Birth School Work Death

2008-01-12T14:06:00.000Z

Birth School Work Death 2006 - 2008 (RIP)

So the end has finally come, and this time it's for good!*! There will be no restart to the posts in a couple of months like I did last time I announced my retirement from this blog!*! The reasons for this decision are numerous and really too boring to get into, alas this time its not for any moral feelings that I may have with posting copyright material, rather those snidy twats that write viruses etc, have for the 2nd time in a month laid waste to my PC, and whilst it's simple (although increadibly time consuming) enough to remedy, I've lost pretty much all faith in the internet, along with the bulk of my music files that were on the PC at the time!*! It's a shame that its come to this but I'm fed up, not with blogging, but with all the bullshit that comes with the internet; the constant pop-ups and adverts for shit you'll never need or buy, or free spyguard applications and all of that fucking nonsense!*! Whilst I appreciate that there are measures you can put in place to protect yourself whilst on the interweb, and I had all that in place, these events still happen and with an ever increasing rate it would seem, so time to step aside!*!

So, it's been fun, I've really enjoyed this blog while it lasted and I hope you've found something to tantalise your earbuds, but for now goodbye one and all!*!

Oh, and don't forget to check the links on the right!**!

Peace

Scott (Ballpoint Pen Thief)

2008-01-07T19:02:00.000Z

Life In The Concrete Jungle

I'm back after an extended festive break!*! I thought I'd refrain from posting for a week or 2 to let everything settle down. There does seem to be a tendancy amongst bloggers, myself included, to post as often as humanly possible. Lately though, I've been feeling that the music getting posted isn't having the time spent on it that it deserves before people have already moved onto the next new release. Whilst I'll freely admit to adding to this in the past, I'm about to slow things down a little around here. Don't panic though, BSWD is going nowhere for the foreseeable future, just a few less posts that's all, but I'll see how things go, as i'm sure I'll be back to posting everyday before long, and ignoring all my good intensions!*!

Anyway, enough of all that talky stuff!*!

2008's is only 7 days old and already I've had 3 top-drawer releases deposited through my mail box by Mr. Postman, so we're already off to a flying start.

First recommendation to put your way would have to be the new Partial Arts release on Kompakt, resplendant with another mammoth 12-minute heavy-duty Radio Slave mix on the flip, although seriously unusual for me, but I do prefer the original version this time round. Grab a copy here.

Secondly, the new Alexander Robotnik release 'A Coffee Shop In Rotterdam' on Endless Flight is more than worthy of your attention, especially the M.A.N.D.Y 'Terrace Remix' on the flip. The guys over at Random Circuits have it posted at present, so pop on over there and then grab yourself a shiny copy all of your own here or here.

And lastly, but by no means leastly, is the new Skat release on French label Karat. It's a tidy 4 tracker full of freaky, twisted beats and odd echoey vocals relaying some of the fear and paranoia of those lonely dark city streets during the wee small hours of the night!*! Perfect 2am dancefloor-freak material. Flip on over however, and Kenny Hawkes and David Parr drop a lighter, rainforest back-dropped take on previous Skat single 'Nightlife'. Big horn sections, 'French Kiss' styled old skool keys and a laid back groove are the order of the day, and fresh from their 'Gemini' release on Rekids last year, I'm expecting big things from the duo this year with Kenny Hawkes dropping a solo long-player on the afore-mentioned Rekids before too long!*! Grab a shiny black 12" copy here or here, or from whoever supplies your fixes of the black stuff!*!

Skat - 'Nightlife (Kenny Hawkes & David Parr Remix)' (Karat Records)

As always, all these releases are available from digital download stores like Beatport or Kompakt so go fill ya' 320-bit boots there!*!

2007-12-23T12:06:00.000Z

Wishing You A Hardcore Xmas Pt. 2

I was hunting around in the archives for something festive to post, and you know what, most festive tracks are bloody awful, so I'd almost given up all hope of finding something suitable when I came across the track I'm going to post today!*! It's one of those that I can't for the life of me remember where I got it from or even who it's by, but hopefully one of you more switched-on readers will hopefully be able to clear this up. Rather than being a full-on festive cheese-fest, it samples a xmas staple from Wham. I've always considered myself a bit of an expert when it comes to pop music, but I have to admit failure on this count, because it only samples part of said Wham track, but I think it's from 'Careless Whisper', however I will stand corrected if I'm proved wrong!*! Now before you think that I've completely lost my mind, bear with me here; the sample is welded to an almighty jungle riddim that's straight outta the Shitmat or Amen Andrews school of wreckin' it proper, and is completely mental!*! A perfect fit as we now enter the silly season, where most of us go a little crazy for a week or two!*! So turn it up loud, and imagine you have big Farah hair and cable-knight jumpers, chaleting on the side of a mountain somewhere in Aspen surrounded by Pepsi & Shirley, all the while lamenting about a lost love to the soundtrack of the hardest breaks this sound of sanity!*!

All that remains to be said is however you celebrate xmas, have an enjoyable time, and from all at BSWD Towers (i.e. me!*!) stay safe and I'll see you on the other side!*! 08 here we come!*!

Unknown - 'Never Dance Again' (Unknown)

2007-12-22T10:56:00.000Z

Wishing You A Hardcore Xmas Pt. 1

I started my other blog; Cellar Dweller, so that I had somewhere to concentrate on my love of early 90s rave music, but whilst ripping a load of old 12"s I came across a track so huge that posting it on just one blog wouldn't suffice, so I'm posting it over both for one time only!*!

It's also quite apt in that the track in question is by a guy who went, and still does to this day, by the moniker Justice, and seeing how 2007 has been the year of the crunchy synths and pounding beats of Justice, it seemed the perfect way to end the year. No, not those Parisians, rather this guy preceeded the Justice we all know and love now by about 10 years or so!*! But they both share a perceived common goal and that is to get you to go absolutely bat-shit!*! If you don't believe me check the drop at the 1:20 mark, and try not reaching for those lasers (so to speak)!*!

Not much else to say really, just play this really loud and enjoy!*!

Justice - 'Soothe My Soul' (RBR Records)

2007-12-21T12:03:00.001Z

My In-Box Weights A Ton Pt. 3

There's been a steady trickle of material through my in-box for sometime now, but I've got sidetracked recently, so time to catch up with some of it!*!

First up, I got an email from a New York based producer who goes by the moniker, A-ux, with a link to his Myspace page. He's got some tasty downtempo treats for you to download to give you a break from the noisier output that 2007 seems to have been all about!*! After checking out his wares, there's an album up for sale on Itunes here, which is gorgeous by the way, and if your in and around the Big Apple tomorrow (22nd) then you can check the man live at the Elegantly Wasted party, details are on his Myspace page here. As a wee taster here's A-ux's refix of The Chemical Brothers' hit 'Galvanize'. I always found the original to be a little too Big Beat for my taste, so this was a welcome reminder of just how good it could have been. Starting with some block-party beats, the track is then transformed into a laid-back, off-kilter affair, that could have easily sat on Mo' Wax back in the day. Fear not however, this is no a retro fantasy, just a completely different take on something that could ahve been oh so good. If I have one slight criticism then it's that the track is nowhere near long enough!*! Excellent all the same though!*!

The Chemical Bothers - 'Galvanize (A-ux Remix)'

Next, for your delication the lovely folk over at Gomma, sent me a taster of their just released, digital-only compilation; 'Gomma Galactic No. 2'. With tracks from Danielle Baldelli, Drrtyhaze, Rodion, Tomboy and a superb cover of Ricardo Villalobos' 'Easy Lee' by Danish tikes Whomadewho, this is one compilation that should be all over your xmas list to Santa, alas no vinyl version at the present time. You can grab the tracks from Itunes here.

As a taster here's Baldelli's track 'Xilodelphia'

Baldelli - 'Xilodelphia' (Gomma)

Lastly for today the folks over at Turbo have teamed up with the Boys Noize crew for a xmas treat. If you haven't already copped a copy of Boys Noize's debut long-player, then you can get a free super-320-bit mp3 of 'I Go Raven' from Beatport by hitting-up this link. You will need a Beatport account though, but it's not like you need to buy anything from there again if you so choose!*! You gotta love xmas, with all these pressies!*!

2007-12-16T13:12:00.001Z

Ladies & Gents, Please Be Upstanding....It's 2007!*! Pt. 3

So here it is the third and final part of my end of year run-down (of sorts!*!), and 2007 saw the supposed rise of nu-rave!*! I've written here before of my utter hatred of that tag, and several months down the line, that doesn't seem to have wavered!*! I know many do not share my views on this subject, and it's not the music I have a problem with (that shold be evident from my chart below), rather the lazy journalistic effort by one particular weekly music magazine, and their effort to get everyone believing their nonsense!*! I can see lots of paralells with the rave scence of the early 90s (of which I'm an enormous fan of by the way!*!), with cheap equipment making it possible for producers to turn-out club bangers without the need for major studio time, and the internet replacing small independent labels as a means to get you gear heard, or in essence cutting 'The Man' out of the picture entirely. Regardless of your views on Myspace and it's corporate owner, there can surely be no denying that 2007 saw it really prove it's worth, enabling producers to interact directly with their audience, it's also provided a link between producers and bloggers. There's barely a week goes by where my in-box isnt chock-full of new material from folks that have found me through Myspace, some of it's been very good, others less so!*! As to how much impact it will have in the future remains to be seen, but it can't really be a bad thing!*!

For me the over-riding memory of 2007 would have to be the feeling that finally electronic music is flowing freely from all corners of the globe. This has always been the case, but what seems different this time round is the emergence of thriving scenes in some far flung places, gaining reputations through word of mouth and the obvious ease of communicating through the interweb. Portugal, Italy and Australia seem to be the real heavy-hitters this year, but I received material from producers in Canada, Lithuania and Brazil, and long may this continue!*!

As far as who's been on top this year, there can't really be anyone worth mentioning more than Justice. 2007 saw them finally release their debut long-player, which as I wrote about earlier, for me, justified it's hype, although I'd have preferred the whole thing not to have been leaked in its entirety. What struck me most however, was the fact that neither 'D.A.N.C.E', nor 'Phantom' was my favourite, rather the potential 'Godzilla' theme tune of 'Stress' that really showed that the guys from Paris mean business. A full-throttle, moody-string led behemoth of epic proportions that has been on heavy rotation for months here now, and takes pride of place high up in my end of year chart, although the top-spot was reserved for Puzique's 'Don't Go'. A suprise package from the perhaps too often noisy Boys Noize camp, this nod to the French sound of old is just sublime!*!

So without wishing to cut things short here (I could go on all day believe me!*!), 2007 was properly DIY, and with any luck 2008 will follow suit and see loads more new material arrive to get us all dancing round our bedrooms, and those places where folks congregate to drink and be merry!*!

Ok, enough typing, here's my end of year run-down for all those who may be interested:

1 - Puzique - 'Don't Go' (Boys Noize)
2 - Chromeo - 'Fancy Footwork (Guns N Bombs Thizzmix)' (Backyard)
3 - Unklejam - 'What Am I Fighting For? (LA Priest Remix)' (Virgin)
4 - The Human League - 'Things That Dreams Are Made Of (Kissy Sell Out Mix)' (Hooj Choons)
5 - Shit Disco - 'OK (Luna-C Hardcore Breaks Mix)' (Fierce Panda)
6 - Bolt Action Five - 'Tree Friend Tree Foe (Kissy Sell Out Remix)'
7 - Klaxons - 'Gravity's Rainbow (Soulwax Dub Mix)' (White)
8 - Altern 8 - 'Frequency (Hostage Remix)'
9 - Justice - 'Stress' (Ed Banger)
10 - Klaxons - 'As Above So Below (Justice Remix)' (Because)
11 - Kavinsky - 'Wayfarer' (Record Makers)
12 - Midnight Juggernauts - 'Into The Galaxy'
13 - Maximo Park - 'Terminal Velocity (Blamma! Blamma! Remix)'
14 - Stardust - 'Music Sounds Better With You (Miami Horror Mix)'
15 - Air - 'Mer Du Japon (Teenagers Remix)' (Virgin)
16 - Apache Beat - 'Tropics (G.L.O.V.E.S. Remix)'
17 - Armand Van Helden - 'This Aint Hollywood (DJ Froz Remix)'
18 - Bag Raiders - 'Punch Reprise' (Bang Gang)
19 - Deportivo Street Team - 'Devils On Horseback (Digi 7" Mix)' (Five20East)
20 - DJ Inferno - 'Out Of My Head' (Repeat Offender)
21 - Breakbot - 'Summer Party' (Moshi Moshi)
22 - Alan Braxe & Kris Menace - Lumberjack' (Vulture)
23 - Timbaland - 'Miscommunication (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)'
24 - Jean Nipon - 'Raw Deal' (Arcade Mode)
25 - Kissy Sell Out - 'Her (Metal On Metal nstrumental)' (Lavolta)
26 - Midnight Juggernauts - 'Road To Recovery (Miami Horror Remix)'
27 - New Young Pony Club - 'Ice Cream (Herve Goes Bananas Remix)' (Modular)
28 - Operator Please - 'Just A Song About Ping Pong (Kissy Sell Out's White Stallion Remix)' (Brille)
29 - The Outrunners - 'Cool Feeling'
30 - Switches - 'Every Second Counts (Ocelot Remix)'
31 - Trilogyy - 'Apocolypse Rock' (Work It Baby)
32 - Spitzer - 'Avida Dollars'
33 - Justice - 'D.A.N.C.E' (Ed Banger)
34 - Daft Punk - 'Prime Time Of Your Life (Roccanova Remix)'
35 - Felix Da Housecat - 'Future Calls The Dawn' (PIAS)
36 - Chromeo - 'Tenderoni (Sinden Remix)' (Backyard)
37 - Crookers - 'Nchlinez (DJ Froz Mad Edit)'
38 - Captain Pheonix - 'Pistols & Hearts (Bloody Beetroots Remix)'
39 - Duke Dumont - 'When I Hear Mu'sic' (Turbo)
40 - Rodion - 'Electric Soca (Crookers Remix)' (Gomma)
41 - Shesus - 'Debbies Shoe's (SebastiAn Remix)' (People In The Sky)
42 - The Teenagers - 'Homecoming' (Merok)
43 - LA Priest - 'Engine (Erol Alkan's Transonic Re-edit)' (Phantasy Sound)
44 - DVAS - 'Macho'
45 - Lifelike - 'So Electric' (Different)
46 - Voodoo Chilli - 'Turn It Up (Jack It)' (Dubsided)
47 - Cagney & Lacey - 'Your Girl Pukes All Over The Dancefloor (Jesse Rose 'Sort Your Missus Out' Rmx)' (TFE)
48 - Franz & Shape - 'Tightropes (Kissy Sell Out's Bethnal Green Dub)' (Relish)
49 - New Young Pony Club - 'The Bomb (Kaos Disco Bomb Extended Dub)' (Modular)
50 - Justice - 'D.A.N.C.E (Alan Braxe Remix)' (Ed Banger)
51 - Sinden & Count Of Monte Cristal - 'Tamborzuda (3 Is A Crowd Remix)'
52 - Klaxons - 'Golden Skans (Erol Alkan's Ekstra Spektral Dub)' (Polydor)
53 - Foals - 'Hummer [McSleazy Remix]'
54 - Scanners - 'Raw (Blamma! Blamma! Scanner! Mix)'
55 - Pharoah Monch - 'Simon Says (Hostage Remix)'
56 - Midnight Juggernauts - 'Out Of The Storm (Kris Menace Remix)'
57 - Boys Noize - 'Don't Believe The Hype (Surkin Mix No.1)' (Boys Noize)
58 - Justice - 'Phantom'
59 - Moulinex - 'Break Chops'
60 - JoJo De Freq - 'Saturn Returns' (Mythic)
61 - Simian Mobile Disco - 'System' (Witchita)
62 - Brabe - '50 Ways'
63 - Like Woah! - 'Oh I Like (Whitenoise Remix)' (Bang Gang)
64 - Unklejam - 'Love Ya (Herve Remix)' (Virgin)
65 - Curses! - 'This Is The Way' (Institubes)
66 - Remi Nicole - 'Fed Up (Kissy Sell Out's Rules Of Attraction Remix)' (Island)
67 - Maral Salmassi - 'Back Up Your Ass' (Television Rocks)
68 - 3 Is A Crowd - 'Nirvanal'
69 - Strange Idols - 'She's Gonna Let You Down Again (The C90s Remixx)'
70 - Mr Hudson - 'Ask The DJ (Sinden & The Count Of Monte Cristo Mix)' (Mercury)
71 - LCD Soundsystem - 'Get Innocuous (Soulwax Remix)' (DFA)
72 - King Creosote - 'You've No Clue Do You (Kris Menace Instrumental Mix)' (679)
73 - Sneaky Sound System - 'UFO (Bricks! Remix)'74 - Tricky Disco - 'Tricky Disco (The Martin Brothers 'Thizzy Disco' Remix)' (IO)
75 - Scissor Sisters - 'She's My Man (Goose Remix Edit)' (White Riot)
76 - Simian Mobile Disco - 'I Believe (Switch Remix)' (Witchita)
77 - The Teenagers - 'Starlett Johansson (Blamma! Blamma! Scared Of Spiders Mix)' (Merok)
78 - Teenage Bad Girl - 'Cocotte (Boys Noize Rework)' (Citizen)
79 - Moulinex - 'Leisure Suit'
80 - Digitalism - 'Pogo (On The Road To Paris Version)' (Virgin)
81 - Krazy Baldhead - 'Dry Guillotine' (Ed Banger)
82 - Duke Dumont - 'Lean/Bounce' (Turbo)
83 - Larry Tee - 'Licky (Herve Goes Low Remix)' (Holon)
84 - The Bells - 'Target Group (C90s Remix)'
85 - 3 Is A Crowd - 'Breakdown (Mamba Mix)'
86 - D.I.M - 'Airbus Baby' (Turbo)
87 - Mr. Oizo - 'Flat Beat (DJ Manaia's Baile Kuduro Remix)'
88 - Crystal Castles VS Health - 'Crimewave' (Trouble)
89 - Patrick Alavi - 'Hell Yeah (Jaimie Fanatic Bad Boy Remix)'
90 - Harris Robotis - 'Shampain!'
91 - The Whip - 'Divebomb (Crystal Castles Remix)' (Southern Fried)
92 - Human Resource - Dominator (Hostage Ravemix)'
93 - Charlean Dance - 'Mr DJ (Speaker Junk's Tarantula Remix)' (Positiva)
94 - Faunts - 'M4 (Dvas Macho Mix)'
95 - Dada Life - 'Fun Fun Fun (Fredo & Thang 1 2 3 Piano Mix)' (Prestel)
96 - Starkey - 'Let You Go (Drop The Lime Remix) ' (Werk)
97 - Teddybears - 'Punkrocker (3 Is A Crowd Pump It Up Mix)'
98 - Blamma! Blamma! - 'Carry Me Home (Final Mix)'
99 - Foamo - 'Moving It Over Here'
100 - Chromeo - 'Bonafied Lovin' (Backyard)

As with yesterday's chart, I've put together a little 60 minute mix-up for your listening pleasure!*! I was a bit restricted in the tracks I could include because of my refeusal to mix with anything other than vinyl. There's a couple of obvious mistakes and I hope this doesn't detract too much from your enjoyment. It's loud, fidgety, and full-on with no warm-up, just straight in at the deep-end!*! Enjoy!*!

