CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY! The Disco's Revenge December Top 20

I'm not going to bore you with the reasons why I haven't blogged in so long, it will bore you ad infinitum, all you need to know is, we're back, our tree is freshly decorated (see above) and we've brought a big red sack stuffed with goodies for your aural enjoyment.

Discos Revenge December Top 20





1. Superslut - Bulerias

Fresh off the latest Munich Disco Tech compilation, this is a throbbing 7 minute tech-house monster, packed with one of the most unexpected breakdowns you'll hear and a bigger drop than niagra falls. Even if it would sound slightly more at home on a hot hispanic night, you'll see what i mean.





2. Kolombo - Sniff

Forthcoming on the ever dependable Turbo Records, this naughty number has been a regular in head-honcho Tiga's box for a number of months and we can't wait it to see the light of day. With a hissing acidic rasp layered on a pounding bassline and some haunting keys, this is perfect peak-time madness. We can't offer you this one but grab Tiga's set from Sensation Denmark Listen out for it filtering around the 48 minute mark and don't forget to blow your nose in these cold months





3. Cut Copy - Far Away (Damn Arms Remix)

A glimmering disco diamond, complete with soaring strings and a filter-disco tinge to the production. Damn Arms have turned Cut Copy's latest single, off what was undoubtably our album of the year here at Disco's Revenge into a stylish, shimmering groover to warm even the coldest of cockles. Released on November 24th through modular, the single also features remixes by Hercules and Love Affair, Knightlife and Aeroplane, so don't just settle for this tip of the iceberg.





4. (Jamie Anderson &) Deepgroove - Ghost Train/Invaders/Bad Acid

Invaders is probably the pick of the bunch here, what sounds like a fairly subtle minimal ditty mutates nicely into a crescendoing workout complete high pitched wailing synths evoking Josh Wink's seminal 'Higher States.. '. Trippy stuff indeed.




5. Armand Van Helden (Ft. Christian Rich) - Ski Hard

Only picked up on this via a recent DJ Mehdi set, here he who needs no introduction proves that hip hop vocals can sit tastefully on top of electro beats, something producers have struggled with this year (see Busy P, MSTRKRFT etc). A nice old-skool sample is backed up by the kind of crisp production you would expect from such a veteran of the scene, catchy as hell too. Hit up youtube for the awesome if not wholly original video of a kid dancing in a warehouse.





6. DJ Mehdi - Pocket Piano (Brodinski/Joakim Remixes)

The undeniable star in the average, muggy sky that was Ed Rec. III gets the remix treatment from two equally dazzling producers. Brodinski's provides the kind of pumping electro-come-techno he previously provided on last year's Bad Runner, whereas Joakim enhances the tracks best features adding danceability and a lovely cut-up texture around 4 minutes in, yet keeps in tact it's original charm. Marvellous in different ways, i'm damned if I can pick a favourite!





7. Dada Attack - Clearly Imply (Gui Boratto Remix)

A steady mid-tempo monster, with harsh unrelenting hi-hats, a whirling mid-range and synyster undertones evoking images of untold doom. This is exactly the kind of slightly manic tech-house you'd expect from Kompakt and their K2 offshoot.





8. Sharam - Crazi

A change of direction for the other half of Deep Dish, abandoning his rather questionable more mainstream sound (a recent track featured the vocal duties of the equally poor Bedingfield sister), this noisy, industrial tech-houser comes as quite a surprise, perhaps he's been getting some tips off compatriot Ali 'Dubfire' into making brilliant, genre spanning pieces, or at least it sounds that way.





9. Evil Nine - They Live (Felix Cartal Remix)
Felix Cartal marks his over-due return with a storming remix, rescuing Evil Nine's passable electro-house with some satisying squelching synths and a succint step in a more heavy, crunching direction, mirrored by the sound of his DJ sets which we at Disco's Revenge had the pleasure of experiencing at Prostitutes and Policemen [Link} back in November, more please monsieur Cartal.





