3/29/2008
Kraak & Smaak Squeeze Me (Jem Stone Remix) Download

This is the first single off of thier new album remixed by Jem Stone. It's currently posted on the Kraak & Smaak Myspace Page along with all tracks off of their new album Plastic People. These guys are amazing! I can't wait for it to hit the states. Their previous albums, The Remixes Sessions and Boogie Angst are phenominal! Check 'em out.


Enjoy the Download!



Kraak & Smaak -Squeeze Me (Jem Stone Remix)

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Written at 3/29/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
3/27/2008
Groove Armada @ City Hall Downtown Los Angeles April 5th
Don't be a dick and miss this show! I honestly can't wait! These blokes kill it whether they're playing live or just dishin' the tunes out on wax. And with a setting like the South Lawn at City Hall under the dim lit stars in Downtown L.A. it should be perfection.


See you there!



Here's a little clip from the last time they played L.A. at The Hollywood Bowl...

"I See You Baby"

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Written at 3/27/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
Morgan Page - Elevate (Nettwerk)
Diversifying electronic dance music as we know it, Morgan Page’s new full- length album Elevate resonates with actual songs, rather than the usual four minute loop with a breakdown somewhere in-between.

Elevate’s earthy house invigorates, yet at the same time appeases the body with catchy hooks and choruses that infectiously repeat in your head. The album’s 13 tracks are an assembly of Page’s original and remixed work including a few of his chart topping hits from the likes of Nelly Furtado, Bitter:Sweet and Delierium.

Page’s chosen vocalists accompanying his original tracks might not ring a bell, but are certain to pique your interest. Topping it off, the Deadmau5 remix of “The Longest Road,” the first single off the album, is also included to further diversify the eclectic sounds that Page delivers.

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Written at 3/27/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
Tom Middleton - Renaissance 3D (Renaissance Dance UK)
The latest installment of Renaissance’s 3D collection comes from a veteran DJ/Producer that needs little introduction, a man mostly known for his work under the alias “Cosmos:” Tom Middleton. Renaissance 3D: Tom Middleton is a three-disc collection showcasing the mastery of both the original and remixed works of Middleton, along with the “inferior” mixing skills he has to offer.

Disc 1, entitled “Club,” is a seamless mix of progressive and downtempo house complete with the likes of Groove Armada, Ben Watt, Wink and Simian Mobile Disco. Disc 2, entitled “Studio,” is a compilation of original and remixed tracks from Middleton, including some “Cosmos” edits and dubs that are 3D exclusives. Disc 3, “Home,” is a blend of mellow grooves ranging from minimal house to jazzy hip-hop that meshes perfectly within the atmosphere of a chill home setting.
With over 48 tracks and close to 4 hours of music, adding this set to your collection is a no-brainer..

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Written at 3/27/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
Mlle Caro and Franck Garcia - Pain Disappears (Buzzin' Fly)
It’s very rare to find a collaborative duo that not only produces together, but sings as well. Mlle Caro and Franck Garcia achieved this feat with their new album Pain Disappears, the latest release from Ben Watt’s Buzzin’ Fly label.

This release moves in a bit of a different direction than the prior Buzzin’ Fly tracks and albums, and gently swerves away from their current norm. Minimal house and chilled out melodies mesh with Garcia’s deep monotone voice, while Caro’s meek vocals fail to complement.

“Lost” and “No Name,” two of the more dance friendly tracks, deliver what Buzzin’ Fly aficionados are more accustomed to. Instrumentally, Pain Disappears is a strong album; the collaborative singing is its only true flaw.

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Written at 3/27/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
Daft Punk/Muse/UNKLE Video Alive @ Vegoose, Las Vegas
DAFT PUNK

"Human After All"


"Da Funk"


"Da Funk pt. 2"


"Around The World/Harder Better Faster Stronger"


"Burnin'"


MUSE

"Stockholm Syndrome"


"Time is Running Out"


"Take A Bow"


UNKLE

"Rabbit in your Headlights"


"Hello/Goodbye" Feat. Lupe Fiasco


"Hello/Goodbye" featuring Lupe Fiasco pt. 2


"Eye for an Eye"


"In a State"

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Written at 3/27/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
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Vegoose - Oct. 27-8 @ Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
Everything that happens in Vegas is supposed to stay there, right? Well that definitely isn’t the case for this year’s third annual Vegoose Music Festival. People are talking, and with massive headliners like Daft Punk and Rage Against the Machine, who wouldn’t?

