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Dancing in the California Rain

I don’t post new music very often, but when I do…. there is invariably going to be some new sounds you’ve never heard and absolutely love.  If you dig the tracks that I post, make sure to subscribe to the free email list to get updates whenever new music is available.  Mmmm…

It has been chilly in both California and Florida lately.  So I’ve had some extra time to put together a list of the music that has been moving me…

Bassnectar just dropped his 2010 IDJ mix tape.  It is absolute fire as usual from one of my favorite DJs to ever grace the decks.  Checking him in Feb with Stanton Warriors and Beats Antique in LA. 

MP3: Bassnectar – 2010 IDJ Mixtape (44:25)

MP3: Pixies – Where is My Mind? (Bassnectar Remix)

I love both PBJ and Miike Snow, so why not both in one song?  Tricked out version of an already beautiful track with some throwback synth sounds.

MP3: Peter Bjorn & John – It Don’t Move Me (Miike Snow Remix)

I don’t know em yet, but Wiki says The Big Pink are a electro rock duo from England comprising multi-instrumentalists Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell. The duo signed to the 4AD label in 2009, and won the prestigious NME Philip Hall Radar Award for best new act.  Whatever they are, it is fun to scream this song and there is a little something lyrically for the player in us all. Switch did a remix, but I didn’t care for it so no linky.  Visit The Big Pink here!

MP3: The Big Pink – Dominos

Brooklyn in the house.  but they are touring all over the UK with massive reception.  The driving beat and catchy vocals should get your head nodding.  A little Arctic Monkey-ish, no?  Check it: http://www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever

MP3: The Drums – Let’s Go Surfing

I have mixed feelings about Chromeo, but am digging the new track.  As if you didn’t know: http://www.chromeo.net/

MP3: Chromeo – Night by Night

“I know karate, I know jujitsu, I drive like a gangster when I’m coming to see you.”  nuff said.

MP3: Kennedy – Karate

Elite Force was one of a handful of producers/djs that originally got me into breakbeats.  I never latched onto the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for some reason, until their new album which I think is really well done.  Check out these two very different moods of YYY.  Not crazy about the remix really, but some nice parts before the end makes me wanna puke glow sticks.  Maybe I’m just getting old.  Shack: http://www.myspace.com/shackforce

http://www.yeahyeahyeahs.com/

MP3: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps (Elite Force Edit)

MP3: Elite Force – Crew One (yeah that old school dope ass nu-skool break on Moonshine)

MP3: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Runaway

The Bravery are back and not everyone is excited.  But despite it not being their first single released, I really dig the track “Hatefuck” and not just for the name. It is catchy and make me turn up my Bose stereo speakers until my ears beg for reprieve.  18 and over.  Buy the album, take the ride: http://www.thebravery.com/store/

MP3: The Bravery – Hatefuck

Florence and the Machine are everywhere!  Ahhh.  This remix by Boy 8-Bit hits the spot.  Check em out here: http://www.myspace.com/boy8bit //////  http://florenceandthemachine.net/

MP3: Florence & the Machine – Drumming (Boy 8-Bit Remix)

This track if frickin brilliant.  Does everything good come out of London?  All slowed down and dubbed out version of Miike Snow’s track “Animal.”  Blaze up and put the top down son.  And damn, Mark Ronson is pretty dope.  He produced this Wale track too.  More on Mark here: http://www.markronson.co.uk

MP3: Miike Snow – Animal (Mark Ronson Remix)

MP3: Wale – Um Ricka f. K’Naan (prod Mark Ronson)

This is the second time I’ve posted Cassettes Won’t Listen and there is a good reason for it.  Really really intricate and beautiful beat production from one-man project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Jason Drake.  Brooklyn.  For lovers of RJD2, Pretty Lights, etc.  More here: http://www.cassetteswontlisten.com/

MP3: Cassettes Won’t Listen – Into the Hillside

Last but not last… Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, Gorillaz, etc) and James Mercer (The Shins’ main Shin) teamed up to become Broken Bells.  First track has Mercer’s trademark voice that always makes me feel like I’m in the movie “Garden State,” with beautiful floaty background production.

MP3: Broken Belles – The High Road

Lastly, I haven’t been into Jay-Z for a while, but I have been enjoying The Blueprint 3.  Sometimes 40-year old guys with long greasy cruise through Venice Beach playing it out of their convertible corvette, but I still love this track.

MP3: Jay Z ft. Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind

I know there have been a quadrillion remixes of this track, but I like me a little acid with my Ting Tings.

MP3: Ting Tings – Great DJ (Acid Girls Remix)

Love the work of David Starfire and he’s made some brilliant tweaks to this Radiohead track.  More info: http://davidstarfire.com/

MP3: Radiohead – Ideioteque (David Starfire Remix)

Enjoy.  And make sure to sign up for free email updates.

Gramatik – Street Bangerz Vol 2

A casual stroll through Beatport’s top downloads in each genre turned up something peculiar. In the “Chill Out” section, 6 of the top 10 downloads were the same artist from the same album. That doesn’t happen too often – must be a glitch. Well, there is a bit of glitch on tracks like “Lonely and Cold,” but after listening to Gramatik’s Street Bangerz Volume 2, I was wondering how I could have slept so long and completely missed Volume 1 or even caught this artist’s name before. Better late than never I suppose.

gramatik2

Cutting edge breaks and hip hop beats, masterfully tweaked and torn apart, layered with soulful 70s, horns, and warm vocal samples. The entire album is quality from start to finish and is some of the best downtempo, head nodding funk that I’ve heard in a while. Fans of Thievery, Ninja Tunes, Pretty Lights, Nostagia 77 and similar sounds will be all over this album like a donkey on a waffle. What?

