DJ Cheeky plugs THIS IS GRIME VOLUME 1 by Lucid Tiger

Acapella "Technicolor" - available for free download by Anneka

Blog Move

I moved this blog to http://remixourlives.wordpress.com

The best "Reckoner" remix

Photo credits: Truncata (flickr)

Nosaj Thing is hitting up Fortune Sound Club this Tuesday. I'm more than excited for this show. I've heard many of Nosaj Thing's remixes and even though they're slow for the most part, they're put together wonderfully and bring me back to reality.

Sneak peak: you won't regret listening to this if you like Radiohead and remixing. Best "Reckoner" remix I've heard so far.

Radiohead - Reckoner (Nosaj Thing remix)

La Roux coming back to Vancouver

Photo credits: eskimo_joe (flickr)

Thanks to a dear friend of mine, I now know that La Roux is coming back to Vancouver on April 18! I'm so happy that she is playing at a better venue this time around (the Commodore Ballroom). As many of you know, I'm not a big fan of the Biltmore's structure, which is where she played last time she came to Vancouver. Since this last concert, her musical reputation has grown exponentially so I would suggest getting tickets as soon as possible.

Here's a remix by Le Castle Vania to hold you, and myself, off until the show.

La Roux - In For The Kill (Le Castle Vania remix)

Up-and-coming Fan Death

Fan Death is a modernized disco/electro female duo from Vancouver (holla!). I remember seeing them for the first time at the Biltmore opening for Metronomy last year. That concert was a gong show. I had a hard time paying attention to the music so Fan Death didn't resonate with me as they did later on. Note: this concert was so nutso, most of what I remember is the lead singer of Fan Death, Dandi Wind, crowd surfing and basically walking on the ceiling while being carried by the crowd, which I admit was pretty cool. I saw them again headlining their own show at the Bourbon. This one was great and I really wanted to purchase a CD after but they didn't have any produced yet. Fan Death has three videos but no CD yet. However, they do have an EP called A Coin For The Well that I should get my hands on soon. The band is now signed to Pharmacy Recording Company, which is apparently a division of Universal.

At the moment, they are touring with Vampire Weekend in Europe and the UK; many of these shows are sold out. A couple of weeks ago, I saw that they would be back in North America touring with Little Boots. But unfortunately, it looks like that's been deleted now. Maybe it'll come back?

I'm pretty excited that they're going to appear on the cover of the next issue of ION magazine. My favourite Vancouver band on my favourite Vancouver magazine, yes!

Check out Fan Death's video for "Cannibal" below! This is probably my favourite video out of all three.

Childhood Memories

Rocky Horror Picture Show - Time Warp

Dedicated to Rachel Livingston.

Knock You Out

This may come as a surprise to some but I've never really been a big fan of DJ Tiësto. I don't know why, that's just the way it's been. So when I saw that he did a song with Emily Haines, I was skeptical at first but then I convinced myself to check it out because Emily Haines was in it. And guess what? I liked the song...a lot! It's on repeat over here.

It's called "Knock You Out." In an interview with Killahbeez.com, Emily claimed, "I got it into my head that I would make an excellent dance floor diva so I did a track with Tiësto." I'm so glad she got that into her head.

Apparently, Tiësto said that he was surprised at how well his and Emily's music styles worked together. Yeah, and so was I.

Tiësto feat. Emily Haines - Knock You Out

Colouring of Pigeons

After listening to the song "Colouring of Pigeons" once, I was extremely intrigued of where, when and why it was created. Apparently, The Knife collaborated with Mt. Sims and Planningtorock and produced an album for an opera based on Darwin's book, On the Origin of the Species. The album is called Tomorrow, In A Year and will be released on March 1st. And if the rest of the album is like this song, I'm really excited for it.

The song starts out with drums that make you feel like you're lost in a dimly lit forest. Then, opera voices in short tones come in. This is where I thought, "uh, what is going on?" But I got really into it soon after the voices came in; the voices went along to beat of the song really well and I was trapped in it.

There is more information on Tomorrow, In A Year located on The Knife's website.

