Blow By Blow

Sorry folkies, been a bit sick this past week and severely lacking motivation. Going to blast through this so at least everyone gets some music. This Phil Collins edit/remix/bootleg by Osunlade from 2007 is just perfect. He adds a gentle tribal feel with some lovely earthy drums and percussive synths whilst really drawing out the vocals with lofty pads and distant guitar. Fantastic instrumental section just past half way! Sorry for the crappy rip, my copy always skips so this is the best I could find.

Osunlade - In The Air Tonight (Yoruba Soul Vox)

This 12" by Stromba, 'Giddy Up', is just nice and simple and cool and hip and stuff. To my ear it's got a little bit of a DFA vibe going on with the disco rock drums and the pushy presence of the bass. Not much to say about this, just a very solid record.

Stromba - Giddy Down

I've been listening to this Golden Tiger Tales compilation a lot in the past week, put together by Paradise Lost crew member Mikey Miutante. It's full of local tunes, generally a bit more in the downtempo department, showcasing a wide variety of lush and alluring sounds coming out of the cracks of Sydney. They've printed 99 lovely looking CDs which will be snapped up quick so if you dig this stuff I recommend hitting up their Bandcamp page. Very interesting release.

Out in the Sticks - Dog Got My Wah Wah [buy]

I have to announce my piss-pants excitement about Harvey travelling to Australia in May - and not only that, Garth is coming with him AND they'll be playing a Picnic show in Sydney. Life can't get much better than this, what a boner sensation! Here are some Harvey essentials for anyone unlucky enough to not be a Harvey fanatic, including his ultimately legendary and absolutely crucial Essential Mix; one from the Black Cock archives; a dope Avalanches extension; and one of my all time favourite edits which I'm reposting just because it's so totally wonderful: Joyous. Can you tell I'm fucking stoked?

DJ Harvey - Shine On

The Avalanches - Electricity (Harvey's Nightclub Re-Edit)

Pleasure - Joyous (DJ Harvey Re-Edit)

DJ Harvey - Essential Mix, 31 May 1998

Picnic are also hosting Pete Herbert in the usual St Peters warehouse this Sunday afternoon. Get on it.

Seasons Change

How exciting: everyone's favourite totally-misleadingly-named-until-now blog is welcoming a new member to the band. I do mean Disco Delicious, in case that was ambiguous. Expect a new level of professionalism and a steep decline in reader disappointment.

In the meantime, I've once again had an Avalanches fanboi relapse, so prepare for some classic excellence. Actually, I'll post a couple of remixed Avs tunes, because they're both killer. The Cornelius mix of Since I Left You is pretty much what you might expect if you're familiar with their stuff. A bouquet of pretty bright sounds floating around and somehow coming together to make a really uplifting spring edition of an already lurvly song. The Ernest St. Laurent remix is a loungey house number which I wouldn't feel self-conscious blasting out the car windows on a toasty day. Convertable recommended.

The Avalanches - Since I Left You (Cornelius Remix)

The Avalanches - A Different Feeling (Ernest St. Laurent Remix)

I find this song quite adorable - a tune by Disco Rockets, a dude from Portugal who now seems to be in amongst the D.I.S.C.O.TEXAS crew. It might have something to do with the picture that accompanies the tune on his MySpace player, which i find strangely cute in a totally heterosexual masculine way. And the vocal sample just makes me happy. Simple but effective. Anyways, I'm really looking forward to more!

Disco Rockets - Running to You

By strange coincidence, I've been reminded of this track in several unrelated ways recently, which is perfect timing with spring merely a matter of hours away for us southern-hemispherians. The Ones, in my eyes, had some shockers but were well and truly saved by Flawless. What I only found out (i think) recently though is that the song that blitzed the radio was the A Touch of Class remix (a duo who also run a label of the same name, to which The Ones are signed), not the original track. Anyway, it's still a fab tune. Fun bonus round includes another, more disco-ish remix by Harry's Afro Hut, and another tune reworked by The Rapture which is at least interesting.

The Ones - Flawless (A Touch of Class Re-Remix)

The Ones - Flawless (Harry's Afro Hut Remix)

The Ones - Picture Perfect (The Rapture Hushhush Remix)

If you aren't aware of Nikola Gala, you should certainly do some investigating. He's an extremely versatile producer, covering progressive, deep, electro and a range of other things you can tack 'house' onto the end of. I've always been especially fond of Night Walk, having heard it an unhealthy number of times as the first song on Ivan Gough's InTheMix.06 disc. A gorgeous bassline, and synths that may very well have the power to make large objects levitate. If you're a fan of good music, there's a good chance he's produced something you'll love!

Nikola Gala - Night Walk

And since this post has been a little neglectful to the club corner, I'll throw in an old Switch thang which I've always enjoyed but have never heard played out. Makes me feel strangely sedated/drugged whenever I hear it. In any case, it's a really mesmerising groove. Take it or leave it.

