Tuesday, February 25, 2014

SHREM'S LIST OBSESSION: Top 10 Best Neneh Cherry Tracks


It's 18 year that we've been waiting for Neneh Cherry's new studio album for!!! Now that "Blank Project" is finally out and just 4 days before her most anticipated come-back gig here in Twisted Pepper, Dublin courtesy of the ever so reliable Bodytonic crew, it's a rather fitting opportunity to go over the Swedish singer's vibrant and versatile back catalogue once more... Here's my personal very subjective (as always!) selection of her best tracks to date. The rumour says she does not perform any of her old stuff during this tour but if she did, any of the songs below would be a massive treat for a long-term fans like myself.

10 "Together Now" - with Tricky, originally taken from Tricky's "Nearly God" concept album (1996) then included on Neneh's 3rd studio album "Man"



09 "Trout" - with Michael Stipe, taken from "Homebrew" (1992)



08 "Inna City Mamma" - 5th single taken from "Raw Like Sushi" (1989)



07 "Peace Of Mind" - taken from "Homebrew" (1992)



06 "Move With Me" - taken from "Homebrew" (1992)



05 "Buffalo Stance" - debut single, taken from "Raw Like Sushi" (1988)



04 "Somedays" - written and produced by Portishead's Geoff Barrow, taken from "Homebrew" (1992)



03 "I Ain't Gone Under Yet" - produced by Gang Starr, taken from "Homebrew" (1992)



02 "I've Got U Under My Skin" - Cherry's interpretation of Cole Porter's 1936 classic, taken from "Red, Hot + Blue" compilation (1990)



01 "Manchild" - 2nd single taken from "Raw Like Sushi" (1989)



CHOON OF THE DAY: "FKA X INC." - FKA Twigs & Inc.


The whole blogosphere is all about this otherworldly track today. Last year's most talked about newcomer, the mysterious and groundbreaking FKA Twigs teams up with 4AD's latest sensation Inc. to this astonishingly sensual duet of electronic subtlety and purest class. Quick there's only 400 copies of the one-sided 7" single packaged inside an 8-page full colour zine HERE! I managed to get one!!!



And if you've missed out on this very special recording of "Hide" from Twigs' debut EP where the chanteuse performs the song in Tulum, Mexico amidst Mayan ruins, here it is again...



Monday, February 24, 2014

SHREM'S LATE MONDAY NIGHT SESSIONS: "CURTAIN CALL" - Steed Lord [Live Performance]


I have already been praising Steed Lord's magnificent "Curtain Call" HERE. Now this synth-pop masterpiece gets an additional exposure with a very special live performance recorded in their studio in Los Angeles as a part of their monthly audio/visual performance project "The Live Sessions". Kali proving yet again to be among the most exquisite vocalists and most flamboyant fashionistas out there while the whole Icelandic trio does the whole DIY concept like no other. The single is out now on iTunes!



SHREM'S CLUB BIZARRE INTRODUCING: "SMAR" - Easter


Easter, our favourite Club Bizarre duo from Berlin, are back with another eccentric slice of minimal electro. This time with an Oriental twist to spice things up even more. "Smar" is the first track announcing the arrival of Easter's brand new culinary-obsessed record "New Cuisine". No one on the current scene of underground electronica sounds quite like them.





Sunday, February 23, 2014

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "GONE" - Tiombe Lockhart /// "BOOM" - Le1f


Two excellent urban singles on the horizon from two of the most exciting new talents that emerged in the last couple of years. Queer Hip-Hop pioneer extraordinaire Le1f and the uncompromising former Cubic Zirconia front-woman, the charismatic Tiombe Lockhart. The self-released "Gone" is out now while "Boom" is the first single from Le1f's upcoming EP "Hey" which will drop via the legendary XL Recordings. Frivolously fabulous!







Friday, February 21, 2014

SHREM'S INSTITUTE OF LOST CLASSICS: "You Could Be More As You Are" - Saâda Bonaire


This bizarre slice of delicately Oriental piece of German new wave from 1984 has found a very special place in my heart recently. Club Bizarre meets Lost Classics. I was trying to desperately find out more about this unclassifiable one-off single and I stumbled upon this truly fascinating story behind on Pitchfork:

"Enter that none-hit wonder, “You Could Be More As You Are”, which remains a curious beast: rubbery reggae bass, growling gong hits, synth stabs and jerky rhythms from hand drum and drum machine, featuring an assortment of whistles, saxophones, Turkish saz, and ney flute, all of it topped by the icy monotones of Lange and Hossfeld, who recall their memories of a German friend who sold her body for money at a young age, hit every club every night, and died too soon. It was idiosyncratic in their native Germany in the age of Neu Deautsche Welle groups, yet somehow became a club hit in Greece, and soon after became a holy grail for Balearic DJs around the world, where it fetches upwards of $170 a copy online."

