HO HO HO

We're off the grid.

Merry Christmas folks and see ya in the New Year!

FLORIAN MEINDL // THE INSOLVABLE RIDDLE // FLASH RECORDINGS

Today is officially the last working day of the year. The penultimate climax to the weeks of toil, binge drinking and good old fashioned hard work. Time to congratulate yourself on a job well done, kick back and chill. Might just head over to T Bar tonight and get down to Panorama Bar's Tama Sumo's mammoth set and pretend that it's Christmas in Kreuzberg.

Maybe stick on Florian Meindl's new EP, 'The Insolvable Riddle' and space out to his  signature take on the deep, minimal groove. At once melodic and subtly hypnotic, this is the kind of shit that Santa would bob to while making the rounds at 6AM, chilling to the sunrise and thinking about a job well done.

Check out 'Addiction to Perfection' here.

OCELOT // OUR TIME (KAP10KURT REMIX) // WALL OF SOUND

Snow flakes outside, Christmas carols on the radio & subzero  temperatures make typing a near impossible task. Need those fingerless gloves and thermal underwear to keep our neu wave asses from freezing. Feeling more hungover than festive and Run DMC's 'Christmas In Hollis' is on repeat in the office. Would love to be like Darryl 'DMC' McDaniels and get a ton of laceless Adidas Superstars and gold chains for Christmas. Wonder what we'll get this year?

Getting all festive on us are London's Wall Of Sound new signing, Ocelot, who have roped in NYC hipster, Kap10kurt, to give their new single, 'Our Time' an electro-fying disco-fied twist. Download the track here and get it going on the Xmas party playlist.

BUSH DOCTORS VS BOOTSY COLLINS // DISCIPLES OF FUNK

Went Ten-pin bowling for our office's Christmas lunch and scored a 126 points out of a possible 300. Was pretty pleased considering the last time was way back during the halcyon days of '93, getting excited about Mortal Kombat 2 and listening to 'Siamese Dream'. Guess it's kinda like riding a bike, once you get in the zone, the machine takes over.

Taking over the party soundtrack are funk zen masters, Bush Doctors, with a special Xmas bass-laden freebie. Download Bush Doctors vs. Bootsy Collins, 'Disciples of Funk' right here.

NOUVEAU YORICAN // BORIQUA // SOUND PELLEGRINO

The festive party season kicks off in earnest this week with invitations galore to various magazine, record label and PR agency mid week soirees. Can't seem to decide on which ones to go to and which ones to avoid. Just want to be seen at the 'right' parties and not end up looking like a chump at the shit ones. Want to end 2K9 in style. Might just end up getting wasted and falling asleep outside Tescos.

Anyways, you can kick start the evening with clued up, art house types, Nouveau Yorican, proving to the hipster wannabes at the Vice party that there is more to life than Kitsune. 'Boriqua' is the new single from DJ Gina Turner and Dutch scenester, Laidback Luke out on Sound Pellegrino. Havard Bass tweaks the remix for a full on electro house-tastic effect. Check it out here.

CRYSTAL FIGHTERS // I LOVE LONDON // KITSUNE

Might be considering a week long Fruitarian diet to flush out all the undesirables that have been lingering on the insides since God knows when. Need to get the machine well oiled in time for the festive season. Hopefully we'll last the duration as the first three days are the hardest, when your junk food body tries to readjust to the new fruit diet. The effects are pretty severe to say the least. Intense pain, junkie like cravings and full on diarrhea. Sounds bad but the pay off is sweet. Apparently. Think we'll give it a shot.

Just in time for the festive party rounds are Basque/Anglo fusion ensemble, Crystal Fighters, spreading the Christmas cheer with their new single, 'I Love London' out on Kitsune. So cool it hurts, these guys feature a mix of traditional folk music with upfront electro funk beats. It shouldn't work but it does. Think hipster raving in the forests of San Sebastian. Check out Brooklyn's In Flagranti's remix here.

I Love London (In Flagranti Dub) by luciusdigital

MUSTARD PIMP AND BLATTA & INESHA // PIGEON FLU

Oh yes, it's that Friday feeling again and what better way to roll on the weekend by having a little afternoon mash up right here in the office. Throw your macbooks out the window, rip the phone sockets from the walls and crank up the stereo like it's 7AM @ Cookies in Berlin. You're a free spirit, no one can tell you what to do. Quit your job and move to a squat in Kreuzberg. Live in  a commune and party like it's the end of the world.

LA's Mustard Pimp and Dim Mak favourite has teamed up with Italian electro crunk duo, Blatta & Inesha for a wonky, mad as hell electro banger, 'Pigeon Flu'. Download it here and forever be damned.

 

Mustard Pimp and Blatta & Inesha - Pigeon Flu by BLATTA-INESHA

WHOMADEWHO // I LOST MY VOICE // GOMMA RECORDS

Picked up a copy of Stephen King's little seen flick 'Maximum Overdrive' last night. Came highly recommended by a horror nut buddy of ours. It is definitely one of those films you would not call timeless. Made in 1986, it certainly looks and feels like it was done in the 80s. Camp costumes, new wave make up & shoulder pads galore. More 'Little Shop Of Horrors' than 'The Exorcist'. Derided by the media during it's initial run, the same critics now laud it as a cult masterpiece. Guess time does makes things cool after awhile. And AC/DC's album, 'Who Made Who' released as the soundtrack fucking rocks.

