Sunday, September 26, 2010

How Do You Spell 'Autre Ne Veut'?

With more than just a passing nod to the likes of The Associates' Billy MacKenzie, the pop troubadour is king again. Vocal histrionics and pop electronics are bedfellows once more. It could be heard as far back as Antony Hegarty's collaboration with Hercules & Love Affair in 2008 and it's there on Parenthetical Girls' 'Young Throats' from their new Privilege EP. But quite possibly the most likely contender to be passed the late MacKenzie's mantle is Autre Ne Veut. The NY lad's self-titled album (on Olde English Spelling Bee) is non-ironic falsetto, lo-fi R&B electro arrangements and post-Balearica. The album, released last week, was preceded by clips for a few album cuts ('OMG', Soldier') that go some way to indicating what lies ahead but the ten tracks of the self-titled Autre NV album need to be heard in context of each other - just as listening to the entirety of The Associates' Sulk made the seemingly 'novelty' value of MacKenzie's vocals, on the band's singles, make perfect sense.

Autre Ne Veut - 'Wake Up'

Autre Ne Veut - 'Soldier'

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Windy City Mix Show - 01

in tha mixxx
Blow the house down.
All original vinyl, all the way.

'Windy City Mix Show - 01' by Adam Askew (direct link)

TRACK LIST:
MESH - 'Meet Every Situation Head On (rmx)' (Wax Trax)
Mark Imperial - 'J'Adore Danser (club mix)' (DJ International)
Turntable Terror - 'Stephen's Overture' (Bassment Records)
Risque Rhythm Team - 'More Than Just A Dance (JM mix)' (Chicago Connection)
Mix'n'Tell/Pierre - 'Feel The Beat' (WCMS edit)
PFantasy Club - 'Never Give Up (Acid mix)' (Dance Mania)
Nasty Jack - 'In The Mix! (A Nasty Mix)' (Housetime Records)
Victor Romeo - You Can't Fight My Love (Elementary/Radio mix)' (Bright Star)

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Amazing World Of Record Inserts

Not strictly an insert, but scans from an early 70's Motown inner LP sleeve (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 'One Dozen Roses'!).

"Impress someone! Use Official Motown fan stationery and memo pad, similar to those used by Motown executives and stars."

click on through...
click on through...

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Harlem, Texas

Harlem hail from Austin. The trio released Hippies, their second album of garage power pop, in April through Matador. The album is a solid set of short, punchy cuts that only proves its worth over time... well, over the past six months anyway. Five months ago Harlem went online with the first of a handful of clips made for tracks from Hippies. Lifting 'Gay Human Bones' was a good choice as its Standells-ish qualities sets Harlem apart from the hip(pie)ster scene and plumps them squarely with fellow music-before-mushrooms types The Soft Pack and Jeff The Brotherhood. It was also a good choice to feature queer Cali rawker Hunx (of Hunx & His Punx and Gravy Train!!!!) in a song called 'Gay Human Bones'. Another clip followed for 'Friendly Ghost', a no-nonsense roller in the early-Elvis (Costello) vein (actually, two clips appeared for the song...). Most recently 'Someday Soon' has been clip'd (this time by Focus Creeps who made Girls' attention-getting 'Lust For Life' clip), highlighting another aspect of the band's sound - Harlem's lo-fi take on the girl group sound of the '50s and '60s.

Harlem - 'Someday Soon'


Harlem - 'Gay Human Bones'