My First Music Festival

So I thought I'd do a special Stereosonic post. And by popular demand, it will be opinionated.

Firstly, Stereosonic is NOT a music festival. Music festivals involve roadies, truckloads of equipment, 27 guitars for the headline frontman, 'cultural' tents, etc etc. Stereosonic will require a stage, DJ decks and some Italians jumping round behind them. That's it. And what is brilliant, people have paid up to $130 to go. An extra $50 and you'll have Splendour for two days. Something seems off... but then you remember Stereosonic had to be cancelled in Sydney last year because of 'financial and production' issues. Ahhhh... charge the people more, less likely to suffer losses.

Stereosonic is a who's who of nostalgic house that I grew up on through the latter part of year 12 and post HSC. Yes my music taste has evolved, but I still love Surkin's Radio Fireworks.

What is troubling me however, is that fact that Stereosonic is the first music festival post-HSC. I'm not even there yet, and I am dreading the crowd. Supre-clad dregs trying to remove their left ear with their bottom jaw. Maybe their male counterparts have their shirts off, their Southern Cross tattoos proudly emanating from their freshly waxed chests. Omg I can't wait. To top it off, NOVA 969 is one of the major sponsors. And I really don't think I could despise anyone more than the music producers at Nova. One quote from some retarded Nova presenter I heard at work 3 weeks ago... "Here's the brand new one from Deadmau5, these guys are from America teaming up with super cool Pendulum, it's called Ghosts n Stuff".

- Deadmau5 is one man, and he is from Canada.
- Ghosts n Stuff was released October 6th, 2008... but the new one was put out August 2009.
- 'Pendulum' is actually Rob Swire, they're almost right. And he uses Autotune in this track. Thus making the track sound like finger nails on a blackboard in a room full of naked laughing clowns raping each other with cactuses whilst Nuclear war rages outside and the background music is Wing's cover of 'My Heart Will Go On'.

And I'm done...

Overnight - Hudson Mohawke

Discotirsco - Knightlife

Forza - Zombie Nation

Peace and Love.

Variety Bucket

The Sydney Festival next in January next year looks... well... kinda shit compared to last year. But hey, at least Radioclit will make a showing!

Fantasic Six (Radioclit Remix) - Alphabeat

I'll stay with gigs for the moment... and focus on The Middle East who are playing the Brass Monkey on December 7. Tickets are available here. And many of you thought this was a remix only blog?

The Darkest Side - The Middle East

And a little discovery I made... Chris Glover, a producer from New York has combined with himself to make Penguin Prison - a one-man electro outfit crediting LCD Soundsystem as his influence. I like I like!

A Funny Thing - Penguin Prison


Another not-so-new group is an act made big by Triple J recently is Tim & Jean. They didn't win Unearthed High. But they are pumping out tracks at the tender ages of 15 and 18. And it's really really good.

Come Around - Tim & Jean

So... I'll throw in another remix. This one goes out to some friends of me who I don't think are aware of this D Cup remix. Be cool bitch, be cool!

Afro Nuts (DCUP Hi Beams Remix) - Yolanda Be Cool

Oh yeah... I'd like to share one of my most sought after tracks. I have been hunting down this remix for at least six months. I finally landed it yesterday and I pass it on to you at 320kbps (only the best for you guys). Yes, I know some of you will hate it. But I think it is a clever construction and done rather well. At least it's not from their latest album. Sex on fire? More like fuck off. Please.

Milk (Stretch and Vern Remix) - Kings of Leon

Peace and Love.

Ed is Dead

Over the past however long, Pedro Winter has managed to piss Ed Banger Records up against a wall, snort it up his nose, or both. The once great French Record label has not done anything remotely constructive in the past few years. Justice, who contributed enormously to the rise of Ed Banger moved to the revamped Elektra label (also boasting Little Boots in their small collection of artists) in June this year. Even if the Justice sound is getting a bit old, the old Ed Banger lifeline seems to have vanished - along with any potential of a resurgence of talented artists.

Then again, did Ed Banger ever have any real promise at all? Uffie is just a talentless Euro-wannabe from California who slept her way to a recording deal. And who the hell is Feadz? But... then again... the likes of SebastiAn and Oizo are carrying the Ed Rec flag... OK so maybe there is some talent left there. But whatever is left isn't producing anything. Busy P has been sitting on SebastiAn's new album for a while now. Not sure what he's waiting for, but he'd better get off his arse and pump out more of this...

Untitled - SebastiAn

So... Justice are gone, Boys Noize Records and Dim Mak seem to be pumping out all the popular trash electro: and Busy P is left hoping Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homen-Christo can produce another album, do another world tour and mask the failings of the past few years... just because... OMFG - it's Daft Punk.

Peace and Love.

PS less opinion, more music coming soon

I can't DJ, I have the Victorian equivalent to the HSC...

I know I'm late on this little post, but as always, better late than never. Blogs worldwide have been running hot with this. I thank Max for posting this little guy and showing me the light yet again.

Introducing 17-year-old Swick, the latest underage producer funkin' shit up all over Melbourne. Signed to Ajax's 'Sweat it Out' label, Swick's EP is due to land early December, and it will be huge. The video below is a small sample from the upcoming release. Roller disco anyone?



As a small treat, I managed to get my hands on one little excerpt he is releasing. It's not as good as 'Grow Up' but it is definitely rhythmic. Check it out. Bounce along.

Theme to Swick - Swick

Finally, he has produced a mini-mix in which he manages to cram over 80 songs into 30 minutes of mind-blowing goodness. If you are a follower of the nu-disco/progressive electro/pop house, then you'll know almost, if not every, song in there. And you will marvel at the creativity. He seems to have omitted his own work from the mix, which is both irritating and enticing.

