Thief Of Wellbeing

Winegums are not good for your system. Especially when you attempt to eat the entire packet by yourself. I ate around 90%, but stopped when I felt like throwing up. I vowed never to eat winegums again.

The following day, I found the same packet of winegums lying in my bag. I ate the rest of them. I have now concluded that winegums are delicious.

Two new remixes from those kids called Gentlemen Thieves. Los Feeling remix is my pick of the two (plus the original artist name/track name of the second is borderline cringeworthy).

Visitor - Los Feeling (Gentlemen Thieves Remix)
Kiss In Cities - U R My Girl (Gentlement Thieves Remix)

I might go get some winegums now.

Alliteration, F

Fred Falke and Friendly Fires flew over Fences, for a flamboyant First Move.

Burns - First Move (Fred Falke Remix)
Phoenix - Fences (Friendly Fires Remix)

Try saying this quickly ten times in a row:
Flee from fog to fight flu fast!

Aeroplane

Remember just how brilliant Aeroplane's remix of Paris was? Well the vocals in that song were that of Au Revoir Simone. Now a remix of Au Revoir Simone themselves by Aeroplane has emerged.

Blissful.

Au Revoir Simone - Another Likely Story (Aeroplane Remix)

Some more Aeroplane for you kids to play with.

Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire (Aeroplane Remix)
Aeroplane - Whispers (Hercules And Love Affair Remix)

I think I might go listen to this remix now.

Toxic Is Dead

That's right. Rarche isn't dead, Toxic is. Well, actually he isn't. He's alive and kicking, and about to release a mix for Scion. Still, nothing hypes up the value of your work than dying, right?

The Toxic Avenger - Toxic Is Dead

Also spotted this pearler from Viking. Sounds like a Toxic remix, down to the warped, glitching vocals to the horror synth pads and reverberating bass. All slapped down upod a solid base of Indie goodness, a la The Sounds.

The Sounds - No One Sleeps When I'm Awake (Viking Remix)
Sonny - Mora (The Toxic Avenger Remix)

I'm just about dead from studying. Need to relax and recharge.

Such A Dancer

Such a dancer Mr Oizo, such a dancer. Glitchy, dark, French. Reminiscent of Positif. Good stuff!

Mr Oizo - Sucer Dancer

Cheers, WooDPecKer.

Album : Humbug

Arctic Monkeys third album, 'Humbug', was sure to sell bucketloads. Which it did (outsold all other Top Five albums combined in it's first week). The album was not produced by James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco fame, but by Josh Homme, of Queens Of The Stone Age. The result is an overall murkier, distorted sound.

Gone are the two/two and a half minute foot tapping, frantic songs that comment on life and love, instead, 3/4 minute ballads that are replaced slower, with a more developed sound. On the main part, catchy riffs are shunned so that the song as a whole can flourish. Catchy riffs can still be found in tracks such as 'Crying Lightning', 'Potion Approaching' and 'Dangerous Animals', but even in these songs lays a distracting overall fuzzy reverb, leaving the song lacking in crispness or vitality, the very things that helped the band achieve the incredible popularity they hold today.

Humbug heralds the maturing and refinement of the Arctic Monkeys. Despite what other critics may say, by no means is it a terrible album. It's just that it's different to their previous works. Unfortunately, this bold change may isolate their original fan base, leaving them wondering what happened to their beloved band.

Arctic Monkeys - Crying Lightning

Matt Helders is the drummer for Arctic Monkeys. He also does some remixing on the side. Not half bad.

Yo Majesty - Club Action (Matt Helders Remix)
We Are Scientists - Chick Lit (Matt Helders Remix)

Nice work, guy from Arctic Monkeys.

WhoDIB? : Bigger Than Big

Bigger Than Big was a pretty swell track, with an infectious vocal hook to reel you in. It would be a difficult yet interesting task to remix it, but Jupiter Ace and Bag Raiders were up to the challenge.

Jupiter Ace utilises the 'Bigger Than Big' voice snippet throughout the song, and presents a glitchy, sparkly melody for us to groove to, giving it a dancier edge. This assures that a diverse tune is achieved, rather than a boring repetitive one. Noice.

Bag Raiders also uses the 'Bigger Than Big' vocal snippet, layered with their trademark 'Rainbow Road Super Synth' (I may have made that name up), and, hell, it works like a charm. The instrumental and vocal parts of the main chorus are introduced at separate times, ensuring a delectably delicious drop at 2:26. This is an incredible remix, even by Bag Raiders standards.

WhoDIB? Jupiter Ace or Bag Raiders?

Super Mal - Bigger Than Big (Jupiter Ace Remix)
Super Mal - Bigger Than Big (Bag Raiders Remix)

Bag Raiders.

If I Told You

If I told you there was new Kid Cudi, you'd probably be interested.
If I told you there was new Ratatat, you'd probably be intrigued.
If I told you there was new MGMT, you'd probably be inquisitive.

But if I told you they all collaborated together on new material, well, you'd click download immediately, wouldn't you?

Kid Cudi - Alive Ft. Ratatat
Kid Cudi - Pursuit Of Happiness Ft. MGMT & Ratatat

And here's the track that shot Kid Cudi to stardom, just for good measure.

Kid Cudi - Day N' Nite (Crookers Remix)

I don't know how Crookers did it, but that remix is still as good as the first time I heard it.

