For BJ

My friend died two weeks ago.

I’d never had a friend die before. The day I found out (The day he died), I called Diana. I sobbed into the phone. She said some things to calm me down, and she also said what I needed to hear most.“This isn’t about you.”

I went home and I did what I needed to do to get my feelings in check. I wrote this, for one. Since then I’ve grappled with whether or not to make this rumination public. BJ’s death wasn’t about me, and it isn’t about me still. It is about him, and those who survive him. I worry about trivializing a family’s suffering by posting my own unsolicited feelings on my mostly-defunct music blog. (What is the protocol here?) But BJ always seemed to care about LL; he always asked about it, was ever eager to share a new song he’d fallen in love with, and even let me feature his photography (pictured here) a few times. He was one of its first and best supporters. So I think this is ok. At least, I hope it is. (But how can you be sure? The dead don’t talk.)

BJ fought cancer for over a year. During that time he asked that I make him a playlist, just of things I’d been listening to recently. I put it on my to-do list and put it off perpetually. He asked if we could catch up on the phone, said he appreciated my friendship and wanted to stay more regularly in touch. I got busy and never called. He finished a round of treatment, and I asked for his address so I could send him a card. I never found the perfect card and so I never sent one.

My mom was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer this winter. Within an hour of hearing the news, BJ sent me a veritable essay on chemo tricks and tips. (You didn’t even have to ask.) Months went by. I didn’t make a playlist, I didn’t call, and I didn’t mail a card.
When he died I felt a lot of things, but mostly crushing guilt. (This isn’t about you.)

It may sound trivial. Indeed, in the grand scheme, a playlist, a phone call, and a post card don’t add up to much. But it’s the little things that matter. It’s the little things that get us through the day, that help us live with ourselves. It’s the little things that set friends apart from acquaintances, loves apart from lovers, and memories apart from the haze of the quotidian. Can I call myself a friend if I can’t or won’t make time for the little things? (You can’t be sure. The dead don’t talk.)

I don’t believe in God. I don’t believe in a higher power, or heaven, or hell, or spirits, or the afterlife. I believe that we have the time that is given to us, and that is all. So I sit with the fact that my friend is gone—to dust—and in the time that mattered, I didn’t give him time.

Even if I am completely wrong (Often, you hope you are), and there is in fact something past death, I sincerely doubt the departed are checking the internet. (Post-mortem Facebook posts are the saddest exercise in futility.) So posting this is little recourse. But I think I owe it to him to at least pretend. Or hold out hope that maybe, just maybe, there’s something else out there…
And they have wifi.

My friend’s death isn’t about me, but through it I’ve learned some thing about me: the relationships I want to cultivate, the little things on which I want to concentrate. This is late, it’s not enough, and I am truly, deeply sorry for not giving you time when we had it.
But hey BJ, here's your playlist.

While we're here:

I know this is the opening track on the playlist, but I want to make double-sure you listen to it. I've cried at least 4 times while doing so. Also of note, the lyrics include the word "asunder," which is something you really don't see every day. (Check out Allies For Everyone on Facebook.)

Montréal -40C

I’ve been sitting here for half an hour staring at the screen, telling myself I am better than writing about the weather.

Talking about the weather has always seemed like a kind of gateway drug—the first step towards an adult life doomed to small talk and banality. With that in mind, writing about the weather feels unforgivably pedestrian. So I’ve been rehashing and revising, trying to think of a better introduction, but have ultimately come to an unfortunate conclusion: I am not better than writing about the weather.

I’m going to try to self-rationalize this now by noting that weather is currently the number one cause of emotional tumult in my life (no I don’t have a lot going on ok). I have been having intense visceral responses to it, and have even been moved to angry tears on a handful of mornings while walking to work, blasted by -5F degree winds. So if you’re still humoring me, I’d like to take a second to get my feelings out on proverbial paper and say, YOU WIN, WINTER. I HATE YOU.

I’m in Chicago and the weather has been so bad that I dread getting out of bed, even on days when I’m well-rested. On mornings when it’s below zero, and I know icy tears on my work commute are a real possibility, I need something especially enlivening to help jump-start my day. Enter: Malajube.

