Yesterday marked the launch the whole album campaign in Warsaw, because the first new track people will hear is called Warsaw. The event held a 70,000 crowd in Warsaw, basically just a massive, free party with an enormous soundsystem. Yesterday, the track also became available for free at Groovearmada.com

I got to hear a version of the song at Lovebox this year, and this album opener featuring on vocals Nick Littlemore from PNAU & the ever so popular Empire of the Sun is marking a really exciting musical direction for the band. It is a very Gary Numan-80s-electro inspired number for the big stage.

There is a lot of exciting collaborations to look forward to – numero uno being Roxy Music’s Bryan Ferry! – but also the likes of Lovefoxx (CSS), Saint Saviour, Jess (She keeps bees), and Ben (Fenech-Soler).

Head over to groovearmada.com to get the free track!

The band just announced that they will be giving the UK its first taste of their all-new Black Light live show, with six dates across in October – with Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh, London, Birmingham and the wonderful Warehouse Project in Manchester the chosen destinations.

I just got back from Warszawa, and by coincidence I discovered Parov Stelar was playing live. I have been following the artist for quite some time and while walking around the city looking at posters for different clubs (always a good way to get to know the city!) I noticed they were playing somewhere. The problem was that I didn’t know where – and it was sheer coincidence that we entered a outdoor party at the University site – and guess what? First tune I heard was Parov Stelar!

Their live performance was off the hook. With brilliant vocalists, saxophonists and percussionists supporting the electronic production of Parov Stelar himself. I got to get them to do a show here in Oslo, preferably outdoors!

I previously wrote about “Libella Swing” out on the same label. This time I have picked out the latest release “Monster”. It finished off the concert (before the encores) and its driving live percussion, repetitive vocals, harmonica and pumping electro took the crowd to new heights of dancefloor mayhem. The two other tracks are great as well – “Silent snow” being a piano groover in traditional 30s ragtime sounds, while “Nosferatu” is another banging and repetitive dancefloor gem with eastern european inspirations.

Parovstelar.com | Juno Download | MySpace | Etage Noir |

This is an absolutely amazing debut release from House Of House on Harvey’s highly collectable label. There are only 600 copies of this in the world (thus the price of £15 equals well spent). Two good tracks, where “Rushing to paradise” is the track of choice. 

“Rushing to paradise” is an euphoric, playful piano house anthem on the same level as Rub & Tug’s brilliant remix of “Snake and ladder” (I still love that one). Wicked stuff! You have to wait for it though, it builds for ages before it finally releases eight minutes in. I quite like the vocals as well, expressing love gone wrong, but with tons of determination and optimism. 

“The rough half (don’t stop)” is a slow, 80s inspired balearic classic with your fair dose of guitars. Both sides of this one will stay in your box for quite a while.

The popularity of genres twists and turns, and obviously we have been back to disco and balearic for a while, perhaps as a reaction to the massive trend that was (and still is) minimal. However, this is far from lazy recycled balearic, it is a contemporary classic.

Phonica | Hypem | Juno | MySpace |

My first face to face experience with Horse Meat Disco was when I was required to buy a mustache to get in to their very neatly organized area during last years Lovebox Weekender – to see Maurice Fulton. The institution is, of course, older than that and has been going for more than five years now.

The clubnights (and now label) have dedicated itself to disco in all its forms. Every Sunday night in South London the Horse Meat Disco residents and special guests take charge of the decks and deliver the foundation for great dancefloor movement. “Attracting a wide audience of old time disco heads, club kids, bears, naturists and something new in gay clubs; a space where disco fans of a heterosexual persuasion could live out their fantasy of going to a gay disco club without feeling totally out of place”. Sounds like we’re back in legendary New York City days of disco right?

Finally the people behind the club have put together an EP of two very special edits of Horse Meat Disco classics! Both “Dusty Blue” and “Don’t go in the bushes” will get the floor dancing. Can’t really decide which one I like the most at the moment – but already looking forward to the next installment in the series!

Phonica | Rough Trade | MySpace |

I am always curious about new business models in the music industry. This time, a new model is introduced with a brand new EP from my favorite artist Groove Armada. Released in partnership with Bacardi B-Live, the four track EP see’s the band moving into exciting new musical pastures, with some of the material being recorded live with their band for the first time. 

Launched by Tom and Andy at the Midem international music convention in Cannes, the EP will be delivered through an innovative sharing site called Bacardi B-live Share; a pioneering application encouraging and rewarding fans who share Groove Armada’s music with their own online communities. Andy Cato says of the model – “Sharing music has always gone on. It’s giving music away that’s the problem. We wanted to come up with a 21st century version of what we do with cassette tapes. When you give music away for free it’s disposable. When you share it, it’s done with love.”

