Schizofonics @ Oxegen

I don't usually post just videos, but I have to post this one. Schizofonics, who I have been championing since the early stages of this blog look like they completely and utterly obliterated Oxegen last night with their unique A/V set.



This is them dropping their Bohemian Rhapsody remix (if anyone wants it, I'll post it up), look at that fun and alcohol fuelled reaction. I would've fainted behind the decks. Great work lads!

HighBloo

There seems to be a pattern emerging of 'young producers' this month (more posts coming..), that however much it makes you jealous, is a good thing. HighBloo, just sent me over tracks with a simple 'here's my tracks' and then links to them, I like mystery, although it was most likely laziness, I am so glad I downloaded them.

HighBloo is 19 and has only been producing for a year now, his songs are some of the freshest productions I've heard in a while now and if he carries on this way, he's gonna be, well, huge. I'm so jealous. His style is summed up perfectly by this - a mixture between Siriusmo and Mr Oizo with his own fresh touch. You'll see what I mean,

♫ HighBloo - Untitled

This next song however, touches upon the techno world, with the catchiest of all bleepy riffs and glitches all over the place stapled together with a rolling, deep, techy bassline. Straight into my 'favourites' playlist, as you well know, I'm mad into this sound at the moment.

♫ HighBloo - Effective

Watch out for this guy, it was only today that I was reminiscing when Night Facilities (Louis La Roche) used to post up some his tunes and edits he'd made on the Erol Alkan Forum about a year ago, looking for approval. Look at him now, I expect to see HighBloo, whose name is as strange as his song titles, in the same position this time next year.

Louis & Tom's Top Ten for July

In the spirit of finding such good music this month, we decided to let you know of our top ten that we deem to be the best ten songs ever, of July, 2009.

Tom's (Up & Atom) Top Ten for July
1. Manon - Inkulu (Reboot remix)
2. Tiga - Beep Beep Beep (Loco Dice remix)
3. John Tejada - The Locus Of Points
4. Ricardo Villalobos f. Los Updates - Baile
5. Jet Project - Bamboo Fire (Worthy remix)
6. Mangelt - Sawesome
7. Luka and Lazo - A Clue
8. Nils Ohrmann f. Erich Lesovsky - Pretty Tune
9. Gringo Gomes - Tri Balkan
10. Up & Atom - Trumpeting Zoo

Louis Louis' Top Ten for July
1. D.I.M & TAI - Lyposuct (Noob remix)
2. Spencer & Hill - Elements of Cool (Afrojack Remix)
3. Riton & Primary 1 - Who's There? (Dub version)
4. Lorcan Mak - Gypsy Bum
5. Angger Dimas - Duck Army
6. Sonic C - Stickin'
7. Shake Aletti - Digital Connection
8. Fever Ray - Triangle Walks (Rex The Dog Remix)
9. Sidney Samson - Riverside (Afrojack Remix)
10. Silvio Ecomo & Chuckie - Moombah (Afrojack Remix)

Don't be a (Berkeley) Square

I've gone on a wee bit of a house trip recently. With the sun, I've drifted gently away from the hard techno, and instead find myself listening to the type of thing that'd sound best on a terrace in Ibiza or Miami, soulful groove tunes. The fact that I'm trapped in Sheffield without a pound to my name is by-the-by, and that everyone I know is chipping off to Exit next week doesn't bother me in the slightest. Honest.

♫ Nils Ohrmann - Pretty Tune feat Erich Lesovsky [Hula Hoop]

Thus, this gentle slice of techy, minimal house has been striving to help me imagine myself on a beach somewhere. It comes from the Chaiselon EP, four tracks of vocal lead tech-house and minimal, and only Nils Ohrmann's second release (his first being 2005's Es Geht Los on Low Spirit). It's got a refined subtlety that I really like. Taking a vocal sample from the big band classic A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, Ohrmann slices this, along with some audience banter from the original vocalist, into a soulful minimal groove. Toss in a lovely electric piano solo, and that's basically all this track is. It shows you don't have to be trying to push envelopes constantly to make lovely summer tracks.

Up&Atom.

First Rule of Computer Club...

