Moderat: The Best Collaboration for 2009

Finally. The collaborative project from two of the best in the IDM and glitch world has been announced with a scheduled release this year. Legends in the business, German artists Apparat and Modeselektor are titling the project "Moderat" (a useful play on words). This week it was leaked and let me explain to you in as very little words as possible how amazing it is, are you ready?: Fucking Amazing (and I'm capitalizing those words for a reason). The reason why these two have perfected their dual sound so flawlessly is because neither is a stranger to the other's work. They've done work together before and Modeselektor is involved with Apparat's record label BPitch Control.

Safe assumption with all of Modeselektor's work, this collaborative effort retains the same opinions of self confidence, him saying the sound is

"Happy metal, hard rap, country-ambient, Russian crunk. We don’t like it if people tag us as being a certain style or school or scene or whatever. We don’t really care about all that."

MSTRKRFT's work on Fist of God (which is discussed in an earlier post) is still taking the cake so far, but Moderat is definitelly coming in a close second, and it may sway my opinion for number one as I continue listening to it. The fact that these veterans of pre-conceptualized sound within the genre can produce something so refreshing, and so creatively new makes me have higher hopes from other artists. Yet, if Apparat and Modeselektor can do it, it definitely doesn't mean you can; these guys are flawless professionals.

Track List:
01. A New Error
02. Rusty Nails
03. Seamonkey
04. Slow Match Feat. Paul St. Hilaire
05. 3 Minutes Of
06. Nasty Silence
07. Sick With It feat. Dellé
08. Porc # 1
09. Porc # 2
10. No. 22
11. Out Of Sight

Tracklist for Tuesday February 24, 2009

Kenna - Red Man
MSTRKRFT - Fist of God
The Keiross Theory - Colonize
The Faint - Glass Danse
Puscifer - The Undertaker (Renholder Remix)
The Go! Team - Get it Together
M83 - Couleurs
Montag - Best Boy Electric
Faunts - Feel.Love.Thinking.Of
Junior Boys - Hazel
Moderat - Rusty Nails [Exclusive]
Thunderheist - Do the Right Thing
Artist of the Year - Yeah!!!
Kylie Minogue - Wow (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Yuksek - Tonight [Exclusive]
Justice - D.A.N.C.E. Pt. II
Lise Miskovsky - Still Alive (Benny Benassi Remix)
Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire

Tracklist for Tuesday February 17, 2009

The Knife - Heartbeats (Rex the Dog Remix)
MSTRKRFT - Click Click ft. E-40
Dragonette - I Get Around
Thunderheist - Do The Right Thing
Faunts - Feel.Love.Thinking.Of
Thom Yorke - And It Rained All Night
Tussle - Transparent C
Mach X - Lascivious
Deadmau5 - Slip
Zeratul - Magus (Raw Trance Exhaustion)
Kids on TV - We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off
Cut Copy - Lights And Music
MSTRKRFT - Fist Of God
BSOD - Choplifted
Dale North - Space Cat
Telefon Tel Aviv - You Are The Worst Thing In The World
Daft Punk - Around The World / Harder Better Faster Stronger
Danger - 11H30

Fist of God: MSTRKRFT Brings the Fiery Hail

I'm sure that most reader's and electronic aficionados alike are familiar with the work of Al-P (Alex Puodziukas) and JFK (Jesse F. Keeler) as MSTRKRFT. The two are a Toronto electro-house outfit born from previous musical relationships. Keeler is a former member of Death from Above 1979 and Al-P a producer and programmer who was involved with the band's production needs. When DFA 1979 was dispanded, the pair began their work as MSTRKRFT (pronounced "Master Craft") in 2005 and released their first full length record "The Looks" a year later. Besides the often-times pretentious bullshit Pitchfork displays in record reviews, the album was well received. With new recognition and growing popularity, the pair have been commissioned to do remixes for artists like Justice, Kylie Minogue, Bloc Party and more.

In 2008, MSTRKRFT did a live set at Windsor's "only world class nightclub" (the club's words, not mine), The Boom Boom Room. Al and Jesse were preceded by a few other acts but lit the building up with electricity and sweat. The pair noted during their BBC Essential Mix that they "don't really record live mixes very often 'cause [they're] usually really drunk and [they're] afraid of what they might sound like afterwards," (Keeler 2008).

March 17, 2009 marks the release of their long awaited return with a second full length album (which garnered a huge amount of hype) entitled Fist of God. Two singles were released almost a year in advance on the Bounce/Vuvuvu EP, so the wait for the final product has been tedious, yet the rewards are substantial. Fist of God combines the usual MSTRKRFT sound with more speed. The tempo of the tracks as a whole has increased dramatically, focussing more on the effect of them actually being used in a club-type environment. Because it is a gapless album (each track blends into the next), it seems as if it was meant to be, if desired, played straight through on the dance floor, which is unheard of for a single album to be fully sampled. However this is entirely possible due to the variation of each song's content. Tracks like "1000 Cigarettes" and "Click Click (ft. E-40)" are literally lightning in audio form. Take my word for it, if you haven't gotten into this band, do it, and if you have, buy this album when it comes out, I promise it will be one of the best releases of 2009.

