Saturday, December 20, 2008

A path divided



I'm in the midst of an mp3 purge. I've taken on a lot of blog bulk and I hate deleting music, but I don't want to capitulate into getting a new computer / upgrading the HD / etc. So while sifting through this, I found a bunch odd stuff (maybe next post) but I also came upon and idea for auto-DJing. The concept is basically you preprogram your sets and this program would capture your track paths as a sort of roadmap as to how to mix automatically without you there. The result would be a database of cues and mixes done by yourself, or your favourite DJ's or randoms. You'd have all of your songs that you like in a list and the program puts the same sort of effects, loops, cutoffs, etc that, say, Devlin and Darko use. Granted this is all cheating, but instead of downloading mixes done by folk that sound the same every time, you are playing music that is can be more entertaining based on how the DJ's have done there various performances. A sort of choose your own adventure.

Example:

From a Soulwax mix (Radio Soulwax #5), these 3 tracks work together well.

Junkie XL - Check Your Basic Groove
New Order - Confusion
Super 2000 vs. Daft Punk - Around the World

However, I would not put 'Around the World' there, but rather work Gerri into Confusion's bassline:

Gerri and the Holograms - Gerri and the Holograms
Santogold - Anne (Switch Mix)
Santogold - LES Artistes (XXXchange mix ft: Movado) <-- Fantastic

which come from the Diplo Dub of Santogold. Now, since these both come from mixes themselves, they have 'paths' of their own, it's just that you forked your way from one to another. More popular songs will have more deviations (like Around the World) and that path might lead you to some other interesting (you know if a guy likes Daft Punk as much as I do, he might have something else up his sleeve that I'm unaware of).

This is what I'm getting at:


I don't know, it sounds like an interesting product if someone were to make it, but what DJ would sign themselves up for it to give their secrets away and who would judge what makes a good transition? Ok, how about something smooth now instead (again a la Radio Soulwax #5)...

Dennis Edwards - Don't Look Any Further
TLC - Unpretty

Oddly enough, on the mix, these two precede the Junkie XL track from above.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Birth of Tektonic?

The year: 1994
The band: Sebadoh
The scene: Downstairs.


cred

Oh le French, you are so le late.
Oh shit. Yelle in boy shorts. Stop it already, my pants aren't fitting now.

Coco



I just read wikipedia's blurbs about Coco Chanel after making sure that I was spelling haute couture correctly in an email. In the spirit of Coco's designs, and the last post with the basic structure, here's another one that was spared the virtual rubbish bin from my current mp3 darwinist actions due to too much blarghing.

Moby - Disco Lies (The Dusky Kid's Fears Remix)

Don't forget to throw some stuff on top of this in the 3:30 - 6:00 region, otherwise: repetition kills you.

Second Coming

K, more of The Rapture's !K7 Tapes. I think overall the mix is pretty good, but this song especially is tight. It's simple with two keyboards tops and a drum machine going. I feel like it's something akin to an Intro Body set. At 3:49, it is especially sweet with the driving keys on bass and just the kick. I wish I had more on the guys as their myspace page paints them as a really sweet dancefloor group.

Syclops - Where's Jason K

No joke, buy the mix. It's that good funk.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Analog Hunters

I tried to steal the code to put the google map in my blog (and give credit don't worry) but I stink at HTML. So instead, here's the full site: Find Vinyl. I'm only interested in Chicago's, but the link will list a multitude of cities for you. Cred to Tim.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Overchill, Overdue

A sorry goes out to all 3 readers of this blog. I've been sitting on this song for over a month now and haven't posted it. Floating with the clouds of gentle waves of the airy organ, an underpinned drum beat eggs you on. I really enjoy chilled out electro tunes like this one. For some reason these don't show up as often as they should. I don't think I'd want an entire album of the same style, but just a collection of little beachcombed finds.

Sisters of Transistors - The Don (Hot Chip Remix)

By the way, please don't listen this song through sub-par speakers. At least use decent headphones because otherwise the kicks are too pronounced and that's not what this track is about.

As a bonus, you should have this one too. I don't think it was released on any !!! album, just as a single and they've never performed it at any of the concerts I've seen them at, even though you kind of need Stephen Merritt's (of The Magnetic Fields) voice. By the way, Nic Offer (lead !!! vocals) puts on a damn good show and his white guy dancing rivals even Tim's.

!!! - Take Ecstasy With Me

P.S. Original Magnetic Fields version:


P.P.S While we're on the subject of chill tracks, I sent this one out to the Canadians last month. It follows the theme, although this one has a more driving drumline and is not really that relaxing towards the end.

Hot Chip - Boy From School (Erol Alkan's Rework)

By the way, you should really buy these tracks. I got Take Ecstasy With Me for the cover, and I had to do an LP rip of the Erol edit.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Soulwax Offshoots



Naturally, you should be listening to mixes not only because the DJ is fantastic, but also to garner new tracks. Radio Soulwax has been a fantastic provider of both. I don't know why it took me so long to look these guys up, but maybe it's because I focus my attention too much on people like Vitalic or Disco this and Disco that. The Undertones are the kind of guys where they should play it at Lipgloss in Denver or now, the Hideout dance party in Chicago (or if you remember, Pure Pop for Now People from 2003-2005). They are an Irish group of power pop / punk who apparently have the perfect album according to this guy (whom I should read more of). Here is the track from get your yo yo's that Radio Soulwax uses.

The Undertones - Teenage Kicks

Now, time to get their album... and if you haven't yet, get get your yo yo's out!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

By the way

Here's something you should check out from a place that is pretty good in LA: Turntable Lab. I picked a bunch of stuff while I was there. Very happy.

In Flagranti LP from Kitsune... not bad.

Also from Kitsune, dig her:


La Roux


She's got sweet hair to match her voice. One person thinks that she's the 2009's Ladyhawke.


La Roux - Quicksand (Autokratz Drags to Riches Mix)

What a vertical post.

Adventurous

Endlessly searching, forever finding, constantly chucking, my web searches led me to this blargh. I'll just show you the video I'm extracting. Excellence!




I never knew this show existed, but it's too bad that the soundtrack wasn't made by these guys, Adventure. The video, myspace, and 2 songs were enough for me to get the album they've got plus a Beach House 7". I'll let you decide on your own.

More later...