Not Many Experts

What you are looking at is the cover “art” for Yuksek’s first full length, “Away From The Sea”. Considering the Frenchman has been around since 2002/2003, it’s been quite a wait. One that was worth it? Well… I was not completely optimistic about the album, in fact you may have noticed me being grumpy about the fact that there are no great electro albums anymore, but it was clear from first song “Break Ya”, that this album was something different. I was expecting 40 minutes of tired, recycled synths and some posturing vocalists á la Uffie, but the fidgeting drums that introduce this album set the scene for a consistently thoughtfully constructed record that amounts to 13 unmissable tracks. What seems to set Yuksek apart from his contemporaries is the diversity between his songs; unlike most dance/electro producers, he isn’t afraid of mixing a downright banger, like “Break Ya”, with the irresistible pop of “A Certain Life”, again contrasted to the slow burning funk of “So Down”, his collaboration with hype machine favourites Chromeo. All three songs are album highlights, but are just the tip of 51 minutes packed with anything ranging from songs that are likely to convince you that “Away From The Sea” is the new “Discovery” to disco throwbacks that are curiously reminiscent of Hercules & Love Affair.

All of my complaining seems to have paid off then – it’s been a while, but I’ve finally found a great electro album again. Indeed, at the time of writing, MSTRKRFT’s sophomore effort “Fist of God” is 95% downloaded and Simian Mobile Disco debuted new track “Synthesise” on YouTube a couple of days ago, hinting at a new album in the works. I am starting to get unbelievably excited about 2009; someone just needs to tell Justice that if they want to keep their “best electro album” crown, they had better get in the studio.

Yuksek – Break Ya

Yuksek – A Certain Life

Yuksek – So Down (Featuring Chromeo)

(Using another new host – hopefully this one will work!!)

Mano has been very unfortunate; at the same time his publicists (wedonotfollow.com) sent round some unreleased remixes of his to be posted on selected blogs, not only had zshare plunged itself into a copyright coma (allegedly) so we couldn’t download the songs, but on the only blog that managed to post the tracks (Hot Biscuits), the recent intensified enforcement of copyrights meant that the tracks were removed almost straight away by t’internet Nazis. Not before hundreds of people could start getting excited about the tracks though.
Almost a week later, with zshare still broken, I managed to get hold of the remixes yesterday. The businessman in me said “Post them noooow and get some heavy traffic going to line my pockets”, however I still have some blogger-integrity (blog-egrity?) left and thought it was my duty to give them a spin and some quality control first. And yes, as you might have guessed, as they always have been, Mano’s remixes are absolutely quality. I haven’t been this excited about remixes since… well I’m not sure really, Mano just seems to get it right every time!

He’s a shrewd guy as well, if you remix such huge tracks as “Lady” by Modjo, “Pogo” by Digitalism, “Stronger” by Kanye West, “We Are Your Friends” by Justice vs Simian, “One More Time” By Daft Punk, and Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab”, you are going to attract some attention from the blogosphere.

Such blatant populist tactics would usually deter me from posting said material, but I think that everybody really needs to get an earful of Mano’s new stuff. Get them before someone deletes them!

Check out his other work, especially the old Digitalism and Modjo remixes: (myspace.com/milliondollamano)

We Are Your Friends – Justice vs. Simian (Mano Remix)

Stronger – Kanye West (Mano Remix)

One More Time – Daft Punk (Mano Remix)

Rehab – Amy Winehouse (Mano Remix)

(reposted in the hope that it will aggregate properly this time)

Mano has been very unfortunate; at the same time his publicists (wedonotfollow.com) sent round some unreleased remixes of his to be posted on selected blogs, not only had zshare plunged itself into a copyright coma (allegedly) so we couldn’t download the songs, but on the only blog that managed to post the tracks (Hot Biscuits), the recent intensified enforcement of copyrights meant that the tracks were removed almost straight away by t’internet Nazis. Not before hundreds of people could start getting excited about the tracks though.
Almost a week later, with zshare still broken, I managed to get hold of the remixes yesterday. The businessman in me said “Post them noooow and get some heavy traffic going to line my pockets”, however I still have some blogger-integrity (blog-egrity?) left and thought it was my duty to give them a spin and some quality control first. And yes, as you might have guessed, as they always have been, Mano’s remixes are absolutely quality. I haven’t been this excited about remixes since… well I’m not sure really, Mano just seems to get it right every time!

He’s a shrewd guy as well, if you remix such huge tracks as “Lady” by Modjo, “Pogo” by Digitalism, “Stronger” by Kanye West, “We Are Your Friends” by Justice vs Simian, “One More Time” By Daft Punk, and Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab”, you are going to attract some attention from the blogosphere.

Such blatant populist tactics would usually deter me from posting said material, but I think that everybody really needs to get an earful of Mano’s new stuff. Get them before someone deletes them!

Check out his other work, especially the old Digitalism and Modjo remixes: (myspace.com/milliondollamano)

We Are Your Friends – Justice vs. Simian (Mano Remix)

Stronger – Kanye West (Mano Remix)

One More Time – Daft Punk (Mano Remix)

Rehab – Amy Winehouse (Mano Remix)

(reposted in the hope that it will aggregate properly this time)