Lights and Music

I often ask myself why artists limit themselves to certain genres. In the dizzying world of electronic-produced music, there are countless numbers of genres that may be explored. If you possess the right software, maybe a keyboard synth and basic rhythm you can whip up some sort of track relatively easily.

I have now worked out why artists don't do this now, and the answer can be metaphorically represented by Lights Over Los Angeles.

Lights Over Los Angeles, or LightsoverLA... or LOLA... they seem to name themselves different variations of the same idea... are two guys from Phoenix, Arizona. They're not signed to any label, they don't have an EP as yet and as far as I can tell they are just two more guys making music with their laptop from that toilet bowl of a nation - the US of A.

Their remix of 'What You Know' by Two Door Cinema Club was released two days ago to the world wide web. And I really like it. Similar to their Delphic remix, the two tracks are simple yet effective (pioneered by Erol Alkan). The vocals remain intact, with little alterations to the major melodic hooks and the overall result is funky, groovy and thoroughly enjoyable.

Then... you listen to their debut single 'I Don't Want to Die Like This'. It is an amalgamation of MSTRKRFT and the Bloody Beetroots and it's just awful. It must be heard to know what I'm talking about.

Dear LOLA,
Please pick a genre and stay there.
Sincerely,
The music community of the world.

I Don't Want to Die Like This - Lights Over Los Angeles

This Momentary (LightsoverLA Remix) - Delphic

and the pick of the litter...

What You Know (LightsoverLA Remix) - Two Door CInema Club

You can check out LOLA on their website.

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.

Kavinsky

For the last three years, Kavinsky has stood out as the poster child of inactivity that has been synonymous with the Ed Banger Record label, but finally after 4 years since the release of his latest originals, we're again treated to the catchy and signature tunes of this Frenchy.

The Night Call EP which will be released soon features two original tracks as well as a couple of remixes from Dustin NGuyen and fellow recluse, Jackson. While the tunes carry the same Kavinsky sound which carried him to fame with hits such as Testarossa Overdrive, both songs are a lot more mellow and fit in with the current trend away from club bangers from the Frenchmen.

Pacific Coast Highway features the sampled commentary of a car chase behind some up tempo synth work, very reminiscent of the work off his Teddy Boy EP, while Night Call is a down tempo anthem with deep vocoder work which serves as a memorable hook.

If not for any reason, these tracks are worth hearing just to hear the progression in the artist who first appeared in 2006 with so much promise. As an added bonus, there's also a Breakbot remix of Night Call which jazzes up the original bringing some funk to the always collected Kavinsky.

Get some.

nb: apparently Kavinsky isn't even with Ed Banger, he just acts like it...

Pacific Coast Highway - Kavinsky

Night Call - Kavinsky

Night Call (Breakbot) - Kavinsky

So Cosmic

Since the Classixx evening at Civic Underground, I've really had a bit of a musical epiphany. The truth of the evening was that around a quarter of the songs the duo played I'd never heard before, but in speaking with friends more in tune with the evenings particular genres, most of the songs turned out to be from artists I was familiar with but people that I normally pass over. These songs exist in a genre that's hard to describe, call it disco house, or electro funk but in the year 2010 I'm betting there's going to be a massive uplift in said areas. We are already seeing the beginning stages of the domination of chill wave and dream state from artists such as Neon Indian and Washout, and as dance music continues it's mellow progression and continued resurgence back towards musicianship, look for some of the following artists to begin dominating the airwaves in a scene near you.

Tensnake is an artist out of Hamburg, Germany, and while he isn't exactly new to the scene, he's only recently gained my attention for his remix work of Polargeist and The Swiss. It was his work on this Polargeist which first drew my attention and led me to checking out his most recent EP, released last month, Coma Cat on Vacation Records. This 4 track album was as tight as it comes production-wise, with enough variety to keep me hooked despite the pretty epic track lengths. The ensuing splurge of Tensnake I then went on helped me to uncover even more originals as well as a slue of remixes which were nothing short of exceptional. I'll put up a few tracks but if you dig then please go check out some more work on itunes/beatport.

