Sunny Black Day Ghosts Set Fire

The Black Ghosts / Sunny Day Sets Fire

Its a double release party for I AM SOUND! Both The Black Ghosts and Sunny Day Sets Fire enjoy in store releases today.

The Black Ghosts‘ Self Titled album is brilliant; I’ve been listening to it none stop since the promo magically showed up in my mailbox. 11 Tracks worth of the dance floor filling tracks you’ve come to expect, plus some blissful ballads on the lighter side to keep everything balanced.

I’d hope The Black Ghosts need no introduction, but if so, I’ll just let you face the music.

One of my favorite tracks from the album, “I Want Nothing” is a perfect blend or both dance-tastic basslines and lyrical bliss:

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The Black Ghosts - “I Want Nothing”

Their amazing cover of “Let’s Get Physical”, its not on the album but you should love it anyway:

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The Black Ghosts - “Let’s Get Physical”

And then there’s the infamous “Any Way..” The original took everyone by storm, and the remixes upped the bar and rocked out about every dance night around the world. Even after hearing it out almost every week for months.. it still satisfies:

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The Black Ghosts - “Any Way You Choose To Give It”

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The Black Ghosts - “Any Way You Choose To Give It (Fake Blood Remix)”
LINKS: Fake Blood Space

So check the full release information @ I AM SOUND and get yourself a physical copy of it, or purchase it directly from iTunes.

Also! Sunny Day Sets Fire release their Full Length album “Summer Palace” in stores today as well. You may remember them from a previous post but, if not, here’s a refresher:

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Sunny Day Sets Fire - “Stranger”

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Sunny Day Sets Fire - “Brainless (Baron Von Luxxury Remix)”

The album is 14 tracks worth of their hauntingly comforting sound and is a nice breather from all the dance tracks coming your way. Again, you can order a copy of the CD directly from I AM SOUND, or you can get your digital copy from iTunes

Also, be sure to view previous Black Ghosts coverage, previous Sunny Day Sets Fire coverage, Visit I AM SOUND on the web and on MySpace.

Bonus:
Here’s the video for “I Want Nothing”

< hacks / >





Sta Sta and More Sta

Sta!

So I’ve got a deejay crush on Sta. He throws down great sets, his remixes consistently find their way into my deejay sets, and I danced my ass off the one chance I got to see him live. So when I get a handy update that he’s got a remix of what somehow has become a hugely popular track for top40 hipster club kids: I make love in this blog.

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Usher feat. Young Jeezy - “Love in this Club (Sta Remix)”

He also recently remix Toronto-based These Electric Lives into a nice dancefloor rock number:

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These Electric Lives - We Should Be Believing (Sta Remix)
LINKS: These Electric Lives

And, as a super added double bonus, (just in case you don’t have it), here’s his remix of Joe Budden’s “Fire” that I rocked out a ton towards the end of last year:

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Joe Budden - “Fire (Sta Remix)”

He’s running his own blog called Sta Free, so check that out for additional goodies , including some remixes, some live sets, and some studio sets. And if you haven’t already, give him some luvin on his myspace: http://www.myspace.com/stafree. Check out some previous coverage here, or you can internet stalk him him on Sta Free.

Make love in this Blog.

< hacks / >





Remix 34 : The June Mini Mix Tracks

Late as always, but better than never.

First: for those who missed it, here’s the June Mini Mix I put together:

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Choyce Hacks! - June Mini Mix

And, in true Resonator fashion, (finally) here’s the downloadable tracklist:

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01) Trip - “Who’s That (Jack Beats Remix)”
LINKS: Jack Beats | Trip

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02) Laidback Luke & Steve Angello - “Be (Dj Sega remix)”
LINKS: Laidback Luke | Steve Angello | Dj Sega

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03) South Rakkas Crew - “Mad Again (Boy 8-Bit Remix)”
LINKS: South Rakkas Crew | Boy 8-Bit | More From Boy 8-Bit