Ballpoint Pen Thief Presents 'Loud, Bad & Dangerous, Just Don't Call It Nu-Rave' Mix (Zshare Link)

Tracklist:

Duke Dumont - 'Lean/Bounce'

Rodion -'Electric Soca (Crookers Remix)'

Duke Dumont - 'When I Hear Mu'sic'

Chromeo - 'Tenderoni (Sinden Remix)'

New Young Pony Club - 'Ice Cream (Herve Goes Bananas Remix - BSWD 'Just For Xmas Extended Edit)'

Simian Mobile Disco - 'I Beieve (Switch Remix)'

Maral Salmassi - 'Back Up Your Ass'

JoJo De Freq - 'Saturn Returns'

Chromeo - 'Fancy Footwork (Guns N Bombs Thizzmix)'

D.I.M - 'Airbus Baby'

Boys Noize - 'Don't Believe The Hype (Surkin Mix No. 1)'

Bag Raiders - 'Punch Reprise'

2007-12-15T09:46:00.000Z

Ladies & Gents, Please Be Upstanding....It's 2007!*! Pt. 2

Here it is, the first of my two charts. As I wrote in my previous post, I don't think there can be much denying that 2007 has seen some cracking material released, and for me picking my favourite single track of the year was actually much easier than I thought it would be, in fact once this particular track was released nothing was going to better it, in my opinion. That track was of course Ricardo Villalobos' refix for Shackleton's 'Blood On My Hands'. Ok, so the subject matter caused some people to object and I can see why they might, but music is always best when it provokes a reaction in people, whether that reaction be good or bad, it surely has to be better than doing things by the numbers. It had all those ingredients in it that I love; off-kilter beats, swirling effects, strange vocals, oh and because Mr Villalobos was in the hot seat it lasted a glorious 19+ minutes!*!

As far as labels are concerned, again I had no doubt in my mind who was going to come out on top this year for me, and that was DFA. Their release schedule had seemed to slow during 2006, but 2007 saw it kick truly back into life, with releases pretty much every month this year, and sometimes even two in the same week. The overiding factor for me was the level of quality that they managed to maintain throughout the year, because it's one thing to release heaps of records, but it's entirely another to release lots, that people will come back to time and time again, and there's no doubt in my mind that they've succeeded in that goal, no question!*! As far as the other labels go, Rekids and Dissident were IMHO way ahead of the rest of the pack. Dissident seemed to come out of nowhere, releasing no fewer than 13 records this year (albeit all of them extremley limited one-sided vinyl affairs), but all were exciting for very different reasons. Rekids on the other hand carried on cementing their huge reputation with numerous weighty releases, which judging by the tracks up on Radio Slave's Myspace player, should see 2008 being even better for them!*!

Right, enough chit-chatter onwards to the chart. It's a pretty mixed bag, in terms of styles, I'm sure you'll agree, but these are my biggest tracks of 07, and I'd have no hesitation recommending any of them, so if you missed out, make your life better and grab a copy. Almost all of them should be available from the back-catalogues of the likes of Juno or Phonica, or if digital is your cup of tea, then there's plenty of options to furnish yourselves with some choice cuts. Obviously, I've tried to limit the chart to those tracks actually released this year, and tried to keep reissues out where at all possible, to keep the numbers down, but I'm sure you'll notice some tracks didn't make it that perhaps should have, and that is purely down to the fact that I still have a mountain of vinyl to listen to, and I'm not comforatble charting something just off the hype that might surround it, so it's only those tracks that I own and have been spinning round BSWD Towers all year!*! Enjoy, and a little mix-up at the bottom!*!

2007 - Chart 1

1 - Shackleton - Blood On My Hands (Ricardo Villalobos Apocalypso Now Mix)’ (Skull Disco)’
2 - Len Faki - ‘Black Sheep’ (Podium)
3 - Kenny Hawkes & David Parr - ‘Gemini’ (Rekids)
4 - Shit Robot - ‘Chasm’ (DFA)
5 - Still Going - ‘Still Going Theme’ (DFA)
6 - S.C.S. - ‘Model Specific’ (Dissident)
7 - Radio Slave - ‘Bell Clap Dance’ (Rekids)
8 - Holy Ghost! - ‘Hold On’ (DFA)
9 - Kate Bush - ‘Running Up That Hill (Ashley Beedle Edit)’ (White)
10 - Professor Genius - ‘Pegaso (Silver & Kane’s Roma Mix)’ (Disques Sinthomme)
11 - Ricardo Villalobos - ‘Druic’ (Sei Es Drum)
12 - Sebbo - ‘Beirut Boogie’ (Liebe Detail)
13 - Skatebaard - ‘Vuelo’ (Radius)
14 - LCD Soundsystem - ‘Sound Of Silver (C2 Remix Rev. 3)’ (DFA)
15 - Shackleton - ‘Next To Nothing (Guillaume & Coutu Twins Mix)’ (Crosstown Rebels)
16 - Soylent Green - ‘La Forza Del Destino (Radio Slave Remix)’ (Playhouse)
17 - Phobia - ‘Phobia (DJ Hell Mix)’ (International Deejay Gigolos)
18 - Redshape - ‘Munch’ (Delsin)
19 - Justus Kohncke - ‘Parage’ (Kompakt)
20 - Binary Chaffinch - ‘False Energy’ (Dissident)
21 - Al Usher - ‘Here Today’ (Misericordings)
22 - Division By Zero - ‘Boulderdash’ (Eskimo)
23 - Holy Ghost Inc. - ‘Mad Monks On Zinc (Martin Buttrich Remix)’ (Flying Circus)
24 - Gabriel Ananda - ‘Stream Of Conciousness’ (Karamarouge)
25 - Francois K - ‘Road Of Life (Quiet Village Sound Factory Dub)’ (Deep Space)
26 - Tiefschwarz - ‘Original (Carl Craig Remix)’ (Souvenir)
27 - Black Devil Disco Club - ‘Constantly No Respect (Black Mustang Remix)’ (LoEB)
28 - Baby Oliver - ‘Feelings 2’ (Environ)
29 - Slam - ‘Azure (Radio Slave Remix)’ (Soma)
30 - Simon Baker - ‘Plastik’ (Infant)
31 - Anomaline - ‘High Lights’ (Anomaline)
32 - Mudd - ‘Spielplatz (Quiet Village Deep Space Remix)’ (Rong)
33 - Minilogue - ‘Space’ (Traum Schallplaten)
34 - Professor Genius ‘Across The Spree’ (Italians Do It Better)
35 - Massi DL - ‘Acidland’ (Trapez)
36 - Osborne - Outta Sight (Luke Vibert Remix)’ (Spectral Sound)
37 - Len Faki - ‘Mekong Delta’ (Ost-Gut-Ton)
38 - LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends (Harvey’s Mix)’ (DFA)
39 - Tracey Thorn - ‘It’s All True (Martin Buttrich Remix)’ (Virgin)
40 - Pheek - ‘Magda Had A Little Troll (Glimpse Remix)’ (Roman Photo)
41 - Pheek - ‘Pikaya’ (Cadenza)
42 - Efdemin - ‘Acid Bells (Matt O’Brien Remix)’ (Metisse)
43 - Hercules & Love Affair - ‘Classique 2’ (DFA)
44 - Ame - ‘Enoi’ (Innervisions)
45- Cage & Aviary - ‘Television Rocks’ (Dissident)
46 - Tony Allen - ‘Kilode (A Remix By Carl Craig)’ (Honest John’s)
47 - Deetron - ‘Life Soundtrack (Radio Slave Remix)’ (Music Man)
48 - Teflon - ‘The Wombat’ (Rebelone)
49 - Legowelt - ‘Disco Rout (Deetron Remix)’ (Cocoon)
50 - Marc Houle - ‘Porch’ (M_Nus)
51 - Martin Buttrich - ‘Hunter’ (Cocoon)
52 - Avus - ‘Furry Hat’ (Border Community)
53 - Gorrilaz - ‘Kids With Guns (Quiet Village Remix)’ (White)
54 - Kevin Saunderson - ‘Till We Meet Again (Carl Craig Remix)’ (Planet E)
55 - Canvas - ‘The Cat’ (Rebelone)
56 - Misstress Barbara - ‘Barcelona’ (Border Community)
57 - Far East Band - ‘The Call Up (Martin Buttrich Rework)’
58 - Stamp Release 001 - ‘Russia’ (Stamp Release)
59 - Trentmoeller - ‘Moan (Radio Slave’s Remix For K)’ (Poker Flat)
60 - Pan-Pot - ‘Charly’ (Mobilee)
61 - Shed - ‘Kinky Guys’ (Solo Action)
62 - Chloe - ‘Suspended’ (Kill The DJ)
63 - Faze Action - ‘In The Trees (Carl Craig C2 Remix No. 1)’ (Juno)
64 - The Tuss - ‘Rushup i Bank 12’ (Rephlex)
65 - Minilogue - ‘Ghost’ (Mule Electronique)
66 - John Keys - ‘Torturing Lines’ (Crosstown Rebels)
67 - Radio Slave - ‘Screaming Hands (Josh Wink Interpretation)’ (Rekids)
68 - LCD Soundsystem - ‘North American Scum (Onastic Dub)’ (DFA)
69 - H.O.S.H. - ‘White Elephant’ (Kindisch)
70 - Professor Genius - ‘La Grotta’ (Italians Do It Better)
71 - Mountain People DJs - ‘Mountain005.2’ (Mountain People)
72 - Justin Martin - ‘Nightowl’ (Buzzin Fly)
73 - Philip Sherburne - ‘Lumberjacking (Excercise One Mix)’ (LAN)
74 - James Mowbray & Leiam Sullivan - ‘Tropical Heights’ (Four:Twenty)
75 - Pedro Madeira - ‘Long Shadows (Christian Prommer Remix)’ (Buzzin Fly)
76 - Vinyl - ‘The Weasel’ (Rebelone)
77 - My My - ‘Fast Freeze’ (Cocoon)
78 - Ali Renault - ‘Zombie Raffle’ (Dissident)
79 - Minilogue - ‘Elephant’s Parade’ (Wagon Repair)
80 - Perc & Fractal - ‘Up (Perc Mix)’ (Kompakt Extra)
81 - Peace Division - ‘Voodoo (It’s In The Wall)’ (Crosstown Rebels)
82 - Mock & Toof - ‘K-Choppers’ (Death From Abroad)
83 - Discemi - ‘Data Sapiens’ (Rekids)
84 - Sleeparchive - ‘Papercup’ (Sleeparchive)
85 - Lauer - ‘Valentino’ (Brontosaurus)
86 - Monty Luke & Tasho - ‘Paranoid’ (Mothership)
87 - Chaim ‘Dana (Guy Gerber Mix)’ (Dogtown)
88 - Smith N Hack - ‘Falling Stars’ (Smith N Hack)
89 - Rejected - ‘Let’s Go Juno’ (Rejected)
90 - Ambivalent - ‘R U OK’ (M_Nus)
91 - Serge Santiago - ‘R2D2’ (We Love Music)
92 - Hugo - ‘Stel & Atan’ (Tuning Spork)
93 - Serafin - ‘Berlin Has No Cows’ (Mountain People)
94 - Mental Blank - ‘Put Up Job’ (Kompakt)
95 - Guiseppe Manuele - ‘The Prince, His Lover & Her Red Shoes’ (Radius)
96 - Matthew Jonson - ‘Stop’ (Wagon Repair)
97 - Paul Kalkbrenner - ‘Altes Kamuffel’ (Bpitch)
98 - Dubfire - ‘Ribcage’ (Desolat)
99 - Argy - ‘Malena’ (Cocoon)
100 - Marc Houle - ‘Techno Vocals’ (M_Nus)

That's the list out of the way, time for some music!*! I wrote at the beginning of the year that I spent a whole load of cash on some fancy new Vestax turntables, however, it wasn't until about a week ago that I actually got round to doing anything with them. It was only at that time that I realised mixing with direct-drive turntables appears, on the face of it, to be a whole different ball game to that with belt-drives. Until my previous belt-drives broke about 18 months ago I had gotten to be quite respectable behind the decks, but it would appear that the combination of so much time without any practice and the new decks has stripped me of any skills I might have previously had. Having said that I'm fairly happy with the results, and I can only get better with a lot more practice, right!?! Also, please be gentle, I've only just got my head around how to use 'Kill Switches' having not had them on previous mixers!*! If your wondering about the tracklist (let's face it, it isn't subtle!*!), I have an excuse; I was suffering with the flu at the time and was drugged-up to my eyeballs on medication, and the particular tracks used seemed to fit with my mood at the time!*! Ok, so I haven't sold my mix very well, but give it a go and you never know you might grow to like it!*!

Ballpoint Pen Thief Presents '18 Hours In The Making & All I Could Come Up With Was 49 Minutes Of Music' Mix (Zshare link)

Tracklist:

Trentmoeller - 'Moan (Radio Slave's Remix For K)'

Deetron - 'Life Soundtrack (Radio Slave Remix)'

Shackleton - 'Blood On My Hands (Ricardo Villalobos' Apocalypso No Mix Pt. 1)'

Soylent Green - 'La Forza Del Destino (Radio Slave Remix)'

Pan-Pot - 'Charly'

Monty Luke & Tasho - 'Paranoid'

Ambivalent - 'R U OK (A Cappella)

Ambivalent - 'R U OK (JPLS 12mg Remix)'

Ambivalent - 'R U OK (Original)'

March Houle - 'Techno Vocals'

2007-12-14T19:35:00.000Z

Ladies & Gents, Please Be Upstanding....It's 2007!*! Pt. 1

Yet another year is ending, and i'm fairly sure you’ll agree it’s been quite a year music wise, no matter what genres your into, there’s been really strong releases to suit all palates.
I’ve always strived here to show that sticking to one genre is a little bit pointless (although I’m hoping that isn’t quite the case with my other blog!), with so much goodness on offer, variety is surely the spice of life. So it may seem a bit odd then that I’m about to shoot myself in the foot, metaphorically speaking, with my end of year chart. I’m not whollyced how much use they are to anyone else, but being a bit of a nerd I like lists, and I like end of year lists even more.

At the end of last year I did a Top 50, but looking back that didn’t really cover half of what was truly great about 2006, and being so impressed with the TAPE boys Top 100’s (which themselves led me to discover countless gems I’d missed out on during the year), I’ve decided to follow suit and go with a nice round 100. Even plumping for a Top 100 proved really difficult with loads of strong releases left out, but you’ve got to stop somewhere before it gets ridiculous, and lets face it if anything outside a Top 100 is still excellent then it proves what a good year it’s been. Where I’m about to go against everything I’ve tried to instill here is that I’ve decided to post two Top 100s, one for the all techno, italo, disco and the dreaded M word releases, and a further one for all the tracks of a more ‘Turbo’ variety, and the reason for this is that I found that it was almost impossible for example to compare lets say Justice’s ‘D.A.N.C.E’ with Len Faki’s ‘Black Sheep’. I absolutely love but, both for very different reasons, and they both represent the differing sides of my rather schizophrenic love of electronic music. So to that end you'll get two Top 100s, so hopefuuly there’ll be something for everyone. Having said this, once the charts are out of the way, it’ll be back to business as usual here with a mix of everything for your listening pleasure.
As far as 2007 goes, it’s been a bit of a strange year on this blog with my temporary shut-down for reasons I’ve already written about, but rest assured I will be around for a while yet, although it remains to be seen how much longer this blogging will continue. I thought this was a good time to explain why I came back a lot sooner than I had planned, and simply put it was down to comments left by you guys (the readers) and some encouraging emails from some of my favourite labels. I’m not naive enough to believe that blogging serves any more of a purpose than recommending releases to you, but I have become slightly dissolusioned at some of the practices being operated by some blogs. If you take for example Justice’s LP as the most extreme example, then for the most part it was as good as I’d hoped, but almost every track made it’s way onto some blog or other, and as a result slightly diminished its release. The odd track would have been fine, but some blogs had multiple tracks and I don’t believe personally that does any good to anyone. That may seem slightly hipercritical coming from me, but I’ve continuously tried to focus on stuff that isn’t everywhere else, and hopefully to some extent I’ve succeeded in that aim, and I will continue to do so. As far as the future goes, the bitrate of tracks on offer will not change, and the 7–day download period will remain, however, I am still committed to moving towards streaming in the near future for tracks where express permission hasn’t been given to post tracks. That seems to me to be a fair compromise and hopefully if you read this blog you agree it is too!*! The other reason for coming back so soon was that looking back at what I’d personally purchased this year, I’d noticed that much of it was on the recommendation of blogs I hold dear, like Joe and Skypher over @ Random Circuits, Steve @ Littlewhiteearbuds.com and of course the TAPE guys. You may have noticed that the releases that have made they’re way onto my monthly charts recently have had a slightly different sound about them than say during the same period last year, with a much higher emphasis on those that could lazily be described as ‘Minimal’. However you choose to describe this sound, the fact remains that until the TAPE guys posted their charts last December I’d been fairly ignorant to most of these amazing records, and subsequently I’ve been out and bought the majority of them. Continuing on from those charts, the blogs mentioned above have introduced me to the delightful sounds of labels like Cocoon, Cadenza and a host of others, that has then in turn led me to discover others like Mountain People and Sleeparchive. Whilst, it could be said that I may have discovered these labels by my own accord, it’s my belief that these guys provide an ear for quality in an ever-growing sea of weekly releases, and if you choose to buy the releases then all the better. To this end, I stopped questioning the worth of blogs when I discovered how much I’d personally spent after having releases recommended to me. I’d estimate that I’ve spent twice as much as in 2006 on vinyl this year, and whilst I’d be the first to admit that I’m in a fairly privileged position with regard to disposable income, if you buy what you hear and like then everyone benefits. So, providing blogs don’t take the piss and post tracks on labels that have previously requested tracks of theirs don’t get posted, then this medium can work to everyone’s advantage, but it is a thin-line I’m afraid!*!

So that’s Part 1 out of the way, Part 2 tomorrow will be the first of my charts accompanied with a little 50+ minute mix, then Part 3 will follow hopefully on Sunday with the last chart and another little end of year mix-up. Hopefully you can keep up and that you find something of interest and perhaps something you’ve missed that takes your fancy!*!

