SIART Says...

LISTEN UP!

Joakim - Love & Romance & A Special Person
Milky Ways
Sept. 15th on !K7I'm pretty sure Joakim's new record Milky Ways is going to end up as one of my faves of this year. He is the production maestro behind the disco rock deliciousness of Panico and Poni Hoax. Milky Ways is his second LP, and is a tasty mash up of psychedelia, old-school computer music, exotica, electro-pop, blues, new wave and Krautrock. Suffice it to say it is right up my alley, and it has been getting plenty of play. I am a sucker for his style - it is classy yet edgy, sometimes sweet and then abrasive. Recorded with his touring band, the tracks range from funky disco to post punk to noise rock. It takes inspiration from the 80's (sometimes it reminds me of old school Roxy Music), but definitely makes something new from it. Love & Romance & A Special Person is a prefect introduction - it incorporates a groovy beat, Trevor Horn key stabs, goofy Mac talk computer voices, and soaring, dreamy human vocals, all dressed up in shimmering arpeggios. Excellent.

Flashback/'94

Crystal Waters - 100% Pure loveFrom the back to the middle and around again, I'm gonna be there til the end. Don't ask me why Crystal Waters is what I was needing to hear today - the music gods move me in mysterious ways. I always loved this snappy little tune way better than her previous megahit Gypsy Woman (she's homeless, she's homeless, ladadee ladada). 100% has a good house foundation, killer cowbell and plenty of sass. I am amazed that this song is 15 years old. I think it holds up pretty well. And did you know that she is the niece of the legendary jazz/blues singer (and Oscar nominated actress) Ethel Waters? Fascinating. She continues to record and tour, and had a top 20 dance chart hit earlier this year. And that concludes today's flashback moment.

Funky Friday

This weekend's funky beats...

A mini play list with a couple new ones from Mpho & Mika, a couple of groovy remixes, a vintage classic from Sylvester and this killer new video...
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N.A.S.A - Whachadoin' (Pink Enemy Remix)
Mika - We Are Golden (Don Diablo Remix)
Jarvis Cocker - Discosong (Pilooski Mix)
Sylvester - Do Ya Wanna Funk
Mpho - Box N'Locks

White Light/Discosong/Swordfish Girls

Sinkane - White Light
Sinkane
Myspace/Facebook
BUY

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Bring on the Dancing Swordfish...
Empire of the Sun - Exclusive Live Performance @ Pedestrian.tv
I am a big fan of Empire of the Sun. The music is great and the imagery is out of control, over the top bad '80s sci-fi. Whats not to love? Yesterday during the eclipse in Asia they premiered a new perfromance clip. It is very entertaining.

Viva La Red Track Suit!

Datarock - True Stories

Funky Friday Late Edition

MCROFILM

Microfilm are Matthew (electronics) & Matt (lyrics/vocals) from Portland, OR. They found me on Twitter, sent me some tunes and thankfully I like them. Their second album The Slingshot Orchestra came out at the end of last year and got good press. They make what they call 'melancholic disco'. Melancholy is definitely spot on - Matt & Matthew nail moody. But they go beyond disco. I see them carrying on the fine tradition of classic eighties synth pop. Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order (you know, the good stuff) - these are the DNA strands they begin with. Then they trick it out with the electronics and laptop buggery of the 'oughties. They glitch it up a bit, taking it from minimal to lush and back. They do house-y things, dreamy electro pop (The Love Theme) and some cinematic ambient stuff (Dario Argento). They've remixed Ladytron. They tread a similar path to the Junior Boys and Matthew Dear. These are all good things.

This May brought an EP called International Velvet which sees them taking a harder edged, glam stomp approach to the synths & beats. If There Be Thorns puts me in the mind of Orbital.

Follow Micromusic @ Twitter, be their friend @ Facebook or listen to more of them @ Fairtilizer...

Mcrofilm - Dario Argento
Mcrofilm - The Love Theme
The Slingshot Orchestra
Amazon / iTunes

Mcrofilm - If There Be Thorns
International Velvet EP
Amazon / iTunes

Funky Friday Mix Tapes

Something for everybody....

I just learned about Mpho this week from this post over at Worrapalova. Her new single Box 'n' Locks is based around a big chunk of Martha & The Muffins' '80s classic Echo Beach. I love that song, and I love her single. She has a British Santigold thing going on and IMO that is definitely a good thing. She has made a great mix tape for you to enjoy. Also check out XO London's post where you can watch her cover Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill...

