SHREM'S CAROUSEL OF ÜBER NERDINESS: January 2016

Sunday, January 31, 2016

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "IN MY GARDEN" - Invisible Cities /// "THE HARDEST THING TO DO" -Tony Primo & Nixxie

There were two rather low-key, surprising releases last year where 2 female artists I cherish immensely, got involved in mysterious, collaborative efforts under disguises.

Róisín Murphy provided breathy, sensual vocals for "In The Garden" released by Luca C & Brigante's side project Invisible Cities. The sublime deep house track leaves the Irish chanteuse uncredited making it a particularly attractive addition to every Róisín Murphy completist's collection.

"The Hardest Thing To Do" was recorded for Ariel Kleiman's debut feature film "Partisan". This 1980's flavoured synth-pop jewel is a joint effort between Joseph Mount from Metronomy and Robyn under the alias Tony Primo & Nixxie. Nostalgic and wonderfully catchy the song sounds like a genuine, lost classic from the era.

Two hidden gems.

Here's "The Hardest Thing To Do" as used in "Partisan":

Friday, January 29, 2016

CHOON OF THE DAY: "WHERE U ARE" - Rina Sawayama

I first became acquainted with Rina Sawayama back in 2013 when she released her exquisite debut single "Sleeping In Waking" (#36 among Top 100 Best Tracks of the Year). Sawayama is a London based Japanese singer, songwriter, producer and... fashion model. She returns with "Where U Are" a delectable ode to the sweetest sounds of the 80's cosmic funk and rare grooves. While that saucy guitar riff at the start of the track resembles Devonté Hynes aka Blood Orange, the track was actually produced by Hoost. Irresistible.

"Where U Are" is set for release alongside "Tunnel Vision" later this year as part of the "Alone Together" EP.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

SHREM'S CLUB BIZARRE INTRODUCING: "IT MEANS I LOVE YOU" - Jessy Lanza

One of the most intriguing Hyperdub acts - Jessy Lanza, returns with the first single announcing her 2nd LP "Oh No" scheduled for 13th May. "It Means I Love You" establishes the Canadian singer's artistic versatility even further, the throbbing composition lies somewhere between the South African Shangaan Electro beats, Olof Dreijer's (The Knife) remixes, minimal electro, the ultra trendy PC music and Lanza's own signature aura of sonic mystery. In comparison with Lanza's cosmic disco affair with Morgan Geist (check out The Galleria's excellent "Calling Card" and "Mezzanine" here) and the electronic soul of "You Never Show Your Love" featuring DJ Spinn & Taso, "It Means I Love You" is a completely different story. I suppose we can begin counting the tunes towards this year's Best of 2016 as of now. Produced by Junior Boys’ Jeremy Greenspan this track is an instant Club Bizarre anthem.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

SHREM'S INSTITUTE OF LOST CLASSICS: "WHERE IS THE WHAT IF THE WHAT IS IN WHY" - Moloko

"This is a very limited CD. Moloko come from the 7 Hills of Sheffield. Release date: 22.05.1995" says the sticker on a highly sought-after super-rare promo single which happened to be the first introduction to Moloko and Róisín Murphy. A single which after a mere 2 decades I have finally managed to purchase while browsing on the ever reliable Discogs. It's rather fitting that I would dedicate the relaunch of my Lost Classics thread to this particular song. Paired with the dancefloor oddity "Party Weirdo" it was Moloko's first official single. Randomly scoring #189 on Australian charts, this sophisticated feast of electronica, trip-hop and all sounds bizarre was the calm before the storm and an apt showcase of a truly unique style which then became a signature for the next 8 fruitful years in the artistic life of this Irish/British duo. For all the Róisín Murphy completists out there, the promo version below is different to the final album edit which closed Moloko's debut "Do You Like My Tight Sweater?". A "white crow" as we call a rarity in Polish. File under #cultrecords.

Monday, January 25, 2016

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "EVERYTHING NICE" - Jaakko Eino Kalevi feat. Farao /// "BE MINE (Jaakko Eino Kalevi Remix)" - Alice Boman

January is an odd month in music year in, year out. A slight stagnation on the new releases front, as if most artists were going into short-term hibernation, cooling off after December's marathon of year end charts and before everything kicks in again in February. It is also a month of discovering all those hidden gems musos might have missed out on throughout the previous year. Our favourite Finnish artist - Jaakko Eino Kalevi teamed up with Farao last autumn to cover Popcaan's dancehall hit "Everything Nice" and turned it into a wondrous neo-folk-meets-synth-pop lushness and this one-off release completely slipped under my radar. I thought it'd be fitting to pair "Everything Nice" with Kalevi's enthralling remix of Alice Boman's "Be Mine" which I have already been singing the praises of, listing it among the Top 20 Greatest Remixes of 2015, but never actually dedicated a single post to. Don't these two sound rather magical back to back?

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

SHREM'S CLUB BIZARRE INTRODUCING: "Razrushitelniy Krug (Destructive Cycle)" - Kedr Livanskiy

Kedr Livanskiy (Russian for Lebanese Cedar) represents the Russian underground electronic scene, a scene with which we are yet to become acquainted. Her debut single, the incomparable "Sgoraet" ended up at #28 on my annual #Top100 list of the greatest tracks of the year in December. Now the uncompromising producer announces the release of her first EP "January Sun" which you can pre-order via 2MR. The second taste of this truly unique material is "Razrushitelniy Krug (Destructive Cycle)" which sonically lies somewhere between the recordings of Glass Candy, Nite Jewel, Appaloosa and Fischerspooner, even though the artist lists Autechre, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada and Mazzy Star as her major inspirations. The lo-fi sounds, the startlingly unpredictable production, Kedr Livanskiy's mysteriously unsettling vocal laments, the analog synths and the melodic abundance of Russian language all combined, make for one of the most memorable releases in months. I adore to be taken by surprise me.

