[Amadou et Mariam - Sabali]

An outside contender for 2008's album of the year, which was sadly overlooked by many, is Amadou et Mariam's technicolour 8th album "Welcome to Mali". The couple who have been married since 1980 are both blind yet, like many blind musicians, they seem to have a wonderful abandon in their playing. This is an album full of really cheerful afro-bluesy rhythmns that have had my friends and I dancing about non-stop since discovering it. 'Sabali' features none other than Damon Albarn on production duties giving proceedings a little electronic flava which though a welcome addition is less prominent as the album goes on to cover slightly more traditional but no less entertaining ground.

[Cannons & Mash]

Electro-pop nutters the Karoshi Bros have a new single coming out called ‘Vive La Difference’ that features two unknown French vocalists called Anne and Camille.

The single will be released on Kitchenware Records on 2nd March and contains remixes by Loose Cannons, Dmerit and House Surgeons. The release also includes a special mash-up mix of their original version, the Loose Cannons Vocal Mix and the beefy Loose Cannons Midnight Dub which they have kindly allowed you to download.

[Strange Fruit]

After listening to the Switch and Sinden Fabric mix I fell in love with the track 'Strange Fruit' by Zomby. Zomby creates experimentally rave inspired minimal house with over laying arpeggios, melodies and a beautiful use of delay. The track 'Strange Fruit' conjures up images of evil scientist labs, zombies and all things dark. Of course the name 'Strange Fruit' maybe a reference to a darker times in American history but that might be me reading too much into it. Have a listen to the tune and make your own mind up.

[The United States of Drum 'n' Bass]

I heard recently that Barack Obama is in fact a massive raver - whether or not this is true or not remins to be seen, but I reckon he's in to better music than George W. In commemoration of Obama's potential awesomeness here is a mix of quality D'nB to watch out for in 2009 mixed flawlessly on 3 decks by my man in Georgia - DJ Culprit...

Tracklist

Artificial Intelligence - Days Of Rage

Xample & Lomax - Contra

Phace - Cold Champagne

Subterra - Steppaholic

Lynx Vs Hellrazor - Shady Pastimes

Calibre - New Cons

Break - Destiny Comes Ringing

Break - Is This What You Want?

Noisia - Stigma

Chase & Status - Smash TV

Noisia - Crank

Icicle - Infectious Funk

Ed Rush & Optical - Pacman (The Upbeats Remix)

Marcus Intalex - Instrumental (For Change)

Spectrasoul - Alibi

Spectrasoul - Peninsula

Shy FX - Plastic Soul - (D-Bridge Metal Soul Remix)

Peshay - Don't Think About Me

Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar (Brookes Brothers Remix)

Sonic - Jigsaw

J Majik & Wickaman - Space Invader '08

D.Kay - Forgive Myself (Illskillz Remix)

Kid Cudi Vs Crookers - Day & Nite (TC Remix)

Sigma - Masai

Gridlok - Downer

Break - Lead The Way

Digital & Spirit - Phantom Force (T Power '07 Remix)

Syncopix - Fade Away (Commix Remix)

Commix - Underwater Scene

[Ghost's and Dead Mice]

Well I don't know who's band wagon I'm jumping on here but Deadmau5 is an electro house producer from Canada that I was first introduced to by a monitor speaker salesman, but was happily reminded of last night when listening to the radio. His debut album 'Random Album Title' is an interesting progressive house mix, but the best tune isn't to be found on it. The single 'Ghost's and Stuff' ticks all the right boxes for me with it gritty compressed bass line, organ synth and building strings that could be mistaken as the lost track from Justice's last album. Maybe this is why I like it, its familiarity, is this a bad thing? That said it is a well produce track and I look forward to hearing what Mr Deadmau5 does next.

[Adam's Top 10 of 2008]

...[Albums]...

Late of the Pier ‘Fantasy Black Channel’
TV on the Radio ‘Dear Science’
Friendly Fires ‘Friendly Fires’
Holy Fuck ‘LP’ (Came out in 2007)
Daedelus ‘Love to Make Music to’
MGMT ‘Oracular Spectacular’
Laura Marling ‘Alas, I Cannot Swim’
Bloc Party ‘Intimacy’
Chase and Status ‘More then A lot’
Vampire Weekend ‘Vampire Weekend’


...[Singles]...

Wax Stag ‘Folk Rock’ (Bibio Remix)
Caspa and Rusko ‘Cockney Thug’
The Cool Kids ‘Black Mags’
Friendly Fires ‘Bring Out Your Dead’ (Clark Remix)
The Chemical Brothers ‘Hey Boy, Hey Girl’ (Soulwax Remix)
Bjork ‘Dull Flame of Desire’ (Modeselektor Remix for Boys/Girls)
DJ Fresh ‘Gold Dust’
T.I., Jay Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne ‘Swagger Like Us’
Diplo ‘Diplo Rhythm’
Fake Blood ‘Mars’

[Mole's Top 10 of 2008]

Update: These charts were supposed to be mammoth posts with download links to all the tunes. Sadly, blog support didn't approve of our copyright theft...On this occasion you'll just have to find the torrents instead...mwah ha ha...

...[Singles]...

Hercules and Love Affair 'Blind'

Fake Blood 'Mars'

Booka Shade 'Charlotte'

La Roux 'Quicksand'

Friendly Fires 'On Board'

Andy George 'Big Dipper'

Yeasayer '2080'

Joker 'Gullybrook Lane'

Minilogue 'Hitchhiker's Choice'

Santogold 'Creator'

...[Albums]...

