Sorry for the absence, it’s been a crazy week! I spent Christmas in Ohio with my boyfriend’s grandmother learning family recipes for yummy eastern European favorites like pierogi, poppyseed roll and kielbasa with kraut. YUM. Then, straight from there to Mexico where I played at Nikki Beach and Z-Tai in Puerto Vallarta. I would have posted from there but unfortunately I contracted a bad case of food poisoning from some pork tacos. I spent a good portion of my trip fevered with an IV in my arm

In any case, I’m back now and in good health, just in time for a party-hearty NYE! Before I jet off to my gig at the James Hotel, I’m giving you all some of my favorite tunes from this year. They are in no particular order and I think you should have some of these already…they are favorites for a reason! See you all next year-thanks for reading the blog, more to come!

Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
Download (direct link)

AC Slater - BanGer
Download (direct link)

The Dirty Secrets - 5 Feet Of Snow (Miami Horror Remix)
Download (direct link)

Boys Noize - And Down
Download (direct link)

Thieves Like Us - Drugs In My Body (Designer Drugs Remix)
Download (direct link)

Dragonette - I Get Around (Van She Vocal Mix)
Download (direct link)

Shiny Toy Guns - Le Disko
Download (direct link)

Tim Deluxe - Let The Beats Roll
Download (direct link)

DJ Antoine - This Time (Klaas Remix)
Download (direct link)

Le Castle Vania - Tigertron (Toxic Avenger Remix)
Download (direct link)

 

I know there have been a lot of Daft Punk posts, but really, it’s quite amazing that these guys, who have been making music for as long as they have, are now finding their resurgence and becoming more popular than they ever were. I think it’s fair to say that Daft Punk are the first true rockstars of the electronic world.

“Nine hours into October’s Vegoose festival, the immortal five-note melody from Close Encounters of the Third Kind drifts out over the grassy field at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium, and the crowd of 30,000 is packed so tightly it can barely move. The night’s headliners, Daft Punk (Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, henceforth referred to by his nickname, Guy-Man), are led by roadies to a control booth in the middle of a 22-foot-wide, 18-foot-tall, three-ton steel pyramid hidden behind a curtain at center stage…”

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Daft Punk - Technologic
Download (direct link)

Daft Punk - Robot Rock (Soulwax Remix)
Download (direct link)

Daft Punk - Television Rules The Nation (Roccanova Remix)
Download (direct link)

I don’t care about any of you who say these songs are cheesy, Preston and I have a soft spot in our hearts for 80s remixes. These are the songs you danced to at prom a la Napoleon Dynamite: “I like your sleeves…they’re real big.” If you’re too young, then it’s time to play catch up. Level 42, Christopher Cross, Depeche Mode and my personal fave Pat Benatar (mostly because people say I look like her) - these are the artists that defined the crimping, legwarming and Hypercolor-wearing decade I grew up in. Have fun rocking out to the tunes below…I’m going to go watch Labyrinth. David Bowie in spandex is SOOO dreamy!

Olivia Newton John-Let’s Get Physical (Black Ghosts remix)
Download (direct link)

Cutting Crew-Died In Your Arms (DJ Rooster and Sammy Peralta Remix)
Download (direct link)

Dead or Alive-You Spin Me Round (Nari and Milani Remix)
Download (direct link)

Level 42-Something About You (Hatiras Remix)
Download (direct link)

These are sad sad times for Bonde Do Role with the sudden news that Marina has left the group. According to their MySpace:

“Due to several internal problems between us, we had to cancel a lot of our shows from the European tour, and we also had to cancel the scheduled Australian tour (everyone knew how excited we were about it!). For that we’re really really sorry.

“And we also announce that Marina is no longer with us, due to these internal problems. We wish her all the best in whatever she decides to do with her future, and she can always count on us as friends. We are working these issues [out] right now as we speak, and we hope we can make it up to everyone who we let down this year, in the most awesome way we can!”

