Caffiends

So word is that Pendulum are polishing off their upcoming album after spending the summer at what seemed to be every festival going. As much as I am not a fan, I respect how hardworking these guys are and their unrelenting ambition. So in May 2010, they’re embarking on another summer tour, this time to promote their new album. Tickets are on sale now and if you’re not convinced then I give you this: Sub Focus is supporting!

ZincXmasCrackHouseMix by zinc

Shit guys, things have been a bit mad over the past few days with technical glitches and a mighty busy schedule… doing nothing. Anyway, here’s a catch up of stuff that I’ve missed and will round off into one post.

Firstly, I give my sympathies to the family of Brittany Murphy who passed away yesterday from what seems to be a heart attack. 32 years is not an age to die at, at all. Very talented and unique actress.

So let’s get going with some tunes! First up here is a track by a hip hop five-piece who I really can’t call one of my favourites. Hailing from Japan, they’ve copped huge names in the urban scene on their tracks for the past few years now and this track makes no difference with them landing a feature from the biggest name in rap right now – Jay-Z. Guessed who they are yet? It’s the Teriyaki Boyz! The track’s “Living the Life” and comes from the Delicious Japanese CD and DVD boxset. It’s more RnB as opposed to rap with the dreamy synths and piano keys. This isn’t one I rate highly, and Jay-Z’s feature is not exactly fulfilled – sounds like he wasn’t offered that much for the feature.

Teriyaki Boyz – Living the Life ft. Jay-Z

Next up is another hip hop chooon from rhyme meister Mos Def who’s been creating some eddy currents around his name in recent weeks. This joint here is a simple, little, lazy production. Not intended to be serious. He’s just being playful. Chopping, jabbing, fusing. We have seen quite a change in Mos Def’s attitudes towards his performance in the last year – with the emphasis being less on his actual lyrics and more on the actual overall feel of the track. I preferred him really giving us epic verses but I’m liking this one. It’s nice. It’s something that hip hop could do with more often and isn’t exactly difficult to do. Big names dropping little experiments from the studio. They don’t have to go hard all the time. Do we have too high expectations of them now?! Anyway, the track’s called “24 Hour Karate School” and is produced by Ski Beatz. Nice.

Mos Def – 24 Hour Karate School

Veering away from hip hop now but staying strictly urban for this track (which I have been very late on posting). No point giving it a wordy intro as I’m sure you’ve copped it already. It’s the epic garage effort by UK artist Solo. He’s remixed Wiley’s “Never Be Your Woman” which is due out next Feb – so this won’t be gracing your Christmas stockings I’m afraid. It’s got some sick synths, funky beats and garage treats. Will definitely be a big tune in the New Year!

Wiley – Never Be Your Woman (Solo ‘Loves Garage’ Remix)

Now let’s hit electro. And here I deliver a collaboration that promises big things. Three of the biggest names in the scene have brought their talents into one five minute effort. The culprits are Crookers, Soulwax and Mixhell. The result: “We Love Animals”. I’m surprised there was no Miike Snow influence here, because that really would have been joyful. Now, in this track you can really identify all of the individual collaborators’ styles. It’s quite a mash and it blends well though has no real structure there. I have to say, actually, I’m a little disappointed with the track considering all those that were involved but that’s not to say it is bad. I do like it. I just think there was a lot more potential for something incredible.

Crookers – We Love Animals ft. Soulwax & Mixhell

And whilst sticking to the electro curve with a detour into the rave scene, we have the latest dropping from Hostage. Dropping? You ask. Yes. This track is THE SHIT. I’m not usually a fan of Hostage tracks when they’re on their own but I love them when they’re in sets. However, this track ticks all the right boxes for me and really is my favourite Hostage track yet. Some funky beats in this one, where he seems to have let off with the bass. When this drops in the club, it will be sure to catch everyone’s attention. I give you “Achtung!”.

Hostage – Achtung!

Hope you like them goodies.

On an August morning in 1976, French filmmaker  Claude Lelouch mounted a gyro-stabilized camera to the bumper of a Ferrari 275 GTB and had a friend, a professional Formula 1 racer, drive at breakneck speed through the heart of Paris. Vintage.

Directed by Dribblez & Weirdcore.

I’ve been a long time fan of Steve Aoki. I really do consider him much of a silent genius and truly under rated in the circles of the music world. He tackles all sorts of tracks and really plays with the essence of remix to deliver his signature sounds and techniques. This week, the Dim Mak man has rained us with enough hot remixes to extend summer and postpone winter. His remix of Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness” went straight to number one on Hype Machine, and following closely in number 5 was this epic remix of Drake’s “Forever”. Also worth mentioning is his remix of “Warp 1977″ by The Bloody Beetroots.

I love how he singles out Em’s verse in this and really changes the tone so much in this. It’s been on repeat here constantly. So there’s only one thing you should do:

Drake – Forever ft. Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem (Steve Aoki Remix)

Cor blimey, Mishka is getting dangerous now. The way they keep pumping out these exclusive mixes, I’m going to start getting very high expectations each month! Last time we had Rusko delivering a dubstep smash and now we’ve got Jack Beats delivering the goodies. This is a must for all Jack Beats fans (which should be all of you – what’s not to like?!) as it is just a feast of Jack Beats beauties.

Mishka presents Keep Watch Vol. XIV – Jack Beats

Mt Eden Dubstep has been slowly getting bigger and bigger (not physically, though) and his rise to stardom has taken yet another impressive leap with the unveilance of this epic remix of Craig Armstrong’s Escape. The changes seem minimal but they add a whole new dramatic dimension to the original. I’d say this is the best new Eden track yet.

The video for Wiley and Chew Fu’s collab has been released.

Word had always been abound that the legend Chilly Gonzales was on the remake for Boys Noize and Erol Alkan’s “Waves” and slowly these rumours became more believable and finally clarified. Now it’s had it’s own separate release. So far, it’s only on limited edition 10″ vinyl, available here at Phonica Records and here at Rough Trade. The vinyl also comes with a spoken word bit by Chilly explaining how he gave the electro club smash a change of character with just the piano. A digital release is due next week!

And be prepared for another similar collaboration between Boys Noize and Chilly Gonzales as Chilly’s next album, out next year, is being produced by Boys Noize! It sounds like a beautiful partnership!