The Faint - Battlehymn for the Children (Tensnake Dub Remix)

This is a jam that's been a favorite of mine for a few months now, but I always forget about it when it comes time to play out. Tensnake can truly do no wrong.

The Faint - Battlehymn for the Children (Tensnake Dub Remix)

Rocco Raimundo - Can't Shake This Feeling

Serious disco fire from Rocco Raimundo of Pollo Erotico here. Big vocals, french house touches, horns, driving drums, the whole works. Can only imagine that it must slay on the dancefloor, but unfortunately the track seems to be unobtainable so I can't test it myself. However fear not, for the word is that a physical release may well be on its way.

In the meantime join me in playing this on soundcloud over and over again.

Rocco Raimundo - Can't Shake This Feeling by Rocco Raimundo

Mobroder

Fuck yeah, words struggle to express how awesome and fun this is. Side project of super cool disco MC Spank Rock with Blu Jemz and DJ Hoff, Mobroder is the epic journey of a fictional 70's disco kingpin of the same name through the wasteland of 80's Miami, battling European rivals and a broken heart. This is the album dropped for free in the form of a single mp3, so put it on and let it ride. This is a rock opera, but with disco. So you know, a disco opera. Do yourself a favor, and listen to the full hour of disco goodness. Motherfucker.

MOBRODER by Mobroder

Sleepyhead - Hold On, Be Strong

I FINALLY MADE A NEW MIXTAPE!

As Mr West surmised, when people are going through tough shit, ‘another dance track gotta hurt”. Yet dancing can also help. Everything's kinda shitty now, so why are we still wallowing in ‘cornball ass techno music’? We can have fun with you commanding us to in autotune. These are tunes for dancing that reflect the fact that everything’s isn’t all right and that we’re not necessarily having the time of our lives. Dance tunes for the people with boy problems, girl problems, people outta work, people having a shitty fucking time, people who don’t wanna get ravey to the latest David Guetta abortion while people are are homeless and frozen in Japan.

The tape starts off easy with some indie disco, before working up to the bass music that’s coming outta the UK, with a few diversions along the way. While the styles may be unfamiliar, the tunes wont be, with reworkings of old favorites scattered throughout. Also featured are tunes from local badmen Scenic and DYP. This is how Sleepyhead likes his music these days. Fucked up pop, dreamy disco, screwed R&B, frantic bashment and funky out of the UK, and always, always with plenty of bass. Hold On, Be Strong. Sleepyhead will take care of you.

Hold On, Be Strong - Sleepyhead by 72 & sleepyhead

Tracklist
This Can’t Be – Scenic
Odessa (Aera’s Black Sea Edit) – Caribou
VCR (Four Tet Remix) – The XX
Dreams (Rocco Raimundo Edit) – Fleetwood Mac
Rock The Boat – Soul Clap
Seventy Four – Martyn
I’m a Flirt (Accapella) (Ft. T-Pain & T.I.) – R. Kelly
Me & U (Brackles Remix) – Cassie
Battle For Middle You – Julio Bashmore
Every Day – DYP
Grab Somebody - Ramadanman
CMYK – James Blake
Digits – Mele
Bad Like Jimmy Cliff VIP – Warrior One
Calypso – Round Table Knights
Runaway (DJ Sega Philly Club Remix) – Kanye West
Pumped Up Kicks – Foster the People
YGTL XX Remix (Renaissance Man Edit) - Florence and the Machine
Clint Eastwood (Ed Case/Sweetie Irie Refix) – Gorillaz
It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World (Regrooved by Parker) – James Brown
Used to Give a FK - ▽nkown ShΔpes
Fuck the World – Freddie Gibbs
Fireworks (Slo-Mo House Edit) – Deadboy

Classixx - Into The Valley

God damn, Classixx are fucking great. Not only do they make some of the coolest jams around, but each new release and remix shows their growth as producers. This track was not what I was expecting, but my initial misgivings gave way to elation. Need to play this out ASAP. Someone please give me a gig!

Into The Valley (feat. Karl Dixon) by Classixx (Official)

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Rocco Raimundo Edit)

This ones a few months old now, but it really cannot get enough shine. Its stayed on blast in my car for the last couple of weeks and all nine minutes get listened to. Its an absolute gem of an edit, perfect for driving or just disco bliss.

Out of respect for the fact its getting a vinyl release soon, I'm not going to put up a download. But do give it a listen and buy the vinyl when it drops. It will be in high demand I assure you. This is magic pure and simple, one of the best edits I've ever heard.

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Rocco Raimundo Edit) by Rocco Raimundo

Soul Clap - Rock the Boat

Housey little refix of an old Aaliyah jam here from Soul Clap (which I think is a fantastic group name btw). R&B is really coming to the forefront these days in underground circles as a source of inspiration whether its for disco, indie, bass music or dance music. With the ability to cut away the commercialism and boil a song down to its emotional core, great products can really occur, even when the producer still has the dance floor firmly in mind.