Need your lovin' - Tensnake
Beautiful disco-inspired original complete with obvious lyrics. Amazing.

In your eyes (Tensnake Remix) - Toby Tobias
Amazingly catchy funk groove. Syncopation is a word that comes to mind. If every DJ in the world played this tune there would be no war.

Battlehymn for children (Tensnake Remix) - The Faint
Touch heavier bass driven epic tune. Just you wait for the drop at 2 minutes. Just you wait.

Check http://www.myspace.com/tensnake for more.

While perusing around Beatport in search of some more German conquests from the Hamburger I also stumbled upon this gem from the newly formed duo, Black Van. Black Van features a man I used to find boring, Kris Menace as well as KoweSix (one half of Moonbotica) and their debut single Yearning is amazing. It also made me dust of a few gems from Menace which I used to really dislike but now.. something has clicked. I'd love to hear from anyone who can listen to Stereophonic and not smile.

Yearning - Black Van

Stereophonic - Kris Menace and Spooky

Holla at your boy.

Step Up 2010

Since the mighty 2005 season when the Western Suburb and Balmain Tigers Rugby League squad shook up the world by claiming their inaugural title as a joint venture, the on-field struggles of the club have been well documented. It's not as if the team has gone from first to worst, but rather misfortune in the form of injuries, dubious referring as well as inconsistencies in the halves have resulted in the club failing to make it back and play finals football since their famous triumph over the Cowboys in '05.

While last season had glimpses of promise, in the end a superb final 10 weeks were not enough to overcome the mid-season form slump which saw the team lose 5 in a row and 7 of 8. In the end, 28 competition points were not enough and we finished a mere point short of finals football.

Many people will recall however the fantastic end of season form shown by the likes of Parramatta that saw them qualify in 8th place and eventually make it to the Premiership decider to play the Melbourne Storm. This exciting form was also evident from the likes of the Rabbitohs and the Tigers themselves who finished with an impressive 6 from 9 victories including victories over the Sea Eagles and Bulldogs. In the end it was a tight race for the final position within the 8, and the resurgence from the likes of the Tigers and Eels ignited a passion for Rugby League in the suburbs of the inner west that had been dormant for a short while now. As we move towards the 2010 season beginning this Friday night, the teams of (inner) Western Sydney will no longer be considered just as excitement machines capable of the occasional upset of the bigger city rivals, but as genuine title contenders.

The Tigers have made some fantastic off-season moves, none more impressive than the long contract extension given to Benji Marshall. The contract will make Benji a 'Tiger for life' and hopefully settle down the Kiwi who's future has been up in the air for a couple of years. On top of this there is also the much anticipated return to Rugby of journeyman and big unit Lote Tuquiri. Despite his fondness for call-girls, there is no denying this guys talent which has seen him dominate Rugby Union as the best winger on Australian soil for the past 10 years.

On top of this there is also the continued development of emerging stars from last year such as Tim Moltzen, Robert Lui, Taniela 'the tank, tnt' Tuiaki and Blake (Reece) Ayshford. With the Toyota Cup Squad also making it to the final of the competition last year, the stocks of young and talented players at the club are boundless. Look out for Arron Wood or the Fifita Brothers to step up if a gap emerges up front. The tigers have the perfect balance this year of savy, head-strong veterans (Todd Payten, Robbie Farrah, Gareth Ellis) and flair (Beau Ryan, Moltzen, Tuiaki) to really rattle some teams this year and on paper look to be one of the top teams in the league. Quite frankly, finishing outside the top 4 this year would be seen as disappointing to those in the know.

The first game of the year is next Monday night at the SFS against the Seagles. Manly will be keen to step up this year given their shocking beginning to last season which saw them lose every game until their cross-eyed fullback returned from suspension for pedophilia (which was the game against the tigers) last year. So even though Bundy Mundy's are a tad dull, if you're a tigers fan I suggest you pull up your socks and make it out there to the SFS if for no reason than to just see me try and be the loudest/most obnoxious West Tigers fan in Sydney (can't compete with those Campbelltown folk).

