FUCKING DANCE

cruel rhythm.

2011-04-03T11:00:00.000+01:00

it's the 4th birthday of this sorry looking corpse so i've decided to have a better looking, more mentally well adjusted, taller, smarter second blogchild to make up for the failed efforts of my first and now deceased spawn. RIP baby, long live Cruel Rhythm.

new era.

2010-12-10T13:00:00.004Z

aaand i'm done. thank you to everyone who has ever read, commented, and loved this blog. special special thanks to all the bands i've featured over the past three and a half years. it's been a blast.

blog world future: Illegal Tender, Transparent, Pinglewood, Music Fan's Mic, Blue Walrus, Truants, Abeano, Dummy and my fave blog Pigeon Post.

peace out homies and homos x

09/12/10.

2010-12-06T15:33:00.002Z

this Thursday 9th Dec i'm hosting the awe inspiring Duologue at The Netil House in east London.

featuring DJ sets from longtime FD faves Disclosure and exciting new talent Breton, it is going to be an awesome evening.

doors open at 8 and DJs are on til late so come and enjoy.

The Netil House

Westgate Street

E8 3RL

(next to London Fields)

tickets + 10" vinyl bundles are available here!

Everything Everything - Photoshop Handsome (Disclosure Edit)

// facebook event - RSVP \\

(s)woooooooon.

2010-11-22T20:13:00.000Z

did i mention that i LOVE Jamie Woon? check out this stunning video for 'Night Air' which is out now and let your ears travel through the wonderfully trippy world of Becoming Real below.

Jamie Woon - Night Air (Becoming Real remix)

world of my own.

2010-11-13T19:53:00.002Z

it is impossible to deny the truck-load of bands currently coming out of Oxford. still part of Jonquil (along with members of Chad Valley, Trophy Wife, and Pet Moon), Sam Hudson Scott has also turned his hand to a solo project called Solid Gold Dragons. despite holding elements of contemporary art-rock, 'Serious Lover' is predominantly brimming with the influence of new wave artists like Arthur Russell. Sam's vocal is soulful, and with the warm tones of brass behind him, the track is a tiny insight into the great potential of the already mentioned bands. probably my favourite song to have emerged so far from this hyped scene.

fall in love with Solid Gold Dragons here.

Serious Lover by solidgolddragons

Jonquil are off on tour next week, hitting the following cities and venues -

15th Nov - Nation Of Shopkeepers, Leeds
16th Nov - Shipping Forecast, Liverpool
17th Nov - The Harley, Sheffield
18th Nov - Arts Institute, Cardiff
19th Nov - The Jericho Tavern, Oxford
20th Nov - Spanky Van Dykes, Nottingham
24th Nov - Camp, London

better plan.

2010-11-03T14:21:00.000Z

a couple of months ago i travelled to the murkier ends of this city to see a band i knew almost nothing about. i was less than prepared for the show stopping performance i witnessed that night; it left me with that 'so good it hurts in every way possible' taste in my mouth.

their beautiful brand of thundering, left-field guitar pop fuses with space-age electronics and is in a word, epic.

Duologue were so good that night i wanted to find a way to get involved with their magic and what better way than to present them all to you live. so FUCKING DANCE is putting on a show on December 9th in London - the exact location and DJs are still to be revealed.

Duologue - Cut And Run

Head over to duologuemusic.co.uk to download a couple more free tracks and get your 10" vinyl + ticket bundles.

RSVP at the facebook event page.

pop death.

2010-11-01T17:55:00.001Z

one of my In The City highlights, London based band Breton, are releasing their next EP via Hemlock Recordings. and it sounds fucking amazing. here is a group that is doing something different and completely fresh sounding. FINALLY. post-math-punk-pop? whatever. they blend together a whole host of influences and snippets from various musical genres and create genius moments of twisted, brooding pop.

Breton - RDI

neek.

2010-10-29T12:30:00.000+01:00

"i guess i was a fool". booming production from ~anon~ crew Yo Video. happy Friday.

yeah yeah yeah yeah.

2010-10-22T15:15:00.001+01:00

welcome to the beautifully blissed out world of Luckey Remington. amongst playing with numerous musicians (see: Joanna Newsom, Devandra Banhart), in various different bands and creating his own films, Luckey has time to create some gorgeous bits of music himself.

Luckey Remington - Cuesta Cala

strangetown.

2010-10-12T15:00:00.000+01:00

ones to catch (regardless of whether you are going to In The City or not).

CLOCK OPERA. gorgeous twinkling electronic love songs. new single is out 1st November on Kitsune.

SPECTRALS. heart warming fuzz. EP is out today on Moshi Moshi.

Spectrals: 'Peppermint' from TLOBF.COM on Vimeo.

FIXERS. part of what i heard is dubbed the 'Ox-fi' scene.

also go see previous FD bands: Picture Book, Worship, Foreign Office, Sophie Rose, Samuel Diamond and Sissy & The Blisters.

i'll be tweeting from the event so make sure you're following @jamilafdance for irritating commentary.

hi honey the sequel.

2010-10-11T11:14:00.001+01:00

next week Hi, Honey presents: White Ring, D/R/U/G/S, Robert Disaro (DJ) and C Powers (DJ).

Hi, Honey presents: from Hi, Honey on Vimeo.

tickets // facebook event // hi, honey

D/R/U/G/S - Love Lust (C Powers Remix)

ITC ITC ITC it's alright.

