Category Archives: house

The Beauty of Music

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So recently, I found out about a band that I didn’t know of. And this led me to be reminded why music is so important. I overheard a new co-worker discussing Grizzly Bear with another co-worker. I interjected, as I had seen them live once. Five minutes of music discussion later, I got a nice compliment – “Man, you really know your shit.” Thing is, I don’t. Or at least I don’t think so. He brought up the group I am sharing today, and I hadn’t heard of them. Well, after a good night out with a few co-workers, we all eventually took a listen to these guys. Which I think we all do from time to time. We get excited about the music we like and want to share it with the world. I mean, isn’t that the whole point of this blog?

Anyhow, the group he wanted to share was Caravan Palace. Now, they’re a French band. Imagine if swing and electronica had a baby. There are some that try to say that Daft Punk is one of those influences on them, but i don’t hear it in the music they play. I’d say more with the idea that electronica can be incorporated into almost anything. This sound has been done before, though. As George could tell you, for example, I played a ton of swing-house in the years I DJed. I genuinely liked a lot of it. I even featured one of the Greens Keepers tracks on this blog a couple of years ago.

Well, these guys are less about sampling, and more about creating their own swing sound mixed with drum kicks and electronic goodness. The self-titled debut album of these guys produced the track I’m posting today. “Jolie Coquine” is definitely reminiscent of the Squirrel Nut Zippers female vocals – which is where James Curd sampled from – and is very frenetic and catchy. The video for this track is even quite creative. So enjoy! And remember that music is a very open showcase. You’re welcome to dislike music, but keeping an open mind about what is out there is very rewarding!

Click to Play Caravan Palace – Jolie Coquine

Mmmmmmoby

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So another new year has come into our lives. And with it? Well, another year of my pointless banter about music. And what better way to start it all off than by posting some good ambient tunes by one Richard Melville Hall. You guys probably know him by another name – Moby.

The first track here is something I thought of the other night not really knowing why I thought of it. However, this one is one I said flat out to all my buddies on Facebook that I would want played at my funeral. That’s a pretty morbid statement, yes, but it’s 100% true. This is just a hauntingly beautiful song, and hell, it was even used in the Sopranos. So check out “When It’s Cold, I’d Like To Die” off of the mid-’90’s electronica breakthrough album Everything Is Wrong.

Click to Play Moby – When It’s Cold I’d Like To Die

The next one is off of his critically acclaimed album Play. You know, I had sort of skipped past a lot of this album. Not even sure why. This is one I had to be reminded was a great tune. After posting this one online, as well, I got one comment from the following video accompaniment to it.

This song makes me *sob.*. Love it.

So yeah. Go check this one out.

Click to Play Moby – My Weakness

The last one is a lengthy tune that doesn’t really seem to be long enough, if you could believe it. This as well as Panda Bear’s “Bros” and the Mad Professor dub of Massive Attack’s “Protection” are all in select company, there. It’s “Alone”, off of the failed Animal Rights album. The album was one I anticipated, but definitely had the same reaction as many – confusion. It was a very different sound from what I was used to, but there was plenty on it to like. This, to me, is the standout track. Just gorgeous.

Click to Play Moby – Alone

Okay, go buy stuff. I told you to, so you’re obliged.

Why Barbra Streisand?

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Why her? Why her of all people? In the latest in a series of sample heavy electronic tracks coming out, we present the duo Duck Sauce – comprised of Armand Van Helden and A-Trak – and their track “Barbra Streisand”. Now, for those who haven’t somehow seen the video that’s been released for it? I’m gonna show it to you.

First of all, that woman is beyond annoying. More annoying than Barbra Streisand, herself. And Armand, you’ve got Boston roots, and do everything in your power to ignore that, now. What a fucking joke, man. The showing off of who’s who in this video is incredibly irritating, also. I don’t care who you guys know. Seriously. I know some cool and talented people, also, but I would never feel the need to boost my ego by showing it off. Some may say, “Well, they’re showing what’s what in New York City.” Fine. New York is one of the largest cities in the world. I would hope that they had some talent. Again, don’t shove it down my throat.

