Jakwooooooob!

This young man, Jakwob, has been a friend of ours since the early days of working with KiD COLA. Back then he was kicking out a lot of music very quickly indeed and showed a lot of promise. Now he is taking a bit more time over his work he is really starting to fulfill that promise, one need look no further than his recent remixes for The Teasers and Ellie Goulding to observe that.

Hailing from Lincoln, he part of the scene that is thriving there at the momemt thanks the likes of Andy George, Jaymo, Urchins etc and the various massive parties that are thrown in the town every month!

Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed (Jakwob remix)


James.

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Roar

Well, it seems good news is afoot. What with Grizzly Bear's new album set for release soon and the promos sounding nothing short of brilliant things have got even better. Yep, one of favourite Frenchmen, Fred Falke, has taken time-out to remix new track "Two Weeks" and, rest assured, he nails it in classic Falke style. I sweat, if he carries on like this i'm just going to be spinning Fred Falke reworks in my sets. I guess that's no bad thing though.

Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks (Frad Falke Remix)



That aside, I've had this song for months now but have done nothing with it, and getting a new remix of his last night made me decide to do something about this state of affairs.

Firstly, bound to be most people's "banger" for the summer is Foamo's Remix of Man Like Me's ode to the capital, "London Town". I'm sure i've rambled about Foamo enough by now, but the man just keeps on developing, refining and improving his style so get involved.

Man Like Me - London Town (Foamo Remix)

Secondly, after his rather tight little edit of Skream's mash-up of "In For The Kill" he seems to have been snapped up to do a full mix of new single, "Bullet Proof", and serves it up in fine style. Though admittedly don't feel the vocals always quite fit over the music in this piece, it is still a fine piece of work.

La Roux - Bullet Proof (Foamo Remix)


Out.

J.

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The Aspirins For My Children

London now has its band to watch for 2009. Quite easily the best thing I have heard for quite a while is the intriguingly named, The Aspirins For My Children. With a fairly rich history of production, having worked with the likes of Miss Odd Kidd, The Cock n’ Bull Kid, Ghost Poet and Jean-Charles De Castelbajac, the quality and experience very much shows through in original such as “Adults” with its pounding drums, mesmerising, layered, synth lines built around a hugely atmospheric chorus hook and of bizarrely appropriate pitch bending for good measure.

Another track, “Pineapple” sounds as though it a summer afternoon anthem for the more lively amongst us, with it’s strangely upbeat and lifting melodies and occasional looped vocal chants. One could possibly imagine Crystal Castles writing something like this if they stepped out of dark, smoky clubs and wrote music in glorious sunshine. “Cutter”, on the other hand, gives off an immediate presence of normality before rapidly developing into a great piece of electronica and then U-turning back to the start and again descending into elecrtonica. All inside of two minutes. Intensely brilliant.

On top of these original pieces, TAFMC also has a nice sideline in remixes, having re-worked songs for the likes of Situationists and Marina & The Diamonds, with several more in the works, “coming soon”. The mix of Marina & The Diamons’ “Obsessions” is a wonderful piece, utilisng Marinas’s vocal line and offsetting it with big drums, swirling melodies and soaring synthesised strings. Or, more simply put, it’s a wonderful piece that veers between simple melodies and haunting crescendos.
With plans afoot for shows later in the year and, hopefully, even more originals, I feel big things ahead for this one man music machine.

Marina & The Diamonds - Obsessions (TAFMC Remix)

Love,

James

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Potentially the most ineteresting collab of the year...

Is the much hyped link up between Four Tet and Burial. Two fairly different styles of music, both with huge cult status, bordering on mainstream popularity (I imagine this is up for debate, but they are not quite household names methinks), though coming from to the table with each with a similar ethos as they both seem to like their ambiance to some degree or another.

The result can be found on vinyl in any competent record store, or on the internet in the shape of "Moth" which, as predicted, is a piece of surprisingly upbeat electronica in terms of the melodies, though their is a strong Burial influence in the beats and in the subtleties that swing around the lead lines. I suspect your best bet will be Rough Trade or Phonica for this release (if you're in London, or want to order online from a good quality independent store), I'm certainly out of here to one of these as soon as pay day hits!

A slight grower but a beautifully constructed piece. I can imagine these two writing an incredibly moving album together, as Moth alone took me off somewhere else entirely, to the the extent that I jumped when the song after came on.

Buial & Four Tet - Moth


Four Tet and Burial on myspace.



