Malibu Drinks Mixer

Malibu has managed to digitally hybridise the art of DJing with the art of cocktail making as part of their new marketing project, Radio Maliboom Boom. They have created an app which is an interactive mixer interface, allowing users to mix cocktail recipes with corresponding beats. With the use of EQs and faders you can even finesse the 85 flavours/sounds into your own unique compositions.

The creative agency has worked closely with two professional DJs to guarantee the credibility and usability of the mixer; and has also spent time in the studio with Brooklyn-based producer Jesse Untracht-Oakner to record the archive of beats and hooks. I am impressed by the lengths they have gone to guarantee both a genuine and fun music production experience. Sadly the app is only available to the U.S. at the moment but we will be keeping our beady little DJ eyes out for it once it lands on the shores of the UK.

Beyond the app, Radio Maliboom Boom is part of the rum’s global advertising campaign, ‘Get Your Island On’, which is trying to transmit the good time vibes of the drink and the paradise environment in which it is made. The fictional radio station is fronted by the unlikely heroes DJ Bernhard and MC Wonder Full, who love taking it easy, their music and their mums. I particularly love the website which allows you to explore the station. You can flick through their record boxes and turn out a variety of music and rum based treats…downloads, videos and interactive content. As a whole, this is a really fun and exciting integrated campaign.

And thankfully it also follows on in Malibu’s tradition of superb advertising. Their ‘Seriously Easy Going’ 2004 campaign still stands as my favourite TV advertising ever. “It’s total gridlock man!”…Classic.

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Hello one and all. Here are my top ten tracks for the autumnal Charts of October. Cosy blankets of electro-breaks to keep you warm for the approaching winter. The chart is topped by the ever-rising star Calvertron and his new release Buggin’, which boasts an infectious driving beat, a massive drop and some old skool hip-hop vocals…AngelBreaks gives it two thumbs up. Beyond that, an Organ Donor remix, a Praise You rehash and a bevy of fun lovin supermodel criminals in A1 Bassline’s video. Please enjoy.

1. Calvertron – Buggin’ (The Afterschool Special Mix) [BugEyed Records]

2. A1 Bassline – Bad Man Horror Theme [Southern Fried Records]

3. Trevor Loveys – Organ Grinder (The Count’s aka Herve Big B Morgan Remix) [Cheap Thrills]

4. Villains & CLASSIXX – I’m On It feat. o8o (AC Slater Remix) [Villains Records]

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5. Joe and Will Ask? – The Rusty Pig [Gulp Communications]

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6. Kelevra, MC Flipside & Sharooz – House Muzik Hustlers [PBR Recordings]

7. Santiago & Bushido – Head Trick (Keith Mackenzie & DJ Fixx Remix) [Potty Mouth Music]

8. Bad Boy Bill – Do What U Like feat. Alyssa Palmer (Bad Boy Bill’s Push The Feeling Remix) [Menage]

9. Fedde Le Grand vs Fatboy Slim – Praise You 2009 [Skint Records]

10. Oblong – Playing on my Mind feat. Adam Parker (Elite Force Mix) [Exceptional Records]

Listen here

Happy October listening!

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[Guardian Article]

We are very excited to discover that Soundwave festival in Croatia, where AngelBreaks performed this summer, has been voted in the ‘Top Ten festivals to try in 2010′ by the Guardian (see link to article above.)

We had a brilliant experience and still have to pinch ourselves that we came on to stage after the legendary DJ Format. We’re not worthy!

But as a general point, massive props need to go to our our good friends at New Bohemia, who ran the whole show exceptionally. They managed to get a stellar cast of bands and DJs to this eastern outpost and they really did harness all the good vibes that a great festival needs to survive.

Bravo Soundwave. See you in 2010.

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Today our Sounds of Summer feature continues with Tom (Mr. AngelBreaks himself)’s list. There’s some Major Lazer, The proxy, The XX, and Florence and the Machine in there, as well as some sexy free download. Which did you like better, Adam’s list or this one? Let us know!

Buraka Som Sistema – IC19

I am not sure where to start with these guys. They have opened me up to a whole new form of music - Kuduro. They totally stole my attention for a few weeks with their inspired collaboration on Sound of Kuduro with M.I.A., the debut single from their album, Black Diamond. And most thrillingly of all, when I saw them at Bestival this summer, they displayed awe-inspiring prowess in their live performance…hypnotic African percussion, improbable booty shaking (Lady MC Blaya, I salute you!), driving techno, samba energy and microphone mastery…the complete dance package. This is the best song off their album. This was the song of my summer.