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04) Jamtech Foundation ft. Busy Signal - Pounds of Dro.”
LINKS: Jamtech Foundation | More By Jamtech

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05) Thunderkatz - “3 AM (Klever’s So So Death remix)”
LINKS: Thunderkatz | Klever | More By Klever

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06) Three 6 Mafia ft. UGK - “Sippin… (DJ Emagen Purp Sippin Bass Drippin Remix)”
LINKS: DJ Emagan

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07) Excelarator - “Jack This Party”
LINKS: DJ Excel

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08) Who Da Funk - “Shiny Disco Balls (Don Nola remix)”
LINKS: Don Nola

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09) Flufftronix - “Shark Attack (Ruff Cut)”
LINKS: Flufftronix

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10) Kid Sister - “Pro Nails (Tepr Remix)”
LINKS: Kid Sister | Tepr | More Tepr

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11) Silk - “Freak Me (VLRNA Remix)”
LINKS: Valerna

Rock it out.

< hacks />





blue blue electric blue

Let’s face it: if David Bowie doesn’t do it for you, you’re basically a jackass. Bowie may as well have invented running water, tampons and canned black beans, for all his contributions to EVERYTHING (read as: every musical genre you think is awesome when it pops up in some crappy Brooklyn-based band) have amounted.

That said, Bowie’s one attempt at blatantly catering to the ravers, Earthling, was pretty much poorly received by anyone who didn’t know one should shout “Boh!” at an “amen” break.

That’s why I’m fascinated by the forthcoming Life Beyond Mars, which is, to throw around vulgar terms, actually (mostly) interesting modern electronic musicians taking a hand at Bowie watersheds.

Meaning that you don’t have to worry about the Bloggybirds covering “Modern Love” on this one, and that, in and of itself, is reason to perk up those ears, elfquest.

 Matthew Dear: Sound + Vision (David Bowie cover)

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From the few takes I’ve heard, this is my favorite. Matty Dear keeps Bowie’s goth-prince nuances and that fucking lovely-as-hell piano but brings a certain darkness to this song that even King David himself missed the first time around. This is how a Bowie cover should be done. Go dance now.





Freezing the frozen

Son Lux is an absolute genius. That’s no small praise to start this off, but it’s as good of an entry point as any, given that I’ve slept on posting anything from his debut album, At War with Walls and Mazes, until now.

The prominent colors used in the above press photo of Ryan Lott, aka he who is Son Lux, are mildly amusing to me-because, in my mildly synaesthetic brain, the music of Son Lux is nowhere near those hues. This stuff glistens in sunlight like dew, and shivers in corners when placed in darkness. With At War…finding its home on Anticon, the home of dorm-hop luminaries like Dosh and WHY? (and given press photos like the one used here), you’d be seemingly on track to expect Son Lux to sound like that dude with the kinda-beard in your Lit class, the one who always wears the Bonnaroo shirt and shows up late with The Roots audibly blaring from his iPod shuffle,  if he sucked a gallon drum of helium and invested in a cracked drum machine.

You’d be seemingly on track, and very, very wrong. Son Lux goes for the throat and the heart at once- like the Sufjan Stevens of glitch, he’s never one to let a simple sampled pizacatto string plucking ride when an entire string section, processed and chopped into a heady, swirling cocktail could play out for minutes at a time. This isn’t the music of understatement-it’s another step towards modern classical, realizing that (again, like the aforementioned Sufjan) the beauty in genius in the current remix culture is when a piece of music is crafted from the ground up by hand, and yet still remains firmly within a pop gensis context.

