We think that getting someone some DEVO garb for Christmas would instantly make you the raddest person ever. So if you’re related or mates with a DEVO fan (if not, why not? make it happen.) then have a look at the awesome goodies that are now available to buy from the band’s official online store.
We’ve got our eyes on those energy dome headphones that you can see amongst the other treats below which are reportedly designed specifically to charge your brain with orgone energy as you jam out.
Head over to the online store by following this link and for more DEVO goodness check out the three-part video interview we conducted with frontman Mark Mothersbaugh earlier this year by clicking here.
Over the past few years, 2-step and garage have came back in a big way. As what the mainstream considered to be dubstep wobbled off in the direction of stadium sized speakers and producers with stadium sized egos, the underground club and pirate radio scenes found solace in an increasing amount of producers who favoured a little swing, a little shuffle, a little atmosphere and lots of processed vocals. Though the change in sonic climate was arguably slight, it gave birth to a wealth of forward-thinking electronica with personality to match. Amongst them, Submerse began crafting a sound that carried influences ranging from the obvious (Burial, Todd Edwards, Wookie) to the not so obvious (Bjork, Ayumi Hamasaki, M83, Tenmon) leading him to not only become one of the most prolific producers in the UK this year, but easily one of the most innovative and original producers in an absolutely massive cloud of sound.
The EP continues with what could be my favourite track of the decade so far, OVA. At once uplifting and melancholic, OVA sees wonderful piano melodies and strings paired gorgeously with an expertly recontextualised Morning Musume acapella and the usual 2-step perfection. Passion is driven by clicks, hat hits and classic Todd Edwards-esque vocal weaving, before the EP concludes with Full Metal: a seminal rework of Yui’s Again that helped pave the way for J-Garage to become less of a 4am bedroom experiment and rather something of a full blown dance music movement.
The Gundam EP is Submerse’s most personal and accomplished release to date, leading the way to an optimistic and thoughtful area of music my own otaku tendencies and music taste always wished for. I have been saying for ages that if Submerse released an EP it would be my record of the year. Guess what? It is.
It must be the holiday spirit or something, but artists, bands and producers have been even more generous than usual and our inboxes have been overflowing with all sorts of tuneage in a variety of tempos and styles. Here are our ten picks from yet another two weeks of quality music.
The undisputed king of mash-ups and party mixtapes, Girl Talk released his latest collection of nostalgia meets college party meets weird meets brilliant beats online for free and if you haven’t already picked it up then you’ll find it all below. Daft Punk’s Tron OST is currently doing the rounds on the leaky pipes of the web to a mixed reception but if you didn’t catch their collaboration with N.E.R.D. then check out Nero’s remix if beats float your boat more than synths and strings. Shy FX get taken apart from one of the year’s biggest beatmakers Breakage as this weekend turns into a guaranteed party.
Pow 2011 is causing another forward riddim stir in London and Wiley’s meme-spawning ‘bududududada’ bars over the beat makes one of the most addictive dubplates of the year, get it! Crossfader subject Submerse keeps on going from strength to strength and his remix of Wolf Gang’s ‘Lion In Cages‘ sees blogs on a hype for his forthcoming releases. X-Ray Spex’s frontwoman Poly-Styrene makes a welcome return to our speakers with ‘Black Christmas‘. Crystal Castles made one of the most press-worthy collaborations of the year, dragging in Robert Smith for ‘Not In Love‘.
If you thought Jay-Z’s 99 Problems couldn’t be remixed any more then you were very wrong; Liam Howlet takes a simple but effective rework route for this banging Prodigy remix. New York three piece fun. live up to their name again with an acoustic version of their buzzing ‘Walking The Dog’. And last but not least, the hottest female to come out of Wales since… we can remember, Marina and the Diamonds gets a hypegenre workout courtesy of the ungoogleable but absolutely listenable oOoOO.
Fantastic Mr Fox has had a hell of year, gaining praise across the board as well as getting know to a wider audience through touring with the XX. With his Sketches EP still delivering the goods, the Wolverhampton-born producer has released Evelyn, a four track EP that showcases a more bouncy sound, ramping up the tempo and sounding more like his Jackal Youth alter-ego than ever before.
Understated beats coarse throughout the four tracks, yet the chopped vocals of opening track Evelyn instantly draw you in alongside the woodblock percussion, kicking off the EP in perfect vibesy fashion. Fool Me starts with a much more laid back introduction before getting into its stride moving into the delightfully steppy Over, with its throbbing fuzz of bassline and R&B tinged vocal samples. Sepia Song, the strongest track on the release, brings everything to a close with Kimbie-esque synths and an almost tropic drum beat at the end.
With the current state of electronic music coming out of the UK gaining strength with every passing day, it would be easy to fall down the sides without being noticed. With this release however, Fantastic Mr Fox has marked himself out as a star to watch. 2011 is definitely his time.
Funeral For A Friend have announced that they will be playing a series of intimate venues in the spring of next year as they hit the road with Rise To Remain.
The tour will be in support of their as yet untitled forthcoming album which is due in March 2011. Peep the dates below and scroll down a little further to watch the fantastic video for Serpents of Solitude which surfaced recently.
16th March – Aberystwyth, Arts Centre
17th March – Buckley, Tivoli
18th March – Penrith, Penrith Leisure Centre
19th March – Edinburgh, Bongo Club
20th March – Glasgow, King Tuts
22nd March – Bury St Edmonds, Apex
23rd March – Birmingham, Academy 2
24th March – Manchester, Academy 3
25th March – London, Relentless Garage
27th March – Liverpool, 02 Academy
28th March – Stoke, Sugarmill
29th March – Wakefield, Black Flag
30th March – Durham, Live Lounge
1st April – Poole, Chords
2nd April – Saltash, Livewire
3rd April – Wycombe, Academy
Tom Waits will be publishing a book of poetry next year.
The gravel-voiced singer’s book will be called Hard Ground and is a collaboration with photographer Michael O’Brien whose pictures of the homeless will accompany Waits’ poems. The book is set for release in March 2011 through University of Texas press.
Pass The Cohiba is taken from his recent mixtape Grizzly City 3 and follow the Fresno MC as he has a little wander around. Kick back and get that head nodding. This one has vibes for days.
Atmosphere are releasing a book of photography from over the years.
Dan Monick, a close friend who has followed the group around for the past decade across the world has taken many photos from behind-the-scenes and the hardcover 272 page book shows these photos in all their glory.
Two versions are available – the standard edition features 272 page book, a 15 track Rhymesayers compilation CD and a deluxe edition features all that as well as an exclusive 10″ copy of To All My Friends, the first of the two new Atmosphere EPs. You can order yours from Fifth Element. One for the hardcore fans!