10. Daso - Meine (Lucio Aquilina Remix)

The absolute opposite end of the spectrum to Daso's Numb, which tore up the likes of Sven Vath's ibiza sets this summer. It's a pleasant, inconspicious little remix by the young italian, working in a similar vein to Reboot - Vandon, and it deserves every one of the 6 minutes of your time.

...& the best of the rest, every one a delight in it's own right, I promise you that:

11. Sasha - Mongoose
A journey through so many different sounds and textures leaving you perplexed and enthralled.

12. GQ - Is It Cool? (Theo Parrish Edit)
Disco bomb gets a tidy rework from the king of touch-ups (oo-err!).

13. The Presets - Anywhere (Compuphonic & Kolombo Remix)
Warm swaddling synths and a vocal reminiscent of 80s pop at its best, delightful.

14. Roel H - Dancing Bears (Phil Kieran Remix)
A gem from back in the summer, actually featuring on Dave Spoon's Toolroom Knights double mix CD. A really hard one to categorize, Phil Kieran at his ever underrated best, even if it does bear a striking resemblance to the spy music used on trigger happy TV.

15. Destroy Disco - Here It Comes
Breaks drums, check. Large hoover noise, check. Rave sample, check. Throbbing wobbly bassline, check. Noisy, silly & great fun.

16. Shadow Dancer - Soap/NorthernSoap remains one of my highlights of 2008, sounding as fresh as it did back in may, Northern serves up a different but equally welcome side to the Dancer, serving up a dark chicago inspired 4/4 bomb.

17. Spektre - Rabbithole
As dark and twisted as the name suggests, with a rolling groove and subtle tapping hi-hats, the sound of being lost inside your own mind...in a good way.

18. Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane Remix)
Joyous disco-pop, probably THE remix of the year, gorgeous layered arrangement and the subtle undertones of guitar delay ensure this is one you never want to end.

19. Brodinski - Oblivion (Noob Remix)
This one is also forthcoming on turbo records. Packing even more popof-esque punch than the original, a very promising start for the rising french star, make sure to check out his remix of Dance Area's 'AA247' here too

20. Plastikman - Spastik (Dubfire Rework)
The original has been back in the box of many DJs this year and Sven Vath's Exit set rekindled my love for this tasteful re-touch with it's devastating bassline, a classic example of the old and new school of techno coming together harmoniously.

Until very soon,

//Decadence//

Enough procrastination, here's the mouse..

Re-entry in 5, 4, 3, 2...

Real life and its many diverions and distractions have left this blog barren and unkempt, I'll be honest, it's never going to be a thesis of mass literary proportions, but stick with me..

I was inspired to write this post by the number of issues plaguing me having just listened to the new Deadmau5 album.

It is an unusual piece of work, both varied and contemporary but a brief skim of the tracklisting makes disappointing reading, no 'Desynchronised', no 'The Reward Is Cheese' and you can forget summer's filter-disco tinged 'Hi Friend'; not a good start.

Deadmau5 has always been somewhat of an anomally for me, equally able to produce moments of brilliance alongside frustratingly average trance-tinged chart fodder. Earlier in our sodden summer he orchestrated a performance at Creamfields that had an amalgamated crowd of fans from every strain of dance music packing out the Radio One arena eagre to hear what has got everyone - from the world's most infamous, arena busting DJ; Tiesto through to resident DJs in the sweat-soaked back rooms of the UK's most underground nights - incorperating his productions into their sets, or at least just to see his unnerving and oversized flashing mouse head in which he chooses to perform; the kind of costume to send ket-heads frantically scurrying for cover on all fours.