2010-10-01T13:29:00.000+01:00

towards the end of last year there was a minor panic when rumours flew around about the uncertain future of In The City, one of the country's biggest showcase festivals. thankfully the 3 day event returns this year wooo. based in Manchester, covering large parts of the city centre, In The City is host to an impossible number of brand new bands. i was lucky enough to go last year and had a blast; Egyptian Hip Hop, Everything Everything and Esben & The Witch were particular highlights.

this year ITC has such an insaaaaane line-up, for £30 it's pretty much the bargain of the year. i was allowed to help pick out some bands to play so i'll probably do a special 'DON'T MISS' feature right before the 13th rolls around. but who could say no to:

HEALTH, Mount Kimbie, No Age, Egyptian Hip Hop, Monarchy, White Ring, Oberhofer, D/R/U/G/S, Factory Floor, Kisses, Breton, Beaty Heart, Japayork, Clock Opera.. i could go on or you could salivate over the listing page here.

plus i'm totally DJing at some point.

ITC runs 13th - 15th October. tickets are available here.

watch the glow.

2010-09-21T20:38:00.000+01:00

video via Stereogum.

i am fucking LOVING Museum Of Bellas Artes so much. 100% perfect. need more. single out on Transparent!

i know i suck at blogging lately.

you you you.

2010-09-08T10:47:00.000+01:00

Snow And Taxis from Gold Panda on Vimeo.

i love Gold Panda. stream his gorgeous debut album over at luckyshiner.com and get your pre-orders in for the special ltd edition packages.

lovely love.

2010-08-27T20:52:00.002+01:00

there is a right way to do guitar centered pop and a multitude of wrong ways to do guitar centered pop. thankfully Thievery couldn't sound more in the right. a combination of the band's credible contemporary influences (see: The Strokes, Arcade Fire, Miike Snow) has produced what i can only describe as 'lovely lovely love'. more please.

Thievery - Proud Lovers

disobey.

2010-08-23T15:21:00.000+01:00

heaving with dancefloor worthy synths and the sweetest vocals i've heard all year, AlunaGeorge bring you their twisted pop. this lead song from the London based outfit smacks you round the chops in the best way possible. i think this is what they call "a banger".

keep your eyes peeled for more juicy tracks in the coming weeks.

AlunaGeorge - Make No Mistake

red sky.

2010-08-20T20:03:00.000+01:00

back in 2008 i was the first person to blog about the incredible Clare Maguire. i definitely won't be the last because she is coming for you.

check out the video sneak preview of forthcoming single 'Ain't Nobody':

and please wrap your ears around the amazing Bloodyshy & Avant re-work of 'Strangest Thing'.

Clare Maguire - Strangest Thing (Bloodyshy & Avant Re-Work)

[via]

all things nice.

2010-08-18T19:45:00.001+01:00

it is amaaazing to see the internet currently lapping up the sounds of the formidable Disclosure. so staying on a similar tip, please immerse yourself in the pulsating world of Samuel Diamond. this track is brimming with everything that is right and good about electronic bloops colliding with the thundering of dubstep infused beats and the brilliant use of female vocal samples. 'amazeballs'.

Samuel Diamond - Wish U Had

on a completely different note, the BT DMAwards are taking place again this year. you can vote for my mighty fine blog by clicking this link. or there's an icon in the sidebar over there --->.

ehhhhhhh.

2010-08-13T15:11:00.001+01:00

this song has been exciting me since i first heard it live in a dirty basement in Manchester at last year's In The City. don't think i've been fanatic about a song like this since Bathroom Gurgle. if they really wanted to Egyptian Hip Hop could probably take over the world. for now though their EP (produced by the incredible HudMo) is out soon on Moshi Moshi.

Egyptian Hip Hop - Moon Crooner

waiting for the water.

2010-08-09T17:05:00.000+01:00

Strange Talk make my kinda music. hailing from down under, the Aussie four piece make ridiculously perfect summer sounds that refuse to leave your head. synth laden pop that borrows from the best bits of previous 'summer jam' darlings such as MGMT and Passion Pit. i think i'm in love.

Strange Talk - Climbing Walls (Demo)

queen of the cairo.

2010-07-27T13:30:00.001+01:00

Metal Mother is the alias of the beautiful and enchanting Tara Tati. whilst reminiscent of contemporaries such as Bat For Lashes and CocoRosie, Metal Mother manages to bring an extra layer of 'spook' and magic to her music than previously demonstrated by other bewitching ladies. gorgeous.

Metal Mother - Song Of A Willow

stuck in here.

2010-07-26T18:01:00.001+01:00

Hot Horizons are two brothers who make melodic and beautiful pop music. '6AM' is a refreshingly atmospheric ballad about not being able to sleep. Hot Horizons' are releasing a single later this year on Zarcorp titled 'October'.

Hot Horizons - 6AM

ps. i've started using Dropbox so please right-click & save downloads from now on. you can all stop emailing me with complaints about yousendit now x

pAArty.

2010-07-23T13:30:00.001+01:00

"We grew up together in the first circle of hell but now we live in the fifth not too far from the third. Climate's better but everyone is so aggie... There are a few of us kicking about. No boundaries, no problems."

sometimes bands can be difficult.

Parties - Zero

so erotic.

2010-07-12T12:00:00.000+01:00

love.

sweet layer.

2010-07-09T15:30:00.002+01:00

Social Pipe makes these gorgeous electronic dance tracks with a twist. throw in a handful of samples and the ability to inject a whole heap of freshness into what is arguably an already overly saturated genre, Social Pipe is probably one of my favourite discoveries of the past few months. it's dance without the eurotrash, upbeat without the cheese and most of all it is brilliant.

Social Pipe - Reversal

she's played with you and me.

2010-07-06T19:15:00.001+01:00

adorable adorable indie that magically fell through my inbox. think 'Hounds Of Love' meets 'You Already Know' and you're pretty much there; perfect. The Wild Mercury Sound are working on their debut EP.

The Wild Mercury Sound - Chemistry

you'll never be.

