Asian Dan

Finally MGMT, Blogonomics staple is back to fuel the Hypemachine. This track sounds like a a cat surfing on an 8-bit sega wave. Oh wait. A super 60s psychedelic pop surfer vibe. I definitely hear some early Pink Floyd circa Syd Barret. Definitely structurely the tune is about being more of a sonic journey than a track with hooks – proof on what you can do in a 4 min song. This is a return to their hippie/liberal arts New England roots.

This album I feel will have very little to do with Electric Feel, Time to Pretend, and Kids – instead will be about a complete journey within the dying medium, an album. A nostalgic experience when listening to a piece of music in one sitting was a privilege. I feel that MGMT is going to alienate their old fans and just win over a new fans since it will be so hard to replicate the greatness and success that was “Oracular Spectacular”.

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MGMT – Flash Delirium

Kavinsky strikes back this March with his Nightcall EP with quite a star-studded electro cast. His Zombie-self with production duties held by the one and only Guy-Man Homem-Christo and mixing duties by SebastiAn. Also featuring vox from CSS’ Lovefoxxx. Then throw in a mysterious Asian remixer, Dustin Nguyen, the famed actor from 21 Jump Street as well as a 9 min epic remix from the one and only Jackson of Jackson & His Computer Band as well as a smooth night burner of a remix by Breakbot and then BAM – an epic comeback for one of the French Electro royalty. Nothing too banger or absurd – just quality electronic music made by a few Frenchies. Check out the track “Pacific Coast Highway” on Soundcloud.

Limited Edition Picture Disc Contest
Win a copy of the limited 500 pressing Picture Disc of Kavinsky “Nightcall EP” or Pre-order it here. Winner will be picked Friday 3.12.2010!

Simply copy + paste and retweet this:
Kavinsky @deadcruiser “Nightcall” out 3.22.2010 RT to win a Limited Edition Picture Disc via @ASIANDAN & @recordmakers http://bit.ly/c4eB3M

-/- or Blank Spaces could be music that someone found on a lost cassette from the 80s. Everything about the vibe and aesthetic just feels like it is a demo tape of some lost 80s UK band. “The Great Shark Hunt” totally reminds me of Human League and Yazoo meets New Order, with its sequenced synth line and the chorus FX on the bass that comes in during the chorus and the little solo at the end.

A few words from Blank Spaces about “The Great Shark Hunt”:

“The EDP Wasp is the backbone of the track and everything else plays in time with that. It’s about losing trust in someone who was supposed to look out for you and lyrically its inspired by Hunter S. Thompson and his rants of crooked politicians.”

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-/- The Great Shark Hunt

I was never a huge fan of Foals and their post/math-rock sound, with their angular guitars and syncopated rhythms and the singer’s almost shrill voice. But this new single “Spanish Sahara” is a gorgeous and well written tune that is a bigger and better step for the band. The accompanying video is an epic/sad video that reminds me of something Sigur Ros/Explosions in The Sky would create. Check out this remix of the new single by Mount Kimbie who turns the track into a warm haunting electronic tune, doing what Mount Kimbie does best, looking forward to Mount Kimbie’s album coming out later this year.

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Foals – Spanish Sahara (Mount Kimbie Remix)

Luca C. & Brigante take on a frequent collaborator and friend, Ali Love’s latest single “Love Harder” with their slowburner disco take on the original. Be on the look out for Luca C. & Brigante’s remix of Classixx “I’ll Get You” – it’s already up on their myspace.

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Ali Love – Love Harder (Luca C. & Birgante Illegal Mix)

Via Jules

Pink Stallone the disco revivalist from the NY Tri-State area have teamed up with Eddie Mar of Vietcong Disco. A collaboration that was facilitated by the blog – Eddie told me that he discovered Pink Stallone on Asian Dan and then contacted them and began working tunes together. You heard it first, blog magic happening IRL! This is the first product of this collab featuring 90s House vocalist Joey Washington. This is some funky, stuff that doesn’t come off as a novelty thing. Looking forward to what else comes from this collaboration.

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Pink Stallone – Phase One [Dub Demo]

A little Montreal on Montreal action between Tiga and the Chromeo boys. Dave 1 and P-Thugg transform this banger for a tune into a smooth pop tune that seduces the dance floor instead of destroy it. A nice little treat from some Canadians – hats off to all you Canucks for proving that you really do rule the winter world.

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Download: Tiga – What You Need (Chromeo Remix)

Artwork by EIKNARF

THE ORION is now upon us. Shuttle has crafted the most epic mix to ever grace this blog. One Hour and Forty-Five Minutes of deep bass, UK 2-Step Garage, Dubstep goodness. If you listen to this all at once I applaud you. Checkout a little Q&A with Mr. Shuttle as he divulges his love of UK electronic music and why it took so long to get me this mix, 10 Months – but I must say it was well worth the wait.

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Download: Asian Dan Presents Shuttle “The Orion Mixtape”

Asian Dan Q&A:

1. Who is Shuttle? How would you describe your music?

Legally, I am Nathan Donmoyer from Leonardtown, Maryland, but I go by Shuttle because I try to make music that transports the listener through different places in a believable yet refreshing path.

2. What are biggest influences, musical or otherwise?

The rhythm section, drums and bass, bass and drums. The rhythm section is the most powerful ingredient, you can have the same chicken, noodles and vegetables raw to start, but with rhythm and bass you can make 1,000 thai, indian, italian, mexican, or japanese dishes. All delicious. That and all UK bass music. I love it all. Slow, fast, swung, straight, instrumental, mc’s, diva’s. I wonder if I was born in london if I would appreciate it as much…

3. This mix is anything but an Asian Dan MINImix, it is the most epic/longest mix ever to grace this blog – 34 tracks clocking in at 1 hour and 45 mins. What took so long and what was some of your inspiration for it?

Ok, to contradict my Anglophilia from above, I have to say, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND mini-mixes. It’s this BBC British phenomenon I can’t understand. Plus, I told you would do this mix in April 2009 so when I finally got around to doing it this week I thought I owed you at least 90 minutes right? Mp3 = freedom from 74 minute compact discs, why not embrace the long form?
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DJ Mehdi & Riton, Carte Blanche in Europe is to House as is A-Trak & Armand Van Helden, Duck Sauce in NYC is to Disco House. That is what I am seeing as DJs/Producers are on a quest to touch back with their roots in order to find a new sound or even the reason why they do what they do. I’ve always been a fan of Riton’s work and the fact that he is so versatile with from his space Krautrock projects, Die Verboten and Eine Kleine Nacht Musik to his straightforward club banging tracks. And of course DJ Mehdi is the last remaining DJ on the Ed Banger squad that really interests me at the moment. Let’s see what this duo will do to reinvigorate the masses interests in classic house a la Duck Sauce.

Also this live iteration of Carte Blanche sounds interesting especially with the introduction of a 909 and the “No Bangers” rule.

“DJ MEHDI and RITON will tour as CARTE BLANCHE in May and June 2010, visiting all major cities in Europe and North-America. Four decks, one mixer, and a TR 909, of course. No bangers, strictly house music. Their first EP is set to drop on ED BANGER in May 2010 as well.”

Download: DJ Mehdi & Riton: Carte Blanche – In The Mix

The Swiss Mercury take on the Dutch Le Le once again for a fantastic remix. Anything the two of the them do is amazing. Bitch you breakfast.
LeLe – Discomonster (Mercury Remix) by Mercury (Switzerland)