How fitting that at a time when myself and other writers are contemplating our Best of 2011 lists (And let’s be honest, it’s slim pickings this year) Arcade Fire reveal a new video from excellent ‘The Suburbs‘ album.
As we have come to expect from the Canadian gang they have produced a fine interactive effort for ‘Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)‘, one of the key moments from that album, leaving the viewer in control of the pacing of the video.
Listening to this track before reading anything about it had me thinking ‘this has Kitsune written all over it‘, and indeed I was right: this is a remix of Housse de Racket‘s ‘Roman‘ by young 20 years old Canadian DJ Preston Chin aka Robotaki, for the legendary French label. This is a very fun remix, which, as I previously suggested is entirely in the light electro-pop vibe of Kitsune.
Robotaki has been mixing for 4-5 years and already has an impressive cv including a remix of Chilly Gonzales‘ ‘ You Can Dance‘ and receiving support from electronic djs Busy P, Kavinsky and Radio 1′s Jaymo & George. He is currently finishing his debut EP, and I’m really looking forward to it !
So, If you like the types of artists that appear on Kitsune compilations you will surely like his music. And as winter approaches those remixes will surely keep you warm and your moves going.
Here is the official video for M83‘s ubiquitous summer hit ‘Midnight City‘ coinciding with the release of the album ‘Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming‘ this week.
directed by French duo Fleur & Manu; the video follows a group of gifted children running away from their captors with Los Angeles acting as a backdrop. Anthony Gonzalez‘s recent relocation to LA may have played a part on the choosing of a location.
Keep your eyes peeled for a NovemberUS tour as well as UK Dates come December but hurry up because tickets are selling out fast.
We almost missed this great track from Simian Mobile Disco as the UK based djs returned with another instrumental techno 12”. This is the fifth release on their own Delicacies label andd is entitled ‘Gizzard‘ ( in strange reference to the specialised second stomach in bird).
This techno/house track is furthermore part of a collaborative pair of releases with Irish producers Psycatron. There is not much to say about the song except that indeed it’s a really good piece of electronic music, and in my opinion one of their best track so far.
Last year we caught Errors on a co-headline tour with fellow Scots The Twilight Sad. On the live stage their synth-guitar-beat hybrid took on new euphoric heights.
The album ‘Come Dine With Me‘ is the bands first official release in the US and features the single ‘A Rumour In Africa‘ which was also given the remix treatment by Gold Panda. The Video itself is pretty special featuring an army of dancing marionettes.
‘Come Dine With Me‘ is out now on Rock Action Records
We’ve featured Error Operator on these pages a few times over the past couple of years; most recently for his majestic reworking of the John Legend acapella version of ‘Rolling In The Deep.
Fresh from a strong performance at Hideout Festival in Croatia we’ve finally managed to catch up for an informal interview. Here is how it went:
Cougar Microbes: What time did you wake up today? Was it out of choice or necessity?
Error Operator: 8:54am, I usually wake up quite early, I write alot at night so don’t often get that much sleep
CM: Describe Error Operator to the uninitiated?
EO: Error Operator is an electronic artist & producer from London who strives in constructing ethereal & alluring sounds.
CM: How do you kill time on the road, hobbies?
EO: I try and catch up with sleep, besides that you’ll catch me on Logic or in my own world with headphones on.
CM: What have been your favourite venues to play? Any Venues you hated?
EO: Hideout Festival was pretty awesome, it was my first show as Error Operator as I have been amazingly busy writing etc, clear blue sea, sunshine & on the same bill as artists like Eric Prydz and Simian Mobile Disco, what more could you want from your first gig.
CM: Is there a song you are simply sick of doing live?
EO: No way, I always listen to my own music, not in an arrogant sort of way, more because I also make the music I want to hear.
CM: What is the songwriting process like for Error Opeator. Also, Are you able to write on the road or do you do this in your off time?
EO: I am constantly writing away, tapping out a beat or humming a melody, If I am on the road I just have to repeat it until I am back in the studio, then it becomes a reality.
CM: Favourite Error Operator track and why?
EO: I am writing alot of new material right now and have been working with a band called We The Committee, they provided vocals for a track called Delay which is currently 19 plays in my iTunes.
CM: If you could record any cover what would it be?
EO: I recently did a cover of ‘Enjoy The Silence‘ by Depeche Mode with Harry from Waylayers, it got alot of great feedback so I was very happy with the result.
CM: Do your songs go through many revisions via demo recordings?
EO: Not really, alot of my new music is quite progressive, it has melodies and harmonies but also includes the same aspects as some dance music, it’s a nice combination to have, I feel like I have found a middle ground with all of my influences etc.
CM: What came first, the beat or the melody?
EO: For me it was the melody, definitely the melody.
CM: What are your views on auto tune?
EO: Depends how it’s used, I am a big fan of pitch shifted vocals when working with samples etc but I think that there are alot of people out there against it, I’m so easy when it comes to music, everyone needs to chill out and enjoy the end product, if it’s not to your taste then find something new, easy.
CM: Any other band/bands from your local scene we really should know about?
EO: Not really local, there is to much to choose from, but at the moment in general I am really into The Weeknd, such good night time music. Also a guy called Ifan Dafydd is creating some cool tracks.
CM: Most flattering thing you’ve read about yourselves?
EO: I’ve read a few things that were quite flattering, I can’t remember anything specific but it’s floating around the web.
CM: What was the first record/tape/cd you ever bought?
EO: This is one of those questions I don’t like that much, mainly because I don’t remember. I think the first record I ever bought with my own money was a garage compilation.
CM: What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
EO: ‘Blue Cassette‘ by Friendly Fires, AMAZING TRACK.
CM: What was the last show you paid and queued up for?
EO: I went to see Yuksek at XOYO a few weeks back, I didn’t queue, but I had to pay.
CM: If you had to bring on artist back from the dead in exchange for sending a living artist down ,which artists would it be and why?
EO: HAHA, HARSH. I wouldn’t want to kill off anyone really, I would want to bring back Gil Scott-Heron, such a great loss to music and I only discovered him about three years ago.
Error Operator is working on a collaboration EP with the band We The Committee called ‘Aurora‘ as well as finalising his own new album
Looks like this weekend is going to be (rightfully) dominated by Amy Winehouse posts here on Cougar.
Big Boi just posted this Organized Noize Dungeon Family remix of the track ‘Tears Dry On Their Own‘. It’s a respectful take on the original and deserves mention.
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