Com Truise - Helena Beat

Com Truise pulls the skinny jeans off Foster the People's "Helena Beat" and slaps a synthed out bass heavy pair of nuts right between its legs.

Foster The People - Helena Beat (Com Truise Remix) by Com Truise

Com Truise - Melting Circuits since '85

When talking about the music of Com Truise (one of the many pseudonyms of New Jersey designer/musician Seth Haley), the nostalgia bit inevitably comes up, so let's get that out of the way. Yes, his songs tap classic sci-fi and proto-electro in a way that is distinctly early eighties in scope. But they're also remarkably weird--stutter-step proggy and intoxicatingly psychedelic, like those classic touchstones got drunk on lava lamp juice inside a pinball machine. After his well-received Cyanide Sisters EP, a grip of remixes for artists like Twin Shadow, Neon Indian, and, uh, Daft Punk, and a few floating MP3s, Truise's first LP, Galactic Melt, will finally enter brainspaces this summer.

And what an appropriate title it bears. For a brief moment, opener "Terminal" subsumes you in warm, starry-eyed synth arpeggios, and then down the rabbit hole you go--from the keyed up, skyscraping machine love of "VHS Sex" and "Cathode Girls" to opuses like "Air Cal" and "Ether Drift" that sound like Doogie Howser's idea of the perfect prom song--mathy, forlorn, funky, and mighty in technical ambition. That they're all noticeably cinematic is, of course, by design--Haley envisioned Galactic Melt as a "sort of film score...from the mind," chronicling the lift and death of Com Truise, the world's first synthetic/robotic astronaut, from his creation and life on earth to his subsequent mission to a newly discovered galaxy called "Wave 1." Eventually, Truise becomes one with his newfound cosmos, like Pinocchio becoming a real boy, but in the nether regions of imaginary space.

Haley says knowing when and how to complete such an opus was the hardest part of making the record, nevermind all the carefully synth programmed patches on his Sequential Circuits Split-8 or the three years of real life that transpired during its genesis. It's a world unto itself, a sci-fi bildungsroman of sorts, and most importantly, an awesome escape from the corporeal.
Comtruise "Brokendate" MP3 by The FADER

Raphael Saadig

Get out the time machine, Raphael Saadiq is back with his new rock-infused LP, Stone Rollin’. As you’ll see, he’s remained faithful to the retro soulful roots that caught our attention in his 2008 hit album, The Way I See It. The old-school inspirations have always been there for this music veteran who started as member and founder of Tony! Toni! Toné about 20 years ago. He started from a more R&B-inspired style with delicious Stevie Wonder-esque tracks like “Still Ray” on his first album as Raphael Saadiq in 2002. And now, a well-rounded artist to a T, Raphael has created a vintage gem with his single, “Good Man.”
If this song isn’t put to video within the next year, I’d be utterly shocked. It’s a tribute to classic rock and Sam Cooke rolled into one. Although a member of last year’s relatively underrated “best artists” list, no one’s ever complained about the man’s ability to impress. A genuine ability to bring you back in time. He’s a good producer, singer, visionary, guru of modern R&B funk, and all-around good music man.

Video via Addicted-2-Retail

Hawthorne Radio Episode 3 Stones Throw Podcast

Mayer Hawthorne on the decks with a 33-minute mix for the third edition of what we call Hawthorne Radio.

Track list:
Barbara McNair “Steal Away Tonight”
Barbara Randolph “You Got Me Hurtin’ All Over”
The Earles Inc “Let’s Try It Again”
The Vibrations “Wind Up Toy”
Tammi Terrell “This Old Heart Of Mine”
The Manhattans “I Call It Love”
The Ethics “Look At Me Now”
Brothers Of Soul “Try It Babe”
Little Carl Carlton “Drop By My Place”
Cheryl Williams “Everybody’s Happy But Me”
Barbara Mason “Half A Love”

Twin Shadows - Castles in the Snow (Com Truise Remix)

"Tracks like “Castles In the Snow” really flaunted Twin Shadow’s trademark haunted melodies over shimmering pop and delicate brushes of ’80s nostalgia. So, I was rather impressed with New Jersey “Chillwave” producer Com Truise (aka Seth Haley) transmogrifying remix in which it didn’t sound too far different from the original except for taking it nu-melodic depths by amping up the bottom layers of the song. It’s equal parts dreamy and sparkle. Confused? Understandable. It’s just good, chillwave music to lose yourself in."