Major Lazer feat. Vybz Kartel & Afrojack – Pon de Floor

What can I say about these guys that hasn’t already been said? The Diplo and Switch dancehall project, Major Lazer, was one of the most hotly anticipated collaborations the scene has experienced in a long time. Blogs, magazines and music channels were churning the rumour mill with unprecedented voracity. So with such high expectations, the album has been received, somewhat inevitably, with a wide range of opinion. In my opinion it is a triumph…and it displays all the same emotions of its criticism – fun, aggressive, energetic, dark, sexy, ridiculous. I think if you are taking it too seriously, you haven’t got it and the video below attests to this. Please enjoy the jewel in the Lazer’s canon.

Dizzee Rascal – Bonkers (Doorly Remix)

Picture the scene. I am at Secret Garden party dressed as Napoleon Bonaparte with my crew of three pharaohs, two pixies, a dragon and Japanese sage. We are on the side of a bank watching the Tower of Babylon in the middle of the lake set ablaze. And right on cue, the ubiquitous summer track, Bonkers, is dropped by the right honourable main stage DJ and the crowd’s arms fly up and lick the sky almost as high as the flames. However, with a gloriously unexpected and beguiling plot twist, every last person in the field, without choice or exception, is brought to their knees by this totally unfamiliar, uncanny and bone-shuddering dubstep remix. A truly memorable festival moment.

Jack Beats – Get Down

“And then it happened”…Beni G of the Mixologists and Plus One of the Scratch Perverts got together in a studio and recorded this little ditty. A wobbly bassline, a big breakdown and a slick acapella. This epitomises everything that Jack Beats are about but also proudly represents the current UK House scene. It is a dance floor monster that cites multi-cultural influences and cross-genre inspiration. You can feel the hip-hop pomp, breakbeat bounce, techno control, electro energy and dubstep aggression all in the mixing pot. And as if justification was required, I think this song was awarded about as much airtime by the DJs I saw throughout the summer as any other.

Florence + The Machine – You Got The Love

In researching the history of this track I learned that it was originally a soul/gospel/disco track recorded in 1986. The most famous version was by The Source and Candi Staton and it was introduced to the dance world by DJ Eren in 1991. It has since been through the hands of New Voyager and the Shapeshifters. But none of that is important for two reasons…1) Everyone knows and is familiar with the song. 2) Florence has done it better than anyone and made it her own. With the legs of a supermodel, the voice of an opera singer and the presence of a lioness, she delivers this song with spine-tingling power and sensitivity in equal measure.

The xx – Infinity

I couldn’t possibly have placed The xx above Flo + The Mac because it was them that they have been supporting this summer and who have helped to launch their career. But The xx are no less deserving of their fame, spotlight, adoration, applause, props. This debut album is so damned accomplished and sexy, and astonishingly it was written by a bunch of 20 year old Londoners. If you have never heard them before, Infinity will tell you all you need to know. Careful and delicate lyrics draped over careful and delicate electronica is their talent. But it is the delivery of the songs that is their genius. There is a flirtatiousness and sexual tension that is so inclusive, you really feel like you are in their inner circle. There is a lot we can learn from this bunch of 20 year olds.

Proxy – Raven

A year on from its release this song still feels like it is red hot from being cast in an industrial steelworks in a dark and remote corner of Siberia. It is raw, metallic and frightening. And if I had to hand out the award for best festival dance stage 2009, it would go hands down to The Temple of Excess at The Secret Garden Party. Fortunately for me and the 400 or so other revellers in the tent, these two behemoths of the dance world were united. Successful excess, excessive success.

Diplo & Laidback Luke – Hey! (Foamo Remix)

“Hey hey hey hey…hey hey hey hey…the bass keeps coming.” The Ronseal of the summer electro releases – ‘it does exactly what it says on the tin’ – and boy, does the bass keep coming. Unsurprisingly, given Diplo’s ever increasing global stock as a DJ/Producer, and the respect Luke commands from his fellow professionals, they put together an incredible remix package for this track. Despite featuring AngelBreaks favourites Nadastrom and Dre Skull, it was Foamo who emerged victorious. His re-imagining of the track extracts and enhances the best qualities of the track – attention grabbing bassline sonica – but he turns it up to eleven…and we saw that it was good.

TV on the Radio – Love Dog

I know that this track strictly speaking was not released this summer but if you would forgive me this one indulgence, it is a song that has been all over my home stereo, iPod and work computer this summer. It is the jewel in the crown on their fourth album Dear Science, and it continues to charm me ever time I hear it. Tunde Adebimpe’s dulcet delivery of his poetic lyrics falls over the end of each line and rolls into the next, making for a complex, textured and really f*cking cool song. Word to your mutha!