Very much like Danish nu wave, art school types, WhoMadeWho, with their new single,  'I Lost My Voice' out on Gomma this month. Often camp, pretty retro but most definitely timeless. Might just stick it on the iPod for the ride home. Check out Golden Bug's remix here.

THE CB'S // MISDEMEANOUR // JAM CITY RECORDS

What a complete wash out. Not only were we soaked to the bone but spent 3 long hours on Saturday night sitting through '2012'.  Man, that is one LONG ASS film. Grim cautionary tale aside, the spectacle of giant tsunamis washing over the Himalayas was pretty damn riveting. The rest was crap though. Anyways, stepping out into the crazy downpour after the movie ended got us kinda paranoid.

Well, thank fuck for The CB's. Their 2K9 update of Foster Sylvers 1973 classic, 'Misdemeanour' has been all over BBC 6 Music's playlist for a couple of weeks now and is a cheeky, funk laden party time affair. Might move to Sydney, where it's hot and crank this bad boy up on Bondi beach.

Check out A.Skillz' remix here.

TORRO TORRO // JULLY BLACK // RUNNING (TORRO TORRO REMIX)

Not quite sure what to make of the new remake of the classic 80s sci fi series, 'V'. It's overtly stylised, bigger and badder. Looks slick as hell and the slight populist approach with it's underlying critique on Obamania notwithstanding, there are some cool moments to be had. Well, Mitchell, who plays FBI agent/worried mother, Erica, basically does her whole blonde running around thing last seen in 'Lost'. The real highlight has to be Brazilian actress, Morena Baccarin's Queen mother, Anna. Arguably the hottest alien ever. She could mind control us anytime. All it's flash and shine aside, it lacks that old school feel that made the original so endearing. Plus Marc Singer kicked ass. And we love the retro V / Luger type laser pistols.

Another duo capable of giving it the snazzy make overs are Toronto based electro-booty producers, Torro Torro, who are fast rising on the scene with their up front remixes and killer parties. Having remixed Crookers and Esser earlier this year, these guys have just put their Midas touch to hip hop vixen, Jully Black's new single, 'Running' out later this month. Expect some big room effects and loadsa booty shakin'.

Check it out here.

MUNK // NO MILK // GOMMA RECORDS

We've pulled ourselves out of the Monday Blues (mosh) pit and finally got round to getting our act together. It's not that we hate Mondays but Tuesdays are definitely much cooler. We don't fight it, we embrace it. Like what our buddy Lyn Cassady said about Optimum Trajectory, in 'The Men Who Stare At Goats', "Your life is like a river and if you're aiming for a goal that is not your destiny, you will always be swimming against the current. Find out what your destiny is and the river will carry you." We like that kinda thing. It is inspirational.

Never lacking in inspiration is Gomma Records' Electro disco-fied commander in chief, Munk, who has roped in the sultry talents of Italian dark mistress, Asia Argento. We loved her scream queen routine in Lamberto Bava's cult horror 1986 classic, 'Demoni 2: L'incubo Ritorna', 'The Nightmare Returns'. Love at first sight. Here on Munk's latest offering, 'No Milk', Argento lends her raspy vocals over an retro-esque electro wave groove. Not quite the desired blood curdling effect but extremely tasty nonetheless.

Check out the Muzzle Flash remix here.

RADIOCLIT PRESENTS // SAGA AFRICA // MENTAL GROOVE

Flood warnings, folks getting washed away from bridges and a leaking roof in the bedroom. November just sucks doesn't it. We really can't wait for December, where an even bigger washout beckons. Beginning to forget what it feels like to be warm and dry, basking in the midday Catalunyan sun with your stunning lingerie model girlfriend. But it's ten in the morning and you're holed up in some damp foxhole in East London, wondering where's the love?

Thanks goodness for these Radioclit boys, who provide a brief reprieve from the bleakness with a warm, rump & thump afro-electro ditty out on Mental Groove Records. 'Radioclit Presents Saga Africa' is a new series curated by the label's hot new artists and the London based duo have handpicked their choice acts for 2K10, with blog favourite Douster's rework of the Lion King theme and stellar productions from fellow Parisians Myd & Lazy Flow.

Check it out here.

PATRICK WOLF & ALEC EMPIRE LIVE // VULTURES // LONDON PALLADIUM NOV 15 2009

Master of the dark arts, Alec Empire and his new Padawan, Patrick Wolf, took to the stage on Sunday at London's Palladium for a special rendition of Wolf's cult single, 'Vultures', which Empire helped produce and write. If this is anything to go by, Alec's headline show on Thursday at London's Islington Academy will most definitely KICK ASS.