The performance was entertaining and energetic in equal measures, with the music spanning everything from extreme distortion electro-house à la Justice, through prog. house and his electrofied remixes of trance classics such as Energy 52's 'Cafe Del Mar' and Hybrid's 'Finished Symphony'. In a live environment this worked phenomenaly, covering all bases and providing the diversification required for such a crowd, however on 'Random Album Title' this comes across as a slightly strained and conceited attempt to gain mainstream support and the financial benefits that it comes gold-plated with.

The minimalistic warpings of opener 'Sometimes Things Get, Whatever' reminiscent of a decent Kompakt release are soon lost amongst the faux-epic trance crescendos of 'Brazil' and 'Arguru' which simply pound down the well trodden path of the 'build-breakdown-anthem' format, albeit at a lower BPM. Despite its attempts to appeal across all boards the album clearly allays itself more closely to the tech-trance-electro behemoth rode by Armin Van Buuren et al. 'I Remember' is a particularly tacky, oversweetened creation deserved of a place on the most abismal bargain bin of 'Electro House Nation' compilations, both leaving a sickly taste in your mouth.

It is the failure to include the more discordant, riotous tracks we know he is cable of which is most most disappointing and with new releases and remixes surfacing week upon week, there is no doubting the work ethic and enthusiasm of Deadmau5 (real name Joel Zimmerman) but he must be wary to avoid the title of 'jack (or should that be mouse?) of all trades, king of none'.

There are some saving graces, 'Faxing Berlin' has been duly praised as one of beatport's most successful downloads, with over 30,000 devotees falling for its beautiful progression and warm waves of synth recollective of some of Sasha's best, but such a magnificent track should be featured in its full 9 minute glory rather than the two separate morsels we are presented with.




Earlier track 'Slip' also meandres through darkly brooding territory with an air of impressive classical composition about it, however these moments simply highlight the underlying disappointment at what could have been a spectacular debut.

Here's those he 'forgot' to include:

Deadmau5 - Hi Friend [Direct Link]

Deadmau5 - Fifths [Direct Link]

Deadmau5 Vs. Jelo - The Reward Is Cheese [Zippyshare Link]

Deadmau5 - Desynchronised [Divshare Link]

Techno Logic

Matt Walsh wrote (on 18/05/08):
if any of you were at bugged out last night there seemed to be a massive shift towards a new techno sound, probably due to some of popofs records....

Two months on, and how right this prediction was, contemporary clubland has re-kindled it's love affair with techno manifesting itself in the form of a new brooding mutated style of tech-house. It's increasing popularity can be attributed to an unspoken but growing disdain with countless excessively distorted justice-clones, and stagnancy breeds creativity.

The speakers at disco's revenge have been throbbing away to the beat of these turbulent basslines of Popof, Huntemann et al, and having noticed the inclusion of techno artists such as The Field making it into the playlists of big-room houser Sebastian Ingrosso (check out his surprisingly excellent Cream Ibiza CD free with this month's Mixmag) it seems as though it is spreading rapidly.

Here's one to kick you off:

Adam Freeland - Silverlake Pills (Gui Boratto Remix) [Direct Link]

Gui Boratto transforms poor middle of the road breakbeat-tinged electro into an epic 6 minute masterpiece, with the nagging synth line elevating the listener on to a higher plain amid a melee of technological beeps and squeaks before reversing into an incredible conclusion.



If that has whet your appetite then prepare to indulge in a luxurious 5 course dinner in the form of our next track. Solee is German producer Norman Flaskamp, responsible for one of the most euporic & atmospheric tracks of last year 'Different' (pay a visit to your local record store or not-so-local mp3 provider if you slept on this one) and returns with his new masterpiece 'Timba' on parquet recordings. Here is the most promising of an astounding remix package from relatively unknown Shin Nishimura. Echoing the peaks and troughs of much trance, Nishimura delivers a haunting, futuristic number which could effectively provide the sountrack of an astronaut, lost on a far away moon, cautious yet frantically searching amongst the cavernous, desolate craters for any remaining existence.

