Cassette Culture Old

Good grief!

Theatre of Disco: ocassionally soft, ocassionally jivy, occasionnally explosive. Mmmmmmmhmmmm! This band is alive with a sort of restrained energy, like a monkey being desperately held back by friends as he watches a bad man chopping down his banana tree.

Yet more Australian groove soldiers you cry! Well yes so it would seem. These guys have been around a while as far as I can gather but I've just picked up the Twelves remix of their track YOA which is incredible. I can't quite make out the lyric but if she says "pony pony" when it all kicks off then this could be the greatest song in the world. So enjoy then have a wander over to their Myspace and listen some more.


Theatre of Disco - YOA (The Twelves remix).

www.myspace.com/theatreofdisco

Some nice Australian folks sent me in some of their work the other week. They're called City Calm Down. They have mad hair. They're also rather good at making tunes.

You Can Have It So Much Better is quite a grower - and by that I mean, by the time you've finished your first listen you'll have grown to like it. The wurbly, slightly haunting vocals glide along nicely over a busy synthy playground until suddenly were hit with a saxophone (yahoo!), turning everything into some kind of jazz bar dream (you know those dreams you get when your just walking through a jazz bar and everyone is playing the saxophone?).

Then we have Right from Right. This one's a bit more upbeat, with a cheery, bound-along kick off. The remix by MXQ (I don't know who this is!) isn't that great but it features one of those nifty little vocal glibs which isn't really a word but everyone bloody loves it. So I include that too.

So that's City Calm Down. For now. I expect there will be much more to come and hopefully more saxophone suprises.


City Calm Down - You Can Have It So Much Better.


City Calm Down - Right From Right.


City Calm Down - Right From Right (MXQ remix).

www.myspace.com/citycalmdownmusic

I'm suprised Sneaky Sound System haven't taken off yet. They've produced a really solid album and had their tracks remixed all over the place. This stuff is really good - upbeat, dancey electro-pop at its finest. And after you've heard these four dashing remixes do have a listen to Sneaky's album.


Sneaky Sound System - Pictures (Digital Dog Poolside dub).


Sneaky Sound System - UFO (Van She Tech remix).


Sneaky Sound System - It's Not My Problem (Thin White Duke remix).


Sneaky Sound System - When We Were Young (G.L.O.V.E.S. remix).


www.myspace.com/sneakysoundsystem
Buy Sneaky Sound System @Amazon

Shadow puppets below! Whilst the original is a little tame, Lenka's track Trouble Is A Friend has a couple of pleasing reincarnations. The Eli Escobar Mix is like a slow warm flamenco dance and Paul Mac's bassy punt is like that same flamenco dance suddenly kicking off and everyone getting their groo-ooove on. Both nice and worth a gander.

Lenka - Trouble Is A Friend (Eli Escobar Mix).



Lenka - Trouble Is A Friend (Paul Mac remix).

www.myspace.com/lenkamusic
Buy Lenka @Amazon

Sounds Like: Time to do the boogie-boogie

Australian DJ/prodjucer BeNi (Bennie Single) was a member of both Bang Gang Deejays and Riot In Belgium before embarking on his current spell of solo work. Here's a few of his tracks/remixes.

First up, the Short Like Me edit of Fringe Element which features on the new Kitsuné Maison compliation.


Beni - Fringe Element (Short Like Me edit).

A recent remix of Etienne De Crecy's Hanukkah, a really nice build-up track.


Etienne De Crecy - Hanukkah (Beni's Swap Mix for Monsieur de Crécy).

A remix of Tiga's popular Shoes track...


Tiga - Shoes (Beni remix).

...and I know I only posted it about a week ago but who cares its amazing - Classixx remix of Beni's wonderous track My Love Sees You.


Beni - My Love Sees You (Classixx remix).

www.myspace.com/listentobeni
Buy Beni - My Love Sees You EP

Sounds Like: The best night ever.

Van She, not content with producing one of the best electro-pop albums of last year, are now releasing a remix album appropriately entitled Ze Remixes. The remixes are all by Van She Tech - two Van She members bent on conquering the world with some stunning reworks. See some past remixes here, here, here, here, here, here and er here.