MP3: Gramatik – I’m Free

MP3: Gramatik – Lonely and Cold

MP3: Muse – Knights of Cydonia (Gramatik Remix)

“Orchestrated Incident” and “Hit that Jive” are two more incredible singles off this album. If you dig the samples above, go to Beatport.com and download the full album.

Gramatik is in good company, having been on the road with Glitch Mob and Pretty Lights recently. Go to his Myspace Page for tour dates and more information. You can also Become a Facebook Fan by Clicking Here.

Two Fresh Drop a Baker’s Dozen

If you haven’t stumbled across them yet, Two Fresh will come as a welcomed addition to the music library of anyone that is nearly as obsessed with Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, STS9 and Gramatik as I am. Their entire album is offered for free download at the link below. Dive in and enjoy.

2-fresh

Two Fresh consists of an inseparable pair of twin producers, Sherwyn and Kendrick Nichols, who have been making beats and playing music together since they were fifteen years old. Now only twenty, the twins are ready to release their first album entitled “The Baker’s Dozen”. This release contains a unique style of music combining elements of hip hop, jazz, soul, standout synth lines, creative sample chops, and heavy bass sections.

MP3 Download: Two Fresh – “The Bakers Dozen”

Following their first release, Two Fresh will be hitting the road with dozens of dates already scheduled in the forthcoming months. For more information check out

http://www.twofreshbeats.com

http://www.myspace.com/twofreshbeats

http://www.1320records.com

URB / Confluence Holiday Party

If you are in the L.A. area, I will be spinning at set at the URB Magazine / Confluence / Hunnypot Holiday party this Friday.  Gonna be a great event with BLVD, AdamandEvil, Mid City West, live art and visuals in amazing wine cellar warehouse space that goes till late.  Get there…

Holiday_Digital_Invite

Music in Rotation Fall 2009

Here is a sample of the music that I’ve been digging lately across a variety of genres.  These are not necessarily new tracks, but many are new to me and have been in heavy rotation in my sets lately.  Enjoy…

Mongoose-Girl-Remix-Wallpaper

New heat from Raekwon with Cappadonna and Ghostface Killah.  A J Dilla production…

MP3: Raekwon – 10 Bricks feat. Cappadonna & Ghostface Killah

Following up from their brilliant release “Hope & Sorrow,” Wax Tailor’s latest single get heads nodding and dance floor’s packed, while bringing a conscious message and intricate flows.  Get more info at the Wax Tailor website.

MP3: Wax Tailor w/ ASM – Say Yes

“Walking on the Dream” came out of nowhere and made me an instant fan or Empire of the Sun.  They have since gained commercial success, but his remix by Kotchy laces an already incredible track with highly danceable breakbeats.  Get more information at their website.

MP3: Empire of the Sun – We are the People (Kotchy Remix)

Vampire Weekend’s latest single, Horchata, is a light and floaty tribute to one of my favorite drinks.  Their new album, Contra, is slated to be released in January of 2010.  Go to the Vampire Weekend Website for more information.

MP3: Vampire Weekend – Horchata

Taking the jam band/burner scene by storm this year, LYNX and Janover bring deep grindy bass, breakbeats, conscious flow and Middle-Eastern soundbites, similar to the sound of coherts Beats Antique.  Check their website for more details.    Thanks Russell.

MP3: LYNX & Janover – Shout it Out

Clever lyrics, ill flows and a dope driving beat remixed by Sound Crate on this K-OS track.  Peep more Sound Crate here and get more info on K-OS here.

MP3: K-OS – 4 3 2 1 (The Sound Crate Remix)

So many remixes floating around of this track, but the Woodhands version stands out amongst the crowd.  For more info, peep the Woodhands Myspace page and Peter Bjorn & John website.

MP3: Peter Bjorn & John – Nothing To Worry About (Woodhands Remix)

It took me a few listens to warm up to the new Bassnectar album, but Lorin is no doubt pushing boundaries again and this track has consistently got the dance floor moving.  Filthy bassline shaking your ass out your pants.  All night, daydreams, banging on daydreams.  Still one of my favorite live djs.  Get the full album and check Bassnectar’s tour dates here.

MP3: Bassnectar – Cozza Frenzy

A brilliant remix of The Eagles.  As much as I love the original, I think I actually like Chromeo’s version better and it is infinitely more groovy and danceable.  Chromeo is playing NYC this weekend.  Get on it.

MP3: Chromeo – I Can’t Tell You Why

The XX are one of my favorite new artists.  Yeah, they have been around a while and this track has been out forever, but I have yet to grow tired of it.  I’ve dropped it as an intro in peak-hour sets and had entire rooms singing along and nodding their heads.  Brilliant.  They are selling out tour dates everywhere.  Get more info here.

MP3: The XX – Crystalized

Jeff McIlwain’s work as Lusine has been delivering amazing minimal/prog/techy stuff for a while, but this new track is a bit of a departure to a more lucid, atmospheric side.  The new single is a collaboration with Finnish singer Vilja LarjostoLusine web site.

MP3: Lusine – Two Dots

Who is Miike Snow?  I still don’t really know, but the tracks keep coming.  Initially remaining completely anonymous – with their only visual representation being the mysterious “jackalope” silhouette – MIIKE SNOW are a band that produce infectious and intelligent pop, and consist of Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg &Andrew Wyatt.  More info here.

MP3: Miike Snow – Cult Logic

Pretty Lights is the brain work of Colorado based producer Derek Vincent Smith, accompanied in the live setting by drummer, Cory Eberhard.  I wrote about them and provided a link to download their full album in a previous post. But I have been digging this music so much, that I thought I would also provide a little taste here, for those too lazy to download the full albums.  This track is HOT and always gets heads nodding.  I play this every time I spin and it never fails to deliver.

MP3: Pretty Lights – Hot Like Sauce