It Can Fly.

Busy busy busy. This is why the length between every post getting fairly long, but I'm working on it. All my current toils and troubles will be over soon (I hope). In light of this, today's post will have music so as not to stress you out too much. At least, no 'club bangers' that have been featuring more often than not lately.

Little Dragon - Blinking Pigs
Two parts Lykke Li. One part Santogold. Shake well and strain (it's a simple track) into your glass and you end up with this. That's a recipe for success.

Solid Gold - Matter Of Time
Solid Gold edge towards more of an airy pop song whilst keeping those disco tones in the core of it. This effortless delivery from the london duo will take you away to a kinder, less complicated place. Woo.

Hot Chip - Take It In
Return of the Chip! Their new album 'One Life Stand' will be out February 8th followed by a series of tour dates in the UK so grab your tickets, they'll sell like hot chips (haa). Take It In starts off brooding with gothic, industrial keys but flicks into a clear, crisp anthem that wouldn't sound out of place during the end credits of a movie from the '80s.

Ta, hope you like the tunes.

Sunday Selection

Hey everyone, hope all is well. There's been some good stuff lately but I feel I've had to filter through it as not all of it's postworthy. Maybe it'll grow on me. There's new material from Chromeo and Midnight Juggernauts which will always be worth checking out, 'sides I'm sure it'll hit the airwaves and tv screens soon enough and I have other things to show you.

In the summer, I did an internship at a music publishing company in London. I heard there was this guy, Pete, who was a DJ and had 'the best music taste in the building' - naturally I was curious to meet this person. There was also this guy I saw walking around the offices all the time handing things out to people so I thought he was totally average. Turns out this was Pete, who also produces innovative, atmospheric dubstep (if you have to label it). So, I'm in the record store on Friday afternoon I get given the latest releases, amongst them 'Joy Orbison - Hyph Mngo/Wet Look' and I'm told it's one of the best tunes around now. I'm gutted as I worked with him for a month and didn't meet him, but I'm pretty excited about his stuff. Here's the AA side, and I'm finding it hard to describe other than.. avant-garde.

Joy Orbison - Wet Look

So, elsewhere we have:

Fanfarlo - Luna
Not the newest of new tracks, but I like it anyway. Anyone remember Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah? Sounds a little like them mixed with The Magic Numbers. Good fun; I wasn't hot on this song at first but heard it on the Nike Store website the other day and was all like 'ooh, this is pretty cool'.

Bombay Bicycle Club - Magnet
The latest track from BBC's debut 'I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose'. As you would imagine, it's got a very catchy riff and those trademark wavering vocals from the lead singer, Jack. Funnily enough, Jack is also a DJ (and quite a good one, too) and the last minute and a half of this track transforms from teen indie rock to super-chilled-ambient-jam. I'm loving it.

Miike Snow - Black & Blue
Yes! More Miike Snow! This time, the latest single, which has already received the remix treatment from some big names, including Tiga and Caspa, but I'll let you guys find those for yourself. The track's got a cool, effortless energy about it that'll get you nodding your head sooner or later. Glitchy electronic beats mixed with some piano keys and an infectious chorus clearly makes for a damn good song. Good Job Miike Snow.

And we're done for the time being - enjoy the music.

Thursday Selection

Pretty much the same dealio as Sunday - there's nothing of particular interest that I wish to share to you. Kanye West makes a fool of himself.. Obama calls Kanye a jackass.. all in a week's work I suppose. Speaking of 'Ye, his new album will be called 'Good Ass Job', and I think he's dropped the autotune! Yay!

So, as I say, not much music news that I'm interested in. Here's some stuff I've been listening to as of late:

Jamie T - Chaka Demus (Toddla T Remix)
Not so much a remix as an edit. Nevertheless, Toddla T (that name is really cringy) delivers a pretty cool edit - keeps that jokey tone captured by the vocals whilst giving it some depth by messing around with the instrumental area.

