Fabric

What better way to start the Bank Holiday weekend than with a trip to Fabric: Get Familiar features a host of top talent including Switch, Joe Hot Chip, A Trak, Surkin, Scratch Perverts and many others. Will be a sweet gig. And you've an extra day to recover..

Don't tell me these things. Not now man..

Sorry for the lack of action, suffering from web problems again. We were recently contacted by Panda Riot, a three piece from Chicago, Illinois. They are another of the new breed of shoegaze bands getting us all of a fluster at the moment: They have a new record 'She Dare all Things' in the record shops & they were good enough to have a quick chat with us. We kicked off proceedings with an old favorite..

What would you rather be attacked by- Shark or Bear?

Justin: A bear, because I might be able to out-maneuver it. Also, I have a way with mammals, so I think I could convince it, through pantomime, to reconsider.
Brian: Bear attacks make for better TV
Rebecca: A Bear...much more cuddly.

Do you talk to yourself?

Justin: In my mind, yes. I do a kind of point-counterpoint thing.
Rebecca: Yes. Definitively. Yes.

On your to-do-list, Do you tick or cross off things you have accomplished?

Justin:No.
Rebecca: Cross them off- BAM!
Brian: I click them off.

What have been your favorite tunes/albums of the last year or so?

Justin:
Xiu Xiu-Women as Lovers
Paul Baribeau- Grand Ledge
Anni Rossi- Scandia

Brian:
The Black Tambourine re-issue
Johnny Greenwood is the Controller (a dub mix)

Rebecca: Andy from Denver

On a scale of 1 to 10, how proud are you of 'She dares all things'?

Panda Riot: 10

The record is available from Itunes or you can buy it here. They also have some shows coming up, check their Myspace for details.

Panda Riot- She Dares all Things (Z Share) (YSI)

We love a good Krautdrone round here. No Age create a right din. They have just released new album 'Nouns' on the Sub Pop label. Check them out as soon as you can: They are a fierce live act: They also have one of them blogs, which you can view here. This is one of their more tender moments:

No Age- Things I Did When I Was Dead (Z Share) (YSI)

And to finish with some smooth sounds from the Love Unlimited Orchestra:

Love Unlimited Orchestra- Strange Games & Funky Things (Z Share) (YSI)

A couple of points if interest: Check out the Gaslamp Killer's new mix 'I Spit on your Grave'. It's a fine blend of dusty beats & psych grooves. One of the compilations of the year. You can purchase it here. There is also a tasty live recording from the Boredoms up on Bleep which you can get for a bargain £3.99. Top Value.

1Up

Happy Birthday to us: And what a pleasure this first year has been. Joakim featured in the first post, so here's his edit of Severed Heads 'Dead eyes Opened':

Severed Heads- Dead Eyes Opened (Joakim Edit) (Z Share) (YSI)

Here's a couple of older tunes that i've dug out again recently: Laurent Garnier's MegaMega 'Sound of the Big Babou'. Total sweat dripping off the ceiling vibes..

Laurent Garnier- Sound of the Big Babou (Z Share) (YSI)

Also this very simple edit of Sister Nancy's 'Bam Bam'. Not sure whodunnit, but it's very effective.

Sister Nancy- Bam Bam (Big Beat Edit) (Z Share) (YSI)

Thanks for stopping by..

Is she a dress wearer or a pants wearer?

May i have this dance? Good. The Hacker is back with a new EP entitled '2980'. The title track is a very, very solid slab of peaktime Electro. You can get the 12" here or you can buy it digitally in all it's 320 encoded glory from Beatport.

The Hacker- 2980 (Z Share) (YSI)

Ladyhawke are one of Modular's newest signings (can't get the image of Alan Partridge out of my head everytime I hear someone say Ladyhawke). They really aren't this reviewers bag but their latest single has been expertly salvaged by Mock & Toof, who throw on a load of percussion and turn the whole thing into a very palatable Disco chugger. You can get the 12" here.

Ladyhawke- Back of the Van (Mock & Toof remix) (Z Share) (YSI)

If your in the mood for something a little slower then you could do a lot worse than try Hecq on for size. They have a new album 'Night Falls' in the bag & it's a very lovely slice of experimental ambient electronica. As with all records of this ilk, it's best to listen to the whole thing in one sitting to get the full effect. Here's a little glimpse: You can buy the LP here.

Hecq- Come Home (Z Share) (YSI)

I Bring Beef to the table like a Sunday roast..

