Yer disco's dead mate, best sort it...

Dead Disco - You're Out (FrankMusic Remix)

If my good deed of the day was helping some old granny pick up a milk bottle (infirm much?) then this Dead Disco remix stolen from Bigstereo will help to balance out my karma and whatnot.

The single proper was released earlier this week so go cop it if you like hot girls from Leeds who make pop/synth/electro music. Try some.

Check the video...

Interesting (or not) development: I just went to the Bigstereo site to check their url and they gone done a post about Shakes, not a week after I did one. Hmm I feel justified about stealing their remixes now. How do these pesky Americans know so much about British music?

Is reason your game?...

Last I heard from Roisin Murphy she was kicking out the jams with Moloko and wearing sparkly mirror wigs. Random. Well it seems like she's back with some new beats and electro swagger, ready to bust out on the dancefloor and that. This here Overpowered track is the lead single off of her new album about which you can find out more here. Herve brings some heat for the remix but i'm not sure about the drum & bass style breakdown in the middle third. You decide. Listen to more remixes at, you guessed it, Roisin Remixed.

Roisin Murphy - Overpowered

Roisin Murphy - Overpowered (Herve & Roisin Mix)

First person to tell me what the squelchy synth reminds me of wins a prize.

The Monday Chiller #3...

Venetian Snares - This Bitter Earth

Argh i've let it slip again, the Sunday became the Monday and now the Tuesday, but to make amends i'm posting a certified chiller of the highest order.

Jazz. The word alone used to inspire fear in my very bones and leave me trembling in the corner muttering about trumpets and horrible free-form screeching that tends to go nowhere, but no more. Well no, I still dislike the genre as a whole but this Snares track is like some sort of deformed breakbeat jazz with proper melody, good structure and a great breakdown that hits you around 1.18 and sends the listener into a jazz trance for the rest of the track.

Restrained sampling and cheeky snares make this a highlight of Aaron Funk's career to date.

He plays the Glade festival in Berkshire in late July. Be there.

Nice...

Plug in the mains, you make my heart start...

Shakes - Sister Self Doubt

One of the best emerging new talents on the British scene, Shakes are making everyone (well, me) sit up and take notice with their hypnotic beats and electro stylings.

They play the Moor Music Festival on July 20th, so if you live in Yorkshire there is no excuse not to attend. I will be there seeing as it's being held 5 minutes away from my house (finally, some good music near me).

Video for Disneyland Part 1. I posted the track back in April here.



Get Shakes at their Myspace

The Monday Chiller...

After a seriously inauspicious start the Sunday Chiller is moving to Mondays to become... ah you guessed it, the Monday Chiller! (Did the title give it away?). This will probably work out better than a Sunday post because anyone reading this at work on Monday will be in need of some calming tunes to allay fears about the week ahead. Or maybe it should be called The Comedown for all you party heads. Anyway, whatever it's called and whenever it's posted there will always be a great tune at the end of the rainbow.

So Tunng then. If I had a blog two years ago I would have posted this song right there and then, instead of sitting on it until now. Chances are you've never heard of them, so briefly here is the deal: two guys called Sam & Mike, both play guitar, one produces and the other sings. Their sound is basically folk, but with a few glitches and bit of electronica thrown in. They are taking music back to basics, and they make beautiful songs that meander through soundscapes of abandoned towns, forests and information superhighways. That last bit is made-up and nicked from Fight Club. The album that this song comes from was recorded underneath a lingerie shop, and the guys had to go through the changing room to get to the studio. Savage.

You can download extra goodies and find out more about Tunng at www.tunng.co.uk

Tunng - Tale From Black

And a little something else, I just got this one off their website today but it's what the Monday Chiller is all about.

Tunng - Woodcat

The New Shit...

The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name

You'd best get on this now before it gets onto the big playlists and hammered into your skull all summer. I've only heard it twice and it's already getting on my nerves.

The Ting Tings hail from Manchester and have only been together for 3 months. Sounding like The Gossip, Metric, Dead Disco and loads of other bands all rolled into one they manage to wear their influences on their sleeve yet distinguish themselves from the crowd with off-the-cuff lyrics and hypno beats.

This would be instantly forgettable if only it weren't so catchy. I like the sentiment though and they got some fair bouncy hooks in there.

