The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

I’ve posted about the wonderful Manchester trio Performance pretty steadily the last few months.  I believe this lot are onto something and I firmly stand behind them in their quest to restore intelligently crafted pop to the top of the pops. This is exactly why I deem it necessary to post a banging reinterpretation of the new single Unconsoled reworked by house maestro Tom Staar who has previously done work for the likes of Basement Jaxx and Fenech-Soler, to name a couple. Turn out the lights, close your eyes and bounce to this.

Performance – Unconsoled – Tom Staar remix by WorkItMedia

As a dance music junkie, it brings a smile to my face to see that in 2010, a bunch of esteemed veterans have been releasing quality records or are about to make long-awaited comebacks that promise to show the new kids where all this ravin’ started. Enter Faithless, the chart-topping trio that’s been blowing minds and making feet stomp since 1997’s debut record Reverence. When I first heard Imsomnia, I pretty much had nightmares for a week. Once over those, I couldn’t help but marvel at their sound. Put a Faithless record on in a club and it’s an experience like few other acts can provide. It truly feels like your senses are being reinvigorated and the feeling of complete euphoria grabs hold. They’ve been going strong since and recently the trio just released their new record The Dance. Featuring the first single Not Going Home which is a tremendous tune in its own right, the record continues the band’s record of excellence and has much to offer for fans, old and new. Reacquaint yourself with Faithless now.

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“Not Going Home” by Faithless, taken from the Ultra release, “The Dance”

Three all-stars from the dance music world come together to form like Voltron and become the Swedish House Mafia. Axwell. Steve Angello. Sebastian Ingrosso.  Three top notch producers in their own right come forth with their first official single One (Your Name) featuring Pharrell. This trio’s sole objective is to get your arse on the floor and moving in ways that would be considered illegal in most cities. One listen to this joint and it certainly looks as if the trio hit the mark with plenty of room to spare. The beat pumps hard. The synth stabs are so fierce that even the most disillusioned hipster can’t help but grab a set, grab a girl and get sweaty. This is aural crack right here. It begs to heard at maximum volume where your body feels as if it’s about to spontaneously combust as a result of all the bass, drums and synths hitting you all at once. Clocking in at just under three and half minutes, the song comes  and goes leaving you a hot mess in its wake. This is hardcore.

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“One (Your Name)” by Swedish House Mafia

Rejoice in the news that Underworld, the techno titans…the dukes of the dance floor and electronic music pioneers are ready to follow up the drum and bass goodness that was first single Scribble with a brand new record  and it’s called…Barking. The record is out on the 13th of September and it is my hope that the new set is light years better than the underwhelming, disappointing and all-around snooze-fest that was 2007’s Oblivion With Bells. I have faith in Karl and Rick that this new record will once again show the world that Underworld still has more than a few tricks up their sleeves.

In the world of electronic music, it does get a bit difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff. The true artists from the pretenders who simply string together rudimentary loop patterns on Fruity Loops and call it a day. At the top of the heap in the dance genre, we find Ellen Allien. Simply put, there is no one in her league. No other artist that comes close to matching her particular brand of Kraut-disco. Whether at home alone letting the booming rhythm sink in through the pores or losing each and every inhibition on the dance floor, Allien has set a high standard in dance music for almost twenty years.

Her new record entitled Dust is out next week via Bpitch Control and I’m sure it’s a given that many of you will be out in full force to buy your copy. In a fair world, she would be on the short list of artists that would be more of a household name beyond the niche that she’s cultivated for herself. For now, let’s be happy and rejoice that we get to have her all to ourselves! Enjoy the video for Our Utopie taken from the new record. Brevity is the first word that comes to mind here but don’t let that deter you from enjoying. It has that trademark Allien sound and a vibe that commands your attention before it *BAM* stops just like that. It’s a banger.

“Our Utopie” by Ellen Allien, taken from the forthcoming Bpitch Control release, “Dust”

It’s the year that the veteran techno gods make their return to prominence. The brothers Hartnoll aka Orbital have reformed and are touring. The Chemical Brothers see their new record Further out next month. Now comes word of a new record from possibly the best of them all in Underworld! The duo of Karl Hyde and Rick Smith are preparing to release what will be their sixth record later this summer and I, for one am beyond stoked!

