London-based producer Daniel Avery, already wowed us with his excellent debut LP Drone Logic, belated discovery over the festive period. It’s a big old fashioned dance album, in the sense that it revolves around no nonsense synths with house/techno beats in a similar way to Underworld or Leftfield in their pomp, and is nothing short of amazing.
A couple of weeks back, he released this sublime new remix of ‘How You Say’ by Factory Floor, who’s own debut of motorik, bone-rattling analog magic from last year has plenty of it’s own spectacular moments. On this eight-plus-minute remix, Avery applies a foggy-hazy touch to transform the skeletal original into a more lush and blissful track.
‘How You Say (Daniel Avery Remix)’ can be streamed in full below, before its release on April 14th through DFA. Factory Floor also have a string of North American tour dates, if you’re on that side of the pond, check them here.
Last year Castle debuted with Gasface, an enigmatic intro to the North Carolina MC/producer’s talent. It offered everything needed from a hip hop record; style, substance, beats, slick production and meaningful lyricism.
Castle is back with a ‘new’ LP, Return of the Gasface (The Has-Lo Passages), which sees his gruff delivery, frank observations cheeky sense of humour undergo a full-length redo from labelmate Has Lo. Such a fan was he of Gasface, that Has Lo re-envisioned an entirely new identity for it, getting Castle to re-record verses, adding his own verses and production style, to create something that sounds a lot different to your usual remix project. The first taste of Gasface re-imagined is ‘Live Action’, originally called ‘No Prep Time’, it indicated in no small way that the reworking is a more than worthwhile exercise. ‘Live Action’ is injected with a new spirit and it’s strength lies in the execution, particularly the two artists willingness work together in tandem for a common goal. Has Lo’s production is flawless, bouncy beats entrance you while the pauses and breaks are perfectly timed to compliment Castle’s delivery and flow. Realized at the most opportune moments, it reinforces what Castle’s got to say, sounding more authoritative and speaking with an authority that makes you pay attention.
Return of the Gasface (The Has-Lo Passages) is released on March 18th with original artwork by Josh Bayer. For now though, you can sample the delight that is ‘Live Action’.
Public Service Broadcasting‘s raison d’etre appears to be for sifting through old propaganda film archives, splicing and dicing these snippets to music.
In doing so the London-based duo have managed to craft an artful and powerfully evocative mix of post-punk, krautrock and electronics into the sample-tastic delight that is, Inform – Educate – Entertain. Their LP is a fresh and fun, which feels entirely retro and futurist at the same time. Hopefully time is found to elaborate further on the many qualities of this album in the near future.
That said, it was Fold’s Technicolour Remix of ‘Theme From PSB’ which first the caught the eye and sparked an interest for further investigation. Fold’s interpretation is a stunning rework and a far cry from the original. Keeping the vocal clips, Fold’s adds a dash or two of horns, drums, drones and some spliced ambient vocals. The result? A colourful, uplifting and inspired remix.
You can listen to both the original ‘Theme From PSB’ & Fold’s remix below. And sure while you’re at it, if you have the time, check out PSB’s Inform – Educate – Entertain [Spotify / Deezer / iTunes].
Last year Glasgow based producer Miaoux Miaoux released his wonderful debut album Light of the North. One of 2012’s finest, it was an absolute treasure; delicately piecing together beats, electronics, synths and guitars, with his pristine vocals gliding through a heavenly mist of lush harmonies, melodies, beats and electronics.
This year has been a much quieter one for the Scottish producer. Although not entirely new, being part of Miaoux Miaoux’s Autopilot EP which was released late last year, this beauty has finally found it’s way online. The beauty in question is Tom Furse’s (of The Horrors) rework of ‘Stop The Clocks’, one of the standout tracks from Light of the North. Furse’s remix is an absolute triumph, and nothing short of epic. It unfurls over ten minutes, from an ominous, effect-drenched opening, before ascending to exquisitely blissed out and trippy plain, with some choice Eastern sounding synth work and snappy 808 claps. This is a simply stunning piece of work.
