Download - Nickel Remix of the XX

Like pretty much everything else they've done, it's been nigh-impossible to avoid the XX's most recent single Chained, but I've got admit this remix from Nickel's actually pretty enjoyable, shooting the floaty pop-melodies through with a solid techno beat, and aiming for the dancefloors. Free tuneage right here.

ELA ORLEANS - NEO PI-R (CLAN DESTINE)

Ela Orleans - My Friend Angel from klaus von barrel on Vimeo.

"Originally released on tape and now out on sweet vinyl. Featuring 16 multi-layered and deeply personal tracks.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Young Marble Giants recorded in Black Ark under the direction of Brain Wilson in his sandbox era, you may be able to visualize the music of Ela Orleans without actually hearing it. NEO PI-R is sparse, but filled with both whimsy and deep brooding symbology.

This is post-punk from the Gaslamp Era.

Ela Orleans manages to utilize some of the more standard trappings of experimental music, toy piano sounds, dub and phase techniques and dead pan vocals.

Track titles exist, but it is best to just let this album flow from song to song… and get lost in its delirium dream."

This record is heartbreakingly beautiful. Lo-fi, Brechtian pop songs filtered through a haze of shoegaze, analogue experimentalism and lo-fi noise. Ela Orleans on Clan Destine Records. The vinyl is a gorgeous piece of work too, amazing cover, and it sounds fantastic.

BUY NOW FROM CLAN DESTINE

KEEP SHELLY IN ATHENS - CAMPUS MARTIUS EP [PLANET MU]

Greek synth experimentalists Keep Shelly In Athens have caused quite a splash of late, with hype from Pitchfork and The Fader among others. On December 5 they drop their first release-proper on Planet Mu, after a fantastic remix of Mouves by Tropics, earlier this year. The new EP is a 4-track 12" release featuring their majestic, Italo-influenced remix of 'Cub' by Solar Bears, plus three new tracks. Vocalist Sarah's beautiful melodies are drenched in (but never obscured by) reverb and FX, while the bands multi-layered synths and stuttering electronic percussion keep subtle, minimal time.



This release perfectly showcases the experimental pop side of Planet Mu, one of Britain's best electronic labels, and one that consistently pushes boundaries. Keep Shelly In Athens are a bold signing, because of their marvellously atemporal sound: they manage to balance forward-thinking production and science-fiction-feeling sonic motifs with clsasic songwriting techniques and melodies, which recall Cocteau Twins, Curve and Massive Attack.

This hits all the right notes - ethereal shoegaze vocals vie with pitch-bent synth lines and complex polyrhythmic drumpad patterns, combining to make songs that are both enchanting and technically impressive. It would be intriguing to know more about Keep Shelly In Athens and their approach to music - what kit and software they use, and where they see themselves fitting in the modern electronic scene. With this high-profile release on Mu, hopefully the band will come to even wider attention, and we'll get to know them better.

For now, have a listen to their Soundcloud page, which includes the magnificent 'Our Own Dream':

Latest tracks by Keep Shelly in Athens

Pre-order 'Campus Martius' from Planet Mu



- post by Texture

Who runs the world? GIRLS!

Beyonce's new single is an instant feminist classic. And it shits on Gaga's Judas.

Beyoncé - Girls (Who Run The World) Vidéo iPhenixia sélectionnée dans Musique

If that link stops working there's a lower quality version here: http://hw-mobile.worldstarhiphop.com/u/vid/2011/4/18/buybn_mobile.mp4

Felix Kubin

I'm sure that most people will already know of Felix Kubin, but following the recent intrerview in Wire, I've gone on a bit of a bender over his work, and felt it was worth sharing some of this unique genius. Half dadaistic performance art, half reductionist electro-pop, with a dose of character re-invention thrown in make for a larger-than-life artist who produces an utterly unique mix of videos, music and artwork; Imagine Marilyn Manson if he was raised on a diet of Gagarin, Kraftwerk and Daphne Oram instead of overdosing on sex, guns and Monroe.

Like all dadaistic work, Kubin's scattershot in his targets - some days he's evoking the retrograde technology of the cold war, exploring radio transmissions, dressing like Ernst Stavro Blofeld and giving praise to Gagarin, others he's playing Bowie and writing offbeat pop songs from the mouth of an alien. It's hard to tell if the fully-immersed characters he's created (and given interviews as) are intended a keen statement on the nature of celebrity, a la David Byrne, or simply Kubin childishly indulging his own fantasies. Either way, his art (most of which can be got from Itunes / amazon etc) forms a unique catalogue that I've been enjoying lately. A good starting point is the Matki Wandalki album, which contains this brilliantly bleepy cover of a well known classic.

There's also plenty of his video collaborations on youtube, including this Willie Wonka meets Cecille B. Demille one for Hotel Supernova... Brilliant.

Britney's new single

Is this a nail in the coffin for dubstep? Here's hoping...

Sofabet.com predicts the X Factor

As much as I hate it (and hate to admit it), I have been drawn into this year's X Factor competition. Not for any particular reason other than it has been on, I have caught few episodes, and been sucked in. And, you know, sometimes it feels good to participate in the huge cultural happenings that bring us together as a nation. Sometimes.