To celebrate the occasion, here is the first single to be taken from the record called Scribble. The track is actually a collaboration featuring the writing and production talents of High Contrast which makes this track even more note-worthy.  The song is full of colour. For an Underworld track, it’s actually very upbeat. While it would be cool to see the band jack up the bpms like they did in years past, it definitely does not take away from the enjoyment of Scribble at all. Welcome back, lads.

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“Scribble” by Underworld

One of my favourite new acts to come along since I’ve started this here blog was most gracious in agreeing to answer a few questions for me that I’d like to share with all of you. Straight out of London Town with a blistering debut record in tow, may I present Russell Crank and David Cox also known as…autoKratz!

3. What brought you lads together in the name of autoKratz?

D -- We met in London during a messy night out. Got talking about music and the classic words ‘lets form a band’ were spoken within a short time of knowing each other.

R - I was stumbling around outside a club and was feeling extremely worse for ware, and was violently and uncontrollably sick. Unfortunately through my druken haze I realised that it was all over this mans shoes, and that man was david. He was probably about to beat the shit out of me when he noticed my devo t-shirt -- probably saving my life (he has a crazy look in his eye). We started to talk about music, and our tastes were strangely identical.

4. Tell the truth: Are you here to save the world and bring back proper dance music?

D -- Our intention was always to bring back worth to electronic music. We felt that you didn’t need to be cheesey and could express actual feelings rather than just telling people to ’shake their ass’ or that ‘I love you baby’.

R -- With us both having backgrounds in rock & roll, I think we see it as vitally important for the music to have some genuine energy.

 

 

5. To date, as a fan of your work I would have to say “Always More” is my fave autoKratz song. Which is yours?

 

D -- Thank you. Yeah, I’m with you on that. The words mean a lot to me and I love singing it. I also love Last Show for the same reasons.

R -- I think I’d agree with you both on Always More, I really think it captures something special.

 

6. For us Yanks, when are you bringing forth the “Animal” and when will the East Coasters get to see you perform?

 

D -- The album has just come out now. Just in time for our mini-tour of the West Coast. We’ll be East in the summer and hopefully everywhere else. Can’t wait to play in America, we’ve been dying to come over.

 

 

7. You recently played a gig where you introduced a live drummer? Any particular reason for the lineup addition? Was the synth duo thing no longer to your liking?

D -- We’ve been touring as a duo for about 2 years so wanted to do something new. Add a new dynamic and by adding Robin our drummer, it suited our approach to our live shows. Which has always been a more rock n roll experience rather than 2 dudes static behind computers. The other reason is I’m bored of Russells conversation.

R -- We have always lived to play live, and we always put everything in to the performance. After taking to old show round the world last year, we wanted to give people something new, and it really does add another dimension.

8. Who would you say were your influences growing up? Who floats your boat now?

D -- Morrissey, New Order, Public Image Ltd, Kraftwerk, Prodigy, Underworld, Primal Scream were a few of the bands that I fell in love with as a kid. Newer bands? I’d say Crystal Castles, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Zombie Nation are a few of my favourites right now.

R -- I was brought up on a lot of the Manchester music scene that surrounded me in my youth --  new order and the fall were probably both my earliest addictions, but my brothers were going to the hacienda so they made sure there was plenty of electronic music in my diet. At the moment I’m really enjoying the new Whitey album.

 

9. If you could collaborate with any artist right now, who would it be?

D -- Any of the above apart from Morrissey. I’d be far too scared. He’d probably tut at me on sight and leave the studio without saying a word.

R -- With our new single we had the opportunity to work with 2 of our favourite people in music -- as jagz kooner produced it (primal scream / kasabian producer) and we also managed to get andrew innes from primal scream to play guitar on it. Was great to be able to work with people who we hold in such high esteem, and learn from them --  and above all they really delivered.