In the meanwhile, check out "Colouring of Pigeons"

The Knife - Colouring of Pigeons

Heaven Can Wait

So I think I might've found a new love. I listened to "In the end" from Charlotte Gainsbourg's new album, IRM, and fell in love with her remarkably soothing voice. After listening to that song, I quickly discovered the Nosaj Thing remix of "Heaven Can Wait." After doing further research, I discovered a couple of her videos. In one of the videos, Charlotte Gainsbourg described how her album title song "IRM" came around. She was influenced by the MRI's she had to endure after an accident. I thought this was an interesting fact.

I was really surprised to find out Charlotte Gainsbourg is an actress because she seems to be a really good musician. It's not often that an actress succeeds critically as a singer. Of course, there are the exceptions but most of the time, it's just like, are you serious? Charlotte Gainsbourg was also the woman who spoke in the beginning of Madonna's song, "What It Feels Like For A Girl", which is a song I really enjoyed when I was younger.

Her new album is produced by Beck and features him on a couple of songs. He appears in "Heaven Can Wait", the song and the video.

Even though the remixes I've posted are good, I still like the original of "Heaven Can Wait" the most, which also doesn't happen very often (as many know, I'm a remix lover). The remixes are still really cool. The Grizzly Bear version is slowed down with an organ, and the Nosaj Thing version is like slow electro.

Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck - Heaven Can Wait (Nosaj Thing Remix)
Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck - Heaven Can Wait (Grizzly Bear Remix)

Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck - Heaven Can Wait

Best of 2009

2010 is just around the corner and I'm already getting excited about the music that's to come in the new year. As for music this year, I feel like there were a lot of great albums but not many that really grasped my attention for very long. My first choice was really easy but the other four were hard to rank. But I've re-listened to the ones I remember the most and the five that are posted are the ones that my ears seemed to like the most this year.

Number 1

Röyksopp - Junior, March 2009

Hands down, this was the best album of the year in my opinion. It was almost like a Scandinavian celebration album. With Lykke Li, Robyn, and Karin Dreijer Andersson (The Knife and Fever Ray) as vocalists for more than half of the songs on the album; I was very pleased and impressed. Even the songs without the vocals are amazing. "Röyksopp Forever" is an instrumental that is some kind of emotional and passionate electrorchestra. I'm not going to lie, I probably listened to "The Girl and The Robot" over 100 times this year. The bass is so intense, I imagine the whole world shaking every time I play it. This album makes love to my ears every single listen.

Röyksopp - The Girl and The Robot


Number 2

Vitalic - Flashmob, September 2009

Vitalic is classified as techno/trance but I would say Vitalic is just completely electronic. I feel like Vitalic put a lot of thought into the songs on Flashmob. Don't be discouraged by the description, the album isn't a complete dance fest. There are slow songs as well. This French artist has done a remarkable job of producing and creating his own music. Flashmob is an explosion of noise, i.e. beautiful noise.

Vitalic - Poison Lips


Number 3

La Roux - La Roux, June 2009

La Roux came out of England with some great 80s-inspired dance songs. I heard her first single, "In for the Kill", on Hype Machine. This song was followed up with "Bulletproof" and the album had a hold on me. "Colourless Colour" and "Tigerlily" are definitely my faves. One thing that really stands out on this album is the amazing lyrics. All the lyrics on this album are powerful, coherent and clear; an album well done.

La Roux - In For The Kill


Number 4

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, May 2009

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was a great, upbeat summer album. I remember taking a ridiculously intense summer course and listening to this entire album while studying in the library; it kept me from going completely insane. It was also a great road trip album. It had two major hits: "Lisztomania" and "1901." These were great but my favourites were "Rome" and "Love Like A Sunset Part I & II." It will always remind me of the summer of 2009.

Phoenix - Lisztomania


Number 5

Muse - The Resistance, September 2009

Even though The Resistance wasn't completely what I would have liked, it was still an album that was produced and thought-out well. This may sound strange but Muse has some kind of extra-terrestrial side to them that I've always liked. This album really exudes their out-of-this-world feature. The last three parts of "Exogenesis: Symphony" are amazing and finish up the album very well.

Muse - Undisclosed Desires



Best remixes/mash-ups of 2009:

1. Bag Raiders vs. Chromeo - Shooting Stars/Call Me Up
To be honest, any version of Bag Raiders' "Shooting Stars" is unbelievably elating.

