The moments I manage to invite artists I admire the most to contribute something special and exclusive for my blog I cherish immensely. It's been a while since Sally Shapiro's Italo Disco-meets-Rave Party playlist back in November so I am even more delighted to present to you another "Perfect Party Playlist" compiled especially for SHREM'S CAROUSEL OF ÜBER NERDINESS. I first came across the enigmatic Poisonous Relationship on ECSTASY website, an underground house record label which is responsible for releasing some of the most stunning and unique dance records of the past few years the likes of "Light of Love" by The Miracles Club, "Lonely Sea" by Alexis Penney or "Elevate" by Finesse.
Poisonous Relationship is a velvet voiced artist, singer and writer named Jamie Crewe based in Glasgow. A man of many artistic talents whose sounds float between the planets of future R&B, house and electronica. This Sheffield born multi-gifted, self-proclaimed "hysterical songwriter" sings, produces, composes, remixes and revamps music (that Kelela rendition is out of this world!!!) quite like nobody else does. I have chosen Poisonous Relationship as one of Top 10 Hottest Newcomers in 2013 (even though it seems he's been busy making music for a few years at this stage) while his epic 10 minute long track "Men's Feelings" ended up at #6 in my annual countdown of Top 100 Best Tracks of the year. It is a real honour and joy to have you as a guest on my blog Jamie! Please enjoy Poisonous Relationship's colourful selection of 90's R&B, UK Soul Divas, rare remixes and house anthems accompanied by his poetic commentaries.
PERFECT PARTY PLAYLIST by Poisonous Relationship: 1. "I Adore You (Club House Mix)" - Caron Wheeler
That clipped piano rolled up
Unwheel to turn r'n'b into a perfect house
Wafted basement into dawn tang
2. "Two In A Million (Two In A Million (Driza Bone Album Mix)" - Mica Paris
Zips and velcro/vibraphone and tambourine
She's London but leafy
Long form ringlets, honey-throat
3. "Zami Girl (The 7" Mix By Jimmy Harry)" - Adele Bertei
On June 20, The Knife are digitally releasing "Shaken-Up Versions" a mini album of classic tracks reworked especially for the band's recent North American leg of their Shaking The Habitual Tour. These will include those spectacular renditions of "Pass This On", "We Share Our Mother’s Health", "Got 2 Let U" and "Silent Shout". A real treat for all the fans!
To preview the new versions, the Shaken-Up version of "Without You My Life Would Be Boring" has just been released, accompanied by a video directed by Bitte Andersson and a whole bunch of exciting remixes.
The never predictable and always fascinating Róisín Murphy is adding a very special item to her vibrant discography. An Italian language EP "Mi Senti" is out next week via The Vinyl Factory. Now you can stream "Mi Senti" in its full glory, an exquisite musical delicacy of the most refined kind. "Ancora Ancora Ancora" must be one of Róisín's most astonishing vocal performances to date, "Non Credere" just had me on the edge of tears with its alluring production and "In Sintesi", which I have already sung praises of, the only original material on the EP, drifts intriguingly between the retro worlds of space disco and underground Italo disco. There's an incredible interview with La Murphy on Vinyl Factory's official website which simply is a must-read for all the admirers of her extraordinary talent, like myself. She is back guys! And properly back this time around!
A slight change in musical direction for Midnight Juggernauts. The alluring "Cedoption" echoes some of these sweet early 90's club memories with a pinch of Stone Roses' "Fools Gold"... I am completely hooked. New entry at #4 today on my private chart. "Aerials EP #1" is out now via Siberia Records.
And here's the indestructibly timeless "Fools Gold":
Rebellious, risqué and in your face... The multi-talented and brazenly uncompromising M.I.A. has just released a self-directed video for her latest single "Double Bubble Trouble", one of the most distinguished tracks on "Matangi" which I chose to be the album of the year in 2013. Is there anything that girl cannot do? If it was ever even possible I appreciate "Double Bubble Trouble" even more now. Check it out below:
"Sayit" the first video from Robyn & Röyksopp's collaborative EP "Do It Again" is out today. This is "We Dance To The Beat" all over again pumped up by the Norwegian wizards of electronica with a pinch of Kraftwerk's rawness. There's also a luscious remix of the title track on the horizon, committed by one of Portugal's mightiest dance producers Moullinex. This EP is going to be simply sensational!
