We promised you a special surprise this week and we humbly apologize
for letting you down. Don't worry, it's still coming, so watch out for
our next e-missive, when we assure you we'll deliver the goods. Expect
that next newsletter to arrive in your inbox this Friday (this Monday
newsletter thing is only temporary).
In the meantime, we want to make you sweat with a little summer
dance tuneage. No matter what floats your boat, we think you'll find
something to groove to in this collection of new and not-so-new
Epitonic downloads. This is a playlist you can savor deep into the
hot, black, steamy summer night. Enjoy.
Finally, make sure to check out Fish Wrap, which features our usual
hot news from around the music world, summer tour information, a
Mercury Rev show review, an in-depth look at the career of jazz
guitarist Wes Montgomery, and the latest list of stuff we're into.
And don't forget to sample our ever-changing and always compelling
editors' picks.
"Calling All Enthusiasts"
by
Radio 4
Radio 4 travels back in time to late '70s England to borrow the twitchy, danceable rhythms of second wave punk and bring them back to 21st century New York City.
"Natural Disasters"
by
Enon
Enon sounds so different and so good, its easy to imagine history viewing them as progenitors of a whole new popular music movement with a name like "New New Wave" or "Millennial Pop." Their blending of college rock and collage rock is one of the more exciting developments in independent music in recent memory.
"Eau"
by
Takagi Masakatsu
Using interesting and creative people and places samples, audio/visual
wiz kid Takagi Maskatsu weaves a rich tapestry of otherworldly ambient
music.
"Information Contraband"
by
Money Mark
Unofficial fourth Beastie Boy Money Mark gets hips swingin' with his smooth flowin', mostly instrumental, style-shuffling organ-happy soul-jazz funkdowns.
"So Easy"
by
Royksopp
Norwegian duo Royksopp's sultry lounge-house has turned heads the world over. After a couple seven-inch releases on Bergen's Telle, they signed with London's finest, Wall Of Sound.
"Somewhere Sunday"
by
D. Diggler
Young Andreas Mügge makes deep house and textured techno from his home studio in Hanau, Germany. His unique urban sound blends the dance floor sensibility of Swayzak with the dubby warehouse bass of Basic Channel.
"I'm Not A Model"
by
Russell Simins
Russell Simins is cool. How can you not be cool with a name like Russell Simins? He's proven himself to be a badass drummer during his decade of service with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and several all-star indie side projects. He's also an accomplished solo artist who really knows how to bring the funk.
"Disco Dancing Machines"
by
Dirty Beatniks
London punk-house pioneers Dirty Beatniks blend sleazy Black Grape-ish vocals with chemical Underworld beats for their explosive house amalgams on Wall Of Sound. Epicurus, you might have met your match.
"Raise Up"
by
Kofy Brown
We've secretly replaced our nieces' and little sisters' Destiny's Child and Total CDs with Kofy Brown's Skinny & Tight. Let's see if they notice the difference...
"Theme (Future Sounds Version)"
by
Soulpatrol
Frankfurt's Michael Rutten, with help from production partner Max Schneider, composes 21st century soundscapes that touch on jazz, soul, Latin, techno, and more.
"Mitchell Edwards Klik Enters a Dreamlike State...And It's Fucking Scandalous"
by
De Facto
Peculiar, fairly experimental dub- and Latin-derived grooves from a California ensemble featuring two members of At the Drive-In. De Facto is kind of demented, but surprisingly mellow.
"Billions of People"
by
The Eternals
Lee Scratch Perry, meet Mark E. Smith. This Chicago trio does dub post-punk style, creating deep, bass-heavy rhythms that reel you in slowly and steadily.
"Under The Hedge"
by
Ted Leo/Pharmacists
Former Chisel frontman Ted Leo gets behind the wheel of a new rock band, the Pharmacists, with buddies from the Make Up, Warmers, and Secret Stars. Raw, soulful, and sometimes political punk-inflected rock in the vein of The Jam.
"Move On"
by
C.O.C.O.
Olympia duo C.O.C.O. combines funk, soul, and dub nostalgia with indie rock minimalism to create aurally pleasing, often amusing, stripped-down dance rhythms.