UK tour dates below:

19 Nov London, O2 Academy Islington

20 Nov Birmingham, Eddie's

21 Nov Manchester, Club Academy

22 Nov Edinburgh, GRV

JAY HAZE // WELL PLONDERED FEAT. JAMES ST JACKSON // TUNINGSPORK

Had tickets for Slayer next week. Was hoping for a lethal dose of 'Angel Of Death' and 'South Of Heaven' but Tom Araya's back surgery has put all metal-ness on hold till March next year. Oh well. I guess with Tom growling his way through 11 albums and 20 plus years of service, it's bound to take it's toll. Might have to do with repeats of 'Show No Mercy' & 'Reign In Blood' for now.

Anyways, also on the stereo is Berlin based Yank expat, Jay Haze, who has been a very, very busy boy with his recent sophomore full length effort, 'Let The Love Flow' as Fuckpony on BPitch, his excellent Fabric 47 compilation and now the latest offering on his very own label, TuningSpork. 'Well Plondered' is taken off the mini compilaton, 'Fur Schnitzel, Mein Nitzel' out now. Expect jazzy-fied, minimal tinged melodies with a little kick up the ass. Tom Araya might dig this.

RICH NXT // KUBITHING // MIGHTY RUMBLE

Friday 13th. Pretty ominous date if you believe what some folks tell you. We like the number 13. It's the age when you officially become a teenager much to the chagrin of your parents. It's also spelled with 8 letters in English, a number the Chinese find super lucky. The more 8s you have, the more wealth you generate. Might start tattooing 8s all over our bodies. And the Sikhs find 13 to be a lucky number, they love it. And so does Chelsea's, Michael Ballack. So there. And we love Fridays too.

Certainly not feeling unlucky is Singapore's DJ Sonny, with his hotly tipped new label, Mighty Rumble. Already getting picked up by the cooler, tech house community, the latest offering is the haunting, hypnotic house offering by London's East End pedigree, Rich Nxt with, 'Kubithing' out this December. Just in time for the festive Shoreditch warehouse parties.

Check out DJ Sonny's Trip A Wire Dub Remix here.

RADIOCLIT // SECOUSSE ALL STARS // MENTAL GROOVE

Wonder what we'll get for Christmas this year. Have put together a shit list of all the people that won't be missed in 2K10. Might just turn Buddhist and forget about everything. Become vegetarian and say our prayers in temples lined with joss sticks, getting high on the fumes. Might just walk away from it all and stick two fingers up to the festive season. But we'll probably end up with the throngs at Oxford Street this weekend, getting gift vouchers at H&M.

Getting into the festive groove are London based electro funk producers, Radioclit with a thumping holiday banger, 'Secousse All Stars' out on Mental Groove Records. The limited 12" vinyl comes with a full on fur cover for all your hipster Xmas wants. Etienne & Johan's packed out monthly club night of the same name over at Nottinghill Arts Club is a testament to the growing popularity of the in demand duo.

Check out Brodinski's remix of 'Secousse' here.

FLORIAN MEINDL // FLASHMOB // FLASH RECORDINGS

Saw Courtney Hunt's indie flick, 'Frozen River' last night. The film featured at last year's Sundance to rave reviews and even Tarantino got a hard on waxing lyrical about it. It was pretty cool, Hunt has a great eye for detail and the shots of the car driving over the frozen St Lawrence lake were pretty impressive to say the least. It is COLD out there in upstate New York and I was feeling absolutely bone chilled towards the end.

Adopting a cool, clinical approach as well to his art is young Berlin based DJ & producer, Florian Meindl, who's growing fanbase includes heavyweights like Dubfire, Loco Dice, Erol Alkan and Josh Wink. Christian Smith has described Florian's cuts as, "Proper evolved new school house with a fat production." We just love his classy approach to techno and he looks cool as fuck as well. Catch Florian at his White Nights parties @ Cookies Berlin. 'Flashmob' is out now at all good record stores.

THE SO SO GLOS // MY BLOCK // GREEN OWL

These dudes from Brooklyn put the punk back in rock. Check out the rather brilliant video for 'My Block' by new talent, Matt Greeley. A cheeky homage to the 'one take' technique exquisitely executed by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock in 'Rope' and a staple trademark of fellow long shot advocates like Antonioni, DePalma, Haneke, Jia Zhangke et al.

The only other 'one shot' music video that comes to mind is Coldplay's, 'Yellow' and that made me wanna puke. This just makes me wanna rock out...

Catch The So So Glos live in London on the following shows:

Tuesday 17-Nov-09, Stampede! @ Buffalo Bar (Last FM club night)

Wednesday 18-Nov-09, Old Blue Last (Vice issue launch party)  

Thursday 19-Nov-09, Barfly

Friday 20-Nov-09, 93 Feet East 

Saturday 21-Nov-09, Be @ Proud

Sunday 22-Nov-09, Flowerpot

ASH // JOY KICKS DARKNESS // ATOMIC HEART RECORDS

The 90s have returned. Yes, it's official. Time to rock out the battered Jack Purcells and crappy flannel shirts. Grow your hair out, keep a beard and dig out those dusty Superchunk records. We love bands from the nineties. They seemed somewhat more saccharin albeit in a good way. Drop Nineteens, Velocity Girl, Madder Rose, The Nightblooms et al. Kinda takes you back.