2. N.A.S.A. feat. Kanye West, Lykke Li and Santigold - Gifted (Steve Aoki Remix)
Aoki remix of an already amazing song, enough said.

3. Fever Ray - If I Had a Heart (Fuck Buttons)
This remix has followed me throughout Vancouver for the entire year.

4. Lykke Li - Little Bit LIVE (Death to the Throne remix)
The amazing live version of "Little Bit" remixed into an 8-bit masterpiece with a heavy bass.

5. GRUM - Runaway (SymbolOne Remix)
Image: dancing in circles with confetti falling all around and pink lights flashing.

2010, here we come!

Blackout

A good majority of the time I spent in the States this week was consumed by Muse. I'm sure everyone has heard this but I'm gonna write it anyways: Muse is coming to the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver on April 1st. The presales for the concert were a little fishy but whatever, I'm over it. My seats are decent, though I would've loved floor seats (obviously).

So putting my stress over Muse tickets aside, my favourite part of this trip was probably the train ride I took from Seattle to Vancouver. After that, I never want to take an Amtrak bus again. I loved the train. It was very dark out and it took a long time but it was so relaxing, going by lit up houses, freeways and water while listening to Muse's "Blackout" at one point. I can't wait to take this train again.

Muse - Blackout

Busking For Change Concert in Vancouver

The Vancouver band Elias is putting on a daylong concert tomorrow (Friday, Dec 18th). The concert will run from 10am - 6pm outside of Library Square, in three set-up stages. Elias will be playing with other local Vancouver bands, Said the Whale, Adaline and We Are The City.

Elias has been running the "Give me truth" campaign, which is dedicated to helping War Child. War Child is a charity that helps war-affected children. Elias has a "Give me truth" petition online and if you sign it, you will receive a free download package that contains two songs and a video.

The main purpose of the Busking For Change concert is to raise money for the War Child charity. It's a great purpose and it's a cool location. I really wish I could attend but I'm away in Seattle right now. Hopefully the weather holds up for the concert.

If you're interested in going, there is the full schedule of who's playing at what time on Facebook.

Elias - All We Want

Remixing

I'm in the midst of remixing my blog's look. I was getting sick of the old photo I had had for over a year now (it is above). I still really like this photo, maybe just because of the history that's behind it. I took it in a club in Vancouver called the Modern. At the time, they used to have this really good electro event called OMG WTF. It was cancelled, and my friend and I were devastated. We found other events, but they were cancelled as well. We're OK though. Don't worry.

So I've settled on a banner at the moment but I'm thinking about doing something else. I'm still not really loving this one. Feel free to give input.

To go along with my new blog look, here is a remix of Friendly Fires' "On Board" by Joakim. This DJ can do some amazing remixes. But I don't think my remixing of my blog is as good as Joakim's remix. One day...

Friendly Fires - On Board (Joakim remix)

This is Your Disco Song

Ever since I discovered Vitalic's Flashmob the other day, I've been non-stop listening to anything created by this French electro artist. I had only listened to one of his songs previously called "The Past." It's a slower one but it's still good. Then, "Poison Lips" fell into my lap along with the rest of Flashmob and I'm so hooked.

I'm especially hooked to "Your Disco Song" but I'm still trying to figure out if Vitalic is making fun of his fans or not. The voice in the beginning almost reminds of a voice that would be used to brainwash someone so it makes me a little skeptical but I'm still in love with the song and the video.

The video seems to also be a critique of society; we get so obsessed with certain things that we want to become them. In this girl's case, a disco ball! In my case, a computer! Maybe I'm just joking about that last one...or am I?

Anyways, I'm really entranced by this video. I haven't been this into a video since Ratatat's "Shempi."

Vitalic - Your Disco Song

VITALIC

This is way too good.
Vitalic - Poison Lips

The Notwist

This is a band that has been around for a while but are very new to me. I just heard their music today, and from what I've heard so far, it's pretty yummy.

The Notwist is from Germany. The band was formed in a town close to Munich called Weilheim in Oberbayern. Apparently, their first album was grunge/metal-like. After 1992, they started moving towards an indie-electronic sound.

So far, my mind has floated away with their song, "Consequence", which is from their sixth album, Neon Golden (2002).