01 Rock The Boat by Soul Clap

Best of 2010 Introduction/The Money

We’re approaching the end of 2010, so it’s time for anyone who writes about music to list what he or she liked best from this year. Despite the fact that it’s a heavily political and arbitrary exercise, the chance to use it as both a writing challenge and a way to wrap my head around the past year of music as I saw it, was too good an opportunity to pass up on.

So here’s how it’s going to work. Regular posts here will continue as per usual. However on top of that, the focus of the month, or at least pre Christmas is going to be in build up to my top 5 albums of the year. Ranking anymore than that seemed like a fairly arbitrary and pointless activity, so the rest of the years standouts shall be very honorable mentions, as they more than deserve to have something written about them. Plus there’ll be a few more random accolades along the way.

So enjoy, I hope the pieces aren’t too pretentious and would love to hear any feedback or opinions so comment away
Regards,
Cale (Sleepyhead/72)

BONUS - Total jam for you all. One of my favorites from this year.
62 Mile High Club - The Money (Original Mix)

The Swiss - Soap Opera

Fuck! How the hell did I miss this one? Its been around since April? Seriously? Damn.

This finds the awesome Australian disco jam band, The Swiss playing like they'd been listening to/watching Discovery/Interstella 5555 for 3 days straight, then being let loose in the studio. Its an amazing throwback style track and it really pays off. Not as super catchy as Bubble Bath, but with synths as gorgeous as this, who needs hooks?

The Swiss - Soap Opera

Cut Copy - Take Me Over

God damn, these guys are just too good. There is some serious magic happening in that warehouse of weirdness they're residing in these days.
Cut Copy - "Take Me Over" (Radio Edit) Premiere by modularpeople

The Supermen Lovers - Take A Chance (Herr Styler Remix)

Yes its THOSE Superman Lovers. Turns out they're not dead. And they've got a new release out, which while fun, its not exactly the second (3rd?) coming of French House. However what did get my attention is this remix from Herr Styler. Some sort of tropical, poppy, disco, house thing. Maybe a little bit cheesy with a big house vocal (would kill for a dub version), but it got the nod of approval from The Magician (the dude who left Aeroplane, but kept up the mixtape habit). Its an essential cause its one of those perfect opening songs which starts of with ambient crowd noise, before building with big hand claps and fun steel drum sounding melody. Huge fun.

The Supermen Lovers - Take A Chance (Herr Styler Remix)

Mayer Hawthorne - No Strings (DJ Jazzy Jeff "Roller Boogie" Remix)

Just found this dope remix of the Mayer Hawthorne and Classixx collabo, that has already been posted, by none other than the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff. While known more for his work in hip hop, especially with one Fresh Prince, Jazzy Jeff is no stranger to soul and disco, as his amazing set at the Do-Over will testify to. So throw it on your itunes, strap on some skates* and boogie away to this awesome remix. And its not even Saturday yet!

Mayer Hawthorne - No Strings (DJ Jazzy Jeff "Roller Boogie" Remix)
De La Soul - A Rollerskating Jam Named Saturdays

*Come to think of it, there really should be some sort of rollerskating, boogie disco night or something, thatd be mad fun

Props to In The Deep End, sweet blog

Mobroder - Rush (In Flagranti Remix)

Back on my disco thing. I've been in struggle town of late finding the new fresh stuff, cause most of what I get, I get from WarmKitten and Scenic, and I'm trying not to just reblog everything from them, no matter how good it is.

However today, I've been lucky enough to come across this absolute jam of a remix from In Flagranti. Those guys are absolutely fantastic and have made some of my favorite disco tracks, due to their dirty and relentless attitude and vibe. This time they're remixing the new Spank Rock concept group, Mobroder. Essentially the concept goes that Spank is the black version of disco/synth godfather Giorgio Moroder, stuck in 80's Miami trying to reclaim his soul. Interesting concept and if anyone can pull it off, the gotta be the Supercool Disco MC Spank Rock.

No originals have surfaced yet, but this remix is fantastic. Its classic In Flagranti, a driving and bassy groove with more cowbell than a DFA record, complete with Spank's usual disco raps. A must have track indeed.

Mobroder - Rush (In Flagranti Remix)

Sleepyhead - Everythings Coming Up Milhouse

Sleepyhead is back! I finally got off my ass and made a new mixtape, just in time for summer. Ditching the turbo styles of yesteryear (electro bangers are for amateurs), this new mix features a blend of disco and hip-hop, with a bit of soul and moombahton on the side. No tracklist for this one (keeping it hidden for surprises, Greg Wilson style), but I can tell you it has songs from Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Aeroplane, Mayer Hawthorne, Talking Heads, and the XX, remixes from Classixx, Canyons, Holy Thursday, Mark Ronson and Mathew Dear, and raps from Snoop Dogg, Curren$y, Q-Tip and E-40. Bump this on your laptop or in your car when its swelteringly hot and it’ll seem like everything is coming up Milhouse.
Everything's Coming Up Milhouse - Sleepyhead by 72 & sleepyhead

Canyons - My Rescue

It takes alot to distract me from constantly geeking out over nothing but Curren$y, Kanye West and Animal Collective, but leave it to my favorite disco-psychedelic outfit, Australia's own Canyons to remind me how out there people can go, just for the hell of it.

