Fresh 07: In The Pipeline

A briefer post for today features five tracks from upcoming discs. In my inbox was Emiliana Torrini's latest, "Me And Armini," from her upcoming album of the same name. Produced by Dan Carey of Hot Chip, it's a smooth track infused with a reggae rhythm intended as a pre-first single taster for the record, due to be released in September. Also out in September is up-and-coming hot mess Lady GaGa's debut, The Fame. Though the album's final tracklisting hasn't been confirmed, a handful of her new songs have leaked. If these sample tracks and the first single, "Just Dance," are anything to go by (check it out here), it will be a must-listen record. Last up are two picks by one of my favorites of the past few years, Saint Etienne. They're set to release a new greatest hits package (also in September) called London Conversations, available in a single-disc condensed format, a double album with all their singles (and super-rarity "Lover Plays The Bass") and a 2CD/DVD boxed set with all of their music videos and a hardcover book included. It basically updates their expansive Smash The System retrospective, including two new singles and a deluxe package to sweeten the deal for fans. The first of those, coming out ahead of the album, is an update of their old promo-only remix single "Burnt Out Car" produced by Xenomania (that original version is the one featured here). The second will be the title track to the film they recently soundtracked, This Is Tomorrow. I've featured an unreleased demo of another track featured in the movie that won't be on their new compilation, "Say It To The Rain." Check out the website links below to get some more info on these new releases!

Links:
Emiliana Torrini - official site, myspace
Lady GaGa - official site, myspace
Saint Etienne - official site, myspace

Downloads:
Emiliana Torrini “Me And Armini” [YSI] (from the forthcoming Me And Armini)
Lady GaGa, “Boys Boys Boys” [YSI]
Lady GaGa, “Love Games” [YSI]
Saint Etienne, “Say It To The Rain” (Demo) [YSI] from the film This Is Tomorrow)
Saint Etienne, “Burnt Out Car” (Balearico Mix) [YSI] (from Smash The System: Singles And More)

***Note: Links removed***

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Fresh 06: Ambient & Downbeat

Following up on the recent Fresh posts, here's a selection of more downbeat and ambient tracks from little-known artists and remixers. Sigur Ros get a nice spread-out remix treatment courtesy of recently-featured Robjn. Laserlong's "The City" wouldn't sound out of place on a Nu Cool compilation, while Silje Nes remind me of old Mazzy Star tracks to great effect. Downliner Sekt intrigue with an update on the sound of Boards of Canada and Mogwai (plus all of their music is up free for download on their website!). Also check out Synthar (with a nod to Postal Service and Death Cab) and The Epochs.

Sigur Ros, "Glosoli" (Robjn's Fairy Kiss Cake Mix) [YSI] [website]
Laserlong, "The City" (Single Version) [YSI] [website]
Synthar, "Small Coastal Towns" [YSI] [myspace link]
Silje Nes, "Drown" [YSI] [myspace link]
The Epochs, "Giving Tree" [YSI] [website]
Downliners Sekt, "Scope Creep" [YSI] [website]

***Note: Links removed***

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Fresh 05: Robjn

This Fresh feature is all about remixes, specifically by Laserlong member Robjn (not to be confused with Swedish pop star Robyn). They range from laid back to amped-up electro and everywhere in between. The standouts is are the juicy take on CSS's "Alala" (a song that I otherwise completely despise) and the deep, driving rework of Daft Punk's oldie "Oh Yeah." Also featured is a nice alternative take on Fischerspooner's "All We Are."

William Orbit, "Snake" (Robjn Remix) [YSI]
William Orbit Feat. Beth Orton, "Water From A Vine Leaf" (Robjn's 2007 Version 2) [YSI]
CSS, "Alala" (Robjn Edit - Acapella Outro) [YSI]
The Chemical Brothers, "Galvanize" (Laserlong's 80s Glory Mix) [YSI]
Daft Punk, "Oh Yeah" (Robjn's Mix) [YSI]
Fischerspooner, "All We Are" (Robjn Radio Mix) [YSI]

Link: Robjn's website

***Note: Links removed***

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Fresh 04

At last I'm posting some new stuff in the Fresh series! For the first round, here are a handful of tracks, taken from emails sent to me with new tunes as well as free downloads from Insound's cool MP3 of the week feature (check those out here). Two tracks are taken from a sampler from Apteka, both of which are strongly reminiscent of earlier Smashing Pumpkins songs in the best possible way. The next is a recent single by Eugene Francis Jnr, an indie rock track that wouldn't sound out of place on The O.C. or other musically-informed modern shows. The Fashion's "Solo Impala (Take The Money And Run)" is a sleek blend of musical styles worth checking out for fans of Chromatics or The Teenagers (also featured with their hot single "Starlett Johansson").

