From the monthly archives:

February 2009

Kraak & Smaak come baack

by Zel on February 27, 2009

in news

In support of their 2008 sophomore album, Plastic People, Dutch electro outfit Kraak & Smaak will be touring the US this spring, first with some full band dates including a few at SXSW, then for some DJ sets. Their full band includes an MC and a singer, so expect some rapping and some vocalizing on tracks like “Squeeze Me” and that big track from their first album, “Take Me Home.” […keep reading…]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Congorock

People are going tomatoes for all the loco music coming out of Italy these days. Congorock is the latest to break out of the boot with his debut single, “Runark” dropping on Fool’s Gold (home to Kid Sister, LA Riots, Crookers, etc). 

For the moment you can download the track via RCRD LBL

We’re a little leery of a bio that claims the producer (real name Rocco Rampino) went from drumming in a hardcore band to remixing for Rex the Dog (Rex let that happen? really?)  There used to be a dues-paying stipulation in DJ land, but whatever, this ish works. And he looks the part, right?

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

It’s a commonly held belief at SoundBleed that bands with cellists have a greater understanding of the meaning of life. Such is the case for Chicago-based indie supergroup The Horse’s Ha. Comprised of Janet Beveridge Bean and James Elkington (with cello playing courtesy of Fred Lonberg-Holm), the group sounds like a sultry Wilco, with a little 21st century Fairport Convention. It’s the cello that winds through their songs like a well-worn boot: broken in but still sturdy.

The Horse's Ha

The group’s debut, entitled Of the Cathmawr Yards will see a digital release on June 9th via Hidden Agenda records. The album title is pulled from a Dylan Thomas short story, affirming the group’s Anglophilia (Elkington is a British ex-pat anyway). 

You can hear tracks and read more about that band on their myspace. We have our ears out for this one.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Walter & ArnoFor the first time since their breakthrough single, “Body Language,” Berlin-based techno duos Booka Shade and M.A.N.D.Y. are getting back together on their new track, “Donut.” Expectations are reasonably high, as the last time these groups got together the results were pretty major. “Body Language” not only brought worldwide attention to both artists, it was a bridge track from early 2000s progressive to late-00s minimal. 

The song is not on Booka’s recent mix cd, however. That disc, Cinematic Shades (The Slow Songs) is more of a b-side companion to their more pulsating The Sun & The Neon Light from earlier last year. 
 
Booka Shade tours the US next month in a blitz, no doubt returning later this year, perhaps with a new megahit under their belt. […keep reading…]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

One thing socialist countries get to do is celebrate their culture for a whole week. Or, in reality, a whole five days. In Toronto,  March 11th-14th, the Great North’s finest industry professionals will gather to promote their nation’s musical arts and discuss things like making money from it. 

Amongst the heads giving talks that will probably be about connecting with your audience, creating exchanges of information around your music, and the power of mp3s, Cory Ondrejka, co-founder of Second Life and EMI SVP will be offering words of wisdom in his keynote address on Thursday morning. […keep reading…]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Times are tough, but even when we’re flush, why pay a $10 cover when you can tweet yourself in for free? The Roxy on LA’s Sunset Strip is offering a pair of free tickets to lucky tweeters. All you have to do is be a new follower of their feed (@theroxy), and/or tweet something to them. Anything. You could even tweet “@theroxy parking near your venue blows” and we’re pretty sure you’re in.

The tickets are only being offered for Mondays in March and you have to tweet in a full 72 hours before the show you want. So you basically have to make your Monday plans on Friday. Not a bad deal at all. 

As an aside, one upcoming Monday show is worth tweeting for: MSTRKRFT’s album release party featuring their pal and rising star DJ Felix Cartal. Tweet!

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Crookers primed to explode; remix U2

February 24, 2009

Let’s cut to it: the new U2 song is boring, and pretty lame. Who cares? Crookers have offered a pretty sweet remix that saves the song (as much as is possible) but will do more for them than the aging Irishmen. 
It’s a formidable jump for the Italo-duo who came to prominence through a leaked remix [...]

click for more →

Kaskade continues his one album a year trend with new mix

February 23, 2009

Less than a year after the release of his mega-hit album Strobelite Seduction, Kaskade returns next month with a mix album for Ultra Records titled The Grand. The disc is to feature original tracks by Kaskade, as well as remixes from previous collaborator Deadmau5, new material from Swedish House mafiosos Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso, [...]

click for more →