The new album will come in a bundle with the original V. Here's the tracklist:

V
1. Memory Man
2. Cat & The Eye
3. Changes
4. Strangers
5. It Could Be The Same
6. The Sea
7. Virgin Suicide
8. Temps Mort
9. Talkin'
10. Kelly
11. So High (With Play Paul & Nicos Marcos)
12. A Sharp Knife


Ze Vemixes
1. Changes
2. Talkin'
3. Strangers
4. It Could Be The Same
5. Sexual City
6. Cat & The Eye
7. Techno Music
8. Virgin Suicide

Here's a quick preview. It doesnt get much better than this! These are streams only that you can listen to on the Van She Tech Myspace - no downloads folks - buy it!


Vanshe Technologic - Strangers Vemixed


Vanshe Technologic - Changes Vemixed


Vanshe Technologic - Techno Music Vemixed

www.myspace.com/vanshetech
You can pre-order @JB HIFI but I'm pretty sure its Australia only..

Musical Mood: Going crazy on the floor
Sounds Like: Madness

Oh come on this is just incredible! Yes its been around for a while but its new two me. Australian sound manipulators Bag Raiders have whipped up a stonking remix of Super Mal's Bigger Than Big and it's one of the best remixes I've heard in ages. I've heard the track on two mixtapes now from Australian DJs: Audageous whose mix I posted recently, and Elaine Benes (whose mix you kind find over at Sundtrak). I just wish this kind of stuff was played more often in, er, Wales.


Super Mal - Bigger Than Big (Bag Raiders remix).

More Bag Raiders on Cassette Culture here
www.myspace.com/lesupermal
www.myspace.com/bagraiders

Musical Mood: To those Australian dance floors!
Sounds Like: Lots of fun

An Australian chap called Ben sent me a live recording of a mix he played at Shape Nightclub in Perth. I don't know much about Perth. I don't know anything about Shape. I know this is good stuff and it ticks at least a couple of my Australian-friendly boxes - Bag Raiders (tick!), Van She (tick!)...

Audageous - One Night Stand (Live mix recorded at Shape)

Tracklist:
I want you ( TEPR remix ) – Martin Solveig
Bigger than big ( Bag Raiders remix ) – Super Mal
Ghosts N Stuff – Deadmau5
Drop the tough ( Van She Tech remix ) – Groove Armada
ACDG ( TEPR remix ) – Yelle
Tonight – Yuksek
Restless ( Fake Blood remix ) – Unkle
Ready for the floor ( LA Riots remix ) – Hot Chip
Idealistic ( A – Track remix ) – Digitalism
All the cash ( Alex Metric remix ) – Evil Nine
They Live ( Trevor Lovey’s remix ) – Evil Nine
Flickery Vision ( Ruskos stayin awake remix ) – Audio Bullys
Bounce ( Bloody Beetroots remix ) – Mstrkrft
The Geeks were right ( D.I.M. vs Boys Noize remix ) – The Faint
Dem Na Like Me ( A1 Bassline remix ) – The Quemists
Oh! ( A – Track remix ) – Boys noize
Hunting For witches ( Fury666 remix ) – Bloc Party
Crimewave ( LA Riots remix ) – Crystal Castles
Jack got Jacked ( Jack Beats remix ) – AC Slater
Hey You ( Le Castle Vania remix ) – Kill The Noise
One Month Off ( Filthy Dukes remix ) – Bloc Party

www.myspace.com/audageous

Musical Mood: P.A.R.T.Y.
Rough Genre: Electro

Some fantastic, happy Australian electro for you. Bag Raiders are like a super upbeat Cut Copy with bells attached. I've included the Calling In Sick remix for download - there's a cracking build at 1.18 in. Fun fun fun!


Bag Raiders - Fun Punch.


Bag Raiders - Fun Punch (Calling In Sick remix).

www.myspace.com/bagraiders
www.myspace.com/wearecallinginsick

Musical Mood: Party! Party! Party!
Rough Genre: Electro

When Cassette Culture first started I was actually getting concerned that I was becoming an almost exclusive promoter of Australian and New Zealander electro music. I adored The Presets, fell in love with Ladyhawke and practically married Cut Copy. Anyway, its been quiet on that front for too long in terms of new tunes so here's to the old days with some crackers that have sparked my attention again recently.

First up, I enjoyed the well known Presets tracks like Talk Like That but never got round to buying the album. Probably why I missed out on this:


The Presets - This Boys In Love
Alternative link (Savefile)

This track is, in my opinion, the best remix of Cut Copy's Lights and Music. Moulinex have pumped the thing with synthy atmosphere but don't be decieved, there's two cracking dancey peaks in there. Here it is in beautfiul 360kbps:


Cut Copy - Lights and Music (Moulinex remix)
Alternative link (Savefile)

Finally, there have been tons of Paris is Burning remixes. I think my favourite was Cut Copy's slightly tropical take, but this version has its merits, especially if you like clapping and warbly bass noises. Stick with it for the peak.