2007-12-09T13:30:00.000Z

The Edit Suite Pt. 9

I was a bit slow on the uptake with today's offering, having previously downloaded it from the good people over at Dilate Choonz, and then not listened to it until about a week ago, which in itself is a tragedy, because to put it mildly, every other re-edit I've ever heard (IMHO) pales into insignificance!*! This is truly a work of art, and unless something completely amazing comes along in the future, then this series of posts is going to come to an end today, because I can't imagine following this with anything else!*! If you think I'm being a little dramatic then fine, but seriously play this and then try telling yourself it's not every bit as good as it could be!*! Granted, Ashley Beedle was off to a great start picking what is aruguably one of the greatest pop songs ever recorded, but it would have been so easy to get it all wrong. Happily he knows his way around a classic and does everything a re-edit should do, but just better than anyone else, extending the whole thing out to a glorious 9 minutes, adding just the rigt amount of effects, not buggering about with that amazing vocal, just treating the original with the respect it surely deserves. Straight into my top ten tracks of the year, no question!*!

Vinyl copies have just surfaced, so if like me you like spinning those shiny black discs to people, get yourself a copy of a bonafide classic in the making!*!

Kate Bush - 'Running Up That Hill (Ashley Beedle Edit)' (White) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

I promise I'll be slightly less gushing with my next post, and whilst I try to calm down, go over and checkout, Steve's newly re-designed Little White Earbuds, cause it's boss!*!

2007-12-08T14:06:00.000Z

Deep In The Heart Of Village Life

If your a regular reader of BSWD then you've probably ascertained that I'm a bit of a fan of Matt Edwards productions, and I'd been waiting for sometime now for today's offering to be released, after scoping it on one of Matt Edwards' charts on his Myspace page.

Matt along with his production partner Joel Martin have turned in a fairly uncharacteristic refix of New York house music legend Francois Kevorkian's 'Road of Life' on Francois' own label; Deep Space. Uncharacteristic in that it's way more tracky than most of their previous Quiet Village output with an almighty kick drum dominating proceedings, building the track from just one of the bell sounds from the original, twisting and looping it into one hypnotically tribal banger if you will. Imagine the kind of track that Danny Tenaglia used rinse back in the day with all the lights off, save for one glowing red bulb and a monsterous sound-system doing it's bit. If you were feeling Radio Slave's recent 'Bell Clap Dance', then this will get you leaping around the room!*!

Francois K - 'Road Of Life (Quiet Village Sound Factory Dub)' (Deep Space) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

And whilst on the subject of Quiet Village, the 2nd instalment of their 'Fragments Of Fear' mix CDs has just touched down, and if you enjoyed the 1st then this should be a must on your xmas wish-list. Grab a copy here before they all disappear!*! A collectors item if there was ever one!*!

2007-12-07T20:08:00.000Z

Journey With Me To A Faraway Place....

Martin Buttrich finished 2006 with his epic release 'Full Clip' riding high in stacks of end of year charts, and he's kept the pressure up in '07 with a slew of top-drawer releases, lending his unquestionable production and remix talents to the likes of Holy Ghost Inc., Friendly People, his own productions such as 'Well Done' on Four:Twenty and 'Hunter' on Cocoon and most recently dropped a rather special reworking of the Far East Band's 'The Call Up'.

IMHO this track provides Martin Buttrich with all the right ingredients with which to work with and he's certainly kept his quality quota in the red with this one. Never one to rush things the track just builds subtely at first with just simple drums and keys, before he teases the listener with array after array of hypnotic effects and lush, dubby string arrangments, before withdrawing them and building it all back up time after time, all the while sprinkling snippets of the vocal throughout. If your a fan of Rhythm & Sound, deep Detroit house music or for that matter just quality, emotive listening gear then this is certain not to disappoint, and futhermore it's gone straight into my end of year chart!*! Superb on every level.

This particular release has been out for the last couple of weeks as a one-sided 12", and you'd be daft to miss out on a copy!*!

Far East Band - 'The Call Up (Martin Buttrich Rework)' (Four Music) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

If vinyl isn't your bag then grab a superior digital version here or here

2007-12-05T19:54:00.000Z

My In-Box Weighs A Ton Pt. 2

I thought it was about time again to shine the spotlight onto some of the recent goodies that have found their good way into my in-box and today I'm going to start with West Country wizz-kid; Plimsouls. Even before I'd checked the tracks he'd sent me, I knew I would want to post them, his email was accompanied with the glorious tag-line 'I Don't Sound Like I Want To Be On Ed Banger, that has to count for something right?', and you know what it certainly does. There's nothing wrong with wanting to emulate the Ed Banger sound, let's be honest if your going to take inspiration from somewhere it might as well be from one the best labels around!*! The only problem with that is that the Ed Banger guys do it so well, and in the majority of cases it's very unlikely that your going pull off the balls-to-the-wall, extra crunchy Ed Banger biznezz with much of a result!*! So its really refreshing to see new producers setting their sights elsewhere, and that's where Plimsouls comes in!*!

Having already found plenty of blog love this year and with bloody good reason, just don't call it blog-house (another god-awful tag if ever there was one!*!), 2008 could well see this talent get some major props, so keep one ear open on his myspace page, and await further goodies!*!

So, 2 fresh tracks on offer today, buzzing with 8-bit goodness and a whole smorgasboard of influences (I'm sure I copped an ear-full of laser in amongst them!*!), these gems have the overwhelming desire to get you where you belong; on that dancefloor!*!

Plimsouls - 'Long Way Down'

Plimsouls - 'As It Happened'

2007-12-03T20:22:00.000Z

My Italo Leanings Pt. 7 (Live From Hell Edition)

Today sees the release of a new Italo mix; 'Hellboys', and whilst most Italo CDs appear as compilations which are extremley handy if like me you never got round to buying the tracks when they were first released, this is a continuous mix, for those times when wall-to-wall classics is the only way to go!*! Lovingly put together and mixed by International Deejay Gigolos head-honcho; DJ Hell, it's 19 tracks with the filler well and truly dispensed with and replaced with stacks of killer dancefloor classics from the likes of Casco, Gino Soccio and the Yellow Magic Orchestra.

It may seem a strange combination of Electroclash pioneer mixing a compilation of Italo disco tracks but if you think about it the 2 scenes were remarkably similar, both weren't around for long, both were increadibly flambouyant, in some quarters style was preferable over substance, both have immediately recognisable classics to shout about, and both similarily took things to extremes releasing some truly awful records!*!

To give you a taster here's 2 of my favourites selected from this mix

Gino Soccio - 'Remember' (Atlantic)

Hypnosis - 'Pulstar' (ZYX Records)

The mix itself is available here and here, and should hit most music emporiums sometime this week!*!

2007-12-02T13:15:00.000Z

You Can Skream All You Like, It Won't Do You Any Good!*!

So there I was reading last month's issue of Mixmag when I came across news that there was a dubplate doing the rounds of a Skream refix of the Klaxons 'Not Over Yet', along with the unhappy news that it was never likely to see the light of day (until a good friend of mine dropped a copy into my in-box)!*! Now your probably sitting there thinking 'not another bloody Klaxons mix', and for the most part I would agree with you (if that was what you were thinking!*!), I for one could have done without at least half of the mixes that have surfaced this year, but I'm sure you'd agree that the prospect of Skream giving the Klaxons a dubstep makeover could potentially be something special!*! This particular refix follows hot-on-the-heels of what was a superb Burial re-dub for Bloc Party's 'Where Is Home?', and i'm happy to report that Skream does not disappoint!*! However, rather than plunge the track into the murky depths of ocean-deep sub-bass, Skream somehow manages to retain the pop-slant of the original, whilst droppin' the tempo completely which gives the track a completely new lease of life!*! The dubstep purists may scoff, but I for one think they're wrong on this count, and given a full release this could do big things, alas I feel it may only make it onto some shady white label, but if it does you better make sure you grab a copy before it disappears forever!*! So keep your eyes peeled at your local vinyl emporium!*!

Klaxons - 'It's Not Over Yet' (Skream Mix)' (Dubplate)

2007-11-30T20:54:00.000Z

Oddness = Greatness Pt. 9

Here's a rather left-field recent purchase of mine. What do you imagine would happen if you took a band; Kinky Justice, produced by one of the most respected house music purveyors in the game of recent times; Justus Kohncke, then took 4 tracks from a varied pool including Iggy Pop, The Velvet Underground, Round Two and Todd Rundgren, what do you imagine the results would sound like!?! Well I wasn't expecting what I got!*!

Each of the 4 tracks have been completely reimagined and then re-recorded in what I can only describe as glamourous pop music for the 21st century, and I for one am loving every single track. Each track is completely distinct from the others but are all held together by the common denominator that they're worlds apart from the originals. All too often covers are simply a numbers game, but its obvious here that real passion and imagination have gone into creating something totally unique from something that has existed in some cases for over 20 years!*! This ladies and gents is how to cover something properly!*! Sublime!*!

Kinky Justice - 'Nightclubbing' (ICI Germany) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

While I'm writing about Justus Kohncke, do check out his awesome track 'Parage' on the flip-side of his latest release 'Feuerland', for some proper old-skool disco action!*!

2007-11-29T20:14:00.000Z

If I Was A Wizard, You'd All Be Bulldogs By Now!*!

Those Wizards are at it again, laying down another spell-binding collection in their fourth and reportedly last outing; 'West'!*! Anytime these guys choose to grace us with nuggets from their acid-drenced, psychedelic dressing-up box is time to rejoice and this time is no exception. I won't give away too many clues as to the subjects given the Wizard treatment this time around, suffice to say it's a varied and obscure selection, and it's pressed on beyond-cool clear vinyl!*!

Here's one of my favourites, The Fab-Four in a drum-heavy super extended freakout, the kinda thing I'm sure Ringo would approve of!*!

Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve - 'You Can Talk To Me' (3RD MYND) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

2007-11-27T19:51:00.000Z

A Knight's Tale

Those Blamma! Blamma! kids are at it again!*!

Fresh from their reworking of The Teenagers (a couple of posts down there!*!), they've set their machines to work on the latest from Hampshire prog/electro rockers; Rival Joustas. In the guys own words, this showcases their 'less ear-buggery' sound, or in other words its the Ying to their Maximo Park refix's Yang, but it still comes fully-loaded with that unmistakable Blamma! Blamma! punch to the sound that'll suit the dancefloor-orientated amongst us!*! Very little of the original track's carcass has been left in-tact with the refix being built from the smouldering ashes into a hypnotic groover!*!

2008 is shaping up to be the year of the Blamma! with their long-awaited label launching and hopefully plenty original pirate material for us to sink our teeth into!*!

Rival Joustas - 'Clarity (Blamma! Blamma! Clear As Mud Mix)'

2007-11-24T16:56:00.000Z

The Edit Suite Pt. 8

It's Leeds-based producer/DJ, Paul Woolford's time to step-up to the re-edit plate, and chances are if you've seen Paul play during the summer then today's posting should already be familiar to you!*! Essentially it's a re-edit of Armand Van Helden's chart-topping 'Star Trunk Funkin' Mix' of Tori Amos' reported peaen to Courtney Love, but with some nifty 'Spastik-esque' snare rolls added in, as well as an inspired drop lifted from the original, half-way through the track, but that doesn't last long as the track jolts back into life with real force and gallops on to it's sub-11 minute crescendo!*! If like me you loved the AVH version then this edit will have you throwing some serious shapes, as it takes all the best bits and lengthens, chops and generally makes everything even better!*! It's on a limited white-label run, so best be quick to cop yourself a bonafide piece of dancefloor artillery!*!

Tori Amos - 'Professional Widow (Paul Woolford's Space Edit)' (White) (Buy) (Buy)

2007-11-23T13:31:00.000Z

November's Hit Parade

Here's what's been giving it Big-Dog-Style round BSWD Towers this month (again in no particular order!*!):

1- Glass Candy - 'Beatbox' (Italians Do It Better) (Buy) (Buy)

2- Sun La Shan - 'Catch' (Radius) (Buy) (Buy)

3- Supermayer - 'The Art Of Letting Go (Ewan Pearson Mixes)' (Kompakt) (Buy) (Buy)

4- Various - 'Kompakt Pop Ambient 2008' (Kompakt) (Buy) (Buy)

5- Dusty Kid - 'Luna' (Bpitch Control) (Buy) (Buy)

6- Teddybears - 'Punkrocker (3 Is A Crowd Pump It Up Mix)'

7- Ricardo Villalobos - 'Sei Es Drum' (Sei Es Drum) (Buy) (Buy)

8- Lovefingers - 'Rvng Of The Nrds Vol. 4' (Rvng Intl) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

9- Simian Mobile Disco - 'Hustler (Shackleton Remix)' (Witchita) (Buy) (Buy)

10- Radio Slave - 'Bell Clap Dance' (Rekids) (Buy)

11- Various - 'Cosmic Club Vol. 2' (Cosmic Club) (Buy) (Buy)

12- Ovatow - 'Phalaenopsis' (Frantic Flowers) (Buy) (Buy)

13- The Teenagers - 'Starlett Johannsen' (Merok) (Buy)

14- Various - 'Expansion Contraction' (Minus) (Buy) (Buy)

15- Chromatics - 'Night Drive LP' (Italians Do It Better) (Buy) (Buy)

16- Professor Genius - 'Pegaso' (Disques Sinthomme) (Buy) (Buy)

17- Tori Amos - 'Professional Widow (Paul Woolford Edit) (White) (Buy)

18- Shit Robot - 'Chasm' (DFA) (Buy) (Buy)

19- Ali Renualt - 'Cuffs' (Dissident) (Buy) (Buy)

20- Justus Kohncke - 'Parage' (Kompakt) (Buy) (Buy)

As always if vinyl and CDs aren't your bag, then most can be scored digitally from your favourite purveyors of downloads, like Kompakt, Beatport and the likes!*!

2007-11-22T15:55:00.000Z

The Brothers Spitzer

Something tasty that landed in my in-box recently was from Lyon-based brothers Spitzer. The email was accompanied by the tag-line 'we play electronic music to make people dance', and as a listener that's all anyone can ask!*! And I'm more than happy to report that's exactly what I did when I played the selection they sent me. Taking all the best bits from the current wave of French artists like Justice, Kavinsky and Alan Braxe, the guys brew their tracks in a big melting pot of influences, but with a big dose of fun injected into all their work!*! Bright, bouncy and most of all aimed squarely at the dance-floor, you'll be hearing plenty more from these brothers as they continue their quest to take-over your dancefloor!*!

Download their track 'Kaspersky' below and then keep an ear open for their 4-track 'Roller Coaster' EP dropping soon!*! Long may the French invasion on our ear-buds continue!*!

Spitzer - 'Kaspersky'

2007-11-20T17:29:00.000Z

It's Time To Join The Queue

Following on from yesterday's post, here's some more hotness straight outta Holland, although this time not on the refix tip, but some old-school (not the ravey flavour!*!) influenced house music, with lashings of flanged synths layered over chunky drums and accompanied by some serious hand-clap business from Tom Trago & Yuro. The track rises and falls in all the right places over its 9+ minutes, and the ending is just sublime, all the beats disappear and the synths just take over, just to finish everything off in some style!*!

Rush Hour Recordings has been home to all manner of quality recording artists in the past including Kenny Larkin and Aardvarck to name but 2, and this release see's the quality continue, but hurry because rumour has it there's only 300 copies of this worldwide, and they won't be left unsold for long!*! Believe!*!

Yuro & Trago - 'Compressed Roots' (Rush Hour Recordings) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

2007-11-19T18:43:00.000Z

Cloning Is The Way Of The Future.....!*!

Well I'm back from my week-long sabbatical, so let's crack on with a track to get the new week off to the right start!*!

At any one time record stores are full of cover versions and unofficial remixes, and for the most part they're harmless enough, while very few better the original, or have anything new to say, there's one outfit that has come to my attention that always gives the original material they're own little twist. The Clones are out of Holland I believe, however, Discogs lists certain chapters in the series as coming outta Sweden. Not really much point in arguing the toss, unless anyone knows different!*!

The latest instalment in the Clones series is No. 10 and like their earlier compatriot's, there's 2 tracks on offer, both refixes, the first, and the one I'm posting today, is D-Mob's 'We Call It Acieed'. The Clones guys haven't messed about too much, just adding a bit more punch to the beats, so it'll work with today's fatter sounding material. They've also re-edited certain sections, lengthening certain areas and doing away with some of the loose fat (especially the awful cod-rap that was on the original)!*! It's time to dig out your smiley T-shirts again!*! The acid is back!*!

Clones 10 - 'Side A' (Clones) (Buy) (Buy)

The flip-side has a monster reworking of Plastikman's 'Spastik' which is absolutely huge and is getting continuous re-plays round here at BSWD Towers, but you'll have to grab the vinyl to cop that one!*!

Juno has several of the earlier chapters for sale as well and all are worth checking out here

2007-11-11T13:45:00.000Z

Punk Rockers, Spiders, Teddybears & A Starlett - Could Almost Be The Plot Of A Hollywood Blockbuster

I'm off on my holidays for a week, so this will be the last update for a while, so what better way to sign-off than with a couple of tracks from 2 of my favourite producer tag-teams; Blamma! Blamma! and 3 Is A Crowd!*!

First up, Blamma! Blamma! take apart The Teenagers latest release; Starlett Johnannson. Although the original and several refixes have been floating around the interweb for a large part of this year, this is all shiny and new, and accompanies a proper release on possibly the best independent label out there; Merok. The band are currently working on their debut LP and given the quality of the first 2 single releases; The Homecoming and this track, 2008 is already looking up!*! Left in the more-than capable hands The Blamma's do what the Blamma's do best here and that's to tear the party a new one!*!

The Teenagers - 'Starlett Johnansson' (Blamma! Blamma! Scared Of Spiders Mix)' (Merok) (Buy) (Buy)

Next up, those Italian fidget warriors drop yet another refix for your earbuds, applying what can only be described as a wasp attack on your speakers. The intro alone will give you nightmares, and from then on out it's all about the basslines!*! The guys would give any of the current fidget-house mafia a run for their money when it comes to basslines, and they show no sign of letting-up. This particular track came with 2 refixes, but I've chosen the dubbier of the 2 to post because it's suits my mood better today!*! Reducing the Iggy Pop vocal to almost nothing, this is an excercise in sonic-attack. I'm sure there'll be plenty more from my favourite Italian's in 2008 here, so stay tuned for that!*!

Teddybears feat Iggy Pop - 'Punkrocker (3 Is A Crowd Pump It Up Mix)'

2007-11-10T12:50:00.001Z

Disco Biscuits Pt. 6 - Sooner Or Later We All Fall Down

Something else that fell into my in-box recently is the latest release from Klein Records, home to recent joys from Seenlunluft and Bunny Lake.

Vienna's girl-about-town; Mel Merio along with super-producer Christopher Just have had a fumble about in the '80s archives and collectively decided that The Pet Shop Boys' 'Domino Dancing' could do with a well-timed electro-bastard makeover. This version maintains the pop-slant that made original such a big hit in the discotheques, but for me it's all about the Dub mix!*! Gone are all the trinkets of the original and replacing them are a plethora of darker beats, trancey strings and a big 'ol bassline. One for the mentalists amongst you!*!

