Funky Nôze.


Parisian duo Nôze just released their third album Songs on the Rocks (Circus Company 2008), a exuberant exhibition of minimal beats, big baselines, old world instruments and blip hop. Bearing some similarity to Matthew Dear and Herbert, Nôze fuses minimal house with traditional French folk and menacing vocals to create a sound that is left field, yet intrinsically groovy. I freaking love it.

Nôze "Kitchen" (video)

Nôze "L'Inconnu du Placard" (mp3) (ZS)

Nôze "Kitchen" (mp3) (ZS)

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Also hailing from Ile-de-France is Sporto Kantès, whose latest album 3 at Last (Le Village Vert 2008) takes experimental punk to new bewildering extremes. The album starts out conservative enough with "Concrete," a ethereal little incantation featuring Michael Robinson on vocals (bearing a vague resemblance to Antony Hegarty). But don't get too complacent... to follow is a nutty (at times down-right uncomfortable) exposition designed to assault your senses and leaving you scratching your head. Despite the ensuing chaos, the boys of Sporto Kantès manage to propagate melodies, even if they are in fragmented form.

Sporto Kantès "Whistle" (video)

Sporto Kantès "Concrete" (mp3) (ZS)

Sporto Kantès "Liquid" (mp3) (ZS)

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Another new French album comes from Protoypes, an electronic band comprised of members from BOSCO and vocalist Isabelle Le Doussal of BuBBle Star. Their sophomore effort Synthétique is a straight-forward electro record in the Vive le Fête tradition, with retro rhythms and the occasional "punch crunch" to keep things interesting.

Prototypes "Synthétique" (mp3) (ZS)

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I have a strange affinity for balkan-fusion music even though I rarely post about it here. I'm making a quick exception from Brooklyn-based collective Firewater, who recently released The Golden Hour in North America (Bloodshot 2008). It's an aggressive collection of hard-edged world punk that has been described as "an indie rock answer to M.I.A.'s much-ballyhooed Kala" by Mike Usinger of No Depression. With the upcoming ousting of führer Bush and the presidential elections just around the corner, the appropriate selection seems to be "Hey Clown." Raise that frosty mug & bounce to those bass drums!

Firewater "Hey Clown" (mp3) (ZS)

BUY Firewater

Sound of Decadence.

Labrador recording artist The Sound of Arrows just released their long-awaited first single/EP Danger! featuring a few original tracks as well as remixes by Mr Pedro, Cotton Crew, Panache and Ice Cream Shout (whose ukulele-flute-bossa remake is probably the most successful). The single premiered on Pitchfork back in March and has been gaining momentum ever since. Frequently likened to Jens Lekman, stylistically I think a more realistic comparison would be Sambassadeur meets The Tough Alliance meets Saint Etienne. MFR put it best: "[Danger! is] a compelling juxtaposition between the child-like nature of the music—filled with ebullient keyboard lines, gorgeous electronic flourishes and elegant melodies—and the paranoid warnings of the lyrics."

Sound of Arrows "Danger!" (mp3) (ZS)

Sound of Arrows "Danger! (Ice Cream Shout version)" (mp3) (ZS)

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I'd been looking forward to the release of the new Walter Meego album Voyager (Almost Gold 2008) ever since Big Stereo previewed "Girls" several weeks back. Although it's taken some time to warm up to the album, there are definitely quite a few quality moments. The opening track "Forever" is an immediate crowd-pleaser that contains a seriously infectious 4-key air guitar riff. The track showcases the playfulness and stripped-down romanticism that stream throughout the album. The closing ballad "In My Dreams" was recently featured on an episode Ugly Betty. Voyager should faire very well on dancefloors.

Walter Meego "Wanna be a Star" (video)

Walter Meego "Forever" (mp3) (ZS)

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What might happen if Brazil's Edu K toned the baile funk down a bit and teamed up with Gotan Project? It might sound something like the South American collective Bajofondo, whose third album Mar Dulce was released last year on ViBRA surco universal. The album is a mash-up of traditional Argentinian/Venezuelan tango (featuring gorgeous strings, horns and accordions) w/ thumping baselines and programmed beats. Noteworthy as well, is the uber-cute promo clip (directed by Alma Har'el) for the lead single "Pa Bailar con Julieta" featuring Ryota Komatsu playing the bandoneón, a nail salon, and a widow's tango.

Bajofondo Tango Club "Pa Bailar con Julieta" (video)

Bajofondo Tango Club "Pa Bailar con Julieta" (mp3) (ZS)

BUY Bajofondo Tango Club

Apples & Tangerines.

When everyones sitting around talking about movies they've seen, I'm usually the one on the sideline with a blank look on his face. Blame it on situational ADHD or whatever, but unless a movie hooks me in the first 10-15 minutes, I completely lose interest. I'd rather be listening to music anyway.

