SHREM'S CAROUSEL OF ÜBER NERDINESS: October 2013

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

SHREM'S CLUB BIZARRE INTRODUCING: "ON A CLOUD" - Soft Metals

Portland oniric electro duo Soft Metals released "Lenses", their 2nd LP back in July via Captured Tracks. "On A Cloud" is a moody nu-disco piece hypnotising us with its oddly appealing aura of sonic mystery. Somewhere between Nite Jewel, Femme En Fourrure and Cosmetics. Delectable!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

CHOON OF THE DAY: "CREATE YOUR LOVE" - Amateur Best feat. Empress Of

Double Denim Records have just released their first ever compilation showing off the eclectic works of their talented bunch of artists. The joint effort between the ethereal Empress Of, an alternative pop siren responsible for "Hat Tricks" one of the most mesmerising songs I heard in 2013, and the lesser known Amateur Best. This luscious duet is filled with positive vibrations and enchanted me with its unusual melody, soothing harmonies and second to none production. Track of the week so far, big time!

Amateur Best featuring Empress Of - Create Your Love by Double Denim Records

Monday, October 28, 2013

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "DANCEFLOOR" - Ricardo Baez + Hard Ton Remix /// "STRAIGHT BILLIN'" - Greymatter & KRL

Hey House Music lovers! Two excellent EP's appeared on the underground club scene's horizon in the last few weeks. Two EP's that deserve a lot of attention from the genre's connoisseur like you and me.

Florence based Ricardo Baez treated us to an oldskool flavoured dancefloor feast with his 2nd single "Sweat EP" which has just dropped via Toy Tonics - a new house and futuristic electronic dance music German label. "Dancefloor" is an instant winner of the whole bunch also available here in a fantastic remix by the mighty and irreplaceable, our most favourite Hard Ton!

"Straight Billin'" comes from Brighton residing Greymatter and his freshly released "Wolf EP 20", a collaborative effort with KRL for Wolf Music Records. Watch out also for a remix of the track by Medlar. I have added both of the releases to the weekend partying essentials.

2013 - the year of House Music resurrection continues big time.

Greymatter & KRL - WOLF EP 20 by GREYMATTER

Saturday, October 26, 2013

SHREM'S GUILTIEST OF PLEASURES... VOL. 36: "Boom Boom" - نازیہ حسن‎ Nazia Hassan

Nazia Hassan was an iconic Pakistani Pop singer whose Bollywood songs made her a legend in Pakistan and all of South Asia in the early 1980's. This fits my definition of Guilty Pleasures perfectly with its sweet dose of kitsch, Disco-meets-Orient vibe, the shamelessly over the top flamboyance of Bollywood, ultra-catchy chorus and that tacky Moroderesque production.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

SHREM'S CLUB BIZARRE INTRODUCING: "HURT ME" + "THE CITY" - Rosemary

Rosemary, the Danish/Persian noir electro duo continue to mesmerise with their mysterious releases. "Something will happen very soon..." they enigmatically announced on their Facebook page today and shared the slightly unsettling official visual to their hypnotic new offering "Hurt Me". The pair blew me away first last year with "A Persian Tale" EP and never stopped intriguing me with their very own unique sound. There's also "The City" from "Sound of Copenhagen Vol. 11" compilation to keep us all Rosemary's babies entertained while anticipating their new release.

The City by Rosemary

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "BIG LOVE (LORENZ RHODE REMIX)" - Jamie Lidell /// "YOU DROPPED A BOMB ON ME" - The Gap Band

Jamie Lidell never really disappoints but his live and studio collaborative efforts with Lorenz Rhode seem like a match made in sonic heaven. Rhode's latest remix treatment of "Big Love" scores very high on my list of this year's most prolific mixes. I mean it surpassed the original song in its ultra-brilliance in my humble opinion. On repeat here for a good few days at this stage and a solid #1 spot on my private charts. And to prove how uncannily 1980's are Lorenz Rhode's productional skills here's one of the belters from the era by The Gap Band.