My Vegetables Are Bleeding

The Bloody Beetroots once were one of the artists to watch. Now it seems they've somewhat fallen out of favour. Their debut album 'Romborama' didn't seem to be the success many anticipated, critically and commercially, despite the fact they are starting to be accepted by the club-oriented populace.

Now that I think about it, a similar thing happened to MSTRKRFT. They were the talk of the town, before their 'Fist Of God' album bombed, and they were rejected by the majority of the Blogosphere. Interestingly, they also seem to have been accepted by the more house-oriented public.

Funny that, The Bloody Beetroots and MSTRKRFT are actually both signed to the same label, Dim Mak Rec-

Oh. I see. It makes sense now.

Steve Aoki.

The Bloody Beetroots - Dimmakmmunication
The Secret Handshake - Summer Of '98 (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)

That first track, 'Dimmakmmunication' was made to celebrate The Bloody Beetroots' signing to Dim Mak Records. It's actually fairly decent, if not unoriginal.

Hercules

Mustard Pimp just released their 'Hercules' mixtape. It certainly is worthy of Mighty Hercules himself, clocking in at a total of 12 hours. Each one-hour part is named after one of the Twelve Labours of Hercules. I like the classical reference.

I'm not going to even bother to listen to the whole mixtape, let alone review it (understandably). You can find out more about it at Sex4Ears, or download each one-hour separate part here.

Also released are two new Mustard Pimp remixes, one of The Hives, the other of Partyshank (which A1 Bassline is half of). Also here for you Rarchesters is a remix of Mustard Pimp's 'RER D' by Mendel, as well as an original track named Valium.

Once again, Mustard Pimp have delivered, and cemented their reputation as leaders of bassline-oriented music.

The Hives - Main Offender (Mustard Pimp Remix)
Partyshank - Virgin (Mustard Pimp Remix)
Mustard Pimp - RER D (Mendel Strike & Riots Remix)
Mustard Pimp - Valium

If you like whirring, ear splitting basslines, and you haven't checked out Mustard Pimp, please do. Don't be a name snob.

Give It Back

"Give me back my PlayStation or I'll hit you."

Excellent Daft Punk remix from Justin Faust, up there in the list of Daft Punk remixes that don't suck.

Daft Punk - Harder Better Faster Stronger (Justin Faust Remix)
Justin Faust - Capri Spinoff

"I mean it. I'll hit you."

Sure You Will

An old Justice track?

Sounds suspicious.
Sounds fake.
Sounds terrible.

Just compare it to some real Justice (remix courtesy of Culture Prophet), it's absolutely awful.

Justice - Sure You Will
Justice - Culture Prophet's Guide To The Planisphere

Oh. Justice produced it in 2003 for a mock Eurovision contest. Completely legit.

Zoots Man

Zoot Woman. That name reminds me of those infomercials called 'Zoot Review'.

Anywho, Zoot Woman creates interesting tunes. Comparisons? A more upbeat version of White Lies under the guidance of some prominent producer. I adore the song title 'Lonely By Your Side'. An oxymoron of sorts, it forces you to think. Which is needed nowadays.

Dyebox whacks out a meatier song with their remix of 'Live In My Head'. Not half bad.

Zoot Woman - Lonely By Your Side
Zoot Woman - Live In My Head (Dyebox Remix)

With some proper marketing, I reckon Zoot Woman could go far. All they have to do is ditch that awful artist name...

Century

Well, well, well.

The Big One Oh Oh. Post number One Hundred.

It feels as if I've come of age. Or I'm past my prime (probably the former).

Here's hoping to many more posts to come!

- Coulson

Round Up: August

August is so passé. September is where it's at.

Top 3 Most Downloaded:
1. Dragonette - I Get Around (Van She Tech Vocal Mix)
2. GRUM - Heartbeats (Edwin Van Cleef Remix)
3. Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars (Shazam Dub Mix)

Commentary:
1. Dragonette remix? Yes please. Growling, roaring, and the like at 1:38, Van She Tech style. Swoit.
2. The popularity of this really jumped out from nowhere, but I assume it's riding on the back of the recent release of GRUM's 'Heartbeats' EP. If you appreciate danceable, nouveau-disco, GRUM's your best bet.
3. Remove the dreamy, sparkle-in-your-eyes quality of the original, and replace it with a jazzy, upbeat melody of brass, bass and triangles, and you have yourself Shazam's remix of 'Shooting Stars'. Foot-tap invoking.

Top 3 Most Underappreciated:
1. Gossip - Love Long Distance (Fake Blood Remix)
2. The Sterehoes - Red Yellow Blue
3. Tesla Boy - Spirit Of The Night

Commentary:
1. I'm not angry, I'm disappointed. Classic parent-speak. But I am disappointed. Gossip is hot right now, what with their new album and 'Heavy Cross' etc. Plus it's Fake Blood. Ashamed. Get it, make me proud.
2. I love the Euro/American pop-like feel to this song, it somehow goes with the Electro aspects of this song. Also dig the Korg solo at 1:48.
3. 80's super synths from go. 80's piano/melody right after. 80's vocals afterwards. All with an oxymoronical (?) avant-garde retro twist. Perplexing.

Bonus For Rarchesters:

The Kills - Cheap And Cheerful (Fake Blood Remix)
The Kills - Cheap And Cheerful (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)