Crème de la crème: MARCH 2010

What a sensational month in music!!! I was struggling with narrowing my chart down 2 just 20 songs this time... Browse through my March posts 2 listen 2 some of those gems:

20 (N) - BABY CAN'T STOP - Lindstrøm & Christabelle - 1980's rare grooves updated in a super-slick Norwegian way

19 (N) - IF YOU WANT MY LOVE - Intelligent Manners - drum'n'bass sounding like back in the genre's finest period and made in St Petersburg, great track

18 (N) - GAY BOY - Farah - this year's most bizarre and quite possibly the most annoying single, Italian Do It Better label's incomparable treasure

17 (N) - COOLER COULEUR - The Crookers Feat. Yelle - fantastic collaboration, this one's going 2 b B-----I-----G-----!

16 (3) - WE HAVE LOVE - Hot Chip - fruitful production on Hot Chip's first attempt 2 match the indisputable brilliance of OVER & OVER

15 (2) - MOMMA'S PLACE - Róisín Murphy - 3rd month in my charts says it all... CLASSIC

14 (N) - BABY I'M YOURS - Breakbot Feat. Irfane - Do you wanna funk???

13 (N) - WHY DON'T YOU - Gramophonedzie - Peggy Lee introduced 2 clubland generation a mere half a decade after its initial release

12 (N) - VLAD - Pink Stallone - ITALIANS DO IT BETTER and their 2nd of 3 releases I had a pure pleasure 2 include in my ranking, eerie piece of disco noir

11 (N) - PROTECTION (SIRIUSMO REMIX) - Ben Mono Feat. Bajka - play that funky music peeps!

10 (N) - THE WORSE IT GETS - Penguin Prison - number one on all charts in a perfect world...



09 (N) - HUNGRY FOR THE POWER - Azari & III - androgynous house anthem - très
underground



08 (N) - FLAWLESS - Hard Ton - super camp male version of Beth Ditto doing his best Donna Sumer vs Giorgio Moroder impersonation in a Grace Jones ensemble, seriously B R I L L I A N T



07 (N) - DRUNKEN SAILOR JAZZZZ - Kahuun Feat. Sonia Rubina - twisted neo swing from the city with the most amount of musical talents per capita - Bergen in Norway



06 (N) - I WANNA LIFE - Goldfrapp - apparently influenced by all sounds that weren't cool in the 80's new Goldfrapp material sounds cooler than anything else out there in the map of pop music



05 (N) - TO KINGDOM COME (ARTWORK REMIX) - Passion Pit - well done Maciek, I owe u one, floating vibrations and a juicy free download HERE



04 (18) - BULLET PROOF - Ray Mang Feat. Lady Miss Kier - a nu disco stomper, single with my name written all over it, spectacular rendition of George Clinton's P-Funk cult track and most importantly LADY MISS KIER is B-A-C-K wooohooo



03 (10) - FEELING WITHOUT TOUCHING - Glass Candy - The non-Italians that do it better yet again... Such a pure class tune,



02 (N) - JOSEPHINE - Cubic Zirconia - one word: B-O-N-K-E-R-S-!-!-!



01 (N) - ROYAL T - The Crookers Feat. Róisín Murphy - anthemic a cult-song-in-progress collaboration between Irish chanteuse and Italian multi eclectic super-duo, if u haven't heard it yet make sure u do HERE

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SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: ACAPELLA - Kelis

I've been praising this magical pop moment in January Crème de la crème already but wit this sensational video I think it will most probably make an appearance again on my charts next month... And yes I dare 2 say it is Kelis' BEST single and yes it is her BEST video 2 date as well!!! Watch, listen and admire:

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CHOON OF THE DAY: BABY (CLOCK OPERA REMIX)- The Phenomenal Handclap Band

Discovered this gem last night. Check out this dazzling little song effort, I am totally hooked... What do u reckon?

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SHREM'S LATE MONDAY NIGHT SESSIONS... "JOSEPHINE" - Cubic Zirconia

This is SICK guys! "JOSEPHINE" by Cubic Zirconia - New York underground dance scene @ it's most obscene.

