Friendly Fires : Kiss of Life Video

Alex Turner: “Paul Epworth is winning at life.” Alex Turner is a man dating Alexa Chung and a star in two successful bands in recent times he is a man I can trust.

The thing is that the man formerly known as Phones is branching out into a stellar producer. First he turned skiffleball Elvis impersonator ponce Jack Penate into an accomplished singer songwriter with echoes of early 90’s tribal dance and African drums. Then he constantly manages to pull out the best of one of my favourite bands, Friendly Fires.

Kiss of Life is them eschewing their addictive brand of new disco funk. Instead the track is samba carnival drumming with drops that’ll make you scream for more. It might be my favourite track by the St Albans band that’s including Paris (Ldnnez rule number 54: almost all songs about Paris are amazing.)

Major Lazer Monday

It’s Major Lazer Monday. I wish all days could be like this filled with music made from a commando with a lazer on one of his arms. Either way here are two mixes, one is the essential mix and the other from the Mishka mix series. I guessing that since both of them are very busy and that Diplo pulled double duty with his pitchfork and essential mix (both came out within two weeks of each other) I assume the mixes are very similar.

With that said, Major Lazer produced one of the albums of the summer. An album that is rich and diverse with huge pop songs and jarring political anthems. An album that really came out of nowhere on this musical landscape, a record that was a result of a holiday and was definitely not something that came out of chilling at the beach.

The mishka mix is here.

The essential mix is here.

Buraka Som Siestema Summer Mixtape

Buraka som siestema have released a new mixtape for the summer, you remember that season with the sun. It features some of the remixes, original work from the great album and new stuff including a track with Afrikan Boy.

There seems to be a lack of good mixtapes around (I’ll sort that out this week, I thinking of releasing 2 more of my own) and this is definitely one of the best. Nor by proxy but just by the fact it is damn good.

Questo from the Roots new challenge

Questo from the Roots decided to remix Phillip Michael Thomas (the original black guy in Miami Vice) album to make something listenable from it.

The video is a great way to see how remixing is done, especially when given such crap original parts. Hopefully the instrumental will be available as an mp3 soon.

Skillit : Skeen Video

Funny grime video?!?! That’s a shocker. And another piece of slang to go along with the others that are filtrating London (Pars, various uses of Na Na Na and ting)

[grabbed from bntl]

Bloc Party : One More Chance Video

Last night was amazing, pictures coming soon.

I had a discussion with a mate of mine where we talked about the development of Bloc Party. We have both been disappointed with recent output but still retain faith. They are progressing in a fashion similar to Joy Division turning into New Order (minus the death of a band member). This is a band in constant evolution; there will be hits and misses. I’m ambivalent about this new track One More Chance. On the one hand the driving piano beat is something I like but overall it seems slightly underwhelming. Maybe that’s the direction its going for but either way I’m happy to see them back.

Mix: Kazabon

1) The Name of the Mix: 'Elephant Booty' because like the tunes, its heavy!
2) Inspiration for the mix: my Caribbean roots, dancehall classes, Aint it Black, Toddla T and The Heatwave.
3) Type of music you like: I like elements of lots of different genres, a good tune is a good tune no matter what genre. Bashment, baltimore club, house, Uk funky, electro, ghettotech are all fun to mix with.
4) New or odd or obscure musical act that you are enjoying at the moment: Switch and Diplo's new Major Lazer project has been my soundtrack for the last few weeks. Im also feeling Maxwell D's 'Blackberry Hype', and 'Text Text Text' and Sonic 86's 'Tesco' which is a bouncy electro banger.
5) Daggering, are you a fan of it? I find it pretty amusing. After watching a video of what daggering entails im not surprised guys are getting injured due to daggering. Lets just say i wouldnt be a fan of a guy jumping off a ladder and aiming at my vajayjay.
6) Myspace info: www.myspace.com/kazabonsmixes
7) Upcoming projects? a new mix mayhaps? Ive got some themed mixtapes planned for the near future and if all goes well some festival gigs.
8) Favourite football player: Does the Honey Monster in the old Sugar Puff's advert count?