2010-07-05T16:00:00.000+01:00

not only can Get People create perfect blends of jams for the summertime but they are also a dab hand at re-working other people's tracks. check out their remix of NewIslands track 'Cold' below. magical.

NewIslands - Cold (Get People Remix)

ghost of what once was.

2010-07-02T12:00:00.002+01:00

this is a cover and a half. i'm obsessed.

the exhibition is average at best.

2010-06-29T19:30:00.000+01:00

Cymbals are a seven piece Swedish band who met at summer camp 8 years ago. except they've only been making music for a tiny percent of all those years. the rest i guess was mostly spent frolicking, and being effortlessly awesome. can't wait to find out and hear more.

Cymbals - Summer Job

alt.

2010-06-25T15:25:00.000+01:00

i FINALLY went to see Cold Pumas last night. it was awesome and pretty sweaty.

Cold Pumas - Beat Mystery [buy it on gorgeous vinyl here]

fight or flight.

2010-06-24T16:00:00.001+01:00

smashing their way into the world of gloom-pop, Belgrade come up trumps with thundering love songs laden with intense drum breaks. to say this band already sound epic would be a great understatement; intelligent, angular music for your darker days.

Belgrade - Battles

elpoepteg.

2010-06-23T12:00:00.000+01:00

tropical synth loveliness made in an English forest. Get People make paradoxical pop that confuses in the best kind of way. with just the right amount of mystery, these three charming young men have managed to conjure up intrigue in several corners of the blogasphere. make yourself privy to their amazing sounds now via their myspace.

heats.

2010-06-21T14:00:00.000+01:00

i got Soundclouded a couple of tracks by Polish electro outfit Kamp! a few days ago and am suitably impressed. Prince influenced and rather suave, their latest single is irresistibly chill but still manages to push a whole heap of heart through the music.

Kamp! - Heats

bloggerheads 1.

2010-06-17T16:09:00.000+01:00

Imran over at Abeano has started a new music radio show called Bloggerheads. i went and took part in the first show along with Sahil from Transparent and Scott from Pinglewood. it was a lorra lorra laughs, the genre 'queerwave' was invented and we had some quite nice pizza.

we talked about a whole bunch of new music, artists, twitterers and gigs that are exciting us at the moment.

you can download the show from here. or you can just listen to it below:

Bloggerheads Show 1 June 2010 by abeano

songs featured and discussed:

MIA – Steppin Out
MIA – Xxxo (Jay-Z remix)
Washed Out – You And I (feat. Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek)
H.U.N.X. – Can A Man Hear Me
D/R/U/G/S – Love (Love/Lust Darkmix)
Sleepover – Outlimits
Becoming Real – Get Hype
Maximum Balloon – Tiger

big ups to Roman for putting it together and taking out all my "err"s "umm"s and making me sound like i sort of know what i am on about sometimes. hopefully i'll be back to record another one some time in the future!

over the mountain.

2010-06-16T17:30:00.001+01:00

the man and the myth behind David's Lyre not only has the ability to construct brilliant pop songs, he has also been blessed with an awesomely unique voice which is more than pleasant to listen to. a little while ago i featured his amazing cover of Ellie Goulding's 'Under The Sheets'. since then he has been working hard on his own material, playing the occasional show (which i shamefully have yet to see) and keeping everyone firmly on their toes. folk tinged pop goodness.

David's Lyre - Heartbeat

He's a very bloody well dressed northerner brandishing a ukulele, what's not to love?!

whiskey dreaming.

2010-06-15T12:00:00.003+01:00

Liam Bailey is a soul singer/songwriter from Nottingham, but he sounds like he's come from (and is eternally trapped in) the Land Of Heartache.

he is owner of one of the most passionate, genuine and breathtaking voices i've heard all year. i'm not sure i can do any justice to how much of an incredible talent he is, but pouring his all into his music has well and truly paid off. the above video pretty much leaves me speechless. this is true soul music that packs a punch and tugs on those heartstrings. i'd make a quip about how Finley Quaye shouldn't bother coming back but that'd be pretty cheap..

Liam Bailey - I Belong

you can see more videos and take a virtual trip round Liam's hometown on his yewtube channel. loooooooooove.

myspace // facebook

jetlag.

2010-06-13T11:52:00.002+01:00

i wasn't originally going to post about Vondelpark, predominantly because they've been featured on a couple of other blogs i have a great deal of respect for. but then i realised how obnoxious that was and how fucking great this music is. unfortunately, i don't possess an iota of information about Vondelpark. but they make incredible sounds, dreamy sonic landscapes that transport you to another place via 2-step beats and hypnotic vocals.

Vondelpark - California Analog Dream xxx

explode like you wanna.

2010-06-02T15:49:00.000+01:00

Picture Book - Explosions (Demo)

i posted about Picture Book not long ago and you guys went potty for them. understandable. this new track from the band is basically everything that is right with electro pop.

unfinished, unmixed AND unmastered, this is still absolutely bloody amazing; it should be a top 10 smash. i defy you not to dance when you hear this. the final version will be out sometime this summer. plus, they're working with some incredible names over the next few months so make sure you listen out for anything with their name on.

ring the alarm.

2010-05-26T22:22:00.001+01:00

D/R/U/G/S really are good for you. no, seriously; this is incredible gear. to borrow a well repeated phrase, this 'emotional electronic music for the dance floor' pretty much sums up why everything is right with sampling. long live the #samplewave.

D/R/U/G/S - Love (Love/Lust Darkmix)

snort them on the following dates:

30th May - Eurocultured Festival, Manchester

7th June - The Corner, Manchester

11th June - Lock Tavern, London

12th June - Stags Head, London

12th August - The Grapes, Hereford

all i've learned.

