Feb 3 2015

[Audio] God Made ME Funky’s ‘So Complicated’

It seems that when Dana Jean Phoenix isn’t being a retro Pop star, or the voice of choice of the SynthWave scene, the Torontonian is part of eight-piece Funk collective God Made ME Funky. A brief skirt through their back catalogue revels an Acid Jazz heavy collection of smooth Funk and R&B grooves, but Dana recently uploaded a new tune to her SoundCloud page, and it’s pure ElectroPop brilliance. It would appear he SynthWave is starting to affect the rest of her band!

So Complicated is vintage Soul Pop gold. Hints of Jam & Lewis, Chromeo and even Five Star glisten though the track as thick, nostalgic, synths rub shoulders with wicked little licks and the occasional talkbox accompaniment. Dana is at her 80s finest here and her huge vocal is perfectly balanced in the track; there’s a lot going on here, but it never feels cluttered. This is the first we’d heard from God Made ME Funky, but we’ll definitely be checking out their new album, Funky Fly ‘N’ Free, when it’s released in March.

♫ God Made ME Funky – So Complicated

God Made ME Funky’s Funky Fly ‘N’ Free is released 24th March,

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Jul 2 2014

[Audio] Lenno reMixes Chromeo’s ‘Jealous (I Ain’t With It)’

This, we imagine, is the last of our posts about Canadian funksters Chromeo’s Jealous (I Ain’t With It). Once the stems to a song like this are released into the world, everyone and their dog grabs those coat-tails. We already featured Ride The Universe’s amazing reMix of the tune, a slick laid back Disco stormer. At the other end of the spectrum sit our favourite Finn, Lenno, who takes the track straight to the big room. We’re not expecting anyone to do any better than these two, so case closed.

Taken from their new album White Women, Jealous (I Ain’t With It) was Chromeo’s first single from the album, but weirdly probably the album’s least-strong track. That is, before the likes of Lenno got their hands on it. As we’d expect from Lenno, he makes things truly massive with layers of hugs synths, perfectly produced, Building and building over a Boogie-esque bassline that gives the track a little Disco undertone, Lenno would have the dancefloor in the palm of his hand with this one. Dave 1’s vocals are just the icing on the cake here. We’ve got this on on repeat.

♫ Chromeo – Jealous (I Ain’t With It) (Lenno reMix)

Chromeo’s White Women is out now.

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Jun 17 2014

[Audio] Ride The Universe reMix Chromeo’s ‘Jealous (I Ain’t With It)’

Picture the scene. It’s 2011, a sunny May. We’re still using Five months earlier LA’s finest Dreamwavers Fiero (now Leisure Council) had teamed up with German Nu-Disco powerhouse digitalfoxglove. Calling themselves Ride The Universe they’d gained a little attention with a handful of slick reMixes, but nothing would prepare the world for what was to come. 11th May they unleashed a reMix of Canadian Funketeers Chromeo’s Hot Mess that was so massively awesome, floor slammingly funky, so relentlessly badass, that it still had the power melt brains three years later. It’s one of our favourite reMixes of all time, it set the tone for the trademark Ride The Universe sounds, and it’s why we fell in love with them.

Seconds out! Round Two! They’re bringing it back, Delivering their Chromeo reMix: the sequel, the Ride The Universe boys has got to grips with Chromeo’s recent single, Jealous (I Ain’t With It) (taken from their really quite good new album, White Women) as part of the currently running reMix competition. The prize is cash, and these four deserve it for two very good reasons. Firstly, they’ve never met, some of the prize money would go toward shipping digitalfoxglove off to LA to actually meet his band-mates and get to work on that damn album; and secondly some of the prize money will be donated to a kid’s music education charity. Sounds like a worthy cause to us. The reMix itself is pure smoothness. A blissful LA Funk vibe permeates every pore of this tune; working it’s laid back squelchy synths around Dave P’s vocals, creating an urban late night groove for the more discerning dancefloor. Complemented by starlight chimes and a sauntering rubble of bass, this one’s got everything to swing to under the city lights. Vote for this bad-boy here, never has there been a more deserving reMix competition winner.

♫ Chromeo – Jealous (I Ain’t With It) (Ride The Universe reMix)

Chromeo’s White Women is out now.

