Burnt Waffles

Cutting The Fat

2009-03-18T09:31:00.014+11:00

No time for clever gimmicks or conceits here. I'm on deadline dammit. Recent things that are one thousand degrees:

Mayer Hawthorne & The County - Just Ain't Gonna Work Out

New Stones Throw artist Mayer Hawthorne has us over here at BW in a weeks-long swoon. Nat wants to have his babies. Lo-fi blue-eyed soul that sounds like long-lost Stax demos. LURRRRRRR.

(thanx to Stranger Dance for having a link when Badongo is bitching out)

Kid Cudi - Switchin' Lanes

It's fair enough to think that tracks recorded exclusively for video games should be retarded. They probably are, fundamentally. But Cudi's I'm-not-even-really-trying-here delivery suits the almost All Eyez On Me style beats. If you haven't yet, follow Dat New CuDi on Twitter cause he drops links to new tracks.

BLK JKS - Summertime (Carlos Ramos version)

BLK JKS are like a South African version of TV On The Radio - in that they sound similar, are amazing, and come from Johannesburg. Props to RCRD LBL for this track.

Body Langauge - Huffy Ten Speed

Neon Gold is ridiculous. We continue to worship at the altar. The consistency of the bangers over there is just unbelievable. This is my jam of the year so far.

8-Bit Heat

2009-03-13T09:57:00.003+11:00

Check out this medley of rap songs done Nintendo style. Anyone know how to download it?

http://www.shotthen.com/2009/02/04/8-bit-hip-hop-medley/

Eyes Caught Fire

2009-03-11T13:51:00.003+11:00

Who ever thought alt-country mixed with Nirvana could sound so good. Their name is The Mountain Apple Epidemic, their bio reads 'Used to have a band that was on the harder side of things, Tool-ish, now I try to rip off Wovenhand' and they are sublime. Like the soundtrack for a forgotten sequel to Deadman. Sample the album standout Eyes Caught Fire below or grab the whole album for free here.

The Mountain Apple Epidemic - Eyes Caught Fire

Myspace

Seek the light

2009-03-03T18:22:00.007+11:00

Despite at least 18 months in the fickle glare of the indie spotlight, Bon Iver seems to be suffering very little fatigue, and certainly not with me or the rest of the BW crew - especially not after the amazing show we saw him play back in January.
There are plenty of live sets of Bon Iver floating around the interwebs now (NPR has two, also try Hard to Find a Friend) but I still felt compelled to post about The MySpace Transmissions because just about every live set I have heard Justin and company perform has been different. This has been available for just under a month now, but I only just came across it a couple of days ago. The set can be watched here or downloaded from the link below.
The stand out in this set has to be the beautiful version of Blindsided that runs to a full 7 minutes. However, stunningly constructed and performed versions of Emma, Flume and Lump Sum also appear.

Bon Iver - The MySpace Transmissions (courtesy of Howling Songs)

MySpace | Website

Speaking of magic...

2009-02-23T20:31:00.004+11:00

I had the pleasure of catching Benga and Skream a few months ago at the ol' sweat pit that is Oxford Art Factory. Safe to say they fucking smashed it, moving quickly from banger to banger all with a set of cheeky grins.

The track below was not dropped (as far as my hazy memory can tell) but holy shit I wish it had been. All stripped vocals and soft rave bleeps new comer LaRoux (currently on tour with Ms Allen) brings on the goose bumps. Then in the last minute it simply cuts loose, releasing the tension with tough breaks and the kind of bass Skream is renowned for. Ace.

LaRoux - In For the Kill (Skream Ravey Remix)

Myspace | Website

Unexpected Monday Afternoon Magic

2009-02-23T19:30:00.005+11:00

Good times for Adele. Last week (or so) she cleans up at the Grammy's, and now this absolute fucking banger of a remix of Hometown Glory appears courtesy of Chewy Chocolate Cookies. So the track has been mixed up a bunch of times, but this one kills facists and like perennial BW jam Sleepyhead, this proves you can get in and make nights in under 3 minutes.

Adele - Hometown Glory (Chewy Chocolate Cookies remix) [soundcloud download]

Update: zshare link was killed so it's a soundcloud d/l now.

This Isn't A Post About La Roux...

2009-02-17T19:32:00.004+11:00

...weird right? Apparently there's other bands around, blogosphere.

I first came across Harlem Shakes a year or so ago after they did a Daytrotter session. Then, I found them super likable but just missing that extra je ne sais quoi. Now they've had a bit of time to mature as a band and I lurr the new direction they've taken. Mostly in that they've upped the fun and (metaphorical) thrusting factor, and are sounding tight. Kind of like if an English indie band heard themselves, then went back in time and grew up in New York instead. Their record Technicolor Health drops in March.

Harlem Shakes - Strictly Game

Myspace

Ahora bailemos...!

2009-02-10T17:02:00.009+11:00

Last Sunday I skipped along to St. Jerome's Laneway Festival in Sydney, for the first time in my festival life, with no idea who the bands were that were playing (apart from The Holdsteady and Four Tet) and had little motivation to find out. Surrounded by music aficionados, I was in nurturing hands. As the day rolled by and my blood sugar level dropped, I was pleasantly surprised to turn down one (of which there are only two) laneway and encounter something I knew would pep me up again - that being - tribal and thudding Spanish tunes.

El Guincho is one of those acts other artists get down to see, including, on that particular windy afternoon, the guys from Hermitude and Ryan Stively from Port O'Brien. The adorable man behind El Guincho, Pablo Diaz-Reixa, had everyone dancing for the whole duration of his set and I personally thank him for making me forget how sore my feet were and fooling me into thinking I was back in Spain. I was so excited when we ran into the man himself, on our way home.

I hope his album is playing at the next party I go to, as I can't wait to get down again.

Pedro with a drunk and over excited BW contributor, Nat.

El Guincho - Kalise

Myspace | Website

Are you watching closely?

2009-02-03T19:17:00.005+11:00

It's very rare these days when a hip hop artist will stop you in his tracks. Lil' Wayne did it last year with Da Drought 3, but I feel this year we gotta get a little deeper, cerebral.

Jay Electronica is an artist who has been skirting the fringes of greatness for some time. He has produced tracks for Nas and Eryka Badu (who he has a live Twittered child with) and recently cut a track with Just Blaze. His breakout track Act I: The Pledge referances the film The Prestige and see's Jay spitting over fragments of Jon Brion's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind soundtrack about UFO's and voodoo men. No drums in sight.

Check the slightly more conventional Renassiance Man below and stop the slow singin' and flower bringin' cause hip hop ain't dead yet.

Jay Electronica - Renassiance Man

Wikipedia

For Emma

2009-01-22T19:43:00.005+11:00

A large slice of the BW crew were lucky enough to make it down to the City Recital Hall in the center of Sydney. The guest of honour was none other than the blogsphere's favourite son Justin Vernon and his rag tag gang AKA Bon Iver. The show, setting and company came together to form a sublime gig. Justin was both humble and charismatic with him and his band showing passion and startling musicianship for such a young band. Highlights included Skinny Love, re:Stacks and a stirring singalong rendition of The Wolves (Part I & II). Goosebumps all round. Check out one of the new tracks from the new EP Blood Bank below and if you have chance to catch them live make sure to grab it by it's scruffy beard.

Bon Iver - Blood Bank (Badongo)

Myspace | Website

Hey, Internet, Hush With All The 'Shoegazing'

2009-01-19T22:58:00.007+11:00

It must get so frustrating for bands sometimes: one -usually kinda influential- blog attaches an descriptor to a band's sound, and it becomes the archetypal word to describe their output. We constantly heard about the 'African influences' of Vampire Weekend, simply because one of their song titles mentioned Kwassa Kwassa. Hercules & Love Affair couldn't be separated from their 'bringing back disco." It goes on. So pity Asobi Seksu, who have been lumped with "shoegaze." Not only is this inappropriate, does it even mean anything?

The band has a new album, Hush, dropping February 17th through Polyvinyl, and from what I've heard on a once-through it's at times dense, uplifting, bright, forceful, and or a million other things. It is appealing guitar-driven pop with some huge riffs, quite different from the Thursday Twelves remix that blew up and got them some burn all those months (years?) back. Importantly, it's not shoegazing, unless you really forced yourself.

Asobi Seksu - Sunshower (zshare)

Myspace

NOTORIOUS

2009-01-19T22:37:00.004+11:00

So Notorious hit screens on Friday, and to go with it comes the official unofficial mixtape, hosted by Talib Kweli, which dropped today. All the tracks are mixed by DJ Grafitti, and of the two jams below, the Buff1 is actually tighter than Kweli's. Check em out at the zshares below, and cop the full tape here.

Notorious B.I.G feat Talib Kweli - Young G's (Astronote remix)

Notorious B.I.G feat Buff1 - Niggas (Astronote remix)

Telephone My Brain Back plz.

2009-01-15T23:16:00.007+11:00

I dunno whether it's because you discover the album late at night and there are no distractions, or whether some albums are just so expansive that they can utterly occupy your headspace. Whatever it is, Telefon Tel Aviv's Immolate Yourself did it. I listened to a little before bed and was like "this is too big." Then I tried it on the train, which is my main opportunity each day to really listen to something, and was still like "woah huge." And it hasn't stopped. Shit is transcendent. It's not that it has huge, obvious sounds, but more that -like M83 for example, or maybe Fuck Buttons- the tracks are so enveloping that you can't really concentrate on anything else, thanks to the white noise soundscapes and the driving melodies. And sometimes it seems like it should come across sparse and bleak, but it never quite does... Anyway, enough of my inability to deal with complex music.