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SHREM'S VINTAGE CORNER PRESENTS...

C'EST SI BON by Eartha Kitt



Eartha Kitt's 1953 debut single with the magnificent Henri René And His Orchestra. Beauty.

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THE DECADE IN SONGS: 4

4 - ADD THIS SONG - GUS GUS



ALBUM: "24/7" - GUS GUS
MY I-CHOONS COUNT: 45
BEST REMIX: Klovn
KEY LYRICS: "Add this song to your heart,
let it beat in your chest.
Real hard"
RELEASE DATE: 2009
MYSPACE





Glacial techno soundscapes by the mighty Icelanders. One of the most haunting and hypnotising tunes of the past few years. Once you're hooked that's it u won't get rid of those lyrics and that melody that easily...

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SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: FEELING WITHOUT TOUCHING - Glass Candy

Long awaited Glass Candy's first official video has finally premiered. And it is stunning. Fingers crossed they play in Dublin soon again as they remain simply my favourite band on earth at the moment... I/D/A/N/O and J/O/H/N/N/Y/J/E/W/E/L in smashing form. Here it is:

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THE DECADE IN SONGS: 5

5 - THE TIME IS NOW - MOLOKO



ALBUM: "THINGS TO MAKE AND DO" - Moloko
MY I-CHOONS COUNT: 44
BEST REMIX: Dj Plankton
KEY LYRICS: "Flowers blossom
In the winter time
In your arms I feel
Sunshine"
RELEASE DATE: 2000
MYSPACE



All I have 2 say here is that Moloko's best selling single is also one of the most magical moments in the history of pop music. Period.

Here's a brilliant live performance from Pinkpop Festival in 2004:

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CHOON OF THE DAY: BABY I'M YOURS (SIRIUSMO REMIX)- Breakbot Feat. Irfane

Groovalicious vibes from Parisian powerpop factory. Le French touch at its freshest. Check out Breakbot's funky version of Sébastien Tellier's ROCHE on their MYSPACE. Do Da Funky Bot Lads!

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ELECTRIC SHREM

Electric Picnic 2010 first line-up revealed. And it's going 2 b a blast from the past!!! Fever Ray, Leftfield, 808 State (!!!) and this gentleman below seem 2 b my possible highlights of the festival.



Thrilled 2 see Roxy Music, Massive Attack, LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip and Liquid Liquid announced as well. Check out the whole listing so far HERE.

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THE DECADE IN SONGS: 6

6 - CLOWN - SSION



ALBUM: "FOOL'S GOLD" - Ssion
MY I-CHOONS COUNT: 83
BEST REMIX: Glass Candy
KEY LYRICS: "Pride, faith, heart and soul
come together, take control"
RELEASE DATE: 2008
MYSPACE


Absolutely flawless hommage pour Madonna's HOLIDAY by New York's most flamboyant disco punk collective. Immaculate pop performance.

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SHREM'S INSTITUTE OF LOST CLASSICS PRESENTS...

MAGNIFIQUE by Magnifique (alias Charisma)



1979 German Euro Trash galore. C'est fantastique. 4 all those of u who adore bizarre obscurities from Disco's golden days...



Maciek & Warren shout-outs go 2 both of u X

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CHOON OF THE DAY: THE WORSE IT GETS - Penguin Prison

Another crazily addictive and catchy song from one of 2010's most promising acts. Check it out:

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SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: BULLET PROOF - Ray Mang feat. Lady Miss Kier

It's FRIDAY guys!!! Time 2 put on those dancing high-heels again;-) Here's a very special little something 2 put u all in2 the mood 4 partyin'. Ray Mang's electrifying rendition of George Clinton's P-Funk anthem with one of my musical muses - the eccentric and the ever fabulous Lady Miss Kier Kirby on sensational vocals. It's da house BOMB boys & girls!
Kier performed it before on some of her live shows, so brilliant BULLET PROOF is finally out. Fantastic addition 2 my Lady Kier collection...



Available 4 purchase on i-tunes and juno records now.

