remix my face.

i've been asked to DJ at Ashes To Eyelashed in August, which i find absolutely hil-bloody-larious seeing as i a) have no DJ experience whatsoever, b) have a broken iPod, c) keep my vinyls in a big cardboard box, and d) well, i'm just me - i dance, not DJ.

i know you have to fade and do something that involves pressing and pushing and twisting loads of buttons, but that's about it. if anyone can recommend a SIMPLE, easy to use, (preferrably FREE) DJ program/software for the Mac that will teach me the very very basics please do.

in light of this, and some wonderful discoveries of late, here's my REEEEEEEEEEMIX post. when i type 'remix' into my itunes it comes up with 165 tracks (out of 3413 that's not a lot).

first up! first heard this today, it's banging (or PHAT as Tracey from Big Brother would say).

"haaaaviiiiiit!"

Hot Club De Paris - Clockwork Toy (Metronomy Remix)

it's very Metronomy-esque, with its dark beats and underground club vibe. there's none of the sea-shanty-ing you'd usually expect from Hot Club but there's plenty of their vocal to be going on. very enjoyable, if a little awkward to dance to.

next is a song you can definitely dance to.

The Black Ghosts - Face (Lo Fi Fnk Remix)

you really can "taste the music" with this track. its 100% futuristic electro style put together with clapping and slapping and singing and noises is definitely this side of amazing. Lo Fi Fnk are always winners.

by far one of the best remixes done of a Klaxons' track so far.

Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (To My Boy Remix)

not that i'm bias because i love To My Boy or anything, coughcough. it's darker than their own work, but then i suppose you could say Klaxons are darker (ignoring all glowsticks, neon, crazily coloured jeans). there's much more of a RAAAAVE theme to this track too. those who are honest have put their hands up and said "yeah, we know, Klaxons aren't rave". rave being actual 90s dodgy tshirts, coloured dreadlocks, a few wasters in a field with carrier bags wrapped around their body on purpose RAVE. (maybe in ten years time that's what Klaxons will end up like).

not forgetting the track that put Crystal Castles on the map for many.

Klaxons - Atlantis To Interzone (Crystal Castles Remix)

the now familiar sound of that weird siren-y thing has echoed many a time in indie clubs up and down the country, inducing people to dance and make that "ooh ooh" noise. a slice of Crystal Castles' best work i'd say. it also makes me want to sing "i've got the hots for you.." haha.

one of the best bands around at the minute had their first single remixed, i have two amazing versions but only one can win.

Late Of The Pier - Space And The Woods (Filthy Few Remix)

this remix brings in that futuristic element with distorted vocals and the hollowed out beats pave way for a much simpler drum 'n' bass infused rhythm to take over. a little lengthy, but i'd never say no to more of Late Of The Pier.

my beloved! The Futureheads. when i first got this track i was very skeptical, trying to imagine dancefloor beats mashed in between the jaunty guitar music.

The Futureheads - Worry About It Later (Switch Remix)

i was oh so wrong. The Futureheads and remix go very very well together. i love this remix especially as it's just so dance-able and that's what The Futureheads are all about for me. the way the vocals have been chopped up and stuck back together is also immense.

i despise Mika with every fibre in my body, but when re-done by a man i love dearly, the results are wonderful.

Mika - Love Today (Patrick Wolf Remix)

the taste of Wolf is all over this track, from the weird noises to the way Mika's voice has been stretched and pulled and wrapped around the electronic bleating and slap of the drum. it's a bit haunting too in the way that only Patrick can make nice things scary. lovely!

and last but definitely not least, a slice of the home front action! Daggers (previously known as Bureau) remixed by Modernaire. could it get any tastier? the answer you are looking for is a big fat no.

Daggers - Money (Modernaire Remix) - newer version!

this track sounds like the 80s being dragged kicking and screaming into the digital age . pure quality, but it's nothing less than i'd expect. visit Modernaire Remixed for a free download of Modernaire's remix of The Holloways' track 'Generator'.

if i'm uninspired by the time Sunday/Monday rolls around i might do a part deux to this as there are loads of other gems i'd like to share.

have a PHAT weekend, and don't kill yourself over the annoying-ness of Tory voting Pete Doherty rocker-boy nu rave indie loving Peaches Geldof lookalike Emily!