Keeping it real and reliving the 90s is Tim Wheeler and gang, on the road with their A-Z tour of the UK. Taking it back to basics with obscure, sweaty venues, Ash give us a dose of what's in store with their new single, 'Joy Kicks Darkness'. Peep the video here.

LUCA BALDINI // HOOKED // HELL YEAH

Why is everyone moving to Berlin? Might be some mass scale techno immigration never before seen in the history of the city. Does everyone there live like the hippy, polygamous commune described by Alex Garland in 'The Beach'? Or are we just sick of London/NYC/Tokyo? Might move there and make a living selling currywurst by Alexanderplatz and DJ part time @ Cookies.

Another expat plying his trade over in the German capital is Italian, Luca Baldini, renowned in the Berlin art house circles for his Drama Society project. Luca's sparse, stripped down melodies have seen the man ditch the glam & glitz of Milan for the industrial zeitgeist of Berlin. His new single, 'Hooked / Ice Crash' out on Hell Yeah is full of modern day surprises. Laurent Garnier, Tiga et al have been rinsing this for weeks.

Check out Ivan Smagghe's It's A Fine Line remix of 'Hooked' here.

DAS GLOW // LITE BRITE REMIXES // INSTITUBES

 

Cannibal Corpse totally blew my eardrums out last night. Can't believe these guys have been plying their trade for over 20 years. There was a drunken debate as to the proliferation of the Floridian Death Metal scene during the late 80s/early 90s. Think of Florida and images of sun drenched beaches, hot chicks on roller skates and Mickey Mouse come to mind. Not exactly the environment one would think could spawn the likes of Obituary, Morbid Angel, Death & the aforementioned Cannibal Corpse.

You could kinda understand where bands like Emperor, Mayhem et al are coming from. Guess the sun hardly shines in Norway and church burning is the weekend past time. Also dudes like Godflesh & Carcass, where the industrial wasteland of Birmingham gave these guys reason to crank it up. Anyways, by the time George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher belted out 'Meat Hook Sodomy', all was forgotten.

Not so hardcore but equally mesmerising is Institubes mainstay & all round Parisian hipster, Das Glow, with his fuzzy, retro electro tinged pop. His previous single, 'Sunburnt', was a spaced out 8 bit wonder and got picked up by Alex Boyz Noise, Simian Mobile Disco & Miss Kitten. The 'Lite Brite' remix package is the man's latest offering. Maybe ol Corpsegrinder might like this as well.

Check out 'Lite Brite (Strip Steve Remix)' here.

CRIMEA X LIVE @ ADVENTURES IN THE BEETROOT FIELD // CARGO LONDON // FRI OCT 30

Oh yes, we've passed the mid week threshold and the weekend finally beckons. Just wish that it was Friday everyday, where everyone's up for it, where hangovers and Mondays are non existent. But alas, we live in the now and the alarm clock rings at 7AM everyday. However, that doesn't stop us from punching out early and rendezvous-ing down to the fantastic FREE FRIDAYS over at top East London hangout, Cargo.

Friday, October 30 will see our favourite spaced out Italians, Crimea X, take the stage with The One, Knifeworld, Von Haze & party to alt disco, nu rave beats courtesy of Crispin Dior & Richard Fearless. See you weekenders down at the front.

Download Crimea X's, 'Seaside Resort Mix #3' here.

TOKiMONSTA // DOING IT MY WAY // RAMP RECORDINGS

Slowly sipping chamomile  & vanilla tea, trying desperately to piece together the jigsaw events of the weekend. Feel like Joseph Fiennes' flashforward where everything's a little hazy but at least there are no masked gunmen with assault rifles coming to kill me. Sonic Youth on Friday, Mobilee Records party on Saturday and numerous sambucas in between. Feel like Jenson Button after his win in Brazil albeit without the hot lingerie model girlfriend and £8 million a year salary.

However, we've got a tasty little tune courtesy of London's fantastic aficionados label, Ramp Recordings. 'Doing It My Way' is the latest offering from LA's TOKiMONSTA AKA Jenny Lee and it sizzles with leftfield creativity, which has fellow luminaries like Flying Lotus & Mary Ann Hobbs salivating over it like huskies on a hot day.

Beauty & brains. We like this.

RELISH COMPILATION II + RELEASE PARTY // RELISH RECORDINGS

Wish I was in Berlin where it feels like it's always 1989. The social and cultural milieu where everything and anything can happen, cheap rent in the city, clubs that never close and currywurst & fries everyday till you die. Well, maybe not. But they do have Mezzo Mix, a soda that combines the flavours of Fanta & Coke in one neat bottle. Why the hell didn't we think of that one?