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Oct 23 2013

[Audio] Chromeo’s ‘Sexy Socialite’

First the album teaser, then the track Over Your Shoulder, and now another new tune, Sexy Socialite, has been unveiled along the road to the release of the almighty Chromeo’s fourth studio album, White Women. The album looks set to feature a whole host of collaborations (it’s the done thing this year) from the likes of Oliver, Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, Toro Y Moi and Solange. Sexy Socialite sees the Canadian duo teaming up with LCD Soundsystem’s Pat Mahoney on drums.

Sexy Socialite is amazingly New Wave. Whist still keeping it funky, the guys play with a little early 80s Pop. Not quite as Disco oriented as we’d expect from Chromeo, although there is a heavy amount of groove and vocoding galore, Sexy Socialite is Rick James style stripped down Funk Pop. Dave 1 is on his usual top form lyrically, funny and subversive, mixing retro machismo with a modern wit. the track is a six minute epic, that give Dave more than enough room for one of his solos before launching into a Vocoder duet with P-Thug. Sexy Socialite is quite a bit different than we were expecting from the album, but very very good. The album’s release date can’t come soon enough.

♫ Chromeo – Sexy Socialite

Chromeo’s forthcoming new album, White Women, is due out later this year or early 2014.

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Sep 17 2013

[MP3] Chromeo’s ‘Over Your Shoulder’

What a couple of weeks it’s been for new music! To top everything off here’s the new single from the almighty Chromeo. It’s no secret that Chromeo are one of our favourite outfits and after last week’s album teaser we never expected this new single to break ground so soon. But here it is, and a free download too. Get your teeth into Over Your Shoulder.

The words ‘slab’ and ‘funk’ spring immediately to mind, shimmying alongside the word ‘smooth’, as Over Your Shoulder is a smooth slab of funk as only Chrome can deliver. A slick, electric piano driven tune that shows off Chromeo at their subtler, and most quintessential, selves. A tongue-in-cheek tale woven by Dave 1’s vocals set to a thick backing of Electro-Funk and 70s Disco licks, swooshing synths and a lazy bassline, make for the best of laid back Chromeo. The first track taken from Chromeo’s forthcoming new album, White Women, Over Your Shoulder definitely has us eager to hear more.

♫ Chromeo – Over Your Shoulder

Chromeo’s forthcoming new album, White Women, is due out later this year or early 2014.

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Jul 18 2013

[MP3] Shook’s ‘Summer Heat’

Dutch Disco master (yes, master!) Shook is back with some big news and a free tune. The mans début album, which is a pretty long awaited release, is finished and to drop in August. To warm everyone up, Shook is giving away one of the album tracks, for one week only. The sumptuous Summer heat does just what it says on the tin, prepare for laid back sunshine vibes.

As I sit here writing about this tune, it’s a scorching 31°C in the UK and much of Summer Heat sounds like I feel (especially the bit about getting an ice cream!). It;s lazy funk bassline and wicked Disco licks merge together with thick Moogs and a vintage beat to form a poolside, hot city nights, beach funk, summer good-times anthem for those who don’t care about moving too fast, as long as something’s going down. Strings, wailing synth solos and a smouldering vocal are all just the icing on the cake. Can’t wait for the album.

♫ Shook – Summer Heat (Album Version)

Shook’s début album, is released 6th August.

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May 30 2013

[Audio] Sally Shapiro’s reMix album (with Mitch Murder, Little Boots, Lovelock & Nite Jewel)

After the overwhelming success of Swedish ElectroPop duo Sally Shapiro’s third album, Somewhere Else, and the preceding single, the Electric Youth featuring Starman we were eager for more, but we didn’t expect something this hot. Just released is Elsewhere, a reMix companion for Somewhere Else who line-up is a variable whos-who is the cream of ElectroPop talent. It’s a killer meeting of minds that features the likes of Dan Lissvik, Young Galaxy, Lost Years and The Field, but right now we are going to take a look at some of our highlights.

