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

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.
18^th June – DIM MAK Records will be taking over the evening, bringing with them Fischerspooner and Steve Aoki.

25^th 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




****************



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

XLR8R.com


***************

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

**********************

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!

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

Then head to http://www.scatterblog.com/blog/2010/04/scm-004/ for the full EP.

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

Visit Juno to buy it.

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

Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance (Buraka Som Sistema remix)

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:

http://soundcloud.com/warmhq/friendly-fires-xl-eggs-benedict-mix-01-2010

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

www.coolinthepool.net

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.

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."

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Introducing Trivo:

32yr old Italian, making experimental indie-electronica. Was really impressed by this. Nice and gentle, with a sense of fun. And he sings in Italian, which is how it should be!

And because he is such a supporter of free music, you can download the whole album here: (although you can own a physical copy for just 3 Euros ,contact via MySpace, below):


http://www.mediafire.com/?myvg2hrfuh2

Tracklisting:

01. Traccia 1- artista sconosciuto
02. La disciplina delle fermentazioni
03. Ratio me fugit
04. Ho un gatto nel cervello
05. The darkest side of the dark
06. Ho bisogno di qualcosa di cui non ho bisogno
07. Tu non sei normale
08. Nero
09. La mia donna è un pagliaccio opulento
10. Talking to Van Vera
11. Perché la cattiveria è enorme
12. Questa non è una canzone
13. Phantazomai
14. La ballata dell'elefante suicida
15. Piccola perdita di sostanza polpastrello
16. Veronica ha un virus
17. Kisstarsky

http://www.myspace.com/elephantsuicide




On a different note,

also introducing Mendel:

Paris/Tel Aviv based producer, making heavy electro-fidget-filter-hip-hop. Definitely one to watch, this guy has proper management, and a sound that is attractive enough to move more into the mainstream.

Check this out, Fully Sick and shit:

Designer Drugs - Drop Down (Mendel Remix)

Listen: http://soundcloud.com/musicbymendel/drop-down-mendel-remix

Plus his remix of Pon De Floor:

Major Lazer - Pon De Floor (Mendel's Ajuelos! Remix)

and

French Fries - Coconut (Mendel remix)

Plus, wild Klezmer beats, sampling Major Lazer:

Mendel - Jews Can Be Booty Too (Major Lazer sample)



Don Diablo, currently on tour in North America.


More Don Diablo destruction - this time remixing Larry Tee's forthcoming single.

Heavy hectic, put it on loud.

Larry Tee - Let's Make Nasty (Don Diablo Remix)

www.myspace.com/dondiablo



HAVE A HAPPY X-MAS, PUT YOUR FEET UP AND GET INTO THAT STILTON. TIS THE TIME FOR VEINY CHEESE, NO DOUBT!

"And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Avant Pop"

People in The Sky, a label started in the back of an East London rcord shop in 2006, release the compilation "And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Avant Pop" on the 16th of Nov.

Featuring label mainstays Friendly Fires and Plugs, People In The Sky describe this as an 'Audio Manifesto'.

They explain:

"From Dada to Disco, the commodification and recuperation of all popular culture has been accelerated via ever faster means of communication until we reached this point, the edge of no return.

The musical avant garde, armed with cheap electronics and half forgotten dreams, fights on sporadically. Fresh battlelines are drawn in the subcultural sand, but from 20 jazz funk greats to Reg n’ Fearn in a fortnight, things move fast . Fires are quickly doused , and it’s back to Saturday repeats of Come Dine with me as the hacienda crumbles around us."

1) Wax Stag - Folk Rock (Bibio Remix)
2) Colouring In - Intergalactic Romantic (Radio Edit)
3) Telepathe - Chromes On It
4) Plugs - That Number (Video Edit)
5) Architeq - Sleeping Bear Lament (James Pants Remix)
6) Oko - Can't You See
7) Nightwaves - She's Electric (Vega Italo Dub)
8) Ghostape - Many Stars (Ste Mix)
9) The Time and Space Machine - Children of the Sun
10) Friendly Fires - On Board (Nightmoves Remix)
11) Ghostape - In Your Eyes (Remin Remix)
12) Ecce - Control (Pharao Black Magic Mix)
13) Plugs - Downtown
14) Foto & The Bolton Tadcaster - Love Will Break Her
15) Nuuro - Avila



