Return of the Mac...

My girlfriend is called Caroline.

Fleetwood Mac have a song called Caroline that I hadn't heard of until last month. (It was released in 1987. What's 22 in blog years?)

The bottom line is that the song is huge in the best 80s way possible. Tons of echo on the drums and a massive chorus that I still can't get out of my head.

Regardless of what my girlfriend is called I would have posted this track anyway because it's a beast, but i like the synergy nonetheless.

Whatever music you're in to, take a break from it for 3 minutes and 49 seconds and turn those speakers up.

Fleetwood Mac - Caroline (YSI)

Buy Tango in the Night

Noise Zealand style...

I spent this summer in New Zealand, and between all the skiing and partying managed to dig up a few gems from the local scene.

Optimus Gryme aka Charlie B is the biggest name in the NZ dubstep game right now. I saw him play live at the BASE 10 year party in Wanaka, and was surprised the roof was still on the building by the end of his set.

He released his debut LP back in June, and his Annihilation of the Ego EP is considered one of the best records of the year. If you like your beats heavy, smooth and experimental then this is the guy to check out.

Optimus Gryme - Immortal

Optimus Gryme - A Billy (ft. Billy Fluid)

Buy Optimus Gryme @ Beatport
Grymepace
Check out nzdubstep.com for more info, tour dates and free mixes

Purple Trinity...

I've been listening to a lot of Dubstep this summer, and Joker is one producer who's really caught my ear. Part of the Purple Trinity group with Guido and Gemmy, his bright, technicolour beats are just what the scene needs to revive itself after getting slightly sidetracked into the 'who can make the heaviest bassline' thing. The Purple Trinity's brand of psychedelic dub is much more my thing.

So to catch you up, a mix from each.

Joker - Purple Wow Sound Mix (Z-Share)

Tracklist:
1. Heny g – Delayed Style
2. Silkie – 7-1
3. Joker & Ginz – Purple City
4. Joker – Psychedelic Runway
5. Joker – Gullybrook Plain
6. Joker – Digidesign
7. Guido – Tango 140
8. Gemmy – Espaniola (SOMETHING LIKE THAT )
9. Gemmy – The Box Remix #2
10. Gemmy – BT Tower
11. Gemmy – Back 2 The Future 2012
12. Gemmy – ……
13. Joker – Do it
14. Joker – Early morning
15. Benga – Buzzin’
16. RSD – Naked Mario Kart
17. Skream – Unknown
18. Silkie – Weird Piano
19. Quest – The Unknown
20. Rude kid – Are You Ready (Instrumental)
21. Maniac – Three Crows
22. Joker & Rustie – Play Doe
23. Joker – Untitled

Guido Mini Mix (Save as)

Tracklist:
Guido - Tantalized
Guido, Aarya & Ruthless - Beautiful Complication
Guido - Chakra
Guido - You Do It Right
Guido - Orchestral Lab
Gemmy - Johnny 5
Guido - Mad Sax
Joker - Do It!
Guido - Tango
Joker - Digidesign

Gemmy - Mix for Fact magazine (Sendspace)

Tracklisting:
Jakes - 'Nyabingi'
Rustie - 'Black Block' Remix
Gemmy - 'Purple Moon'
Gemmy - 'Johnny 5'
Kutz - 'Spaceman' VIP
Davinche - 'Jam Hot' Remix
Joker & Ginz - 'Purple City'
Joker - 'Do It'
Gemmy - 'Shanti Riddim'
Gemmy - 'Kodoma'
Gemmy - 'Rusty Tin'
RSD - 'Pretty Bright Light'
Gemmy - 'Bk 2 The Future'

Further reading on the Trinity and Purple sound.

myspace.com/guidoproductions
myspace.com/thejokerproductions
myspace.com/djgemmy

One more (Ninja) Tune...

Oh, hello there. It's been a while, but I keep getting fine slices of aural science delivered directly to my inbox by the good folks over at Ninja Tune records, and who am I to deny their artists the essential air of hype and publicity (even though this blog has the readership of the proverbial one man and his dog) that music makers so relish in these days of multi-faceted media platforms? No-one, that's who.

Fink's track 'All Cried Out' has been a favourite of mine since it featured on his Biscuits for Breakfast album all the way back in '06. He released latest album Sort of Revolution this summer, and to celebrate an i-tunes only release of Sort of Versions (acoustic versions of tracks old and new) i'm giving you his take on R.E.M.'s 'The Apologist'. The ghost of John Martyn pervades, but never dominates Fink's work, which is by turns original, evocative and engaging.

Fink - The Apologist (acoustic)

Get Sort of Versions here
Get Sort of Revolution here
Finkspace

Now I know that PR folks can stir up a lot of BS about their hot new artist, but I must say comparing Emika to Fever Ray, The Knife and Burial (three of my favourites) in one sentence more than piqued my interest. Add to that a remix by none other than Scuba and I was a goner.

I'm a big fan of Scuba's crackly, claustrophobic and driving production, and this track delivers on all accounts. It also reminds me of another of Hot Flush Records talents, Vaccine.

The single 'Drop The Other' plus remixes is out on the 18th January on Ninja Tune. Big.

Emika - Drop The Other (Scuba's Vulpine Remix)

Emikaspace
Scubaspace