Ladyhawke - Paris is Burning (Peaches remix)
Alternative link (Savefile)

www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock
www.myspace.com/cutcopy
www.myspace.com/thepresets
www.myspace.com/peaches
www.myspace.com/peaches

Buy Ladyhawke's album for a fiver @Amazon
Buy The Presets - Apocalypso for a fiver @ Amazon
Buy Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours for a fiver @Amazon

The Manchester Warehouse Project is now in its third year. DJs from across the world head over to the city between September and January to populate a derelict urban location and blow the place apart (with music) - this year's location: under Piccadily Station.

So last night I found myself crammed amongst a small army of sweaty blokes as French legends Justice stomped around under Piccadily Station shaking the brickwork. They pulled a good set, I wouldn't say brilliant though. It was just so packed in there. You spent half the time shifting around as pricks in sunglasses placed an affectionate yet firm hand on your shoulder and with a "cheers mate", preceeded to stand on your toes. The crowd responded the most to Justice's own tracks. The people catching trains above must of wondered what the hell was happening when Genesis broke out of the speakers.

I was mightly impressed by Australian duo The Presets who have popped up on Cassette Culture before. I walked in as Talk Like That was starting and knew I was in for a good night.

So here's a Chibuku themed gift, Talk Like That from The Presets and the Datsu remix of Genesis.


Justice - Genesis (Datsu remix)


The Presets - Talk Like That

www.thewarehouseproject.com/news/
www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous
www.myspace.com/thepresets

Buy The Presets@Amazon

Buy Justice@Amazon

Van She are re-releasing "Kelly" with various remixes - Breakbot, Cut Copy, Fred Falke and Alan Braxe to name a few. The most distinctive of the lot is Shinichi Osawa's take. Great track:


Van She - Kelly (Shinichi Osawa remix)

www.myspace.com/vanshe
Buy Van She @Amazon

As I dig deeper into the past of the current Australian electro-pop explosion (and it is quite a brilliant explosion, an explosion of the positive kind, such as one used to visually enhance a film or access a new mineral resource), I find more and more that all these guys seem to know each other. Its as if they all went to the same Australian school of electro-pop. So find of the day is Teenager, which is the old duet band of Nick Littlemore (currently band member of PNAU and more recent project Empire of the Sun) and Pip Brown (aka Ladyhawke). We've already seen the stunning stuff they're producing these days so its nice to go back to their roots. I've only been able to get hold of the tracks on their myspace, their album is proving extemely elusive so this is a bit of a snapshot.

The stand-out track is "Alone Again" which is just what a duet should be. Bloke sings. Girl sings. And eveythings beautiful.

"West" is a bass driven track featuring only Littlemore's vocals. Its all quite unpolished stuff but a good listen all the same.


Teenager - Alone Again


Teenager - West

www.myspace.com/teenagerband

Buy Pnau @Amazon

Buy Ladyhawke @Amazon

If you want to buy Teenager's album and you live outside Australia, well, no chance. If you find a copy give me a shout.

Here's a quick one to tide you over till tomorow. I don't know where I found this but its dam good stuff - a Cut Copy mix for Radio One in April, 2005. Somehow they've managed to cram Fleetwood Mac and the Pixies into what is essentially an electro mix. Its quite a mellow one, listen in the afternoon. Or whilst making an omlette as I did.


Cut Copy Radio 1 Mix

www.myspace.com/cutcopy

Buy Cut Copy @Amazon

I knew as soon as this started pumping out my headphones that I was going to love it. Another classic Cut Copy remix of Midnight Juggernauts (how good was that one of Dystopia??).


Midnight Juggernauts - 45 and Rising (Cut Copy remix)

Unfortunately I also saw this the other day which is, quite frankly, horrible. Cut Copy and Black Kids covering Blondie. Live. Ek.




www.myspace.com/cutcopy
www.myspace.com/midnightjuggernauts

Buy Cut Copy @Amazon
Buy Midnight Juggernauts @Amazon

The culprit of the above delight was a track called "Embrace" by Australian electro artists Pnau. While Pnau tinker around in the background with ambient electro sounds, label-buddy Ladyhawke pops in to provide vocals. I have to admit, after the initial excitement, it starts to lop about towards the end... (I'm actually listening to it now, still for the first time - I type fast). Still its definitely worth a listen!