To promote the compilation they are hosting a launch party, featuring the excellent ColouringIN and Matt Waites (Nightmoves). ALL ARE INVITED ;;;;;;;;;:

People In The Sky presents "And You Will Know Us by TH Trail of Avant Pop" Launch Party @ T Bar

Thursday 19th November | 9pm - 3am

Free Entry + Free Promo CD Giveaways

T Bar, 18 — 22 Houndsditch, Aldgate, London EC3A 7LP

Line-up:

These New Puritans (Domino/Angular) DJ Set

Ipso Facto DJ Set

Matt Waites AKA Nightmoves (Future Flash/This Is Not An Exit)

ColouringIN Live

Damon Martin (Disco Bloodbath)

Bi-Bop

Slutty Fringe DJs

J Saintil (Nurtrend)

EuroSonic Noorderslag - The SXSW of Europe?

Lucy Love, pic thanks to http://allscandinavian.com

EuroSonic Noorderslag is Europe's biggest music industry conference and showcase. Every year a selection of Europe's new musical talent get a chance to strut their stuff in front of industry pros, including promoters from Europe's biggest festivals, as well as hoards of music lovers. All will be eagerly scouring 100+ gigs to discover the next big thing.

This year the particular focus is on Norway. So expect a strong presence of indie-dance, death metal and great facial hair. (Ok so this was the best cultural stereotype I could muster. Blame Lordi.)

Past success stories include Blood Red Shoes, Goose, Lykke Li, Yelle and, last year, White Lies, who clocked up an impressive 15 European festival bookings after appearing.

Blood Red Shoes had this to say:

""EuroSonic Noorderslag is one of those weird showcase things you do but feel uncomfortable about because it's crawling with music industry types and not many real people, a bit like SXSW. But much like SXSW, if you do a good job of it, you get some way cool stuff out of it."

...which makes it all sound a bit cynical, but adds some weight to the SXSW comparison. Although the guy from White Lies had this to say:

"At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what job title each member of the audience has, they are still potential fans and still have the ability to be moved and excited by your music".

...and get you way cool stuff....

Sliimy

The line-up is all new to me - but after a preliminary listen my ones to watch are, in 3 categories:

I Think I Might Like You: Bands With Promise

Joensuu 1685 - Psychadelic, lofi rock.
Lucy Love - Electro, dancehall and dubstep beats with assertive female MCing. Loads of potentially good tracks and catchy riffs. Still lands a little short of brilliant, yet. Though check out the OK Formula rmx of No VIP on her Myspace.
Sliimy - Synthy indie-pop-soul, with impressive voice and and one eye on radio play. Plus a few good covers.
So I Watch You From Afar - Intelligent and progressive heavy-ish instrumental rock. Swapping from emotional (small e) Post-Hardcore riffs to fantastic african rhythms and a sense of the Epic. Bits of ATDI, Mogwai and QOTSA (I'm not using all these acronyms just to take the piss, I promise). BIG sound, stirring, yet never outlandish.
rockettothesky - can't tell if I like this, but I might do in time, so have included it. Very strange sounds, lots of synths and some guitar, lots of reverb on the minimal drums. Twinkly and gentle music with floaty female vocals. Makes me think of snow.

Will Probably Be Big, But Shouldn't Be

Lee Everton - Singer songwriter plays rootsy reggae meets rhythm and blues, easy on the ear. Average, unimaginative, coffee table.


I'm Already Loving It , Get Your Orders In.

Svjata Vatra - Bagpipes, accordian, trumpet, djembe and amongst other instruments something called a duduki make up this weird-and-wonderful-sounding band. Primarily a Ukranian and Estonian folk band, but embracing elements of "Tango, Polka, Punk, Rock, Funk, Soul, Ska, Jazz and Reggae." Adventurous and exciting music, never losing its sense of fun. My only criticism being I wish it would kick off a little more often. Personal taste perhaps.

www.eurosonic-noorderslag.nl
____


On a different note the Evening Standard published their list of 1000 most influential people in London. Apparently I'm not on there. I can only assume I came in at 1001. Bastards. Don't they know who I am?

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/the-one-thousand.do