MGMT 'Oracular Spectacular'

Roots Manuva 'Slime and Reason'

Neon Neon 'Stainless Style'

Minilogue 'Animals'

Benga 'Diary of an Afro Warrior'

Laura Marling 'Alas I Cannot Swim'

Ellen Allein 'Sool'

Vampire Weekend 'S/T'

Flying Lotus 'Los Angeles'

Hot Chip 'Made in the Dark'

bish, bash, bosh, there you go...enjoy!

[Dj Medhi-Pocket Piano]

OK, here's part two of the Kitsune/EdBanger post as promised. The inimitable Dj Medhi hits us up with a more melodic excursion to the usual EdBanger fare with his new tune 'Pocket Piano' and its much appreciated thank you very much. Medhi excels at this kind of slow-burning track which manages to keep the dancefloor rocking in an altogether more restrained manner, without resorting to fuzzy bombastic breakdowns...The artwork today comes courtesy of So Me, who does all the EdBanger stuff and makes a few tunes when he's got the time. Check out his video for Justice's DVNO - it's nice...

[Soviet Breakdance]

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Bare jokes...

[Update]

Check out the new mp3 player I've embedded at the bottom of the page - pretty snazzy huh? We'll gradually be adding more songs to the playlist (it allows up to 200)so you can listen to some choons while you look at this picture by Mr Tom Fewings.

[Etienne De Crecy et Monsieur Jo-Hannukah]

Those of you who know me are probably aware of my penchant for 'lairy' electro as Jimbo would label it... So, i've decided to spite him and post some tunes from the new Kitsune Maison 6 and Ed Rec. 3 compilations. First up from the Kitsune sampler - Etienne De Crecy , one of the veterans of French electro. While the quality of Kitsune's output is somewhat less consistent than maybe a year ago, its always advisable to check out their new releases as they still pop up with the odd gem like this acid-horror-disco number.

[1st Ave Machine]

Check out the website of 1st Ave Machine, 'a visual design and story telling outfit' from New York with some of the most interesting videos I have seen since the late nights I use to stay up to watch 120 minutes on MTV 2 (those where the days). On the projects page make sure you watch Saturn (Directors Cut) an epic electro tune (Kavinsky) play out to the birth of an android. Also have a butchers at 'I wasn't made for fighting' by the band Woodhands. Lemons and circular objects. Adam.

[BeepLowTech]

This month sees the final BLT of the year and it's shaping up to be a good one. Sadly I won't be there this time, but lets hope everyone gets in the festive spirt enough to shake their little xmas bootys down to the ground. As standard, please congregate at the Jazz Place at 10pm on the second Thursday of the month (thats the 18th for those who can't be bothered to work it out) for some techy-goodness...

[Mr Bounce]

This is my first post on sine/square/saw and I have hijacked it for a beautiful game and all round sexy website from independent game developer Andreas Zecher. Zecher has worked with music producer Martin Snuggles on this neon lit, retro joy which rewards you with a new layer to the musical score each level you complete. Have a look, have a play just don't push the turnip to far in.

[Minilogue-Hitchiker's Choice]

I recently came across this unofficial video for that tune off the Carphone Warehouse ad. You may be aware of Minilogue, he's from the Canadian Wagon Repair records stable along with the likes of Cobblestone Jazz The video is directed by Swedish animator Kristof Erstrom and never fails to raise a smile with me, how does he think up this stuff? The brilliant Minilogue album Animals is out now, download the sample track above then buy the album here if it pleases you to do so...

[Adam Ellison]

In an effort to improve the aesthetic of the blog, heres some lovely artwork from our Romford based designer and all-round nice chap Adam. See the link for his homepage and portfolio of artistic delights.

[Mux Mool-Night Court]

This track is great, there's not much more to say apart from listen to it. It's taken from the recent Ghostly Swim compilation; an alluring collaboration between Ghostly Recordings and our favourite animators Adult Swim. Its a thoroughly enjoyable jaunt through leftfield funk and hip-hop territory, which left me gagging for more of those crazy offbeats...Fan's of Stones Throw records take note...Download the whole album and artwork free here!

[It's that BeepLowTech time again...]

Evening bloggers. It's that time of the month again when everyone's favourite dirty tech-house event comes around...So soon u say! I know, exciting isn't it... This month all your favourites will be there to shake the insides of the Jazz Place once again. Remember it's only £2 to get in and as a special added bonus this month you can follow the link to download the most recent 8hz podcast provided by the enigmatic Mr. Simon Green...

[Beat 'n' Chips]

So then, a group of Sussex undergrads have started up this night, havent been before but the feed back has been positive, the inimitable Action Jackson is playing, for which we would go alone. Have heard rumours that he is celebrating his birthday tonight, so should be good. Me and the Mole will be heading down and throwing out all our sleekest moves and cracking onto students, which is a second very good reason to come (Moley has a fairly unique dancing style). If your unlucky enough not to be unable tonight it occurs twice every month at a cost of only £3 to get in and there's cheap drinks to boot.

[Metronomy-This Could Be Beautiful]

As i'm feeling quite tired this evening, perhaps the time has come to post some beats of the more chilled variety। This is one's from a couple of years back, Brighton's Metronomy provides us with some soulful electronica that pushes all the right buttons.