Next Saturday (January 23), Fixed will host their first party of the year at Le Poission Rouge, with a guest DJ set by Brodinski and a live performance by Pink Skull.

World-famous DJ and BBC Radio 1 host Annie Mac dubbed Brodinski “the most exciting DJ and producer to explode onto the scene in recent years”. Brodinski has put his touch on remixes for Klaxons, Das Pop, D.I.M., Hearts Revolution, and most recently, Buraka Som Sistema (streamed below). Accentuated with wit, Brodinski has an exciting eclecticism about his style. This rare US appearance by the French DJ/producer is not to be missed.

Buraka Som Sistema featuring Deize Tigrona – “Aqui Para Voces” (Brodinski Remix)

Pink Skull started as a DJ duo, formed in 2004 by Julian Grefe and Justin Geller, and expanded to form a full band in 2006 with the addition of Jeremy Gewertz (drums), Mike Hammel (bass) and Sam Murphy (guitar). Their most recent album, Endless Bummer, was released last November through JDH and Dave P’s own label, Rvng Intl.

Speaking of JDH and Dave P, they recently released a mix of their own through RCRDLBL. Fixed Winter Mix is ninety minutes of pure electro, and a solid showcase of the duo’s diverse musical range. The mix includes tracks from Boys Noize, The Knife, and Florence and the Machine. Click here to download the Fixed Winter Mix or listen to it below.

JDH & Dave P – “Fixed Winter Mix”

Hopefully we’ve given you enough material to help you prepare for what is sure to be another Fixed rager. And just for good measure, we’re giving away two pairs of tickets to the show… enter the contest after the jump.

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Talk about starting the year off with a bang – Theophilus London debuted his first official music video for “Humdrum Town” on MTV2 today. The video, which was shot in Brooklyn last December, showcases the artist’s unique style and point of view. Watch the video after the jump, and for an added bonus check out a live performance of “Humdrum Town” at CMJ last October.

For all you jet-setters out there, Theophilus will be performing at a Diesel event in Berlin on January 20, and at the World Wide Awards in London on February 2. Click here for tickets.

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Initial impressions of Vampire Weekend’s sound would hardly place them in New York City, where the band originally formed. Lead singer Ezra Koenig and drummer Chris Tomson first joined forces on the comedy rap band L’Homme Run, before creating Vampire Weekend with Chris Baio and Rostam Batmanglij. The influence of African popular music – including Ladysmith, Black Mambazo, and Kanda Bongo Man – can certainly be heard in “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” and “Diplomat’s Son”; Koenig has also collaborated with Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya on the title track of The Very Best’s Warm Heart of Africa.

Contra, Vampire Weekend’s sophomore effort, is a contemplative album that derives from the fun and playful vibes of their 2008 mainstream hit, “A-Punk”. Throw in a bit of ska, baile funk, violins, marimbas, some simple electronic infusions and a smidgen of auto-tune, and the result is a jamboree that has become the signature touch of Vampire Weekend. While many critics have tried to compare their sound to a variety of artists and genres, what they have ultimately proven is that Vampire Weekend has established a unique sound of their own in a remix era where everything is pop.

If their eponymous debut album wasn’t enough evidence of Vampire Weekend’s longevity, then Contra solidifies them as a lasting part of the music scene. While Vampire Weekend established the band’s sound, Contra uses the play of melody and lyrics to showcase a depth in the ballads that makes the album a thoroughly enjoyable listen.

“California English” and “Run” show the brighter side of their youthful pleasantries in a story format that unravels with a somber tenderness of (happy) memories being recalled. While Contra has a preppy tone, its carefree nature is reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel, especially in the track “White Sky.” On a broad scope, the album has a breakthrough feel like the duo’s contributions to The Graduate. In the embroilment of preppy innuendo, Contra reveals a gem of complications that is foreshadowed by the album’s cover, an image of a Polo-clad blonde with one of her collars standing up.

Overall, Contra is an album that is ‘hot under the collar’. While it may be Vampire Weekend’s sophomore album, its nature shows the band’s ability to follow through on an album concept that is consistent from start to finish, while unraveling refreshing tracks that reveal Vampire Weekend in a whole new light. The whimsical cover of the album couldn’t have made it any clearer as the story within – Contra is a serenade worth falling for.

In anticipation of today’s release, Vampire Weekend has already sold out three performances in New York City. They will appear at the United Palace Theater on January 17th, Webster Hall on January 18th, and the Bowery Ballroom on January 19th. Contra is in stores now, though a stream of the full album has been available on their MySpace page and official website for a few weeks.

Click through for the video for “Cousins” and the the album below.

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The British rave band is the latest example of electro’s pollination to different styles of music. The dynamics of Hadouken! combines the genre-hopping tactics of dance music in a catacomb fit for the mainstream with appeal to the underground. Their second album, For The Masses, is already being compared to the innovative breakthrough scales of the Prodigy and Chemical Brothers. (If you can, imagine the metamorphic fragmented doors that were opened by the mainstream releases of Fat Of The Land and Dig Your Own Hole.)

