Round Up : October

October has been dispatched. Frolic for November!

Top 3 Most Downloaded:
1. Mr Oizo - Pourriture 7 (The Bloody Beetroots Refix)
2. Erik Hassle - Don't Bring Flowers After I'm Dead (Crystal Fighters Remix)
3. Erik Hassle - Hurtful (Penguin Prison Remix)

Commentary:
1. Uhh, to be honest, this isn't actually that wonderful. Sure, it's got Mr Oizo and The Bloody Beetroots, but this refix is painfully simple. Truly.
2. Crystal Fighters add buzzing bass, simple 8-bit sounds, and jungle beats. Noice.
3. Do you kids have a thing for Erik Hassle's smooth, deft voice or something? Or do you just like Penguin Prison's chilled out Lifelike-like sound? Probably both.

Top 3 Most Underappreciated:
1. Mille - Ghost Dancer
2. Designer Drugs - Drop Down
3. Similou - Clouds (Johnathan Live Remix)

Commentary:
1. In all honesty, this actually does sound like Danger, if he was to take a new direction in his sound. Watch for 2:08, that's when those Carribean Marimbas kick in. Also has an eagle cry. Hot damn.
2. Everything you love about Designer Drugs. But crazier, darker, and edgier. An ominous, apocalyptic dance-floor destroyer. Lots of fun.
3. Reminiscent of clouds in all the right ways, this remix has beautifully crafted synths melded with pacific vocals that, when combined, soothe you into a state of higher consciousness.

Bonus For Rarchesters:

Penguin Prison - A Funny Thing
Mille - Stargazers
Drop The Lime - Devil's Eyes (Classixx' B-Live Remix)

Compression : VI

Hmm, another DMCA complaint. Asked around on Erol Alkan forum (of which lately I've become a junkie), and I've been advised it might be better to change my blogging ways, that is, get every track straight from the artists themselves. Obviously, it's going to take a while to build up a relationship with all these artists, but, I'll try to do it eventually. Anyway, you're probably thinking "Quitcherbitchin', where's the music?", so here it is.

So, you kids are probably overeager to here some new tracks, so I'll deliver, with some, err, Robbie Williams. Coolest kid out. But err, seriously, his new track Bodies might not be exceptional or cutting edge, but the remixers... well, are Fred Falke and Aeroplane adequate? Thought so.

Robbie Williams - Bodies (Fred Falke Club Mix)
Robbie Williams - Bodies (Aeroplane Remix)

Mars? No. Don't touch that, it's a classic. That won't stop Jack Beats from trying, and, well, he kinda pulls it off. Escalating, womping fun. Good on him.

Fake Blood - Mars (Jack Beats Remix)
Patrick Wolf - Hard Times (Jack Beats Remix)

Danger, where art thou? Apparently Danger is prowling around an Amazonian jungle, warping time to uncover more about the Code of The Pyramid. Or he's working on an album. Still haven't decided which reason I like more. Many have tried to fill in Danger's shoes, replicating his cinematic/computer game sound. But alas, none have reached his prowess. Until now. Meet Mille, a Swedish producer who may just be the new Danger (probably not, but he's pretty damn good). Check out Ghost Dancer and the Mowgli's Road remix. Wow.

Mille - Ghost Dancer
Mille - Crysteena
Marina & The Diamonds - Mowgli's Road (Mille Remix)

There has been a plethora of Night By Night remixes going around, so I'm just going to post a few. Smooth, '80s vocals, mixed with '80s synths. Sounds like it's straight from the '80s. '80s.

Chromeo - Night By Night (Redial Remix)
Chromeo - Night By Night (Siriusmo Remix)
Chromeo - Night By Night (Digikid84 Remix)

Michael Jackson is still a hot topic, mainly because of the new film about his swan song tour, This Is it. Anyway, I have a little gem here for you kids. It's an edit of Hot Street, a track that was meant to feature on the Thriller album. Apparently, Michael Jackson was quite fond of this track, but his producers/marketers thought the song just didn't quite make the cut. I think I'd have to side with MJ here, this track is brilliantly catchy.