Oh-e-yeah and Fred Falke & Miami Horror have remixed it. Cheers!


Pnau (feat. Ladyhawke) - Embrace


Pnau (feat. Ladyhawke) - Embrace (Fred Falke & Miami Horror remix)(Mediafire)

And, I thought I'd mention, Pnau are starting to grow on me like a small apple tree sending out its first tentative roots into a rigid mass of complexly structured soil. Maybe they're growing on you too? Here's a track to, er, fertilise your minds...(I don't think I'll be using this metaphor again).


Pnau - Come Together

www.myspace.com/pnaupnau
www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock
www.myspace.com/miamihorror
www.myspace.com/fredfalkemusic

Buy PNAU@Amazon

Klaxon's Gravity's Rainbow was probably one of the first tracks I heard when I was first getting into electronic music. So to find this old gem of a Van She Tech remix was extra-special. Enjoy responsibly.


Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (Van She Tech remix)(Mediafire)

www.myspace.com/vanshetech
www.myspace.com/klaxons

Buy Van She @Amazon

Just wanted to remind you about Ladyhawke whose album comes out on 22nd September (UK). People are still banging out the remixes so here's a couple to keep things ticking over till then. And in the meantime, get pre-ordering!


Ladyhawke - Dusk Till Dawn (Canyons Garage Disco remix)(Mediafire)


Ladyhawke - Back of the Van (Fred Falke remix)(Mediafire)

www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock
www.myspace.com/thecanyonsinfo
www.myspace.com/fredfalkemusic

Pre-order Ladyhawke @Amazon

Hi all, sorry about the lack of posts the last few days, I've been down in London at the Notting Hill Carnival which was pretty fun. I haven't got my photo's developed yet but this chaps are quite good if you fancy a ganders.

Guess I've got a lot of catching up to do! Good news is I have a few interviews in the pipeline which is really exciting. I'll keep it a surprise who they are because its just so much more thrilling if I do that (one band is actually famous you might say!).

But back to the music. Today's chaps are Australian electro-band PNAU and their side-project Empire of the Sun (a collaboration between Nick Littlemore from PNAU and Luke Steele from The Sleepy Jackson)

Here's a PNAU track "With You Forever" remixed by Fear of Tigers.

Preview and download:

PNAU - With You Forever (Fear of Tigers remix)(Mediafire)

And here's Empire of the Sun's first effort, "Walking on a Dream"

Preview:


And a remix of "Walking on a Dream" from Sam La More:

Preview and download:

Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream (Sam La More remix)(Mediafire)


www.myspace.com/pnaupnau
www.myspace.com/fearoftigers
www.myspace.com/empireofthesunsound
www.myspace.com/samlamore

Buy PNAU@Amazon

So here's your first monthly themed mixtape: Psychedelic Australian Electro-Pop.

Scary title. Amazing sounds.

I've posted in the last week about a few of these artists; namely Cut Copy, Van She and Ladyhawke. Turns out most of these guys are signed to the same record label (Modular) and they've all been messing round with each others tunes.

So! To the very first Cassette Culture mixtape. It's pure Australia. All the tracks are remixes of Australian artists by Australian artists.

And here's mixtape #1's tracklist (click to download individual tracks):

Cut Copy - So Haunted (Knightlife end edit) (MediaFire)
Van She - Strangers (Van She Tech rework)(MediaFire)
The Presets - Are You The One (Van She Tech remix) (MediaFire)
Ladyhawke - Back of the Van (Van She Tech remix) (MediaFire)
Midnight Juggernauts - Dystopia (Cut Copy remix) (MediaFire)
Ladyhawke - Paris is Burning (Cut Copy remix) (MediaFire)
Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire (Midnight Juggernauts remix) (MediaFire)
The Presets - Talk Like That (Miami Horror remix) (MediaFire)

Here's a few links so you can find out more:

Cut Copy. See previous post. Go to their myspace. Buy@Amazon
Ladyhawke. See previous post. Go to her myspace. Buy@Amazon
Midnight Juggernauts. Go to their myspace. Buy@Amazon
Van She. See previous post. Go to their myspace. Buy@Amazon
The Presets. Go to their myspace. Buy@Amazon
Miami Horror. Go to their myspace.
Knightlife. Go to thier myspace.

Cassette image thanks to Tapedeck.org