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

Paraphernalia

Photo by Theo Gosselin

I'll admit it, I'm extremely biased when it comes down to the music made by Milwaukee-based Maritime. Two of the members used to be in The Promise Ring, a seminal post-punk (emo!) band that easily ranks high as one of my all-time favorites. Still, I think it's safe to say the members have matured in their sound into something more of an all-around crowd pleaser. Apart from Davey von Bohlen's vocal work, Maritime is nothing like The Promise Ring - it's sound is rooted more along the lines of danceable, hook-heavy guitar work that resides in the realm of pure indie-pop.

Paraphernalia is the only available track thus far from Maritime's upcoming release, and it's definitely a good indicator of things to come. The song reminds me of something off of that last Phoenix record, but it still manages to hone in on the classic Maritime sound. Seems like a good combo to me. It's super catchy, and it just exudes feeling good. You won't find weird time-signature changes, dirty melodies or anything post-hardcore here. These days, von Bohlen and crew seem to draw upon a more straightforward approach to crafting songs - and it works. Look for Human Hearts, out on April 15 courtesy of Dangerbird Records.

Paraphernalia--Maritime

Ladykiller (Gigamesh Remix)

Print by Kristian Hammerstad

To those of you unacquainted with Gigamesh: get acquainted quickly. The Miami-by-way-of-Minnesota-based producer is on the rise, propelled by his infectious remix work and the promise of a solo EP in the coming months. He’s also a member of Señor Stereo, who’s glitzy first EP was released over the summer, with a remix album following in January. Though still more or less at the launching point of his career, Gigamesh is no rookie to production. Last year, his remix of breakout college rock artist Mike Posner’s single Cooler Than Me was so good that the Posner team edited it down and ended up using the remix for the radio release. Now that he’s on the world’s music radar, he’s been getting requests for official remixes (though he still throws in a bootleg for kicks now and again, like last month's remix of Michael Jackson’s Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough).

One such remix is for Paris-based Morgan Kibby, a.k.a. White Sea. You may know her better as “the girl from M83.” At least, that’s how I identified with her. Last year she took a break from touring with M83 to work on a solo EP, This Frontier. Ladykiller was the standout track from the project. A tongue-in-cheek jab at Saturday night chauvinism, as the song plows along you can practically see her strutting around like her shit don’t stink. While the song was already a rowdy, sexy number in its own right, Gigamesh’s stomping remix is even hotter. In typical Gigamesh style, he doesn’t stray far from the song’s original formula—he maintains the integrity of the entire original vocal line—but adds just enough pizzaz and funk to take it to new, dance-party-worthy heights.

[Right-Click to Download]
Ladykiller (Gigamesh Remix)--White Sea * in 320 woohoo


And because it too is oh so good, here's the original:

Ladykiller--White Sea

Dance Wiv Me

On the subject of European artists who have never made it big in the states: Dizzee Rascal. I love Dizzee Rascal. Dizzee Rascal is a fucking genius. Dizzee Rascal is one of about 10 rap artists who’s work I actually enjoy and will listen to voluntarily. Shall I continue or do you get the gist? The point is, the US needs more Dizzee. I know I’m not the ultimate source on rap music (one of my faults), but if you want to hear some serious spit, check out the lightning-fast delivery on his second CD, Showtime. Or just check out anything he's made, you can't really go wrong.

Anyway, guess who has a new single out? Yep. Dizzee Rascal…kind of. Technically it’s a song by DnB producers Chase & Status called Heavey which merely features Dizzee charging away on vocals, but anything with the name ‘Dizzee’ in it is cause for celebration. I’m not going to post it here, as it’s a little grittier than I like to feature—I’ve found that DnB is more of an acquired taste, and some people hate it—but you can pick it up over at Stoney Roads, here. Don’t worry though; after all of this gushing about Dizzee I’m not going to leave you empty-handed. I’ve been meaning to post Dance Wiv Me for ages, and the renewed Dizzee-lation that Heavey spurred in me makes this the perfect opportunity. Released in the summer of 2008, Dance Wiv Me was a collaboration between Dizzee, Calvin Harris, and singer Chrome. It’s a shuffling, sexy, mid-tempo pop song featuring vocals by all 3 men (RIP Calvin Harris’ voice). It was a #1 hit in the UK for about a month, and rightfully so. Further proof that these Europeans know what’s up.

Dance Wiv Me (feat. Calvin Harris and Chrome)—Dizzee Rascal

Comedown Sunday: Always Everything

"I wash only to get dirty again."