Read more about it on Captured Tracks HERE. A real treasure!



SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "L'Amour En Solitaire" - Juliette Armanet /// "Dernier Métro" - The Pirouettes


I have a French Touch double bill for you this Friday afternoon. First up we have Mademoiselle Juliette Armanet with her luscious debut single "L'Amour En Solitaire" produced by Yuksek which was just included on the sensationally good "Colette French Kiss" compilation. The selection contains mostly never heard before or exclusive tracks from all the trendy and cool kids français like Onra, Discodeine, Exotica and The Pirouettes who happen to be act #2 for today. The Pirouettes are Leo Creek and Vickie Chérie and their synth-pop explosion "Dernier Métro" is simply superb. Taken from their "L'Importance Des Autres" EP. Et Voilà!





Wednesday, February 19, 2014

SHREM'S LIST OBSESSION: Top 10 Best Music Videos directed by Michel Gondry


This list was inspired by Michel Gondry's magical "L'Écume Des Jours" which I was lucky to see last night during the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival and Metronomy's latest video which is the first music clip Monsieur Gondry directed in 3 years time. So apparently this ultra-talented French visionary directed 83 videos since 1988. Here's Metronomy's "Love Letters" followed by my personal selection of Top 10 Best Michel Gondry videos.




10 "Knives Out" - Radiohead (2001)



09 "Fire On Babylon" - Sinéad O'Connor (1994)



08 "Lucas With The Lid Off" - Lucas (1994)



07 "Come Into My World" - Kylie Minogue (2002)



06 "Bachelorette" - Björk (1997)



05 "Let Forever Be" - The Chemical Brothers (1999)



04 "Around The World" - Daft Punk (1997)



03 "Human Behaviour" - Björk (1993)



02 "Protection" - Massive Attack Feat. Tracey Thorn (1995)



01 "Sugar Water" - Cibo Matto (1996)



CHOON OF THE DAY: "WHY DID I SAY GOODBYE?" - Tommy feat. Sally Shapiro


And so they did it again! Italo Disco reviving Swedish champions Sally Shapiro and Johan Agebjörn, the couple behind "If It Doesn't Rain" which I chose as #1 Song Of The Year in 2013, are just back with another smashing synth-pop jewel "Why Did I Say Goodbye?". Sally Shapiro teamed up with Tommy this time around and the track is taken from his upcoming "Frequency Modulations" album out in March on Girlfriend Records. 6 minutes of sumptuous synthesizers and Sally's ethereal half-whispered vocals. Always on top of their game!



Tommy has previously remixed Sally Shapiro's "Lives Together" from their fantastic "Somewhere Else" album:



Tuesday, February 18, 2014

CHOON OF THE DAY: "HIDEAWAY" - Kiesza [Video] + Gorgon City Remix


There has been such a buzz around this indisputable 90's flavoured dancefloor anthem from Kiesza around the whole blogosphere (me included) that the premiere of the single was pushed until March now and we've just received this multi-vibrant video oozing fun, joy and oldskool vibes to promote it even further. This has a summer hit written all over it! Check it out kids!!! "Hideaway" is out 23rd March via Lokal Legends.





Monday, February 17, 2014

SHREM'S LATE MONDAY NIGHT SESSIONS: "FOR YOU" [feat. Shola Ama] + "PANDORA'S BOX" [with Toddla T] - Roses Gabor


I have been waiting impatiently for some new material from Roses Gabor since her 2 solo tracks "Stars" and "Night Sky" took my year-end chart by storm back in 2012. Gabor's latest effort is a luscious collaboration with another UK Garage diva Shola Ama. The result of their work together is astonishing, the kind of contemporary (or even futuristic?) R&B sound I adore the most these days.



And while we're at it, is this sensational collaboration with Toddla T ever going to be properly released? Seriously one of the best dance tracks of the past few months...



CHOON OF THE DAY: "KLAPP KLAPP" - Little Dragon


Ok so I am 2 days late with this one but it'd feel wrong not to post about it at all as it is such a spectacular come back! So "Klapp Klapp" is the first single taken from Little Dragon's most anticipated 4th studio album "Nabuma Rubberband" which is available in the USA on May 13th on Loma Vista Recordings and everywhere else on May 12th on Because Music. Yukimi Nagano's in top vocal form and the track itself stands out among the most uncompromising and sonically stimulating songs from the Gothenburg band so far. Magnificent work!