And just a wee reminder of the timeless original too:

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THE DECADE IN SONGS: 7

7 - HIDDEN PLACE - BJÖRK



ALBUM: "VESPERTINE" - Björk
MY I-CHOONS COUNT: 24
BEST REMIX: no official remixes of the track
KEY LYRICS: "He's the beautifullest
Fragilest
Still strong
Dark and divine
And the littleness of his movements
Hides himself
He invents a charm that makes him invisible
Hides in the air
Can I hide there too?
Hide in the air of him
Seek solace
Sanctuary"
RELEASE DATE: 2001
MYSPACE



Extraordinary mélange of super-talents: Guy Sigsworth, Matmos and Matthew Herbert among others, producing, arranging and programming Björk's finest song of her 2nd and way more experimental decade as a solo artiste. Labyrinthine mosaic of micro-beats, choir chants and truly exceptional melody.

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KEEP DA FLAVA OF DA OLDSKOOL: GOOD LOVER - D'Influence

One of the strongest UK urban acts of the 1990's with the wonderful Sarah Ann Webb on vocals... Love Sweet Sound by the band who also quite strangely accompanied certain Björk on her first ever TV appearance in UK. Listen 2 the vibes...

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SHREM'S GUILTIEST OF PLEASURES... VOL.5

MADE IN JAPAN by Nancy Nova


"Nissan! Datsun! Japanese-y!
Pansonic! Mitsubishi!
Take your business nice and easy!
Ah, so it goes!
Akai! Sanyo! Teac! Sony!
Yamaha, ha! Nice head phone-y!
Nikon for your one and only!
Get one of those!
Kawasaki, ride it solo!
Sukiyaki! Nice kimono!
Honda bike-y! Yoko Ono!
Everyone knows...
Buy one of those...
How well it goes...
Lucky you chose...
Something with that name MADE IN JAPAN!"

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SHREM'S INSTITUTE OF LOST CLASSICS PRESENTS...

FROM: DISCO TO: DISCO by Whirlpool Productions



Neue Heimat drunken camp anthem. Released initially back in 1996 the song had its own life on countless compilations, various 12" re-releases as well as on Les Rythmes Digitales' epic album "DARKDANCER". A M A Z I N G N E S S.

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GET IN2 THE RARE GROOVES: LOVE ME LIKE THIS - Real 2 Reel + Floating Points version

1983 soul funk track. One of my favourites. Darren thanx a lot 4 the fine rip.

And while we're at it, let me remind u of that delicious deep house 12" built around the sample from the song above, here's LOVE ME LIKE THIS by the mighty Floating Points:

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PAN DI-DZIEJ VS MASSIVE ATTACK

There he is again, my personal favourite music geek out there - Mister Czarnecki aka Pan Di-Dziej with another one of his reviews. So glad we're making it a regular thing here Piotrek. Gr8 2 have u on board.



Massive Attack - "Heligoland"