Mel Merio - 'Domino Dub' (Klein Records) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

The label also has a host of other treats in store in the comming months, amongst them new releases for Louie Austen & Senor Coconut and Sally Shapiro. I'm patiently awaiting the release of the latter, having adored here debut LP!*!

2007-11-09T20:20:00.000Z

Disco Biscuits Pt. 5 - Snakes On A Plane

Some promo action for your Friday evening!*!

Prestel Records are about to drop their 4th release, and the 2nd offering from the Cobra Dukes. Out on the 10th December; 'Airtight' is another track aimed squarely at the dancefloor, albeit a slightly more intense direction for the band after their last release 'Leave The Light On'.

As with all Prestel releases the refixes are always quality, and this track comes loaded with something to cover a whole smorgasboard of tastes. There's an Optimo mix from JD Twitch that doesn't disappoint (as if he ever does!*!) upping the bottom-end and adding heaps of jerky synths aiming the results squarely at your feet!*! However, in keeping with this series of posts I've plumped to share the Dub Mix from the balearic-loving guys behind the Dirty Dancing label and recent Eskimo Recordings signings Vito De Luca & DJ Stephen better known collectively as Aeroplane. The guys smooth out all the sharp edges, adding layers and layers of atmospheric twists exposing the track's pop-underbelly!*! Lovely stuff from a lovely label!*!

Cobra Dukes - 'Airtight (Aeroplane Dub)' (Prestel)

Don't forget it's out on 10th December so grab a copy from your favourite stockists!*!

2007-11-08T21:19:00.000Z

Disco Biscuits Pt. 4 - Limited Mumourings At The Back From The Dissidents

Sometime back I posted a couple of super-limited tracks from Cage & Aviary and Binary Chaffinch that suddenly appeared out of the ether as a limited run of 100 12"s. The only info readily available was they were distributed by Dissident. Whether Dissident is the label behind these tracks or its simply the distributor is really a mute point, what is exciting is, not content with bestowing upon us no fewer than 5 one-sided affairs of late, they've now gone and un-caged another 5 disco-not-disco beauties upon the general public!*! Each release is world's apart from each other, with no common thread other than the fact that they're amongst the most exciting slices of wax to hit certain vinyl emporiums in a long while. Ever since the last batch appeared I've become obsessed with collecting them all, and you should beg, steal or borrow (although I can't condone stealing!*!) in order to get your mitts on them, because one thing they won't do is disappoint!*!

Amongst this latest batch of releases is another release from Cage & Avary, another from Milo (Chrome Hoof & 5 Mic Cluster) in his Kruton guise, a minimal-to-the extreme drum track from Caja Da Ritmos, and the 2 that I'm going to post today.

First up, London-based Ali Renault of 'Victory Horn' and 'Valentine' fame with his Italo-dressed chugger 'Cuffs'. Slo-mo beats and a grinding snyth-line do the business here. It's Italo for the '07, nothing retro about this track in my view!*!

Ali Renault - 'Cuffs' (Dissident) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

Next to weigh-in is S.C.S with their 10-minute analogue disco-weapon 'Marauder'. Armed to the teeth with a heavyweight arpegiated bassline, this track means business and delivers in spades. I've seen it described as a 'particularly pranged-out Patrick Cowley remix', and I think that says all you need to know really!*! A top quality disco-weapon!*!

S.C.S. - 'Marauder' (Dissident) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

I really can't recommend these tracks and the others that have joined them recently enough, and given that they're very limited you best get your skates on people to bag yourself a copy!*! The good news is, that this latest batch have had their run upped from 100 to 200 copies, and there are still copies available here, here and here. Now all I have to do is await the next batch with baited breath!*!

2007-11-07T20:05:00.000Z

Disco Biscuits Pt. 3 - The Italians Do It Better

Not another feature on the ever-consistant Italians Do It Better label, rather a continuation of yesterday's theme of disco-influenced pieces from genres not normally associated with disco. Today's track comes from Italian duo Luca Doobie Adami & Pier Catalano or soon to be better known as Anomaline. This, the duo's first release on their own label of the same name. If you've been lucky enough to catch sets from the likes of Michael Mayer, Damian Lazarus or Luciano over the summer then there's a very high probability that this record will have featured in their sets, and recommendations don't come much higher than that.
The A-side is the track that really grabbed my attention straight from the opening, with its pulsing, low-slung bassline, that sashays back and forth accompanied fairly quickly by an assortment of metronomic bleeps, whilst a plethora of keyboard trickery joins the party, never sitting still too long, constantly mutating, disappearing and then re-emerging as a slightly more twisted version of it's previous self. The last third of the track see's it nail its intention firmly to the mast as it takes-off for one last attempt at dragging you dancefloor-bound!*!
You may ask yourself again, 'where's the connection to disco?', and I'd argue that born of a genre that is often accussed (though never by me I might add!*!) of taking it's self a touch too seriously, this gem doesn't take itself seriously, but gets on with the job at hand, without loosing any of it's funk or its desire to get you moving!*! Definately one for the dancefloor orientated amongst us!*!
Anomaline - 'High Lights' (Anomaline) (Buy) (Buy)

Anyone wondering about the image above; it's a pic taken at Comiskey Park baseball ground in Chicago back in July 1979, where a reported 5000 people came to watch disco records getting torched!*! Strange world in which we live!*!

2007-11-06T19:59:00.001Z

Disco Biscuits Pt. 2 - No Sleeping On The Job

German techno legends Sleeparchive's back catalogue would probably be the last place you'd look to find some disco-flavoured offerings, and you'd be 99.9% right!*! Purveyors of some of the finest metallic techno to be found anywhere on this or any other world, have deservedly gained a reputation for releasing some of the most forward thinking material, and whilst many people may find their output to simplistic or repetative for their tastes, all it takes is for you to find just that one track, and I assure you the rest will all fall into place!*! The beauty within each track lies in that repetition, and the vastness of the sound flowing forth from the speakers. But you maybe asking yourself what has any of this got to do with disco!?! Surely all these granite-hard beats are as far removed from the warm disco sound we've all grown to love!?! Well you'd be wrong (if of course that's what you were thinking!*!) I was looking to post something from Sleeparchive for sometime now when I came across today's track, and a germ of a thought started to materialise in my mind!*! The beauty of disco is that it's influence knows no real boundaries, and has cropped up in the most unlikely of releases over the years!*! My intention with this series of posts was to delve into the murky disco-waters that exist outside of many people's perception of what disco sounds like, and offer-up a different take on things. All the tracks this week have a common theme in that they utilise that playful, warm sensation that disco can deliver in spades, but take a different journey to get to the end result, and that my friends is to make you dance!*! I'd go as far as to say that what is disco is entirely up to the listener (or maybe that's a tab pretentious? you decide!*!) Perhaps this is a leap of faith, but bear with me if you will and enjoy the ride!*!

Anyway, today's track, I found lurking away amongst Sleeparchive's release 'Hospital Tracks' and is a shimmering beacon of light amongst it's harder, colder bretheren!*! The track starts as a more traditional deep-house affair but soon transforms before your very eyes with the aid of keys that simultaneously sweep and twinkle, and just to keep everything moving along its under-pinned by an almighty hip-swaying bassline that insists that you start to move!*!

Sleeparchive - 'Diagnosis' (Sleeparchive) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

There's plenty of Sleeparchive material out there for you to try and I'd urge you to track some down as I'm completley hooked!*! Get some here, here or here

2007-11-05T18:50:00.000Z

Disco Biscuits Pt.1 - Cosmic Genius

I was thinking that a whole week of disco-related fare would be just the ticket considering the smorgasboard of offerings currently vying for space at your local vinyl emporium. Each day I'll offer up disco biscuits of various flavours for you to ingest and enjoy!*!

On with today's platter, and another new double-header has just landed like some being from another world! One entirely populated by the cosmic-loving folk at Disques Sinthomme.

The A-side has an excellent slo-mo cosmic dusting that's as metallic as the name of it's creator might suggest; Cosmic Metal Mother. The track itself; 'I Think' is described by Phonica as 'a less freeform version of The Orb', and you know what they're bang on the money there!*! It's also equipped with a Nick Chacona refix that adds that little bit extra, upping the tempo and bringing it all together it one tight little package!*!

The flip has Professor Genius unleash his Italo-tinged disco delight 'Pegaso', in all it's emotive glory. Also included is today's offering; 'Pegaso' in it's Silver & Kane flavour. The duo take the original and transport it back to the Italo heyday, lashing on heaps of swirling synths and fluttering drums. Whilst on the subject of Professor Genius, 'Pegaso' is included amongst a host of my favourite tracks of this year, taken from his debut, super-limited long-player 'Mystery Driver', and is available for the ridiculosuly low price of $10 here, and for those of you in the UK, you should snap up a copy now while the pound is trading so well against the dollar, and whilst copies are still available!*!

Professor Genius - 'Pegaso (Silver & Kane's Roma Mix)' (Disques Sinthomme) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

2007-11-04T13:03:00.000Z

My Italo Leanings Pt. 6

Radius Records continue their Italo onslaught with a re-release for the particularly un-Italo sounding artist Barry Mason. Barry was a member/vocalist of Italo-supergroup Camaro's Gang, but also released a string of club smashes in his own right including the 1984 release 'Together' and the super-quirky 'Beggar's Rap'.

Radius have plumped to re-release perhaps his most instantly recognisable single 'Body! Get Your Body' that originally came out back in 1983 on Italo-powerhouse label; Superradio Records. The single's not typical of the sound that's become best known as Italo, rather being stuck somewhere in between '80s boogie and the more traditional Italo sounds, with a acid line burbling through it, which has to be one of the earliest examples of such a sound being used!*! Anyway, the track is a killer, and if that wasn't enough the release also see's Faze Action throw their interpretation into the mix, beefing up the drums, pitching the tempo a little higher and making more of the acid-line. For me, either version would work well on the dancefloor!*! Oh, and it comes on lovely orange vinyl just like the original!*!

Barry Mason - 'Body! Get Your Body' (Radius) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

2007-11-02T19:15:00.000Z

From Memory, Travelling Along The M4 Was Never This Pleasurable!*!

For those of you not based in the UK, the M4 is a motorway (or interstate if your US-flavoured), that connects London to the South West of England and Wales!*! And it's got absolutely nothing to do with today's post, but I was struggling for a post title!*! So enough of that, on with today's muzik!*!

The guys from DVAS sent me their forthcoming refix for fellow Edmonton-ites; Faunts and their track 'M4'. The Faunts' sound is described as apparently somewhere between Sigur Ross and Radiohead, and I can't fault that really, perfect for Sunday morning down-time, although for those of you who prefer things a little gentler, then I'm sure it could go down well at anytime of the day or night!*! But enough of that, check this!*! Today's refix is perfect weekend-warrior material and has that old-skool French house sound blazing through, with a hint of 'Rubicon' about it, especially with those guitars!*! This track will form part of Faunts LP out sometime early 08 on New York-based Friendly Fire.

Faunts - 'M4 (DVAS Macho Mix)' (Friendly Fire)

2007-10-31T19:54:00.000Z

The Funk Of Forty Thousand Years, & Grizzly Ghouls From Every Tomb Are Closing In To Seal Your Doom......

So Halloween is upon us once again and after posting Quiet Village's spine-tingling 'Fragments Of Fear' mix last year, I had a new mix in the same vain all lined up for today, only to find that plenty of other blogs are hosting Halloween mixes to download, so I decided to try something a little different. Trawling through the archives for something to post, I came across today's slice of brilliance from Petra Haden. One time member of The Decemberists and The Rentals, Petra Haden has been busy recording with Seattle doom merchants Sunn O))) and releasing her own solo material. However, here she takes on Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' and what a version it is!*! Devoid of Quincy Jones' ass-shaking bassline, the emphasis is on building the track up as layers of vocals and just the faintest beat can be heard in the background, and put all together it's just soooo good!*! Put it this way, if this doesn't make you smile then your dead on the inside, and if that is the case then today's the perfect day to come to that realisation!*! Enjoy and remember 'Don't have nightmares'!*!

Petra Haden - 'Thriller'

2007-10-30T19:57:00.000Z

Crisis Talks In Planet Pop

I've written here before about my love of pop music, and whilst liking pop music is seen by many nowadays as deeply unfashionable, nothing gives me greater pleasure than listening to a great pop song!*! However, having said that, the current climate in pop is a bloody disgrace if you ask me, caught in between those fuckin' awful Pop Idol TV shows and their like or having the same old dribble released on endless compilations (especially in the run up to Xmas!*!), pop has become pretty much a joke!*! Too much style, nowhere near enough substance!*! I could write endlessly here about what I see wrong with the pop industry and how major labels seem intent on trying to persuade potential purchasers that their latest offering is '2007's best kept secret', but I won't, mostly because I'm sure I'd bore the crap out of anyone on this subject given half a chance!*! Besides, techno legend Dave Clarke has already boiled down my feelings into a 3-minute disco-tinged club destroyer, with a little help from those sharp-as-a-knife Chicks On Speed. Everyone's in their firing line especially the scenesters!*!

Dave Clarke - 'Disgraceland' (Skint)

This track is taken from his 2003 release 'Devil's Advocate', and whilst not as bruising as his 1995 long-player 'Archive One', it's well worth parting with some cash for. Copies can be grabbed here or here, and digitally from Bleep.

If you want to hear this track used to devastating effect track down a copy of Damian Lazarus' mix-CD 'Rebel Futurism Session 1' as he drops the accapella over the top of Bushwacka's 'Nett Bugs'. Awesome!*!

2007-10-28T15:12:00.001Z

Walking In Fields Of Gold

It's one of those horrible drizzly Sunday afternoons here on the south-west coast, so here's something to chear me and hopefully you guys up as well!*!

'Heartbeat' by Norwegian popster; Annie was a lovely little track, and possibly the standout on her 2005 long-player 'Anniemal', and came fully loaded with equally lovely mixes by Alan Braxe, Phones and Royksopp, but this particular mix by Kompakt signing The Field was hands-down the winner for me (although I can't find it listed on Discogs, nor remember where I scored it from!*!), but anyone who is a fan of James Holden's disregard of the traditional 4/4 structure will find this offering from The Field especially pleasing to their ears!*!

Annie - 'Heartbeat (The Field Remix)'

Whilst on the subject of The Field, you could much worse than check out his long-player from earlier this year; 'From Here We Go Sublime'. Your usual stockists should have it, or you can grab it digitally at both Kompakt and Beatport

2007-10-25T18:33:00.000Z

Ghosts Of My Life

There was an interesting article in this month's Mixmag concerning mp3 blogs and their impact or not as the case may be on music sales, and I won't go into all that again, as i've written enough about the subject on here!*! However, they made a really good point, in that if record labels (and I'm assuming they were only really talking about the majors!*!), embrace the blogs as a further means of promotion, how long would it take for blogs to have to start posting material that they themselves wouldn't ordinarily post for whatever reason. I for one would love to see a much higher degree of legitamacy in what I do here, but, on the flip-side I'm certainly not going to start posting stuff that I wouldn't personally listen to. Principally, this here humble blog is only about gear that I'm currently, or have enjoyed, and that I believe others may enjoy if they haven't already discovered it themselves. So rest assured, everything I post, regardless of who it comes from will always come with an official BSWD seal of approval (whatever that might mean to you!*!)!*!

One such label I wouldn't hesitate to post anything they might fling my way is the Five20East stable of labels from old Glasgow-town, and lucky for me and all you lovely, lovely people they sent me their latest release from Deportivo Street Team. In the spirit of the impending arrival of Halloween, the guys have dropped their take on Japan's 'Ghosts'. Don't fret people, there's no chessy Halloween cash-in involved, just an ace old-skool dubby garage take on the original with added cowbells!*! Vinyl-lovers best be quick there's only 200 copies pressed!*!

Deportivo Street Team - 'Spooked' (L.E.S.S Productions) (Buy) (Buy)

Don't forget if you haven't grabbed a copy of Deportivo Street Team's awesome 'Brainscran' that I posted a few months back, copies are still available at Juno or direct from the label themselves.

2007-10-22T19:09:00.000Z

October's Hit Parade

Here's whats been twisting my melon this month. All, but the top 2 tracks are in no particular order, but all are worth some of your hard-earned!*!

1- Zeta Lemon - 'Traum' (Remake Musique) (Buy)

2- Len Faki - 'Black Sheep (Radio Slave Remix)' (Figure) (Buy) (Buy)

3- Bot'ox - 'Babylon By Car' (I'm A Cliche) (Buy)

4- Odd Machine - 'We Brought Our Friends' (Non Standard Productions) (Buy) (Buy)

5- Martin Buttrich - 'Hunter' (Cocoon) (Buy) (Buy)

6- Professor Genuis - 'Across The Spree' (Italians Do It Better) (Buy) (Buy)

7- Chloe - 'The Waiting Room LP' (Kill The DJ) (Buy) (Buy)

8- Radio Slave - 'No Sleep Pt.3' (Buy)

9- Altern 8 - 'Frequency (Hostage Remix) @ Monsieur P

10- Fairmont - 'Flight Of The Albatross' (Border Community) (Buy) (Buy)

11- The Bells - 'Target Group (C90s Remix)'

12- Rodion - 'Electric Soca (Crookers Remix)' (Gomma) (Buy)

13- Mental Overdrive - 'Run To The Hills' (Airtight) (Buy) (Buy)

14- Scanners - 'Raw (Blamma! Blamma! Scanner! Remix)'

15- Shindoe - 'Enjoy The Moment (Ripperton Rmx)' (100% Pure) (Buy)

16- Petre Inspirescu - 'Tips' (Cadenza) (Buy) (Buy)

17- Baby Oliver - 'Feelings 2' (Environ) (Buy) (Buy)

18- Barry Mason - 'Body! Get Your Body' (Radius) (Buy) (Buy)

19- LCD Soundsystem - 'Someone Great Remixes)' (DFA) (Buy)

As always if super-320 bit is your deal then the vast majority of the above can be grabbed from either Beatport or Kompakt

As a bonus, if you've not bagged yourself a copy of Chloe's ace LP; 'The Waiting Room', and are not familiar with her brand of left-of-centre house music then here's a track taken from Karat's 'Katapult Vol. 2' compilation from 2003 that also had lovely numbers from both Blackstrobe and Aysam.

Chloe - 'Troubles' (Karat) (Buy)

2007-10-21T13:33:00.000Z

Almost Time For Bed, But Not Before The Sun Comes Up!*!

Something nice and gentle to ease you into Sunday, especially if you had a big nite last nite!*! However, not too gentle, there'll be no whale noises or chanting around these parts!*!

Today's offering would be best enjoyed just as the sun comes up, or even better if your next to the sea. Alas, if like most people you don't live within a stones throw of the Mediterranean or somewhere similar, and looking out your window is like looking out onto an industrial park or something, then just close your eyes and let the music do the rest!*!