Read more: Twin Shadow – “Castles In The Snow” (remixed by Com Truise) http://streetdate.radio.com/2010/11/23/twin-shadow-castles-in-the-snow-remixed-by-com-truise/#ixzz1ClLJdA8G
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Iron Solomon (feat. Gordon Voidwell)

"Judging from the hodge-podge of colors and patterns decorating Gordon Voidwell’s wardrobe (and clothing line) his style thinks so far outside the box that he seems like he’s not playing with a full deck. Really though, he makes it possible to use all the tricks up his sleeve: beat-making, singing and designing clothes to make an layered fusion of all his trades. “Spring Fever” does just that with battle MC Iron Solomon icing the track with some quick-hit punchlines to accent Gordon’s perfect example of what it means to be eclectic—matching bell chimes to accent his chirping synths. Hit the jump for the season-ready track." - Fader

I saw Gordon at Firebird lightin up the stage for Mayer Hawthorne and the County. Definitely worth checkin out, got a feelin we'll be seeing more of him in the future.

Gorillaz - Empire Ants Live (Jay Leno)

Gorillaz are on the top of my playlist. Empire Ants features Swedish pop clique Little Dragon spreading lyrics over sliding synths and crisp bass that'll make your head hop for days.


Recorded:
Gorillaz - Empire Ants (Club Clique Dancefloor Edit) by Club Clique

Doncamatic - Gorillaz feat Daley

Wow. That. is. all.

Archnemesis - Diamonds & Glass EP

Archnemesis(Telepath & MO Theory) have just released their first EP album "Diamonds & Glass". Sampling everything from 1920's jazz to contemporary rap, this eclectic duo has certainly started making waves in the music arena. Their first full length album is set for early 2011. Download "Diamonds & Glass" for free here.

Aloe Blacc - You Make Me Smile

Aloe Blacc's new album "Good Things" is finally out via Stones Throw, produced by Truth+Soul Records. Dubbed "recession soul", "You Make Me Smile" has an easy fusion of funk, soul, and smooth vocals with lyrics that have real meaning and relativity to the social & economic environment of 2010. This article written by Martin Horsfield sums it up.

Aloe Blacc - You Make Me Smile by stonesthrow

Dam Funk - Hood Pass Intact

This is it and where it's at - true, authentic music from the real artists. At some time in history past, Toeachizown would have no doubtedly been a multi-platinum, internationally recognized, and seated at the top of the charts. Now with the modern music scheme where it is: digitalized, sold out, worn out, and oversaturated with complete garbage, truly talented artists like Dam Funk receive only a fraction of the commendation they deserve.


(In reference to the post made on Feb. 05, 2010: The vocal version of Hood Pass Intact)

GoldenEye

8-bit sampling has been done. 16-bit and 32-bit sounds are okay, but we're gonna side with Eliot Lipp on this one and say that going for the 64-bit gold was the right choice. On this exclusive one-off track from the NY producer, a piece of the soundtrack from one of the best first-person shooters of all time, GoldenEye 007 for Nintendo 64, is reworked into a slow-swaggering dance jam that wouldn't be the least bit out of place in a darkly lit nightclub scene featuring a tuxedo-clad Pierce Brosnan with some doe-eyed European knockout. Like the smokey vixen, Lipp's beat is a purely sexual beast, but those ominous synth melodies and sound effects give off the air of an insidious double agent waiting for her chance to pounce.
GoldenEye

Mimosa - Keys 2 the City

Mimosa has made his mark on the west coast sound and in the past two years has become one of the top west coast exports. This young producers energy while performing is magnetic; the word has spread fast...Fans know Mimosa as someone who brings a ‘good-time’ energy that is as fierce as it is friendly, taking them on journeys through urban chaos and ecstasy.

