Perhaps it’s because I perpetually have my head in the clouds, but there’s something about the notion of space, the consideration of other planets and galaxies, that has never ceased to fascinate me. Naturally, One Step Beyond at the American Museum of Natural History satisfies both this childish thirst for knowledge about what I can only imagine exists beyond our the small rock we live on, and my love for a good beat-driven party. Last Friday’s edition featured Dave 1 of Chromeo, who played a fun and crowd pleasing set of light and funky electro pop, all while never removing his black shades. His selection of dance friendly tracks rooted in hip-hop, house, and pop had the girls shaking their hair all over the place and the boys bouncing around like school children.

Before he got the eager crowd dancing however, New York natives Telephoned gave an exuberant live performance on the planetarium’s stage under the galactic bodies. Maggie Horn was enthusiastic and invigorating, with Telephoned performing both their own material and interpretations of other artist’s work. One particularly noteworthy musical moment was their adaptation of Flight Facilities’ “Crave You”, one of my absolute favorite tracks from last summer. Keep your eyes on Telephoned, as they’re sure to do even greater things in the future.

CHECK OUT THE FULL PHOTO GALLERY HERE.

Last Thursday, Green Label Sound brought electro-funk pioneers Pee Thug and Dave 1, otherwise known as Chromeo, to the stage of the Bowery Ballroom in a spectacularly sexy display of light, energy, and sound. Native New Yorkers Telephoned and Holy Ghost! opened for Chromeo, warming up the expectant crowd with their individual flavors of party music.

In recent years, Chromeo has gained a stellar reputation for their cheeky brand of pop music which oozes sex and attitude through every synthesized note. The two French Canadian musicians have been known to describe themselves jokingly as the only successful Arab/Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture, but the breakthrough of their second album Fancy Footwork demonstrated that their success is no laughing matter.

Taking the stage of the Ballroom to the roaring sound of the crowd chanting their name, the duo took their places behind their signature well heeled legs of light, accompanied by three backup vocalists in little black dresses. Playing the whole set with dark shades on, Chromeo exuded cool while maintaining a vibe of accessibility and fun. The crowd went wild for tracks like “Tenderoni” and “Needy Girl”, singing along with every lyric and seriously getting down to the funky bassline. Using an impressive array of keyboards, synthesizers, drums, guitar and a talk box, the artists each employed multiple instruments, demonstrating without a doubt that while their show may be flashy, their music is built on a foundation of serious talent.

Look out for Chromeo’s third album Business Casual, which is set to drop September 14 and features their new single “Don’t Turn the Lights On”. Check out the full photo gallery from the show HERE.

Jelly has provided some very fond summer memories in the past, and will help NYC create a few more in the coming weeks. Beginning on July 11th with Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof, who will play Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures, the shows only get better for the next seven weeks. Delorean, Chromeo, Cut Copy, No Age, Telephoned, Memory Tapes and Murder City Devils are just a few set to jam on Brooklyn’s East River State Park every Sunday at 2. The best part? It’s all free!

Check out the full line-up after the jump…

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Our trip to Los Angeles wouldn’t have been complete without a stop at Dim Mak Tuesdays, their weekly party at Cinespace in Hollywood. This week, Dim Mak’s own Villains celebrated the release of their new single, “Victims”. Whiskey Pete, who provides the vocals on the track, was on hand to hype the crowd and perform a live rendition of the song. Get a free download of the Designer Drugs remix from RCRDLBL, and head to Beatport or iTunes for the original track and more remixes, including a fantastic dubstep remix by 12th Planet and Flinch.

Also on the bill for the night – residents Dan Oh and Them Jeans and New York’s own Telephoned in their LA debut. Tamara Sky brought a taste of her native Miami for a solid closing set.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL ALBUM

Meet Fool’s Gold’s latest signee, Telephoned, the brainchild of Maggie Horn and Fool’s Gold DJ/producer Sammy Bananas.  The 18-track “Off The Hook” Mixtape features a new spin on many songs that we already know and (in some cases) love.

The project’s tracks are neither remixes nor covers, rather a hybrid of both. Sammy Bananas expertly morphs the original beats into infectious tunes fit for the dance floor. Paired with Maggie Horn’s vocal stylings, each song on the mixtape brings a fresh take on the original track. The reggae-tinged “Dancin’ On Me” (Featuring Jahdan Blakkamoore) samples Enur’s Calabria and has a hint of dubstep, while “Million Dollar Bill” (originally by Whitney Houston) samples Major Lazer’s “Keep it Goin Louder”. The mixtape also features reimagined versions of “aNYway” by Duck Sauce, “Turn My Swag On” by Soulja Boy (featuring Telli Gramz from Ninjasonik), and “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.

Cop a free download of the mixtape from RCRDLBL or stream it after the jump. The duo’s self-titled EP, released today, is available on iTunes and features full versions of “Dancin’ On Me”, “Turn My Swag On”, “Rockin’ That Thang”, “Pop Champagne”, and “Can’t Believe It”.

Telephoned will be celebrating the release of their EP tomorrow night at Ella. Check out our events page for more details and to RSVP. You can also catch the duo at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on January 30th with Cubic Zirconia and Cage. Click here for tickets.

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