It's been a rather shoegazey week round these parts- Lets finish things off by having a gander at Hot Lava: They have a new Long player in the can & it's a splendid collection of Shoegazepoprock. They have rather interesting influences "An opening, or rupture, in the Earth's surface or crust, which allows hot, molten rock, ash and gases to escape from deep below the surface" The album really reminds me of Suicide in places, MBV in others.
We had a brief chat with Allison from the band who was kind enough to answer some questions:

What is your Favorite Word?

My favorite word. Hmmm. Does "Ummmmhmmmmmmmm" count?

What is your favorite time of day?

7PM-midnight, when I'm not working or sleeping

Describe your best dance moves.

It's a rarity to see me out dancing. If it happens, I'm usually showing off how good I can "shop for groceries." If you don't know that one, it's similar to the sprinkler dance...just think of it like that.

What have been your fave tracks/albums from the past year or so?

Grand Ole Party/Look out Young Son--they're completely amazing, I think you have to see them play to completely realize how awesome they are. Every track on the album is solid.
The Breeders/Mountain Battles--It sounds more like '94 than 2008, that's fine with me.
The Pretenders/The Pretenders II--okay, so it's not from this year. It's older than me...but it's on constant rotation on whatever I'm listening to music.
Badass songs:
Canonball Jane-take it to fantastic
The Videohippos--Bear fight

Which is your favorite track off 'Lavalogy'?

My favorite track is brainEX. it was an accident and kinda a recycled version of an old song that never got off the ground.

You can purchase the record from the bands Myspace or from itunes. Or you could even go down the bloomin' record store & buy it. Either way your life will be a lot better with 'Lavalogy' in it. From the record here is 'Iggy'

Hot Lava- Iggy (Z Share) (YSI)

The Videohippos track that Allison mentioned is rather good, so here it is:

Videohippos- Bear Fight (Z Share) (YSI)

Really interesting album arrived this week from Mono in VCF: It sounds like a lost Lee Hazlewood artifact produced by Phil Spector. Beautiful production over pure pop arrangements. These guys will be BIG. The LP is due in June, this is the opening track:

Mono in VCF- Escape City Scrapers (Z Share) (YSI)

Have a good weekend.

Sorry, we’ve only got one chair, The other one burnt down..

Bradford Cox is surely the busiest man in Shoegaze Rock: The Atlas Sound record only came out in January & he is already preparing to release the new Deerhunter album, entitled 'Microcastles'. A fresh Deerhunter song appears on a new compilation called 'Living Bridge' on Rare Book Room Records. Also features tunes from Silver Jews, Black Dice, Fischerspooner amongst many, many others. Deerhunter & Atlas Sound are both on tour throughout the year, check their respective Myspace's for details.

Deerhunter- After Class (Z Share) (YSI)

Head over to the Floorman presents blog & pick up his new edit of Roots Manuva's 'Witness'. It's a fine little re-jig with an extended intro, extra percussion & added Oomph on the bottom end. Very good indeed. Here's the heavy, heavy Dub from the 'Dub come save me' LP.

Roots Manuva- Witness (Dub) (Z Share) (YSI)

After knocking out fine remixes for the likes of Gorillaz & Black Devil Disco Club, Quiet Village's debut long player 'Silent Movie' is ready to drop on K7 records. It's a real heady mix of cinematic and balearic beats that will soundtrack many a summer BBQ. 'Circus of Horror' is a very late contender for Sweet Sweetback's Baadassssss Songs...

Quiet Village- Circus of Horror (Z Share) (YSI)

Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't nothing?

Listened to lots of tunes over the weekend. Some new, but lots of old stuff too. Thought i'd share them with yoose. First up is the High Priestess of Soul getting the Funk:

Nina Simone- Funkier than a Mosquito's Tweeter (Z Share) (YSI)

Checked out Boards of Canada on LastFM & they've had over 17 Million plays. Kind of blew me away (Nina's ONLY had 5 and a half million plays). Here is the resplendent 'Zoetrope'

Boards of Canada- Zoetrope (Z Share) (YSI)

Peel favorites Galaxie 500 managed 3 records in their short tenure. Their influence has been far ranging & they almost seem more relevant today judging by the amount of Shoegazing going on Stateside at the moment (More to come this week). From 'On Fire' here is 'Blue Thunder'.

Galaxie 500- Blue Thunder (Z Share) (YSI)

I told him not to mention the elephant...

