.
.




Chocolate eggs are everywhere, and Montreal's Hatchmatik has blessed the interweb with an early spring surprise:










Working with Teki Latex who drops a bilingual verse, Hatch bangs Chromeo's Bonafied Lovin for the dancefloors. With bilingual verses, a Montreal based remixer and a Montreal/NYC based band, you can be happy getting your civic pride on while you tear up the dancefloor.

Speaking of torn-up dancefloors, the afore-mentioned Hatch will be killing it tonight with the Peer Pressure crew in celebration of A-rock's seventh birthday (check your calendars and do the math) at Coda.

So gird your loins, raise a cup and celebrate the craziest seventh birthday party you've ever been too.

To get you in the mood, we've got A-rock's "Day Of The Rent" below. Turn those PC speakers up to 11.










Click tracklist to download


Posted on 12:43 PM

Banger!!




As anyone with a pulse in Montreal is already aware Justice and the Ed Banger crew are stirring things up at Cepsum (see info to the right) on March 16th.
Busy P recently did some work for Arkitip magazine and they have a nice little interview about the Ed Banger Records "philosophy."



For those that don't know, Busy P started as Daft Punk's manager before starting Ed Banger, signing Justice and generally ripping music a new one.




Remember 2007? A simpler time, a time when one couldn't turn on a TV, read a magazine or much less open a web browser with the best or worst of intentions without hearing something about UK indie rock dream team Bloc Party. Lately though, apart from the release of that Flux single that got remixed by everybody with a macbook and a pirated copy of ableton, Bloc Party has been relatively quiet and that has had some consequences.

Springing forth from obscurity via this lull in the Bloc Party machine were, in my eyes three big UK bands to watch.

In no particular order, first off we have Cut Off Your Hands. Let me stop you right there. This is not an emo band, the name might be misleading. This Auckland band is currently fervently touring the UK with remixers Does it Offend You, Yeah? and if your lucky enough to catch that tour, fuck you because I'm not. Check out what your missing.






My next hand picked up and comers are Londonites
Bombay Bicycle Club, who like Cut off Your Hands are still milling about the UK but i expect will be going international anytime now. Especially after being praised by a certain prestigious Canadian Blog...right.



Releasing two EP's in 2007 these kids have been busy as fuck, scroll down for my picks from those albums.



Finally, and probably the least up and coming of these up and comers, Wakefield kids The Cribs, who some might argue have already uped and came... I saw these kids back in 2005 on their North America Tour with Death Cab for Cutie. Since then they've continued plugging away and releasing consistently great music. They're last album Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever was produced by Franz Fredinand's Alex Kapranos. It showed some maturity and felt only marginally more serious than their previous releases and thats a good thing.

What am i trying to accomplish by all this? Make Bloc Party's Kelee nervous? Maybe a little. Shamelessly plug these bands? Of course, i like them. Kill the time between now and later? Definitely.
Here are my picks from these three bands, Enjoy:














The Cribs - Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever - Girls Like Mystery






Whats that? Your Monday has so far has had too much to do with responsibility and not enough to to with frivolity? You wish you had never woken up this morning? You straight up can't read?

Well your Monday just got alot better because from now on I'm bringing you Re-up Monday each and every Monday. Yes i realize that I was twenty minutes late on my first post - not a good way to start - but nevertheless, the tracks you are about to hear will keep a curiously devilish smile on your face with a potency guaranteed to last until next Monday.






First up we've got a Daft Punk remix of Michael Jackson i dug up off their very hard to find 2003 remix vinyl. Ever wondered what the fuck Justice is talking about in D.A.N.C.E. when they say P.Y.T.? Here's your answer.










Kid Cudi dropped the single Day N Nite last week along with Fool's Gold colleague's Jokers of the Scene.










If you didn't know that "epic bangers" come from only one place: Brooklyn... Then Neon Coyote is here to remind you with this Mr. Me Too remix.










