THE BEST MUSIC: NEW & OLD
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.
*GUEST POST*
There’s nothing like a split-second silence to focus the mind. A crushing, perfectly placed blank is a technique common to classical composers, yet woefully under-used in electronic music. Having recently gone ‘agile’ at work, I’m not disciplined enough to keep my nose out of other people’s business. It’s fun but not productive. At all. This tune has been on repeat as deadlines loom and it’s proving pretty effective.
Amy Richards, EDM expert
#fraud
You know how every once in a while you come across a track that is just so good, so perfect in that moment, that you have it on repeat for as long as it takes for it to feel like you’ve known it all along? I’ve had that here. This EP is CCFX’s only. They are a combo between two Washington based bands: synth pop duo CC Dust and post-punk group Trans FX. Hence CCFX, y’see. Anyway, The One to Wait is dream-pop at its absolute finest. Goosebumps.
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.
It’s not often one of your favourite artists puts together a 74 minute compilation packed full of new music from some of your other favourite artists is it?
The mix features new music from Bonobo himself, as well Dark Sky, Afriquoi, O’Flynn, Will Saul, Titeknots, Throwing Snow, DJ Seinfeld and a few others besides.
I’m so in awe of the press release of this white label that I’m just going to post it in full – I mean, it includes Roberto Baggio! (The music is great too btw)
“Mysterious white label release ‘ALFA EP’ coming from new kid on the block ‘Alfa Cornae’
This EP is all Italian, recommended listening: cruising through the Tuscany countryside, riding shotgun in a vintage Alfa. If the above is not at hand, then any local nightclub with a decent sound system will do.
Ok so you climb into your Alfa, a thing of beauty, you rev the engine, it sounds like your ex… in a good way…. This is a serious roadster, we’re not talking Ford Mondao, we’re talking all Italian smooth V8 engine, luxury leather upholstery, the real deal!
You’re on your way to the best party in town, driving down the freeway toward Milan, 120 mph, roof down, a virgin Negroni in the passenger seat, casually smoking on a fat Toscano cigar; you’re on the way to the biggest discotheque this side of the river Po.
Now you’re in a hot tub. You don’t know who’s it is but it has bubbles. You turn to your right; next to you is Roberto Baggio. You take a big drag on your cigar and smile at him, he responds with a cheeky wink. Next thing you know you’re dressed as a goalkeeper and everyone’s dancing. Negronis all round, even for the reserves. Everyone is dishing out high fives; there’s been one too many cigars smoked. Gerd Janson is dressed as a lama and the crowd is loving it.”
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.
Winter’s over. Let’s celebrate with some Pool Party Music.
This two-track release from last year propelled Aussie producer Mall Grab into the house A-list and inspired a load of articles in music mags with the headline “The Unstoppable rise of Mall Grab”. For sure, there’s a load of potential here. Where the title track is jump-up and frenetic, my pick is Catching Feelings which is more is deep and cool. Check it out.
He is touring hard right now. Keep your eyes open and you can literally catch him just about anywhere in 2019.
Today’s track is another weekend-dancefloor-Shazam special. They laid it down at the inaugral Acuña night at Off The Cuff in Herne Hill, and it was class.
It’s nothing complicated; just some straightforward, sun-soaked, piano-laden house by Belgian producer Ricky Razu on Houseum Records. I like it so much I bought the T-shirt (no joke – check out that sweet sweet album artwork).
Bonus track: recognise the sample? Clever you. It’s only Kidnap’s (formerly Kidnap Kid) 2013 release Survive!
Bonus track: Is that the end of the story? No! The sample first appeared in 2008. A little bit of garage-infused house. Tasty.
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.
HARRY'S MUSICAL EMPORIUM 