Cassette Culture Old

Bit late on these but perhaps I'll catch the fish that slipped the net. I think this blog is probably read exclusively by fish anyway.

So we've heard of Bloc Party and we've heard of Ladyhawke and to be honest we've probably heard every One More Chance and Paris Is Burning remix we ever want to hear and we're all getting a bit bored... but that's where Alex Metric comes in. I've yet to here a duff mix from him. More Alex here.


Bloc Party - One More Chance (Alex Metric remix).



Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning (Alex Metric remix).

www.myspace.com/blocparty
www.myspace.com/alexmetric

I have FOUR remixes for you today from a chap called Lapse from Cape Town. How have I not heard of this guy before??

First up, there's been loads of remixes of Digitalism's Taken Away, and I think this is the best one I've heard.


Digitalism - Taken Away (Lapse remix)

Now we all no I'm never going to say no to Ladyhawke. This track 'Back of the Van' first featured on Cassette Culture back in the early days of August when I posted remixes from Van She and Fred Falke. I think I prefer those to Lapse's take but its certainly not bad.


Ladyhawke - Back of the Van (Lapse remix)

I first encountered Passion Pit over at Sundrak and didn't quite know what to make of them. There's lots of synths and samples flying around and their vocals are very distinctive. Anyway, Lapse does a good number on this track 'Sleepyhead'.


Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Lapse remix)

I've heard a fair few remixes of Grum's Woah, all varying in quality (for a good 'un see Clockwork's effort here). Lapse's re-edit is a nice take although sparse on vocals which I think are one of the major strengths of the original.


Grum - Woah (Lapse remix)

www.myspace.com/djlapsecapetown
www.myspace.com/digitalism
www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock
www.myspace.com/passionpitjams
www.myspace.com/grummmusic

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.

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

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

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

I'm finding it hard to keep up to be honest. Having stumbled across Cut Copy a few months ago, I'm suddenly been bombarded with Australian electro-pop from all sides. However, far from sidestepping this onslaught of Aussie shaped meteors, I find myself bowled over by their charms and lie helplessly as they strike me, just simply embracing their glory. Yes. I like this stuff! I think I notice a handy theme arising for a themed mixtape =)

Today then, I bring you Ladyhawke who is a lady from Sydney who likes cats, videogames and, fortunately for us, making music. Things seem to have kicked off with her track "Paris is Burning" which has been remixed all over the place. So for download today is two of those remixes (one from fellow Aussies Cut Copy and another from French DJ/producer Alex Gopher) and a brilliant remix of "Back of the Van" from Van She Tech. Go find your dancing shoes now please.

Preview "Paris is Burning (Alex Gopher remix)" below:


Download free:
Ladyhawke - Paris is Burning (Alex Gopher remix)
Ladyhawke - Paris is Burning (Cut Copy remix)
Ladyhawke - Back of the Van (Van She Tech remix)

http://www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock
Buy@Amazon