Tracks Column #1

Oh my, this column has been out of the running for quite some time. The reason is simple, life took over a bit, and this column does take a bit of time. But hey, it’s back again, so hopefully per week this column will be covering six songs again. Mostly it is a bit more electronic, disco, house type stuff with some remixes thrown in as well.

However, since we’re already two months in, lets just do a bit of a highlight reel of some of the best songs that have come out in 2011!

‘Jam for Jerry’ by Holy Ghost!
Oh man, you knew this was coming, didn’t you? An absolute corker by the two lads of Holy Ghost! (who we interviewed on this very site, so check that out!). If you make an homage to one of DFA’s finest drummers (who unfortunately passed away in an eerie elevator accident), don’t go ballad, do something with a tight rhythm section. Melancholic lyrics featuring the kind of stuff one thinks about when someone has passed away. You wonder, Have I told that person often enough how much I appreciated this person, or, Was there something I could’ve done so this wouldn’t have happened? Because, after all “If I could change it all I would / If only I could / You can quote me / Hold me to it”. Aside from that, this is an absolute dance floor filler. These guys are going to be one of the hits of 2011, book it! And as said, check the interview we did with them last year.
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12136-jam-for-jerry/

‘Nobody’ by Cassian (Mitzi remix)
First of all, check Mitzi’s EP All I Heard, because those three songs are seriously good. This is Mitzi’s remix of a Cassian song, another new kid on the block (for me at least, though perhaps people actually in the know may have been on the ball for years and years about this band, who knows). I first heard this in the FACT Magazine mix of Moullinex (check out his output as well while you’re at it. The mix also features Holy Ghost!), and I just lost it. Instrumental (as opposed to Mitzi’s own stuff), and it just has these amazing build ups. Just got to be dancing on this one, amazing remix.
http://hypem.com/#!/item/194c0/cassian+-+Nobody+Mitzi+Remix+

‘Into the Valley’ by Classixx feat. Karl Dixon
More disco goodness, this time coming from the West Coast of the U.S.A., namely Los Angeles. And if you just crafted a tune, this is what you do, hire a gospel singer or disco singer or whatever and just get some good vocals on there. Sometimes you have to use other people’s talent, and it just gives this catchy track a bit of oomph. Luckily you see it a lot more these days, with Hercules and Love Affair bringing in Aerea Negrot and Shaun Wright, Holy Ghost! asking Michael McDonald to do a song, Wolfram with Haddaway, and if you go real popular Gorillaz teaming up with Bobby Womack. Got to love when people with vocals team up with people with the tunes.
http://hypem.com/#!/item/19hfm/Classixx+Official++-+Into+The+Valley+feat+Karl+Dixon+

‘Space is Only Noise If You Can See’ by Nicolas Jaar
Now, this might make more sense in the context of the album, but when I’m listening to that LP this is the point that gets me every time. I love listening to this album while on the commute (early on the morning or late at night), and just watching the night pass by. And sometimes your mind wanders off, but then this song hits with that “Space is only noise if you can see” line and I’m right back in the hypnotic grasp of this album. Sense heightening. This young kid has just made a really, really good, atmospheric electro album which is really intricately crafted with all these little sounds at exactly the right places. Love it when the vocals slightly overlap in the second part of the song.
http://hypem.com/#!/item/19dd5/Nicolas+Jaar+-+Space+Is+Only+Noise+if+You+Can+See

‘Still Sound’ by Toro Y Moi
I really, really liked that clip. And I don’t say that often about clips because most of them I find rather insipid affairs, but this one just has fun written all over it. And the kid can sure bust a move, nifty footwork that! Nice catchy song with some fitting vocals. I think the slower bit in the middle with the angelic sounds is a nice break from the catchiness, until the bass takes over again that is. Really like the vibe this one gives off. And as said, what a nice clip, got to love that Super 8 camera thing.
http://hypem.com/#!/item/17610/Toro+y+Moi+-+Still+Sound

‘Ned’ by Montauk
The duo of Montauk has released an EP with all boy’s names. And they have given these names to three disco edits. ‘Ned’ is a slloooww burner grooving along. The name comes from Ned Doheny, as it featured on his 1976 Hard Candy album originally. Montauk has slowed it down and stretched it out for over ten minutes with a piano solo in the middle to help the bass fill that ten minute track length a bit. Now, granted, if you like your edits to speed things up and not put five minute piano solos in the songs, this won’t be for you. But it is just worth a listen for the out of the box mentality Montauk showcases here. All the songs on this EP are slow burners like this by the way.
http://soundcloud.com/sweetsurprise/sets/montauk-boys