2010-05-21T11:00:00.001+01:00

melancholic indie is not new to the world, in fact i don't think you can get indie that isn't melancholic(??) but sometimes bands just do it so darn well you can't help but love them a little bit. Lost Fiction are brilliant at combining all the best bits of their counterparts (Two Door Cinema Club, Bombay Bicycle Club, etc etc) and weaving those sounds into heart-wrenching pop songs. if teardrops from lovesick teenagers could sing, this is what they'd sound like.

Lost Fiction - Time

haven't got a clue.

2010-05-18T22:40:00.000+01:00

it is always an incredible joy to come across someone so clearly brimming with potential, so when i first heard Boxed In, aka Oliver Bayston, you can only imagine my delight. he's able to create such simple yet blissful electronic music that is full of heart. Boxed In is well on the way to perfecting his sound and with additional mixing yet to be done by the same hands that have helped produce The Chemical Brothers, i'd say it won't be long before you hear this name again and again.

Boxed In - No Joke

we fly high.

2010-05-07T12:00:00.002+01:00

lord knows i can't resist a sweet bit of samplewave. Elite Gymnastics dropped me their tracks the other day and i loved it straight away. analogue synths and pop melodies to delight your ears, throw in a dash of re-worked samples and they're pretty much an electronic dream.

Elite Gymnastics - Is This On Me?

it's true.

2010-05-06T17:54:00.000+01:00

love.

mess detective.

2010-05-04T16:37:00.001+01:00

oh hey i got interviewed for Hype Machine Radio.

you can stream it here; i start rambling about 27 minutes in -

#18 Hype Machine Radio (May 2010) by hypem

or go to HypeM on Soundcloud for a listen. ignore my lame voice. and inability to use any hyperbole other than 'incredible' and 'awesome'. fanks.

check out my boy Primary 1.

partyparty.

2010-05-04T15:32:00.002+01:00

(photo by Liana)

the press release says: "if Depeche Mode and Lady Gaga had a musical lovechild in 2030, J786 would be the product of that union". i'm not even sure humans will be involved in the music making process by that point in time so i'll say this is a more like Black Eyed Peas' brand of dancefloor friendly synth pop. unbearably catchy? jesus yes. deep and meaningful? not really. will it make you wish Tuesday was the new Friday? yes.

J786 - Working Hard

too humblin'.

2010-05-03T15:28:00.002+01:00

i'm not sure anything i can say will justify the magicality (yes, magicality) of Oberhofer.

if you haven't already, check them out now now now now. probably one of the most exciting bands around.

Oberhofer - Away FRM U

hi.

2010-04-26T23:05:00.002+01:00

Hi, Honey presents.. @ Pav Tav from Hi, Honey on Vimeo.

you can call me dirty.

2010-04-15T12:55:00.000+01:00

i'm pretty easily swayed but i have now decided i am fully in love with Penguin Prison after this. am actually dying to hear more.

catch him on his first UK live dates evaaaar in London next week:

21st April @ Gold Dust, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen

23rd April @ Stamford Words, Dalston

and check out his remix of the super talented Jonathan Jeremiah over at Big Stereo.

tunnels in the hay.

2010-04-11T22:45:00.001+01:00

who can resist a bit of sultry electro pop in their inbox? not me.

Picture Book hail from all over the globe but currently reside in Liverpool where they are gigging furiously. with a single out in July and possibly coming to a summer festival near you, make sure you check them out for guaranteed party vibes.

Picture Book - Sunshine [alternative download link here]

meow meow.

2010-04-07T16:50:00.002+01:00

my best friend is in a band named after his favourite thing in the whole world.

already featured by the effortlessly cool Don't Die Wondering, and soon to be bummed into hipster oblivion by a number of publications, D/R/U/G/S offer up their brand of cosmic electronic beats to the world in the form of 'Diamond Pacific', a track drenched in trippy blips and blobs.

D/R/U/G/S - Diamond Pacific (xtended mixxxx) [exclusive to FD]

three years.

2010-04-06T13:28:00.000+01:00

totally missed my blog birthday a couple days ago. THREE YEARS.

thanks to anyone who's ever stolen a post, claimed that another blog tipped them off, used my work in their A&R meetings, DMCA'd my arse, left me a spam comment or taken me off their blog roll because i'm not l33t enough. you guys are AWSM.

have something trendy.

stop fronting.

2010-03-30T12:00:00.000+01:00

pop starlet in the making Sophie-Rose has already had a teeny taste of the limelight as a backing vocalist for Mystery Jets, but now it's her time to shine.

super sultry tones linger over an up-tempo bassline and the hint of an organ and shake of maracas smell of singalongs galore. it's one hundred percent feel good, summertime pop music and i can't wait to hear more. keep your eyes on this one.

Sophie-Rose - Feel Like I Feel [exclusive to FD]

we're stronger.

2010-03-29T17:47:00.001+01:00

check out this gorgeous acoustic version of new track 'Back To Back'.
Wolf Gang is pretty much the only act that has got consistently impressed me and become better and better and better over the past year in music. endless love.

Wolf Gang - Back To Back

agoraphobic.

2010-03-22T21:20:00.001Z

this. remix. is. MAZEBALLS.

i wrote about Foreign Office here not so long ago. get to know. the single is being released via Pure Groove on March 29th and there's a remix competition running on their myspace for the track 'Voices'.

Foreign Office - Leaving The House (Warrior One Remix)

Warrior One myspace.

songs of innocence.

2010-03-17T11:30:00.003Z

(stunning art by P.B)

Radiant Dragon is no stranger to the blogs, i'd hope you all are fully acquainted already. if not, Radiant Dragon, aka Larry, has been responsible for creating some of the prettiest, freshest sounds of the past year or so. oriental inspired, cosmic music that can calm even the most tense of moods but still leave you feeling the urge to dance weirdly. having turned his hand to a few intelligent remixes already, Radiant Dragon returns with his most spaced out musical vision thus far. gorgeous.

also check out Egyptian Hip Hop's myspace for the video to the original track.