I discovered this band when I was in high school, boarded away in the frozen tundra of northern Michigan. They’re from Montréal so they know a thing or two about the cold. In fact, they have an entire song dedicated to it. Montreal -40C was their breakout ‘indie hit’ in 2006, a bouncing piece of indelible pop rock, off-the-wall but hardly amateur. A upbeat musing on the sometimes harsh reality of a frozen city as one’s cruel mistress, this was my go-to winter alarm clock song throughout high school. When I reintroduced it to my musical rotation in 2015, I was delighted to find that not only could I still relate, but sonically it still felt fresh. My apologies if you came here expecting new music, but sometimes it’s best to stick with what’s tried and tested. Montreal -40C is one of the few things that can get me going on a snowy morning. Try it on for size.

Oh, and you might notice that this song isn’t in English. They say music is a *universal language*, and I don’t think that holds more true than when we unite against a common enemy. In this case: Elsa.

Montréal -40C - Malajube

Take Care Of You

I'm listening to this song on repeat while doing my best to find some kind of background on the producers.  Apparently, it’s a duo comprised of Mazego and Vitesse, two Parisian fellows with a few remixes to their respective names.  Combine them and you get Saje, the moniker under which this song was released.  The Saje Soundcloud dates back 6 months, while Mazego the solo artist seems to have been on the Facebook game since 2011. Despite this short timeline, the sounds these two are churning out are far from novice. With two songs to Saje’s credit, they’ve already been able to create a unique, recognizable sound in a musical climate of copycat-regurgitation.
 
To try and describe their music is to study the constant redefinition and meshing of electronic music genres.  Deep-Electro-Trap-Chill-Dream-Step, if I may.  Take Care of You is a hybrid of Tom Misch’s guitar-centric beats, with Odesza’s lingering synths and massive drops.  Saje is now 2/2 with an uncredited male vocalist, whom I can assume is either one of the two, or simply an unnamed, golden vocal vessel.  Regardless of genre definitions or background story, these guys are damn good.  It’s refreshing to see two relative newcomers coming out with completely original material, while providing surprising well-written and appropriately themed vocals.  I’m sold, and methinks you will be as well.

Hello Again

Hey fellow countrymen, have y'all had enough of the cold weather yet? Me too. But don't worry, I know just what you need: JAMAICA.

Sadly no, I am not running a contest to fly all my readers to paradise, but close. JAMAICA -- the insanely catchy, pop rockin' French duo -- are back after years of doing whatever French musicians do between albums (smoke a lot of cigarettes, look cool, and eat bread probably, idk) with their sophomore release, Ventura. While the album drops in March, its befittingly monikered first single, Hello Again, is here now. It has every bit of the bouncing beats and jangling guitar work we remember from the band, with a markedly tighter, polished finish. This preview has us pretty darn excited for the rest of the album, but as for now -- a snow day never sounded so good.

You can preview the song below, but if you want a download link, you've gotta head over to the band's website.
Go, Go!

Hello Again - JAMAICA

Feeling Foxy

Kitsuné, everyone's favorite fashion brand cum music label, has been on the grind lately. In addition to their seasonal Compilation albums, they've been putting out singles for up and coming artists left and right. Additionally they've been working on some pretty cool campaigns incorporating more music into their fashion, and vice-versa. August saw them release the Romanticise EP from Australian songstress Chela, who you may remember from last year's collaboration with our man Goldroom. Romanticise totally encapsulates the Kitsuné "sound" - bright synths, disco beats, and summer vibes. Fellow Aussies Gold Fields did a remix of the single, and it's quite a catch. Don't take my word for it - download it for free below.

But one EP is never enough for the label, who also put out Digitalism's new Lift EP two days ago. Veering from their pop roots and into more hardened electro territory, the EP's first single Electric Fist sees the German duo collaborating with Canada's Blood Diamonds. The end result is a fiery one two punch of pulsing beats and crackling distortion. If you're looking for a pretty solid 2008 throwback, look no further. (Ah, the good old days.)

Last, but certainly not least, Kitsuné have been expanding their always-rocking Club Nights to more cities around the globe, and this post comes just in time to remind you of a big one happening in New York City tonight. This time, Kitsuné teamed up with Matte Projects to bring us a crazy awesome lineup including Digitalism, Classixx, Plastic Plates, and Le Youth. Matte are the guys who put on summer's Full Moon Festival, at which we had wayyyy too much fun (seriously…it got aggressive), so we've got high hopes for tonight. Get your last minute tickets here, and I'll see you on the dance floor.

Romanticise (Gold Fields Remix) - Chela

Be Cool (EMiL Remix)

You know what's really hit-or-miss? Remix videos. And by that I mean they usually suck. It's one thing for a remix to be able to stand alone as a piece of music, but for it to be worth its weight in jpegs as well? That's a veritable unicorn. So it seems fitting then, that the thing to inspire LL out of the figurative ashes of the internet is one such figurative unicorn.

