Party music for jaded cynics
http://20six.co.uk/david25
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Listen Up
Top Tunes
As promised (you were paying attention I hope), here is the RSS Feed to my current top tracks:
David25s Top Tunes RSS Feed
If you don't know what RSS is, then take a look at the link above for a
good explaination of it's benefits. It will allow me to post tracks up
as soon as I get wind of them so you can buy them if you desire. I
don't get any kickback from anyone for doing this but if I ever do you
will be the first to know. I'm doing it to cronicle my own tastes and
also to give you some music ideas you may have missed in other place.
I'm not going to make this into an MP3 blog though. Sorry. If you want
the music you are going to have to buy it, but I only link to indie
dowload sites that don't copy protect the music (iTunes, OD2 and
Napster all suck in my opinion) so you know it's the current best way
of getting music whilst rewarding the artist (that is until they come
up with something better which is a whole different debate).
So bung this into your RSS reader of choice: http://del.icio.us/rss/David25/top_tunes
(Sidebar, if anyone know how I can publish the feed on the blog then let me know!)
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Hat's off to DJ Magazine
You have to hand it to DJ Magazine. The simple idea of combining the reviews in their glossy with downloads via DJdownload.com
is brilliant and has me sucked in hook, line and sinker. I bought the
mag now I'm buying the music because the reviews are pointing me to the
site. In tribute, here is some of the best stuff:
First up, is some wicked acid house in the shape of James Talk - Love That Acid (Paul Woolford Remix) and Solid Groove - This is Sick.
Both tracks hold back on an all out attack of the 303. Instead they
concentrate on heads down funk with Love That Acid hiding some 80s
sparkle and This is Sick building and dropping with class rather than
pilled up energy.
That's not to say there is anything wrong with energy as Mark Moore
shows us the other end of the scale. The massive, peak time
electro-houser Dirty Mother
is so camp it runs the risk of being taken over by a passing boy scout
troupé. It reminds me a lot of Atomiser's 'Hooked on Radiation' from a
couple of years back. Other tracks on the EP take things further down
the electroclash/rock house route which isn't quite as much my bag, but
most floors I would want to be seen on would prefer the simple if
energised charms of this track.
Finally, although it's on Beatport (linked at the side) I want to
mention a less in-your-face electro-house winner that has more
crossover potential for housier people. It's 'Love Riot' by Sacchi and
Sandiego and it keeps my 80s fetish going for a bit longer, especially
with that interwining synth lines and pretty key changes throughout. DJ
may have reviewed this one, but they have lost the best track to
Beatport and thanks to the favourable exchange rate, it's the cheapest
thing on offer too. Do a search for it today.
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Lee Coombs & Andy Gardener - Obsessional Rhythm
As a general rule, breakbeat is all about boys. Serious, chin-stroking, hard music loving
boys. So it's great when you get an track that isn't afraid to appeal
to the more girly elements in us all but is brave enough to be tough
and twisted. Lee Coombs & Andy Gardener - Obsessional Rhythm
is just that track. It keeps the funk elements high on the agenda but
has a rolling funked up bassline that doesn't overwhelm and some
sexy-as-hell sparkling synths, and if you read this blog at all you
will be getting to know how much the synth is my friend (it must be all
that trance in my past). Unlike trance, this is as much hip shaking as
it is a head fuck and I love, love love every part of it. Atomic
Hooligans mix toughens it up further and slides it more towards a techy
house affair but not too far as to get dull. And oh my that bass gives
me butterflies. More girly breaks please.
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Breastfed
The label of Mylo and Linus Loves, Breastfed,
have finally entered the download world much to my joy. It's not a big
release to start things off, but it's a good sign that there is more to
come. So if you love their brand of warm, funky electro/house as much as I do, show your
support for the label and get your virtual mits on Mayfly. Both tracks are solid club fare that wouldn't have been out of place on the Mylo album. Simple but effective.
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Miami electro tips
I have been loving the Tiefschwarz boys long time, but this lat few
months they have been in sparkling electro house form with track after
track of spikey, stark, nagging, mind blowing club music.
Beatport have
backed their latest production 'Issst' on Four Music (Sorry I can't
link direct to the track but a quick search will find it). It's another
dirty electro meets house moment on the original mix with Nathan Fake
taking the pick of the remixes going all 5am glitch head fuck. Pwhoar.
Meanwhile Soulwax
have been hiding out in Karmadownload's rock section. I was never a
massive fan of e-talking, going a bit too far down the shouty punky
rock-dance road for me, but my favourite big-synth canine Rex the Dog
has come up with a monsterous glammed up sparkling workout which I
should hate but I'm totally in love with. Brilliant. More serious heads
are on Soulwax's own Nite version which the 30 second sample does not
do justice to at all.
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Optimo Mix
The previously mentioned boys from Optimo have done a laptop mix for Radio 1's Breezblock.
It's only up for a few days so catch it while you can. It covers rock,
soul, electro, punk, acid house, techno and I dunno what else but it's
great. If anyone has a link to a torrent of it, let me know.
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Grandad Bob - Waltzes for Weirdoes
I know I said before that I find the album format dated but I keep listening to great, underrated albums this summer and going back on what I said a little. That said, Grandad Bob - Waltzes for Weirdoes cries out to be mixed. Sorry if that is a blastfamous thing for an artist album, but if the Plump DJs can pull it off on A Plump Night Out then it's not such a far out proposition. After all, we are essentially talking about dance music and pauses between songs always spoil your flow.
Anyway onto the album itself. One of those where you don't know where to catagorise it; it has house structures and electro influences but it is not either. It's quality electronic music with almost every track a belter. Funky, lush, grimey in places and compellingly different. It isn't the coolest music ever for sure; some of it sounds like it was made on Fruity Loops, but for me that just adds to the charm because the tunes are so good they don't need the tightest production. Every track is eye-raisingly interesting and that is the sign of a great album.
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Summer albums
Two albums that promise to soundtrack any outdoor summer activity with some great hooks across both long players. Firstly Tiefschwarz - Ral 9005 which was first around in 2002 and has been bashing out on the stereo firmly ever since. It runs through some of the best house around. Sucking you in with the catchy melodies, funky beats and eclectic styles without ever losing that essential in house music - soul. Even the jazzy bits are bearable and I hate jazzy bits. It's a little Daft Punk, a dash of Royskopp and a slice of Groove Armada but retains a strong identity of it's own.
Mylo - Destroy Rock 'n' Roll takes these sounds more down the Metro Area road. It has a very retro feel but doesn't lose it's way in the nostalgia. Yet again, every track pulling a strong hook and a massive summery vibe. I road tested this in the sun today, and I can say without doubt it would bring a smile to the face of even the most po-faced chin stroker (ie. me).
PS. If you have not picked up on Metro Area then buy this album right away. It amazes me at every listen. So darn funky.
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Kid 606 - Who Still Kill Sound
The artist album format is a strange one. It seems dated and too often there is far too much faffing about to make it interesting. There is something distinctly old about music that stops for a break every 3 or 4 minutes, especially if what falls in between those gaps doesn't flow naturally. Kid 606 does not have this problem. The album is pure chaotic energy from beginning to end, and the gaps are needed just to take a breather from the mashed up madness that goes into every track. Even in this framwork of everything-but-the-kitchen-sink sound there is a distinct character to each song and a clear flow between tracks, even when there is a slow one. It's a storm of influences but it all meshes together at the last moment just when you think it's about to fall apart. You will be utterly out of breath by the end, and smiling manically like you just nailed a gram of base.
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