I was really looking forward to listening to this album. And I really was looking forward to liking it. After seven years of waiting (forget that “Unleashed” soundtrack nonsense) and releasing a very promising EP last year, Massive Attack had eyes and ears of the world on them. The build-up and expectations were huge. With Grand Marshall, aka Daddy G, back on board, after 12 years of creative absence, and a showcase full of better or less known friends, producer and composer, Robert Del Naja (3D) was trying to recapture the atmosphere that once could creep the hell out of the listeners. Unfortunately he fails in most of the attempts. Promising moments of bliss can be found here and there, but in overall “Heligoland” lacks the consistency of the previous efforts.
Album begins with “Pray for rain”, a dark, slow burning, tribal tune, which is illogically broken by a light, poppy interlude in the middle. Tunde Abebimpe from Brooklyn based alternative choir/collective TV On A Radio provides vocals on this one. Funny enough, the next track “Babel”, with a guest appearance by Tricky's one-time muse, Martina Topley-Bird, sounds like something you'd normally find on an album by Abedimpe's band. But this soulful, wobbly bass fueled, electronic-indie rock crossover, makes you wonder, if you're listening to the right band. Topley-Bird gets another spot, fronting “Psyche”. Hypnotic “Girl, I love you” with reggae legend and Attack's longtime collaborator Horace Andy, sounds like a lost track from “Mezzanine”. Great, classic Massive Attack track with big, off sounding horns that, unfortunately, break the intimacy of the whole song. Both 3D fronted songs, “Rush minute” and “Atlas Air”, could be easily mistaken for tracks from his solo produced “100th Window”. The centerpiece of the record comes in form of “Splitting the atom” - the best thing you'll find on “Heligoland”. Massive Attack's signature blend of retro and futuristic sound, that manages to be spacious and claustrophobic at the same time, is delivered in style here. A huge bassline and a creepy choir chanting in the background together with a lush organ and glitchy beat create a perfectly haunted environment for this paranoid tune. All Massive's duty singers add a layer of their vocals here. Horace Andy's vibrating croon, Daddy G's gravely deep voice and 3D's digital lullaby come together in perfect harmony. A true gem. On the flipside, we've got too many pointless efforts, like i.e. "Flat of the blade". Elbow's Guy Harvey's half-sung, half-spoken nasal delivery over cacophonous, totally random sounding background makes you want to skip forward before the song kicks in. “Paradise Circus”, chosen to promote the album and fronted by Hope Sandoval, brings another slice of boredom. And Damon Albarn of Blur gets shoved again into our ears uninvited in “Sunday come slow”, another dull, primitive track.
It seems like Massive Attack are not a collective anymore. They surely do not sound like one. Of course all of their previous albums featured guest vocalists, but they managed to fit perfectly into musical canvas of the whole. This time I get the feeling that it's more about the big names, rather than songs. Apart from “Splitting the atom”, there's one more thing worth praising, the artwork. Full of political symbolism and inspired by the street art of Jean-Michel Basquiat, was created by 3D himself. Nonetheless “Heligoland” sounds like a half finished record to me.
With one half of the disc of barely listenable tracks, one true gem, and the rest sounding like bastard offspring of previous albums, Heligoland is a prefect guide to how to kill your own legend. Maybe it's the lack of creativity or maybe Massive Attack's main man was too busy being involved in politics, antiwar campaigning and other people's projects. Too busy to notice that his band's monopoly for creating the soundtrack for urban paranoia of digital times had been challenged by someone else. His name is Burial.

(5/10)

Piotrek Czarnecki

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THE DECADE IN SONGS: 8

8 - BEATIFIC - GLASS CANDY



ALBUM: B/E/A/T/B/O/X
MY I-CHOONS COUNT: 68
BEST REMIX: their very own rendition re-titled as "POISON OR REMEDY"
KEY LYRICS: "Lights and shadows keep us dancing round and round, in this place where angels come to meet the underground"
RELEASE DATE: 2007
MYSPACE



What a tune lads!!! I/D/A/N/O and J/O/H/N/N/Y/J/E/W/EL "the Portland duo that spook the dancefloor", they're just s*** cool from any angle. I will never forget hearing this gem live @ the Button Factory in Dublin (thanx Alva!!!) which sent me reeling. Quite frankly I do find GLASS CANDY the most electrifying act out there at the moment and I can never wait 4 every next step they take.



4 good times call Glass Candy...

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CHOON OF THE DAY: WANT YOU BACK - Nite Jewel

One of the most original acts coming from the über-trendy label ITALIANS DO IT BETTER. Analog funk, lo-fi italo disco or simply lounge whatever u call it u can't deny their uniqueness. Nite Jewel are like they say on their MYSPACE page "liquid cool"...

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SHREM'S LATE MONDAY NIGHT SESSIONS...

It's all about nu-disco ce soir... Loads of brand new camp glittery electro delicacies... Hard Ton, Azari & III, Ssion and this... Tacky and wonderfully delicious. This one will break u nice...



BREAK YOU NICE by Electrosexual & Scream Club feat Zoe Vermillion & Mz Sunday Luv



Out on i-tunes now

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THE DECADE IN SONGS: 9

9 - JIMMY - M.I.A.