Egyptian Hip Hop - Wild Human Child (Radiant Dragon's Gone Feral mix)

friday feeling.

2010-03-12T11:55:00.001Z

IT'S FRIDAY. i'm wearing my Beyoncé tshirt. lets party. stop telephoning meyyy.

cop dis goodness: Emvee (ft Bonjay) - Glitch Feisty Rub

via BIGGGGstereo.

speak in prose.

2010-03-10T16:40:00.000Z

19 year old Hannah 'Shark' has been making music for five years. her latest effort, FOE, is ridiculously impressive. with vocals as sweet as syrup backed with thundering bass lines and the mesmerising sound of angular guitars her brand of twisted pop has left me craving more. check ittt.

FOE - Charity Cases

002: old and found.

2010-03-10T13:30:00.000Z

competition time!

to be in with a chance of winning one of these fabulous canvas bags from the lovely Young & Lost Club, just tell me the original band name of the Y&LC alumni that went on to achieve "indie superstardom" as White Lies.

easiest question ever?? i've only got two bags up for grabs so hop to it.

email: yorkiethegreatest@gmail.com with your answer and your postal address. competition closes Monday 15th March.

don't say never.

2010-03-08T12:00:00.000Z

Treasure started out on a rainy summer's day in Liverpool. combining a love of Hall and Oates choruses with trippy electronics and a hazy, summertime glow, the intriguing two piece have captivated me with their sounds. there's an album out in May on US label Waaga.

Treasure - Teenage Myth

looking out for me.

2010-03-03T12:30:00.000Z

the one and only Darwin Deez is coming to London next week. i should point out that i actually bought a ticket to his gig at White Heat. i bought a ticket to go to White Heat. from this you should be able to gauge how bloody excited i am. jaysus. get to a show if you can.

i heart baby horses.

2010-03-02T11:30:00.000Z

FOALS I LOVE YOU. i actually do.

here's a not massively interesting fact: once i interviewed Yannis and asked him some really shit questions but he was nice to me anyway.

theo.

2010-03-01T15:30:00.001Z

sorry about my abysmal February blogging (or lack of). let me make it up to you with an ~eXclUSive~* download.

Apples, who i have written about before, from Hereford release their next single 'Theo' on Popular Records on April 26th. delectable indie pop given a samba re-work from Finland's Zebra & Snake. what a way to kick start the month. party in the office anyone?

Apples - Theo (Zebra and Snake Remix)

tape children.

2010-02-16T12:00:00.002Z

Cassette Kids are back in the UK yaaay. i posted about them a while ago, but here's a re-cap.

still young and cherub faced (cherubs with bumfluff), Cassette Kids have yet to release their debut album despite having been around for nearly 3 years. they make youthful, slick, electro-tastic pop-punk and i'm still excited to see what's fresh poppin' out of their boxxxx.

listen to this ridiculously good remix:

Cassette Kids - Lying Around (Sharam Jey Remix)

Cassette Kids play w/ ~~Monarchy~~ & Talking Pictures this Friday @ Camden Barfly, London. say hi if you see me dancing.

more.

2010-02-12T17:00:00.000Z

basically i adore the new Kate Nash track. it's incredibly shallow (you can't really listen to Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea for 6 months just because you're going out with someone in a rawwwk band, rip it off completely and get away with it that easily love) BUT who cares. it's not like i had to pay for it what with this wonderful internet culture we inhabit.

Kate Nash - I Just Love You More

her night is all i want.

2010-02-05T13:00:00.001Z

if you know what's good for you, you'll have been checking out the flawless set of tips for 2010 by Illegal Tender. if so, you'll have already come across the following band.

The Shimmer are a duo comprised of brother (David) and sister (Jade) who make obscenely good, dark pop music. currently recording in a fort, the forthcoming output from this band is something i am awaiting impatiently. i have a bunch of demos from when The Shimmer were The Mono and if their new stuff sounds even remotely close to those songs, they are going to blow your little socks off. dirty guitars meet yelping synth in dark room and can't help dancing together.

& apparently they used Gary Numan's synths for the track below. yow.

The Shimmer - Lovers Void

paracetamol calling.

2010-02-03T14:00:00.001Z

back in April last year i blogged the super-talented Tinashé. since then he's been working solidly on his debut album which is due out this year. he's also been playing lots of live shows, and from what i hear, they've been an absolute joy to see.

check out this Vampire Weekend inspired track which i can't bloody get enough of:

& Tinashé - Mayday (So Shifty Remix)

nuff love.

paradise.

2010-02-02T12:00:00.000Z

hailing from NY via Washington DC, Psychobuildings have tapped into the new-wave culture steeped in the city around them to create slices of synth-funk that echo sounds from years gone by. Psychobuildings is one part Peter LaBier and one part Peter Schuette (S ilk Flowers) with Juan Pieczanski (Small Black) on production duties. they've got ESG in their top friends so i'm a fan for life. their music all sounds pretty wonderful, it's 1982, close your eyes and imagine you're only five blocks away from the night's wickedest party.

Psychobuildings - Birds Of Prey

light rock.

2010-01-27T19:00:00.003Z

i am basically in LOVE with WU LYF.

not only did they say ~~my best friend's ex-boyfriend is a loooser and refuse to play at his shit clubnight~~ SOME TRUE STUFF ABOUT SOMEONE I MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, but they also make incredible music, and they're from Manchester.

there's yelping and drums that sound far away then really close, there's an organ and crying guitars. in a good way. it's like Abe Vigoda met Wild Beasts circa 'Limbo Panto' and had a slightly creepy child.