Established in late 2006, the talents of Hadouken! took hold by word-of-mouth and internet fandom, ultimately leading to the success of their 2008 debut album Music For An Accelerated Culture (an appropriate title given the musical style of the band). The album debuted at number twelve on the UK charts and number four in Japan with little to no media attention or press. While we await the release of their widely anticipated album and the announcement of their North American tour, the group has released a bass-heavy EP of the track “M.A.D.” (Mutually Assured Destruction), with reworks by Detboi, Plastician (known for producing “Snoop Dogg Millionaire”) and Phace.  Click here to check out the EP, where four of the six tracks are available for free download.

The band will make the cross-over to the US markets in 2010 with For The Masses, slated for a February release. In the meantime, check out  two tracks from the EP below and the video for “Turn The Lights Out” after the jump.

UPDATE:  Hadouken! will make their first stop in the us at the Mercury Lounge on February 8th 2010.

Hadouken! – M. A. D.

Hadouken! – M.A.D. (Detboi Remix)

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This Tuesday, Berlin-based record label Made to Play will celebrate the release of their new Scion CD sampler with a party at Love. All of the DJs on the compilation, Idiotproof, Oliver $, Riva Starr, Zombie Disco Squad, and label head Jesse Rose, will be spinning at the event, along with New York-based DJs Alex English and Gina Turner.

The sampler, called A Night at Made To Play, showcases the skills and production talent of the artists on the label. Each track is meant to reflect a different time of night at a Made to Play club night in Berlin. Scion, who has shown an enormous amount of support in the music industry, will cover the costs of the project, with all proceeds going directly back to the label and artists. The album will be available on iTunes and Beatport starting December 22, but you can preview a track from the album below.

Jesse Rose – “Morning Would”

The album release party on December 8th is a free event… Click here to RSVP.

We also have two copies of  A Night at Made To Play to give away… enter the contest after the jump.

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Last week, Kelis took to her Twitter account to leak “Acapella”, the lead single off her upcoming album. The album, which is “pretty much finished“, will include tracks produced by David Guetta (“Acapella”), Boys Noize and Major Lazer (aka Diplo and Switch).

The singer was recently featured on “Scars”, the title track from Bassment Jaxx’s latest album, and also collaborated with Crookers on the track “No Security” for their upcoming release, Tons of Friends. With that top-notch roster of producers, it’s safe to say that Kelis is going in a more electro-dance direction for her upcoming album. The record is set for a spring release through Geffen Records via Will.I.Am Music Group.

Check out “Acapella” below, click through to listen to Basement Jaxx’s “Scars” and the video for Crookers’ “No Security”.

Kelis – “Acapella”

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After getting a taste of Lady Stardust last Monday, we couldn’t wait to hear the full album when it was released on Friday. Now that it’s finally here, we can tell you that Terry Urban is back with another expert mash-up, one that does justice to the original music of both Lady Gaga and David Bowie. With the help of guest producers Apple Juice Kid, 6th Sense, Double O, and nVMe, along with vocal contributors Freebass 808, OnCue and Colby O’Donnis, Terry Urban brings a refreshing take on the phrase “old meets new”.

“Love Under Pressure”, produced by Apple Juice Kid and 6th Sense, is a great example of how well the two artists combine. While I wouldn’t dare say that the remix surpasses Bowie’s original “Under Pressure”, it does give Gaga’s “Love Game” a chiller, more sophisticated vibe. The Double O-produced “Papparazzi People” is another standout track, adds a more danceable beat to Lady Gaga’s “Papparazi” and David Bowie’s “Cat People (Putting Out the Fire)”

The mixtape also weaves a few interludes with quotes from both artists, as well as Christopher Walken’s hilarious take on “Poker Face”. Remixes of all of the songs are also included in the mixtape, which you can download for free here.

Listen to “Love Under Pressure” below, and be sure to come by the release party on Tuesday night at Le Poisson Rouge. Click here to RSVP, details after the jump.

Lady Stardust Featuring OnCue – “Love Under Pressure” (Produced by Apple Juice Kid & 6th Sense)

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Last Wednesday, Fool’s Gold Records celebrated the release of Kid Sister‘s Ultraviolet with a party at Griffiin. With music by label founders A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs, it was refreshing to hear good music in a regular club setting. Dave 1, Diplo, Theophilus London, Spank Rock, Amanda Lepore and even Mrs. Macklovich (A-Trak and Dave 1′s mom) were in the house to celebrate Kid Sister’s big debut.

Nick Catchdubs was manning the decks when we arrived. He spun a good selection of pure hip-hop, possibly in anticipation of A-Trak’s electro set that followed.