Switch - Just Bounce 2 This

Now watch and see how good Kiyoshi makes me look! :) Tehe

Implications

Hey friends. Not really a music post here; rather, I'm asking for some opinions of you groovy blog readers. I've spent many hours thinking about the state of music (electronic is a narrow field I know, but extending to just about everything) and its future. A year or two ago I thought the idea of music blogging was the greatest thing that could ever happen to the development and growth of the industry in the still early stages of the digital revolution. It's certainly a very cool thing that anybody has the opportunity of having their own musical creations shared and promoted to the e-masses, and that careers can be built not on just luck but on recognition and appreciation of quality and potential.

Lately, though, I've become pretty cynical about the whole thing and I'm worried about what the implications may be in terms of the music industry, in terms of musical creativity and genre exploration, and in terms of both the immediate and perhaps more long term future of the way music is consumed. I won't say too much, because I could ramble forever and ever, but it's something I'm really interested in and I'd like to do some more research and thinking. I'd love to hear from anybody who has any thoughts on this though. Is this whole concept of blogging (and everything that's tied to it) actually doing good things, or is it going to end up having detremental effects? Are we taking steps forward or taking steps back?

Give me an email if you've got a view on the matter. My address is over on the top right. Or leave a comment or something. I'd really appreciate any input you guys might have!

As for tunes.. I suppose I'd better post something. So for your aural pleasure, check out a few lovely gems that need no polishing. A cruisy Avalanches B-side groove, an upbeat strutting funky remix of Justin Timberlake (don't judge yet!) by the marvelous Casino Inc, and the slightly dark and twisted SMD tweaking of Bjork.

The Avalanches - Thank You Caroline

Justin Timberlake - My Love (Casino Inc Amazing Disco Remix)

Bjork - Innocence (Simian Mobile Disco Twelve Inch Remix)

Drop me a line yo!

Oh, and for those who have been asking, I'm reuploading the Daft Punk live sets now. Uni holidays start this weekend for me so I'll start sorting shit out then. Sorry for the wait!

Happy Birthday!

Less one day, but yay, we've turned 1! I didn't actually intend for readership to extend past two of my friends when it started, so it's been pretty cool watching the blog grow a bit and get some looks. Thanks for reading! Hopefully we'll chug along another year yet, if not more than that.

I didn't do a best of 07 post or anything like that, but I think I'd like to do a personal 'Best of Disco Delicious so far' - some of the stuff Trentertainment or I have posted that I still love to bits. Just humour me and pretend to be happy with it. Note: [o] links to original post for nostalgia purposes.

OK. The Road to Recovery remixes were fucking brilliant. From the original powersynth Miami Horror redazzle to the dark and throbbing D.I.M mix to the insane Curses! power-banger - which has been a staple tune for me since first listen - you've got a broad armoury of amazing tunes. At first I was distraught that SebastiAn never ended up doing the remix he was commissioned to make, but these three are more than enough to compensate.

Midnight Juggernauts - Road to Recovery (Miami Horror Remix) [o]

Midnight Juggernauts - Road to Recovery (D.I.M Remix) [o]

Midnight Juggernauts - Road to Recovery (Curses! Remix) [o]

Simian Mobile Disco really stole my heart in 07. I find it hard to describe what it is about their music that makes them so good. It's so clear and precise and focussed, and generally they sound like extremely good musicians with a real talent for expressing ideas just how they want them. My faves, aside from the Muse remix, have been Wooden and the Presets remix. Both stunning examples of what these guys can do.

The Presets - Are You The One? (Simian Mobile Disco Remix) [o]

Simian Mobile Disco - Wooden [o]

Speaking of Muse, the DIOYY? remix of Map of the Problematique rocked my socks in a big big way. About as banging as they come, really. Not much needs to be said, the song explains itself more the louder it's played.

Muse - Map of the Problematique (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix) [o]

'07 saw the most ridiculously hyped event ever held in Australia - Daft Punk. Within a month of the official announcement, everybody who was anybody (and a lot of nobodys) magically became their #1 fan. I can't think of many music epidemics lasting just a few months that have reached the level of insanity that this did. I may be exaggerating... But anyway, it was of course deserved. Of the stuff on here, I'll re-up a couple of prior loves that aren't as painfully obvious as some others. Check out the Daft Bonanza post too with a bunch of yummy live sets.

Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out (Daft Punk Remix) [o]

Daft Punk - Da Funk (Casino Inc. Amazing Disco Remix) [o]

The infamous Starfuckers continues to grow and grow into some kind of hideously deformed club monster. Still the best music, crowd and venue in Sydney by a long way. Check out the first Starfuckers mix Neon Nights here, if you haven't already. Many months prior to that though was resident Hookie's LESS HANDS, MORE RAVE promo. Sooo sensationally good. It dominated the car rotation for longer than many, which is no mean feat. Tracklisting is here. I'll also throw in the first thing Trent posted, a unique and astonishing old Bang Gang mix which I otherwise would never have stumbled across.

Hookie - LESS HANDS, MORE RAVE!!! Chapter 1 [o]

Ajax and Gus da Hoodrat - Art Killers [o]

A couple of tunes I enjoyed many listens over: the quirky, unexpectedly funky Oizo chop of Merrymaking, and the Mathematikal re-edit of DVNO, which I think is their best to date. Both add the perfect amount of freshness to already solid originals.

