Merry Christmas

Greetings everyone, today is Christmas eve and I've got some electro goodies for everyone. You might not have time to listen to all to these songs over the next few days, families reunions and the like, but do download and get around to hearing these songs sometime soon.

Evil Hinko - Gedankenhochsprung

First is one of the most addicting straight up electro tracks I've heard in awhile. This song will keep you wanting more. Gedankenhochsprung is the title track off of the 2006 EP which also features a solid remix by Robert Babicz. All of Evil Hinko's work is great and more will be featured here in the future for sure.

Pryda- Ironman

Next is Pryda's Ironman which was one of many great Pryda releases in 2007. This is another 10 minute song which creates some of the same vibes as the first song I posted, but with a more housey vibe. Both songs are guided by their beats but manage to create a full listening experience.

Joakim - Are You Vegetarian?

The final track is a throwback to 2003, it's a song I heard a few months ago on Beats in Space and had to find for myself. I've heard his remixes and his Beats in Space mix but did not know that Joakim had relased his own material. Are You Vegetarian possess a slow acid-house kind of atmosphere that sends tingles down your spine as you listen to the song progress. Also, for more of Joakim's great work check out his Hearts on Fire remix.

Again With the French Touch

We Are Terrorists - Ground Zero

Keeping up with my unwritten theme of flooding every post with a slueth of French Touch electronic acts, I present you with We Are Terrorists! A live electronic act from France that insists on dressing as terrorist who rock out with keyboards and guitars. I suspect this really brings out the 'lolz' as the pictures truly are funny. Moving on, they appear to be the French eqivulent of Does It Offend You, Yeah?, only better. They've released a three song EP that consists entirely of short 2-3 minute jams that sound really promising. They have a few more songs on their MySpace, so be sure to give them a listen. (I like their artwork.)

ST - Make It To The End

Here's a song I've been listening to alot over the past few weeks. ST's entire album People I Barely Know is addicting which made it very hard to pick out a track to share. This mellow vocal electro-pop tune is probably my favorite from the Sweedish musician. The entire album sounds similar to this song, but in a good way. It is far from repetitive which makes for high replay value.

Bloc Party - Where Is Home? (Burial Remix)

And Finally, a track from my favorite band, Bloc Party. I doubt I need to write an introduction for this band as they have become quite popular and very polarizing over the past year. NME has given them the title 'The Band That Broke America' althought I'm sure Muse deserves that more as they seem more popular here. They released an album in the beginning of the year and a single at the end, many remixes were released in between the two, this is one of them. This remix is exactly what you'd expect if you were to mix Burial with the Bloc. The already chilling Where Is Home becomes even more spine tingling, as Burial works his or her magic stripping the song down to the bare essentials yet creating a vast atmospheric soundscape. I really enjoy the vocal distortions done on this remix. It is rare that I prefer a remix to the original song, but this remix is too grand to be overlooked. Burial seems to be an unstoppable force in the electronic world!

Third and Final Daft Punk Reference (For Now)

Tonight I'm planning on starting my second attempt at creating a mix. I don't have any decks yet so I am unable to mix in real time but I use software to mix and beat match. I use Adobe Audition to cut, change the tempo and layer tracks, later putting them together to create a mix. In order to do so I must revisit my extensive library and pick songs that would work well together, and for the past hour that's what I've been doing. I came across a few songs I forgot I had and I shall share them, but first here's some Shinichi.

Shinichi Osawa - Electro411

Shinichi Osawa - Detonator

Shinichi Osawa is many things, the head of his own label, former bassist of a rock band (much like the electronic hero's of Daft Punk), producer for a few Japanese pop band's singles, and ultra successful electronic artist. Here are two of my favorite tracks from Shinichi Osawa's latest album, The One. This album is sure to garner him mainstream success in the blogging world as it is on par with every other recent release in the electro world. It's a solid album filled with raw distortion, catchy melodies and pure electronic excellence. Electro411 is a solid banger that is properly named as it flawlessly channels elements from every major electro release of the year. Detonator is a fun vocal electro tune that relentlessly brings the dance. Both tracks will sound great on the dance floor, expect to hear more Shinichi Osawa in the New Year.

Para One - Dudun Dun (MSTRKRFT Remix)

One track I forgot I had was the MSTRKRFT remix of Dudun Dun by Para One. This track, which includes a strangely addictive use of whistles, slowly builds up to a very intense climax, I've used this song in my previous attempt to create a mix and plan on using it again. Attempting to beat match the first half of the song is insanely fun!