Anyways, if you happen to be in the city next Halloween weekend, make sure you don the fangs & cape and bat over to Headman's album launch party @ Pick Nick for the extremely fine, 'Relish Compilation II'. All the usual new wave, nu disco suspects are on board with tracks from Headman, David Gilmour Girls, The C90s, Don Cash and Nemesi. Get your rave on now.

Download Headman's, 'Dirt (Shazam Remix)' here.

ASH // TRUE LOVE 1980 // ATOMIC HEART RECORDS

1995 was an excellent year. Dial up internet modems with the fuzzy, white noise connections. No one knew what the hell a blog was and all girls we knew were 18. AND there was Ash. We sang along to 'Kung Fu' & 'Girl From Mars', stuck badges on our backpacks and wanted to be rock stars. Young and carefree we cried, "Fuck you. We don't give a damn."

Well, here's 2009. We don't really swear anymore, are definitely not rock stars and get anxiety attacks about the number of things we do actually have to give a damn about. But Ash are still here and do what they do best. Taking it back to the 80s with their new single, 'True Love 1980'. Wish we had a flux capacitor to take us back.

THE PHENOMENAL HANDCLAP BAND // 15 TO 20 // GOMMA

You've probably heard this getting played to death on BBC 6 Music but you can't help sticking it on again & again & again... Well, you get the point. Infectiously catchy to the point of irritation. What better way to piss off your work mates on a Monday afternoon by having this repeated on the office stereo.

NYC collective, The Phenomenal Handclap Band, shoulders the blame for this sing a long pop ditty, '15 to 20' out on Gomma Records. Peep David E Sugar's retro makeover below.

ALEC EMPIRE // NEW SINGLE 1000 EYES // UK TOUR DATES

Whoop! Whoop! Everyone's favourite Master of the Dark Arts, Alec Empire, is back on the grid with a new download only single, '1000 Eyes', taken off the dystopian, Blade Runner-esque animated short film, 'The Golden Foretaste of Heaven'. Why does the future always look like the burnt out concrete urban battle scene at the end of 'Full Metal Jacket'? You can almost hear Animal Mother saying, "Fuck you Cowboy. Fuck all you assholes!".

But the film's ace. Check out the trailer here.

Alec and Nic Endo will also bring the pain to the UK this November with a few choice dates in and around the country. Time to rock out the face paint and vintage ATR t shirts and tell the Nazi's to shove it. Haha.

18.11.2009 Newport, TJS

19.11.2009 London, O2 Academy Islington

20.11.2009 Birmingham, Eddie's

21.11.2009 Manchester, Club Academy

22.11.2009 Edinburgh, GRV

MELLEFRESH VS CYBERSUTRA // WHITE TRASHY & BLONDE // SMUT PUSHERS REMIX

Feeling a bit mental today. Did 30min flat on the treadmill and barely broke a sweat, must be the boxfresh New Balance MT1500s I had on today or the 3 redbulls & energy bars that went down like jagermeisters on Saturday night. Having trouble focusing right now, let alone construct coherent sentences...

Kinda calls for a bass wobbling, gut wrenching, big room banger and Toronto's Smut Pushers know how to rev it up. Already getting picked up by Steve Aoki, The Bloody Beetroots, Drop The Lime et al, their remix of Mellefresh's 'White, Trashy & Blonde' certainly kicks a whole lot of ass.

FENECH SOLER // LIES (THE PHANTOM'S REVENGE REMIX) + VIDEO // MODA MUSIC

Where the hell did the weekend go? In a blink of an eye and it's gone. Need to get my head round this two day weekend business and do what the French do so well by sticking it to the man and picketing for three day weekends. Might as well pack my bags and move to Paris. Maybe get a job as a shop assistant for Kitsune or peddle DVDs along La Halle.

Anyways, what Fenech Soler do so well is crank it up to the MAX as their new glammed up video for 'Lies' will attest to. Loud & proud on a Monday afternoon. Check out 'Lies (The Phantom's Revenge Remix)' here.

THE SO SO GLOS // TOURISM_TERRORISM // GREEN OWL RECORDS

Finally, something to rave about on a Thursday afternoon. The weather seems to have picked up as well, compelling us to abandon our daily sedentary lifestyle and get wasted under the sunshine. We still prefer the shade and typing on our macbooks.

Brooklyn's hardest working post punks, The So So Glos, however, are lean mean soldiers on a mission. A preemptive strike on our side of the pond, spreading their infectiously catchy sing a long tunes and f*** you attitude.

Currently on tour in Europe with The Virgins, showcasing tracks from their debut album, 'Tourism/Terrorism', this NYC quartet will hit London sometime in November. Stay tuned.

Check out their new single, 'My Block' here.

SAMUEL & THE DRAGON // DIAMONDS ON A BOAT // MOSHI MOSHI

Gonna take it down a notch this Wednesday. The onset of autumn has made us feel quite emotional or could it be the hangover from the rousing, blast from the past performance from our all time classic alt indie favs, The Pixies, at the Brixton Academy last night. Frank, Kim et al blitzed through the Doolittle track list like it was 1989 albeit a little chubbier around the sides. Can't believe it's 20 years since the band's sophomore release. Feel old now. They rounded off the night with the UK Surf version of Wave of Mutilation. Pretty emotional stuff.