'30 minutes of Swick' Mixtape

Peace and Love.

Not-so-Big Day Out

So, the second line-up has been announced for Big Day Out. If you want to check out the entire bill, click here.

The Big Day Out for 2010 has been relatively disappointing. Whispers and rumours speculated the return of Blink 182 as headliners, as well as this century's Daft Punk - the ever formidable Justice. Rick Devoe, Blink 182's manager was even quoted in an interview to say "Big Day Out organisers have approached the band... and they have indicated they will play". Instead, Blink has opted for a European tour.

On top of this, Ticketmaster completely fucked up and released tickets 4 hours before their scheduled release time, which forced the announcement of a second Big Day Out in Sydney for only the second time in history. This immediately fuels the 'which day will be better' argument which means squat. Either way, both days have sold out. So someone has made decent coin from all these disappointments.

Personally, I was hanging on Justice or Blink to be the BIG second announcement. Instead, I was given Jet. And I dislike Jet. Incidentally, Simian Mobile Disco was announced which excited me. For those avid Groove City followers, refer back to the ever-beautiful Amy's recommendation of the SMD Live Mix which I posted only a few days ago and get excited for at least one act.

So, in summation, I'm going to give Big Day Out a thumbs down, even though I'll probably still go by way of duress/peer pressure.

Oh... music? Check out Delphic, one of Kitsune's latest signings released a few months back. I like it. A lot.

This Momentary - Delphic

Peace and Love.

Umm... do you have any, like, Akon?

I am fortunate enough to be in peak season for 21st par-tays. Every weekend for the past few months (and every weekend coming for the next few months) I am able to get fed, fueled and entertained courteousy of my friends parents' wallets; all the while hoping the Sunday morning bowls crew are able to dodge the trail of projectile vomit I left behind coating the trophy cabinet at the local RSL.

But i digress.

The point is, music is always an issue at said 21st extravaganzas. It is no secret, the DJ must play to the audience. There is nothing worse than some wanna-be trashbag blasting out his latest collection of tracks he ripped from whatever Boys Noize Records artist happens to be the 'in' sound at Tank Nightclub. But, on the other hand, there are those of us who may prefer that to MJ's greatest hits. We get it, he was a good entertainer. But he's dead, and every commercial radio station flogged every track he ever made after he died. Let's move on.

So what we need, then, is balance.

There is a solution. And it is the ever popular (and sometimes despised) Discotech. I don't know what it is about their tracks - they do sound the same - but it gets people moving.

Do Ya Think I'm Sexy (Discotech Remix) - Rod Stewart
Satisfaction (Discotech Remix) - The Rolling Stones
Crack a Bottle (Discotech Remix) - Eminem
Everything in its right place (Discotech/Gigamesh Remix) - Radiohead
Everlong (Discotech Remix) - Foo Fighters

This is all well and good, but a complete integration of the above is needed to REALLY get a crowd involved in the beats.

And the solution to this is is Andrew Wood. Going under his preferred 'Woodstock' moniker, Wood has a knack for producing catchy, poppy mixes which I will admit need some mastering (apologies for any dual bass-lines you may come across). He is no Yacht Club DJs, nor does he profess to have the prowess of Girltalk, but he is better than you are at least. Here is his latest pop-mix. Download it, burn it onto a CD and give it to the DJ at your next 21st. It'll give him a break for an hour, and it's guaranteed to have everyone nodding there heads as the background music agrees with their ill-informed music tastes.

'Pop - It's like it's not' Mixtape - Woodstock

Stay tuned. I'll soon have another mix up by another crowd-pleasing DJ 'Max Smart', which, in my opinion, is one of the tightest, most fluid mixes I've heard in a long time.

Peace and Love.

G'day champ, ya winnin?

Ok people... round two already!

I discovered Hey Champ a few weeks ago, and I must say they briefly revived my passion for the Pit (pun intended). If you can bend your ears around the grossly repetitive vocal sound bleeding from every Passion Pit song, the funky bassline and beautifully constructed bridge is definitely something to be enjoyed... thoroughly. I can't quite work out where Hey Champ are from... I've heard rumours of Brazil. If this is true, good for them.

Little Secrets (Hey Champ Remix) - Passion Pit

I'll throw in their remix of French Horn Rebellion also. It reminds me of Depeche Mode, and I don't know why.

Beaches and Friends (Hey Champ Remix) - French Horn Rebellion vs Database

Now, to be honest, the only way I can tell Passion Pit songs apart now is by checking my iTunes. I originally had them pegged as the next MGMT, they represented the next logical step in the psychedelic-rock movement. I changed my mind though. I am well and truly over Passion Pit. BUT, if you are into that progessive psyche rock, check out Neon Indian. A guy from Austin and a girl from Baltimore have created dreamy bass-driven rock that was probably written on acid.

Neon Indian - Seriously, It's Over

Peace and love.

Just another blogger...

'Allo poppet, welcome to Groove City.

In true Jean Moustache fashion, this blog is dedicated to music for girls... that is sexy...

I will do my best to feature beats that excite me. I'll feature local and international acts, provide updates on upcoming gigs, plug DJ acts that arouse me and do my best to cleanse Fusion of 'Sexy Bitch' by providing alternatives.

We can only live in hope...

To kick things off, i present to you a live mix by Simian Mobile Disco as part of the BBC's Radio 1 'Big Weekend' 2009. Many thanks to Amy for putting me on to this mix. I still stand by my original description - a beautiful gondola ride down my ear canal. Stay tuned for more musique and assorted goodness.

Simian Mobile Disco - Live at Radio 1's Big Weekend



Stay tuned. Spread the word...