That's Not My Name is out on 7" on 25th May.

Myspace

Killdahype - Around The World Rmx

Kill, da hype, kill kill da hype hype. Enough of that. Messing around with one of the greatest dance tracks ever committed to wax could be a daunting task for some, but the hype boys bring it off with perfect steez. I may even like this more than the original.

Myspace

Personal Space Invaders - Pictures in BW Quicktime

I don't accept the friendship of many bands on Myspace, mainly because there is a lot of shite around and also because i don't want to give false hope to the ones who i add and then ignore or slag off behind their virtual back.

However, Personal Space Invaders have this track which i liked enough to post on this site and i became their friend too. They tout their sound as electro/indie/rock and, like Ronseal, they do exactly what they say on the tin.

Favourite bit of the song is the 'stop, to hear what they say' hook. Good stuff. I think the title is right but you can't really tell because the Myspace player cuts it off.

Speaking of which

Andrew Michael Bowers - Papers In Papers

This lad has had some play off of Steve Lurpak on't radio and Papers In Papers is a great tune with a chorus that's been stuck in my head since i heard it. Comparisons to Just Jack would be unfair and lazy... so er so yeah, sounds like Just Jack after some Caffeine & Agro pills.

Could do with a better name for himself though.

Myspace yeah?

Tall Pony - I'm Your Boyfriend Now

Ah, the lighter side of chauvinism. Tall Pony aka Paul and Tony (nice one) come up with some great lines on this track which is gaining a fair bit of cult appeal through plays from Huw Stephens and the particular brand of humor present in said tune.

It's being released on single on 11th June so listen to this shortened version then delete it and buy the single when it comes out.

If your weight exceeds 8 1/2 Stone I will sack you

Hilarious.

My Face

Subtilize your mind...

Subtilized Minds - Popes on Dope Mix

The Knife – Silent Shout

Scroobius Pip – Thou shalt Always Kill (Live on XFM)

Booka Shade – In White Rooms (Neo mix)

Metric – Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT remix)

Knightlife – Ambopop (demo)

Kavinsky – Testarossa Autodrive

Busy P – Rainbow Man (K. Christmon's Slight Tamper)

MSTRKRFT – Paris

Celluloide – Audio Therapy

Audio Bullys – The Things

This is the first mix that Aidan of Certified Banger and I have worked on together, let us know if you likes it.

Do You Know Squarepusher?...

I was lucky enough to get hold of the 3" promo CD entitled Square Window included in pre-orders of Squarepusher's 2004 album Ultravisitor from Warp Records online store.

Wheareas Ultravisitor was truly great in places but probably twice as long as it should have been, Square Window is a succint 20 minute blast of vintage Pusher, and for those not in the know, a perfect introduction to the great man. This is one of those posts where you really love what you're posting and hope that someone else will be as in to it as you. Hey, that's what i'm here for anyway. What i especially love about Square Window is it's total mental and musical breakdown. Each track gets progressively more wilfully obscure, until all that's left is bleeps and blips where once was melody and coherent music. Pick of the bunch is Abacus 2, which skips along and has great layers of sound that build and fade away when the next great melody hits. This is Squarepusher at his experimental best.

Square Window

01 Square Window
02 Abacus 2
03 Venus No.17 (telephone + siren x beats = magic)
04 Itti-Fack
05 Melt 14.6

From Ultravisitor

Tetra-sync

I couldn't do this post without sticking up at least one track from the LP. Tetra-sync is my favourite piece on the album, mainly because my friend Kes pointed out that you can hear the instrumentation switch from live to programmed and then back again, but also because it's a total stomping epic of a tune. Build and release. Build and release.

Official Squarepusher website

Read an interview with Tom and listen to his latest album Hello Everything in FULL at the BBC Collective

Squarepusher Live fansite with loads of sets from festivals, gigs, live video and interviews.

WarpRecords official site

Bleep for digital music downloads from Warp, Planet Mu, Ninjatune and others.

Got love for The Pusher? Hit the comment button charles...

Smog...

Bill Callahan AKA Smog has just released his twelfth studio album and coincidentally i've just rediscovered his 1996 album The Doctor Came at Dawn. So to celebrate both of these facts here is a taste of the new record and some of my favourites from the old one.

