New DJ Mix Up At Disco Potential

Go, listen, download.

Disco Potential: January 2011 Mix

The January 2011 installment of my Disco Potential mix series is now available.

Not A Best Of: 2010′s Music

This is not a series of definitive year-end posts by any means, just a way for me to remark on things that I’ve enjoyed. I’m going to try to omit the obvious choices and dig a bit deeper than reminding you guys that Kanye West is gloriously mad and that Daft Punk’s Tron: Legacy score is better than the film itself.

Danny Byrd, Rave Digger
Danny Byrd’s second album aggressively flirts with multiple genres (g-funk on “Judgement Day,” hardcore on “Hot Fuzz,” funky breaks and two-step on “We Can Have It All”) even as it helps push the Hospital Records strain of drum and bass forward. In a lot of ways it recalls Daft Punk’s Discovery: a dance record that nods to the past and provides a set of twenty-first century songs, not tracks. Melodic, funky and downright beautiful in places, Rave Digger serves as a reminder that drum and bass is still vital. Key songs include opener “Ill Behaviour” and the Liquid-sampling “Sweet Harmony.”



Robyn, Body Talk
There I go ignoring my disclaimer. I’m pretty sure you guys already know how amazing this one is and I’m just typing make sure you know that I know. Collecting work from the three Body Talk EPs released this year, this is one of those records that I wish got attention from people who weren’t on the internet as it proves that the quality dance-oriented pop is out there, even if Black Eyed Peas are trying to murder it with every step. Production by Röyksopp, Diplo, Max Martin and others accentuates Robyn’s ability to find new angles on teenage innocence (“Dancing On My Own”), post-twenties female-friendly sexuality (“Call Your Girlfriend”)* and even plain old giddy love (“Indestructible”).

*Something that Marty Brown at The Factual Opinion writes about very nicely



Moon Wiring Club, A Spare Tabby At The Cat’s Wedding and VHSHead, Trademark Ribbons Of Gold
I quite like the genre dubbed  ”confusing English electronic music” and both of these albums represent major entries into its canon. Moon Wiring Club have been doing their thing for a while, all radiophonic workshop and Hammer horror films pumped through rhythms that are deceptively laconic. Their albums so far have followed a similar strain, but this one (which is available with two completely different track listings depending on which format you choose) goes a bit darker, a bit more deep space in places. VHS Head, meanwhile, run amuck in the studio, throwing in snatches from a billion different sources chock-a-block into a beaty bouillabaisse while creating something that’s almost, but not quite, dance music. Fans of Autechre’s middle period would do well to check into their work.



Anoraak, Wherever The Sun Sets
Give up trying to figure out if Frédéric Riviè is being sincere or ironic with this collection of dreamy pop songs and instead just savor the damned thing. “You Taste Like Cherry” is Phoenix mugging Hall & Oates while Talking Heads play rhythms, “Midnight Sunset” is made for a Miami Vice driving montage, and Sally Shapiro’s sweet vocals make “Don’t Be Afraid” into an instant mixture favorite, right next to “You Taste Like Cherry.” Wherever The Sun Sets is a great example of how to do a “retro” album that sounds fresh.




Adam Warrock, The War For Infinity
I’m biased, but Euge really is that good. It’s not nerdcore, it avoids jerking off the listener with easy references and it’s produced wonderfully by Ruckus Roboticus.

New mix is up at Disco Potential.

Click here to go listen and download.

DISCO POTENTIAL: New DJ Mix

More information, a download link, and a tracklisting are up on Disco Potential.

Other people wake up in the gutter after a night of drink.

Me? I come home two weeks later to discover that I actually did buy that limited-edition Human After All remix disc with Kubrick figures of Daft Punk from that guy in Japan while under the influence of a perfectly indecent number of vodka tonics instead of just strongly considering it.

Oops.

My Five Favorite Cocteau Twins Songs

I’ve been thinking a lot about the Cocteau Twins this weekend after a conversation with my friend Dave, and I thought I’d list my five favorite songs by the band and what albums they’re from so you guys can go and seek out their work. I’d like to think that maybe you’ll discover what I have: their elegant approach to production and songwriting, when combined with melodies that only boost Elisabeth Fraser’s ethereal voice, doesn’t seem dated at all.

1. “Pur,” from Four Calendar Cafe
   
2. “Wax & Wane” (The Peel Sessions Version is preferred, but The Pink Opaque is a magnificent album.)
   
3. “Aloysius” from Treasure
   
4. “Eyes Are Mosaics,” from The Moon And The Melodies, the album they recorded with Harold Budd.
   
5. “Fuk U In The Ass” from 1 Polish, 2 Biscuits And A Fish Sandwich.

Buy this album.

Neil Tennant at Marvel Comics, from Pet Shop Boys, annually.

From the 1989 book Pet Shop Boys, annually. here’s a look at vocalist Neil Tennant’s career at Marvel Comics’ UK offices in the 1970s. I’d normally post this sort of thing over at Disco Potential, but this features confluence and synergy with my medium of choice, so here we are.