Sleeping States - Gardens Of The South
So, I don't know much about Sleeping States other than they come from Bristol, and their new album, In The Gardens Of The North (thats right North), has received some critical acclaim worth checking them out over. This is slow, rolling indie folk with vocals smoother than butter.

Modest Mouse - Guilty Cocker Spaniel
Last but not least, I've got a track from Modest Mouse's latest EP: No One's First And Your Next. It's worth a listen, trust me :) This track's got an upbeat, zesty vibe until it progresses into some noisy cacophony near the end, whilst we've got some catchy riffwork the whole way through. A return to form, one might say.

Oh, and there's a song named King Rat that's been around for a while but Modest Mouse have put it on the EP. This video was directed by the late, great Heath Ledger and it's got a clever little message behind it. Check it out below:

That's all for today; hope you have lovely weekends.

Nostalgia

Here at So Culture, we love anything that has a remotely '80s disco style vibe which makes up a huge portion of the current Parisian music scene. Of course, when I say 'we', I mean 'I'. The revival of this sound has come in many different shapes and sizes, influencing a sizeable portion of today's musicians. On a broader scale, it's not hard to notice that electro has snuck it's way into the charts through the likes of Lady GaGa and Kanye West, who have taken a leaf out of this scene. For example, Kanye clearly soaked up a lot of french touch as his career progressed; videos directed by french elecro label Ed Banger's So Me, his track with Daft Punk and the electronic production heard on 808's & Heartbreak. Lady GaGa uses vintage synths more often than not and this is one of reason's I think she's become so successful; everyone's loving that sound. This post is about that sound in a more unadulterated form than from what you might hear on the charts.

Washed Out - Feel It All Around
This is one nostalgic, lo-fi heat haze of a disco dreamwave track. If this song were a day, it would be incredibly hot and humid. You'd be sleepily staring out the window in the back of a camper van as it rattles along a dusty, rural road.

Data - Aerius Light (Breakbot Remix)
Although Breakbot is not the most well-known, for me, he is a definitive character of the french touch scene. Because of this, it's no surprise that the label belonging to Busy P (otherwise known as Pedro Winter), 'Ed Banger', scouted out Breakbot and signed him. His music encompasses all of that which I associate with that retro funky electro sound; highly processed drums, old-school synths and catchy bass hooks with an all round choppy finish. This french electro remix of a french electro track is, unsurprisingly, no exception.

Delorean - Deli
Delorean craft -real- pop music. Deli captures a true holiday, summer-nights disco vibe with a guitar sound that's been missing in great pop music for the past 20 years.

Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Yuksek Edit)
I think of Yuksek in a very similar way as Breakbot, especially his choice to take on this track which has reached legendary status in the world of the electro hipster. A modest but probably more accurate decision to label this rework as an edit as opposed remix, Yuksek gives that track a little more french electro oomph than before.

Also, I feel obliged to post the new Friendly Fires track as I now have a decent version of it - it's not live and it's not a radio rip! So in all it's tropical, tribal, shimmering and euphoric glory, I give you the indie electro pioneers' latest track:

Friendly Fires - Kiss Of Life

Although this isn't too closely related to the rest of today's post, if it was any better, it could send you into an epic disco seizure. That's also pretty fun I guess. Besides, Friendly Fires said themselves one day they're gonna live in Paris.

Ahh it feels good to get a post in that isn't all over the place and has some kind of direction. I hope you enjoyed reading.

I Wish I Had A Pizza And A Bottle Of Wine

There's no real theme to today's post. It's pretty humid out so my selection involves nothing too heavy - you wouldn't wanna break a sweat.

Mr Hudson - Supernova (Orchestral Mix)
Supernova's crooning vocals get even more of a croonover as current crowd favourite Mr Hudson recorded a version that's not so Kanye'd up with autotune and that electro-sounding production. A simple and pretty little song. People should make more classical pop music.

Girls - Lust For Life
Lust For Life is a two and a half minute anti-punk whine about, well, life. In fact, I'm sure a good few of you can relate to it, even if you're not totally mad. Girls' subtle psychedelica flows so smoothly and I cannot get the lyris out of my head. A real gem.

