8.9.2006

1. Junior Boys - In The Morning (Alex Smoke remix) [Domino]

Ace Canadian duo Junior Boys have a new album out and the lead single "In The Morning" comes with Morgan Geist and Alex Smoke mixes. Whilst Geist's version is fine, it's Mr Smoke who comes up trumps with a brilliant clickety house re-take that keeps the seemingly tender but actually rather bitter vocal in place and surrounds it with delicate whirring rhythms and Warp-ish keys. Despite its subtle emotional tug it sounds great played out very loud too. One of the singles of the year for me.

2. Sebo K - Horizon (Exercise One's Sleepless in San Juan mix) [Mobilee]

Berlin's two brightest rising stars clash in Mobilee's new remix project. This is an absolute monster - probably the biggest dancefloor reaction to anything i'm playing at the moment.

3. Camille - Le Fil LP / Ta Douleur (Al Usher / Henrik Schwarz remixes) [Virgin]

A half-million selling hit in her home country, this is a album of offbeat but brilliant French pop, with many if not all of the sounds generated by Camille's voice, and threaded together ("Le Fil" of the title) by a hummed drone which runs through the entire record.  But it's not the concept but the songs and the incredible performances that impress, from the upbeat (forthcoming single "Ta Douleur") to the truly heart-rending ("Pâle Septembre", "Pour Que L'Amour Me Quitte"). Some 18 months after its original release it's finally coming out in the UK now, and Al Usher and Henrik Schwarz have delivered stunning remixes for the single too.

4. Herlihy and Torrence - So That's What Happens [Moodmusic]

Follow-up to the enormous "Machine Ate My Homework" (you heard about that one first here, folks) "So That's What Happens" is another brilliant bit of robust post-Holden techno with a decidedly moody growling synth hook. On the flip a lovely remix from Isolee makes for a great great single.

5. Muse - Supermassive Black Hole (Phones Control Voltage mix) [Warners] / Phones - Worryin' [CDR]

I've always hated Muse and their humourless pomp-rock with a passion. Except now Paul Epworth has dusted off his Roland SH5, donned a plump Giorgio Moroder 'tache and transformed their latest single into a relentless euro-disco monster, all pulsing analogue synths and falsetto vocals. It's bloody marvellous. Who'da thunk it? Straight off the back of that, Phones' next solo outing is a ridiculously simple but v effective bit of future funk, "Worryin'". A chemical beat, a cross-rhythm bassline which morphs into screeching acid monkeys and not much else. Supermassive.

6. Grand Popo FC - My Territory (Joakim dub) [Atmospheriques Records]

After his ludicrously great balearic Antena remix here's another corker from Joakim, dubbing up the Grand Popos in a dynamic 1984 electro-funk style.

7. Arthur Russell - Springfield LP [Audika]

Following on from last year's "Calling Out of Context" LP here is more unreleased avant-disco brilliance from one of the great geniuses of recent popular music. The title track is one of the last things Russell wrote and recorded before he died, and his recordings have been carefully edited and mixed by the DFA some 20 years later. Sometimes projects like this smack of the cash-in (another Tupac record anyone?). This is quite the opposite; something genuinely great for which we can be geniuinely grateful.

8. Jimpster - Seventh Wave (Dirt Crew Rework) [Freerange]

A change of musical direction from the 'Crew but I think my favourite thing they've done in ages. They forego their usual no-nonsense electro-funk for some super swingy tribal percussion, and quite beautiful building Kenny Larkin (Metaphor-era) keys. This is one to get well and truly lost in only to re-emerge 10 minutes later to wonder where exactly the time went.

9. Just about everything Audiofly have a hand in.

Audiofly have really come into their own of late. Confidently they skip between projects, mixing up current styles and producing real quality every time. From their brilliant new record "Somewhere" for Moodmusic, to their collaborations with the likes of Mulletover's Stuart Geddes (as Rekleiner), Miss Jools (Sleeperthief on Mobilee) and Scarlett Etienne (Loose Lips), I have been playing an embarassing amount of their music in my sets this year, and when it's all this good who can blame me?

10. Glove - Feel the Fire (Extended Dub Mix)  [Playhouse]

A brand new dub of an old track from Tobi Neumann in his Glove guise on Offenbach's incredible Playhouse records.  Lush balearic house, evocative of meditteranean sunset moments;  or those moments when you wish you were enjoying the meditteranean but you're actually on the way to the dentist. Small consolation but we'll take what we can get.

11. Pet Shop Boys - Psychological [Ewan Pearson's Unheimlich remix]  [Parlophone]

The standout track from "Fundamental" housed-up by yours truly with the mission maximum dancefloor spookiness. Up go the Bernard Hermann strings and the atonal chanting, in go hammer dulcimer hooks, discordant analogue synths and a large dollop of Detroit.

12. Tiny Trendies - The Sky Is Not Crying  [Nuphonic]

In memory of the wonderful Adam Goldstone.

13. Last but not least...

Walter Jones - Deuteronomy Brown (i-F edit) [Supersoul Recordings], Stefan Goldman - Sleepy Hollow [Innercityvisions], Midnight Mike - Creatures of Habit [Republic of Desire], Tim Paris and Tekel - Sakapuce [Marketing], Loco Dice - El Gayo Negro [Ovum], Ada - Living It Up [Areal], Cobblestone Jazz - India In Me [Wagon Repair], Radioslave - Secret Base [Rekids].

Comments

[silvestre]

Ewan,

Fantastic selections you always review. I adore your style and good taste in music. And you have a good sense of humor when it comes to writing. Excellent.

[Michael]

not long till the new Rapture album now, i'm excitted!

[Michael]

*excited, of course

[neon b.]

Indeed, the release by Junior Boys is extremely good: both remixes are outstanding.

The new Mobilee is not officially out yet, isn't it? Curious to check it.

ok, all the best!

[pookiepoo]

Great selection of music Ewen,but that Walter Jones record is on FIRE!!! That record is just everywhere! I enjoy his music. He made a record that blew my mind about 2 years ago called "Fade Inn Moments". "GC's theme" was a boogie funk classic. I still play it. I will still play this one as well years from now.