Posted on 2:54 PM

On Kid Color Remixes

Filed Under (,,,) By Alex at 2:54 PM




I have a new best friend and his name is Kid Color; How did he surpass the rigors which normally encompass the road to such an achievement? He's remixing all of Spank Rock and Benny Blanco are Bangers and Cash over Daft Punk instrumentals. Probably the best idea ever.
Enjoy the first two remixes and anxiously await the rest.

Kid Color - Digital Pussy (mp3)







Kid Color - Pheonix B-O-O-T-A-Y (mp3)







Posted on 2:58 PM

On Omnikrom Saturday @ Le National

Filed Under (,,,) By Alex at 2:58 PM




Any artist that can make electronic dance songs about cooking poutine successfully is seriously on to something. Omnikrom's unabashedly French Canadian style and content is fresher than the ingredients they sing about and has established them among Numero and Teki Latex - with whom they frequently collaborate with - as the Montreal's top French Dj's who just don't give a fuck.

Omnikrom and Teki hit Le National this Saturday so check it out and if you fuck up and miss them Omnikrom is nice enough to come back march 8th.

Omnikrom - Danse La Poutine [Figure 8 remix] (mp3)








Numbero feat. Omnikrom - Chewing Gum Fraise (mp3)







Teki Latex - Go Go Go (to the disco) (mp3)






Click Read More for Omnikrom Quebec 2008 Tour Schedule

20 Feb 2008 21:00 Omnikrom & Teki Latex (TTC) @ D’Artagnan’s Trois-Rivieres, Quebec

21 Feb 2008 19:00 Omnikrom & Teki Latex (TTC) @ L’Imperial Quebec, Quebec

22 Feb 2008 21:00 Omnikrom & Teki Latex (TTC) @ L’Azile Joliette, Quebec

23 Feb 2008 21:00 Omnikrom & Teki Latex (TTC) & Payz Play @ National Montreal

24 Feb 2008 20:00 Omnikrom & Teki Latex (TTC) @ Cabaret Box Office Drummondville, Quebec

7 Mar 2008 20:00 Omnikrom & Imposs @ Cabaret de Granby Granby, Quebec

8 Mar 2008 21:00 Omnikrom & Cuizinier (TTC) & Jeune Chilly Chill @ National Montreal, Quebec

5 Apr 2008 20:00 Omnikrom @ Le Trash St-Hyacinthe, Quebec

18 Apr 2008 20:00 Omnikrom @ Cegep Lionel-Groulx St-Therese, Quebec

26 Apr 2008 20:00 Omnikrom @ L’Etoile Brossard, Quebec

15 May 2008 22:00 Omnikrom @ Chasse-galerie Lavaltrie, Quebec

31 May 2008 19:00 Omnikrom & Numero @ École secondaire Paul-Arsenault L’Assomption, Quebec

Posted on 1:03 PM

On Black Kids


Indie bands come from Jacksonville?
No...
well...
fuck
they do now.

My train of thought whilst i was checking out Black Kids on myspace. These guys and girls have some seriously catchy indie-synth-rock songs with a clear and unique personality to them. They're debut EP Wizard of Ahhhs came out in august and can be downloaded in its entirety for free from their website. Right now they appear to be in the UK touring to promote said EP. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for these kids inevitable arrival in Montreal. Although the song "I'm not gonna teach your boyfriend how to dance with you" has been widely blogged about - even bringing about a cover by Kate Nash - it's not my favorite. Which is you ask? i'm so glad you did.

Black Kids - Hurricane Jane (mp3)







Black Kids - Hit the Heartbrakes (mp3)







Kate Nash - I'm not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You [Black Kids Cover] (mp3)






Posted on 6:50 PM

On Islands Comeback

Filed Under (,) By Alex at 6:50 PM



After a period of relative inactivity, it seems Montreal's very own Islands are out to prove that the rumors of their demise have been greatly exaggerated. Free acoustic show tonight at drawn and quarterly comic book store, followed by a show at Lambi on Saturday.