WU LYF - HEAVY POP

nothing's fair.

2010-01-25T12:30:00.004Z

back in the middle of last year i came across an outfit called White Russia. harnessing the power of industrial electronic beats, combined with a special sprinkle of 'pop' and a dab of Bjork, singer Marina Elderton also adds her unique and powerful voice to the mixture to create amazing, fresh slices of experimental pop music that sound like no other.

after being lucky enough to see her in rehearsals, i know for a fact that the White Russia live show is set to be something spectacular, watch out for dates and an EP sometime later in the year.

White Russia - Warfare

ps. i am totes 21st century, check out the FUCKING DANCE fan page on facebook.

let the beat rock.

2010-01-23T14:30:00.002Z

Uv Been Robbed (Joking But Not) from Entrepreneurs on Vimeo.

"Skeptics argue that the paranoia behind a conspiracy theorist's obsession with mind control, population control, occultism, surveillance abuse, Big Business, Big Government, and globalization arises from a combination of two factors, when he or she: 1) holds strong individualist values and 2) lacks power.

"The first attribute refers to people who care deeply about an individual's right to make their own choices and direct their own lives without interference or obligations to a larger system (like the government). But combine this with a sense of powerlessness in one's own life, and one gets what some psychologists call "agency panic", intense anxiety about an apparent loss of autonomy to outside forces or regulators. When fervent individualists feel that they cannot exercise their independence, they experience a crisis and assume that larger forces are to blame for usurping this freedom."

I was about to hand A. back his wikiprintout but he was slumped over the Studiomaster. Or at least that was how the scene presented itself. My faculties now seem severed from reality, his voice resembles a dark alien growl, a scrambled Scooby Doo from Mars, or maybe Jupiter. How long either of us had been holed up in this darkened studio I couldn't say.
I had been trying to leave for the last twenty nine minutes but can't seem to find the door. I grab the headphones and make myself comfortable amongst the Cheetos packets and piles of rental videos that remain unreturned. A fine for Robocop 2 is the least of our worries, as my ears are forcibly tuned into the arrival in my ears of a glittering pop princess, warts and all.'

AMAZING: Marina & The Diamonds - Mowgli's Road (Entrepreneurs Space-Hopper Remix)

Entrepreneurs myspace.

truth and nothing but.

2010-01-12T12:30:00.001Z

(image via lagolo)

even writing this at 1.20am (thank god for scheduled posting), i am literally itching for everybody to hear the incredible sounds of Disclosure.

a duo comprised of brothers from the south of London, Disclosure make music that sounds like those scenes from nights out where you're not sure where you are, someone's just yelled it's 5am, there's sweat dripping from the ceiling, there's music sending a vibrating pulse shuddering around a crammed room, you close your eyes and are transported into your mind's own wonderland.

filled with heavy basslines, electronic samples and beats that you can't not dance to, Disclosure fit easily along side the likes of (the amaaaaaazing) Joy Orbison, Darkstar and other incredible talents in "emotional electronic music".

basically, they're brilliant.

Disclosure - Offline Dexterity

hearts.

2010-01-11T20:56:00.000Z

featuring some jelly being punched, a bicycle crash and general awesomeness squared. radilicious. ♥

the 'Not Excited' EP from Sir Yes Sir will be out March 1st on tape. you can get 'Have I Hell' free to download from the band here.

Sir Yes Sir myspace.

Sir Yes Sir on twitter.

with the lights out.

2010-01-08T17:55:00.001Z

(image via Ashiya Eastwood)

if i'm honest, i don't tend to read many of the PR emails i get regarding this blog. that is because a) they're usually not what i want to read (who cares if P!nk got Grammy nominated??) and b) most of the time, the music recommended to me is shite. yes, shite. utterly shite. (i do however read - and occasionally respond to - 'fan mail'. plus, i'm single if you were wondering..)

anyway i did actually read the email these guys sent me. lucky since they're awesome.

King Antics are playing that whole 'mysterious' card but that doesn't matter because they make the kind of noise i adore. self describing their music as "powerful, elegant wave". they like Bowie (happy birthday), Bjork and Wire. in their first set of demos you can hear moments of genius waiting to be thawed out from beneath the industrialised synths. catch them live to find out more.

King Antics - Liars

licks of sunshine.

2010-01-04T17:28:00.001Z

after following a link from his Twitter, i downloaded the new MillionYoung single (all legal and above board, keep your hair on).

to brand MillionYoung, aka Michael Diaz, as "another chill-wave artist" is to completely underwrite and underestimate his talent for creating beautiful sounding experimental electronic music. if you haven't already got the Sunndreamm EP then you really should sort yourself out with a copy, especially since it's free to download. the new single sounds dreamy, a musical version of picturesque (auralesque?), and taps into a hidden lucidity in my head usually reserved for daydreaming. amazing basically.

MillionYoung - Feel The Same

think back.

2010-01-03T11:30:00.002Z

Sissy And The Blisters met at the beginning of December (yes, just over one month ago) in a "really rubbish club in Guilford" and began writing and recording together after discovering a shared passion for old garage rock. interested in combining "the aesthetics of old/lofi music" with "modern productions that have been popular for the past few years", they are aiming to create something subtle, music that blows your ears away without you even realising. for me, they are already succeeding. with flashes of Iggy, sprinkles of The Cravats and a whole bundle of potential, these guys are pretty exciting.

Sissy And The Blisters - Things May Change (Demo)

ps. happy 2010.

broken lines.

2009-12-29T12:02:00.001Z

for the past six week i've had this track on repeat.

Aiva The Great is one Ariel Van Alstyne from the US of A. she's adorable, quirky in a totally unannoying way, and possesses the ability to create slick sounding pop. her tracks sound incredibly fresh, modern and best of all, unique. there is something very special about this girl, very special indeed.