Telefon Tel Aviv - Helen Of Troy (zshare)

Myspace

Avalanches, hit the showers.

2009-01-14T22:42:00.004+11:00

As the world slowly waits for what is becoming the hipster version of Chinese Democracy, a new Avalanches album, a whole bunch of like minded artist have risen in their place.

One such plucky newcomer is the generically named Metaform. Apparently spending five years in social isolation, slowly crafting a masterpiece that comes across as a mix of the aforementioned Avalanches and pre-hyphy DJ Shadow.

Check Pch below for a taste of his sample heavy vintage sound, and hunt down the whole damn instrumental opus. You wont regret it.

Metaform - Pch

Myspace | Website

Neon Flames

2009-01-09T16:38:00.005+11:00

Neon Gold's unbelievable track record for finding shithot bands continues. This time it's Giantess, whose jams are being produced by Passion Pit's Ayad Al-Adhamy. Which makes total sense when you hear the track. A saccharine -but not cloying- fun explosion. More please.

Giantess - You Were Young

PBJ have nothing to worry about because they're on the money

2009-01-07T18:54:00.004+11:00

Ye just dropped a new Peter, Bjorn and John tune on his blog. His usual garble spouts about how much he loves the drums... and I have to agree with him: the beat is money! But the track will be HUGE because of the singing children sample. I'm convinced it's the fastest way for musicians to cash in.

Peter, Bjorn and John - Nothing to Worry About

MySpace | Website

Postcript: In before Pitchfork - BITCHES!

And finally (for 08)

2009-01-04T13:00:00.003+11:00

So 2009 is upon us and all those lists are played out but I couldn't resist posting a few final treats I found kicking round the place.

First up is a tasty 2008 wrap up show that my man Mark Ronson rolled out Boxing Day. Peep the track listing and grab the mp3 here.

Second is an impressive wrap up coming from VJ blog, Accent Feed. A list of the top 10 Innovative Concert Visuals. Anyone who has been to a concert in the last few years knows that every act feels to need to melt your brain with flashing lights (hell Kanye even wrote a song about it). Next level shit right here.

Tracks of the Year (Alex)

2008-12-28T15:30:00.003+11:00

Through sheer saturation and ubiquity, it’s hard not to declare 2008 the year of Sex On Fire and just be done with it. But too much good music came out this year that got lost in the fury that was the KoL, MGMT, etc explosion. What follows are my personal faves, to tessellate with the heat Nat dropped below. All are linked to individual zshares.

Bishop Lamont – Grow Up
Dre produces one of the hottest beats of the summer, in classic restrained Dre mode, and Bishop Lamont furthers his claim on being the new saviour of West Coast rap. So fresh.

Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
Hands-down banger of the year. The most exhilarating and life-affirming sub-three-minute experience since bungee jumping.

MGMT vs Notorious B.I.G vs Justice – Nasty Feel (DDPesh rework)
When someone gets a mash-up right, something like this happens and it’s so epic. Brooklyn's DDPesh come through with another rework that's so much greater than the sum of its parts.

Horse Feathers – Albina
It’s so mesmerizingly pretty, and then you listen to the lyrics and go “oh - woah. That is so bleak,” but the song is made all the more beautiful for its honesty and discordance.

Lykke Li – Little Bit (AutoErotique Bootleg Remix)
I posted a whole album worth of Lykke Li mash-ups in my Best Albums list, but this remix is so much fire it can’t be skipped for that reason. It takes a sparse, delicate song and turns it into a total banger, without losing the tenderness of the original track. (thanks to the good folk of creamteam)

Grouper – Heavy Water / I’d Rather Be Sleeping
Their album was super close to making my top five for the year. It would've made a top ten Although it’s only short, this is a song to get lost in.

Arthur Russell – I Couldn’t Say It To Your Face
I’m totally with P4K on this one. What is it with Arthur Russell? A track that should be mundane by any other standards is siphoned through Russell’s vulnerable sincerity and accomplished structuring, and so it talks to somewhere deep inside.

D. Gookin - Glad I Met You

Puts bop in your stride and gets your smile out. Catchiest song of the year?

Air France - Collapsing At Your Doorstep

My favourite song off one of my aforementioned favourite albums of the year.

Bon Iver - Skinny Love

The forceful passion of this song, and the damage in it, makes the idea of spending a period of alcoholism in the wilderness seem compelling. This would have been available from Nat Albums of the Year list, had it not been quietly assassinated by the fire Nazis.

Happy 2k9 all: may it be as fruitful as 2k8 was.

Tracks of the Year (Nat)

2008-12-21T13:51:00.013+11:00

As promised in my now MIA Best Albums post I now present my top tracks of the year. Lets hope this one survives the blog wilderness. Please note that I'm feeling a little lazy and I have put all the tracks in one easy access ZIP file.

Tracks of the Year (Nat)

Young Love - Mystery Jets featuring Laura Marling

A quaint little English ditty about love made all that much sweeter with a cameo from Laura Marling and an inventive film clip.

Mr Carter - Lil' Wayne featuring Jay-Z

From an album full of standouts this one rises above the rest. Just Blaze lays down the best chipmunk soul since The College Dropout while Jay-Z pretends to pass the torch too his fiercest rival.

Hold On - Holy Ghost!

Nu/new/neu disco, or what ever the hell you want call it, exploded this year. Holy Ghost! were at the forefront with this pop space synth workout.

My Turn - Basement Jaxx

While the Jaxx have been knocking out interesting LP's for years now nothing has ever come close to their debut. Until now. My Turn captures is a more restrained side of the pair and uses the considerable talents of Devonte Hynes aka Lightspeed Champion to craft a tasty slice of emo electro.

Tear You Down - Brookes Brothers

Until recently High Contrast was the king of drum and bass single and remix. New comers Brookes Brothers have been kicking around for a while but it was this soul sampling banger which put them on the map and threatened to turn BW member Alex into a bonafide candy raver.

Pjanoo - Eric Prydz

Pjanoo was everywhere this year. With a huge showing at both Miami and Ibiza as well as remixes from Fred Falke and BW favourite High Contrast. All white noise, huge build ups and THAT piano line shit was guaranteed to get you reaching for the lasers.

Frayed - Hermitude/ Don't Mind - Calibre

These songs sit together as tracks that emit a certain mood. They both use dusty piano lines and muffled soul vocal to create beautiful emotive music. Deep.

Golden Cage - The Whitest Boy Alive (Fred Falke Remix)

Hands down my track of the year. Shimmering synths, clean drums and dash of french touch mixed with naked vocals of Erlend Oye. Audio bliss. Enjoy the amazing film clip for the original above.

Tracks of the Year (Nat)

Albums Of The Year (Alex)

2008-12-07T19:04:00.006+11:00

To be honest, we here at BW didn't really discuss the logistics of posting individual Best Of lists in a year that saw us agree firmly on the releases of a certain few bands. Which is rarer than you might think. To avoid redundancy, see Nat's post for two albums which will probably make a heap of Best Of lists worldwideweb-wide, with mine no exception:

Passion Pit - Chunk Of Change EP

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

There were albums this year that had moments of sheer individual brilliance, from people as diverse as T.I and Bob Dylan, but it only seems fair to include the albums which got the most overall burn. So, as dictated by my iTunes play count, I present you the other 3 best albums of 2008 :

Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak

Kanye's decision to move beyond his comfortable, highly successful mould as a hip-hop producer is demonstration of a commendable ambition, and largely unsurprising for someone with an ego as healthy as his. Like him or hate him for his bold claims about being 'the voice of a generation', with 808's, Kanye has managed that rare feat that is sporadically achieved in pop music: the ability to craft an album that will influence the sound of pop music for the immediate, and perhaps lasting future.

(On a sidenote, anyone unconvinced by the new material should try to catch a live show, as some of the BW family did last night. Moments of earnest indulgence from Mr West did nothing to stymie a concert that at times reached obscene levels of fun.)

Kanye West feat. Kid Cudi - Welcome To Heartbreak

The Hood Internet - Lykke Li minimix

I thought Lykke Li's album was amazing in and of itself. But it seems to have been the most fertile ground for people wanting to do mash-ups or remixes since Paper Planes. The Hood Internet's signature approach pairs her transcendent vocals with a range of sweetly tessellated beats, from the beautiful ambience of The Field and Gui Boratto to dancefloor bangers with Hercules & Love Affair and Booka Shade. When quite often mash-ups can be merely "oh that's kinda clever," these six little gems leave you more "oh woah that's better."

The Hood Internet vs Lykke Li - minimix (via The Hood Internet)

Air France – No Way Down EP
This was my go-to ‘in transit’ choice. It works equally well as background music to a book on the train, or when I’m skating somewhere, or when I’m just walking. Which is not to say it’s a white noise thing: the songs all just have a way of being present and feeling so appropriate to being in motion. Sort of like when a song sounds right at the beach, and you zen out a little.

Air France – Collapsing At Your Doorstep

Electric stimulus to face

2008-12-03T11:35:00.004+11:00

What do you do for fun? This guy attaches electrodes to his face and makes compositions for his face to wig out to. Could easily be an Aphex Twin video. Bless the Japanese.

It's Obama bama

2008-12-01T16:33:00.005+11:00

It may be a little late and barely musical but at BW we love ourselves a bit of Randy Marsh. Like Homer Simpson said, 'Its funny cause it's true'.

We say party - you say die!

2008-12-01T16:09:00.005+11:00

As you know we here at BW are a big fan of the beats from the Blue Mountains. Cloud Control and Hermitude are two top acts to come from the region. Must be cause they don't have a mall or something.