You can DL it here

MSTRKRFT - Heartbreaker (Video)

MSTRKRFT – Featuring John Legend from vincent haycock on Vimeo.

One of the biggest disappointments of the year was the MSTRKRFT album. After really enjoying the first one with its French house touches, the second one was all Frat-house (read: simplistic) electro party. That unrelenting banging, 100 miles an hour sound. The sound described in the Justice DVD as the new punk rock. I don’t enjoy it, I love Proxy but I can’t stand the others, especially with the proliferation of them on Hype Machine.

Anyway, after MSTRKRFT produced an alluring remix of Green Light (their manipulation of the piano keys was better than the whole original), John Legend returns the favour by singing on Heartbreaker. Unlike the other songs on the album (the Lil Mo ones being the worst) this manages to balance the two worlds of R and B and Electro.

This video reminds me that I need to buy a pinanta.

If You Got The Money - Jamie T Concert 1st July

Well Jamie , I don’t and I didn’t have to pay for tickets. The troubadour from Wimbledon kicked off this year’s Itunes festival with a rousing set. The Itunes festival is unique as you don’t have to pay for tickets, just enter a facebook competition to stand a chance to attend a show.

Jamie T mixed in tracks from the new stick and stones EP with classics from his last album. This was my first time watching him perform and I have to say that I was impressed. With the plethora of live videos online I should have been prepared for his gig. I even spent my Saturday morning watching his set from Glastonbury this past weekend. I obviously wasn’t prepared enough as I stood near the back of the Camden roundhouse watching the swirling mass of teenagers at the front. His fans displayed the energy of a punk crowd, something that offset the fact that they were chanting the depressing subject matters in some of the songs.

The new stuff played well with the crowd but it was the classics that really got people going. Jamie T may never hit the top of the charts but he will be around for a long time. The combination of great songs, lyrics and a great live show (minus any theatrics) will outlive many of his flashy peers.

A little note to be added, if you didn’t win tickets for your favourite act during the festival you can stand in line to have a chance of getting standby tickets. There is a lot of great talent performing this month so don’t miss out because you didn’t win.

Track 6

Tonight I’m going to see, in my opinion, the best troubadour in the Uk (Who gives a shit about those Libertines losers? Or that dude from Razorlight? Or Richard Blackwood?) Jamie T is a musician that inspired me to move down to London and not be afraid of the big smoke. Along with the Rakes they didn’t paint the city as glorious or too seedy, just what it is. A dilapidated monster of city. Full of transplants and misfits thrown together with the mega rich and the mega poor, I don’t know anyone that isn’t one of the two.

The first track I ever heard was his cover of the Billy Bragg classic “A New England”. These lyrics are timeless.

“I was 21 years when I wrote this song, I’m 22 now but I won’t be for long.

People as when you will grow up to be a man when the girls I loved at school are already pushing prams.

And I loved you then as I loved you still, though I put you on a pedestal they put you on the pill.”

I may not be so keen on the new stuff but he is from the footage I have seen a great performer and I can’t wait. It also marks the start of the ridiculous amount of gigs I am going to this week.

Animal

My brothers in beats, sci fi and disco, Ulysses 82, have made a mix for Disco Jesus for Deep Frequency Radio.

I’ll let them explain

“Last week we put together a mix for our pal Disco Jesus on the wonderful Deep Frequency Radio.
It’s now available to stream or download here. (it’s the show from the 18th June).

It’s the first mix I’ve been involved with for ages and it felt pretty good to summarize what we have been playing out and about for the last six months or so.

Anyway, take a listen and hope you enjoy it.”

Go and listen to it.

U82 can be found here.

U82 blog can be found here.

Lovers Magic

Until I actually write the future dancehall post you will have to put up with Jay Z posts. (Actually I’m posting this because I can’t find the High Contrast remix of the next Clavin Harris single ready for the weekend, which is huge. How Huge? Potentially La Roux vs Skream huge.)