Appearing on another new re-issue label; Remake Musique, is Zeta Lemon's 'Traum'. Purportedly big with the likes of Derrick May back in the day (although I can't find any info on it over at Discogs!), it's quite unlike almost anything I've ever listened to before, and not to get all hysterical or anything, could easily justify itself as one of my favourite records ever!*! Yep, it really is that good (well I think so!*!)

Opening with a fairly familiar drum track that is anything but remarkable, things really get interesting around the 1 minute mark, when the sound of the sea lapping at the shore and the piano starts, slowly and twinkly at first, but gradually getting more feverant as the track progresses, adjusting to match the tempo of the track, as it journeys onto it's crescendo!*! Only the crescendo never arrives, at least not in the traditional sense and not as we've come to expect from a lot of records that get released these days!*! The track doesn't rely on the (excuse the expression!*), money-shot because it's beauty lies elsewhere!*! Unfortunately, no sooner has the piano started than it stops, but at least it stuck around for well over 3 quarters of the track's duration. You may be thinking to yourself that none of what I've described sounds anything approaching remarkable, and perhaps it isn't, but for me the fact that once the piano starts, the beats disappear, means it's something different, in a sea of tracks that as my dad might say, all start to sound the same, being different should always be something to celebrate!*!

Zeta Lemon - 'Traum' (Remake Musique) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

2007-10-20T14:52:00.001Z

Be Honest! Do I Need To Have Any Work Done?

Time for some Botox!*! But rather than the Betty variety, here's the latest release by Bo'tox aka Cosmo Vitelli and Julien Briffaz that's just dropped on I'm A Cliche label outta France.

2 sides of leftfield, disco-not-disco goodness, with the lead track 'Babylon By Car' being the wonkiest of the two full of live instrumentation and quirky beat-programming!*! I've chosen to post the flip-side and perhaps the more dancefloor of the 2 on offer. 'Tragedy Symphony' sets it's stall from the off with a selection of air-raid sirens before dropping in some slo-mo beats and italo-esque synths and all that's before the vocal puts in an appearance. I wouldn't even like to hazard a guess at what the vocals all about, make up your own mind!*! Disco-pressure for 07!*!

Bot'ox - 'Tragedy Symphony' (I'm A Cliche) (Buy)

Before I forget, make sure you click on over to the ever-on-point I Spy Diamonds and grab a copy of Fred Falke's 'Wait For Love'. How on earth this particular track failed to register on my radar before is beyond me, it's seriously good!*!

2007-10-18T19:00:00.000Z

What Are All The Scenesters Listening To At The Moment? #6

I thought it was about time now that I'm back on track here to reserrect this series, and this time I'm going all out disco!*!

I've had a bit of a love affair with old skool disco for quite some time now, but it wasn't always like that!*! Like many other people, my first introduction to disco was probably the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, and whilst The Trammps track on there is killer, the lest said about the rest the better!*! And it was that soundtrack and a host of other bloody awful cheesy disco records that prevented me from really digging around for the gold that was out there!*! That all changed one Saturday night whilst listening to an Essential Mix that Joey Negro did for Radio 1. The second hour of which he played back-to-back old skool disco joints, and one track in particular really stood out for me, and that was today's offering; Musique's 'Keep On Jumpin'. It was apt then that Joey Negro decided to play this track in particular because at the time there were 2 other tracks riding high in the pop charts here in the UK, both of which were based solely around the vocal sampled from this record, and both were absolutely abissmal. The first of which came from The Lisa Marie Experience and the other, and only maginally less awful was from Todd Terry. Given that I'd written these 2 tracks off as cheesy nonsense, it was so refreshing to hear the original track in all it's shimmering disco-ball goodness. This chance hearing of this one track then sparked a love affair with US disco label Prelude in particular and an on-going hunt to track down really obscure disco records that I'd heared on countless house tracks at the time especially out of France. More often than not the original was so much better, but don't get me wrong I'm certainly not against sampling, as long as it's done well, and besides it gives us trainspotters something to do now doesn't it!*! Anway, enough of that and on with today's track!*!

Musique - 'Keep On Jumpin' (Prelude) (Buy)

There's also a whole host of other golden Prelude Records releases over at Juno!*!

2007-10-16T18:33:00.000Z

Scanner Darkly

New Blamma! Blamma! freshness for you to brock-out to!*! This time the guys unleash their magic powers upon LDN-town based rock-quartet; Scanners.

The guys are really starting to experiment with the Blamma! Blamma! sound, following on from their Blood Red Shoes refix that I featured here sometime back, this track waits until it's final third before unleashing it's special move, that had been threatening to explode to the surface for the majority of the tracks' duration!*!

This version, the original and a refix by STDJs will be available to buy digitally from 5th November!*! Check Scanners' Myspace page for details of where to grab your copies!*!

Scanners - 'Raw (Blamma! Blamma! Scanner Remix!)

In related news, the guys have finally got some original material forthcoming on US label Dovecote, which they've been promising for sometime now, followed by some more goodness to come on their own label, which is set to launch, hopefully, early in 09. And if all that wasn't enough there's even a forthcoming mix for The Teenagers!*! Blamma! Blamma! + The Teenagers = a match made in dark, sweaty discotheque heaven!*!

2007-10-15T18:48:00.000Z

Mix & Match

A tasty mix from a reader of this here lil' blog; Niall Kirk to ease you into the week, or at least what's left of it!*! Some quality tracks contained and particular highlights has to be starting off the mix with potential record of the year 'Still Going Theme' by Still Going on DFA, and also special mention for the last track, 'Blank' by Joris Voorn. Download and enjoy!*!

Tracklist

Still Going – 'Still Going Theme'
Manuel Tur – 'Toothbrush'
Andy Cato – 'Uppers On The South Downs'
Tam Cooper – 'Galactica (Jimpster Mix)'
Downtown Brooklyn Inc – '10 Jay Street (610 Dub)'
Rocco – 'Stormy'
Jas – 'Hitch Hiking (Red Jerry Mix)'
Mike Miller – 'Posh Swag'
BarBQ – 'Flyin' Fish'
Chymera – 'Umbrella (Funk D'Void Mix)'
Blake & Monroe - 'Summer's Gone (Bushwacka! Dub)'
Bruno Banner – 'Acccid'
Blu Mar Ten – 'All Over Again (Tom Middleton Mix)'
Joris Voorn - 'Blank'

Download here or here

If any other readers would like their mixes featured just drop me some mail!*!

2007-10-13T13:43:00.001Z

Admit It! You're Just A Big Kid Really Aren't You!?!

Random play on mp3 players can be such a joy, when that long-forgotten track you don't remember getting suddenly rears itself and injects a small amount of happiness into your day. Yesterday whilst travelling home from another soul-destroying week in a dead-end office job, today's offering popped up on the ipod.

Kid Carpet makes the kinds of tracks that you can't help but love, they're so innocent, played on an assortment of kids instruments and basically anything that comes to hand!*! In the past he's described his sound as both 'shit-hop' and 'Kiddy Disco Punk', so as you may be able to imagine he's not one to take himself too seriously, if at all serious!*! However, you've got to hand it to someone who doesn't appear to take their craft too seriously, getting one of your refixes on Fatboy Slim's latest 'Greatest Hits-Remixed' release is pretty good going by anyone's standards.

Anyhow, on with today's track, and it's 80s hair-spray junkies Van Halen reimagined by a class of 6 year olds and a closet full of Fisher-Price toys. Also, check out Kid Carpet's myspazz page for samples of some upcoming material!*! Tasty!*!

Kid Carpet - 'Jump'

Juno has his 2005 long-player 'Ideas & Oh Dears' available on both CD and super-320 bit to purchase, so check that out too!*!

2007-10-11T12:29:00.000Z

My Mum Says Husbands Are Only Good For One Thing!*!

I'm back after last night's high-jinx on planet vodka and I was thinking of something suitable to post, so today here's something to soothe away the aching feeling that has taken root in the centre of my skull!*! The splendid people over at Berlin-based powerhouse; Kitty-Yo sent me a copy of their recent release by Nina Hynes & The Husbands; 'Really Really Do', and it's had me under its spell for the past week or so and shows no sign of letting go anytime soon!*! With the current pop climate dominated by singer-songwriters, you may well wonder why you should get excited about another? But comparing Nina Hynes & The Husbands with the current crop, is at best, futile! Growing-up singing over bleeps recorded from the heart monitors at the hospital her auntie worked at, she's progressed to working with sometime Brian Eno collaborator Harold Budd and French experimentalist Hector Zazou. There's a certain vain of quirk that courses through the heart of this release that simply couldn't be replicated if her heart (no pun intended!*!), wasn't in it!*! This long-player ooses the kind of emotion that is all too lacking in pop, with record labels scrambling to churn artists out at an ever more alarming rate, in search of that quick buck!*!

Even if pop isn't your bag, give it a try and let it's charm worm it's way into your life!*! Plus it comes with an official Birth School Work Death seal of approval, and besides it's on Kitty-Yo who simply don't do mediocre!*!

Here's my favourite 2 tracks from the release for your listening pleasure:

Nina Hynes & The Husbands - 'Fitness' (Kitty-Yo) (Buy)

Nina Hynes & The Husbands - 'Bang Bang' (Kitty-Yo) (Buy)

The album was released on the 28th September and should be available at all your favourite purveyors of shiny silver discs and super-320 bit goodness!*!

2007-10-10T19:01:00.000Z

Just Pop A Tape In & Hit Record!*!

I've got the day off work tomorrow so some mid-week tomfoolery is in the offing tonight, but before I depart for pastures alcoholic, here's a couple of refixes I was sent recently that should get the party well and truly started.

The C90s are a London-town based duo of producers who kindly sent me a couple of their recent bits for yours and my listening pleasure.

First up some white-boy disco-funk stylings for Swedish band; The Bell. I've no idea what the original is like but fans of !!! and The Rapture should find this right up their disco alley!*! All I need now is a cowbell to hand and I'd be the happiest boy around!*!

The Bell - 'Target Group (C90s Remix)'

The second refix is one that has appeared on a couple of other blogs in the past, but if you haven't grabbed a copy yet then do so immediately because it sounds a lot like if Justice had a cheeky wee brother who thought 'I can do that', and injected a big, fat dose of fun into the mix!*! Proper party weaponary!*!

Strange Idols - 'She's Gonna Let You Down Again (The C90s Remix)'

More goodness tomorrow, but depending on how proceedings go tonight, I may opt for something a little more soothing!*!

2007-10-09T19:00:00.000Z

Space: The Final Frontier

Not quite sure how this particular release managed to slip through the gaps in blog world, but upon a quick scout around that appears to have happened!*! The reason I'm so suprised at that fact is it's from stars of the last couple of years; Minilogue.

This 10" vinyl release by the duo is reported to be the 1st in a series of 10 releases in the theme of nature, however I haven't been able to locate any info on when there might be a follow up!*! Alas you'll have to make do with this extremley good 2 tracker until the next instalment hits your local record store.

The 2 sides are a world apart, with the A-side being a warm, organic tech-house number that is every bit as good as their more light-hearted releases this year, however, it's the flip-side that's got me hooked. If your a fan of their 'Space EP' release from earlier this year, then this should be right down your alley!*! A brooding, claustrophobic groove that seems to echo what it must be like to trapped in deep space, (although obviously I'm just sumising here, having not been trapped in deep space lately!!), but again if your a fan of ocean-deep techno than grab one of the few remaining copies, and wait patiently for the 2nd to grace us with it's presence!*!

Minilogue - 'Orglar 'B' (Minilogue) (Buy) (Buy)

Also lot's of Minilogue goodies can be grabbed here, here or as always from the likes of Beatport, and if you've missed any of their previous output this year for the likes of Mule Electronic or Wagon Repair and Traum, then now's your chance to make amends!*!

2007-10-08T17:54:00.000Z

You Wait Ages For A Quality Record To Arrive, & Then 4 Arrive All At Once...

The old adage that you wait ages for a bus and then a whole heap all turn up at once is certainly true of the criminally under-funded and over-privatised public transport system in Britain (apologies for the rant, but I use public transport everyday and it's shit beyond belief!!), but it would also seem to be true of super-disco label; Italians Do It Better!*!

First of all 20JFG have been teasing us with super-slinky disco morsels from the label on and off for sometime now, and then we got a full release of their tour CD; After Dark, which I wrote about a few months ago. Following that in the last couple of weeks, 3 limited 12"s appeared in record stores from Professor Genius, Farah and Glass Candy with tracks taken from the CD, along with some choice B-sides as well. And now? If all that wasn't enough to get you salivating, they've now released Chromatics' 'In The City'. All of these vinyl releases are super-limited, but all are well worth a purchase, as I should imagine is anything they go onto put out!*!

Perhaps my analagy above is a tad unfair? I mean, I'll happily wait ages if it means that the releases are going to continue to be as good as these recent ones!*! Hopefully, though the guys behind the label will drop something new on us before too long, here's hoping!*!

Just to give you a taster, here's the flip-side of the Professor Genius 12", and his track 'Across The Spree', which is a gorgeous swirling mass of technicolour synths that just rises and rises!*!

Professor Genius - 'Across The Spree' (Italians Do It Better) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

Both Phonica and Juno have some of the label's releases in stock here and here, but if you're in the US or nearby your best bet would be to grab them from here!*! Actually given the current rate of the dollar against the pound, I think I'd better stock up there as well!*!

2007-10-06T13:04:00.000Z

Attack Of The 3-Headed Fidget Beast

Long-time BSWD favourites; 3 Is A Crowd are back with some more speaker-shredding slates for your listening pleasure, and the guys most certainly have their finger hovering over the button marked 'carnival atmosphere' with these tracks!*!

First up some original pirate material in the form of 'Almighty Vibes', which somehow manages to fuse sampled righteous dub vocals with a line from Bros' 'When Will I Be Famous'.

3 Is A Crowd - 'Almighty Vibes'

Next up, a refix for friend of the guys; D. Glaser from internet radio station; Elektroradio, and his track 'Breakdown'. Horns and hip-hop samples a plenty, all under-pinned by a subwoofer-punishing b-line.

D. Glaser - 'Breakdown (3 Is A Crowd Mamba Mix)'

One final thing before I pop off if you haven't already, check out their mix of The Chemical Brothers 'Salmon Dance' on their myspace player cause IMHO it's every bit as good as the released Crookers mix!*!

Edit - Someone has pointed out that the dub sample on 'Almighty Vibes' comes from New-Zealand based band Kora. Cheers to whoever left the comment!*!

2007-10-04T17:21:00.000Z

Cosmic Woman

Whilst there's plenty of labels springing up all the time, some legit, some not-so, to cater for the releasing of obscure and sometimes long forgotten treasures, there's always room for one more!*! One such newly launched label is Cosmic Club (bet you can't guess where their passion lies!?!), and they are off to a flying start with their first release; Daniele Baldelli fave Mirage's 1983 release 'Woman'. The guys behind the label are obviously coming from the right angle, cause not only do you get the original 1983 vocal version, but also the slow instrumental (which I'm posting today), as well as a re-edit by the guys themselves, which is proper nice, but you'll have to buy the release to get that one!*! If that wasn't enough they've also included their own re-edit of Punkin Machine's fab 'Stand Me Up'. All round, a real quality release and definately worthy of a buck or two to get one!*!

Mirage - 'Woman (Instrumental - Slow) (Cosmic Club) (Buy) (Buy)

2007-10-02T18:54:00.000Z

My Italo Leanings Pt. 5

One thing you can always rely on from this blog and that is that you're never going to be too far away from an Italo post of some description. So with that in mind here's another 2 corkers I've just acquired by way of the 3rd instalment of the Disco Galaxia series. All three are definately worth getting your hands on, and the latest is no exception, as usual bringing together choice Italo and Cosmic Disco nuggetts under one roof!*! The latest includes the monstorously brilliant 'Robotism' by Methusalem and the cosmic dreamyness of 'Odyssey Pt. 1' by Johnny Harris. The latter track is featured over @ Terry's Musical Life here, along with a host of other cosmic delights, a proper decent round-up by a guy that knows his tracks!*!

Anyway, on with today's offerings, and both have one over-riding quality in common, they are camp as hell, and all the better for it!*!

Neon - 'Skydiver (Extended Edit)' (Fuschia International)

Nexus -'Stand Up (Instrumental)' (Mr Disc Organization)

This latest instalment of the series can be bought here or here, and a few copies of Vol. 2 are available still here. And whilst I'm on the subject of Italo, you could do worse than pick up the latest release on the ever-consistent Radius label from Guiseppe Manuelle. I'm particularly taken with 'The Prince, His Lover & Her Red Shoes', as it never fails to get me smiling!*! Available here and here

2007-10-01T19:07:00.001Z

Can That Really Be A Primate Playing That Guitar!?!

The track that I'm posting today is one of those that you know you really should know what it is when you hear it, but for some reason you can't quite picture it!*! Well, that's what happened to me, hence why I'm posting it!*! I was listening to some mix or other when this track came on and my ears pricked up and I thought, wow what is that? For the life of me I couldn't place it even though I'd heard it so many times years before, and after a lengthy trawl through the vinyl archives I found it!*! And the reason I couldn't picture the track was that I'd been caning the flip-side of the 12" and the Tiefschwarz mix (you should really check it out, it's brill!*!) like mad, but really never paid much attention to the Chicken Lips dub, and for that I'm going to a very special hell for folk that skip the lengthy Chicken Lips dubs in favour of a shorter version. Perhaps it's my advancing years, but if I had to choose between them now, the version I'm posting today would win hands down every time. Anyway, enough of the spurious lead-in, all you need to know is that the boys Chicken Lips take Chicks On Speed's ode to not playing guitars on their tracks and stretch it out to a 10 minute dub opus, that just grinds it's way into your conciousness whether you wan't it to or not, via it's insane looped bassline!*! Quality gear alround!*!

Chicks On Speed - 'We Don't Play Guitars (Chicken Lips Play Dub Version)' (COS) (Buy)

You can purchase all kinds of Chicks On Speed goodies here as well!*!

Right, let's carry on the tenuous linkage here!*! I got an email from 4AD informing me that there is a brand spanking new 320-bit Simian Mobile Disco mix available for download of Celebration's latest track 'Hands Off My Gold'. I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, though as it's the SMD it will definately appeal to the vast majority of you out there!*! Go to this page to get your copy!*! For those of you who may be interested, the album 'The Modern Tribe', is released next Monday (8th Oct)!*!

2007-09-29T11:55:00.000Z

The Chart Show

Well clearly I couldn't hold out until the end of the year to make my return!*! Too many lovely, lovely things to tantalise your ear lobes with!*! So let's crack on.....

If the old adage that the simplest things in life are best, then this sneaky little white label would stand head and shoulders above everything!*! Alas, it's not the best thing in the world ever, but it does the job more than adequately. Essentially a slightly modern twist on Lil' Louis' 'French Kiss', but with slightly more of a kick behind it, but fear not, nothing overly bearing or crass has been allowed anywhere near the original, which is just as well!*! Kriece does to 'French Kiss' what Run Jeremy did last year to 'Window Licker', which is just update it slightly and make it a little easier for those people who spin black discs to dancing people, to mix in and out, especially with the extended outro, which on the original always used to catch me out!*! Damn those pesky beatless outros!*! Anyway, it's never likely to win any originality awards but it should definately get you in the mood for a weekend of partying!*!