Michael Jackson - Hot Street (U-Tern Edit)

And, here's some Screamo-Electro. What?

All Leather & The Bloody Beetroots - Mystery Meat
Bring Me The Horizon - Death Breath (The Toxic Avenger Remix)

Or some not-so-Bloody Beetroots:

Groove Armada - I Won't Kneel (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)

Rarche Out!

Compression : V

Okay, just a quickie for now:

StereoHeroes and Mustard Pimp make quite similar music, that is, heavy handed, pounding drums, coupled with searing, roaring bass. No surprise then, that they should collaborate to make music. Result? Pretty damn good.

Mustard Pimp vs StereoHeroes - Shark Spray
StereoHeroes - Washout (Mustard Pimp Remix)
Steed Lord - Take My Hand (Mustard Pimp Remix)
Underhall - Digithall (StereoHeroes Remix)

Melbourne boys Miami Horror and Swick have both been upping their gamelately, so it would be apt of me to post some of their tracks. Miami Horror is currently working on his debut album, following the success of Bravado, while Swick is preparing himself for his first release, for his track, Grow Up. And yes, you're not seeing things, I did post it before. And no, I'm not going to put it back up.

Miami Horror - Sometimes
Swick - 30 Minutes Of Swick Mixtape

Fred Falke remixing Eric Prydz's Pjanoo? There better be an awful lot of piano. Unfortunately, the song isn't comprised entirely out of piano. But no worries. A Gonzales piano-rework of Housse De Racket's Synthétiseur will sate your piano needs.

Eric Prydz - Pjanoo (Fred Falke Remix)
Housse De Racket - Synthétiseur (Gonzales Rework)

And, some Phoenix remixes to top it all off. Neighbors add a dream-like quality to Rome, while Unpopular Scenes adds some dirty guitar riffs and distortion to Fences.

Phoenix - Rome (Neighbors With Devendra Banhart)
Phoenix - Fences (Unpopular Scenes Remix)

Rarche Out!

Compression : III

I have finally finished editing a Classixx song (still needs to be tweaked here and there). When it's up, I expect every single person here to download it.

Yes. You too.

Now that I've scared you, I'd just like to say that I've noticed an increase in Fixie riders as of late. Many people seem to be attracted to the clean, minimalistic look (myself included). They also have the uncanny effect of portraying the rider to be more European than they actually are.

Who doesn't want to appear more European?

Glitchy, yet very agreeable. Sounds like Fred Falke meets Mr Oizo. If you just want agreeable, Classixx will float your boat.

Linus Loves - European Vacation
Linus Loves - European Vacation (Linus Loves Roadtrip Mix)
Ladyhawke - Magic (Classixx Remix)

Embrace is close to being my favourite PNAU track. All remixes I have laid eyes upon have not done the original justice, but this one comes pretty darn close. Tits & Clits (rhyming erogenous zones?) have belted out a dynamic and bold attempt, true to the original. Swell.

PNAU - Embrace (Tits & Clits Remix)

This dude has been causing a stir, and has been likened to acts such as Danger and SymbolOne. Plus he's 17 years old and Swedish. Might not have Danger's charm, but he's got time and Swedish-ness to work with. In my opinion, RESET does the whole 80's-synth-soundtrack-music thing better.

Ishivu - Yuriji
Ishivu - Palms
RESET - Push Start

Does anyone like Animal Collective here? How about Phoenix? Both of them in one track? Cool. Good on Animal Collective for getting a non-Lisztomania remix out there. Love Like A Sunset captures the mood of this track exceptionally well.

Phoenix - Love Like A Sunset (Animal Collective Remix)

Penguin Prison and Erik Hassle both had a crack at remixing Erik Hassle. Penguin Prison enjoyed it so much, he even had another shot. Is it just me, or do both Penguin Prison and Crystal Fighters sound like something that could be an online Flash based puzzle game?

