Death By 1000 Cuts


I thoroughly enjoy bringing you all the good stuff I receive from up and coming DJ’s and Producers whenever I get the opportunity. I promise I will bring you some more soon but right now I would like to bring your attention to a unique movement coming from Spain!



Tracy Records

I am planning on visiting Barcelona next week for a few days so when I received an email from a couple of Barcelona DJs with a mix promoting local electronic artists on a new uber label based out of the same city I got very excited!! Having heard absolutely nothing from the city before I was pleasantly surprised when not only did the mix highlight the raw and diverse talent of the productions but also the mixing of the DJ’s.


Tracey Records was created by four of the most musical inclined gentlemen in the scene with the same vision of producing all things from records to insane parties. They come with a mission statement leading them into Modular status and a sure path to success.


I thought it was going to be in my best interest to check out the MySpace’s of all involved in “Tracy Records” with the hope of tracking down this raw sound live when I visited the city. Over the next couple of hours I could not believe how lucky I was as Myspace page after Myspace page produced original/thumping/diverse noise for my listening pleasure –

I have added some of my favourites below which includes the above mentioned mini mix from Radiocontrol highlighting all the producers on the label and also a couple of banging tracks from Radiocontrol’s production alias theAmplid and the banging electro sounds of Sidechains.


Download (Right click Save As);
Tracy Records Music For Bitches Minimix by Radiocontrol
Sidechains – Dance While You Can
theAmplid – Bernadette

HEY NOW DJS
HEY NOW DJs were one of my favourite remix artists of last year so I was extremely excited when I saw a new remix land in my inbox. I would not be disappointed as I played the remix of Snob ScrillaThere You Go Again which turns in to an absolute weapon. I can not emphasise enough how FUCKING MASSIVE THIS TRACK IS!!! I got a 320KBPS version off the boys so all you DJs can put it on and put it on LOUD!!! Snob Scrilla is originally from California but now calls Sydney home. I am not too sure what his originals sound like but this remix is massive. Just play it and wait for the end as it completely explodes. The same email included a Dr Dre/NewJack mash up called Forget About Newjack featuring – if any of you are into hip hop you may like this one (I am not into it).

Download (Right click Save As);
Snob Scrilla – There You Go Again (HEY NOW Remix)
FORGOT ABOUT NEWJACK (Forgot about Dre VS NewJack, Hey Now Mash)


Check out some of my favourite HEY NOW remixes from last year including the incredible Grafton Primary remix and the most underrated/underplayed song of the year The Lost Velentinos remix of 17 Deaths – I am still yet to hear 17 Deaths being played out so I am on the boys back to send me a 320kbs version so I can spread the love to all you DJs so you no longer have an excuse not to drop it.


Download (Right click Save As);
The Lost Valentinos – 17 Deaths (HEY NOW Remix)
Grafton Primary – I Can Cook (HEY NOW Remix)
The Paper Scissors – We Don’t Walk (HEY NOW Remix)

Neon Neon

Finally I would like to bring you one of the most diverse albums which I have ever heard. I first heard of Neon Neon through Kissy Sell Out’s myspace recommending their track I Told Her On Alderaan which was added to my last “Derogatory Playlist”. From this track I thought they were either an old 80’s synth outfit or a new wave 80’s synth outfit. Their CD however would tell a very different story – I would soon find out that their productions range from slow melodic electronica, to fast Grimey UK hip hop towards gangster rap back the other way to 80’s pop and all the way back to indie. Check out what I mean with their tracks below – I am absolutely digging this CD right now.

Download (Right click Save As);
Neon Neon – I told Her On Alderaan
Neon Neon – Raquel
Neon Neon – Trick For Treat
Neon Neon – Belfast
Neon Neon – Luxury Pool

I am off overseas for a couple of weeks so you will hear from me then when I return with the ultimate Soulwax post in celebration of just seeing them in Belgium and the fantastic news of their Parklife announcement.