And here's the fascinating "Sgoraet" once again:

Monday, January 18, 2016

SHREM'S LIST OBSESSION: Top 10 Greatest Maurice Fulton Remixes

Following the results of my annual ranking for the greatest remixes of the year and seeing how effortlessly Maurice Fulton scored the number 1 spot for his funky rendition of Róisín Murphy's sumptuous "House of Glass", I decided to dedicate the next one of my lists entirely to Fulton's superior art of mixing.

10 "Over And Over (Maurice Fulton Remix)" - Hot Chip (2006)

9 "Happy Sunday (Maurice Fulton Remix)" - Dj Nori (2013)

8 "Happy Babouge (Maurice Fulton Remix)" - Minimal Compact (2003)

7 "The Fall (Maurice Fulton Alt Mix)" - Rhye (2012)

6 "Love Endeavor (Maurice Fulton Remix)" - Alice Smith (2006)

5 "Umbeya (Maurice Fulton Dub)" - Mim Suleiman (2012)

4 "Year of the Apocalypse (Maurice Club Mix)" - Jimi Tenor (1999)

Sample on Amazon.

3 "Spell (Maurice Fulton Mix)" - Jimi Tenor (2000)

Listen on Juno.

2 "Cruel Intentions (Maurice Fulton Remix)" - Simian Mobile Disco feat. Beth Ditto (2010)

1 "House of Glass (Maurice Fulton Remix)" - Róisín Murphy (2015)

CHOON OF THE DAY: "MALA" - Maluca

Maluca has been making planet music a more vibrant place since 2009 with her exotic mish-mash of electronica, dancehall, hip-hop and "ghetto tech, tropical punk and dominican rave", as she defines her own sound. Ever since her debut single dropped in December 2009 I instantly became curious about the singer making "El Tigeraso" one of the very first songs I blogged about on SHREM'S CAROUSEL OF ÜBER NERDINESS. Maluca has collaborated with Oliver Twizt, Dillon Francis, Diplo, Don Diablo and Solidisco over the years, released a few one-off singles and joined efforts with Robyn for her La Bagatelle Magique project and their "Love Is Free" release last year, one of the 20 greatest tracks of 2015. Now the Manhattan born adept of bachata, cumbia, merengue, and mambo returns with "Mala" - the title track taken from her upcoming EP. Alongside the aforementioned "El Tigeraso" and "Lola (Ging Danga)", "Mala" sounds like the Dominican princess' most proficient work to date.

And here's Maluca's "El Tigeraso" once again:

Thursday, January 14, 2016

SHREM'S FUTURE ANTHEMS: "BECAUSE" - Smerz

i-D has premiered this instant Scandinavian essential last week. The Norwegian duo Smerz consists of Henriette Motzfeldt and Catharina Stoltenberg. Their sleekly produced debut single "Because" has just spiced things up in the deep house department. The instantly appealing track is reminiscent of another Nordic underground house anthem Sísý Ey's indestructible "Ain't Got Nobody" especially the Nils Hoffmann Remix of the song. Just press play and get mesmerised. And all is magic...

Sunday, January 10, 2016

SHREM'S DOUBLE TROUBLE: "WOMAN" - Rosie Lowe /// "SAY ANYMORE" - Kiiara

Two young, talented ladies who both featured among my Top 100 Best Tracks of 2015 (Kiiara's "Gold" at #83 and Lowe's "Worry Bout Us" at #79) are back with brand new releases to kick-start 2016 a year when both Rosie Lowe and Kiiara are scheduled to drop their debut albums.

"Woman" is an elegant, understated, piano-laden downtempo slice of neo soul, filled with subtle synthesisers, flawless vocals and aural finesse. As strong and memorable as Lowe's exquisite first single "Right Thing" back in 2013 and last year's Machinedrum produced "Worry Bout Us". Wolf Tone will release "Control" on 19th February. Pre-order your copy on iTunes now.

Felix Snow produced Kiiara's 5th single "Say Anymore" an instantly irresistible modern pop classic, electrifying with its surprising, broken beats, twitchy vocals and intriguing samples. I am very much looking forward to seeing what the future may bring from this gifted vocalist from Illinois as I have already proclaimed her to be one of Top 10 Hottest Newcomers in 2015.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

SHREM'S WORLDLY DELIGHTS: "GECƏLƏR KEÇIR" - DiHaj

To keep the sounds eclectic and unpredictable I am initiating the 7th year of my über-nerdy blogging with this popular Azerbaijani folk song "Gecələr Keçir" re-arranged to a modern note with an Orient scented electronic production. Diana Hajiyeva is a Jazz singer from Baku who teamed up with 2 musical compatriots Anar and Ali for a side project DiHaj. I have always had a soft spot for the Central Asian sounds and "Gecələr Keçir" seems like a pretty perfect fusion of the two artistic worlds I enjoy as a music geek. One of my new year's resolutions for SHREM'S CAROUSEL OF ÜBER NERDINESS is to research and share sounds from lesser known corners of the globe so here's DiHaj to revive this little "Worldly Delights" thread of mine.