Tracklist for Tuesday February 10, 2009 (Remix Night)

Nine Inch Nails - The Beginning of the End (Ladytron Remix)
Boys Noize - & Down (Siriusmo Remix)
Stars - Sleep Tonight (Junior Boys Remix)
The Galvatrons - When We Were Kids (Bag Raiders Remix)
MSTRKRFT (Feat. Lil Mama & T.I) - Shawty Got Looks (The Hood Internet Remix)
American Analog Set - Green Green Grass (Telefon Tel Aviv Remix)
Placebo - English Summer Rain (Self Remix)
Stars - Set Yourself on Fire (Montag Remix)
Madvillain - Money Folder (Four Tet Remix)
The Sound of Animals Fighting - The Heretic (Evol Intent Remix)
Junior Boys - Birthday (Manitoba Remix)
The Faint - Glass Danse (Paul Oakenfold Remix)
Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Headman - Catch Me if You Can (Bag Raiders Remix)
Radiohead - Nude (Holy Fuck Remix)
Lisa Miskovsky - Still Alive (Teddybears Remix)
Just a Band - We Are (The Shoes Remix)

That Bubblegum Music

thun/der/heist: The act of stealing another's thunder, to trump another with something far more superior.

Toronto based duo Thunderheist are no strangers to the world of club-based electro. However they're putting a fresh spin on the Canadian scene. Front woman Isis and programmer Grahm Zilla put on a performance like no other seen in the greater Toronto area. Reminiscent of some of Kanye West's tracks that involve heavy electronic programming and complicated rhythmic work, Thunderheist is a natural blend of Hip Hop and Electronic. The lyrical work flows effortlessly over stylish bass lines to create a catalyst for bodily motion. The sound is essential electric, spewing light and heat from every breakdown.

You could be among thousands in a stadium, or intimate at your local bar... either way, if you're in the front row, expect to get wet. Thunderheist sweats Belvedere and Red Bull, and sprays more hooks than a heavyweight championship bout (Official Site).

The genre of combining hip hop and electronic is by no means a new thing; rap artists have been sampling for many years in order to add the exact sound they're looking for to compliment vocal work. Thunderheist approaches this cross-genre with a new attitude, focussing less on the rap-based elements as the primary source of artistry and instead make it one half of a balanced scale. Yet it's the less noticed prowess of the band's ability to transfer personal energy ideas into their music that creates such a masterful product. I imagine that a live show would be balls-to-the-wall intense, wherein the performance commanded you to get your energy flowing and experience a sense of bliss in motion.

When the Jerk It EP was released in 2008, a music video contest was presented to create an original video for the single "Jerrrk It". Videos started buzzing from a ton of places to try and impress the band and the internet audience alike. Although I am unaware of the winning video for this contest, I am personally partial to this entry directed by Kristen Waterson from Ryerson University.

Thunderheist
Tracklist:

01 Sweet 16
02 Nothing 2 Step 2
03 Jerk It
04 LBG (Little Booty Girl)
05 Bubblegum
06 Slow Roll
07 Space Cowboy
08 The Party After
09 Freddie
10 Do the Right Thing
11 Red Whine
12 Cruise Low
13 Anthem

If you plan on having a house party and are at a loss at what music should be played to equally serve as background beat and dance/party music alike, Thunderheist is a clear and obvious choice.

A Night in the Studio

A session in the on-air studio during New Pulse's radio show is anything but smooth. From start to finish there are always miss-haps, CDs that don't work or are missing from the catalogue, even (language as a demonstration of how frustrated I potentially become) equipment fucking up. However heavy the stress, broadcasting the music I love is definitely worth it. The show has taken off well within the CJAM world and I hope it continues to grow in popularity. Artists such as ones previously featured on this blog plus tons more are regularly played on the show, also accompanied by new releases every week.

Don't get me wrong, it is more complicated than merely pressing Play on one of the decks. Being a DJ requires proper attention to song formation, time constraints, potential commercials and station identifiers to be aired, and an effective blend of music and spoken word. Again, it's all for the music. The show is another way to reach out to the re-established fans of the genre, perhaps providing a fresh take on artists, and also an attempt to solidify the opinions of those who remain unfamiliar with it. Overall it's an excellent experience and fun every week. Be sure to tune in and give me a shout if there is anything you would be interested in hearing.


These pictures were taken by my compatriot Matt Ray who is getting into the world of photography (as if doing graduate work in Engineering isn't enough).

An Enjoyable Vice Grip: Tracklist for Tuesday February 03, 2009

Lisa Miskovsky - Still Alive (Armand Van Helden Remix)
Holy Fuck - Royal Gregory
Nine Inch Nails - Meet Your Master (The Faint Remix)
Portishead - The Rip
DJ Pretzel - CMYK
Chromeo - Me & My Man
Artist of the Year - Dancefloor Devil
Junior Boys - Parallel Lines
M83 - Skin of the Night
Daft Punk - One More Time / Aerodynamic
Thievery Corporation - Troublemakers
Junior Boys - Hazel
The Knife - Heartbeats (Rex the Dog Remix)
Tiga - Far From Home (Digitalism Remix)
Matt Pollard - From The Depths of Time

Harmony and Dissonance

The music of Hamilton duo Junior Boys has been described in ways like "rhythmic capriciousness" all the way to "bedpost breaking, bed-spring-creaking, neighbor-banging-on-the-shared-wall, honeymoon-hotel-room sex". However appropriate both of these descriptions are, the band delivers streamlined melodies that create an overwhelming assault of the senses.

A lack of continuity, though, is made apparent on their 2009 release of their third album Begone Dull Care. In the cliche sense, the band is not changing their sound, but evolving to shape the music to match the transient nature of life itself. You still have the same pop based vocals from Jeremy Greenspan that woo you into awe and inspiration, yet the production and coding is much more rigorously complex and systematically beautiful. More tracks like "Hazel" and "Parallel Lines" flirt with boundaries between soft sounds and quick programming, weaving a tapestry of a cold city night lit only by the pale moon and the dazzling sparkle in your lover's eye.

Tracklist
01. Parallel Lines
02. Work
03. Bits And Pieces
04. Dull To Pause
05. Hazel
06. Sneak A Picture
07. The Animator
08. What It's For

The album drops on March 24 in Canada. Stream "Parallel Lines".