This one is a little bit fun. A little bit weird.
The best way I can describe it is as an exploration of vampire-electro. Its hook is as catchy as it is twisted. Full marks. Anyway, if you are the type of person that wants the vampires to show up to your house party then get it on loud.
Shout out to Ben Gomori’s Turned On podcast for the tip.
Photo credit: Liam May
I’m a big fan of this Dam Swindle EP from last year released on their own imprint, Heist Recordings. Every time I get myself behind some decks Body Control and/or All I Want are highly likely to make an appearance. No need to overthink it. It won’t be caught taking itself serious. It’s fun like that. Keep on swindling.
Fort Romeau has been releasing original, powerful house tracks for a while now. His new release Be With U is a lush, deep kind of track that can cope with a lot of listens. It will get less attention than his other work since it is more reflective than it is danceable, but I think it is a real gem.
The track itself has three phases. The synth pads and piano kick in around half-way, and then three quarters through you enter a beautiful brass section to see out the track as the drums fade out. The sparseness of it all and the lengthy, spacious builds make the pay-offs extra sweet.
Bonus tracks: here is my post on my all-time favourite Fort Romeau track, Secrets & Lies (featuring a sample from Dirty Dancing no less!)
And finally, here is another cracker, Dweller on the Threshold. Enjoy.
Well if you were wondering what an Everything But The Girl track from the 21st century sounds like then here is your answer. Nothing Left to Lose is Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt’s first new recording as Everything But The Girl since 2000, and the first release from their upcoming album Fuse. It is an intentionally modern sounding, punchy dance track. The final refrain – “Kiss me while the world decays. Kiss me while the music plays” – is more than enough to give you goosebumps.
The video is well worth a watch as well. Amazing choreography, incredible dance performances, and nifty camerawork – executed in a single take. Top marks.
Bonus track: yeah, obviously.
A very Happy New Year to you all. Thanks again for checking out the blog, and sending feedback, ideas, and love.
Before we get to 2023, here’s one final post on 2022.
Here are my most played tracks of the year courtesy of Spotify. Some gems in there. Heavily featured artists include Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Bonobo and Hand Habits.
And finally, here is a link to my top 50 on Soundcloud. Knock yourself out.
This one is pretty special. ALFOS / Sean Johnston has played it the last couple of times I’ve seen him and both times it has been one of the set highlights. After the second listen last weekend Sean very kindly ID’d it for me, and so here we are. Talking Heads and LCD Soundsystem brought together in beautiful harmony. Enjoy.
If you are a regular reader you’ll know of my love affair with A Love From Outer Space. If not, you’ve got some catching up to do.
Well now you have an answer if someone asks you who your favourite Israeli trumpeter is – and his name is Sefi Zisling.
Welcome Sunset is a really nice upbeat jazz EP, but the undoubted star of the show is Obas Nenor’s Extended Dub of The Sky Sings. It is a bit more sparing on Sefi’s trumpet, but hugely atmospheric in a way that heroes it when it appears. It reminds me a lot of Simian Mobile Disco’s collaboration the Deep Throat Choir on Murmurations. Well worth a listen.
This track is something of a beauty from Irish producer Swoose. Out now on Feel My Bicep, so if it reminds you of them then that will be no accident.
Bonus track: I’m in a giving mood. The intergalactic flow of Hyphae got me thinking about Emotional Ty’s Edge of Horizon. More sofa, less club, same feels.
Some rave to bring in the weekend? Go on then. A re-imagining of Chaka Khan’s classic, ripped out of the front room and dragged down to the basement.
In the comments section for this track someone has written “I’m a Kieran-sexual (musically speaking)” which is a bit gross but at the same time I know what they mean.
You get the sense that KH is having some fun with Feelings. The monstrous track name is almost unsearchable. And in the track itself, an iconic Star Guitar sample gets kicked back to the beat by Britney. Fun.
Kieran Hebden is the man behind KH (aka Four Tet). You can see him play live, accompanied by the incredible Squidsoup lighting, at Alexandra Palace in the new year.
harrysmusicalemporium.com 