Reflex are Dalcan and Ludmilla from France. They were kind enough to send us their newest stuff, remixes of Franz Ferdinand (they received appreciation from the band itself for it) and Digitalism. Heavy names, heavy expectations. The duo pulls it off perfectly. Clinging on to the atmosphere of the new FF record, Ulysses got some more subtle dark-disco edge and synth-tension. They even manage not to get rid of FF’s indie-sound, so the remix doesn’t feel like violation. The Digitalism one is called “Rave Remix” and it kinda reminds me of South Central, it has the sirens, the build-ups and the distortion. Of course, it follows that it’s not just any dumb rave, it’s smart stuff with the weird synth and the flickery vocals getting clearer and clearer. Awesome track to lose control to on the dancefloor. Yeah, well, with Digitalism as inspiration… Waiting to hear more from Reflex.

Digitalism - Taken Away (Reflex Rave Remix) [zshare] // [ysi]

Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses (Reflex Remix) [zshare] // [ysi]

I have this strange recollection of being in a play called the Music Machine when i was in elementary school. It was about some strange jukebox-like contraption that would play music if you fed it stuff like fruit or whatever, rather than money. The play sucked, but Binary’s latest boy, Short Circuit, is making some nice tunes. If i had to describe in one word: throbbing. Music Machine employs a darkish groove to keep you moving, whereas the Digitalism uses a variation of the same formula to reach a pretty good result, notwithstanding the glut of other edits of that track.

According to the LA-based crew, Short Circuit is an updated name for a previous act, who is now working on his next EP to be released in summer 09, as part of the Binary collective and all that good stuff. Wish i was in LA next week for the Valerie show, btw!

Short Circuit - Music Machine // ysi

Digitalism - Taken Away (Short Circuit Remix) // ysi

but it doesn’t. Yet again, Digitalism remixed. Now, the new song and by a talented German guy who goes by the name MMMatthias. Today after I posted the Crystal Castles thing I decided to do something relaxing, listened to the brilliant Walkmen album and read or stuff. Now MMMatthias was so kind to hit us Kunkers up with his latest remix that I thought I had to change my mind and go back to heavy electro with Digitalism. (Ok, the new song is light and nice like Hail Social or something.) Then I looked up what MMMatthias have been doing so far and I’m impressed. Actually Digitalism is the first banging electro he remixed. He’s done MGMT and Sigur Ros(!) Surprising stuff and great taste = can’t wait for more! The Digitalism remix has this strange atmosphere, perfect easy-disco for the end of the summer. Give MMMatthias myspace love and listen to the other tracks.

Digitalism - Taken Away (MMMatthias remix) [zshare] // Digitalism - Taken Away (MMMatthias remix) [ysi]

Can ‘Digitalism remix’ stand for Digitalism remixed or just for Digitalism remixing someone? Nevermind. The German boys were violated by Luvtek and Stelladrv, known as LAZRtag. Not to say that they weren’t violent enough…they were. I’m just constantly trying to avoid using the word ‘interpretation’ for a remix. What the fuck? ‘We are intelligent and we listen to electro so we say that an artist interprets another artist when they play with the tracks for a while in Ableton.’ Strange stuff. However, LAZRtag is awesome. I think I emphasized a couple times how much I like guys who have a great taste in choosing who to remix. Now LAZRtag did American Boy, Crystal Castles (our post), HEARTSREVOLUTION and Britney. How cool is this list? The latest stuff is I Want I Want from the-album-which-is-better-than-Cross, Idealism. The remix is heavy and seems like it would fit more into Idealism in this form cause it’s less post-punk now and more electro. Thanks to FYOF for the track.

Digitalism - I Want I Want (LAZRtag remix) [zshare] // Digitalism - I Want I Want (LAZRtag remix) [ysi]

Everyone loves Digitalism. They are so cool, even cooler than Justice. The Chewy Chocolate Cookies are from London/Paris with an awesome sound that is easy to recognize and they are so nice that they sent us their version of Idealistic which was the best track on Digitalism’s debut. The starting drums are soooo heavy, we’re gonna play this song a lot. CCC aren’t on the bandwagon of the French stuff, for me they are representatives of the more experimental and non-compromising trend of British new electro like South Central. It shows in the bands they mixed so far: CCC remixed Cazals, Genesis by Justice, The Whip, etc and Danger + Buy Now remixes are on the way. Their EP came out on Ekler’o’shock records in February entitled Pepites (buy it). Give them myspace love and check their blogs, you can buy their remixes and do other fun stuff.

Digitalism - Idealistic (Chewy Chocolate Cookies remix) (zshare)

Digitalism - Idealistic (Chewy Chocolate Cookies remix) (y. s. i.)

I have to make a statement:

fuck january

Thank you.

Now, let’s turn to music. There is a song from the last year that was something like D.A.N.C.E. from Justice. Everyone loved Pogo by Digitalism.
It had a funny video, it is beautifully crafted electro-pop of the new generation. And they are from Deutschland, ja, not France, haha. Actually I think (Forgive me Lord for I have sinned) Idealism is better “Cross”.

This Mano guy is from Chicago. He does hiphop stuff I suppose but this is the first time I heard about him. He remixed Pogo after Mentalism and Shinichi Osawa. And it’s awesome. He also remixed Lady from Modjo which is not good cause I really hate the original. Nevermind. We will probably hear from him in the future so it’s good to have this posted.

Digitalism - Pogo (Mano remix)

ps. Have an eye out for the weekly thursday parties @ Trafo

We proudly announce our first mixtape. This comes as a present for this beautiful season. It kinda has a lot of things that are cool now and has one or two surprises as well. Enjoy.

The tracklist is

rival joustas - clarity (blamma blamma clear as mud mix)
digitalism - idealistic (dirty disco youth happiness is a drug remix)
surprise track
justice - genesis (chewy chocolate cookies remix)
these new puritans - elvis
dead kids - fear and fluoride (shy child remix)
nid & sancy - my rave (sluttt don’t fuck remix)
big face - i wanna be a style crusader (data remix)
cazals - cut a long story short (autokratz remix)
the whip - trash (cassette jam remix)
friendly fires - on board (nic nell’s n-tronica remix)
bonus track

And the download link:

Kunk - Don’t Stop Mixtape