Our friend EMiL (of Emil & Friends -- yeah he's pretty popular) just dropped his remix of Phoenix's Be Cool, and whipped up a whole video from scratch to go with it. We're not talking your typical indie "boy meets girl and they go on a road trip" type shtick, but something fun and summery and colorful and--dare I say--magical. Don't take my word for it, watch for yourself below.

Phoenix - Be Cool (EMiL remix) from Emil on Vimeo.

Be Cool (EMiL Remix) - Phoenix


Bonus:
Be Cool (Breakbot Remix) - Phoenix

Fade Away (C2C Remix)

Joe Bonomo

Recently I've been feeling a bit disenchanted with electronic-based music. Then I realized that I'd forgotten about the French. Those sly bastards are still so on top of the game, its almost as though their a genre unto themselves: incomparable to the rest of the "production" world. One of the best examples of this is Vitalic (née Pascal Arbez), who I have unrelentingly held as the second-greatest French producer (after Daft Punk, naturally) since I first caught wind of him back in the noughties. Listen to any piece in his catalog and you'll catch the perfect bass lines and tight drums that, while providing a solid backbone to each piece, never teeter towards overindulgent.

Vitalic's latest album, Rave Age was released in November. The EP for his second single, Fade Away, will be up for purchase by the end of the month. In the meantime, stream the C2C (another French act and LL favorite) remix of the single below.

Bonus: The greatest remix of the greatest song from Vitalic's last album.
This is seriously indispensable.
Poison Lips (Captain Flash Remix) - Vitalic

Delta

You know that age-old idea that when it comes to the arts - music, paintings, dance - the French do it better? Well it's mostly true. Take C2C, for example. Hailing from Nantes with a rap and jazz-influenced electro background, when it comes to DJ collectives they've upped the ante in nearly every category:

1. They're not just DJ's, they're turntablists. That means that unlike your all too common Serato 'DJ's, they don't just have turntables for show, they actually use them as instruments.

2. They aren't your typical DJ duo, but rather a foursome: Talent, squared.

3. They're the best at what they do: they won the DMC world championship (the ultimate prize for anyone interested in scratching) four years in a row.

Still not convinced? Have a listen to Delta, the first single off their debut album Tetra, which was released in December after 15 years in the making. And if that still doesn't get you going (or you just want more), check out this video of their live DJing set, and realize why anyone DJing with a computer isn't going to cut it anymore.

Delta - C2C



BONUS:
Happy (feat. Derek Martin) - C2C

1 Out Of 2

Breakbot is back. It's not that he ever really left (thank goodness), but he spent a considerable amount of time focusing on releasing remixes rather than original material. But just this week, he released his third EP of original material, 1 out of 2. Like his unforgettable first single, Baby I'm Yours, the EP's title track also features French vocalist Irfane, who adds a touch of class with his smooth croon. And like his first single, this one is also pretty close to perfect.

As an on-point Viceroy tweeted, "Breakbot is the electronic Elton John." By this I assume he means that Breakbot can do no wrong (I mean can you really think of a terrible Elton John song?), in which case, I agree wholeheartedly. Sure he's an electronic artist, and French no less, but Breakbot's style transcends genres, which has allowed him to create some of the best pop songs of the past decade. Not convinced? Time will tell.

1 Out Of 2 was released Monday, in Europe [buy it here]. Still waiting on that US release… Until then, stream the dancey Oliver remix below, and head over to our Facebook page to hear the original.

Breakbot - One Out Of Two (Oliver Remix) by weareoliver

Youth (Pyramid Remix)

Rarely do I give a LOOSE L!P ST!CK (our somewhat-regularly-updated current ear worm, located in the left hand column <<< ) a post of its own, but this one really deserves it. For starters, the song in question, by UK newcomer Foxes, has been remixed by LOOSE L!PS' favorite, Pyramid. Secondly, turns out Foxes is signed to one of our label crushes, Neon Gold. I wasn't surprised to learn that, given that her small repertoire completely encapsulates the accessible and energetic indie pop the label is so well known for.

Pyramid, who's career we've been watching closely, continues to grow and evolve with ever-shifting styles. This time he adds a pulsating electro touch to the song, Youth, rendering it markedly more powerful and insanely catchy.

Youth (Pyramid Remix) - Foxes

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Heaven Can Wait

Heaven can wait, and hell's too far to go.

