Chromeo - Business Casual (Review)

Business Casual is the new album from besuited time travelling lotharios, Chromeo. With their temporal dial still firmly stuck to the 70s and 80s, they reappear for the third time in the present day with ten tracks stolen from the eras that funk forged and fashion forgot.


In 2007 Chromeo released 'Fancy Footwork', riding the blog-house/nu-rave/indie-dance crossover waves onto dance floors and radio playlists alike. Since then the genres have evolved, mutated or just plain expired. The retro sound has exploded with La Roux's synth-led pop topping the charts and everybody from Robyn to Editors getting in on the act. In the face of such saturation can Chromeo keep it fresh?

Yes. If there's one word to describe the Canadians then it's 'fresh'. Of course, this description is as tongue in cheek as their lyrics. Nothing so heavily influenced by bygone eras can really be new and 'Business Casual' is more 'Business As Usual' but we wouldn't have it any other way. Electro-funk bass-lines that'll have you strutting from one epic guitar solo to the next, disco string stabs and P-Thugg's vocoder harmonising with Dave 1's silky-smooth sonic seduction. Fans will already have a taste of this aural satisfaction from the pre-released 'Night By Night' and 'Don't Turn The Lights On'. There are, however, a few surprises. An anonymous, stereotypically English girl opens the album with 'You're a Hot Mess / You act like you've got nothing to lose / But i've already lost my temper'. 'You Make It Rough' arpeggiates its way through the seven minute mark with a sweet vocal refrain, making it their longest track by some margin. Solange Knowles pops up for her second unexpected appearance in two weeks, this time on 'When The Night Falls'. And finally, 'J'ai ClaquÇ La Porte' is sung, as the title suggests, entirely in french. It's relatively little variation in the scheme of things and, with the exception of Knowles' sensational cameo, does little to distract us from enjoying what Chromeo do best.

In a climate so full of synth bands, throwbacks and chart saturation, Chromeo still rise above. Strangely, seeming to pack more substance despite their intentional irony and knowing winks. Maybe it's because they've been doing it longer, maybe it's because they have a genuine love for the decade's sounds or maybe they're just better. Whatever the reason 'Business Casual' is a collection of jams pumped so full of good times, humour and sex that you'll have to try hard not to get pregnant just by listening to it.

Business Casual Out Now - Listen Here

Tracklist:

1. Hot Mess
2. I'm Not Contagious
3. Night By Night
4. Don't Turn The Lights On
5. You Make It Rough
6. When The Night Falls
7. Don't Walk Away
8. J'ai ClaquÇ La Porte
9. The Right Type
10. Grow Up

'Business Casual' is released - Monday 27th September.
Available from all major retailers and Ape Music

Reviewed by Matt Allfrey (Battery Powered)

Related Posts:
I Could Be Wrong, Night By Night and Don't Turn The Lights On

Fake Blood - Blood Music

Fake Blood has just launched his own record label 'Blood Music'. A label that was inspired into creation by the artists on the debut release 'Clouds'. Clouds are two guys from Perth, Scotland who produce full-on brazen big room electro that combines tight precussion with soaring pads and crunchy basslines. Liquid is our pick as it has been smashing our home town of Brighton into submission with every rotation, also check Mauful Sir on the EP.



Buy Now from itunes or 7Digital

Clouds - Liquid


Clouds - Mauful Sir


Follow Clouds on Myspace and Twitter

Counter Culture - 99 Days of Music & The Arts

Counter Culture is a stimulating new multi-arts project based around a pop-up venue underneath London Bridge Station. It is a series of edgy yet accessible cultural and musical events that aims to take the focus away from East London’s perceived ‘cutting-edge’ hegemony and encourage the culturally curious to experience the Capital’s ‘counter culture’ in a relaxed and unthreatening environment.



Events will run nightly under London Bridge Station for 99 days straight, from 24th September through to 1st January. The Counter Culture team have collaborated with a carefully selected handful of the best and innovative promoters to bring you an unrivalled mixture of club nights, live shows, comedy, plays, cinema, and art installations; all put together with the enthusiasm and sense of adventure that really defines what Counter Culture is all about. New stuff, old stuff, fun stuff and important stuff.......and the beers are only £3, perfect.

Everything kicks off September 24th and you can see us hosting the second room with Harvard Bass on Friday 1st October.

For more information, tickets and a whole lot more make you way to the Counter Culture Website, and for up to the minute updates hit them up on Twitter .