Son Lux: Betray

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While this isn’t the most brilliant or jaw-dropping of the 7 songs on At War With Walls and Mazes, it’s the one that first elicited a repeat play from me (and then served as the catalyst for my starting the album over, from the beginning, and actually listen), and is my go-to Son Lux song. Those first twelve seconds hold and wash like Bono was about to break free from Eno’s console control, and then a beat that wouldn’t have been out of place on a Lex records album around the time of Boom Bip flows forth from the ambiance. Then…wind instruments. And Ryan’s always-pained vocals, intoning essentially the same kinda-pathetic and therefore-heartbreaking plea through the whole song.  At the 3:30 breakdown, it becomes clear this is a movement in three parts, with the genius belied by the simplicity. I think…and I might be wrong…that this is the future of modern pop. And I welcome it.

Oh but wait…there’s this…

My Brightest Diamond: Inside A Boy (Son Lux remix)

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I DARE YOU TO TAKE THIS SONG ON. I double-dog dare you. THIS is the song that made me realize I absolutely had to post on Son Lux, because he’s simply a modern compositional genius.He takes My Brightest Diamond on as a muse, allows the dark iceprincess persona of her new album to permeate his sonic architecture, and then…fucking wrecks it with industrial jungle and that string section. If you doubt the sheer force this combination has, there are so, so many moments I could point you towards: 2:30, for example, when the first real “blow-up” happens, or the 3:30 syncapation of drums and strings and Shara’s wordless coo.  Whatever, though-this whole thing is jaw-dropping perfection.

This, as of right now, is my favorite remix of the year, and shall probably remain so.





life ain’t passing you by…

I’ve never actually been struck by the music of Doveman (aka the solo project of Thomas Bartlett). Maybe it’s because I first heard an album of his during the great “Shhh it’s FOLK” glut of 05.

Regardless (and I’ll give credit where credit is due, the ‘Gum is responsible for pointing me to this), he has reimagined the entire Footloose soundtrack. And yes, this is “post-right-now” worthy:

 Doveman: Footloose

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This is brilliant, beautiful, genius. Barely even a cover. It takes this song and owns it like Gary Jules did with “Mad World”-Bartlett slides emotion gently across the piano with all the energy he can muster, but it’s those hollow snares that back him up near the end that clinch it for me. Loggins’ anthem of burning the dancefloor becomes a testament to small-town ennui, desolation and, ultimately, pervasive hopelessness. Here, the lyrics

I get this feeling
That time’s just holding me down
I’ll hit the ceiling
Or else I’ll tear up this town

gain a heartsick pain that’s never, ever been read into them before.

The story behind the Doveman/Footloose project is rough, and, like the songs themselves, in no way at all right for your Friday night pre-gaming. That’s why I’m saying in, opening a bottle of wine and having a quiet, over-warm evening with the rest of these songs.

Check out the story behind the Doveman/Footloose takes, and the rest of the songs, here. Pay special attention to “Let’s Hear It For The Boy”. Never has that song cut so raw.





Old Money Crew

Old Money Crew - Konrad

These kids have been sending my some qualities tunes for a while, and its about time they got some Resonator Luvin. They’ve been dropping perfect club tracks: mixing hard nasty beats with chopped and screwed vocals riffs smattered with of top-notch production and mastering; they’re the kinda of tracks you throw when you want the kids to dance it up a notch.

Most recently comes this slick little Chromeo remix. Its actually not a club banger (yeah yeah, hype shit up hacks and then toss down something different) but its a quality track that’s perfect for some early night dance floor shaking.

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Chromeo - “Momma’s Boy (Konrad Remix)”

Konrad’s got some original work as well that falls more into that “rock-teh-fuck-out” vibe as well. Check ‘em out:

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Konrad - “Sweet Dreams”

I rather enjoyed “Sweet Dreams”, there’s enough hint of the original to get those hipster who never liked it in the first place (but pretended they’ve always loved it) excited, but still keeps it fresh enough that its not just another re-hash.

And to toss in some more to keep your morning rolling.

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Konrad - “Juanita Cash Hawkins”

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M.I.A. - “U.R.A.Q.T. (Konrad Remix)”

So what are you waiting for? Get Old Money, check it out, say hi and give some love back. And be sure to expect more from OMC in the future.

