new music
New Music: Scanners
Feb 26th
I totally forgot about Scanners until I stumbled across their new album on LaLa today. The song “Lowlife” from the 2006 album Violence is Golden was totally killer then. It’s good to hear that not only they’re back, but have a kick-ass new album to boot.
Lala embeds don’t work on the Wordpress install for some reason (ahem!! 
). Here’s 2 places to go to have a listen to the full album:
Stream clips from “Submarines” on Amazon
DJ Mixing: Hip Hop Stylee No. 1
Feb 21st
Hip Hop is like comfort food to me. I love it so much and always have. I go on my long, weird, late-night runs listening to hip hop mixtapes (and R&B oldies – see the Atlantic 60th Edition for starters). It totally gets me going every time.
I started off the evening working on a Teen Beat-style mix and wound up with this mini-mix of new’ish cuts from my music library. Kind of random, yet rewarding.
Enjoy!
// tracklist
Strong Arm Steady “Best of Times (Feat. Phonte) – prod by Madlib”
Freeway & Jake One “One Thing (feat. Raekwon)”
Consequence “Sounds G.O.O.D. To Me”
Mux Mool “No Black Crayon”
People Under the Stairs “Hit The Top”
Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson “Rumors”
The Arch Cupcake “Airmail Mashup (feat. Ella Fitzgerald) – prod by Ming from Ming + FS”
Other mixtapes (free download):
Danceypants #1 10.09
Danceypants #2 11.09
New Music Preview No. 1
Jan 30th
Right now I’m listening to more music than ever.
Thought I’d share a few singles of what I’ve got in rotation this month.
What are you listening to? I’d love to know!
xx – nicole
Dan Black – “Yours ” (The Hours)
This is an artist I’m really excited for in 2010. The album UN is available digitally right now on the iTunes store, and the album is expected to have an official release next month. He’ll be performing live at Cinespace in Hollywood on 2/23 and Spaceland on 2/24.
http://www.myspace.com/danblacksound
Delphic – “Doubt” (R&S)
Delphic’s debut album Acolyte is out real soon, and it’s already built up a large amount of buzz – they’ve been cited in numerous ‘Ones To Watch in 2010′ lists and have been hyped up a bit on the blogs. The record is lush, modern, energetic electronic music, and if you’re a fan of bands like Hot Chip, Friendly Fires and Empire of the Sun you may dig these guys.
http://www.myspace.com/delphic
ChewLips – “Play Together” (Kitsune)
“Play Together” is a taken from their debut named Unicorn available February 9th on import. I suspect you can find a few singles floating around out there, including issues from some of the recent Kitsune label compilations. You can learn more about the london-based trio at -
http://www.myspace.com/chewlips
We Fell To Earth – “Deaf” (Ais)
A producer group comprised of the duo Wendy Rae Fowler alongside Richard File. Richard is best known for his work with James Lavelle as part of the group Unkle. The two met in fall of 2005 at Rancho de la Luna Studios near Joshua Tree here in So-Cal, where Richard was recording with Josh Hommie from Queens of the Stone Age. The two hit it off and began recording together, with their debut self-titled album released independently last August.
Pete Lawrie – “Black and Blue (Troublemaker remix)” (Field Records/Island)This muti-talented, multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter actually has roots as a hip-hop DJ and producer. If you head on over to his website there’s a free mixtape for download that pays homage to his roots. You can check out a few samples of his work prior to this years’ debut coming at us from Island Records.
TAPETHERADIO – “Stay Inside” (unsigned/indie)
The most recent signing to Rough Trade records, this is their second single and is quite appropriate for these wintery days. The song is aptly named “Stay Inside”…
http://www.myspace.com/tapetheradio
Mike Slott – “Gardening” (LuckyMe / All City)
He’s a producer who worked alongside Hudson Mohawke, Dabrye, and others…His first LP Lucky 9teen was released last month by LuckyMe recordings.
http://www.myspace.com/mikeslottbeats
The HotRats – “Big Sky” (Fat Possum)
England’s HotRats is actually the lead singer and drummer from Supergrass – Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey – alongside rockstar producer Nigel Godrich who’s best known for his work with bands like Radiohead, Beck, and Air. They recently played a few packed shows in LA that included the full band members from both Radiohead and Spoon in attendance. I’m really digging this album. It’s named Turn Ons, and is collection of cover songs -reworkings of classics by the likes of the Doors, the Kinks, the Cure, Elvis Costello, Squeeze, Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, the English Beat, and David Bowie. The album came out Monday.