A-Trak started off with a short speech congratulating Kid Sister and “aNYway” by Duck Sauce. The beginning of his set was dominated by electro, leaning more towards commercial club tracks before moving on to the good stuff. He played Jack Beats’ dubby remix of La Roux’s “I’m Not Your Toy”, an electro mix of Kid Sister’s “Big n Bad”, and his own remix of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll”. He later moved into hip-hop, dropping crowd pleasers like Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” and Puff Daddy’s “Bad Boy For Life”.

Click here to view the photo gallery, and check out Jack Beats’ remix of “I’m Not Your Toy” below.

La Roux – “I’m Not Your Toy” (Jack Beats Remix)

After weeks of anticipation, Theophilus London finally released his first single, “Humdrum Town”, on Green Label Sound. Since the debut of This Charming Mixtape in January, Theophilus London has made considerable strides in both his work and his career. Not only has his music matured, he is also a member of Chauffeur, a supergroup that also counts Mark Ronson, Sam Sparro, and The Dap Kings’ Victor Axelrod and Tommy Brenneck as members.

Last month, the up-and-coming artist packed in a whopping six appearances during CMJ’s five-day period, including the Green Label Sound party at the Brooklyn Bowl on October 23. Rocking a pair of sunglasses, Theophilus London’s presence on stage is decidedly cool. He made good use of the large stage, engaging the audience with his slick dance moves. Set highlights included “Humdrum Town”, “Ultraviolet”, and remixes of Amadou & Mariam’s “Sabali” and The Very Best’s “Julia”. He closed with his catchy rendition of Whitney Houston’s “Always Love You”.

It was clear that his sound developed considerably since the mixtape’s January release, evident in the drastic reimagining of “Ultraviolent”. The original version on This Charming Mixtape is punk rock fused with hip-hop, in a manner reminiscent of N.E.R.D. The new version, renamed “Ultraviolet”, retains the punk influence in the bass line and drums, but adds a synth-pop melody that gives the song a completely different feel. A silvery hook and smoothed-out vocals complete the transformation. Listen to the two tracks for yourself:

Theophilus London – “Ultraviolent”

Theophilus London – “Ultraviolet”

If you think Theophilus London’s music isn’t enough evidence of his growth, look no further than his latest incarnation, Chauffeur. Described by Mark Ronson as “a fictitious supergroup”, Chauffeur was commissioned to record a song to tie into the release of Mark Ronson’s new line of shoes for Gucci. There are very few bands that are fronted by both a vocalist and a rapper, proven to be a winning combination when Chauffeur performed at the Levis/Fader Fort on October 24.

With one original song under their Gucci belts, Chauffeur’s set only consisted two songs: a cover of Sheila E’s “This Glamorous Life”, and “Soles on Fire”, which has a soft electro melody over a subtle hip hop/funk beat. With lyrics like “Guccis on my feet, it’s about that time” and “I ran so far, my soles’ on fire”, Chauffeur does a great job of producing a solid track while tying in the brand. Gucci is giving away an exclusive 12″ vinyl of “Soles of Fire” with the purchase of Mark Ronson’s shoes.

Chauffeur has shown a lot of promise in their debut track, and we have a feeling this isn’t the last we’ve seen of their unique collaboration. As for Theophilus London, based on what we’ve heard in the past year, there’s no doubt in our minds that we have a lot to look forward to.

After the jump, check out a few photos of Theophilus London’s recent CMJ performances, and be sure to click here for a free download of “Humdrum Town” from Green Label Sound.

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After a long wait – two years to be exact – Kid Sister (aka Melissa Young) has finally released her debut album. Originally titled Dream Date and set for a July 2008 release, Ultraviolet came out this week with beats and synths from Fool’s Gold Records founders A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs. With the help of XXXChange, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso, Rusko, Herve & Sniden, Yuksek and Spank Rock, Kid Sister creates flows with lexical quirks that makes Ultraviolet an enjoyable listen. The Chicago native joined the coveted club of female rappers in 2007 with her breakthrough billboard chart single “Pro Nails”, featuring Kanye West. Kid Sister got her start while touring with Flosstradamus (her younger brother, Josh Young makes up half of the duo), when she caught the attention of A-Trak, and the rest is nothing short of bumping erotic beats and warranted dancing.

The release of Ultraviolet makes it clear that Kid Sister has grown into a persona, taking the time to harness the interests that she garnered from her collaboration with Kanye West.  Many artists take their brink and rush for the glory, but by allowing herself the time to mature, Kid Sister yielded a magnetic and fun album of polished dance tunes and charismatic lyrics.

Tonight (Wednesday, November 18), Fool’s Gold Records will celebrate the album’s release at Griffin with DJ sets by A-Trak, Nick Catchdubs, DRek Martinez and others (click here to RSVP). You can also catch her live with Flosstradamus at Webster Hall on November 27th.

Update: Click here for photos from the release party

Check out Rusko’s dubalicious remix of “Pro Nails” below, and click through for the “Right Hand Hi” music video and track list for Ultraviolet.

Kid Sister – “Pro Nails” (Rusko Remix)

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