No official word of a new album yet, but a post-return to the sea song has been added their myspace, here it is


Islands - The Arm (mp3)











For upcoming Tour dates click Read More:

Islands 2008 Tour

16 Feb 2008 20:30 Lambi Montreal
18 Feb 2008 20:00 Whelan’s Dublin
19 Feb 2008 20:00 Speakeasy Belfast
20 Feb 2008 20:00 Night and Day Manchester
21 Feb 2008 20:00 Thekla Bristol
23 Feb 2008 20:00 Liar’s Club Nottingham
24 Feb 2008 20:00 Barfly Brighton
25 Feb 2008 20:00 Barfly Cambridge
26 Feb 2008 20:00 Hoxton Bar London
27 Feb 2008 20:00 Point FMR Paris
28 Feb 2008 20:00 Rotown Rotterdam
29 Feb 2008 20:00 Merelyn Nijmegen
1 Mar 2008 20:00 Paradiso Amsterdam
2 Mar 2008 20:00 Botanique Bruxelles
3 Mar 2008 20:00 Tivoli Utrecht
26 Apr 2008 20:00 Coachella Coachella City, California





Kanye West is going on a super mega tour more officially known as the Glow in the Dark tour with none other than fellow Chicagoan Lupe Fiasco as well as Rihanna and N.E.R.D.

The tour hits our humble city - Montreal - on May 20th and will be held at the Bell Center - big suprise - and will likely be overpriced.

Remember that song Flashing Lights? Remember the original? Me neither.
But to remind you this intriguing and ridiculous video featuring a buxom strumpet burning her clothes and presumably killing Kanye West and burying him.

check it:







I've sifted through a myriad of Flashing Lights remixes out there and picked my two favorite ones for you, as an added bonus the hottest track on Lupe Fiasco's The Cool:

Kanye West - Flashing Lights [Mano Uptempo Remix] (mp3)







Kanye West - Flashing Lights [Clipse Remix] (mp3)






Buy on iTunes

Lupe Fiasco - Hip Hop Saved My Life Feat. Nikki Jean (mp3)






Buy on iTunes







Whether you see him as the avant garde posterboy for the indie-electro-punk party throwing phenomena we've all been waiting for or just another dude from LA who has become the veritable Paris Hilton of indie DJ's...One thing is for certain Steve Aoki has transformed himself into a brand name to be reckoned with.

What do i mean by brand name? I was at Urban Outfitters the other day and spotted a hoody that came in special "Steve Aoki" colours which was 30$ more than the regular hoody. And I think we're all well aware of the now ubiquitous WESC Aoki headphones that every DJ seems to own these days.

So what do you think? take a good long hard look at this man pictured below on the left.




I figure this is either a result of
A) A prodigious businessman who has risen to the top through meticilous branding and market research or
B) A dude who likes to party too much


Regardless of what you think,
Pitchfork has declared his new album Pillowface and his airplane chronicles "Decadent Hipster Gold" and while i won't expand on that...there are a few pretty hot tracks i think you should hear, they are as follows:

Steve Aoki - Waters Of Nazereth [Erol Alkans Durrr Durrr Durrrrrr Re-Edit, Feat. Pase Rock, With Justice] (mp3)






Buy on iTunes

Steve Aoki - Je Veux Te Voir [With Yelle] (mp3)






Buy on iTunes

Steve Aoki - We Are Rockstars [Feat. Spank Rock & Amanda Blank, With Does It Offend You, Yeah?] (mp3)






Buy on iTunes





Add NYC's Pase Rock to the list of hip hop MC's who are smart enough to embrace electro and use it to re-vitalize hip hop in a huge way. It's not really a question of who did it first or best - that doesn't really matter - actually its not a question at all, it's a statement.

Hip Hop is back.