Apteka, "Blackout Baby" [YSI] [myspace link]
Apteka, "If You Were Here" [YSI] [myspace link]
Eugene Francis Jnr, "Poor Me" [YSI] [myspace link]
The Fashion, "Solo Impala (Take The Money And Run)" [YSI] [myspace link]
The Teenagers, "Starlett Johansson" [YSI] [myspace link | official website]

***Note: Links removed***

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Fresh 03: Daft Deconstructed

This is a bit of a hybrid post, featuring two tracks that would normally be featured in Mixed & Mashed and Covered Up, but both are regardless "fresh" new tracks with one feature in common: Daft Punk. The first is a cover version just posted up on Popjustice. Featuring multiple acts from the upcoming Wonky Pop Tour (including Alphabeat, Leon Jean Marie and Frankmusik), it's an interesting revision of . The second is a track I was just sent this morning from Immuzikation, of his mash-up of Daft Punk's "One More Time" with MGMT's "Time to Pretend," plus The Doors' "Light My Fire" thrown in. I haven't fully absorbed either track yet, but on first listen I'm really liking the mash-up's unique vibe. Enjoy! (And keep an eye out for the return of this series. It's been put on the back burner for quite some time, as I've failed to explore the many new songs landing in my inbox for the past few months. Sorry!)

Alphabeat, Leon Jean Marie and Frankmusik (Wonky Pop Allstars), "Digital Love" (Daft Punk cover) [YSI]
Link: See Popjustice feature

MGMT vs. Daft Punk vs. The Doors, "One More Time to Pretend" (Mash-up by Immuzikation) [YSI]
Link: Mash-up creator Immuzikation's myspace.

***Note: Links removed***

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Fresh 02: Dirty Disco Youth

For the second feature on up-and-coming acts, I present Dirty Disco Youth, a DJ who has declared, "I fuckin' can't and I fuckin' don't want to dance to minimal techno! Honestly speaking I don't even want to dance...I want to freak out!" To make good on his dancefloor ambitions, Dirty Disco Youth has a whole load of hot tracks on the decks for all eager listeners out there. Like many electronic music converts, Dirty Disco Youth started out playing classical instruments as a child, converting to synthetic sounds at the ripe age of 10. By 13, he was producing tracks, and as of 2006, the Dirty Disco Youth moniker was in full swing. With a round of increasingly hyped performances across Europe throughout 2007, along with some great press attention and numerous American radio sets, 2008 is set to be the year of Dirty Disco Youth. First on the decks are three hot new tracks, including an original song and two rave-ready remixes for Outlander and New Young Pony Club. Look out for upcoming releases and imminent North American gigs on Dirty Disco Youth's myspace page.

Dirty Disco Youth, "The Kids Want MAXIMAL" [zShare]
Outlander, "VAMP" (Dirty Disco Youth's Rave-Work) [zShare]
New Young Pony Club, "The Bomb" (Dirty Disco Youth's Maximal Bomb Remix) [zShare]

FRESH UPDATE: Spitzer, the band featured in the first Fresh post, have just been confirmed as one of the remixers of Kylie Minogue's forthcoming Europe-only single "In My Arms." Previously just a rumor, the remix will now be included on the 12" picture disc release. Keep an eye on this page for the remix as soon as it becomes available.

***Note: Links removed***

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Fresh 01: Spitzer

As hard as it may be to believe (for myself especially), this blog is actually getting a reasonable amount of visitors these days. As a result, I've started receiving sample tracks from new, unheard artists in my inbox (which I love, by the way, so feel free to send over your music anytime). Here is the first "Fresh" feature on one of those budding groups, Spitzer.

Spitzer are two French brothers from Lyon who got their start in the indie rock scene, without much attachment to the flourishing electronic music community around them. After seven years of this, they were, in their own words, "utterly seduced by the synthetic environment and the animal beats of techno," and decided to ditch their traditional instruments in favor of electronic sounds. Already building buzz within the Lyon electronic music scene and in the blogosphere, their dark, ambient sound is quickly gaining attention outside of their hometown. They are currently finalizing their first EP release, Roller Coaster, while branching out into production and remix work (including a top-secret commission for none other than pop princess Kylie Minogue). If you live Down Under, be sure to look for them starting in April as they begin a club tour of Australia. For more information, check out their myspace page and have a listen below to one of their forthcoming tracks, "Yacht Club" (my personal pick).

Spitzer, "Yacht Club" [zShare] (from the forthcoming EP Roller Coaster)

***Note: Links removed***

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