10. Who would you want to cover an autoKratz tune?

D -- I think Yeah Yeah Yeahs would do a great version of Always More.

R -- I’d love to hear Josh Homme doing any of the kratz songs.

 

11. What’s your take on the current electronic pop resurgence? It seems that as usual it’s taken hold in the uk but Americans at large seem unaffected or indifferent. How are you planning to change that?

 

D -- I think its great. As much as I love rock n roll, I feel it can sometimes be a little bit scared to venture into new sounds. Electronic music can open up so many new doors. As for the US not taking to electronica, I can only assume they’ve has been presented with the usual banal bollocks that record companies think will sell instead of giving people something of worth. We plan to do nothing other than play these songs that mean so much to us and hope that the US connect with what we do.

 

 

12. You’ve been active on the charity front with War Child especially. How did that come about?

D -- We were just asked to do it and of course said yes. Its such a great charity to be involved with.

R -- After Radiohead got involved a few years back it brought it to my attention, and having leant more since about the work they do is admirable.

 

 

 

13. Your cover of Primal Scream’s “Swastika Eyes” is cracking to say the least. What drew you to covering  that particular song? The political aspect? The fact it’s such it’s a blindingly brilliant song by a great band?

D -- All of the above really. I think that song will always be relevant whilst there are maniacs hellbent on destroying the world to line their own pockets.

R -- Bobby’s got such a great way of  expressing his anger at political situations in his lyrics, but in a really cool and creative way. At that point they were making my favourite scream records, albums that are so full of aggression and anger and energy, and twisted together with moments of peace and serenity.

ANIMAL OUT NOW ON THE HOURS

April 7,  Popscene, San Francisco

April 8, Voyeur, San Diego
April 9, Avalon, Hollywood
April 10, Beta, Denver

“Always More” by autoKratz, taken from the Kitsune release, “Animal”

Once again its all gone Pete Tong meaning another first play over at BBC Radio One. Today marked the debut play of the brand spanking new single from the Chemical Brothers called Escape Velocity. The track is taken from the iconic duo’s forthcoming seventh record entitled Further. What we have here is a no-frills, back to basics stomper from the barons of big beat. Like Pete Tong says at the end of the radio rip posted here, this is indeed a track to let you know that you’re never too old to rave. Get your glowsticks and controlled substances out!

Further is out on the 8th of June.

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“Escape Velocity” by The Chemical Brothers taken from the forthcoming Virgin release, “Further” (BBC Radio One Riip)

It’s been ages since I first posted Acapella, the first single from Kelis’ upcoming record Flesh Tone due out on the 4th of May. I still love this track and I simply adore the video. Let’s be honest. Her look during the Tasty & Kelis Was Here days were disappointing to say the least as it appeared she was venturing into a sort of pseudo hip-hop wannabe cliche.  It simply didn’t look right and took away from what makes her great. Her beauty and style are back and I’m all the happier for it. The song is a banger. That’s plain to hear. Let’s hope Kelis rides this one to the top of the Billboard charts.

“Acapella” by Kelis, taken from the forthcoming Will.I.Am/Interscope release, “Flesh Tone”

The good news: Orbital aka Phil & Paul Hsrtnoll are back, stronger than ever and entering the live arena once again. The bad news? They’re not coming anywhere New York. The brothers will be playing Coachella and the Ultra Music Festival this year. This means that if you know what’s good for you, you will make a note to see them during this jaunt.

Though I wasn’t too crazy about the last Prodigy record, it’s good to see legends of techno coming back into the public consciousness. A little rave and a headache the morning after is never a bad thing in my book. Hopefully Orbital do make it a point to hit up the Northeast and keep the party going for a little while longer so those of us who’ve never actually seen them live before (like me!) may do so.

If nothing else, I will be forced to harass their management and booking agency until we get something done.

Here are their dates:

27 March – Ultra Music Festival – Miami FL
16 April – Warfield Theatre – San Francisco CA
18 April – Coachella Festival – Indio CA

“Style” by Orbital, taken from the FFRR release, “The Midlle Of Nowhere”