Lil' Louis - 'French Kiss (Kriece Remix)' (White Label) (Buy)

Nest up, the legend that is Carl Craig!*! I don't think anyone can really disagree with the legend tab that I've used can they?? The answer to that is a definite no I think you'll find!*! Especially if you've caught any of the 3 refixes he's just dropped for Tiefschwarz's 'Original', Kevin Saunderson's 'Till We Meet Again' or the latest for LCD Soundsystem's 'Sound Of Silver'. The latter I received this morning and can't stop playing it, it's seriously brilliant. Having been placed at the top of most people's charts last year with his take on Delia & Gavin's 'Relevee', it wouldn't be much of a stretch to assume he won't be far from the top of most people's end of year run-downs in one form or another!*! Something that almost slipped through my net was another of his refixes, albeit in a completely different style, and that's what makes him so much better at this game than just about anyone else, is his ability to flick through the various styles with ease, and still produce something at the end that you can't not love!*! This particular track by Tony Allen on legendary London-based label; Honest Jon's is one of those seriously uplifting tracks that only comes along every so often, but always delivers the goods. I'm having a bit of trouble explaining the original and the best I can come up with is a cross between acid jazz (the good stuff, not the dinner party nonsense) and afrobeat, with a positive lyric and a sweet drum track in the background!*! So, the original was pretty tasty, but it's the refix that's really doing it for me!*! Showing real restraint, Carl Craig allows the track to progress naturally without forcing massive amounts of effects on it. The kick drum doesn't even put in an appearance until the 3-minute mark, and by that time the track just lifts off and that was me completely hooked!*! The vocal is still in tact and the key work is genius, I defy you not to love this track, seriously it's that good, and it's gone straight into my end of year chart, no question!*! Grab yourself a copy at the link below, and let this piece of pure joy into your life!*!

Tony Allen - 'Kilode (A Remix By Carl Craig)' (Honest Jon's) (Buy) (Buy)

Also, here's some other treats that have been getting regular spins round BSWD Towers:

1- Various Artists - 'Buzzin Fly Vol. 4 Remixes)' (Buzzin Fly) (Buy) (Buy)

2- Len Faki - 'Mekong Delta' (Ost-Gut-Ton) (Buy)

3- Petre Inspirescu - 'Emancipare' (A:rpia:rj) (Buy) (Buy)

4- Various Artists - 'Disco Galaxia 3' (Disco Galaxia) (Buy) (Buy)

5- Gui Boratto - 'Rivington Suite' (Galaktika) (Buy) (Buy)

6- Legowelt - 'Disco Rout (Deetron Mix)' (Cocoon) (Buy)

7- Schaeben & Voss - 'Mental Blank' (Kompakt) (Buy) (Buy)

8- S.C.S - 'Marauder' (Dissident) (Buy)

9- Still Going - 'Still Going Theme' (DFA) (Buy) (Buy)

10- Marc Houle - 'Techno Vocals' (Minus) (Buy) (Buy)

11- LCD Soundsystem - 'Someone Great - Remixes' (DFA)

12 - Dubfire - 'Ribcage' (Desolat) (Buy) (Buy)

As always, if digital is your thing then Beatport or Kompakt should be able to take care of all your 320-bit needs!*! Also, please remember that I have now reduced the time that any download links are available hear to 7 days and then they are gone forever; no re-ups, people!*!

There's also some more quality audio recommendations over at both TAPE and Random Circuits that you should check out!*!

2007-09-26T18:38:00.000Z

Oddness = Greatness Pt. 8

I thought I'd pop by for a short post!*! I'm not sure that this track deserves to be in this series at all, especially as it's not odd per se, however, I was struck by the title of the artist; Vastkustska Ryggdunkarsallskapet, bit of a mouthful I'm sure you'd agree!*! Anyway, I'm reliably informed it's Swedish for something although that's the extent of the information I can find out about it. As for the tracks if it were Nowergian, then I'd say perhaps Lindstrom et al were behind it, alas I don't think that's the case, and Discogs drew a blank as well. It was one of those records that I buy on impulse, especially when there's a very limited run involved, this one was only pressed in a run of 500, although Juno still has some copies left for sale!*! Proper instrumental disco biznezz is the order of the day today, lots of guitar action and twinkly keys, and an assortment of cosmic disco goodness abound make for an excellent 3-tracker and well worth a purchase. Track 1 on the flip-side is my favourite, however, the A-side is titled 'Mozarella Morning', and you can't go far wrong with titles like that!*! If anyone knows anymore please leave a comment and I'll edit this post if necessary!*!

Vastkustska Ryggdunkarsallskapet - 'Vansbro Boogie' (VRS Sweden) (Buy)

2007-09-24T15:44:00.000Z

Showing The Kids How Its Done!*!

Everyone should have heard the Klaxons covering Kicks Like A Mule's 'The Bouncer' by now (and if you haven't, why the hell not??), well now the old guard are returning the favour by giving the Klaxons 'Gravitys Rainbow' the old skool re-rub!*! Released a couple of weeks ago on Cassetteplaya's new label; Me And My Brother, it's a ravey behemoth born in breakbeat heaven and you should get yourself a copy here. To be honest, it's not better than the Klaxons version, just different, and should encourage other acts to cover artists who themselves have had their material covered. If you want to hear the fruits of this crossover partnership then head on over to Cellar Dweller now!*!

As a bonus here's a vid for 'The Bouncer' that I found on YouTube!*!

2007-09-22T13:02:00.000Z

Don't Call This A Comeback.....

....well it is of sorts!*! I thought I'd pop in for a quick post every now and again before I start this back up for good, and besides I have something special for you today!*!

Just appeared out of the mist is a sneaky white label with what is perported to be a Ricardo Villalobos mix of New Order's classic 'Confusion'. Given it's on a white label with no info whatsoever I can't confirm or deny that he's behind it, plus it's not listed anywhere on Discogs, but it certainly sounds like one of his refixes, ultra-deep with lashings of dub-stylings. My only disappointment with it is the vinyl pressing is just not up to scratch. It sounds ok on a decent system, but play it on an mp3 player and it's just doesn't sound as it should, but that's just the risk you run with unknown white labels I suppose. Hopefully, it shouldn't distract too much from your enjoyment of what is potentially another notch on Villalobos' bed post.

New Order - 'Confusion (Ricardo Villalobos Mix)' (White) (Buy)

While I'm on the subject of Ricardo Villalobos, if you haven't already, make sure you buy the latest instalment of Fabric's mix series, cause it's seriously next level material. Just when you might have thought you've heard everything you could from a mix, this arrives and blows everything else out of the water!*! When people refer to mixes as a 'journey' this mix should be the benchmark that all other mixes are set against. I mean it takes real balls to fill your mix with nothing but your own productions, if for no other reason than your not relying on the latest big tracks to carry it along!*! Mix of the year? Are there any other real contenders? No there aren't, period!*! Grab a copy here or here.

If you fancy something of the more 'turbo' variety then check this mix I was sent recently by the Sunday School DJs. It's chock-full of all your favourite club bangers and a sprinkling of their own productions.

Sunday School DJs - 'The Gospel According To Sunday School'

Tracklist:

Sunday School - The Gospel Song

Simian Mobile Disco - I Believe

Ratatat - Lex

Dj Mehdi - Lucky Girl

Mr Ozio - Skatesteak

Sunday School - Thomas Da Funk Engine

Justin Timberlake - Love Stoned (Justice Remix)

Lost Valentinos - 17 Deaths (Like Woah! Remix)

Russ Chimes - Mulsanne

Muse - Kings On Cydonia (Simian Mobile Disco)

Bag Raiders/ Yelle - Fun Punch/ Je Veus Te Vior

Russ Chimes - She's Got The Heat

Justice - Phantom

Larry Tee Feat. Princess Superstar - Licky (Herve Goes Low Remix)

Code Breaker - Exiled (We Don't Need No) (Miami Horror Remix)

The Black Ghosts - Anyway You Choose To Give It (Boy 8-bit Remix)

Digitalism - Echoes

Klaxons - Gravitys Rainbows (Soulwax Remix)

Damn Arms - The Cormorant (Midnight Juggernauts)

Kissy Sell Out - Harriet (Kissy's Special Annie Mac Edit)

Felix Da Housecat - Sweetfrosti (Extended Mix)

Modeselektor Feat. TTC - 2000007

Kanye West - Stronger

2007-09-08T11:57:00.000Z

LV-426

Apologies for the film geek reference in the title, only I was endeavouring to portray the feeling of baroness around here of late!*! Anyway, I wanted to thank everyone who took the time to comment on my decision to close things down here, and I was especially glad to hear that people had gone on to buy stuff from artists I'd written about. I don't think I ever really thought any different, but it was still good to hear!*! So today, I thought I'd announce my complete u-turn!*! This blog will be back to normal at the end of the year. It may seem a strange decision especially as I'd said I was closing it down, but after mulling it over, coupled with the comments left and some really encouraging emails from some of my favourite labels, I'll be back proper from the end of the year!*! I know that is still a couple of months away, but I will be making some changes round here and to start off with a massive end of year review, I thought, was the way to go!*! I'll still be offering downloads, however, the amount of time they will be available for will half from 14 days to 7, and still at a low bitrate. I appreciate that this is likely to start the whole Sendspace debate off once again, and if you do experience problems with my hosting then I apologise, but I will not be changing to a different hosting source, for reasons I've explained here before. Also, I'm not going to be offering re-ups on any of the tracks, once I've taken them down then that's them gone!*! As well as this I'm going to make much more of an effort to feature artists and labels that are not being offered on every blog going, simply because if this blogging is going to work for everyone's benefit, the labels included, then each blog can't carry the same tracks, it's not doing anyone any good!*! I'm hoping that this will meet with the approval of readers of this blog, and hopefully you'll stick around for my return, but inevitably some readers will disappear, but then I'm not about numbers and massaging my ego!*!

So, to tied you over until my return proper here's my latest chart (I may well pop in between now and the end of year review with a couple more charts!), along with the last of the tracks I was sent before I announced my semi-retirement!*!

1- Chaim - 'Dana (Guy Gerber Mix)' (Dogtown) (Buy) (Buy)

2- Zombie Zombie - 'Driving This Road......' (Versatile) (Buy) (Buy)

3- Jamie Anderson & Content - 'Body Jackin' (International Deejay Gigolos) (Buy)

4- Minilogue - 'Ghost EP' (Mule Electronic) (Buy) (Buy)

5- James Mowbray & Leiam Sulivan - 'Tropical Heights' (Four:Twenty) (Buy)

6- Puzique - 'Don't Go' (Boys Noize) (Buy) (Buy)

7- Unknown - 'ARP001' (White) (Buy)

8- Simon Baker - 'Spinner' (Infant) (Buy) (Buy)

9- DJ Gregory - 'Elle (2007) (Ame Piano Mix)' (Defected) (Buy)

10- Sleeparchive/Antti Rannisto 'Radio' (Sleeparchive) (Buy) (Buy)

11- Justin Robertson - 'Zazous' (Neverwork) (Buy) (Buy)

12- Altz - 'Max Motion' (Death From Abroad) (Buy)

13- Mock & Toof - 'K-Choppers' (Death From Abroad) (Buy)

14- The Subliminal Kid - 'Expected As You (Gabriel Ananda Mix)' (Perspex) (Buy)

15- Hercules & Love Affair - 'Classique #2' (DFA) (Buy) (Buy)

16- Monty Luke & Tasho - 'Paranoid' (Mothership) (Buy) (Buy)

17- Modeselektor - 'The Dark Side Of The Sun (2000 And One Remix)' (Bpitch) (Buy) (Buy)

18- Various - 'Liebe Detail 19' (Liebe Detail) (Buy)

19- Arwid - 'Fiasko' (Bpitch) (Buy) (Buy)

20- LA Priest - 'Engine' (Phantasy) (Buy)

(All the above in no particular order)

As always if you prefer digital tracks then Beatport is probably the best place for most of these tracks!*!

In recognition of just how much DFA related goodness is riding high in my charts at present, here's one of their finest moments in my humble opinion, improving on an already classic Rapture track!*!

The Rapture - 'Sister Saviour (DFA Dub Mix)' (Output) (Buy)

Just before I initially took the decision to close things down here, I was sent some treats, and I'm gonna post them up here today for your delictation.

First up, the lovely people at Gomma sent me a copy of the forthcoming Rodion track 'Tu Mi Turbi', and i'm happy to report the label is continuing to release certified club bangers, and this track is no exception!*! Big, noisy, electrohouse fodder for you earbuds!*! Not sure of a date for release, but keep your eyes peeled at your favourite stockist in the very near future!*!

Rodion - 'Tu Mi Turbi (Extended Club Mix)' (Gomma)

Next, up I was sent a bunch of tasty electro-pop tracks by Canadian producer Jeff Nash. He's about to drop his debut LP, and judging by the strength of these tracks, he's going to be a name to watch for the future. Details on the release of the LP are not yet confirmed, but keep an eye on his Myspace page for upcoming details!*!
Jeff Nash - 'Giant Robots'
Jeff Nash - 'Yay'
Jeff Nash - 'Tenjin'

It may come as a bit of a suprise to regular readers here, but I'm quite the pop music fanatic (no not the boy-band nonsense, but the proper pop music variety), so I was quite taken when I was sent this track by newcommers; Vote Show Pony!*! This is pop music the way it should be done, giggly vocals, just the right amount of bleepiness in the background, and the overwhelming desire to make you smile no matter what!*!
Vote Show Pony - 'Strut (Demo)

Lastly for today, something to well and truely clear the cobwebs round here, some vintage Orlando Voorn. Proper dancefloor-destroying material!
Fix - 'Flash' (International Deejay Gigolos) (Buy)

And don't forger that my other blog; Cellar Dweller is still firing on all cylinders, so if you fancy a bit of old skool rave in your life, then check it out!*!

2007-08-30T16:21:00.000Z

The End Is Not Nigh, The End Is Now!*!

The end of what? The end of this here blog unfortunately!*! While this is not a decision I've taken lightly, the issues that some of my favourite bloggers have been experiencing lately has made me re-think the way I view mp3 blogs entirely. I've always had the mindset that there was a very thin line between what we aim to do and that is to promote good music, and not to provide somewhere for people to skim off some free tracks. I still maintain that whilst the blogs I read (and those in the side bar) are providing something that is needed i.e pointing you towards quality tracks that you might not otherwise discover, there is an ever increasing rate at which blogs are appearing where there on the face of it, no ethical thought appears to have been taken, with reams of links to download from. I always thought that by only posting tracks at 128bit and almost entirely from vinyl rips, that if people downloaded tracks and enjoyed them, they would buy them from the links provided. I hope that this has happened and you have found stuff here that has lead you onto discovering artists you might not have heard output from before, but the fact still remains that by offering music from labels and artists that I don't have express permission from, that I am effectively breaking copyright law, and the law always catches up with you in the end!*!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all those artists and labels who have sent me tracks especially Merok, Gomma, Relish, the Five20East crowd, and of course the 3 Is A Crowd guys, it was much appreciated, but the fact still remains that I'm not going to get permission to post enough stuff to keep this place alive as I have been, and an update once a week is frankly not what I'm interested in, and lord knows I can't get my head around streaming!*!

Whilst I'm on the subject of mp3 blogs I'd urge you to read this post over at Ewan Pearson's blog and see what you make of the current debate. There are a lot of valid points, and some of those have helped me in my decision to close this blog down, however there is also a lot of complete bollocks being chatted, but then you're always going to get that with some people!*! Get involved people and have your say if you feel strongly enough!*!

So that just leaves me to thank everyone who's read this, and left comments, or sent me tracks to post, it's been good and I never imagined I'd make it passed the first month let alone 18 months or so, so adios people, and please don't forget buy music you like otherwise 50 Cent will continue to release utter drivvle!*! The blog will remain for a while so you can check out links etc, but the tracks will start to disappear today!*!

Ciao

Scott

2007-08-29T18:30:00.000Z

My Private Life Is Clouding Over!*!

The first of today's offerings comes from leftfield label; Cloud. For those of you who maybe unfamiliar with their previous releases, they operate a similar release policy as the Automan series, albeit of a slightly more obscure nature, and I'd imagine a lot more legitamate!*! Taking long-forgotten tracks and B-sides, toughening up the sound just enough where needed, but not fiddling about too much as to take away any of the charm from the originals, they have a truly unique sound in that each release is fields apart in terms of sound from the previous release in the series. The label is now up to it's 7th release, and the track I've chosen to post today comes from Italian group The World. Rather than being on an Italo tip this release was tucked away on the B-side of what was reportedly an awful A-side, thankfully this track; The Loop, is fantastic, full of swirling synths and crunchy guitar stabs. It has an epic, almost soundtrack quality to it, and if Brad Fiedel hadn't turned in for work the day that his score for the original Terminator movie was finished, then this track would have served perfectly for the end credits. It has that slightly dark vibe that would fit perfectly with the hue of the film and the era that it was released in!*! In a word; brilliant!*! On the flip side Nash The Slash turns in what can only be described as oddball take on the Peter & The Wolf theme, which really has to be heard to be believed!*! One for the cosmic-heads amongst us!*!

The World - 'The Loop (Extended Edit)' (Cloud) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

Secondly for today, whilst not content with almost cornering the market for discerning compilations ranging from dub and reggae through to their recent dubstep and jungle collections, Soul Jazz has just released a hot new 12", from a different genre entirely!*! Whilst the label is certainly not new to releasing housier-related fare, having previously put out material by Matt Edwards' Rekid moniker including the awesome 'Made In Menorca' LP, here they tackle the joyous world of Italo Disco. Obviously taking it's influences from the Italo sound of old, but with enough of a modern twist for it not to sound dated; Private Lives' 'Private Life' is a buzzing piece of dancefloor dynamite with lashings of vocoder action (which is never a bad thing in my book!*!) from the pairing of Ed DMX & Cylob, it's currently riding high in my playlist and my enjoyment of this release shows no sign of wavering anytime soon!*! I've gone for the 'Extended Mix', however, the flip has a lovely shortened 'Radio Edit', plus a 'Part 2' to complete an excellent overall package!*!

The vinyl can be purchased from all the usual outlets here, here, here and here, or if you prefer the digital variety then you can grab the tracks directly from Soul Jazz's new digital store here.

