An awesome mixtape to ease over that festive Friday night hangover…

A very hip-hop heavy mixtape that makes you smile hard. Christmas tomorrow! Woo!

In the unusually warm 3am air of a Parisian suburb, a house party is getting out of control. Police Nationale have been called – but no-one can get near. The air is thick with Hip-Hop filling the adjacent streets, acting like a force field. You can hear the faint licks of Aerosmith and the rising vocals of Bowie as far as the Champs Elyse. Is that DJ Kool Herc on the decks? Situated in the Capital of French Electro, the influence is audible, while Meth, Red, Jay-Z and even Mystikal get 16 bars in on the mic. Who knew The Beatles were this funky?

The cause for celebration? It’s the wrap up party for First Serve, an undercover project that has been two years in the making. First Serve is the brainchild of French producers/ DJ’s, Chokolate & Kahlid (aka 2 & 4), who met as master turntablists at the 2004 DMC Championship. After an instant meeting of minds they decided to embark on a musical adventure – a Hip Hop album played by musicians. All they needed was a couple of MC’s to help complete their vision. Enter NY based Jacob ‘Pop’ Life and Deen ‘D’ Whitter.

Due to hit the streets in 2012, the First Serve album is the soundtrack for a movie that has yet to be made. It tells the story of two dreamers in a basement struggling to start their musical career, the battles they face, through to the point that they eventually release their debut single, ‘make it big’ and their hard work and persistence finally pays off. As we know that is rarely where the story ends and the story of First Serve is no different. Taking place in an animated world that could have been imagined by Hawley Pratt on Magic Mushrooms, the high spirited and often hilarious journey is pure old school hip-hop; skits, disco, beats, funk, quips, burns and hustlin’ all included.

Listen to ‘The Goon Time Mixtape’ recorded at the party. It’s funky, it’s hip hop, it’s disco… and it’s a classic!

Track-listing:
1-First Serve – We Made It Interlude
2-First Serve vs Aloe Blacc – Pushin’ Aside, Pushin’ Along
3-Notorious BIG vs De La Soul – Whatchu Want
4-Krs-ONE vs 2&4 –
5-Jay-Z – 99 Problems (Prodigy Remix)
6-First Serve vs Run DMC – The Work/Walk This Way
7-Run DMC vs Jason Navins – It’s Like That
8-Theophilus London – Girls Money
9-2&4 vs Akil (of Jurassic 5), Busta – Must B The Music (Remix)
10-First Serve vs Eminem – Move ‘Em In, Move ‘Em Out
11-Lupe Fiasco feat. MDMA – Coming Up
12-Cee-Lo – Bright Lights, Bigger City
13-Grand Master Flash – The Message (2&4 Mash Up)
14-Mystikal -Bouncin’ Back
15-Jurassic 5 – The Influence (2&4 Mash Up)
16-Redman vs Dj Quick – Get Dirty (2&4 Remix)
17-IAM – La Saga (2&4 Mash Up)
18-First Serve – Must B The Music
19-The Beatles vs Joan Jett vs Cypress Hill vs House Of Pain vs RATM – Mash Up
20-BB King – Boom Boom Boom (Remix)
21-De La Soul – Say No Saturday
22- Nas – Made You Look (Remix)
23- Ini Kamoze vs Naughty By Nature – Here Comes The Hotstepper
24- First Serve – Move ‘Em In, Move ‘Em Out (Demo Version)

Free Download: Team Me ‘With My Hands Covering Both of My Eyes I Am Too Scared To Have a Look At You Now’

That really is the title to this free download from Norway’s ‘Team Me‘. I must admit this took me a couple of listens to get in to but I would describe it as indie pop with a breezy vibe that you get out of these Scandinavian bands. Sounds sort of magical in a weird, indescribable way.