Add to that list the psypop stylings of we say bamboulée who have recently come to attention of local Sydney station FBi and now myself. Peep their Klaxon's style lyrics and Passion Pit influenced beats below. Props to them for letting a little Aussie twang steal into the vocals. Refreshing.

we say bamboulée - Unwelcome Copacaban Holiday

Myspace

I heart Mark Ronson

2008-12-01T15:54:00.004+11:00

Fuck yes Mark Ronson killed it yesterday at Global Gathering in Sydney. Along with an incredible list of supporting acts, are you listening Gorillaz? This is how you do a show, none of this 'soundsystem' bullshit.

There ain't much on YouTube yet but here is a little taste of set closer/encore 'Stop Me'. More as it develops.

The 10th Wonder

2008-11-24T09:35:00.003+11:00

It's sort of hard to concentrate on anything other than 808's & Heartbreak at the moment because Kanye has - I think - dropped one of the most revolutionary albums of recent years, but apparently the world keeps turning for people who aren't utterly fascinated by Mr West. Prolific mix-taper Mick Boogie has yet another, this time with flame-spitter Cynicus. All the beats are produced by 9th Wonder which should make this a repository of heat. 9th Wonder's material is super fresh at the moment, possibly my favourite going around. And this is a beautiful thing because, between him and Kanye, we now don't have to put up with listening to the tween pop-rap that Will.i.am continues peddling and all the d-bags who choose the music in shops force on us.

Mick Boogie presents Cynicus - The 10th Wonder (rapidshare)

That is alot?!

2008-11-19T20:51:00.007+11:00

So you may have noticed that Burnt Waffles has gone a little quiet lately. Well as we wait for the last few big albums of 2008 to drop and put the finishing touches on our best of's I thought I would point you too a few albums that have been locked in my pod.

Whenever other genres are feeling a little limp I find a trip to the deeper, heavier end of the spectrum is in order. The new Chase and Status album that dropped recently has filled that need quite nicely. Entitled More than Alot it lives up to its title with a buffet of different, dare I use marketing speak, urban sounds. While many of the bigger singles have been kicking around for a while and are made for losing your shit too at 3am such as Smash TV, Pieces and the massive Hurt You it is the dub step inspired Running which I find sticking in my head day after day. Enjoy the cheeky contrast of rattling bassline and soulful hook below.

Chase and Status - Running

Myspace

Moving to the deeper sound, specifically that of Cambridge, England. Hospital has recently release the third volume of their acclaimed Future Sounds of Cambridge compilation and it is smacking. Its filled with productions by drum and bass heavyweights Commix, Nu:tone and Logistics and even sports a number of collaborative tracks to sweeten the deal. Standouts include Cosmonaut and Intervention by comparative new comer Logistics and the collab track Ghost Snare. Ghost Snare can be found below, all clicks and deep grooves. For those who like to enjoy the subtlety of the jungle genre.

Commix, Logistics and Nu:tone - Ghost Snare

Hospital Homepage

Tiny Masters of Tomorrow

2008-11-19T19:52:00.005+11:00

A school in Montreal started an after school program for kids to get involved with making music and lo-fi video clips. The results were stupendous... more at Naked Eye Magazine.

Viva La Hova

2008-11-01T10:30:00.004+11:00

Stone Fact: every 12 seconds, someone, somewhere uploads a new Jay-Z mash-up.

Mere Opinion: Viva La Hova, the latest mixtape effort from Mick Boogie and Terry Urban, might be the best yet. Not straight mash-ups, but more beats sampling Coldplay and using Jigga's vocals, the mix includes tracks like this banger from 9th Wonder, as well as a slew of others including Mick Boogie and, apparently, Coldplay themselves. Cop a sample below, and you can grab the full .zip via EastOfLA.

Jay-Z & Coldplay (prod. 9th Wonder) - Cold Success

Who's go is it?

2008-10-30T13:27:00.004+11:00

So, this one is about 2 months late but I just needed to draw attention to the slight return of Basement Jaxx. While each album has been a compounding disappointment after their amazing debut Remedy it seems a set of EPs titled Planet 1 & 2 signals a return to form.

Standout track My Turn features BW favourite Lightspeed Champion, while Nifty is a straightforward big bass banger. Not every track across the two EPs is a classic but it definitely bodes well for future Jaxx albums. Enjoy the fire below.

Basement Jaxx - My Turn (featuring Lightspeed Champion)

Myspace

What does hipster mean?

2008-10-29T18:00:00.004+11:00

Recently, rappers have seemed really, really affronted by hipsters. Or specifically, by the 'tight jeans.' It's part offense, part bewilderment. Bishop Lamont thinks tight jeans will prevent you from breathing, and Jigga argues that he won't wear them because his "nuts don't fit." Mickey Factz got all upset when people labelled his tracks hipster-hop, which they only did because he wears pants less than two sizes too large. Fortunately for us, Buff1 has gotten his pals Mike Lee and DJ Graffiti together, they've banged heads, and have delivered a deep, sociological exploration of just what exactly it is to be a hipster. Because - duh - underground rappers from Michigan are experts on it.

(Incidentally, for those of you worried about it, they're cool with the whole hipster thing as long as "your music is as tight as your jeans.")

Buff1 & DJ Graffiti - What Does Hipster Mean? (feat. Mike Lee)

Buff1 Myspace

Sean Wrong - Minimix 10_10_08

2008-10-27T17:11:00.006+11:00

Here is a mix i did for work on a Friday afternoon. (Everyone puts there name in a hat and whoever gets pulled out plays their music for an hour on friday arvo.) This is my latest offering, bit of Prog with some Trancey elements thrown in for good measure...

Mixed live with Ableton live (224kbps, 58 mins)

Download/Stream here

Chris Lake - Start Again (Dub Mix)
Leventina - Medical Insurance
Passenger 10 - Passenger 10 (Chris Reece remix)
Kenneth Thomas - Riders On The Storm (Brisker and Magitman remix)
Andy Moor - Fake Awake (Myon and Shane 54 remix)
Cressida - 6am (Kyau and Albert remix)
Deadmau5 - Brazil (Second Edit)
Pryda - Rakfunk
tyDi - Hide (Andy Moors Ecomix)
Adam K and Soha - Twilight (Deadmau5 remix)
Eric Prydz - Miami Atlanta

Alexis Taylor - Rubbed Out

2008-10-27T11:29:00.003+11:00

Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor recently released a solo album, Rubbed Out, through Treader, who make some of the slickest little packages of music ever. I'm still not sure about how I feel about the album as a whole, but there's some nice little tracks. It's all kinda ephemeral and spacey, and sorta has some Beatles and Elliott Smith sounds, but still with a very Hot Chip tone throughout. Treader's site describes it as a collection of "bespoke songs and instrumentals" which is basically a nice way of saying 'he threw some stuff together.' But when you're responsible for the genius of Hot Chip what you can just throw together is about nine million times better than what anyone else can.

Alexis Taylor - Baby

Hellzapoppin' (1941)

2008-10-19T20:34:00.006+11:00

Hellzapoppin' makes a super strong case for dancing in a movie. This five minutes is why learning Lindy Hop and going to swing bars could be the funnest thing ever in the whole world.

How To Spend Your Pocket Money

2008-10-13T15:31:00.005+11:00

OK so it's heaps late news and whatever, but out of principle and because we're total bandits for their shit-hot gasflare pop, BW wants to make everyone aware of Passion Pit's EP "Chunk of Change" dropping. Nothing going around at the moment is as fun. Play them to anyone, and if they say "I don't really like them" you will know that person is boring and tonnes lame. Out now through Frenchkiss, it's $7 asking price might be the biggest bargain of the year - especially tasty given everyone has no money left and we're all going to lose our jobs.

Passion Pit - Cuddle Fuddle

Myspace

Update:

The video to Sleepyhead just got released over at Pitchfork.tv. Have a look below - no CGI is used, which is pretty incredible.

Eric Prydz pres. Pryda - Rakfunk

2008-10-09T12:36:00.005+11:00

Yes people, it's happening. Eric Prydz is coming down under. He'll be in town for Shore Thing at Bondi on New Years, along with Underworld and The Presets in what promises to be an absolute stormer and will surely be off the proverbial hook. So if you haven't already got your tix via pre-sale your best bet is to gather round the computer tomorrow (Friday 10th) before noon or you will most likely have to make other plans for New Year's.

To celebrate here is a track from Pryda's latest release, Rakfunk. It is actually a B-Side of 'Evouh' which is also receiving heavy praise. I first heard Rakfunk on Paolo Mojo's EM a few weeks ago and it really did steal the show. I've also included Pjanoo below in case you weren't around here at the start of the year. Enjoy.

Eric Prydz pres. Pryda - Rakfunk

Eric Prydz - Pjanoo

Myspace | Website

It ripples our reflections

2008-10-03T07:08:00.004+10:00

Radiohead - Reckoner - by Clement Picon

Reckoner was a favourite track of many from the In Rainbows album. This is the new video for it, and it's everything we've come to expect from Radiohead videos: intricate, complex, beautiful and challenging. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

MySpace | Website

Monotonix And The Art Of Rocking The Fuck Out

2008-10-02T14:14:00.006+10:00

Sometimes you're lying there at night unable to get to sleep, pondering life's little mysteries, like: why are we here? Why did they take John Lennon from us, but they won't take Bono? Are the Republicans seriously going to stick with Sarah Palin? If you were wondering about this biggie:

What would Led Zeppelin have sounded like if they were a trio made up of the guys from Death From Above 1979 and one of their friends? And they lived now? And they were from Tel Aviv? And were tonnes into Dov Charney style clothing?