You can check the Tom Furse’s remix below but if you haven’t check out Miaoux Miaoux’s debut album Light of the North, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do. [Buy / Stream]
Girls Names released their latest LP The New Life back in February, providing us with the best domestic record of the year so far. A quite dark post-punk record with a moody and foreboding disposition, importantly it is an exceptionally great album.
The Belfast foursome are now planning the release of a remix EP, The Next Life. Up first from the EP is is a remix of ‘Projektions’ courtesy of Factory Floor’s Gabe Gurnsey. The track is almost completely re-imagined. Almost the entire original dispensed with, in favour of Factory Floor’s characteristic motorik groove and pulsating synths. Most importantly the resulting remix sounds immense. It is also a timely reminder for two reasons: (1) if you haven’t checked out Girls Names’ The New Life, you really should because you’re missing out; (2) it’s a reminder of Factory Floor’s talent who’ll release their hotly anticipated debut album in September. All good.
The Next Life will be released later this year and Factory Floor’s rework will be joined by those of David Holmes, Locust, The Soft Walls & Optimo.
If you’re a regular on this blog, you will probably already know SertOne is held in rather high esteem around this neck of the woods.
Well, not just content with knocking our sock off with his hip-hop influenced electronics, the ever prolific Liverpool based Irish producer has an equally impressive body of work under his other pseudonym CL Moons. CL Moons is his a footwork/juke sideline and as an introduction to this alter-alter ego, is his reworking of Swall’s ‘Bright//Moon//Light’. It sees Swall’s soft wandering pop recast in a different light, with Moons kicking in with sharp, snappy beats at a BPM up there with the national debt (that’s high in case you were wondering).
This tune has been on constant rotation along with CL Moons’ edit of DJ Fresh ‘Gatekeeper’ for the past month. You can listen to them both below. See also, Sweekers Vol. 1 & Vol. 2, where by Mr. Moons has teamed up with fellow Irish producer Lemonada.
SertOne is without question one of Ireland’s most promising producers, both prodigious and prolific. It is strange to still refer to him as ‘promising’ such is sheer dearth of material already under his belt, but with each release comes promise of even greater things to come. One wonders where will he go to next?
For now at any rate, it is back to the future. Released digitally last year, Shapes in the Sky has now thankfully made it’s way onto 12″ vinyl. The EP itself is fantastic; head-nodding beats, slick samples and hip-hop influenced grooves are met with swagger and confidence, to produce some serious funked up jams that will bounce around your head all day. The 12″ is out now and comes with quality exclusive remixes from Danny Drive Thru, Lemonada and SIGNAL, which you can sample below.
Shapes in the Sky is out now on 12″ vinyl through Melted Music & can be ordered from here. For the record (no pun intended, my copy hasn’t left the turntable since it arrived this morning.
It’s that time of year when every music website, publication and blog (including this one) are busy compiling end of year lists. This time around, I thought I’d shift the focus to the bands and artist’s who’ve played a ‘BarryGruff Presents’ show this year and ask them for their ‘favourite album of 2012′, ‘favourite song of 2012′ & ‘favourite Irish song of the year’.
Right, that is enough from me, over to Dan Shanahan of Wayfarer and his picks from the year that was 2012.
On a whim, I agreed to go see these fellows in the Riverbank Arts Centre in Newbridge one wet Thursday and by grud, it was a show I would never forget…I was sitting two rows from the front in a near empty venue watching three of the finest folk musicians to emerge from the British Isles, playing as if it were just for me. I was wrapped tight in a blanket of sounds that made me close my eyes and lose myself in the intricate musicality. Chris Drever on guitar with his tightly controlled and constant chord changes, complimented with a soft aching Scottish voice, singing songs about unrequited love in old folk songs. Aidan O’ Rourke holds his own with expert fiddle playing that gives soul to the compositions while Martin Green is unbelievable on the accordion, jumping in his seat as if possessed by the music…he’s the Hendrix of accordion players, no joke! These guys have featured on Jools Holland after they released this album and seem to be on the up and up so whenever they come back to Ireland, I dare say, check ’em out! And in the mean time…buy this album!!