In case you hadn't noticed, it's been a slow week. You can always rely on Carl Craig to save the day tho. His new remix of Alter Ego's 'Gary' is first class. Starts off all Prog synths, then cracks you squarely between the eyes. Awesome.

Alter Ego- Gary (C2 Remix) (Z Share) (YSI)

Very good compilation due from Rong Music & DFA: Not Wave rounds up tunes from Free Blood, Tussle & James Chance & the Contortions amongst many others. It should be available from your local record dealer very shortly. Look out for more exciting Rong releases. This tune from Research sounds like a lost Material Jam.

Research- East West Axis (Z Share) (YSI)

If your looking for a Non-rocking weekend, get yourself over to Ornament's Myspace. Lots of lovely Lo-fi meanderings on offer. All for Gratis too.

Ornament- Good Morning Lefty (Z Share) (YSI)

Some points of interest: Those bastions of popular culture, Pitchfork Media, have gone and launched a TV Channel. Lots of interesting video's on offer including the Pixies film 'Loud, Quiet, Loud'. Go & have a gander.
Stephen Fry has launched a series of Podgrams, you can subscribe via Itunes: 'I tried Skiing once & found it absolutely foul..'
Have a Good'un.

Fabric

Quick heads up for another blockbusting Friday at Fabric- Annie Mac takes control of room 1, room 2 looks a peach with The Stanton Warriors, BBC Soundsystem & Duke Dumont at the helm. Room 3 features Skull Juice amongst others. You can listen to a special 30 min BBC Soundsystem mix over at the Fastlife.

Lord have mercy! Is that what that is?

Last week's Beats in Space was a corker: Tim Sweeney's mix featured lots of new DFA goodies, the Simian Mobile Disco remix of Deerhunter's 'Octet' some new Padded Cell & even some Spaceman 3. He starts off with Ozo's Incredible 'Anambra' which has just been re-issued via Flexx records. Get the 12" here. You can subscribe to the Beats in Space podcast via Itunes.

Ozo- Anambra (Z Share) (YSI)

Also Plays this Lovefingers edit of Black Disco's '1984':

Black Disco- 1984 (Summer of Lovefingers Edit) (Z Share) (YSI)

One of my fave's from last year gets the remix treatment: Holy Fuck's 'Lovely Allen' has been rejiggled by Minotaur Shock, No Age & Riton. It's released via Young Turks, you can get the 12" here.

Holy Fuck- Lovely Allen (Riton Re-Rub) (Z Share) (YSI)

You slithered out of your mother's filth..

As previously reported Spiritualized are back: 'Songs in A&E' is released in May. It's a real treat of an album, Rocking out in some places, very tender in others. It's just great that he's still around. Check them on tour.

Spiritualized- Soul on Fire (Z Share) (YSI)
One of the worlds most influential drummers passed in the last week: Klaus Dinger played on the first Kraftwerk album & was a founding member of Neu!. He was also on stick duties in La Dusseldorf. His distinctive, driving drumming action propelled any project he was a part of. Here's a double whammy:

Neu!- Hero (Z Share) (YSI)

And from the first Kraftwerk LP here's 'Vom Himmel Hoch'. If you've not heard it before, stick with it until it kicks in..

Kraftwerk- Vom Himmel Hoch (Z Share) (YSI)

I'll slack you off, you fuzzy little foreigner..

Born Ruffians are the latest Indie band to get the Warp treatment. Long Player 'Red, Yellow and Blue' is released in May. Lead singer Luke Lalonde has that nasal vocal style that you'll either Love or Hate. I'm alright with it. The track i'm posting today wouldn't sound out of place in Wes Anderson's next motion picture. In fact, i'll bet you 5 English pounds that it does. Catch them on the road very soon.

Born Ruffians- Little Garcon, Little Fille (Z Share) (YSI)

Animal Collective keep knocking out the hits: The Water Curses E.P is being prepared for release on Domino records. They are also on tour throughout the next few months, if you get the chance go and see them. You'll struggle to see a more engaging live set this year..

Animal Collective- Water Curses (Z Share) (YSI)

Picked up a nice compilation via Boomkat the other day: Community Library's very bold claim to be the best label in the World has been rounded up onto one handy CD. You can Download the album for a bargain £1.99. This track is a nice slice of wonky dancefloor fodder from Strategy.

Strategy- World House (Z Share) (YSI)