old mates

i often sit and wonder what has happened to the big names from the blog haus era.. like so many artists in eras gone by, their distinctive sound got old and many of them seem to have failed to adjust or freshen their image.

so, it was a really good surprise when two of my favourite blog haus artists popped up in my itunes today.. was very proud to see that they've adapted, changed their sounds and moved onto bigger and better things.

i dont know if we were always getting the spelling wrong before, but either way moullinex is back again (with an extra 'l' in his name) courtesy of gomma records. he's got a little four tracker in tow this time which he has entitled 'the chocolat ep'.. and they sure are a fine collection of smooth, beautifully paced house/nu-disco tracks.
'catalina' is one of the highlights on the release: an uplifting, beachside cocktail sipper that has (probably more than) one foot on the d-floor. powerful pianos and glittering synth overlay.

Moullinex - Catalina

it also has a super cool clip put together with some next level technology s^&t. have a look at it, as well as his other videos here. grab the 'chocolat ep' here.

i dont know if i just starting getting a bit tired of ed banger or if they have dialled down the volume of releases, but things seem to have been mostly quiet on their end for a while now.
i think the only thing ed banger entering my headphones in a year or so has been this compilation called 'let the kids techno' compiled by mehdi and busy p. it is an interesting collection of techno bang0rs that definitely has some great moments.
it might be a cop out, but i reckon my pick of the bunch is the most non-threatening offering.. a french-house flavoured side-bar burner by breakbot. lotsa slap bass and strings samples like the old days. nice to hear it again.

Breakbot - Shades Of Black

if you feel like a bang0r or two this weekend, maybe you should grab the 'let the children techno' compilation here.

or maybe you could get outside and enjoy the sunshine! summer is finally here (apparently).

breakbot is yours, baby

So i'm eating lukewarm Pad Thai and drinking Stella Artois, with some Breakbot looping on my decrepit hand-me-down stereo.

Bbot caught my attention with his creamy 'Let There Be Light' remix, then his signing to le Ed Bangeur records. Getting signed would be pretty difficult. Ed Recs is a boutique label with such a small crew of producers/groupies...

I gave his Baby I'm Yours EP a listen and, i'll admit, i'm not a big fan of funk/breakbeat. But this was better than expected.

BreakBot - Baby I'm Yours (LaFunkMob Remix) (removed by request)

The LaFunkMob remix is tight. Throw some underwater synths in and the breaks/any genre become my ideal cup of [insert warm beverage here]. The jabbing kick drum and percussion make this a solid party cut, or a great soundtrack for mirror dancing [insert hair brush here]. Loving the whiny Irfane vocals.

BreakBot - Make You Mine (removed by request)

I was surprised at how catchy this b-side is. Smooth piano riffs; check. Daft Punkish vocoder; check. Sex; check.

sickest day

ahhh the fabled sick day.. a time for laziness in the sun.. seriously who can be bothered to move on a day like this.. even considering what music to put on requires too much effort. thank god for dj mixes huh?

these first two have a distinct disco/funk/yacht-rock flavour.. i have a strong feeling that these genres should be the only ones playing when youre enjoying sick-day sun in your backyard.

Breakbot Radio 1 Mix

Tensnake Summer Mix

this live set by golden bug was a lot different to what i thought it would be.. sure, i expected it to be flat out awesome, but i figured that it would be awesomeness of the lively techy/electro kind.. instead, they busted out a crazy collection of disco flavoured tech-funk and quirky indie-dance with a wide-eyed twist of sweaty fun.. seriously amazing.

Golden Bug - Live In Kiev

in other news, dcup is playing at fringe bar tonight.. if youre around and feel like you want to go and dance your ass right off, then maybe you should drop in and say hi.
if you live at coolangatta and are frustrated that dcup never seems to leave sydney, then your frustrations are unfounded. check this link here and i think you will find that he is indeed playing up there this weekend. lucky queenslanders!

BONUS SELF-PROMOTION:

ok i just thought that i would indulge my ego for two secs and post an uber chilled mix that i recently completed..

Steve's Rug Mix

im hoping that if you find yourself sick and stretched out in your sunny backyard tomorrow, that this mix makes you feel a little better.
it might also be nice on a sunday afternoon with pimms. maybe.

snooze

i remember first seeing the demo of zzz's lion floating about blogland many many moons ago so it was kind of strange seeing it resurface again under the wing of bang gang 12 inches.. the promo page reveals that it has apparently it has been quite the journey between now and then.. a journey that has consisted of 18 months, 700 emails, 500 phone calls, 400 text messages, 30 artwork changes, 7 tracklist alternatives, 10 software meltdowns, 5 mastering attempts, 16 arguments, 10 tantrums and 6 breakups. wowee.. luckily the song is good hey

youve probs already heard the O-G and the bagraiders mix so here is breakbot's interpretation.. the piano is right up his alley but the disco strings that he adds in are rad too.

ZZZ - Lion (Breakbot Remix)

also - here is the b side (a2 side) 'leonine' as well.. more pianos.. more nice nice..

ZZZ - Leonine

i never thought that garageband-like pianos would ever get me but it seems like they have..

still love you, barry obama

Nick Littlemore is my person of the year, I think. I'm putting him before Barry Obammy even. Haven't been this intrigued by someone in music for a very long time, fucking blown away by him on stage, fucking blown away by Empire of the Sun, just a little bit by Teenager, love him forever and ever. Going to dream about him tonight I think.

Pnau - Baby (Breakbot Remix)

Pnau and Ladyhawke - Embrace (Fred Falke and Miami Horror Remix)

...........dot....

photo: Jack Walsh

all seems to be quiet up in the western front.. very quiet.. a little too quiet..

hmmm i went to pnau on friday which was pretty awesome- i missed van she which sucked big balls but i think i got over it..
we got into the enmore as breakbot was about halfway through his main set.. he was playing pretty stereotypical french tracks by sebastiAn and datA (apparently its quite the done thing to put capital letters in the middle of your name in France)- and i have to say that the crowd wasnt really getting into it. i could be wrong though because for some reason we were stuck behind a pointless barrier in the middle of the theatre. can anyone tell me why this barrier was there?

pnau themselves were awesome. im pretty sure that they were too smashed to play their instruments but that was ok because the cds or mp3s that they played instead sounded good. pretty sure that even the mic was turned right down.
oh well i think it must have been a combination of pnau's smashed enthusiasm, live drums, giant beachballs, costumed individuals and rad tunes that got me into it.. WHOO!

Pnau - Baby (Aston Shuffle Just Whoa Mix)

Pnau - Baby (Sam La More Mix)

Pnau - Baby (Breakbot Mix)

in less related news- due to the overwhelming quietness on this front (and the weird mist-style rain) ive found myself listening to some dubby, deep and maybe slightly progressive beats... these songs are awesome but not sure whats going on in my head... its weird how the weather can affect my choice of beat.. wweeeeiiirrrrrrd

Jon Pegnato - Throw Me Down

Moonbootica - Strobelight

Cirez D - Horizons

anywayz.. to finish off today id just like to get my finger and put it in some form of hole to make a plug. twice.
First, ive just finished a design for a new skateboard company called Totem Decks. if you live in sydney, you should come along to the opening party/skateboard art exhibition at China Heights gallery on the 30th of May.. will be a fun night!

second, me and perhaps some other blousey characters will be deejaying Bamboozled Cocktail Night@Fringe Bar on thurs night.. if you live in Australia make your way down to Fringe on thurs (or weds if you live in remote areas) and enjoy some cocktails and sweeeet as beats..