31 October 2007






The Dntel and Mia Doi Todd partnership is one i've loved previously on this here blog. And here today is some more, this time with Dntel remixing one of Mia Doi Todd's solo efforts to a typically high standard.







Mia Doi Todd - Deep At Sea (Dntel Remix) (alt link)







And on the topic of high standard remixes here is another. This one is by Phoreski who conjures up an eight and a half minute long take on Coyote's Blue Skies in a subtle disco electronica style. Very nice.







Coyote - Blue Skies (Phoreski's Russian Revolution Mix) (alt link)












30 October 2007






My regular dose of Swedish indie electro pop fun this week comes in the form of Malmo's Häxor Och Porr.






Häxor Och Porr - Die Dramabananen
(alt link)






Häxor Och Porr - Das Pferdschen Mit Dem Olympischen Apfel (alt link)












25 October 2007







With the proliferation of heavy bass and squelchy distortion that you see on every blog you read, you'd be well forgiven if you thought something akin to the following: "Yeah yeah i've heard it all before, and quite frankly I blame France." But wait, one more excellent exponent of said sound wouldn't hurt surely? Of course not, man in question is London's Blende who dishes out a quite tasty mix of Detect's Dance Division. Detect has also done an ace remix of the wonderful Adam Kesher in times past.









Detect - Dance Division (Blende Remix)
(alt link)


BUY






Adam Kesher - Modern Times (Detect Remix)
(alt link)

















Sebastien Tellier - Sexual Sportswear








Fast becoming one of my favourite tracks of recent times. To me it'd make the perfect soundtrack to a sad love story set in space circa 1978.






23 October 2007








Sorry!





Boom Bip - Snook Adis (alt link)

BUY





Ellen Allien - Ghost Train (alt link)

BUY





Meneguar - Hurry Up (alt link)

BUY





Alden Tyrell - Rendez Vous At Rimini (alt link)

BUY





So I have been busy beyond all comprehension in the past week, with lots of time spent in a car listening to the likes of above. Quite why I hadn't discovered the joys of Boom Bip earlier I don't know, intelligent electro for the thinking man. Ellen Allien took me back to '05. Meneguar reminded why guitar bands can still be amazing on CD. Vampire Weekend reminded me why guitar bands can still be amazing live. And Alden Tyrell just made everything allllllllright. I'm now also pretty sure I can DJ.




14 October 2007






Been a while since I posted a remix, so today that is what is in the offing. Liverpool's Dogshow are certainly a promising ensemble, and while the remix that follows may well show them to be capable of SMD like renderings, what i'm more excited about is their live show. I'm all about eccentric displays, analog synths, live drummers, lighting and visual arrangements. There's some videos on their MySpace as well as a few more tracks for you to hear, and some upcoming dates with Kissy Sell Out listed.










Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl (Dogshow Remix)
(alt link)











After an enjoyable first trip to Sweden earlier on in the year, we have decided to make a return visit, this time to go to Stockholm, so if you're familiar with the place then please feel free to recommend some things to do and see, places to drink and dance etc.


I'd really like to go underground and hunt down this guys work when i'm out there, but the likelihood is zero.


A song by a Stockholm band pretty much gave me the idea for the blog name Keytars & Violins (i'm not that imaginative you see). It remains one of my favourite songs since 2004.








Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - Trumpets And Violins
(alt link)













12 October 2007






Shinichi Osawa is a name you may well be familiar with, perhaps best known in the 90's for his work as Mondo Grosso in recent times he's been getting involved in the business end of electro, delivering heavy edit after filthy remix. He's just released 'The One' which upon listening is undeniably infectious, a barrage of heavy electro beats, catchy guitar riffs and guest vocals from Au Revoir Simone and Princess Superstar amongst others. No it's not a revolutionary step in the electro epoch we currently find ourselves in, and frankly I don't care. If you were disappointed by certain full-length electro albums this year then look here, Shinichi Osawa has quietly gone about his business, collabing with Kitsune, dishing out a remix here and there, then WHAM a showcase of his own impeccably produced electro rolled into a very satisfying 70 minutes or so. Get the album HERE.











Shinichi Osawa - Electro411
(alt link)











Bogdan Irkuk's ep The Distant has been one of my most played things all year, now Rollerboys have followed up, releasing Ultracity and their ep Swetalic. Epic space disco pop is what it is, makes you warm and happy and nostalgic is what it does. The 12" is available HERE.











Ultracity - Twelve Year Drive
(alt link)












But if cosmic disco is not your cup, then how about some dark 80's influenced electro pop? Since being sent this track by Clique Talk i've found myself coming back to it. It seems to be a burgeoning sound of late, with acts like White Williams, San Serac and now Clique Talk all amalgamating aspects of new wave, punk, disco, synth pop into their own distinct incarnations, to great effect.











Clique Talk - Sweet Chips











9 October 2007






What do you get when you cross italo-disco and The Field? Professor Genius perhaps. Having featured on one of the best compilations of the year, Professor Genius has also had 12" releases that really do sound like some kind of hybrid proto-Kompakt release. This here is the good stuff.







Professor Genius - Hot Dice (alt link)







Manchester tour related goodness. Best indie band of the year hands down Vampire Weekend are at the Roadhouse on 20th October for the princely sum of seven groats. Then on the 25th November the masters of ambient drone, Stars Of The Lid are at Urbis, I say this in the most complimentary way possible, they make me fall asleep every time. beautiful.







Vampire Weekend - Bryn (alt link)





Stars Of The Lid - Tippy's Demise (alt link)












4 October 2007






They made me spill my drink with impromptu excitement/moves at the Camden Crawl back in April and now AutoKratz have really arrived, recently touring with Does It Offend You, Yeah? and also getting a release on the illustrious Kitsune label that is comparable in quality to SMD or Digitalism any day. They've been one of the most engaging electro acts i've seen live in a good while (and that's a lot) It's great when an act can combine killer dance tunes and a half decent theatrical spectacle. You can purchase the 12" from Boomkat. And if you're a follower of everything Kitsune then head over HERE to see details of another release on their roster.









AutoKratz - ReaKtor (alt link)











Kap Bambino are around the UK this weekend, Birmingham and Nottingham, then a few other places later on in the month. Catch them at all costs, their live show is dynamite!









Kap Bambino - New Breath












Last.fm keeps getting better. The latest addition is one that automatically brings up music videos by artists that you've scrobbled in the past. Neato. Here's some of my faves.






TRS-80 - Special Effect








The Blow - Parentheses











Mice Parade - Focus On The Rollercoaster











Battles - Tonto









Okkervil River - For Real



















2 October 2007







San Serac's album Professional will definitely be up there in my end of year favourites, but in addition to releasing such a refreshing album, San Serac has also teamed up with Johnny Dark - formerly of Junior Boys to create some more electronic pop perfection under the guise of Stereo Image that will leave you yearning to hear more. The single is released on KIN records.









Stereo Image - Red Nights (alt link)









Kind of wish i'd seen In Flagranti as opposed to Modular night at the weekend, however, common consensus prevailed. In Flagranti and their brand of trance funk are for yes.









In Flagranti - Melodymaker (alt link)











1 October 2007






Addictive listening courtesy of Japanese electro act 80kidz







80kidz - Disdrive20 (alt link)







Further addictive listening courtesy of electro-hopper and expert drawer LLCoolJo







LLCoolJo - Galette Des Rois (alt link)








That was short, but very sweet.