From Woke on a Whaleheart

Sycamore

From the Rivers to the Oceans

From The Doctor Came at Dawn

You Moved In

Somewhere in the Night
Lize

I prefer the depressing/downbeat feel of his earlier work but the new shizzle aint half bad for a dozenth alb!

The Sunday Chiller #1...

Starting this week, every Sunday i'm going to post a track that will ease you through the week ahead and soothe your soul in times of stress. Well that's the mission statement, let's see how well it works out. And i know it's saturday today but my dad's birthday is tomorrow and i'm gonna be bare busy with all that lovely family time.

I hope it's sunny where you are because this track will go great with a beer or glass of wine out in the garden. Suggestions for future Sunday Chillers are welcome.

Devendra Banhart - A Sight to Behold

Animation stations...

I was sitting in my huge leather armchair watching telly, and thinking how marvellous it would be to be a werewolf

I've had this animation for years (good old Kazaa, remember that?) and only recently found it on youtube. Directed by Tim Hope, it's the story of a man who turns into a werewolf and flys about on his rocket which is 'made from pure carbon and smashes through planets'. Great stuff. The first video is the full version and the second a shortened version made for the release of the PS2. Some people think the ad was directed by David lynch but no, Tim Hope is yer man.

Tenuous musical link - the sound design is great.

Wolfman



Wolfman ad version for the PS2 campaign

Something that is directed by Lynch that's pretty incomprehensible but i like it.

Angus & Julia Stone...

And he told me, i'd taste the pain
But i taste it everyday

I thought it best to do a bit of research for this post instead of being lazy like i normally am and nicking tunes from everyone elses blogs then impudently posting them as my own findings.

First time i really listened to this band was when their song Sadder Than You got picked randomly from a playlist of new music on my computer. I was trying to concentrate on writing an essay at the time, and it was half-way through the song when i realised i was staring at the screen and drifting away into day-dream mode. I listened through to the end then stuck the whole track on repeat for twenty minutes. The first thing that struck me was how effortless it sounded, the combination of guitar and voice sitting perfectly with the sentiment of the song. Since then it seems that effortlessness could be the buzzword for Angus & Julia Stone. I don't want to go and and gush at how amazing they are but i do think they're pretty damn good and if the following songs don't convince you then i can do no more. Angus's voice is described as like a young Paul Simon and Julia a diluted Bjork, whereas big Johnny Sharp has this to say: “Most impressive though are the songs - simple but blindingly effective acoustic compositions, warm boy-girl harmonies and delicate, less-is-more arrangements." Check it.

From the Chocolate & Cigarettes EP (2006)

Paper Aeroplane

From the Heart Full Of Wine EP (2007)

What You Wanted
I'm Yours
Sadder Than You previously posted here

The band are playing in Glasgow tonight then on the 11th in Norwich and 17th in Brighton. For more details go to their

myspace

or you can buy their two EPs combined into one CD from

amazon

Lastly, by the power of Youtube...

The host on this Australian show needs to seriously chill out but they manage to get through a slightly strained interview before performing a cool version of Mango Tree right under the Sydney harbour bridge.



Trippy video for I'm Yours, filmed on the recent UK tour in the van and various hotel rooms.

From MSTRKRFT to folk in one fell swoop. Boom!

MSTRKRFT will kill you...

Like MSTRKRFT, love these remixes and trackolas.

Polysics - Ceolakanth Is Android (MSTRKRFT remix)
Para One - Dudun-Dun (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Armand van Helden - NYC Beat (MSTRKRFT remix)
MSTRKRFT -Paris
MSTRKRFT - Community Revolution In Progress
Metric - Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Acid Jacks - Awake Since '78 (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Brazilian Girls - Jique (MSTRKRFT Remix Edit)

Hit up the myspace
or buy their work here

Come back later if your face has managed to cling on.

You tube, do you?

In celebration of me finally realising how to post youtube videos on my blog, here is some stuff that i found surfing round the tube in 30 minutes which may interest you. Or not. They're all on a musical tip.

2.25 on this is where the real breakdown happens. You tell em, geeky guy.



The Knife - Heartbeats live in Gothenburg, Sweden, April 12th 2006. I'm really digging the stripped down bass and synths on this.



