Ratatat features multi-instrumentalist/ programmer Evan Mast and guitarist Mike Stroud. On their third album, aptly titled LP3, they add to their signature instrumental sound with layers of mellotron, live percussion, harpsichord, and slide guitar.
JIM NOIR – JIM NOIR Music from Jim Noir’s 2006 debut “Tower Of Love” was used on the BBC Radio4 game show “The Unbelieveable Truth,” the US television series “Grey’s Anatomy,” commercials for Chase Manhattan Bank, UK food company Ginsters, Target, Adidas, and in the trailer for the PS3 game “Little Big Planet.” Not bad for a 24 year old guy from Manchester. A bedroom genius extraordinaire, Jim Noir admits to not getting out much, instead hiding out in Davyhulme, recording his unique brand of nostalgic yet progressive psychedelic-tinged pop. The self-titled followup album is a masterpiece, expanding upon some of the ideas in “Tower Of Love,” but adding new layers of harmony and understated elements of electronic wizardry.
LIFE BEYOND MARS: BOWIE COVERED Rapster Records, the folks who brought you the Radiohead covers album “Exit Music” in 2006, are back with an album of David Bowie covers. Artists include Au Revoir Simone, Kelley Polar, Matthew Dear, and more. There’s a great selection of songs here, too – including three tracks from my favorite Bowie album, “Low.”
Check out Kelley Polar’s version of Bowie’s “Magic Dance” from the movie Labyrinth here:
On his most recent effort, Beck teams up with legendary producer Danger Mouse. Despite the fact that his first album came out 14 years ago, Beck has always seemed to have the ability to adapt and expand his sound with the times. Danger Mouse provides great production for Beck’s signature psychedelic folkpop sound. And, despite the fact that NASA continues to deny their existence, MODERN GUILT even has a song about chemtrails!
Steinski (advertising writer, DJ, and record collector Steve Stein) produced his first record in 1983. In response to a nationwide remix contest by Tommy Boy Records, he and partner Double Dee (engineer and studio wizard Douglas DJ Franco) produced “The Payoff Mix.” A panel of ten judges—including Afrika Bambaataa, Shep Pettibone, Jellybean Benitez, and Arthur Baker—unanimously chose the mix as the winner. Within two weeks “The Payoff Mix” became a Top 10 request on urban radio nationwide, but the release never saw official status and was subsequently bootlegged countless times. The Payoff Mix became the first record in a series now known as The Lessons. The series quickly became highly sought after collectibles and led to homage records by DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, DJ Format, and others. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? collects everything from a hip-hop narrative about the Kennedy assassination to the 1998 remix of Afrika Bambaataa’s “Jazz” with Double Dee. The release also includes a second disc with the critically acclaimed “Nothing To Fear: A Rough Mix,” an hour-long mashup that was produced for Solid Steel/BBC London.
Check out "Lesson Three" here:
Get your own copy of "What Does It All Mean?" here.
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