Thousands flocked to the Sam Boyd Stadium, a large majority in costume, making the festival one part Halloween party, one part concert; stimulating both the auditory and visual senses.

Public Enemy, M.I.A, Iggy & the Stooges and the Shins were just a few of the bands that played the first night, but the theme of the evening pointed to one Parisian duo. The buzz was about Daft Punk and their life-changing spectacle that was to end the night. When the two “robots” appeared atop their large glowing pyramid, hands arose as if a religious figure was present. Their stunning arrangement of lights illuminated the sky like a nearby casino as they seamlessly mashed up tracks from their catalogue of albums.

Headlining day two was Rage Against the Machine, but with the stellar lineup on Sunday they couldn’t completely steal the spotlight. Muse had the crowd in awe as they pounded out their rich symphonic tunes, playing a bit harder set than usual.

UNKLE followed playing tracks off of all three of their albums for the first time as a complete band. Saturday performer Lupe Fiasco even joined them on stage to close out their extended set.
Rage ended the fest with fury and enough energy to power a small town. Their two-hour set hit every major tune and struck every chord. The sweaty crowd bounced like an angry sea, screaming the hooks to every song like an army of soldiers back to their leader.

With a lineup so diverse and powerful, Vegas just might have to change their slogan to “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…with the exception of Vegoose.”

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Written at 3/27/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
The Chemical Brothers Live at Nocturnal Wonderland Downtown L.A. - Pictures and Video
"Temptation/Star Guitar"
"Saturate/Believe"

"It Doesn't Matter/Out Of Control"
"Believe"

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Written at 3/27/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
L.A. Weekly Detour Festival Video - Oct. 6 Downtown L.A.
Justice - "Waters Of Nazareth"


Justice - "Golden Skans At Interzone"


Sebastien/Kavinski - "Killing In The Name (Rage Remix)"

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Written at 3/27/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
L.A. Weekly Detour Festival - Oct. 6 Downtown L.A.
One square block of downtown Los Angeles surrounding City Hall was shut down to facilitate L.A. Weekly’s second annual “Detour Festival.” Thousands of people crowded the normally traffic congested streets to see acts hitting every genre of the musical spectrum, complete with a touch of comedy. Four stages ranging in size were strategically placed to accommodate the 30-plus bands and DJs that entertained the masses.

The former Jane’s Addiction frontman you just can’t seem to get away from Perry Farrell’s latest project, Satellite Party, was the first of the two “party” bands playing that evening. As the sun set, Farrell dished out new Satellite tunes as well as some old Jane’s Addiction tunes, which finally won the crowd over.

France’s own electronic duo Justice was the first of the two headlining acts to break bread. Performing a DJ set, they spun dirty analog remixes of Three 6 Mafia and Klaxons, as well as some of their own seam-splitting tracks. They shockingly closed with an original of the old sing-along “Build Me Up Buttercup,” bringing the thousands of onlookers to sing in complete unison.
As Justice finished their hour-long set fans rushed to the large stage down the street to see the second headliner, Bloc Party. For almost an hour and a half the band slid through almost every track it had to offer, trying to get some energy out of the lackluster crowd.

The night concluded with almost the entire close-knit Ed Banger Records crew, consisting of DJ Mehdi, Busy P, So Me and Sebastian & Kavinski, tag teaming the decks for the second time that day. The ridiculously loud bass broke down the tired folks as they left the grounds with ears ringing, hoping the lineup for next year’s Detour Festival will be one louder.

