Mr Sinclar

I've always been a big fan of the French house scene, since way back in the 90's. Unfortunately some of the artists have gone really commercial; even my favourite Bob Sinclar. Now Mr Sinclar is a superdj just doing big and "commercial" gigs and all his new songs sound the same but here are some great old stuff, well generations old in a bloggerworld...

Bob Sinclar - Favelas

Bob Sinclar - Ultimate Funk

Bob Sinclar - Marabout

Bob Sinclar - Tourment d´amour

Bob Sinclar - Outro Lugar

薔薇と彼女の王子 on Kitsuné 7

I thought I'd just share this nice video of HeartsRevolution's "薔薇と彼女の王子" (also called "The Rose And Her Prince"). It's included in the upcoming Maison Kitsuné 7 compilation that will be released on June 1.

Deltage+Dasher=awesomeness!

Got this awesome track from Deltage+Dasher in the inbox. Don't know anything about them, except it's super fresh (The MySpace-page was created Monday), and that they're from Paris. I didn't even know France was an island...

Anyway, It's an awesome, kinda dark electro banger with catchy harmonies. Wait for the 4/4 to kick in at about 3.30!

Deltage+Dasher - Bandit

Mixmaster Pilooski

It never ends with good music from France....Parisian Pilooski, or his real name Cédric Marszewski, had a big hit during 2008 with his remix of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons "Beggin". Since then I've been a big fan of his remixes and reedits of soul and rock artists from the 60's. It seems like he is extremely versatile; having produced D'N'B and Hip Hop for various labels and now lately cool dirty beats that I'm such a big fan of. You've probably heard his remix of "Beggin"on the radio a thousands times, so instead I post some of my favourites, that you hopefully have not heard until boredom.

On his MySpace page there are several pictures of a hairy man....I have no clue what that means.

Michael Bundt - The Brain Of Oskar Panizza (Pilooski Edit)

Soul Vigilantes - Background Noise (Pilooski Remix)

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Who Loves You (Pilooski Re-Edit)

The Pointer Sisters - Send Him Back (Pilooski Edit)

Nina Simone - Take Care Of Business (Pilooski Edit)

Elvis Presley - Crawfish (Pilooski Edit)

Remix After All

It's been out for a week now, but if you haven't picked it up yet, what are you waiting for? Remix After All is a super-collaboration between ten of the greatest blogs out there, who each got a track off Daft Punk's "Human After All" with the objective of choosing their favourite remixer to do a remix of the track. The result is a nice update of the album, with most tracks given some extra muscle, with the exceptions of Chew Fu's and Substantial's mellow saxophone accompanied version of "Make Love" and Werewolf By Night's dreamy remix of "Emotion".

Here are some of the highlights for you, before you head over to our dear colleagues over at The Lemur Blog for a free download of the whole sha-blang.

Daft Punk - The Prime Time Of Your Life (Tits & Clits Remix)
(Tits & Clits on MySpace)

Daft Punk - Emotion (Werewolf By Night Remix)

Daft Punk - On/Off (The Noizy Kidz Daft Zapping Remix)
(The Noizy Kidz on MySpace)

Daft Punk - Make Love (Chew Fu and Substantial Small Room Sax Fix)

Universal Poplab and Emmon in prison…

…but just for a live performance. This Friday, May 29th these two great acts are playing live at Fängelset (prison in English) in Gothenburg. Don’t miss out this live show if you are in Gothenburg because it’s Universal Poplab’s only gig in Sweden this spring/summer, because of the working on new material for a forthcoming album. Also don’t miss out Emmon, because she is fantastic live!

Here is a link to the event on Facebook, and here are two tunes to get you in the right mood for show:

Universal Poplab – I Could Say I’m Sorry

Emmon – Wake Up Time

Fugly edits

As advertised, Database's Ugly Edits volume 2 dropped yesterday. 313 MB of maximalistic disco, soul and poodle rock reedits by senhores Database and friends, including Midnight Martyn, Edu K, Fisk as well as a Daft Punk cover by The Twelves! Reedits include tracks from Jackson 5, The B-52's, Belinda Carlisle, The Stooges, The Temptations, Metallica and Slayer. 36 tracks in all to swing your fuzzies to (as we say in Swedish). Here are some of the highlights:

Black Way - New Life (Database Reedit)

Masurati & Huey Harris - Super Duper Lovin (Database Reedit)

Marina Lima - Fullgás (The Random Quart de Siècle Reedit)
(The Random on MySpace)

Sparks - Tryouts For The Human Race (Digitaria Reedit)
(Digitaria on MySpace)

The Twelves - Nightvision (Daft Punk cover)

Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag (Fisk Reedit)

Download this monster of a compilation for free from Database's MySpace!

