Pure Disco was the name of this compilation CD my aunt gave me back around 6th grade. It had all the “greatest disco hits of the 1970s”, you know: ‘Y.M.C.A.’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘I Will Survive’, ‘Funkytown’ - it was pure disco. But the swinging beat and soul-based dance music that all our parents loved to get down to was proud to return this year, and not in the form of a Kool & The Gang reunion concert. It was Hercules and Love Affair, the producer-lead group out of Brooklyn that took the basics of disco and ran with it. The group kept with the general idea of a clean bass and orchestra, but morphed the sound, turned it upside down, added some electro, shook it a bit, threw some vocals on top, and landed themselves something cool. Last Friday, Hercules and Love Affair did not dissapoint at the Metro in Chicago.

It was pure energy and disco. The stage was packed full of performers and instruments that produced the most insane pulsating disco rhythmic beat known to my ears. The only time anyone in the crowd took a break from dancing was to holler for the group to return for their encore. Commanded by DJ Andy Butler in the background, a keyboardist to his right, drummer to his left, and a bass player and two horn players in front, Hercules and Love Affair was all about the sound. On top of that, Nomi Ruiz and Kim Ann Foxman provided the vocals. I can’t stress enough the intensity of the energy I felt standing there. Everyone could feel it.

Hercules wasted no time stopping between songs. They slid right into the next track as easily as the last one began. Andy Butler took the only break to do an introduction of all the band members. The two horn players received the largest applause, rightfully so. The horns added a layer of texture and power on top of the music I really have never experienced. And I won’t forget when Butler called the drummer a “human drum machine”, or something along those lines, but the dude really was. I swear he played thirty-second notes.

I feel like I gained something from this show, not that most concerts don’t deliver those ideas, but I felt more involved and connected to the sound. It was something not easily forgotten. Hercules debuted a new track at the show it sounded better than ever. Sorry if the photo kind of blows, my camera stopped working after about a minute of being there. Watch for more exciting stuff from this group as they wrap up their first American tour in the next two weeks.

If anyone doesn’t know, I am obsessed with this song. The original by Van She is probably one my favorite songs, ever. It’s just a perfect song. Van She re-recorded the song for the debut album “V” which dropped earlier this year, but the original version is supremely better, but probably because it’s what I’m used to. There has been some notable remixes of the song by Cut Copy and Alan Braxe & Fred Falke, but this new Lifelike rework is freaking good. I saw earlier this summer on his Myspace he was working on a remix for the Aussie group and I could not wait. The track debuted on his myspace this week. Watch for it on a re-issue of the track on Modular soon.

Van She - Kelly (Original)
Van She - Kelly (Album version)
Van She - Kelly (Cut Copy remix)
Van She - Kelly (Lifelike remix) [myspace rip]

It’s goin’ to be good. The show starts at midnight. I’ll have a review later next week with with some photos from the show. See you there.

Check out these remixes. The rework of this Kaiser Chiefs song is the latest remix by Cut Copy and it’s freaking cool. It builds and drives with the vocal track. A-trak’s remix of ‘Bounce’ is another stunner, probably on par with Mansion’s take. Also check out the stuff by Shazam. He’s a kid from Perth that’s making some really good music. His remix of Muscles is especially good and his house take on the Dizzee Rascal track is worth checking out. Can someone buy me this computer?

Kaiser Chiefs - Never Miss A Beat (Cut Copy Remix)
Cut Copy - Bright Like Neon Love (Starters Search Warrant Remix)
Fischerspooner - Danse En France (D.I.M. Remix)
MSTRKRFT feat. NORE - Bounce (A-Trak Remix)
Muscles - Sweaty (Shazam remix)
Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome - Dance Wiv Me (Shazam Remix)

Source: Mute

“Prepare to shout along: I’m From Barcelona’s sophomore release ‘Who Killed Harry Houdini’ is out today. Listen to the full album on AOL Spinner here.

The 20+ member Swedish group led by Emanuel Lundgren burst on the scene in 2007 with ‘Let Me Introduce My Friends’, which introduced a songwriter with a penchant for crafting colorful indie pop that turned seemingly small topics like wearing glasses, oversleeping, and collecting stamps into upbeat sing-alongs.

Like many things Swedish – Ikea, Jose Gonzalez, spas, and fish – we were hooked. And so were critics. Pitchfork promptly labeled it “Best New Music,” Rolling Stone called it “pretty damn charming,” and New York Times described their confetti-filled Lollapalooza performance as “euphoric.”