By the way, if 80's R'N'B, funk, disco, soul and rare grooves are your cup of tea you should follow my latest thread of lists solely dedicated to "SHREM'S TOP 100 JUICIEST R&B SONGS OF THE 1980'S". Here are the links to the first 4 portions of this ranking:

part #1 [100-91]

part #2 [90-81]

part #3 [80-71]

part #4 [70-61]

Sunday, October 20, 2013

SHREM'S TOP 100 JUICIEST R&B SONGS OF THE 1980'S [part 4]: 70 - 61

70 "Do I Do" - Stevie Wonder (1982)

69 "Workin' Overtime" - Diana Ross (1989)

Diana Ross - Workin' Overtime by Jamy Jamer

68 "Make-Up" - Vanity 6 (1982)

67 "Secret Rendezvous" - Karyn White (1988)

66 "Don't You Want Me" - Jody Watley (1987)

65 "I Found Lovin'" - The Fatback Band (1983)

64 "Diamonds" - Herb Albert Feat. Janet Jackson (1987)

63 "Satisfy Me Lover" - Starpoint (1984)

62 "When I Think Of You" - Janet Jackson (1986)

61 "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" - S.O.S. Band (1980)

Saturday, October 19, 2013

CHOON OF THE DAY: "SWEETEST THING" - Lulu James + Laconic Remix

So I guess if Jessie Ware was my new favourite diva last year, Lulu James would be the one in 2013. "The Sweetest Thing" may actually be her catchiest song to date, and just like it was the case with Ware's "Wildest Moment" it has a #1 hit written all over it. A #1 hit in an ideal world that is, where mainstream media and audience would actually appreciate quality POP music like this which disappointingly hasn't been the case for years at this stage. The track is a flawless composition with an irresistibly memorable chorus, all sleekly produced and now also elegantly portrayed in this sublime video. Laconi's mix is one of the 3 included in the EP which drops 1st November.

Sweetest Thing (Laconic Remix) - Lulu James by Lulu James

Thursday, October 17, 2013

SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: "EVERYTHING YOU NEVER HAD (WE HAD IT ALL) - Breach feat. Andreya Triana [Video] + Joe Goddard Remix

So this year's most anthemic house record, Breach's "Everything You Never Had (We Had It All)" featuring the velvet vocals of Andreya Triana, now also has a fittingly clever official video. I can already sense a brand new flash-mob craze happening all around European clubs to this one. If it wasn't enough, with the track already being hotly tipped for Ben Westbeech's alter-ego's second consecutive Top 10 hit, the track now also been treated by Hot Chip's maestro of excellent remixes Mr Joe Goddard.

Breach - Everything You Never Had (Joe Goddard remix) by Breach-uk

CHOON OF THE DAY: "FILLE SANS SOUCIS" - Cinema

I have come across French duo Cinema first around February when I heard their stupendous debut single "UV" on one of the prolific Kitsuné compilations. The song scored high on two of the editions of my monthly Crème de la crème chart back in springtime and now Calypso Valois and Alexandre Chatelard return with another fascinating piece of cold wave, disco noir, vintage melodies and analog cinematic vibes à la Française in the shape of their 2nd single "Fille Sans Soucis". Superb, richly multi-layered and so French. The EP is out 5th November. Bravo, à nouveau!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

CHOONS OF THE DAY: "THE HEAT" + "LUCKY I GOT WHAT I WANT" - Jungle

I've had Jungle on my radar for a good few weeks at this stage. They caught my attention immediately with their very distinctive urban recipe for electronic soul. Oddly enough their sound seem both old-fashioned and futuristic in the same time and this new double-sided single is a piece of productional art. The duo effortlessly stand out among the most promising newcomers to emerge in 2013. I'm already craving more music from Jungle.

