Casiokids

I was more than fairly upset that I missed Casiokids set at Kendal Calling this weekend. That will teach me to have a 'power nap' which lasts 4 hours after I forget to set my phone alarm. But never mind that. Casiokids not only have powerful synth driven beats and use the lost art of the cowbell in songs like Verdens storste land but they also have songs called things like Verdens storste land. I had to live with smug non-sleeping people telling me that Casiokids were the best thing they've ever seen live as well which is even more galling.

Combining irrisitable electro beats with underpinning guitar winding around various drumbeats and sometimes invovling the plink of a piano they're everything I'm looking for at the moment. Only thing to do now is to learn some Norwegian so that I can sing along!

http://www.myspace.com/casiokids

Boy Crisis

If there is one thing most girls can identify with it's a boy crisis. This is a different type of Boy Crisis- you don't need to worry if they'll text you back or if they really did mean 'See you later' all you need to do is kick back and listen to the less-than soothing electro pulsings. They've got links with MGMT and Amazing Baby (went to the same art school) and have the same quirky sentiment to their music. Funky electronica meets bouncing rhythms.

"Dressed to Digress" matches Bowie for cut-and-paste lyrics with a sexually charged sub-plot.

"You're the shit, girl" is the refrain- Woodrow Wilson is cited and the lyrics run, hop, jump and charge straight into the brain like an acid induced vision.
How electro should sound.

http://www.myspace.com/boycrisis

Voltaire Twins

Australia. I want to move there. Not only are they giving us Tame Impala, Empire of the Sun and still ever popular Neighbours but now Voltaire Twins too? Stop spoiling us!

Sunny electro beats head up against duel-vocals and driving rhythms songs such as "The Kate Bush" are reminiscent of Ladytron-via-We Have Band.

"London" combines a more broody sound and murky message (basically, people are really stuck up and won't want to be friends with you)/ "You'll never be friends with them/ Like I am" they croon sweetly. It's "Disco Intelligent Light" though which transcends the 'electro' genre and creates an instant dancefloor classic- sweat, bad dancing and hands up in the air (like you just don't care) would surely be factors if this song got played.

There is something which separates them from the dance scene of the moment, an air of something more than the 'scene'. If John and Jehn took up the synth and strove to create messy, electronic driven music it might sound like this.
Jade xx

http://www.myspace.com/voltairetwins

Vivian Girls

The epic task of avoiding essay writing lays before me and the perfect accompanyment to this lazy livin' is of course Vivian Girls. With their shouty-shouty pop they combine perfect meoldies under layers of scuz and feedback. A bit like the Beach Boys but, you know, girls and kickin' ass and stuff.

"Damaged" is a combination of loud guitar, harmonious yet slightly screeching vocals and thumping drums whilst "Where Do You Run To" has an edge of melacholy surrounding the lo-fi vocals and driving rhythm.

They combine a lo-fi, punk, garage-sound with a touch of femininity. Breaking out from the New York scene and producing art-rock for the twenty-first century they've managed to actually have songs to back up the the devil that is hype. Break-speed tempo and almost indistinguishable lyrics make for great music- the type that creates sweaty, jumping, beer spilling and raucous live shows. There are gorgeous harmonies beneath the layers of distortion with baleful vocals carrying the message that DIY punk is still as cool as ever. The type of music which makes you wanna avoid writing coursework, pick up a guitar (despite only knowing 3 chords), start your own garage band, grow your hair long, dyeit black and pretend the grunge scene of the 1990s is alive and well.

Hooray!

Jade xx

http://www.myspace.com/viviangirlsnyc

Interview with Vivian Girls in XOX

XOX 7

XOX SEVEN ; DOWNLOAD HERE;

With Interviews; The Virgins, We Have Band, Vivian Girls, Tame Impala. Also; KASMs, The Soft Pack, Mat Horne; Fashion; Music; and More!

Jx

http://www.myspace.com/sameteensmanchester

Tame Impala

Take a great, big, dirty step back into the past. The hazy days of Woodstock, the incense infused 1960s. So you weren't alive? So what? With Tame Impala you can create a Summer of Love 2009 (or rather Winter, considering the month) but either way it's like kicking back with Jimi Hendrix and Mick Jagger.