DISCO POTENTIAL: Summer 2010 Mix Now Available

Click to visit the site, listen, and download.

SUPER SALSA SINGERS.

(Via Minusbaby)

I don’t care what this sounds like. I must own it, now.

(You can hear “Pistolero” and “Disco Galaxy” on YouTube if you want.)

Kevin Plays Records: Autumn 09

I made a mix. It’s electronic music, primarily tech and progressive house. Right click or option-click to download here, if you’d like.

Here are the songs featured in this 76-minute, 145mb MP3:

No Memory — Roland Appel
Purple Soul — Carlo Lio
Compass Rose — Adultnapper
Touch My Horn — Jesse Rose
West End Girls 2009 (Club Mix) — James Talk + Ridney
Am Alive (Martin Roth Home Is Where We Belong Remix) — Shiha + Dr. K + Nii (featuring Sarah Blacker)
The Call — John Gurd
Asteroidz (Sultan and Ned Shepard Remix) — DBN (featuring Madita)
Magenta Sunset — Michael Cassette
Time After Time (Chris Reece Progressive Mix) — Feel + Alexander Popov (featuring Tiff Lacey)
Praise You 2009 — Fatboy Slim vs Fedde Le Grand

DESIGN FETISH: Simian Mobile Disco’s “Audacity of Huge” video by Kate Moross and Jo Apps

I featured this on Disco Potential a couple of days ago, but the video is just as enjoyable as the song. You’ll want to watch it in full screen mood for maximum pop-culture saturation.

DESIGN FETISH: DanteNeverDies’ Little Big Planet Music Videos

Kevin Plays Records: I made you a mix for this weekend.

Two notes: Everything here’s in the very hands-in-the-air end of progressive house because this is the first nice spring weekend we’re seeing in New England and I wanted people to have some happy, upbeat dance records. This is also the first mix made with my new (lower-end, admittedly) Numark mixer and I think it came out really well except for two minor glitches that probably bug me more than they will you. Just right click or command-click to download.

“Free Fall” (Dynamic Illusion’s Cloud West Paradise Mix) – Michael & Levan
“She Knows” (Juan Carlos Herrera Remix) – Lee Daines
“Dawn Patrol” – Sentrafuge
“Melo” – Pryda
“Reeperbahn”- Pryda
“Just Another Sleepless Night” (Egostereo Mix) – Mad8 & Shawn Christopher
“Professional Killers” (Jerome Isma-Ae & Daniel Portman Remix) – Komytea
“Lilith” (Remix) – Gai Barone
“Hey Dee Jay” – Marini & Noferini

Kevin Plays Records: April 2009

David Press made some smarmy-ass comment about how I don’t play records anymore and I decided to rectify that decision with this hour-and-change long mix that’s tech house, progressive house, and then in the end some house house. Just right-click or command-click or whatever to download it.

Here’s a track listing:

01. “Aquatonic” – Nick Muir, John Digweed
02. “Murder Weapon” – 16 Bit Lolitas
03. “LaLaLaLaLaLa” (James Harcourt Mix) – Tyrrell
04. “Objects and Purpose” (M.A.N.D.Y Mix) – Bronnt Industries Kapital
05. “Butter Mik” – Thomas Langner
06. “The People” (Eric Prydz Remix) – Sebastien Leger
07. “Temptation” – Dinka
08. “Keep Control Plus” (Fedde Le Grande Remix) – Sono
09. “Fuckin Use The Crystal” – Parrket
10. “Left My Heart In Tokyo” (Treasure Fingers Mix) – Mini Viva

OK, fine.

So, yeah, I was lazy when I reposted my 2008 mix and I felt guilty about it, so here’s a quick and dirty Valentine’s Day Minimix for you. There’s a lot of boshing drums and hands in the air bits, but there’s also a song with loud guitars and people screaming about making out for people who like that sort of thing. You can download it here.

Here’s a tracklist:

1. Enjoy The Silence (Ewan Pearson Mix) – Depeche Mode
2. Let’s Make Out (Extended) – Does it Offend You Yeah?
3. Back Of The Van – Ladyhawke
4. Come Into My World (Fischerspooner Remix) – Kylie Minogue
5. Colours (Seamus Haji Remix) – Calvin Harris
6. Hearts On Fire (Calvin Harris Mix) – Cut Copy
7. Miracles (Eric Prydz Remix) – Pet Shop Boys

Repost from 2008: I made you a mixtape.

Yeah, so I heard about you and Matt and I just wanted to say how sorry I was about that because he’s totally being a dick and you deserve better and anyway I made you this tape. The first side’s just some stuff I thought you’d like but the second side I made because I want to tell you something.

It’s just…just listen, OK?

Am I gonna see you in the quad after Mr. Hembree’s class?

Cool. Let me know if you need a ride home – Brian just got his license and I’m going with him!

“Bubbilicious,” Rex The Dog.