Enough Said

I sat on this track for a solid week wondering whether to post this or not. I don't care much for mash ups, and I don't like "artists" who just layer tracks, throw their name on it and subsequently reap the rewards. I mean, someone like the Hood Internet isn't an really an artist. He is a producer... and he has a pretty good ear. But nothing he plays is really his original work.

Mash ups do fill up the D-Floor pretty well though and I can respect a good one when I hear it. I thought this was OK.

Sweet World Of Mine (Voidstar Mashup) - Daft Punk vs Banda Do Sul

Like what you hear? There are plenty more mash ups here. You can find out about Voidstar there (he's from New York).

Now... please don't send us any more mash ups. I have an idea of what music I want Groove City to promote, and if I'm honest, this isn't it. What is left of my musical integrity cannot take much more abuse.

Peace and Love.

The Count and Sampson?

Perhaps slightly removed from the more traditional beats we pump out here at Groove City is Count Effectz. Dare I say more mainstream? More commercial? More universal? Maybe. And yes, that wasn't a typing error. He uses a 'z' in his name. Think what you will. I should warn in advance that this post has more of a house feel. Apologies to the purists.

Count Effectz is a Sydney-sider by the name of Michael Williams (being a local boy definitely made me more inclined to post him. Support local artists). When I first perused his collection I did let out a sigh. I saw names like 'Sidney Sampson' and 'Dave Guetta' (who is still just awful at life in general and continues to breath much needed oxygen). But I also saw Oxide & Neutrino and almost lost my shit when I saw 'Shoot to Kill'. So I gave him a shot, and I am glad I did.

What the Count has done is create very effective edits incorporating multiple samples into small tracks. They have a Hood Internet feel, but without being straight out mash-ups. As stand-alone tracks they probably don't have the complete package, but if you wanted to make a crowd-pleasing or commercial house mix, then this is definitely your guy.

I can't call his work original. It's anything but really. I'm fairly sure at some point in every track he's whipped up, you'll find that very Diplo-esque Baltimore bounce beat. You'll know what I'm talking about when you listen to this... (I do wish he'd kept some vocals)

Shoot to Kill (Count Effectz Remix) - Oxide & Neutrino

And for some crowd-pleasing, house-based, make-underage-girls-lose-their-shit beats, check this concoction...

Break Da Riverside Down (Tristan vs Afrojack feat. Count Effectz Bootleg) - Laidback Luke vs Daft Punk vs Sidney Sampson

How's that for a mouthful of a title?

Overall, I cannot detract from what is a solid first attempt at production. Check out his SoundCloud for more remixes, edits and originals if you like what you hear. He has a shitload of tracks up there for free download. He also has a Myspace and a website.

Peace and Love.

We Love Jeff Bridges

In 1982, Disney made a film that revolutionised computer-generated imagery (CGI) animation. 'Tron' became a cult hit and I strongly urge everyone to check it out.

The reason I mention this movie is because the sequel will be released later this year - almost 30 years following the original. 'Tron Legacy' features some of the original cast (including Jeff Bridges) and looks amazing. Refer below... (you'll have to skip to about 30 seconds in)



The reason I mention the sequel? Well, Daft Punk are producing the music. This is the first official studio work Daft Punk have done since their third album 'Human After All' was released in March 2005. And here it is...

Tron Legacy (Daft Punk Remix) - Daft Punk

This track may not follow my current music tastes but when it comes to Daft Punk, it is hard to pass up. Once again, please rent out Tron from your local video store. It requires great concentration but you will feel like the smartest person in the world if you 'get it'.

Also, Boys Noize released a remix of the Editors last week. I don't care for it, but Alex Ridha is pretty big at the moment so I figure some people out there might be keen for it. But I have to say, the Noize is not what he used to be. I fear the day when I lump him in with the Bloody Beetroots is looming...

You Don't Know Love (Boys Noize Classic Remix) - The Editors

Peace and Love.

The New Sound

For some time now Hilltop Hoods have been bringing us the 'sound of Adelaide'. In terms of popularity they are the biggest music act to come out of Adelaide recently. However, in terms of musical integrity and grounding they are the shittest thing to emerge in a genre that should never have evolved. Australian Hip Hip is cancer via radio waves. Rapping about how much you love Friday is not the basis for a rap song. Rap was born out of oppression and disillusionment. Not going to a music festival you illiterate bogans.

If you can't tell, I have a great disdain for Australian Hip Hop. Same applies to Folk. My general feelings can be encompassed by a message I received from an associate...

"Yes Triple J, Mumford & Sons are a successful folk band. However, don't start to fucking assume that I suddenly enjoy shitty country music. Because I don't. The same applies to Hip Hop you useless wankers."



Now the point of all this venting and rambling? The Swiss represent a new form of Adelaide Music as outlined in Max's earlier post (scroll down to check it out). In fact, the University of Adelaide is the only tertiary institution in Australia that offers a course in Electronic Music Production. So it makes sense then that Def Starr are from Adelaide... and are also banging out groovy 'electronic' music.

They're not 'new' as such, having been around since mid last year as far as I can tell. And I have listened to their original work, and it isn't as good as their remixing abilities. My pick is the Get Stellar remix. Baby-making music that is. At least the first 30 seconds are anyway...

The Moment (Def Starr Remix) - Get Stellar

Grow Up (Def Starr Remix) - Swick

Something About Us (Def Starr Version) - Daft Punk

You can check out their original work on their Myspace.