Last I heard anything new from Computer Club was in a post on him about this time last year over on friends Discodust, since then I haven't heard a thing. I'm sure you will have heard of Computer Club though, if you're a fan of the blogs, he's been whored around many of the top blogs over the year with his cheeky edit of Oizo and his speaker destroying collaboration with Le Castle Vania on the remake of 'Messiah'. See, ever since my blog got a little bit more successful, I've strived to offer something a bit different to you readers, bringing in Tom for example, to share his love for Techno with you as the world of Techno blogging is just terrible really. I've also tried to stay away from what everyone else is blogging about - not in an effort to be 'cool', but just to try and be a bit more unique, really. Either way, I know these new Computer Club edits I've been given will inevitably be everywhere over the blog world in the next few weeks. But right now, they're not. Plus... I love them.

♫ Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane vs. Au Revoir Simone) Computer Club Edit

Despite having more than enough people fiddling with the construction of one of the best songs of the last year (and having producers milking this song for all that it's worth), CC's edit is no effort in vain. But go ahead, with the slightly sped up tempo and extra bongos adding the perfect amount extra pop, milk away Computer Club, milk away.

♫ Jewel Kid - Don't Break My Heart (Computer Club Remix)

Now, I haven't listened to proper electro house in a long long time. I gave this a listen and remembered why I came to love all things electro in the first place, this could've been the song all those years ago that would have started me off on my electro journey of wonderment.

I'm really glad Mike Diasio AKA Computer Club (yes, it's just one person, confusing I know) is back on the scene. Mike has an album out in the near future called 'Nerd Secrets' showcasing a wide array of musical styles, which is obviously what we've come to expect from CC. And of course, one underpinning rule, every song will work brilliantly on the dancefloor.

Louis Louis.

Mark Lam + Bonus Lorcan Mak July Mix

Ireland has been churning out this unique sound recently that I just can't put my finger on, Mark Lam is another DJ/producer from Dublin who also knows that the whole 'fidget' sound is long gone, things are maturing people. I do however fear for things getting a tad boring, although the silly-named genre just lost it's 'edge' a bit, it doesn't we don't want to party like madmen anymore surely?

Mark Lam has created a couple of remixes that are super tight with that straight beat to bop to, funky synth lines and a great party feel. I'm all for giving the Irish the spotlight once in a while (as you can probably see from previous posts on Schizofonics and Lorcan Mak) and Mark's got super potential with already a remix on a Crux Records release and hopefully a big future ahead.

♫ Not Squares - IYOUUSIT (Mark Lam Remix)

♫ Schizofonics - Break Free (Mark Lam Remix)

Mark has taken the liberty of remixing his pals, Schizofonics, 'Break Free' song which is a personal favourite of mine - you can pick up the original from one of my many Schizo posts. Mark's completely done it justice with a big fuzzy bassline and funky stabs and of course, kept those excellent vocals. The production is really well done, I look forward to more from Mark Lam. I suggest you keep an eye out too.

While I'm here actually, this post becomes all too much convenient... I'm going over to the Emerald Isle this weekend to visit me lady and to check out Arveene on the Friday with Lorcan Mak supporting, who just seconds ago sent me his latest mix. It has a tracklist that makes me dribble, some lovely brass instruments, tribal sounds and masses of funky techno - I've never put a 'Louis Louis highly recommends' on a mix/song before, but I highly HIGHLY recommend this mix, it sums up my taste right now perfectly. Some amazing songs from the likes of Solo, Fredski Tomas Barfod, Afrojack, Balearic Soul and exclusively two spanking new songs from the Mak himself.