My Rescue is a pretty sweet track as is. It plays more to their psychedelic side seen on their Tame Impala remixes than their usual disco fare but its just as good. Summery and getting good rotation on Triple J, its a real winner.

However they had to go and top themselves with a batshit crazy video for it, featuring a hammer-mace wielding barbarian fighting his way through the streets of a modern city. Bravo gentlemen, cudos. You don't see Bag Raiders doing shit like this, that's for sure.

Also, sorry I'd provide an MP3 but there doesn't seem to be one available yet. Just gonna have to wait till November 5th in Australia (a little bit later everywhere else) to cop it I guess.

Manila (Headman Remix)

This is the absolute jam. Totally forgot about it until today when it popped up on my itunes. Remember this getting played on Triple J back in 2002, driving to school in the mornings, listening to Adam and Will. Good times. This remix got played instead of the original, and its not hard to see why. That bassline absolutely slays! Don't sleep on this one, go and buy a good copy from iTunes or something.

Seelenluft - Manila (Headman Remix)

Rolling Stones - Miss You (D!D!D! Edit)

"My swagger is Mick Jagger" - Ghostface Killah

This is disco strutting goodness, plain and simple. Not much to be said really. Very solid edit.

Rolling Stones - Miss You (D D D Edit) by colinbyelong

Cassian

Despite the my constant bitching about the loud, noisy, steaming-pile of shit electro that is the screen door to my submarine, I will always love the electro of the Australian variety. The sort of electro that is done oh-so-well by acts like Cut Copy, Shazam, DCUP and Miami Horror. That melodic and funky variety, closer to disco than anything else, that makes fans of it around the world believe that life in Australia is a permanent beach party.

Add to that list a Sydney kid by the name of Cassian. His tracks as I’ve found are insanely dope. Descended directly from that tradition of worshipping Daft Punk’s Discovery (his bootleg of High Life is especially sweet), he creates tracks and remixes that are catchy, memorable and very fun to DJ with. He’s a member of the Bang Gang roster, but mark my words, if he keeps up this run of form he’ll be getting that Modular Money in no time.* However in trying to find any more information about the guy, no bio seems to exist beyond a press release for his first EP describing him as “the original fuuuuuunky-fresh zulu synth warrior”.

Grab some tracks from him, they’re well worth it and don’t forget to head over to beatport to buy the rest, they are well worth your hard earned simleons.

Miami Horror - Make You Mine (Cassian Remix)
Flight Facilities - Crave You (Cassian Remix)
Daft Punk - High Life (Cassian Bootleg)

*I’ve always been under the impression that the way Modular works is that it takes its revenue from lesser acts like Wolfmother and The Presets and uses it to fund promotion of more awesome music, eg. Tame Impala, Canyons, The Swiss. (Cut Copy and Bag Raiders are self sufficient)

PS WHERE THE FUCK IS THE NEW AVALANCHES ALBUM? ITS BEEN TEN FUCKING YEARS!

Disko Drunkards

Not much to say this time, hunting for tracks, came across these gems from disco outfit The Glimmers and their side band Disko Drunkards. The tracks are funky, fun and definitely worth a purchase. Especially their sleazy as fuck version of lets get physical by Olivia Newton John.



Disko Drunkards - Who You Gonna Call
The Swiss - Bubble Bath (Glimmers Plastic Edit)

Cali Dreamin' - 72

So I finally got off my ass and made a mix. Its nothing real special, but i needed to actually record something sooner or later. Anyways its reflective of one direction that I want to go in with my DJing, a sort of summery, disco and hip hop vibe and i hope that shows through here. Its very slowly becoming warm up here in Vancouver and hopefully that trend continues as i go further south on my travels. But yeah, enjoy the mix, I appreciate any and all feedback.

Cali Dreamin' by seventy2

TRACKLIST
Munk – Down In LA (Shazam Remix)
Flight Facilities – Crave You (Bxentric Remix)
Damn Arms – Destination Part 1 (Dcup Remix)
In Flagranti – Reputation or Notoriety
Justin Timberlake – My Love (ft. T.I.)
Flying Lizard – Sex Machine
Gucci Mane – Lemonade (White Lions Remix)
Cut Copy – Hearts on Fire (Joakim Remix)
Midnight Juggernauts – Into the Galaxy (Architecture in Helsinki Remix)
Curren$y – Address (ft. Stalley)