Jungle - Lucky I Got What I Want by JUNGLE.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "Alkoan Baladi الكون بلدي" - Débruit & Alsarah

I've heard this absolutely stunning track playing in one of the cafés last weekend in Brick Lane, East London. It is very fitting I was to discover this stimulating fusion of electronica and Arabic vibes in such a multi-cultural and cosmopolitan spot. I did use Shazam to find out about this up & coming collaborative project Débruit & Alsarah. Soundway Records will be releasing their debut album "Aljawal" on 11th November and it's shaping to be a feast for all the "Orientophiles" like myself. "A modern, haunting take on Sudanese music heard through the sonic lens of French artist / producer, Débruit and the poetic, ethereal lyrics and melodies of Sudanese-born singer Alsarah" as we read on the label's official press release. This intriguing album, aptly named "Aljawal" - "The Traveller", reflects Alsarah's extraordinary journey between the capital city of Sudan, Khartoum where she was born, Yemen where she relocated with her family and finally Brooklyn where she resides now. It also reflects a sonic excursion she ventured on accompanied by Débruit. Based on this incredible first track "Alkoan Baladi" I am sensing a sensation similar to "Arabology" by Y.A.S. when Soapkills' Yasmine Hamdan joined efforts with Mirwais Ahmadzaï back in 2009. Can't wait!

Débruit & Alsarah - Alkoan Baladi ٩. الكون بلدي by Soundway Records

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "Raging Lung (Hannah Holland Remix)" /// "Let's Talk About Gender Baby, Let's Talk About You And Me (Planningtorock's Full Of Fire Rework)" - The Knife

The Knife continue to amaze, surprise and inspire... The controversial and artistically superior Dreijer siblings have just dropped a brand new single from their hugely conceptual latest album "Shaking The Habitual" which still stands out among the most original records to come out in 2013. This time around the Swedish duo invited Planningtorock to reinterpret the uncontrollable "Full Of Fire", the collaboration which resulted in this dancefloor-friendly number with "a funky celebration feel" as described by the mysterious Berlin artiste herself. The single is also revealing an even darker version of The Knife's latest outing "Raging Lung". Still incomparable, uncompromising and exceptionally inventive.

The Knife - Raging Lung (Hannah Holland Remix) by Dazed Digital

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

SHREM'S TOP 100 JUICIEST R&B SONGS OF THE 1980'S [part 3]: 80 - 71

80 "Do You Want It Right Now" - Siedah Garrett (1985)

79 "Body Talk" - Imagination (1981)

78 "Knocked Out" - Paula Abdul (1988)

77 "Encore" - Cheryl Lynn (1983)

76 "I Can Make You Feel Good" - Shalamar (1982)

75 "All Night Long" - Mary Jane Girls (1983)

74 "Raspberry Beret" - Prince (1985)

73 "Wishing Well" - Terence Trent D'Arby (1987)

72 "Hangin' On A String (Contemplating)" - Loose Ends (1985)

71 "The Way You Love Me" - Karyn White (1988)

Monday, October 7, 2013

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "VIRTUAL LOVER" - Nadia Ksaiba [+ Jimmy Edgar Remix] /// "GUEST LIST" - DENA

London residing Tunisian electro princess praised by the likes of Erol Alkan and Berlin-based Bulgarian answer to M.I.A. surely had to end up in one dancefloor action packed post here, right?

Nadia Ksaiba's "Virtual Lover" is a sneak peek into the artist's upcoming debut album balancing somewhere between Disco Classics, Minimal Wave, Synth Pop, Downtown New York Punk Funk and those life-affirming early Madonna singles as we read on Nadia's Facebook page. The single's out now on Phantasy and it includes another smashing remix from the unstoppable Jimmy Edgar.

DENA's "Guest List" mixes dancehall rhythms, subtle Oriental samples, Eastern European kitsch and clever productional tricks with her signature, slightly annoying way of rapping. I wasn't a fan of her sensationally viral "Cash, Diamond Rings, Swimming Pools" I must admit but I dig this one more and more. Two girls to keep an eye on in the upocoming months big time.