♫ Lorcan Mak July Mix

Coyu & Edu Imbernon - El Baile Aleman (Original Mix) Liebe*Detail

Fredski Tomas Barfod - March On Swan Lake (Original Version)

Ramon Tapia - Mi Esposa (Original Mix) Great Stuff

Solo - Afreaka (Original Mix) Deadfish

Balearic Soul - Ole (Dub Mix) Stereo Productions

Mastiksoul - Bofe De Elite (Original Mix) 4Kenzo

Giorgio Giordano - Amazzonia (David Tort Remix) Sneakerz MUZIK

Steve Smooth, JJ Flores - Sex Fiend (Hatiras Remix) Ultra Records

Silvio Ecomo & Chuckie - Moombah (Afrojack Remix) Dirty Dutch Music

Sidney Samson - Riverside (Original Mix) Sneakerz MUZIK

Lorcan Mak - Bees In A Box (Original Mix) CDR **NEW**

Chuckie - Let The Bass Kick (Silvio Ecomo Remix) Dirty Dutch Music

Steve Angello & AN21 - Flonko (Original Mix) Size Records

Lorcan Mak - Brass My Ass (Original Mix) CDR **NEW**

Lorcan Mak - Gypsy Bum (Original Mix) RuNT Records

Femme en Fourrure - Plump Biscuit (Original Mix) CDR

Afrojack - Polkadots (Original Mix) Sneakerz MUZIK

Louis Louis.

New Jack City (Bigger Than Barry) / Harry Benson (Kill The Rhythm)

For this post I want to promote to you some DJ's, not producers, DJ's. As we all know DJ's can make or break a night. The song selection, the timing, the mixing, the volume and the flare are all vital skills that a DJ needs to be great at in order to let people have an awesome night. The two DJ's I've chosen for this post, posess these skills at an extremely high grade and represent some of the best nights in the North of England right now. Bigger Than Barry (Birmingham, Sheffield) and Kill The Rhythm (Leeds).

Firstly, New Jack City. I first saw Jack, playing at his night he co-runs in Sheffield, No Uniform, which I have featured on here before with an interview and a couple of reviews. He also represents the Bigger Than Barry crew, originally being from Birmingham (the birthplace of Barry) he brought it upto Sheffield with a monthly night at our holy mecca, DQ. His style is an eclectic mash up of garage, dubstep and big basslines - my dirty secret being that I LOVE garage - I always enjoy his sets whether they be at Uniform or Barry, I've never seen a set go down without a huge dancefloor of people having a great party with wobbly knees and jumpin' drops.

Jack has recorded a mixtape for Barry recently that got airplay on Diesel U Music radio when they featured the night on one of their shows and as I write this Jack is over residenting with the Barry lot on tour in Ibiza holding some mega mega parties for a week. This mix he's recently recorded is fantastic, combining songs that are clearly Bigger Than Barry favourites, with Toddla, man of the moment L-Vis 1990, Mowgli etc all being thrown in and mashed about. I used the mix last weekend on the train to a gig to get me hyped up and into party mode. I'll be using it again this Friday!

♫ New Jack City - Hard Times Mixtape

1. Herbdout – Get Mad
2. Um Milhao – Buraka Som Sistema & Diplo
3. AC Slater – Banger (Drop The Lime Remix)
4. Shake Aletti - The Way He Does (Toddla T Remix)
5. Beatfreaks – Speakerbox
6. DJ Mujava – Township Funk (Mooqee Remix)
7. La Roux – Bulletproof (Zinc Remix)
8. Digital Manges – Give Me A Reason (Douster Remix)
9. Stagga – Bad Dance
10. Tempa T – Next Hype (Mosca Remix)
11. Dynamite MC & Jack Beats - What
12. L-VIS 1990 – Stay Together
13. Drop The Lime – Tabac Theme
14. Smokin' Cheeba – Untitled
15. Flufftronix – Hip Hop Ghetto House Remix
16. Zombie Disco Squad - Eurovision ( Mowgli Remix)
17. Zombie Disco Squad - Eurovision (The Boog-A-Loo Remix)
18. DJ Oddz – Strung Up VIP
19. Gregor Salto – Bumba Bounce
20. Boltan – Nine To Five (DZ Remix)
21. Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers (Doorly Remix)
22. Caspa - Where's My Money? (L-VIS 1990 Dubble Step Edit)
23. Gordon Grimm Barker – Big Bad Bernie
24. DJ Zinc – 174 Trek

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Next up, the perfect mixtape to show where my taste in music is heading at the moment. Harry Benson is part of the Kill The Rhythm collective (along with Youth Attack, Ocelot, Heads Up), which is a fairly new night set up at the new venue/bar Nation Of Shopkeepers in Leeds which I am yet to visit, but cannot wait to as it's the sister bar of a bar in Sheffield where I used to work! The buzz is that the night is going off bigtime creating some mad attention, I'm not surprised with it having some of the best line-ups I've seen in ages including In Flagranti, Jokers Of The Scene, Felix Cartal, Hostage and our very own Run Hide Survive at the end of July. Harry plays a monthly residency there, while also helping to run the Kill The Rhythm blog, go check it out.

