When it comes to electro step, liquid funk, dark step, or what ever current incarnation of jungle music you may be into, John B is the guy. I have been listening to his sets for years and I am seldom disappointed. The first time I heard Bloc Party was via remix from this guy. He also produces some wikkid trax himself. Heres his web site. It has literally dozens of hour long sets of great, well mixed music for cheap as free. Do it till it hurts.
:end of line
These guys have been rocking whatever scene they consider themselves part of since the mid 90’s. Also known throughout their career as Plasma Co. and Le Car. An entire album by them can range from uber hard high tension wires screaming at each other to a poppy dance hit. This, I like. Plus they enjoy crafting, such as cross-stitch. Word.
I like smiling, I like it a lot. Although I really enjoy my dark saw edged electro and jungle and such I enjoy the lighter side once in a while. The only catch is that it has to ooze irony and self awareness. Datarock is all this and moar. The first time I heard “Computer Camp Love” I thought my face was going to crack. But not only are these guys entertaining in a smirky ironic way, they also make good use of vintage synthesizers. The sound they have ranges from mid 80’s electro-class in “Princess” to “I made this rad song in my basement with my buddy” in “Computer Camp Love” all the way to somehow current sounding Italo-disco in “Fa-Fa-Fa” and “Sex Me Up”. You know me (stalker) I love just about anything I can dance to, and a reference to Commodore 64 is merely solder on the chip (HAR!).
Check out Datarock, you won’t regret it, booger.
:end of line
Super Duper. I mean wow. Awesome. A slithery mixture of guitars and buzzing synthesizers with Slump Your Shoulders And Shuffle Like A Zombie beats. There are many times that is is tres difficile to tell when the synths start and the guitars end. “Lex” is the track that rocked my socks. The opening leads are one of those things that makes you sit up and take flippin notice. Head Banging commenced. Go here to listen. On top of all this, they are touring with Bjork! I wanna tour with Bjork! I hear she has a little box that she keeps tiny ostriches in.
I don’t listen to much new hiphop. Back in the diggity day I loved me some hiphop, but after gangstas stopped shooting at cops and started collecting bling and ridiculous automobiles I stopped paying attention. Enter Saul Williams. I hadn’t heard any of his previous work, frankly the only reason I caught wind of his newest release was because he is doing the same thing that Radiohead did with the latest album, you set your own price $0 to a million billion. Its your choice. I d/led it at a reasonable price and have enjoyed it more than any album I have picked up in months. Should I say “Redefining HipHop?” Nope, I leave that to some overpaid douchebag in a kangol hat at RollingStone to say. Listen yourself, its so different from what anyone else even close to hiphop/rap/r&B is doing it just may blow your mind. By the way, it was produced for the most part by Trent Reznor. How awesome is that, there is even a track on the album with Trent lyrics. So… go ahead. Check out Niggy Tardust. You wont be sorry.
CheckitoutCheckitoutCheckitoutCheckitoutCheckitoutCheckitoutCheckitoutCheckitoutCheckitout!
Mr. Oizo.Excellent control over faux cd skips that cause the shoulders to gyrate dangerously. Sufficient saturation on all oscillators along with vinyl static effects round out his records and make the electronics sound more organic, if that makes sense, it doesn’t (take that audiophiles!). What it does equal is good dance music. Not as loud or bombastic as Boyznoise or Justice, but these tracks make good chains to link the bangers together.
Lookit The Faint.
Electro, pop, ironic angsty lyrics rolled into one rusty, circuit board encrusted ball.
:end of line
Check out Kavinsky.
They did a pretty awesome remix for the Klaxons among others.
