Well it’s been a while since anyone post anything up so I though I’d kick start it again!

2 releases that I have recently been listening to and feel in need of a mention:

1. Kitsuné x The Cobrasnake - One of Kitsuné’s more recent releases sees a collaboration with The Cobra Snake, with Acid Girls and Classixx release 2 equally great songs. I recommend purchasing this since it’s only cheap!!

2. Mr. Oizo - Lambs Anger - Quentin Dupieux, a.k.a. Mr. Oizo produced this album a few years back but I have just began listening to it fully now. It really is a weird mix of genres, all residing in the manual sounding dance/funk/grunge - I don’t know. But i think i would describe his music as “indescribable”. Such a great album to just stick on and listen all of the way through. Again highly recommended!

Stuart

Pierre Crube & Jerome Rocipon make up the French-Canadian duo Numéro. Their French electro-pop style is something that seems familiar, yet strangely unique. I have enjoyed some of their music in the past and have recently released their second album, Sport de combat. I highly recommend listening to these guys if you don’t mind listening to French lyrics!

MP3: Numéro - “Arbandot”

- Stuart

The time is finally upon us - Kitsuné Maison Compilation 7 has finally been released and is a rather amazing mix of French electro, great remixes and some new chilled out stuff! Instead of me trying to explain it via text I am putting a link below to a quick sampler of the album I have made. I am sure you will agree this is a great album!

SL Blaise Mini-Mix - Kitsuné Maison Compilation 7 Sampler

7m32s
Tracklisting:

- “Something Good Can Work” - Two Door Cinema Club
- “Time After Time” - We Have Band
- “In For The Kill (Lifelike Remix)” - La Roux
- “Fringe Element” - Beni
- “Always More (Yuksek Remix)” - autoKratz
- “Touring in NY (Short Tour Edit)” - Maybb
- “Bejan” - Tanlines

MP3: Download here.

and

BUY THE ALBUM!

- Stuart

Sorry that it’s been slightly inactive recently. Luu is busy at the moment and I have been busy with a few other projects so I thought I’d give a quick round up of some things from the last month!

Firstly I’d like to mention local DJ and producer, Udy. A seemingly busy man he is resident DJ at some local nights around the Portsmouth/Southsea area and shows some huge potential with his own music. He is a resident at “Kiss My Bass”, nominated recently for Best Club Night, and the website turned blog (& podcast) is updated often by the man himself - some great mixes and other musical info can be found here. Another port of call is udymusic.co.uk, which showcases Udy’s recent productions and is well worth a listen and download - some great tracks. Another fan of French electro, house and dubstep his mixes are also a very entertaining hour of listening!

Check him out!

MP3: Mix - Pop n Bass 3
MP3: Udy - “Hustlin”

Also on the horizon is the next installment of the Kitsuné Maison Compilation Series - Kitsuné Maison Compilation 7. Tagged “the lucky one….”, and featuring tracks from Two Door Cinema Club, La Roux, Beni and autoKratz it proves to be another good one. It is due for release on 1 June. You can check out a teaser video here.

Another artist I feel like I have to mention is La Roux. After writing about them in November they have picked up more and more interest and after the Single “In For The Kill”, made it’s way to No. 2 in the UK it is hard to go anywhere without hearing about them! A surely amazing duo, and are set to release the self-titled debut album on 30 June.

Whichever way you look at it the next month or so, I’m sure, will be a great one for new music. Get listening!

- Stuart

Just a quick one to let you know that I am still alive! -

I first heard about Christopher Just following a Shinichi Osawa remix of his and his brothers song, Popper, released the second Kitsuné Maison Compilation a few years back now. Although recently he has come to my attention again, after purchasing his EP, I Love This Drug. Some good tracks and well worth a listen!

