Hurricane

Grace Jones - Sunset SunriseHallelujah! Grace Jones' 2008 album Hurricane is finally being given a US release on September 6th by PIAS (America). Produced by Jones and Ivor Guest, it marked a pretty successful return to form. I bought the EU import version a couple of years ago and loved it. It might not be a classic like Nightclubbing but it covers a lot similar ground. There are plenty of tough reggae riddims, some sleek electronica and a hint of rock guitar. I do wish that there was more uptempo, clubby material on it, but I am ultimately satisfied with the record. Best part of this news? Not the new artwork, but the newly added second disc - a dub version of the record. This has me psyched - can't wait to hear it!

Dance By Accident

Halloween, Alaska - Dance By AccidentThe Minneapolis quartet is gearing up to release it's 4th album in August. Called All Night The Calls Came In, it sees the band moving further away from the electronic, ambient soundscapes they are known for and into more of a live band driven, ever so slightly rocking direction. Dance By Accident is a tightly grooving beast. Dave King's drums drive everything, then the band layers scratchy guitar and gentle keyboards over it all, and top it all off with the melancholic vocals of James Diers. Lovely. Can't wait to hear the rest of the record.
______________

Halloween, Alaska / Twitter / Facebook

Forever Young

Joakim - Forever Young (Discodeine Remix)
French producer and artist in his own right Joakim is putting out a new album in September called Nothing Gold. I'm a big fan. My first exposure to him was as the producer of Panico, and over the years I have grooved to his remixes for the likes of Goldfrapp, Late of the Pier, Cut Copy and Friendly Fires, as well as his stellar production of Poni Hoax. The first single from the new album, his 4th, is this delightful track, Forever Young, which has been remixed by Discodeine. Joakim describes the song as the "soundtrack to a late beach sunset on an Indian Summer's night, a setting where time is meaningless, yet quickly fades away." All know is that I like the synthy propulsiveness of it and the nice '80s melancholy feel.
_________________

Joakim / Facebook / Tigersushi

Safari Disco Club

Yelle - Safari Disco Club

RIP Martin Rushent

One of the great music producers of the '80s died this week. Martin Rushent started out as working as an engineer on records by T-Rex, ELP, Yes and Fleetwood Mac. However it was a producer that he made his name. He helmed the first 3 Stranglers albums, as well as records by The Buzzcocks, 999, Generation X, XTC, The Rezillos, Téléphone and Rachel Sweet. He produced Altered Images, Intaferon, Leisure Process and The Associates too. It was his fascination with the newest synth technology that brought him his greatest successes, first with Pete Shelley's Homosapien album, and most notably with The Human League. Dare and it's companion remix album Love And Dancing were pop music at it's best, gleaming and modern. I thought he was a production genius. I used to buy records just because his name was on them. He made a bit of a producer's comeback in the 90's and was also involved in records with The Pipettes, Kila Kella and Does It Offend You, Yeah? (whose lead singer James is his son). He was a production genius and a legend of the mixing board. Rest in peace...

The Human League - Love Action

The Human League - The Sound of the Crowd [Extended 12" mix]

The Human League - Seconds

The Human League - Don't You Want Me