Chromeo – “I Could Be Wrong” Feat. Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend)

Chromeo's third LP 'Business Casual' is only weeks away and we have already been teased with the superb 'Night by Night' and 'Dont Turn the Lights On' singles. Next up is the Vampire Weekend collaboration 'I Could Be Wrong'. I Could Be Wrong sounds like 80's George Michael meets 'The Girl is Mine' by Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney. Sounds horrific in words, but give it a listen and you will hear that Chromeo have pulled off another classic tongue in cheek moment.

Chromeo - Business Casual - Released 27th September.



Chromeo – “I Could Be Wrong” (Feat. Ezra Koenig)


Related Posts
Chromeo - Night by Night and Dont Turn the Lights On

Monarchy - Preview

Monarchy are Ra Black and Andrew Armstrong both of Australian origin. Since forming through a chance meeting in London Monarchy have been steadily gathering blog recognition over the last 12 months with the likes of Neon Gold, The Recommender and others tipping them for greatness. Our first encounter was via the Gold in Fire (Demo) which is a perfectly formed slice of mature synth pop. Gold in Fire provides a clear reference for the Monarchy sound and If you're a fan of the Australian synth pop revoultion pioneered by the likes of The Presets, Cut Copy and the Midnight Juggernauts then Monarchy wont dissapoint.

Monarchy's album is released - January 2011, and you can catch them live at a handful of dates across the UK over the next few months.



Monarchy - Gold in the Fire


Monarchy - Love Get Out of My Way


Monarchy - Autumn Mixtape


Track List
01. Justin Bieber 800% - USmile
02. Fyfe Dangerfield- She Needs Me (Monarchy “Black Galaxy” remix)
03. DJ Hell feat. Brian Ferry – U Can Dance (Tim Goldsworthy remix)
04. Pure and Easy – Tape 2 Tape
05. Mystery Jets- Dreaming of Another World (Lindstrom and Prinz Thomas remix)
06. Invisible – FM Attack
07. Monarchy- Love Get Out of My Way (Tim Goldsworthy remix)
08. Jamiroquai – White Knuckle Ride (Monarchy “White Nebulae” remix)
09. Pacific! - Narcissus
10. OMD- Messages
11. Monarchy – Gold in the Fire (Diamond Cut remix)
12. Justin Bieber 800% - USmile

For more on Monarchy and hidden free extras get yourself over to itunes and download their free app.

WeAreBlahBlahBlah EP29 - Mixed Greenmoney

Our latest EP is in and its a bit special. This time round we have the inimitable Greenmoney in the mix. Greenmoney is Alex Phountzi (formerly of Bugz In The Attic crew) and Leo Greenslade (party selector extraordinaire behind London's long-running YoYo bash). Combined these two significant figures have been compiling quite a reputation for themselves with a fresh sound steeped in musical heritage. Similar to our other current hot tip 'Hot City' Greenmoney take reference from a variety of sources both past and present to superb effect. Think 2-Step, UK Funky, dancehall, rave, and Zinc dubbed Crack House and you should have a fair idea of what to expect.

Out Now - Greenmoney - Gold Ru$h EP (Fools Gold). We recommend all 9 tracks.



Friday 10th September
GREENMONEY
Seiji
Photomachine

@ Plan B, Brixton
Free Before 10pm / £5 B4 Midnight / £8 After

WeAreBlahBlahBlah EP29 - Mixed Greenmoney (Click Here)

Tracklist

01. Mz Bratt - Selector (Greenmoney's Brukussive remix)
02. Ramadanman - Work Them
03. Kashmir Kid - Return To Bombay City
04. Greenmoney - Boom Ticka
05. MJ Cole & Wiley - From The Drop (MJ's Dub)
06. Greenmoney - Bashment Ouse
07. Coldcut & Hexstatic - Timber (Seiji remix)
08. Tenny Ten - Swaggnificent (Crazy Cousins Dub mix)
09. Seiji - Weedkiller
10. Sticky - Miami Riddim
11. Greenmoney - Headbash Riddim
12. Bassanovva - Terradactyl (Greenmoney's Deadly Subs remix)
13. Alena - Turn It Around (Banton's Mandy mix)

Related Posts
WeAreBlahBlahBlah EP28 - Mixed Hot City

Zinc - Bounce Up (Free Download)

Zinc is playing Rinse's 16th Birthday this weekend and in anticipation of playing this monstrous party he has got into the spirit of things early by giving away 'Bounce Up' from his lastest EP 'Crack House Vol 2'. 'Bounce Up' is not as strong as Nexx or GTAC (strongly recommend both) off the same EP, but it is still a great slice of Zinc house and its free.....cant complain really!!