Now, how about we tell you where these guys snagged the sample from? Boney M‘s “Gotta Go Home” is the winner in this department. Check the video below, also. Seriously. Have producers gotten this lazy? Can’t you people use samples in a creative way that’s still catchy? No? Okay, I hear the message loud and clear. Armand’s foray into samples isn’t new, either. He’s done this for the better part of a decade, now. While it was cute to start off, it’s getting tiresome. A-Trak isn’t helping matters, any, by throwing his hand into this. Is this track catchy? Yes. But so is the Boney M tune it ripped off. And now we see a plethora of “remixers” doing nothing more than using programs like Ableton to lay down an acapella over it and viola! A remix! One of those “remixes” is here. While it still takes some talent to do this stuff, and a little ingenuity, doesn’t it smack of cheap when you do this to a tune that blatantly rips off another one?


Download Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand


Download Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand (Just Banks How Low remix)


Download Boney M – Gotta Go Home

And you may want to grab these quick. God knows how long before we get a nasty email wanting these off the site.

Put the needle on the record…

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If you checked out my post here, you know that I have been busy ripping vinyl like a mad man. It’s not a ton of fun…but one good thing that has come out of it is that I am rediscovering my music collection.

I have DJ’ed in Seattle, Orlando, and Las Vegas. While going through my tracks I think I’ve found tracks that remind me of each city or specific gigs.

Well it’s some angle to share some of this music with you. It’s important for me to share this music for a few reasons. With all the amazing electronic music I have procured from the blogs over the last few years…it’s important for me to do the same. To give back in a sense.

When I check hypem.com for the music I am about to rip, I see that a lot of my own great records are nowhere to be found on the interwebs. Some of them must predate blogs…so I want to get some of this quality music out there for you! Although these tracks are old, I can say confidently that I still think they are relevant and will get your crowds fired up!

Fex – Last Train (Marine Parade)
It’s a record I picked up while record shopping after some gigs I had in Orlando. Breaks are King in Florida and this record never goes over that well in the West…but it’s hot and I will continue dropping it.

Download Fex – Last Train

Brett Johnson – Somewhere Between Here and ThereBrett Johnson, Deep House Master
This track reminds me of the fantastic Deep House scene in Las Vegas. The underground electronic scene in Vegas is almost exclusively Deep House and can be heard in many of the long running house parties. If you are looking for a place to check out Deep House in Vegas I suggest Soul Kitchen or Sound Bar. I am sure I picked up this gem at the now defunct Liquid 303 in Las Vegas and it got a lot of spins in the also defunct Utopia Patio.

Download Brett Johnson – Somewhere in Between Here and There

Haitras – It Was (Screw Loose Mix)
Seattle’s Rave scene is second to none. I’ve played to raves up there and they know how to party. I am sure I have played this track there, or something that sounds like it. It’s dark yet energetic. Just how they like it. This song would totally fit into any electro house set even today. Don’t sleep on this one…again.

Download Haitras – It Was (Screw Loose Mix)

Support all of these artists by buying more of their amazing work.

Daft Punk bootie here…..

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Yes, it’s a bootleg. I ripped this one from my personal collection. The B Side does have a lot of pops in it, so be warned. Thing is, I like the pops and hissing from vinyl. It creates a much warmer feel to the music. Unless it causes skips. Because there’s hell to pay, then.

Anyhow, this is a bootleg I picked up god knows when. Probably in 2001. If you want it on wax? Here is a link for you all. This is a bootleg of Daft Punk’s “One More Time”. I can still remember where I was when I first heard this. October of 2000, and I went to the event Monster Massive out in L.A., and Armand Van Helden started his set off with this. Ridiculous. To see probably fifteen to twenty thousand kids go nuts was surreal.

That said, the track hasn’t died off in popularity much at all. This is a DJ friendly bootleg, with the B Side tossing in this random vocals saying “Alright, alright, back to your stations.” Not sure why. Fuck it. A good bootie for you all if you’re a die-hard collector of their stuff. I’d only rate it a 7 out of 10, because it does get repetitive, and I feel that if it had used more of the original song’s vocals, it would have cut down on this.