...wonder no more. The answer is Monotonix. And yes they will make you get awesome and naked and drunk.

(ps peep the videos on their Myspace - I haven't seen shit this frantic since DFA1979's shows.)

Monotonix - Summers & Autumns

Myspace | Website

She tears you down darlin'

2008-09-30T13:02:00.004+10:00

Most mainstream drum and bass has a whiff of cheese about it these days but every so often a track comes along that is so bangin' and uplifting it cannot be ignored.

This is one of those times. The Brookes Brothers have been slowly building a name for themselves with releases on Ram Records and BBK as well as collaborating with the one like Danny Byrd on his recent LP. Tear You Down is their true breakthrough, working its way into the record boxes of everyone from Annie Mac to Andy C.

Defiantly one of those big summer tracks, super size big.

Brookes Brothers - Tear You Down

As a little bonus and on the insistence of other members of this blog I have also included a rare remix of Common's The Light by the Brookes Bros. Not quite as earth shattering the above track but still a nice little roller. Enjoy, and don't say we don't do nothing for you.

Common - The Light (Brookes Brothers Remix)

Myspace

Canada via Cali

2008-09-26T12:14:00.003+10:00

I was searching for Pearl Jam's "Corduroy" a few minutes ago in a fit of nostalgia, and accidentally came across this track by Estea Elements. And snap, yo - like a breath of fresh air.

As a fan of pretty much everything under the 'hip-hop' umbrella, I do have to admit to a certain amount of fatigue with the continuing grandiose, hyperbolic direction of mainstream rap, and the hyphy electro stuff that you can't quite bang at a pool party. So whatever, underground isn't and hasn't done either of those, but they flirt with that consciously minimal (read: bad) production and make equally as exhausting claims about how real and incisive they are. YOU'RE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE, WE JUST DON'T GET IT LIKE YOU DO.

Estea Elements, however, seem to be a young group out of Canada (where else?) who are kicking a flavour of rap that's a soothing blend of some almost-p-funk with an inescapably Jurassic 5 flow. It's like late-90's skate vid music and I love it. So while the snow approaches up in the Northern reaches, my antipodean brothers and sisters can look to this as some great summer-vibe music.

Estea Elements - Corduroy B-Boy (feat. Miles Repeated)

Myspace | Website

Zozobra - Bird Of Prey

2008-09-24T13:33:00.011+10:00

Well fuck me it’s been a long time between posts by yours truly. Ironic then that I should be posting about a band proving to be quite prolific. Zozobra have wasted no time brining us Bird Of Prey their follow up to last year’s debut Harmonic Tremors.

Yet again this album’s pretty much the work of Caleb Scofield, the band’s songwriter come bassist come guitarist come vocalist, but for this album he’s been joined by Isis drummer Aaron Harris who also handles the production and mixing.

Sonically this new album strays very little from what made Harmonic Tremors great. Severe amounts of distortion, slow hypnotic riffs, layered shouty unintelligible lyrics and a wall of sound production that makes you feel like the whole thing’s been recorded live in a train station toilet.

Altogether Bird Of Prey plays like a continuation of the sound Zozobra developed on Harmonic Tremors. It's a welcome addition to what looks to become an impressive discography.

Also like its predecessor, Bird Of Prey is a rather short affair, about thirty minutes, so at the end of it you may find yourself eagerly waiting their next effort. But hopefully, if Bird Of Prey is anything to go by, the follow up won’t be long off.

Zozobra - Heartless Enemy

Myspace | Hydra Head Records

Human (after all)

2008-09-23T13:06:00.006+10:00

Stuart Price is a studio god. His remixes and production elevate even the most mundane artists (Gwen Stefani, Star Sailor, Britney Spears to name a few). After turning out a number of amazing remixes for the often over hyped Killers he has now produced their upcoming record, Day and Age.

The first single is titled Human. The lyrics are rubbish, the production is amazing. Enjoy.

Human - The Killers

Myspace | Homepage

He Say, She Say

2008-09-18T12:01:00.005+10:00

Once again, Cream Team has come up with something I have flip out about.

It takes about one listen to get why He Say, She Say copped one of the support slots on Yeezy's recent tour. The ballsy, dirty production from Million $$$ Mano, coupled with the sassy rhymes from Drea have that X-factor you instantly recognise as cooler and better than you. This, I dunno, gangsta-electro-disco, would work anywhere from the clurrrb to home - but I badly wanna hear it at a house party. That would be the hype.

Actually, I'd also kinda like to just bang these tracks in public for a reaction, cause Drea fires out some of the most graphically sexual lyrics since Akinyele, while avoiding the forced crassness of Lil' Kim. It's special.

He Say, She Say - Crash Dummie

Myspace

Hermitude - Threads

2008-09-16T13:02:00.002+10:00

Regular readers of BW would know that we are quite the fans of the boys from the Blue Mountains around here. It was with great joy that I have now got my grubby little hands on their new LP, Threads.

On this record Hermitude have moved to diversify their sound even further. Smooth hip hop inspired beats rub shoulders with live instrumentation and electronic bleeps and squeaks. It should be also noted that almost half the cuts are laced with a vocal. They range from soul to atmospheric with the odd verse thrown in for good measure, courtesy of Urthboy and Hau.

While not quite as consistent as their previous effort, 'Tales of the Drift', this record is still shines with effortless beats and grooves perfect for the coming summer months.

Hermitude - Slychain

Myspace | Website

I'm gonna sip this wine and pass the cup

2008-09-14T11:39:00.004+10:00

Let's steer away from the folk and Kanye posts that have dominated BW of late and bring some epic to our lives. I'm talking those Followill boys, you know... Kings of Leon. Their new album, Only by the Night, is due out some time in the coming week depending upon where you reside. KOL's previous effort, Because of the Times, was best described by my co-contributor Nat as "flawless." Only by the Night, is almost as good, they've certainly maintained their stride. I particularly like KOL for their epic guitar tunes (see Knocked Up, On Call etc). The new album adds to these with the likes of Sex on Fire, Manhattan and Use Somebody. Dare I say, but can anybody else hear some Daryl Braithwaite in the new tunes...?
Anyway, no doubt you'll read about the album from real, qualified reviewers in the near future. My intent from this post was to point everyone to the live set KOL played for Zipper over at the beeb's Radio 1 last week - including all the epics!!! Get on board!

(I don't know how long that link will be live for so you could try here if you want something a little more permanent.)

MySpace | Website

Joe Pug's bandit video

2008-09-11T09:47:00.003+10:00

Some months back, BW featured Joe Pug's Hymn #101, and banged on about about how sincere and beautiful it was. Well, Mr Pug and friends have been busy. Specifically, they've been running around in ghost towns in desert California, kicking in doors to forlorn taverns, and shooting a music video. Witness above the clip to Hymn #101.

Then go to his website and stock up on Nation Of Heat. Then listen to it, bug out on how awesome his voice is, and run around telling your friends you've found the next torch-bearer of the American troubadour tradition.

Myspace | Website

Horse Feathers

2008-09-10T14:14:00.004+10:00

Anyone who doesn't like these guys just hates music. I mean it. Unless you like music but you dislike complex, soulful melodies and arresting voices. In which case you need to lay off the metal.

Also, they come from Portland, which should answer any questions as to what type of music this band plays.

Horse Feathers - Albina

Myspace

New-ye

2008-09-09T06:55:00.003+10:00

It would seem that the youtube cuts of Kanye's performance of his new hot fire at the VMAs on Sunday are being taken down. Kanye can help you out with that: just head on over to his blog, and make a beeline for the Love Lockdown post.

Tha Shizzle

2008-09-03T19:18:00.006+10:00

One of my very talented friends (check out his previous mixes here) has decided to celebrate the imminent Australian tour of the one and only Snoop Dogg with a seamless mix of some of his hottest jams.

Grab it for yourself here and find the track listing below.

1. Snoop Dogg – Who am I (Whats my name?)
2. Snoop Dogg – Snoop D O Double G
3. Snoop Dogg & Pharell – Sets Up
4. Snoop Dogg & Pharell – Drop it like its Hot
5. Snoop Dogg & Kurupt – Gold Rush
6. Snoop Dogg – Doggz Gonna Get Ya
7. Snoop Dogg - Those Gurlz
8. Snoop Dogg & Charlie Wilson – Perfect
9. Snoop Dogg & Charlie Wilson – Doggfather
10. Snoop Dogg & B-Real – Vato
11. Snoop Dogg & Akon – Boss’ Life
12. Snoop Dogg & Dr Dre – Just Dippin
13. 2Pac & Snoop Dogg – 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted
14. Snoop Dogg – Doggy Dogg World
15. Snoop Dogg – Ups and Downs
16. Snoop Dogg & Nate Dogg – Crazy
17. Snoop Dogg & Nelly – Girl like You
18. Snoop Dogg – One Chance
19. Snoop Dogg & Charlie Wilson – Snoop’s Upside Your Head
20. Snoop Dogg & Tray Dee – 21 Jumpstreet
21. Snoop Dogg – Murder was the Case
22. Snoop Dogg – Gz and Hustla’s
23. Snoop Dogg – It Wasn’t Your Fault
24. Snoop Dogg – Make it Clap
25. Snoop Dogg – Snoop Bounce
26. Snoop Dogg & Xzibit – Bitch Please
27. Snoop Dogg – Tha Shiznit
28. Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre & D’Angelo – Imagine
29. Snoop Dogg – Gin & Juice
30. Snoop Dogg – Can You Control Your Hoe?
31. Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg – Nuttin’ but a G Thang
32. Snoop Dogg – Step Your Game Up
33. Snoop Dogg, Warren G & Nate Dogg – Aint No Fun
34. Snoop Dogg & Silkk the Shocker – Gangsta Ride
35. Snoop Dogg, Warren G & Nate Dogg – Dont Tell
36. Snoop Dogg & Pharell – Pass it Pass it
37. Snoop Dogg – Think About It
38. Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg – The Next Episode
39. Snoop Dogg & Akon – I Wanna Fuck You
40. Snoop Dogg, Pharell & Charlie Wilson – Beautiful
41. Snoop Dogg & Supafly – You Thought
42. Snoop Dogg & Justin Timberlake – Signs
43. Snoop Dogg – Sensual Seduction

We just dippin....