The XX - Intro
The introduction to The XX's debut album 2.0 is not one of those 30 second little skits about something that you normally hear but lets you accustomise yourself with the style of their music. This short-but-sweet instrumental is epic in it's most laidback, 'cool as' form.

Et voila.

Sometimes I Feel Like Throwing My Hands Up In The Air

Let's skip the introduction and get straight to the meat again:

Pixie Lott - Mama Do (Linus Loves Radio Edit)
Soul siren Pixie Lott's hit Mama Do get's a club thump to it thanks to the likes of Linus. Really quite a talented edit - seems like more of an original than a remix. Abundance of catchy vocals and all manners of jittering, burbling electronic synths (this is a good thing).

Crystal Fighters - Xtatic Truth (Xtra Loud Mix)
This one featured on Kitsune 7, which I did a post on a while ago. You'd be hard pressed in an attempt to label this band yet this makes the track that whole lot fresher - it's great to hear something new, isn't it? Featuring jingling strings, crescendoing static synths and near-dark 8-bit-esque bass.

Florence & The Machine - Raise It Up (Jamie T's Lionheart Remix)

Jamie T's take removes some of the grandeur of the original but makes it up with an enchanting little sequence that sounds a little like an antique music box repeating itself. Overall, we've got a tune that's a little more driving than the original; a fairly simple yet effective edit.

Bonus Track:

Florence & The Machine - You Got The Love
If you haven't heart this, you're missing out. Miss Florence Welch's euphoric cover of Candi Station's hit boasts her emotive vocals amongst some great percussion, harp flicks and more. Very uplifting.

And that's a wrap! See you next post.

And All The Colours Conspire To Overwhelm The Grey

Hey guys, again I have to apologise for not posting in a long while. This time though, it's not because I've been working (although I still have work for the next week and a half) - I've been sailing up and down a river in the south of France away from all (most) forms of contact. This includes the computer, which probably did me a whole lot of good. So today is my first day back in the country and although I have little time to spare, I've found two particularly chilled songs which you may or may not have heard but I had to share:

Just Jack - The Day I Died
Just Jack's music spans a whole range of genres and so intrigues a wide audience, including you, I should hope. This track off his sophomore album is no different and is guaranteed to make you lay back in a metaphorical deckchair on a hot day with a cool drink. Sounds a little like Just Jack's been listening to Jason Mraz for a long time, which by no means is an insult - it makes for a great, easy-going summer chiller with guitar twangs, claps and cute, quirky lyrics.

The XX - Basic Space

Now, The XX are a fairly new, arty (you can tell from the name can't you?) little quartet hailing from Southwest London. They're all in their teens though you may find that hard to believe as their style sounds really quite mature. Amongst the band's influences are Rihanna, The Cure and The Chromatics, so you may be stumped as to what to expect but don't worry, it's minimalistic, effortlessly cool art rock - highly recommended for fans of The Kills, although slightly more passive in their style than Mosshart and Hince. Basic Space is an almost timid track. It's not pretentious and it doesn't try too hard. The XX's message is clear and maybe music is lacking the beautiful simplicity that this track encompasses.

'Til next time, ta.

Open Up The Door

So, tonight I've compiled another few new releases for you. Same as last post, let's get straight to the meaty bits:

Arctic Monkeys - Crying Lightning
Ooooooh! The new Arctic Monkeys single! The first listen off the upcoming album 'Humbugs' is dark, moody track. Alex Turner's vocal style parallels the sinister bass with some eerie guitar effects floating in and out of the verses. A grower maybe? Perhaps, but it doesn't take long to blossom, least not for me.

Magistrates - Heartbreak

Magistrates make indie pop music of which I could use any combination of the words retro, fresh, groovy, sexual and confident to describe. Heartbreak encompasses a plethora of catchy pop hooks including indie guitar riffs, crooning vocals and old-school keyboard notes.