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Written at 3/27/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
Klaxons Video - July 10 @ The El Rey
"Atlantis To Interzone"


"Golden Skans"


"Magik"

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Written at 3/27/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
Midlake Video - Sept. 25 @ Henry Fonda Theater

"We Gathered In Spring"


"The Pill Wont Help You Now" (Chemical Brothers Track Feat. Midlake)


"Head Home"


"Young Bride"

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Written at 3/27/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
3/26/2008
Midlake - Sept. 25 @ Henry Fonda Theater

The best band you’ve probably never heard just played, and most likely you missed them. Midlake, a quintet from the small college town of Denton, Texas, earned their popularity overseas sounding like an impossible Traveling Wilburys-style collaboration between Radiohead, Elliot Smith and Travis. Though the five members have been together since 1999, this was the first time they headlined the Fonda, upping the ante from their last show in L.A. at the minuscule Troubadour.
Maria Taylor, second to hit the stage after adolescent openers Wild Youth, shocked the star-studded crowd when she welcomed Bright Eyes’ Connor Oberst and Har Mar Superstar on stage to join her performance.

Midlake mostly played tracks from their most recent album, The Trials of Van Occupanther, opening their set with the harmony filled piece “Young Bride,” an instant crowd pleaser. Frontman Tim Smith’s haunting Thom York-esque voice seemed to hypnotize the already tranquil crowd as they softly sang with him.

“Rosco,” the first single off of Van Occupanther seemed to get the biggest rise out of the audience, while “Balloon Maker” off of their 2005 EP of the same name pleased the loyal longtime fans.
Perhaps the biggest treat of Midlake’s set was a mellow, almost beatless rendition of “The Pills Won’t Help You Now,” a collaboration done with the Chemical Brothers on their 2007 album, We Are the Night. Pick up an album, memorize the words and quietly prepare yourself for Midlake’s next haunt.

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Written at 3/26/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
Cassius - 15 Again (Astralwerks)

Over a year after its release in France and the UK, Cassius’ third effort, 15 Again, has finally graced the states, proving an electronic album that’s still fresh long after its first overseas arrival. Philippe Zdar and Boom Bass, also known as Cassius, have managed to create an energetic magnetism that surges throughout the album’s duration.

Each track has its own unique personality, with a style tailored from funk, house, pop, rock and reggae, and is often coupled with one of a diverse roster of guest artists. The Le Knight Club-produced “See Me Now” is a chilled-out Marley-fied hip-shaker, while “Toop Toop,” the album’s first single, rocks the floor with a dance-rock sound like that of the Rapture. The infamous Pharrell Williams also comes aboard, lending his production and vocal skills to the dramatic eco-friendly track “Eye Water,” the most intricately composed song on the record.

As the saying goes, much like fine wine, the French house pioneers only seem to get better with age.

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Written at 3/26/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
Underworld - Born Slippy Nuxx/King of Snake Live Video from The Hollywood Bowl

"Born Slippy"


"King of Snake"

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Written at 3/26/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
Underworld - Sept. 9 @ Hollywood Bowl

If Underworld’s music were fists, they would kick your ass; thus transforming a normal Sunday night concert at the Hollywood Bowl into a musical prize fight. The night began with djs Carmen Rizzo and Paul Oakenfold dishing out some mellow electronic grooves.

Just after sunset, round one began: it was the first time since Coachella ’03 the electronic pioneers had returned to Southern California. The spotlights shut off and anxious crowd roared in the still, pitch black of the night. No announcer was required; everyone knew who was getting in the ring. As Karl Hyde, Rick Smith and Darren Price took the enormous stage, the screens displayed visuals of the old Atari game “Space Invaders.” Hyde stood front stage wearing a glowing silver jacket reminiscent of the one worn by Steve Martin in the movie “Leap of Faith.” The iridescent sequins absorbed all light as if he were engulfed in flames at times, dancing to the music as if he were on the floor at a disco circa 1979.

They warmed up the pulsating crowd up with tracks off their upcoming album Oblivion with Bells, due out next month. “Crocodile,” the first single Oblivian immediately won the crowd over, as well as the bass heavy track “Beautiful Burnout” also off the anticipated album.

