We have been rooting for RAC ever since we first heard André Anjos sticking his fingers into all our favorite tracks. Over the years we have seen him take on Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, Tokyo Police Club and The Morning Benders producing some phenomenal results.
Recently André was able to celebrate the fact that the RAC facebook page had hit 10 thousand followers. As a special gift to the fans he has released a sugar sweet cover of the Smashing Pumkins classic ‘1979‘ featuring the vocal skills of his wife Liz. Here is a bit of an explanation about this song.
Congratulations RAC, here’s to many more amazing remixes and covers.
With the release of ‘Last Night On Earth‘ in March Noah And The Whale signalled a new chapter in the band’s history. Whereas their debut ‘Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down‘ was characterised by the band’s youthful innocence and bashful approach it’s follow up ‘The First Day Of Spring‘ was a decidedly more sombre affair successfully exploring darker emotional territories.
the 2011 veersion of the band, and more specifically frontman Charlie Fink, appear to have overcome the recent heartache. Crucially however the detailed storytelling delivery remains. Bonus points for recording the album in an East London synagogue.
Here is a reworking of ‘Tonight’s the Kind Of Night‘ by Cougar friends RAC adding even more shiny pop aesthetic to the track.
Following the disaster that struck Japan two weeks ago it has been refreshing to see artists from all walks of life have been pulling together to raise funds for the stricken areas.
The Morning Benders brought out their ‘Japan Echo‘ EP featuring the unreleased ‘Better In Blue‘ plus some excellent remixes of some of the best moments from 2010′s successful ’Big Echo‘ release. With all proceedings going to the Japan’s Society Earthquake Relief Fund you can get your copy at the band’s official site.
Chapel Club release new single ‘All The Eastern Girls‘ this week and end their OctoberUK tour with a glorious date at Camden‘s Koko this thursday.
‘All The Eastern Girls‘ has been given the remix treatment by Cougar Microbes darlings RAC (Remix Artist Collective) as well as a smash and grab approach by Flux Pavilion who gave the track one hell of a kick.
Sometimes I think this blog should just be renamed “The Edward Sharpe Appreciation Society“, such is the volume of posts featuring the Californian mob since we first featured them back in the distant summer of… 2009.
To be honest I can’t be ashamed of the fact I’ve written about them quite so often simply because:
They almost single handedly reignited my passion for discovering new music in a time when I was sick of hearing the same bands playing the same songs.
Their live show was one of the most captivating I’ve had the pleasure to witness winning over both those that had never heard them before and those who had listened to the album.
The track ‘Home‘ is slowly creeping into the top spot in my last.fm top played tracks ever and is the track I use to end my DJ sets.
The album ‘Up From Below‘ is one of my all time favourites and very close to me personally.
All of the above wouldn’t make much of a differences if the band hadn’t kept themselves busy. Fortunately their endeavours have kept being newsworthy (in my eyes) and if the band are not touring 365 days a year they are releasing stunning cinematic videos or scoring multiple accomplished remixes.
We’d featured the brilliant RAC taking on Tokyo Police Clubas well as their treatment for the aforementioned ‘Home’. Well, they’ve had another go at Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros lending an idyllic value to an already chilled out ‘Janglin‘.
We previously featured RAC (Remix Artist Collective) meddling with Cougar favourites Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros to great effect. It is always a pleasure to hear them re-craft my favourite indie hits and it’s cool that they have taken on Tokyo Police Club (for the 6th time!!), given that we featuted them the other day.
This time it is for a worthy cause; by donating to the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) through the band’s website you will get a download the video, and receive both the RAC and DOM remixes of “Wait Up (Boots of Danger).” Once again 100% of each sale will be donated to the ASPCA®.
Hands Up Who Cares, our monthly club night, is back next friday (21st of May) at The Library in Islington.
We’ll be spinning tunes by Crystal Castles, TV on the Radio, WHY?, Foals, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Two Door Cinema Club, The XX and loads more Cougar favourites.
Entry is free to everybody registered as ‘attending’ on the Facebook event page and £1 to all others. Hope to see you there!
Out of intense envy for everyone who is going to SxSW I considered a silent protest for the duration of the event. However, having featured Nevada‘s Burning Man Festival a few days ago I figured the awesome Austin event deserves some Cougar loving too.
Besides, as you can see from the flyer above the guys at Vagrant are putting on showcase next week is below featuring some of the bands we have been covering on these pages. If you are out there drop by and make sure you tell them Cougar Microbes sent you.
Talking of Vagrant bands, It has been a while since I have written about Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and that just can’t be right so here is a new remix of ’Home‘. Considering this is my personal favourite track anybody fiddling with is heading into risky territory. I’m glad to say André Anjos of RAC manages to pull it off creating a track that is unique in its own right yet doesn’t hide the source material entirely from the listener.
to feature an array of amazing releases and artists (past, present, old and new) with the goal of promoting them to anyone interested and anyone who stumbles across this site.
If you like any of the tracks, please go buy the albums and help finance the artists producing this great music.
If there are any issues with the tracks featured do not hesitate to contact: "team (AT) Cougar Microbes (DOT) com and we will happily oblige.
We have been rooting for RAC ever since we first heard André Anjos sticking his fingers into all our favorite tracks. Over the years we have seen him take on Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, Tokyo Police Club and The Morning Benders producing some phenomenal results.