Erik Hassle - Hurtful (Penguin Prison Remix)
Erik Hassle - True Romance (Penguin Prison Remix)
Erik Hassle - Don't Bring Flowers After I'm Dead (Crystal Fighters Remix)

While we're on the subject of Penguins, and not Crystals, I have for you an artist by the name of Owl Vision. Owl Vision makes inelaborate, austere tunes with a certain oomph. Simple.

Owl Vision - Perfect
Owl Vision - Revenants

Want something straightforward with force, but from more renowned artists? I honestly could have made this. That's how simple it is. A bloody simple re-fix from The Bloody Beetroots.

Mr Oizo - Pourriture 7 (Mr Oizo Re-Fix)

Rarche Out!

Compression : II

Wow, I haven't posted for over a week. A lot has happened in that time, and, being a music blogger, as opposed to an about life blogger, I won't share details with you. I'll bring on the tracks.

First off, I received some brilliant remixes in my inbox from a bloke called Johnathan Live. His sound is a glittering, sparkling synth-fest, comparable to Justin Faust and Classixx. Dirty Work is my pick. Oh, new Chromeo to boot.

Cato Canari - Dirty Work (Johnathan Live Remix)
Everything But The Girl - Driving (Johnathan Live Remix)
Similou - Clouds (Johnathan Live Remix)
Chromeo - Momma's Boy (Johnathan Live Remix)
Chromeo - Night By Night

New remixes by Cut Copy are a rarity nowadays, so it's always pleasant to be greeted with one. Viking remix of Hearts On Fire adds a bit of pow to the original.

Munk - Back Down (Cut Copy Jackmaster Remix)
The Phenomenal Hand Clap Band - You'll Disappear (Munk Remix) - FIXED
Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire (Viking Remix)

Don Diablo has been sending me tracks, but oddly enough, I've been downloading them off Scottish Friction instead, as I see them on his blog first. Quaint.

Don Diablo vs Phoenix vs Jay-Z - 99 Fences
Don Diablo & Example - Hooligans (A1 Bassline Remix)
Cassius - Youth, Speed, Trouble, Cigarettes (Don Diablo Remix)

Marchand, which is apparently French for Merchant (thanks for the translation, WDPK), creates music comparable to that of Lifelike. Summer chill-out tracks? Look no further.

Marchand - Starlove
Marchand - Supernova

Grum belts out a stellar remix, but it is ultimately trumped by Hemingway's seductively smooth Starlight Yacht remix. Don't know much about Keenhouse, but I'll be keen to after this effort. I quite enjoy lame puns, don't you?

Keenhouse - Ari-Es (Hemingway Starlight Yacht Remix)
Keenhouse - Ari-Es (Grum Remix)

Well kids, that's it for me. Better get back to Specialist Maths. Have to look at those Argand Diagrams and Imaginary Numbers.

Rarche Out!

Round Up : September

September has been slaughtered. Ceremonialize for October!

Top 3 Most Downloaded:
1. Daft Punk - Fragile
2. Kid Cudi - Pursuit Of Happiness Ft. MGMT & Ratatat
3. Au Revoir Simone - Another Likely Story (Aeroplane Remix)/Midnight Juggernauts - This New Technology

Commentary:
1. Yep, knew this one would be the most downloaded track, and it's kinda obvious why. Three words. New. Daft. Punk.
2. Kid Cudi, MGMT, Ratatat. Everyone loves them. Personally though, I dislike all of them. That's right, Ratatat too, you mindless hipster sheep.
3. Au Revoir Simone and Aeroplane? Sounds like another Paris (Aeroplane Remix) to me. And yup, it gets pretty close. While This New Technology is not as good as Tombstone, this could well feature on their next album. Or on a new special edition of their first. Sounds Dystopia-esque enough for me.