The mix Harry's made has remained one of my favourites of the past month with a playcount of about 20, down to it's technical ability and the epic selection of songs, many of which have been stapled into all of my playlists. The genre style is in the same vain as where I think house/techno scene has definitely been heading recently, tribal rhythms, bongo bopping and big bass drums. I personally am loving the direction, what does everyone else think? Many producers have really caught on, L-Vis 1990 and Zombie Disco Squad for example, loving that sound a lot. I've said to Harry that I'm getting him on at Krooked in the near future, aswell as Jack so keep your eyes peeled and come on down.

♫ Harry Benson - A Little Bit Tribal Mix

1. Alvaro feat. Luxx - Ultimate Rise
2. Zombie Disco Squad - Heavy Breathing
3. Renaissance Man - Rhythm
4. Nick Curly - Pujante
5. Tomas Barfod, Fredski - March on Swan Lake
6. Afrojack - Polkadots
7. Minimow - Bollyhouse
8. Zombie Disco Squad - Eurovision (Solo Remix)
9. Douster - Freak Mode
10. Zombie Disco Squad - Vie!
11. Harvard Bass - 81 (Renaissance Man Remix)
12. Alvaro - Make It Funky
13. Solo - Afreaka
14. Moombah - Chuckie (Sidney Samson Mix)

Louis Louis.

Digital Connection - Shake Aletti

Shake Aletti just don't quit, firstly creating my favourite mixtape of the summer they've just backed that up with one of my songs of the summer. The now regulars to Louis Louis, are giving away 'Digital Connection' as a freebie to the masses and as far as songs that literally ooze electronic funk and sexy 80's vibes go, this soon-to-be summer hit is the cream of the crop.

Shake Aletti - Digital Connection

'And I don't know another motherfuu... UH, who pushes my buttons quite like you'.

If anyone's ever met me personally, you will probably know that I have an unhealthy obsession with Prince, I've been caught hoovering the house in my Purple Rain coat dancing to 'Sex Shooter' before... I've said too much. But this is clearly why I love this song so much, it's like old generation Prince, for this new generation we've found ourselves in (no, not the New Power Generation). Sexy lyrics, 80's drum claps and a synth line that makes you want to check your hair to make sure you're looking 'fly'.

Shake Aletti have been receiving a lot of love recently (and rightly deserved) not just from me, with a hectic schedule, an appearance in this month's Mixmag and a slot confirmed at Sheffield's upcoming Tramlines festival in late July that's co-ordinated by Sheffield music connoisseurs Toddla, Jon Mclure (The Reverend) and Matt Helders of Arctic Monkeys fame. Also, when you next pop into the world's best shoe shop, Size, pick up this month's free magazine as I got to write a press piece on the boys for it!

I will leave you with a chilled out and toned down remix of the single, the perfect remedy to cool you down after listening to the original. WHEW.

Shake Aletti - Digital Connection (Recloose Remix)

Louis Louis.

Baile Out - Ricardo Villlobos ft. Los Updates

I realise that here at Louis Louis, me and Louis generally try and steer clear of posting tracks by big name artists. You willnae find the latest Justice MySpace rips here and I think that's a good thing. The Louis Louis blog, as you all know, is about promoting lesser known artists, and trying to share music with you all that you probably wouldn't otherwise have heard.

The reason I begin with this caveat is that today's post is a track by Ricardo Villalobos. This may seem to go against the core tenets of what this blog stands for, but I don't care. I'm not posting this because it'll increase hits or traffic, I'm posting it because it's too good not to.