Thursday, February 13, 2014

SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: "GET DOWN" - The Juan Maclean


Are you ready for a brand new startling dancefloor-ready anthem featuring the impossibly cool Nancy Whang? Well here's an absolute stomper by The Juan Maclean soon to be released by DFA. "Get Down" is available now as a Valentine's Day free download on NPR. As anthemic as "Happy House" which I always thought was unbeatable! Here they are together!





SHREM'S BIGGIES BUT GOODIES BASKET: "RUMBLE" - Kelis + "JERK RIBS (Mount Kimbie Remix)"


There's a very few artists out there who managed to remain current, relevant and unpredictable with such finesse as Kelis did all through the years. The urban empress of re-invention and eclecticism is about to surprise us once again. By signing to the cult Ninja Tune label and announcing a whole album produced by TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek, Kelis is about to venture on a completely new musical excursion exploring new sonic territories. Her artistic journey so far has been as kaleidoscopically vibrant as the cover and the title of her phenomenal debut album released back in 1999. From hip-hop to contemporary R&B, from house to synth-pop, from neo soul to electro Kelis never settled for anything obvious, always sticking to the very edge of the mainstream scene balancing it nicely with exciting, underground collaborations. I once dedicated a whole list to her fruitful joint efforts with the likes of Richard X, Skream, Basement Jaxx or Björk which you can check out HERE! Just when I thought I couldn't possibly get any more excited about her upcoming 6th studio album "Food", there comes a super-sexy follow-up to the awe-inspiring "Jerk Ribs" last year, a song called "Rumble" which lifted my already high hopes about this record even higher. You can pre-order your copy of "Food" also in a Deluxe Boxset including 2LP + Hardback Book + CD, for the eager collectors like myself, directly on Ninja Tune!

P.S. How delicious is that Mount Kimbie's remix of "Jerk Ribs" too!!!





Tuesday, February 11, 2014

SHREM'S INSTITUTE OF LOST CLASSICS: "LIPSTICK ON THE GLASS" + "LUCIOLA" + "SIĘ ŚCIEMNIA" - Maanam


Not one, not two but three tracks from the extraordinary Maanam in my "Lost Classics" section today. Fronted by the ultra-charismatic and uncompromising Kora, Maanam were among the most successful Polish bands whose songs by no means were ever lost classics there. Apart from a small success in the East Germany and "Się Ściemnia" being the first ever Polish Music Video to air on the international MTV the band's fruitful catalogue of post-punk classics, communism era stylee, remained hugely unexplored by the rest of the world. Maanam's sound in the 1980s could be considered a cross between Nina Hagen, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Blondie. These three tracks combined together should give you a clear indication of the band's versatility, universal quality and Kora's undeniably spectacular vocal acrobatics! I rarely blog about music from my country but returning to these tracks this week made me want to share it with a wider audience. Hope you enjoy it.







Monday, February 10, 2014

SHREM'S LATE MONDAY NIGHT SESSIONS: "YUMI ZOUMA EP" - Yumi Zouma + Wild Nothing Remix


American underground label Cascine has just made a music planet a better place with the release of Yumi Zouma's beguiling self-titled debut EP. I usually tend to cherry pick the stand-out tracks from newly released EP's but with such a superb 4-tracker from this slightly mysterious New Zealand trio it has proven to be a mission impossible. It's the sweetest collection of dreamy, alluring POP for those who loathe current mainstream POP with passion. Think Washed Out, think Germans, think Rainbow Chan, think Nite Jewel, think Toro Y Moi. All these mighty influences with Yumi Zouma's very own delicately folksy twist, blissful harmonies and sumptuous melodies. 4 out of 4. What an impressively solid debut!





Sunday, February 9, 2014

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "TO LOSE" - Oceaán /// "XXX 88 (Oceaán Remix)" - MØ


Oceaán is a Manchester based artist whose velvet voice, heavenly harmonies and forward-thinking production left me completely flabbergasted with the arrival of this electrifying song. "To Lose" sounds like a cross between Sohn, James Blake, Jamie Woon and Jai Paul all in one with its own unique twist. R'N'B never sounded so mysterious, warped and futuristic. Oceaán's debut EP is due out on 31st March via Chess Club Records. I have never been a fan of MØ but Oceaán also does an outstanding and sublime job remixing her "XXX 88". Think I might have just found myself a brand new male vocal obsession.





Saturday, February 8, 2014

CHOON OF THE DAY: "RUSSIAN KISS" - Annie


Annie, our favourite Norwegian songstress is inviting us for a political dance with this electro orgy produced by her musical "partner in crime" Richard X showing support to the oppressed LGBT community in Russia. This extraordinary protest song is available now on iTunes. Here's how Annie herself describes this important and brave initiative:

"The Winter Olympics are not just skating styles, waxing techniques and jump lengths. The Winter Olympics are also deep emotions: interpersonal, national, and global. Millions of TV-viewers are witness to these emotions. Usually, they find their expression in embraces and kisses. You can observe this at the finishing area and during the medal ceremony — teammates embracing each other, winners kissing their partners.