It was May 2006. Tomlab released one of the most unique, intriguing and groundbreaking albums that year Niobe's abstract and understated "White Hats". Bizarre folk, classical guitars, micro-beats, poetry, elegance, echoes of bossa nova and Matthew Herbert's works with Dani Siciliano and then this... Track #13. The final one on the album. The most wondrously unexpected 2 minutes of a dancefloor delicacy which still melts my heart every single time...
Chromeo team up with Solange for the 2nd time, following their 2011 team effort "When The Night Falls", to produce another stellar oldschool flavoured track. Their 4th LP "White Women" is out now and "Lost On The Way Home" stands out immediately among the most accomplished songs on the album. I can totally see this album being a soundtrack to all the summer festivals this year and Solange's vocals prove again to be the sweetest sound on the whole planet POP.
The uncompromising ultimate "Bad Girl" M.I.A. returns with this hyper-energetic remix of Beyoncé's "Flawless" and we get to see her performing "Double Bubble Trouble", one of the stand-out tracks from "Matangi", live before the premiere of its official video directed by Miss Arulpragasam herself. And so the "Matangi" era continues...
I have just finished listening to Maria Minerva's latest LP "Histrionic". And what an album it is! An ultimate treat for all those in constant hunt for new, uncompromising, boundary-pushing electronic sounds, sometimes on the verge of avant-garde cacophony and purposefully off-note vocal harmonies. Minerva's been Estonia's prime ambassador of intellectual dance music scene for a good few years at this stage and this new record just confirms her solid position among the most forward thinking electronica producers on the continent. "The Beginning" is an instant favourite on "Histrionic" while the dreamy "Galaxy" was chosen as the leading single of the album and is now available with this gloomy yet hypnotic slow motion video shot in NYC. "Histrionic" is out now via Not Not Fun.
This scarily talented kid is named Shamir Bailey. He's a 19 years old producer from Las Vegas who caught our attention with his debut house single "If It Wasn't True". The song that's been sitting comfortably among top 10 best tracks in the last 2 editions of my monthly Crème de la crème chart, is now also accompanied by an official video. The release of the video collided with a premiere of Shamir's newest gem "I Know It's A Good Thing" which announces the release of his hotly anticipated debut EP "Northtown" which drops 11th June via Godmode. Young, Gifted and Black!
TĀLĀ's hypnotic "Serbia" remains one of the most impressive debut singles to emerge in 2014 to date. Now accompanied by the official video directed by Katia Ganfield which should, with its ever so popular VHS aesthetics, attract even more followers of this London based Persian producer. For more stories behind check out TĀLĀ's first official interview on Fader HERE where she talks about her musical influences and inspirations of a multi-eclectic caliber! "The Duchess" EP comes out via Aesop 2nd June.
I've already been covering La Murphy's upcoming Italian EP while we were teased for the first time with "Ancora Tu" here, but we are now being treated to a second portion of this extraordinary release. This time around, The Vinyl Factory, shared "In Sintesi" which is the only original composition on Róisín Murphy's "Mi Senti EP". This twisted Italo disco odyssey will haunt you for days with its vintage space disco production, the Irish chanteuse's multi-layered and sensual vocal harmonies and whispers, ethereal melody and its eerie atmosphere. A truly hypnotising masterpiece for all the former Moloko singer's devotees.
Here's what Róisín herself had to say about "In Sintesi" as we read on her brand new website:
“In Sintesi came together very quickly and I think we all enjoyed the freedom of creating from scratch our own thing, after the weeks of work involved in getting the cover versions close to something we could be proud of. Knowing one's own recorded version has to stand up against the great music you are covering is a pressure you don't have when you write. It started like this: "Sebi, how do you say 'in synthesis'?".
And so the London sounds continue to conquer the European soul scene. Sasha Keable, known for her collaboration with Disclosure (check out their video for "Voices" below), is announcing the release of her solo EP "Lemon Grass & Lime Leaves" with the arrival of these two odlschool flavoured R'N'B jewels. For all the Lulu James, Jessie Ware and Roses Gabor fans in the house.
Monsieur Tellier just always delivers doesn't he? He also is one of the most prolific artists out there. Not even a year passed since his previous effort the majorly instrumental "Confection" and he's already about to drop his brand new LP "L'Aventura" which is coming out worldwide on 14th July. Sébastien Tellier's French, Belgian and Swiss fanbase will be able to enjoy it on 26th May already. The first taste of the new material is "L'Adulte", another multi-layered, beautifully crafted mini symphony, a signature Tellier sound. Et voilà! Here he is, Serge Gainsbourg of the modern era and his latest gem:
