Category: Music

Bunch of stuff to do today, so I’m getting this one out a bit earlier than usual.

First up, a bit of pre-“Love Shack”-era B-52s, which I happen to know is a favorite of and : The B-52s – “Wig.”

During the past week, I received a bit of Friday Music karma from , who sent me the debut CD of the UK band White Rose Movement. I fucking LOVE it. The album sounds like a mix of the Cure, Depeche Mode and Duran Duran, swirled into a lovely 21st-century froth. Here’s a track from the album: White Rose Movement – “Idiot Drugs.”

Arsenal is a Brazilian group which produces a nifty mix of World Beat pop and electronica, mixing Latin, African and European rhythms, sounds and vocals. Here’s the first track from their album Oyebo Soul: Arsenal – “Angola.”

Astroladies are a pop group from Belgium whom I discovered during the past week. I’ll admit that I was first attracted to listen simply by the very cyberpunk title of the single. It turned out to be not what I was expecting, but still very, very cool: Astroladies – “Neon Tokyo.”

Another great dance mash-up, this time mixing Justin Timberlake’s new single “SexyBack” with the classic 80s sound of Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night.” Two great tastes that taste great together! Justin Timberlake vs Corey Hart – “I Wear My SexyBack At Night (cheekyboy edit).”

Next up, another new discovery, and one that I’m so jazzed by, I’m giving you two tracks. Trentemøller is an electronic act from Denmark, led by a guy named Anders Trentemøller. The sound is amazing. Give a listen to these two tracks: Trentemøller – “Moan (feat. Ane Trolle)” and Trentemøller – “Take Me Into Your Skin.”

The newest track from Lady Sovereign, the short white girl MC from London. This one is for , but a lot of you will like it. Lady Sovereign – “Love Me or Hate Me.”

Last up — Turkish artist Tarkan (who did “Simlik” the single that I posted last month — which was covered by Stella Soleil as “Kiss Kiss.”) has just released a new album, where he sings in English. The sound is still amazing Middle-Eastern-tinged dance-pop, but now you can decipher the lyrics! Tarkan – “Just Like That.”

Enjoy, kids. More next week.

Another week speeds by.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted any of my own compositions. Hell, it’s been a while since I’ve completed any of my own compositions, so I’m pleased to give you two this week. These are the latest results of me kicking around with my studio gear:

@nubis – “Equinox.”

and

@nubis – “Midtown Fall.”

Hope you like ’em.

I discovered another artist this week — London’s own Amy Winehouse, who does a retro-soul kinda thing. Very 21st-century-Aretha-Franklin. I’m so enamored by what I’ve heard, that I’m giving you two of her tracks: Amy Winehouse – “Back to Black.” and Amy Winehouse – “I’m No Good.” Great stuff.

Smooth chill-out electronica from a Milanese group, The Dining Rooms, who do jazzy downtempo with a cinematic feel. The Dining Rooms – “Fluxus.”

Another of my favorite electronica tracks from Timo Maas, this time paired with the amusingly-named female MC, Chickaboo. Timo Maas – “Shifter (feat. MC Chickaboo).”

More new stuff — excellent electro-pop by a NYC-based group called Professor Murder, from the album Professor Murder Rides The Subway. Professor Murder – “Free Stress Test.”

I’ve posted tracks from Herbert before (and from his former Moloko band-mate, Roisin Murphy). Roisin, as usual, provides some vocal assistance on this track, just as he provided production assistance on her solo album — makes you wonder why they bothered to break up Moloko at all, given that they’re still producing music together. This track, like much of what they do, is some really catchy neo-disco: Herbert – “Moving Like A Train.”

Lastly — my brother (the Fisherman), emailed me this mp3 with the request that I post it, and with the admonition that I remember where I came from. Aye, sir. Salt in my veins. Here you go: Great Big Sea – “Wave Over Wave.”

Enjoy.

Getting things started, here’s my favorite track from Joe Jackson, who most of you know only from his single “Steppin’ Out” — this was the follow-up, which did get some play. I love it, and it was a great soundtrack for yesterday’s grey day. Joe Jackson – “Breaking Us In Two.”

Keeping to the downtempo and achingly beautiful for a moment, this song (which I think I may have posted before — who knows?) is a lovely thing, from the opening cello interlude, all the way to the end. Badly Drawn Boy – “The Shining.”

OK…enough of the downtempo. Let’s get yer asses moving. It’s Friday, so here’s a little funk from his Royal Purpleness: Prince (feat. Sheena Easton) – “U Got The Look (The Long Look 12″ mix)” “Color u peach and black — Color me takin aback– Crucial, I think I wantcha…”

Here is the removed-for-copyright-violation version of “O Fortuna” turned into the baddest-ass dancefloor stomper EVER by Apotheosis in the early 90s. I seem to recall moving to this at more than one GenCon White Wolf party. Apotheosis – “O Fortuna.”

Regina is an electronic pop group from Finland whom I discovered this week. A really catchy song, even though she’s singing in Finnish… Regina – “Minua Ollaan Vastassa.”

More eclectic pop, this time from one of my favorite 90s artists, Ben Folds. In a period marked by detuned fuzzy grunge guitars, his piano-based alternative-pop really stood out and grabbed me. Here’s my favorite track from the album Whatever and Ever, Amen.: Ben Folds Five – “Battle of Who Could Care Less.”

A brilliant mash-up — the vocals from David Essex’s “Rock On” (“Hey, shout — summertime blues, jump up and down in your blue suede shoes…”, with the music from the Doves’ “Firesuite,”, which combines into a wonderful bit of sweeping, drift-y pop. Go Home Productions – “Essex Dove.”

We’ll finish off with another get-yer-ass-moving track, from the Swedish electronic act Covenant. Imagine Kraftwerk meets Depeche Mode meets Shriekback….sorta. Doesn’t matter –It has the coolest title that I eventually would love to use for a Sci-Fi Horror project: Dead Stars (Plus, the niftiest lyric: “Dead Stars still burn.”) Covenant – “Dead Stars”