Pase Rock - sexy motherfucker feat. amanda blank [nate day remix] (mp3)







In main mainstream Kanye West did it with stronger, but i have a feeling that he just lucked out and was smart enough to listen to A-trak on the Daft Punk idea. Obviously the song blew up and he continued to let A-trak keep him cool and get him in touch with more young sceneters - Pro Nails anybody? - and as a result he beat fiddy real good.





I'd be a real asshole if i talked to you about Hip Hop electro crossovers without mentioning Philly bangers Spank Rock and Amanda Blank.





These kids are fucking great, the song Get loose from Spank Rock & Benny Blanco's Bangers and Cash is pretty much a full testament to all the gratuitous explicit sexuality, glorification of wanton drug use and chauvinistic behaviour that hip hop used to be infamous for.



I find their attitude so ridiculously over the top that no one should seriously be offended by this song/video. That being said; It's a fine line i wouldn't expect most to appreciate, especially in the face of lyrics like the eternal;

All that money make a Bitch go dumb
Coke on the tip make a Bitch go numb

The track is hot so just check it out.

Spank Rock & Benny Blanco - Get Loose feat Amanda Blank (mp3)






Buy on iTunes


Word on the streets - of the internet - is that both Amanda Blank and N.E.R.D. are working on albums which are slated to come out in the spring of this year; in the meantime here's a Spank Rock Remix of a Teki Latex - in town on the 23rd - song Disco Dance with You, featuring Amanda Blank. Also speaking of wanton drug use - N.E.R.D.'s everyone nose.

I've been in lines for a bathroom which consisted almost entirely of people going to do coke, so N.E.R.D. i feel you on that. I consider the song a testament to the guy who actually plans to use the bathroom to piss rather than a venue for drug use.


Teki Latex - Disco Dance With You [Spank Rock Remix feat. Amanda Blank] (mp3)










N.E.R.D. - Everyone Nose (mp3)








Posted on 6:00 AM

Mad Pimperish



Saturday night sees Sneaker Pimps hit Montreal. Extremely limited kicks, beats from A-Rock and Hatchmatik,and live painting by Stash, 123 Klan and Futura.

That's enough to make it Christmas morning, but I'm pumped about this:



Get familiar, flyer on the right.



A-trak and Nick Catchdub's love child Fools Gold Records is home to Kid Sister, Treasure Fingers and LA RIOTS. If you haven't heard than we feel sorry for you. Aren't you glad you know us?

One of the interesting things about the Fools Gold family is that it literally is....a family. Take a deep breath...Kid Sister is literally half of Flosstradamus's kid sister, as well as A-trak's girlfriend, who's brother is Dave One of Chromeo.

Kanye West - Stronger (A trak remix)







Kid Sister - Pro Nails (Dirty remix)







Treasure Fingers - Cross the Dancefloor








Toronto's VNDLSM hits Coda Club this Friday backed up by Montreal's Hatchmatik and Brendon Duvall and from what I've gathered, they're live show is worth checking out. Not convinced? then stay the fuck home and I'll tell you about it Saturday. One less person to bump into me and spill my drink.



Hostilities aside, Coda will likely be the perfect size venue for a show like this and it should be a good time. Check out some tunes to warm you up:

VNDLSM - Uh Oh! (mp3)





Rihanna - Umberalla [VNDLSM remix] [Diplo RE-remix] (mp3)









It's been more than a few days but hold on, i made it worth your wait. Nu Ravers on the Block First year anniversary party pictures and comments are here. For me the surprise stand out act was the one act that i had never heard of and neglected to investigate prior to the show. Hearts Revolution consists of a dude named Ben mixing, on keys and doing backup vocals and a chick named Lo doing the main vocals.