Private Lives - 'Private Life (Extended Mix)' (Soul Jazz)

2007-08-28T13:06:00.000Z

The Edit Suite Pt. 7

In keeping with yesterday's limited pressings post, here's another ultra-limited one-sided affair from Mark E on his own Golf Channel Recordings. There's an awful lot of hype surrounding this record at the moment, and for once the hype is absolutely justified!*! Taking little-known (well to me at least!*!) Janet Jackson track 'R&B Junkie' and adding his magic touch, what you're left with is a summer essential. The vocal is chopped-down to the basics, employing 'Can We Slow It Down' throughout the track and just building the beats from the ground up, elongating the track to just under 9 minutes of blissful energy. Phonica came through with the goods again on this, but alas all the copies seem to be long gone, however,use the link below to be notified if anymore copies are found floating out there in the ether!*! Or if your really quick there is 1 copy available from the 2nd link below!*! I'd like to dedicate today's post to DJ BWYSE over @ Talking In Stereo, because it was his post at the beginning of this month that turned me onto this track, and damn grateful I am too!*!

Mark E - 'R&B Drunkie' (Golf Channel Recordings) (Buy) (Buy)

2007-08-27T12:07:00.000Z

The 100 Club!*!

Right, it's tenuous post title time!*! Firstly this post has nothing whatsoever to do with the London gig venue, rather the 2 tracks today appear to have only been pressed in a run of 100 copies!*! I was lucky enough, or in the right place at the right time, before they sold out almost immediately!*! Both, I understand are due for a proper pressing later in the year so be on the lookout for those when they hit your local record emporium!*! However, if you do get the chance to spot one somewhere it is your duty as a music lover to exchange some cash for one!*! All I know about them is that they are a series of 3 appearing on a label I know nothing about; Dissident, and all of them appeared on Phonica's website on the same day, so you have those guys to thank for the info!*! Anyway onto the tracks, first up a track by Binary Chaffinch, who in other circles is Milo from 20JFG favourites; Chrome Hoof, and who also records as Kruton. I'm not even going to attempt to try and describe ths record simply because it does it's best to make that almost impossible, all I will say is that it's 11 minutes of live instrumentation full of tom toms and hi-hats and all manner of squiggles, constantly evolving and twisting on it's journey to the track end. Imagine if you will that legendary label Ze was still in business, then this is the kind of record I can imagine them putting out!*! I'm fairly sure someone will try describing it a whole lot more eloquently than I can, but all I can say is that with only roughly 4 months to this year's end it's almost certainly going to be in my top 5 records of the year, and in the coming months it'll be all over the more adventurous DJs playlists!*! Superb!*!

Binary Chaffinch - 'False Energy' (Dissident)'

Lastly for today and another pressing of 100 copies is 'Giorgio Carpenter' by Cage & Aviary. This is almost certainly a pseudonym for someone but I've not been able to track down any info at all, but it should be evident from the track title who provides the inspiration for the track. It's Italo in feel but with a darker, seedier underbelly and could almost soundtrack a long-lost John Carpenter flick from the late 80s. There are a couple of copies of this left, but you'll have to be quick to get one before their all gone and then you'll have to wait for the full release!*! Grab them here, here or here

Cage & Aviary - 'Giorgio Carpenter' (Dissident)

2007-08-26T15:26:00.000Z

My Italo Leanings Pt. 4

Some new Italo repress action today. Steel Mind's 'Bad Passion' has just got another outing, so all of us too young to have lived through Italo's golden years can get our mitts on a replica copy. Those of you who have one ear firmly tuned to the ever-growing re-edit scene may recognise today's track as the basis for Serge Santiago's track of the same name on his 'Gold EP'.

I've chosen to post the instrumental version because as Ivan Smagghe put it so eloquently on the sleeve notes to his awesome 'Death Disco' mix; 'Proper Italo records always have an annoying bit'!*! While the vocal isn't really that annoying, it's a little too camp for my tastes!*! The instrumental strips the main vocal away and just leaves the vocodered bits intact to give it a bit of space-age flavour!*!

Steel Mind - 'Bad Passion (Instrumental Version)' (Delirium) (Buy) (Buy)

2007-08-23T18:13:00.000Z

3 x 3 = 3

My favourite Italian's; 3 Is A Crowd have just sent 2 new tracks and an updated refix for you to enjoy!*! If your a regular reader here you'll already be familiar with these guys, and they're continuing to complete newness at an astonishing rate!*!

First up, we have their interpretation of Nirvana's 'Come As You Are', resplendant with ridiculous servings of crazy bass, chopped vocals and all manner of studio trickery.

3 Is A Crowd - 'Nirvanal'

Next up, an original track from the guys and one of their mates on vocal duties, just for the hell of it. Notting Hill Carnival style!*!

3 Is A Crowd - 'Mino's Crunk (3 Is A Crowd's Ghetto Mix)'

Lastly, for today an update on their refix for Sinden & The Count Of Monte Cristal's 'Tamborzuda'. If you downloaded the previous reincarnation that I posted last month, then you'll need to get your hands on this update!*! Essentially the same track but with an added squelch factor +10. I don't know about you but I just love squelchy records, and here the squelch is reminiscant of Flat Beat stuck down the K-hole. Oh, and just for good measure they've laid down a horn section as well to give it that extra carnival vibe.

Sinden & The Count Of Monte Cristal - 'Tamborzuda (3 Is A Crowd Final Mix)'

Hopefully the guys will furnish me with some more new gear soon, and when they do, you dear readers will be the first to hear it!*!

_______________________________________________________________________

Edit

Those observant amongst you will have noticed that I bolloxed up the info on the Nirvana track!*! Not only did I get the track name wrong, but I also got the source song wrong to!*! All I will say in my defence is that I wrote the post in a hurry!*! Apologies, anyway, it's remedied now!*!

2007-08-21T16:47:00.000Z

August's Hit Parade

Here's the tracks that have made me skip about in wanton abandon so far this month, not in any particular order:

1- Minilogue - 'Space' (Traum) (Buy) (Buy)

2- Danton Eeprom -'Abelton & Screaming' (Love Triangle) (Buy) (Buy)

3- Armand Van Helden 'This Aint Hollywood (DJ Froz Extended Edit)

4- King Creosote - 'You've No Clue Do You (Kris Menace Instrumental)' (679) (Buy)

5- Daft Punk - 'Prime Time Of Our Lives (Roccanova Remix)'

6- Pharoahe Monch - 'Simon Says (Hostage Remix)'

7- Professor Genius - 'La Grotta' (Italians Do It Better) (Buy)

8- Blamma! Blamma! - 'Carry Me Home'

9- Tricky Disco - 'Tricky Disco (The Martin Brothers Thizzy Disco Mix)' (Io) (Buy) (Buy)

10- The Presets - 'Kitty In The Middle (Stereogamous Remix)'

11- Ed Davenport - 'Eyespeak' (Liebe Detail) (Buy)

12- Rejected - 'Let's Go Juno' (Rejected) (Buy)

13- Shed - 'Kinky Dudes' (Solo Action) (Buy)

14- Serafin - 'Berlin Has No Cows' (Mountain People) (Buy)

15- Rune & Sydenham - 'Elephant' (Avocado) (Buy) (Buy)

16- John Keys - 'Torturing Lines' (Crosstown Rebels) (Buy) (Buy)

17 - Troy Pierce - 'Gone Astray EP' (Minus) (Buy) (Buy)

As always, if vinyl isn't your bag then the majority of the above can be purchased at Beatport or any of a number of download sites!*!

2007-08-19T14:11:00.000Z

My In-Box Weighs A Ton!*!

I appear to be in the rather eneviable position of having almost too much great stuff sent to me that I can't keep up, however you won't find me complaining, and my benefit is also now yours!*! Here's some new gear to get you ear buds round!*!

First up, 3 Is A Crowd sent me their latest refix, and if you downloaded the previous 2 tracks from them that I've posted recently, then you know that DJ Froz's edit of Armand Van Helden's 'This A'int Hollywood' is gonna be a bit special!*! And I can happily report that they continue to blaze a trail towards, if there's any justice in the world, gaining the kind of recognition that their fellow countryman Crookers are currently enjoying!*! On the off-chance there are any labels reading this, do yourselves a favour and sign these guys up pronto, because they are gonna be doing big things in the future!*! If you needed further proof then check their original track 'Bullshit', currently playing on their Myspace page. Onto today's track; from the opening bars lifted from The Prodigy's 'Smack My Bitch Up', you know it ain't gonna take any prisoners and it sure doesn't. If there's one thing the guys know, it's their breakbeats and this edit is no exception!*! The whole track rides along on a tight beat with a host of sirens and rave stabs pinging off in all directions. They've kept the vocal in place which gives it that hip-house feel, and they've given it an extended outro for all you DJ-types out that you should find useful!*! Really, this is the track that the original wished it could be!*!

Armand Van Helden - 'This A'int Hollywood (DJ Froz Extended Edit)'

Next we're off to Canada, with a track sent to me by DVAS!*! I've said it before and I'll keep saying it, the French house sound of old is back and is gonna be all over the airwaves again like a rash. 'Forever' is a tasty little electro-pop track that wouldn't sound out of place in a Kris Menace, Lifelike or Alan Braxe set, and is taken from DVAS' forthcoming longplayer Macho 2003-2007. They also furnished me with a Curtis Vodka re-jig of the same track!*! The Alaskan takes the original, fly's it over to Paris to enjoy a dirty weekend for two, and in the process does lots of kinky things to it making the beats a little skippier, filters the whole track over & over and aims the results squarely at the dancefloor, but much less chaotic then some of his many refixes that are floating around the interweb!*! There's really nothing to dislike here, and i've had it on repeat since I got it earlier this week!*! Keep an eye on DVAS' Myspace for details on when the LP will drop and then get yourself a copy!*!

DVAS - 'Forever' (Pop Echo Recordings)

DVAS - 'Forever (Curtis Vodka Remix)' (Pop Echo Recordings)

2007-08-19T13:23:00.000Z

2Up

You know those questions that you have niggling away at the back of you mind? You know things like 'What what it sound like if a Dubstep producer was charged with soundtracking one of those really old skool arcade machines?' Never thought that? Well me neither!*! However, if they did it may well sound something like what Sydney resident, Stereogamous has done to The Presets 'Kitty In The Middle'!*! Dropping the tempo down almost as far as it can go, smothering everything with a bowel-worrying bassline and then liberaly sprinkling the whole thing with sounds straight out of Asteroids or Galaxian, what you end up with is a take that is truely original!*! Stereogamous also has a rather tasty refix of a My Robot Friend track that you can also download from his myspace page!*!

The Presets - 'Kitty In The Middle (Kitty Said) (Stereogamous Remix)'

2007-08-18T12:48:00.001Z

Mixing It Up!*!

Another month, another Niguiri Beats mixtape from the Portugese boy wonders, excellent as always and well worth a download!*! Keep checking their myspace page for news of upcoming mixes in the future!*!

Niguiri Beats - 'August Mixtape'

Tracklist:

1) Booka Shade - The Birds & The Beats At The Window

2) DJ Shadow - Right Thing (Z-Trip Remix)

3) The Knife - We Share Our Mother's Health (Trentemoller Remix)

4) Teenage Bad Gil - Beel

5) MSTRKRFT - Street Justice '07

6) Nine inch Nails - Capital G (Phones 666 Remix)

7) Blur - Boys & Girls (Niguiri Eq-Lizer Edit)

8) Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (Soulwax Dub)

9) The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Mars, Arizona (DFA Remix)

10) Digitalism - Jupiter Room

11) Primal Scream - Some Velvet Morning

12) Soulgrabber - Motocross Madness

13) Arctic Monkeys - Old Yellow Bricks

14) Vitalic - La Rock '01

15) Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name (SebastiAn/Oizo Remix)

16) Queens Of The Stone Age - 3's & 7's

17) Antoine Clamaran - Take Off

18) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Berlin

19) Pop Dell' Arte - No Way Out (The Users Remix)

20) Moonbootica - Wattbird

21) Lords Of Acid - I Sit On Acid (Soulwax Remix)

22) Wild Child - Renegade Master (Norman Cook Remix)

23) Justice - D.A.N.C.E (MSTRKRFT Remix)

24) Andrea Bertolini - My Wav

25) MBG & SDS - New Jack (Steve Angello Remix)

26) Polysics - Ceolakanth Is Android (MSTRKRFT Remix)

27) Electroluxe Family - Rock Dat Shit

28) SebastiAn - Walkman (Werol Alkman Edit)

29) All Saints - Rock Steady (MSTRKRFT Remix)

30) NiguiriBeats Mashup - The Chemical Brothers vs. Infusion

31) Digitalism - Home Zone

32) Prodigy - Voodoo People (Pendulum Remix)

2007-08-18T12:35:00.000Z

Now Open For Business, With A 2 For 1 Special Offer!*!

My new blog; Cellar Dweller is now up and running with the first few posts, so if you like a bit of old skool rave, point & click over there!*!

In kind of related news, Josh from down New Zealand way won the Daft Punk competition getting all the correct answers, so congrats Josh, your prize will be in the post on Monday!*!

2007-08-17T12:40:00.000Z

Watch Out!*! Here Comes A Curve Ball!*!

Every now and again I like to pitch in a curve ball on this here humble blog!*! I've been concious right from the start of this blog that I didn't want to see a day when it become staid and concentrating on one particular musical form, and while I've been completely focused on electronic music of one flavour or another, hopefully I've chopped things up so as to achieve my intial aim of showing how, in an ideal world, genres would become utterly redundant!*! To this end I've been looking for something to post with an edge, but right off the well trodden path, something to shake things up, so I was really pleased to receive some mail from the team behind Merok!*! If your not familiar with the label (& you bloody well should be!*!), they are quite possibly the nicest people in the all too often bitter and twsited music biz, they have a genuine desire to put out the very best music they can find and have already notched up the initial Klaxons and Teenagers releases, as well as the fab Crystal Castles!*! This Monday sees the guys release a new split 7" from Comanechi and Pre, and it's a belter, the common link being that the 2 bands are fronted by Akiko, literally a pint-sized maelstrom!*!

From the tracks I was sent, I've chosen to post Pre's 'Dude Fuk', largely because outside of electronic music, this is the kind of stuff I listen to, something that makes you immediately sit up and take notice!*! Today's track would be the perfect soundtrack to a recent relationship break-up or something of that nature, when you have that fire in your belly, and would be an ideal accompanient to some throwing of crockery or something (remember not violence towards others, but innanomate objects are fair game!*!), at least that's what I imagined upon initial playing!*! This release is out on Monday, and can be grabbed from the link below. Please do the right thing and buy it, if you enjoyed it. If ever there was a record label that needs to survive in this evermore cut-throat business, then it's Merok, because labels with this kind of passion don't come along everyday, plus it's limited to 500 copies and it comes on 'jizz' coloured vinyl, what other reason do you possible need!*!

Pre - 'Dude Fuk' (Merok) (Buy)

The release is also backed-up with a truckload of refixes from Scotch Egg, Tapedeck, Gentlemen Drivers and this turbo-charged effort from recent Kitsune signings; Passions

Comanechi - 'Death Of You (Passions Splatterhouse Remix)' (Merok)

While I'm on the subject of Merok, they've also teamed up with Rough Trade on a limited edition 7" release to celebrate the opening of Rough Trade's new store in East London. With tracks from The Teenagers and Crystal Castles, it's another worthy edition to your collection. Grab a copy here if you fancy it!*!

2007-08-16T17:56:00.000Z

Ready Kids? It's Blamma Blamma Time!*!

Long-time BSWD favourites Blamma! Blamma! have furnished me with something rather tasty!*! This was to be their first proper release, but the guys decided to put it on the shelf and never got around to releasing it!*! Lord knows why, it's proper dancefloor ammunition!*! Anyway, the guys have told me that in a couple of months they will have their debut release ready for you good folks to buy, and if you judge the unreleased track I've been sent, you know that the proper release is going be something special. As soon as I have confirmed release dates I'll update you all here, but what I do know is that it will be available on 10" vinyl (yippee!*!) and available digitally from ITunes. But in the meantime feast your earbuds on this!*!

Blamma! Blamma! - 'Carry Me Home (Final Mix)'

If Sendspace isn't working for you then you can download this track at their Myspace page, and if you are extra nice and email the guys here, then they may give you the super-320bit version, especially good if you want to play it out to a bunch of kids hungry for some turbo!*!

2007-08-15T18:48:00.000Z

It's Tricky Going Through Life Without Being Stoopit!*!

No much to say about today's offering. Dirtybird signings, the Martin Brothers add a contemporary twist to the old Tricky Disco bleep-era classic. Wonky, stuttering beats and big basslines are the order of the day here!*! Although I'm a bit disappointed at the lack of bleeps!*! Nevertheless this will definately get the dancefloor a' jumpin'. The flip has a Lutzenkirchen mix which ramps everything upto dangerous proportions!*! You can grab the both mixes in super-320bit from Beatport, or on the black stuff at the link below!*!

Tricky Disco - 'Tricky Disco (The Martin Brothers Thizzy Disco Remix)' (iO Music) (Buy)

2007-08-14T19:28:00.000Z

I Have A Secret & I Must Tell!*!

I've been harbouring a terrible secret from my family and friends for sometime now!*! What might that secret be? Well I harbour a liking of the UK version of the Big Brother TV show!*! Appalling I know, and i've no idea why I like it, I always considered myself to be a reasoned person!*! This series I've especially enjoyed watching pink-haired, self-confessed raver; Tracey and her throwing of little-fish, big-fish, cardboard box shapes even though there's no music to be heard in the house! She must have an internal soundtrack or something and if so then she is a woman after my own heart, because if only we all had one then the world would be a better place!*! I got to thinking about what 2 tracks I would play to the house so that her periodic outbreaks of dance moves wouldn't appear so ridiculous sans la music, and i came up with the 2 tracks i'm posting today!*!

2 Bad Mice - 'Bombscare (Remix)' (Moving Shadow) (Buy)

Hackney Hardcore - 'Dancehall Dangerous! (Don't Mess With Us! Mix)' (Strictly Underground) (Buy)

On a related point I will no longer be posting anymore old skool rave tracks here!*! Why? Well as of this weekend, I'll have set up a brand-new blog specifically for them and nothing else. What's it called then? Cellar Dweller; and a link will be up on the side-bar as of this weekend as soon as I get a chance to sort everything out and get some tracks posted!*! I was concerned at the amount I wanted to post and how this blog may become overcrowded, post-wise, so best solution I could come up with; 2 blogs!*! This blog will continue on its current path, so no worries there!*!

Also, someone left a comment anonamously after yesterday's post in relation to my Daft Punk competition. I apologise that I didn't get your email (Yahoo dumps loads of stuff into a Spam folder which I just delete without reading, hence deleting your email, sorry!*!), if you send it again, I'll post off your prize once I see your answers!*!

2007-08-13T18:48:00.000Z

Best Laid Plans & All That!*!

I've written here before on numerous occasions declaring my undying love of Jacques Lu Cont's instalment of Fabric's mix series, put simply it's head and shoulders above just about every other mix ever!*! From an inspired track selection through to the way it's pieced together, it's just a work of art!*! Since snagging a copy 4 years ago, I've tried in vain to track down a copy of one track in particular; Laid's Dub Mix of Crazy Penis' 'Give It Up'. Imagine my suprise then when I was buying a few bits and pieces over at Beatport and discovered that they've exclusively got a 19-track Crazy Penis collection on offer, on legendary Mancunian label; Paper Recordings. There's all the originals to be had, along with re-interpretations from Tom Middleton, Ian Pooley and Faze Action amongst others. All in all, a quality collection, that amongst the tracks you should find something to your liking, however for today here's that cracking Laid dub to start the week off right!*!