I've been on a bit of a Charlotte Gainsbourg kick ever since seeing Melancholia (which was by far and away the best movie of 2011; fuck the Academy). This has mostly applied to films, but her music hits a sweet spot too. She's the daughter of famed French chanteur Serge Gainsbourg, her music toes the line between French pop and indie rock, with a splash of jazz thrown in for good measure. Heaven Can Wait, her 2009 collaboration with Beck, recently received the remix treatment from another impressive French musician, the illustrious (yes, illustrious) Breakbot, who's work with this song is, as always, on point. While this is not one of his more daring or complex remixes, his take nonetheless funks the song up a bit, breathing new life into a song which is now practically eons old in 'blog years.'

Heaven Can Wait (Breakbot Remix) - Charlotte Gainsbourg


And the original:
Heaven Can Wait (feat. Beck) - Charlotte Gainsbourg

Always On The Run (Peter & The Magician Remix)

Julian Bialowas

My future husband released an EP today.

Well...this is only a half-truth. The EP was only released in France and who knows what other European countries. We Americans have to wait. Merde.

Anyway, when I can actually get my virtual hands on it is irrelevant, let's talk details. The EP features several remixes of Yuksek's latest single, Always On The Run. One such remix is by Peter & The Magician. So, to clarify: This is a Peter & The Magician Remix of a Yuksek original. If that registered clearly with you, at this point, all further information is irrelevant. Are you reading this anymore? No? Good. Surrender to the sound.

Yuksek "Always On The Run" (Peter & The Magician Remix) by TheMagician

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Let's All Chant (DatA Remix)

The Acid Messiah, by Craig Redman

I've been meaning to post this song for literally ten months or so, and never had a 'good' time. It's one of my ultimate pump-up songs; I usually listen to it towards the middle-end of a run for that extra oomph. At the very least, it always makes me smile. Today's my birthday, so if there's ever a good time to sneak in some 'extra oomph,' it's this one.

DatA's remix of Michael Zager Band's iconic (albeit somewhat ridiculous) Let's All Chant is nothing but fun. It's over-the-top, flashy, and yet irresistibly catchy in a way that only the most amazing disco can be. DatA announced awhile back on his Facebook that a comeback is imminent, so stay tuned. The world could always use a little more of this type of unapologetic disco bombast.

Let's All Chant (DatA Remix) - Michael Zager Band [MP3]

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RIP DJ Mehdi

Photo by Karl Hab

News broke this morning that DJ Mehdi, the immensely talented French (via Tunisia) DJ/Producer responsible for some of the most rousing electronic music of our day, not to mention greatest DJ sets, passed away in an accident. Mehdi was one of my favorite musicians and one of the greatest DJ's I've ever had the pleasure of seeing live. He was full of energy, always with a goofy smile plastered on his face, and seems to have been--according to the outpouring by acquaintances in the wake of his death--a stand-up gentleman as well.
Mehdi, you will be missed.

Signatune (Thomas Bangalter Edit) - DJ Mehdi


Our hearts and thoughts go out to Medhi's family and friends, including his label, Ed Banger Records. Ed Banger embodies a musical 'family' perhaps more so than any collective I've ever come across, and this is no doubt a devastating loss for them. While living in Paris, I couldn't go to a single party or show featuring an Ed Banger artist without seeing the entire crew there to support. They are their own biggest fans, and most importantly each-others' biggest support group, as I'm sure anyone who knows or has seen them live can attest. Our best wishes go out to the label/family who, with last week's release of their Fall 2011 Delivery sampler, looked poised to dominate the dance music scene in the upcoming months. It's regrettable that their impending success be overshadowed by this tragedy, and we wish them strength and the best of luck.

ED REC FALL 2011 DELIVERY by edbangerrecords

P.S. Less than 5 days ago Mehdi released his 'Tunisian Summer Mix' via his blog on Cool Cats. Be sure to download what is regrettably his final mix.

Rapture

She's been telling her lies again,
Running around with other men.

You know how I like to give little anecdotes in my posts to make them more personal and relatable? Well with the song Rapture, an oldie from 2008, the lyrics speak for themselves.

I've been walking in the rain again
Too bad for the record we were never friends
I want you with your back up against the wall
I want you in the hallways of the shopping mall
She said "Baby, we could never be friends."

The stupendously synthy, over-the-top 80s-throwback-cum-house jam is by French Touch prince DatA, who is busy preparing new material after a pretty quiet last couple years. Vocals are provided by Sebastien Grainger, who you should I know I worship by now, and there's even a great, dramatic remix by Englishman Edwin Van Cleef. An oldie but a goodie, and a pretty kickass soundtrack for sexual frustration.

