Asian Dan

Van She has teamed up with Bacardi B-Live, another great company that is tastefully aligning themselves with important contemporary cultural movements and artists along with Scion (I am not getting paid to plug them, just love what they are doing). Van She decides to cover Blue Oyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” WITHOUT Cowbell, which maybe blasphemy but they do an amazing job transforming the track into a modern sounding synth drenched pop tune. I love the classic Van She Tech lush synths that kick in during the 2nd half of the tune. Be on the lookout for the Holy Ghost! remix of this cover.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/(Don’t%20Fear)%20The%20Reaper%20%5bA%20B-LIVE%20ORIGINAL%5d.mp3]
Van She – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper

“Well that song has such a nice vibe to it and the harmonies in the lah lah lah section are so warm and care free, then it drops into that beautiful tube/tape sounding guitar which leaves you in this gap of contemplation and you just sit there with your headphones on going ” laaa lalaaalala “. we also chose it because a lot of people i know think the song is quite gothic and proggy, which it is due to blue oysters style, but i also think the song is very amazing lyrically and beautiful and i guess it didn’t feel like it totally comes across in their version unless you read the lyrics. so i thought we could do a version that sounded like what we interpreted the lyrics to be … romantic and deep and uplifting as well. we love the song a lot as well which also had something to do with it.” – Van She (via Stoneyroads.com)

I have slowly become a fan of Hot Chip. I am starting to understand their vibe and aesthetic and they are definitely doing a good job paying homage to all the 80s British New Wave acts. My fav tune of their’s is “The Warning”, I just love the glockenspiel, the programmed beats as well as the lyrical themes.

This new tune “One Life Stand” is a dark new wave track that reminds me of OMD/Human League- looking forward to their new album coming out February Twenty-Ten.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/01%20One%20Life%20Stand%20(album%20Version).mp3]

After the jump check out BBC’s Synth Britannia Documentary. A film that dives into the history and legacy of the synthesizer and how it transformed pop music forever.

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I am a huge fan of La Blogoteque: Take-Away Shows such a genius way of showcasing and shedding a new light on an artist’s music. What better way to showcase Phoenix than under the Eiffel Tower in front of tourists. They are France’s musical and cultural ambassadors to the world these days. Check out “1901” and “Long Distance Call” here.

Thank you GLOVES for picking up where Mr. Fred Falke stopped. This remix of Miami Horror’s “Sometimes” reminds me of those amazing basslines and slick/smooth sounds that Mr. Falke was pumping out a year ago. Shimmering Yacht Rock synths a la Toto, staccato funk picked guitar parts, and a gorgeous filtered bass is all you need in life sometimes….

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/sometimes_g.l.o.v.e.s_remix.mp3]
Sign Up here to receive the download: Miami Horror – Sometimes (GLOVES Remix)

Checkout an exclusive Asian Dan Gloves Minimix + Interview here.

So a fellow blog br0, Electrodrone IM’s me and asks me if I listen to Tycho, I say no so he sends me to his myspace. I am like “Oh, wow – dope artwork, it looks like that designer/blogger ISO50 does his artwork”. And then Electrodrone br0 is like “Yo that is ISO50“. And I’m like “Whoa. Sick, dude.”

Anyway a fantastic blogger who also makes good music? No way! Tycho is signed to Ghostly International and crafts introspective, chill tunes in the vain of Boards of Canada meets The Album Leaf and Bibio with some fantastic guitar parts and subtle electronic beats/noises. All you Chillwaver fans shall enjoy.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/Tycho%20-%20Coastal%20Brake.mp3]
Tycho – Costal Brake