Monkey Drummer video by Chris Cunningham, music by Aphex Twin. Buy Chris Cunningham's Work of... DVD here. I have it and fully recommend.



Another video from the Work of... series, this time Spike Jonze. The song is Wax - Southern California. I'd love to see inside Spike Jonze's head.

It's still Ray Day, nigga...

If you don't know the story yet go here to catch up. Abridged version - dude was living in the woods in a log cabin he built himself, ready to commit suicide after working 65 hours a week in a shoe factory, heard a Stephen Stills song one morning on the radio and set off to become a musician. Now he probably has lots of money but still always sounds depressed.

I think the guy is great, saw him in Edinburgh a few months ago and he blew me away, one of the few artists to sound so much better live than they do on record. All the songs posted today are unreleased so if you like them then buy the stuff he has put out here and here.

I would write more about Ray but the songs are more than able to speak for themselves.

From the Green Demo:

MP3: Back on the Mountain

MP3: Water from the Well

MP3: Isabel

From Introducing Raycharles Lamontagne:

MP3: Trouble

MP3: Burn in my Skin

MP3: Shelter

From a collection of live & unreleased tracks:

MP3: Still can't feel the Gin

MP3: Simple Consolation

MP3: She's your Girl

And for a little extra somethin' somethin', check this duet with Damien Rice. Ray kills him.



Comment is free

Electro round-up #1...

There is an absolute surplus of quality electro around right now so here are some of the hottest jammy jams from the main boys Ed Banger and some other stuff that's been rolling round my stereo in recent weeks. There is some blatant blog-thievery going on from my end but here at the Hermit i try to steal from the very best and give to the poor... slash lazy. Check out the links on the right for more immense postery. I don't need to tell you that all the tracks are mind-blowing but i will point out Shakes, Para One and The Gossip as my current favourites. Shakes, WTF! Oh yeah also Dead Disco representing Leeds, Yorkshire what!

Black Ghosts - Face (Switch mix)
Busy P - Rainbow Man (K. Christmon's Slight Tamper)

Chromeo - Fancy Footwork (Guns N Bombs Remix)
Dead Disco - The Treatment (Metronomy Mix)
Kavinsky - Testarossa Autodrive (SebastiAn Remix)
Para One - Dudun-Dun (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Peter, Bjorn & John - Young Folks (OrtzRoka remix)
Shakes - Disneyland (Part One)
The Gossip - Jealous Girls (NYPC 12" Remix)
Uffie - Pop the Glock

Bonus - the perfect indie-disco track?

DJ Shadow - Six Days (Soulwax Mix)

Sorry for not providing links so you can find all this stuff elsewhere but it's late and google is a magic tool.

I'm your pusher when you need...

'Sugar man met a false friend

On a lonely dusty road

Lost my heart when I found it

It had turned to dead black coal.

Silver magic ships you carry

Jumpers, coke, sweet Mary Jane'

MP3: David Holmes - Sugarman

Perhaps best known for his musical meanderings through cinematic soundscapes, mixes and urban samplings, David Holmes changes tack for this album and produces it under the name of The Free Association, bringing a slightly different flavour and jazzing it all up a bit.

The Sugarman track is a cult classic, originally recorded by Sixto Rodriguez on his anti-establishment album Cold Fact. There is also a version of it on Holmes' album Come Get It I Got It. Personally I prefer the version that uses Rodriduez's vocals although this one is still a beauty. First heard in January of this year on a ski holiday, it quickly became the tune of the trip. I sometimes lie awake at night fretting over the songs that i've missed that might change my life but thankfully i caught this one in time.

MP3: David Holmes - (I Wish I Had A) Wooden Heart

This is some pretty funky shit. Driving bass and rythms combine with tweaked-out vocals and Holmes' production really comes to the fore. I went to your house but I couldn't find the door.

If you have any lost classics to share, let me know so i can sleep easier!

M is for Minimix...

Well at least if you're going to be late, make them good. And these two mixes are goooood. I don't feel the need to sell this post to you cos if you like Yoda or the Warriors then... actually, why don't you have them already? To the uninitiated, you can't get fresher than this.

