[Hip/Hop] AudioDax – Let It Fly

Hip-hop fans, beware: Indiana duo Audiodax are set to shake up the genre. ‘Let It Fly’ takes some impressively fast and sharp rapping from Krypton Flo, sprinkles some deliciously chilled beats and whacks on some great soulful vocals to create a track that is indie, hip-hop and electro all at the same time. If that sounds like a confusing mixture, then do not fear. ‘Let It Fly’ will seduce you within seconds with its quiet glory, and will be a fixture in your 2011 playlist.

AudioDax – Let It Fly

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[Via Pigeons and Planes]

[New] The Dodos – Don’t Stop (featuring Neko Case)

Dodos have been on our radar for a while now, ever since we flagged up their excellent track ‘Men’ in 2009. Now they’re set to return with the glorious ‘Don’t Stop’, which features Neko Case of The New Pornographers on backing vocals. The lush experimental side of Dodos is still there on this song, but the frenetic guitars sound like a mentally-hyperactive Mumford & Sons, and give ‘Don’t Stop’ a slightly poppier edge. If people say Dodos sound like a band aiming for the big time with ‘Don’t Stop’, it’s because they are a band that truly deserve a place as one of folk’s finest.

‘Don’t Stop’ is featured on the forthcoming album ‘No Color’, available on Frenchkiss Records from March 15.

The Dodos – Don’t Stop (featuring Neko Case)

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[Chillwave] Airlines – Burial Ground

Meet the Los Angeles based chillwave/electro-pop outfit Airlines (fashioned as ΔIRLINΞS). Their debut EP—Visions—came out freely on Bandcamp at the beginning of February, and is quite possibly some of the finest additions to the chillwave scene I’ve seen in quite a while. What starts as an homage to the wide soundscapes of 80s synth-pop, EP opener “Burial Grounds” quickly becomes a fantastic bit of electro chillwave. The synth-pads come on pretty strong at first, but they develop into a controlled and downright delightful arrangement throughout the entirety of the track.

While the 80s beats and synths never quite leave “Burial Ground,” they help to cement the track in an ethereal wave of relaxation and nostalgia. It’s some fine chillwave, and a great track for a sunny weekend.

Airlines – Burial Ground

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[Fresh/Electro] Introducing Douster + Tour Dates

Electro fans: there is a new poster boy for 2011. The prodigiously talented French producer Douster has really proven himself to be one of the up-and-coming superstars of the genre with his remixes, such as the thumpingly feel-good Jersey Shore remix of UK rising star Rusko‘s ‘Feels So Real’, as well as his own work – namely his sassy collaboration with Savage Skulls on ‘Bad Gal’. ‘Bad Gal’ has the potential to be one of those tracks that propels their creator to megastardom. It also holds up well to being remixed (by the excellent Crookers here), another sign of its potential to become ubiquitous. However, it is his tropical reworking of Bobmo‘s ‘My House’ that truly proves his capabilities. Douster is one of those artists it would ridiculous to ignore, and with him heading out on a short tour of the US and Canada, there’s the perfect opportunity to catch him before he hits the big time.

Savage Skulls & Douster – Bad Gal (Crookers Remix) – Douster Caliente Edit

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Savage Skulls & Douster – Bad Gal

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Rusko – Feels So Real (Douster & Savage Skulls Jersey Shore Remix)

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Bobmo – My House (Douster Remix)

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[Via]

[Fresh] Mike Posner – Save Your Goodbye (Johnny Lawson Remix)

We know. You hear the sound of Mike Posner’s voice, and you can’t help but just want to give him a hug. Well this remix is no different. Open your arms and welcome Johnny Lawson’s remix of Posner’s track, Save Your Goodbye. Lawson is a songwriter/producer living in Chicago who has promised remixing tracks spanning genres from contemporary pop, Motown, Italian opera and everything in between.

This track has a soft beat, and high pitch synth, which accentuates Posner’s voice. While not the club banger, the shy bass and progressive melodies are enough to set the mood for ending a night of heavy partying.

Mike Posner – Save Your Goodbye (Johnny Lawson Remix)

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And right below this is the very reason why we like Mike so much. He takes his music and career seriously, but definitely not himself providing comic relief to his smooth-as-a-baby’s-butt song ‘Bow Chicka Wow Wow’ in his music video featuring Lil Wayne. Enjoy!

[Folk] Of Monsters And Men – Little Talks

The resurgence of folk-influenced music has definitely been made apparent by the success of bands like The Shins and Fleet Foxes, more recently with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. Who would have thought though that an organic and folksly sound could be born out of the country that brought us Bjork? Iceland’s Of Monsters & Men have carved their own niche in the genre and have been growing a fanbase since posting a video of the band jamming in in a living room back in October on YouTube. It’s hard not to smile when you listen to this jaunty tune laced with tambourines and an fantastic accordion solo. Are we to believe that this is what people in Iceland listen to when drinking sweet tea and listening to the bullfrogs on the bayou? Couldn’t say…but the positive spirit of this song will lead to you abuse the repeat button either way.

Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks

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Of Monsters and Men performing “Little Talks” in their living room with no studio aid.

It’s always so great when a band sounds just as good live as they do in the studio.

[Hip/Hop] Fresh Talent Playlist

Though these songs aren’t hot off the press, they reflect some of the finner work to date of fresh artists on the hip/hop scene.