Peace and Love.

He'll get you!

By now, everybody should have definitely heard of producer and DJ champion, and avid video game enthusiast Cassian. By all accounts, this Sydney boy is an absolute boss at the moment. He's been remixing seemingly non-stop since the middle of last year and also was lucky enough to release his first ep on Christmas day with the internationally acclaimed mega hit 'Friday Night' in amongst two other instant classics.

Now I first heard the name Cassian while purchasing the 'Destination Remixes' album off of beatport last year. While the Damn Arms original track was amazing, the Der Die Das and Bang Gang remixes both intriguing in their own styles, it was without a doubt the Cassian tune that was the pick of the bunch. However, after previously never having heard of the producer of this boss of a remix, I had a bit of a hunt around Myspace only to realise that he was a producer from Melbourne.

This was a belief I held for around 4 days, until I realised that Cassian was merely a fresh start from his previous DJ-ing moniker of CSK-OK. And he had lived in Melbourne for a few years, but definitely hailed from Syders. From memory, this was the same kid who remixed the likes of zZz and also did an acoustic cover of Bag Raiders song Fun punch.

By the way Fun Punch has to be in the song of the decade conversations.



Anyway.... so CSK-OK a.k.a Cassian first cut his teeth on scene in Candy's Apartment and the Roxbury in Parramatta. As far as his musical style goes, his sound can be described as electro-funk, and he's often able to lead his tunes with his insane guitar skills.

A quick snap shot of his current catalogue of remixes and you will notice he's more or less had his hands on all of the biggest songs of the last 6 months, however by no means is he's prepared to sit back on his epic tour schedule just yet. Within the next month he's also due to release a remix of Swick's headlining song 'Grow Up' (which is currently around 2 months behind it's release date??) and also Flight Facilities future classic, 'Crave You'. Wowowowowowowow.

Enough words. Here's some tunes.

High Life (Cassian's Bootleg) - Daft Punk
An absolute dance floor bomb. Word on the street is he made this in around 6 hours. Boss? Probably the best Daft Punk remix for a good while.

Tokyo Getaway (Cassian Remix) - Polygon Palace
Lovely little remix of an indie tune from new comers Polygon Palace. Purple Sneakers music almost :-/

Destination (Cassian Remix) - Damn Arms
Yummmy little jumpy number. Check out the guitar solo at the end. Face Melter.

Final Round - Cassian
Original tune. Samples street fighter. Gorgeous little groove that appeared in my mixtape just below.

Fuck Song - Cassian
Slow jam. Not bad at all.

Make you mine (Cassian Remix) - Miami Horror
Solid Remix of one of the top tunes from the beginning of last year. Much like some of his other works, he seems to add a lot of character and emotion to the originals which is a pretty rare trait for electronic music. What?

Shooting Stars (Cassian Remix) - Shooting Stars
Get on with it!

I've decided not to post Friday Night just yet because you should really go and buy it from itunes. Tip your waitress!

Peace.

Funky Porno Music!

My my my! Oh oh... how'd we ever get this way... where's it gonna go?

So Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (or Daft Punk) are supposedly working on a new album and are set to tour the world in 2010. They were also rumoured to play Big Day Out's 100th show in Sydney. They also apparently 'mix' live at their shows. And speculation tells me that on the East Coast leg of their 2007 USA tour, it was not Thomas and Guy-Manuel... rather just some random guys in the Daft helmets. Not that that's hard to believe... I mean, do you have any idea what they actually look like? Have you picked up on the sarcasm yet?



Either way, I love them. They are Gods when it comes to the current Electro scene - there's no other way to describe it. And whilst many 'fans' will repetitively inform their friends of how much they LOVE 'One More Time' as it plays in whatever dive they choose to drown out their repressed desire to kiss a member of the same sex with alcohol, I maintain the mental position of "I am always better that you because I know more about Daft Punk than you". Hence my skepticism on the following track.

By the way... did you know Laurent Brancowitz (frontman of Phoenix) was in a three-piece band called Stereolab with Bangalter and de Homem-Christo in the late 1980s?

I found this on some French blog. I can't confirm that this is 100% authentic Daft Punk, but the European blogs are firing this one around touting it as 'the new wave'. It's very Daft and very good.

The Crash - Daft Punk

Moving on... or back... to Phoenix.

Delphic, who I posted a while back, are blowing up in a big way. They're success in the UK has flown over to Australia and they're currently (I think) Triple J's feature album. The best thing? They do remixes!!! The sound they produce is familiar whilst being edgy. I really dig this track. One of the better remixes I have heard in recent times.

Fences (Delphic Remix) - Phoenix

Onto something a little more funky. Tigers & Woods are from somewhere. And they do something. Truth is I found this track on a Russian blog. And I don't speak Russian. But damn this track is funkin' shit up.

Gin Nation - Tigers & Woods

And to finish this rant, some dub. A friend played this for me the other day. I guarantee a fair few of you will not like this track. But if you have good speakers, turn this up, have some cocaine and let the syncopation create an alter ego in you. His name is Mike. He drives trucks for a logging company... but suffers an internal struggle. You see, Mike battles every day as he tries to appease his Green Peace activist wife whilst affording her the life she deserves with money produced from the molten rivers that flow over Rainforests based on Fern Gully. Or don't download it. I couldn't care less.

Swagga - Excision & Datsik

Peace and Love.