Well this is a link to the Chase and Status remix of Jay Z’s D.O.A. This is the only official remix at the moment. Seriously this is big, bigger than Drake working with Chase and Status or that poor Snoop Dogg remix of Eastern Jam. Either way, enjoy it. It’s a winner.

[Pic stolen from Hugo]

In The Space

The king is back. Might as well post it since I have been bumping the Janko Nilovic original, somewhat eerie in the middle of the hailstorm.

Two Hearts Unchanged

To celebrate their ten year anniversary (!) and the summer sun/death wave, here is a Basement Jaxx classic.

(I’m avoiding clubs until the Jackson hysteria dies settles down.)

Hot Shyt

Lets be clear micheal jackson was a legend. But he provided me and some of my friends last night with too much humour.

MJ was the Akon of the last decade.

Who’s gonna feed tito?

Prince won – (Chris Rock quote)

Michael was a great host. – (Dave Chappelle quote.)

Think of me as an antidote to the hysterics. The man’s death is a bigger than Elvis’ but he was also a confused eccentric. Oh and i dont think he touched those kids.

Azz Klap

Hey fake blood aka best dj in the world. How about you chill with the amazing remixes? By the way the Miike Snow album is very under the radar. Listen to it now before Jo Whiley makes it her record of the week in November.

Smiley Faces

Two jokey rap videos to start off the day.

First up is Dizzee Rascal calming down the crowd at the Rockness festival this past weekend. R Kelly being put to good use.

DIZZEE RASCAL DEMONSTRATES THE MEANING OF CROWD CONTROL@THE ROCKNESS FESTIVAL, SCOTLAND from DJ SEMTEX on Vimeo.

Second is the It’s the Real sketch with Slaughterhouse (aka the best rap supergroup of the past 10 years.) You might not recognise some of the rappers but you will find it hilarious.

“The older ladies love me the call me J.O.E.L.L L Cool J.”

The Slaughterhouse Rules from jeff on Vimeo.

Cash Flow

Earlier in the week, I wrote about the new Jay–Z single which basically calls for the end of the Auto-tune. Whether or not that will be heeded we can only wait to find out (probably not going to work). Either way after listening to the interviews following his Hot 97 Summer Jam appearance (Hip Hop’s biggest yearly event) he seems to be backing off the harshly lyrics in his songs. Chalk this up to another smart marketing move (similar to Nasir Jones Hip Hop is Dead movement). Either way I suddenly remembered this video put up by Atlanta artist B.O.B back in January.

B.O.B ,or Bobby Ray as he now likes to be called, is a rapper/singer from Atlanta. He is often compared to Andre 3000 due to his versatile singing style. He is must more than that he is also a multi instrumentalist and is known for his captivating live shows. He recently did a remix of a stone cold classic (aka a song that can never be fucked with Bonita Applebum by ATCQ) for the Reebok Classics series which was fantastic. I have been getting up to Put Me On for the past week.

He is signed to T.I’s label which is odd since you maybe wouldn’t expect him to be included in a group that featured Alfamega. He is most likely to be the one to break out and achieve his own success ala Lupe Fiasco.

Wolf

It’s Switch Wednesday. Don’t know who Switch? He is the talented producer who has worked with MIA, Santogold and remixed Basement Jaxx, Evil Nine, Fatboy Slim, Simian Mobile Disco, Radioclit, Robbie Williams, Klaxons and so on and so on.

First of all is the video for MPHO, a new singer who is currently supporting Mr Hudson on his Uk Tour. She is performing at YOYO on the 18^th. Hailing from Brixton, she is tipped for big things.

Second, Switch and Diplo are about to release the Major Lazer album this coming week (16^th june). You can stream the whole album off myspace right now.

p.s sample of the MPHO track here.

Say Whoa!

Also quick shout out to the amazing dubstep/bass heavy champions Tomb Crew for being posted on Discobelle. Go here to check it out. And make sure you download the great remix they did of the extremely alluring Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.

[picture of Jamie (Tomb Crew) from January sporting a vintage House of Pain tee shirt]