MP3: DJ Yoda - Minimix for Annie Mac 19/05/2005

Tracklisting

MP3: Stanton Warriors - Minimix for Annie Mac 18/08/05

Yeah so what? It's old but i can't bear to think of someone not having these. Back on the bleeding edge next post.

You go POW! They go OW!...

MP3: Hadouken! in the Mix


Tracklisting:
Bloc Party- ‘The Prayer (Hadouken! Remix)’ (Wichita)
Like Woah!- ‘Oh I Like (Woah!)’ (Unknown)
David E Sugar Feat. Ears- ‘First OK’ (Brikabrak]
Wiley- ‘Eskiboy’ (Boy Better Know)
Plan B- ‘No More Eatin’ (Hadouken! Remix)’ (679 Recordings)
Virus Syndicate- ‘Red Eyes’ (Dubplate)
TNT- ‘Transmission’ (Outlaw Breaks)
Skepta feat Wiley, JME, Creed- ‘Duppy’ (Boy Better Know)
The Klaxons - ‘Atlantis to Interzone (Hadouken! Remix)’ (Merok)
Bolt Action Five - ‘Tree Friend Tree Foe (Kissy Sell Out Remix)’ (No Pain In Pop)
Hadouken!- ‘Tuning In (Re-Rub Dub)’ (Surface Noise Recordings)
Uffie - ‘Ready To Uff’ (Ed Banger)
Kate Nash - ‘Caroline is a Victim’ (Unknown)
Mr Ozio - ‘Flatbeat’ (Unknown)
The Klaxons - ‘Golden Skans (David E Sugar Remix)’ (Polydor)
Justice - ‘Phantom’ (Ed Banger)
Fox N Wolf- ‘Youth Alcoholic’ (Unknown)
Radioclit - ‘Mature Macho Machine (Solid Groove and Sinden Remix)’ (Unknown)
The Gossip - ‘Standing in the Way of Control (Soulwax Remix)’ (Unknown)
Test Icicles - ‘Catch It’ (Domino)
Jixilix? - ‘Go!’ (Dubplate)
Hadouken! - ‘That Boy That Girl (Demo)’ (Surface Noise)


Comments, like, dislike, Shoryuken! - Give it up

Certified Banger...

All wheat, no chuffin' chaff!

4 weeks of terrible sound later I finally realise there's a subwoofer under the PC desk and that some afflicted fool had turned it to full treble, no bass. I had been living a bass-less life and can't tell you how good it is to hear deep, rich, rounded sounds again. So to celebrate this new found vibration i'm posting the best of the Certified Banger mixtapes, currently up to volume 3 and mashed together in a novice-like way by me. Keeping it eclectic as always, there are new songs, remixes and much randomitry throughout, but every tune is an absolute Banger. Warning: Be careful to stretch before listening as your body may be subject to involuntary jerking.

MP3: Knightlife - Ambopop

Yes it was posted not too long ago but it's the perfect track to kick off with. Australians are rocking da haus right now man. 3:24 on the clock is the musical equivalent of orgasm. Absolute monster.

MP3: The Knife - We Share Our Mother's Health (Live at Gothenburg)

Best album of 2006 for me and soon to release a live DVD along with all sorts of bonus shiznit, this track is from that DVD and contains an intro that blows me away everytime and makes me feel like Howard Moon. 'Yow, feel that bass'.

MP3: Klaxons - The Bouncer (South Central Bootleg)

I have the original of this on Hits '92, man what great taste for an 8 year old! The double CD contains other classics such as The Prodigy - Everybody In The Place, The Shamen - Ebeneezer Goode, SL2 - On A Ragga Tip and Undercover - Baker Street (feel that Sax). However it also contains monstrosities like Right Said Fred - Deeply Dippy and Simply Red - For Your Babies. Not all good in the hood then but near enough. Anyway, Klaxons have bang updated Kicks Like A Mule's song and brought it screaming into the new century. Yer name's not down yer not comin in.

MP3: Arctic Monkeys - This House Is A Circus

Best track i've heard off the new album and if it ever gets released i'll grow to hate it, but for now it's pretty sick. Hope the web sheriff doesn't get all high-noon on my ass. I like the band when they're being fast and loud and this certainly fits the bill. Full of witty lyricisms blah blah blah... go read somewhere else for reviews.