Mpho's Pop Art Party #2
Tears for Fears - Shout
Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
Grace Jones - Pull up to the bumper
MPHO - Morning After
Passion Pit - The Reeling
Holy Ghost! - Hold On
Stone Roses - Fool's Gold
Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealing
Snap - I got the Power
Omar - Its So
MPHO - Box n Lox (Crazy Cousins rmx)
Kid Cudi - Day n Nite (Greenmoney rmx)
Groove Armada ft. Stush - Get Down
Dj Cleo - Can We Try
MPHO vs. Madonna - Hips go Pop vs. 4 Minutes (Dj Beware & Motorpitch blend)
Erykah Badu - Honey (Seiji rmx)
Buraka Som Sistema - Kalemba (Hot Chip rmx)
Mr Hudson - There will be Tears
MPHO + Dead Prez - See me Now + Hip Hop
Missy Elliot - Beep me 911
Zed Bias - Neighbourhood 09 ft. Mcrumpus & Nicky Prince
Mr Reds vs. Dj Skribble - Everybody Come On
MPHO - Box n Lox (Armand Van Helden rmx)
Bell Biv Devoe - Poison
Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Cameo - Word Up
Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in love
Prince - Rasperry Beret
MPHO - Paranoid Type
Kelis ft. Andre 3000 - Millionaire
Beyonce - Diva
Cool Kids - Popcorn
MPHO - Spaceman

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DJ DocRok Presents De Ja Vu Mixtape Vol.1
"...like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, but you know, for hip hop."

1. The Delfonics – Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide From Love)
2. Missy Elliot – Sock It 2 Me
3. MSFB – Something For Nothing
4. Jay-Z – What More Can I Say
5. Willie Mitchell – Groovin’
6. GZA – Liquid Swords
7. Al Green – The Letter
8. Notorious B.I.G. – Long Kiss Goodnight
9. Junior M.A.F.I.A. – Get Money
10. Sylvia Striplin – You Can’t Turn Me Away
11. Leon Haywood – I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You
12. Snoop Dogg ft. Dr. Dre – Nuthin But A G Thang
13. Michael McDonald – I Keep Forgettin’
14. Warren G ft. Nate Dogg – Regulate
15. Melvin Bliss – Synthetic Subsitution
16. Gangstarr – DWYCK
17. Naughty By Nature – O.P.P.
18. Jackson 5 – ABC
19. Shirley Bassey – Diamonds Are Forever
20. Kanye West ft. Jay-Z – Diamonds From Sierra Leone
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Buraka Som Sistema's Blood Diamond Mix Tape
"...a fast paced and diverse mix of new material, crazy samples, new guests, mashups from the live set and a bunch of unexpected treats and juxtapositions."

01. Diamonds are Forever Intro
02. Dj Znobia feat Jaime Foxx- Africa
03. Buraka SOm Sistema - Kalemba (wegue wegue) Afrikan Boy remix
04. Os Lambas - Sapo (BSS Edit)
05. Radioclit vs Guns 'n' Roses - Sweet Secousse of Mine (Bss edit)
06. The Kiss - Black Diamond
07. Tunes for Baby That Won't Drive You Crazy - Black Diamond
08. Buraka Som Sistema - IC19 (Toy Selecta remix)
09. Buraka Som Sistema - Aqui Para Voces (FAVELA FUNK SAMBA edit)
10. Buraka Som Sistema - Wawaba (James Braun Copyflex remix)
11. Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance (BSS Remix)
12. Dirty Tricks - Black Diamond
13. Rusko vs Puto Prata - Let's Go (BSS Edit)
14. Buraka Som Sistema - R.I.A.D.
15. J-WOW feat Aloe Blacc - Off with ya head
16. Buraka Som Sistema - Gang Bang feat Blaya
17. David Zé - O Guerrilheiro
18. Johnny Clarke - Come Back To Me
19. Buraka Som Sistema - Sound of Kuduro (D1 remix)
20. Zomby feat Pongolove - Kuduro Rumours (BSS Edit)
21. Rusko - Cockney Thug (BSS Remix)
22. Paul Simon - Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
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Fromage Disco - Fromagedisctronica
"...a very chilled out almost techy mix."

Stumm - Frank Bretschneider
Mix Into the Wasteland - Filur
Thirst - Challenge
I Need Your Love - The Rapture (Playgroup dub)
Kilometer - Sebastian Tellier (aeroplane remix)
Back 2 Black - Herman Schwartz
Horns N Roses - Dop
Lost in Acid - Franco Cinelli
Je Tourne En Carre - Nil
If Alone - Sideshow (Chateau Flight rmx)
Ducktales - Basteroid (Ada Rmx)
Soliton - Andrew K (V.2 Edit)
MYKE - Espion
Init Two - Ben Klock

Song Of The Day

Datarock - True Stories

One of my favorite records of 2009 is Datarock's Red. It is a sublime set of '80s dance rock that hits absolutely all of the right notes with me. One of my favorite songs on it is True Stories. The lyrics are all Talking Heads song titles. Sounds like a cliched joke, but it actually works out fantastically well - really! Musically it is also a pretty good facsimile of the Talking Heads style - plenty of groove and chikka-chikka guitars. I really like this song. The album is out digitally, and gets a physical release later this year. Buy it!
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Born Under Punches
Crosseyed And painless
Slippery People
I’m Not In Love

Houses In Motion
A Road To Nowhere
Once In A Lifetime
I’m Not In Love

Don’t Worry About The Government
The Democratic Circus
Cause Mommy Daddy You and I
Are Burning Down The House

Psycho Killer
Radiohead
Television Man
I’m Not In Love

Puzzling Evidence
Seen And Not Seen
This Must Be The Place
I’m Not In Love

Don’t Worry 'Bout The Government
The Democratic Circus
Cause Mommy Daddy You and I
Are Burning Down The House

I Get wild
Wild Gravity
Wild Wild Life
The Big Country

Don’t Worry 'Bout The Government
The Democratic Circus
Cause Mommy Daddy You and I
Are Burning Down The House

I Get Wild
Wild Gravity
Wild Wild Life
The Big Country

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MIIKE SNOW - BURIAL


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Black Moth Super Rainbow - Born On A Day The Sun Didn't Shine

Mega creepy...