So it goes without saying, I almost never buy movie soundtracks, which is why it's so odd that I've already snatched 2 this year. The first was the hipster folk soundtrack to Juno (which I highly recommend) and more recently, the soundtrack to the dark romance Eagle vs. Shark, an indie flick from New Zealand directed by Taika Waititi and starring Jermaine Clement (one half of kiwi musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords) and the adorable Loren Horsley (my girl-crush du jour). Without revealing too much of the plot, it's an awkward little story about nerd love that'll tickle your heart and make you appreciate pocket protectors a bit more. Eagle vs. Shark won best screenplay at the US Comedy Arts Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.

Much like the Juno soundtrack, the music featured in the film is folksy, quirky and somber at times. The major contributor is kiwi folk rock ensemble The Phoenix Project with appearances by Devendra Banhart, Age Pryor, M. Ward (doing a Bowie cover), The Reduction Agents and The Stone Roses. You just can't go wrong with a lineup like that.

Eagle vs. Shark (trailer) (video)

The Phoenix Foundation "I Love You, Awesome" (mp3) (ZS)

The Phoenix Foundation "Blue Summer" (mp3) (ZS)

Devendra Banhart "The Body Breaks" (mp3) (ZS)

Tessa Rain & Age Pryor "Funny Shadow" (mp3) (ZS)

BUY Eagle vs. Shark OST

Get Hot!

What can I say about Austrian live wire Parov Stelar that hasn't already been said a million times before? The fool's just so damn hip to the jive! Last year he released the prodigious Shine, his 3rd full length which produced marvels like the brassy jingle "Charleston Butterfly" and the moby-esque "On My Way Now." This year, he's back on top of his game with the release of the Flame of Fame EP (Etage Noir Recordings). It just proves that Stelar knows what's exactly happening in electronic music today; All 4 tracks are slammin' floorflushers boasting bitcrushers, filthy beats, stank synths and that ever-so-seamless sampling that makes Stelar so slick. The "Puttin' on the Ritz" loop in "The Flame of Fame" will jerk you right out of your chair into a frenzied shimmy. The 1920s never sounded so Stelar.

Parov Stelar "Matilda" (video)

Parov Stelar "The Flame of Fame" (mp3) (ZS)

Parov Stelar "Charleston Butterfly" (mp3) (ZS)

Parov Stelar "A Night in Torino" (mp3) (ZS)

BUY Parov Stelar

All That Glitterz.

I first discovered Polish band Loco Star a few years back when I happened to stumble across their video for So Light (2004) on youtube. Newly signed to Kayax Records, they've reemerged this year with the release of their second mini-album Herbs, which is a sensual exhibition of dreamy pop & organic beats. Marsija's cool vocals instantly call to mind that of Lou Rhodes, formerly one half of the now-defunct cult band Lamb. Herbs should help pull Loco Star out of obscurity and into the spotlight the band rightly deserves.

Loco Star "Steppin'" (video)



Loco Star "Herbs" (mp3) (ZS)

Perhaps one of the most highly-anticipated releases of 2008 belongs to Swedish band Zeitgeist (of the plethora of bands that share the same name on myspace, this is the only one worthy of your attention). Having already released a few unmixed demos, the band is scheduled to release their first full-length album The Jade Motel in Scandinavia on April 30th (the lead double single "Humanitarianism/Bunny" is already available). "Princess," whose icy screeching is almost identical to that of Karin Dreijer Andersson, is joined by Per & Mattias to create a bizarre, yet inherently charming brand of electronica that sounds like a cross between The Knife (well... duh) and Familjen. If you ask me, "The Jade Motel" totally annihilates The Knife's last album. Furthermore, I'm incredibly impressed by the gorgeous artistic direction of this album! I guess that's to be expected when you're taking cues from Comme des Garçons, Andy Warhol and Alexander McQueen. Just wait until you see them live - to say it's absolutely thrilling would be an understatement.

Zeitgeist "The Lake" (video)



Zeitgeist "Wrecked Metal" (mp3) (ZS)



Zeitgeist "Bunny" (finished version) (mp3) (ZS)

Helsinki-based band The Millioners quietly released their first album in March of last year on KHY Suomen Musiikki Oy Records. A full year later, their latest single Body in Use is still being played in heavy rotation in clubs worldwide (a formidable accomplishment in the fast-paced world of electronic music). Though at first glance, the tacky album title "Most Sexiest Music" and kitsch sleeve art will certainly raise a few reluctant eyebrows, you'll surely conclude that no other title would be appropriate after hearing the album. The Millioners are purveyors of uber-sexy disco infused w/ 80s nostalgia, playful wit and bouncing melodies. Royksopp meets Daft Punk. They will not be denied!