The whole programme feels so scripted that it brings out my Fortean interest in conspiracy, in those dark and sinister forces controlling everyone's movement from behind the scenes. Bwahahah! So I went on a little internet search using terms like "x-factor" "Illuminati" "Fix" etc. Surprisingly there are very few "exposing the subliminal Illuminati symbolism of the X-Factor" type posts (my guess is that those people have been baited by Kanye West's "Power" video) but I have found one site that is incredibly canny at predicting X-Factor outcomes.

No, it's not a conspiracy site, it is a betting site that specialises in reality TV show competitions, how their odds work, and how you could make a bit of money from them. Ah, money. The root of all evil. Sofabet.com also cover those other well known hives of Masonic brainwashing called Strictly Come Dancing, Britain's Got Talent and the Eurovision Song Contest. Oh how our evil overlords cackle in our faces!



By following and focussing on,the money, Sofabet can give us a clearer picture of the interests at stake in X-Factor than practically anyone else. They are aware that the public vote can change outcomes in a show like this, but also that the producers of X-Factor have a very real agenda and they will do their best to see it come true. And that agenda has nothing to do with Baphomet or the Eye of Horus, and all to do with making their bank accounts expand.

Way back at the end of the summer, Sofabet drew out a series of rough guidelines of how to read the show. They have formulated a pretty simple set of factors that can help or hinder the contestant, and that can be relatively easily manipulated by the judges. So if you are serious about predicting the X Factor, or if you wanna try your luck at making a bit of money, start here, and learn about the importance of the contestants' running order, the reverse-psychology of the judge's comments. and the "sympathy bounce".

Sadly I think Wagner will go tonight, as he has served his purpose and can't be allowed to reach the final. While I would like to see him there, and even win outright, it's not going to happen as the "Vote Wagner" campaign is just not strong enough. Wand Erection will win the series, and join the ranks of JLS and The Wanted at the top of the charts, while the obviously talented Matt Cardle will come second. I'm still not sure as to whether Cher or Rebecca will come third, but I am guessing Cher, as Rebecca has not bloomed enough over the last few weeks to truly fit the "ugly duckling" narrative she was chosen for. She has a strong following though, so who knows.

If there is to be a repeat of last years "Killing In The Name" Xmas Number One campaign, I don't think Wagner is the one to do it. Neither is John Cage, sadly - the only hope of toppling a Wand Erection Xmas number one this year is if the Gamu campaign really takes off, but as she is quickly fading from public consciousness, I doubt that will happen either. And what of that Twitter leak? Making public the results of the phone vote? Well, Sofabet has an interview with the source of the leak, and it is very interesting. Follow the money folks...

Silverclub "All In All" EP

More new Manchester music. Silverclub is the brainchild of Duncan Jones, better known to fans of harder-edged techno as DNCN. They've just released their second EP with the lead track being very good indeed.



Even better, IMO are some of the b-sides, including the lovely acoustic tracks and the wicked "Fine Print" which is going straight into my DJ sets. You can listen below. I have heard their debut album and I must say it's very good - very Manchester sounding without relying on any hackneyed clichés. I've sent Silverclub 10 questions to answer, so expect another post on them soon.

Learn to make your own pop hit!

These instructions are eleven years old, but they will help you along the way

Console's Guide To Pop

In other news, Daft Punk are back! And they are soon to be releasing the soundtrack to the new Tron film, which looks utterly fabtastico wonderousness. Fancy hearing what it'll sound like? Then check out 107.7 The End's website

If that doesn't tickle your fancy (which makes you very silly indeed) then hopefully the trailer will. Avast!

Pop Music

From the awesome (although sorta on permanent hiatus) Wigu. If you like this, check out Overcompensating by the same dude, Jeffrey Rowland.

Xiu Xiu

I don't get the feeling Xiu Xiu are the happiest of people, but their self-loathing and hatred of the world do seem to work for them. Sound nice too.

The above is a rcrdlbl.com widget, and this is the first time I've used it on the blog. I'm not totally convinced... First thought is that it needs to be more malleable(the three tracks have too much room in that monstrous box) and look less like a fucking advertising monolith. If they can make something more like soundcloud, or hell, even youtube, I'd be more inclined to use the tech in the future.

Does it work for you?

RIP Jacno

French musician Jacno died of cancer a couple of days ago.

Le musicien Denis Quillard dit Jacno, avait fondé en 1976 avec Elli Medeiros les Stinky Toys, l’un des tout premiers groupes de la scène punk française. Il est mort d’un cancer à l’âge de 52 ans, dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi.

Né à Paris le 3 juillet 1957, il a passé son enfance à écouter Mozart, Chopin ou Satie avant de découvrir le rock et d’apprendre la batterie et la guitare. Avec Elli Medeiros rencontrée au lycée Charlemagne, ils ont créé ensemble le groupe de rock parisien les Stinky Toys. C’étaient des fêtards qui interprétaient sur scène des chansons de David Bowie, des Stones ou des Who, ainsi que leurs propres compositions. Jacno enregistrera seul l’instrumental "Rectangle", des mélodies au synthétiseur que le cinéaste Olivier Assayas va intégrer à la bande originale de son premier moyen métrage, "Copyright" en 1980.

From france-info.com