Zinc - Bounce Up


Rinse 16th Birthday - 10th September - Fabric

Fabriclive Mix 53: Drop The Lime (Review)

Rising to fame during the demise of electro, as fidget house and dubstep emerged so did Drop The Lime. Part of the label / party / blog / collective Trouble And Bass he quickly gained a reputation for championing all types of bass music, destroying dance floors worldwide and, more recently, reintroducing vocals to house. Here he takes a step back from the dance-floor and crafts a mix much less for the club, although you'll still need Fabric's bass-bins (or a hefty pair of headphones) to fully enjoy his selections.


Describing it as 'a rollercoaster of a ride' Drop The Lime kicks off with Supra 1's delightfully warm 'Ghoster' and continues to loosely paste together a collection of similarly summery tracks. Tidy vocal flourishes and tropical rhythms tripping over deep, drawling basslines act as a hazy ascent preceding the first stomach-wrenching dip of WAFA's bonkers 'Ewid Disco'. From here the mix rapidly descends into deeper, darker territory. He rattles through Maurice's classic 'This Is Acid', bottoms out with Untold, and begins to build almost into a club mix. The transitions get a little smoother and the flow settles, DTL slides in his recent 'Sex Sax' before totally blindsiding the listener with Bill Haley & His Comets. It's about as lurching as any rollercoaster ride going, but isn't anywhere near as contrived as it could be. The mixes from rockerbilly back to Foamo are amusingly neat and compensate for the derailing. Back on the tracks and DTL is on the build again, the bass heavier and the percussion even more frantic. Cresting in a cacophony of rave sirens, whistles and ethnic chanting, it dips one last time through some soulful two step allowing Baobinga's straight up dubstep to be the final twist in the tail.

Really good rollercoaster rides leave you a little unsteady on your feet as you disembark and this is no different. The shimmering beauty of Villa's take on Little Jinder and Reso's final heart swelling remix of the man in control's anthemic 'Set Me Free' will certainly leave you weak at the knees.

Tracklist:

1 - Supra1 - Ghoster - Trouble & Bass
2 - Nouveau Yorican - Jackit (Drop The Lime Remix) - Mixmash
3 - Melé - Bombay (Nadastrom Remix) - Mixpak
4 - Egyptrixx - Everybody Bleeding - Night Slugs
5 - Drop The Lime - Thwomp Stomp - Trouble & Bass
6 - WAFA - Ewid Disco - Grizzly
7 - Drop The Lime - Hot Sauce Grillz - Trouble & Bass
8 - Maurice - This Is Acid - Casablanca / Trax
9 - Untold - Anaconda - Hessle Audio
10 - Autoerotique - Bubonic (Drop The Lime Remix) - Dim Mak
11 - Berou & Canblaster - Terence Hill (French Fries Remix)
12 - Slick Wick Crew - 911 VIP - Trouble & Bass
13 - Drop The Lime - Sex Sax (Club Mix) - Trouble & Bass
14 - Bill Haley & His Comets - (We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock
15 - The Strangeloves - I Want Candy - Sony
16 - Foamo - Centavo - Fat! Records
17 - Zombies For Money - Kolkata (Sticky Version) - Trouble & Bass
18 - Sam Tiba - Barbie Weed - Top Billin
19 - Mosca - Square One (L-Vis 1990 Remix) - Night Slugs
20 - Adonis - No Way Back - Trax
21 - Femme En Fourrure - Dirty Blonde (Drop The Lime Remix)
22 - Tom Piper & Blaze Tripp - Brrrap! - Bigger Than Barry / No Frills
23 - Baobinga feat. DJ Nasty - State Of Ghetto Jackin' (TRG Remix) - Trouble & Bass
24 - AC Slater feat. DTL - Calm Down Part 3 - Trouble & Bass
25 - Little Jinder - Youth Blood (Villa Remix) - Trouble & Bass
26 - Drop The Lime feat. Carrie Wilds - Set Me Free (Reso Remix) - Trouble & Bass

Drop The Lime's Fabriclive Mix 53 is released on Mon 13th Sept.
Buy it from Ape.