DAMN! You's-a Sexy Widge

I just came across this genius piece of 'widget' software where you can create your own version of David Guetta & Akon's 'Sexy Chick' using all of the original parts, record it, save it, and share it with the world, and all that's required is your keyboard and a little bit of creativity. 

WARNING: Be prepared for precious hours of your life to be wasted. 

Check it out. 

Danger - 4h30

Danger recently dropped '4h30', the first track off his upcoming EP '09/17/ 2007' - the followup to his 2007 EP '09/14/ 2007'. This track has become my latest 'fav' and Danger may have just become my latest obsession. 

Danger - 09/17/ 2007 16 bit Teaser

Inspired by video games, animation, film music and everything 80's Danger is furthering his position as one of the most exciting electro producers on the scene right now. Expect big things from the EP due out digitally on the 1st of Feb.

Danger - 4h30 (Unofficial 'Terminator' Video)

Vampire Weekend - Juan's Basement

I can't get enough Vampire Weekend right now... Their sophomore album 'Contra' just dropped, and it's amazing. I'll spare you from an extended review despite how tempting it is...

However, this live video / interview courtesy of Pitchfork is too good to miss. Filmed in a basement and accompanied by a string quartet they bust out Cousins, White Sky, Horchata and California Language. 

Vampire Weekend @ Juan's Basement 

Get ahold of Contra now! It just debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts - only the 12th independently distributed album to do so since 1991. 

Memory Tapes - Seek Magic

Twenty-six year old New Jersey resident and stay-at-home-recording-at-night-dad Dayve Hawk is Memory Tapes. Set aside your preconceptions of the 'one man band' formed by watching Mary Poppins as a child, because just as a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down, so to will Memory Tapes help sooth your soul and brighten your day.

I first discovered Memory Tapes via a remix he did of Yeasayer's 'Ambling Alp'. He has been releasing music under the pseudonym's Memory Cassette and Weird Tapes for a while now and released his debut album under the name Memory Tapes (a combination of his previous two ventures) at the end of 2009 - hence why he didn't pop up on any 'best of' 2009 lists...

Yeasayer - Ambling Alp (Memory Tapes Remix) - DOWNLOAD

'Seek Magic' has been categorized as dreamwave - electro-pop with a more ethereal, atmospheric condition. Combining guitars with electronic drums and layers of buoyant synths and pads, along with Hawk's soothing vocals, 'Seek Magic' takes you on a delicate journey from the comfort of your preferred resting position (... down memory lane perhaps?). 

Check out the single 'Bicycle' that exploded on the blog scene last year creating a viable platform upon which to release 'Seek Magic'.

Memory Tapes - Bicycle - DOWNLOAD

You can get ahold of 'Seek Magic' at every major online outlet, but I'd say you'll probably have to order it from you local record shop (... do these still exist) if you're keen on a hard copy. 

Rhythm & Vines 2009 / 2010

Finally...

I've just returned from an epic two week summer holiday... The highlight, of course, being Gisborne's New Years Party - Rhythm & Vines. A three-night bender of the best partying I have ever experienced. Here's a brief dear diary of time well spent...

29.12.09

- Me and my crew arrive at R&V just in time for UK post-punk / rock band Editors. It was still light (about 7pm), and the crowd hadn't reached its full capacity, but this show was real quality. Front of house mix was delicious, the band performed like they were stoked to be there (I always appreciate it when international acts appear genuinely stoked to play in little ol' New Zealand), and being the only non-DJ act I saw throughout the three days made me appreciate it all the more.

- Missed Bag Raiders due to unforeseen circumstances.

- Major Lazer completely tore apart the 'Vines Stage' with his entourage of Jamaican MC's / Dancers / Hype Crew. When he dropped 'Pon De Floor' everybody lost their shit and it became the 'it' song of Rhythm 09 (every single DJ I saw dropped this track... no exaggeration).

Major Lazer - Live Highlights @ Rhythm & Vines 09

- I actually caught the very end of Bag Raiders at the 'Cellar Stage' before Ajax took over and rocked one of the most slammin' / memorable mixes of the festival. Pure bliss!

30.10.09

- Really wanted to make it in time for Bionic Pixie... Didn't.

- Caught half of The Juan Maclean (US - DJ Set) which was utterly boring and littered with mediocre mixing. Lets just say I didn't feel toooo much sympathy when the crowd started chanting "Proxy! Proxy! Proxy!" towards the end of his set.

- Proxy (Russia) was incredible! Such creative, tight, explosive mixing, and he dropped all the hits - Raven, Dance In The Dark, Who Are You and more!

- Left Proxy a little early... but with good reason. 2manyDj's were scheduled to begin on the main stage. These guys are next level, league of their own, genius kinda dudes - potentially the best live show I have ever seen. The tuxedos, the playlist, the mixing, the zany album art visual production and the light dusting of rain made for one of the best nights of my life.

2manydj's Live @ Rhythm & Vines
...this mix between proxy - raven, tiga - shoes, sidney samson - riverside & crookers - we love animals is pure genius!

31.12.09

- MayaVanya are the sexiest sister DJ-duo ever! Maya was ridiculously intoxicated and treated the crowd to an extra special stage show while Vanya took control of the decks. It was entertaining, but I've seen them perform better technically. Still, they proved they are New Zealand's #1 party girls.

- Cool Kids Club followed. It seemed they had put a lot of thought into their Rhythm set, and it really paid off. It was creative, extremely tight, and really brought the party to the Cellar Stage. New Zealand's #1 party boys?... Probably, yes?...

- Caught a little bit of Midnight Youth as we sat on a hill, enjoyed some refreshments, and re-energized for 'New Year' celebrations. I heard lots of f-words... But it sounded good.

- New Year Party... some dudes dancing, flashing lights, fire etc. Nothing 'spectacular'... then the fireworks began. Some were fairly mediocre, but they had these really cool ones that felt like they were falling down onto you like some kind of mythical fire-rain. I was buzzing!

- Krafty Kuts kicked out the jams for the New Year party and he kicked them out hard. Incredibly 'crafty' mixing, remixing on the fly, scratching, sweet tracks - Loved it!

- Caught some of Aural Trash at the Cellar Stage before my overly tired friends decided they had had enough... I bought myself 15 more minutes of raging via txt before submitting to the majority and packed it in... Goodbye Rhythm & Vines, Hello 2010.

Rhythm & Vines 'Top Tracks'
a.k.a the tracks that every DJ played... pretty much.


#1 Major Lazer - Pon De Floor - DOWNLOAD

#2 Sidney Samson - Riverside

#3 D.I.M & T.A.I - Lyposuct

#4 Proxy - Raven

#5 Crookers feat. Soulwax & Mixhell - We Love Animals

#6 Fake Blood - Fix Your Accent