I Blame Coco

2008-08-30T13:12:00.003+10:00

Ronson is back on EVR (check the link to the left) has been dropping hot fire for the last few weeks as expected. A particular standout has been this little gem by a new UK singer I Blame Coco. Check out her self titled single on her myspace page below. Will try to get an MP3 cracking soon.

Tasty.

Myspace

LOLye West

2008-08-07T18:14:00.002+10:00

Proving advertising can be creative. (via SBTVC)

Czech bekanyenow.com for the rest of the campaign

Meet Burial

2008-08-06T14:54:00.003+10:00

Burial yesterday unmasked himself and issued a statement via his MySpace -

"hi

for a while theres been some talk about who i am , but its not a big deal
i wanted to be unknown because i just want it to be all about the tunes.
over the last year the unknown thing become an issue so im not into it any more.
im a lowkey person and i just want to make some tunes, nothing else. my names will bevan, im from south london, im keeping my head down and just going to finish my next album, theres going to be a 12" maybe in the next few weeks too with 4 tunes. hope u like it, i'll try put a tune up later

sorry for any rubbish tunes i made in the past, ill make up for it

a big big thank you to anyone who ever supported me, liked my tunes or sent me messages, it means the world to me

big up everyone, take care, will ( burial )"

MySpace

Being Late To The Party

2008-08-05T19:29:00.005+10:00

Something I really hate: you know there's something you should check out, because people are like "shit is amazing," but you don't have the time or the short-term memory to be able to do it. I'm currently doing it with The Dark Knight, and as of about an hour ago, I just finished doing it with King Khan & The Shrines.

Now I'm all "holy shit. I really like this band. WTF was I doing?"

It's kind of annoying, especially given the fuckers are on Vice so there's probably a billion teenagers going "oh those guys were so [x] months ago," but when you have a dude sweat-rocking in your ear with charming excess and a driving horn section, you can't be too unhappy. Man I would love to drink some beers and bug out to this band in the summer. I HOPE YOU JUST HEARD THAT, PROVIDENCE.

The album The Supreme Genius of King Khan & The Shrines is out now.

King Khan & The Shrines - Took My Lady To Dinner

Myspace | Website

Givin' it a little bit more

2008-08-02T10:26:00.008+10:00

Another much-hyped UK trio who came to the fore in late 2007 thanks to their tune Paris - a massive banger and undoubtedly set to be a classic, Friendly Fires' self-titled debut long player has arrived (in stores 1 September 2008).
The boys cite Prince as their strongest influence, and that definitely flows through in their tunes - this is more of the current '80s revival formula that's flavour of the day.
There are several tracks from the album that you'll already be familiar with. In addition to Paris, they released the frantic On Board, which has this crazy clip and was also used in this Wii Fit advertising campaign. Their latest single is number one on the album, Jump in the Pool, which has been single of the week on the Zane-Lowe-cum-Huw-Jones show for the last week.
These singles we already know are up the front of the album, with a couple of other tight tracks. White Diamonds, made up of plenty of cowbell and rising melody, and Strobe, laid back synth, are well worth a spin, . A curly one is Lovesick, which definitely takes its cues from the Shakedown "hit" At Night that you will all associate with a shameful night at some shithouse club somewhere, sometime in 2002.
Down the back of the album things start to get a bit loose. There's disco and distortion, the album climaxing in Ex-lover, the b-side on the Paris single, a track that verges on an 8-bit sound.
On my first listen I was a little disappointed, but it's since grown on me. The best tracks on the album are the ones we've already heard, nonetheless its still enjoyable.

Friendly Fires - Paris
Friendly Fires - Jump in the Pool

Website | MySpace

The Dirty Diamonds - Meet The Dirty Diamonds

2008-07-29T16:17:00.004+10:00

Recently, I was in my totally balla local sandwich shop (props Malibu), where they have a habit of sporadically bumping early rock and roll and some bangin' soul tunes, amongst some genuinely questionable music. Something like the Andrews Sisters was spinning and I had one of those moments of "who decided there was something wrong with this sound? Why did bands stop doing this?" like you do when you hear great stuff from yesteryear (see further: face-melting solos, epic wails).
Then karma/the internet smiled upon me and dropped a little gem in my lap - a couple weeks back BW featured "Naughty Girl" by the Dirty Diamonds. The band have gone on to cop some solid buzz, and the generous Diamonds themselves have offered us a link to their spanking new EP Meet The Dirty Diamonds. The soul-inflected indie pop and doo-wop sound of Naughty Girl is continued throughout the 4-song EP. It's a fun, fresh, eminently likable collection, and offers the increasingly rare treat of something different. BW reckons there's gonna be some serious chatter about them.

The Dirty Diamonds - Meet The Dirty Diamonds EP

Myspace

Icy Demons

2008-07-27T15:32:00.004+10:00

In more P4k Music Fest news, organic Chicago band-experiment Icy Demons played what was apparently a banging set. I've had a jonesing to see this arrangement in action since I stumbled across their back catalogue a little while ago. Unfortunately, I live in the Antipodes. They're welcome to bring theyselves down Australia way though, and hit us with their TVOTR-meets-Can-meets-prog-rock goodness.

Icy Demons - Crittin' Down To Baba's

Myspace | Website

Les Savy Shave

2008-07-27T14:15:00.005+10:00

MOKB posted some snaps of LOLz-factory Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav running a rookie barber stall at the Pitchfork Music Festival. I doubt that I'd trust him to not cut me, although he does look bang into it. Hilar.

ANTE UP!

2008-07-27T11:33:00.002+10:00

The funniest thing I have seen in a long time. So simple yet so awesome.

....kidnap that fool!

Part of the weekend never dies.....

2008-07-18T16:31:00.004+10:00

Part of the Weekend Never Dies trailer

David and Stephen Dewaele are just too damn talented. They rock it with Soulwax, mash it as 2manydjs and reach for the lasers with their remixes of everyone from Daft Punk to Robbie Williams.

Now they can add a kick ass tour/concert film to thier resume. See above.

Extra props to the loose chick at the end of the trailer, cracks me up every time.

Dr Dog

2008-07-16T13:55:00.005+10:00

While sampling the excellent Fader podcast I stumbled upon this gem. Having now listened to their latest album Fate I can confirm that Dr Dog is worth a minute of your time.

Think Tapes n' Tapes kicking it with Spoon and your close. All rustic pop rock with splashes of psychedelia thrown for good measure. They have been around for a minute with a number of albums and their own record label, parkthevan. Get into it.

Dr Dog - The Ark

Myspace | Website

How the fuck!

2008-07-16T13:40:00.004+10:00

House of Cards (Official video)

How do they keep doing it.

Amazing albums.
Brilliant live shows.
Mind melting videos.

Above is another example of said videos - perfectly catching the mood of the track while looking like nothing that has come before it.

Yes I know that this is all over the net but I just wanted to bow down. Can't wait to see what they come up with for 'All I Need'

Find the making of here.

New Converse Ad*

2008-07-10T20:43:00.002+10:00

Pharrell: that cool.
Santi White: almost that cool.
Julian Casablancas: halfway between Kid Rock and Jack White. YOU JUST BROKE MY HEART JULIAN.

*so it's an ad. 'Evs.

It's Summer Somewhere

2008-07-09T21:13:00.007+10:00

So Sydney is mentally cold right now* which always succeeds in totally bumming me out and making me feel lonely. Always. So in between wishing I was on tour (for what I'm not sure: I'm not a musician), being a total Passion Pit booster and thinking about what it would be like to be married to Amanda Blank (superbabe wife, but would I get weird about her lyrics?), I discovered Noah And The Whale. English bands have an unmatched ability to make wistful pop, and these subjects** are no exception. So before you go "oh more nice-sounding folk-pop whatevs why don't you marry it," listen to the music, and then think about it playing while you're at a picnic on a beautiful summer's day and totally giggling out with your friends. A twee image maybe, but that shit is FUN. And I miss it. And I want winter to pack up and give me my sun back. NATW's album "5 Years Time" comes out August 4th, so it's in time for Spring if you're south of the equator, and timed just right to get all wistful during Fall if you're north of it.

Noah And The Whale - Shape Of My Heart

Myspace | Website

*Not, like, New York cold, but we live at the beach, so it's different.

**Apparently, if you come from the UK, you're a subject rather than a citizen.

The Peach Pit

2008-07-08T12:22:00.004+10:00

So there is already a gushing post over at GWFAS, one of BW favourite blogs, about Passion Pit. How ever after living with a number of their tracks over the past week I just had to hype this band a little more.

Hailing from Massachusetts in the US of A, they spit a type of warped psychedelic pop that seems to all the rage in 08. While GWFAS chose to feature the brain-melting Sleepy Head, I have opted for the more expansive I've Got Your Number from their first EP Chunk of Change.