J.

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Fenech Soler

A new UK act who seem to take of with aplomb over the summer.

Dealing in what can only be described as blissed out pop melodies and electronic hooks offset by, at times, mesmerising vocals. I don't really know much else about them, if i'm honest, besides the fact that they are playing Off With Your Heads at The Queen Of Hoxton on 7th May and will be thoroughly worth the trip down, i believe it is free too. Oh, and then there's this; their latest single 'The Cult Of Romance' due out May 11th is quite simply amazing. It has been championed by Pete Tong & Andy George (Radio 1) and was George Lamb's (BBC 6) record of the week.

Not too shabby methinks.

Come down!


Fenech Soler - LA Love

Fenech Soler - Airbrushed


check out their myspace for more! Fenech Soler

Love,

James.

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Junior Boys get it very right

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Junior Boys still seem to come across as a rather underwhelming name, rarely heard outside of certain circles; but when one considers their work with techno legend Carl Craig and tours with the likes of Hot Chip alongside various high profile remixes, the true nature of their position comes to light.

Having actually been together and making music for many years now, one could almost regard them as the forbearers of Hot Chip’s mantle as the Kings of carefully crafted downbeat electronic stylings; though Junior Boys have always maintained more of a tehno influence which one can very much hear in this delightful record.

Opening up on this new EP with the melancholic "Parallel Lines”, with it’s delicate vocals gently layered over minimal landscapes and softened drums. Second track “Work” takes us into darker territories that occupy the land somewhere in between The Knife and Gui Boratto, with acidic loops and a pulsating bass. Then, suddenly, the mood shifts up a gear with “Bits & Pieces” which comes across like the bastard child of Hot Chip and Matthew Dear. There are even handclaps thrown in for good measure alongside layered vocals and hooky yet sporadic melodies. “Dull To Pause” is essentially a wonderful piece of down-tempo pop while “Hazel” takes us in the other direction, being wonderfully upbeat, underpinned with elements of (ex-Hot Chipper) Grovesnor.

Continuing with the theme of contrasts on this record, “Sneak A Picture” once again takes the mood down somewhat, utilising skipping beats, quirky synth lines and gently stabbing bass. “The Animator" is a piece I’m not entirely certain how to describe; whilst being stylistically very much a part of the record it seems to stand on its own slightly but I can’t quite put my finger on why. Needless to say it’s another brilliant piece of dark, electronic pop.

Closing track “What’s It For” is a beautiful, slow burning piece that starts off simply with some subtle background pulsating aquatic synths, before gentle vocals roll in over the top and an ecstactic melody casually builds over the whole thing in such a manner that one will hardly notice it’s presence until it leaves you and the EP has played out.

A wonderfully dark electronic piece, which is all the while strangely uplifting, Junior Boys have once again proved themselves as one of the most criminally underrated bands around today.

Junior Boys - Bits & Pieces

Love,


J.

If Not Now...

Plimsouls - If Not Now, When?


Having been kicking around on the blog scene for a couple of years now, the time has finally come for Plimsouls to drop his first full EP on us, via Pieces of Eight Records who have brought us music from the likes of Style Of Eye and compilations from Sister Bliss. Rest assured, he holds his own against such weighty names.
Opening up with the slightly haunting “Twelve” we are a greeted with a huge, thumping kick drum while humming bass and swirling melodies build around the beat and strings begin to stab across building to a peak until, stop, and a huge lead synth melody rolls out and I’m hooked. Hodzo is built around a similarly intense kick drum but with almost more atmosphere, even choral vocals are included here, which the lead slowly builds out of until you find yourself in a sea of distorted bass, which drops away leaving the lead to carry through before the whole songs crashes back in and one is amidst a huge techno track! With breakdowns and builds using elements from each of part of the track, this is a wonderful piece that really sees Plimsouls utilising his potential as a songwriter.
“Tolle” takes us down a more “fidget house” route with its clicking beats squelchy melodies and slamming bass. Another track that goes to show the versatility of the young producer. Having covered almost three genres across three tracks it is also testament to his promising talent that the record also never feels disjointed, the mix through house, techno and fidgety beats is remarkably seamless. We are then taken on the closing journey of “One Step” which is a laidback house track with a nice funky, groove laden bass line, big drops and massive leads, that finishes off the record in fine style. In all honesty, the whole thing is entirely kompakt worthy, let’s hope they sit up and take notice of one of the UK’s brightest young producers.


Love,

J.


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