If you like the music we post on here than check out this beauty from 2005, the last time the Tigers were great. Best listened to really really loud.

Eurodans - Todd Terje

And while I'm at it, Todd did also happen to make this remix which seems to go off every where I play it, so I might as well share! All he's done is fix a sweet sweet bassline to a classic and give it suitable intro so I hope you dig it.

Stuck in the middle (Todd Terje Refix) - Steelers Wheel

Just also wanted to make mention that it's also the Tigers players that have left which will make the club the best this year. Sucked in Cronulla. No single player has been personably responsible for as many team losses in the last 3 years as John Morris has been.

Have a great day.

Is this even a cheese shop???

What this classic Monty Python sketch has to do with Modular's latest record signing isn't much but most people are hard pressed to think about anything more than cheese at mention of the word swiss.

But alas, this 3-piece out of Radelaide make sweet music that isn't necessarily hole riddled unlike the curdled delight which shares name sake.



The Swiss make a brand of music which is halfway between funk and disco, with a hint of cosmic dance storm as well, and in an era obsessed with retro revivalism, The Swiss have a flavour that tastes of genuine home cooking. I'm normally one to steer clear of songs that range longer than 6 minutes, however the quality of their beats is enough to draw me in as a fan.

If anything, the EP in all it's glory cries out for vocals of some kind, a hook that would draw the audience even closer to the tasty jams, but maybe that's just the pop tragic in me.

The album (available through iTunes) is definitely a must have for people who enjoy the likes of early cut copy, fred falke and laser shows. It also features a couple remixes by Melbourne man Knightlife, as well as Tensnake.

The Sydney leg of their release party is tomorrow night, Friday the 5th of March at Sosueme at Qbar and I'm lucky enough to be djing during the evening from 130-3 so if you feel like a cosmic journey, come get tropical with the best thing out of Adelaide since Boof Lehman.

To whet your appetite here is a few tunes from the EP and also an awesome remix they finished for local Sydney dudes The Holidays. If you enjoy these tracks then please buy the album mainly because you know you should. 10 months from now when everyone is recapping their favourite albums of twentyten, no doubt these lads will get a mention.

Moonlight Hours (The Swiss Remix) - The Holidays

Manthem - The Swiss

Soap Opera - The Swiss

Bangers and Flash

So it appears the sleepy giant that is Ed Banger Records is stirring. Mr Flash, the artist formerly known as Flash Gordon, has an EP release scheduled for April 2010 titled Blood, Sweat and Tears. You can check out video teaser here.


Mr Flash was actually the first artist ever to sign to Ed Banger Records in 2003 and he's already released two albums. Truth is... I didn't care much for him then, and I haven't really altered my stance. However, the following track (from his 2006 release) is quite well produced, and the above video teaser is promising. So I'm in Flash limbo. Like you care.

Disco Dynamite - Mr Flash

Mr Flash will be touring nationally, landing at the Arcade in Sydney on June 5. I will recommend one check this show out. Odds are he'll bring some sort of Ed Banging Frenchman to support him.

Whilst we're on upcoming releases with no new tracks to blog about, a drunken encounter with Les Petits Pilous a while back at their Sydney show gave me some inside information. Firstly, the LPP both reckon that the upcoming Justice album is "absolutely mind blowing... better than the first album". This is a massive call. They also said the upcoming Crookers album is going to be huge. I heard the first single off said album the other day. And it's shit. I'm not even going to post it. So... hopefully they have got 1 in 2 right.

And because you all deserve more than one track, how freaking good is Sinnerman. I heard it played on some Top Gear episode the other day. Reminded me of when Felix da Housecat was the shit, instead of just... shit...

Sinnerman (Felix Da Housecat Heavenly House Mix) - Nina Simone

Peace and Love.