Blokgolf rocks!

If you thought Dutch music only was 2 Unlimited and Holiday Rap, you'd better think again. Blokgolf, comprised of Aux & Houston from Amsterdam, have been making nu rave/indie electro remixes for quite a while now, and everything I've heard from them is really good.

Aux isn't wearing a Bag Raiders t-shirt by accident. The Aussies are listed as one of Blokgolf's influences, and if I'd have to compare them with anyone I'd say they sound kinda like Bag Raiders, only a bit more indie, or even punk. Not surprisingly I guess, since Houston have his own proper indie rock band called MeloManics, who were remixed by our Swedish kung fu master Mr Miyagi by the way.

The guys are currently working on their last remix for a while since they'll be working on their début album, which hopefully will be released in the winter with a couple of teaser tracks due late summer. If you're lucky enough to be in Holland during the next couple of weeks, take the oppurtunity to see them at De Spot in Middelburg on May 30, or at The Scene with Pilooski, at Amsterdam's Flexbar on June 12.



MeloManics - DAF (Blokgolf Remix)

Krause vs Gram - One Track Mind (Blokgolf Remix)

Nite Cells - Try It Feel It (Blokgolf Remix)

Jacinto Di Yeah - Best Idea (Blokgolf Remix)

Hit Me TV - Maybe the Dancefloor (Blokgolf Remix)

HSSLHFF - Wake Up The Bad Boys (Blokgolf Remix)

MC Miker G & DJ Sven - Holiday Rap (Blokgolf Remix)

MeloManics - Get You (Mr Miyagi Remix)

Fine new acquaintance: Beaumont

This is a really nice new acquaintance for me, Beaumont from Sydney, Australia. Once again these Australians make great electronic music.

He has not yet been hyped on all the blogs around the world, but that is soon to come because this sounds quite amazing! The touch from the eighties synth sound in a modern way catches your ears when you hear Beaumont’s instrumental electro. His own material is kind of dreamy and his remixes provides the original with an extra flavour. My favourites from Beaumont are “Last Night”, “Memoir” and the remixes of Ladyhawke and Empire Of The Sun.

Enough talking, hear this guy out and follow his near future at his MySpace.

Beaumont – Last Night

Beaumont – Memoir

Beaumont – Memoir (Beaumont's Golden Inverse Remix)

Beaumont – Neon Dawn (Intro Mix)

Beaumont – Recital

Empire Of The Sun – We Are The People (Beaumont Remix)

Ladyhawke – Back Of The Van (Beaumont's Zirconium Throne Remix)

Kylie Minogue – 2 Hearts (Beaumont's Reprise)

Oasis – Don't Look Back In Anger (Beaumont's Paper Insect Remix)

White Lies remixes

The indie rock band White Lies from the UK has probably released one of the greatest rock albums this year. The album “To Lose My Life” (where you can buy here) was released in January and since then there has been popping up a few remixes especially on their single releases.

White Lies original sound reminds you of The Killers, U2 and Franz Ferdinand with a little darker touch. They have said in an interview with BBC that Talking Heads are a major influence. And you can clearly hear the underground post-punk influences from the 80’s.

The remixes on the other hand are quite different from the original White Lies sound; Haunts remix of “Death” is a really special remix. My absolute favourite is the remix of “Farewell To The Fairground” of Rory Phillips. I’ve been playing that remix a lot of times when flipping records at clubs, it’s a nice one!

White Lies – Farewell To The Fairground

White Lies – Farewell To The Fairground (Disco Bloodbath Remix)

White Lies – Farewell To The Fairground (Rory Phillips White Horse Mix)

White Lies – Farewell To The Fairground (Yuksek Remix)


White Lies – To Lose My Life

White Lies – To Lose My Life (Filthy Dukes Remix)

White Lies – To Lose My Life (Tommy Sparks Remix)

White Lies – Death


White Lies – Death (Crystal Castles Remix)

White Lies – Death (Haunts Remix)

And a great extra song from the album with no remixes, yet….