Buy the tunes from Itunes

HEY NOW Myspace

Tracy Records Myspace
Kind Regards

Yours Sincerely

Jimps

Final Offensive Against Germany

Mystery Jets – 21


I could not wait any longer to bring you the new “Mystery Jets” album. I was highly anticipating its release the moment I found out that “Erol Alkan” was doing the production work on it and this anticipation built as I heard the “Switch” Remix of “Hideaway”. I still had not heard an original track off it until I played the whole album for the first time and as soon as I did I knew I was onto some thing very special. Two weeks and over 25 plays (according to my iTunes library) later this has to be my favourite album of 2008 so far.


The opening track “Hideaway” with its sirens and big distorted bass could deceive you electro heads into thinking that this album is going to be very different to what it actually is. This is an absolutely massive track and I would not be surprised if it sees commercial success.


The next track on the album “Young Love (Featuring Laura Marling)” sets the tone for the rest of the album and the “Mystery Jet’s” style – soft pop rock with section after section of catchy lyrics and melodies. I do not know who “Laura Marling” is but she has probably the most beautiful voice I have ever heard in a rock song. The Mystery Jets lyrical writing style is one of story telling similar to such bands as “The Wombats” and “Maximo Park”. “Young Love” is about the reflection of a one night stand with some one who you will never see again because of unforseen circumstances – from both the guys and girls point of view. Just like “The Wombats” it also sounds like there are at least three of them in the band who can sing creating great vocal harmonies.


“Half In Love With Elizabeth” starts off with the catchy chorus lyrics used as an intro into a funky verse which has traces of 80’s synth pop. I am currently listening to all these songs as I write this and I just keep noticing more and more brilliance within the production. I hope Erol sticks to cool bands like “The Mystery Jets”, “The Long Blondes” and “Late Of The Pier” and does not turn his magical abilities into producing a “Madonna” or “Kylie” Record.

Download (Right Click Save As);
Mystery Jets – Half In Love With Elizabeth


“Veiled In Grey” is a more scenic sadder song about reflecting with a friend/girlfriend about the past. I am still yet to put meaning to the chorus lyrics of “I’ll bet you wouldn’t believe me, If I whispered in your ears and said I can see a pink elephant, And it’s standing on the corner of the bed”. They sound very cool regardless especially when sung in conclusion with further emotion and meaning showcasing the amazing voice of lead man “Blaine Harrison”.

Download (Right Click Save As);
Mystery Jets – Veiled In Grey

I am starting to feel a little bad posting so many of the tracks off their album but it has been too hard not to. You will have to download them all now just incase the record company comes after me requesting them to be taken down (Please contact me if you would like me to remove them). “Hand Me Down” is another track with a sad tone and theme to it which is effortlessly amplified by Blaine’s voice. The track is about a girl looking for love in the wrong places and I love the backing vocals on this track used to ask a question “Do You Love Him?”, reminds me a little of the style and tone of Bloc Party’s backing vocals.

Download (Right Click Save As);
Mystery Jets – Hand Me Down

Ok I think that is about enough said about “The Mystery Jets” – lets hope for an announcment of an Australian Tour this year but not in the second line up for Splendour (As I am not going).

Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs


The next album I would like to talk about is the new one from “Death Cab for Cutie”. I have not had much time to listen to a lot of this one except for 1 of the tracks which I believe is absolutely perfect. “I Will Possess Your Heart” with its 4 and a Half minute bass, effects and soft guitar intro. I believe that a lot of impatient people will find this intro way too long but I have so much respect for “Death Cab” for putting this on their album. There is of course a radio edit which is much shorter but really in my belief only catches half of the song and half of its greatness. The intro builds just so flawlessly into anticipation for the vocals that come in and changes every thing – the track then begins again creating an astonishing pop masterpiece. I think I have a thing for long songs which has been built into me from listening to a lot of “Pink Floyd” and “LCD Soundsystem”.


So Far I have enjoyed the rest of the album but I have not given it as much time as needed. A couple of the other stand out tracks so far have been “Bixby Canyon Bridge” and “Long Division”. I just recently found out that they are touring Australia and coming to the Tivoli! Unfortunately when I found this out the tickets had already sold out – so that sucks.


I hope all you indie kids enjoy – I know I am.

Buy the albums from Itunes

Thanks

Jimps