Top 3 Most Underappreciated:
1. The Secret Handshake - Summer of '98 (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)
2. Lost Valentinos - In The City Of Gold
3. Jack Beats - What (Foamo Re-Edit)

Commentary:
1. 1:15 has a The Secret Handshake vibe going on. Did you like the non cocaine-induced part of Romborama, i.e. Second Streets Have No Name? If so, get this song. Now.
2. Lost Valentinos. Doesn't their name sell this song? Okay, I'll try to sell it then. Soaring, searing, psychedelic, tripped out Indie, with a hint of Electro.
3. True to club-oriented music, this drops at 1:00. Quite hectic. Don't worry if it's dubstep, it's decent dubstep. Hmm, speaking of Dubstep...

Bonus For Rarchesters:

Count & Sinden - Beeper (Fake Blood Remix)
The Bloody Beetroots - It's Better A DJ On 2 Turntables

True or False: Fake Blood and The Bloody Beetroots have both made Dubstep.
True. Check it out, 3:29 and 0:51 respectively.

Maybe they could join up and become a new and exciting Dubstep artist called The Fake Bloody Beetroots? No? Just wondering.

Compression : I

First of the Compression series. Let's see how this goes, hey?

From the gospelesque vocals to the basic synths, French Horn Rebellion has got that Passion Pit sound down to a tee.

French Horn Rebellion - Up All Night

'Not Made For Love' by Metronomy, two remixes here. Joakim's remix is quirky, but in a slightly lethargic, who's-the-new-kid-he's-a-weirdo way. Astronomer's is equally quirky, but has a more upbeat, acoustic feel.

Metronomy - Not Made For Love (Joakim Remix)
Metronomy - Not Made For Love (Astronomer Remix)

Grum (formerly GRUM) has been remixed by Joe & Will Ask?, and, in typical J&WA? fashion, the track is club oriented, but unlike most, it somehow shines through, even to a casual listener, providing a melodious drop at 1:30. Drop at 3:16 is also quite pleasant too.

Grum - Heartbeats (Joe & Will Ask? Remix)

Designer Drugs apply their horrorhouse dance-floor formula to the delectably French 'Baby Baby Baby'. Horror Theme for a French Femme Fatale? My opinion?

Definitely.

Make The Girl Dance - Baby Baby Baby (Designer Drugs Remix)

Rarche Out!

Diligence

That's what I need. A tall, cold glass of diligence.

This will be my last regular post for a while. I have to go hit the books, and study like there's no tomorrow. I have my German oral exam in a little over a week. I have to talk about 'Integration problems that foreigners experience in Germany'.

In German.

ArghhhhhhhhhhHHHH (that was one of those shouts that peaks about 5 seconds after they begin).

My exams finish mid November, but don't expect regularity to return immediately.

Hope I can still keep you kids hooked on Rarche for long enough.

- Coulson

Missing

Have you kids been watching music videos lately? If so, you've probably spied the videos to some Empire Of The Sun tracks, namely 'Walking On A Dream', 'We Are The People' and 'Standing On The Shore'.

The first, 'Walking On A Dream' was filmed in Shanghai, and featured both Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore. The other two featured Luke Steele by himself, with no Nick Littlemore. Have you been wondering where Nick Littlemore is? So has Luke Steele.

Apparently, Luke Steele hasn't spoken to his Empire Of The Sun counterpart for over 5 months. No one knows where he is. And to top it all off, Empire Of The Sun had their first live show last night in Brisbane at Parklife. I wonder if Luke Steele pulled it off?

Anyway, I've scoped out some superior Empire Of The Sun remixes out for you kids, for your hearing pleasure. Both are atypical remixes, which actually do something to the original, in this case, by applying groovy brass synths. Spot the Jimmy2Sox drop at 2:04.

Delectable.

Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People (Jimmy2Sox Remix)
Empire Of The Sun - Standing On The Shore (Cassian Remix)

C'mon Nick Littlemore, Luke Steele needs you.

Hey! What? I'm In Love

I'm not a particularly big fan of Dubstep, I find the warbling, wah-wah sounds comical, and almost always a tad anti-climatic. But Foamo, well, he's another story.

