RemixGalaxy Blog

The golden age of hip hop is long gone, but that doesn’t mean that there still aren’t some competent innovators invigorating the scene today. NYC foursome Antipop Consortium can definitely be filed under that category, though it’s tough to label them otherwise. Heavily influenced by techno, the troupe dishes out hard-hitting rhymes amidst fey, pseudo-futurist beats. Blips, synth, guitar riffs, and glitchy software hubbub surround each track in a kaleidoscopic blanket, resulting in a wacky bouillabaisse of beats. With Flourescent Black, Antipop almost manages to out-weird Kool Keith while also compiling an impressively dense and refreshingly lengthy album. Check out “Volcano” and its amazing remix by UK’s Four Tet.

Antipop Consortium - “Volcano (Four Tet remix)”

Antipop Consortium - “Volcano”

When the Vampire Weekend backlash began, it also opened the floodgates for bashing on Afropop. Too bad, because it was a good year for the genre. Maybe I was so sheltered in my suburban youth that these African melodies seem exciting, but I also don’t seem to care about that. Amadou & Mariam is on everyone’s year-end list, but their album was already released internationally in 2008 when I first heard it. The Very Best also had a great album, but Fool’s Gold just managed to edge it out in my opinion. Check out “Surprise Hotel” (one of my favorite videos of 2009) and its remix by Mad Decent.

Fool’s Gold - “Surprise Hotel”

Fool’s Gold - “Surprise Hotel (Mad Decent remix)“

It’s been a good year for Hey Champ. The band has gone from deejaying at Moonshine in late 2008 to ripping it up at Lollapalooza this summer. The arena-focused synth-rock trio has come a long way. Even before Kid Cudi ripped off their video of “Cold Dust Girl” with “Pursuit Of Happiness” the Chicago-by-way-of Rockford troupe was doing well for itself. Initially, Lupe Fiasco signed them to his 1st and 15th label and took them on tour, which led to gigs with The Sounds and Cudi. After some label issues, Hey Champ re-adjusted with the hopes of hitting it big in indie fashion. Last Thursday night, the group dropped in on Chicago’s swankiest new music venue flashing dance pop dexterity and reassuring poise.

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Speech Debelle, welcome to the big leagues. After her debut album won the 2009 Mercury Prize for UK’s best album, the London rapper was briskly catapulted into stardom overseas. Success should also follow her across the Atlantic once the Visa and label problems that stalled her American tour are ironed out. Sure, Corynne Elliot’s rhyming as Speech Debelle is a bit mild in comparison to what Vibe and XXL readers are used to, but if the extraordinarily overrated slow-as-molasses talk-rap of The Streets can gain an audience here, Debelle should have no problem. With well-paced, velvety rhymes buttressing lively instrumentation, Speech Therapy yields affecting tracks that avoid sounding despondent. There’s no mention of drive-bys or Cristal, but Debelle brims with so much authenticity and talent, not much can break her stride. Check out “Go Then, Bye” and its remix by London’s Photomachine & EL-B.

Speech Debelle - “Go Then, Bye”

Speech Debelle - “Go Then, Bye (Photomachine & EL-B remix)”

People love a good story. Last year, folks were captivated with Bon Iver’s tale of seclusion in a Wisconsin cabin and the heartbreaking, highly-lauded album it produced (For Emma, Forever Ago). Ernest Greene’s story isn’t nearly as dramatic. After graduating college, Greene moved back to Georgia to live with his parents while he looked for that suddenly evasive job. In the meantime, he managed to record Life Of Leisure as the aptly-named Washed Out. The output was a handful of effervescent glo-fi tracks steeped in light-headed fuzziness. Some will label Washed Out as just another “now” project getting by on sounding muddled, or worse, Pitchforkcore. Maybe it is. Still, like a glowing firefly trapped in a jar, the syncopated, ennui-fueled album captures the essence of a wistful summer. Just like the real thing, it’s over much too soon. Check out “Feel It All Around” and its excellent remix by South Carolina’s Toro Y Moi.