Ricardo Villalobos feat. Los Updates - Baile [Sei Es Drum]

This is the lead track of the latest release from the superb Sei Es Drum label, a split EP featuring this and a track from Reboot entitled Caminando. This is the third release on Ricardo Villalobos' own label, which has so far given us the eponymous opening EP from the man himself, back in 2007, and last year SiS' absolutely phenomenal Trompeta/Clarinete EP, which still gives me goosebumps. Mowgli of all people dropped Trompeta at Wonk t'other week, and I almost fell over in happiness.

Baile is everything that I love about this sort of minimal techno. It's catchy as hell, with a simple, melodic bassline being reinforced by tight drum programming, and not really much else apart from a male vocal line that's just downright bizarre. Climbing and dropping wantonly, and occasionally seeming on the verge of tears, it really gets under your skin. The track itself clocks in at a good 12.39, but manages to avoid sounding too dull or repetitive despite using so few elements. After 7.30 the bass synth changes tone, a new hi-hat comes in, and these two subtle shifts are enough to notch the whole thing up a gear, moving a simple minimal house track into a minimal acid thing. It's truly wonderful, and at the risk of sounding overly dramatic, makes me happy to be alive.

Tom.

Quack Attack

You may have noticed a recent surge in the popularity of squeaky, ravey techno records, in the vein of Sidney Samson's Riverside and the Douster remix of For Weirdo's Only by Momma's Boy. Based around the harder sound of techno, but with a house structure that keeps the track more song based and accessible, these records have started turning up in charts from Brodinski, Erol, Surkin et al.

Angger Dimas is a 21 year-old Indonesian fellow (I'm not happy posting about someone younger and more successful than myself). I found this while trawling Beatport, but while trawling the internet for more information about him I found that he'd posted this track on the Laidback Luke and Angello forums looking for feedback. From what I can gather, Luke heard it, loved it, and started sticking it in sets from February. As a result the track got picked up, and is now being released. What a nice story.

Angger Dimas - Duck Army [Vicious]

The record itself is based around a fidget-esque drum line, full of claps, doubled kicks and whistles. The squeaky riff itself is very reminiscent of Riverside, and the whole thing loops around an 8-bar pattern with constant variation, to keep the kids interested. In Angger's own words, this is 'a fat, tribal-driven, bleepy MONSTER of a tune' and to be honest that's probably a fair enough assessment. This is real festival music.

As a bonus, here's a video of an army of ducks. There's loads of the blighters.

Tom.

Lorcan Mak

My 'one to keep an eye on' for 2009/10, Lorcan Mak is brilliant. Blending superb techno beats with house-y vibes and big rises n' drops, his production work has not gone un-noticed over the past year. Brodinski launched the young lad from Dublin (a place close to my heart) into the underground limelight by placing him no.1 in his top ten chart of May with the superb 'Gypsy Bum'. A lot of Lorcan's productions have a sense of 'fidget' about them without actually being 'fidget', if you get me. I think the 'fidget' house scene has lost it's edge a bit over the past couple months, I'm sure you'll all agree. Especially with the new sounds coming out from the likes of Boy 8 Bit, Boys Noize and the Turbo label shadowing it with blends of techno and 'edgier' house. House music is maturing and Lorcan Mak not only knows it, but is helping it grow up too.

Lorcan Mak - Bamboozled

Lorcan Mak - Crack Shack

Lorcan Mak - Gypsy Bum

Gypsy Bum has made into my top ten of the year so far for sure. It's a brilliant techy party tune with that brilliant edge to it that makes it stand out from a scene that is becoming more and more bland by the day, and although the edge is somewhat hilarious, it's a serious kind of hilarity because it just... works. So so well.

I also have two exclusives to give away, that you cannot get anywhere else! A brilliant remix of a classic tune and a superb techno remix of the song that has shot Lorcan Mak into underground fame.

Anita Ward - Ring My Bell (Lorcan Mak's Mischevious Little Rascal Remix)

Lorcan Mak - Gypsy Bum (CitiZen Black Remix)

Gypsy Bum is out now on Runt records @ Beatport, go buy the full 320 and drop it at the peak of every party/rave/shindig you attend in the near future. You should also check out his talent-ridden DJ skills with his latest mix, here. Tracklisting in the comments and Lorcan's myspace here.

Louis Louis.

