Justice Mix

This has been blogged a zillion times already but here it is anyway.

It's the mixes the Fabric rejects that makes Fabric the best?

The story goes like this: Fabric approaches Justice. Justice makes mix. Fabric rejects mix. Mix gets blogged. A zillion times.

Basically, Justice didn't want to produce the "same old" mix (full of the tracks you've heard everywhere else). So, as a result you get 70's disco tracks mashed with novelty french bands mashed with sing alongs then a light spattering of Midnight Juggernauts, Daft Punk & Surkin.

Justice Xmas Mix

2007 WAS A REAL TREAT

So I thought it would be an especially nice gesture to the year just passed, which has given me so many splendid memories, to announce a few of my favourites.

MY TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2007

1. Radiohead - In Rainbows

2. Editors - An End Has a Start
3. Justice - Cross
4. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
5. Midnight Juggernauts - Dystopia
6. Bloc Party - Weekend In The City
7. Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
8. Interpol - Our Love to Admire
9. Feist - The Reminder
10. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga


MY TOP TEN TUNES OF 2007

1. Sparkadia - Morning Light (EP version) (YSI)

2. Kings of Leon - On Call (YSI)
3. Digitalism - Pogo (YSI)
4. Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire
5. Editors - The Racing Rats
6. Radiohead - 15 Step
7. Feist - 1234
8. Timbaland - Miscommunication (Bloody Beetroots Remix)
9. Modest Mouse - Dashboard
10. Editors - Escape the Nest


MY TOP TEN FLOOR FILLERS OF 2007 (these aren't necessarily from 2007, but they caused sometime radical shape throwing on the D-Floor during the year)

1. Justice - B.E.A.T. (YSI)

2. Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up (YSI)
3. Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire (YSI)
4. Daft Punk - Technologic (Digitalsim Remix)
5. Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name (Mr Oizo Remix)
6. Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl
7. Daft Punk - Around the World
8. Midnight Juggernauts - Shadows
9. Bag Raiders - Fun Punch
10. Phoenix - Consolation Prizes

All these tunes and albums are available to buy on iTunes and Amazon


Ever drunk Baileys out of a shoe

PLASTIC OPERATOR

Yaaaay, I'm back from holidays! And my first post of 2008 is of Plastic Operator. No, this is not a made-up moniker of words which are currently "in" and "hip" (re: ghost, wolf, bang etc.). It is the name of amazing electro pop duo Mathieu Gendreau and Pieter Van Dessel.

It was a pairing of fate, when Mathieu from Montreal met Pieter from Antwerp while studying Audio Production in London. The two found they both had a love for electro pop music, and respective heads were put together to come up with a sound to celebrate this genre. In 2004 they released a 3 track EP and from there Plastic Operator's name spread to the far corners of the globe, receiving airplay in California, New Zealand and even Tijuana.

They aren't short on production experience, doing past work for huge acts such as Goldfrapp and New Order, and this definitely shows through with their own music. The slow and soothing pace of the melodic bass and synths, mixed with Pieter's melancholy vocals gives me a calming feeling similar to artists such as Postal Service, Whitest Boy Alive and Royksopp.

Last year they released their debut album DIFFERENT PLACES on Mathieu's own label Fine Day Records, which is available to buy here or on iTunes and Amazon... I can't believe I've only just discovered it, cos I think it would be a contender in my top 10 of 2007 (which is coming soon)... I've posted a couple of the best tracks below.

Plastic Operator - Folder (YSI)

Plastic Operator - Home 0207 (YSI)



Ever drunk Baileys out of a shoe

Cut Copy - So Cosmic Mix & Mercy Arms Remix

If you're anything like us then you're counting down the days until Cut Copy release their new album In Ghost Colours in April next year. Produced with DFA wunderkind Tim Goldworthy it promises to be another Midas type release for the boys from Melbourne with premature singles "Hearts on Fire" & "So Haunted" being nothing short of brilliant. Both tracks borrowing influences from years past but never straying from being anything but now. Hearts on Fire for the Hottest 100, anyone?

In the meantime, CC have put out a mix called So Cosmic that features several cuts off the forthcoming album (Look out for "Lights & Music" in the middle of the mix) as well as new and past tracks that encapsulate sounds that are inspiring the band and have influenced In Ghost Colours. The addition of folk based Panda Bear amongst the Georgio Moroder styled disco and new-wave Aussie electro might surprise some, but it's an indication of a greater diversity set to feature on the follow up to 2004's Bright Like Neon Love. This is not an outright party mix but an eclectic and textured collection that will have your head buzzing, and fingers reaching to the keyboard to discover some new sounds.

Cut Copy - So Cosmic Mix

Plus, they've just released a remix of Mercy Arms track "Kept Low" that features their signature sophisticated party groove. Out on Levity Records.

Mercy Arms - Kept Low (Cut Copy Remix)

I think I'm going to cryogenically freeze myself until April because I can't stand the wait.

Cut Copy Myspace
Mercy Arms Myspace

BUY BUY BUY


P.S We're playing World Bar 10-12 TONIGHT. See you there. Got a few new tracks to play out.

Radiohead on Film

For the turn of the new year, Radiohead, fresh from releasing In Rainbows in tangible form, released a 52 minute vodcast of live studio recordings, arthouse film interludes and them playing in a field at dusk. Utterly compelling for its entirety, and captivating to watch the masters at full concentration in their Oxford studio, this is what must-see-TV really is. Not CSI Miami.

It was screened on Al Gore owned online channel, Current.TV. Enjoy.

Friendly Fires - "Paris" Video Clip

I think this is the third mention of Friendly Fires I've made here. I love them, what can I say.

Here's a clip for their new single "Paris", directed by Price James.

Black Kids

I first heard about Black Kids some months ago on the Vice website. At that point they hadn't played a show outside of their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida and all I knew about them was their was some considerable industry interest, they carried references to The Cure and Arcade Fire and despite the name, they're not a proudly announcing racially exclusive indie band.

Now, some months on, and with plenty of blog posts and magazine write ups, Black Kids have played shows around the US and made a fleeting trip to the UK to play 5 shows in a week to satisfy the buzz-hungry indie-loving UK fans and media. When I was in London at the beginning of December, my trip just happened to coincide with theirs and I got myself along to the intimate Nambucca pub in Holloway to sea an early evening set of about 10 songs all glowing in beautifully crafted indie-pop. Yes, there is some Cure references and the epic, rich sounds are at times reminiscent of the Arcade Fire. But, away from references, the four songs on their independently, online-only released EP, The Wizards of Ahhhs have a certain feel-good quality that makes you want to jump on your bed and sing along. Enchanting, fun, epic, poppy - this is one my favourite recent releases.

Here's my fave track of the EP, but click your way to www.blackkidsmusic.com and pick up their full EP for FREE download. Now, turn up the volume but just make sure your bed springs are well oiled.

Black Kids - I'm Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You

Black Kids Myspace

BigFace release "I Wanna be a Style Crusader"

Glaswegians BigFace who we posted here some time back have released their first single, "I Wanna be a Style Crusader" on Kitsune records.

In similar fashion to their demo-ed tracks this one starts off with a funked bassline and is all calm and glitchy before unleashing a storm of synths and reverb.



Nicely put together clip. Possibly strains of Michel Gondry when the tracks drops with the heavily cut and spliced graphics a la White Stripes' "Hardest Button to Button" clip.

BigFace Myspace
Buy from Kitsune