Posted in music, tagged DROELOE, Four Tet, KH on March 9, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Kieran Hebden released a song called “Question” as KH. The Four Tet man’s had the groove turned up by Love Will Say No. He writes in an email, “relights that groove to a new funkier level!
A perfect weapon for your dj sets or just to find yourself dancing alone in your room.”
***
Ruth from Minnesota sent over this one from DROELOE.
Happy Friday!
Go with yourself.
Posted in music, tagged Champion, Four Tet on November 8, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Not gunna lie…when I first saw that Four Tet had teamed up with Champion…I thought it was gunna be DJ Champion. But it is not. Some other London based Champion.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music, tagged Four Tet on August 25, 2017| Leave a Comment »
I wish I was as cool as Four Tet.
Kieran Hebden has been locked int he studio for past 10 months, working on some music. He has already shared a couple songs and today we get a beauty called “SW9 9SL.”
He says we’ll be getting a new album later this year.
Happy Friday!
Go with yourself.
Posted in music, tagged Beach Slang, Four Tet, Silversun Pickups, Tove Lo, Tracy Chapman on August 6, 2015| 1 Comment »
I really should have written a blog yesterday. So much new music to get to.
Let us begin in Philadelphia and a record I will for sure be picking up on October 30th. Beach Slang‘s The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us. Compact disc, digital, and cassette (so hot right now) but the jewel in the crown will be one of those 800 press vinyl from the Polyvinyl store.
NOISEY: “…packs in their trademark hopeless romanticism and a lust for nostalgia over emotional vulnerability.”
Grand Stand: “The feelings of youth and vulnerability lie at the core of Beach Slang‘s music, which is part punk, part pop and all catharsis. It references the ghosts of the Replacements but keeps one foot firmly rooted in the present. It’s fun and it’s serious. It’s sad but it isn’t.”
I love it.
***
Silversun Pickups from Silverlake, California (or is it Silver Lake?) have a new record called Better Nature out on September 25th.
Check out this short-film for the single “Nightlight.” The film was directed by Mike Pellington…Mike Pellington, you mean the same guy that directed Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy?” Yeah THAT Mike Pellington. You’re watching Meg Steedle who might recognize if you watched Boardwalk Empire.
***
I just posted some Four Tet the other day…and now this? A recently re-discovered Four Tet song posted up on Soundcloud.
made this on a plane end of last year… not sure what I was thinking or why it exists.
— Four Tet (@FourTet) August 5, 2015
Let’s have a listen to “BACK2THESTART.”
Free download? This song will be making the lounge set. 100%.
***
What else… right… a remix of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” I *feel* like I’ve heard this song, or a remix like it before? No matter…. Classic song, sounds good. Also a free download.
***
Tomorrow I should have a remix of Tove Lo’s “Bodies.” and working on interviews with Mumford & Sons, Royal Blood and Atlas Genius.
Go with yourself.
Posted in ...this is your father speaking, music, tagged Four Tet, NS7ii, Numark, Serato, Toro y Moi on August 4, 2015| 1 Comment »
Feeling like a little ball of energy lately. Building on some radio ideas and I think I’ve hit on a podcast idea.
I’ve been struggling with my Numark NS7ii DJ controller. I was about ready to light i ton fire this past weekend. The machine has never really worked as advertised. On my old Intel 2 Duel Core Macbook Pro…it glitches, or locked up. The Serato and Numark people were both like, “it’s your computer.”
I bought a new Macbook three weeks ago and the second time I use it, glitches hard. Sunday night, it wouldn’t even play a single song. I plug in my old Macbook, works the best it has ever worked. I don’t know. It is frustrating especially now as I am thinking of trying to DJ a lounge night somewhere in Vancouver. I’ll need it to work. I’ve been on with the tech support people at Serato, and yapping with my friend Tyson (who programs hardware for a different music company) and we (they) think we have it figured out. I hope. PRAY. Tyson thinks it’s a software conflict too.
“The best controller ever built. period.” Jeeeeezus. To be fair…when it works…it works so gloriously that if I get this thing sorted out, I am sure I’ll change my tune and be singing its praises.
Which brings me to today’s song. Four Tet. I’ve been thinking of my lounge set lately. And all the great chill wave and downtempo artists I used to play at the Veneto Lounge like Four Tet. In Victoria on the weekend I stumbled into Ditch Recorts (to buy Kurt Vile…well actually I wanted Titus Andronicus‘ new album but it was $40!) and I found a 2015 record from Four Tet. Four Tet’s new album is called Morning/Evening. Keiran Hebden inherited some Indian music from his grandfather and pulled some samples out of a 1983 song called “Main Teri Chhoti Behana Hoon” by Lata Mangeshkar.