Miike Snow - Song For No One

Using summery to describe music is an easy way out with one of the swedish pop trio's latest, but you've got an idea of the track already, and you're probably not that far off. We've got a youthful, clinking guitar riff alongside an uplifting drum beat with light-hearted vocals on this one.

Jamie T - On The Green

My personal favourite off Jamie T's 'Sticks & Stones' EP. On The Green pairs up a jangling, bouncy guitar melody with some melancholy lyrics conveying a what-the-hell attitude when synchronised. Surprisingly uplifting and a lot of fun to listen to.

That's all for now, I really enjoyed all these tracks. Oh and these artists will be playing at Reading '09! ..Apart from Miike Snow. You'll have to see them some other time.

Chillout

The latest Ministry of Sound chillout album came out last year - I don't know how it slipped by me but I've gotten a hold of it now and it's full of flowing, weaving melodies and pretty little voices. Also, there's a healthy slice of french electro. It seems as Ministry of Sound clocked on to the fact that France is putting out some of the best electro out there right now as they've included songs by Sebastien Tellier, Fred Falke and other artists producing that retro, disco sound. Of course, if you don't like this kind of stuff (shame on you), there's tracks by Amy Winehouse, Feist and many more.

Anyway, below are some of the highlights of the album. Unfortunately, using the word 'highlights' makes it seem as if the compilation also comes with lowlights. This is not true. If someone gave me a metaphorical highlighter I would probably metaphorically highlight every track on it... ...

Back to the music:

Fred Falke - 9:09 PM At the Beach
The french house producer's become notorious for putting out some hot remixes recently. Here's one of his original tracks. There must be a song similar to this in Napolean Dynamite because every time this kicks in I picture him dancing with that girl in the disco.

Bag Raiders - Shooting stars
That tightly-wound retro synth riff may annoy you at first but it's infectuous and it'll stick in your head. Complete with looser, airy synths and cheesy vocals making it sound like a euphoric beat straight out of the '70s.

Lisa Mitchell - Neopolitan Dreams
Dreamy french disco aside, Lisa Mitchell is one of those mega-innocent, mega-cute sounding girls who should definetely feature on one of those trendy mobile phone adverts. You'll know exactly what I mean when you listen to this. It's unbelievably twee and I'm reluctant to call it a guilty pleasure because it's just a really lovely song.

The album is all mixed so apologies for other songs popping in at the beginning/end of the above. I hope you'll appreciate these tunes nevertheless.

This song is not on the chillout mix but both artists feature on it and I feel that's a good enough reason to unleash this super cool track upon you. Listen to it - you'll be flying down sunset boulevard in a a retro pink convertible with your aviators in no time:

Sebastien Tellier - Kilometer (Aeroplane Italo '84 Remix)

Female Vocalists II

Another Sunday, another post about girls crooning into their microphones, and I don't mean that in a bad way. No siree.

Recently, in an attempt to broaden my musical horizons, I've been listening to Natasha Khan (Bat For Lashes) and her passionate, mysterious music as I do my stuff about the house. It's great headphone music for when you're alone. I'm not going to lie - I did prefer the singer/songwriter's debut 'Fur and Gold' to her latest 'Two Suns', which was released earlier this year. To me, it seemed like Fur and Gold just seems more prominent, emotionwise, with tracks such as 'What's A Girl To Do' and 'Horse And I'. I trust you've heard these both as they are absolutely brilliant, as is the track below, which you may not have heard. Oh and just so you know, I still like her latest album, I just prefer the older stuff, but don't let me decide for you.

Bat For Lashes - Tahiti

So, elsewhere, we have:

Regina Spektor - Laughing With

The latest single from quirky vintage lady Regina Spektot's upcoming album 'Far' (expected release on June 23). Somewhat warming - strange considering the lyrics. I guess it's satirical.

Chairlift - Planet Health

You might remember their playful single 'Bruises' from an iPod advert but in this one, singer Caroline Polachek hits us with dreamy vocals on this pretty tune.

Mirah - Generosity

Last but by no means least. I don't know much about Mirah - but what I do know is that this song is beautiful. Similar to Bat For Lashes, but in some ways better.