ALBUM: "Kala" - M.I.A.
MY I-CHOONS COUNT: 76
BEST REMIX: Dan Carey
KEY LYRICS: "Jimmy Aaja x 3"
RELEASE DATE: 2007
MYSPACE



M.I.A.'s unquestionable anthem which also is a brilliant rendition of the theme song from 1980's Bollywood movie "Disco Dancer". And what a jewel of a video on top of that. Enjoy:

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THE DECADE IN SONGS: 10

10 - SHADOWS - MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS



ALBUMS: "Dystopia"- Midnight Juggernauts, "FabricLive 29" - Cut Copy
MY I-CHOONS COUNT: 67
BEST REMIX: Knightlife
KEY LYRICS: "Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow today"
RELEASE DATE: 2006
MYSPACE



I have heard this masterpiece first on Cut Copy's set 4 FABRIC series back in 2006... It has been released on many compilations and formats since but hasn't lost any of its magic. Loved the description of this Melbourne based band I found on wikipedia : "prog dance meets cosmic film scores"... Typically I couldn't present u with the original video 4 the song as some particular record label (on its way out thankfully grrrrr) doesn't allow embedding so here's one of fan-made videos and a good one too instead. This is what u call a new stereophonic sound spectacular...

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CHOON OF THE DAY: ICEBLINK LUCK - Cocteau Twins

Phenomenal single from one of the best bands in the history of music... Simple as that...

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WHY DON'T YOU DO RIGHT THIS WEEKEND?

One of Peggy Lee's timeless classics WHY DON'T YOU DO RIGHT (1942!!!) refreshed by Serbian DJ Gramophonedzie 2 a stomping house anthem of now. We all danced till we dropped 2 it last weekend and I have a strange sensation, it's all about 2 happen again this weekend:-) Irresistibly catchy! Out on I-tunes now!!!



Thanx dad

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THE DECADE IN SONGS: 20 - 11

1000 hits guys!!! Thank u, thank u, thank u. I am sooo happy. Can't believe we're in top 20 already...

20 - MACHINE GUN - Portishead - noisy, industrial and breathtakingly beautiful return of Portishead in 2008

19 - YOU KNOW ME BETTER - Róisín Murphy - pure dance fest, magnificent from a songwriting point of view, visually stunning in a video hommage 2 Cindy Sherman and an electrifying experience at any of Róisín's live performances

18 - MOONLIGHT DANCE - Sally Shapiro - from the wonderful "MY GUILTY PLEASURE" comes this slickly produced gorgeous little song



17 - ANTHONIO - Annie - Bergen based Anne Lilia Berge Strand teaming up with electro-magician Richard X guarantees first class electro pop productions, additionally with such witty lyrics this might just have 2 b Annie's brightest moment



16 - DEER STOP - Goldfrapp - they're about 2 release their 5th album, this is a rather low-key however dazzling and unworldly track taken from their debut "FELT MOUNTAIN"...

15 - UP! - M83 - French dream pop dressed in exquisite harmonious stereophonic sounds spectacular:-), teşekkür ederim Yeşim 4 introducing me 2 this incredible piece of music



14 - MUSIC - Madonna - La Ciccone-meets-Kraftwerk in a super-hyper-mega production by certain Mirwais Ahmadzaï, 10 years after its release still stands out among all Madonna's singles

13 - RAMALAMA (BANG BANG) - Róisín Murphy - La Murphy's biggest solo song not in a commercial dimension as well as her most bizarre one:



12 - BLIND - Hercules & Love Affair - fascinating tune by a fascinating disco-reinterpreting collective, who would have thought that Antony Hegarty's vocals would suit dancefloor orientated material more than anybody else's... Hugely impressed hearing it 4 the first time back in January 2007 I have decided 2 blog 4 the very first time (on myspace)



11 - DISCOTRAXX - Ladytron - "604" was such a cutting-edge album, not a weak song on it, the one I picked is no less than my most favourite of all Ladytron tunes, that intro in Bulgarian gives me goosebumps each time, DA BOMB!!!

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