Chromeo - Don't Turn the Lights On

When describing the '80s-obsessed, electro-funk of NY duo Chromeo, rarely—if ever—does the word "creepy" come to mind, but that's exactly what the video for the outfit's new song is. "Don't Turn the Lights On" is on the soft-spoken side of Dave1's and P-Thugg's retro-futuristic R&B sound, and is lifted of their forthcoming third album, Business Casual. While the bespectacled frontman politely croons the song's chorus and his bearded cohort quietly jams out on some keys, the lights flick from on to off, leaving the band's glowing eyes and vibrant grins floating in air. The disembodying effect is applied to a wide cast of characters who each get a chance to do some weird shit with their illuminated organs, like so many Cheshire Cats. As "Lights" progresses, things continue to grow stranger and more funny within the video. We always knew Chromeo had a sense of humor, but some of this stuff is totally absurd, which is great.

Mayer Hawthorne - I Need You

Mayer Hawthorne explains the story behind this record:

“I met Nottz at Nightlife's Dilla Tribute in L.A. and we just kept in contact. I had always been a fan of Nottz since the 90s. He sent me a bunch of beats and at first I had no idea what to do with any of them, but eventually it hit me. I sang a hook for him on his album as well.

The song is a cover of a cat named Otis Leavill which is one of my all time fav soul sides, but relatively unknown 45. I don't think Nottz even knew it. I actually even made up some of the words because no one could make out what he said in the original. ha!

When Nottz sent me that batch - that particular beat stood out. It had the same chord progression as the Otis Leville, so I just went with it.”



Mayer Hawthorne - I Need You by stonesthrow

The "walrus of love" Barry White

Dusty grooves like they should be.

Parov Stelar - Lost in Amsterdam

Like life, music must move on and progress. But like life, we must remember to reminisce and recall the past at times. It is the sole reason why we enjoy experiencing new and going back to old music, it is an extension of life. "Shine" the third artist album by Parov Stelar gratifies life's movements and moods perfectly, the new the old. What we already know about Parov Stelar and what we don't know. This is obvious to Marcus Füreder aka Parov Stelar too. Sampling 'Charleston' and 'Jazz', conjuring up new 'Breakbeat' and 'Pop' into a creation of interesting music is no easy task, but Parov Stelar seems to have a sensibility about what it should sound like. "Shine" offers sexiness and sophistication, this artist is not standing still and resting on his laurels and just repeating the same sound as he gets a little rougher and dirtier in places. This is not elevator music, this is not lounge, this is simply good music with influences and cognitive factors far and wide. Success in something in this case only encourages Parov Stelar to move forward and not to stand still.

Waldeck - Addicted

A driving force in his native Austria’s burgeoning electronica scene, Waldeck is a proponent of the Vienna Sound - a smoky, gorgeously eloquent mix of deep-rooted, turbulent beats and soaring, luxurious melodies. Waldeck has produced both albums of Saint Privat who won the Austrian Music Award 2005!

The 3rd Waldeck album "Ballroom Stories" has been released in August in Germany and Austria and has been critically acclaimed. It went straight into the longplay charts

waldeck_-_addicted.mp3

John Hughes - Reset the Warehouse

Big Gigantic - I Need A Dollar Remix

With Summertime on the horizon, Big Gigantic’s Remix of Aloe Blacc’s ‘I NEED A DOLLAR‘ is available NOW and can be downloaded and streamed BELOW.
In the coming months, Big Gigantic will be releasing a series of singles with very special guests, leading up to their full-length album release, scheduled for late summer.

I%20Need%20A%20Dollar%20(Big%20Gigantic%20Remix).mp3