In addition, the band are holding a remix competition of new song “Music Killed Me.” Visit myspace.com/imfrombarcelona for complete details, submissions must be received by November 3rd.

Paper Planes is their standout single. Watch the video here via Youtube and listen to the track here via Hypem.

“Walking on a Dream”

This is some good pop music, here. I hadn’t heard of Empire of the Sun until this morning when I was finishing up my English paper, ie. scanning music blogs. From what I’ve learned so far, they’re from Australia (again) and are a duo formed by Luke Steele of The Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore of Pnau. The video above is for their first single “Walking on a Dream”. Their debut album dropped October 8 in Australia.

The single is a steady pop groove, impossible not to tap your foot to. Coolest part of the track being the vocals. Check it out below along with two remixes.

Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream
Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream (Van She Tech Remix)
Empire Of The Sun (Remix: Sam La More) - Walking On A Dream (Sam La More 12 Remix)

If you’re a regular reader, obviously you know that I keep pushing Tame Impala. They’re this new psychedelic act out of Australia, best buds with Modular, and are touring with the likes of MGMT and such in the land down under. They released “Skeleton Tiger” a couple weeks back as a free download on their official site, but you can now go there and grab the other 4 tracks to complete the EP for $3.99 (AUD).

Quoted from their email: “Our EP consists of a selection of 5 songs out of about 25 home recorded songs we have. A couple were recorded as long ago as 2005; others were still being written when the EP was supposed to be getting mastered (oh yeah sorry about that Modular…). x Kevin, Dom & Jay ”

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE EP
Stream tracks @ Tame Impala’s Myspace

Awesome.

You guessed it, they’re from Sweden. The track above is ‘Le Night Dominator’ by The Touch feat. Lina Oehman. Directed by Jesper Bolmén, the music video is one of the best dance videos I have seen. It has perfect pacing with the song. The Touch is an electronic group that includes Johan, Olov, and Andreas who are three friends originally from way up north in Sweden. According to their label Trunkfunk’s site: “things have moved really fast for this group who already played at Swedens biggest festival alongside Justice, Sebastian, Uffie and Boys Noize. Together with Lina Oehman they’ve also had trax air on Swedish national radio.”

The song was included on The Touch EP - Part One and on the vinyl release feat. Lina Oehman back in March of this year. Oehman’s vocal backing is insane. The track is a real killer. Super simplified, distorted synth bass repeated with a massive beat and edgy vocals? Sounds like a hit to me. If this doesn’t make you want to dance, then go home already.

Listen: The Touch - Le Night Dominator
The Touch MYSPACE
Official Site

Here’s some remixes since it is Wednesday. The A-trak remix of ‘Bounce’ is awesome. I never particularly liked the original track, but all the remixes are really solid. Secondly, a shout out to Bgebs and her love of the Virgins and the Twelves. I posted a Treasure Fingers song a couple Wednesdays back but this is a new rework by Chromeo, which do you like better? Herve seriously never disappoints. I need to check more out about Kidda. And finally there’s another G.L.O.V.E.S. remix for those of you who can’t get enough since the ‘Changes’ tune. I also got word I will be attending the Hercules and Love Affair show next Friday the 17th in Chicago. See you guys there.

MSTRKRFT - Bounce (A-Trak remix)
The Virgins - Rich Girls (The Twelves Remix)
Treasure Fingers - Cross The Dancefloor (Chromeo Remix)
Kidda - Under the Sun (Herve Remix)
The Death Set - Listen To This Collision (G.L.O.V.E.S Remix)

Not surprisingly, The Sound of Arrows lists their hometown on Myspace as ‘Pop Heaven’, Sweeden. I ran across one of the duo’s songs this summer and I immediately liked it. I would listen to their song ‘Danger!’ anytime I took the bus or went for a bike ride along the lake. So while currently sitting in class looking for a band to blog about, I remembered these dudes. You immediately get a feeling of the music’s prominence from the opening of the single. I always get a weird chill during those first few lines of vocals: ‘Danger/there is danger out tonight’. The tone and slight eeriness you catch really makes your mind stop for a second. Then the song goes on to build triumphantly toward the end. It is almost like Sufjan meets Jens Lekman meets The Presets, if that makes any sense.

Their Danger! EP is out now on Labrador in Sweeden and on Popfrenzy in Australia and New Zealand. You can purchase it at Labrador.se and includes over forty minutes of original material and remixes.

Check it out: The Sound of Arrows - Danger!

Official Site
Myspace

Still upcoming: concert reviews, more interviews, and information on upcoming releases from Mute artists. Stay tuned.