Posted by: Cor

Hey, remember Propellerheads? Their 1997 album ‘Decksanddrumsandrockandroll’ was, for my money, the greatest breaks album ever to grace my ears*. Start to finish, the album is fun, funky and has a ton of variety. After achieving such critical and commercial success, they followed this amazing debut with… nothing at all. Despite the occasional rumor of the duo** heading back to the studio, it’s been 13 long years and nothing has materialized. At least one member has moved on to other projects. I’ve given up hope.

However, for those of us that remember the album fondly, we have a special treat today. Beatery favorite Elite Force recently remixed the breaks classic Take California for his album ‘Revamped’, a full set of remixes of classic breakbeat tracks. The update beefs-up the beat for the modern breaks era and after paying homage to the original in the first half, takes the track in a tech-funk direction for its finish. Personally, while I certainly appreciate revisiting this fantastic song, I just don’t think the remix can compete with the original. I’m posting both. What do you think of the new version?


Propellerheads - Take California

Propellerheads - Cali Sk8r (Elite Force Remix)

Revamped is available for download on Amazon HERE. Longtime fans of the breaks genre should definitely check it out.

*With the possible exception of Plump DJ’s ‘A Plump Night Out’.
** Looking appropriately guilt-ridden in the photo above.

Posted by: Jay

*Español abajo*

Well folks, after a year year of living down here I’m on my way out of Bolivia. After some travels to Argentina and Brazil I’ll be back in the Bay around mid August. I just can not believe a year has gone by already, they just seem to fly by these days. And maybe not coincidentally this year has been chalk full of fantastic new experiences: new language, new food, new friends, new culture, a new love, new job, and maybe most relevant here, new music.

In “Bolivi’n It Up”* I tried to combine the music I’ve been playing down here, more easily accessible edm and pop-remixes, with the general vibe of living in La Paz: fast paced, energetic, a bit dirty and a lot of fun! We start of in a Bolivian bus station and just let the vibe flow from there. I thinks it’s a healthy fusion of styles, not veering too far into pop nor too deep into hard electro, and many of the tracks are pulled straight from my sets over the past year.

* Mad props out to my homie Bun Chan in Japan for inspiring that title. When are we gonna get you on the podcast Bun Chan??

If you enjoy the set half as much as I’ve enjoyed living in Bolivia I’ll have done something rite. Thanks for listening, and all my peoples in the Bay, I’ll see you soon!

DJ Jay - “Bolivi’n It Up!” (hacer click de derecho por guardar / right click and “Save as…” to download”)

Bueno amigos y amigas, me estoy yendo de Bolivia este fin de mes, después de haber estado por un año. No puedo creer que el tiempo hay pasado tan rápido! Tal vez una de las razones es es que ese año ha estado lleno de nuevas experiencias fantásticas: nuevo idioma, nueva comida, nuevos amigos, nuevo amor, nueva cultura, nuevo trabajo y nueva música también.

En “Bolivi’n It Up” he tratado de combinar música que he estado tocando aqui, sobretodo pox-remixes, con el ambiente general de vivir en La Paz: Ritmo rápido, energético, un poco sucio y muy divertido! Empezamos con en una estación de micros de bolivianos y dejamos que fluja el ambiente de ahí. Yo creoque es una fución saludable de estilos, no muy pop, no muy hard electro y muchas de las canciones son de mis sets de el último año.

Muchas gracias a todos mis amigos que colaboraron para que este año en Bolivia sea maravilloso; voy a extrañar Bolivia y a todos ustedes! Disfruten de esta mezcla!

Tracklist & photos / los conciones y fotos:
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Posted by: Jay

On my way out of Bolivia this set combines the music I’ve been playing down here with the general vibe of living in La Paz: fast paced, energetic, a bit dirty and a lot of fun. Enjoy!

Posted by: Jay

Before we get to the post, a brief interlude:

Donavaaaaaaaaan baby!!!  Way to send the USA through!

OK, sorry, had to get that out.  So anyway, Krafty Kuts, already a top five SYTYCB guy, has been taking his game to new heights recently.  I was drifting around Soundcloud the other night looking for some last minute fillers for my next podcast (coming this Friday!) and I ran not one, not two, but THREE dope new Krafty tracks.

We’ve been kicking around the idea of doing a “So You Think You Can Bump 2010″* and if we did Krafty is looking very good to repeat, if not move up in the standings. With his new work he’s moved firmly into the number two slot of my favorite breaks producers. I know the Stanton Warriors are devastated rite now.

*If you’d like to see a SYTYCB 2010 let us know.

Check it (click the little down arrow to download):

I remixes of love old-timey songs, so this is rite up my alley.

Gramophonedzie - Why Don’t You - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub by Kraftykuts

Zodic Cartel AND Krafty Kuts?? Ohhhh hell yes. Speaking of Zodiac Cartel he could be another strong candidate if we did a SYTYCB 2010…

Emanuel Kosh - Make My Music - Zodiac Cartel Remix - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub by Kraftykuts

This to me is the most impressive of the three and really a bit of a departure from Krafty’s previous stuff (see above). Very progressive, very pretty and yet when the beat drops still makes you wanna shake that ass. Excellent work.

La Roux - Bulletproof (TEPR Mix) - Krafty Kuts Re-Rub 130BPM by Kraftykuts

What do you think of Krafty’s new work? Is he on his way to supplanting the Plumps as the “Greatest Living Breaks Producer(s)”??

Posted by: Cor

And now for something completely different. I just stumbled upon Canadian pop-producer and classically-trained pianist bad-boy (yeah, I guess that’s a thing), Chilly Gonzales. I’m not going to go into his full bio here, but I recommend giving his wikipedia page a glance… dude seriously sounds like a character. Fun fact: last year in Paris he claimed the world record for longest solo performance by playing for 27 hours, 3 minutes and 44 seconds.

Anyhow, the track below, Never Stop, was produced by indie-electro posterboy Boys Noize; the factor that most-likely led to it showing up on my radar in the first place. I’m grabbed by the way the song builds by gradually filling in each and every bit of rhythmic space with sharp staccato notes from different instruments, until eventually the huge wall of sound can no longer support itself and comes crashing down.

This style of instrumentation, the short-looped frantic interplay between instruments, reminds me heavily of minimalist composer Steve Reich’s work; so much so that I’d be willing to bet Chilly would name Reich as a major influence. So rather than post another track or remix by Chilly Gonzales, I thought it might be more interesting to give you a Steve Reich piece from 1978, Music for a Large Ensemble, to compare and contrast. Do you hear an influence?

Chilly Gonzales - Never Stop (Original) by phantasysound

Chilly Gonzales’ full album Ivory Tower is due out later this year. I’ll keep you posted.

Expand for Steve Reich
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