Hailing from Oz these guys have all the summery goodness you might expect sans the cheesiness of Neighbours or Home and Away. They manage to encompass 60s psych and a fresh new sound as well; expect major comparisons to MGMT and Empire of the Sun but don't take too much notice- these guys have a sound in their own right (okay- owing a lot to the 60s) but still, it's chilled out Jim Morrison style makes up for everything.

If White Denim relaxed a bit they might sound a bit more like this. Simple riffs gliding over the patter of drums and the drawling vocals all compound the funky, fuzzy feedback and shoegaze vibe.

It's like one big acid trip without any of the consequences. Get involved!

TRACKS TO CHECK- Half Full Glass of Wine // Skeleton Tiger.

Jadexx

http://www.myspace.com/tameimpala

Remix.

Long, long has the art of remixing produced either absolute genius or absolute cack. The former surely has to describe SebastiAn's remix of "I Still Remember". Taking a simple, stylised electro backbeat and the juxtaposition of Kele's slightly strained vocals over the top whilst simple, lyrical refrains battle across the top means that a dance floor friendly classic has had a revamp for the better.
Adding to this DiscoTech's Rolling Stones rework, Soulwax's Beatles vamp, MSTRFKT's All Saints mess-a-bout and anything Twelves get their hands on and it's smooth, disco sailing from there.

Even R Kelly get's the remix treatment with Alex Rage's Ignition remix- best song ever? I think you'll find that is so!

Also check out Austria's best music website, Stylish Kids in the Riot, for XOX's month-long takeover blog style-ee. Read it here: XOX GOES POP.

Hot foot it too here for XOX 7 with interviews avec The Virgins, We Have Band and the Soft Pack as well as Eddy Temple Morris' top DJing tips and Mat Hornes top ten songs to listen to this month! The best free magazine online now- for comfort and cheap living in the 'credit crunch' crisis!

Jade xx

www.myspace.com/blocparty

www.myspace.com/0sebastian0

Le Corps de Mince Francois

They are hailed as the next CSS and comprise of three super-cute girls who knock out pretty, electronic driven music. How could you not be a fan?

They live in Finland yet have a dash of New York cool, a hint of French to their name and with a pinch of that Brazilian CSS sound. More than that though they're punching their hands in the air for 'girl power' and creating dance-floor friendly hits. Wonderfully kitsch, this is disco on an epic scale.

"Bitch of the Bitches" is electro driven which is mixed up with the acoustic version of "Ray Ban Glasses" which sounds more like 'Hitten' by Those Dancing Days than 'Alala' by CSS. Showing an ability to mix the sublime of acoustic guitar with the ridiculous of neon electro they've got two sides to their story. Stuffing the spirit of Le Tigre, Yelle and Peaches into one band and they have that instant hook and beat combo which makes 'Bitch of the Bitches' an instant hit. They've even got Russ Chimes on board giving it that touch of French-electro coolness. They're cooler than you, but get over it.

http://www.myspace.com/lecorpsmincedefrancoise

Banjo or Freakout

Allowing disjointed drums and samples to hop over one another as seamless vocals float on top means that Banjo or Freakout (aka. Alessio Natalizia) has created something extremely original. Rhythms skip and jump before settling into a momentum under a thin veil of distortion. It’s a patchwork of sound which, until about a fifth listen, sounds like noise within noise but soon enough a simple melody emerges and the song takes on a life of its own. There is fragility to the music and a feeling that it could fall apart at any minute - but that’s also its strength, the ability to break and regroup with ease.'Someone Great' is the result of experimenting with LCD Soundsystem. Natalizias use of loops and repeats verge almost on the brink of extreme yet this is what creates an entirely new sound. It’s almost like pure vocals and atmosphere. Unlike 'Mr No' this takes a more coherent approach to music with haunting vocals, simple Joy Division-esque atmosphere and lush refrains.Both songs highlight a musician who isn’t just talented but who has an ear for being experimental without alienating the audience. Blissful.

http://www.myspace.com/banjoorfreakout