Calvin Harris - Merrymaking at My Place (Mr. Oizo Remix) [o]

Justice - DVNO (Mathematikal Re-edit) [o]

The blog almost certainly would have slowly dissolved and died if Trent hadn't come to the rescue some months ago. I'm sure nobody denies he is excellent. In particular this post had me questioning my sexuality. The SebastiAn remix of Das Pop... I won't even bother trying to articulate my erotic feelings for that song. The Destroy Disco mix also got me really excited about a new potential electro-producing volcano in Sydney.

Das Pop - Fool For Love (SebastiAn Remix) [o]

Klaxons - Atlantis to Interzone (Destroy Disco Remix) [o]

I know I only posted this a month ago, but in light of the Cut Copy hypefest washing over the blogosphere, coupled with my oh-so-tender love for this song, allow me to reintroduce you to a very fine remix. Oh that bass... Like a fat kid storming a party and gobbling up everything he can see. Really a beautiful thing! In additional new-Aussie-album celebration, cop the super Presets/Madonna mash for a third and (perhaps?) final time.

Mercy Arms - Kept Low (Cut Copy Remix) [o]

The Presets/Madonna - Hung Down [o]

And finally, maybe still my favourite mixtape ever, an Avalanches masterpiece, Gimix. A total change of pace from everything else on this blog, but top top top quality. Everything from Bob Dylan to Fatboy Slim, this is THE soundtrack to a carefree summer day. Tracklisting is here.

The Avalanches - Gimix [o]

New stuff is on its way, so don't get all grumpy and sulky. Lots of love, and keep reading! Still trying to sort this hosting issue, hold tight...

Something Else

Been revisiting The Avalanches a lot in the last few weeks and I think it's no coincidence the last few weeks have been very happy times! In particular I've had the Gimix promo mix from 2000 on permanent repeat in my car, on my ipod, on my pc... Such a smooth melodic blend of singalong pop, classic rock and grooving electronic, with splashes of the album all the way through - the perfect soundtrack to a classy but casual party. Check out the blazing track listing here. Something a bit different to what I usually post, but it's seriously quality stuff!

The Avalanches - Gimix

I picked up a copy of the Road to Recovery Remixes 12" a few days ago and realised the Curses! mix must have slipped by me. It's a really intriguing crazy choppy track and the chaotic party vibe makes it perfect for the climax of a night out. Alongside the D.I.M and Miami Horror remixes (Miami's is sadly not on the record) you've got just about every base covered with this track.

Midnight Juggernauts - Road to Recovery (Curses! Remix)

Bloody Beetroots this weekend, I'm excited!

The Best Of What You May Have Missed

A trip down short term memory lane here as I repost some tracks from way back when (a month or two?) in case they were missed. On display we have an addictive mash-up of Madonna's 'Hung Up' and The Presets' 'Down Down Down' that was released on a limited Modular 3"CD free with t-shirts; another cool mash by The Avalanches of Digitalism and Wham!; a sensational Blamma! Blamma! remix of Maximo Park featuring some violent vocal editing; sterling reworking of a Daft Punk classic by Casino Inc.; and the filthy Justice remix of their own 'Waters of Nazareth'.

The Presets/Madonna - Hung Down

The Avalanches - Ray of Zdarlight

Maximo Park - Our Velocity (Blamma! Blamma! Terminal Velocity Remix)

Daft Punk - Da Funk (Casino Inc. Amazing Disco Remix)

Justice - Waters of Nazareth (Justice Remix)

Boy that certainly was a poorly formatted paragraph.. but after all the apologies in the last post you're not getting shit from me. Now while we're on the topic of not-so-new stuff, how about a mega classic Switch mix that's still swirling around my iTunes regularly. Why oh why won't this come out on vinyl already?

Jacknife Lee - Making Me Money (Switch Remix)

"Something new" I hear you cry? Well, Does It Offend You, Yeah? have done a lovely remix for Muse, which is a refreshing change since I've not been that impressed with most of the attempts made on their songs. Although there's a bit of vocal wankery, the pumping mid-section makes up for it.

Muse - Map Of The Proplematique (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix)

And finally, if you're a Sydneysider, Ghettoruckus DJ's will be tearing up Ruby Rabbit on Friday night so make sure you come along and support! Here's a short teaser to wet your whistle.

Ghettoruckus DJ's - Minimix (Demo)

Party on, dudes!

Fun Tracks!

Fun indeed. If I had a gold star for each time I've listened to these tracks, and I was a retarded kid, I'd be thrilled.

Terminal Velocity - Maximo Park vs. Blamma! Blamma! [alt link]

Ray of Zdarlight - The Avalanches [alt link]

Cookie - The Presets [alt link]

The Avalanches track is a mashed potato of Wham! and Digitalism, yum yum. Maximo Park is diced into spicy delicious french fries by Blamma! Blamma!, and Cookie is a level teaspoon of old skool Presets. Hungry..