< hacks/>





Choyce Hacks! - June Mini Mix

Ok, its mini-mix time again.

This month’s its more a club style 2am krunktronica set. Some self edits tossed in for flavour, and you’ve got one punch filled 30 min set.

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Choyce Hacks! - June Mini Mix

Here’s the tracklisting (sans download-able tracks; I’ll try and upload them Friday).
01) Trip - Who’s That (Jack Beats Remix; Hacks Edit)
02) Laidback Luke & Steve Angello - Be (Dj Sega Remix; Hacks Edit)
03) South Rakkas Crew - Mad Again (Boy 8-Bit Remix)
04) Jametech Foundtaion ft. Busy Signal - Pounds of Dro
05) Thunderkatz - 3A AM (Klever’s So So Death Remix)
   vs
06) Three 6 Mafia ft. UGK - Sippin.. (DJ Emagen Purp Sippin Bass Drippin Remix)
07) Excelarator - Jack This Party (Hacks Edit)
08) Who Da Funk - Shiny Disco Balls (Don Nola Remix)
09) Flufftronix - Shark Attack (Ruff Cut)
10) Kid Sister - Pro Nails (Tepr Remix)
11) Silk - Freak Me (VLRNA Remix)

Enjoy, and let me know your feedback. Also if you happen to read res, are in new york, and are looking for a deejay, email me and let’s set something up.

< hacks />





SummerWinterSool

It’s very possible it’s too warm in Georgia for me to love ice-fracture split-hair minimal right now, regardless of how lush the undercurrents and how warm the snares. As such, I can’t wrap myself in Ellen Allien’s recently-released Sool just yet…and if you know me, dear reader, you know what a tough, tender, delicate admission that is for me to make.

I am ready to make no final call, though; no “official” review or declaration of quality (or lack of) has yet come from my several early-morning and late-night listens. Depending on my mood, the external temperature and the time of day, Sool either exhilarates me or annoys the fucking hell out of me with Ellen’s tongue-click half-coughs of beat construction. Either this will be a victory, combining two of the most exciting German producers in recent memory (who just happen to be female, I could write a treatise on how Sool is reclaiming the inherent feminine mystique that mininmal techno lost to the fatfrat beerboy gang, but I’ll spare everyone), AGF and Ellen, or this album will go down next to Medulla in the cut-out bin, to be passed over in favor of the original master of Doolittle.

All that said, I can, in fact, fault Ellen for releasing a record this spiked and frosty in FUCKING SUMMER. -10.

Some of these songs, though, are instantly amazing +10. We’re back at neutral.

While I tally this up, an aural taster:

Ellen Allien: Caress

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This is gentle genius, and proof of the dual hands of AGF and Ellen sweeping across the board. Ellen’s half-speak touches those snares, as the electro pads threaten to actually emerge from the darkness but don’t. This is sexonwax foreplay.

The rest of the album remains to be seen.





Here’s the thing

All right, if you haven’t gone through the tiresome process of, you know, clicking like once or twice to download the new Girl Talk album, Feed The Animals , here’s another taster:

Girl Talk: Here’s The Thing

IM(never)HO, Gregg Gillis’ smash-n-grab aesthetic works best when he actually stumbles on an idea that makes you cock your head and say “oh CRAP, if this amalgam was to ride out for an entire song I would not only lose my shit but re-find my shit simply to lose it again”. There are a jillion great ideas on Feed The Animals, and as such it’s 100% better than Night Ripper (see: Kevin Barnes smashing into the guitar lick from “Kiss”, MIA’s hootin’-n-hollerin’ against The CRANFUCKINBERRIES), but, for my money (I didn’t pay), the best idea on the whole shebang is pitting NIN against “Since You’ve Been Gone”.

Girl Talk is absolutely the Polyvore of music. That’s not a bad thing.