Download and enjoy!

[Download Daft Punk – One More Time (Bootleg White Label mix – Side A)]

[Download Daft Punk – One More Time (Bootleg White Label mix – Side B)]

And since these are bootlegs, I’ll just say to go buy the authentic product. Because you’re awesome if you do.

A couple from the latest Grizzly Bear album

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Here’s a band I am sure most of the indie kids are lapping up right now. I got a chance to catch Grizzly Bear before Radiohead last August, and while they were good technically speaking, they were….well….rigid. Staying in one spot for the most part, and sans any real energy. Then again, it’s sort of who they are. They don’t make songs – for the most part – that really make someone energized and jumpy. Their music is often atmospheric and chill. Hell, when Adult Swim starts using your music for their now almost legendary Bumps? You’ve made it. Here’s a clip of the Bump using their cut “Easier”.

Well, these two songs here are from their latest album, Veckatimest. The tracks are somewhat of a departure from Yellow House, and this is a pretty good thing. They offer a more full composition in regards to songwriting and melodies, and tend to be less rough around the edges. So here are the tracks “Two Weeks” and “Cheerleader”. Now go buy their album!

[Download Grizzly Bear – Cheerleader]

[Download Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks]

Now, get your ass in gear and go buy this. Or I tell your mom. After I’ve slept with her, of course.

Bunchin’ up…..

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Anyone remember Buffalo Bunch? Yes? No? Well, it’s more French stuff from the early part of this decade. And it’s house music, to boot. I’ve been back through some records of mine again, and I have to admit there’s some stuff I sort of cringe thinking I actually own it. These aren’t some of those tracks, however.

Well, here I have two tracks remixed by the Buffalo Bunch that I own. The remixes are of Modjo – they of “Lady” fame, of which the Harry “Choo Choo” Romero remix I used to play often – and of Phoenix. On top of that, I have a couple of other cuts posted here that go right along with what the post is about. So all in all, a fun post with lots of French house that oughta make you boogie in your chair. So enjoy!

[Download Modjo – Chillin’ (Buffalo Bunch remix)]

[Download Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better (Buffalo Bunch remix)]

[Download Phoenix – Too Young (live)]

[Download Modjo – What I Mean (The Crayon ‘Aloud’ remix)]

And I have a beatin’ stick here for anyone that doesn’t go buy this stuff. Now I need to go do stuff. And be productive. Yeah. That’s what I’ll do. Stuff.

More stuff I just really like……

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I had a bit of a buying spree on digital download site Stompy recently. They handle mostly electronic stuff, so there’s your warning for what’s listed here today.

The first of the two is another DFA track that just is a huge winner in my book. It’s Shit Robot’s “Lonely Planet” off of the Chasm – EP. I’m pretty surprised I haven’t seen this track floating around on the blogs, to be honest. This is just a gorgeous track. My only gripe is that it could’ve easily been twice as long, and still been just as good. That’s not really a complaint, however. So enjoy!

[Download Shit Robot – Lonely Planet]

Next is a track that I used to play all the time when I DJed. Anyone that’s seen the movie Snatch and is a huge fan of it will know the bass lick that you hear right off the bat. This is a house track, so it does get repetitive, but I can easily listen to this over and over, if only to figure out what the fuck Brad Pitt is saying in the quote used! Don’t bother trying the DVD. I did that. Under any subtitles? This one line is the only one that doesn’t come up as intelligible. Fuck! Well, here’s “Dirty Snatch” off of the Igloo label. Oh, and it’s supposedly common knowledge that house legend Derrick Carter made this, but I’ve never had that confirmed. Anyone that can? Get’s a big prize. A smile on my face.

[Download – Korin Ladke – Dirty Snatch]

Yes. Buy this stuff. Or you can buy some flowers for your mom. She deserves some nice flowers. Especially if she has a kid that doesn’t buy the fuckin’ music they listen to, because that makes her sad!