The Webb Sisters – “Plastered Scene” (Mercury)
They’re sisters from Kent, UK born to a hairdresser father and a tennis coach mother. They signed to Mercury records and released their first LP in June 2006 named Daylight Crossing. They’ve recently collaborated with Angelo Petraglia from Kings of Leon, and were backup singers from Leonard Cohen’s tour in 2008, his first tour in 14 years. They recently played a few dates at the esteemed Hotel Cafe…
http://www.thewebbsisters.com/
Can’t say no to Bowie! Last week he released A Reality Tour Live 2 CD set – 33 songs recorded live from a Nov 2003 show in Dublin.
New Music: Lonelady
Jan 30th
Manchester-based Lonelady produces raw, snappy beats with sharp and shouty singing reminiscent of Beth Ditto of the Gossip, Chew Lips or DFA’s Pylon.
Recording in an old mill turned studio, Julie Campbell laid down tracks for her debut in a short 4 weeks – channeling wide-ranging influences from Prince, ESG, The Fall, REM, Joy Division, and Peaches.
Her sound incorporates a smart, party vibe that when cut to the bone remains quite arty and tasteful.
It’s a quality recording from Warp, the label with a reputation for nothing but quality releases.
From RCRDLBL:
“Stripping back the glossy veneer of glass and cheap tinfoil to uncover the brittle, workaday ordinariness of a Manchester that has been trampled, buried and renovated, she exposes the raw, ragged memories, ideals and nerves now wriggling, bare, vulnerable; the dove-grey patina of the old city that lurks beneath. Uncovering a Manchester we seldom choose to revisit with her harsh, uncompromising and discordant stance, a new kind of beauty is revealed, alive with the rich hues of slate and mauve we’ve been persuaded to outgrow and discouraged from appreciating.”
“Nerve Up” is out February 22nd on Warp. You can grab a free single over at RCRDLBL.
More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jan/29/new-band-lonelady
http://warp.net/records/lonelady
New Music: She Is Danger
Nov 25th
For those of you who think dubstep is contrived strictly by the male gender, I’m not at all sad to inform you that you’re mistaken.
She Is Danger is Maya Jane Coles and Lena Cullen. The female duo from the UK write, produce, engineer and perform all of their own music and according to MySpace are likened to a “modern day Burial meets Portishead, with hints of Massive Attack and Kosheen.”
Nice.
A single is coming mid-December, with the full album in Spring 2010.
More:
http://www.myspace.com/sheisdangermusic
dj mixing: 20 years of Warp
Nov 22nd
This year, the seminal independent record label Warp Records celebrates 20 years of releasing cutting-edge electronic music.
In honor of their 20th anniversary I’ve put together a mix highlighting a few favorite tracks.
When creating a mixtape I usually start with a playlist of anywhere from 40-60 songs and shape it down from there. It ’s always painful to make these edits, but this time was particularly difficult because there are so many important songs that have been released over the years I’m sad to not include.
I wound up with a selection of singles I love – and have meant a lot to me over time – rather than a generalized “best of” list, which can tend to be so subjective.
If you’re also a fan of Warp, don’t forget include your favorites in the comments section!
Enjoy!
Musichifi dj mix #003 – a celebration of warp records by musichifi
//tracklist
Nightmares on Wax “Les Nuits”
Autechre “Nine”
Kenny Larkin “Tedra”
Squarepusher “My Red Hot Car”
Lfo “LFO (Leeds Warehouse mix)”
Aphex Twin “Windowlicker”
Flying Lotus feat. Andreya Triana “Tea Leaf Dancers”
Jamie Lidell – “Multiply”
!!! – “Must Be The Moon”
Grizzly Bear “Two Weeks”
For more:
Warp Records Essentials (eMusic)
Four Must-Have Favorites From Warp Records (Flavorwire)
Lady GaGa “Bad Romance”
Nov 13th
“Bad Romance” is Lady GaGa’s first single from The Fame Monster.
