OMG!!! This is what happens when two of the world’s best bands totally collide. New Young Pony Club remixing the Gossip!! I’ve been waiting weeks to hear this remix in it’s entirety and yeah… I’m not disapointed. Short story: this is a perfect blend of both bands… like if Beth Ditto fronted New Young Pony Club. This thing totally explodes the last minute.
Ok, I know I’m not saying anything halfway intelligent because I’m in total fanboy ecstasy right now. Just listen.
The Gossip - “Jealous Girls” (NYPC 12″ remix) (mp3)
I’m not even pretending it’s is a perfect rip. Sooo.. go buy the record when it’s officially released Monday in the UK. Not holding my breath that KRS will release this in the US. The single is backed by a Tommie Sunshine remix which is great too — but nothing surprising as far as Tommie Sunshine goes.
Related: NYPC and the Gossip will be DJing Modular’s UK party at Turnmills on February 24th. The entire line up is fucking incredible: MSTRKRFT + Green Velvet + Klaxons (DJ) + New Young Pony Club (DJ) + Hot Chip (DJ) + The Gossip (DJ) + Ajax + Para One (live) + Modular DJs. Make me jealous and go to that.
Skins commercial with “SITWOC”
And if you don’t live in the UK, you might’ve missed that the Gossip’s “SITWOC” was used in a commercial for a new UK TV show called Skins. Wow, After watching that I suddenly feel very, very old. Of course we’ll get our own American version of Skins in about three years: I’m sure it’ll be on NBC, minus the drugs and sex. AND it’s guaranteed to be set in a coffee shop and have a non-stop laugh track throughout the entire show… and they’ll probably cast 30 year olds to play 16 year old virgins. But anyway.
What is it with Scandinavians and great pop music? I don't know what's in the water over there, but I want some to pour in my morning coffee.
Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - Loop Duplicate My Heart.
Suburban Kids With Biblical Names (Johan Hedberg and Peter Gunnarsson, if you're reading the right Bible) is a pair of guys who like to screw around with loops and sweet, sweet melodies. In fact, their official bio from Labrador Records says, "They make and record their music in the hallway or the storehouse at the home of Peter’s kind parents. Johan makes simple drafts of the songs and then Peter polish[es] them and turn[s] them into shiny pop songs." Good friend to have, right?
This one is from their record #3, which also has the catchy songs "Funeral Face," "Noodles," and "Rent A Wreck." It's pure pop goodness, wrapped up in pretty paper and topped off with a colorful ribbon. Also, it may be the biggest nerd anthem since "She Blinded Me With Science." And that's a compliment.
You can pick up #3 from Amazon.
Softlightes - Girlkillsbear [Lo-Fi-FNK Remix].
If we haven't already, we need to talk about Friend Rock. This is the music that your friends make which you are obligated to see. Used in a sentence, it would be like this: "After dinner I've gotta go see some Friend Rock at Spaceland. You don't have to come." Most of the time, you're not super excited about going because the band isn't that good - but they're your friends so you kind of have to go. And maybe they're opening for someone cool. It might work out in the end.
And then sometimes you're surpised. A friend asks you to check out his other band and it turns out they just signed to Modular People and are getting remixed by Lo-Fi-FNK. Then their video is number one on YouTube, and they're playing shows with the New Young Pony Club. This is now elevated beyond friend rock into just a great band.
In this remix, the Swedish teens strip the song down to its central, beautiful melody. They're not out to transform this into a dancefloor burner, and instead opt to enhance the song's already deep Southern California sounds. Maybe you remember the singer and rhythm section from The Incredible Moses Leroy. Maybe you recognize the rhythm section as the two guys from El Ten Eleven. That may be so, but none of those are decent references for this sound, which is airy and smart. I love it.
This comes from their Heart Made of Sound EP, which you can get directly from our friends at modular. There's a full length coming soon as well. Highly recomended.
Also, for those of you in Los Angeles, the band will be playing tonight at the Silverlake Lounge. They go on at 10.