Pantha du Prince - Steiner im Flug

Finally, closing with a track from Hendrik Weber's current project Pantha du Prince. This is a track off of The Bliss, his latest album which led to a 2007 tour that was just completed. There are no future plans to tour, but you can still enjoy this great minimal techno artist at home. This track, complete with calming effects, would play best as a backdrop while awaking during the early morning hours. It's a nice listen and the rest of the album sounds just as great! More from this musician later!

The French (and German) Touch

What's up everyone, I know it's been awhile since my last update but I've been busy listening to some great music that I am going to share with you now. This week has been great, I've discovered a few new great albums that I will definitely be listening to for the rest of the year. Next week is going to be even better as I am now done with the semester. That's right no more school until 2008, my only regret is that there are no great concerts. The holidays are always a slow period in the music scene.

Daft Punk - Face To Face (MP4 sorry)

First up is a track off of the greatest live album of the year! Alive 2007 is Daft Punk's audio documentation from their mind blowing tour that was conducted throughout 2007. This was my favorite part of the concert (well, except for the encore) both musically and visually. When I saw them in Berkeley over the summer I was surprised to hear Face to Face, I was excited as it is my 2nd favorite Daft Punk song. (I was hoping for Digital Love, but alas that was not included in the live set) I, as was everyone I talked to after the show, was impressed with their stellar song choices. The way every song was mixed and mashed up was perfect. The entire 1.5 hours is an epic mix of Daft Punk's complete discovery. Alive 2007 is best when heard in one full, continuous session from start to finish, everyone who is a fan of the band should buy it, NOW!

Moonbootica - Listen (Chab Remix)

Next is the Chab remix of Moonbootica's, an electro duo from Hamburg, Listen. The original is a closely wrapped song that does it's job in providing an interesting listening experience, but this remix is more intense. The intensity builds from a pulsating synth line that opens the seven minute track. A chilling piano echoes over the entire track, with vocals that perfectly compliment the erie atmosphere. This song is a chilling dance track that will keep your body moving. Please do yourself a favor and dig deeper into the Moonbootica cataloug, they produce some wonderful electronic music, and their label Moonbootique has some quality artist signed as well.

TEPR - Coke & Cream

Finally, a track from TEPR that isn't the data remix of Minuit Jacuzzi! Yes, that remix is great, data is awesome but TEPR has put out a spectacular album and other tracks need to be heard form it. This song is an assault that will cause even the most tired, fragile and weak person to get up and dance. I like the breakdown and buildup that occurs 2/3's of the way through the song. I always feel completely immersed in the track when I reach that point of the song.

That's all for today!

Inaugural Post

Hello everyone, this is going to serve as my personal blog where I will post videos, songs and anything else that I find interesting in my life. My name is Mike and I like electronic music and Rock. I can enjoy some Hip-Hop and Pop but generally do not venture too far out into these realms of music. I go to school and find that music plays an important role in my life, it keeps me sane through finals and what not, so I want to share what I enjoy.

Here are some of the basics:

• I've seen Daft Punk twice! (In July 2007 and again in October)
• I'm a fan of all forms of electronic music, with the exception of jungle
• I use to have a very basic DJ setup, but sold it for front row tickets to see The Cure
• I am planning on buying some Technics in the near future, as I would like to return to DJing
• I'm a very big Bloc Party fan

And now, let's begin with some music:

Burial - Untrue

Here is the title track off of the latest Burial LP, Untrue. I've, as well as everyone else in the world, have been digging this album for the past month. And what's not to love about it? Erie beats overlaid with shadowy samples create one of the most atmospheric records of the year. The Burial LP was good, at times boring, but overall a quality release, untrue takes this formula and goes even further. This defiantly is a strong contender for record of the year. In the title track a sample which sounds a bit like Dave Gahan rips across an expected 2-Step beat. The entire track remains riveting, which is great because it clocks in at over six minutes.

Nick Muir - G Platz (Nick Muir Reprise)

Nick Muir's G Platz Reprise is a pulsating banger that can cause even the most grounded person's head to spin. The track itself never gets quite heavy, but the synth work does get tricky. Defiantly a must listen for anyone who is is interested in the electronic scene today sound.

That's all for today, I'm wanting to share Alive 2007 as it's all I've been listening to for the past week, next time!