Orbital – Lush (Herve’s Tree and Leaf Remix)

This is a classic tale of old v. new. Orbital are central characters in the story of dance music and in particular have helped to push the envelope for DJ performance, goggle torches and beyond. This summer at The Big Chill and Get Loaded their use of grandiose stage effects and epic set building had certainly not dimmed with age. And then we have Herve, in his ascendancy as one of Britain’s finest, who is at his happiest in the studio and only DJs to pay the bills. Nonetheless these conflicting philosophies and approaches to dance music have found harmony on this remix. Herve has taken Orbital’s 1993 classic and twisted and wobbled it into his own production niche. Generational gap successfully bridged.

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Tom and I thought we’d kick off the clubbing season with a little taste of what we’ve been listening to over the sunny period, to give you an idea of what to expect should you attend one of our events in the next few months. We’ve both put together a top 10 list. The lists are very, very different, so if one doesn’t tickle your fancy, feel free to listen to the other!

We’re kicking off with my list, and Tom’s will follow later in the week. For now, Expect dancing monkeys, yiddish techno, Gossip re-mixery and much much more…

Riton & Primary 1 - Who’s There?

You may remember my previous post extolling the virtues of Riton’s performance at Creamfields, Portugal last month. ‘Round about the same time I was rubbing up against Portuguese people in a tent is Lisbon watching the man himself, Phantasy were busy releasing this electro-paranoia classic. Featuring a likeable geezer wandering around an old Most Haunted style locale, the video is a fun, if low-rent accompaniment to Riton’s spitting, skittering beats. Featuring one of the simplest and most infectious vocal-hooks I’ve heard all year, I’ve yet to hear it on a proper system, but when I do, mark my words, shapes will be thrown.

Gucci Vump - Shta! Shtil!

There’s been a lot of hoo-ha over the elusive Gucci Vump’s identity over the summer (Is it Tiesto? Is it Brodinski?) All that you need to know is that this is what can only be described as Yiddish Techno of the highest order. Listen from 1:00 to 1:52 to experience the sheer mental WTF’ness of what this song is all about.

And, as a special treat, we’ve got an exclusive mp3 download - LSMitchell’s electro remix of Sha! Shtil! - in wonderful 320kbps! Click here to download!

The Proxy - 8000

When a Club DJ’s rider includes a strobe light that can be seen from space, you know you’re in for something special. The Proxy has built a career on producing big, industrial tracks that make your teeth shake and the walls cave in. When an artist’s logo is a tank, you expect a certain amount of oomph. This modus operandi changed little when the promo started for his new track, Who Are You?, which sounded like a hoover fucking a machine gun. It’s criminal, then, that this quirky little gem almost slipped under the radar. It’s way out of Proxy’s comfort zone, but he’s really done a number on this track, which I saw described on one particular forum as “some next level shit”. I’m inclined to agree.

The Gossip - Love Long Distance (Fake Blood Remix)

Few producers have made the same impact on me in the past year that Fake Blood has. Listening to his polished, expansive remixes of artists such as The Kills and Little Boots, original tracks that have since become club staples such as the epic ‘Mars’, and a quite frankly outstanding EP (Fix Your Accent), it’s hard to choose just one track to list here. I’ve gone for one of his lesser known remixes. This tune is a stand-out for may reasons, but the one I’m going to go for is the trademark way Fake Blood cuts-up the vocals of the track he’s remixing to insert his own name, sung by the vocalist, into every remix. This is the best one of those he’s done. Check it out at 2:59.

Miike Snow - Animal

What do you do if you’re critically acclaimed production duo Bloodshy & Avant, having won numerous awards for producing tracks and albums for Britney Spears, Madonna, Kelis and Ms. Dynamite, amongst others? Why, you form a band and produce an album of blissful, summery pop, every track on which deserves to be on someone’s year end ‘Hot Jams’ tape, of course. This is just one track from an album that blissfully soundtracked a thousand lazy, sunny park visits across Europe. Corker.

Riva Starr - I Was Drunk

It’s a testament to Riva’s ability that he has crafted a track so utterly bonkers with such unwavering skill. Creating something that is both competely silly and yet undeniably cool deserves a round of applause, as does this video, which is probably my favourite on the list. All together now - ‘Yesterday, I was drunk, with some tricks, in a club, I don’t remember who came back with me - And tonight I will drink, with some chicks, in a club, I’m not sure I want to La La La!’

ACCORDION SOLO!