Louis Louis Podcast 004

Knocked up another podcast for all of yous, recorded midday last Sunday while suffering from a heavy weekend but we cheered ourselves up with a mix and some exclusives from Fake Blood, Porxy and Boy 8 Bit. Tom took the reins and presented this one, we had our friend Oli (Cahoot) and Chris (my DJ partner in Mugshots) in with us too to talk about their favourite tunes of the moment and provide the usual techno banter. We each took three songs each and had a mix at the end which we talk about during the first half. We do apologise profusely for our mix in our hungover state that we were, we really just wanted to show off our shiny new tracks, it certainly wasn't our best effort but the tracks are MEGA. Enjoy! And please, leave suggestions, comments etc for the next one!

Louis Louis Podcast 004

Tracklisting for 'Crew mix'
Mugshots
1. Alex Metric - Shirley You Can't Be Serious
2. Felix Cartal - Redheads
3. Hugg & Pepp - Penguini
4. Zombie Nation - Mystery Meat Affair (Shadow Dancer Remix)
5 .Miike Snow - Animal (Style Of Eye Remix)
6. Boy 8 Bit - Baltic Pine
Up & Atom
7. Dirk Diggler - Behind The Curtain
8. Joey Beltram - Dragon
9. Tom Flynn - Reset The Dial
Cahoot
10. Super Flu - Lyla Sucks Lemon
11. Pierce and Jerl - Amourette (M.in Remix)
12. Chuckie - Moombah (Afrojack Remix)

Jengaa - Jak Z

The thing I like about Jak-Z is his ability to keep producing jackin' fidget house songs of high calibur, while having one of the most unique and creative styles in a genre that recently has become rather mundane and 'samey'. Which is shame really, it's just nothing is exciting anyone in the world of fidget at the moment - I predict this will all change upon the release Jack Beats new EP, which I just cannot wait for.

Jak-Z has a new EP out on beatport here for his new single 'Hurt Me', with Jengaa the baby label from Liam Vizzle's Venga. On the remixes you have Lee Mortimer (Wearhouse) who takes the sounds into a deep ghotsly vibe, while Edu K (who you cannot avoid his genius recently) has worked his usual tropical style 'booty shaking' magic on the single. 'Pink Elephant' the second of the two originals on the EP, is like a window into Jak-Z's oddball brain and is my personal favourite, the 'trancey' effects leading you into a stupendous drop is just what the genre needs right now.

Go check it out on Beatport and see what you think, but meanwhile to keep you sweet I have two Jak-Z originals for you.

Jak-Z Cutie Pie

Jak-Z - Far Out

Louis Louis Podcast 003

Well, this is incredibly late isn't it? All here at the Louis Louis blog apologise; we realise how much you all look forward to this podcast every week. Well, better late then never, eh?

This week's podcast features me, sat in my bedroom, talking into a crap microphone with plenty of background hum, and playing some wonderful techno records. Then, at the end, there's a 40 minute live mix; 20 minutes from Louis, 20 minutes from me. Louis' half is a really nicely mixed selection of fidget, going into some more techy stuff at the end. Mine starts on the Up&Atom's Rough edit of Summer In The City by the Loving Spoonful, and it's all downhill from there. Tracklist will hopefully be up by Friday, but see if you can work it out first.

Louis Louis Podcast 003

WE ARE KROOKED.

By the way, you should all totally check out the new website for the night I help run, http://www.wearekrooked.co.uk.
We'll have guest mixes from us residents and guests too, along with news on upcoming nights, photos from the nights and other info on other ventures the Krooked family support. Looks sick don't it?Everyone in the Krooked family and... Sheffield, is extremely happy about this Friday as the biggest night in Sheffield, Club Pony (i.e the night Tom residents at, the other writer you may notice that writes on here) partner up with us Krooked lads to go mental all night until 6am (rumours are, if it goes well... maybe, 8am. But shh..). It is going to be monu-effin'-mental.

From Club Pony we've got playing:
RUN HIDE SURVIVE,
UP & ATOM, (Tom (writer) and Wilko)

And from our Krooked family:
MUGSHOTS (Eh, me and Chris),
SCI- FI KID
^ Big up to Rich aka Sci Fi Kid for actually making and running the website!

See you there?