- Stuart

Finally, after a 3 year hiatus MSTRKRFT release their second album, Fist of God! I loved their first album, The Looks - it is probably one of my most played albums of the last couple of years and combined all of the ferocity I had grown accustomed to from Keeler (formerly of Death From Above 1979) with a new robotic, dancy edge.

Their new albums features many collaborations, including songs with Gostface Killah, N.O.R.E. and Lil’ Mo and they have combined to produce some very good tracks. A very powerful, synthesizer punch comes from nearly every track as per most MSTRKRFT songs, however there are some more lyrical songs, and a couple of more melodic additions. Stand out songs for me are, Bounce, Click Click It Ain’t Love and Heartbreaker, but it all is a great listen. The only problem I have with the album is that I am slightly unsure of the direction they are heading - there are elements of rock, electro, house and rap and they all come together with a slight element of confusion. I feel that it’s predecessor, The Looks remains the better album, however they both deserve a purchase - Brilliant!

7.8/10

- Stuart

Originating from Bordeaux, France, Kap Bambino are a duo consisting of Caroline Martial and Orion Bouvier. Reminding me of Crystal Castles, a fusion of metal and electro is how I would describe their music - and they are well known for Caroline Martial’s wild vocals. Starting off about 8 years ago, I have only just personally come across them, however they have played with people such as These New Puritans and Late of the Pier. They have been featured in NME, Another Magazine, Dummy Mag and Dazed and Confused, and due to their excited live performances, have been part of the festivals ZXZW and Dot to Dot.

With a very good image, a lot of potential and a new album named Blacklist, on the way next month, I highly recommend!

- Stuart

Muscles is an electronica musician from Melbourne, Australia. I was first introduced to Muscles a little while ago by a friend of mine. I realised afterwards that I did indeed have a couple of his songs already due to various remixes and compilations, and this led to me buying the album, Guns Babes Lemonade. It was released in Australia on 29 September 2007, reaching #3 on the Australian Artist Chart and #1 on the Dance Album Chart in its first week. His music is a mix of electronica, synth and lyric. I am not even sure what exactly I can compare it to, all I can say is: imagine Metronomy & Bloc Party with a big dance influence! That’s about the best I can do.

Unfortunately for anyone who enjoys this album, apparently Muscles announced in December 2008 that he’d retired from the music business and is producing a new solo record for You Am I frontman, Tim Rogers. Im not sure if this is 100% reliable but I can see him producing some very good things in the future; I can only hope that maybe he releases something else one day! For now, though, take a listen to some of his stuff and buy the album!

- Stuart

Mondkopf is a 23-year old French producer and DJ recently starting to make a name for himself. His debut release, (Declaration of) Principles EP is the first of the newly formed Foolhouse label and I purchased my copy a few months ago when I first heard a preview of the first song, Sainte.

His music is heavily synthesizer inspired, and the Parisian’s trademark of crunchy beats and deep orchestrations are getting him a lot of attention. I would highly recommend taking a look!

- Stuart

“Invaders Must Die” - it is, for me, one of those releases that stands out above pretty much anything else. The Prodigy have a tradition for lengthy gaps between albums (a lovely 5 years this time) but manage to pull off a great LP each time. You could almost say it’s well worth the wait, however I hate waiting for releases that are this good (how can you tell I’m a huge Prodigy fan!). I first heard that they were to release a new album last year and managed to hear the first single, Invaders Must Die which gave me an instantly good first impression. A hard-hitting song with early Prodigy sounds, mixed with the more contemporary music scene. This basically sums up their album to be honest. A very hard-hitting album that has a lot of influences from their early music, yet, has been brought up to the more modern standard.

The album progresses well with the second single, Omen and continues with some amazing tracks; Thunder, Colours and Warrior’s Dance to name a few. They are on tour at the moment and will be for another couple of months so I would try and get to a gig if you can - it will be epic! I can’t really say much more except… research and listen if you still aren’t sure and then buy this album! It is for me already the release of the year and one of the best albums I have personally heard in a long time.

- Stuart