Boys Noize - Jeffer

Was there a more awaited release in Electro-Land this year than Boys Noize’s Power? Damned if I know. Either way, ‘Jeffer’ is the best track that Alex has released year, and that includes his excellent collaboration on Waves and Death Suite with Angelbreaks favourite Erol Alkan. Sorry Erol

Kidda - Feel Too Good

We love Kidda. We love how his original tracks are transcendent summer pop that kicks the Avalanches in the nads then buys them a pint, and we love how his remix packages are always so gleefully eclectic. It’s music made to make you smile - no chinstrokers, head-nodders or port-drinkers allowed. He’s also quite possibly the nicest bloke we’ve ever booked and he’s sharp as a tack. Out of the many, many fantastic remixes of his work, this one by Jack Beats just edges Herve’s Under the Sun remix and Heavy Feet’s brilliant Strong Together remix thanks to it gloriously wonky hook. We salute you, sirs.

no1else - Broken Amplid

In a post-Justice clubbing landscape, imitators are inevitable. It’s just that nobody does it quite so well as no1else, a wee frenchy who has taken the now classic ‘buzzsaw on an electric guitar’ sound and made it his own. This is just one of several great tracks he’s produced - be sure to check out Cocaino Combo as well. If we could figure out how to fit him into a line-up, we’d book him.

Brodinski & Noob - Peanut Club

What better way to end this epic blog post than with a bunch of dancing monkeys? Brodinski has been one of the foremost purveyors of melodic techno around the globe this year, and this track is a brilliant reminder of why. He headlined the Lightbox at Bugged Out!’s 15th Birthday at Fire Nightclub last week, and I’m told it was one of the stand out sets of the evening. I missed him, sadly, but I won’t make that mistake twice.

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On Saturday 10th October the cavernous London club, Fire, opened its doors to Bugged Out!’s 15th Birthday, a stellar cast of world class DJs and 1500+ revellers, to celebrate the 15th birthday of this behemoth club night. And in Erol Alken, Feadz, Justin Robertson and Brodinski, they were armed to the teeth with some of the most fearsome exponents of the clubbing zeitgeist.

It was an incredibly successful night, maybe even a little too successful at times, with the hoards of clubbers often getting clogged up in the labyrinthine corridors of this vast four room venue. Once wriggled free and let loose onto the dancefloor though, the aforementioned DJs did not fail to deliver…as one would expect.

It is however a couple of the lesser known DJs that I would like to focus my retrospective and blurry journalistic eye on because in the company of such heavyweights, I felt they more than held their own, in fact for me, they stole the show.

First and foremost, I present to you, Mr. Busy P. Now I know I am doing this man a massive disservice by describing him as ‘lesser known’ but my reasoning is this…

Busy P ft. Murs - To Protect And Entertain (Crookers Remix)

Whilst he might have been the manager of Daft Punk, one of the greatest electronic acts to have ever graced this planet; and the manager of Ed Banger Records, changing the face of dance music as we know; as well as a critically acclaimed producer…he is not known for his DJing. He certainly doesn’t put on dramatic stage shows like Jutice’s, nor is his diary jammed like the globe-trotting Erol, but my god, he can put a great set together.

His set was above all really fun and he achieved a DJ’s primary objective of keeping his dance floor rocking. He weaved in and out of the dirty electro sounds that his label is so famous for developing, but it was his flirting with club classics and party pleasers that really made this set so special…specific mention has to go to his handling of Waters of Nazareth and Hey Boy, Hey Girl…Busy P I take my hat off to you for yet another string to your bow.

My second A* is awarded to the all female team of Hannah Holland and MC Chickaboo of Batty Bass fame.

Hannah Holland ft. Mama - Shake It Up

I am a massive fan of what they are achieving with Batty Bass…it is a record label, club night, blog, podcast and fashion label, that has all its plates spinning to a very distinctive style of design and a single minded approach to booty shaking basslines.

Unsurprisingly, their live performance was much in the vein of this ethos. Undaunted by following on from Erol and closing out the main room, Hannah’s glitchy and freaky basslines and Chickaboo’s rolling lyrics and hypnotic tones transmitted a throbbing and feverish atmosphere throughout the room.

It was an especially impressive display given that Chickaboo cut her teeth in jungle and drum n bass, and having switched codes to breaks and house has now managed to find an unlikely collaborator in Hannah Holland to reconcile her inner city vibes with a more conscious form of dance music. Ladies, I tip my hat to your booty music stylings.

Finally, I shouldn’t sign off without sending out my congratulations to Bugged Out for surviving 15 years in the transient and unforgiving world of clubland…I can now only hope that someone will be writing the same thing about AngelBreaks in the coming years, thanking us for hosting such achingly cool DJ talent at our birthday.

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