In the Zone

These kids are in the ZONE!

.... and then there's Boyzone...

Monkey Business

If you speak to people in the music industry these days, there seems a lot to be depressed about... And rightly so, perhaps. BPI's annual review of key developments in the sector does not paint a pretty picture: industry revenues fell by 13% in 2007, with the focus shifting from developing new talent to cutting corporate sponsorship deals. Industry people no longer dream of signing "the next big thing", but about cutting deals with Nokia, Coca Cola, and Burger King. Meanwhile, aspiring artists looking to get discovered fill the internet with DIY digital doodles in a desperate bid for attention... God bless the digital revolution! To be fair, it aint all bad, some of it's pretty good, some of it even brilliant. But I'm the first to admit that I can feel overwhelmed by how much crap we have hurled at us 24/7.

So thank God for this light in the darkness! I had been excited about seeing "Monkey: Journey to the West" for months, and finally had the chance last Saturday. Why was I excited? Mostly because its creative team included Damon Albarn, enigmatic singer of Blur and The Gorillaz, who I've had an intellectual crush on since (at the age of 12) I heard him say that "music these days is not intelligent enough". Sweet. And Jamie Hewlett, who animated The Gorillaz and whose vision of the world I would love to borrow for just - one - day. Please? These big-brained giants of British creativity teamed up with Chinese director Chen Shi-Zheng to create... a Chinese Opera!

I surprised 2 good friends with tickets to see it at The Royal Opera House and can confirm that Monkey is pure magic. The production features a cast of circus artistes and martial artists that would give Cirque du Soleil a run for their money, as they weave their wondrous path through Jamie's exquisite designs and spellbinding animations. Damon's musical score is otherworldly, haunting, and perfectly delivered by a choir of ethereal Chinese muses.

If I had to pick at it, I think Monkey could have benefited from having a stronger plot and storyline. I did not engage with the characters on an emotional level and felt the music/choreography could have easily evoked something deeper. But I'll forgive it this tragic flaw because Monkey managed to sweep its audience (myself included) off their feet, not by pushing our usual buttons, but by attempting that perilous thing of using new media to reach us - and surviving the experience. More than than, the creators achieved something of genuine beauty and harmony. This is entertainment for future generations.

Apparently it's coming back to the UK in autumn... Go on, treat yourself.

It's a Rave Day

High Contrast does it again! Female vocals + a phat bassline = FIT. Check out Adele - Hometown Glory (High Contrast remix) Yieyieyiehhh, supersweet.

Oddly enough I've spent the pas 3 days pretending I'm a 90's raver. If you'd like to jon me in my time machine why not bounce around to L.A.O.S - 1990's, Mistabishi - No Matter What, or Fake Blood - Mars. Love it.

I leave you with a slice of HOTness to match the heat outside. JERK IT OUT!

thunderheist - jerk it (contest cut) from thatgo on Vimeo.

Excitable beats

Ok first off, check out minute 21 onwards on the post about Philly Mad Decent Mix by OriginalDMAX. SIIIICK hiphop vocal TUNE. Followed by a sicker old school tune (oh my god what a beautiful vocal - gwaaaan SET ME FREEEEE) then followed by a mega mash up tune. YEH YEH YEH!

Ok So. I discovered this BEAUTIFUL sound that went by the form of a SONG. Squarepusher - Iambic 9 Poetry. DMAX put it up on the seeqpod playlist, check it out. And then ten minutes lates check it out again. ANd then again. Next day, wake up, switch on your computer, turn it on, again. And again. Its made for those moments that we call 'standard'. Basically play it all day, all night, and then again the year after. Its TROOOP BEAU KOI. Alaise. Innit.

That Squarepusher tune I discovered on the top ten list of a Production Duo from london called Instra:Mental. Now. Instra:Mental. Well. They're just pretty damn sweet. Their production is top notch, coming well above most producers. Although their tunes sound dark, its minimal darkness. So in effect you can hear everything so crisply that it doesnt sound threatening despite the layers they use. Its as if you were walking through darkness, with beats hitting each side of you as you explored further, yet the beats come as beams of light which you can clearly distinguish, and if anything they are lighting your way edging you to seek further and explore deeper. Then it drops. SWEEEEET.

SO check these guys out please please please!!!

Aight Peace.

More Santi

Can't get enough of Santogold? Me too.

Check the dope remix by Kid Gloves (original is 8 min, but I cut it to keep the freshest bit)

nice one

REZZZ

Keys to the City

Imeem are doing a pretty cool thing stateside where they get Local labels and artists to highlight the up and comers in a scene for each city. Check out their page here they just did philly and got ?uestlove and Mad Decent involved. The mix is below. Enjoy...

Feisty remix

Firstly I want to reiterate how glorious the tune Xav posted is - get it here: La Priest - Engine (Erol Alkan re-edit)

Secondly, check out Chymera for some super sweet techno / prog house. I recommend Ellipsis...

Finally, yet another remix of Feist - 1.2.3.4.... It even has a video!

Kick the burger

If a tune is dropped but no one's listening - does it make a sound?

It's a been a while since I've posted. New job's keeping me busy and leaves little time for discovering new music... But that won't stop good tunes from being released! So here's a few I want to share with my friends on this fine Sunday evening.

First up! If you like your FIDGET house this tune is seriously heavy: A Girl and a Gun - Whomp That Sucka (A1 Bassline Remix). Whomp THAT.

Men of the moment are without a doubt CROOKERS who are churning out big tunes at at the speed of light. Top of my current list are Il Buono (if you like your drops prepare for a 1000 feet PLUNGE!) and Brick City Go.

I love Boys, I love Noize, I love Feist. This tune aint hot off the press but it's glorious none the less: Feist - My Moon My Man (Boys Noize remix).

Next up: DIPLO. I would probably pay to have children by this man because he everything he produces is beautiful. His latest, Black Ghosts - Repetition Kills (Diplo remix) aint his best but good enough to mention.

Finally - seriously loving My Drive Thru, the result of a collaboration between N.E.R.D., Santogold (Spank Rock) and Julian Casablancas (The Strokes). One of those tunes that get better and better and better, got one heck of a guitar hook to it.

I leave you then with a piece of Norwegian culture... Apparently Diplo is obsessed with this. The original game is to kick a hat off a ski pole. We replace the hat with a burger and have... The Burger Dance. "Get low.... get low... Alright!"

Party like the Fucking Germans!

Hosted this german dude this weekend from Couchsurfing (dope site, get on it, you'll meet awesome people) and got talking about festivals. Anyone who's been to Berlin in the past sorta 10 years knows its got it going on, actually I say Barcelona and Berlin are the dopest cities in europe. Anyways my man Ede pointed me to a video from a German festival called Juicy Beats. WATCH IT ITS DOPE. It was this group Deichkinds 10th bday. Give out 200 beers. Shake shake shake... Watch it. Getting me hyped for Fusion Festival. We heard about this thing through the grapevine and from friends. 40,000 people, dope German electronic music and an Ex-Soviet airfield for an extremely low cost. Thats just the start this thing looks AWESOME. Yeah Im Fucking Game!!! Bring on Summertime...

More Titts

Another Fat Titts Mix

Mix Teree

As we luuuv to say:
Booty Shakin' Fresh