THE BEST MUSIC: NEW & OLD
Some feel-good electro-piano-pop made right, by the misleadingly named German producer DJ Kaos. There’s nothing to hate about this one. It’s reminiscent of Breakbot. And that can only be a good thing. Put your feet up and enjoy.
RIP Keith Flint: frontman for the band that used to your scare your mum and dad. He must also be the pioneer of the punk/monk haircut.
You know this album, everyone knows this album. For me, it was one of the first that brought me into electronic music. A big loss.
I know it’s only February, but the time seems right for this 2007 Summer banger. Climate change eh?!
Whether you’re new to it or just haven’t heard it in a decade, there’s no mood this track can’t lift. It comes straight to you from the heyday of Swedish house, with DJs Axwell & Ingrosso turning it up to full rainbow/unicorn.
There is some good music out there in the world. There really is. Hopefully I’ve helped you find some of it. Some of it is moody, some dramatic, some calming, some mysterious, some angry, some sad, some happy. And then there’s some that is really fucking happy. This track falls into that final category. I defy anyone to listen to this track and not break into a grin.
So today I have something really special for you. Beyond the Wizard’s Sleeve (Erol Alkan and Richard Norris) give US rock band Interpol the remix treatment. And boy they flip it into something fucking tasty.
The angst of the original vocals remains. But where there were minor sliding guitars, they overlay the most brutal of synths. One of my favourite synth loops of all time. Hit it.
Bonus track: hey, in case you are interested. Interpol aren’t even very good. And Beyond the Wizard’s Sleeve are pretty hit-and-miss, so don’t bother looking around too much. Apart from this one. Cool and spooky in equal measure.
Youandewan (Ewan Smith to his mum & dad) creates beautiful, intimate, introspective, wandering gems of tracks. They make me think of watching the world and its lights go by through a rain-soaked window on the top deck of a bus. Anjou was his first hit, and even though it was released almost a decade ago, it sounds as fresh as if it was yesterday. And if anything 1988 is an even purer treasure of a track.
If you are liking what you hear then check out his debut full-length album from 2016. You can hear how his style has changed over the 8 year gap between the records, a time that also coincided with a move to Berlin. Two stand-out tracks here: 10405 (Alice) and the closing track, 4D Anxiety.
Yo! Some feel good electro from the vaults. Get up and ‘ave it.
Last week I posted The Magician Remix of I Follow Rivers. For me, there’s one other track that hits that upbeat electronica vibe so perfectly, and it’s this. Again it is the vocals of a Swedish producer being lifted by feel-good keys. Ah, 2011.
Sing it with me: “Oh my heart is like an eagle, I love to fall from the sky / It’s so beautiful, I see right through the water’s edge / And I love your hands, I let them lead me into the cage / So tender, but your body was warm, so frail / But your eyes like mine / The colour of ice”
Here in Harry’s head we’re building up to the weekend. Three bona fide pure gold bangers from electro royalty coming right up. Also, it says something about how deep the discography is for these guys that none of these tracks appears in their top 10. You can go for hours on the Chem Bros.
First up Swoon. Never have sirens sounded so bloody good. And just you wait until you get to 2 minutes in. Phwoar.
To follow, a touch of Saturate.
And finally, the Shinichi Osawa remix of Star Guitar. Enjoy responsibly.
I don’t know how The Juan Maclean have passed me by. They were brought to me hard on Saturday by Sean Johnston & Andrew Weatherall (together, A Love From Outer Space – more on that later) and since then I’ve been hooked.
The Juan Maclean (by the way, he is actually called John Maclean, which I like) is a Brooklyn-based producer and DJ, and he’s good. Add the super-cool Nancy Whang’s vocals (of LCD Soundsystem fame) and you are onto a 12 minute clubby electro winner. If you like it, check out the album The Future Will Come for more of the same. And if you are lucky enough to live in Brooklyn, go see them live.
So, Saturday. It’s 4am, the music is loud, the energy is flying and this comes on. For those of a darker persuasion. (Not too proud to admit this one is courtesy of Shazam).