SIART Says...

LISTEN UP!
In The Loop 5
(Anticon/Dublab - Aug.25)
Future Side:
1. The Ruby Suns - Kenya Dig It?
2. Teengirl Fantasy - Portofino
3. Hecuba - Miles Away
4. Zackey Force Funk - Bombs

Roots Side:
5. Lucky Dragons - Are We Alright?
6. Matthewdavid & Oba - Roomthumpr
7. Julia Holter - Moto Perpetuo
8. White Rainbow - Mind Haze Is Clear Delight
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Marmoset - Tea Tornado
Run Away, Teri
Peach Cobbler
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The Dead Weather - Treat Me Like Your Mother

Hot Promo Action

Solid Gold - Bible Thumper (Stefan Cordery Remix)

Men - Off Our Backs

Don Diablo vs. Michael Jackson - Song for MJ (Remember The Time)

Funky Friday

THREE DAY WEEKEND

Your 4th o' July party pack of beats for your feets is ready for mass consumption. My "tip of the hat" to the departed MJ is Discovery's lovely cover of I Want You Back from their forthcoming album called LP. Filthy Dukes jam post-punk, pop and electronics into a slamming brew of catchiness. The Emperor Machine are your Miami Vice/sci-fi/Italo soundtrack dream - Kananana is pure disco fun. Sleazy McQueen is excellent scratchy NYC No Wave funk from the very tasty Bearfunk comp Hibernation Vol.1. The latest round of remastered reissues from the Rolling Stones is out - Tattoo You, Some Girls, Undercover and Emotional Rescue, which gives us the tough strut of Dance Pt.1. Aussie electro man Faux Pas sent me a dreamy little demo he made. One of my favorite records right now is Bodies Of Water by Minneapolis' own Solid Gold. They have achieved a perfect blend of rock riffage, heavenly pop choruses and electronic dance trickery that I can't get enough of. Blo are a vintage '70s funk combo out of Nigeria - I dare you to sit still through this one! Two more SIART faves - Miike Snow has hit my hi-fi like a hurricane these last couple of weeks. I was a bit meh at first and then it clicked. It is a lovely album of electronic adult contemporary pop with some rock-ist touches that is very hard to decribe or classify. One song reminds me of Spoon, another of Royksopp, another of something more pastoral like the Beach Boys. It is all over the place, but yet makes a great whole. Mos Def has a new record out called The Ecstatic, and I give it two thumbs up. It is a funky set of tracks featuring Mos' unique sing song flow over beats by Madlib, Mister Flash, Preservation, Chad Hugo and J Dilla. Talib Kweli raps on one tune - look for a reunited Black Star in the not too distant future!

Discovery - I Want You Back (In Discovery)
Filthy Dukes - Twenty Six Hundred
The Emperor Machine - Kananana
Sleazy McQueen - One Extra Day
The Rolling Stones - Dance Pt.1
Faux Pas - Vanderbilt (Demo)
Solid Gold - Synchronize
Blo - Get That Groove In
Miike Snow - Cult Logic
Mos Def - Casa Bey
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Discovery have announced a special early release of their new album, LP. "With the help of our friends at Amie Street, we are releasing the album a week early for only $8. When you purchase the album, $2 will be donated to Oxfam America, an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Oxfam's focus on broad advocacy and local relief for the impoverished is inspiring and we hope our support brings more awareness about their projects and goals.

Click HERE to purchase the new album. We hope you enjoy it and thank you for supporting this excellent organization!

Rostam and Wes"

SIART Says...

LISTEN UP!

Spinnerette - Ghetto LoveOne of my current favorites is the new self titled debut album from Spinnerette. This is the new band fronted by former Distiller (and wife of Josh Homme) Brody Dalle. The record has her recording with Alain Johannes, former Red Hot Chili Pepper/Pearl Jam drummer Jack Irons and former Distiller bandmate Tony Bevilaqua. It is a sexy, raunchy, rockin' good time, filled with catchy choruses, and a pile up of grunge, punk, garage and new wave riffs. It is the perfect female companion to the last few QOTSA/Eagles Of Death Metal records, which Dalle, Johannes and Bevilaqua have all been involved in. People will probably be offended by the album cover's rather forward approach, but I am not one of them. (can't. stop. looking.) And ladies, because I believe in equal opportunity sexy, let me point you in the direction of this Twitpic of Lenny Kravitz's bubble butt that he posted a while back.

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Rye Rye - Bang feat.M.I.A.

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Tosca - Rosa