Toro y Moi happens to have some new sounds too…and I always enjoyed his stuff.
***
I was putting my kids to bed tonight when it dawned on me that one day I won’t. Sometimes it’s a chore. Sometimes I don’t want to do it. But then when I don’t have to, I’ll miss it so much.
I was talking to my Dad the other day about how funny and great little baby babble is. I kinda wish I could record it all the time and save it for when I’m an old man. My Dad said I really should make a pint of recording. The thing is, as soon as I pull out my phone (so far at least) Jack stops babbling. Like he knows…or he gets distracted by the phone. I strapped him in to the car seat today on a quest to buy more coffee beans and I got 15 seconds out of him before he saw my phone and was more interested in swiping at it.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music, tagged Aylen, Coldplay, Four Tet, Ultraista on December 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Happy Friday! Friday tends to be the day when I think the most about remixes, chillwave, down-tempo… which I know sounds counter-intuitive to the ragers that most people have their sights set on…but hey, I’m a Friday cocktail lounge DJ.
My memories of the time when Coldplay released X & Y are of a record that felt underwhelming. My opinion has changed over the years and I appreciate the slow dance, feel-her-up songs from their third album.
New Jersey producer Aylen has traveled back to 2005 to put a remix spin on single “Fix You.”
***
Ultraista is a UK act featuring Laura Bettinson’s vocals bouncing around the sounds of producer Nigel Godrich (Radiohead) and Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M.). Thier self titled record came out in the fall.
Four Tet is cool.
Happy Friday, stay safe, Merry Christmas.
This was on the radio today… some history on SANTA!
Go with yourself.
Posted in music, tagged Four Tet, Youngblood Hawke on August 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Well that was interesting. Testing out some new equipment last night… was thinking that while I work, I’d like to test it out with some Four Tet. The computer I was on had no Four Tet so off to the iTunes store to grab a song. While I was there I noticed that he released a brand new record that night! How serendipitous. Usually you read stories and reviews and tweets. I must have missed the articles, or be following the wrong folks, or I’m the only one that cares.
Four Tet has his own record label and his new record, Pink, collects a bunch of vinyl only releases from his label over the past year.
Four Tet – “128 Harps”
Really pleasant and easy sounds to listen to while working.
***
Youngblood Hawke is a band from Los Angeles, California.
The group has an interesting story. The name is based on a a character from an old novel which I have never read. The principle members were in a band that seemed like that were reaching success. The group was called Iglu & Harley and in 2010 they had the chance to play Coachella. But something happened and the band dissolved. I believe they quote, “dissolved due to a creative clash.”
BUT, Simon Katz and singer Sam Martin stayed with it and formed a new band… and here we are.
I got a text from Simon at the Veneto today saying the self-titled EP is fantastic. The single we’re featuring on the Zone is called “We Come Running.”
Youngblood Hawke – “We Come Running”
Punchy energy. Catchy. Good times.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music, tagged Four Tet, Passion Pit on May 8, 2012| 3 Comments »
I don’t have a lot of time to write… but I do have a couple songs I am jazzed to share with you.
BUT first…I want to make a playlist of 2000s post-hardcore/screamo but my Mac is starting to chug and needs a tune-up. Garageband (the program I use for my podcasts) was being glitchy and slow… I don’t imagine I’ll have the money to upgrade the Mac till June at the earliest, so no podcasts for a bit unless I make it at work.
OK, NEW FOUR TET!
Four Tet – “Jupiters”
Download MP3 >> Four Tet – Jupiters
Regular friends of the blog know how much I LOVE Four Tet… new music is always welcome and will be immediately will go into rotation during my sets at the Veneto (Friday nights… and select Saturdays until they find a guy/girl).
This song has a huge intro before locking into a traditional Four Tet beat. Good times.
and now this…
Wow, has it been three years since the last Passion Pit record? New album is called Gossamer is due on July 24th. Mr. Pit will be busy this summer playing all kinds of festivals including Seattle’s Bumbershoot in September. First single is called “Take a Walk.”
Passion Pit – “Take a Walk”
Its hard to say if this will be a mainstream radio song. It is pleasant enough, but does the s9und cut through? if you have thoughts on Passion Pit leave a comment.
