Turns out parties in the back of moving trucks really are as much fun as I imagined.  

Leroy Hanghofer via Discobelle

The Morning Benders have just released a new EP, entitled Japan Echo EP, featuring remixes by RAC and Star Slinger, among others.  The band will be donating 100% of all proceeds from the EP sales to the Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund.  The EP is $5, but if you are so inclined, you can pay more.  This is a great way to give, and the EP is pretty fantastic, so I encourage everyone to go out and get a copy.  Check out one of Star Slinger's remixes from the EP below.  Buy the EP and contribute to Japan's earthquake relief effort here. 

I know its a school night, but you might have to come in a little later tomorrow so that you can catch Mount Kimbie live, tonight at Le Poisson Rouge.  The two young british dubheads that are Mount Kimbie came into my life last year with their remix of James Blake's Maybe, and their debut album, Crooks & Lovers, really made the love real.  Com Truise will be opening, and he is also a treat, so be sure to get there early.  158 Bkeecker Street, Doors at 11pm.

James Blake - Maybes (Mount Kimbie Remix) (mp3)

Mount Kimbie - Serged (Falty DL Remix) (mp3)

Buy Crooks & Lovers here
 

And check out this very cool video for the track Before I Move Off.

I discovered Belgium's The Magician right around the time I discovered SoundCloud (yay SoundCloud!), and I have been in love ever since.  His sound can only be described as pure, disco awesomeness.  Check out his latest mixtape, Magic Tape Nine.  

Magic Tape Nine by TheMagician

And if you liked that, grab Magic Tapes 1-8 on his SoundCloud.  

Also highly recommended: his remix of Lykke Li's latest single "I Follow Rivers." Easlily the best remix I have heard of this song (and arguably better than the original).  Get it here, now.

Think of Odd Future as an amalgamation of bastardization: 1 part - what Cool Kids wanted to be, 2 parts - Gummo & 3 parts - Wu-Tang. In other words, Odd Future are a bunch of foul-mouthed feral kids (the oldest is 23, the youngest is 17) on a drug-fueled romp through a life filled with getting sex and rhyming about everything from their anatomy to skewed cartoon references; "Metaphor, chilling with better whores / Smoking then later on, I bone them like Skelator”.

These juvenile delinquents might come off a bit immature… until you hear their songs. Then you realize these aren’t the wishful makings of a few adolescent imaginations. Instead the realization that these kids are "just as fucked up in every way that they claim" slams into your gut - revealing a sordid maturity; “Tell your bitch to stop complainin' 'bout her achy tits / Her body is a temple, I don't give a fuck, I'm atheist”. You might be thinking "Where are their parents?” Odd Future probably killed them and buried them in the backyard. Enter The Gummo.

Their work is definitely NSFW and use some hard-to-digest lyrics, but I promise they are worth the listen. Also remember - Odd Future provides their entire catalog for free via their website! 

Here are a few links regarding The Wolf-Gang Clan: Tax-free and always under-priced.

• A wonderful interview  w/ MTV where they diss on everyone from Kanye West to Tyler Perry,

• Earl Sweatshirt’s 2010 debut album Earl

• The video for Yonkers - the first single - from Tyler the Creator’s upcoming album Goblin (NSFW)

Gold Panda and Star Slinger are two of the best new artists of 2010, and maybe two of the best things to happen to electronic music in years.  Heavily influenced by the Warp artists, these two are constantly pushing boundaries by incoporating classic elements of dance, hip-hop, IDM, minimal and house with original sampling and production; and in the process they are carving out entirely new spaces within the amorphous genre that is electronic music.

Needless to say, I was ecstatic to see the two collaborate on Gold Panda's latest release, Marriage EP.  Star Slinger puts his synth pad to work and gives this beautiful new track a frantic/hip-hop rework that is thoroughly enjoyable.  Check it out below, and buy the EP here, immediately.

Buy Gold Panda's thoroughly epic first album, Lucky Shiner, here.
Buy Star Slinger's music here. (His Nicki Minaj joint is pure joy)

Finally, please enjoy the equally beautiful and well directed new video for Marriage: 

Sometimes you come across a remix that isn't anything ground-breaking on a production level, but still makes you feel so f$cking good. This simple edit of Prince performing I Wanna Be Your Lover live, by Dimitri From Paris is one of those songs. Enjoy

Photo Credit: Alison Nguyen

Luis Clara Gomes (a.k.a Moullinex) has had a special place in my heart since I first came across Discotexas back in the mid-aughts. Back then, he was seemingly just another blog-house DJ, banging out one crowd-pleasing, disco-heavy remix after another.  Unlike many of those DJs who have since faded into obscurity/irrelevance, Moullinex has remained relevant by infusing new genres into his production style, releasing new music at a dizzying pace, throwing legendary parties, and dominating social media.  If all that wasn't enough, Luis is also an extremely talented programmer and is using his tech know-how to push the boundaries of technology and art, demonstrated in his beautiful video for Catalina, made by hacking the 3D functionality of a Microsoft Kinect (see how he did it here and watch it below).  

Be sure to cop his latest mix for Fact Mag:

Tracklist:

Zimmer – Cruisin’ 
Holy Ghost! – Do it Again 
Francis Inferno Orchestra – You And I 
Escort – Cocaine Blues 
Superlover – Oh No 
Cassian – Nobody (Mitzi Remix) 
Munk – Keep My Secret (Rory Phillips Remix) 
Trypmastaz - Back on His B.S 
Moullinex – Meow 
Will Eastman & Micah Vellian – No Sleep (Treasure Fingers Fr33ky Remix) 
Chilly Gonzales – You Can Dance (Popular Computer Remix) 
Herck- Your Love 
Beardyman – Where Does Your Mind Go (Tom Middleton Liquatech Remix) 
L-Vis 1990 – Forever You (Dub) 
Coupons – Driving To Your House Party (Moullinex & Symbolone ‘Gesso’ Remix)

and buy all his releases on Beatport...

Established in 2007, Deepermotions is an Australian-based digital record label focused on releasing forward-thinking deep house with musical edge.  This 2008 release from Karu has consistently rocked my world for more than a year now, just the kind of soulful house that gets down under.  Get a taste on soundcloud, and buy it on Beatport once you realize you're in love.  

Photo via Fubiz

Check out this amazing interview of Clifford Smith (aka Method Man) talking about his memories of growing up in NYC and meeting the other Wu-Tang clan members.  The interview is conducted by Gasface (a French hiphop magazine), and its one of series of interviews they did to promote this 6-part mini series for French TV, somewhat hilariously called "NY Minute: A Hip Hop guide to the fast life."  The interviews and the miniseries are both kind of amazing, so be sure to check them out here and here.

Video via @Passion of the Weiss