made In The Dark
08. One Pure Thought
09. Hold On
10. Wrestlers
11. Don’t Dance
12. Whistle For Will
13. In The Privacy Of Our Love

“Ready For The Dancefloor” Video:
* Directed by Nima Nourizadeh!
* If you've seen the first Batman film that Tim Burton made, or any of the Prince videos related to that film, then you'll get some idea of the aesthetic.
* Alexis plays a quite mischievous character and puts the others in the band through various tests that they have to complete. And if they don't, they face death.



Side Projects:
* Joe's been producing with a rapper Plastic little.
* Felix & Al have been making an album together as Lanark.
* Alexis did some music for a short film that was on TV & started an album with Green from Scritti Politti.

Here are some Hot Chip remixes for you to chew on until then:
DL: !!! - Must Be The Moon (Hot Chip Remix)
DL: Amy Winehouse – Rehab (Hot Chip Remix)
DL: CSS - Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above (Hot Chip Remix)
DL: David E Sugar - Oi New York, This Is London (Hot Chip Vs Ragga Twins Remix)
DL: Gorillaz - Kids With Guns (Hot Chip Remix)
DL: Junior Boys - In The Morning (Hot Chip Remix)
DL: Kraftwerk - La Forme (King Of The Mountains Mix)**
DL: Ladytron - Destroy Everything You Touch (Hot Chip Remix)
DL: Matthew Dear - Don & Sherri (Hot Chip Version)
DL: Plan B - Who Needs Actions When You Got Words (Hot Chip Remix)
DL: Rumble Strips - Girls And Boys In Love (Hot Chip Remix)
DL: The Aliens - Robot Man (Hot Chip Remix)
DL: The Chap - Woop Woop (Hot Chip Remix)
DL: Plastic Little - Crambodia (Joe Chip from Hot Chip Remix)

** King Of The Mountains = Al Doyle & Felix Martin (the other half of Hot Chip).

"I became a volunteer" is an exclusive track that has been on Myspace previously but is now gifted to those who are signed to their newsletter to download and keep forever. It won't be on the forthcoming album "Made In The Dark" or a bonus track on their next single "Ready For The Floor" so this is the only way you'll be able to get it!

DL: Hot Chip – I Became a Volunteer

Can’t Wait!

Ssssss Ahh, OW!
“Michael Jackson” is the 2nd single off the new Mitchell Brothres album “Dressed For The Occasion” (which btw contains a song “Slap My Face” featuring “Franz Ferdinand”)!

The Mitchell Brothers asked Calvin Harris to re-produce "Michael Jackson" & Harris rewarded them with a playful, squelchy synth backdrop over which the brothers lay down an un-ironic homage to Jackson, complete with a few comical laughs and "Ow!"s.



Due to both artists preferring the Calvin Harris version they decided to scrap the original and use the remix, however the record label bosses told them to keep the original on the album as they had already paid to have it produced.

DL: The Mitchell Brothrs – Michael Jackson (Calvin Harris Remix)

The catchy “Michael Jackson” is a reminder of more innocent days when children would stay up late into the night to watch videos of 'The King of Pop” rather than the other way round.

Studio – West Coast!
Yes, they are the same “Studio” that made that better-than-the-original version of “2 Hearts” for Kylie Minogue!

The Swedish New-Disco duo “Daniel Lissvik” & “Rasmus Hagg” are the impossible-to-Google band “Studio” & their debut “West Coast” deserves as much hype as justice’s “Cross”! Clocking in at a mere six tracks West Coast might sound like it might be a tad brief, as albums go, but nonetheless the album nearly clocks up an hour's worth of play time and without doubt crams in an impressive run of ideas. The gloriously lurid neon album is made out of addictive early '80s-themed passages, Kraut Dub (skanking Reggae licks and steel pans included), Afrobeat rhythms, Prog Rock, Bluesy Guitar Riffs, early-nineties style Breakbeat & full-bodied & weighty Retro Dance-drone music in a very modern way.

Tracklist:
01. Out There
02. West Side
03. Self Service
04. Origin
05. Life's A Beach
06. Indo

This synth based album probably contains the most enthrallingly intelligent, refreshingly subtle electronic music on the planet. It has equal brilliance of “Lindstrom & Prins Thomas”, “Boozoo Bajou”, & “Junior Boys” combined!

One of the Best albums this year, PERIOD.

Calvin Minogue!
Well Well, i have to confess that i stopped buying kylie's albums since "Light Years".. but i'm going to buy "X" for sure & the reason is while listening to the album i got struck by 2 tracks that can't be produced by any other than "Calvin Harris" (I just know that sound).. I'm talking about the tracks "In My Arms" & "Heart Beat Rock".. I had no idea he was working on "X"!! Anyhow to make my point.. this album is great & the clavin harris touch on it makes it even better.. So "X" is being added to the 2007 brilliantine list of albums!

Since we are talking about calvin Harris, here are some of his Non Album/B-Side Tracks!

DL: Rock Band
DL: Love For You **
DL: Rock N Roll Attitude

** A.K.A. (Acceptable In the 80s "Part. II")

Monster Mixtape!
Yes, another one of those....

DL: Britney Spears - Gimme More (Gaetan Remix)
DL: Justice vs. Simian - We Are Your Friends (Milke ''Heavy Friends'' Remix)
DL: Cassius - Toop Toop (Mr. Oizo Mix)
DL: The Whip - Sister Siam (Justin Robertson Vocal Mix)
DL: Calvin Harris - Colours (Seamus Haji Big Love Remix)
DL: Bee Gees - If I Can't Have You (The Disco Boys Remix)
DL: Justice - Phantom Pt II (Boys Noize Remix)
DL: The Teenagers - Homecoming (Guns N'bombs XTC 1996 Remix)
DL: Jessica Vale - Brand New Disease (Jody Den Broeder Club Instrumental)
DL: Zzt - Lower State Of Consciousness (Justice Remix)

It takes over an hour to upload all those & less than 30 sec to say thank you...Think!