Asian Dan

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Download: Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (Ted & Francis Remix)

I’ve been a fan of this Australian duo, Gypsy & The Cat since they hit the blogosphere about a year ago. A perfect blend of that Oceanian musical sensibility that takes in elements of 60s carefree pop, 70s FM radio pop, 80s synth pop and everything else that is catchy in between. I hear a lot of Fleetwood Mac in their music, as I do in a lot of Australian bands (Empire of the Sun, Van She) but there is also a touch of 90s pop. Overall a carefree pop sound that is perfect for the upcoming summer sunshine. Lionel and Xavier took some time to answer a few questions to get you all acquainted with their sound – a brief peak into their musical minds. Also checkout a playlist the two of them compiled of some of their favorite tunes.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/March%202010/Gypsy%20&%20The%20Cat/Unknown%20Album/Jona%20Vark.mp3]
Gypsy & The Cat – Jona Vark

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Gypsy & The Cat – ‘Til Tomorrow

Asian Dan Q&A: Gypsy & The Cat:

1. Who is Gypsy & The Cat? How would you describe your music?

Xavier: Gypsy is indiscriminate, whatever anyone feels, its not for us to decide. Sonically I’d like to think that the music yields a title of melodic electronic soft rock, but once you inhale the breath of the album, things change. Who knows maybe hardcore? I’ll let you decide!

Lionel: Gypsy & The Cat is basically 2 friends who just want to make good music and share it with the world!!! it’s a blend of different genres and influences but ultimately lies within a rock/ folk electronic landscape.

2. What are your influences, musical or otherwise?

Xavier: Jeff Buckley is a standout influence, even though its so hard to pinpoint because we are just so amazed by many artists, Jeff tells great honest stories in such a musical way. Every chord, lyric, vocal melody just fits like a jigsaw: a picture is born.

Lionel: Musical: Bach, if it wasn’t for Bach, music wouldn’t be where it is today!! Michael Jackson (the king of pop), Led Zeppelin (the kings of rock), Coldplay (a band who makes me feel the most, and whose music i connect with on so many levels), Justice (the magicians of production), ABBA (little can compare to genius of their songwriting and amazing wall of sound), non-musical: Bruce Lee, Stanley Kubrick (both influences i’ve grown up with)

3. What was your first musical memory?

Xavier: Probably birth!
Lionel: Crying on the way to my first piano lesson. I was 7
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Pure class. The Gentlemen Funk has arrive. A pairing of massive straight G proportion. Snoop Dogg enlists Mayer Hawthorne to add yet some more class and swagger to his track “Gangsta Luv”. The way Mayer Hawthorne’s lofty falsetto just falls over the 16th note hi-hat groove and bassline just puts me in G mood.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/March%202010/Snoop%20Dogg%20featuring%20Mayer%20Hawthorne%20-%20Gangsta%20Luv%20_G-Mix_.mp3]
Snoop Dogg – Gangsta Luv (Mayer Hawthorne G-Mix)

Bonus:
Mayer Hawthorne’s cover of fellow Stones Throw label mate James Pants. A slow jam of epic proportions.
[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/March%202010/mayerhawthorne-thinmoon.mp3]
Mayer Hawthorne – Thin Moon (James Pants Cover)

A little piece that Mediacontender, EIKNARF, kloud and I put together on Mr. A-Trak. Enjoy!

A highly anticipated release by the legendary Todd Edwards. I had the privilege to meet Todd and he is one of the most humble and down to earth producers/DJs around. He let me hear these tracks and wow – I cannot wait for you all to hear them. 2010 is the year of Todd. May the king of House return to his throne. With remixes by Joy Orbison, MJ Cole, Feadz, and My Dear Disco – how can you go wrong? Out 5.25.2010 – More info at scionav.com

And as Busy P once said about Todd’s music – “I keep telling my friends I can hear angels singing, do you?” Oh, I do. I do.

Let’s put my Blogonomics 101 theory to test. Hypemachine Economy staple/buzz band, Passion Pit gets yet another remix by some producer br0s, Plus Move. Formula for HypeM chart domination? We shall see. All Blog theories aside, this is a great Boston on Boston collab. Just some talented/fun guys, Plus Move doin’ their thing. I’m a big fan of the piano and the bass part that kicks in. blogblogblog nomnomnom tweettweettweet

“Nate (Shuttle) our boy sent us the stems. We made this banger in a night. Forgot about it. Then Future Kiddd, aka one half of Plus Move, came in and gave it that pop vibe. The Passion Pit boys and their label loved the remix and wanted to use it for promotional purposes, but MySpace doesn’t know good music when it hits em right in tha face! Peace. :)” – Plus Move

“Easily the most soulful and funky remix we have ever had the honor of receiving. Very Plus Move=Very Tasteful.” – Passion Pit

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/March%202010/01%20Little%20Secrets%20(Plus%20Move%20Remix%20feat.%20Future%20Kiddd).mp3]
Passion Pit – Little Secrets (Plus Move Remix feat. Future Kiddd)

Fantastic new video by Mr. SO-ME and Thomas Jumin. Love the entire concept. Also a nice little cameo by Mr. Zdar. Looking forward to the album especially what kind of production work Xavier de Rosnay has done. I am a big fan of the track on the latest Kitsune Masion 9, “Short and Entertaining”

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Jamaica – I Think I Like U 2

jamaicanoproblem.fm

Penguin Prison is just so paunfully good at making pop music. “The Worse It Gets” is the A-side to his latest 7″ – I posted the B-Side “Something I’m Not”, which I would consider to be an A-Side since they are just both so amazing So this Double A-Side 7″ is a pop music assault with its lofty synths a la Talk Talk and Japan. Penguin Prison is going to be my Miike Snow of 2010. April 8 at Mercury Lounge, NYC Penguin Prison will be making full live band appearance, then May 8 at Brooklyn Bowl. I want a full album from this fellow now!

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/March%202010/Penguin%20Prison%20-%20The%20Worse%20It%20Gets.mp3]
Penguin Prison – The Worse It Gets

This maybe be blasphemy to remix/cover The Beatles but somehow Glasgow’s Sei A makes it work and does it quite tastefully. His remixes of Tiga’s “Overtime” and Jori Hulkkonen are dark and deep techno tracks but for this Beatles cover he takes a simpler very Burial-esque route. Very hypnotic and it just turns up the melancholic nature of the original tune proving that The Beatles could touch every emotion on the emotional spectrum.

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Sei A – A Day in The Life

Kitsuné is probably one of my favorite labels around today. Always quality stuff especially with their Maison Compilations, here is their 9th installment which I think is my favorite to date. New Tracks from Holy Ghost!, Jamaica (Produced by Dustin N’Guyen*Xavier De Rosnay*),Australia’s own Gypsy & The Cat, Penguin Prison, and Feldberg. Over the top quality pop is something you can always expect from Kitsuné.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/March%202010/KM9MiniMix.mp3]
Kitsuné Maison 9 Minimix mixed by JBAG

Minimix Tracklist:
1. Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (The Twelves remix)
2. Holy Ghost! – Say My Name
3. Hurts – Wonderful Life (Arthur Baker remix Kitsune edit)
4. Gamble & Burke – Lets Go Together
5. Jupiter – Vox Populi (Lifelike treatment)
6. Feldberg – Dreamin’
8. Washed Out – Belong
9. Your Nature – Forward Motion
10. Jamaica – Short And Entertaining
11. Silver Columns – Brow Beaten
12. Logo – La Vie Moderne
13. Yuksek – Supermenz (Were Not)

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