Every crest of the historic Hollywood Bowl lit up in every color of the rainbow, as large inflatable pylons flopped all over the stage. The concrete floor of the stands trembled as the beat-filled boys transitioned into arguably their most popular single “Born Slippy Nuxx,” made famous from the movie “Trainspotting.” They then went into “King of Snake” and “2 Months Off” splintering the wooden benches some used to call seating. At that point the “floating like a butterfly” was through; it was then time to “sting like a bee.”

After nearly two hours of whipping the crowd into shape, Underworld went for a TKO and taunted the beaten crowd with an encore of “Jumbo” wheeling our bruised, battered bodies back to our senses. Anyone who has gone toe-to-toe with Underworld knows they are surely a force to be reckoned with, even if they are almost as old as George Foreman. At least we don’t have to worry about them making grills any time soon….

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Written at 3/26/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
Felix Da Housecat - Virgo, Blacktro & the MovieDisco

With the third installment of his self-produced glitter and glam series of funky electroclash-house, Felix Da Housecat delivers the neon with Virgo, Blacktro & the MovieDisco. The CD transports the listener to a fictional land of complete exclusivity. A never-ending party fused with the liberation of porn and surreal magic of superheroes – a place called MovieDisco.

Appropriately, the first single, “Something for Porno,” complements this theme, sounding like an updated rework of the Blur track “Boys and Girls.” The ’80s inspired “Sweet Frosti” samples Devo’s “Snowball,” while the pulsating synth-heavy “The Future Call the Dawn” sounds like it could be a Daft Punk B-side.

Virgo is the perfect backdrop to any social gathering, fictional or not.

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Written at 3/26/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Aug. 22 @ The Mayan
An ethereal vibe welcomed the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to downtown Los Angeles. The sounds that first emitted from the lobby’s sound system in the sold-out, smoke-filled Mayan were those of old, generating a longing for the new and unseen.

It was dark, but the black lighting that illuminated the dark setting seemed to brighten only what was important, creating an intense mood for the set that followed.

Singer Karen O welcomed her shrieking fans with a toss of her light-catching, silver tinsel boa that heightened the drama of her entrance on stage. The songstress’ words flowed with ease as she slithered around the stage in spandex, seducing fans with contortionist-like moves.

After rocking tracks off their new Is Is EP, the trio surprised fans with a special acoustic version of their long-time hit “Maps.” Accompanying the serenity of O’s voice and the acoustic guitar were the many tiny reflections of a large disco ball scattered amongst the small theater, thus capturing the intimacy of this one-off show and the incredible versatility of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

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Written at 3/26/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
3/25/2008
Klaxons - July 10 @ The El Rey

It’s 10:14 p.m., and the chandeliers hang motionless as the capacity crowd standing below waits fidgeting with anticipation. Exactly one minute later the billowing red velvet curtain lifts, revealing the “new rave” branded Londoners, Klaxons.

Deep, dirty bass and sirens permeate the theater, complementing the shrieks of the rambunctious crowd. It’s at this very moment the chandeliers began to tremble, and the trembling didn’t stop for the duration of the next hour.

The foursome blaze through tracks from their debut album, Myths of the Near Future – keeping the glow-stickers waving and the rockers rocking, fists held high – uniting the diverse crowd with their raw blend of music. The band members take just a few short breaks between songs to mumble almost incomprehensible praises to the crowd with their thick British accents.

Songs like “Gravity’s Rainbow” and “Golden Skans” sent the audience into an uproar, but it wasn’t until they played “Magik” that the El Rey really began to erupt. Sadly enough, this was one of the last songs played, leaving the crowd hungry for more.

Though the Klaxons played roughly every song they have to offer, the boys reminded the audience in their vaguely understandable accents that they will be back to the states in September. And from the sound of the crowd that night, so will the fans.

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Written at 3/25/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.
Welcome!
Hi there - I haven't been around for a while but that's completely changing as of right now, this second. Welcome the the totally new and improved Believed Hype. Here you will find exactly what quenches your musical thirst.

Drink up kids!

-Ryan
Written at 3/25/2008 by Ryan McWhorter.