Diplo & Laidback Luke - Hey! (Foamo Remix)
Jack Beats - What (Foamo Re-Edit)
Dub Pistols - I'm In Love (Foamo Dubstep Remix)

Decent Danceable Dubstep.

Signed

Mustard Pimp, beloved lords of Bassline, have finally been signed to a big label (well, it actually happened in July, but the new-single-hype is only occuring now). Those kids had it coming, and hey, maybe now they can tour outside of France (Melbourne please).

To commemorate their signing to, ermmm, Dim Mak, Mustard Pimp kindly released a remix of their debut single, 'Cherry'. As a song to jump up and down to in a club, it is meritorious. One of their best works yet.

Mustard Pimp - Cherry (Mustard Pimp Dark Remix)

Some old original tracks:

Mustard Pimp - Beetle Gum
Mustard Pimp - Curry

Maybe Mustard Pimp can improve Dim Mak for the better?

New Technology Is Fragile

It's true, isn't it? New technology is fragile. I've had my iPod for less than a year (a red one, of course) but it's already starting to get dust under the screen. I bought my WeSCs (I don't care if you think they suck, they look good) at the same time, and the extension cord for them broke after about 6 months.

Worst.

New Daft Punk and Juggers. Juggers is 100% real, but there are doubts over the authenticity of the Daft Punk track, but I don't mind, it still sounds spiffy.

Midnight Juggernauts - This New Technology
Daft Punk - Fragile

Can't wait for Tron Legacy. I sincerely hope it's better than Electroma.

Album : Cities Of Gold

'Cities Of Gold' is the debut album from Sydney Psychedelic-Indie kids Lost Valentinos. They emerged in 2005 as The Valentinos, but had to change their name in 2007 to Lost Valentinos, due to a lawsuit from Bobby & The Valentinos.

In 'Cities Of Gold', Lost Valentinos continue their trademark sound - soaring yet searing synths, strangely macabre falsetto, as well as the occasional congo drum beat. The album seems to have been modelled on maintaining a mystical, cryptic feel, true to Psychedelic-Indie style. The outstanding tracks in my opinion are 'Thief', 'Serio', 'The Bismarck' and 'In The City Of Gold'. Despite the sombre feel throughout all the songs, they are strangely uplifting.

Wisely, the best tracks in this album have already been released as singles, so if you're expecting more one-track wonders, you'll probably be dissatisfied with this album, as the rest of the album can probably be viewed as fillers. However, this is one of those few true album-albums, which sound much more impressive if you listen to them from start to finish. If you're a true fan of Lost Valentinos, this album will not disappoint.

Lost Valentinos - In The City Of Gold
Lost Valentinos - Kafka! (Bag Raiders What Y'all Know 'Bout Seven Remix)

What the hell are Bag Raiders on about with that remix name.

Disappointment

I expected better from these two. Any Fake Blood track should not go for one minute. And the Siriusmo remix of 'Shooting Stars' is criminally underdone. Not much is changed from the original, and what is changed, really isn't that spectacular.

Jay Z - Run This Town Ft. Rihanna (Fake Blood 1 Minute Mash)
Bag Raiders - Shooting Stars (Siriusmo Remix)

Some better efforts from Siriusmo, although Testliebe cuts out just before it gets exciting:

Siriusmo - Testliebe
Digitalism - Echoes (Siriusmo Remix)

Oh well. Fake Blood and Siriusmo are still brilliant.

Allure

Allure makes dazzling melodies, the type that just invokes a foot-tapping reaction. His tracks are full of reverb and distortion, but not the aggressive in-your-face variety, in fact, they come across as rather harmonious and soothing.

If his music was a drink, I would compare it to a light, bubbly Schweppes soft drink, probably Agrum.

Allure - Narcisse
Allure - Champagne
Allure - Dandy
Allure - Diamonds
Allure - Roses

If only these had lyrics, I would sing along to them.