Favourite song of 2012: Field Music – ‘Start The Day Right’
I’m crap at finding new music that I like, I’m old school…preferring the comfort of listening to Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti for the millionth time than pretending to enjoy such and such’s album because they’re “cool” or “the in thing” or whatever. I know, i sound like an old fart but good music always seems to creep its way onto my now defunct, 29 year old radar in random ways. Field Music’s Plumb was one album, blasting out of a mate’s car speakers one day, that grabbed my attention. This is the first song off of Plumb and it doesn’t mess around. These guys wear their influences on their sleeves with a prog-rock 70’s sound, some grandiose Beatles inspired moments and amazing musicianship. Check them out!
Favourite Irish song of 2012: Villagers – ‘The Waves’
What can I say about this band that hasn’t already been said? Conor’s beautiful words and melodies are always a treat for the old ear holes. I’ve seen them play a lot of new material at a gig in Kilkenny a few months back and I’m eagerly awaiting their new album next year which I’m sure will be a guaranteed thing of beauty. Also check out MMOTHS remix of this song, it’s jaw-droppingly good!
The 26-year-old Glasgow based producer (real name Julian Corrie) impressed ever so much this year, releasing his first album proper, Light of the North. Prior to this Miaoux Miaoux had already proven quite the card, having been knocking out tunes as a remixer and producer for a few years now. As if to remind us of his capability as a remixer, Miaoux Miaoux dropped his reworking of Lindstrøm’s ‘Råkost’ just last week. No surprises, it’s a luscious seven and a half minutes spacey and uplifting electronica.
You can give both Miaoux Miaoux’s remix and Lindstrøm’s original below. No excuses now.
Berlin based producer Hannes Fischer, for whom I know very little about, has recently released an unofficial promo for the German flick ‘Cold Blood‘.
‘Cold Blood EP – Cold Blood (Hannes Fischer Edit)’ sees Fischer editing the movie’s title track, taking a sample from a “country song” to create a relaxing downbeat deep house track, with a captivating, head-nodding quality. The track requires very little explanation, just give it a listen below and you’ll get the picture.
I’ve been banging on about the brilliance of Django Djangofor ages now. Their self-titled debut being my favourite album of 2012, I’ll never shirk an excuse to big them up. Part of Django Django’s appeal is their seamless ability to blend genres and sounds from a melting pot of influences into a splendid blend of indie, rockabilly riffs, with an electro groove at its heart.
Their latest single ‘Life’s a Beach’, taken from the aforementioned album, ticks all those boxes; propulsive garage-rock/rockabilly riffs meets an insatiable danceable fever. Django Django have undeniable similarities to The Beta Band, so it is a pleasant surprise to find they enlisted Steve Mason on remix duties. Mason’s rework retains the undeniable groove of the original, adding a slightly dubby feel and drenches it in a hazy fog.
‘Life’s A Beach’ is out November 12th on 10″ vinyl and download.
The Emperor Machine‘s (aka Andy Meecham) wizardry hasn’t gone unnoticed on this blog, especially the supreme remixing talent. Meecham is also a member of Chicken Lips, of which he’s produced an extended mix of their latest release, ‘D.R.O.M.P’.
‘D.R.O.M.P’ is a funk fueled disco track with a hint of DFA styling coursing through its veins. It is a great track it’s own right but the pulsating relentlessness to The Emperor Machine’s extension is something quite spectacular. A slow-burning, shape-shifting sound with a serious amount of funked-up bass.
Both versions of ‘D.R.O.M.P’ are below an it’s out now on Southern Fried Records.
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