Category Archives: da funk

Armand Van Helden-mania! – Part 2

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So last week, I started you all off with a few old school Armand Van Helden tracks and remixes. It got a pretty good response, actually. Well, except from the Strictly Rhythm folks, and we can understand why, so we took down the mp3 of “Break Night”. Hopefully if you guys trust my opinion, you’ll buy the track, anyhow!

So this week, we’re bouncing ahead a little further. After his seminal album 2 Future 4 U, he has just sort of gone downhill, unfortunately. The edge isn’t there, any more. That’s a real shame, because for a good half-dozen years, this guy made nothing but quality. Here I’m sharing a few more of his tracks.

To start off with, we’re going to bring up Daft Punk yet again. Daft Punk was part of a crew that called themselves “Da Mongoloids”. Well, according to discogs, it was just Bangalter of Daft Punk that took part in the crew. The crew would extend out to guys like Junior Sanchez, Basement Jaxx, and DJ Sneak, amongst others. Well, Armand made a remix of “Da Funk” that really is just a nutso take on the original, and here it is.

[Download Daft Punk – Da Funk (AVH mix)]

Next up is possibly his best known remix, and the one that got him the assloads of work he got after this one. He remixed Tori Amos’ “Professional Widow” and then, just about every DJ worldwide seemed to be playing it. It was one of the anthems in dance music in 1996, and for good reason.

[Download Tori Amos – Professional Widow (AVH mix)]

The next three I have listed here are much lesser known remixes by Van Helden. He went on a remix tear for a few years, and was remixing just about anything thrown his way. Hell, I even found a copy of the 12″ for Rednex “Cotton Eye Joe” with three remixes he did. And yes, it’s godawful. I won’t even force you all to listen to that one. Well, here I have listed his remixes of Apollo Four Forty’s “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Dub”, Skunk Anansie’s “Secretly”, and The Trancesetters’ “The Search”. The last one, I’ve seen iTunes list an Armand remix that, unless he made a 2nd version? That isn’t it. So don’t waste the time on it.

[Download Apollo Four Forty – Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Dub (AVH mix)]

Skunk Anansie – Secretly (AVH mix)

Trancesetters – The Search (AVH mix)

Now, I have plenty more Armand cuts, and for now, I am going to leave those on the backburner. I think I’ll revisit this topic again in the next month or two, because I have a lot of good stuff to share that wasn’t made by Armand. Stay tuned if you’re a househead, because I have a few more gems to share with you all!

Now, go buy some of this! We do, and so should you!

That French sound still sounds good!

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So the French sound seems to have permeated the airwaves again! Justice came practically out of nowhere to become the new French electronica darlings, a la Daft Punk. Well, the sound isn’t limited to people born in France. You can ask our wonderful blog owner himself how much of the stuff I used to play while DJing! And I actually still have quite a bit of it lying around, too! May have to update you all with some slick French house one of these weeks!

Well, today, the post is dedicated to that heavily filtered sound and a band that’s beginning to make a few waves. They’re Thieves Like Us, and they just recently released their first full-length album, called Play Music. The best way to describe the sound will need some explanation. The band’s name is the title of an old New Order track. So it’s no real surprise that the sound seems to meld some elements of New Order with the French House sound – albeit at a lower BPM, many times.

The result is a sound that just sounds calming, yet makes you want to dance a bit. The single making a lot of noise right now is the second cut off of Play Music, titled “Drugs In My Body”. Along with the original, I’ve also included a remix done by a a duo of…well….sort of strange dudes that go by the name of Designer Drugs. I can’t knock strange. I am, also. It’s more fun that way, anyhow.

Thieves Like Us – Drugs In My Body

Thieves Like Us – Drugs In My Body (Designer Drugs remix)

And there’s even a video for such a wonderful tune! Check it out!

And for those who – for some reason unknown – haven’t been exposed to the Daft Punk I knew and loved back in 1996? Here are two tunes. It was off of their landmark album Homework, which still gets love from many out there, and rightfully so!

And if you are also up for a little house music on the deeper and more soulful edge? A friend of mine who I’ve known for right around 12 years now here in Boston has a site that’s dedicated to house music in it’s most pure form. DJ Bruno has been doing his thing here in Boston for twenty years, and I owe a lot to him, to be honest! So if you get a second, please make a visit to Utopia Boston Radio! If you’re ever in Boston? Please do send me an e-mail. As you can see from all of us, music is our lifeblood, and we love to share!

One final note! I am still digging through some contributions. I will be doing many of these in the final two blogs this months, as a sort of round-up of what to look for in 2009! So thank you for your patience!

And please, shell out those duckets! Buy a little of the aforementioned music, so these guys can keep bringing you more of the good stuff!