As far as topping off this year with much recognition to artists who deserve to be on the top of everyone's year-end lists, MUF's favorite remix goes to Phones, the clever remix specialist from the UK whom we gave a hint of what was coming in our Bloc Party Remixes. Phones has come out with numerous remixes, more great remixes than I could count on my hands and toes, from many of our favorite artists including Black Ghosts, Interpol, Crystal Castles, Holy Fuck and many more.
Phones' 'R.I.P. remix' of of Bloc Party is one that stuck with us for nearly two months now since it was released on the Talons EP back in early November. Although here at Music Under Fire we're not as much into the DJ world as we are to the indie rock side of things, this one hit us in the right spot. Through all of the electronic-driven music, this one combined one of our more likable long-running artists over the last 5 years as one of the greatest emerging remixers out there.
To top off this classy showing, Phones went out with style as he posted a message soon after the Bloc Party Talons remix saying not only was he closing shop, but this would be his second to last remix, next to his Santogold remix. But don't worry, Phones is going underground to emerge once more. He will be working under an anonymous name - if anyone knows what this may be, please let us know!
MP3: Bloc Party - Talons (Phones R.I.P Mix) (buy (UK iTunes link))
MP3: Santogold - Say A-Ha (Phones Cosmic Mix) (buy)
From Phones:
I let it be known a few weeks back that I am killing off the Phones moniker once and for all. The reasons are simple really.. that I feel I've just about exhausted the creativity in how I have done 40 remixes for various people and felt like it was better to leave it there than to continue and risk spoiling some of the things I've done.
The last few mixes I've done were hard work and I felt like I need to start afresh under a new name.. anonymously.
The things that excite me musically change all the time and it feels like a shame to be stuck in one groove when there is a lot more to explore outside of those confines.Px
The first of these two is Seawolf, one of MUF's favorite bands over the course of the past year. We had the opportunity to catch Sea Wolf (see our show review) and enjoy their featured song, "You're a Wolf". But this isn't Sea Wolf's first song in a commercial. Their first is actually "Ses Monuments" in a Radioshack commercial shown at the end of last year. But each song shown to a national audience is something any artist can appreciate, especially for lead vocalist Alex Church who is still enjoying the success of his 2007 album Leaves In The River. "You're a Wolf" has now been featured in a Honda Hybrid commercial.
Santogold has continued to stay on the map with her most recent showing on the Ford Flex commercial. Her song "Creator", which I first heard on WOXY months ago has that club, thumping, rhythmic template so catchy for a flashy car such as the Flex. Santogold has continued to win me over in the past year, especially when I tripped over a quote of her's I found:
"Everyone is just so shocked that I don't like R&B. Why does R&B keep coming into my interviews? It's pissing me off. I didn't grow up as a big fan of R&B and, like, what is the big shocker? It's stupid."
Perhaps two of the least likely candidates for artists of the year. Both have already shown great leaps and bounds in the music world this year: 1) Philadelphia's own Santi White or "Santogold" as we all know, who's parents even told her she couldn't sing and 2) Fleet Foxes, who are getting more comparisons to My Morning Jacket than there are remixes on the Hype Machine.
So let the games begin - below is the album art for Santogold and Fleet Foxes, one of which I think will be my favorite of the entire year. Sure its still a bit early, but when you get that feeling, there's not fighting it. Which album art is better?
MP3: Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes (buy)
MP3: Fleet Foxes - English House (buy)
Buy Santogold and Fleet Foxes on iTunes!
Santogold - Santogold
Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant EP
For all the UK Santogold fans and music-lovers, Atlantic UK will be giving away some tickets to the sold-out album release party. The party is slated for 5/12 at The Old Blue Last in East London.
How to win tickets? Answer the question below and send an email to competitions@atlanticrecords.co.uk along with your full name, address and contact telephone number.
What animal does Santogold appear on at the beginning of the 'L.E.S. Artistes' video?
We'll even help you. This video is from the U.S. YouTube:
Hardly getting to go through all of last week's strong releases, we are back again with another list of hopeful albums from many solid artists. Headlining the list for the week includes Augustana, Santogold, Portishead, Run Kid Run, South and The New Frontiers.
As many recall, it was two and a half years ago when Augustana released All the Stars and Boulevards, which featured "Boston". Their new Can't Love, Can't Hurt album will be aiming to slightly change that sound.
The highly hyped Santogold, or Santi White for the lay person, has released her self-titled album today. Previously she worked with artists Lily Allen, Res and Ashley Simpson by means of writing and producing tracks.
Portishead is releasing their first album since their self-titled album in 1997 with Third while Run Kid Run (This Is Who We Are) is releasing their sophomore album, Love at the Core, and The New Frontiers is releasing their debut album, Mending.
Lastly, from the UK, South makes their appearance with You Are Here. This is their first freshest material since 2004 and their new album really hits the spot.
MP3: The New Frontiers - Mirrors (buy)
MP3: Santogold - XXX Change Remix (free download here)
MP3: South - Better Things (buy)
MP3: Langhorn Slim - Rebel Side of Heaven (buy)
MP3: Heloise and the Savoir Faire - Downtown (buy)
65daysofstatic - The Distant and Mechanized Glow of Eastern European Dance Parties EP (Official) (MySpace)
Augustana - Can't Love, Can't Hurt (Official) (MySpace)
Awesome Color - Electric Aborigines (Official) (MySpace)
Backseat Goodbye - Dressed Up Like Dreams (Official) (MySpace)
Boris - Smile (Official)
Carly Simon - This Kind of Love (Official) (MySpace)
Cloudland Canyon - Lie in Light (Official) (MySpace)
Constantines - Kensington Heights (Official) (MySpace)
David Karsten Daniels - Fear of Flying (Official) (MySpace)
Def Leppard - Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (Official)
Dizzee Rascal - Maths+English (Official) (MySpace)
Estelle - Shine (Official) (MySpace)
Foxboro Hot Tubs - Stop Drop and Roll (Official) (MySpace)
Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight (Official) (MySpace)
Ghost of a Stranger - Hers and Yours (MySpace)
Heloise and the Savior Fare - Trash, Rats and Microphones (Official) (MySpace)
Jamie Lidell - Jim (Official) (MySpace)
Langhorne Slim - Langhorne Slim (Official) (MySpace)
Madonna - Hard Candy (Official)
Make Believe - Going to the Bone Church (Official) (MySpace)
Mindless Self Indulgence - If (Official) (MySpace)
Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch (Official)
Nerf Herder - IV (Official) (MySpace)
New Found Glory - Tip of the Iceberg EP (MySpace)
New Frontiers - Mending (Official) (MySpace)
Portishead - Third (Official) (MySpace)
Quarter After - Too Much To Think About 7" (Official) (MySpace)
Robyn - Robyn (Official) (MySpace)
Run Kid Run - Love at the Core (Official) (MySpace)
Santogold - Santogold (MySpace)
Sea Of Treachery - At Daggers Drawn (MySpace)
Steve Winwood - Nine Lives (Official) (MySpace)
The Cab - Whisper War (Official) (MySpace)
The Roots - Rising Down (Official) (MySpace)
Forever The Sickest Kids - Underdog Alma Mater (MySpace)
Tickley Feather - Tickley Feather (MySpace)
We Shot The Moon - Fear and Love (Official) (MySpace)