Performance/Photo by Nathan Cyprys

This week’s Comedown Sunday is brought to you by Sin Fang, via the excellent music-discovery website Shuffler FM. If you have never used Shuffler FM before, let me tell you, you’re missing out. It is a fantastic new website that shuffles music from thousands of different blogs in a user-friendly, streamlined player organized by music genre and style. I’ve been using it a lot lately as a tool to discover new music from genres I don’t normally delve into, as well as great music blogs. Last week, I noticed that the interface even includes an 'Icelandic Music' channel. Figuring that the country that gave us such renowned and groundbreaking acts as Sigur Rós, Jónsi, Björk, and múm was bound to have a few more tricks up its sleeve, I immediately pressed play. Lo and behold, my suspicions were confirmed as I shuffled upon Always Everything, by Sin Fang.

Sin Fang (formerly Sin Fang Bous) is the solo project of Seabear frontman Sindri Már Sigfússon. Always Everything is the first single off his forthcoming Summer Echoes LP on Germany’s Morr Music, due in March. I have got to make a point to visit Iceland, as it seems like the most magical country. That is, if its music is any indication. Not to pigeonhole an entire country’s musical output, but between all the aforementioned artists and Sin Fang himself, Icelandic music is becoming my turning point for ethereal, fearlessly expressive music that—despite (or perhaps rather, because of) its tendency to shy away from typical popular song form—is absolutely gorgeous. Always Everything fits my self imposed Icelandic stereotype well. It is a lo-fi folk/electronic hybrid dripping in nostalgia, dotted with whimsical samples, and driven by Sigfússon’s sweet, mellow voice. It’s the kind of music I’d fully expect to hear playing in an enchanted forest. With its sweet invocation of nature and summer, I hope that in spite of the terrible snowstorms and winter chill gripping the United States, it might help to warm your hearts.

Always Everything—Sin Fang


*You know, if you click this button in the sidebar, you can shuffle all the songs we've ever posted on this site, all in one place. Neat. Thanks Shuffler!

Make No Mistake

"Baby, you don't even know what's in my head."

Photo by Marc Van Dalen

Once again, I’m accompanying the changing of this week’s Lip-Stick with a proper post. I promise I’ll quit doing that regularly, but I felt compelled to give some information on the artists behind this week’s song because they are very green. In light, I thought it would only be appropriate to try and send some attention their way by highlighting them (and their awesome song) on here, rather than just posting their music with no explanation. I’m delighted to present AlunaGeorge, a very new, very small band from London, England. I found their song Make No Mistake while browsing the annals of the now-defunct (but still amazing) blog Fucking Dance.

On first listen, I didn’t know quite what to make of this song. As Jamila of Fucking Dance quipped, I think this is what they call "a banger", and it is indeed, at least in the instrumental sense. However, it is one of the least ‘traditional’ bangers I’ve heard, as the thumping, gritty beat is topped off by some of the—for lack of a better word—cutest female voices I’ve ever heard. The disparity between the crunch of the accompaniment and the sweetness of the vocals makes for quite the unique formula, and allows the song to transcend ‘club music’, and places it more so in the ‘rocking pop’ category, akin to Britney Spears’ new dubstep-influenced pseudo banger. Because it eschews all acceptable practices in making banging club songs, I was on the fence regarding whether I should love it or hate it. I was especially uncertain as to whether it should be allowed on the blog, as I have a distinct ‘no bang0r’ rule. That is, until I found myself whistling the bridge on the train. Then singing the chorus quietly to myself as I walked around the city. Finally, after the play count on the song hit 40 in a week, I decided to stop worrying if the song was ‘acceptable’ for the blog, and just post the damn thing. Even if I shouldn't love it, I do; hopefully you will too. Just wait until you get to the chorus. You'll see what I mean.

So here you are, LOOSE L!PS’ first bang0r. I promised myself I’d never post one. But, as AlunaGeorge has proven here with their combination of grit and cutesy that somehow works, I’m coming to find that rules are made to be broken.

Make No Mistake--AlunaGeorge

Dots on Maps

Photo by Stephen Zirwes

I totally understand why Eric Elbogen shortened his musical persona to Say Hi. I made sure to stay far, far away from “Say Hi to Your Mom” until someone asked me what I thought about him. I told them that I didn’t really listen to all that cheesy, packaged pop punk and that I wasn’t going to start any time soon. I’m guessing Elbogen got tired of people mislabeling and misconceiving his singer-songwriter, lo-fi sound for something more along the lines of Boys Like Girls or Cute is What We Aim For. Sometimes it’s not all in a name.

Dots on Maps is a track from Say Hi’s latest release Um, Uh Oh, and shows exactly what the one-man-band is all about. Turns out, Elbogen’s sound is more along the lines of Connor Oberst or M. Ward. It’s hard to come to terms with at first, believe me – I know. After listening to this particular track more than a few times, I just can’t help but feel that as far as current releases go, Elbogen has more than a slight edge on all the other guys. I think he's one of the few out there in the genre who actually gets it. Say Hi has succeeded once again in crafting a beautiful song - and it really doesn't matter what he calls himself.

Dots on Maps--Say Hi