Asian Dan

You are probably wondering who is this “Sam” – and why does he get to put together a list for Asian Dan. He just looks like some skinny French hipster that enjoys bangers way too much. But this is Sam, the Sam, Asian Dan intern Sam. He is more than just an intern but my eyes and ears overseas finding me fresh new music everyday. You can even think of him as the French Asian Dan, I now bestow him Asian Sam.

He had a hardtime narrowing down his favorite music of 2009 which why his list is quite robust. But I know that we both are in love with Emil & Friends’ “Josephine” and we constantly listened to it over the summer. We are both looking forward to what Emil & Friends has in store for Twenty-Ten now that he and co have signed to Cantora Records. Also check out his fav mixes especially that Breakbot “Dance on Glass Disco Mix” and the Grum Annie Mac 5 Min Minimix.

Top of 2009

Album (10):
Florence and The Machine «Lungs»
Toro Y Moi «My Touch»
The Gossip «Music For Men»
Phoenix «Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix»
Washed Out «High Times»
Letting Up Despite Great Faults «LUDGF»
The XX «XX»
La Roux «La Roux»
Passion Pit «Manners»
SomethingALaMode «SALM»

Top 15 Songs of 2009:

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Sept%202009/Emil%20&%20Friends%20-%20Josephine-1.mp3]
Emil & Friends – Josephine
Paul – Shine Sweet Freedom
Phoenix – Lisztomania
Bullion – Get Familiar
Ellie Goulding – Fighter Plan
Fake Blood – The Dozens
Siriusmo – Gummiband
Organ Morgan – Cocaine Afternoon
Fenech Soler – Lies
Two Door Cinema Club – Costume Party
Phonat – Set Me Free (Short Version)
Memory Tapes – Bicycle
80 Kidz – Miss Mars
Dusty Kid – Nemur (Wall of Guitars)
Cassius – Youth Speed Trouble Cigarettes

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We all know Hey Champ as that rock n’ roll trio from Chicago that has been making us dance for the year and a half with their single “Cold Dust Girl” so here is a what made them dance in 2009. And yes we all are still wondering when is the album coming out, Twenty-Ten is upon us so be ready for some epic dance rock. I strongly agree with all these albums/songs/remixes that they included in these lists. A personal fav track of mine “Gummiband” by Siriusmo will be making a appearance on my list as well.

Top Albums of 2009
Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Miike Snow – Miike Snow
Royksopp – Junior
Grizzly ear – Vecktimest
Siriusmo – The Uninvited Guest (EP)
Lindstrom & Prins Thomas – Lindstrom & Prins Thomas II
Javelin – Jamz & Jemz
White rabbits – It’s Frightening
MF Doom – “Unexpected Guests” (album)
Dungen – 4

Top Tracks of 2009

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/TOP/Gummiband%20.mp3]
Siriusmo – Gummiband
Phoenix – Fences
Miike Snow – Black and Blue
Yuksek – I Could Never Be A Dancer
Classixx – I’ll Get You
Juan Maclean – One Day
Mr. Oizo – Jo
Isolee – October
Fleet Foxes – Mykonos
Vega – No Reason

Checkout their top remixes after the jump.

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NEW SOULWAX!?!

Jean Nipon is back! With an edit of Laidback Luke and DJ Gina Turner’s latest collab, Nouveau Yorican out on Sound Pellegrino now. We all want stuff from your Jean Nipon, anything will do, mixes, remixes, edits, new tracks! I still listen to that minimix he made Asian Dan 2 years ago, listen here

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/Boriqua%20-%20%20(Jean%20Nipon%20Bootleg%20Edit).mp3]
Nouveau Yorican- Boriqua (Jean Nipon Bootleg Edit)

Via Mad Decent Blog

Duff Disco is a London producer cranking out some interesting disco edits, first is this edit of Bowie’s “Fame” and then the B-side to it is this unlike sample of the Red Hot Chili Peppers (RIP, damn you Frusciante). He takes the outro of “Funky Monks” off of Blood Sugar Sex Magik and somehow makes it work. Grab the vinyl at Juno & Phonica.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/DUFFDISCO001-FAME.mp3]
Duff Disco – Fame

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/DUFFDISCO001-RED.mp3]
Duff Disco – Red Hot

Cheers, Waves at Night

MERRY SOULWAXMAS! And what better way to celebrate Xmas than with Stephen doin his best George Michael impression. This is a promo the Soulwax gang gave out back in 1998.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/01%20Last%20Christmas.mp3]
Soulwax – Last Christmas (Wham! Cover)

Cheers Too Many Sebastians!

For all of us that don’t have a cassette player still here is that mixtape that Holy Ghost! threw together and was selling limited copies of for our listening pleasure. Time to scour the blogosphere for more Xmas goodies from our fav DJs and producers.

Download: Holy Ghost! The Remixes Vol. 1 Cassette Tape

What better way to celebrate Christmas than with Can, covering “Silent Night” – Christmas goes Krautrock. Merry Christmas and hopefully you all got what you want 🙂

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/01%20Silent%20Night.mp3]
Download: Can – Silent Night

Bibio’s “Ambivalence Avenue” caught me off guard this past fall. I am familiar with his past work but this album is the perfect blend of introspective lo-fi electronica with beautiful guitar work. Exactly what I need in these banger times. “All The Flowers” and “Lover’s Carvings” are perfectly written pop songs that I just can’t stop listening to. “Ambivalence Avenue” is up there for album of the year for me (Check out the blog next week for all my obligatory end of the year/decade lists to see who made it, as well as a few lists from some guests)

Stephen was kind enough to answer a few questions for Asian Dan giving us all a peek into his musical mind, naming some of his favorite guitar compositions by the likes of Steve Reich and Tortoise as well as explaining his musical philosophy.

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/Bibio/Bibio/Ambivalence%20Avenue/03%20All%20The%20Flowers.mp3]
Bibio – All the Flowers

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Dec%202009/Bibio/Bibio/Ambivalence%20Avenue/07%20Lovers’%20Carvings.mp3]
Bibio – Lover’s Carvings

Asian Dan Q&A: BIBIO

1. Who is Bibio?

Bibio is Stephen James Wilkinson from Wolverhampton, England.

2. What are your influences, musical or otherwise?

Imperfections in technology like spherical aberration in lenses, wobble on tape, distortion in valves, crackles on vinyl. Also, beautiful common occurrences in nature like flickering shadows caused by overlapping leaves wagging in a gentle breeze. The smell of damp foliage. The sound of wind through leaves and the chorus of bees, lawnmowers and blackbirds.

What was your first musical memory?

Learning ‘Silent Night’ on my brother’s old bontempi electronic organ.

3. You set the guitar in a very interesting and refreshing context. When did you pick up guitar?

I started to learn guitar chords at the age of about 11 or 12.

Who are some guitar heroes?

Dave Murray (Iron Maiden), Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine),Jeff Parker (Tortoise), Joao Gilberto, Joe Pass.

Who are some non-guitar musicians/composers you love that inspire your playing?

Steve Reich, Boards of Canada.

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Joy Orbison strikes again with yet another flawless production. And apparently the vocal sample is a Boys II Men sample? For those of you that have heard “GR Etiquette” by Joy Orbison – that too is a classic R&B vocal sample by Mr. Jamie Foxx 🙂