Solee - Timba (Shin Nishimura Summer Of Love Remix) [Zshare Link]



Although leaning more heavily toward the kind of blistering acid house offered by Felix Da Housecat, even David Guetta (yes he of dodgy 80s popstar looks and naff mainstream vocal fodder 'Love Is Gone' fame) has produced a track of rough edgy, tech inspired madness. Featuring an unmistakably acid TB-303-esque synth line, this curveball has been shocking and surprising genre figureheads such as 2ManyDJs for months with it's pulsating intensity. It was made available as a nodding gesture towards Guetta's "twisted, trippy, darker side" according to the press release and made available as a free download via beatport...more of the same please D.G.

David Guetta - Jack Is Back [Rapidshare Link]

//Techno//Logic//

Bonus:
DJ Rush - Motherfucking Bass (Popof Remix) [Zshare Link]

Money, Success, Fame, Glamour.

“The road to excess leads to the palace of wisdom...for we never know what is enough until we know what is more than enough.” - William Blake

“Use, do not abuse; neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy.” - Voltaire

Hype is a very subjective thing, seeing a group of previously unknowns splashed across the face of every monthly magazine from Artrocker to Q. instills a sense of pessemism in my mind, and in a world dominated by multinational media conglomerates pushing their artists, on their record labels, through their magazines, their radio stations and their TV channels you can see why, for every Bloc Party there are ten Biffy Clyros.

These two things may seem completely unrelated, well for the past few weeks I've been courting 'Time To Pretend' by MGMT. Blogged relentlessly, these NME and HMV darlings produce perfect psychadelic synthpop in the vein of Arcade Fire on acid.
The lyrical content contemplates the age old cliché of rock & roll excess with a satirical tone screaming Marilyn Monroe, Jimi Hendrix, Sid Vicious, have we learned nothing? Whilst expressing the conditioning by popular culture to admire this licentious yet luxurious lifestyle. This time the product is more than deserved of the publicity hysteria.

MGMT - Time To Pretend [Mediafire Link]



Continuing the debauched theme is the latest offering from Munk, a burning mid-tempo piano driven number featuring the sultry vocals of italian temptress Asia Argento. Releasing on the consistently fabulous Gomma, suggested to be the german DFA, here we feature the remix by their very own Juan Maclean. Continuing the fine form they found on their recent latin-piano laden beauty 'Happy House', the Juan Maclean inject the track with an epic spaced-out breakdown reminiscent of Cut Copy's Hearts On Fire.

Munk - Live Fast, Die Old (The Juan Maclean Remix) [Mediafire Link]


Photography by Melissa Rose // melissa.rose@hotmail.co.uk

The hype surrounding Manchester's club Clique reached an emphatic climax last september when it was voted Mixmag club of the month for the whole of the UK! Having moved from its original home at Joshua Brooks to the slightly bigger and more lavish Mint Lounge, some may have worried that Clique may have lost the intimate and friendly atmosphere that made it so alluring. Having visited his last weekend, disco's revenge can allay such unsubstantiated fears, friday night is still the glamourous melting pot of personalities, sexualities and digital dance-pop delights we have come to expect without a hint of pretentiousness, but with a brimming crowd and an even more splendidly stocked bar. A night worth visiting Manchester for in itself, so dress up and join us in dancing at their next event, the unmissable Glass Candy.



I leave you with a highlight from friday

Cut Copy - Far Away [Mediafire Link]

Much Love,

D.

Wasted British Youth

Good Evening, Parents.
Tonight, I'm going to take you on a tour of Club Mac;
where all the bad little kitties go,
and try to leave their bondings...
By various means of methods,
anything necessary,
Something that you won't quite be accustomed to.
So I've equipped each and everyone of you with your own individual camera,
so that you could take pictures of these bad little kitties doing bad little things...
for tomorrow's paper.
So whip out your fifteen dollars, and prepare to enter Club Mac.