Aiva The Great - Broken Lines

all i have is what i've found.

2009-12-23T10:14:00.001Z

sometimes it is actually wise to listen to your friends when they talk to you about music. you might think "nah nah i know absolutely everything about everything music related, i even know who is going to be big in 2057 and whether Ladyman Gaga is a man or a woman or both". but like a beautiful bat out of hell, a friend's recommendation can lead you to a discovery so good you contemplate killing said friend just so you can have it all to yourself.

a week ago or whatever, my pal George tweeted about this fella going under the moniker Constrobuz. his myspace says nothing more than "ok i just make beats i hope you like them" and beats he makes indeed. prolific in that he has roughly 100 demos available to download from his page, Constrobuz began experimenting after being largely influenced by 9th Wonder. he says "i loved the way he [9th Wonder] chopped soul samples and when i heard he used fl studio (software that a lot of people thought/still might think is amateurish) i was like 'hmmm i should try this production shit'."

it worked out pretty bloody good.

Constrobuz - I Can Live

Constrobuz - Planet Meconium (The Bad One)

he's currently working on producing a rap album.

satellites and stars.

2009-12-21T21:45:00.000Z

(image via Tanya Johnston)

born in Paris, Damien C Wilde brings that French sense of romanticism and luxury to his music. creating tracks that haunt, there is something spooky about the way his songs take effect. with hints of Bowie, hints of Eno and a dollop of Philip Glass, Wilde could be an electronic legend in the making.

Damien C Wilde - Those Books (Ain't No Good Anymore)

his EP 'Avalon' is out next year.

you give me joy.

2009-12-21T20:52:00.001Z

i am in love with everything Joy Orbison touches. stream new track 'She Dressed In Her Best' over at Fader. it's a dream.

only sorry you've been caught out.

2009-12-17T10:56:00.001Z

happening across Zac Harris just over a month ago, i felt like i'd found a rare gem, a diamond in the rough so to speak. not only does Zac make everything himself, but he's also an intelligent lyricist who packs a punch with his words as well as being able to combine the raw feel of early Radiohead guitars, and a completely stripped down electronic drum beat. this track gives you just a small insight into what could be to come.

Zac Harris - Your Dead Romantic Visions

he'll have a single out in the new year. eyes peeled.

chase the tear.

2009-12-10T17:33:00.000Z

Portishead - Chase The Tear from Mintonfilm on Vimeo.

moody pulsating synths, a LOT of hi-hat action aaaand it's for a good cause.

fit.

International human rights day (10 December) marks the anniversary of the United Nation’s historic “Universal Declaration Of Human Rights” on 10 December 1948. The UDHR set out for the first time in a single document the fundamental rights to which everyone, everywhere is entitled - including the right to life, liberty, security, the freedoms of opinion, association and expression, and the right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment (For more information: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/udhr)

Portishead's website.

another face to show.

2009-12-09T20:22:00.006Z

unless you live under a rock the size of Jupiter then you'll know all about Delphic. ripping a giant hole in the proverbial backside of what was an extremely lazy music scene in Manchester (Stockport, whatever, it's the same difference to anyone not from there), they seem to have brought a new vibrancy and excitement to the city.

'Doubt' is one hell of a cracking track already, but the guys have decided to let you all in on the magic by running a remix competition. i've got one stem here, and you can find the other parts across the following (amazing) blogs: Big Stereo, Electrorash, Hot Biscuits, Neon Gold, The Mix Tape, Too Many Sebastians & Trash Menagerie.

Doubt - Lead Vocal Stem.wav

Doubt - Lead Vocal.mp3

happy remixxxxxing. go to Delphic's site for a remix app and other stems. check out the ridiculously incredible Riton re-rub below. big ups.

Delphic - Doubt (Riton Re-Rub)

we want war.

2009-12-07T13:28:00.001Z

WOW.

i dunno about the music though. sounds like i'm playing World Of Warcraft in the background.

2010.

2009-12-07T13:23:00.001Z

you will be sick of hearing the following in 2010 (IN A ~~GOOD~~ REALLY REALLY GREAT WAY):

1. Clare Maguire
2. Delphic: Delphic - Doubt (Riton Remix)
3. Hurts
4. Ellie Goulding
5. Chapel Club

basically anyone on Universal???

6. Fenech Soler
7. Tinashe
8. Darwin Deez: Darwin Deez - Radar Detector
9. Is Tropical: Is Tropical - I Think We're Alone
10. Wolf Gang

or maybe this is just a list of who i am unbearably excited to hear infinite amounts of music from.

seeing is believing.

2009-12-05T22:33:00.000Z

so a band changes their name, image and style.

it's cool to like them now and totally disregard their past right??????????

hi Delphic, The Drums, Mirrors, Monarchy, etc etc, and not forgetting grandfathers of this trend, White Lies except they went from good to shit.

just saw this. see below. musical faith draining away.

stuck inside.

2009-11-27T16:20:00.001Z

sometimes when i write to a band and ask them for a song to post on here to share with all you lovely lazy a&rs, they don't always want to hand over their goodies. this usually makes me sad for a few minutes. rarely does it make me sad for weeeeeeks and weeeeeks like it did when Foreign Office didn't want to give me anything. luckily for you, i managed to bug them until they got bored of saying no.

think Golden Silvers'-esque funky pop music and you're close. there's three of them. they're quite great, and this track is ridiculously good.

~~Foreign Office - Leaving The House~~

they're playing at Tommy Flynn's on the 8th December. see you there.

rangerzzz.

2009-11-25T19:05:00.000Z

luuuuussssssshhhhhhhh.

RANGERS - "DEERFIELD VILLAGE" from OESB // FUTURE SOUND on Vimeo.

a funny thing.