First up, the undeniable king of SynthWave, Mr. Mitch Murder, graces the album with his presence. Reworking All My Life, Mitch delivers on his particular brand or rich, emotional, synthesized soundtrack work beautifully here. The deep, twanging, digital bass and invigorating electronic pulse play nicely against the warm tones to create something head-nodding brilliant. It’s prefect for Sally’s vocals too, the interaction between the chorus vocals and the bass is just amazing. If Mitch if the electronic music king, then our girl Little Boots is the queen. Taking on the brilliantly titled This City’s Local Italo Disco DJ Has A Crush On Me, Boots whips up some mirrorball sheen with a surprisingly gritty hook. Mixing up House and Nu-Disco elements to classy effect, Boots turns-in a slo-mo, soft focus, dancefloor dream. One of the most talented men in retro electronica, Steve Moore, here in his Lovelock guise turns his attention to I Dream With an Angel Tonight, injecting it with smooth, laid back, vintage Disco and Italo sounds with a cinematic feel and a slight mysterious, Sci-Fi vibe. LA synthesizer Funk queen Nite Jewel bring to the table a typically atmospheric and left-field slice of electronics in her rendition of Sundown, loaded with compelling basses and swirling soundscapes turning Sally Shapiro from twee ElectroPop into brooding, but groove, Cold Wave. This is definitely a recommended release, with a stellar line-up and a wide variety of styles, there really is something for everyone.

♫ Sally Shapiro – All My Life (Mitch Murder reMix)

♫ Sally Shapiro – This City’s Local Italo Disco DJ Has A Crush On Me (Little Boots Discotheque reMix)

♫ Sally Shapiro – I Dream With an Angel Tonight (Lovelock reMix)

♫ Sally Shapiro – Sundown (Nite Jewel reMix)

Sally Shapiro’s reMix album, Everywhere, is out now.

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Mar 25 2013

[Audio] Shook’s ‘Tonight’

The Dutch music master Shook has dropped his final single release before his long awaited début album hits. The album is due later this spring, and this track, Tonight, give us a little insight as to what to expect. As usual it’s musically head and shoulder above most of his contemporaries.

The multi-instrumentalist in Shook shines thought in Tonight, it’s a sumptuous, Funk fuelled, juggernaut that works little guitar riffs, loaded slap bass and Shook’s beloved electric piano to ring every last drop of euphoric grove out of them. The muted riff gives the track a funky urgency that’s nicely counterpointed with the lazy piano and hazy vocoded vocals. Tonight will definitely stick in your head, maybe even until Shook’s album drops.

♫ Shook – Tonight

Shook’s Tonight is out now.

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Feb 21 2013

[Mixtape] Alison Valentine’s ‘Ice Skate Disco Party Mix’

Alison Valentine – Ice Skate Disco Party Mix = In the mood for some classic 80s Disco? Alison Valentine has put together this cool little party mix for the launch party of her Warm Winter’s Day EP, complete with cake. Enjoy some classic cuts with one or two surprises.

♫ Alison Valentine – Ice Skate Disco Party Mix

The tracklist:

01. Alison Valentine – Peanut Butter (Moon Boots reMix)
02. Marvin Gaye – Got to Give it Up
03. Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough
04. Vaughan Mason & Crew – Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll
05. Prince – Sexy Dancer
06. MAM – One of Them Nights
07. Giorgio Moroder – I Wanna Rock Your
08. Rose Royce – Car Wash
09. Donna Summer – Hot Stuff
10. Black Box – Everybody Everybody
11. Breakbot – Shades of Black
12. Sound Stream – Love Town
13. Dee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart
14. Tom Tom Club – Wordy Rappinghood
15. Grace Jones – Pull Up To The Bumper
16. Skee Lo – I Wish
17. Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy
18. Mariah Carey – Fantasy
19. Janet Jackson – All For You

Alison Valentine’s Warm Winter’s Day is out now.

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Feb 4 2013

[Audio] Shook reMixes Ghost Beach

This almost slipped past us. Late last week Crazy Heart Records unveiled the new reMix of New York DiscoPop duo Ghost Beach’s Been There Before, by none other than the Dutch musical Funk master Shook. The track is part of a series of remixes from the likes of Penguin Prison, Gigamesh, Chad Valley and Summer Heart that will be dropped weekly, culminating in a full reMix EP release at the end of March.

Shook, of course, works his vintage disco magic on the track. The reMix is loaded with the Dutchman’s typical Moog Funk basslines and 70s disco pops and pows. Presented in a laid back groove, with Shook’s jazzy electric piano at the forefront, the track is the prefect melding of Shook’s 70’s Disco and Ghost Beach’s tropical sounds. One for late night dancefloors and lazy poolside days.