White Lies – Nothing To Give

Don't stop mocking!

These british mockers makes great psychadelic disco house. Mock & Toof are two Londonbased producers who record for Tiny Sticks, Japanese label Mule Musiq and my favourite DFA Records. They have a unique sound and they have lately remixed artists such as Scissor Sisters, Madonna and Hot Chip just to name a few.

Listen to more of their songs on MySpace here.

These are my favourite songs and remixes by these mockers:

Mock & Toof - Underwater (Alternative Dub Version)

Mock & Toof - Big Hands For A Lady

Loin Brothers - Heavy Helmet (Mock & Toof Remix)

Dondolo - Tetanus Crisis (Mock & Toof Remix)

Holy Ghost! - Hold On (Mock & Toof Remix)

Brand new video from La Roux

La Roux keeps coming back on Tracasseur at a regular basis, but that’s because she does great stuff. This is her brand new video for her latest single “Bulletproof”.



And a new remix for that song:
La Roux - Bulletproof (Foamo Remix)

And in this post from April 30 you can find the original song.

Exclusive Interview: Emmon

A short time ago whilst playing records at Pleasant, a nice girl came up to us and told us that we were playing great music that you seldom hear at places in Stockholm. She said it was fun to share the good music interest with us. Then she left and fifteen minutes later she came back with a signed copy of her new record “Closet Wanderings”. A nice girl making great music, her name is Emmon!

Hello Emmon, or Emma, which is your real name. Who is really Emma aka Emmon?
From a subjective point of view it’s a tough question to answer. Maybe it’s as simple that we are the same creative, crazy for music, irascible and explosive person that are busy as a bee. But Emmon suits me better as an artist, and at the same time it gives me an alter ego to fall back on and simultaneously it gives me the chance to live out my extrovert pop star dreams through Emmon.

I would describe your music as modern electro pop with big influences from synth. But how would you self describe your music?
I think it’s a fair and significant description of my music that I totally agree with.

Right now you are very hot and much stuff is going on with Emmon, lots of projects, live gigs and a remix competition of your forthcoming single. Besides that your new record “Closet Wanderings” received very good reviews from the music critics. Have you got the act of hubris now and cruising the city in a white limousine?
The only thing I can get the act of hubris of is when I see how the hard work really pays off. I think I could be kind of hard to satisfy, especially when I’m doing almost everything that’s creative for Emmon. It includes everything from writing songs, record, produce, mix, make covers, make videos and direct photo shoots. The big issue for me is maybe my bad patience with myself. I believe that you always can make more out and reach higher levels. Not even the sky is the limit!!

I also must take the opportunity to congratulate you, because your birthday was a few days ago. I suppose you celebrated a little when you played live in Eskilstuna last Friday? How did the gig work out?
Thank you very much! It was fantastic! It also was the first ever performance for a new member of my little band I have when I performs live with Emmon. Niklas “the Driller” Kärreskog is our new keyboardist together with me and Tony “the Beat” Ahola on drumpads. Jon Axelsson from Melody Club is also participating as keyboardist from time to time but right now he is quite busy with the tour for his own band.

By the way so are you and Jon Axelsson engaged. How is it to be together with another musician? Are you going on each other’s nerves or does it take a musician to understand a musician?
We’ve been together for quite a while and of course it’s an advantage that we both are musicians. It probably gives one another more insight and understanding to the great amount of time and energy you put into your music. To work as a musician in that intense way we do is a kind of crazy and different way of living, which almost certainly demands much understanding from a partner. In our case we often push each other forward, support each other and always helps out when help is needed. Besides that it is a priceless benefit to have such a good musician and technician as Jon close at hands when my patience fails.

Right after the gig in Eskilstuna you went straight to Helsinki in Finland for the next live set. It was not the first time you played live in Helsinki. Is it maybe so, that the Finnish are your greatest fans?
All Emmon fans are the greatest fans. But it’s true that lately a growing fan base has emerged in Finland, and that of course makes me happy. It’s also happening things in the eastern parts of Europe and I will for example release my new record in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

You have recently also been involved in the project “An Evening With Depeche Mode” with several of other great Swedish artists such as Henric de la Cour och Tingsek. You have touring around Sweden and paid tribute to Depeche Mode. You got the honour to perform one of the biggest synth hits ever “Enjoy the Silence”. How did that feel and how did the tour work out?
It has worked out very well and it was a great honour to perform a hit of that calibre. I also sang “I Want You Now”, that also is a great Depeche song. It’s always fun to be a part of these kinds of projects with other talented artists, people that you get to know and become friends with. I’ve been a part of several other Depeche Mode tributes before and the next is as soon as May 20th at Kolingsborg in Stockholm. It will be a tribute to the album “Some Great Reward” from 1984.