New Moshi Moshi signings, Samuel & The Dragon know a thing or two about emotions, with their new single, 'Diamonds On A Boat'. A laid back, stripped down electronic excursion on urban isolation and melancholy. It's deep shit. Makes you just wanna kick back, light up, burn & chill. Sweet stuff.

TURZI // BUENOS AIRES // RECORD MAKERS

Rainy Mondays are a staple fixture in the pre autumnal comedown calender. Come Halloween when the clocks go back an hour, all manner of wintry unpleasantries arise. Doesn't it suck big time when you look out the window and it's pitch black at 4PM? Freezing our unfortunate asses off as we trudge along to work muttering about the numbness in our fingers. whilst thinking of our friends in the Southern Hemisphere, who are just rocking out the speedos getting ready for the summer heatwave. F***ers.

Parisian electro rock upstart, Turzi, looks south for sunnier inspirations with 'Buenos Aires', the lead single taken off his sophomore album, 'B', out later this year. A thrilling demonstration of Romain Turzi's knack for an ace tune and polished production, we get a swirling new wave excursion in pop music at its hedonistic best. On the flipside, Turzi's druggy space rock composition, 'Bombay' is best served straight up and loud as hell.

Check out Sebastian Tellier's sweet ass reworking of 'New Beat In Buenos Aires' and Pan Euro remixers, Koudlam's trippy take on 'Thriller In Bombay'.

MOMMA'S BOY // WEDOUWEDOU // SOUND PELLEGRINO

Got busted trying to sneak out the back door of a show last night. Band's manager clocked me as I was making my 'stealth' exit during the second song. Is it really imperative to stay for the whole, excruciating shindig if these guys were as appalling as a cross dressing, trannie Natalie Imbruglia? Might as well be reading Chris Martin's self penned poetry prose.

Thankfully, the French do it better and this latest electro funk offering from Momma's Boy (aka Mikix The Cat aka Mike Gnacadja), 'Wedouwedou' on Sound Pellegrino, Institubes cooler sounding imprint, is the drug free remedy to a crappy night out. Endorsed by the NYC hipster set, Trouble & Bass, Drop The Lime et al, this looks set to bump & grind and not a cheesy chorus in sight.

Rotterdam's home grown talent, Kid Kaio, lays the smackdown on the remix of 'Wedouwedou'. Crazy stuff.

WAVE MACHINES // KEEP THE LIGHTS ON RAY MANG REMIX

Photo by Rob Ball

We must admit these guys know how to put the rock back in roll. After stealing the show last night at The Joiners in Southampton, the Wave Machines had to contend with a disgruntled south coast audience when main headliner, one Pete Doherty, unsurprisingly failed to turn up for his scheduled set. But these boys cranked the Liverpudlian mojo to the max and won over even the most cynical of gig goers. They are the real deal, honestly.

Their new album rocks. Their new video rocks. And their live show rocks. London based disco-centric production whizz kid, Ray Mang's remix of 'Keep The Lights On' rocks as well. Check it out here and see why this dude got snapped up by DFA.

ENZO ELIA // TOUCH // HELL YEAH

Still reeling from the mind boggling premier of Flash Forward last night. This shit rocks. Existential commentary aside, we get hi grade car explosions, mass hysteria and boozy leading actors. If there was ever a film made about me, John Cho would play it. This guy kick's ass. Too bad he's doomed though, or is he? Another 6 day wait to find out. Damn.

Well one thing we do not have to wait or flash forward (crap pun, I know) for is, 'Touch', the latest deep, minimal tinged offering from the extremely talented Bologna bred DJ/producer, Enzo Elia. Having churned out a slew of off beat remixes for the likes of Oliver Koletzki, Crimea X and Martin Patino, this Berlin based Italian looks set to bring a little Bolognese flavour to the table. Tasty stuff.

Check out the original and Afrologic remixes here.

MUNK // BACK DOWN REMIXES // GOMMA

Mondays. The start of the new working week, inbox choc a bloc full of unanswered emails. Delete.

What we didn't thankfully delete was the new remix offering, 'Back Down', from Gomma Records loyal stalwart and label owner, Mathias Modica AKA, Munk. Munich's favourite alt disco label has once again come up with a funked up solution for the Monday lunchtime hangover. Crank this up and it's like Friday in the office again.

This sweet little package comes with excellent remixes from Cut Copy, L.U.C.A and Migumatix. Check out Cut Copy's Jackmaster Remix for some crazy ass, wonky effects.

FENECH SOLER // LIES // MODA MUSIC

TGIF! Suddenly everyone's a little happier. Even Chris our building supe shook my hand this morning and called me, "Sir". My feel good moment of the day.  And nothing can be GAYER than fantasy poppers, Fenech Soler. Now these guys are on the happy pills 24/7. Their flashy, glammed up little electro pop ditties can attest to that. AND the chicks love em. Young, good looking, talented. We really should hate em but we can't when they make our Fridays seem so worthwhile.