MP3: Team Me – With My Hands Covering Both of My Eyes I Am Too Scared to Have a Look At You Now

Free Download: Jem Stone ‘Sexy Muthaflapper’

This is such a feel good mix of sounds- if you’re into your Prince and Jamiroquai you will love, love, love this. Download this free cheeky bootleg from Jem Stone that’s been causing major damage in his sets of late. SexyMuthaFlapper is laced with Jem’s current electro-swing vibe, as can be heard on the ‘Jem Stone’s Perpetual Lotion‘ EP, out now on Freshly Squeezed.

MP3: Jem Stone – Sexy Muthaflapper

Free Download: The Knocks ‘Brightside (The Sound Of Arrows Remix)’

Everyone loves The Sound of Arrows. This Swedish electropop duo have been causing huge stir since dropping their debut album earlier this month. This is them putting their own magic touch to The Know’s ‘Brightside’, and as expected, it cheers you up to no end.

MP3: The Knocks – Brightside (The Sound of Arrows Remix)

Free Download: Bonsai Kat ‘Bla Bla Bla Bla Mix’

To celebrate the release of his new single, Bla Bla, out on Plump DJs Grand Hotel Records now, ninja techno feline, Bonsai Kat. has put together this slick little mix. Just click on the little arrow on the Soundcloud above and download!

TRACKLISTING
1. BEYONCE – COUNTDOWN (HERVE REMIX) – RCA
2 THE SUBS – DECONTROL (BLACK STROBE VERSION) -LEKTROLUV
3. BONSAI KAT – BLA BLA – GRAND HOTEL
4. CROOKERS – DR GONZO ANTHEM (MUMBAI SCIENCE REMIX) – SOUTHERN FRIED
5. TJR – ACID NATION – BROOKLYN FIRE
6. WETNESS – 1983 – CHEAPER THRILLS
7. TOMMY SUNSHINE AND BART B MORE- BODYWORK – FLY EYE
8. ADO- AGE- BLOOD MUSIC
9. FREAKS – WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT? (ADRIAN LUX AND BLENDE REMIX) – U BOOT
10. BLATTA AND INESHA – DADDY’S HOME – CRUX
11. ROY ROSENFELD – PSYKOTIK EXPERIENCE – RUSTED
12. JUSTICE – HELIX – ED BANGER

Free Download: Roman D’Amour ‘Make Love’

So it’s Saturday, and life wouldn’t be right without a little French disco.  Download this freebie and get your booty ready. Roman D’Amour is talented Parisian teenager Benoit Villemont, already making big splashes within the fêted French disco/house scene.

MP3: Roman D’Amour – Make Love Tonight

Free Download: The Jezabels ‘Trycolour’

Following up from Endless Summer the first single to be taken from their Australian No.2 album Prisoner, “intensindie” exponents The Jezabels will be releasing this stand-out single Trycolour on Monday 12th December 2011 . Check it out and download it for free here!

MP3: The Jezabels – Try Colour

Free Download: D/R/U/G/S ‘Mila’

D/R/U/G/S produces organic house music, music which at its heart is for dancing and never troubles itself with genre or category too much. ‘Connected’ opens with distinctive fluidity, ducking and weaving effortlessly through old school rave keys and modern tech house whilst ‘Unified Field’ ends the EP in style, piercing parts of the brain very few know how to reach. Check out here.

MP3: D/R/U/G/S – Mila

 

New Music: Ice Choir

I adore this. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is something from the 90’s- this is very new stuff. There’s an innocent yet dirty kink to their sound, and it’s polished off with some slick beats. And most of all, it’s free for you to download which is the icing on the cake. Pun intended. Check out here.

MP3: Ice Choir – Two Rings

Get happy with some free Buffetlibre songs!

Buffetlibre are back with two new tracks, included in their forthcoming album ‘Songs for Elaine’. After some years making brilliant remixes and innovative musical projects (Rewind, Peace, Batidora), Barcelona duo premieres their new double-single ‘Bali Honeymoon / Far From Heaven (featuring NYC singer Angelo D’Agostino)’ .