Passion Pit - I've Got Your Number

Myspace | Label

I SWEAR IT ON THE BIBLE!

2008-07-06T17:48:00.007+10:00

We've been massive Black Kids cheerleaders at BW (here, here and here) and we, along with many others, knew that 2008 would be huge for the bunch of young Floridians. At the moment they're finding themselves in probably the biggest month of their lives: Glastonbury last weekend, Lollapalooza in a few weeks time, and their debut full-length, Partie Traumatic, dropping in between those two slots.
Most of the album will be familiar to those of you that have been following Black Kids over the last year. It has the four tracks from the official Wizard of the Ahhhs EP, plus the other three tracks that have been floating around the interwebs for the last 6 months. Because of this, I was concerned that the record might suffer from some fatigue.
My anxiety was so misguided. Not only is the experience so much crisper, with Ali and Dawn's vocals much clearer behind Reggie's, the familiar songs have all had new studio takes, with new harmonies and variations on the breakdowns adding some extra polish to what were already some of the most exciting tunes of the last decade.
There are also three new tracks. I don't want to single any of them out because they are all in the Black Kids vein and they're all bumpin' pop tunes. The title track, Partie Traumatic, kicks it up; I'm Making Eyes At You is beautiful, almost Cut Copy and Postal Service-like; and Look At Me closes the album, not letting up in tempo in a way only Black Kids can.
If you're yet to hear Black Kids then I can't emphasise enough how much I want you to listen Partie Traumatic. If you're already a fan you must, must, must listen to the album because they've taken it to another level.
Hmmm, is this the time to mention pressure and sophomore together...?
My only other question: when are you coming down under Black Kids? When!?

Elbow Magic

2008-07-02T13:58:00.000+10:00

Elbow live at Glastonbury. Go on... feel the love.

More choice Glastonbury videos.

Website | Myspace

The Dirty Diamonds

2008-06-30T20:08:00.005+10:00

CreamTeam likes to drop a whole selection of fire, and recently they introduced us to The Dirty Diamonds. As unappealing as, uh, I guess, "indie doo-wop" sounds, it's a bit unavoidable. Just totally different from anything I've hear in a while. I couldn't even find a picture to post that I confidently thought was them! Primarily, they fulfill the most important criteria for a band: fun.

The Dirty Diamonds - Naughty Girl

Myspace

A Champion Pun Would Be Too Easy

2008-06-30T19:54:00.004+10:00

Repository of heat RCRD LBL tend to unleash a wealth of tracks which I heavy-love for a week and usually forget about. This time though, they're onto a stayer. Sam Champion have a raw early-KoL sound minus, largely, the Southern influences. It's the sort of melodic, folky blues-rock that everyone loves but doesn't get done right often enough.

Sam Champion - Be Mine Everyone

More tracks @ RCRD LBL | Myspace | Website

Shapeshifter vs. D-Bridge

2008-06-28T15:16:00.002+10:00

Drum and bass is killing it at the moment. Its a fact. Just check my last few posts. I almost resisted posting this slice of absolute fire up here, but it cannot be denied.

Behold the merging of the epic feel good vibes of NZ's Shapeshifter with the golden touch of D-Bridge. Shit is immense.

Shapeshifter - One (D-Bridge Remix)

Myspace | Website

G-Unit - Terminate On Sight

2008-06-26T20:52:00.006+10:00

G-Unit's new album drops on July 1, but here's a sneak peek. The album doesn't deviate from the standard G-Unit sound. I probably wouldn't normally bother talking about G-Unit, but Tha Bizness have produced a track with such completely balla production and wicked bounce that I'm compelled to. Check it:

G-Unit - Piano Man (link removed)

The official site below has snippets of the rest of the album.

Incidentally, does anyone want to tell Lloyd Banks that the Craig David look was late in '01? Let alone now?

Terminate On Sight | Myspace

Yes, she can.

2008-06-25T12:32:00.003+10:00

Current It-Girl and also Indie Darling Lykke Li stacks some maaaaad cred by launching into her version of A Tribe Called Quest's classic track "Can I Kick It?"

Anyone who dislikes this dislikes life. Hard Fact.

Round my hometown...

2008-06-21T12:36:00.003+10:00

So I may be getting a little carried with the drum and bass but really this a cross over track so it doesn't count. Right?

May I present the newest remix from BW's favourite son, High Contrast. This time he lends his golden touch too Adele's 'Hometown Glory'. Laying her sublime vocals on a bed of rave syths and rolling drums Contrast has come up with another banger. Check out the radio rip (better quality to come) below if you dont believe me.

Adele - Hometown Glory (High Contrast Remix)

Adele Myspace | High Contrast Myspace

Gully

2008-06-20T11:20:00.008+10:00

They say good things come in three's. Looking at the recent drum and bass LP releases I would say 'they' were about right.

Firstly from the always reliable Hospital Records stable (home of High Contrast, Logistics and many more) comes a debut ten years in the making from Danny Byrd. Titled Super Sized its full of his trademark liquid sound. It also contains a number of curve balls in including the electro tinged Weird Science (below) and the old skool jungle vibes of Shock Out

Danny Byrd - Weird Science

Myspace | Website

D-Bridge was once a member of the acclaimed but now defunct Bad Company. He has now branched off and has been producing for the past few years, releasing singles on various label including his own Exit Recordings. This week sees the release of his first long player, The Gemini Principal. Deep and dark in sections D-Bridge layers his sounds and adds touches of soul to creating atmospheric drum and bass. The haunting Creatures of Habit (below) is a perfect example of this sound.

D-Bridge - Creatures of Habit

Myspace | Purchase

Rounding out the releases is the lastest LP from the revered Irish producer Calibre. His latest double disc LP is titled Overflow. It retains all his influences of dub and regge and adds a number of new ones, notably a tougher sound on a number of tracks. Calibre also his own vocals for the first time and the gamble pays off adding a personal touch to his lyrics. Textured, warm drum and bass for the soul. Check the key driven Always Lovin You below.

Calibre - Always Lovin You

Myspace | Wiki

Even if you dont feel that 178bpm vibe normally I would urge you too check this stuff out. Musically drum and bass is on fire at the moment.

This is just me indulging in some cultural imperialism.

2008-06-19T16:06:00.005+10:00

I love Human Television and they should be bigger than they are. Their album "Look At Who You're Talking To" came out just over two years ago and I find it genuinely weird that everyone slept on such sweet indie-pop. So listen to the track, then download the zip (it's only 10mgs), and then we can talk about them together. Thanks.

Human Television - In Front Of The House

Zipped Tracks (thanks to freeindie.com)

Myspace

The oddly named Joe Pug

2008-06-19T15:12:00.006+10:00

At times, nothing satisfies like the minimalism of a guitar, a voice and a powerful song. So many musicians will do this, and of these, we all know when they have the je ne sais quoi that makes the combination so successful. It is a vast collection of musical heavyweights and forlorn obscurities, and making oneself standout from the myriad must be daunting. It seems unfair to judge an emerging artist against Bob Dylan, or Cat Power, or the tragically sublime Elliott Smith. But it's probably necessary. It's probably unavoidable. I can't but compare when hearing a new artist. With this in mind, I was so impressed with Joe Pug. The carpenter from Chicago follows the dustbowl troubadour tradition, variously displaying the influences required of this mode: the wistful pace, the harmonica accents, the themes of heartbreak or triumph, or self-discovery. He has the voice of a chain-smoking Appalachian journeyman, and the raw guitar melodies complement this beautifully. The honest lyricism in his songs are such appropriate stories for this mode of music. I won't go on, because I'm scared to overhype. His album, Nation of Heat, is out now, and at his website he's actively asking to post his cd to you, free. In numerous quantities, if you want. Just 'cause he wants people to hear his music.

(Incidentally, when listening to the below, tell me you don't hear a young Bob Dylan doing "Mama You Been On My Mind.")

Joe Pug - Hymn #101

Myspace | Website

Ahoy Thar, Port O'Brien

2008-06-11T20:10:00.008+10:00

Finding themselves somewhere in the realm of Colourbook and No Age, with some obtuse hints of Arcade Fire, Port O'Brien are a five-piece outta Oakland who dropped their long-awaited album "All We Could Do Was Sing" in mid-May. There's some kinda Decemberists-esque imagery and it has a kind of Human Television earnestness / naïvete...
Anyway about 18 months ago, Pitchfork reviewed "I Woke Up Today", and claimed it was angsty and isolated. I call bullshit. I was having a weak day today, and other people were having worse ones, and this track picked me up and hit a chord it hadn't when first released in late '06. I think I listened to it once and forgot about it then. But this time, I found the whole confessional, proto-indie-folk-pop sound beautiful. If this song can count as a 2008 release, it's maybe my favourite non-banger track of the year. So far.

Port O'Brien - I Woke Up Today

Myspace | Website

Hang on mate!? 7$T?

2008-06-11T19:27:00.006+10:00

The Swiss have given us the Swiss Army Knife, political neutrality and Roger Federer, but what have they delivered musically? Hmmm... one of only two "Swiss" winners of Eurovision is Celine Dion. And they gave her back to Canada! But is anyone going to argue with that decision?
Well, despair no longer Switzerland because, as you already know, four boys from Lucerne are about to change that forever. Apparently 7 Dollar Taxi (7$T - yeah, I'm not quite sure about that tag either) have been a big deal in their home land since 2006 when their debut album, Come and Figure it Out, dropped. The album is set to be released in the anglosphere in August and they look set to be bigger than they are in their home market.
Do the Robot is the lead-in single. It's quite a pleasant little Scandinavian pop tune, but maybe a bit uninspiring. However, the clip for it is heat with what my untrained tells me is plenty of rotoscoping, a la A Scanner Darkly.
I'm more enamoured with the B-side, Red Lips. This tune is fire and rocks and rolls very nicely. You should also head over to their MySpace and check out the tune Jurassic Heads, which is very tight.
Oh, and if you want to know what they sound like think Arctic Monkeys with a touch of The Hives grit.