Any act that takes a somewhat a pseudo live approach to a genre which predominantly features DJs mixing and not much else, is taking somewhat of a risk. - Think Chromeo - think Crystal Castles - think Pase Rock - Hearts Revolution seriously pulled it off. Unfortunately Lo's mic was way too long to be able to hear the vocals properly. In fact, when they first started playing it wasn't working at all and the music had to stop for about 5 mins; needles to say there were alot of confused drunk people shouting unhelpful suggestions.

Look out for these guys in the future, they show alot of potential.




Nu Ravers did their thing and delivered their consistent danceable tunes without too many surprises. Things didn't get too crazy until after their set, when Felix Cartal from Vancouver started spinning and the Nu Ravers loosened up.

Here's a Happy Birthday song for Nu Ravers from the Club:

Cut Copy - Lights and Music [Boys Noize Happy Birthday Remix] (mp3)










Click Read More for More Show Pictures:




I cropped some ugly people out of this picture, i felt kind of bad while i was doing it but now i'm glad i did.

Needless to say, people were crunking.
So crunking, in fact, that shortly after as this picture was taken this dude poured vodka in a chicks eye; her response? Fall on the floor and yell "Fuck my eye!"



Many of the details surrounding this photo remain unclear.
And we'd like to keep it that way.



If anyone thinks of a snarky comment for this one then email me.


Heart's revolution

Heart's revolution

Heart's revolution

Heart's revolution

Heart's revolution

Tonight is Nu ravers on the block's big 1 year anniversary party featuring none other than france's Les Petits Pilous and Vancouver's Felix Cartal. The Montreal Mirror's notorious Jack Oatman had a sit down with Nu raver's and as a result here they are on the cover of this week's issue.

As if you had to ask, i'll be there taking pictures amongst the crunkers and crunkees so, skeet skeet be there yourself! Here is a remix of Chromeo's Bonafied Lovin by Les Petits Pilous if you need more convincing:

Chromeo - Bonafied' Lovin [LES PETITS PILOUS REMIX] (mp3)






Posted on 11:46 AM

On Vampire Weekend

Filed Under (,,,,) By Alex at 11:46 AM

It is Friday and it only felt right to start the weekend with a jaw about these kids from New York City who have been making alot of noise online lately. Vampire Weekend can't help but to remind me of Montreal's very own Islands in their own mellow-dramatic indie rock kind of way.

They're massive North American Tour is glaringly barren of a Montreal Tour date, with love for Toronto and Vancouver. What the fuck? Anyway here are some tunes, find out what your missing and have a Vampire filled Weekend kids.

Vampire Weekend - A-Punk (mp3)






Vampire Weekend - Campus (mp3)






Click Read more for chances to have a Vampire Weekend near you:


01-30 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom ^
01-31 San Francisco, CA - Popscene
02-01 San Francisco, CA - Amoeba Records (in-store)
02-04 Los Angeles, CA - Amoeba Records (in-store)
02-06 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
02-07 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
02-08 Williamstown, MA - Williams College Currier Ballroom
02-09 Boston, MA - Museum of Fine Arts
02-11 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern
02-13 Cincinnati, OH - The Gypsy Hut
02-14 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center
02-15 Pittsburgh, PA - Andy Warhol Museum
02-21 London, England - ULU
02-22 Wolverhampton, England - Civic
02-23 Oxford, England - Academy
02-24 Brighton, England - Audio
02-27 Manchester, England - Academy 2
02-28 Glasgow, Scotland - Classic Grand
03-06 Orlando, FL - The Social *
03-07 South Florida Everglades, FL - Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation (Langerado)
03-08 St. Augustine, FL - Café Eleven *
03-09 Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
03-10 Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree *
03-12-16 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-19 San Diego, CA - The Casbah
03-20 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey
03-22 San Francisco, CA - The Independent
03-23 San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Shop
03-25 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
03-26 Seattle, WA - Neumos
03-27 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richards on Richards
03-29 Missoula, MT - Badlander
03-30 Boise, ID - Neurolux
04-01 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
04-25 Indio, CA - Coachella