Sidechains (Delorean’s “Ayrton Senna” producer) is mixing the album and Roboto (Skrillex’s and Korn’s designer) signs the artwork. Micah P Hinson, Nick Krill (The Spinto Band), Peter Von Poehl, Dan Ingala (Plushgun) and Mexican Institute of Sound also contribute with their voices in ‘Songs for Elaine’.

MP3: Buffetlibre – Bali Honeymoon

MP3: Buffetlibre – Far from heaven

Free Download: Bombs & Bottles ‘The Game (Remix)’

Bombs & Bottles has released a brand new remix track from his upcoming EP called ‘The Game’. “The Game  encompases the musical side of Bombs and Bottles that mixes electro and house club sounds into a solid track that represents the chase through the club. The Game is another track off the soon to be released EP titled “Tonight”.

Free Download: Wild Combination ‘We Are The Creatures (Pan Left Remix)’

Taking inspiration from bands such as Talking Heads, Wild Combination have created their debut single ‘We Are The Creatures’, which will be released on 31 October – just in time for Halloween! This track echoes the sounds of Postal Service, Phoenix and Foals with its jumpy electronic accompaniment and pop sensibility.

To support the release of this single, the band have decided to treat their fans to a free download of the single remixed by Pan Left. It’s a got a two-step early morning dance floor vibe to it.

MP3: Wild Combination – We are the Creatures (Pan Left Remix)

Free Download: Bombs & Bottles ‘When The Lights Go Out’

You’ll thank me for reading this post. New York-based newbie Bombs & Bottles is getting ready to release a 5-track EP titled “Tonight” in the next few weeks, which chronicles a night out on the town from both a man and woman’s perspective, their chase through the club and a passionate fling at the end of the night and encompasses many musical genres from House, Pop, Electro, and Dubstep to name a few.

To get a taste of what to expect, here’s a free download to the lead single, ‘When The Lights Go Out’, and I think it’s genius. Check out here.

MP3: Bombs & Bottles – When The Lights Go Out

Free Download: Mustang ‘September 11 Mix’

Mustang are dance music duo from France- Renaud Deru and Andy Faisca. The duo share the same musical obsession for dance music- especially disco, italo, house & classic pop. They’ve also remixed for bands and producers like Vitalic, Two Door Cinema Club, Monarchy and Japanese Popstars to name a few.

September 11 Mix:

Cosmonauts : Cyrcle eyes (Psychemagik Lagoon Nebula Mix)
Philosophy Of Sound : It Is Like That (Ilya Santana Bizzaro Disco Mix)
Ziggy Franklin : So Far Away (Casino Remix)
Melo & Pickster & Sabo : Clap Your Hands
Mercury : Sweetness
Crystal Fighters : Champion Sound (Mustang Remix)
Joe Goddard : Gabriel (Dub Mix)
Gigamesh : When You’re Dancing (RAC Remix)
Arnaud Rebotini : Another time, Another place (Mustang Remix)
Nero : Crush On You (Brodinski Remix)
The Magician feat. Jeppe : I Don’t Know What To Do (Erkka Remix)

Free Download: Liz Green ‘Hey Joe’

Here is a taster from Liz Green’s debut album ‘O, Devotion’. ‘Hey Joe’ serves as the opening track to the record which is released on Play It Again Sam Records (The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Joan as Police Woman).

The least exotic thing about tragi-comic pop artist Liz Green is her name. No Alela here – according to family lore the twenty-eight year old Green is descended from a Liverpool line that includes executioners and rag and bone men. It’s at least certain that she carries on an ancestral tradition of storytelling, as her debut album O, Devotion! will testify when released 14 November.

MP3: Liz Green – Hey Joe

New Music: The Fiery Piano

The Fiery Piano started out in 2011, releasing his first collection of songs on the self-released Sirens EP.  Guitar melodies, distorted vocals and electronical details share ground on elaborate DIY pop songs, everything recorded and mixed in a small apartment in Stockholm. Check out here.