Fenech Soler's latest single, 'Lies', looks set to tear it up this autumn. Already a staple fixture in the record boxes of Erol Alkan, Tiga, Kissy Sellout, Jaymo & Annie Mac, we know what to expect. A huge peak time record even Pritesh the newsagent will love. So will you.

Test drive the original mix here.

UMEK // DEMENTIA // HELL YEAH

It's going all techno KRAZZZYYY here at the office with the impending build up to m_nus' CONTAKT party @ Brixton Academy on Saturday. We're certainly feeling the techno urge and a constant, head thumping fix is very much in order. Even though it's 11AM and we're rummaging through the sports section of the morning paper, wondering why decaf coffee tastes like sh*t.

What certainly does not taste like dog crap is Slovenian techno grand wizard, Umek's latest single, 'Dementia', out on the ever affable Hell Yeah Recordings later this autumn. For those familiar with the man's work, Umek's productions are a straight up, rocket up your arse techno masterclass. This time round he adds a bit of pan Euro female vocals to the mix and funks it up for a swift, dirty ride.

Fresh off their Stateside tour with Steve Aoki and The Bloody Beetroots lot, Fidget Housers, Blatta & Inesha crank it up and drill it home with this bowel moving remix of 'Dementia'. Will definitely drive you stark raving mad but in a good way.

SONNY // READY SALTED REMIXES // MIGHTY RUMBLE

We <3 love a good techno workout. 24 hours in Berghain is a truly cathartic experience. A real head cleansing affair. It takes a special type of person to man up to the aural onslaught, your senses get battered, your body taxed to the limit. Some might call it a rite of passage. Or you just like getting absolutely wasted.

London based Singaporean techno expat, Sonny, has been to hell and back (well, not really...) and managed to rope in a couple of his DJ mates to remix his rather brilliant 'Ready Salted' track, which came out earlier this year on his own Mighty Rumble label.

Check out Tim Cook's (Kismet, Fade, Railyard Records) and Tokyo based, Discoscience's top notch remixes here.
ReadySalted TimCook Remix SC192K by mightyrumble
ReadySalted DiscoScience NoCheeseRemix SC192K by mightyrumble

CRIMEA X // CHORNE MORE EP // HELL YEAH

'Chorne More' or better know as 'Black Sea' for us non Slavic inclined, is a large inland body of water situated at the southeastern extremity of Europe, bordered by Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Turkey & Romania. That my friends is a helluva lot of peeps sharing one God damn pool. Bound to be some aggro going down for space and umbrellas etc. I can't even leave my towel at the local lido without some prick nicking my place when I decide to jump in. Private pools are the way forward.

Sea resort loving disco space rockers, Crimea X, have put together an EP of finely crafted electro pop bliss that pays homage to a bunch of their Slavic mates with songs named after folks they know like 'Jurij', 'Vavara' & 'Liubov' out on Italy's finest, Hell Yeah Recordings later this year.

We say, get some Ukrainian buddies now and start making pop music.

Catch Crimea X's spaced out live set on Friday, October 30th over at Cargo, London.

Download 'Liubov' here.

LUCKY ELEPHANT // REVEREND TISLEY & HIS MAGIC LANTERN // SUNDAY BEST

We <3 Monday morning cartoons, especially from psychedelic Anglo-French popsters, Lucky Elephant.

The Lucky E's round off the festival season in true Sunday Best fashion with a rather cool animated music video of their latest single, 'Reverend Tisley & His Magic Lantern', taken of the debut album, 'Starsign Trampoline', which NME calls, "A celestial debut, brooding with integrity and creativity."

Well, we just think it's a f***in ace video. Go for 'Neptune (Sunday Best Remix)' on the flipside, which reminds you of a more innocent, happier time. Might have just been the poppers.

Download 'Neptune (Sunday Best Remix)' for free here.

THE PHENOMENAL HANDCLAP BAND // YOU'LL DISAPPEAR // GOMMA

Off beat NYC collective, The Phenomenal Handclap Band, spearheaded by boho arthouse types, Daniel Collas and Sean Marquand, have in effect produced a record so wholeheartedly GAY, in the happy sense that it makes you wanna just rip your clothes off and run in circles, screaming, "I'm free!". Well, maybe only us but it is still one damn fine record.

Forward thinking German label, Gomma have slated 'You'll Disappear' for an early October release. We say go out and get it. Absolutely rollicking psychedelic, nu disco, cosmic rock ass electro fun. Killer remixes come courtesy of Prins Thomas, Munk, Ilya Santana and London's own Horse Meat Disco. Catch them live at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen on September 22 and pretend it's 76 all over again.

NME's all over these guys like a sticky rash, whether that's a good thing or not.

'You'll Disappear (Original)'

'You'll Disappear (Horse Meat Disco Remix)'

GUCCI VUMP // SHA! SHTIL! // INSTITUBES

We all love a little mystery. Secret identities and guessing games. No one really cared anymore once Matt Murdock got outed as Daredevil. Sales plummeted and the movie was crap. I mean, Ben Stiller?! Come on. Well, I digress.