Aha, so this is why the group cancelled their Australian tour… In any case, shortly after the MySpace announcement, a more formal PR release went out:

“Following the departure of Marina from the band, it is with great regret that Bonde do Role have had to cancel their Australian tour. The band will no longer be continuing with the same format, and remaining members Pedro and Gorky are currently working hard to recruit a new member. Bonde do Role have had an incredible year and have been through some unforgettable experiences together, and still remain friends.”

Well, in the meantime, while we’re all getting over the Bonde Do Departure, here are a few remixes to tide us over:

Bonde Do Role - Gasolina (Radioclit Remix)
Download (Zshare)

Bonde Do Role - Melo do Tobaco (Jokers of the Scene Remix)
Download (Zshare)

Bonde Do Role - Office Boy (Elektric Cowboy Bootleg Remix)
Download (Zshare)

Ok, maybe he just hates our high of 37 degrees here today. I believe the first thing he said to me when he landed was “I don’t understand why anyone lives here.” Meanwhile, I took my coat off while walking to a meeting today because I was getting too damn hot. Hey, if the snow is melting, we’re having a heat wave as far as I’m concerned.

In any case, here’s one reason why people live in Chicago - our city is hot right now with the likes of the Cool Kids and Flosstradamus busting out into the “mainstream” (did anyone see the Rhapsody commercial with the Cool Kids?).

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“Allright people, *cracks knuckles*, this is it. Astra Moveo is an unbeliveably hot, unbeliveably unheard of dance indie band that’s about to rock your world (pun intended?) Made up of Christophe Eagleton, Tyler Hayden and James Cromwell Holden, the trio sounds more like a soap opera cast than a raging band, but don’t let the names fool you, these three know what they’re doing.” read more

KISSATLanta is a blog based out of Atlanta and run by self-professed music geek Preston Craig. The man is a machine when it comes to getting the tip on hot new producers and to top it off, he also runs the very very successful night, Decatur Social Club. We might be kindred geeks but we are also kindred aficionados of anything that is dirty, electro and genre-bending. No wonder we get along.

In any case, Preston recently asked if I wanted to be a contributing writer to KISSATLanta.com, and I jumped at the chance. I’ll be writing over on Preston’s turf probably 1-2 times a week and will try to keep the content different so you have to visit both sites. Ha!

Visit KISSATLanta to read Preston’s post to introduce me to the family.

What’s that warm fuzzy feeling I’m getting inside?

The Speakakillaz are an electro/industrial duo (Eddie Riot and Frank de la Mora) managed by friendselectric, the same people who also manage artists you maaay have heard of like Zoot Woman and Larry Tee. Some of their more vocally songs are like if Depeche Mode and The Presets made sweet sweet love. Their harder tracks, which I’m more partial to, are definitely on the industrial tip. Their debut album is due for 2008, but I can’t say much about it since two labels are currently vieing for the rights to it.

Here are a few goodies slated to go on the upcoming Speakakillaz album:

LFO Love
Download (direct link)

Robot Woman
Download (direct link)

Poon Hunter
Download (direct link)

What a f*%^ing fantastic photo. Those beards are magical (even if they’re fake) and made me fall in love with Romanoff even before I listened to their tracks. But then I listened, the tracks were solid and I fell in love a second time.

This duo of cousins from Brooklyn has a nice, punk-electro sound that’s not too slamming, but groovy nonetheless. I think the tracks are begging for a RAAAAWWR-type remix, but thats just me. Download all their tunes below and visit the boys at their myspace page. Drop them a line and tell them how lovely their tunes are…or their beards.

Stupider Bananas
Download (direct link)

Lipstick Miniskirts
Download (direct link)

Punch Fuck
Download (direct link)

Rock Band
Download (direct link)

Trash Magic
Download (direct link)

Two Tears
Download (direct link)

I’ve died and gone to heaven - Pilotpriest sent me this tune the other day and it is SICK. I hate to use such a generic term but really, these are amazing. If you’re not familiar with Pilotpriest yet, he is from Toronto and describes his sound as “years of tolling with synthesizers and recording devices + weird 1980’s children’s films.” If growing up and watching flicks like Legend and The Dark Crystal helps produce tracks like the one below, then I need sit my ass down and have a movie marathon. Enjoy.

M.I.A. - Boyz (Pilotpriest remix)
Download (direct link)