Washed Out - “Feel It All Around”

Washed Out - “Feel It All Around (Toro Y Moi remix)”

One of our favorite 2009 artists is French producer Joakim, whose challengingly scattered release Milky Ways impressed with downbeat grooves and drifting, goosebump-inducing space disco. The album’s bouillabaisse of sounds features everything from propulsive rock drums to bleating techno blips, shuffling along like a chameleon. It may not be crammed with dance floor anthems, but Joakim’s nebulous smattering of samples bobs and weaves beguilingly, dodging incongruity at every turn. It’s somnambulant, yet sometimes gruff. It transforms itself more times than you’ll care to count. Still, after throwing everything and the kitchen sink at you, the je ne sais quoi of Milky Ways will compel you to lay back and just leave it on loop. Check out “Spiders” and its remix by UK electro group Metronomy.

Joakim - “Spiders”

Joakim - “Spiders (Metronomy remix)”

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The New Music Seminar, of which RemixGalaxy is a proud sponsor, and OurStage are teaming up to offer aspiring artists the opportunity of a lifetime which will help break your career into the music business. If you are in the Rock, Pop, or Urban genre, you can enter to win the chance to expose your music and get mentored by some of the most influential and connected industry leaders of the new music business.

Go here for more information and to enter.

* Twenty artists (ten from each channel) will receive an A&R promotional package that entails having their EPK sent to A&R at labels throughout the U.S.
* The New Music Seminar will narrow down their picks to 3 Finalists, who will receive mentoring, publicity and have their press kits critiqued by industry experts at the NMS in Los Angles on February 2nd 2010.
* One Grand Prize Winner will be chosen to perform at the NMS After Party and will receive a consultancy package that will include insight from some of the smartest and most connected leaders of the new music business. See the full listing of the prize package on the OurStage FAQs.

Just in time for the holidays, Lollapalooza ‘09 artists Moneypenny have put together a festive mix for your next eggnog-slamming soiree. Formerly known as Rocktapussy, the lovely ladies in this elctro DJ duo got a makeover earlier this year as they set their sights on big-time spinning gigs. Things have been working out pretty well for them so far, and their free mixtape is a nice collection of lounge-tinged dance floor electro with a house bite. It’s not the best thing you’ll hear this year, but it’ something cool to throw on in the background if you’re hosting some with-it guests. Make sure to check out the tracks by Ladyhawke and Felix da Housecat.

Moneypenny - Spandexxxmas mixtape

Track list:

01. Louis Armstrong - “‘Zat You, Santa Claus?” (Moneypenny Edit)
02. Phunklarique & Pierce Cologne - “Swoosh” (Kaiserdisco Remix)
03. Harlem Zip Code -”I Feel Music”
04. Matheo Velez - “Hell”
05. Ladyhawke - “Magic” (Classixx Remix)
06. Beni - “Maximus” (Harvard Bass Remix)
07. Fatboy Slim - “Love Island” (yes, we are bringing back FBS)
08. Munk - “You Never See Me Back Down” (Cut Copy Jackmaster Remix)
09. Leroy Hanghofer - “Pin” (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)
10. Donovan - “Bang” (Dub Version)
11. Green Velvet feat. Kid Sister - “Everybody Wants” (Instrumental)
12. Felix da Housecat - “Plastik Fantastik”
13. Maral Salmassi - “Let’s Rock the Party” (Fukkk Offf Remix)
14. Get A Room - “The Dreamer”
15. Lowbrows - “Dream in the Desert” (Flight Facilities Remix | Kid Color Edit)
16. Parallel Dance Ensemble - “Turtle Pizza Cadillac” (Yam Who Rework)

Who knew that Kid Cudi would turn out to be one of 2009’s biggest surprises? After the relentless club onlsaught of Crookers’ “Day n Nite” remix, we were ready to dismiss the Kanye prodigy as a one-trick party rapper. Yet, the (better) original version was followed up by an impressively contrived debut album. Man on the Moon: The End of Day did draw some flak from critics, while others praised it for flashing offbeat brilliance (Spin). All in all, we appreciated its fantastical aura, opulent beats, and low-key infectiousness. Cudi’s diaristic, self-undervaluing lyrics contrast refreshingly with the lupine boasting we’ve become accustomed to in the rap genre. While most of the album sounds like it’s lurking in tenbrosity, upbeat numbers (“CuDi Zone,” “Up Up & Away”) glimmer like sunlight bursting through the cloudy skies. Not many other 2009 albums managed to capture that feeling so well.

Kid Cudi - “Pursuit of Happiness feat. MGMT & Ratatat (Steve Aoki remix)”

Pursuit of Happiness video