Lo and behold, Institubes, yes, them again. Purveyors of all things chic and wonderful have put out this brilliant EP, 'Sha! Shtil!' by the extremely mysterious, Gucci Vump. Little is known of this individual/s but there have been rumours abound on the interweb suggesting someone rather familiar, someone we might even know. Fakeblood? Brodinski? It's anyone's guess. There goes the rumor mill.

But honestly, who gives a sh*t when GV tunes are this damn good! He could be Luke f***in Cage circa Power Man era for all we care. Crazy samples galore, bopping basslines and avant garde weirdness make this cerebral electronica for the clued up set. And we don't mean us. Erm, yes we do.

Check this out before they do.

ROB // DODECALOGUE VOL III // INSTITUBES

Parisian hipster label, Institubes, continue to stump us with the bizarre and unconventional. Still achingly cool, their releases often confound, entertain and are extremely sought after.

Very little is known of the Institubes veteran and Phoenix's BFF except that he's called, Rob.

Rob has put together a series of musical productions under the 'Dodecalogue' title. For 12 consecutive months, Rob will release a record each month with a theme based around the gospel and 12 apostles. Sounds more Pope than Pop but we gave it a rinse and instead of the voice of God, we got a bunch of tracks oozing pure, unadulterated leftfield electro bliss.

All this theological mumbo jumbo should sit well with the Dan Brown set. But who gives a rat's a** when Rob's tunes sounds this good. It's like God himself laying the smack down on a pair of Pioneer CDJs.

'Dodecalogue Vol III: Jacques Le Majeur' will be out later this year. 'Vol I: Pierre/Peter' and 'Vol II: John/Jean' are out now.

'Dodecalogue Vol I - Talking To God'

'Dodecalogue Vol III - Voyage En Barque'

MARTIN PATINO // SUNRISE IN LA SERENA // FLASH RECORDS

Certain little discoveries often provoke an immense sense of accomplishment even though what you find hardly seems like anything at all. Ever waited till the end of a film's credits to see those secret extra scenes? Or found two green M&Ms spliced together and couldn't wait to tell your mates? No? Well, this may not cause scenes of mass hysteria but certainly deserves a pat on the back or repeated listens on the ipod.

We recently picked up this rather cool EP, 'Sunrise In La Serena' by new Italian talent, Martin Patino. Berlin based minimal whiz kid, Florian Meindl, saw the potential and snapped him up for his Flash Records label and will be putting this out very soon.

'Sunrise In La Serena' is an uplifting slice of melodic minimal techno that sits perfectly in the Sunday afternoon sets at Badeschiff or Club De Visionaire. We love it.

Martin Patino - Sunrise in La Serena by luciusdigital

PASSARELLA DEATH SQUAD // THOSE ARE SIRENS // REPUBLIC OF DESIRE

Sometimes, two things come together and you realise, 'Damn, this is actually quite f***in cool'. Cult London fashion label, Passarella Death Squad, have made a name for themselves with their sought after T shirts emblazoned with stylised interpretations on pop culture and cheeky innuendos.

Not content with filling column inches in the style press, PDS have also released a rather tasty single called, 'Those Are Sirens' on Republic Of Desire out later this year. At once haunting, hypnotic and mysterious, the sound very much represents the image. An album is due out early next year, so definitely one to watch. Fashion & music, who said it wouldn't work?

PDS have roped in Lisbon's techno/new wave duo, Photonz for a dark, brooding remix of 'Those Are Sirens'.

BESTIVAL 2009 // ISLE OF WIGHT

Rob Da Bank and his buddies have pulled off yet another sensational end of summer coup with a 2009 Bestival that rocked hard and reminded us yet again why we do it every year. Even the Weather Gods didn't piss down on us mere mortals. It was a scorcher.

From Major Lazer and Boy 8 Bit blowing the Big Top roof off it's hinges and Lilly Allen barely keeping her nipples in place, we suffered the severe post 'cosmic/space' comedown in spectacular fashion. Ringing ears, pounding hangover, sun burnt noses and an oddly shaped conehead latex mask glued to our legs.

Bring on next year we say! Just don't charge us a fiver for taking a shower. 3 days of grime build up was all we could take.

Download Rob Da Bank's 'Bestival 2009: Lost In Space' mix here.

MEMORY TAPES // SEEK MAGIC

Damn, this guy is good.

Press shy Memory Tapes, aka Davey Hawke, aka Weird Tapes, aka Memory Cassette, has effectively released the blog album of the season, if not the year. This is a digital artist's wet dream. News and reviews of the album, 'Seek Magic', have spread like wild fire across the online sphere with not even a print review in sight. Thus begins the timely demise of the hard copy magazine. NME? MIXMAG? MOJO?

Memory Tapes' tripped out space pop lulls you in with it's exotic chimes, which has led to the term, 'Dreamwave'. We say it's like dipping your spliff in liquid MDMA and smoking it. Nice.

Download 'Bicycle (The Horrors Remix)' here.