Friday 21 May 2010

Electronic Breakfast



Hi Folks,

A very sunny morning in East London, about to head off to work. Thought I'd briefly have a look at who's currently making waves and who's currently setting trends in the world of electronic music. Bon Appetite.



For the first course I generously serve a slice of broken beat/garage with Randomer & Fife. Smart synth stabs, super-smooth vocals and a very tasty bassline have seen their track Too Many Times see early support from Giles Peterson and Mary Ann Hobbs. Released on May 24th on Fat! Records. For Fans of Joy Orbison.

Randomer & Fife - Too Many Times by Fat! Records


http://www.myspace.com/randomerdnb
http://www.myspace.com/fifesounds

Next up bringing the noise, like a double macchiato, is Girl Unit. Finding a cheeky niche somewhere between sireny-techno and bubbling post-dubstep, new track IRL is hot property.

MP3:
Girl Unit - IRL

Also check out the French Fries remix - and buy the original on Beatport

A couple of tracks recommended by Girl Unit in his interview with The Big Chill :

First, Rishi Romero - African Forest. Deep, loud, proud techno.



Also, NGUZUNGUZU - Got U. Future techno, a genuinely fresh take on the genre.

Mp3: NGUZUNGUZU - Got U.



As the funky smoothie of the breakfast buffet, probably with sparklers stuck in the top, is Maluca, who's blowing up at the moment, with Mad Decent's backing.

She was born in the Bronx to Dominican parents, and after a chance meeting with Diplo in a karaoke bar the two started working together, resulting in her debut single El Tigeraso. Fast, aggressive yet sassy, with B-More influences and Spank-Rock like delivery, it has spawned a number of big-name remixes.

Here the above mentioned NGUZUNGUZU take on the remix duties.

MP3: Maluca - El Tigeraso (NGUZUNGUZU remix)

Buy on Beatport

http://www.myspace.com/malucamala
http://twitter.com/MALUCAMALA

Really enjoying the new SMD track Aspic, just great production, a big sound, ruthlessly driving and heavy. An absolute must.

MP3: Simian Mobile Disco - Aspic (a pretty lowly 192 - follow links below to go glorious 320)

Go go go and buy it on Beatport or even Phonica





FINALLY, to exhaust the already overstrained metaphor, for the Eggs Royale of what has now become mega-mega-brunch, if you listen to one person this week, or hey, this month, make sure it's Hudson Mohawke. Already given a shout on Lofi a while ago when discussing 'Aquacrunk', Hudson Mohawke feeds intelligent hip-hop beats through an Autechre-esque filter, really driving the limits of modern dance music, but simultaneously managing to always keep it soulful, usually accessible and often raveable. Comparisons to Outkast, Funkadelic, Timbaland and Pharell seem more than fair.

His debut album 'Butter' was released October last year. Get hold of a copy here. seriously.

MP3: Hudson Mohawke - Joy Fantastic (ft Olivier Daysoul)

http://www.myspace.com/hudsonmo

Saturday 24 April 2010

WIN VIP Tickets to Switch, Aeroplane, Jack Beats and Popof with Lofi Hifi.


Since inception NYE 2001, clubnight Together has put on an undeniably quality lineup of electronic and indie acts. From The Chemical Brothers to Roni Size, Justice to Fischerspooner, they've kept it diverse and big-name.

Their spring-summer line up has now been announced and its looking quality.

May 7th sees world-superstar Kelis, showing off her new, dancier sounds, joined by the legendary reformed-gangsters Afrika Bambaataa, plus Tinchy Stryder and room 2 action with Lee Mortimer, in what is a slightly bizzare but probably wonderful line-up.

May 14th Alex Metric, Joker and Friendly Fires join Disco Bloodbath for an eclectic night of electronic destruction.

21st May finds Moda, fast becoming the UKs hottest party hosts, brought in to rock the joint, bringing with them Jack Beats, who's unveling his new 2 man audio-visual show; Switch - who needs no explaining; Popof who's brooding yet bouncy minimalist electro productions and remixes has seen him become a majoy player in dance music, and nu-disco big-name Aeroplane, who has remixed of the likes of Friendly Fires with universal appreciation. Also on the line up is Riva Starr, Grum and Moda frontmen Jaymo & Andy George.

WIN 2 VIP tickets with Lofi Hifi. To enter just email your full name to georgewigzell AT hotmail.com. Competition closes 15th May.

I will pick one name out of a hat and they get the two VIP tickets.