Crazy Penis - 'Give It Up (Laid Dub Mix)' (Paper Recordings) (Buy)

Copies of Jacques Lu Cont's mix can still be grabbed here or direct from Fabric here!*!

____________________________________________________________________

Well my latest competition was a spectacular failure!*! Only 35 people downloaded the files, and nobody emailed me with the correct answers!*! Actually nobody answered at all! I really didn't think spotting the movies would be difficult, especially if you just checked Discogs as I did!*! Alas, I think I'll steer clear of competitions in the future and concentrate on the music!*! Some news regarding this blog tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled!*!

2007-08-10T18:52:00.000Z

What Are All The Scenesters Listening To At The Moment? #5

The next instalment in this ongoing series is upon us once again! This time around rather than an individual track, I'm dedicating this post to an all-time great LP; Daft Punk's 'Homework'.

I don't consider it any stretch of the imagination to say that electronic music was a very different animal pre and post it's release, and if it did nothing else (which of course it did!*!), it put the fun back into a musical form that some had declared staid, and in doing so single-handedly inspired a whole generation of would-be producers and clubbers alike, as well as giving the old guard reasons not to rest on their laurels!*!

Far from being a one-trick pony, here was a long-player where one finger was not required to hover over the track-skip button on the remote to bypass the filler, or in other far more cheesy words it was 'all killer, no filler'!*! From the opening track, the duo's influences were worn for the whole world to see and rather than play-down their influences, they took them and made them something else entirely, most of all on the 'roll-call' of heroes; 'Teachers'. From the Chi-Town trackyness (!?!) of tracks like 'Revolution 909' and 'Pheonix', to the disco-looped party tracks of 'Burnin' and 'Around The World', without forgetting the noise-fest that is 'Rollin & Scratchin', here's was an LP that was so stuffed with gems it's rarely been achieved since (and I went a whole sentence without even mentioning 'Da Funk'!*! - Damn the album is that good!*!). One look around the music blogs currently on the scene and the duo's recent hectic touring schedule, the tracks that went to constitute 'Homework' still posses the magic that makes them as relevant today as they were 10 years ago whe the LP first hit the shelves of your local record store!*!

It was perhaps fate then, that my first introduction to Daft Punk would occur in Paris visiting a friend for the weekend, a short Eurostar hop over the channel and a copy was mine, and it still gets regular airings around at BSWD Towers.

If you only even have a passing interest in electronic music then you most likely already have a copy but if you don't then there's a very special place put aside in hell for you, you bad people!*! But alas not all is lost, redeem yourself and grab a copy at one of these links here, here, here, here or here

So, the track I've chosen to post is my favourite; 'Revolution 909' and seeing as how it's the beginning of the weekend here's a tasty edit of 'Prime Time Of Our Lives' that I recently picked up over at Chazology (although the blog seems to be down at present!*!), by Roccanova!*!

Daft Punk - 'Revolution 909' (Virgin)

Daft Punk - 'Prime Time Of Our Lives (Roccanova Remix)

2007-08-09T18:44:00.000Z

In Case Of Emergency Break Glass!*!

So I've just had the shittiest day at work and I was on the prowl for a track to lighten my mood!*! Then I remembered reading an article in the now defunct Muzik magazine, in a interview with someone that I can no longer place, that he/she always carried one particular record around with them no matter where they were playing just in case things didn't go according to plan; that this track just never failed them, so in the spirit of never failing here's that track, and one choice that I never ever get tired of hearing, especially in these times where the old French house sound appears to be making a major comeback!* What is it then I hear you cry; why it's the Buffalo Bunch's delightful remix of Pheonix's 'If I Ever Feel Better'. Enjoy!*!

Pheonix - 'If I Ever Feel Better I'll Go To The Disco (Said The Buffalo Bunch)' (Source) (Buy)

2007-08-09T17:29:00.000Z

I'll Be Your Host For This Evening!*!

It has come to my attention via a number of comments left recently that people have been experiencing issues downloading from this blog with the Sendspace hosting that I've been using. So, I thought I would take this opportunity to set the record straight as it were!*! I'm not in the business of being awkward for awkward sake, but I will not be switching hosting providers, and there are a number of reasons for not doing so!*! I've been using Sendspace on here for well over a year now and it's simple to use (i.e for me to upload tracks - I'm not especially IT literate!!!), and it offers an easy way of managing the files I do post. Each of the tracks posted here will only ever be available for a maximum of 14 days, and I set each up with a download limit much like Yousendit. On those tracks that I haven't had the express permission of the label to use will have a much lower limit placed on them for the simple reason that I have no wish for this blog to turn into just somewhere to grab free music. While I'd be the first to agree that essentially that is what I am doing, I'm trying to find a way not to piss too many labels off, especially as all I'm endeavouring to do is promote music I love and encourage you all to buy what you like. I'd encourage people to leave constructive criticism, but on this matter I'm going to stand my ground and keep things the way they are. I've had a fairly constant number of readers (or so the stats say) for a while now, and if it means by not switching I loose some of them, then I'm afraid that is a risk I'll have to take!*!

If I could offer one tip when trying to download a Sendspace file, it may be best to try outside of peak hours if at all possible when the service is a little quieter. Remember people your likely to have 14 days to get files that you fancy listening to... Anyway, enough of all that I'll post a track in a bit!*!

2007-08-07T18:31:00.000Z

Italians Definately Do It Better!*!

Some lovelyness arrived in the post this morning in the shape of Italians Do It Better's compilation 'After Dark' and it's almost certainly going to be my LP of the year, it's just ridiculously sexy!*!

It's choc-full of lovely, lovely tracks from the likes of Glass Candy, Chromatics, Farah and Professor Genius, and includes a superb mix of Indeep's 'Last Nite A DJ Saved My Life' by Mirage, which just has to be heard to be believed!*! Yup, it's that good!*! And I'm certain that the always-ahead-of-everyone-else 20JFG guys have posted it up on their blog sometime back, and it credit where it's due, I purchased the compilation on their recommendation alone, and I'd urge you to grab a copy before it's gone for good!*! Some of the tracks you may have already picked up in demo form from the interweb, but you need the shiny new versions, plus there's some tracks you definately won't have gotten from anywhere else!*! Believe!*!

Apart from the Indeep mix, here's my 2 favourite tracks (damn, the decision as to what to post was almost impossible) from the compilation as a taster!*!

Professor Genius - 'La Grotta'

Glass Candy - 'Rolling Down The Hills'

Grab yourself a copy here for a meesly $12 bucks along with other Italians Do It Better goodies in the future!*!

2007-08-06T12:59:00.000Z

War Can Only Lead To No Good!*!

Bit of a weird one this, I downloaded 'Apocalypse Rock' by Trilogyy some time back from Risky Bizniz, but it was only yesterday whle I had ITunes on random mode that I came across a track that for all intents and purposes is the same thing, only tweaked a bit here and there. After a quick scout around the interweb I discovered that Trilogyy's memebers include Kris Menace, Serge Santiago and Tom Neville. The track in question that I came across yesterday was Serge and Tom Neville's re-edit of Kano's Italo gem 'It's A War', which appeared sometime back on his series of coloured EP's; 'Green' I believe. Have a listen to the Trilogyy track if you have it and to the re-edit and spot the resembelances!*!

Kano - 'It's A War (Serge Santiago's Instrumental Re-edit)' (Arco Edit) (Buy)

Some copies of the Trilogyy track are still available in the Phonica sale here or at Juno here

2007-08-04T13:51:00.000Z

10 Years In The Making....!*!

I finally got my grubby little mitts on (having being sold-out everywhere I could think of!*!) Souvenir Records' celebration of 10 Years of Tiefschwarz Pt. 1, reason enough to celebrate in anyone's book. In line with this achievement the label commisioned 6 new mixes of Tiefschwarz tracks, new and old, and the results are as you might expect, top-drawer. Refixes come from Radio Slave, Shonky (one of my tracks of the year so-far!!), Kiki & Silversurfer, Samim, Turntablerocker and Ruede Hagelstein.

Now seeing as Samim's 'Heater' is set to be one of the tracks of the year (regardless of what you think of it!*!), I've chosen to post his throbbingly deep and gurgling (!?!) mix of Tiefschwarz's 'Original'.

Tiefschwarz - 'Original (Samim's Robidog Rmx)' (Souvenir) (Buy) (Buy)

Choices! Choices! There's a double-pack vinyl offering for those of you like me who can't get enough of the black stuff, or there's a CD version, with a bonus mix by the duo themsleves, available from the links above. As always, if you prefer digital to vinyl, then your usual digital suppliers such as Beatport should have it!*!

I'm guessing that there is another part of this collection still to be released, and I'm sure I've read somewhere that Carl Craig is part of the line-up for Part 2!*! Damn, I can't wait!*!

2007-08-03T14:52:00.000Z

My Italo Leanings Pt. 3

It's been far too long since I've posted any Italo, so to rectify that oversight here's some, but rather than dip into the archives, here's some newness, but with huge Italo overtones.

First up, Unit 4 retro-fit Alden Tyrell's classic 'Disco Lunar Module' with it's own jet-pack, this is Italo on steroids!*! There's 2 versions to choose from, each slightly more mental than the last, and seeing how it's the start of the weekend, I'm going to post the turbo version.

Alden Tyrell - 'Disco Lunar Module (U4RIA's Superdunkel Rmx)' (Mogs) (Buy) (Buy)

To calm things down just a bit here's a new label to me; Brontosaurus and their latest 12" by Lauer. I've gone for the A-side and it's a full-on Italo disco joy. If your feeling this then make sure, if you haven't already, grab their recent remix of Toby Tobias on Rekids. If vinyl ain't your bag then the label's back catalogue is available over at Kompakt's MP3 store

Lauer - 'Valentino' (Brontosaurus) (Buy) (Buy)

2007-08-02T11:54:00.000Z

Competition Time!*!

I thought it was about time for a competition round here!*! So I've decided to base this competition around 2 of my primary passions in life; early 90s rave music and movies (hmm strange combination!*!). So here's how this is going to work, in the zip file below (I know people don't like zip files but I assure you there's nothing that shouldn't be in there!*!) are 4 tracks, all you need to do is email me (address is over on the side-bar) the 4 movies sampled!*! Sounds easy? Well it is!*! As i'd expect most people to get all four without too much hassle, I'm going to put in place a tie-breaker as well. When you email over your answers, also complete this sentence 'I love Daft Punk because......', in no more than 100 words. You have until midnight Sunday 12th August to get your answers in.

What do I win I hear you ask, well how about these limited addition Daft Punk key rings decorated by So Me from the Ed Bangers crew (yes, they are the dog-bloke hybrid from the Da Funk video), that do ya'.

One final point, please don't leave your answers in the comments section, because then everyone else will be able to see them!*! Good luck!*!

Watch Ya Bassbins, I'm Tellin' Ya'

2007-08-01T11:48:00.001Z

Oooh! Mr Rigsby!*!

It occured to me after posting yesterday's tracks that I made reference to the Rejected track being a 'Landlord-style keyed behemoth', that there maybe some of you reading that might not have got the meaning that I was trying to convey, so it seemed like as good a time as any to post the track I was referring to.

It's fair to say that in some small way this Landlord track has helped to shape pretty much every genre since it's release, if for no other reason that it's piano keys have been sampled by countless producers. If you were out raving anytime during the very early nineties then you'll have heard not only this track but countless immitators. Aside from rave tracks it's popped up on techno tracks, house records, you name it someone has used it fairly constantly since it's release, and as yesterday's Rejected track showed it hasn't lost any of its appeal, especially when you need to inject some life into a dancefloor!*! So without further ado, here it is!*!

Landlord - 'I Like It' (Debut) (Buy)

2007-07-31T11:27:00.000Z

Say Kids! What Time Is It? Pt. 3

Last batch of freshness for your shell likes!*! Today's offerings are a little less crunchy and a little deeper in feel!*!

New Radio Slave refix treatment for Armand Van Helden just released this Monday, as part of a 2 track sampler for his latest LP 'Ghettoblaster'. Jesse Rose takes on 'Playmate' on the A-side while on the flip, Matt Edwards takes 'This Ain't Hollywood' on a deep, druggy journey!*! I'm not at all familiar with the original, so to the best of my estimations he appears to have ditched all of the original save for one sample and rebuilt the track around that in his own imitable style. If your a fan of anything on his Rekids label then you should lap this track up!*! Also, keep you ears open for the next 2 instalments in Radio Slave's 'No Sleep' series. Parts 3 and 4 are about to drop anytime now, and you know you need to get your grubby little mitts on those!*!

Armand Van Helden - 'This Ain't Hollywood (Radio Slave Remix)' (Southern Fried) (Buy) (Buy)

Next, you really should keep an eye out on Matt Edwards' Myspace page and his monthly chart bulletins, cause they contain bags of recommendations and future goodness, one such track I've just acquired based on his recommendation is this drum-heavy monster from the rather oddly monikered; Shed outta Germany. 2007 is definately the year of the drum, it's all gonna go tribal from here on out people, check Gabriel Ananda's 'Stream Of Conciousness' for further proof. Anyway, this particular track is lifted from Shed's 'These Kinky Dudes From Germany EP' and is one to test the very best bassbins. Big driving drums with bags of distortion and just the faintest of samples keeps everything nice and simple and will definately work on most dancefloors.

Shed - 'Kinky Dudes' (Soloaction) (Buy) (Buy)

Last but by no means least, the latest in a series of house/techno bombs produced by Joris Voorn & Edwin Oosterwal, under their Rejected pseudonym. In the shops at the present time is Rejected 002, from which today's track is taken. Any fans of Dave Clarke's style of dancefloor techno are gonna go rabid for this ravey Landlord-style keyed behemoth. Simple but devastating in equal measure, drop it in a set and watch the place erupt!*! You might also want to check Rejected's refix for Deetron's 'Life Soundtrack' which is another quality reworking for the duo.

Rejected - 'Let's Go Juno' (Rejected) (Buy) (Buy)

2007-07-30T12:53:00.000Z

Say Kids! What Time Is It? Pt. 2

Another day, another couple of fresh offerings for your delictation.
Think you've heard enough 'D.A.N.C.E.' mixes to last you a lifetime? Yes? Hold it right there!*! While Justice may have had their debut LP pretty much blogged to death, there is still plenty of life in there yet!*! Case in point, the remix 12" for 'D.A.N.C.E' has just hit the shelves of your local music emporium and all 4 are worthy additions to your collection. I'm most taken with Alan Braxe's, but then I'm not sure what I was expecting! Alan Braxe & Fred Falke + Justice = dancefloor gold!*!
Anyway on with the track I'm posting, taken from the same remix 12", here's a live version recorded at Fabric back in May and apparently inspired by MSTRKRFT's take on the same track. It's unlikely to win any awards for originality but who the hell cares!*! As Simon Pegg put it in 'Hot Fuzz'; 'Bring The Noise'.
Justice - 'D.A.N.C.E (Live Version)' (Ed Banger) (Buy) (Buy) (Buy)

Next something a little different, and the latest offering from Serge Santiago. 'R2D2' is a sub-10 minute, ocean deep, freak-fest, perfect for those late nights when nothing but the freakiest sounds will do. 'R2D2' seems an appropriate title given the bleeps and blobs liberally spread throughout the track, which just builds and builds. Taken from Ibizian club 'We Love.....' latest mix CD, this sampler pits Serge Santiago against Riton. The 2 CD mix (mixed suprisingly enough mixed by Serge and Riton can be got here, here and here.
Serge Santiago - 'R2D2' (We Love....) (Buy) (Buy)

2007-07-30T10:55:00.001Z

What Are All The Scenesters Listening To At The Moment? #4

Time to go back, way back!*! Like many people of my age, my first love musically was Hip-Hop!*! Let's be honest wether it be Punk or Hip Hop most of us choose something we knew our parents would hate, and that's the primary reason for liking it initially, surely!?! I've got a hip-hop track lined up for another post in this series so I'll leave it there for now, but today's pick represents that period at the end of the 80s and the beginning of the 90s. My love of hip hop had started to wain slightly by the back of 1991, and had been replaced by something altogether different; Rave. However, my first tentative steps into this new musical form wasn't altogther different from some of the hip hop I'd been listening to previously, especially some of the hip-house coming out of Britain at the time. A friend of mine lent me his sisters copy of Shut Up & Dance first compilation, and it was a revalation to say the least, but I was most taken with The Ragga Twins. Children of the soundsystems of London and running with the Shut Up & Dance crew; Flinty Badman & Deman Rocker already had the right credentials, but I was most taken with the backing to their tracks. Huge breakbeats (like hip hop), but much faster tempo and tons of squiggly little noises and walls of sub-bass!*! That was it, I was well and truely hooked on the rave culture of the early nineties, and if the truth be told I still hanker back to those halcyon days, and I have The Ragga Twins to thank for that!*! However, as stupid as it sounds I lost loads of my so called mates when I stopped listening to hip-hop; apparently I had sold out!*! I mean, please, we were just a bunch of white, middle-class teenagers with too much time on our hands, how exactly was I selling out!?! Anyway, it didn't take all that long before those same friends were desperately trying all our local record shops for a copy of The Ragga Twins debut LP 'Reggae Owes Me Money'. Put it this way if you managed to get a copy you were automatically a legend in our eyes!*! Yes, the LP was extremley hard to come by and it really is that good, I could have chosen any of the tracks on there, but I've plumped to post 'Hooligan 69', becuase it shows their chatting skills best, so enjoy!*!

The Ragga Twins - 'Hooligan 69' (Shut Up & Dance) (Buy)

It seemed like a really good time for me to post this track now, not having heard anything from the duo for years, save the odd Drum N Bass track, I was really pleased to see them popping up on a remix along with Hot Chip on the new David E Sugar track 'Oi New York, This Is London'. Jump on over to Discobelle where it may still be available to listen to, and then go grab yourself a copy here or here!*! Until the next instalment, I'd be really interested to hear what some of you guys hold as your most important tracks, perhaps leave a comment!*!

2007-07-30T10:39:00.000Z

If Only I Had A Beetroot To Mend This Broken Heart!*!

Some more newness in my in-box this morning in the shape of blog-favourites The Bloody Beetroots. This time providing the re-fix treatment for indie-tykes Captain Pheonix. If you read Discodust you should already be familiar with Italian remix-extrodinares; The Bloody Beetroots, and their brand of dancefloor mayhem, plus this track in question has the longest guitar breakdown this side of 90s hair-rockers Van Halen!*! Air guitars at the ready people!*!

Captain Pheonix - 'Pistols & Hearts (The Bloddy Beetroots Remix)' (Kind Canyon) (Buy)