OK, I better get to work.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music, tagged Burial, Canucks, Dinosaur Jr, Four Tet, Gerald Cosloy, Homestead Records, Matador Records, Mr. Dream, Red Wagon, Vancouver on March 7, 2012| Leave a Comment »
I am doing that #MarchPhotoADay thing on my twitter. Good times. Every day there is a theme and you take a picture about it. Fun!
I have a couple songs for you today… two very different styles.
Lets get started talking about one of my favourite chill beat mongers, Four Tet. The UK producer and DJ teamed up with Burial for a song called “Nova.” The song will likely show up on Four Tet’s Text Records.
Burial + Four Tet – “Nova”
Download MP3 (low quality) >> Burial and Four Tet
This song kind of reminds of the grey days leading up to spring. Spring is coming to Victoria, but ain’t here yet! (heck there was a light dusting of snow the other day).
You got that signature Four Tet beat and the ghostly samples and glitches of Burial. Basically everything about both performers I like, in one song. I remember when Four Tet toured to Vancouver… and I think played at The Biltmore? Oh man, it will forever be a shame that I didn’t rally to hit the show. In my defense… he played on a February 24th… Madelyn’s birthday. Just couldn’t do it.
I change gears for a record I read about the other day on Pitchfork.
The writer didn’t jive on the record, but in explaining their distaste they kinda sold me on the disc. The group is called Mr. Dream and their EP is Fatherland.
The critique is that band sounded a bit like a second-rate 80s vintage Homestead Records band. Sounds like my kind of band.
I started poking around the other day on Homestead because they are an important record label based out of New York for alternative music in the 80s. They feature prominently in the lore of the time in outsider music. Gerald Cosloy ran the label during a lot of important years and was instrumental in the early days of Dinosaur Jr. Awesome.
It was Dinosaur Jr that inspired me to try and learn guitar… and to hear a band that borrows heavily from that era but is modern sounds exceptionally intriguing to me.
Poking around more, and Colsoy’s story intersects again… as he is a part-owner of today’s influential indie record label, Matador Records. And then it just all makes sense. matador is home (or was home) to a lot of bands that I love. Namely Interpol (currently) and Spoon (formally). But click the link and you’ll see a pretty select roster of bands.
Very cool.
Back to Mr. Dream, the band out of Brooklyn NYC… are a couple Pitchfork writers (which is funny, because Pitchfork ripped them)… which goes to show, judging music is easier than making it (or at least a very different skill set).
I like Mr. Dream… but mostly because I like the style and era they are trying to replicate. And if I ever get half decent at guitar, might try for something similar (but with a Four Tet beat? haha)
Mr. Dream – “Fatherland”
Download MP3 >> Mr Dream – Fatherland
OK… Mr. Dream only has like a 1,000 something followers… so I need to get my band fired up fast so I can can offer SOMETHING and tour with them playing 80’s alt rock!
That’s all I got… I am off on a little holiday tomorrow and Friday… Coral is taking me to a Canucks game. We’ll eat street food, drink beers, maybe hit the Red Wagon… I might go for a soak in the hot tub at my sister’s place, and generally act like a tourist with 48 hours to cause trouble Vancouver friends… if you’re downtown Thursday night…look for Hurricane Coral, I’ll be holding onto a lamp post or sturdy hipster near that!
See you at Veneto on Friday night.
Go with yourself.
Posted in music, tagged Arcade Fire, Band of Horses, Broken Bells, Four Tet, Frightened Rabbit, Jimmy Eat World, Middle Class Rut, The Black Keys, The National, Top 10, Vampire Weekend on December 8, 2010| 8 Comments »
10) Band of Horses – Infinite Arms
The third studio record from Band of Horses didn’t get the mad crush of love that their previous two records received but I ended up playing at home and during my lounge sets. I will always love the song “Laredo” and so much of what I perceive to be a Old Western?Mexico/Desert vibe.
Band of Horses – “Laredo”
09) Vampire Weekend – Contra
We’ll need to stretch our memory back to one of the first big hyped releases of the year for this LP. Vampire Weekend’s anticipated follow-up Contra is number nine on my list.
VW never had huge traction on the radio with their quirky blend of world beats filtered through privileged Brooklyn/Hipster/Ivy Leaguers. I loved Vampire Weekends first album but I enjoyed this one so much more.
Now I know what horchata is. Nice.
Vampire Weekend – “Taxi Cab”
08) Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
A monster number 1 record and grammy nominated album from the Arcade Fire. When this disc came out, we had it on pretty steady at the Veneto and the single “Ready to Start” enjoyed a residency at number one on The Zone’s Modern Rock Countdown. There was a lot I loved about this record. Mostly the nostalgic story lines of growing up in the suburbs, because hey, I grew up in the suburbs. For a feature song, I will chose one of Simon’s faves off the record.