Rapture - DatA


Rapture (Edwin Van Cleef Remix) - DatA

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Chariot

French Touch lovers, you might not know it yet, but big things are coming your way. I've regrettably never featured Monsieur Adi on this blog before (hey, there's a first time for everything), but if you are the type who follows the Hype Machine 'Popular' charts, you've undoubtedly stumbled upon his formidable, lush remix work. Now he's set to release his second EP in the upcoming months, and from what I've heard so far--it's going to absolutely blow your mind. Just you wait. In the meantime, Adi is giving a b-side from the EP, the song Chariot, away for free as a little teaser. Here's a bit of drama for your Saturday courtesy of cascading strings, pounding bass, and a beat rife with tension. It's a big song and a big statement: Adi is coming.

Download Chariot below, and if you aren't familiar with his work, head over to his Soundcloud to check out what you've been missing and prepare yourself for the release of what just might be the years best electronic EP. (Yes, I went there.)

Chariot--Monsieur Adi

Cruisin' to Your House Party

If you’ve read this blog for any extended amount of time, you undoubtedly know all about how much I LOVE D.I.S.C.O.Texas. Sorry, let me repeat that: I LOVE D.I.S.C.O.TEXAS. For those of you that haven’t read this blog for an extended amount of time (and those of you who may have forgotten), let me familiarize you a bit. D.I.S.C.O.Texas is a record label/production collective of sorts comprised of some of my favorite artists including Moullinex, Xinobi, and Justin Faust (who I have yet to feature on the blog—my bad—but who is the possessor of what is by far and away my favorite DJ Twitter feed). Don’t be fooled by the name; they’re based in Portugal. But, you are right in thinking that they primarily release disco, with some house and funk thrown in as well. Most everything they put out is impeccable, from downtempo tropical funk fests to deep, driving numbers meant to set fire to the dancefloor. Whatever they do they do it right, with a distinct yet uncontrived aesthetic and an uncanny ear for the next big [disco] thing. 2011 has seen them—much to my delight—on an absolute roll with new signings and releases left and right.

Cruisin' -- Zimmer


Their latest signee is Zimmer, a young producer who grew up between France and California, and is currently living in Paris. You can hear the dichotomy of his upbringing in his first release with the label, Cruisin.’ It’s a sparkly, sunny affair, reminiscent of the sandy beaches of the West Coast, with just enough sexiness and polish to make it worthy of Parisian nightlife. It’s being released for free, just in time to become your feel-good soundtrack to spring.


Coupons - Driving To Your House Party (Original) by Discotexas

A month ago, D.I.S.C.O.Texas announced their then-newest signee, Coupons. Somehow I failed to post on them at that time (my bad again), though I played the release’s socks off. Coupons are two guys from Australia, and in addition to making some killer music, they are also gut-bustingly hilarious. (Don’t believe me? Read this interview they did with Futuristic Silence. I fell in love.) Their Driving To Your House Party single is one of the ‘deeper’ D.I.S.C.O.Texas releases, all dark and sexy and bassy, and then—at 2:50 in—downright glitzy. This song shouldn’t be reserved for merely driving to your house party, it is the house party. While this wasn’t released for free, you can stream it above and then go buy it (and a bunch of killer remixes to boot) at Beatport here.

The Hall EP

Ready for another new French release? No, this isn’t from some big name label or a 2008-resurgence. Rather, this is an example of some of the exciting new guard from the country with a golden touch. Pyramid is a young producer from Lyon who gained some attention this past winter with his artful remixes of Air and Daft Punk. Today he expands from the world of remix artist to solo enfant terrible with his debut release, The Hall EP. With five songs and just over 25 minutes of playtime, The Hall EP is a delightful, spacey house affair. There are obvious similarities between Pyramid’s production style and Daft Punk, but as a young French producer (or any young producer for that matter), I don’t see how one could resist their influence. As Pyramid is also a seemingly ardent fan of strings, deep synths, and arpeggios, The Hall EP harkens strongly to the TRON Legacy Soundtrack (though granted, without the thousands of dollars worth of production equipment at his disposal). Clearly Pyramid draws a lot of inspiration from the Daft boys, but he has enough raw talent and vision to make his works more nods to his heroes than mimicry of them. Track 7 Suns sounds like it could be Solar Sailor II, and the stomping In Charge (probably my favorite track on the album) reminds me a more powerful End of Line. All the songs on the EP have quite a large feel—tracks run an average of 5 minutes per track, with the shortest still clocking in at over 4—the pieces seem function more as movements than as singles. Take, for example, the first single, Solar (which Pyramid is graciously giving away for free).