B-live is a pioneering application, as it empowers sharing as the future model for music content distribution. Sharing music via this method is legal because the rights owners – the artists, BACARDI B-LIVE Records and the publisher — are all compensated for the downloads and shared files. The online sharing application is available January 20th through to March 2nd, when the EP will be available via commercial digital release.

‘Drop the Tough’ and ‘Go’ featuring vocalist Saint Saviour from electro-pop outfit The RGBs.  ‘Pull Up (Crank It Up) exploits the vocal talents of MC Slarta John, and enters a musical avenue not unlike ’Superstylin’ did a few years ago.  ‘El Padrino’ is the last song on the EP – an instrumental that showcases the true talent of the live band in Balearic style. If that wasn’t enough, there are also remixes of ‘Drop the Tough’ courtesy of Van She and The Twelve’s.

To receive the tracks and begin sharing – visit www.bliveshare.com now!

I am absolutely madly in love with this track! Jazzanova have provided us with tons of quality productions in the past, but their recent stuff have been particularly smashing. If you haven’t heard “Theme from Belle et fou” or “Let me show ya” you have missed out on a few gems. 

For “I can see” the German dj and production collective have teamed up with Ben Westbeech. He adds beautiful, hopeful lyrics, making song an uplifting delight that will put a smile on your face, with a terrific production where the rhythm section, horns, strings, arrangement all support and reinforce each other. You loved what Mark Ronson did last year, and this is up the same alley. Additional remixes comes from Mark E and Holy Ghost!

Check out the official video on YouTube

Juno | Jazzanova | MySpace | Ben Westbeech | Fat City

I love the sound of Parov Stelar, a true unique sound based on the jazz sounds 1930’s and modern house music. The result is swinging nostalgic grooves that always put a smile on your face and the groove back into your hips. I like the quote on his official site explaining that “Like life, music must move on and progress. But like life, we must remember to reminisce and recall the past at times”. His soundscape stays true to this vision.

Behind the moniker is Austrian dj and producer Marcus Füreder, who is also the head of the label Etage Noir. Previous releases include sngs like ”Sugar“, “Matilda“, “Kiss kiss” and “Chambermaid swing“. ”Libella swing” is taken from Parov Stelar’s third album “Shine”. All tracks are good, but my pick is “Blind ally” with a killer piano line, bouncy bassline and jazzy vocals from Lylit. 

Somebody needs to bring this guy over to Norway, check out this video from this years Sziget festival and you will understand why. 

Parovstelar.com | Beatport | MySpace | Etage Noir | Ringtones |

You probably remember the Lighthouse Family when I mention songs like “High” and “Run”. The duo released some great soul and balearic pop back in the 1990s. Vocalist Tunde Baiyewu and keyboard player Paul Tucker are no longer active as a group, after they split in 2003, but their music is still in my heart. “Question of faith” was their fourth single from their second album “Postcards from heaven”.

This hard to find Idjut Boys remix of The Lighthouse Family is a killer. The original is a downtempo Ibiza sunset classic, but the Idjut Boys transforms it into a deep, groovy balearic house territory. It has got the beats, the groove, the vocals, that piano line and the obligatory soulful flute. I always get in a good mood when I hear it, and it has gotten great response whenever I play it out. Good re-work from Dan Tyler and Conrad McDonnell!

I have tried to find a better version online, but unfortunatly you have to settle with this one.

On Germany’s brilliant Kompakt label, Closer Musik’s Matias Aguayo delivers a critique of the overcrowded and all to familiar minimal techno. Aguayo sidesteps the genre’s conventions by including a full on vocal line that targets music with “no groove, no balls” over funky guitar licks, lazy beats and a fair share of percussion.

It is all about the Dj Koze remix though. He delivers a beautiful deep house number where the vocal is laid on top of a neat new wave, dreamy filtered disco type groove you should be able to relate to – this tune as a lot going for it. I recommend you to check out more stuff from Koze if you like that warm, downtempo and minimal yet complex sounding techno. A starting point might be his 2003 remix of Heiko Voss “I think about you” that appeared on Michael Mayers “Fabric” compilation.

YouTube | Kompakt | MySpace | Beatport | Juno | LastFM | Boomkat | 

I love the sound of Crazy P. Not long after I posted the Bionics’ “Love chains”, they are back with a new single under their own brand. As expected, “Lie Lost” does not disappoint. Soon the release their fifth album “Stop Space Return” on 20:20 Vision.

“Lie lost” is warm, organic and groovy house music of finest vintage. On remixing duties are the brilliant Maurice Fulton, and the Crazy P guys give us two versions under their Hot Toddy guise. The results are spaced, quirky disco funk, and dubby electronic disco. Much appreciated!

20:20 Vision | Crazy P | Fat City | Juno Records | Beatport | YouTube |