hot club, goodbooks, etc

before i say anything about the Hot Club De Paris gig last night, i must must must talk about the Simon Bookish cover of Franz Ferdinand's song 'Michael'. oh. my. god. it's absolutely aaaaaaaaaaaamazing. i have no idea how long it's been around but i am really wondering why i haven't heard it before.
Simon is a weird kind of fella. a bit odd looking, and the music he creates is even stranger. you are all probably well aware of his remix of Grizzly Bear's track 'Eavesdropping', and his work with Bishi.
this cover/remix/thing has stripped the song of all things Franz aside from the pounding vibe underneath that makes you want to dance like you've never danced before. 'Michael' is already an amazing song, but when re-worked by Mr. Bookish it takes on a completely new edge, something rougher, sexier and dirtier. electro beats trample on Simon's raw vocals and what's left of the guitar twangs and screeches, in a completely good way.

Simon Bookish - Michael (Franz Ferdinand Cover)
Franz Ferdinand - Michael
Grizzly Bear - Eavesdropping (Simon Bookish Remix)

and now to the gig last night!
because i am a bad music fan (hahaaaa) i didn't watch the first support act, Safetyword. i'd listened to their tracks on myspace before i went, and if i am honest, i didn't really enjoy their sound. sounded like a whole lot of noise about a whole lot of nothing.

next up was GoodBooks, who i've written about before in this blog. as usual, they always deliver. i never find myself disappointed with GoodBooks. shit name, but brilliant band. i think i might have been cunning enough to have managed to get myself a free ticket to see them supporting The Sounds (along with Neils Children), so i am quite excited for that. plus, seeing them in a bigger venue will be quite exciting, even if it is full of The Sounds' fans.
former single 'The Illness' was the stand out track of their seven song set, fresh sounding with cowbells galore and punky guitars. 'Passchendaele' is going to be the next single from the band, and as soon as they finished their support slot they got in their van and drove back to London in order to film the video for it. Leo said something about them having to 'act', so i am looking forward to seeing how that works out.

Hot Club De Paris took to the stage, all full of beer and grapes. literally. they apologised for being rather drunk, but i think that made things a bit more fun. their banter was of course brilliant, and god knows how they managed to play such complicated songs after having been for "a bevvy".
there were a couple of b-sides like 'I Swung For Judas' in the set, and a couple of new ones, one of which was instrumental and sounded absolutely amazing despite the band saying they didn't know how to play it properly yet.
Hot Club are, in my eyes, an extremely underrated band. they have an amazing skill to create these perfect almost 3 minute long songs that aren't really songs at all. they're a mass jumble of nautical sounding guitars, 'woooooo's and lyrics about arson, Ouija boards and jobs, and i love everything about them.

Hot Club De Paris - Shipwreck
Hot Club De Paris - Who Am I

there's going to be a massive post on Saturday about the NME gig (Blood Red Shoes, The Little Ones, The Rumble Strips and Pull Tiger Tail) and the warehouse party i am attending on Friday night (Sir Yes Sir, Air Cav, The Ending Of and iDresden), and then another massive post about Eurocultured Festival (Yelle, Datarock, Modernaire, Disco Drive, and more) probably on Tuesday. woo!

another day.

another dollar!
thanks for the get well messages, i am feeling better today.

my mock exam went disastrously. must have been the worst thing i've ever written in the whole of my academic history. but it was only a practise so no need to fret haha.

i was today told that Bat For Lashes are playing in Manchester in July. i am very excited as i haven't seen them befoooore. another gig to add to the list!

i didn't really have anything in mind for this post, but then i read a bulletin posted by Hot Club De Paris. they're going on tour, and taking GoodBooks with them. am i going to the tour? obviouslyyyy. i can't bloody wait. although it means i have to miss a friend of mine's band supporting Fake Shark Real Zombie!
Hot Club are fantastic. witty, clever, and sharp. NME once complained that they don't have proper choruses. if only all dysfunctional songs sounded as good as the 'Ot Club's do! their album 'Drop It Til It Pops' was one of my massive favourites of 2006, and i can't wait to hear any and all new material. Jamie T is fan, although i don't think much to that remix he did of 'Shipwreck'. (.mp3)

they make jaunty, catchy, innovative tunes. that has a nautical feel to it. sea shanties and all that.

Hot Club De Paris - Your Face Looks All Wrong

if you like them, make sure you check out goFASTER>> who are another band from the booming Liverpool scene. actually, i might do a post about Liverpool tomorrow.

there we go. sorted.