Solar--Pyramid


Clocking in at just over 6 minutes, Solar is divided into three distinct parts. There is firstly the celestial intro, decorated by arpeggios and a powerful kick drum. Then, three minutes in, you’re caught completely off guard by a new pattern of bouncing synth lines and hollow drums. It hops and buzzes for a solid two minutes before winding down, but suddenly switches on you yet again. Finally there’s a coda of sorts, characterized by a sharp, metallic melody and sparse accompaniment. The song ends and you don’t quite know what just hit you—it’s clearly a house/electro track, but it’s not anything like the pop-style prominent in the scene today. There’s no chorus, there’s little repetition of verse, and it’s a bit experimental thematically. But it works. For all of its abnormalities, it sticks with you. The whole EP echoes this feel. Honestly it’s a bit ADD in places, but Pyramid manages to hold the tracks (movements) together such that despite their discrepancies, they feel wholly communal. That said though, you can hear Pyramid’s greenness in the EP; at times it feels that the abrupt pattern changes or thematic shift of a song is due to Pyramid’s indecision rather than careful calculation, but give the kid time to find his stride. This is, after all, his first effort. And if this were a test, in my book he would pass with flying colors. The Hall EP showcases a new, budding talent, who, with a bit more time and experience under his belt, will undoubtedly develop a stronger sense of personal style and at that point will become perhaps unstoppable. The Hall EP is available on Juno here, and on Amazon here. Hop on the bandwagon now, my money is on this kid.

And as if I needed to demonstrate the Daft Punk similarities any more, here is a bonus remix he did of the classic Something About Us. Now, mind you, I usually hate Daft remixes. Why remix perfection, I always say. But this one? This one is oh so right.

Something About Us (Pyramid Remix)--Daft Punk

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Black History Month (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Remix)

Photo by Brad Elterman

Today, something wonderful happened. I procured a coveted ticket to the sold-out-in-10-minutes Death From Above 1979 solo show in London. (This is all thanks to the godly Paul from Give Quiche a Chance. GQAC is an excellent electronic music blog. Be sure to check it out.) Attending the show is going to require a 2.5 hour one-way commute, in the middle of my school’s finals week, but it’s going to be worth it. So worth it.

A week from today, something almost equally as wonderful is happening. Alan Braxe (if you don’t know who Alan Braxe is shame on you) and DJ Falcon are playing a show together in Paris at La Machine. I imagine that will sell out too, if it hasn’t already. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend. I’ll be in Stockholm, and that requires a bit more of a travel effort—not to mention collection of funds, which I sorely lack—than hopping on the Chunnel. In celebration and longing, here’s song that combines the best of both events. (It also includes work from Braxe's ex-collaborator and French Touch master Fred Falke.) If you're one of the lucky few to get tickets to the DFA-UK show, get excited. If you live in Paris, get excited. If you fall into neither category...sucks to be you.

Black History Month (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Remix)–Death From Above 1979

Together Forever (Grum Bootleg)

Photo by Jakob Wagner

I spend a lot of time on the Metro. I'm not complaining, because this time is great for 2 things. First, people watching. Second, listening to music. Generally, during my commutes I try to only listen to French Touch. I think it's only appropriate. While I have hours worth of Daft Punk and DATA and Alan Braxe and Lifelike and Cassius at my disposal, I keep coming back to this song. I really don't have much to say about it except that it is absolutely, jaw-droppingly, body-movingly, hands-wavingly amazing.

LOOSE L!PS favorite Grum gave this track to Data Transmission exclusively back in December (sorry for stealing DT, can you blame me?!). Apparently he uses it a lot in his live sets, though as it's a bootleg he's never released it as an 'official' work. It is a mashup/genius combination of Together's (the year-2000 collaboration between Thomas Bangalter, of Daft Punk, and DJ Falcon) Together, and James Talk & Ridney's March 2010 release, Forever. Though Data Transmission credited the song with the title "Forever Forever", they also incorrectly cited the name of the James Talk & Ridney song in question, so I'm assuming that Together Forever is the correct title. If I'm wrong, someone shoot me. An email.

Bottom line:
Thomas Bangalter, DJ Falcon, James Talk, Ridney, Grum. Get this now.

Together Forever (Grum Bootleg)--Together vs. James Talk & Ridney



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