A Rémois Explosion (of talent...)

what is the city of reims in northwestern france famous for? for being the capital of the champagne region? for its striking and monumental cathedral? for some people maybe. but, in my book, it's famous for one thing alone: for being the origin of the some of the finest french music talents around today. namely, Yuksek, Brodinski and The Shoes.

Yuksek seems to have emerged at the forefront of this new, young talent and he's showing them by example. this track from his 2007 It Comes EP is one of my favourites. an alluring first half paves the way for around three final minutes of mayhem. not to be missed.

Yuksek - Kontraul

Yuksek's also a master on remix duty. here's his latest warped, relentless offering for bordeaux project Adam Kesher.

Adam Kesher - Feel You In My Arms (Yuksek Remix)

Yuksek's sparring partner, Brodinksi, seems to be getting better and better. having released his well-supported track in Bad Runner, the young producer and DJ has now been releasing a string of great remixes. his disctinctive minimal edge works wonders on D.I.M.'s stomper, Is You, and really lures you in before descending and ascending in cascades of musical water (complete with birdsounds and everything!)

D.I.M. - Is You (Brodinski Remix)

meanwhile, Ottowans Jokers of the Scene add their flavour to that Brodinski classic.

Brodinski - Bad Runner (Jokers Of The Scene Remix)

Alphabeat have been showing up quite a lot recently, and this joint remix venture between Yuksek and Brodinski doesn't disappoint. i like how in these remixes you can always tell which are the Yuksek elements and which are the Brodinski ones. and together, they can create a whole lot more.

Alphabeat - 10.000 Nights (Yuksek & Brodinski Remix)

The Shoes seem to have been getting a lot of hype recently as well. and i can see why: all of their tracks and remixes are filled with a kind of youthful energy which is just plain fun at its best. here, Brodinksi takes the reins of their bonafied hit America, sampling the voice track and adding a bassline which is beyond insane whilst being cheekily minimal.

The Shoes - America (Brodinski Remix)

london grime posterboy Wiley now gets the Shoes treatment, turning a track which i didn't think was anything special into something which can really get me moving. the remix begins with a bouncy drumline thundering under Wiley's vocals before a wonky bassline is unleashed, carrying the rest of the track to whole new heights.

Wiley - Wearing My Rolex (The Shoes Remix)


CHAMPAGNE PAYOUT
Oasis - Champagne Supernova

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Rain Dance

the brief good weather spell seems to be over...for the moment, ominous clouds turning the sky into a sheet of grey. has the summer been jeopardised?...the mood's certainly dampened. but that's no reason to listen to crap music!
so here are some tracks that reflect the weather. a heavy air...deeep sounds...like if you were listening to an electronic orchestra underwater. profundity is key...how long can you hold your breath for...?

from his Gizmode EP, munich-based dj and producer Florian Senfter (aka Splank!, John Starlight, and Zombie Nation) has created a filtered gem in Filter Jerks.

meanwhile, Flamingo feeds you tribal beats from danish producer Tomboy via Trentemøller. an awesome builder...enjoy...

Zombie Nation - Filter Jerks

Tomboy - Flamingo (Trentemøller Remix)

Bullet is a typically good remix from techno goddess Ellen Allien: Covenant never sounded so great...!

love this next track. released on Kitsuné in 2006 before Alex Ridha (aka Kid Alex, 909d1sco, Einzeller, Boys Noize and one half of PUZIQUe) had amassed such a global following, Feel Good (TV = Off) seems to me to be a bit of an Arcade Robot prototype...with a driving, deeply distressed bassline and a beat that you can almost feel more than you can actually hear...fun for the senses...

Covenant - Bullet (Ellen Allien Remix)

Boys Noize - Feel Good (Tv = Off) [Original Mix]

london man Hervé exploits and tears apart Michael Jackson's classic Thriller to devastating effect. it may be cheap...but it's big, it's bad and it's so so good...

Hervé then teams up with Trevor Loveys to make the dreamteam Speakerjunk. On Switch's Dubsided label again, they take on another old master. this time it's Jimi Hendrix and, once again, it's a bit of a beast...the original's great, the Speakerjunk remake kicks it kicking and screaming into the 21st century, but it's the Switch remix that just gives it one extra level of spunk...

Hervé - Cheap Thrills

Speakerjunk - Foxxy (Switch Remix)

despite still being young, the mysterious russian, The Proxy, is already a master at giving the musical pain. whilst appearing somewhat afraid of him, Tiga seems nevertheless to have taken The Proxy under his wing at Turbo Recordings and he's been releasing some great tracks and remixes. (CAN'T WAIT FOR HIS DANCE IN DARK EP, which is coming out in june some time...!!!) the Riot In Belgium re-edit maybe just gives the track a slightly more accessible edge...but don't worry, i'll have the originals on here at some point i'm sure...(i'll find an excuse...)

STRONG UNDERTOE AHEAD. DANGER OF DROWNING. another favourite artist of mine, D.I.M. (Andi Mead), is also a master of the brutal bassline. perhaps most famous for the electro weapon that is Airbus Baby, he also debuted on Tiga's Turbo Recordings imprint. his first release, featuring the track Syspiphos, shows D.I.M.'s ability to push the limits of his sound....and the result is an elasticated electronic soup which breaks over your head and immerses...submerges you. be careful though...once under, it's difficult to resurface...

The Proxy - Destroy (Riot In Belgium's Serious About Dance Edit)

D.I.M. - Sysiphos

DROWNING INSURANCE
Max Berlin - Elle & Moi (Joakim Remix)

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