Friday

Is it me, or does it really not seem like a Friday? I reckon those huge clouds outside have something to do with it. Not that I've got a problem with that or anything, I'm still half-asleep from that kip earlier - you know that sleepy/content feeling?

So yeah, I'm not going to write something long and in-depth because if you're in a similar mood you'd just rather listen to the tunes, which don't really follow any theme in particular, but nothing too raucous. Here's some music which has been popping up on my iTunes more often than not recently:

Miike Snow - Burial (DJ Mehdi Remix)

An uplifting yet laidback track that makes you feel pretty good. Loving the piano and vocals. I haven't heard the original but whatever DJ Mehdi's done to it, he's done it right.

Pilotpriest - Shuffle Bored

Apparently this guy's been floating around for a while but I've only just heard him, and I like. Starts off with lazy, cooing synths and develops into something that wouldn't sound out of place in an obscure '80s kid's tv show. That is.. if they ever played funky electro-pop in '80s kid's tv shows. I could imagine some cool dancing.

Meanwhile, I've been listening to indie duo Matt & Kim's new album 'Grand'. It's brimming with a youthful energy not too dissimilar from Los Campesinos! I recommend it, it's a fun listen - and in the video for 'Lessons Learned', they both get totally naked in Time's Square. Seems as if the whole album has got a zest for life, like the kinda guy that always has an adventurous glint in their eye and a cheeky grin on their face. Here I give you the two single releases off the latest album:

Matt & Kim - Daylight

Matt & Kim - Lessons Learned

That ended up a little longer than I thought it would. Guess I woke up a little.

Bouba

Hello. I hope all your exams are going well, or if you've done your exams then I hope you are enjoying your time off, or if you have not had exams or have any exams coming up then.. I hope you are doing alright too.

Anyway, I'm in a particularly mellow mood tonight - definetely a 'Bouba' mood. I found that word out the other day, it's pretty cool. There's this thing called the 'Bouba/Kiki' effect - basically it proves that humans can attribute certain qualities to certain shapes/sounds/etc. For example, which one of the shapes below would you call Bouba and which would you call Kiki?

It seems pretty obvious and it should be as almost 98% of tested people go for the same choices. It's clever and kinda shows why people use words such as 'smooth' and 'filthy' to describe music.

As you can tell I've got too much spare time on my hands right now - that is the mood I'm in, and that is the feel of the music I've handpicked for you right now:

Yacht - Psychic City
Youthful, and really quite catchy. These guys are playing a free instore gig at Pure Groove in London in July, check it out, these lot are hotly tipped.

Feist - Mushaboom (IAMXL Remix)
IAMXL gives this shoegazey, country-girl tune (featured on some T-Mobile advert I believe) an old-skool touch up.

Lykke Li - Everybody But Me

Cute and playful b-side from the Swedish indie-pop dame Lykke Li, who is currently writing her second album but 'insists it will be a long wait until it is finished for fans to hear.'

Kitsuné Maison 7: The Lucky One

Insanely trendy French/Japanese music and fashion label Kitsuné who brought us La Roux and Cazals release their seventh compilation on June 1st. I recommend you go and buy the whole album when it's out. Firstly, the songs are all great and secondly, as it is titled 'The Lucky One', one person will get the whole Kitsuné catalog of 2009 including singles, remixes, rarities, etc. for free! From what I've heard of the album so far, it's the coolest electro-punk this, indie-pop that around and it's sounding pretty great. Here's the tracklist and a few sample songs to satisfy your hungry ears:

1. Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work

2. We Have Band – Time After Time

3. Phoenix – Lisztomania (Classixx Version)
4. Crystal Fighters – Xtatic Truth
5. The Golden Filter – Favourite Things
6. La Roux – In For The Kill (Lifelike Remix)
7. Beni – Fringe Element (Short Like Me Edit)
8. AutoKratz – Always More (Yuksek Remix)
9. 80 Kidz – Miss Mars
10. James Yuill – This Sweet Love (Prins Thomas Sneaky Edit)
11. Men – Make It Reverse
12. Chew Lips – Solo
13. Chateau Marmont – Beagle
14. Heartsrevolution – Untitled
15. Delphic – Counterpoint (Delphic’s En Route Mix)
16. [Interlude] Encore
17. Maybb – Touring In Ny (Short Tour Edit)
18. Renaissance Man – Rythym
19. Tanlines – Bejan

And that's pretty much all there is to it. Hope you enjoy the tracks and that you're all having a lovely weekend.