MySpace | Website

Tuesday wrap-up. Obvs.

2008-06-10T22:04:00.006+10:00

I haven't posted in a while and then it was a long weekend so today is the day. Rather than rock some clever theme I'm just gonna post a few tracks getting high spins on my iPod in the last week. Not necessarily because they're amazing tracks (I'm looking at you, Bosko)

1. Canadians - Like Dylan In The Movies

They're Italian, duh. I kinda feel like half the people who listen to this will go "huh? A folk-pop version of a Belle and Sebastian song? That's so inconsequential." But the other half will be like me and go "it's real pretty." There's some bumpin' junk at their myspace too, and you can download "Summer Teenage Girl" from their site. It's cute too.

Myspace | Website

2. Usher - Love In This Club (Bosko remix)

I loved the original (this is someone who bought 8701 the day it came out and spent the next year bumping "U Remind Me"). This remix is retarded. It's like 'why bother' but I'm glad he did.

Usher | Bosko

3. Women - Group Transport Hall

I don't wanna bite GvsB's shit but I've totally thought the same thing: like pretty much every band has something to do with women or girls in their name nowadays. These guys obvs, Girls, Girl Talk, Girls in Hawaii, Vivian Girls, Women & Children etc. And it's working. So go with it, I guess. Like how a few years ago every good new band had some variation of 'wolf' or 'knife' in their name. Anyway this isn't Jose Gonzales but imagine if he was HAVING FUN FOR ONCE. With his friends around on other instruments too. It only goes for a minute. That's what happens when you're having fun, you get distracted.

Myspace | Website

4. Mickey Factz - You Remind Me

Not a cover of the aforementioned Usher classic. Just Mickey Factz demonstrating he's got one of the most easy, likable flows of anyone at the moment. He drops some clever, sweet little rhymes in this one, which has given me a nice break from the week before, when I rediscovered Hell Hath No Fury and spent a whole bunch of train trips bumping it and wondering if everyone else on the 8.05 knew how gangsta I was.

Myspace | Mickey's collected heat at The Fader

Don't Touch Me!

2008-06-10T14:07:00.004+10:00

So Zane and Ronson have been flogging this track for weeks now which normally would discount it from appearing on these pages. Add that to the fact that I still harbor a big old chip on my shoulder for the no show Busta made last time he visited these shores.

All that being said I just can't ignore the fire Busta is spitting on this track. It almost makes you forget about the Linkin Park collaboration. Almost.

Busta Rhymes - Don't Touch Me (Throw Da Water on Them)

Myspace | Website

Lay off the drank, Weezy.

2008-06-03T09:36:00.005+10:00

NYC rap station HOT97's annual Summer Jam was on yessirday in NYC, and, amongst other, ahem, 'highlights' of this festival was the above: Lil' Wayne bugging out to Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." In further WTFness, Weezy plinks out 5 minutes of improv guitar work (he's not exactly Buddy Guy) and decides to do half his twenty minute set a capella. At least he brought out Kanye for the "Lollipop" remix.

So it wasn't as eventful as Hov calling out Prodigy or The Game beefing the shit out of Fiddy in '05, but I still wish I was there. There's a whole bunch of other stuff from the day worth checking out at HOT97's YouTube Channel, especially if you're into hip-hop palling-about: Rick Ross' shirtlessness, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana still being idiot mates, half of Wu-Tang showing up for Alicia Keys' set, and about seven thousand interviews with rappers and DJ's dropping platitudes about what a great day it is. And oh yeah, more live footage of Kanye being the most fire human in the world right now.

HOT97 YouTube Channel

Sebastien Tellier Kills Eurovision

2008-05-30T11:37:00.012+10:00

Dude is soooooooooooooo sleazy and French. Bless him.
BW presents the 19th best song of Eurovision 2008.

Sebastien Tellier - Divine (produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk)

Myspace| Website

Late Of The Pier - Focker (Instrumental)

2008-05-30T11:07:00.005+10:00

Like an enjoyable shot, I'll get this over with quickly:

BANGER BANGER BANGER BANGER BANGER BANGER

Late Of The Pier - Focker (Instrumental)

(thanks to GWFAS)

Myspace | Website

Dave aka Vinyl Morpher

2008-05-30T09:24:00.005+10:00

Meet Dave everyone. He's 41, he's from the UK, has been DJing since the age of 16 and has a 'passion for music'. He is also awesome. Why? Because he has uploaded nearly 500 disco tracks from his vinyl collection onto youtube for your listening pleasure. You can also watch the 12" do it's thang. Awesome. Get making those playlists people!

Vinyl Morpher's Youtube Channel

New Black Kids Clip

2008-05-29T11:57:00.005+10:00

In one of the biggest anti-climaxes of last year, Black Kids got super-hyped by Pitchfork and indie d-bags decided to call bullshit in response and the whole thing went nuclear. Then went epicly quiet. Weird.
Anyway, this particular element of BW is a bit of a Black Kids freak and is pretty excited about the soon-to-be-released debut album Partie Traumatic (allegedly, mid-July). This is the new video for Hurricane Jane, and in further deluxe news, the album will apparently feature remixes by perennial BW favourites MGMT and The Twelves, the latter of which might have been featured on BW at the start of the month. Bring on the fire.

Myspace | Website

Origins: Rodriguez

2008-05-28T12:24:00.007+10:00

Sometimes your parents get it right. In between the Gypsy Kings and Ottmar Liebert mine would spin gems such as the Stones, Paul Simon and the subject of this origin, Rodriguez.

Hailing from Detroit, Rodriguez was part of a psy-folk movement in the early to mid seventies. He only released two albums, both in the seventies, 'Cold Fact' and 'Coming From Reality'. Since then there has been a steady string of Greatest Hits and live compilations running all the way up too 2005. While virtually unknown in the US and Europe he has a huge cult following in Australia and South Africa. His track 'Sugar Man' (featured below) has also popped up in the Triple J playlist and on the soundtrack for the Aussie movie 'Candy'.

His sound is based in folk but uses electronic effects and elements to give his songs a detached and cosmic texture. Rodriguez lyrics tackle everyman problems such as drug abuse and social decay in an almost Dylanesque manner. Check out his unappreciated sound for yourself below.

Rodriguez - Sugarman

Website | Wiki

Cool, or is Nas just being heaps late?

2008-05-26T16:47:00.007+10:00

Nas banged on in The Source earlier this year about how important it was that he call his coming album "Nigger." He made some good points. He knew it'd be controversial. It was going to be a genuinely interesting and potentially significant move. He's not doing it now though. It's going to be called 'Nas'. And in the face of people saying he bitched out by changing the name, he's released the above poster, promoting the video for "Be A Nigger Too." It's hard to tell now whether it's still a balla move, or a kinda weak compromise. I do think the image is effective.

Myspace | Independence Day | Nas - Be A Nigger Too @ The Fader

Morning Light

2008-05-26T09:50:00.005+10:00

Sparkadia's first single gets a shiny new video. Try to spot multiple mes (in a white shirt) doing a whack sideways handstand. Debut album 'Postcards' out now, support quality Aussie music from good people.

Myspace | Website

Just getting my nostalgia on

2008-05-22T14:38:00.002+10:00

I can remember being 12 years old, and I loved this song so much I could leave the radio on all night and wake up if it came on. I kinda think it's single-handedly (oh PUN!) responsible for me loving stuff like the Postal Service and Burial now. I just rediscovered it and while it doesn't quite blow my mind anymore, it definitely hasn't dated as much the band's 1996 promo picture above. YUK.

Primitive Radio Gods - Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand

Myspace | Website

Worry About You

2008-05-22T13:27:00.002+10:00

One of the good friends of BW sent me a rather amazing link the other day.

Worry About You

It's basically the most simple and hassle free way to find and download single mp3s on the interwebs. Give it a try and tell me I'm wrong.

Needs More Cowbell

2008-05-22T09:03:00.007+10:00

Last year Pharrell had a brainwave and at 4am called his buddy ?uestlove. He thought it would be dope if his debut solo album was reworked with a bit of Roots magic. So ?uestlove and long time collaborator James Poyser set to work adding the proverbial "cowbell" to the tracks, fifteen days later it was done and Pharrell was pleased with the results.

Unfortunately his record company was not as stoked and the album was shelved never to be released. Luckily for us the internet exists and the record was leaked in its entirety. The project was titled Pharrell & the Yessirs "Out of my Mind" and is available all over the place. Due to the lack of promotion this CD has flown under the radar a bit.

There are a few gems, my favourite being the funky fresh rework of the Kanye assisted "Number One". There is talk of an album of original songs being made. ?uestlove: "I believe he really wants to keep the same unit and do all new songs — and I welcome any challengers."

Pharrell & the Yessirs - Number One

Pharrell & the Yessirs - Out of my Mind (LP)

Hearts On Fire Video

2008-05-21T12:53:00.006+10:00

By the Japanese director Nagi Noda who amongst other things did a great Tiga film clip, an amazing Jack White scored Coca Cola ad and a really weird poodle exercise video.