We've been here not more than thirty seconds,
and already I see a bad little kid doing bad little things.
He is sucking on a balloon.
Now, this is not an ordinary balloon, parents.
It's a balloon filled with a gas called, nitrous oxide -laughing gas.
He, he, he, he, he, he, he, ha, ha...
but this is no laughing matter.
Cameras ready, prepare to flash.

Now over here we have Little Johnny and Miss Susie,
smoking on a joint!?
This is not the thing to do.
I think that we have to take pictures of these two.
Cameras ready, prepare to flash.

Now over here, we have some naughty, naughty kids.
They brought in their own liquor to the party.
Now we can not have that now, parents, can we?
Six packs and pints, I think not, so...
Cameras ready, prepare to flash.

Green Velvet - Flash [Mediafire Link]

The Final Frontier?

A vacation to venus, a journey to jupiter, where in the galaxy would you like to go?

The passengers whisper nervously as they prepare to be propulsed into orbit, the pilot gradually raises the fader on the intercom, a crisp rolling snare errupts around the cabin, followed by martian-esque squelch, 5...4...3...2...

The solid rocket boosters errupt into life and the amateur astronauts bolt into the sky closely followed by a screeching sonance as they break the sound barrier.

If you haven't got $200,000 spare for Virgin Galactic and its future competitors, don't worry Popof have recreated the experience for you.

Popof - The Chomper (LSD Version) [Mediafire Link]



Are we any closer to experiencing the sensation of soaring above the earth, who knows? But man's obsession with the galaxy has transcended culture throughout the centuries, and is nowhere more prominent than music.

Meet Space, a French Space disco band from 1977 originally fronted by Didier Marouani and influenced by growing up with the lunar-landing and the sci-fi epedemic that followed. They have sold over £12 Million copies of their first 3 albums all over the world. It is safe to say that Daft Punk were some what cosmically-inspired by what they saw and heard.



This phenomenal subgenre of Hi-NRG/eurodisco may have disintegrated at the speed of a stray comet hurtling through the Earth's atmosphere, but it has gone on to inspire waves of electronic artists over the past two decades.

Before you depart to seek out an old Korg synthesizer and a motorcycle helmet to customize, I leave you with a cover of Space's 'Magic Fly' from the galactically fabulous Felix Da Housecat and one of my favourite tracks of all time, perfect for star gazing on a warm night.

Felix Da Housecat - Magic Fly [Mediafire Link]

The Hasbeens AKA Alden Tyrell - Make The World Go Away [Mediafire Link]

Every Dog Has It's Day

So I went to see Feadz, Mehdi and Vicarious Bliss on Friday at Paradise Factory in Manchester. As the battle continues to rage for domination of the city's nightlife, Sankeys had gathered a particularly potent strikeforce in the shape of Herve and Simian Mobile Disco, leaving paradise factory fairly barren for a large proportion of the night. For me though, this one was a no-brainer, Feadz is quite simply one of the most ridiculously ambidextrous and talented DJs out there right now and Mehdi provides an unrivalled party vibe. Neither disappointed, bringing an arsenal of bombs which blew paradise factory's intimate atmosphere to smithereens.
A serious raucous was caused as Feadz dropped this absolute A-bomb.

SebastiAn - Dog

Sounding as though Hardcore stalwarts Terror have come rushing out of the trenches bayonets in hand only to be gunned down by the frenetic machine-gun cut up edit style of SebastiAn, this is shell-shockingly good.

VS

Upstairs was hosted by two of Manchester's finest electronic institutions Sex with Robots Vs. Prostitutes and Policemen. Despite the destruction taking place downstairs they managed to maintain a pretty steady number of comrades, punishing them with some of the most explosive sounds around...

Dusty Kid - The Kitten

Alex and Graeme have got some fantastic things lined up over the next few months included a double-header birthday party of Switch and MSTRKRFT & Les Petits Pilous, make sure you don't miss out by checking them out on myspace. Prostitutes & Policemen

Over and out,
Dan.