Female vocalists

There are some really good female singers that get overlooked in music today. Well, when I say that I mean I overlook them. I think Kate Nash put me off most girls singing music for a while after Foundations got played over and over and over and over and over again. I'm not into all that new-wave, kooky girl business personally. Enjoy your Sunday evenings:

Marissa Nadler - Loner

If I had to put a track to a night-time, eerie, abandoned fairground scene in a movie, this would definetely be it. Scary in an exciting way.

Marissa & The Diamonds - Obsessions

After that mini rant earlier, this is pretty similar to Kate Nash. I guess it was just because her stuff got overplayed - I don't dislike her that much. The bouncy keys make for a catchy little number.

Cat Power - Wonderwall

I don't know much about Cat Power but after listening to this cover I'll have to check her out (ha ha ha.) More intimate and sombre than the original.

In other news, here are the new singles from La Roux and The Gossip:

La Roux - Bulletproof

The Gossip - Heavy Cross

Oh and wish me luck in my French exam tomorrow, I'll need it.

Dark Night of the Soul

Yay, it's a Saturday. I woke up this morning and thought it was Sunday, it's always nice when you realise you've got an extra day in the weekend isn't it?

Anyway, there's been news that Dangermouse (DJ, half of Gnarls Barkley) and Sparklehorse's nearly three year long collaboration album, Dark Night of the Soul, is not getting a release. Threeeeee years! The album's been labelled as 'one of the most mysterious release of 2009' but due to 'unspecified legal issues with EMI', there may never be a hard copy available for release as our artists run the risk of being sued.

If EMI and the producers do not come to an agreement, it has been said that, as an act of defiance, the album will be shipped containing a hand-numbered, 100+ page photobook and a blank, recordable CD. Every copy will be clearly labelled with 'For legal reasons, enclosed CD-R contains no music. Use it as you will.' Quite handily, there will also be website notes to download all tracks of the album on to the CD. Quite a middle finger to EMI, I guess.

On top of that, there's a load of big names featuring on the album; Julian Casablancas (Strokes) [New album later this year!!], Frank Black (Pixies), Iggy Pop, James Mercer (The Shins), The Flaming Lips and more. As mentioned earlier, there will also be photography inspired by and based on the album which has been taken and compiled by David Lynch and is supposed to provide a visual narrative to the music. Check out the whole collaboration and the backstory here or listen to some of the tracks below:

Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse - Everytime I'm With You (feat. Jason Lytle)

Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse - Insane Lullaby (feat. James Mercer)

Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse - Little Girl (feat. Julian Casablancas)

Bonus:

Sparklehorse - Sad and Beautiful World

We're too old, we're not old at all

I can't begin to explain how nice it is to have a break! If you're in study leave right now (or just off and have a bit of spare time in general), go and see Wolverine, it's fun to watch. I don't normally go to the cinemas but yesterday I made use of Orange Wednesdays for once and it was pretty good. Anyway, I wasn't feeling anything that was all screetchy synthesizers and drum machines today:

Animal Collective - My Girls

Saying that, this is the most electronic out of the three songs, still not electro by far mind you. Their latest album, 'Merriweather Post Pavillion', received critical acclaim and this is the first single released from it. I've had this psychedelic indie song in my head for a while.

Cursive - From The Hips

I didn't like this song at first but it grew on me. It's indie rock but not like pigeon detectives or courteeners - check it out for yourself, seems like there's a tiny little folky element?

The Antlers - Bear

This song is happy in a sad way if you get me? The Antlers have been causing a bit of a stir in Brooklyn where they're based.