Sunny Day Sets Fire

2008-05-18T15:32:00.006+10:00

Sunny Day Sets Fire did a reverse diaspora thing. They channelled and drew members from as diverse places as Sardinia, Hong Kong and Canada to an East London locus. It's a random, faux-serendipitous theme that permeates through a lot of the things they do. Check the name out: it's generated from an internet band name generator. And perhaps more weirdly, they went with it. The music is charmingly effete psych-pop with some pretty melodies, and would almost be an anachronism were it not for the driving (but subtle) bass lines that lend their songs a sense of purpose. It's a grower - my original reaction was to label it derivative but the slow burn has come on and I'm liking it. More than their original sound, I'm loving the remixes by the likes of XXXchange, Cool Kids and Diplo, who have turned SDSF's sweet-n-edgy little tunes into fully-blown club bangers, a process we here at BW encourage. The Stranger Remix EP and their debut album Summer Palace are out now through IAMSOUND.

(the link below is a bigger-than-usual .aiff file through zshare. I'm not rad enough at teh internetz to now how to make it smaller)

Sunny Day Sets Fire - Brainless (Baron Von Luxxury remix)

Myspace | Website

More Fire

2008-05-16T12:54:00.001+10:00

In the wake of mash-ups becoming genuinely good (we were all surprised), The Hood Internet are leading the charge. The switched-on pair of ABX and STV SLV have a crazy accurate ability to combine stuff, with a focus on dropping raps over prime tunes, old and new. BW recently claimed these guys would blow up in '08 (if they haven't already), and when they're dropping Clipse over Cat Power or making R. Kelly actually reasonable by mashing him on "7/4 Shoreline" you'll see why. There's an attitude that simple 2-song mash-ups using rap are bullshit because rap is so 4/4 and easy, but when you do it this well, who cares?

The duo drops new tracks fairly regularly, so there's a wealth of stuff. Just to be even more balla, they've linked EVERY SINGLE MIX (there's like a million) plus a whole bunch of mixtapes at their site. Here's a few flavours anyway:

Clipse vs Cat Power - I Don't Blame You For Grinding And Shining
T.I vs Fujiya & Miyagi - What You Know About Transparent Things
Lykke Li mini-mix (individual tracks in a 30MG zip via Sendspace)

Head over already!

Myspace | Website

Fader Heat

2008-05-14T18:44:00.015+10:00

Recently there has been so much heat coming from Chilean volcanoes and the Fader magazine blog. So much so that I'm just gonna list the links from their site here. There's something for all beat lovers, get into it.

Kurupt & Pete Rock - Yessir
T-Pain- Talla Ho Walk
Diplo - Fuji Ouija (Tony Allen Cover)
Ratatat - Shiller
Sean Paul - Grip
Daedelus f. Michael Johnson - Make It So (XXXchange Remix)

On top of all these tracks they have put up a Michael Jackson mix, Hey Today mix for Kitsune and East Village Radio Show (you can subscribe to here) all in the last 48 hours... damn!

Made Out Of Babies - The Ruiner

2008-05-13T17:32:00.009+10:00

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. Metal experimentalists Made Out Of Babies are close to releasing their new album The Ruiner. Their follow up to 2006’s brilliant Coward (sample from that album bellow) will drop in the states June 24th. If the track Cooker, which can be found on the band’s myspace site (check the link bellow), is anything to go by this will be a worthy addition to their already brilliant discography.

Of course it is somewhat presumptuous to make any sweeping judgments about the album on the basis of one song. But fuck it, here I go. I predict The Ruiner will be a welcome step forward for the band; and with producer Andrew Schneider (Zozobra, Unsane, Pelican) behind the desk it’s definitely in good hands. I also predict I will go out of my way to get the album, and that it will kick ass.

Made Out Of Babies - Mr. Prison Shanks

Myspace Website

I know this is an mp3 blog BUT...

2008-05-13T09:44:00.004+10:00

...this is kinda so balla I have to post it.

Nike Air Yeezy's. Seriously Kanye made a shoe.

Holy shit I love the idea that rappers can get pro model shoes. I don't wanna hear anything about 'collabo', I want them to be a PRO MODEL. See then I can assume that if (when?) I'm wearing them, they're actively making my raps better.

UPDATE:

This post counts now 'cause I just heisted this demo from Ye's blog

N.E.R.D - Everybody Nose Remix f. CRS and Pusha T

So yep that's Pharrell, Lupe, Kanye and Pusha T on one track. Sick party.

Re-released Maps Of Hell

2008-05-12T16:29:00.006+10:00

Turns out Bad Religion are re-releasing last year’s brilliant New Maps Of Hell. The re-released version will include acoustic versions of three new songs, as well as four acoustic versions of classic Bad Religion songs. Also included will be a DVD with an hour long live performance, music videos for "Honest Goodbye" and "New Dark Ages," and some behind-the-scenes footage (because everyone loves behind the scenes footage). The news headline on the epitaph web site proclaims the band “Charts New Territory” through this act.

Now I don’t want to bad mouth such a great band or such a great album but frankly this is bullshit. I bought the album when it was released LESS THAN A YEAR ago and now what you’reeffectively saying is that I’ve missed out on all these tasty tidbits. Now I’m cool with re-releases of this type, I own the deluxe edition of Sonic Youth’s Dirty and it’s great, really. I’m also not averse to getting two versions of the same album; I have two versions of The Velvet Underground & Nico, for example. But re-releasing an album that’s still on rotation in my stereo just makes one feel like I purchased an inferior product.

Having said all that, if you haven’t got the album this is great news because now you can get it with those aforementioned extras in addition to what was one of last years best punk albums. Good for you for being so ignorant and/or idle.

By the way, Bad Religion, (yeah I know you’re reading this) how’s about re-releasing 1988’s Suffer, it’s a classic and deserves the classic treatment, I’d be happy to buy that one. Dudes, think before you die!

Bad Religion - Germs Of Perfection

Myspace | Website

I LOVE HER

2008-05-07T15:09:00.006+10:00

People need to stop ragging on Feist and saying she's overrated and ubiquitous. That's bullshit. So she's played on a bunch of talk shows and is at heaps of festivals. As if you wouldn't. So here's some facts about her that counters all the douchey indier-than-thou stuff:

She chooses totes appropriate and awesome side projects
She's Babraham Lincoln
The sound of her voice makes baby angels weep with joy

And to all those netheads who think they're totally clever by tracking down what 'feist' originally meant you're mad lame. Oh yeah and The Constantines are pretty ok too. Maybe Toronto is the new Montreal. Shock - what would Vice think of that prediction?!

The Constantines and Feist - Islands In The Stream

The Constantines | Feist

PS: Hopefully Pras hears this and signs her up for a Ghetto Superstar refix

Cancer Bats - Hail Destroyer

2008-05-06T17:41:00.010+10:00

There are few band names I think more ridiculously histrionic than that of Canada’s Cancer Bats. One can only imagine the conception of the name “This is a punk band guys so we want to have a scary name. So what do people fear?’
“Umm bats!”
"Yep, people do fear bats"
“People fear cancer too!”
“Yea, cancer and bats…. I think I’ve got something”.

Their penchant for ridiculous names continues to their choice of song titles. Their second album Hail Destroyer is full of them, Harem of Scorpions, Lucifer’s Rocking Chair, Zed’s Dead Baby and the titular Hail Destroyer, all fine examples. But hey this kind of music isn’t meant to be fucking subtle bitches.

Anyway, despite the song titles, Hail Destroyer is a rip roaring post hardcore ride worthy of such bombast. The riffs are tight and loose and Liam Cormier’s vocals are harsh and throaty but not to the point that they’re indecipherable (not that there’s anything wrong with indecipherable).

One might be tempted to compare The Cancer Bats to fellow post hardcore luminaries like The Bronx or The Gallows and the comparison is, for the most part, apt. But unlike those bands The Cancer Bats marinate their meaty chunks of punk with generous helpings of southern fried swagger, oh those crazy Canadian Cajuns. Tracks like Deathsmarch, Bastard’s Waltz and Lucifer’s Rocking Chair owe as much to Down and Type O Negative as they do to Minor Threat and Black Flag, and what’s more, they fucking rock.

To be honest though, there are moments of cheese, Let It Pour misfires badly and the guitar solos peppered throughout generally feel hollow and exposed (even if the press release says they’re electrifying), thus highlighting why most punk and metal bands have two guitarists. But, these are minor hiccups in what is overall a great sophomore effort by the Canadians.

Cancer Bats - PMA 'Til I'm DOA

Myspace Website

Vote Obama

2008-05-06T10:38:00.007+10:00

Tell me this isn't the most funky, fresh campaign video ever. Loving that beat and video by Tisa of Sa-Ra. So catchy.

*Disclaimer - BW does not endorse any political parties (except super funky, fresh ones).

When It Rains It Pours

2008-05-05T21:21:00.004+10:00

I'll be honest: I just stumbled across this and have no idea when it dropped, and am neck-deep in uni so I can't be arsed researching when. Regardless, it's another fucking amazing collabo remix. Current king of hot fire, Mark Ronson, tackles a Dylan classic, and he does it with aplomb. The original beat and jazz-whistle carnival feel are retained in this remix, with Ronson adding his idiosyncratic (but subtle) horns, which only seek to increase the party feeling of the song. A feeling which was, and still is, somewhat incongruous given the song's lyrical content. But hey, that's Dylan. Seeking to fully understand his motives is about as futile an exercise as there is. This isn't necessarily going to appear on anyone's track of the year lists, but it's a clever little achievement, and of particular interest to any Dylanophiles out there. (Which should be EVERYONE.)

Bob Dylan - Most Likely You'll Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine (Mark Ronson remix)

Mark Ronson | Bob Dylan