Friday Mega Mixtape Grab Bag

Happy Friday everyone!  I am beyond excited because two weeks from tomorrow, I will be heading to Movement Electronic Music Festival in Detroit (DEMF).  Expect to see a preview of the festival and some artist features as DPC prepares to do DEMF.

 

Sometimes the hardest part about writing a blog post is trying to decide what mix that I want to write about.  Weeks like these, where a ton of great mixes come out, make it nearly impossible to decide.  Rather than trying to pick just one, I decided to post all of my favorite mixes from this week in a Mega Mixtape Grab Bag.  There is more than enough music within this post to help you dance your way through the weekend.  Enjoy!

After the Jump...

Artist Spotlight: Shit Robot

Do I really need an introduction for the next person whose mix I'm about to share? I've been pretty much obsessed with him since I started loving DDPs, and seeing him live is still on my bucket list. I love his recent (and only) album that was released in 2010, "From Cradle to the Rave" and his song "Take 'Em Up" featuring vocals from Nancy Whang is a go-to song of mine. Always.

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Shit Robot, aka Marcus Lambkin (DFA Records) story is pretty remarkable. After winning a green card, Lambkin left Dublin in 1992 to head to New York City and began spinning at parties in the East Village. His success only began to get even bigger after he was offered a Saturday night slot by owner of the well-known once underground after-hours nightclub, "Save the Robots" (which btw, sounds awesome). Shit Robot met another fellow Dubliner, Dominique Keegan, and the two started the record label, "Plant".*

You may be wondering to yourself how Shit Robot came to be on the DFA Record label since he teamed up with Keegan to start a record label. Well, it's ironic that the duo's office was in the same building as James Murphy. Who was then himself starting a studio in the basement of the same office building. And thus a beautiful relationship was born, and eventually both ended up as front-men, playing at Plant Bar, the "Unofficial DFA Headquarters", that Lambkin and Keegan owned.**

I'm so glad the relationship formed because I truly think that both James Murphy and Shit Robot are some of the most talented DJs and producers out there. I can attest after seeing James Murphy live that it was a dance party; all the while Murphy was making it look seamless. Shit Robot's tour dates are a little less US-based, so it's a little harder for me to justify a trip, but I'm hoping to cross that off my "music bucket list" sooner rather than later.

This particular mix features a lot more of Shit Robot's roots. There are a lot of hard-hitting tracks, including Nick Lawson & Matthew Burton's "Gruff It" that drops around the 23 minute mark. Caribou's remix of "It's a Crime" by Virgo Four brings a more abstract side to the mix (getting weird at 51 minutes in!) that I really, really love. Caribou is one of those bands that I listen to frequently, and I not only love them live, but I enjoy their remixes too. The Bot's segue from Akabu's "Life is so Strange" into the remix was perfectly placed. I'm actually still trying to figure out how/when the transition *really* occurred.

Hopefully this spotlight has schooled you in Shit Robot 101. I expect all of you to have taken notes, and come with me when he's touring near the Metropolitan area. And now that you're dismissed, your first assignment is to listen to this mix.

Shit Robot - dfa radiomix #20 by DFA Records

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Album Review: The Rapture...In the Grace of Your Love

The Rapture make their return to DFA with their awaited album, In The Grace Of Your Love.

The New York based 3-piece, consists of vocalist and guitarist Luke Jenner; drummer and percusionist Vito Roccoforte; and multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Andruzzi.

Name Game time! Alright, I know some people hate this, but I like to do it. How would I describe/categorize The Rapture (specifically in the context of this album)? I've heard/read "dance-rock" and even "dance-punk'; I like to get "Starbucks order" crazy with it: post-punk electronic dance-rock. Nailed it, right?

The trio delivers a big and broad sound. And most importantly, you can shake a leg to it. It's the deep bassline grooves, funky guitar fills, and steady yet syncopated rhythms that make you move. That last part may seem a bit contradictory, but I'd say it's more of a dichotomy. And I think that's what this album is about. Specifically, the dichotomies of Love.

The lyrics throughout the album are nothing mind blowing, but definitely relatable. Remember that broken relationship you had that you just couldn't let go of? Remember the weight off your shoulders when it was finally over, but the lingering longing for that person. Lyrics like those in "Miss You" will remind you: "Always thought I could kill, but ahhh I can't kill you...Always thought I could forget you but ahhh I can't forget you.."

Each song of album explores aspects of the Love/Hate dichotomy of Love itself. The title track encapsulates the bands sound and this theme. Just pay attention to the song's groovin basslines, funky guitar riffs, catchy synth melody, and the vocal wailing of unrequited love, yet unquivering faith in the power of it.

Heavy stuff right?

It's not all sap and heartbreak. Despite it's thematic elements, there is plenty of fun to be had in listening to this record. "Come back to me" does it with deep sub-bass and bouncy House rhythms. I especially enjoyed "How Deep is Your Love"; it's emotionally interrogative lyrics ride an electro-textured Disco beat; making it introspective and dance party ready!

This is very solid album. I'm looking forward to the sure-to-come flurry of remixes, edits, reworks, etc of the tracks. So before you are unable to tell which track is a remix or original, give it a listen. DFA has been kind enough to let us preview the album in it's entirety via Soundcloud. I'd say this one is worth the purchase, but you decide for yourself! (Oh, leave me some comments people, I'd love to get your thoughts!)

The Rapture - In The Grace of Your Love by modularpeople

(This stream is through Modular People, who released the album in Europe. DFA's stream didn't have a embed widget available. I'll be happy to remove the embed link if it is in any sort of copyright violation)

Black Van's Rollin' Mix

I think I'm sending everyone mixed signals. Cause I'm literally obsessed with E V E R Y DJ/Band/Producer that I write about (sorry I'm not sorry - I need a new phrase) but maybe that's just what DFA Records does to a girl. Exhibit A. Or maybe you need B. Or C. And now I can add Exhibit D - Black Van.

Taken from their Facebook Page, "The Black Van project takes their shared love of early electronica and disco to the next level by exploring the possibilities of analogue perfection and introducing classic songwriting from some of the best indie vocalists from USA and Europe."

And I for one can finally say "good riddance" to August (Nothing against you, August, I promise - you gave us some really good mixes), because we want and need new mixes for our DPC loyal readers and Invisible Internet Friends (seriously, who are you guys?! Beuller? Bueller? Bueller?)

Thanks to a friend on Facebook (!!!) for posting this, or this mix would have been published tomorrow. And we couldn't bear the thought of doing that to you guys ; )

I don't want to spoil it for everyone, but "Without You" by Nicholas drops at the 13 minute mark (personal favorite!!!) and well - the rest is pretty self-explanatory. Holy freaking (FUNKY disco) dance party. Enjoy!

Black Van' s Rollin' Mix by Black Van