As mentioned before, your forthcoming single “Lips on Fire” had a remix competition. It seemed like it was a tough decision to crown the best remix of all good remixes?
It was horrible! So hard having to decide between so many good remixes even if there were a few that didn’t reach that class. If I alone could decide, I had let plenty of remixes win, but now it wasn’t me alone and we had different opinions. So it came up with a compromise. But one thing for sure, I will have a lot of great remixes to play next time I’m DJing.

You have also been doing quite a lot of remixes yourself. Of course you’ve been remixing a few songs for Melody Club but also for acts like The Knife, BWO, Universal Poplab, Soviac, Paris and recently for Don Juan Dracula. How do you choose which songs to remix?
It’s different from time to time; the latest remix I did was for Jacques C’s “A Moral Life”. I happened to be introduced to that song and instantly felt that it was a tune I wanted to make a remix of. I often get proposals of songs to remix and if it’s sounds nice I go for it! Unfortunately I have been forced to turn down several good songs lately just because I put the production of “Closet Wanderings” in the first place. I love to do remixes and could be doing it full-time if that possibility existed but there are so many other things that must be done before the remixing thing.

Recently you also have been hanging out in a dark basement, when it was springtime outside, to record the video to “Lips on Fire”. Tell us about that experience?
It was everything, but not hot and sunny. In the video I should look sweaty, dirty and quite beaten up. For that reason, over and over I was poured with water and had to crawl around on dirty cellar floors in two days. So I really hope that the material was good even if it was my own fault, because I came up with the idea and produces it together with Tony and Niklas (from the Emmon live band) and Niklas’ brother Joakim Kärreskog.

Until the new video is out, watch this video for "Secrets & Lies":


Since 2006 you are with the record label Wonderland Records. They are based in Lerum outside Gothenburg. A quite odd remark is that I actually grew up close to Lerum, in a place called Floda. How about that odd remark and how is the collaboration with Wonderland working out?
Oh, that was quite an odd remark, that area of Sweden grew a lot of great music taste! Wonderland Records gives me that artistic freedom I need as an artist, and that is exactly what I’m looking for from a record label. To be with a more alternative label doesn’t give you all the resources and benefits as a more established and bigger label. But the most important thing for me is to collaborate with people that share the same interest for creative solutions and also have music as primary driving force rather than economical interests.

Emmon is your solo project but you are also a member of the indie pop band Paris. I presume that you are fully focused on the Emmon project right now or do you have time for Paris also?
I always keep full focus on both my music projects. The advantage of Paris is that I’m not alone; there are three more members in the band that hold one's position and I trust them big time. Paris has by the way started recording album #4 and will shortly release a new single and video.

And the final question is about your background as an art student at Konstfack (University College of Arts, Crafts and Design) where you studied a few years back and actually came up with the whole idea about Emmon. But what do you think about the cultural debate lately, regarding the two students that have received huge negative criticism due to their degree projects?
I actually haven’t gotten into that debate enough to make a fair comment about it. But it’s crucial that the art institution exists further on, as an active and daring comment to our contemporary period to have the possibility to make problems visible and enable the opportunity for changes.

Tracasseur wants to say thanks for a very lovely chat with Sweden’s next big electro pop queen! Good luck!
Thank you very much yourself!! I hope we get the chance to play together soon in a near future.

You can buy the record here and you can also listen on Spotify. And here are some candy for you from Emmon:

Emmon - Lips on Fire

Emmon - Secrets & Lies

Emmon - Belarusian Night

The Knife - You Take My Breath Away (Emmon Remix)

Don Juan Dracula - New Sensation (Emmon Remix)

Nôze, Anoraak & The Outrunners vs. Digitalism

Tomorrow, Friday 15, there is a bit of a clash in Stockholm. French duo Nôze and the awesome nu Italo blog Valérie, represented by The Outrunners and Anoraak, are playing at Debaser Medis while German Kitsuné duo Digitalism is playing at Berns. Tough choice, but fortunately I don't have to make one as I'm going to be drinking a lot of whiskey at Sir Lancelot's Famous Black Grouse party.

