May 6, 2010

Bloc Rockin’ Beats

If the new video for his ravey new track “Tenderoni” (produced by Spank Rock’s XXXChange) is any indication, Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke hopes to bring electro back with his solo project. (Man, that bassline brings me back… to Wiley’s ‘08 jam “Wearing My Rolex” or Peaches’ “I Feel Cream.”)

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I’ve been a fan of Booka Shade since their second album, 2006’s Movements (I enjoyed 2004’s Memento and 2008’s The Sun and the Neon Light as well), and I was excited to learn that the arty German techno duo is continuing their biannual trend of new LPs with the forthcoming More!. Check out the music video for the new track “Bad Love” below:

’Sup also has a favorable review of Juan Maclean’s DJ Kicks, which is also on my ever-growing list of albums to get, along with…

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Crystal Castles, Ratatat, and buzzy newcomers Sleigh Bells (above) all have new albums.

2010’s Crystal Castles improves on their (also self-titled) debut in nearly every way. The latest from the Toronto-based electro duo is reminiscent of the jump forward taken by Deerhunter between Cryptograms and Microcastle, or Fuck Buttons from Street Horrrsing to Tarot Sport. Like those acts, Crystal Castles have reconciled with their detractors instead of running from them. By staying true to themselves, they’ve created a more focused, propulsive, and satisfying follow-up.

–Ian Cohen, Pitchfork, April 29 2010

*I happen to love both of the sophomore albums mentioned in Cohen’s review.

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Bonus beats + pieces:
Aeroplane does the 500th Essential Mix.

January 27, 2010

Aeroplane January Mix

» Aeroplane – Chart Mix (January 2010) (53:58) – 77.77MB mp3 @ 192 Kbps

The nouveau-disco wizards known as Aeroplane recently dropped their first chart mix of the new decade. The Belgian pair—the nation’s greatest dynamic duo this side of 2 Many DJs—has been crafting amazing monthly mixes for the past several moons, and January’s impeccably-curated mix is no exception. (Previous installments are available on Soundcloud)

Of all the styles of house music, disco revival is, understandably, the subgenre that is most likely to revert to uninspired dance clichés: flirting with camp easily escalates into full-blown fetishism, while more cerebral inclinations are often too ambitious for their own good.

However, like NYC’s Morgan Geist or LA’s Classixx, Aeroplane successfully avoids these pitfalls: their subtle touch strikes a perfect balance between halcyon melodies and future funk to evoke the immanent listenability of the latest and greatest mid-tempo dance cuts. The result is a seamless and seemly mix of new tunes.

Keep an eye out for these guys; they’re set to play Coachella in April and hopefully they’ll do a proper stateside tour in the near future. If nothing else, they offer something to look foward to every month

Aeroplane also happens to have remixed Lindstrøm & Christabelle’s “Baby Can’t Stop,” which I posted yesterday.