Arcade Fire – “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)”
06) Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Another record that didn’t receive wide-spread praise or seem to do a whole lot onto further push FR onto the mainstream conciseness.
Being a heavy user of their previous music, I was hungry for a new disc. I was downloading anything that leaked or squeeked out leading up to this record so maybe I was little too primed, but they are one of my fave bands period, this disc got jammed out. It might not have changed my world like the first time I heard Frightened Rabbit, but it is still a great record of melodramatic rock and roll.
My favourite cut was the first single and it remains so today.
Frightened Rabbit – “Swim Until You Can’t See Land”
06) Broken Bells – Broken Bells
The dude from the Shins, that dude named Danger Mouse… joined forces like the Dinobots to create one sexy masterpiece. I don’t even want to speculate how many babies were conceived this because of this record.
Lots doesn’t seem like an adequate word.
Listening to a randomized playlist on my iTunes one time, this song came up and it has become on my favourites off the record. maybe sounds a little more Shins and little less Danger Mouse, but that’s cool. I believe this song made it on Coral and my one year anniversary mixtape.
Broken Bells – “October”
05) Jimmy Eat World – Invented
Another band that does no wrong by me. Since I’ve been with Coral, JEW has held a special place in my heart and they earn that chance to make a record and I immediately go out and buy it.
I like their 7th studio record because I found it enjoyable outta the box much sooner than it too me to get into their previous Chase This Light.
Chase would grow on me but I liked how there were more than a couple song son this disc that I liked right away one listen in. And others that I would grow to love with repeated listens.
My feature cut is a romantic song (but hey, aren’t all JEW songs sappy?) that I believe also made it on the 1 Year Anniversary mixtape.
Jimmy Eat World – “Littlething”
04) Four Tet – There is Love In You
No record had a bigger influence on me from outside my normal perspective than this electronic disc from the UK’s Kieran Hebden… aka Four Tet.
Around this time last year I bought my DJ rig and by January I was experimenting with DJing simple beats. Right around the time this record came out.
A very modern, simple, and relaxing record to put on to soundtrack my days events. Coral bought this record on vinyl and when I do fire up the record player, The is Love In You is a go to.
Its four sides so I almost go right to side D track one so I can hear the most wonderful song on the record.
Four Tet – “She Just Likes to Fight”
I could listen to that song forever on repeat and never go fully insane. Shit, I might get smarter.
03) The Black Keys – Brothers
I was late to The Black Keys party, but when I finally got the invite, I dived in hard.
The whole swampy bluesy core styled rock music happening right now seems to originating from Akron, Ohio.
To pick a single feature is impossible. Pol likes “Howling For You” and Allie likes “Everlasting Light”
I’m gunna go with the more blue-collar dirge.
The Black Keys – “Too Afraid to Love You”
02) Middle Class Rut – No Name No Color
Rock and Roll has returned. For me, the Renaissance was felt with Japandroids. But there are only so many fuzzy retro rocker songs to hear. The Black Keys kept me marching to the beat locked in. Then Dave Sawchuk lighted up Sacramento’s Middle Class Rut during our weekly music meeting… and became evangelical.
Rarely do I hear a song that captures my imagination so completely and immediately. I felt like a little kid with excitement to hear “New Low.” Downloaded it and then the record. And since then, it has become such a huge record in my life.
It is a bit of a grinder and lyrically it can be depressing. but I do find something uplifting to their tales of the working man’s lows. My ultimate fave is the lead off cut from their record. Sometimes I go for drives in the Cruze just so I can play this song at maximum volume.
Middle Class Rut – “Busy Being Born”
01) The National – High Violet
We all have favourite bands and The National is my favourite.
The day this record came out and they had a vinyl copy down at Ditch I went to get it. I remember that day. I rode my bike and it was really nice out. Then I went to Canoe Club to meet with Don about some music stuff. While waiting for him I was chatting with the waitress… she had never heard of The National. WTF?
So I cracked open the record and gave her the free download MP3 card so she could check it out. I hope she did.
The first single “Bloodbuzz Ohio” to me is masterpiece song. But after repeated plays of this album I do have a few key cuts. A song that always stuck out for me has a weird military theme.
The National – “Lemonworld”
Thank you for reading my Top 10 and checking out some new music.
Some old lists:
Top 10 Zone Shows of the 2000s
My favourite records of the 2000s
Top 10 Records of 2009
Top 10 Records of 2008
Go with yourself.
The Morning After 