June 4th
they have Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, DJ Yoda and Stereo MCs.
June 11th Electro phenomenon and poney fancier Vitalic plus rhetorical DJs Joe and Will Ask?and a DJ set from Mystery Jets - who, having DJed Lofi, I can testify are rather excellent.
18th June – DIM MAK Records will be taking over the evening, bringing with them Fischerspooner and Steve Aoki.
25th June – The BIG Finale with Kode9, Joker, and the very exciting Hudson Mohawke.

All are at the Coronet Theatre, 28 New Kent Road, SE1,
1920s art deco playhouse, which now boasts the capital's biggest main room, with a capacity of 2,600.

All are £10 early bird, or £15 on the door. 10pm - 5am.
www.together-club.co.uk

www.coronettheatre.co.uk





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Get the hype on Joy Orbison with this excellent article and free 40 min mix:

XLR8R.com


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FINALLY, some music:

Got an email from a man named Devin Madgy, a one-man band, making lovely lofi-indie with a quirky edge. I think this is really promising stuff - check it out. Hopefully some mp3s will follow:

http://soundcloud.com/devin-hollows

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Finally, finally, check this out:

http://www.b3ta.com/links/David_Cameron_Common_People

A timely reminder of what you'll get if you vote Tory. Remember kids, don't let the fuckers get in!

Wednesday 14 April 2010


ColuringIN (photographer unknown - sorry!)

First off more free music from Scatterblog - the high-quality-no-cost label - and this time it's some heavy sounds from Mexican duo Dirty Beats. This is club-orientated, good-time electro.

Take a listen to: Dirty Beats - Whats Happen

For anyone that's missed this so far, check out R1 Ryders - Rubber Band (Funkitek mix) (see below for a little clip).



Also check out this, not new but one I haven't heard before. Top summer sounds. Thanks to Annie Mac for that.





If you're at a loss on Friday the 30th April then definitely check out new London based/ Berlin-K7 affiliated label Cool In The Pool's launch party at The City Arts and Music Project.

They're putting on a more than tempting buffet spread of musical morsels, including indie-disco from Friendly Fires DJs; Uk Funky/Dubstep from Brackles; psychedelic guitars, jacking drums and soaring synths from 3 piece Plugs; "future romantic pop" from oh-so-hotly-tipped, LfHf favs ColouringIN; and joyful post-dubstep art noise and intrigue from new superstar Kwes.

Plus it's all FREE.

Mixtape from Friendly Fires to get juices flowing:


The Camp, 70-74 City Rd London, EC1Y 2BJ . 10-4am.

Exit 2009.


Also, how good is the Exit lineup looking?

LCD Soundsystem, Missy Elliott, The Horrors, Bad Brains (!), DJ Shadow, Placebo (if you like that sort of thing, which I do), Suicidal Tendencies, Hudson Mohawke, L-VIS 1990, Crystal Castles, Chromeo, We Have Band, plus an amazing dance line up including Erol, Boys Noize, Brodinski, Crookers, Josh Wink, A-Trak, Laidback Luke, Busy P, SebastiAn, Mehdi, Zinc and Ms Dynamite plus a ridiculous amount more. Where else do you get a hardcore stage, a dedicated dance stage and an up-and-coming band stage at the same festival? Plus the chance to see LCD Soundsystem? (ok maybe at Leeds/Reading, but look at the sheer amount AND quality of bands here, although I confess I wouldn't mind seeing Blink headlining Leeds)

Tickets still £85 + bf, and camping is £20 + bf (tickets available here: www.exitfest.org)

The question now is: can I afford to go? Well if you can, then do. Just don't rub my nose in it if I don't make it.

Saturday 9 January 2010

A Shot In The Dark

This is a film I was in last year.

It was a collaboration between the London Film School and the National Gallery, where students picked a painting in the gallery to write and a direct a 3 minute short around. Sohail, who wrote and directed it, chose Bartolomé Bermejo's painting Saint Michael triumphs over the Devil, painted in 1468. In his words: "I was intrigued by the way the Devil is depicted by the painter. A small helpless figure who, even pinned to the ground, seems to laugh at man´s attempt to defeat him. The painting tackles the classical theme of good versus evil, and something with evil at its centre is always very dramatic. I therefore wanted to translate the image to a disturbing supernatural thriller. In my film, the Devil takes the shape of a child. The juxtaposition of human innocence and mythological evil is perhaps an equally classical element from films of this genre. In this form, the demon child taunts the protagonist through his pictures. Photographically I explored the contrast between light and darkness, mixed with fiery red light in the dark room where the Devil prevails."