MP3: Kano - Layer Cake

Nice samplage from otherwise poor film Layer Cake. Kano takes this notion of social standing and turns it into the soundtrack for a futuristic film that never got made. Downbeat, Grimy and full of references to making it to the top, Kano sounds angry at a British industry in which he can't see a way through and can 'never sell more than a indie band'.

MP3: Wu-Tang Clan - Aint nuthin' to fuck with (Bird Peterson Remix)

Another YOW! for the Wu which i got from Missing Toof. Not much to say except that it starts hard and gets harder. I wouldn't fuck with Bird Peterson after listening to this. Tiger style.

MP3: Kanye West - Diamonds (Ratatat Remix)

I don't like Kanye West as a rule. I don't identify with the dude and don't really care that he got his face mashed in and learned to rap again (take note Mr Cent). However, I do like Ratatat and this version of Diamonds. Realising when to back off the beat and when to bring it right back with all 43 flavours, it seems Ratatat can do now wrong right now.

MP3: Cocorosie - Noah's Ark

Not a banger in any traditional sense (is there a traditional banger?), this was on in the background while i was working yesterday but after a couple of minutes i realised i was just staring out of the window listening to the song and drifting off into daydream. It could do with a less insipid beat but all the hooks and melodies are there in abundance. Someone described the video to this track as: Gwen Stefani + Way more drugs = Cororosie.

MP3: Justice - Waters of Nazareth

Wait... isn't this the tune that started to break Justice? Then how have they gone from this to the bag-o-shite D.A.N.C.E.? Shocking. Thankfully this one is still a beast.

MP3: The Faint - Posed to Death

I can't decide if The Faint are pretentious as hell or just make quality tunes dripping in beats and melody. Either way, listen and pose away.

MP3: Ratatat - Wildcat

A lot of songs are reminding me of Summer recently and this is no exception. Perfect for cruising about in yer whip, the cat sample may have sounded wack in less capable hands but the Tat crew pull it off nicely. Chilling and indeed Distilling.

MP3: Product 01. - Heart Ov Glass (Original Mix)

Electroclash eh? Sounds gay but then all new mashed-up genre titles do these days. Forget what it's pigeonholed into and float away on synths, beats and Debbie Harry's supoib vocals.

MP3: Bloc Party - The Prayer (Hadouken Remix)

I'll admit, I was a fan of the Bloc Party when their debut album dropped, their spiky brand of pop was pretty exciting at the time and tracks like 'Helicopter' and 'The Price of Gasoline' were damn good, but i should have seen the warning signs. 'The Bluest Line' and 'Luno' were morose, boring songs but i put that down to the fact that it's near impossible to like every track on an album, but it turns out that Bloc Party's newest offering is just as morose and wank as the these two aforementioned tracks. And 'Another Weekend In The City', the album of b-sides? Argh i wanted to strangle myself with a fork. The Prayer was the only glimmer that The Party could produce something half decent but even that turned out to be Kele singing about getting divine power and using it to pull girls. Fairplay though when your head is as comically-mishapen as his. Anyway, Hadouken have managed to salvage something from the wreckage and bring their tales of drugs, parties and dance to the mix to create something pretty smart. Whodathunkit.

MP3: Venetian Snares - Szamar Madar

What if, for just a day, we could both be pigeons?

Aaron is bringing the Funk on this one. This post couldn't have ended on a much higher note than this cut taken from Snares' 2005 album 'Rossz Csillag Alatt Szuletett' (damnit I wanted to include it in the best of 2006). An album of love songs and grief songs, Szamar Madar would be the standout track if it weren't for the quality of the rest of the album, which ranges from jaw-droppingly immense to brown-trouseringly awesome. Haha maybe that's a bit much but yeah the album is a banger from start to fin.

The track begins with shrieking horns and ominous strings, building your expectations before busting out into some amazing breakcore which then precedes to break out AGAIN into a full orchestral melange of beats and a haunting melodic motif that makes you want to skip back to the start and ride the rollercoaster all over again. Bang.

If that wasn't enough then your appetite for tunes is unsatiable and I suggest you check out some of the links on the right to other time sensitive scribblings.

Or go here.

Okay I thought it was funny.