I don't envy you who have to choose though, so here are a few tracks to help you make an informed decision:


Nôze - Remember Love

Anoraak - The Wizzard

Futurecop! - Class of 1984 (Anoraak Remix)

The Outrunners - Cool Feeling (Anoraak Remix)

The Outrunners - These Girls Are Dressed To Kill

Alternative Reality - Get Away (The Outrunners Remix)

College ft Electric Youth - She Never Came Back (The Outrunners Remix)



Digitalism - Apollo-Gize

The Cure - Fire In Cairo (Digitalism Remix)

Digitalism - Pogo (Shinichi Osawa Remix)

Now, I've heard there live people on other places than Stockholm, so why don't help out with the decision making by giving advice in the comment section?

Frankfurt Express

French-Swedish duo Frankfurt Express consist of Swedish singer Yota and Lionel M. Together they make melodic synthpop on the verge of French Touch house, but music you'd rather slow dance than booty dance to. If the soundscape seems familiar to you it's because they're produced by French touch mega star Laurent Ash, better known as Lifelike, who Yota have been collaborating with before.

"Stream" (via YouTube):


Frankfurt Express - Living a Lie (Removed by request)

Frankfurt Express - Wake Up (Removed by request)

Lifelike feat. Yota - Sunset

Sir Lancelot's Top 10 of May

It's been a while since we did a Top 10 list here, so I decided to give you some of my favourite songs for this month that I have played at bars and clubs lately. Enjoy these great songs and please support these artists, buy more of their music on beatport for example.

Simon Baker - Way Out of My Head

Driving uptempo house beat that makes wanna go out of my head.

Rone - La Dame Blanche

Reminds me of Laurent Garnier's "The Man With The Red Face..."

Zombi - Sapphire (Escort Remix)

A supercool song to start your set with.

Loin Brothers - Heavy Helmet (Mock & Toof Remix)

I will write about Mock & Toof very soon....

Emmon - Stray Dogs

She is Swedish and she is magnificent. Expect an interview soon from my collegue Jonny Puma.

Animal Collective - My Girls (El Remolón Cumbia Mix)

Argentinian El Remólon makes great remixes with a latin cumbia sound.

Chemical Brothers - Life Is Sweet (Daft Punk Remix)

Hey, I know this song is old but it's gold.

Good Guy Mikesh & Filburt - Someone Told Me

Someone told me this song is great, I just can't remember who.

Simon Baker, Infant - Plastik (Todd Terje Turkatech Remix)

Norwegian Todd makes no mistakes...

Bonus song:

The Bangles - Dub Like An Egyptian (Todd Terje Edit)

I love this Norwegian so much I give you an extra song by Mr Terje.

Update

I thought I'd just post an update on a couple of the acts we've written about that have released some new material.

First up is one of our favourite Norwegians, Pelifics, who just finished this remix of Truly Beautiful Disaster, which is a dreamy piece of synthpop.

Truly Beautiful Disaster - Mirandas Verandah (Pelifics Remix)

Next up, Build has made yet another awesome remix. This time of a track you might have heard before; Empire of the Sun's single "We are the People", which soon is going to have as many remixes as the epic remix catalogue of "Walking on a Dream", since more remixes surely are going to drop in even after the release of "Standing on the Shore" in June...

Empire Of The Sun - We Are The People (Build Remix)

Last but not least, Christoffer of ROCCA has cooked up this little dish of beautiful, mellow electro pop:

ROCCA - The Road

Michell Phunk

Recently I've been listening a lot to Michell Phunk's new album "Electric Emotion", which is filled with well-written tracks and crisp production. Mr Phunk's real name is Michał Biernacki and he is currently building quite a hype in his native Poland. Apart from his new album, he has released an EP on Seek Records in 2007 and made a few remixes, including one of Modfunk's "We Got Game".

Michell Phunk - Your Soul Under My Skin

Michell Phunk - Dance

Michell Phunk - Slow Emotion

Michell Phunk - Future Girl

Great stuff, as the rest of the album, which is available for free here!