Needless to say, I'm going to spend the rest of the night getting to know this band's music from 1990-2009.

The Notwist - Consequence

E. Torrini

One last post for the month.When I was 14, I was obsessed with this one Emilíana Torrini song called "To be free", which was originally created for her album, Love In The Time Of Science (2000). The song was featured on a movie I also really liked when I was younger, Crazy/Beautiful. I listened to this song on repeat for something like two years. Then, listened to it occasionally after that.

Now, I'm obsessed again. The Icelandic singer released an album in September called Me and Armini. It's really good, I'm surprised I hadn't heard of it until now. "Dead Duck" is probably my favourite on the album. It has a break in the middle with a piano solo. I also really like "Hold Heart" and "Gun." She has a soft voice that cradles me into an imaginary bed made of clouds.

Emilíana Torrini - Dead Duck

Emilíana Torrini - To be free

Friendly Fires: Givin' it a little bit more

When I found out The Xx and Friendly Fires were playing together, I was slightly surprised. Only because the two bands give off different vibes and energy. The Xx are very good but very slow. While Friendly Fires are really upbeat, they don't really have any slow songs.

It was almost like I went to two completely different concerts tonight. I relaxed during The Xx and thirty minutes later, I went crazy with Friendly Fires.

The Xx
I enjoyed most of the songs The Xx played. "Shelter", "Crystalised", "Heart Skipped a Beat", and "Night Time" were all performed excellently. The quality of their songs was very good. But to be honest, I don't have much else to say. I don't really remember much of their part of the concert except for that it sounded good. There was nothing bad about it but nothing too special about it either.

It did seem like a lot of people came just to see The Xx though. I think they should've headlined their own show at a smaller venue. They could've easily filled the Biltmore.

Friendly Fires
The original three-piece band, Friendly Fires, was definitely more memorable, mainly because of their energy, and maybe because I like their music a little more (no offense to The Xx). The Xx was very good but the energy was mediocre compared to Friendly Fires.

As soon as they started out, I was happy. The lead singer, Ed Macfarlane, dances so hard; it's so awesome. He's so energetic that it's contagious. And it isn't only him either, the rest of the band members have loads of energy as well, especially the guitarist, Edd Gibson. As for the drummer, Jack Savidge, he bangs it all out on the drums.

My one complaint about the Friendly Fires part of the show is: the vocal acoustics were very quiet. At first, you could barely hear Macfarlane. Then, someone slightly turned the volume knob so you could hear the vocals but they still weren't as loud as I would've liked them to be.

Besides the vocal acoustics issue, I really enjoyed this concert. I liked the cool ending they added to "Photobooth". They had trumpet and saxophone players performing in the background. This is gonna sound intense but it was euphoric.

Macfarlane introduced "White Diamonds" by saying it was inspired by German techno. When he said that, I really wondered which song it could be and I guess it makes sense that out of all their songs, this would be the one that falls into that category. But apparently, a couple of their other songs are influenced by German techno as well. Who would've known?

I was really glad they played their new song, "Kiss of Life", as well. This song is really fun to dance to. It just makes me want to stomp around.

At first, I was kind of disappointed that "Ex Lover" was the encore song. That's because it's not my most favourite song on their album, Friendly Fires. But the band performed it so well that I've changed my mind. Gibson ran through the audience near the end of this song, and right by me. I'm not gonna lie, I thought about reaching out to grab him but I resisted.

The band has jumped into the audience the last two times I saw them as well so I definitely expected at least one of them to go into the audience. The first time I saw them at Richards' on Richards, Gibson and Macfarlane went into the audience and performed but that was back when they weren't as popular (they were opening for Lykke Li at the time).

Out of all the songs performed, "On Board" was probably my favourite. They really got the audience pumped on this one. At the end of this song, I just went nuts. I posted the video to this song at the end of this entry, which you should definitely check out.

I was exhausted by the end of the concert from dancing and singing so hard. Thank you, Friendly Fires. I needed that.

Friendly Fires - On Board

November

This is an old song from Cocorosie's second album, Noah's Ark (2005), but I feel like it fits this November well.

Note: Don't let the song title deceive you.

Cocorosie - Tekno Love Song