2009-11-23T15:47:00.000Z

being totally honest here, i don't actually care who Monarchy are anymore. we get it. they're good. they're wizards of all things cool-pop-synth-pop. yadada ya.

but they've done this pretty brilliant remix of Penguin Prison's track 'A Funny Thing'. it is great. you should probably listen to it.

Penguin Prison - A Funny Thing (Monarchy Remix)

'Animal Animal'/'A Funny Thing' is coming out on Neon Gold.

apple bobbing.

2009-11-22T12:00:00.000Z

(artwork from singstatistics)

Kieran Hebden, aka Four Tet is on an absolute roll at the moment. with his incredible remix of Joe Goddard's track 'Apple Bobbing', he has cemented his place in my (short) list of people who have made me abuse the repeat button an almost clinically insane amount this year.

Joe Goddard - Apple Bobbing (Four Tet Remix)
(via Nialler9)

you can and will buy the very limited 7" of his single 'Love Cry' here. and check out the equally brilliant Joy Orbison remix here.

puuuuuure bliss.

mama was a bad dancer.

2009-11-19T22:44:00.000Z

nuff love.

dir: Bob Harlow.
Primary 1 myspace.
Riton myspace.

i will be king.

2009-11-17T15:01:00.000Z

one of my favourite discoveries of the past few weeks has to be Midnight Lion. they're two fellas from Glasgow making some of the most catchy pop music i've heard all year. vocals are dusted with their regional accents, the synths are bordering on being thunderous and there's even some sweet punk-pop guitar riffs in there. perfect for jumping around your room too, hairbrush in hand. huuuuuuuuge sounding just about sums it up, so wrap your ears around this quick!

Midnight Lion - I Will Be King

white noise.

2009-11-16T09:00:00.000Z

Clock Opera are releasing their fantastic new single 'White Noise' today.

frontman Guy Connelly crafts beautiful and delicate songs that transform into huge sounding sonic beasts in a live setting. this is intricate and intelligent pop, i bloody love it and i've got the exclusive first posting of the Django Django remix of the single for you guys.

Clock Opera - White Noise (Django Django Remix)

buy 'White Noise' from here!

six switches.

2009-11-15T16:17:00.000Z

hypnotic doesn't even come close. making authentic DIY electro, Magnets is the project of one Alex Mac who hails from London. he says: "Magnets is my corrupted take on electronic dance music. It's made using a collection of crappy old analogue gear - synths, effects pedals & drum machines. It is recorded, edited and mixed in an overworked and constantly crashing laptop."

Magnets - The Glue

get more tracks from here.

constellation.

2009-10-30T10:51:00.001Z

last night i came across this:

for half a cover, it excited me a ridiculous amount.

David's Lyre, previously Paul Dixon, is currently working hard with Last Skeptik who is busy turning his tracks from mellow, dreamy love songs, into something a bit more fresh and 2010 sounding. there's a sick dupstep-lite beat on the Skeptik version of 'Constellation' that i can't get over or stop listening to. check it.

David's Lyre - Constellation (Last Skeptik rework)

(ps. get Ellie's single from here).

what's missing.

2009-10-29T18:16:00.001Z

WORSHIP (not to be confused with erm.. WORSHIP) are a mysterious outfit from London.

the one track i've heard is a bit awesome, so here it is. kind of got a Radiohead vibe going on, big sound.

WORSHIP - In Our Blood

what do i know about them? nothing, aside from there's 4 of them. guessing is boring so probably a good idea to get down to their gig on the ~~24th November~~ 7th December at The Lexington.

secret catwalk.

2009-10-23T15:33:00.002+01:00

this time next week (Friday 30th) i'm going to be preparing to 'rock the house' down at The Victoria, near Bethnal Green with my debut DJ set (don't laugh too hard).

Jehan over at Shattered Satellite is putting on a night of "Arthur Russell tinged pop revelry" featuring live sets from Django Django, ColouringIN, and his own band, Al Cool & The Stranger Wines. they're all very good so you should probably come along, it's only £2.

Al Cool And The Stranger Wines - Céline

blending together hints of the now seemingly defunct Thamesbeat/Larrikin Love scene, a handful of funk-infused rhythms, alongside the ethereal sounds of a chill-wave/blog-wave synth, Al Cool seem to be hitting the nail on the head. i've also been privileged enough to get a listen to the remix (fixed up by Entreprenuers) of this track and it is a bit phenomenal.

facebook event page.

mess.

2009-10-22T14:35:00.001+01:00

:( bye bye.

2009-10-13T10:33:00.000+01:00

obsessed with this. they're like what Magistrates should have been/Prince meets Soft Cell. "big in 2010" without a doubt.

Fenech-Soler on myspace.

wings of wax.

2009-10-13T10:32:00.001+01:00

hailing from Philadelphia, Sun Airway are Jon and Patrick, a two piece making dreamy, shoegaze-tinged pop. EP 'Oh, Naoko' is like the musical equivalent of the sun coming in through your curtains on a beautiful morning. self recorded, self produced and they do their own artwork, bundles of talent don't usually come this perfectly wrapped.

Sun Airway - Swallowed By The Night

you can get more free tracks from their website here, expect a full length album sometime soon.

you'll be gone.

2009-10-05T18:47:00.000+01:00

Yes Giantess. the audio equivalent of halloumi? amazing in every way, shape or form, this is cheese that deserves it's own league. with Starsmith on production there's a silky, and futuristic vibe to 'Just Another Step', taking Yes Giantess from almost boyband-esque to laid back, incredibly cool purveyors of pop. synth heaven.

blog hexclusive for you right here.

Yes Giantess - Just Another Step

see Yes Giantess on tour, click here for details. catch them before they go supernova.