This may be difficult when the Olympic Games take place in Sochi in February. As we know, Vladimir Putin has introduced laws prohibiting gays and lesbians to show their love in public in Russia. Furthermore, it is prohibited to talk positively about homosexuality in public. This is the reason why an increasing number of leaders worldwide have decided to boycott this year’s Olympics. In Norway, the political leadership has rejected calls to remain at home. As a great power in winter sports Norway is in a unique position to flex its muscles in a situation like this. This could have been an occasion for Norway to stand up for the fundamental right to express your feelings towards the one you love.

In Norway, many gays and lesbians — and not only gays and lesbians — have reacted against this. One of them is one of Norway’s best-known elite artists: The New York-based artist Bjarne Melgaard (http://stabfrenzy.com/). Therefore, at the beginning of December, together with the Norwegian songwriter and performer Annie (http://anniemelody.com/), he took the initiative to Russian Kiss: a short movie about the right to kiss one’s beloved — regardless of sexual orientation — wherever one likes.

Melgaard invited the photographer and director Richard Kern - http://www.richardkern.com/ - to direct the movie; famous for his collaborations with Marilyn Manson, Sonic Youth, Indochine and Is Tropical. On short notice Kern and his team joined forces with Annie and Melgaard. The result is "Russian Kiss" - a critical cry from Norwegian and American elite performers — albeit not from the Olympic disciplines."

Read more about Russian Kiss HERE or visit the official Facebook page created especially for the purpose of this project! SHAKE A FIST FOR THE RUSSIAN KISS!!!





Thursday, February 6, 2014

LA MURPHY SAGA CONTINUES: "LEVIATHAN" - Freeform Five feat. Róisín Murphy [Full Version]


Some of us die-hard Róisín Murphy fans have been waiting for "Leviathan" to be released for over 3 years!!! The Irish empress of dance included the song initially in some of her rare dj performances back in 2011. Now the official release of this smashing dancefloor delight is just around the corner! Freeform Five's collaboration with La Murphy stands out among the most accomplished joint efforts in her vast and versatile repertoire. On the occasion of the release of this single I have created a special soundcloud playlist which includes most of her previous collaborative works. "Leviathan" is out 10th February via Eskimo Recordings.







Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

CHOON OF THE DAY: "ALL THAT SHE WANTS" - Yolanda Be Cool feat. SYF & Fritz Helder + Human Life Remix


Oh how I missed those 2 voices together! Now that Azari & III no longer exist it is a true rare dancefloor feast to get both Starving Yet Full and Fritz Helder featuring on the same track. They're joining forces with the Australian hit machine that is Yolanda Be Cool to cover Ace Of Base's monsterously popular 1992 smash "All That She Wants". Needless to say the boys did an outstanding job on this version saucing it up with their stupendous vocals and even paid homage to the original artwork of the single. "All That She Wants" is out now via Dim Mak Records.





Sunday, February 2, 2014

Crème de la crème: JANUARY 2014

As usual my January "Crème de la crème" chart is a mix of some brand new tracks, some which were released in December in the middle of the whole year-end mayhem and some which I have completely missed out on when they were initially released during the course of the previous year and I only stumbled upon them while browsing through various end-of-the-year rankings. Here it is, my first top 20 chart in 2014. To accomodate those who were looking for a continuous mix rather than single tracks I put it all together in a soundcloud playlist available at the very bottom of this post. Enjoy!

20 (N) "Mean Streets" - Tennis



19 (N) "Turn Over" - Kartell



18 (N) "Via Piero Gobetti 15" - Tami Tamaki



17 (N) "Cours De Gym" - Cinema



16 (N) "Come Alive" - Chromeo feat. Toro Y Moi



15 (N) "Police" - Rosemary



14 (N) "Crying For No Reason" - Katy B



13 (N) "Innocence" - Electric Youth



12 (N) "Curious" - Alison Valentine



11 (N) "Keep Moving" - Jessy Lanza



10 (N) "Can't Get Enough" - Tiombe Lockhart



09 (N) "I Remember (Jim Stanton & Severino Remix)" - Alexis Penney



08 (N) "Wonderful" - Surahn



07 (N) "The Beach" - Femme En Fourrure



06 (N) "Neheb N3ch Hayati" - Medusa feat. Olof Dreijer



05 (N) "Guns & Synths" - Kelela



04 (N) "One, Two, Three" - Jolie Chérie



03 (N) "Memories" - Jaakko Eino Kalevi



02 (N) "Rebound" - Dornik



01 (N) "Blow" - Beyoncé