On collaborating with director Francis Lawrence on the music video, she explains to MTV that
“I could give him all my weirdest, most psychotic ideas, but it would come across to and be relevant to the public.”
Indeed.
The Cremaster 3 meets bats-in-the-belfry Russian vodka advert gives most “artsy” music videos as of late a run for their money.
I’ve been on the fence about Lady G as cultural device.
I used to believe that she was everything wrong with the music industry.
Now I’m finally starting to realize that the stranger she gets, oddly enough the more relevance she has – and the more I like her.
Perhaps devoid of serious musical talent with lyrics certainly distanced from being poetic, this is artistry folks – however served up.
What do you think? Leave your comments at the top.
dj mixing
Oct 27th
I’ve been a fan of electronic music as far back as I can remember. When I moved to Boston and especially LA, I started going to more shows and listening to all kinds of music. It really opened my mind to different styles and genres.
I had already been DJ’ing electronic music (mostly tech-house and electro) and began incorporating sounds from the rock, soul, funk, disco, hip-hop, and indie arenas into my sets.
Now that I program online radio stations, that knowledge has come in handy as I work on everything under the sun from country to folk to indie to Christian rock.
This set is back to the electronic scene. I’ve always loved this genre as I have a fondness for clean, minimal production aesthetics paired with uptempo and forward-thinking sounds.
I like this mix and find it a great one to listen to when going on a run or when you generally just like something upbeat to listen to.
It took me awhile to find my grounding after making the shift from vinyl to cd’s to mp3’s. Now I’m 100% digital and have found a good rhythm so to speak in which to create. So expect more mixes from me in the near future!
Check it, share it with your friends – lemmie know what you think!
// tracklisting
Mstrkrft “Heartbreaker”
Morgan Page “Fight for You”
Metric “Sick Muse (Adam Freeland Remix)”
Florence and the Machine “You’ve Got The Love (The xx Remix)”
Beni “Fringe Element”
Duck Sauce (A-Trak & Armand Van Helden) “Anyway”
Roxy Music “Angel Eyes (Serge Santiago Dub Remix)”
Lindstrøm and Christabelle “Baby Can’t Stop (Aeroplane Remix)”
Dan Black “U + Me”
The Gossip “Love Long Distance”
Disclaimer: As this was recorded live (aka on the fly) there were no edits or re-takes – so pls pardon any gaffes!
Choons I’m digging…
Aug 30th
Each month I put together a mix of songs for a small grouping of close friends and family. I’ve decided to post snippets of the mix online for you to enjoy here, too!
Please feel free to leave your thoughts and feedback – especially about any new music that may be crossing your path at the moment. I’d love to hear what you’re into!
I’d also love to hear about any technologies you use for music discovery or playlist sharing.
xo
A few highlights of what I’ve been enjoying this month:
All is Love: music from the forthcoming Where the Wild Things Are film soundtrack featuring Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs…
Here we Go: a very rough cut from Zuper Blahq, Will.i.am’s super-secret side project. Amazing banger? Totally weak? U decide…
What Have I Done: Anna Ternheim, Winner of Best Female Artist and Album Of The Year at the Swedish Grammy Awards. Her album dropped a few days ago stateside..
Lions: and while Kings of Leon have graduated to full-on stadium rock, check out The Features – the first band signed to the King’s new label & partnership with Bug Music…
Exit Music for a Film: with Radiohead in the news lately here’s a cover from one of my new faves, incredible LA band Divisible doing their version of Exit Music (For a Film)…
The Highest: a super groovy re-worked edit from Maxwell’s latest.
Speaking of Maxwell, make sure to check out my first feature for Yahoo! Music on the R&B singer (toot toot!).
Cool New Music: Anna Ternheim
Aug 23rd
Winner of Best Female Artist and Album Of The Year at the Swedish Grammy Awards, Swedish singer Anna Ternheim’s heartbreakingly beautiful songs reflect on lost love and heartache.
“Leaving on a Mayday” was released August 11th stateside.