Left Boy, (aka Ferdinand Sarnitz) is a 22-year-old upcoming rapper from Vienna, Austria. His tight productions rely heavily on sampling, but the results are nothing less than stellar. “Your Song” flips a Daft Punk sample into a lounge styled track, centered on the tribulations of excessive partying and womanizing. “Your Song” provides a good track to just kick back and relax to, and the humor knit into Left Boy’s rhymes will keep you genuinely entertained.

Grab his free mixtape at: www.leftboy.com

Left Boy – Your Song

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Gone from the newcomer Donnis follows your usual hip-hop recipe for success, but where it differs in a very good way is the subtle auto-tune use, that delivers and undeniably catchy chorus, without it sounding like it could be sung by robots. The song has a lot of melodic potential, which is apparent by a remix of it being featured in the second iteration of A-trak’s famous “Dirty South Dance” mixtape.

Donnis – Gone

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Not a usual choice as inspiration for a song, T.Shirt creates a flowing track, using nothing but movies as material for his lines. Though the combination is interesting and somewhat strange, the result is very enjoyable, and shows some impressive creative talent on T.Shirt’s part. His rough voice is perfectly complemented by the soft contrasting singing of Darwin Silva.

T.Shirt – 24 Frames (Movie Night) (Ft. Darwin Silva)

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Let Loose by Oncue focuses on a topic anyone, anywhere can relate too, the need after working hard to just let loose. Oncue’s style provides smart rhymes with a rhythm that immediately hooks you in, and unlike other singers that claim to know the “tough life”, Oncue’s emotions clearly shine through his singing, to the point where you can feel his frustration and optimism right along with him. Life must be hard in Connecticut.

Oncue – Let Loose (Ft. Nickelus F & Theo Martins)

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Click Clack has a simple beat throughout, which allows  Kid Sister’s lines to take center stage, lines which she absolutely murders. Kid Sister takes aim at those that have nothing else to show for themselves but their money, and simultaneously shows that she is a force to be reckoned with. She doesn’t listen to the haters, and encourages everyone to do the same and “never mind the haters”, and honestly after her witty flow, how could you hate?

Kid Sister – Click Clack (Show It Off)

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[Event Coverage] NME Awards 2011 + New Single: Foo Fighters – “Rope”

Wasted celebrities doing the running man on tables whilst Foo Fighter play their whole new album for the first time… not your standard awards ceromony, but this is the NME awards 2011, and anything goes.

Brixton Academy

So on Wednesday I popped down to the O2 Academy in Brixton (London) for the ceremony, which is affectionately known as the “Brat Awards”, to find every indie rock and roller from around the world gathered under one roof in the name of music and, of course, free booze.

The NME Awards feels like a yearly rock and roll family reunion and over the years we’ve seen Jarvis Cocker become the head of the family, or the “NME Godfather” if you like. Before handing over the John Peel award for Innovation to the mighty duo Crystal Castles, he disciplined the raucous crowd using his Godfather status, pointing his cane and saying “Now listen up you lot, it’s always the same old faces, the same people every year causing trouble’ – genius.

Angelos... dressed to impress!

The host for the evening was the ever so funny Angelos Epithemiou from the British TV show – Shooting Stars and the night’s live performances came from NME Best New Band Hurts, PJ Harvey, Crystal Castles and Foo Fighters.

After picking up the NME Godlike award, Dave Grohl announced that “we were asked to play you 4 or 5 songs… but we thought nah, we’re gonna play for 2 fucking hours instead!”. NME magazine editor Krissi Murison called Grohl “one of the most important rock stars alive today” and Foo Fighters went on to play every track from their new album Wasting Light, followed by the classics of Everlong, Hero, extended version of Stacked Actors etc.

Foo Fighters, “Rope”
Rope by Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters played their whole new album

So how does the new Foo Fighters album sound? Heavy, grunge-tastic and everything I wanted to hear as a big Foo’s fan – my neck still hurts today from rocking out to it. With a release date of April 11th, the album didn’t contain any slow ballads, but each acoustic start was soon trumped by the enourmous sound of Chris Shiflett’s raging guitar.. that thing needs a leash!

Grohl commanded the stage and got almost every high profile rocker standing on their chairs for an extra 2 hours – a mean feat which I don’t think many bands around right now can do.  The Who‘s front man Roger Daltry sang along side the band after presenting the award with an improvised version of Young Man Blues… felt like a moment in rock and roll history. Later in the set Grohl started rocking out on top of an unsuspecting table (video) and the usual crowd banter was present throughout – a 10/10 performance if ever I saw one.

The highlights of the Awards for me: Crystal Castles’ amazing performance ,which saw Alice scream out “Baptism of Fire” then collapse to the floor , Foo Fighters sheer presence and NME Best British Band Muse doing a very drunk interview (video) for NME.

Each table full of free booze to ensure an eventful night!

Ultimately, the running man moved failed spectacularly, with a defining face plant bringing the timeless dance to an abrupt end, but the night lived on with a great atmosphere and worthy winners. A big thank you to all the NME staff who were incredibly friendly on the night and also to Ricki & Harry for being general legends.

Click More for the Full NME Award 2011 winners:

All pictures courtsesy of NME.com

The NME Awards 2011 In Full: (more…)