The Millioners "Body Into Use" (video)



The Millioners "Up to You" (mp3) (ZS)



The Millioners "My Great Regret" (mp3) (ZS)

Brooklyn genre-bending heavyweight Santogold is no stranger to the blog world (in fact, most of the tracks on her debut album have already leaked online). I'm gonna jump on the bandwagon for the sole purpose of reiterating that this lady is pure, glittering GOLD. She is the hottest commodity because she does it all: produce, write, sing, play and perform. She's also coincidentally one of the best lyricists I've encountered in long, long while. Santi's self-titled debut (available tomorrow on Lizard King/Atlantic Records) is guaranteed to burn a big fat hole in the music history book. Catch her tonight on Conan!

Santogold "L.E.S Artistes" (video)



Santogold "I'm a Lady" (mp3) (ZS)

I've come to the conclusion that fileden sucks, therefore I'm trying out hosting services again. In the meantime, zshare will have to do. Thanks for your patience.

Danse On.

You may have noticed this blog has been parked for the past couple of months & will continue to be until things settled down a little bit. In the meantime, I've doing some Spring cleaning on my hard drive & I've come across some stuff I'd nearly forgotten all about (as a child of the rave generation, you'll note my affinity for house anthems). Let this tie you over until the GSD is back in full swing...

PNAU "Baby (Ashton Shuffle 'Just Woah' Mix)"(mp3) (ZS)

Quesh "Candy Girl" (Original) (mp3) (ZS)

Alphabeat "Fascination (Linus Loves Main Mix)" (mp3) (ZS)

Vegomatic "3 Bikinis (Davide Loi Mix)" (mp3) (ZS)

Georges Deligny "Panique au Salon (The Grooveblaster Mix)" (mp3) (ZS)

Tim Deluxe "Less Talk More Action (Club Mix)" (mp3) (ZS)

Space Cowboy "What Dreams are Made of" (Original) (mp3)

Sea Flowers ft. Giaga "Easy Livin' (Cop 4 Turntable Mix)" (mp3)

Res "They Say Vision (Robbie Rivera's Vocal Mixshow Mix)" (mp3)

Red Carpet "Alright (Brad Carter Mix)" (mp3)

Poker Pets "Lovin' You" (Original) (mp3)

Pussy 2000 "It's Gonna Be Alright" (Original) (mp3)

Ananda Project "Shouldn't Have Left Me" (Original) (mp3)

Ricky Montanari "Beat Conductor" (Original) (mp3)

The Captive Mind.


Now for a change of pace. Life has been feelin' a bit heavy lately and I've found myself unusually susceptible to good balladry. If you're anything like me, these supplements will help you through those periodic lulls in reality...

First off, I can't say enough about the new Helio Sequence album "Keep Your Eyes Ahead" on Sub Pop. This is the Portland-based band's forth studio album and definitely their masterpiece thus far. The new album sounds like a collaboration between Cocteau Twins and Coldplay. I call it 'rainbird music,' because of the heavy atmospherics and repetitious, melodic riffs. The song Shed Your Love in particular shoves my heart through the meat grinder.

The Helio Sequence "Shed Your Love" (mp3)

The Helio Sequence "Lately" (mp3)

Rogue Wave is an up & coming indie band from Oakland, CA. They cultivate refined folk-rock on their second studio release "Asleep at Heaven's Gate", out now on Brushfire Records (of Jack Johnson fame). Their perspective is fresh and the fact that they're hand-clapping enthusiasts makes me appreciate them more (for example). Lead man Zach Rogue's voice really shines in slow numbers such as the ever-gorgeous, yet somber Christians in Black. I have no idea what the song is about, but it projects a mood that is simultaneously desperate and comforting.

Rogue Wave "Christians in Black" (mp3)

Belgian band Girls in Hawaii is actually two guys, Antoine Wielemans and Lionel Vancauwenberghe, who are joined by numerous supporting musicians/friends. Signed to Belgian indiepop label 62TV Records, they cite cold weather, heartbreak, and ghosts as important influences (an ideal recipe for gentle, unpretentious music). This Farm Will End Up In Fire is from their sophomore full-length release "Plan Your Escape."

Girls in Hawaii "This Farm..." (mp3)

I wasn't so sure about the latest Bella album "No One Will Know" (2007 Mint Records) after the first listen, but it has since found a special exploit in my psyche. Often (and unfairly) compared to bands like Client and Ladytron, these two girls and one guy have found their niche in the electropop scene. The title track is all about residual regret and those things you wish you had said when you had the chance. Long live vicarious love.

Bella "No One Will Know" (mp3)

Alas, Swedish singer Jonna Lee brings us Dried Out Eyes from her debut on Razzia Records. The album title says all: "10 Pieces 10 Bruises."

Jonna Lee "Dried Out Eyes" (mp3)